Jim Merrick on Nintendo’s European Assault
Alot of Euro gamers have a bit of a bone to pick when it comes to release dates. I know at least a few of you on this site have expressed your concerns. While this isnt a Nintendo only problem, the fact that Nintendo has so many exclusive games can make it seem that much worse. Anyway, Eurogamer sat down with Jim Merrick, head of Nintendo’s European marketing, to talk about the future of Nintendo in Europe.
One of the strategies that Nintendo is really aggressively employing is the more global strategy – it’s not to always assume that Europe is last, that Europe is months or years late on getting product. It’s a difficult thing to accomplish. We think that people don’t understand that adding seven languages to Animal Crossing does delay the game a bit… But that said, we are not going to be two years late, as we were with Animal Crossing on GameCube, on any other products.
Even last year, Zelda: Minish Cap launched first in Europe – before Japan, before the USA. We’re doing that increasingly, looking at where the best opportunities in the market are globally, not the assumption that it’ll be Japan, then US, then Europe.
And you know, from a practical standpoint, Europe is the only market that’s growing. Year on year we have phenomenal growth in Europe, and there’s tremendous potential here. Er, there. We’re here. You know what I mean! [Laughs]
UPDATE: All of you folks from Europe, take this survey from Nintendo of Europe and let them know what you think. You can also get a Game Boy Micro and Revolution wallpaper for completing it:
Nick - May 28th, 2005 - 
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