Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata to give keynote, Engrish lessons at GDC ‘09

By Jeremy Yerby | January 27, 2009

The Game Developer’s Conference is coming in March, and every year one of the “big 3″ platform holders get to host the keynote address. This year is Nintendo’s turn, and Nintendo President Satoru Iwata himself will be delivering the keynote titled “Discovering New Development Opportunities.” Not mentioned in the official press briefing is how long the keynote will be, but given Iwata’s track record, I hope the text is only about three paragraphs. No, I don’t fault the guy for not being a native English-speaker, however, I do find fault in the decision to make him speak in front of us over and over again. We have the choice of him choking on word after word, or him speaking very quickly in Japanese with a translator struggling to keep up. Apparently the man only speaks in those two speeds.

Before you all douse me with gasoline and light me aflame, I think the record will show I am a Nintendo fan at heart, but damn, hearing the guy speak is sometimes painful.

For what its worth, at GDC 06 Iwata also gave a keynote that, whilst being very Brain Age heavy, also revealed The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass for the first time. So, whilst I’m sure we can expect much Wii Fit fappery, perhaps there is something up Nintendo’s sleeve for GDC afterall.