Nintendo embraces user-created content

Reggie Fils-Aime touts a slate of titles designed to let gamers make and share things with others; Wii Fit dubbed an "evergreen" hit.

Nintendo prides itself on its "blue ocean" strategy of innovating rather than imitating, but the Wii and DS maker is finding itself eager to hop aboard the recent trend of user-generated content. In a presentation at today's BMO Capital Markets Interactive Entertainment Conference, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said user-created content was--along with woes in the greater economy--a primary factor shaping the game industry.

"If you're in the entertainment business, any form of entertainment, this is the game-changer," Fils-Aime said, adding, "The era of passive entertainment is waning, and active entertainment is literally where the action is."

Fils-Aime stressed how important it was for games with creation tools to allow users to share their work with others, and noted a number of upcoming Nintendo titles, going into some detail with Animal Crossing: City Folk on the Wii. Fils-Aime also touted the Japanese release Band Bros. Deluxe, which allows users to create and share their own music for the rhythm game.

The company's future slate also includes a number of other titles with a focus on user-created content. In addition to the previously announced DS title Wario Ware Myself, Fils-Aime brought up Girls' Mode--in which players can design clothes and run a fashion store--and DSi Design Moving Notepad, a virtual doodle pad and flipbook animation program using the latest iteration of the handheld hardware.

Regardless of how those titles fare, Nintendo is counting on continued sales of its "evergreen" titles, games like Brain Age and Nintendogs, which the publisher believes can continue to sell steadily month in and month out. Fils-Aime tentatively added to that list today, saying the company's sales data suggest Balance-Board-equipped Wii Fit may be deserving of the evergreen title.

While he couldn't speak authoritatively regarding the industry-tracking NPD Group's October sales figures (expected to be released later today), Fils-Aime said he believes Wii Fit is the only game in the US to sell through at least 475,000 copies in three separate months of 2008, and has generated more money than either (but not both) the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 edition of Grand Theft Auto IV.

17 Comments

  • flawless_blade

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 5:47 pm PT

    hm... i want... good games with plenty of customization. not just like, photoshop on the ds.

  • metalgeekguy

    Posted Nov 18, 2008 7:15 pm PT

    you know, if I wanted to make my games, id apply for a job. I don't play games to make my own content and I'm really getting sick of so many companies focusing on it. Am I the only one here?

  • norabbitnofun

    Posted Nov 16, 2008 2:54 am PT

    Just give me an Advance Wars title with truely suer-creatable levels that includes triggers to create scenario / campaign video clips, and we will rock the tactical night until 2015. :-)

  • ftjx

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 12:43 pm PT

    though I do agree with all of your comments I must say that I respect this company even more than Apple Inc.

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:54 am PT

    FRIEND CODES ARE TERRIBLE, AND WII FIT IS SHALLOW, WII HAS TOO MANY 3RD PARTY CRAP, THIS IS NOT WHAT I HAD IN MY MIND WHEN THE 'REVOLUTION' CAME OUT

  • yboucher

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:42 am PT

    Alright, so "evergreen" is his new buzzword...

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:24 am PT

    So now we can get more lame "3rd party" attempts at games. Because the market isn't full of those.....

  • trollkind

    Posted Nov 14, 2008 12:46 am PT

    Nintendo missed the bus and they were the ones barking about becoming the kings of user created content with their Wii release. I really expected some genius and easy to use game making software which they hide until hardware release.
    Now there's Little Big Planet and Far Cry 2 has a great level editor that is tailored for the console market, Home is around the bend and Microsoft steals the Mii idea. N really needs to get going if they want to catch up and become true to their promises.

  • Mangafan2

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 5:15 pm PT

    Millions of Mii's
    owned

  • BRAWLL posted Nov 13, 2008 3:37 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BRAWLL

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 3:37 pm PT (hide)

    lol... wow i see Nintendo trying to have a game with generated user content like HALO 3, Little Big Planet and Far CRy 2

  • chibi-acer

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 3:33 pm PT

    I love Wii Fit. I play 30 minutes 4-5 days a week, and have lost (and kept off!) about 20 pounds. IMO, it's way more fun than going to the gym.

  • kkkkknaruto

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 3:03 pm PT

    did he jus compare wii fit to gta 4? is that legal?

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    I wonder if I can create the Flight of the Conchords theme with Band Bros.? Whoa! That was off topic.

    Back on topic, sounds like Band Bros. is going for another casual thing. I see bashings at Ninty going for that pretty soon.

  • 1357900

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:42 pm PT

    I absolutely hate friend codes. They'd be useful, only if N were to implement a parent/child access rights type of functionality w/ their hardware/software, much like w/ XP you must be an administrator account to install/uninstall programs, etc.

  • Marcster1994

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:15 pm PT

    We need active entertainment like something that keeps you moving.
    I hope Band Bros. will better than Wii Music. Anyways we have to and see

  • Genexi2

    Posted Nov 13, 2008 2:13 pm PT

    More fun to share things when you don't have to get Friend Codes involved. But I guess that way Nintendo doesn't have to worry about moderating content a la LittleBigPlanet's current community uproar.

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