Nintendo Spain Interview (DS Cooking in EU, Wii for Christmas, Zelda TP SKU...)

[SnorkSnob]

From GAF. It's not just about Wii, but I think the topics fits better in this forum.

 

Spanish website Vandal.net interviewed Nico Wegnez, Marketing Director in Nintendo Spain and one of the men behind the Stars Catalogue, among other things.

 

There is an articles about their experiencies with Wii games in the spanish presentation (Wii Sports, Wario Ware, Duck Hunt demo...), and the interview. Everything is in Spanish, so I will make a very brief translation of the most important tips.

 

 

About Zelda Twilight Princess

They don't know if it will be in two SKU in Europe, or just one with both the GCN and the Wii versions. They're studying right now the cost for the final user and the viability of these options in our continent to make the right choice.

 

About Wii launch

Nothing really new, but says that it may be in the street just ten days after Japan (v.g., last week of October in Japan and first half of November in Europe). Anyway, it will be in the stores before the Christmas campaign (commonly, it starts the 15th November in Spain), and we will not suffer the same delay we had with N64 and GCN.

 

About Virtual Console and online pay

They don't really think europeans pay so easily online with their credit cards, so they will try to sell in stores pre-pay cards to make it easier for everyone as an alternative. Games in VC may be between 5-10 euros (just direct change from 5-10 US dollars).

 

Band Bros (Daigasoo! Band Brothers, Jam with the Band): an edition for every country

Nintendo Spain submitted to Japan this idea: Sell an special edition of Band Brothers in every european country. For example, in Spain there would be Estopa (popular music group) songs. They are really interested in that choice for the game because it can give them really high revenues, but they haven't had any response from NCL yet.

 

DS Cooking and English Training in Europe, maybe this year

DS Cooking (cook action/simulation game from Nintendo, similar to Cooking Mama) will be distributed in Europe. Also English Training (also in UK? Anyway, I will buy it to improve my English... I'm sorry for my mistakes!). Both can arrive to Europe this year.

 

Zelda Phantom Hourglass: Maybe this year too

They're not sure, but they would love to make a DS/Wii campaign with Zelda as main theme, but they're afraid the game will finally arrive to Europe in 2007.

 

NDS business in Spain

650.000 NDS since launch until 23rd June (Lite launch). 15.000 Lites in first 2 days. They think that those are really good number for Spanish market.

 

Bad GCN numbers

Less than 300.000 GCN units sold in Spain in all its lifespan (maybe 275k-280k, they don't have exact numbers). They think they failed with this console, and feel sad about it.

 

About Baten Kaitos 2

Nothing new yet, they're still thinking if they will be sell it in Europe (I hope so!)

 

Do not expect nothing too big about Electroplankton

They don't think that this game (or no-game, whatever) can sell a lot, but they think that what is really important is that gamers can choose if they want it or not, and just go into a store and buy it. It's important for them to give the biggest catalogue possible.

 

 

I think that those are the most important tips in the interview. I hope this topic will be useful for someone, and, once again, I'm sorry for my broken English... I did my best.

[Tellyn]

Thanks for that interview, SnorkSnob, quite useful. And your English is very good.

[Hellfire]

Me want band bros bad. I doubt they'll be able to make that much dif versions

[Tellyn]

How about just a European version that can be released next year to give them time to work on it, and when you pick a language you get different songs?

[spirited away]

Cooking Mama, woo Like the Vc Card idea.

[SnorkSnob]

Cooking Mama, woo Like the Vc Card idea.

No, Cooking Mama is a Majesco game. DS Cooking is a Nintendo game. I think they showed today or yesterday the boxart; not sure.

 

How about just a European version that can be released next year to give them time to work on it, and when you pick a language you get different songs?

It would be nice, but the SingStars business model has worked really good for Sony, at least in Spain. Moreover, some people buys all the european versions of SingStar, so looks like they want to do something like that.

 

P.S. Thenk U for saying me Engrish is well! :p

[The Bard]

Wii cooking is going to be crap. The only reason to cook anything is so that you can eat whatever you're making. Stupid idea, you can't turn everything into a videogame.

[LazyBoy]

Wii cooking is going to be crap. The only reason to cook anything is so that you can eat whatever you're making. Stupid idea, you can't turn everything into a videogame.

 

Disagree with you there for two reasons:

1. It can teach you to cook without wasting money on food

2. Just because it's based on a real life activity doesn't mean it won't be fun. I'm sure surgery isn't that much of a blast but trauma centre is a great game. And if it's fun, why not make a game of it?

[Cubechris]

Gamecube sales....man.

[djamb3]

I like to konw that zelda GC may came to europe.A box with both versions would be good

[Tellyn]

Yeah it would. Expensive maybe?

[DCK]

Sounds alright. The Zelda remark is quite worrying though. Oh well, as long as we get a Wii version that's OK with me.

[Goron_3]

Sounds alright. The Zelda remark is quite worrying though. Oh well, as long as we get a Wii version that's OK with me.

 

My thoughts exactly

How amazing is it for Nintendo to have one of the greatest games of all time at Launch! I'm pretty sure this will be better than ocarina...i'm getting a tingly feeling about it

[Gaijin von Snikbah]

The cooking game did not look very interesting. Until I realised that you can actually learn how to cook. This game could end up selling loads.

[Hero-of-Time]

I dont like the way they are thinking about Baten Kaitos. Just release the game and keep all 10 of us who like it happy! If not then importing is the way to go.

*Strokes his Freeloader*

 

Edit: Sounds dirty

[nicolasmasset]

I'm pretty sure this will be better than ocarina...i'm getting a tingly feeling about it

I concur! I really hope they provide both versions in one packaging, otherwise I'd feel kinda ripped off by not being able to try out both versions if I wanted to.

[Pestneb]

I concur! I really hope they provide both versions in one packaging, otherwise I'd feel kinda ripped off by not being able to try out both versions if I wanted to.

 

 

I won't feel ripped off, I just won't buy it

[DCK]

Lucky you. There's no way they'll pack in both versions in one box and certainly not in Europe.