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NOA and NOE must be extremely frustrating to work for
- Thread starter Mcjmetroid
- Start date
I'm sure some people would think the same about the Gamecube controller too, the reason the Switch has this layout is because of the Joycons functioning as separate controllers, if they were symmetrical, they would not function as separate controllers do to the right joycon having its analog on the right side of the joycon, though it would be easier and more out of the way on the Switch, to have it's right joycon with the analog above the action buttons.
As people have pointed out, Sony's decision to include more western leadership/direction at the beginning of the PS4 generation has produced incredible dividends. Nintendo should do the same in order to figure out an online strategy that won't perpetually disappoint people.
I think the problem is the top of NoA not Nintendo of Japan. I obviously can't prove it, but just the way NoA often presents itself, including Reggie despite how nice he is, I feel they depict Nintendo as this super clean "we're for everybody" company and the only time I don't get this overtly family friendly vibe from the company is when Nintendo of JAPAN shows us something new, think Xenoblade Chronicles X for example.
Like, the latest Directs when presenting Diablo III Reaper of Souls. They do it in this kid-friendly tone. Their format and voice over for it doesn't work whenever something "atypical" Nintendo shows up IMO, and it primarily comes from the way NoA presents themselves.
Like, the latest Directs when presenting Diablo III Reaper of Souls. They do it in this kid-friendly tone. Their format and voice over for it doesn't work whenever something "atypical" Nintendo shows up IMO, and it primarily comes from the way NoA presents themselves.
Here's the one about friend codes...
http://www.siliconera.com/2017/01/16/nintendo-switch-wont-friend-codes-reggie-steady-pacing-content/
Honestly I prefer Nintendo's Japanese focus over Sony's American focus.
Mainly because I prefer Japanese games to western AAA ones. It feels like Sony is ashamed of their Japanese origin so they focus exclusively on making and marketing games that will appeal to Americans. I think Nintendo has a much better balence of international appeal and Japanese-y games.
Mainly because I prefer Japanese games to western AAA ones. It feels like Sony is ashamed of their Japanese origin so they focus exclusively on making and marketing games that will appeal to Americans. I think Nintendo has a much better balence of international appeal and Japanese-y games.
I'm guessing they're just worried that the wants and needs of other people around the world aren't met. With communication between regions that wouldn t be happening. Frustrating to try voicing your concerns from America knowing they will never be addressed.
After all, most of their sales come from the rest of the world. The whole online and app fiasco definitely gives a good example. Seems like people in Japan don't care so much about it.
But you are assuming that NoA's response would be different from Japan's
There's no telling but are you not similarly assuming their response wouldn't be different? The app, voice chat, etc. doesn't seem to be much of a complaint in Japan. In fact the app is rated pretty highly there last time i remember, thats all ive got to go off of though.
Just saying itd be in a company's best interest to take feedback. Maybe it's just Nintendo. They're known to make really weird decisions
Sony PlayStation / SIE practically is a western company nowadays with Sony Japan / Japan Studios being more of a subsidiary rather than an equal entity within their corporate structure. I'd rather have Nintendo stay the way they are than lose their seemingly more Japanese craziness, which makes them so unique.
Sony's shift to be more western certainly is a step backward rather than forward to me, but that's just my opinion.
Its not like a European branch of an American company has complete freedom for decision making.
Almost all MNEs are controlled through HQ, with different level of autonomy in marketing and local strategy.
Almost all MNEs are controlled through HQ, with different level of autonomy in marketing and local strategy.
Is this a technicality since the friend code is tied to your account instead of the system itself?
I know what you mean, OP. But I don't think it'd be smart to pull what Sony did, either. Nintendo's perspective is incredibly unique and it's a pro, not a con. But with things like the online service, NoA have to know that certain changes would make it way more enticing.
The Direct came off like Nintendo thinks the features are to die for, when literally everyone cringed instead. NoA probably were too lol.
But as others have said, I'm sure it's also not as simple as:
NoA: "They want Gamecube games"
NCL: "We'll put NES games on it"
It's probably more like
NoA: "They want Gamecube games"
NCL: "That'll take some time."
NoA: "Can we at least tell them that they're coming?"
NCL: "No."
The Direct came off like Nintendo thinks the features are to die for, when literally everyone cringed instead. NoA probably were too lol.
But as others have said, I'm sure it's also not as simple as:
NoA: "They want Gamecube games"
NCL: "We'll put NES games on it"
It's probably more like
NoA: "They want Gamecube games"
NCL: "That'll take some time."
NoA: "Can we at least tell them that they're coming?"
NCL: "No."
I was going to say look at the contrast between how Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan and America work together on PlayStation (didn't Mark Cerny design most of the PS4?) and how Nintendo of Japan and America work together, or don't work together.
Nope, because the menagement is totally different.
With friend codes, you and your friend must share the numeric code one each other, then wait a certain amount of time to be connected together.
Now we have an account numeric code (nickname agnostic, so you can have a popular one too), you Can add your friend in a lot of different modes, and he needs only to press "ok" at your request.
It's the same to say that a parrot and an Eagle are the same because both are birds.
Oh I see. I don't have any friends on switch so I was unaware of how it worked lol
I think they're perfectly alright, so long as their colleagues are nice, the environmemt is good, and perks are great. It's just a job.
This is why you should never care about Reggie. He has no power over what gets made. He's like an import car dealer. I doubt he even has much say in localizations.
I feel the same. I don't like how Sony is using western games as their biggest first party projects, I don't enjoy them nearly as much as their Japanese first-party projects (Bloodborne...).
I agree that Nintendo is doing lots of strange decisions regarding online play, save backups... but their first-party software is that good that I don't want them to change that much.
They must have some autonomy as wasn't it Nintendo of America that managed to make a deal with Bethesda to get Skyrim and Doom on the Switch? Plus Nintendo of America and Europe seem to have a great relationship with indie developers.
I think his point is not about the country by himself. The culture of work changes drastically by country. This can be see by watching the different contents in eshop, for example.
The gaming culture in Japan is different from other countries. As well Brazil, the biggest part of our players is about football games, PES, FIFA, so; they have market priority.
I think if NoA has more autonomy, things could be better... but I haven't so much predictions besides this one. If someone agree or disagree, pls, complement this.
Thanks a lot for the inside story. Sounds sensible overall actually.
Personally I just wish Nintendo wouldn't constantly retire old efforts (and essentially restart them later), but as you write the lack of development staff likely means they prefer to opt for new "fresh" development over constant maintenance.
I feel very strongly about the Japanese side of Nintendo being the dominant one, simply because their core philosophies have been nurtured at their Japanese offices over the years. It also balances out a predominantly American company like Microsoft. However, them being an international company comes with responsibilities towards their international audiences. What they offer in terms of online services is simply subpar compared to most other companies out there. Sony is a pretty good example here. The relative failure of the PS3 prompted a company shake up that led to products made based on merit and not tradition. They are the most balanced of the three and consequently the most successful right now.
Nintendo would stand to expand the competencies of NoA and NoE. I doubt the online system would exist as is if the other two branches had more of a say in the matter.
Nintendo would stand to expand the competencies of NoA and NoE. I doubt the online system would exist as is if the other two branches had more of a say in the matter.
OP
OP
Well put I agree 100%. Sony just seem to have this almost mastered. They have their stubborn moments as we all know but still.
As someone who has worked for a big Japanese gaming company, I can tell you that it's super frustrating but very rewarding at the same time.
Sometimes, they all know that the decision they have taken is wrong, and is going to spiral into worse: but someone out there, or a partner, or an exec have decided that and you have to roll with it.
What also happens very regularly:
So yeah. It's frustrating.
Sometimes, they all know that the decision they have taken is wrong, and is going to spiral into worse: but someone out there, or a partner, or an exec have decided that and you have to roll with it.
What also happens very regularly:
- internal politics
- old school management
- tunnel visioning on one idea (ie "protecting kids")
- internal stuff that can't be revealed because it will create a huge mess in terms of image so you just pretend otherwise
So yeah. It's frustrating.
NoA is just translation and marketing. They really don't have any authority or power to do much else. It's sad, but I understand it's the same idea with Disney and how they operate. But then again Disney does allow other countries to produce their own shows and content under their approval. Maybe Nintendo needs to build their own Studio in Europe and America?
How long has the PS4 been out?
How long has the Switch been out?
Referring to your comment about the reason why Sony is most succesful.
(My X which I like has gone on unused for a good long while now and have bought even less for it so I'll Ieave Microsoft out of this)
NOA and NOE are perfectly competent. NOJ needs to release some control and allow for more input from their international wings.
Good post OP. I don't know if it is about NOA or NOE having more power. That is an interesting question because at the end of the day Nintendo is a Japanese company that has branches. NOA or NOE are parts of a whole and that whole is Japenese founded and operated and the situation is different than Sony because Sony is a multi-media company and PlayStation is a branch of that. Nintendo is just games. Perrin Kaplan would talk about this a lot back in the day. It is a strange situation and the solution is complicated.
I still don't understand why Nintendo can't just have a normal friend system like every other system on the planet. This isn't asking for much lol.
Unless you're a shareholder or employee sitting in on these meetings and receiving communications, I don't see how you could possibly consider this reasonable insight into their collective operations.
Besides, is it really that much of an issue that a Japanese company has full control over its foreign branches? Do people say the same thing about American businesses that operate overseas?
Besides, is it really that much of an issue that a Japanese company has full control over its foreign branches? Do people say the same thing about American businesses that operate overseas?
Yeah but then how will I applaud them for having the courage to be different?
If anybody is blatantly guilty of fanboying, it's the crowd that handwaves literally any problem away as insignificant lest somebody dare say something could be improved with their console of choice.
When, in 2018, a US$300 current-gen video game console doesn't let me message a friend, that's incompetence.
When I can't voice chat with a party without a ridiculous smartphone workaround, that's incompetence.
When adding somebody involves copying a million random digits like it's the mid 90s and we're using ICQ, that's incompetence.
When digital game sharing is possible on PSN, XBL, and Steam, but not on Switch, that's negligent.
Having no Ethernet jack on the dock, thus forcing me into a separate purchase for an acceptable online experience, is plain greedy.
When they say "GAMES FIRST!" as a cop-out for not having even the most basic apps on their store (where's Netflix? Twitch? YouTube? Plex?), painting a false dichotomy where having one impedes the other, that's silly and intellectually dishonest.
When a first party, online focused game like Splatoon won't support cloud saves because *they store your rank on the client side*, it's literally beyond my comprehension.
I happen to own a Switch because, like PlayStation, it's a great exclusives box. I feel I got my money's worth because of the great software catalog. But this doesn't mean I'll hand wave these glaring, frankly astonishing omissions just because I like Mario and Zelda.
The bar they need to meet isn't Sony's or Microsoft's - it's the consumers'. Sadly, blind fanboyism gets in the way of gamers expecting decent service, and instead they make ridiculous bootlicking excuses for multi billion corporations milking them. It's why you'll find people defending Sony's insolent stance on crossplay and backwards compatibility, or Microsoft's requiring a paid subscription for F2P online games. Or Nintendo's...yeah that list might be too long.
Honestly, expect better. Don't pull mental gymnastics to post excuses as rhetoric.