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E3: Nintendo's David Yarnton

"No, I don't have a crown."

EurogamerIs a price cut on the way for the Wii?
David Yarnton

Are you not aware we had a price increase? On 1st April, the price of Wii went up for UK retailers. [PR chap: "Due to problems with the exchange rate over the last year, we raised the cost price. Whether retailers choose to pass that cost on to customers is up to them. We have no control over what they charge for a Wii. Dell and Apple made similar moves recently so it's not unprecedented. The pound has fallen against the yen by 28 per cent in the last year, so every Japanese company is facing pressure at the moment."]

EurogamerHow much does it cost a retailer to buy a Wii now?
David Yarnton

We can't tell you that.

EurogamerCan you tell me the percentage the cost went up by?
David Yarnton

You can guess.

EurogamerSo you're not going to cut the GBP 179 price this year?
David Yarnton

No.

EurogamerHow about next year?
David Yarnton

We've no plans. Nintendo doesn't like selling products at a loss. We've been round for quite a long time and we're a very successful company. It depends on the currency exchange - we can't make any predictions there.

EurogamerYou've certainly sold a lot of products without making a loss. Is your office desk made of gold or diamond bricks?
David Yarnton

I think it's MDF! It's not teak or oak or anything.

EurogamerDo you have a crown?
David Yarnton

No.

EurogamerIs that because it kept banging against the roof of your helicopter?
David Yarnton

No. I don't have a crown and we don't have a helicopter.

EurogamerLooking forwards to E3 2010, can we expect to see Pilotwings, Pikmin, Starfox and Mario vs. Zelda in Donkey Kong Country Wii Fit?
David Yarnton

We've just announced the games we've got this year, so we won't be announcing what the future holds there. Some of the titles are slated for a 2010 release, so there will be more details of those products in the future. But I can assure you, at Nintendo we've always got something up our sleeve.

EurogamerIs it Pilotwings?
David Yarnton

You're a Pilotwings fan, are you?

EurogamerIs it Pilotwings?
David Yarnton

If you play Wii Sports Resort you can do a bit of parachuting and skydiving.

EurogamerIt's not Pilotwings though, is it?
David Yarnton

No.

EurogamerIs it Pikmin?
David Yarnton

Who knows?

EurogamerAll right, I'll go away now so you can talk to a proper journalist about serious things.
David Yarnton

The thing is, you can never predict anything with our company. Even if I said something it could be proved wrong in the future.

EurogamerI'm going to Miyamoto's behind-closed-doors presentation this evening. Perhaps he will parachute in through the ceiling and announce a new Pilotwings?
David Yarnton

Could do. [PR chap: "Very possible. It wouldn't surprise me."]

In the event, Shigeru Miyamoto did not parachute in through the ceiling, but he did bring a painting of Zelda.

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