Yeah, yeah, Nintendo’s president told investors the Wii Vitality Sensor has been canned. But he says that every year, just about. What fascinated me about his Q&A with shareholders was the fact Nintendo employees think the chow at the company’s cafeteria is pretty bad.
From the transcript:
“I heard that the quality of the company cafeteria is not so good from one of my acquaintances who works for Nintendo. I think you should ensure that everybody is able to enjoy eating at the cafeteria as a part of the employee welfare program and improve internal communication among employees.”
To that, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata replied:
“We regularly hear the same opinion when we gather feedback from employees. However, opinions vary considerably by individual and not all the employees agree with this. Still I examine such an opinion as an issue of the company because we receive such feedback constantly. Thank you.”
While Iwata didn’t say the cafeteria didn’t suck, notice there’s not a denial that it does: “We regularly hear the same opinion,” and “we receive such feedback constantly,” sound to me like a guy who knows the grub ain’t so hot. Hell, at least they have a cafeteria.
The Q&A at an annual shareholders’ meeting can be kind of a free-for-all. Many folks have their own specific, sometimes petty issues of concern and are delighted to get the top honcho to respond to them.
A year ago someone complained to Iwata about getting lost in the subway trying to get to Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters. And earlier in this Q&A someone asked for Virtual Boy games on the 3DS. (Take that, Reggie!) Iwata’s reply to that was no more commital than his response on the cafeteria: “I believe your comment is that we should take advantage of our software assets from Virtual Boy and I would like to take note of that advice for the future.”
The 73rd Annual General Meeting of Shareholders: Q&A [Nintendo]
Image by Shutterstock
Comments
13 responses to “Shareholder Asks Nintendo Why Its Cafeteria Sucks”
Slow news day?
Seams very much so.
It’s Kotaku, the news often sucks, but it is the only website that is not blocked at work…
Where do you work? Allure Media?
I actually work in a brothel
“I own one share of Planet Kajigger, and I’m entitled to some answers!”
‘I move that everyone come to my apartment to snuggle my cat. … And also that make cat smells good and is pretty’.
Maybe they should stop serving up the same dishes they’ve been serving for the last 20 or 30 years and change the menu up a bit?
Gee, this almost sounds like you’re making a parody comment on Nintendo’s game releases for the past 10 years.
Yeah we can say the same for COD, Assassins Creed, Fifa,
Hahaha, bravo.
At least they have a cafeteria, unlike at Microsoft where they told employees they were going to provide one, but then backtracked on their plans.
EA canteen: Mash potato available separately as a micro-transaction. Only 1200 Microsoft points.
Capcom canteen: Mash potato actually served on the plate, but you still have to unlock it.
Steam canteen: 3 course meal, but there’s a REALLY long wait on the third course.
Bethesda canteen: Full of bugs.