Support NeoGAF

[thegodsend]

German online newspaper Spiegel.de posted an exclusive interview with Saturo Iwata straight from the Revolution controller presentation. I'm a bit busy so I can't translate everything but I'll give you comments on the most important informations:

You can find the interview here!


- Non-gamers need a controller in the shape of something familiar like a tv remote and a controller they can use with just one hand. It's easier for them to pick this new controller up and start playing just pointing at the TV.

- Existing games and genres feel and play better with the new controller and "nunchaku"-expansion

- He knows that many people are concerned how existing genres can be brought over to this controller and if there will be enough support from multiplattform developers. But he thinks that the new controller offers so much potential that everyone will be interested in doing games for it.

- Regaring ports Nintendo itself is looking at the key games on the market and talking to the publishers, bringing up new ideas for their key games that they can use with the new controller. They already started to talk to developers about their key games. Iwata says that most developers are really interested in doing some fresh things with it even in existing games after Nintendo explained the possibilities.

- Of course Nintendo knows that graphics and online gaming are important for gamers. And it's a matter of course to fulfill the wishes of the gamers.
But Iwata thinks that non-gamers don't care about the best visuals. In his opinion Nintendo has to explain why videogames are fun - that's the main reason why they came up with the new controller. Non-gamers should have the feelings "I can do it!" "It looks fun" "It looks easy" "It interests me" "I'll pick it up and give it a try".

- Iwata talks about a dynamic price range for games on Revolution, like with Nintendo DS. Full price for something like Zelda, inexpensive prices for small and easy accessible games.

- Nintendo has thought about adding multimedia functions to revolution and they will use the DVD tray, the online capabilities and the internal flash ram for some things.
But all in all the most important thing is to have a videogame console that promises instant fun. If gaming is no fun, no one would buy a videogame console, not even for multimedia functions.

- He asked Miyamoto to do a new Mario game for the Revolution launch but didn't get any feedback from him yet. "Maybe he will give the answer in another interview with you!" He thinks as a gamer that Nintendo needs a new Mario at launch.


My first thread... now discuss

 

[DSN2K]

starting to think this controller might just be crazy enough to succeed, I can see non gamers wanting to play this.

 

[DEO3]

I like the idea of a full price range, it allows smaller developers with just a good idea to really get thier foot in the door - none of this 20 million dollar budget nonsense. I think this would help a lot with the drought we've been seeing lately between games, while there'd still only be a couple blockbusters coming out each year, there'd be plenty of 'filler material' to keep the dust off the system. Seems like it's worked pretty well for the DS, isn't Brain Training a budget title?

 

[Krowley]

starting to think this controller might just be crazy enough to succeed, I can see non gamers wanting to play this.

i can too.. there are many ways that this can be used to bring in non gamers.

like a golf game where you stand in front of your tv and swing the controller like a virtual club (in fact, i think this was suggested in the video presentation). hell maybe even a golf club attachment of some kind that could ship with the game to make it more real. Golfers would be all over that shit... , and how many golfers are gamers? probably a pretty small percentage. I can see an old guy going into a game store with his kid and seeing some golf game being played on a kiosk, and suddenly he has to have it.

i also think games that are sold with peripherals might really take off... some of the games may be simple budget titles, but the peripherals will make them much cooler... games that simulate unusual things that are hard to simulate with a regular controller. A simple example would be a version of deer hunter that ships with a rifle and scope. A music game that ships with a virtual keyboard.

it could in theory bring back some of that old school arcade vibe where every game has it's own interface... this won't be the case for the main titles on the system, but i can see otherwise simple games (maybe even with very dated graphics) that use a peripheral to enhance the overall package.

it may not happen, but it would be a nice development.

 

[Timen]

They should offer "small" games wich last for about 10 minutes (like flash games) but do work with the Revolution interface for download like they do with the Xbox Live marketplace.
Great way to let people get used to this way of playing games.

 

[Xrenity]

The price ranges sound great
Also nice to hear they're talking to many third party developers.

 

[MASB]

- He asked Miyamoto to do a new Mario game for the Revolution launch but didn't get any feedback from him yet. "Maybe he will give the answer in another interview with you!" He thinks as a gamer that Nintendo needs a new Mario at launch.

While Iwata is great, this shows he still isn't up to Yamauchi's standards. The Pimp Emperor wouldn't have accepted such insolence from Miyamoto!!

 

[miyuru]

:lol when I think about it, it's really true how much of a hardass Yamauchi was. I wonder what he thinks of Rev.?

 

[jgkspsx]

- Iwata talks about a dynamic price range for games on Revolution, like with Nintendo DS. Full price for something like Zelda, inexpensive prices for small and easy accessible games.

Yeah, maybe they can actually start doing this for the DS. Greedy, stupid bastards.

 

[Ruzbeh]

Yeah, maybe they can actually start doing this for the DS. Greedy, stupid bastards.

...

Seems like it's worked pretty well for the DS, isn't Brain Training a budget title?

Yes, it's half the price of a regular game. It's doing extremely well in terms of sales.

 

[LegendofJoe]

I can't believe Nintendo is out actively pitching ideas to 3rd parties. Nintendo has come ready to play this gen, MS and Sony should know better than to ignore them niche market or not.

 

[Fuzzy]

While Iwata is great, this shows he still isn't up to Yamauchi's standards. The Pimp Emperor wouldn't have accepted such insolence from Miyamoto!!

Miyamoto always did what Yamauchi wanted, just look at Yoshi's Island....oh wait.

 

[jgkspsx]

Yes, it's half the price of a regular game. It's doing extremely well in terms of sales.

And where are these in America or Europe? Polarium was budget in JP, but full price here and EU.

 

[EternalDarko]

what are you talking about?
Polarium was £17.99 here at launch.

It's good to see that Nintendo are very actively pursuing the uses of the new controller with third party dev's and even giving them ideas on how it can be used in their current games. This should help ports have more control compared to on the other two consoles (if 3rd parties do decide to go ahead and use the controller properly).

 

[heidern]

While Iwata is great, this shows he still isn't up to Yamauchi's standards. The Pimp Emperor wouldn't have accepted such insolence from Miyamoto!!

You mean like how Yamauchi deigned to Miyamotos desire to keep carts with the N64?

 

[Matlock]

:lol when I think about it, it's really true how much of a hardass Yamauchi was. I wonder what he thinks of Rev.?

I dunno, but I'd avoid riding around in a car for a while if I were the designer.

 

[GitarooMan]

Regaring ports Nintendo itself is looking at the key games on the market and talking to the publishers, bringing up new ideas for their key games that they can use with the new controller. They already started to talk to developers about their key games. Iwata says that most developers are really interested in doing some fresh things with it even in existing games after Nintendo explained the possibilities.

My question is, will it look significantly worse (i.e, 480p vs. 720p/1080p) I think that will make a difference

- But Iwata thinks that non-gamers don't care about the best visuals.

I think this is true to a certain point (i.e the differences between PS2/Xbox). But if there are huge differences (HD vs. no HD) I think they will care. I also think it can't be stressed enough is that this is clearly more aimed at the Japanese market, where simpler games and lesser graphics have proven to fly much more than in the US.

 

[Fuzzy]

:lol when I think about it, it's really true how much of a hardass Yamauchi was. I wonder what he thinks of Rev.?

Don't worry, he'll have an interview with a Japanese newspaper where he tells them it was all his idea. :lol

 

[TheKingsCrown]

He asked Miyamoto to do a new Mario game for the Revolution launch but didn't get any feedback from him yet. "Maybe he will give the answer in another interview with you!" He thinks as a gamer that Nintendo needs a new Mario at launch.

What in chickens name does this mean? I find it hard to believe that Iwata would ask Miyamoto to do a game. First, I think Miyamoto would just do a Mario game, but second, I think it would be integral strategically to have a mario game at launch.

 

[Aurora]

Nice post Krowley. I totally agree.

I am really starting to have faith in what the introduction of this controller will bring to the table.

 

[Fuzzy]

What in chickens name does this mean? I find it hard to believe that Iwata would ask Miyamoto to do a game. First, I think Miyamoto would just do a Mario game, but second, I think it would be integral strategically to have a mario game at launch.

Naw, with the new controller they can finally make a sequel to Luigi's Mansion as a launch title.

 

[DrGAKMAN]

:lol when I think about it, it's really true how much of a hardass Yamauchi was. I wonder what he thinks of Rev.?

Yamauchi wanted episodal games (smaller/cheaper games that were part of a series, re-using the same engines and brought out in a sequal-esque seasonal timeframe) and Miyamoto didn't like that idea...I think it's brilliant. Yamauchi also wanted a controller that could squirt air or water into players faces (around the time of the NDS planning) and he also expressed the idea of a gaming "seat" that could move & shock players as they played. I would love to hear even more of his ideas.

 

[Jive Turkey]

i also think games that are sold with peripherals might really take off... some of the games may be simple budget titles, but the peripherals will make them much cooler... games that simulate unusual things that are hard to simulate with a regular controller. A simple example would be a version of deer hunter that ships with a rifle and scope. A music game that ships with a virtual keyboard.

I picked up my copy of StarFox 64 BECAUSE of the rumble pak. I also happened to be buying one of the best games on the system. I was interested in SF 64 but it was the rumble pak that pushed me over the edge.

 

[Ruzbeh]

Yamauchi wanted episodal games (smaller/cheaper games that were part of a series, re-using the same engines and brought out in a sequal-esque seasonal timeframe) and Miyamoto didn't like that idea...I think it's brilliant.

I think that's a good idea, too, but only for certain games. Brain Training Revolution will be like that, just like Brain Training on DS. You have one for adults and one for kids, but they're still pretty much the same.

 

[Chittagong]

Yamauchi wanted episodal games (smaller/cheaper games that were part of a series, re-using the same engines and brought out in a sequal-esque seasonal timeframe) and Miyamoto didn't like that idea...I think it's brilliant. Yamauchi also wanted a controller that could squirt air or water into players faces (around the time of the NDS planning) and he also expressed the idea of a gaming "seat" that could move & shock players as they played. I would love to hear even more of his ideas.

Hey Gakman, you must have been having a field day with all the Revolution info - I recall some of your concepts actually were pretty wacky and involved two piece controllers, but everyone said two piece controllers were out of the question.

 

[EternalDarko]

Yamauchi wanted episodal games (smaller/cheaper games that were part of a series, re-using the same engines and brought out in a sequal-esque seasonal timeframe) and Miyamoto didn't like that idea...I think it's brilliant. Yamauchi also wanted a controller that could squirt air or water into players faces (around the time of the NDS planning) and he also expressed the idea of a gaming "seat" that could move & shock players as they played. I would love to hear even more of his ideas.

For a man that has no interest in games, he sure does have a lot of ideas.

 

[DrGAKMAN]

I picked up my copy of StarFox 64 BECAUSE of the rumble pak. I also happened to be buying one of the best games on the system. I was interested in SF 64 but it was the rumble pak that pushed me over the edge.

You got the Star Fox 64 & Rumble Pak promotional video too? HA HA...anyways, Nintendo needs to start mailing out DVD's of this sh!t like yesterday so people know what they're planning Just sending that lil' video of the people just playing (which can get ya hyped even *without* seeing what's on screen) and I think it'll get people to take notice and possibly wait for the Revolution.

 

[Bluemercury]

The interview is in german....is there a full translation of it?

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

And where are these in America or Europe? Polarium was budget in JP, but full price here and EU.

Not that it's a good example, but I believe Ping Pals was $20 to begin with?

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

You got the Star Fox 64 & Rumble Pak promotional video too? HA HA...anyways, Nintendo needs to start mailing out DVD's of this sh!t like yesterday so people know what they're planning Just sending that lil' video of the people just playing (which can get ya hyped even *without* seeing what's on screen) and I think it'll get people to take notice and possibly wait for the Revolution.

Yeah, the videos like the Star Fox 64 one and Diddy Kong Racing one were pretty interesting promotional things. Did they decide they just weren't making enough of a difference to continue? There was a GameCube DVD, but that was a one time thing two years ago consisting of game trailers.

 

[Jive Turkey]

You got the Star Fox 64 & Rumble Pak promotional video too? HA HA...anyways, Nintendo needs to start mailing out DVD's of this sh!t like yesterday so people know what they're planning Just sending that lil' video of the people just playing (which can get ya hyped even *without* seeing what's on screen) and I think it'll get people to take notice and possibly wait for the Revolution.

No I haven't gotten a promo video from Nintendo since the original Donkey Kong Country on the SNES.

 

[littlewig]

I got the StarFox Promo as well as their sports Promo, where they showed off Jen Griffey Jr. 64 and 1080.


Man, those videos were awesome, they're somewhere in my closet, I doubt I can find them.

 

[Kamille]

I got the DKC promo video, the N64(I remember being so excited about the Killer Instinct Gold footage hidden at the end), the Starfox 64 one. I think I got the DK Racing one as well. I was surprised that I got them all seeing that I wasn't a NP subscriber at the time and hadn't been for quite a few years.

Anyway, the more I hear about Nintendo's Rev. plans, the more I feel that maybe these guys aren't as crazy as so many people think. They just might be onto something great.

 

[Ronin]

Can't forget about the DK64/Jet Force Gemini video.

 

[Starfire]

I'm really starting to like the idea of the Rev controller, it gives me classic arcade flashbacks, and that brings a smile to my face. The price ranging sounds like a perfect idea tailor-fit to the scope of Rev games too. Nintendo may have collectively relinquished their sanity, but I think I like the results. If they market this right, and really take advantage of it, it could be awesome. It may not define where the industry will be in 20 years, but it could be a great home for fun, arcadelike games, as well as some more complex and origional fare, and personally that is what leavs me hopefull.

I used to be somewhat of a detractor of Ninty's buisness strategy (and I'm still not sure I really *get* the DS), but this makes perfect sense to me, it seems Nintendo has finally embraced the direction they've been trying to find for the past few years, and I hope they take full advantage of the somewhat interesting gameplay possibilities the rev could offer.

I'll still have my PS3, but now I might have something alongside it to offer me a complete range of gameplay concepts that neither alone could have provided me with.

Cautiously optimistic Revolution follower +1

 

[drohne]

"saturo" is my favorite game-related misspelling. it makes the president of nintendo sound like a villain from an old hanna-barbera cartoon who goes around wetting things.

 

[Fuzzy]

"saturo" is my favorite game-related misspelling. it makes the president of nintendo sound like a villain from an old hanna-barbera cartoon who goes around wetting things.

I'm so used to seeing it spelt wrong that I didn't even notice.