Prime Minister Encourages Japan to Learn from Nintendo

Things may not be stellar lately at Nintendo, but today the company received a very special kind of endorsement, directly from Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

[WizzroSupreme]

Yup. Even Japan admits it now. If only NA and Europe could too.

[porkChop]

Huh? Japan admits what?

All he said is that Nintendo was able to protect its original business by taking a risk with a new business.

[PoSTedUP]

i think he might have meant that japan admits that they may be losing more and more of their traditions due to their huge technological advances over time [and instead should try and Preserve them with technology, like nintendo did]. and US and EU should admit that, too, and do the same. bc face it, technology is runing the US as far as how this country was created in the first place. were all becoming mindless drones that dont care/wont go out of our way to stand up for whats right, and instead somehow feel like getting angry over the internet is going to make a difference. its worse than the roman empire (they fell because ppl stopped caring and were more focused on coliseum games), and nowadays its worse bc ppl dont even have to go to a [football] game to be distracted from whats actually hapoening around them, technology makes it 100x easier to be distracted thus 100x worse.

technology allows rich ppl to manipulate smart ppl (and dumb ppl) to get richer. it also makes life easier and arguably more enjoyable, but more often misleads the average person from the real truth, imo.

sorry for the rant, maybe a little of topic here...

the prime minister was talking about peserving its traditions through technology (imo) instead of letting them die with technology. i think US and EU (hell, everybody) should focus on trying to do that.

[iamnsuperman]

Admit what though? I am confused. What I am getting from this is that Nintendo changed its old ways by embracing something new through technology (from cards to video games) and so Japan needs to do that too (which in tern could still protect their identity which is what Nintendo did with embracing a new angle which saved their old angle).

edit: Here is the quote as you didn't read it
"For instance, there’s a certain company named Nintendo. They used to make Hanafuda playing cards, but the popularity of said cards has dropped over time. However the company named Nintendo could not protect their Hanafuda cards business by doing just that......They developed top-notch video game consoles with the help of technology, and that allowed them to protect their traditional Hanafuda cards at the same time. I think there’s a point to be learned from that."

[cleft5]

While I am huge fan of progression and new technology, I firmly believe in preserving the past as well. I don't think it has to be one or the other, but rather that one can help enhance the other. I think Nintendo, despite their missteps, have done a good job of doing this with their company.

I think this is particularly important when you talk about a Digital only future. You have some people so focused on living in the future that they are throwing away all of the good stuff that we have right now today. Things like backwards compatibility and disk based content. I want the future to come, I just want to make sure when we get to the future we haven't lost our gaming roots based on things that might be better.

[XiSasukeUchiha]

Japan admit this, we definitely know that Nintendo is needed and wanted now more than ever!

[Run_bare]

If Japan follow in the footsteps of Nintendo, i will be worry.

[Dan_scruggs]

Why? Right now Nintendo is worth more than Sony.

http://metro.co.uk/2014/01/...

[Baccra17]

Why so Japan can sink into the ocean? In many ways they have already learned from Nin, look at the brilliant way they cleaned up Japan after Fukushima. Time for Japan to pick a better role model.

[KonsoruMasuta]

Nintendo is sinking? Oh, that must be why they are still hiring employees and buying offices while... ahem... "other" companies are firing people and selling off buildings.

[MadLad]

I don't normally agree with you but, well said.

[PoSTedUP]

cleaned up japan after fukushima? im pretty sure it is still a mess and japan has admitted that it has been dumping radioactive waste into the pacific ocean everyday for over two years...

edit: ok, it was sarcasm. i jumped the gun, sorry.

BUT. japan CAN learn from nintendo as far as preserving the past and traditions with technology (thus improving both traditions and the present) by using technology to stray away from nuclear energy and preventing something like fukushima from ever happening again. and i think you would agree with that, imo.

[RPG_Lover]

Nintendo is the most successful Game developer, not only in Japan but worldwide. They are growing, a high moral company. lots to like and emulate.

[mydyingparadiselost]

JapaU confirmed.

[Rustynail]

Nintendo is in trouble.

[MadLad]

They aren't.
They are a financially sound company. Even with the Wii U.

The one with the lofty future is Sony, even with the success that is the PS4 at the moment.

[Rustynail]

They are bombing with Wii U, they are losing money on it, they are running out of new and fresh ideas, they are getting buried by the new consoles, they are getting terrible third party support which just gets worser and worser. Heck even if a developer made games for PC or Windows Phone more money could be earn.

[Metallox]

Financially getting in trouble, nope. Although they have been losing money the last years, they still have a lot of money in the bank, and they have the 3DSmoney printer.

Running out of new ideas, in some ways, yes, but they still can make wonderful games, refreshing them in a way. Look at Super Mario 3D World and Pikmin 3.

No 3rd party support. Yes, but they don't need it. Still, thanks to those Ninty fans that make this possible.

[Dan_scruggs]

No Sony is in trouble.

Last year Nintnedo lost 366 million.

Sony lost 1.1 billion.

You can do math can't you?

[tinkypop]

Din't d Sony sale 2building for 2.2 billion in 2013?

[franwex]

@above. The sold the building AND STILL LOST MONEY dude.

[CouldHaveYelledUiiW]

Nintendo has existed since the late 1800's-
-think about that- 1800's

So, yeah
Hate them or love them -
But Give them their Props.

[GamersHeaven]

Nintendo has always been a great company they are still here that says alot.

[CaptainN]

And Nintendo is about to do it again with their Quality Of Life division that they are creating...it will be another business venture that will help them to continue to mkae money in other areas!

[Shinobi100]

So Japan is going to destroy itself by taking its most revered resource (Zelda) and leave it in a state of limbo so know one knows when the next entry is coming out. Then it's going to take its flagship resource (Mario) and release an updated version that looks and feels identical to a much smaller version and less innovative version that was released prior (3DS version of Super Mario 3D). THEN it's going to take it's online service and release primitive handheld games on it (ok, there's no way to correlate that to the real world). THEN, Japan is going to take it's top internal team and have them work on a project from 20 years ago (Retro & DKC). Yes, modeling yourself after Nintendo is the perfect way to succeed.

[franwex]

I believe the interpretation from Abe is: Japanese companies have been slow to adapt to changing times. If they were better at adapting to market trends they might be in better shape. So Japan will be in better shape. Nintendo has continuously adapted (for about 100 years) and because of it; they have prospered. At least that's how I perceived it.

The fact that the WiiU is not as successful as the ps4 or even the xbox1 is irrelevant. Companies as a WHOLE have to adapt to changing terms. If history is correct; Nintendo will adapt when necessary; and eventually survive (like maybe not even be in the gaming business if it is not viable anymore).

[Jazzuri]

What I actually love about nintendo is that they arent governed by change in the same way other companies are...

Nintendo F............k............g rock !

Im an old school gamer who doesnt give a toss about multiplayer gaming or social networking.

Stay strong, stay true and if u really love gaming as much as you say you do then go get a wii u, if u have one go get some games and support the big N.

[truechainz]

Funny because it is clear that Nintendo is being admired for their adaptability, which to some gamers nowadays is not something they believe represents Nintendo. But I'm sure it does. Since Nintendo has existed for years they have been in a number of industries and not just gaming. Everything thinks Nintendo is doomed, but in reality I think it is more likely that Nintendo will move completely into a new business before they would ever go 3rd party.