Reggie Fils-Aime Aime worked for Nintendo for almost 15 years, including more than a decade as president of Nintendo of America.
His tenure with the firm was filled with achievements, memories, and memes. Reggie, on the other hand, recently claimed that all of his top advisers advised him not to accept the position.
Not to take the job?
Reggie revealed this at a session at SXSW 2022 when asked why his counselors were so negative, he noted:
Working for a Japanese parent might be difficult because of cultural differences and how to do business. Another point of view was that Nintendo was under business attack from Sony with its PlayStation and from Microsoft. So I was advised not to accept the position, but I saw something different. I saw an opening. I saw that the firm has a history of innovation. Nintendo invented everything you take for granted now in game systems – joysticks, directional controls, and so on.
Reggie also said something we’ve already heard: how he wanted a meeting with the late Satoru Iwata. Although it was an unusual action that nearly lost him his job, he thought it was essential to establish a good connection with both Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto.
Reggie joined Nintendo of America as executive vice president of sales and marketing in December 2003. He was elected president in 2006. In 2019, he announced his retirement from the firm.
