Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Chris Kohler of Game|Life interviewed Nintendo of America VP George Harrison about the future of the Wii system, and his responses were, well, generally unsurprising. We wouldn't expect Nintendo to suddenly change their strategy in the midst of such success.

Harrison said that because of the high prices of the Wii's competitors, he expected the Wii to have a lifecycle longer than the traditional five years. (Would that mean more than 35 million installed units in the US?) And it'll continue to have a pack-in for some of that lifecycle, since Wii Sports is a "cultural phenomenon" that is helping to draw people in to the system.

Harrison also mentioned that more Wii software targeted at Nintendo's new "expanded" audience would be revealed at E3, and that a game download channel is in development.

There's more, including some weird comments about localizing Virtual Console games and a response to the continuing shortages. Go read the whole thing, if you are so inclined.

... to the East side, to a deluxe apartment in the sky.

In all seriousness, the company could be looking to relocate its troops somewhere else, as Game Informer reports Nintendo is looking to relocate to greener pastures outside of the Microsoft-inhabited Redmond, Washington. Of the potential cities in the U.S. where they could relocate, apparently San Francisco and New York are in the top running. Nintendo of America employees also supposedly received notification yesterday regarding this move, offering them severance packages should they not wish to relocate. These new offices could be opened as early as this Fall.

With the Nintendo World Store in New York, we're confident that Nintendo might go there since the large store already gives them a good presence with the public. Of course, the rain and cold could be something they aren't looking forward to, so San Francisco would be a natural choice given that situation (also, it's closer to Japan). And with all the different branches of Nintendo of America having a presence in Redmond, Washington, this move is definitely going to affect the entire company. Here's to hoping it's a good one, should it come to pass!

Not thirty years ago, the question of who or what Nintendo is would have been answered "Nintendo? Who's he?" Several years later, Nintendo continues to shock gamers worldwide. Sure there have been some rough patches but with the success of the DS and the release of the Wii just around the corner, Nintendo could come full circle and then some.

News 4 Gamers posted a news segment that takes a look at Nintendo when the NES was first released. Gone is the banter that video games are the devil's work and you can't see a Jack Thompson for miles. It's just a great exploration of gaming at its popular birth.

See the video after the break and get ready to have tons and tons of flashbacks.

Yesterday, Nintendo revealed that several of their key personnel had been granted prestigious promotions, the most grand one being that of Reggie Fils-Aime being shifted to the role of President (we have to write it like that at least once) of Nintendo of America. Sure, Tatsumi Kimishima (now CEO) and Mike Fukuda (now executive vice president of business development) play important roles in the magical inner workings of Nintendo, but we haven't come to associate them with name acquisitions and posterior ass-aults quite like we have with Reggie.

So, Reggie's the president. What does that mean for you, me and the creepy, unshaven guy reading over your shoulder? Well, apart from an increased desire to come up with a new and entirely daft nickname (The Preggie), not much. With the Wii's marketing plans already in full swing and a strong games lineup ready to be released and marketed to death, it's unlikely that a dramatic change in Nintendo's focus or image will manifest within the immediate future.

The long run, however, may reveal some changes. When Reggie first took the stage back at E3 2003, many were surprised by his determination and attitude, qualities that didn't quite seem to fit in with Nintendo's supposed "family" image. The man can spin things at uncanny speeds, that's for sure, but there does seem to be conviction and passion beneath all the marketing hooplah. In his new position, Reggie may be able to influence Nintendo of America even more forcefully than before, taking command of its direction as opposed to just explaining why they've chosen that particular path.

I'd like to know what you (creepy, unshaven guy included) think about all this. "Big deal!" or big deal?