Nintendo's Fils-Aime Ushers In Bay Area Office

Nintendo held a small event in Redwood City yesterday to usher in the company's move of select U.S. operations to the Silicon Valley. On hand were a handful of journalists, and several CEOs from local companies, including Namco Bandai, Hudson, Sega, and Natsume. Reggie Fils-Aime addressed those in attendance with a mission statement for the company, which recently announced several major new hires for the company's Nintendo's new Silicon Valley offices in Redwood Shores, California. "[Our message is] that everyone’s a gamer," he began. The Nintendo of America president continued: "Whether it’s bringing joy and happiness to mothers and fathers as they experience Wii for the first time playing Wii Bowling or Wii Tennis, or whether it’s bringing a game like Nintendogs to a fifteen or sixteen year old girl who has a puppy that responds only to her voice." Fils-Aime added: "That passion is what’s driving us, and that passion to be part of shaping the future is really why we’re here." The event also celebrated the additions of executives such as the recently announced ex-Yahoo chief marketer Cammie Dunaway, who has been appointed as Nintendo sales and marketing EVP, and will be working from the Silicon Valley offices. During the reception, Dunaway shared with Gamasutra that her nine year old son spontaneously wrote a letter of recommendation to Reggie Fils-Aime on her behalf when he heard she might make the move. New head of PR Marc Franklin, previously of Konami, was also in attendance. Fils-Aime ended up his short speech at the Nintendo welcome event with what seems to be Nintendo's new mantra: "I challenge you that you too can be a gamer."