Nintendo focusing on hardcore gamers

Wii News | Oh Miyamoto, you tease ...

Shigeru Miyamoto has provided some insight into the development of the Wii, as well as dropping a few bombshells in a recent interview.

Not surprisingly, the inclusion of Wii Sports was an intentional strategy to demonstrate the "we play" capabilities of the Wii. Reflecting on the bundling, Miyamoto said, "The real idea was that this is a game that we absolutely want everyone to play, because it really shows you what the Wii can do. So this wasn't the idea of bundling something together to help sell the system. [Wii Sports] was designed to help promote the system."

Far more interestingly though, Miyamoto made a deliberate nod towards hardcore gamers, stating, "... right now I still look at the Wii's sensor bar and the "pointing" technology we've developed as something that I think is going to end up being very effective for the types of games that the hardcore gamers like to play. There are also other enhancements to the Wii interface and developments being planned that are going to really make games for hardcore players a lot more fun and interesting."

Network play is also getting attention, but not as one may immediately assume. The focus seems to be on social communities, with Miyamoto reflecting that, "One other thing that I think is going to be the next big challenge for Nintendo is related to the idea of network entertainment. A lot of people have the misunderstanding that Nintendo is not interested in network gaming. What we are interested in isn't so much the idea of creating a game that is online and networked in a way that we have seen online up until now. We are really more interested in this idea of having the household television connected to the Internet constantly via the Wii. I think you are going to see a lot of new possibilities for new types of entertainment, such as new channels for the Wii in that type of network environment."

Shigeru Miyamoto is the creator of Mario and the current Director and General Manager of Nintendo Entertainment Analysis and Development.

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25 Comments

renegadesx

6 years ago

We could be in for another surprise on the network side of things.

I mean sure we can get online multiplayer, we can get Virtual Console, updates while you sleep and basically an email server but what else?

I think there is alot more to these new channels coming than he lets on.

onggie

6 years ago

I just want online multiplayer, that can make a game last so much longer!

Jim Dash

6 years ago

The amount of replayability/lastability online co-op and multiplayer creates is phenominal.

You need that, Ninty.

Crestfallen

6 years ago

Nintendo need to swallow their pride and get online gaming into action. x360, PC and PS3 both have extensive online gaming capabilites. If Nintendo want to add a "community" element (similiar to whats on the PC and PS3) then they should only add it in ADDITION to online gaming.

And I think we all deserve to see what "hardcore" games are in pipelines, already.

The Brett

6 years ago

Thanks for telling me what I want to play on the Wii, Shiggy. Online multiplayer first plskthnx.

ugh the boot

6 years ago

I think what he fails to realise is that hardcore gamers/games actually need precise control. The Wiimote imo is just not accurate enough for most types of hardcore games. There are too many moments when shaking the controller or doing anything other than pointing at the screen where the movements haven't registered when i've wanted it to. I think this problem will be magnified with online games.

I just want some original games with depth! Nothing more...nothing less! I don't want party games and i'm sick of ports....and so far that's mostly what the Wii offers. Nintendo have been awesome in the past introducing me to new franchises and even new genres....but this has come to a grinding halt lately.

renegadesx

6 years ago

ugh the boot wrote

The Wii remote is heaps accurate for some games, not so much for others, Red Steel had a flaw when you point the cursor too far away from the screen (or off screen) but impart from that it was incredibly accurate

everyone is sick of these ports ugh, blame the 3rd parties for that.

Party games are not overcrowded really, you got Rayman and Warioware, with Mario Party coming

Qbert

6 years ago

I see what you mean about the inaccuarcy ugh, but is that a hardware or software problem? Hopefully games released later this year and onwards will have closer to a 1:1 movement ratio.

?oe?oe

6 years ago

Red Steel's control was very solid, much better then FarCry and CoC3. Apparently Metroid betters them.

...and a random player search or lobby for online games, thanks. I don't want it being restricted to friend codes.

Frozencry

6 years ago

They need online play ASAP. Don't focus on anything else other than that right now. If XBL's popularity is anything to go by, they can gain quite a boost through the online play. Just don't make it like the DS system with the friend codes. horrid system.

realitybites

6 years ago

Depends what Nintendo believes is hard core.

Some have argued that Zelda is hard core.

What definition does he mean?

My definition of hard core is Final Fantasy, GRAW, GTA, Gears of War and WoW.

Games that push boundaries in such a way that attracts seasoned players to play for extensive periods of time.

Pushing boundaries could be in terms of difficulty, graphics, sound, physics, online, co-op and the old forgotten factor just plain good fun. Some argue being original is also important. Being original is fine but being original for the sake of being original isn't.

To me they started out attracting the non-gamer, female audience and Ninty legions of fans.

Already less than 6 months they want to add another category of gamer.

The major obstacle I see is market re-positioning and the fact the Wii is underpowered if you look at the competition (includes PC in here). I don't think the control mechanism is going to sell it to a hard core person. Hard core can handle a controller, any input device (i.e. Guitar) and keyboard/mouse.

The Brett

6 years ago

renegadesx wrote

ugh the boot wrote

You're also forgetting many other third party minigame compilations, such as Open Season.

Flypaper

6 years ago

Quote

My definition of hard core is Final Fantasy, GRAW, GTA, Gears of War and WoW.

Games that push boundaries in such a way that attracts seasoned players to play for extensive periods of time.

...Er, what?

All the games you've listed are, in fact, famous for having taken on existing gameplay elements and genre conventions, polished the hell out of them, and marketed themselves well as archetypal products that bring nothing new to the table but their polish and profesionalism*.

The opposite of pushing boundaries, in other words.

*Note: this isn't a bad thing.

DancesInUnderwear

6 years ago

realitybites wrote

How the hell is that not Zelda, though?

6 years ago

I disagree with most as I feel that following everyone else into an Online battle should not be the highest priority for Nintendo.

The Wii claims to be different - that is its selling point - so focus on proving it with DIFFERENT games. Allowing cheap ports is eroding the value in the Wii console. People are starting to go cold.

Nintendo needs to pull out all stops in getting NEW high quality properties onto the Wii platform. They also need to communicate their efforts a little better as consumers will loose patience if they don't see some solid progress.

Next - leverage the DS install base. Then and only then, they may be able to take the battle Online with guns-a-blazing.

Personally, I think Wii is already headed down the same path as Gamecube. It's floor space presence is already shrinking and retail merchandising in most retailers is non existent.

Nintendo Aust are pathetic. Hire some good staff FFS and start being competitive with how games are price positioned. They have their GC titles that could be repackaged & redeployed or simply kept as is but repositioned as $19.95 tasty treats whilst we wait for the main course. But no - just let the old stock get covered in dust and the opportunity to act slip by...

?oe?oe

6 years ago

Cookie wrote

It's floor space presence is already shrinking and retail merchandising in most retailers is non existent.

Where? Wii must be doing well where I am. In one of my local EBs, there were 26 pre orders for Excite Truck alone. That's one store. And Wii is mixed healthy between 360 and PS in most stores.

Cookie wrote

Nintendo Aust are pathetic.

The only reason nintendo fails here is because of itself.

drinniol

6 years ago

Yes, the great big failure that is the Wii. Nintendo are surely gonna go bankrupt from the obscene profits. They have no idea how to run their business and should listen to a bunch of internet dorks who think that internet play is the ONLY SAVING LIGHT of the biggest initial success of this console generation.

Have you guys ever looked at the stats for what percentage of players go online? Ever wonder why the DS is killing the 360 in that field? Maybe it has something to do with the manner of the service?

I'm gonna go against the flow here, and trust the guy with 20+ years of game creation experience over a group of knowitalls.

6 years ago

joejoe wrote

Cookie wrote

It's floor space presence is already shrinking and retail merchandising in most retailers is non existent.

Where? Wii must be doing well where I am. In one of my local EBs, there were 26 pre orders for Excite Truck alone. That's one store. And Wii is mixed healthy between 360 and PS in most stores.

Cookie wrote

Nintendo Aust are pathetic.

The only reason nintendo fails here is because of itself.

I agree that Wii is currently selling but store presence of the Nintendo brand is weak. There is no marketing done at store level at all. Nintendo have a product that is very displayable but instead of showing it off they do nothing - just leave the door open so that Sony can truck in the PS3 display with complimentary Bravia TV.

The tables of two for $50 PS2 & XBOX titles are stronger than ever and accessories like Guitar hero stacked in the walkways – In comparison Nintendo do no merchandising at all. They don't even have any banners, simple promo's or reasonable displays. Worst still the reps never visit the stores to chat & encourage the retailers sales staff - what a joke.

Great product, fantastic opportunity, miles of potential but it will all go to waste. Seriously they need to put a broom through the local operations and bring in better people quick smart.

Crestfallen

6 years ago

drinniol wrote

I think this community represents quite a large subset of the greater gaming world. We like online gaming, and so do the many millions of XBL subscribers.

Initial sales mean squat. If Nintendo don't pull their sh!t together and get with the times then this generation may very well go the way of the previous two, regardless of how much experience Miyamoto has.

And what the hell is a know-i-tall??

Also, I definately agree with what Cookie is talking about.

DancesInUnderwear

6 years ago

I know-i-tall. I also know-he-short.

Anyhoo, maybe its the fact that I haven't played anything online, but I think what Nintendo really is lacking that it never has lacked before (it is early days, though) is 4 player games. Not party games like Wii Sports and Wii Play and Warioware and blah blah blah but 4 player 'gamer's games', so to speak - stuff like Smash Bros, Mario Kart, F-Zero, some sort of shooter, etc, etc. Hell, ironically I'd say even Mario Party would qualify as not a 'party game' for me as I now see party games as 'lol hit the ball like in real tennis' and 'hey balance the wiimote on you head while doing a handstand'. Not that there is anything wrong with that either but I really want to crank out 4 controllers (4, not 2 - I'm looking at you Excite Truck and SSX) in a proper 'gamer' type situation.

This will no doubt happen eventually, as Nintendo has always been good with these games, but I'm impatient and want it NOW. Online can come after (actually, same time, as all of those games should be online as well).

drinniol

6 years ago

crestfallen wrote

drinniol wrote

Also, I definately agree with what Cookie is talking about.

This forum has just shy of 6800 users. The vast majority are internet-savvy young men (with bad business sense, to boot). The latest figures have a total of 6.47 million Wiis sold, worldwide. That means we represent, oh, 0.00105%, assuming every forum-goer owns a Wii.

XBox Live just hit six million subscribers. Out of a total of 9.7mil 360s, and 24 million original Xboxes, that's an 18% adoption rate. That's just a little more than 1/4 of a majority - and I don't even know if that's inclusive or exclusive of Silver memberships.

Granted, online play is important. What's more important is that they have it working. It was a year from release before Xbox Live was turned on, so have a little more patience.

realitybites

6 years ago

DancesInUnderwear wrote

realitybites wrote

How the hell is that not Zelda, though?

Actually I'm not saying it isn't I put that aup there as an example but one game doesn't maketh the hard core console.

Fun loving characters like Mario, Toad and Luigi doesn't exactly bring up visions of hard coreness.

That's really the point I was trying to make is how can Nintendo with its established family branded characters push hard core on their console?

They tried with Eternal Darkness (my favourite GC game) and RE 4 but most had poor sales if you assume 20 odd million GCs. Third party attempts ended in dismal failure.

rodvcpetrie

6 years ago

Well they could make my concept of Splinter Cell Mario into a serious game

6 years ago

drinniol wrote

crestfallen wrote

drinniol wrote

Also, I definately agree with what Cookie is talking about.

You have some good figures so I'm sure you have a clearly constructed opinion, but I'm confused - are you saying that Nintendo's position and current direction is a good strategy for: (A) Business Profits, (B) Gamers, or (C) both?

I'm not an investor in this particular stock, so I only care about the direction of Nintendo as it effects me as a gamer / consumer.

I only care about quality titles that offer the best entertainment value. If your saying “On-line” is first & foremost the best way to differentiate Nintendo games from those playable on PC, XBOX 360, PlayStation 2/3, and the raft of networked electronic devices flooding us over the next five years - then I'm all ears. Right now, I'd settle on a few good fun off-line games that I have not played already - already.

I want clever games that make me laugh, cry, get scared and mad - even better if its at the same time. Give me game play only possible on a Wii. I want new game idea's melded with old school multiplay - You know the type of game where you invite your mates over to your home to play and five hours later you still cant seem to get them to leave ...type games. I'd like to see games of the ilk that Rare & Silicon Knights skilfully produced in the past.

As for "Obscene profits" - just out of curiosity how do you figure this? Please explain to us internet-savvy young men with bad business sense as to how this fact is derived. Did you just look at their profit result and say gee-whiz that sounds a lot? Are you comparing against poor performing peers and concluding its better so it must be a “good” financial result?

I mean what's the return on investment based on their current market cap? Are the dividends higher than Pfizer, GE or Citigroup as my understanding is that Nintendo has managed only a 1 - 1.5% payback over the past five years and its best result was in the 2% range (which is less than inflation)... I believe their last annual meeting was greeted by a shareholder revolt of sorts. Maybe you mean "Obscene Management Fee's"?

Look, I like Nintendo's products – probably more than the other consoles in all truth, and as such I really hope they can show the true potential of Wii. Nintendo have been amazingly innovative over the years because of stand out individuals such as Miyamoto who are innovative, & produce quality titles that are good for gamers.

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