Computer games 'too complex'

People are in danger of becoming bored with computer games because they are too complicated, the president of Nintendo has warned.

Satoru Iwata said the industry had become obsessed with faster processors and better graphics instead of ensuring the games were exciting and easy to play.

He feared for the future of the industry and warned it must innovate or die.

'Looking at the past 20 years, as long as we could beef up the processing power, as long as we could make computer graphics approach realism, then people were excited about the result. Some in the industry still believe we can simply beef up the current technology in order to provide a constant supply of games to people.

'We don't agree with that,' he said. Mr Iwata spoke after the launch of a new handheld console, the Nintendo DS, which features two screens and simplified controls, including touch screen and voice activated gaming.

He said he wanted the DS to be a return to the simplicity of the two-button console, which Nintendo pioneered.