Gates: Nintendo WASN'T competition, NOW they are
This cracks us up. Before, Bill Gates said that Sony was their direct competitor, viewing Nintendo and their console as nothing more than a cute novelty. Now that the numbers are coming in and everyone wants a Wii (y'know, cuz it's fun), Bill is changing his story and is now viewing Nintendo "as the toughest competition." Bill says this during a Japanese interview, which has been You Tubed and embedded past the post break.
[Via Codename Revolution]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Russ @ Jan 10th 2007 12:41PM
If I'm not mistaken, that's OS X running on Bill's dual monitor setup in the background of the photo. Interesting..
kianimus @ Jan 10th 2007 1:03PM
That is definitly OSX in the background and that is definitly Photoshopped in.
There is no way that Bill would be seen using OSX.
vidGuy @ Jan 10th 2007 1:07PM
5/26/06
"There's room for innovation here, but moving that controller around -- it's something that's not mainstream for most games," he told the music network. "It's tough because sometimes you move the controller, and you don't [mean] to fly into the ground. You just want to put the controller down," he said. "People aren't that good at totally standing still. Even pilots actually sit in a chair when they do their flying."
Gates isn't the only one within Microsoft's that's shown little interest in pursuing a controller with built-in motion sensors. Earlier this week, Peter Moore mentioned a previous Microsoft endeavor into motion-oriented controllers received a "muted" response from gamers and the development community.
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151063
wiiboy2007 @ Jan 10th 2007 1:14PM
how did this moron get were he is,the very pad 360 uses only exists becouse every control on it was 1st done by nintendo, add to that every control device nintendo makes BECOMES THE INDUSTRE STANDARD.... SONY AND BILL FREAKS ETHER FORGET THAT OR ARE TOTALLY IGNORANT TO GAMING FACT!!!!!!!!!!!! NOOBS LOL
i dont see how high prices long loadtimes and out dated controls and a online service i have to pay for warrents my attention it just dosnt
i already have a laptop and a full hd entertainment and surround sound set up i dont need a faked pc by bil gates or sony
i need a next generation games device with all new cool abillitys good graphics fast loadtimes and polished yet free online service
THATS WHY I BROUT A WII
IM 34 GAMED SINCE 1979 AND BILL THE OP SYSTEM BUTCHER THINKS ILL LISTEN TO HIS BULL SHIT
cristian @ Jan 10th 2007 1:15PM
Why there is OSX in the computers in the background?? xD
Maybe he is watching what new features to put in Vista xD
nitefire @ Jan 10th 2007 1:40PM
wiiboy2007:
Congrats on being 34 and learning how to use the CAPS LOCK Key. I am impressed.
Also, Bill Gates didn't become the richest man in the world because of the XBOX 360 controller.
And you say the Wii has a polished online? That's funny, since it doesn't exist yet.
I love my Wii too, but maybe turn down the fanboy knob from 11.
Aubrey @ Jan 10th 2007 1:43PM
While he may be right, it's mostly just another insult to Sony. "The wii's control system isn't all it's cracked up to be, and they're our only competition."
But if any two of the systems were able to survive together, it'd be the 360 and wii.
DJ @ Jan 10th 2007 1:50PM
My nine year old created one of his Mii's to llok just like Bill and it really does too! Well, except that the real Bill has arms and 50 billion dollars.......
By the way Bill, do you think SIMPLICITY might have something to do with both the Wii's success and Nintendo as a whole? Just like the simplicity of the iPod that Zune will never be able to replicate?
David W. @ Jan 10th 2007 1:58PM
Umm...wiiboy...are you telling me the Wii has better graphics then the 360? *blinks*
Someone is naive in that case...I have a Wii, I love it, but I also have a 360. They're both next gen in different ways. The online component for the 360 is amazing though and is definitely worth paying for.
Tom @ Jan 10th 2007 1:58PM
Here's the original Bill Gates picture. No OSX hehehe.
http://www.savingadvice.com/images/blog/bill-gates-desk.jpg
roadz @ Jan 10th 2007 2:34PM
Is that OS X on his computer in the background?
Zach @ Jan 10th 2007 3:20PM
WiiFanboy, calm down. Of course Gates said this. Before, Sony WAS their direct competitor. Now that the Wii is out-exciting the PS3, Nintendo will be their direct competitor. If you're Lil Mac, your main competitor is who's in front of you. If you're about to fight Von Kaiser, your main competitor is no longer Glass Joe. If you don't change focus with your successes and failures, your stock tanks. This isn't coming from a 360-fanboy...I don't own a 360 (though I'm closer to buying one now than before). But lay off of the sophomoric "OMG, GATES SAID SONY AND NOW HE SAID NINTENDO!!1" Seriously. I love your site, but sometimes you guys make mountains out of molehills by editorializing too much.
smootches, love ya. ttyl.
Justin Larsen @ Jan 10th 2007 3:36PM
Come on guys dont be silly thats not OS X its vista.
Shogan @ Jan 10th 2007 4:06PM
I don't think Gates should think of Nintendo as competition. They are offering something different from the PS3 and 360. The PS3 is the Microsoft competition, and the 360 is winning that battle. I own a Wii, but I'm going to get a 360 for the XBox Live stuff. Now that the hype has died down, the Wii60 option sounds like a really great combo for gaming.
Billy_McBong @ Jan 10th 2007 4:18PM
haha he has OSX on his computer and programs windows using linux
Just In @ Jan 10th 2007 4:18PM
Zach...Is that a Nonpoint quote you have there?
Mr. Khan @ Jan 10th 2007 6:15PM
And thus ends the brief honeymoon of Nintendo and Microsoft
Born E3 2006
Died CES 2007
It was fun while it lasted
thebigL @ Jan 10th 2007 6:16PM
@Justin Larson
Um sorry thats not vista it's deffinetly osx. I'm running Vista RC2.
Sketchy Fletchy @ Jan 10th 2007 7:06PM
Pity it ain't OS X, I'd have laughed myself to death. I was a little suspicious about 1) the massive blur around the sides of the screen, and 2) the fact that apparently bill has managed to magically make the dock stretch across two screens and look exactly the same. It may just be me, but I don't think he's grown to such a wealth of excess that he puts two identical monitors on his desk to show exactly the same thing.
And of course it's not Vista - that's not coming out for at least another year (BAM!). That and Bill needs a stable operating system that won't fuck up and lose all his data (BAM - BAM!!).
Hehehe - I'm just joking with y'all, I'm sure it's great, so no need for flames.
Still, no big surprise that Sony and MS would underestimate Nintendo and the Wii. To be honest, I think Nintendo higher ups may have planned it that way, hence their reserved nature in releasing information to the public aside from the occasional 'check it out, our production line is working fine' just to kick Sony in the nuts.
As for Bill's comments, well, it's just the numbers speaking for themselves. Wii has sold nearly half as many consoles in 2 months as Xbox360 sold in a year and they're still in high demand. Of course they're the new competition.
It's a good time to be a Nintendo fanboy. A good time indeed.
Nick @ Jan 11th 2007 12:00AM
Not to mention that the OSX screens don't have the menubar across the top!! :^)
Gamergirl @ Jan 11th 2007 12:04AM
Wiiboy, I'm sorry I can't take ANYTHING you said seriously LOL You're 34 you claim, and yet really can't spell and called Bill Gates a Noob?? That's uhm...special?
In reality, I don't see the Wii as competition to the 360, they're completely different gaming platforms. If you're looking for serious graphics, more mature games, have an HDTV the 360 is good for that, if you're looking for mostly innocent type games that are just in good fun, don't care about graphics one way or the other and have quite the nostalgia for the old school systems, the Wii is the way to go. Other than the obvious financial issue, there's no reason why people wouldn't be happy with owning one of each!
The Wii solves my problem of trying to track down NES, SNES, Genesis, TurboGrafx 16 systems and games in playable condition, while spending significantly less! (Anyone seen the prices of an original NES system on eBay or Amazon? YIPES!)
jason @ Jan 11th 2007 2:01AM
wiiboy2007 you're a tool...
1. "the very pad 360 uses only exists becouse every control on it was 1st done by nintendo"
Yes Nintendo invented the button... yeah.... ummmm...
2. "every control device nintendo makes BECOMES THE INDUSTRE STANDARD"
Hmmm Vurtual Boy, R.O.B. and Power Glove are standard huh?
Whoot108 @ Jan 11th 2007 1:16PM
If you ask me, that is a compliment to the Wii.
mike @ Jan 11th 2007 9:14PM
What a putz.
Not that MS knows anything about games. They just assumed they could bully their way into the market, profit margins be damned, and force themselves upon consumers.
Blow me, Pinata.