The following comments come from Shigeru Miyamoto...
On a new Legend of Zelda that starts after A Link to the Past...
"I think the answer would be the same if we're talking about just porting, but I think I'd be even more interested in creating something new maybe based on, or starting from, A Link To The Past. I think it's important to bring some really new software.
"To be very honest and open, it really depends on the directors that have time at the moment as well. Some directors, I can give them the title and I know they will do something great with it.
Other directors I'm not so 100 per cent confident [in], so they're the ones I'd rather take a more remake approach to the title. It really depends on that as well."
On praise for Koichi Kawamoto, the man behind the concept demo that birthed the WarioWare series...
"(Kawamoto is) a very strong figure [who] will play a very important role in the future."
On the F-Zero series and Wii U...
"I think at the time it (F-Zero) was a really big surprise, a new thing, a product that made sense. I don't see with current hardware how you could create a similar surprise. But maybe with future hardware, with Wii U coming up, maybe we could create something that does make sense, either as a smaller game, or a fully fledged title."
On praise for Angry Birds, but how it could have been better if made for DS
"There aren’t many games that I’ve played recently that have been truly convincing to me. But that said, I have very much enjoyed Angry Birds, especially the way in which it combines traditional and new game elements in exciting ways. Angry Birds is a very simple idea but it’s one of those games that I immediately appreciated when I first started playing, before wishing that I had been the one to come up with the idea first. I mean, obviously I want to be the one creating the most convincing, surprising game ideas.
In particular the control scheme is excellent. When you analyze it, the controls are actually quite fuzzy in terms of the way that it works. It takes a little while to get used to the controls, I think, but once you’ve mastered them, you have a lot of precision. To make it the interface and controls work that well and intuitively… well, I think a lot of work went into getting that right.
Obviously, if the developer had created the game for Nintendo DS the controls would have been even better, but what can you do?"
On keeping an eye on smartphone games...
"I check up on them sometimes, but I don't have a lot of time. I think we also have a history of having certain fun ideas and making a game out of it, and there's lots of other people also doing this [now]. This kind of environment inspires us to try even harder, and create even more unexpected new things."
Link, Link
On a new Legend of Zelda that starts after A Link to the Past...
"I think the answer would be the same if we're talking about just porting, but I think I'd be even more interested in creating something new maybe based on, or starting from, A Link To The Past. I think it's important to bring some really new software.
"To be very honest and open, it really depends on the directors that have time at the moment as well. Some directors, I can give them the title and I know they will do something great with it.
Other directors I'm not so 100 per cent confident [in], so they're the ones I'd rather take a more remake approach to the title. It really depends on that as well."
On praise for Koichi Kawamoto, the man behind the concept demo that birthed the WarioWare series...
"(Kawamoto is) a very strong figure [who] will play a very important role in the future."
On the F-Zero series and Wii U...
"I think at the time it (F-Zero) was a really big surprise, a new thing, a product that made sense. I don't see with current hardware how you could create a similar surprise. But maybe with future hardware, with Wii U coming up, maybe we could create something that does make sense, either as a smaller game, or a fully fledged title."
On praise for Angry Birds, but how it could have been better if made for DS
"There aren’t many games that I’ve played recently that have been truly convincing to me. But that said, I have very much enjoyed Angry Birds, especially the way in which it combines traditional and new game elements in exciting ways. Angry Birds is a very simple idea but it’s one of those games that I immediately appreciated when I first started playing, before wishing that I had been the one to come up with the idea first. I mean, obviously I want to be the one creating the most convincing, surprising game ideas.
In particular the control scheme is excellent. When you analyze it, the controls are actually quite fuzzy in terms of the way that it works. It takes a little while to get used to the controls, I think, but once you’ve mastered them, you have a lot of precision. To make it the interface and controls work that well and intuitively… well, I think a lot of work went into getting that right.
Obviously, if the developer had created the game for Nintendo DS the controls would have been even better, but what can you do?"
On keeping an eye on smartphone games...
"I check up on them sometimes, but I don't have a lot of time. I think we also have a history of having certain fun ideas and making a game out of it, and there's lots of other people also doing this [now]. This kind of environment inspires us to try even harder, and create even more unexpected new things."
Link, Link
Categories: Top Stories, Consoles, Portables, Interviews | Tags: Wii U, 3DS, F-Zero, Miyamoto, DS, DSi | Rating: 
+5
+5
RSS Feeds:
"I think at the time it (F-Zero) was a really big surprise, a new thing, a product that made sense. I don't see with current hardware how you could create a similar surprise."
Does it really matter? The last game was on GBA and that was Japan only! Seems odd that he says this but is ok with Mario Party games that aren't that much different.
All we want is a new shiny F-Zero that looks amazing, has that great speed & challenge and has online. Would be awesome if it had a track/vehicle creator too. I reckon it would sell better nowadays rather than when GX was released.
I'd love to see a 3DS F-Zero game that has a RPG mode like in the handheld Mario Tennis/Gold games.
Oh my god this.
Angry Birds is stupidly popular for no reason.
Really, I tried playing it and I don't see the appeal. I don't see why it has toys, snacks, clothes, and is getting a tv show and a movie. I don't see why the same game has been released ten times with a different theme slapped on (Angry Birds, Seasons, Rio, etc.)
NEVER understood the Angry Birds hate. Never understood how the hell it somehow justifies having an animated series, millions in merchandising, an a movie either... But it's by no means a BAD game.
At least Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed that "Nintendo may create either a small or a full fledged F-Zero game on the Wii U in the near future."
I hope Nintendo does make a F-Zero game in the future since I have played F-Zero X and I loved it.
It's sad that F-Zero has become some sort of mystery to these people.
Just give it to Retro or someone else if you don't know what to do with it.
I think that gamers tend to hate mobile games in general, including Angry Birds, because of the fact that...
1.) There are no joysticks nor buttons when playing mobile games
2.) Gamers believe that mobile games are only good for killing time
I've been thinking it is possible that Retro Studios is working on a new F-Zero for Wii U... they could revive it big time, with beautiful backgrounds and good levels (they worked on Mario Kart 7). But I don't know how to feel about Miyamoto talking about F-Zero this way. Maybe he is vague in purpose, or he really means that there is nothing on the way right now.
A new franchise or a new (first person) Metroid game would be very cool as well, I hope we'll see Retro's work at E3.
But hope for a sequel to GX that has replay value of years long, and a beautiful art-style is still there, oh and online
You're right, but the thing rubbing people the wrong way is the fact that this game has blown up despite existing in other forms for a decade as flash games and Rovio just reskinned it and now it's suddenly popular. -That- I can certainly understand. It also has the 'ponies' factor going for it, where people are just sick to death of seeing it -everywhere-, and I count myself among that crowd. All in all I rarely hear people call it a bad game and when they do it's comparative to the attention it receives.
I went to Barnes and Noble and saw a tray full of Angry Birds dolls sitting right next to Super Mario merchandise as if they were in any way equals. I see Angry Birds icons in every smart phone ad ever and it doesn't deserve that either. People are upset that this is somehow as popular as it is. I have not nor will I ever play Angry Birds. I already played "Bow-Man" on flash-game sites with my friend when we were both 9. Whether it's good or not, whether one has played it or not, the game is not worthy of the praise or the attention it receives.
The fact that someone had to ask Shigeru Miyamoto what he thought of this tiny completely un-noteworthy smart phone game is proof enough. There are far better games that I would have liked his opinion on but for some reason, Angry Birds. This question was not asked because of the game's quality, but the popularity.
I was already disappointed that Nintendo just pass the chance to do an F-Zero game on Wii. I thought they could of easily made a fun game on the system's controls alone. And Miyamoto's comments makes me wish Nintendo would focus on it better like they do with the Mario Kart series (despite it being more of a money maker).
F-Zero would have been very nice to see this generation but it'd be a very hard series to make cute/accessible/utterly fucking easy so I can see why they skipped it in favor of the mainstays they used
And Mario Bros. IS deserving of all that stuff? There was plenty of crap Nintendo whored Mario's image out to back in the 80's too. There was plenty of useless merchandise, the god-awful movie, a horrendous p.o.s. cartoon, hell, even a breakfast cereal. And frankly, I would say Mario was pretty undeserving of all that too. Especially considering most of that tie-in stuff was pretty damn awful and exploitative of idiot kids... like, well, most things in the 80's.
Super Mario Brothers single handedly revived the entire video game industry, man. Yes. Yes it's deserving. You're also forgetting that Super Mario Brothers as a franchise is now over 25 years old. That number is not for decoration. Nintendo has kept the franchise alive and relevant for over twenty-five years with fresh new ideas and unending quality. People seem to forget or don't appreciate this fact. Angry Birds is a knockoff smart phone game with, what, two years under it's belt? Three? Nintendo has been around far long enough to warrant the attention. Angry Birds just isn't there. Even -STAR WARS- only has four years on Super Mario.
I won't defend Nintendo's 80's decisions, but I think you answered your own question there. ...Also, I'm actually going to stick my neck out there a bit and disagree on the cartoon series being "a horrendous p.o.s.". The movie, absolutely, and maybe the Zelda cartoon, but the Super Mario shows were cool if you ask me. Not to mention,running and jumping through land, ice, water, and fire levels to rescue the princess from King Koopa is far more to base a show around than ugly birds being flung at a castle until it falls over.
I'm sorry... why was that question even asked about ALttP? I also don't even understand his answer.
But Oracle of Ages/Seasons starts almost immediately after A Link to the Past, and Link's Awakening is immediately after that.
So unless they were hoping for a Ganon-less, Triforce-less, Master Sword-less sequel to take place between ALttP and Oracles to explain why Link was riding a horse, I don't see the point.
Also, his comments on F-Zero are exactly why I feel like Miyamoto needs to step away from everything and the decision making. He doesn't think it makes sense to give gamers things that they want.
Really sad that F-Zero needs to be something new or else there will be no new game... Being in HD with superb art would be more than enough to surpise people...
Sounds like there's no F-Zero revival on the cards, in the immediate future anyway. Shame, it would have been nice, but at least it narrows down E3 predictions!
On a new Legend of Zelda that starts after A Link to the Past...
Ahem, that would be the Oracle games... and then Link's Awakening...
I guess there could be a game about that Link before he goes to Labrynna/Holodrum/Koholint but it would have to be an acid trip sort of game like Majora's Mask in a differant dimension or something since Ganon is busy being revived and nothing is really happening in Hyrule.
Post-apocalyptic Termina anyone? It was never saved in that timeline... could be cool
It sounds like they're thinking of something for F-Zero, but just in the concept/planning stage. I really hope there's a new F-Zero on Wii U...
We can talk about what kind of cultural treatment Angry Birds deserves compared to contemporary Mario when Angry Birds itself reaches 25 years old. And if age is somehow a qualifier for reverence, then what, nothing but 20+ year old franchises are deserving of any level of fandom? I'm talking about the immediate cultural impact that either thing has received once it became available for public consumption. So let's compare 3-year old Angry Birds to 3-year old Mario. Frankly, neither is dissimilar from one-another. Both Rovio and Nintendo rode the f***ing image of their brands to the bank and were selling it everywhere. Perhaps undeservedly so, but they're both doing the same thing.
And frankly, the cast of Mario is hardly that much better than that of Angry Birds. They're BOTH pretty f***ing dumb. The latter is a bunch of colour-coordinated birds with funny-looking scowls, but they're hardly "characters". And Mario himself is a pretty terrible lead. He's a fine avatar for a videogame, but he's hardly more conceptually "legit" compared to the Angry Birds characters. Wanna tell me what makes him a good character? What great personality he has that is so relatable and entertaining? You can't. Because he's this one-dimensional guy that exists solely because you needed something to play as. And the rest of the cast isn't much better. Bowser is an idiotic villain with VERY vague motivations, Peach is a vapid airhead who can't seem to hire good security for the life of her, etc.
Mario saving the princess is no different than the Angry Birds trying to save their eggs. Neither has an impact on gameplay in any way - it's just paper-thin context that is just there because they needed SOME explanation for the stupid s*** happening in their games. Peach can be replaced with anything. The gameplay experience has nothing to do with her. The story could be that Mario really likes pizza pops, and Bowser has the last box, and the game would be the same.
Mario re-invented the game industry, and no one is EVER going to be able to take that away from that franchise. But Angry Birds has also managed to get MILLIONS of people playing games as well. I'm not saying Angry Birds deserves all of its dumb marketing tie-in junk, or maybe even the extent of its popularity. But it's not like Mario is more "conceptually sound" than Angry Birds that it somehow does - atleast not when it was the same age.
Please stop stretching my words to fit your argument. You ask me if Mario deserves the attention he receives. I answer your question with a fact. If you want to believe that I told you that Mario deserves his attention because he's twenty-five years old, rather than what I actually told you, which was "because of twenty-five years with fresh new ideas and unending quality", you go right ahead, because I couldn't care less. You know that's not what I was implying, and that it certainly wasn't what I said.
I wasn't alive for Mario's first three years so I won't pretend to have experienced it beyond YouTube'd 80's commercials and raw gaming knowledge, but I can tell you that Super Mario Brothers on NES is a far greater experience than Angry Birds is today. I don't care how much merchandise either has now or had in the past. That's not my issue here. My issue is that Super Mario Brothers as a franchise deserves the attention then or now and Angry Birds does not. Super Mario Brothers was brand new from a gameplay and technology (graphics and sound) standpoint. For most people Super Mario Brothers was the first game they'd played with actual music in it, arcade game openings aside.
Again I ask you stop trying to stuff additional meaning into what I'm saying so it can fit your arguments. I'm pretty certain we were referring to a cartoon series that aired in the 80's and not the solidity of the Super Mario characters or plot as Shakespearian pieces of art. I only said that the events depicted and even the gameplay in Super Mario Brothers is far more open and accepting to an animated adaptation. I never said Mario and co. were more "Conceptually legit" than anything else. Also, I think the Mario RPG's are worth your time. Mario remains as Avatar-state as ever but Peach and Bowser get plenty of characterization. It always makes me sad when the next platformer comes out and Peach and Bowser are back to air-head plot-device and idiot villain respectively.
I'm not trying to make some snappy elitist remark concerning smart phone 'games' not being 'games' or anything like that, but I do think you're vastly overestimating how many people are now "playing games" because of Angry Birds. The download numbers on the series of apps mean nothing considering how easy it is to erase and redownload smartphone apps. Not to mention the entire Apple philosophy is making a new "latest and greatest" on a yearly basis and considering how many these things sell every year it seems to be working. The same person could have downloaded the game 8 different times on various new devices he's purchased.
I don't mean to argue with you and I don't mean to sound angry. Sorry if that's the way it comes across.
Hard to understand as usual, Miyamoto.
I can't make heads or tails of his Zelda remarks. Is he remaking, or rebooting the franchise starting from ALTTP? ...Hope it's the latter. only if it stays closer in spirit and concept to ALTTP.
And the idea that you shouldn't make a game unless you can find a way to surprise people with it is kinda crap :/
So atleast we know there's no f-zero in the making, nor can we expect it in the next couple of years :'(
I think, when Miyamoto says a Zelda in the style of LttP, he means a 2D Zelda on consoles akin to New Super Mario Bros, not an actual LttP remake in 3D or a game at LttP's time. I'm not Miyamoto, so I could be wrong, but it's just something to think about.
"I think at the time it (F-Zero) was a really big surprise, a new thing, a product that made sense. I don't see with current hardware how you could create a similar surprise. But maybe with future hardware, with Wii U coming up, maybe we could create something that does make sense, either as a smaller game, or a fully fledged title."
DO IT !!!!!!!! In fact, I don't care if its a launch time frame title in the sense that it doesn't completely take advantage of the hardware as a end of system lifespan software would.. I have faith. Look at F-Zero GX that thing is a masterpiece, and you really only need to first of all, re-texture the game , make it 1080p, solid 60fps, include online, add some characters if need be, include new and old courses, remake any courses that were overlooked from SNES and just sell the damn thing! I would love another story mode but most people can live without it so let that go as it goes.
Haha man,you're my hero. Seriously,you were just owning him with facts and reasons. Way to go!
I am sick of Angry Birds too,i tried to get into it,tried the first game,didn't like it,tried every other part of it (seasons,rio,space),but it still makes me wonder how can people like that game. In my opinion "Crush the Castle" is much better than Angry Birds.
Angry Birds is a terrible game. It's a projectile/ballistics game with pseudo-random physics. That's all you need to know. Miyamoto probably meant that he would have like to think up Angry Birds and make it a worthwhile game (i.e. develop more or less the same game with vastly superior mechanics).
View the full discussion!