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[olimario]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/570/570491p1.html

IGNcube: The Game Boy Color version of Mario Tennis features RPG elements. How come you decided not to include similar elements in the GameCube title?

Hiroyuki Takahashi: We've heard that the RPG elements that are the focal point of our Game Boy sports games have been very well received. The basic concept behind those RPG elements is that they are best suited to a deep single-player experience, which matches perfectly with the characteristics of the Game Boy hardware. Do you really want that style of play in a console sports experience? Then we might have to give it some thought. But to be honest, based on our plans and the development schedule for Mario Power Tennis, we wouldn't have been able to include it this time if we wanted to.

How hard can it be to implement a feature you've already created for a previous title?
And something like an RPG element would have no effect on multiplayer matches. You would handle those like you handle them now with default characters.

For a game that took so long it could have had so much more. Character creation and RPG elements are the 2 big things I would want.

 

[SantaC]

I am more interested in Camelot's next project. Especially since Golden Sun 3 was rumored. But as usual, IGN didn't bother to ask. Seriously...ask some interesting questions for once.

 

[GaimeGuy]

http://cube.ign.com/articles/570/570491p1.html



How hard can it be to implement a feature you've already created for a previous title?
And something like an RPG element would have no effect on multiplayer matches. You would handle those like you handle them now with default characters.

For a game that took so long it could have had so much more. Character creation and RPG elements are the 2 big things I would want.

It took long for the same reasons that RE4 is: They've gone through many COMPLETELY different builds of the game; essentially, they've built three or four different games and engines from scratch that are built around the same concept. THAT'S why it took so long.

 

[Musashi Wins!]

It took long for the same reasons that RE4 is: They've gone through many COMPLETELY different builds of the game; essentially, they've built three or four different games and engines from scratch that are built around the same concept. THAT'S why it took so long.

? Is that why it's so average?

 

[Deku Tree]

I'd take co-op tournaments before an RPG mode.

 

[Memles]

Read the online answer; apparently, Top Spin doesn't exist. Seems like Nintendo isn't willing to go online because they can't guarantee no lag and won't go broadband only, or something.

Could have been more, but it's still damn fun.

 

[olimario]

I am more interested in Camelot's next project. Especially since Golden Sun 3 was rumored. But as usual, IGN didn't bother to ask. Seriously...ask some interesting questions for once.

No kidding.
They have time to ask "who would win in a fight" and "what's your favorite character", but no inquery about their next project. You'll find developers drop small hints when they are asked about stuff they can't talk about.

 

[Speevy]

Camelot generally likes to focus on a decent amount of content, as well as a well-presented multiplayer mode. These two things w6ere sacrificed in Top Spin. (which is one of my favorite games this generation still)

 

[olimario]

Read the online answer; apparently, Top Spin doesn't exist. Seems like Nintendo isn't willing to go online because they can't guarantee no lag and won't go broadband only, or something.

Could have been more, but it's still damn fun.

Right.
And I fail to believe there would be ANY lag if you played same-room LAN matches.

 

[Memles]

I'd take co-op tournaments before an RPG mode.

I think the real reason is balance and difficulty; very simply, it would be far too easy with too Human players, for it to be challenging they have to give you a fucktard for a partner. Man, sometimes the partner AI sucks ASS.

 

[SantaC]

No kidding.
They have time to ask "who would win in a fight" and "what's your favorite character", but no inquery about their next project. You'll find developers drop small hints when they are asked about stuff they can't talk about.

Yep that interview was pretty much wasted. I could come up with more interesting questions in 10 minutes.

 

[Deku Tree]

Why didn't they ask what happened to Toad?

Did anybody else notice Toad on the tournament board in the opening CG scene?

 

[Grubdog]

What about Mario Tennis GBA?

 

[GaimeGuy]

I can understand people's frustrations with Camelot. But I can also kind of understand where Camelot was coming from:

"How can we make this game feel like a fresh Mario Tennis experience, compared to the N64 game?"

"No, that build feels too much like a sim."

"No, this one has nothing different from the Mario Tennis on the 64"

"Hmm.... How did Nintendo make Super Smash Bros Melee fresh? Aha! They added more characters, some new match types, a few new gameplay modes, and more customizable options! Why don't we add new special tennis shots, interactive courts, and some special games like ring mode and stuff? Oh, and lets make sure to add plenty of characters."

It's easy for us to say "How can it be that hard?"

However, from a developer standpoint, you want to deliver fresh content. That's probably difficult to do significantly in a tennis game with little emphasis on simulation. In sims, you see them add simulation elements modeled after the real life sports, but in these general party games, you need to CREATE new elements, rather than borrow them.

I think that's why, in many people's eyes, Mario Golf, Mario Kart Double Dash, and Mario Tennis aren't that good; It's much harder to expand on the formula, and to see significant visible changes, in them. You have the little changes like power shots in Tennis, and the two characters in Double Dash; attempts to freshen up the gameplay experience, but there's only a bunch of subtle changes in the gameplay, rather than one or two huge additions.

 

[Grubdog]

Actually in this case I wanted Mario Power Tennis to be as much like Mario Tennis 64 as possible, with pretty much the same gameplay just more extras and stuff. I haven't played Mario Power Tennis though (i hate you too PAL) so I can't really say if it was changed for the better or not.

 

[GaimeGuy]

Actually in this case I wanted Mario Power Tennis to be as much like Mario Tennis 64 as possible, with pretty much the same gameplay just more extras and stuff. I haven't played Mario Power Tennis though (i hate you too PAL) so I can't really say if it was changed for the better or not.

and there's other people who'd be very upset it it was simply Mario Tennis 64 with better graphics. (Much like some people were upset with about Mario Golf, I think). See what I mean? What camelot was having trouble doing, IMO, was making Mario Power Tennis as fresh as possible while retaining as much of the gameplay of Tennis 64 as possible. IMO, they succeeded.

 

[Deku Tree]

I think the real reason is balance and difficulty; very simply, it would be far too easy with too Human players, for it to be challenging they have to give you a fucktard for a partner. Man, sometimes the partner AI sucks ASS.

Your right if there were two good human players. They would have to work harder on the AI probably and that would've taken more time. Maybe it got cut when the bumped Mario Tennis into 2004 because of the Star Fox delay.

But still my GF is weaksauce and it would've been fun to play through tournaments with her in co-op even if it would be "too easy" for two good humans.

 

[DCharlie]

"I'd take co-op tournaments before an RPG mode."

or just multiplayer tournaments - i don't know why this is missing.

Even just a singles tournament where the game handles a random draw and you play through to a grand final.

Simple stuff that would have made the game better - i just don't know why these ideas don't come up during design phases, they are just so fricken BASIC.

Also - not having to go back to the title screen to change the set up of a game would have been nice.

Once they have all the basics down, *then* they should stick in the RPG elements !

Nintendos Internet gaming stance is worrying.

 

[john tv]

Do Nintendo and its developers know about the internet? Maybe that's the problem. Cause they still make games like it's 1983 -- I can't understand how you could leave out such obvious stuff. Same goes for Mario Kart LAN play, which was so poorly implemented it was almost embarrassing to show people.

 

[FortNinety]

Do Nintendo and its developers know about the internet? Maybe that's the problem. Cause they still make games like it's 1983 -- I can't understand how you could leave out such obvious stuff. Same goes for Mario Kart LAN play, which was so poorly implemented it was almost embarrassing to show people.

Hey get ready for a dumb generalization.... I always get the impression that most folks in the Japan just aren't that internet savy, at least compared to us in the US. We're like online 24/7. I've heard various reasons as to why, and they make sense.

 

[levious]

I'm starting to hate sports games with RPG elements, especially when you're able to max out every category. Fine for single player I guess, but when everyone just wants to use god like characters in multiplayer it's pretty lame.

 

[Deg]

In the case of Mario Tennis the RPG elements will hinder the multiplayer.

Online is a better option. Its a big shame none of this gen's best selling dedicated multiplayer games have been online. Especially MKDD.

 

[Ramirez]

Top Spin was pure ass online for me...:|

 

[bobbyconover]

All these online play demands remind me a bit over the outcry over Metroid Prime's lack of a multiplayer mode. So many people acted like it was a huge slap in the face, and insisted that it was crucial for the sequel to include one. When it did, nobody seemed to give a shit. In fact most of the reactions I've seen have been negative, along the lines of "why'd they waste time and money on this when it could've been invested in the main quest?

Obviously it'd be ideal and really cool if every game released had an online multiplayer mode, but in practice it seems like people never even play anything but the absolute biggest releases online. Hot Shots Fore had it, and the reaction was extremely limp. Two weeks after it came out you could hardly find anyone to play against. Ratchet and Clank 3 has it, and even that - a huge 1st-party game with rave reviews (how many 10s has it been given at this point, 6? 7?) - has about 20 people playing it online at any time. I should know; I love the online mode and have been looking for games at all times of the day and deep into the night. It's pretty much barren! And really, Top Spin might've pulled off nice online play, but how many online matches did any of you ever actually play? I think it'd be great if Nintendo stepped into the online realm with really interesting stuff like Animal Crossing or Pokemon, where it could actually revolutionize the way they're played. Making every single game online-enabled, Xbox Live style, just doesn't seem like it'd pay off.

I pretty much agree with all the other complaints though. The lack of a co-op tournament mode in particular was frustrating as hell, and console RPG modes for this and Mario Golf would be really awesome. After doing complete unlocking runs in 4 Minna no Golf games and 2 (console) Mario Golf games, the old routine of picking a course or opponent from a list is getting pretty old. The RPG shell woud really help to liven things up.

 

[Merlin]

The courts, the gimmicks and the special games in Tennis are the ones that were selected out of the many listed on giant brainstorming board -- so many, in fact, that our creative planners can't talk about them now without crying.

:-o

 

[Donkeypuncher]

How hard can it be to implement a feature you've already created for a previous title?
And something like an RPG element would have no effect on multiplayer matches. You would handle those like you handle them now with default characters.

For a game that took so long it could have had so much more. Character creation and RPG elements are the 2 big things I would want.

I disagree. Mario Golf on GBA is great with the RPG elements and I'm glad the GCN version doesn't have it. I'm glad Mario Power Tennis doesn't have the RPG stuff and I hope the GBA version does. Create your characters on the GBA versions and bring them over to your GCN like Mario Golf allows you to.