As 2014 draws to a close and we all prepare to open presents, consume lots of food and generally chill out over the Christmas period, it's the perfect time for Nintendo of Europe boss Satoru Shibata to deliver his end-of-year message to the faithful.
Shibata recaps on all of the amazing games we've seen during the past year, confirms that Tomodachi Life has sold over a million copies in Europe, mentions the forthcoming western launch of the New 3DS and expresses the hope that some of 2015's titles will "grab your heart" and make you "excited".
You can check out the full message below:
Hello everyone! This is Satoru Shibata from Nintendo of Europe.
I would like to thank you all for your continuous support of Nintendo throughout 2014!
Thank you as well for always watching our Nintendo Direct broadcasts. I didn't present them so often this year, but I still read all your many comments made during and after each Direct.
This year, I tried to attend as many game events and shows as I could, such as the Japan Expo in France, Gamescom in Germany, Milan Games Week, and Paris Games Week. In fact, I may even have spoken with some of you at these events! I like walking around game events and conventions like these, because I can really feel how much you all love Nintendo games.
I was glad to see that many people enjoyed playing Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta 2, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Even though I couldn't attend the Manga Fair in Spain, I was thrilled that Pokémon generated a lot of excitement there, and that the TV news programmes picked this up.
Those games all received high scores from users at Metacritic, and I recognised the 2014 Gamekult Awards in France, in which user votes put Super Smash Bros. for Wii U/Nintendo 3DS in first place, followed by Bayonetta 2 in second and Mario Kart 8 in third, while so many other games launched in 2014! These were all great Christmas presents for me from you!
Also Tomodachi Life, our little quirky title that I often enjoy playing myself, has sold more than a million copies in Europe. I’m happy that this unique and very Nintendo-like game has been enjoyed by so many consumers across Europe.
How was your life in gaming in 2014?
Next year, we will launch New Nintendo 3DS, which we know we have kept you waiting for. We will also release unique Nintendo games on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. I hope that some of those games will grab your heart and make you excited.
I look forward to meeting you in Nintendo Direct or somewhere at a game event in 2015.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas & Happy Gaming!
[source nintendo.co.uk]
Comments 17
erm, Satoru Shibata's speech makes it sound like MK8, Hyrule Warriors & Bayonetta 2 were 3DS games. Mind you bearing in mind NoE's complete lack of interest in promoting the WiiU maybe he thinks these were 3DS games?
@ThumperUK I somewhat get the same idea from this by the "for Nintendo 3DS" part, putting the Wii U version of Smash before the 3DS version would've cleared that up.
Well that was nice of him. Good to see him mention New 3DS coming next year. Probably means it's sooner rather than later.
The way he said "which we know we have kept you waiting for" Gives me the impression that the New 3ds will launch early 2015 Probably in February!
this was a nice of him to do...plus this gives us the heads up that the New 3DS is coming soon
The guy really likes Tomodachi Life, doesn't he?
Thanks shibata san, how about a free game for christmas?
I'm still on the fence if I'm going to get blue transparent 2ds (for the free game promo and smash freebies and getting GB Tetris before it'll be gone by January) or wait for the New 3DS.
Anyway, Merry Christmas Mr. Shibata. Wonderful 101 eShop sale please!
Looking forward to the New 3DS. Merry Christmas, Shibata!
@Tsurii897 "I was glad to see that many people enjoyed playing Mario Kart 8, Hyrule Warriors, Bayonetta 2, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U."
Although the name of the Smash 3DS game is "Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS", you could interpret the quote as Smash Wii U being the only Wii U game in that list. It's nothing major, just an unexpected alternate meaning.
As for New 3DS, I'm predicting March as 31st March is when all Club Nintendo codes expire.
That's cool, I don't need a mention
I can confirm Shibata was at the Games Week in Milan ^o^
And he is not kidding about liking to walk around such events, for be the president of NoE, and not some advertisement guy, he was impressively easy to approch and very open to deal with crazy Nintendo's fans like me. He let me take a couple of pics with him and he even complimented me for my 3DS of TLoZ and my bag filled with fresh-purchased Wii and 3DS games XD
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and Happy Holidays to all Nintendo fans, Non Nintendo fans and yes, the trolls as well. Happy Gaming everybody!!!
I don't normally praise Game, the UK game shop, but thanks to them there will be two copies of Captain Toad under our Christmas Tree. So we will be playing it in a couple of days.
I'm am not sure about the logic Nintendo are using, launching the game 'after' Christmas.
But for me, I am counting it as a 2014 Christmas release.
No mention of Club Nintendo for Nordic countries, TVii for Europe and many other things.
I am surprised that Tomodachi Life has sold over a million just in Europe. I have never seen it even sold anywhere in the shops.
Yes TVii and other TV service for EU. It was promised this year. Crazy!
"Grab your heart"? Has he been talking with Nexis Games?
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