Nintendo's Miyamoto On Innovation, Wii Ambitions 263
Edge Magazine is running an interview with Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto about some of the company's recent projects, such as Wii Music and Wii Fit. Miyamoto talks about his ambitions for the titles, as well as the difficulty in continuing to entertain players by surprising them. He refers to Wii Music as "music software" rather than a game, and says the primary intent was to bring music to families and assist in music education. The conversation then turns to where Nintendo can go in the future; Miyamoto discusses integrating new technologies into popular game franchises, and the dilemma Nintendo will face when designing its next console — do they stick with updated versions of their innovative controllers, do they return to a more standard build, or do they bring a completely different input device to the table?
Wii Music, Huh? (Score:4, Insightful)
I really don't know who are actually going to purchase the game, but I hope that schoolchildren will play.
I couldn't agree more. For those of you thinking that this will offer high quality tracks from all eras of music, guess again.
I could go into a lengthy diatribe about the shortages of Wii Music but instead, I'll referrence IGN [ign.com] that pointed out the biggest deficiency:
Before we even get to the gameplay breakdown, though, take a second and think about what you might value in a game dedicated to music. I imagine a robust roster of popular, classic and contemporary songs tops the list for obvious reasons. What about an assurance that the songs included will be presented in the highest audio quality possible? I mean, people went nuts when they found out that the musical tracks in the Wii version of Guitar Hero were outputted in mono, and with good reason: we expect a certain caliber of presentation from today's software. Unfortunately, with Wii Music Nintendo has demonstrated that it doesn't care to satisfy expectations. Not only are most of the 50-plus tracks lifted from the public domain -- such timeless hits as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, O Christmas Tree, My Grandfather's Clock and Bridal Chorus -- but they are also rendered in archaic, amateur MIDI. I've heard some good MIDI renditions in my day and let me tell you, you won't find any of them in Wii Music. It is a good thing that Beethoven is long dead because he would not ever wish to hear the game's lifeless version of Ode to Joy.
Seriously, Ode to Joy done in MIDI? Are you trying to scare your children away from Beethoven?
They gave this game a 5.0 out of 10.0 and I think that's a tad generous. This game is seriously only for the very young. Great for that and introduction to music but no more.
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:1, Insightful)
Come back and tell them that again after it stops being the top-selling console, please.
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:2, Insightful)
Wii = Epic Fail
Which is why it regularly outsells the 360 and PS3 combined.
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:3, Insightful)
What complete innovation to game and system input have you designed and mass marketed? What industries have you revolutionized? What pop culture icons have you invented and embedded into the hearts of minds of people worldwide?
Oh, guess you were too busy posting halfwitted posts on the internet to do anything even remotely important.
You, sir, are the epic failure.
Good day.
Re:Next Console? (Score:3, Insightful)
But graphics do matter, to some extent. How many games have been developed for the Xbox 360 and/or PS3, but not for the Wii (or maybe a PS2/watered down port was released on the Wii instead)? I only have a Wii (have thought about getting a 360 or PS3, but nothing more as of yet), and there have been quite a few games that I would like to play, but can't, since they haven't been ported to the Wii.
Don't get me wrong - Nintendo makes some great games given the capabilities of the Wii. They're just tying third party developers' hands in the process.
If Nintendo's next console doesn't have the same amount of horsepower as its competitors, then it's going to start losing the hardcore audience (more than they already are, at any rate). Maybe they only want to cater to casual gamers and make tons of money that way - that is their choice, after all. But they shouldn't expect the hardcore gamers to be excited about their hardware if they don't keep up with the times.
wii compaired to other games (Score:2, Insightful)
i guess if Nintendo goes back to the origional idea fo sitting in front of a screen with a joystick and a few buttons then people will look at it like the wii was just and expiriment and was too diffrent for them to do something with.
Re:Wii Music, Huh? (Score:5, Insightful)
Frankly, comparing it to a game where the choice is (Play Guitar Track) or (Don't play guitar track) seems silly. This is much more a game that is trying to get you to think about composing music, and seeing the ways different sounds work when combined. It has an entirely different reason for existing than a symphony orchestra playing Beethoven.
Much like I would never compare Wii Fit to running a mile every day, I wouldn't compare Wii Music (or any other rhythm game) to playing music; think of them as a way to expand your thinking, and to perhaps add more breadth to the things you care about. It's sharpening the saw [stevepavlina.com] in game form, basically.
Re:NIntendo always innovated controllers (Score:3, Insightful)
well, imagine small and light position sensors placed in velcro bands that are then placed in the elbows, knees, ankles, waist, shoulders and head, plus a wii-mote and nunchuk.
With this, you get (almost) full body motion capture without having to do the nightmare of trying to sell several sizes of "gaming suits"
Wii controllers and future consoles (Score:5, Insightful)
The Wiimote and nunchuck (as well as the other Wii controller accessories) are the biggest innovation in console user interface since 1985, when the NES introduced the horizontal controller form factor that has dominated consoles since then. Nintendo would be making a huge mistake if they went backwards on controller design.
Re:Entertain by surprising? (Score:4, Insightful)
That's laughable, considering their penchant for pumping out a Mario, Metroid, and Zelda game with every platform.
That's a fair comment. Although they've started other new and successful franchises in the interim too... Pokemon, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Wii Sports (Wii Sports, Wii Ski, Wii Fit, Wii Sports Resort...)
They've got this innovative hardware, and all they've done is changed it so instead of pressing A to swing your sword, you flick your wrist.
Yes, well anything can be reduced to trivialities if you try hard enough.
Tell me, what was the innovation with the Xbox 360 exactly? Higher resolution textures? Now that's trivial.
And Wii's Changing it from pushing a button to flicking your wrist is a massive understatement of the real effect. The new metroid or re4 controls of point-shoot blow away anything else for immersion. A game like Mercury Meltdown or Rayman Raving Rabbids or Dewey's Adventure or Boxing are dramatically enhanced by the Wii's controller... nevermind the direction they're heading with the Wii Fit.
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:2, Insightful)
personally, I LIKE good graphics and a complex storyline, I LIKE to play dvd's and blu-ray discs on my console. I like having the ability to download games and demo's to an internal hard drive. I like using my console as a media server.
So do I. I also LIKE my Wii.
Re:Next Console? (Score:3, Insightful)
Nintendo doesnt care about the hardcore audience.
They are doing what they have always done best - making fun games.
The number of polygons in a game is not proportional to how fun the game is - no matter what the Microsoft and Sony marketing departments say.
The reason why the Wii is outselling the other two consoles is because it focuses on fun and the quality of the games.
That appeals to the majority of the market.
As a hardcore gamer... (Score:5, Insightful)
There is one nitch not being filled: Wii motion controller innovation applied to indepth games.
I consider myself a hardcore gamer, in the sense that I like huge, lengthy epic games that take skill and dedication. I'm not an FPS or gore hound, but I fit into the "hardcore" category nevertheless. I love the Wii's control systems, the attention to innovation, and I'd like to see that applied to more indepth games. Microsoft and Sony aren't offering it, and neither is Nintendo. Why do I have to choose either gameplay innovation or involving games, but not games that offer both? The two aren't mutually exclusive, and I'm sure that a large percentage of hardcore gamers would be more than happy to get their hands on some unique interface innovations.
Where are the point-and-click adventures? Where are the RPGs that use motion sensing and light-gun to add to their gameplay? Lost Winds really demonstrated to me that you can really use the Wiis control system for more creative, and involving types of games (even if the current WiiWare version is just a prologue). Let's get some more of that, or Okami, or epic RPGs... because we're not going to see them on the 360 or PS3 with those kinds of innovations.
So in closing, no... separating the types of games filled by the Wii, 360 and PS3 doesn't satisfy everyone, because it means you can't mix-and-match the abilities of the different units. The Wii has the potential to completely satisfy me with its current capabilities (honestly, I've had an HDTV for almost 2 years now, and I still don't think it makes one shit of difference, and I'm a video producer), I'd just like to see it expand into more involving areas.
Re:Next Console? (Score:4, Insightful)
But graphics do matter, to some extent. How many games have been developed for the Xbox 360 and/or PS3, but not for the Wii (or maybe a PS2/watered down port was released on the Wii instead)? I only have a Wii (have thought about getting a 360 or PS3, but nothing more as of yet), and there have been quite a few games that I would like to play, but can't, since they haven't been ported to the Wii.
There is a lovely chicken and egg problem here that most people don't realize. Even if Nintendo released a more conventional system, they would still have problems getting mature games on their system. Further complicating the problem, development costs are much more expensive for HD games and Nintendo hardware was growing less popular at the time. I don't think a lot of the popular Xbox 360 and PS3 would have made it to Nintendo's console either way.
Re:Meh. (Score:4, Insightful)
Rabidly defending the Wii? (Score:3, Insightful)
You seem to be the one having a rabid reaction.
Seems to me he was specifically talking about Wii Music and was giving us an idea about how it works.
As someone doesn't know anything about it that hasn't been on a TV advert (ie not much) I found it rather interesting. I'm not exactly going to rush out and buy it but it's interesting to know there is some depth there.
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:5, Insightful)
PC + Wii = most every major title and genre covered
When I want "good graphics and a complex story line", I fire up the PC... it absolutely destroys the PS3, X360 and Wii for those kinds of games - sure, I have to wait a few months for the games to hit the PC, but so what? I end up paying less for the game, and get a superior experience. The only counter I've heard to that is that "I'm not patient enough to wait for titles to hit PC". I am, so that's moot for me.
On the other hand, when we have people over (usually drinking alcoholic beverages), we fire up the Wii. It's unbeatable in this environment. Never has a gaming device (that I know of) taken the social aspect so far. It's hard to express in words the awesomeness of playing drinking games with the Wii. I am neither a senior citizen or mentally deficient, and I think the Wii is fantastic... but thanks for lumping me in with those groups!
That said, there ARE "mature" games on Wii - just not as many as the PS3 or X360. Plenty of them in fact; more than enough to keep me interested in it for those kinds of games... The PC however eats them all - it's hard to deny that fact.
The PS3 and X360 are good systems, I like them my self - but one need not own either them to experience all the best games that come to market. That's why they can't get a foot up on the Wii.
So, ummm..... I think my point is that you should probably just get over it. The Wii is popular. People like it. It's making gaming a socially acceptable pastime, where it used to be the domain of the geek only. You're entitled to your opinion, but don't act all indignant when people don't agree, and offer their counter points.
</rant>
Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin. (Score:3, Insightful)
Selling the most units / making the most profit does indeed make it the best console
And Windows is the best OS and McDonalds is the best hamburger and Titanic is the best movie
Re:Next Console? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Wii Music, Huh? (Score:1, Insightful)
I actually do not believe that the song selection has anything to do with saving money. Instead, the game developers have chosen a list of familiar tunes ranging from folk melodies to classical pieces, with just a few pop songs and Nintendo themes thrown in, in order to emphasize and encourage the process of rearranging something familiar in order to put a new spin on it.
Note that the game doesn't even show you any musical score by default (and, if enabled, the score will only show you the main melody's notes, no suggestion for how you might play the accompaniment). This means that the tunes need to be instantly familiar -- and familiar worldwide, I might add. Remember why the somewhat comical name "Wii" was chosen in the first place: to have a name that will be pronounced the same everywhere. This game has no localization, ie., everyone gets the same tracklist regardless of region.
Hence, the familiar folk tunes, some from other parts of the world, the well-known classical pieces, and the choice of only pop songs (Material Girl, for instance) that are likely to be very recognizable even in regions where very few of our Top 40 Hits filter in.
Re:Meh. (Score:3, Insightful)
if you have been looking for a wii for the last year (after the first big shortage), and can't find one then you are:
refusing to pay list price for it
$250 list price for it, or $550 list price for it plus several titles that I may not want?
or live in smalltown without the internet
I've seen "not available online -- check stores" for the Wii console itself and high prices for bundles.