Nintendo's Miyamoto On Innovation, Wii Ambitions

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?

Comments

Dejà Vué All Over Again

[GilliamOS]

I feel this discussion probably happened when the upgrade from SNES to N64 occurred. Back then, who could think of the next big revolution in gaming now that it was 3D? They will find something new, no doubt. Just a matter of how long of a gap between Wii and the new generation console.

Next Console?

[Enderandrew]

Nintendo has proven graphics don't have to matter. Look at DS graphics compared to PSP graphics, or Wii graphics to PS3 graphics. Why issue a new console with the same controllers?

Either make a new console with updated controllers, or completely new controllers. If you're going to use the same controllers, keep the same console.

Re:Next Console?

[Helios1182]

It turns out you don't need to play to the hardcore gamers. For every hardcore gamer there are a dozen who practically never play video games. My grandparents have a Wii (and use it). Some of their friends have Wiis. They've never shown interest in any other system.

Re:Next Console?

[Enderandrew]

Graphics do matter to me. I bought a PS3 first, and bought a Wii later. I like what the PS3 offers, and in a perfect world I would love to see Nintendo go the Sega route and focus on games, rather than offer a console anymore. Let Sony and/or Microsoft take a loss on the hardware, and then create peripherals and games.

That being said, it isn't just graphics as why PS3/360 games don't end up on the Wii. The Wii can't handle complex physics or anything that requires a decent CPU. Heck, Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii originally shipped with MONO sound, because it was really pushing the Wii apparently for the CPU to handle Guitar Hero 3 with stereo sound.

Yet the Wii is selling like mad. They're aiming for a different market than the 360/PS3 crowd. The casual gaming crowd is actually larger. That crowd doesn't care about graphics as much.

Re:Next Console?

[tukkayoot]

I'm a Nintendo fanboy, camped out for my Wii on launch day, don't own a PS3 or 360, but I have to say that I think some of the criticisms against the Wii here are spot-on. The idea of motion-controlled games is nice, but I think the implementation leaves something to be desired, and the lack of a hard drive and strong graphical capabilities (compared to the other consoles) really does limit the system's potential.

As for the casual gamers ... a friend of mine with all three systems regularly hosts game nights for his church and guess what system we end up playing the most? The PS3 for Rock Band/Rock Band 2 and, more recently, Little Big World. Of course, Rock Band is available on the Wii as well, but the fact that new songs are released every week has helped keep the game fresh, while the novelty of the wiimote faded a long time ago.

The Wii may have broader appeal than the other systems, but that doesn't mean it's a better system. That's why I'm with the parent in hoping that the next Nintendo system is packing some horsepower. Your grandparents will presumably still be happy with GameCube-level graphics two years from now Nintendo can keep releasing new controllers and relatively simple, inexpensive games to keep that segment of the market happy.

But as for me, I want the next generation of Zelda, Mario and Metroid games to push the envelope, not only in terms of game-play and controls, but also when it comes to scope, graphics, etc. and enjoy every major multiplatform release on my Nintendo without the game losing any major features or visual appeal.

Make it better. It's a winner

[dinther]

The WII controller has great ideas in it but it can be made much better.

Currently the accelerometers don't deliver the level of control that would allow the user to wield a "light sabre".

The controller needs to know it's orientation better.

Add position sensing so that controller location itself is an input parameter

Implement this stuff properly http://nz.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBdtPz2V_vY

Add a microphone to the controller as the mic in the DS proved to have some brilliant uses. (Blow in the mic to inflate balloons is genius)

Add pulse feedback (A magnetic plunger) for strike or fire recoil

Overall, input accuracy will be a key element to make the controller really useful in gaming.

Meh.

[FatSean]

Games on PS3 and XBox 360 are the same old same old shit. FPS with a thumb controller? Did we lose a war or something?! Wii is interesting enough to get me back into console gaming from PC games, so I plan to get one.

Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin.

[aliquis]

That was great, I owe you a blowjob.

Re:Wii Music, Huh?

[Anonymous Coward]

In response to this though. As a parent, to see my not-quite-2 year old shaking her controllers playing the piano was worth the price of the game just for that 30 seconds of pure joy she got :)

Re:Your nut-guard's wearing thin.

[theheadlessrabbit]

while i do agree with that, (after the 360's price drop, it's lowest model is actually cheaper than the wii) nintendo has absolutely no reason whatsoever to lower their prices. the Wii is still frequently sold out, I've seen some stores with a 2 month waiting list.

when demand is so high, why would they lower their price?

I'd expect a wii price drop only when the xbox 360 starts to outsell the wii, and not a moment sooner.