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David Jaffe: Iwata "Has Earned The Right to Fail"
- Thread starter maxcriden
- Start date
alf717
Member
I came in expecting another person bashing Iwata and instead it turned into a decent read. Sometimes you fall but you have to pick yourself back and up learn why you fell in the first place. Wii U needs a 180. The consoles hardware is fine the way it is but making the changes customers want will help them in the long run even if the console stays third tier all gen long showing improvement should help them in the long run. Unified accounts where your games follow your account and purchases that are cross platform compatible would be a great step forward. Still waiting for the day to transfer my Wii data to Wii U without having to bother with $1 - $1.50 upgrade and can just use the new features. I'll always be rooting for Nintendo they can fix this mess they just have to keep at it.
if Steve Jobs was still alive he had earnt it imo
Road of Ease
Member
That's a good point actually. I agree with him.
SolarPowered
Member
N64 showed they at least understood the appeal of western game development and GC showed that they at least had to move on from cartridges, but both efforts weren't quite enough. Wii and beyond have just been an outright rejection of what the industry pushes and believes in for better or worse. Wii U has clearly turned out for the worst. The brick wall turned into some sort of six inch thick steel.
LiquidSolid
Member
WTF? What's Cerny got to do with anything? He's never even been a Sony employee (he's a contractor), let alone upper management or CEO. Kutaragi is the equivalent to Iwata in this situation, not Cerny of all people.
Anyway, I disagree with Jaffe. Some failures are fine to overlook, like the 3DS (which is doing well but nowhere close to GBA or DS numbers) but major failures like the Wii U (or PS3) really show that things need to change. It's not like the Wii U came completely out of the blue either, Iwata let them fall so far behind Sony and Microsoft on the console front to chase casuals that they'll never catch up.
No, he really wasn't
That 6-person committee included Iwata, BTW. However:
Iwata's only hand in that was saying "okay" to it as the "executive director" of the board. It was Asada that saw the potential in using that in Nintendo's consoles and made/developed it with R&D for Iwata to okay.
kingkaiser
Member
Kaz is the guy behind the PSVita failure, and somehow nobody demands his head...
Pie and Beans
Look for me on the local news, I'll be the guy arrested for trying to burn down a Nintendo exec's house.
Jaffe one of the people that just lays the Wii success at Iwata's feet, huh.
What Nintendo needs is a bold CEO with an eye for global opportunity in the same way Yamauchi totally did. When you realise DS and Wii were still Yamauchi influenced, and 3DS and WiiU were Iwata's first rodeos with no influence, the bigger picture becomes pretty clear.
Sure, Iwata's failed 3DS launch we could all just brush under the carper and go "whoops, lessons learned." But to then repeat the exact same mistakes on an even grander scale with the WiiU is when the "ah, this guy is no good is he?" sentiment should set in.
What Nintendo needs is a bold CEO with an eye for global opportunity in the same way Yamauchi totally did. When you realise DS and Wii were still Yamauchi influenced, and 3DS and WiiU were Iwata's first rodeos with no influence, the bigger picture becomes pretty clear.
Sure, Iwata's failed 3DS launch we could all just brush under the carper and go "whoops, lessons learned." But to then repeat the exact same mistakes on an even grander scale with the WiiU is when the "ah, this guy is no good is he?" sentiment should set in.
I agree with this and I fear Nintendo is going to learn the wrong lesson from it, what with Iwata's statement about rethinking Nintendo's business structure. A major part of the problem plaguing Nintendo is that they haven't been able to match the feature set that people take for granted on rival systems such as online services and they've completely neglected the importance of third parties.
Many people don't even consider them contenders with the other two consoles anymore, more likely than not, Wii and Wii U are viewed as a companion console to play Nintendo stuff. When the public fails to buy their hardware on their strengths and unique feature set alone, they've got nothing to fall back on.
Many people don't even consider them contenders with the other two consoles anymore, more likely than not, Wii and Wii U are viewed as a companion console to play Nintendo stuff. When the public fails to buy their hardware on their strengths and unique feature set alone, they've got nothing to fall back on.
DerZuhälter
Member
If you go public you have no right to fail.
Canis lupus
Member
Yep, but ultimately the PS3 will sell anywhere between 90 to 100m in the end. Thats like a 2/3 of PS2 install base. Wii U will be lucky to get 1/5 the install base of the Wii.
zomgbbqftw
Banned
No they aren't. Kutargi is gone, Phil Harrison is gone, David Reeves is gone. Andy, Shu and Jim are new additions to the SCE BoD since that era.
Possibly, but I don't think he had it within him to fail, and would have fallen on his sword if he did.
Vita is a fringe product for Sony as a company, additionally, it is still a profitable product and the ecosystem has been profitable from the outset. Portable gaming is a sideline for Sony.
Because a theme park is long-overdue?
LiquidSolid
Member
Some of the folks responsible for the PS3 are still there. Ken Kutaragi (SCE CEO), David Reeves (SCEE CEO) and Phil Harrison (SCEWWS president), to name a few of the most influential figures, are long gone. Jack Tretton, Andrew House and Shu Yoshida in particular were lower down the ladder at that point.
Why people are bringing this up, I have no idea. No-one's saying that they should fire the entire company, they're saying fire Iwata. He'd then be replaced by someone who has worked their way up the corporate ladder at Nintendo and hopefully understands why the Wii U was such a major failure.
H_Prestige
Banned
No they aren't. Completely different management and corporate philosophy at SCE now.
Regarding the topic, I don't think they should fire Iwata unless they know they can bring in someone who can make some real changes. If he's just replaced with Iwata #2, then it's pointless.
Pound_lb003
Member
Unusually considered for a Jaffe statement.
Jesus Dave, you used to be so hip and cool, you're sounding more and more like Geoff Keighley by the second.
Jesus Dave, you used to be so hip and cool, you're sounding more and more like Geoff Keighley by the second.
electroshockwave
Member
But at this point doesn't the Nintendo board pretty much entirely consist of Iwata picks? They're all part of the culture that resulted in the Wii U in the first place.
Nightengale
Member
I didn't know Nintendo was a private company owned by Iwata. /s
That's the only logic for a CEO of a public-listed company to have earned a 'right to fail.'
A million successes don't absolve a major failing. At most, Iwata has earned the right to ask for time to right his failures, but he has no right to fail.
That's the only logic for a CEO of a public-listed company to have earned a 'right to fail.'
A million successes don't absolve a major failing. At most, Iwata has earned the right to ask for time to right his failures, but he has no right to fail.
Whilst i agree to say he hadn't earnt it is nuts. He flipped the ENTIRE cell phone market on its head.
Apple has almost single handedly destroyed RIM and ten years ago if people said that blackberry would be in dire straights just a decade from then you would have laughed at them
walltowall
Member
Well......Jobs was fired from Apple and it wasn't until they couldn't recover that he came back.
We do have a tendency to get rid of the person in charge the minute there is a downturn but such is the fate of a public company.
OmegaDL50
Member
Yep, I've said this before but Iwata as CEO made more money overall for Nintendo comparatively to what he's lost.
I just figure I put that angle to consider as it's the normal knee jerk reaction to usually focus on ones failures to represent their character in whole.
shadowsdarknes
Member
But has he earned the right to design a new console? Because it won't be long until they are balls deep in a new console design.
I agree he has the right to be at the helm of the Wii u, but there is an inherent risk allowing him to design the next console when a new change in leadership could be necessary.
I agree he has the right to be at the helm of the Wii u, but there is an inherent risk allowing him to design the next console when a new change in leadership could be necessary.
abstract alien
Member
The right to a second chance, sure. As a leader, you do not have the right to fail, regardless of how successful you have been. That success is in the past. What you can do today or tomorrow, is what matters.
m.i.s.
Banned
Good answer.
I just looked at Aquamarine's Nintendo Board Of Directors thread.
Good lord!! This company is s******.
enanogrande
Member
The only 'problem' I have with this, and with Iwata in general, is not the fact that he failed but how he failed. A mistake like putting 3D in the 3DS, thus driving up the cost for a mostly unwanted gimmick that did nothing to help sales, is a mistake I can live with. But the whole clulessness associated with the conception, launch and life to date of the Wii U is pretty inexcusable.
That said, he sure said a lot of right things yesterday, something I didn't see coming from him. Whether or not that translates into actions going forward is something yet to be seen.
That said, he sure said a lot of right things yesterday, something I didn't see coming from him. Whether or not that translates into actions going forward is something yet to be seen.
Nightengale
Member
If someone told you that there is a Magical CEO X that will be able to do better than Iwata and Steve Job at their best/most profitable points to their respective companies, would you fire those CEOs who had, before that, contributed so much to the compay?
Or would you keep those CEOs around out of some sentimentality and appreciation of past deeds/contributions? And forfeit the opportunity to push the business to new heights with Magical CEO X?
Asking Iwata to resign, is imo, a knee-jerk reaction at this point. But he cannot be absolved solely because he previously made so much money for the company that it's 'acceptable' for him to lose some.
Hey, Shibata's great!
Pyramid head
Banned
Nobody has "the right to fail". What does that even mean? I don't believe that past success automatically and preemptively absolve you against future failures. I mean, the Wii was a pretty huge hit. How many failed consoles does that buy him protection against?
What Iwata does have however, is an obligation to fix the Wii U. Or at least look like he's putting some degree of effort into the task.
What Iwata does have however, is an obligation to fix the Wii U. Or at least look like he's putting some degree of effort into the task.
From a gamer point of view? Yeah ok. By not delivering on games year after year and constantly apologizing for it?
He said the Wii wouldn't have a drought problem like the GC.
He said the 3DS wouldn't have a drought problem like the Wii.
He said the Wii U wouldn't have a drought problem like the Wii and 3DS.
When we do get games, it's a bunch of rehashes or mediocre ones. I don't see why we should give him a pass for failure when he isn't taking any risks for us. Where's that AAA new IP from one of the main teams nintendo? From a gamer point of view we can criticize all we want.
He said the Wii wouldn't have a drought problem like the GC.
He said the 3DS wouldn't have a drought problem like the Wii.
He said the Wii U wouldn't have a drought problem like the Wii and 3DS.
When we do get games, it's a bunch of rehashes or mediocre ones. I don't see why we should give him a pass for failure when he isn't taking any risks for us. Where's that AAA new IP from one of the main teams nintendo? From a gamer point of view we can criticize all we want.
HocusPocus
Member
Speaking of Disney buying Nintendo, that would be a great partnership for sure. I'd like to see their games on other platforms as I don't purchase their hardware. I understand their fanbase and those that are worried about them losing their magic if they didn't have their own hardware to work off of, but for me that would be great to have the chance to play some of their titles.
H_Prestige
Banned
You could have said the same about Kutaragi. Was it a mistake to let him go?
Kutaragi's failure could be salvaged. Iwata's are a total face plant.
NeededSleep
Member
He kinda fallowed the global trends right with the wiiu and 3ds. Just he released the product s when the trends were going out and onto something else.
The board will probably give him a chance to correct this. But if it stays the same by the end of the year probably forced resignation.
But what do I know. Japan is wierd with its buisness practices ie: SE.
The board will probably give him a chance to correct this. But if it stays the same by the end of the year probably forced resignation.
But what do I know. Japan is wierd with its buisness practices ie: SE.
TatteredHat
Member
It all depends on what Nintendo does next, it'll show everyone what they've actually learned from the Wii U.
Kutaragi screwed up but in the end he still made a great console. He didn't screw that up, the important thing. WiiU is a flawed product that they are stuck with now for years to come.
DragonSworne
Banned
The type of faiure Jaffe is referencing in not the type of failure Iwata and Nintendo are eexperiening.
Nintendo is facing failure due to lack of clear vision, lack of clear message, and lack of clear direction.
Nintendo is not failing becaue their idea is different, they are failing because they no idea.
Nintendo is facing failure due to lack of clear vision, lack of clear message, and lack of clear direction.
Nintendo is not failing becaue their idea is different, they are failing because they no idea.
Iwata defenders will latch onto anything, won't they?
zomgbbqftw
Banned
Agreed. The PS3 was still a viable product despite the cost and it's shortcomings. Wii U is not. The new management who came in had something to work with, that wouldn't be the case for anyone who comes into salvage the Wii U.
RoombaDance
Member
That sounds reasonable. I don't know how much the new Pixar-run Disney has changed since the 2000-era sequelitis, but they showed an ability to milk their franchises dry. Not exactly what Nintendo needs right now.
I'm pretty sure they just retired a significant chunk of their board and brought in "new" faces.
When Steve Jobs came back to Apple, the first thing he did was cut every program that wasn't working, and redesign and reintroduce the ones that were working.
That's what's needed at Nintendo. You dump the Wii U now and take the hit. They can coast on the 3DS until the new successor hybrid console/tablet is ready.