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MP:Hunters Interview from Nintedno (Why no online mode, more characters)

T

ThongyDonk

Banned
Six new bounty hunters, 4 way multiplayer matches and one humdinger of a single player adventure - Metroid Prime Hunters on Nintendo DS is going to be massive. Maybe you've already played the demo First Hunt, but trust us, the finished game is going to send Samus fans into a frenzy!

We caught up with a couple of the guys behind Metroid Prime Hunters - and they were more than happy to throw us a few tantalising nuggets about just what you're going to find in this title.

Nintendo of Europe: Could you tell us what your role on the game is, please?

Kensuke Tanabe: "I am the producer of Metroid Prime Hunters."

Richard Vorodi: "And I'm a game designer at Nintendo Software Technology, in Redmond, Washington."

NoE: Could you explain more about the different characters that will figure in the game? We've heard that there are six different bounty hunters in this game?

RV: "Yeah, for the first time we're really expanding Samus' universe, and we're really showing that there are new characters out there. There are going to be six in total and they're going to be unveiled in time. At E3 we showed a character called Noxus, who's really cool. All the hunters have really interesting back-stories, and we want to leave most of that as kind of a surprise for the players.

“But to tell you a little about these characters, Noxus is a kind of spiritual being who's trying to cleanse the galaxy of evil. But the character itself may be evil, so that's kind of interesting. Then there's Spire; Spire is one of the last of his kind, he's a rock-based creature, trying to find out the origins of the disappearance of his race.

“And then we have my personal favourite, this guy Kanden. Kanden is really cool because he was an experiment, he was designed to be an unkillable soldier who actually escaped the lab, and has since been out killing and doing bad stuff throughout the galaxy. He's a real evil bounty hunter. As for the other characters, that's a surprise. But they're cool, trust me.”

NoE: Another thing that all the different characters bring with them, presumably, is the need to balance their powers, if they all have different weapons for example? How do you go about making sure that the balance is correct in the multiplayer games?

RV: “Well, in multiplayer we have a pretty big weapons system, and it's going to be interesting for players to learn how to use these weapons; we have primary fire and secondary fire functions on most of them. And then on top of that, the Hunters themselves actually have an affinity, so some Hunters use certain weapons better than others. So that's where the strategy and depth comes from in the multiplayer games.”

NoE: What was the strategy behind not taking this game online?

KT: “Really, we could have made this game online. But Nintendo's vision of online play is different from that of other companies. We wanted it to be free, easy, and easy to access for everybody. To set up the kind of infrastructure that we needed, and to meet the launch date we have for this game, the two just didn't match.”

RV: “Right, but I don't think we look at it as a negative thing, because as we're not focusing on the Internet we got to focus on the wi-fi stuff, so four players can jump in like that (he clicks his fingers theatrically for emphasis). And if only one person has the game, well, you can download it too, and then play with your friends. I think it's going to be the perfect multiplayer game because of that.”

NoE: So how many people can play together?

RV: “This is a four-player game, even off one Game Card.”

NoE: Can you tell us something about the single player game?

RV: “Yeah, I think the single player game will help make Metroid Prime Hunters be a unique game in the series. We're actually trying to change things a little bit; add some freshness and vitality. One of the things that players will notice right off the bat is that Samus is fully powered at the beginning of the game, and it's not so much about her trying to find parts for her suit; she is looking for relics of an alien species that has disappeared, and she's not alone.

“So the other games were claustrophobic, and they focused on powering up to get through. This game is about being powerful, and being surrounded, and how the tension plays back and forth between sometimes being the hunter, sometimes being the hunted.”

NoE: So can you tell us about the power of the relics? If you find a relic, what does it let you do?

RV: “That right there is going to be a surprise for the players to discover for themselves.”

NoE: OK. And can you tell us what your own favourite first person shooting games are?

RV: "Yeah, that's pretty easy. On the N64 there's a game called Perfect Dark. Man, I must have logged 100, maybe 300 hours on that baby, it's all me and my friends did, play that game. Recently there's been some amazing games too. Half-life 2 on PC for instance is really pushing the boundaries.”

KT: "First I have to tell you that the first person shooter is not a popular genre in the Japanese market. And the [only] first person shooter that I played through to the very end was Metroid Prime!"

NoE: Well that's a very good game. Thank you very much for your time!
Click to expand...

Online seems a bit odd!
Also wonder who/what the new characters will be??
 
Perfect Dark. Man, I must have logged 100, maybe 300 hours on that baby,
Click to expand...

Ehh, no difference between the two. None at all.

I am curious to know if the single player is a hack job or worth playing through, since I will probably get a DS when it's being bundled with it.
 
Dear Nintendo,

Get WESTERN producers to oversee these games.

Especially ones who actually PLAY First Person Shooters.

Yours truly,

The Fans
 
Cold-Steel said:
Dear Nintendo,

Get WESTERN producers to oversee these games.

Especially ones who actually PLAY First Person Shooters.

Yours truly,

The Fans
Click to expand...
Isn't this game being developed by NST, which consists of a bunch of Digipen graduates who have been playing FPSs all their life?
 
NCL always have their producers over seeing everything, so I don’t think that’ll ever change, even Kuju and N-Space have a couple of NCL guys posted with them
 
Ah, yes. The only upcoming DS game in the large lineup of anticipated games that I'm actually worried about.

But I do hope they pull it off.
 
ThongyDonk said:
NCL always have their producers over seeing everything, so I don’t think that’ll ever change, even Kuju and N-Space have a couple of NCL guys posted with them
Click to expand...

Not according to the kuju interview in the latest Edge. It suggests that NCL have been very hands off with them during the development of Battalion Wars.
 
This game was tailored made for online play, what the fuck happen here? there is simply no excuse for no online play, delaying this game a few months wouldn't hurt the DS specially with the upcoming DS line-up
 
I'm glad to hear there IS a single-player mode, it's mentioned so rarely. I've been patiently waiting for this game--which was supposed to be a launch title--under the assumption that the extra time is going primarily into single-player mode. Multiplayer is fine, but multiplayer-only sucks, especially for Metroid (which isn't a great fit for multiplayer in the first place). And no online is dumb, especially after such a long delay already. But I can live with no online as long as the single-player is a full game, not a half-baked demo like Yoshi.
 
RV: “Right, but I don't think we look at it as a negative thing, because as we're not focusing on the Internet we got to focus on the wi-fi stuff, so four players can jump in like that (he clicks his fingers theatrically for emphasis). And if only one person has the game, well, you can download it too, and then play with your friends. I think it's going to be the perfect multiplayer game because of that.”
Click to expand...
Uh, yeah. Who do these guys think they are, Scott McClellan?
RV: “Yeah, I think the single player game will help make Metroid Prime Hunters be a unique game in the series. We're actually trying to change things a little bit; add some freshness and vitality. One of the things that players will notice right off the bat is that Samus is fully powered at the beginning of the game, and it's not so much about her trying to find parts for her suit; she is looking for relics of an alien species that has disappeared, and she's not alone.

“So the other games were claustrophobic, and they focused on powering up to get through. This game is about being powerful, and being surrounded, and how the tension plays back and forth between sometimes being the hunter, sometimes being the hunted.”
Click to expand...
So... you're taking Metroid and removing the Metroid and turning it into a collectathon/generic FPS.
RV: "Yeah, that's pretty easy. On the N64 there's a game called Perfect Dark. Man, I must have logged 100, maybe 300 hours on that baby, it's all me and my friends did, play that game.
Click to expand...
Whoa, what a convincing anecdote.

This game is going to suck, isn't it :(
 
OptimusPrime said:
Get over it. The game wasn't planned for online.....case closed.
Click to expand...

you should work for Nintendo really, stop defending them so much. It wasn't planned online? worst excuse ever, the fact that this game's focus is multiplayer not making this game online is a really stupid move.
 
Wait, what?

KT: “Really, we could have made this game online. But Nintendo's vision of online play is different from that of other companies. We wanted it to be free, easy, and easy to access for everybody. To set up the kind of infrastructure that we needed, and to meet the launch date we have for this game, the two just didn't match.”
Click to expand...

I thought that what Nintendo has been saying their online would be? Am I missing something here? And I like how RV quickly stepped in there for damage control. Now i'm REALLY interested in Nintendos online plan to see who exactly is right here.

And yea, I remember this listed as a Launch title, then Q1, then August, now october. If you miss your game release by a year (though I seriously think they did that on purporse just to get people to buy more DS's) the least you could do is add online to a game that screams for online.
 
man see what I'm saying fuck this shit, delay this game make it online please.
 
“Really, we could have made this game online. But Nintendo's vision of online play is different from that of other companies. We wanted it to be free, easy, and easy to access for everybody. To set up the kind of infrastructure that we needed, and to meet the launch date we have for this game, the two just didn't match.”
Click to expand...

that's incredibly fucking lame. Nintendo goes whole months without releasing games, they can't delay this enough to make it interesting? I would buy this if it were online.
 
Error2k4 said:
you should work for Nintendo really, stop defending them so much. It wasn't planned online? worst excuse ever, the fact that this game's focus is multiplayer not making this game online is a really stupid move.
Click to expand...

HAHAAHHAHAAH glad you are not working in the industry ;) You can't replan a whole game when you made a whole work plan for it. It's to bad it doesn't have online but this game was in developemnet before Nintendo anounced their online strategy.

You see everyone bitch when the game is delayed again....for making it online....but just likein real life you can't always make friends.

THIS GAME IS NOT ONLINE, CASE CLOSED
 
OptimusPrime said:
HAHAAHHAHAAH glad you are not working in the industry ;) You can't replan a whole game when you made a whole work plan for it. It's to bad it doesn't have online but this game was in developemnet before Nintendo anounced their online strategy.

You see everyone bitch when the game is delayed again....for making it online....but just likein real life you can't always make friends.

THIS GAME IS NOT ONLINE, CASE CLOSED
Click to expand...

What online strategy?

You mean the same horsecrap they've been feeding everyone in the media when asked the question?
 
OptimusPrime said:
HAHAAHHAHAAH glad you are not working in the industry ;) You can't replan a whole game when you made a whole work plan for it. It's to bad it doesn't have online but this game was in developemnet before Nintendo anounced their online strategy.

You see everyone bitch when the game is delayed again....for making it online....but just likein real life you can't always make friends.

THIS GAME IS NOT ONLINE, CASE CLOSED
Click to expand...

The game was in development long before Nintendo announced their online strategy? your point? that's no excuse, Mario Kart and Animal Crossing were in development long before Nintendo mentioned any shit about their online strategy and guess what? those games are online. No online will hurt this game believe me, wait till those reviews start coming for the game how those reviewers are gonna bitch and moan about the no online play for MP:H.

I'm amazed you defend this retarded move by Nintendo, but hey if you are fine with the game no being online, more power to you.
 
Please. No more derailed Nintendo threads. :(

MP HUNTERS SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONLINE I AM NINTENDO FAN AND I ADMIT THIS STUPID MISTAKE CASE CLOSED
 
Now I think I see why Nintendo is planning on package the full version of Hunters with DS systems. It may be the only way to get this game in gamers hands. I mean, this game is abandoning metroid fans, and it is abandoning first person shooter fans who are used to online multiplayer. What is left? The occassional Nintendo fan who *may* like Metroid. Looking at game sales, I'm of the opinion that most Nintendo fans are not Metroid fans.
 
hmmmm. reminds me of when we first heard MP was gonna be a FPS

"OMWTFGOD! how can the give some shit company the Metroid and let them make it 3-D, its gonna suck balls...blah....blah ....blah.."

and yet we got one of the jems of this gen- Metroid Prime.

Chill the jets for a sec. nobody has even played the game (E3 dont count) yet...
 
The difference is that when people finally got to play Prime at E3 before it came out, most of us were ecstatic about the direction it was taking. To be fair, I know some people who really loved Hunters at E3, but I'm in the "doesn't even feel like Metroid" camp. Prime pulled off the tremendous gameplay changes by keeping the core of the series, exploration and upgrading. Hunters is removing those elements almost entirely. So the only thing left to connect Hunters with the Metroid series is Samus herself. That's why I think of Hunters as a licensed game (like Metroid Pinball) more than a real Metroid game. But Pinball is more fun.
 
IJoel said:
What online strategy?

You mean the same horsecrap they've been feeding everyone in the media when asked the question?
Click to expand...
No, the one they outlined at GDC and E3. The one supported by over 25 publishers. The one that's going to be entirely free for consumers and near effortless to set up. That one. :)
 
Just read this interview over at Nintendo Europe, and realised it was already posted here...

NoE: Can you tell us something about the single player game?

RV: “Yeah, I think the single player game will help make Metroid Prime Hunters be a unique game in the series. We're actually trying to change things a little bit; add some freshness and vitality. One of the things that players will notice right off the bat is that Samus is fully powered at the beginning of the game, and it's not so much about her trying to find parts for her suit; she is looking for relics of an alien species that has disappeared, and she's not alone.

“So the other games were claustrophobic, and they focused on powering up to get through. This game is about being powerful, and being surrounded, and how the tension plays back and forth between sometimes being the hunter, sometimes being the hunted.”
Click to expand...

I hadn't even considered about the single player game. This whole package is gonna rule.. I can just tell!

4 player wireless with one game card is fantastic, that was quite annoying with the demo not being able to do it. Everyone who owns a DS and some who don't though wish this was online. Imagine the scale of support from online gamers it would have had if rumours of this being bundled with DS in the fall come true. It would have been so awesome :(
 
Since when a handheld game *MUST* include online mode or no purchase? hell looks like its a must now.
When MP:H was announced and no online mode was available, no one was complaining.
 
Calidor said:
Since when a handheld game *MUST* include online mode or no purchase? hell looks like its a must now.
When MP:H was announced and no online mode was available, no one was complaining.
Click to expand...

Really? The demo isn't very exciting.
 
If Hunters controls as amazingly well as the demo (why shouldn't it?), I think the game will be fantastic. In the least it can show and encourage other developers, who will implement online play, that the DS is a very capable console for first-person shooters.
 
oldskool said:
If Hunters controls as amazingly well as the demo (why shouldn't it?), I think the game will be fantastic. In the least it can show and encourage other developers, who will implement online play, that the DS is a very capable console for first-person shooters.
Click to expand...


If you can get over the looks. Huge, blocky pixel enemies not only look bad, but hurt my eyes. I can't believe how damn blocky those metroids look when you get up close. Reminds me of Duke Nukem 3D.
 
I love the demo, can't wait for the final version. Breathing a sigh of relief that a solid single player is finally confirmed.
 
God's Hand said:
I hope the single player game is as good as Metroid Prime.
Click to expand...

Snowball, hell, etc.

Not handled by Retro, so I highly doubt it.

What has happened to my most beloved gaming franchise...*crosses fingers for Dread*
 
Nintendo is better off packaging a demo of an online-enabled version than this horrific reality.

Please, Big N, reserve these types of follies for your consoles....
 
Kensuke Tanabe has been significantly involved in all the metroid prime games so it's comforting to know mp-h is in such talented hands, but i'm still cautious because it's being developed by nstc.

imo nstc create average games at best.
 
No online. No sale.

Unless the single player rocks my socks off, which it won't since this game is multiplayer focused. That's like buying mario party to play by yourself.
 
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