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This is the interview that was mentioned in yesterday's article about Hiroshi Yamauchi retiring. The interview was originally published in Japanese and has been translated below.

Question: We've been hearing lately how Japanese gamers are drifting away from games.

Hiroshi Yamauchi: Software is still flooding the market today, but Japanese users aren't buying the same old rehashed games anymore. We're only expecting two GameCube titles to sell a million copies: Pikmin, with its realistically-moving A.I.-driving characters, and Super Smash Bros. Melee with its high-powered fighting. (Super Smash Bros. Melee has already sold over 1million copies in Japan)

Question: Why is that?

Hiroshi Yamauchi: Every game developer is shooting for nothing but realism and flashiness, so we're seeing an overflow of games that look exactly the same. What does realism and flashiness have to do with fun? If more games with new types of gameplay and fun come on the market, the market will expand, companies will have more support, and there'd be a business to work with.

Question: You have some strong rivals coming up against you.

Hiroshi Yamauchi: I don't think the Xbox will do very well in Japan. The same old genres and development methods still work in America, but they won't interest the more discriminating gamers of Japan. The PS2 was just discounted too, but I can't expect that will have much of an effect.

Question: Do you think Nintendo will win?

Hiroshi Yamauchi: With hardware as advanced as it is now, game development takes an enormous amount of labor. Talented developers want a system that will let them create anything their imagination comes up with as quickly and easily as possible, and the GameCube is perfectly balanced between audio-visual power and ease of development. It's a perfect match. You'll see the difference gradually as the year progresses.

Question: Do you have any plans for a new president?

Hiroshi Yamauchi: I've been thinking about it for more than two years now, but I think I want to retire before this summer. Nintendo isn't going to work under one person anymore, though; it will be run under a group-leadership system.

source: http://www.mainichi.co.jp/life/hobby/game/news/news/2002/01/17-2.html