Nintendo's president on giving their devs freedom to experiment, using tech to enhance fun, mobile monetization, and more

We don't often get to hear from Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa, but TIME managed to track the man down for a quick interview on a number of topics. Check out a summary of the interview below.

On letting Nintendo's devs experiment

“Above all else, I base my decisions on the development leader’s way of thinking. Nintendo is Nintendo because of our games, characters and IP. So giving our teams the freedom to experiment with new ideas is something I strongly agree with. Expansion can’t happen without the freedom to try something new, and the courage to step into unfamiliar territory.”

On using technology to enhance fun

“Not just streaming, but any kind of new technology, whether that is going to be appealing to the consumer or not really depends on the quality of the experience that we can provide. Nintendo continues to search for new ways to enhance the fun that people can have through their gaming experience.”

On mobile monetization

“In terms of monetization, that’s something that we decided on an app basis. It’s something we decide looking at the game content of each app, as well as the IP used and the player that we’re targeting. We also look at how we can best have the players enjoy the game, as well as how they would be comfortable in spending money.”

On Nintendo doing their own thing

“We’ve never tried to imitate any other company. ...the idea of using our IP in things like theme parks or movies is simply an extension of the philosophy we’ve had all along.”