Why some Miyamoto games aren’t any fun
Monday, May 7th, 2007 at 3:38pm by Staff
In speaking with Entertainment Weekly, Miyamoto-San talks about using games to tackle social issues and his approach to designing software. Here are some choice questions, but be sure to hit the source link for the full, interesting interview:
Have there been games that you thought would be fun but didn’t turn out that way?
Yes, that has definitely happened. In the past we’ve worked with some outside development houses on titles like F-Zero and Starfox — and let me just say that we were disappointed with the results… to be honest with you, Zelda: Twilight Princess is not doing very well at all in Japan. It is very disappointing. But it is doing okay here in America.
Why do you think Zelda isn’t doing well in Japan?
Well, I think a lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game. And a lot of the people who would want to play it [due to chronic shortages of the console] can’t find a Wii! But mostly, I think it’s that there are fewer and fewer people who are interested in playing a big role-playing game like Zelda.
May 7th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
Yikes. That is not the lesson we want Nintendo to be taking away from this. If they decide that TP’s relatively disappointing sales means they should abandon plans for other bigger, more immersive games for the Wii, I’m afraid that the system will truly be what its critics have accused it of being: a party system, and no more.
May 7th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
My favorite quote from that interview:
“I could make Halo. It’s not that I couldn’t design that game. It’s just that I choose not to.”
May 7th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
I just love Miyamoto’s straightforward honesty!
And he might be right about RPGs on Wii: I think DS is becoming the default home for RPGs! For our modern lifestyle, RPGs need to be portable for us to be able to invest the quality time they demand.
May 7th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
I couldn’t agree more with Zyblorg.
May 8th, 2007 at 4:44 am
Yeah I think Legend of Zelda needs to eb reinvigorated. After TP (which I never actually completed…) I decided I’m done with the Zelda series. It was good while it lasted but now its just overrated.
May 8th, 2007 at 5:36 am
i personally have been playing zelda since i got it at launch and i still haven’t beaten it… its just so much of the same thing over and over… it was cool at first… it also doesn’t help that the serious tones get queered out later in the game… like when *spoiler* zant… who is initially portrayed as this dark and evil being… turns into a fruity moron that jumps around and makes silly noises… i personally wont be buying the next zelda game if they don’t reinvent the franchise… its getting stale… and it doesn’t take itself seriously enough…
May 8th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
I too agree with zyblorg. My concern about the Wii all along that Nintendo has gone TOO far in making it for the “non-gamer” and the proof for me has been too many party/mini-game type games. Though Zelda isnt’ the best Zelda, it’s still one of the few must-haves on the Wii and is still a game for a “true gamer”.
It’s cool Nintendo is back on top, but if the “real” games don’t sell and in turn they focus more on party games, then the true gamers will likely start to abadon it. Which won’t be good, because I for one dont’ think the non-gamers will stick with the Wii long-term. They certainly won’t be the core supporters. Hopefully the big titles like MP3 and SM Galaxy will sell like hotcakes.
May 13th, 2007 at 12:28 am
I really hope Nintendo doesnt turn the wii into a full party system. It has so much potential to opening new aspects of gaming to us. I love my Wii, but im a hard core gamer. I think if Nintendo was to put a little more effort into turning out some real great and impressive games, they can catch the attention of the hard core gamer. The Wii is a system that appeals to non gamers, because of its easy to use. Much like how Macs have started to appeal to none computer people. However Mac has also gone the path of making their computers desirable to people who are advanced in computers by offering them a stable, and effective machine, that is also easy to use. Nintendo should do the same thing. Keep the Wii simple, but boost the appeal for hardcore gamers, by really turning out some great games. The New aspects the wii provides will get gamers looking at it. but unless the good games are there, people woulnt buy it. TP is a great game, no OoT, but a great game. They need more indepth and submersive games.