Nintendo says: Only geeks and otaku want a harddrive

by Candace Savino { Jun 11th 2008 at 3:00PM }

Are you running out of storage space on your Wii? Then Laurent Fischer of NoE thinks you must be a big nerd. When asked about storage dilemmas at a recent press event, the managing director of marketing replied that only "geeks and otaku" want this issue addressed. Burn! We're not denying that we're geeks, mind you, but considering how much money video game addicts like us pump into Nintendo, you'd think they'd try to be a bit less dismissive.

Edge Magazine also points out some other flaws in the WiiWare service. For one, Nintendo is leaving it up to bloggers and journalists to promote WiiWare titles, as the company doesn't plan to spend much money marketing the service or its games. Another issue is the interface for the shopping channel, in which WiiWare titles can get lost easily once a lot of games start showing up -- just look at the problems that XBLA is facing.

Although we enjoy the service, WiiWare can certainly stand to be improved in a few areas. Let's just hope Nintendo is willing to meet developers and consumers halfway.

[Via MTV Multiplayer]

Tags: harddrive, laurent-fischer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

PunchyMcJunk @ Jun 11th 2008 3:08PM

If nobody cared about the storage dilemma, why would it have been brought up at a press event? Sounds like somebody is getting a wee bit defensive

Shogan @ Jun 11th 2008 3:11PM

Wow, so Nintendo is claiming the insult your fans crown from Sony just before the PS3 launch? Nice, this fan won't be standing in line day one to buy your next console. Hope the turn-out from soccer moms is high!

Dustin @ Jun 11th 2008 6:51PM

It's one person who said that, not Nintendo. He's the marketing manager from Nintendo of EUROPE. The opinion of an individual does not represent the feelings of the entire company or the higher-ups.

Shogan @ Jun 11th 2008 7:50PM

This isn't the first time, or the first person from Nintendo, who has said something similar. I think a Hard Drive, or SOME extra storage options would benefit anyone who has a Wii if they chose to buy one.

offday @ Jun 11th 2008 9:05PM

He is just one person, but he's probably now also one person who just lost his job.

J rod @ Jun 12th 2008 12:45PM

It's Laurent Fischer. The man has a history of being an asshole. But he is the only person to say the things he does.

ChunkyB @ Jun 11th 2008 3:23PM

If they don't announce a solution soon, I'm going to be so pissed. I can't believe they haven't done something yet. People have already been able to hack the wii and run outside code on it, so why not just open up the SD card slot or let us plug a jump drive into the back. It's ridiculous.

Roto13 @ Jun 11th 2008 3:20PM

Yeah, that guy needs to be fired. Way to insult your market, dumbass.

Hamster @ Jun 11th 2008 3:24PM

Way to insult your own fans! What an obnoxious prick.

Peter S @ Jun 11th 2008 3:29PM

Seems to me that anyone who really uses their Wii would want additional storage. Especially now that it's been announced that lack of storage is what is stopping some companies from coding for the Wii or releasing Downloadable Content. It doesn't have to be a Hard Drive, though. Open up USB Drives for us to use. That's got to be better than copying items to/from an SD card. For my part, I don't need it at the moment, but the amount of space a download takes up will eventually cause me to stop and think about whether I want to download something or not. It's convenient to have everything easily accessible rather than having to swap things around. Add in the time to swap/re-load and it just makes sense to allow some form of expandable storage.

PunchyMcJunk @ Jun 11th 2008 3:50PM

Precisely... what Wii owner wouldn't want playable demos, downloadable content, expansion maps/packs, and a plethora of WiiWare titles? Its naive to think that the majority of the people playing these games wouldn't want this.

Heck, even those that only play WiiSports/WiiFit could use a few extra Yoga poses, or a patch that allows for you to play online multiplayer in these games. Denying us these basic rights of modern gaming is almost criminal.

shawn @ Jun 11th 2008 3:43PM

i cant believe i just read that....that guy needs to be beat up in a alley somewhere,the wii does need storage and there is no geeks here just people that want freakin storage...way to go nintendo take the money and freakin run...damn idiots

Chadyasotora @ Jun 11th 2008 4:54PM

No, he doesn't need to be beat up in an ally somewhere, you stupid thug.

Disiplinary action is what's needed.

Geoff Gibson @ Jun 11th 2008 3:34PM

Nice to insult your core audience jackass. Seriously, I am happy and all that Nintendo has gone back to it's roots and found success in that but there is no reason to insult people that ask for one of the most BASIC of elements provided by other current generation consoles.

I demand this guys ass to be fired.

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Jun 11th 2008 5:10PM

If being called a geek or an otaku is an insult to yourself then you should recheck your geek-o-meter.

Real geeks and otakus are what they are, and definitely aren't bothered to be called that.

There's a difference between a geek and a nerd. Geeks rule.

Mr Khan @ Jun 11th 2008 7:33PM

Really? I wear both geek and nerd with pride. Dork is the one that gets me

Tabion @ Jun 11th 2008 3:45PM

Who the hell has kept this industry alive for the last 30 years, hu? GEEKS, THAT'S WHO!! And Otaku's? Aren't Otakus just japanese geeks? Why doesn't he learn the Spanish way to say geek and insult Hispanics too, hu? I bet they'd love that. ******* ******...

Nushio (NDF - Blue) @ Jun 11th 2008 5:11PM

I find the fact that you find being called a geek an insult, insulting.

BBeh @ Jun 11th 2008 3:45PM

Wow. NoE better have a swift word with that employee about Customer Relations. Insulting the customer is one of the worst things to do, and this guy should really take a long look at this problem before opening his mouth again.

klepto88 @ Jun 11th 2008 3:50PM

The stupidity of that comment warrants an apology.

El Capitaine @ Jun 11th 2008 3:51PM

nice, Nintendo.

All the more reason for me to leave my Xbox 360 as my main console and my Wii as secondary. That way I won't have problems with storage space, right?

Note - I know this is Wii Fanboy. I greatly enjoy my Wii titles. Halo 3 was, in my opinion, overhyped and now boring. However, the lackluster online support has caused me to only use my Wii when I first get a new title or when company is over. I'm simply venting my frustration as a devout Nintendo supporter since the NES, now seeing them shrug off their core audience in favor of the soccer moms. What's your average attach rate, eh Nintendo?

Tom @ Jun 11th 2008 4:24PM

Wow. You just said everything I was about to say! Except for Halo 3 being boring. Overhyped, yes. Not boring though.

But, um, yeah. Thanks for insulting us, NoE douche! I'm really feeling the love! Are we asking to much, for the most basic storage? Are we? Seriously, Nintendo makes great games, but they need to take the blindfolds off and stop pretending it's the 1980s still!

Hard drives are essential nowadays! I've been forced into not buying quite a few VC games simply because I played all the others on my Wii and didn't feel like shuffling them around onto a freaking SD card all the time! Is that so wrong?

El Capitaine @ Jun 11th 2008 4:45PM

well...not boring, at least not at first. Mainly overhyped, especially because overtime it lost its appeal - if it had lived up to the hype it wouldnt've.

At least it wasn't as overhyped as GTA IV...$300 million in slaes on the first day, yet now it's already played less than Halo 3 and CoD4 on the 360 charts.

Anyway, to add to my previous comment -

This comment more or less shows that Nintendo would rather be the kiddie console for soccer moms to buy than a console for "geeks and otaku." Hmm... why don't you just support both, Nintendo? Or, do you only want people to by "The Wii Sports machine" instead of the Wii console?

Actaully, Laurent Fischer, let me fix your comment for you:

Only geeks, otaku, and people who actually want to give us money by using the WiiWare service want a hard drive. But we won't give them one.

I have over 40 SD cards that have at least 2GB of memory each. Yet, Nintendo won't let me use them... Maybe I don't need a hard drive, I just need SOMETHING.

Nigeria @ Jun 11th 2008 3:55PM

Laurent Fischer is my new hero.

I laughed so hard. So, so, hard.

I hope he doesn't go back on that comment because, though it was worded poorly, he does have a point.

Patrick R @ Jun 11th 2008 3:59PM

"Are you running out of storage space on your Wii?"

Not really. I'm about 2/3 full so far and I bought it around launch. But when I do, I'll buy an SD card and move a couple of things over onto it. I don't need access to every single downloaded game at once. I usually only play 3 or 4 different games in a given week.

Char6296 @ Jun 11th 2008 4:02PM

That's kind of tight. And my storage space is fine... so far. I don't think I'm going to need much space, anyway.

Greg2k @ Jun 11th 2008 4:11PM

The main thing stopping Nintendo from doing this is it's lack of control over SD or external storage specs. It's dead easy for us to say oh let's use our 2GB SD cards or let's use this external 120GB USB drive, but Nintendo wouldn't get a cut in this. That's why they weren't going to support SD cards for savegames on the Gamecube, even with an SD card adapter sold by themselves; Nintendo just doesn't make the cards themselves.

And we know Nintendo doesn't work on losses or free stuff, they don't subsidize shit. It's just how Nintendo works, unfortunately. The good side is their games kick ass, so I reckon the overall experience is worth it.

Alex @ Jun 11th 2008 7:35PM

Which explains why they haven't added USB keyboard support yet. Since Nintendo isn't in the business of manufacturing keyboards, there's no money for them to make off enabling such a feature so....oh, wait.

I'm guessing it probably has more to do with them not wanting unencrypted game data (other than game save data) residing on anything which can easily be copied onto a computer and released on the net.

At any rate, even if 95% of Wii owners (the non-geek, non-otaku) will never need external storage, it's the 5% that're actually buying your games in sufficient quantities to make up for the 50% of Wii owners that don't even know the Wii plays anything other than WiiSports. And you want to effectively LIMIT how much they can download? Are you stupid, Nintendo??

Maybe the guy is just being cute and Nintendo is really about to announce some form of external storage.

Sonic_13 @ Jun 11th 2008 4:15PM

I've said it many times before: releasing a hard drive would be a mistake as it would be extremely overkill.

Also, Nintendo may not advertise WiiWare, but Microsoft doesn't either with Xbox Live Arcade. Then again, it's not really a comparison issue and both should probably advertise their games...

I think the WiiWare / Wii Shop Channel interface is fine. There doesn't seem to be an interface problem with the Virtual Console section, so why should the WiiWare section be any different. Can't find a game, just use the search function or look for a game via the Nintendo Channel.

Matthew @ Jun 11th 2008 4:20PM

Count me in the nerd pile, but also count me in the 'no longer buying downloadable content until a storage solution is provided', plain and simple. This is where I've been since week one of WiiWare launch. My disposable income for this sort of thing is easily being eaten up by Rock Band on my 360 though, so don't worry about this nerd, Nintendo!

-m.

Sonic_13 @ Jun 11th 2008 4:31PM

Just out of curiosity, what's on your Wii Menu?

jk99951 @ Jun 11th 2008 4:39PM

"Count me in the nerd pile, but also count me in the 'no longer buying downloadable content until a storage solution is provided', plain and simple."

Seriously, I could care less about being called a geek...but this geek is the one lining their pockets by pre-ordering consoles, buying AAA (and below) titles on Day 1, and downloading a metric ton of VC titles! I vowed awhile back to not download anything else on Wii until they get a better storage solution, and am happy to say I still haven't folded (though Nintendo isn't making it too difficult with crap like Pokemon Ranch).

Good_Bytes @ Jun 11th 2008 4:25PM

Ok they are 2 scenarios here,
1- he actually works for Microsoft or Sony, and probably spy on Nintendo.
2- He is the one with the smart idea to NO release external storage and push the idea that 512MB is enough, and now he is in deep shit by his superiors. In result he is pissed at the world.

samfish @ Jun 11th 2008 4:34PM

Technically, that's probably about 90% true. This guy could have chose better labels for said people crying for an HDD, though.

That said, it's Nintendo Europe. Who cares what they say?

Mario Panighetti @ Jun 11th 2008 4:38PM

Nice to see Nintendo still cares about the hardcore segment of the market. You know, the group that buys mountains of their games, instead of just the titles that start with "Brain". Hey Nintendo: if you don't come up with a solution for my Wii's storage problem, I WON'T BE ABLE TO BUY ANY MORE DOWNLOADABLE GAMES. I'm fully dedicated to your Shop Channel system and love the WiiWare I've played so far, but I'm not gonna keep deleting my old games to play the new.

Dio @ Jun 11th 2008 5:24PM

Rock Band, motherfucker.

amaningreen @ Jun 11th 2008 5:48PM

So? This is the payback Nintendo gives to their hardcore fans who kept their company afloat during the gamecube years? I'm ashamed to be a Nintendo fan after that statement!

Geeks and otaku? That fool doesn't realize that applies to everyone who plans to buy like 20 out of the hundreds of vc games or like 5 wiiware games. Do Nintendo not want our money? How are they gonna plan to sell hundreds of future wiiware titles if each console's 512mb can only fit 5 games? Shame on them, third party developers better pressure Nintendo. Why spend time making wiiware games if Nintendo does even care enough to maximize sales for the medium? Screw that.

My Wii could probably take like 2 more wiiware games at most. I refuse to delete any games on my console, PERIOD. Not gonna waste half of hour of my time with that ridiculousness. So, I already poured like $200+ to Nintendo for great vc and wiiware titles. They ain't getting another dime from me after I run out of space. I imagine it the same with other "geeks and otaku," who are heart and soul of the video game industry. I have like no downloaded channels except the new Nintendo channel and MK channel. If Nintendo doesn't want my money and enthusiasm, then forget them.

IGN's Nintendo podcast had a great rant by Casamassina and Bozon about this. This is not acceptable. And now, they insult us because we criticize them. WOW!

OK, rant over. I feel much better.

Haohmaru @ Jun 11th 2008 11:53PM

While I know everyone likes to take credit for "keeping the company afloat during the GameCube years," it REALLY needs to be said that, even during those comparatively dry times (at least dry for their console that wasn't called GAMEBOY), Nintendo was never exactly in any kind of financial trouble. :P

Kye - M-Kart Wii 0817-4620-2062 @ Jun 11th 2008 6:05PM

I'm going to write to Nintendo,
tomorrow.
Family guy is on now.

Patius @ Jun 11th 2008 6:41PM

Fool.

It looks like they are making one anyways.

(the job for the USB utilization ad)

juju187 @ Jun 11th 2008 6:42PM

wii update to accept usb jumpdrive.
topic closed

Cody Cardarelli @ Jun 11th 2008 6:59PM

I guess when my mother phoned me at work yesterday about my little brother's wii back home over an hour away from where I live, being filled up, that was her indication that my 8-year-old sibling is a geek/otaku. I also love that it's so confusing for these casual gamers that Nintendo seems to worship, as they obviously don't clearly state easily enough how a relatively hip mother, and a gradeschooler who loves nintendo, can figure out these storage issues. No, instead, I hear about from mom, "I had to get an SD card" so they could download the games he wanted to play, as a gift for his birthday. Nevermind the fact that an SD card used for copying is more convoluted than redownloading the game in the first place.
Oi.

Discosis @ Jun 13th 2008 12:06PM

I really, really wish this whole situation hadn't come about.

Point: The comments are a grade-A insult to your consumers, whether it's accurate or not is another thing entirely.

Point: The Wii has USB ports. If you don't want to bring your own product to market that will solve the problem, ADD USB MASS STORAGE SUPPORT SO WE CAN USE THEM.

Nintendo, we know you think you're adhering to "The iPod model", but you're not. Apple sells a 160GB iPod because they understand some consumers don't want to change the content on their iPod in order to listen to some songs for a day.

Also, some of us live in areas without broadband net access or we actually pay for downloads (hello TimeWarner subscribers). We don't want to download the same thing twice.

Seriously, can someone in the Nintendo-related media PLEASE get to this guy and tell him that the Internet now thinks he's an asshole?

Thanks.

Mr Khan @ Jun 11th 2008 7:36PM

It's not that he said "geeks and otaku," it's that he referred to them in a dismissive way, like some sort of superminority

Like saying "Only the people who bought God Hand want more God Hand"

Alisha Karabinus @ Jun 12th 2008 2:01AM

This is exactly correct. It's the way it was used. It's one thing for us to call ourselves geek. It's another for it to be used in an insulting fashion.

rainking187 @ Jun 11th 2008 9:12PM

It seems like Nintendo's approach this time around is "We don't care if you play with the Wii, just as long as you buy one.". Shame.

icicle0424 @ Jun 11th 2008 10:38PM

ok, "geeks and otaku" may apply (at least in this case ;) ) but the way he said it (or at least how I read it) is like he's writing "us" off as if we don't matter...

we're just geeks and otaku, what are we gonna do? come out of our parents' basement and go *do* something about it?

f**ker... I think I'll join you guys and stop buying vc/ww games until this problem is solved... unless they release Earthbound or Mario RPG... I'd have to make some exceptions, lol

nintendo1889 @ Jun 11th 2008 11:52PM

Two words; unofficial firmware. Why not? I can be done! Look at what people have done with the SD Slot so far; the Twilight Hack. If that can be done, certainly some genius will figure out how to enable the Wii to accept SD media (and flash drives) more than 2GB. Nintendo just shot themselves in the butt. "Nerds and Otaku" uh...that means the same thing. Sure, making said unofficial firmware is "illegal" but who gives a crap?