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Nintendo Insists It Is A Social Gaming Company
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata denied falling behind the social gaming wave in a recent investor call. He accomplished this impressive feat of cognitive gymnastics by defining social gaming in a…unique way.
"We have our roots in the playthings connecting people, as the company’s original business was playing cards. Therefore, we have always been aware of the human connections created by each of our products," Iwata said.
By Nintendo's definition, then, "social gaming" is "any entertainment that has involves any and all interpersonal relationships." Playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii with your wife? Social game! Showing off your Nintendogs to your older brother? Social game! Talking to your best friend about the ending of Twilight Princess? Social game!
Never mind that the rest of the world is connecting socially by actually playing games with each other online, sharing achievements, communicating through video chat, and in a hundred other ways that use the power of the Internet to create and reinforce interpersonal relationships.
Ah, but Nintendo has real social functionality built into its systems as well, according to Iwata. He pointed to "Networks beyond description created by your experiences of sharing the same place with someone or of visiting certain places and specifically provided by SpotPass and StreetPass."
Do I even need to point out the absurdity of comparing SpotPass and StreetPass to proper gaming network infrastructure that more than a handful of people actually use? Networks beyond description, indeed.
[via Gamasutra]
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