Mr Iwata Quotes & Sayings

Some argue that our success is short-lived and temporary. So, we now need to make efforts to constantly expand the player base by offering services and titles that can appeal, not only to those who have never played games, but also to those who play them hard. — Satoru Iwata

In order to expand the gaming population, it is taken for granted that we need to offer games to satisfy veteran gamers. At the same time, I believe that we need to make a new proposal, so that those who do not play games can say, 'I can do it' and, 'I want to touch it.' — Satoru Iwata

Selling five million units in less than 14 months means DS is the fastest among any game machines ever launched in Japan to hit that level. To achieve this rapid growth, we were required not only to go after frequent game players, but to reel back people who had left games and to make video games enjoyable for those who had not played games at all. — Satoru Iwata

Today, if you don't understand the controller, you're not able to enjoy video games. ... We expect the Revolution [Wii] controller to become the standard in video game controls. — Satoru Iwata

I've never been able to control a first-person shooter, but as soon as I used the Revolution controller, I found it very easy to control the game. So, I think that's a genre that's particularly well suited for the controller. — Satoru Iwata

As we learned a bitter lesson with the launch of the Nintendo 3DS, we are trying to take every possible measure so that the Wii U will have a successful launch. — Satoru Iwata

Although many believe that technology automatically enables more realistic expression, I believe that is just not correct. — Satoru Iwata

Consumers will purchase high quality products even if they are expensive, or in other words, even if there are slightly reasonable discount offers, consumers will not purchase products unless they truly understand and are satisfied with the quality. Also, product appeal must be properly communicated to consumers, but advertisements that are pushed on consumers are gradually losing their effect, and we have to take the approach that encourages consumers to retrieve information at their own will. — Satoru Iwata

Customers do not want online games. — Satoru Iwata

Our mission is to revive the gaming industry by increasing our user base, — Satoru Iwata

On my business card, I am a corporate president. In my mind, I am a game developer. But in my heart, I am a gamer. — Satoru Iwata

The entire Nintendo group will carry on the spirit of Mr. Yamauchi by honoring, in our approach to entertainment, the sense of value he has taught us
that there is merit in doing what is different
and at the same time, by changing Nintendo in accordance with changing times — Satoru Iwata

At the moment, most customers do not wish to pay the extra money for connection to the Internet, and for some customers, connection procedures to the Internet are still not easy. — Satoru Iwata

We are all too keenly aware that those of you who supported us by purchasing the 3DS in the beginningmay feel betrayed and criticize this decision [to cut the console's price] ... — Satoru Iwata

We know every moment is a moment of grace, every hour an offering....

- Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech, 1986 — Edward Iwata

Engineering is not quite as important as imagination — Satoru Iwata

With the DS and Wii, following the titles that were released at launch, the momentum dropped when there was a gap in software releases. We're making plans so that this type of thing won't happen. — Satoru Iwata

If we stay in one place, we will become outdated — Satoru Iwata

No one else can match the environment we're creating for expanding the game experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic. — Satoru Iwata

The profitable part of the online business is very likely several years away. Entering the business because it's the hot topic of the day doesn't make a profitable business nor satisfied customers, ... That's why it will be a part of Nintendo's strategy, not the mainstay, as other companies are attempting to do. There still are too many barriers for any company to greatly depend on it. — Satoru Iwata

For young players, classic games are brand new. For older players, they bring back memories and make you feel good. — Satoru Iwata

Except for its backward compatibility with existing Wii software and accessories, we have so far failed to make propositions worthy of Wii U's position as a successor to the Wii system. — Satoru Iwata

Please understand, I am not saying that technology is unimportant. I understand that technology is important. But if we are just focusing on technology and investing in an IT manufacturing plant to come up with higher performance processing [chips], we will not succeed. — Satoru Iwata

If you do the same thing as others, it will wear you out. Nintendo is not good at competing so we always have to challenge the status quo by making something new, rather than competing in an existing market. — Satoru Iwata

In order to realize the goal of creating a new starting line that anyone can instinctively understand we have come up with a design that differs greatly from any of today's controllers. We have also made bold innovations in play style as well. — Satoru Iwata

Small developers can compete on creativity not on scale or staff size ... Nintendo is willing to help bring these ideas to life, — Satoru Iwata

temperature in the storehouse seemed to have risen a notch. I guessed it was my anxiety. The air was faintly smoky, as if somebody was smoking a cigarette. Takeo smoked. I remembered his long-ago offer of a cigarette. I'd declined and bhe had never smoked in my presence after that. Was he inside and smoking as he leisurely made his way toward me? No, he wasn't the one. I knew that the danger was Eriko Iwata. I heard — Libby Fischer Hellmann

If you want our world-known names, you can't have them unless you own the Nintendo machine. — Satoru Iwata

Video games are meant to be just one thing. Fun. Fun for everyone! — Satoru Iwata

Nintendo not letting itself make a browser Mario game has not stopped a flash flood of in-browser Mario games. Super Mario Flash, New Super Mario Bros. Flash, Infinite Mario, and the amazing Super Mario Crossover, which lets you play the original SMB games using characters from Castlevania, Excitebike, Ninja Gaidan, and more. (If you like that, try Abobo's Big Adventure.) There are free (and unlicensed) Mario games where he rides a motorbike, takes a shotgun to the Mushroom Kingdom, decides to fight with his fists, is replaced by Sonic, replaces Pac-Man in a maze game, and plays dress-up. They receive no admonition from Nintendo's once-ferocious legal department. Why not? Iwata's explanation is commonsensical: "[I]t would not be appropriate if we treated people who did someone based on affection for Nintendo as criminals." This is also why no one has been told by lawyers to stop selling Wario-as-a-pimp T-shirts. — Jeff Ryan

Throughout the history of game development, the game control mechanism has become more and more sophisticated, ... Perhaps those who have quit gaming or who have never played games look at the game controller and think it's too difficult to play, even before they dare to touch it. — Satoru Iwata