Report: Infighting in Nintendo Management Leads to Scheming to Get Rid of Iwata

"According to a new report released by the Japanese Business Journal, there is infighting currently raging amongst the Nintendo upper management" -- Nintendo Enthusiast.

[DonDon]

Iwata is not the best choice. Seriously this guy needs to go. Oh and the nonsense about him being a good prez just because he won't sell-out by putting Nintendo franchises on cellphones is nonsense.

No sensible Nintendo fan would want that. Just because he knows that much, doesn't prove he's the best. I wish Nintendo could regain it's spirit for true domination again. I'm tired of Iwata's complacency.

Finally, I think that giving the company to just any Yamouchi kin is not exactly smart, but there are plenty of capable chair members who could easily best Iwata.

[Theyellowflash30]

Finally, I think that giving the company to just any Yamouchi kin is not exactly smart, but there are plenty of capable chair members who could easily best Iwata.

- AND YOU KNOW THIS HOW? You're just talking out of your ass. You don't know how any of the other board members would run Nintendo better than Iwata.

I bet you don't even know the other board members names without looking them up on Google.

[DonDon]

Actually if u look through my comment history u will find that i've advocated for Tatsumi Kimishima for a long time. He was asigned as president of Nintendo of America during Nintendo's best years in America, and has a background in development/game management too. He is also a chair member.

Just because YOU don't know of any other members doesn't mean they don't exist. Iwata's Nintendo is a far cry from Yamouchi's. But Kimishima's Nintendo was a huge part of mak8ng Yamouchi's Nintendo strong.

Want the SNES and N64 type days back? Look towards Kimichima's. Not Iwata.

[MasterCornholio]

@DonDon

"Just because YOU don't know of any other members doesn't mean they don't exist."

I'm not even a Nintendo fan but I know who your talking about. I guess yellow isn't as big of a Nintendo fan that I thought he was. It isn't difficult to use google to look up the people who work in those companies.

"Iwata's Nintendo is a far cry from Yamouchi's."

Your talking about Hiroshi right? He was a brilliant man. May he rest in peace.

:(

[gaffyh]

The fact that they don't put their very old games on mobile is really stupid imo. They could easily do that, and offer significant discount on their own platforms. So Pokemon Red on mobile for £4.99 (they would make millions off this and anybody with any common sense would know), and via virtual console on their own platforms for £2.50. That way they don't dilute the value of their own platforms in any way. Also they could make a rule like the game has be at least 10-15 years old before it appears on any other platform or even longer if they wanted.

Sony could do the same, but a lot of their games are not old enough.

[LOL_WUT]

Like I said before fire Iwata save Nintendo! The company as a whole could be doing much better with someone who understands the market and isn't afraid of taking risks ;)

[indyman7777]

Lets say they opponents of Iwata won. And put games one cell phones.
Why would I ever spend a couple hundred and buy a nintendo handheld if it is available on my high def cell phone, and I get new phones very often.

Why would I for that matter get any nintendo machine if after putting games on cell phones, they take the next step, and decide to do the same with the consoles.

No matter how you slice it if Microsoft did that they would have no incentive for me to buy a xbox one. Same with Sony why would I buy a ps4 if the games are available on pc?

PS. Didn't sega get forced into putting games on other machines and there quality to a big drop! Especially the first 3 sonic the hedgehog games....ugh

PS.. I would not buy a console just for the controller.
#1.7

[Ol_Boy]

@theyellowflash30

Oooh you feeling crunchy now? DonDon set you straight!

[Chrischi1988]

This is nonsense. Iwata brought big success to Nintendo. There has not been 1 console, that has not become a huge success, other than the Wii U and if you guys think for a but, instead searchiing for reasons to hate, he had 1 bad year with the Wii U and is now recovering it. Why doesnt Sony put GoW and Tlou or MS Halo and Gears on smartphones? Do you guys have any idea how stupid this sounds? There handheld is a huge success and they sell games for a good price, why should they even think about making them for something else than their own console and selling them for $3?

And then you guys forget, that not 1 console, that has been the first of a generation, really took off, until its competitors came by. Now it has not even been a year after the competitors came and nintendo is recovering. Nintendo has a solid list of AAA titles, that are coming soon. You guys really have no idea what you are talking about. Iwata makes that nintendo stays relevant, but of course, that is what most haters secretly want, not that nintendo improves in their situation, they want them to fail hard, so they can play Zelda on their console...

Always hating on nintendo, but begging for their games to come to your console. How dumb is that?

[randomass171]

lol Looks like you didn't read what I said. I never said Iwata was the best choice when I linked you the NeoGAF post. I said he wasn't as bad as you say he is and I still believe that. He's a heck of a lot better than any of the board members who want Nintendo to go mobile, that's for sure. An outcome like that would be terrible for everyone IMO. I would like Iwata to work closely with one of Nintendo's aspiring developers and help prep them and pass the torch. That way we can not only have new ideas, but Iwata can help guide that new blood into keeping Nintendo on a healthy path away from bad trends. I don't know much about Kimichima other than that his old position was replaced by Reggie so I can't say if he'd be a good choice. I still want to see Sakurai take the helm. He's clearly a leader with a smart head on his shoulders and he knows how to make games.

[Concertoine]

The thing with this source is they want him gone for that precise reason, because he wont put games on smartphones.

If this is real, it is cause for concern even for Iwata detractors.

[randomass171]

The post also says that they are frustrated at Iwata for not embracing the net so clearly Iwata is not imperfect, but I agree that if mobile games is the biggest reason then fans should be very concerned about them even more than Iwata. Despite whatever mistakes he makes he also does some good like how he treats the developers very well for the sake of company morale. Firing him could remove that benefit for the devs and the games can suffer as a result. I would rather not risk that when I've just gotten back into Nintendo games. Since Iwata can't be president forever I would hope that the next one takes his moral code and treats game developers with the most respect and importance.

[Dunban67]

I wish the translation could be confirmed before publishing it

I would be very unhappy to see Old Nintendo games go to smartphones when we can t even get them on the e shop - Iwata should take heat for not having most of Nintendo s library up on the e shop - it would bring in revenue and even sell systems

Nintendo has executed poorly under Iwata and they need to operate much better or thier situation will continue to get worse

[dboyman]

I agree with Dunban67. Nintendo so far has done very poorly on the online dept, especially the eshop. Missing titles, not offering much select or picking wrong platform. I want see VC games, especially old SNES games go on the 3DS, not just on the WiiU. Nintendo's eshop is a far cry from Xbox or Playstation online stores.

Of course I am not advocating Nintendo games on Smartphones. But their online policies are archaic at best compared to what Microsoft or Sony has. Especially when it comes to online purchases Should be tied to the account, not the machine. PERIOD. Also at this point, get rid of Region locking.

Iwata has had his time, he was there for Nintendo during the time they needed him. But times have changed, the games market has too. For Nintendo to continue, it needs new leadership with new ways to lead the company...

[Concertoine]

@Dboy

It is very strange why the VC is so barren. The Wii had NES, SNES, Genesis and N64 games at launch. Tbh that was a selling point of the original Wii to me (not a big Wii fan). I could play C64, Neo Geo, Turbo Grafx, etc. without owning the system.

[donwel]

@Concertoine
I'm sure I've read somewhere recently that Sega are dragging their heels/don't want to put their old games on the Wii U eshop, which to me is just daft.
Being able to play all my classic games from yesteryear without having to go into the Wii menu AND being able to use the gamepad is just too good of a prospect.
The idea that Nintendo should put their games on smartphones though does not seem appealing at all and it doesn't seem like a good business move either, after all what reason would people have to buy Nintendos handheld consoles if the games are available on mobile devices?
I'm pretty certain it's just one or two of the board members who keep bringing this up at Nintendo in the vain hope that someone will eventually agree with them, so I don't think it's something we need to worry about.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Iwata is a better choice than the people who want him replaced would likely pick out, Don.
Shareholders would try to force their hand into the selection process to get someone who WOULD force Nintendo into mobil/third party development to take Iwata's seat, and you know that it would ruin the company.

If we're going to get a replacement for Iwata, it should be after Miyamoto-san has trained them in the ideals that have kept Nintendo from becoming a clone of their competitors.

They can return to being competitive, but not by replacing Iwata with a phone lover. That's the plain truth of it.

[pcz]

nintendo need to stop experimenting and just make good games.

nintendo need to stop trying to re-invent gaming and get back to doing what it does best-making classic games.

they have WASTED the last ten years trying to reinvent the wheel.

time to go back to basics, time to give us what we are crying out for- great games.

nintendo went from a classic making machine to a hit and miss willy wonka style gimmick factory.

[ChickeyCantor]

"they have WASTED the last ten years trying to reinvent the wheel. "

Maybe that's what made their games so good?

[pcz]

@ChickeyCantor

yes, nintendo have always been innovators, but they have lost their way now. i dont think anyone would mind them experimenting if it was just small projects, while they kept giving us the stone cold classics we are used to getting from them.

instead they are doing it backwards, seemingly devoting the majority of the companies resources to producing and force-feeding us these stupid experimental games, while the proper games are in short supply and few and far between.

its just not working. its a disaster.

[andrewer]

No, they shouldn't stop experimenting. If no one do it, the only thing we'll be getting in the next consoles is better graphics, because Sony and Microsoft don't like to take risks. And if that happens, it's the same as upgrading a PC every few years.

[thehobbyist]

Developer's shouldn't innovate for the sake of innovating. The PS4 was probably the LEAST innovative console of this generation and it's the biggest seller.
It's selling because the competition innovated too much. It's a console, and a controller. No emphasis on a camera, motion control or tablet controller.
I don't even want a PS4 and I can see that their lack of innovation is what's selling. Nintendo and M$ went too far with innovation. The tablet controller is great but not only is it unnecessary. It doesn't have games that utilize it to it's full potential.
The kinect. Yeah, I never liked the kinect. Still not as functional as consumer's would like and I just don't like the idea of it.

[kingjames18]

Not only Iwata but also our current pizzaboy at NoA Reggie. Never liked him and I really don't see what good hes done. If anyone would want to enlighten me on what he has done I'll shut my mouth but I always kinda put him and Iwata together in ruining Nintendo.

[WilliamUsher]

He was one of the main reasons the Super Smash Bros. Invitational took place at this year's E3.

*Drops mic.

[JacketsNest101]

The guy is basically the corporate face of Nintendo, even more so than Iwata. If the japanese weren't so stringent about their cultural integrity then I would call for Reggie to be the president of Nintendo; sadly, due to Japan's cultural bias, that'll never happen.

[thehobbyist]

Without Reggie we wouldn't have gotten Xenoblade Chronicles in the west.

[indyman7777]

Why would I ever buy a nintendo handheld if it is available on my high def cell phone, and I get new phones very often. Why would I for that matter get an nintendo game are available if they after putting games on cell phones decide to do the same with consoles.

No matter how you slice it if Microsoft did that they would have no incentive for me to buy a xbox one. Same with Sony why would I buy a ps4 if the games are available on a pc?

PS I would not do it just for the controller.

[SuperBlur]

can you play pokemon red on your 3ds? honest question .

[Zeroyosh]

@indyman77

Well you can't just put any game on a cellphone, because I don't care how cool your phone is, touchscreen will never be as good as a controller. I mean have you ever played mario on a touchscreen?

so the games that you would play on cellphones are stuff that doesn't require a lot of quick movements, or quick buttons. which leaves what...pokemon? that's about it lol

[Thatlalala]

Oh yeah? You party with the chair members? Go to their company BBq's? Attend birthday parties? Sit in on the meetings? Stfu your full of shit.

[lilbroRx]

Did you even read the article or just respond to the headline like most people do?

The reason they won't him out is because he won't put games on smart phones, not for anything you or most of these other posters are trying to bash him for.

[ConfettiYeti]

Thank you! Your comment was spot on, I'm still confused on why Nintendo did not have their entire Virtual Console on the Wii U store from day one.

I love my Wii U, but there needs to be a few franchises brought back. And at this point in its life I feel there should have been a few more key franchise either announced or already out like Viewtiful Joe or another Metroid. Something else than what we currently have. But I am starting to get excited, I feel Nintendo is turning a corner.

I personally don't want Nintendo to change into a PS4 or Xbox One. I already own a PS4, I am still wanting that Nintendo innovation and variety they offer. I just would like bigger named franchise. They don't even have to be a full scale game. They could be a small arcade title for $15.

[Baccra17]

Nin definitely needs someone who's not afraid to put Nin brand games on the cellphones in a proper fashion, ands I'm all for getting rid of the puppet known as Iwata but to replace him with someone from the board? That doesn't sound any better either.

This is the gaming company that had investors ask why they, Nin - a game maker, talks about videogames and stuff all the time instead of how they'll be making them money. Last thing we need is a clueless person running the company.

[Chrono]

Bye bye Iwata, you won't be missed.

[paulcek]

If he's gone Nintendo's going mobile which will suck. So right now I'd rather have Iwata than anyone else. If they can find a better president that also wants to stick to consoles then I'm all for it.

[GhostTurtle]

Just my personal opinion (and I love Nintendo). I think it just needs to be done and get it over with. I don't want Nintendo to go mobile, f*** that. But this dude will continue to drag the company down (let me rephrase that. They are not going to move forward/up). They just refuse to evolve at this point and just think that if they continue doing their own thing, s*** will just work itself out. You can disagree all you want, but the games would be better if they would just think outside the box, and just get with the program on certain issues. Their entire online infrastructure is a big example of what I'm getting at. Its why Splatoon won't reach its full potential, and that game looks like it has a lot going for it.

[Summons75]

He's overseen 2 successful systems and pulled the Wiiu out of its slump plus he just got voted back to his position. He's not going anywhere and if there was a scheme to get rid of him he wouldn't have been voted back.

[user6540948]

Sucessful to children and casuals. Not to most hardcore fans. Personally I feel like he has failed to hardcore gamers. Only Nintendo wing nuts like him no matter what he does.

I really am tired of what he has done to Nintendo.

[DonDon]

Adam Sessler said it best:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?...

[Summons75]

Success is still success and these so called "hardcore" who only play call of duty and want extreme and brutal violence says its not successful. Fact is the GameCube was great and the Wii and a lot of "hardcore" games. The cod kiddies can't accept the fact that just because something isn't photorealistic and choose yo be more artsy doesn't mean it only for kids.

Do I not like something they've done? Of course. I never had a Wii because I didn't like the idea of motion control but still the Wii was a success and the wiiu is one too and a great system.

No company is perfect but Nintendo always shows they can take a beating and still bounce back.

[Trolltroll]

When did nintendo ever cater to "hardcore" gamers?
Yeah back in the old president's days they made hardcore games like donkeykong jr and pokemon. (sarcasim)

[jcnba28]

"Sucessful to children and casuals. Not to most hardcore fans."

And how do you think the PS2 managed to sell over 155 mil units?

Casuals and children.

[andrewer]

@epicgrinds don't underestimate old games. If you know nothing about them, don't talk about them. If hardcore for you means shooting, killing, graphics then, well, it's not even worth talking. But if you mean difficult (*hard(core)*) games, then the past is full of them. Including Nintendo's games.

[lilbroRx]

JCNBA, you hit the nail on the head.

[Dehnus]

Ofcourse Hardcore gamers are only gamers that are playing Call of Duty, Moba games and only ZELDA if it has super Bro Gears of War like looks.

The same people that attacked WindWaker and Skyward sword for their art style (Even though they are like a Ghibli Animation and the latter like an Impressionist painting come alive).

But that is all KIDDY... and you can't be seen with that ofcourse or it will question your sexuality. And casual just means you have LESS TIME to play something, it doesn't mean you are not good at playing a game.

But hey have fun in shouting "GET AWAY FROM ME YOU FILFTHY CASUAL!". As you'll ruin gaming with it and turn more and more people away from your consoles and PC's and towards mobile platforms. Games have been about having fun ever since gaming as a hobby was introduced centuries ago.

No that is not Electronic gaming, that is just the latest incarnation. Stop trying to hog everything for yourself.

@Summons:
Gears of War is hardly photorealistic. But they do want Zelda games to have such a Beefcake Link with voice acting and other crap.

[modesign]

lol the wiiu never left a flump, it went from a poorly selling console to a poorly selling console,

summon your whats wrong with nintendo, your just as delusional as iwata, when wiiu's average weekly sale is only 30k, thats BAD, when it can only depend on solely its exclusives, thats BAD. the ps4 weekly sales are over 90K, thats GOOD, there are numerous 3rd party devs and publishers that support the ps4, that too is GOOD,

[Summons75]

It went from poorly selling with great games to selling well with a ton of great games and more on the horizon. Sales jumped up 600% with MK8 and hasn't dropped much since.

[BiggerBoss]

@summons, the 600% figure was only for the UK and during the launch of MK8. I don't doubt the Wii U is selling better now, but it's definitely not selling 600% better on average

[Knushwood Butt]

'Evergreen' games aren't there either.

[quantae06]

@epicgrinds Definitely sarcasm! Final Fantasy was only on the SNES back in the day. The N64 had Goldeneye 007, Perfect Dark,Turok, 1080 Degrees Snowboarding, Wave Race 64, Excitebike 64, Blast Corps, Killer Instinct series, Star Fox, Wrestlemania 2000, Road Rash 64(fighting/racing game, Conker's Bad Fur Day. Not to mention the N64 had better graphics and played better on the N64 than it did on PS1. Southpark, Resident 2, WWF Attitude, Command & Conquer, Duke Nukem 64 were hardcore games to be had on the N64 instead of PS1.

[MasterCornholio]

I can understand why some investors want to get rid of Iwata. But Nintendo producing games for smartphones?

Really? That I dont think will ever happen unless Nintendo releases their own smartphone.

[randomass171]

Hopefully it has buttons if that happens. Putting Mario on buttonless phones is a terrible idea.

[youndamie]

You just gave Nintendo a great idea. Coming in November 2014 the Nintendo Galaxy M. Lol Samsung might sue them tho.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

it a rumor

[user6540948]

One that I hope is true.

[TekoIie]

You want Nintendo to go smartphone?

[LOL_WUT]

We just want Nintemdo to do better that's all ;)

[user6540948]

@ Tekoli:

Hell no, not the smart phone crap. But yes to Iwata leaving. If Nintendo made their own phone then maybe (if it has buttons).

But just because Iwata does not want phone games either doesn't mean he's the only one at Nintendo who stands firmly against mobile games. Genyo Takeda also stood firmly against mobile gaming for Nintendo too. Iwata isn't needed in order to prevent Nintendo from being on other systems.

[MonstaTruk]

They shouild have BEEN gotten rid of this guy. Reggie needs to take the big AXE, also...*smh*

Look, Nintendo has an INCREDIBLY loyal fanbase, great. But even Ninty can't keep spamming the same Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Kirby BS to gamers. It just seems...*kiddy*, to me. I don't hate Nintendo, just that...with their style of gaming (which I like the fact that they don't try to compete with MS/SONY), they could do a HALO-style game with their own unique flair of graphics/personality. They could do their own Uncharted-style game, or a Streets of Rage-style game...all with Nintendo's *thing* added to them. They need leadership that's willing to think OUTSIDE of the Mario-box... :-/

By the way, that reminds me...where is 2014 remake of Blades of Steel? Pro Wrestling? Double Dribble? Bad News Baseball? Shadow of the Ninja? Weaponlord? Jackie Chan's Action KungFu? What have you been doing this whole time, Iwata/Reggie? You've been sitting your fat @$$es down somewhere, eating Kriby burgers, Link sausages, and Samus tacos...*smh*

[paulcek]

You know that if they get rid of Iwata, you're basically gonna get Mario/Zelda/Metroid/Kirby BS on smartphones....

At least Iwata is trying some new things with Splatoon, Bayo2 and Devil's Third.

[Dunban67]

If Iwata were to be replaced', we do not know at all that his replacement would put Nintendo games on I pads-

Everyone is acting as if it is automatic that the next guy would go mobile - that is simply not a guarantee - Many companies are finding out that mobile is not easy money

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@ Dunban

Apparently not enough of them are finding that out, because we've still got idiotic shareholders pounding on Iwata's metaphorical door, demanding that he go into mobile gaming with older titles, without realizing that Nintendo's older titles would quickly become buried and unprofitable by all of the shovelware that comes out on mobiles every single day.
Not to mention control issues.

Just face facts; firing Iwata is a bigger, and much more unnecessary, risk than keeping Iwata around until someone more appropriate can be found to be trained by the higher-ups for Iwata's eventual retirement.

[THamm]

It's because Nintendo diehards won't buy it, they only buy the mario/Zelda/Kirby crap. They rebooted punch out and exitebike yet Nintendo fans did not favor to them like the others. A Nintendo flavored halo would be epic. Also these games didn't have the same level of excitement as the originals

[BigDuo]

This sounds like total bullshit.

Iwata was just re-elected by the board of directors in June with a 3% increase in his performance rating. If the board of directors didn't want him, then they wouldn't have re-elected him let alone allow him to be promoted to the new CEO of Nintendo of America as of last year.

The board of directors includes older members has Shigeru Miyamoto, Genyo Takeda and Tatsuki Kimishima. The former two are well known for embracing former President Yamauchi's company philosophy to differentiate itself from competitors. They feel the industry's obsession with hardware power leads to diminishing returns. By the way, 4 of the older directors retired and were replaced by younger members last year.

Nintendo only occasionally publishes and/or develops mature IPs out of the acknowledgment that there is an audience for it within their customer base. Of course, their bread and butter is based on unadulterated franchises.

[aerisbueller]

Right, creating systems that no one wants, and then the game devs at Ninty pulling a miracle and somehow getting people to want it again, like with 3ds and Nintendo Wii-U.

Wouldn't the more impressive thing be to not drive the bus into the ditch in the first place? Just because he can call triple-A to tow them out of another disaster doesn't make him a good CEO. He seems like a nice enough guy, and I don't want him to be humiliated or anything, but goodness.

[BigDuo]

Games like Uncharted embody everything Nintendo does not like about the direction the industry is going in. It has concerns over diminishing returns and prioritizes gameplay, controls and level design over graphical fidelity, storytelling, cinematics and production values. Nintendo already has a shooter, it';s called Splatoon. It's an unconventional shooting title that defies genre tropes and even the target demographic shooters are made for. That is just the way Nintendo rolls. That's what they want to do. We'll have to just wait and see if they made the right call on it.

[aerisbueller]

I gotta give it to Nintendo fans, I think they may have XBoxers beat as far as blind fandom.

Wow, anyone who doesn't understand why people want Iwata out is on some koolaid forreal.

[randomass171]

What do you mean? Just yesterday a bunch of the fans on N4G were disappointed about Hyrule Warriors having no online for the co-op mode. One person even went from being okay to not being okay with it. I'm not sure if I actually count as a Nintendo fan since Sony's my first choice, but I can say that I get why you and the other guys want to see Iwata replaced but I don't agree with it. Iwata does crappy stuff but I think he also offers some good stuff too. Let's be honest the Wii U's launch was totally botched by Iwata. But this year's Nintendo E3 conference was pretty awesome and that was Iwata too. If we're objective then we can point out how Iwata has good points and bad points too. Insulting the fans is not a good argument IMO.

edit Those apologies were from last year and E3 was this year. Wii U is also selling a little better too and actually outsold Xbox One a couple of weeks. I'm confused by one thing in your comment though. Why would Iwata lie about not attending the biggest video game convention of the year? Doesn't seem like there is very much to gain. He was still a part of the video presentation where he beat up Reggie to show off Smash and Amiibo.

[aerisbueller]

Look up everything Iwata has said over the past year, it's all either apologies, rationalization, or godawful ideas. Also, if he was really sick, fine, but I have my doubts about him getting sick before e3. I think they just don't want him opening his mouth publicly until Nintendo gets off life support.

@SpiralTear - I don't think the cellphone idea is good either. I think it's possible for there to be a good CEO that doesn't agree with that, or Iwata's "Please don't make us compete with our competitors!! I'm scaarrred" tactics.

Also, long before cellphones were desperately brought up, people were calling for his resignation for WiiU's horrible performance until then

[LOL_WUT]

Yep, they turn a blind eye when the man does mistakes so they shrug it off. Also any sort of criticism towards Nintendo is automatically seen as hatred or trolling in their eyes. ;)

[Dunban67]

They should have had the e 3 they just did ready for the e3 just before the Wii u launch - it was a great e 3 but 3 years too late for the Wii u time frame

[SpiralTear]

You don't seem to understand that this isn't about just getting Iwata out, but who will replace him. If the reason for this rumored infighting is actually that he won't put games on smartphones, then that's a problem.

Who do you think they'd get to replace him? Someone who caters to the casual crowd further with smartphone releases of Mario? That's not how you establish a brand. That's devaluing it. It's also a really easy way to take a chunk out of Nintendo's own handheld sales, their strongest suit. Why would anyone at Nintendo want to damage THAT?

And say they do get someone to replace Iwata and put games on smartphones. Then what? What will this new person do? There's no guarantee that Nintendo will still be Nintendo after this. The management who are pushing for Iwata's expulsion need to look far into the future and have a set plan for what will happen. Right now, they're only thinking about one thing: "Mario on smartphones."

The problem here isn't that Iwata would be out. The problem is that the reason they want him out is because he's "not being casual enough."

[XtraTrstrL]

I think a major point is, alot of people think that whoever replaces him can't do much worse than he's done. He's had Nintendo hemorrhaging $$$ for quite some time now. A lot of his ideas don't seem that great, and the main thing I guess is that they don't trust his vision.

[WilliamUsher]

*The problem is that the reason they want him out is because he's "not being greedy enough [in the short term]."*

Fixed that for you.

[Metallox]

He just had a tumor, dude, recuperation from that is not easy. He was sick, I have no doubt.

Now, if the investors want Iwata out of the company just because he won't put Nintendo games on smartphones, the I'd say no. I don't want this kind of games, it would bring up Nintendo to the casual side again.

[SpiralTear]

"I don't think the cellphone idea is good either. I think it's possible for there to be a good CEO that doesn't agree with that, or Iwata's "Please don't make us compete with our competitors!! I'm scaarrred" tactics.

Also, long before cellphones were desperately brought up, people were calling for his resignation for WiiU's horrible performance until then"

The cellphone argument is the main point brought up supporting his expulsion. They mention other things, but the smartphone thing is the focus. That means if he's out, there's a strong chance they'll be on smartphones.

And smartphones caught on long before Wii U. People were discussing smartphone gaming when the Wii and DS were selling like crazy. That wasn't on Iwata. Why chew out a CEO when you're selling systems like nobody's business?

And ya know, Nintendo fans (like a vast majority of gamers from all console allegiances) dislike mobile saturation of famed gaming properties. The anti-mobile argument is not isolated to Nintendo. It's not blind fandom: it's common sense that's shared by many, many gamers. You can get Crash Bandicoot on mobile, but most gamers would rather play it on their PSP or Vita. That's the same mindset shared by Nintendo supporters: they don't want those games on smartphones, and by the looks of financial reception of those mobile ports, not many other people did either.

[Dehnus]

You got to hand it to the Ponies, no other fanboy is this aggressive, hateful and annoying.

Sony Fanboys: They don't love their toy, they just hate yours!

[XtraTrstrL]

They didn't like his Nintendo Direct vids with the Twilight Zone nothing white background behind him.

[SpiralTear]

I thought the wood background on the Nintendo Directs were funny, like he was filming the videos all by himself from some cabin in a forest somewhere.

[XtraTrstrL]

I'm talkin about the background where it's all white and you see nothing but white around him. Like he's in some glitch in the system.

[mhunterjr]

Iwata's complacency will be he undoing. He threw his might behind gaming fads, and refused to embrace the trends that have become gaming staples.

[lilbroRx]

I don't even know where to begin on how backwards this is.

But first, let me begin by pointing out that a fad and trend are the same thing...you said he refused to do something while doing it. That doesn't make sense.

Secondly, he didn't follow fads, he brought them in. Iwata brought motion control, touchscreen gaming AND dual screen gaming in.

The Wii U isn't following a fad. It is following the NDS, which is following success. I'm guessing you are one of uneducated people who believe the Wii U gamepad is based on tablets even though the touchscreen controller was decided upon for their next console right after the Wii released in early 2007 before the first modern tablet ever came out and is based on Nintendo's handheld which are all enormous successes.

[mhunterjr]

1st, fads and trends are not the same thing. Fads are temporary. They are popular, then they fade away. Trends are a general course or prevailing direction. Examples: last gen, motion gaming was a fad. Dual screen gaming was a fad. Robust subscription based online services are a trend. Developer friendly, PC like architecture is a trend. Large internal Harddrives is a trend. Blu-Ray support is a trend. Iwata ushered in the fads, ignored the trends and Nintendo is paying for it.

Secondly, I didn't say he followed fads, I said he threw all of his might behind them. And all you are doing supporting my claims. Motion gaming was a fad, as is dual screen gaming. The wii u is proof positive that he is completely unaware that those fads have run their course.

[R00bot]

@mhunterjr

Fads fade, but trends don't?
Here's what the thesaurus says:
Fad
Noun
craze, vogue, trend, fashion, mode, enthusiasm, passion, obsession, mania, rage, compulsion, fixation, fetish, fancy, whim, fascination; informal thing.

Trend literally means the same thing..

[tigertron]

Nintendo needs a new CEO and fast. Someone with a fresh approach to lead Nintendo into the future.

[paulcek]

I agree with a new CEO, but the timing is not right. If Iwata is replaced right now, the executives will find someone who wants Nintendo games on smartphones.

[pcz]

I was on the wii the other day and was looking at the virtual console. it said mario 64 came out in 1997, mario kart 64 in 98 and ocarina of time in 98 too. those 3 monumental games in that short space of time. and i know goldeneye, starfox 64 and other classic games were out around that time too.. nintendo were inspired and making genre defining games.

fast forward to 2014 and their creative output is barren. nothing. sparse. it really is a sad site to see such a great company fall off as hard as nintendo have.

somebody needs to be held responsible for the dire dire situation at nintendo right now. i mean, even miyamoto hasnt made a great game in damn near a decade.

there needs to be a drastic change, starting with management

[Revengeance]

Iwata has taken Nintendo into a direction it should not have gone. He's even admitted it himself. We need the new "Hiroshi Yamauchi" to carry on Nintendo's legacy.

[feraldrgn]

As long as the replacement is actually better & not just for the sake of getting him out of the position.

Better yet, instead of that, how about putting the guy they want to replace him with, in an advisor position instead.

ps: if we're talking management, give Reggie a different position, I don't like his arrogance/on screen personality, gives Nintendo a bad image.

[mochachino]

I'd love for Nintendo to go third party. Imagine MK8 on PS4 or the new Zelda. It will be great.

Sadly though, as a 3rd party Nintendo still wouldn't be number one in sales.

[XtraTrstrL]

Forget that, imagine a Metroid on PS4! Whatever, it's nice to dream.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

You and the rest of the world wouldn't choose MK8 over the next uncharted or watch dogs on Sony or Microsoft systems, and you all know it's true.
That's why Nintendo should never go third party; there's no sales future with people who abandoned their "kiddy" games for third parties and their focus on hyper-realism.

[Joegrine20]

man i want to agree with u 100 times

[Gh05t]

Wouldn't the point your making just be proving that Nintendo can't compete in today's market and the only thing keeping it alive are die hard Nintendo fans. If the games they make couldn't compete on another console that would mean they aren't that good for the whole.

That would really mean that the only reason the games are selling is because there is nothing better to buy on the Nintendo platform.

If that is the case than Nintendo needs to close it's doors now.

I don't agree with your sentiment. I think that Nintendo would do well selling on other platforms for the same reason people want another Spyro and Crash Bandit out game. There is a market for it but sadly most people just don't want to buy a gimmicks filled system to play the 3 or 4 games that really sell the console.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

@ghost
No, it's just showing that they're are a lot of idiots that aren't giving games like The Wonderful 101 a fair chance, let alone upcoming games like Splatoon, Bayonetta, and Xenoblade Chronicles X, all because of the childish console wars bs and the soldiers that propagate it.
People who aren't fanboys know that all systems have games worth owning one of each for, now, and don't try to downplay or dismiss that fact.
It's a fact, though, that both Sony and Microsoft fans regularly take time out of their days to insult games like those I've just listed, and fall back on calling Nintendo's consoles nothing more than Mario machines.
Mario doesn't have a home with these people. No amount of Spyro ior crash bandicoot sales would make these people who hate Nintendo's games so much purchase them in other consoles when they've become trained to purchase mostly realistic games on the consoles instead.
It's just how it is. Sales and developer tendencies have proven it time and time again. If Mario would sell on those consoles as well as you think, more developers would be taking advantage of that by making games like it for you.
But they aren't.
Because they know better than anyone that only a minority of you would choose a Mario clone over Uncharted.

Nintendo would die as a third party. If you truly cared for the games and weren't a console hater, you'd have gotten one by now and found out that it's controls are fine and that it's games are great and growing greater, instead of waiting for Nintendo to die due to the impossible hope of seeing Mario on ps4.

[Vegamyster]

I'd love for Sony/Microsoft to go third party. Imagine Uncharted/Halo on the Wii-U & PC. It will be great.

See how silly that sounds? Competition is good and not something you should want to go away for the sake of convenience, Mario Kart 8 is already great and so will the next Zelda.

[mochachino]

Well they'd be severely underwhelming on Wii U for obvious reasons but on PC, amazing.

[incredibleMULK]

Good! hit the bricks pal.

This is the guy who didn't want to make the wii HD for Americans. Or he doesn't play video games yet works making video games.

Don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.

[stragomccloud]

Putting Nintendo games on mobile would be the beginning of the end for Nintendo. It would diminish the quality of the brand too severely.

[iNFAMOUZ1]

needs to go, stop disagreeing retar*s, he isn't doing nintendo any good releasing one aaa title per year

[123pol]

Whats wrong with all the downvotes on everybody.. iwatas time is up, nintendo needs to do somthing.. WiiU will never be sucessfull no mather how many downvotes buttons nintendo fanboys press.

new management , new console , more 3rd party support , more internet futures, a real cotroller ( pro controller is fine ).

[coltlokk]

Did you read the article? If the executives are successful in removing Iwata, then Nintendo would start heading towards mobile gaming. Iwata is against doing this, but there are some people who want to get rid of him so they can put games on the smartphone.

For now, Iwata should stay until they find a suitable replacement that also doesn't want to move towards smart phones.

Wii U will be successful if Nintendo makes enough money off of it. Looking long term rather than short term will make them more successful. If they drop the Wii U now, they lose tons of money and tons of consumer trust.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

Management needs to be turned around while training new blood to replace them once they retire, not be booted out before their time.

Learn from history: Abandoning a console early is a dumb-f*ck idea. Sega found that out the hard way.

Third parties will only be valuable to Nintendo's future if they either 1: quick screwing up their ports on the system, or 2: start doing more exclusives built around the system.
There's no middle ground and no alternatives. Nintendo fans won't open their wallets en mass for third parties any other way, because those are the only ways trust will be restored between third parties and the fan base.

More online multiplayer would be a positive, yes.

The game pad IS a real controller.
Only dumb-f*ck haters can't observe that it has all the same buttons and triggers that every other controller has, at this point.
The screen is an additional option that offers improvements to games, not drastic game-breaking interference in everything it does.
If anything, it's being criminally underused, and should be better implemented by all parties concerned, because it does things no other standard out-of-the-box controller can emulate the same way.

And as to the success of the Wii U, it's sales are on an upswing and will likely keep on improving once Smash releases, not to mention Hyrule Warriors and Bayonetta 1 and 2.
No amount of downvotes by delusional doom-artists is going to change that.

[Sheed]

If nintnedo does go in a new direction, i hope they try to appeal more to hardcore gamers.
Now, i'm not asking for them to pump out an FPS every 2 months like it's competitors.
I just want them to stop pushing this casual crap down our throats with a constant barrage of pre-school commercials and marketing schemes.
It makes the console come of as juvenile.

[ELpork]

Sounds like he wants to keep the people that still love Nintendo stuff happy, by making them their focus... Strange.

[Systemshock2]

100$ wiiu without region lock could save wiiu now, else
both wiiu and iwata will go down the drain.

[Realplaya]

I love how these sites generate hits for traffic. Hey what can we do to get people to visit our site hmmmm I know take a shot at Iwata because they just released financials showing a operating loss. People stop giving these journalist this attention. They just voted Iwata in and it wasn't by a slim Margin. To show I am not talking out my arse here is what google search turned up Iwata's rating has risen from 77.26% to 80.64% this year.

Also this article is bringing up a old article it was already known that some inside wanted Nintendo to go smart phone and this individual or individuals also don't know what video games are so how did this become news?
It's because it's easy to take shots at Nintendo while there down.

FYI everyone I am going to go on a limb and say that the only way Nintendo developed software is published by Nintendo and appears on a smartphone is the day Nintendo creates a handheld that has Mobile phone abilities.

[Emme]

Oh boy, so much hate and bs, why dont all of You go an open a business that lasts as long as Nintendo ? I love my Wii You and the gamepad, and I love the different approach Nintendo takes.
I also hate the fact that MS did what most of You ask from Nintendo: give in to the masses, kick the Kinect, kneel before Zod. Nintendo sells enough games on 3Ds, Wii and Wii U considering the hardware. If MS sells 15 million Forzas is still a lower attach rate than Mario Kart has. The Last of Us sales pale in comparison with New Super Marios Brothers U.The next Nintendo machine will reign supreme again.

[linkenski]

As much as I'd hate to see Nintendo just go mainstream and do mobile games and sell out and all, I think we can all agree Iwata has been very conservative. It might be holding the company back very seriously. It could be their doom in 10 years or so unless they really do have a trump card.

[MultiConsoleGamer]

I can say with %100 certainty that this story is a huge load of crap.

[juaburg91]

I wonder how trustworthy these claims are?

[masterfox]

Please Understand!

Please buy Nintedogs Benny

[qzp]

iwata is love iwata is life

[jairusmonillas]

Nintendo needs to adapt to the latest technology. Replicating Wii's success won't be as easy as making irrelevant controllers like Wii U's tablet controller (a big joke)

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

You do realize that it has all the same buttons and triggers as other controllers, right?
You've effectively just called all standard controller set-ups irrelevant.
If your reason for bitching is the screen, that's irrelevant, as it provides the opportunity for more gameplay options and off-screen play right out of the box, as well as asymmetrical multiplayer.
You're just too stuck on the old to give the new a fair review.

[madjedi]

It's more likely your too enamoured by you love of nintendo and their i need to be different for the sake of being different regardless of whether it helps or hurts the brand. Not everyone shares your opinion.

If people view something as a waste of resources it isn't because that old dog is stuck in his way and can't adapt to new technology.

It's because despite you and other nintendo fans talking it up like the second coming of christ, it's not particularly impressive or useful to alot of people.

It is a expensive controller with a piss poor screen in it, i have a good size hdtv.

It is a impractical and unnecessary extra expenditure to me that only raises the price of getting a wii u when the time is right for me.

The console market looks dead in japan and mobile is slowly eating the handheld market, hopefully nintendo has a backup plan.

[marloc_x]

Dat forehead..

[LightDiego]

I bet you never used the Wiipad controller.

[imXify]

Looking at the comments here. People pretty much has mixed feelings about Iwata, no doubts.

[mii-gamer]

Last time I checked the board of nintendo was comprised of Iwata yes men.

Completely bogus in my opinion

[CouldHaveYelledUiiW]

The idea that some one in the Nintendo Company is displeased and schemes against Iwata is probably 100% right, even if this story is Bogus.

That's like picking-out a random person and saying somebody in the world wants what you have- this would probably apply to most anybody.

[ozstar]

Give it to Sakurai

[V0LT]

Corporate face or not I would like to see Reggie ousted as well. I think Nintendo needs refreshed just a bit.

[Zjet]

I embrace all consoles and own all of the core platforms so not a Nintendo Fanboy by any means.

But DO NOT release Nintendo games on Smartphones. Yes Economically it will skyrocket however quality will drop why? inconsistency and Controls

Touch screens are horrible period, there is no feasible way to replicate accurate responsive controls to a touch screen.

Android can play games yes, but its so inconsistant, i can have a high end Asus tablet but it won't play a android game that works on my single core Samsung phone? why?

IOS at least unifies everything, every App that works on an old Gen 1 Touch will work on the new ipod touch or ipad or iphone....but still problems

DO NOT RELEASE NINTENDO SOFTWARE ON CELL PHONES it will just hurt the brand.

Yes Nintendo needs to change things up. but they need to push the games harder and change their strategies.

Virtual console games are far to high in price. Why am i paying $12.50 NZD for a SNES game? sell them for $5 i guarantee you would have greater sales numbers, Customers are more likely to buy 2-3 at a time at that pricing.

Also why has Nintendo not released the classic Pokemon games on the 3DS eShop? ....it would print money

perfect way to promote the upcoming Pokemon Ruby Saphire remakes, release Red and Blue and Silver and Gold as downloads......

Isn't that obvious?

Pokemon Snap 2 for Wii U.......isn't it obvious?

[Iamnemesis4880]

Would love to see again Nintendo leading the way like they used to. Can see it if they get a console that is the same power as the XB one or ps4.

[fatneal]

i think iwata should have the rest of this gen to show and prove why hes still the man for the job. people are quick to forget all hes done over the years. if you really think about it, it seems like hes doing bad because its in comparison to wii numbers. if we looked at a graph that showed the last 10 years it will show a decline but thats what happens when you strike gold. going from 100 million wii's sold and 150 million ds's sold to 7 million wiiUs and 45 million 3ds of course it looks like nintendo has lost their way or whatever. the share holders are only concerned with the numbers and imo lack perspective.

iwata admitted that he doesnt fully understand the western market so i think they should allow him to finish this gen with his job and prove hes still an asset.

[NYC_Gamer]

It's not just Iwata but the whole Nintendo could use a big shake up