The new Nintendo VP, Project Cafe, and why you should care

Today Nintendo of America announced that Scott Moffitt will become their new Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing.

What is this? Boring video game industry news? Why is this interesting?

It could be a hint of how the company plans to present its next console. It could be proof of how "hardcore" Project Cafe will be.



There are a few reasons why I'm posting this.

-The "interesting' lecture in blogging we had during my journalism class today got me in a blogging mood.

-You guys deserve content. It's becoming increasingly unlikely that the next big post I want to do will be out any time soon because of the final month of work I have. The story is still ongoing too but I really think that'll is going to be a good one.

-This post will be quick enough that I'll feel fine doing this now instead of actual work.

But it all honesty I think this news could end up mattering more than it seems. Nintendo tends to trot out these figureheads at their E3 (a big video game convention) press conferences so often times they act as the face for the direction the company is going in.

2004- We want to win back core gamers so here's Metroid Prime 2, Zelda Twilight Princess and this guy...

Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime

Past experiences include "kicking ass, taking names" and inventing the Pizza Hut New Yorker

2008- We want your parents and old people so here's Wii Fit and Wii Music and this Harvard-educated business lady whose son sent her the sweetest card...

Former Nintendo VP of Sales and Marketing Cammie Dunaway

Past employers include Yahoo and Frito-Lay

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

So what were some of Mr. Mottiff's past brands he had to manage? According to the press release things like "Right Guard deodorant" and "Mountain Dew". It's cynical but also accurate to say that the kinds of young men interested in those things are who we typically imagine hardcore gamers to be. I may be reading too much into this, but I think by hiring this guy Nintendo wants it next console, set to be unveiled at next month's E3, to be seen as a hardcore console unlike the (much-underrated) Wii. That fits some of the rumors as well.



Plus this guy graduated from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management so from one wildcat to another, much love.