What Did Shigeru Miyamoto Say?
A newly released Nintendo patent from last year might solve the hurdling block for novice players while keeping the interest of hardcore players.
When asked about it, Miyamoto seems to have indicated that New Super Mario Bros. Wii will have such a system — though was vague about details.
The solution would turn a game into a full-length cut scene of sorts, allowing players to jump into and out of the action whenever they wanted. But when played this way, gamers would not be able to save their progress, maintaining the challenge of completing a game without skipping or cheating. It would also allow players to bring up in-game hint videos and skip directly to particular scenes in games.
Here’s the exchange:
Crecente: Let me put it this way. Generically speaking, do you think that — it seems to me that Nintendo has tackled many of the problems that none gamers face when trying to become gamers — sort of blurring that line. And I think one of the remaining problems is the idea of failing and saving. And do you think that that concept of trying to get rid of that notion of having to do saves or start over a game when you fail could help you attract more gamers?
[Nintendo's Bill Trinen translates the question.]
Miyamoto: [in Japanese] As he says. That’s right, that’s kind of thing. Well, honestly, in the upcoming New Super Mario Bros. —
Trinen: [in Japanese] Woah, we can’t say that? [laughs]
Miyamoto: [in Japanese] It’s okay for us to say it.
Trinen: [in Japanese] It’s okay to say? Then okay.
Miyamoto: [in Japanese] Let’s say it.
[Trinen laughs.]
[Miyamoto covers his face.]
Totilo: I’ll have to take this to a translator.
Crecente: Yeah, we have one in-house.
Miyamoto: [in Japanese] In the New Super Mario —
Nintendo PR: Nothing has been said at this point.
Miyamoto: [in Japanese] You can look forward to the release of New Super Mario Bros. to see how something like this is addressed. A first time player might need help — even if the player’s friend or dad can’t help them, they can still be helped. Things like that are in the game.
[Miyamoto laughs, puts his hands on his face.]
Trinen: Well, yeah, so that’s an idea behind, that’s one thing we look at and think about is trying to help people get to the end of the game. Um, and maybe New Super Mario Bros. is a game you look forward to the launch of to see how we’ve addressed something like that in ways that kids are needing help to get through the game don’t necessarily have to go ask their father, but might have other ways of getting to the end of the game.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
@jamesjohnson01: I second that!
I dunno, but somehow I got a bit of a Star Wars-esque "I find your lack of faith disturbing" vibe from Miyamoto on this one.
bassbeast
@josh924:
In fairness, if you were Bill Trinen you'd have a good idea of what you can and cannot get fired for saying. Miyamoto, not so much you can get fired for in any event.
Would you take a chance with a phrase like "It's okay for us to say it." which could just as easily mean, y'know,between the two of us and not to the media.
oskarkeo
@shadow763: "it's just the same level over and over"
So they played the whole game at the conference then? I'm sure I only really saw one or two levels.
KingHippo
@DrZaius: Actually I believe he's even said he can't even say much about the games he makes to his family. He's probably under all kinds of non-disclosure agreements.
Zunnoab
@GohanGVO: My cousin and I took like two hours to figure out in Super Metroid that to get past a collapsing bridge you must hold down the RUN BUTTON. It was a used game with no manual though, but we felt incredibly stupid.
Zunnoab
@Zorantor: Final Fantasy Tactics also allows you to watch most (if not all) story segments, aside from the end parts, within the game. It's really something I wish all games would have.
As far as the subject at hand though, I think Star Fox Adventures really does something like this more than anything else I've played. Slippy is like a built in strategy guide in that game, though it doesn't go as far as showing the game play like this talks about.
Zunnoab
@shadow763: It looks like the entire game will be playable co-op. Probably in such a way that Player 2, 3 and/or 4 can jump in or drop out whenever they like.
@Armuun: They didn't exactly cover this, considering that it hadn't happened yet.
But now that you mention it, this does seem somewhat like a thoroughly watered-down version of the idea behind FFXII.
@6ironmaiden9: Metal Gear Solid is a pretty good example of that happening. I'm not sure about the whole series, but I know at least Twin Snakes and some editions of Subsistence have options to view the game's story cut together as if it were a movie.
It's not perfect, but it's pretty dang good.
Miyamoto can say whatever he feels is right to say.
Bill is from the Tree House correct, wasn't that department made for the development of Donkey Kong Country? What right does he have to tell Miyamoto-san what not to say? Sometimes I think that Nintendo is too secretive.
AlucardsQuest
Oh Bash! What would we do without you!!!
The gameplay they showed at the conference looked boring. My kids like doing the multiplayer on the DS incarnation, but its just the same level over and over which I find sort of tiresome. So is this what the Wii will have? If so no thanks on the multiplayer
I was actually wondering about this, during the press conference they talked about starting the game *with no players* and then jumping in whenever you wanted. Sounds like that's the solution in this case, you get computer players helping you.
Dreamwriter
@fearing: Yeah, like "Pimp smack yo ass, bitch!".
@Mister Jack contains Potassium Benzoate (That's Bad): Honestly, with these new games out, who needs help? All the new games are either shooters, or adventure games not nearly as complexe as Majora's Mask or Ocarina of Time.
Ragglefraggle
@Deaf Mute:
Why do you think I brought this up in the comments for the Miyamoto liveblog?
[kotaku.com]
@Soliduma: This torture, the Heavy witnessing you poking Sasha?
Disclaimer's note: Ãœbercharge does not make you invulnerable to emotional pain.
Ragglefraggle
[www.penny-arcade.com] they covered this pretty much already.
Armuun
I love how the PR dude jumped in and tried to stop them from saying anything. xD
@fearing: The guy is obviously going to be kidnapped and tortured in Miyamoto's little factory when they get home.
@NeonLight: This has happened to me quite a few times over the years. I always feel stupid afterward.
@Soliduma:
Not Shown: Miyamoto melting Trinen's brain with his mind.
You should have asked him why they felt the need to blend 3d with 2d artwork and not just do the whole thing 2d/3d. It bugs me when developers do this because more than often it looks ugly. :/
Mario would be a great franchise to test out this idea since it's already so segmented. Sounds like a good idea for games without multiple difficulty settings.
RebelGrape
Oh Miyamoto, you blushing bride, you. Don't be such a tease.
@Soliduma: No doubt. Miyamoto shoulda just backhanded him right there.
"Oh man, I really don't know what to do here, maybe I should ask for help. Well, I'm the only person who knows ANYTHING about these game things, so who can I ask? Oh, a Help feature? Yippee! What does it say?
...
'Go right, jump, finish level'.
..."
NeonLight
I wish we could see that Zelda illustration... :(
RUH ROH!
KraazyCraig
Sounds fun but I guess we'll have to wait for more info.
I'm curious to see how this actually gets implemented in the game--especially with the co-op play.
I think this will be interesting if they can pull it off correctly id like to watch a game cinematically..
Ha, Bill Trinen telling THE Miyamoto what he can and can't say?
Sacrilegious.
Soliduma
@Soliduma: I'm presuming that Trinen was present at certain big-wig meetings that talked about what can be made public at E3 and what should be kept quiet till later. Maybe there was a grey area that was this possible blunder... Notice in the interview video that after Miyamoto said it that he covered his face with both hands like he made a really bad mistake...
@bassbeast: miyamoto is vader and iwata is the emperor!
I am actually impressed, good reporting Crecente!
Abhinav Kumar