It is openly known that Nintendo TVii is brand new direction for Nintendo. It is also one of the great features of their new machine, the Wii U. The “TVii” application will combine streaming video services like Netflix, Hulu, and DVR, plus live broadcasts, all into one central media accessible by touch. Again, this is a new direction for the company, while Microsoft and Sony raced to make their consoles into media centers years ealier. Reggie Fils-Aime, President of Nintendo of America, stated that while he’s confident in TVii, ultimately it’s one more way for Nintendo to solidify itself as a full-service entertainment company.
“Nintendo TVii is certainly going to be something that every member of the family picks up and engages in at least once a day,”
“If that helps them get more comfortable with the GamePad and in the end adds to more games being played, then that’s great. But fundamentally it’s part of the overall proposition of games, TV plus social. TVii lets people watch either on their TVs or on the GamePad while watching social media streams or answering polls, and presents new ways to sort through the content available on all subscribed services at once. We do think we’ve created a better mousetrap,”
Fils-Aime strongly feels this will compete against dedicated set-top boxes like Roku and Apple TV. However, he also expects the console to appeal first and foremost to gamers. TVii, which is its own service, will be available at no extra cost. This will add value and immediately become attractive to media companies for its already existing install base.
“Essentially we were the perfect vehicle to drive this type of innovation into the home. Because in the end the time that consumer spends in any form of entertainment that’s not on our device is a missed opportunity for us. It’s that type of thinking that led us to create Brain Age, same type of thinking that led us to create Wii Fit — it’s looking at the broadest landscape possible as to what constitutes entertainment.”
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