That's it. I think he's gone. Really if he's admitting the games he made with his older IP's aren't giving him that magic and sense of wonder anymore (Well it's been so long, but it should be like that with each new project) and instead finding it with games that don't require any sense of accomplishment? (Which Mario was all about back then) All I'm saying is... Miyamoto, it's been nice knowing your past genius.

Kaizuden

It's still going to suck. Get back to making games the majority can enjoy.

Gofthick

I can see what he means with this, and if they're talking about the basic level of music, then perhaps. But I don't know how well it would work to try and implement into schools. For something at home, though, it very well could spark an interest in some kids to pick up another instrument and have a go.

phinehas

@Midnightchronicles: This is the last Wii they had planned. Hopefully he goes back to making some ridiculously awesome acid trip of a game.

LionheartAce

Why is Miyamoto, the guy that created Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Star Fox, Pikmin, F-Zero, working in Wii [insert daily activity] games? I know that he's old but he still has a lot to give us -_-'...

Midnightchronicles

Mixed impressions? I thought everyone agreed it is going to suck?

Kidding of course...but after seeing that dog-suit promo...*shudder* Although I guess no one believed in the "Doggie Bounce" and it was wildly popular...at least at the end of the first season of Flight of the Conchords it was...

TitillatedOcelot

@IronsUK: excuse me... I was once a special needs student and now I'm a degree qualified web developer. Shaking a Wii remote could of helped me develop... errrm a good strong wrist for future development!

matthewbennion

@Hauler: Yup, that's a pretty safe bet indeed ;)

It's going to sell by the boatload.

Rotmm

Pure fucking genius!

i_9

I really really hope that this game fails, but I think it's a pretty safe bet to assume that it won't.

Hauler

If it's going to be in schools it can surely only be in the "special needs" curriculum.

IronsUK

While Miyamoto may be the most excited he's ever been I hope he knows that a lot of people aren't!

Stompy1

i assume thats his wallet, its massive!

kitsuneconundrum

invading kindergartens? takem while their soft eh?

kitsuneconundrum

cut miyamoto some slack, so what if it's a casual game. Just don't buy it and let the casuals enjoy it. I don't get this whole hatred of casual gaming thing.

Ahmunnaeetchoo

@muu: So much for the threaded comment system. Guess you gotta reload if you hit the wrong reply button first.

muu

I'm picturing some little kid having a seizure and racking up huge points in Wii Music from watching his older brother play Wipeout HD .

stupid_mcgee

@phinehas: considering that most people wouldn't give the basic level a chance, I don't see it as being a bad thing. Less things are apt to break, and kids who find the idea interesting will likely pursue the real deal quickly anyway.

muu

@tony_important: Check this vid out.

+ Watch video

2SBs

@tony_important: Wii Music seems like it'll still require you to manage some sort of rhythm in relation to beat and movements. I get a feeling the reason the E3 demo by the "Tree House Group" was so weak because of an inherent lack of coordination. The program can only do so much! :)

There's also an element of instrument pantomime that could prove valuable for someone (a young child, for example) that's never played an instrument before.

Tubatic

Guess it beats all that plastic crap that just goes honk or tink.
Also on the "starting with real instruments" statement, I doubt every parent has the money to afford a new instrument every time the brat feels like a change.

BTFzor_Freestyle

That was a stupid thing today. "I think this game would be good for kindergarten!" Yeah, so is finger painting and animal crackers.

yeah write

Well, at least he's excited about his new project. Let the poor guy have some fun..until he notices that the kindergartens he wants to invade won't be too happy about his idea.

Rutt

Given that real instruments cost serious bank, and that little kids will take -antyhing- apart if you so much as blink, using Wii Music for kindergarden music class is something I heavily approve.

Seriously. It's batshit fucking insane how fast these kids will tear anything apart.

Lyrai

@Midnightchronicles: Because he wants to and Nintendo likes making him happy.

EmeraldDragon

He's not really wrong. How many people here wanted to learn to play the drums or guitar after air banding to a favorite song. Really, it the same concept.

EmeraldDragon

"hey kids to play music all you have to do is move your hands around!!!"

XCON

So, by teaching people that they can play instruments by waving a couple of controllers around is helpful with music education because it teaches them that it is much easier to play music in the "game" than using real instruments.

Yeah, that's not going to frustrate enough kids to get them to stop with their music lessons...

warlock7

Miyamoto says that he wants music education to start with WiiMusic, but how much farther can you teach? Aside from "what you're mashing buttons and moving around like a retard to, is called music", I don't see much point.

tony_important

@russtophiles: Twilight Princess, Pokemon, Mario Galaxy, Brawl, Metroid Prime 3, Wario Land Shake it!, Animal Crossing and they already stated that a new Mario, Zelda and Pikmin games are in the make.. Nintendo isn't doing anything different from what they ever did.. in fact, they are doing a lot more than they usually do, the Wii is in it's second year, compare it's library with the GC's or N64's library and you'll see that Nintendo made a lot more "hardcore" titles in the Wii's first 2 years than in any other console..

The Wii's biggest problem is not Nintendo, it's the lack of 3rd party support, luckly, seems like they're finally starting to realize that..

CockroachMan

@Ahmunnaeetchoo: It's because some people just have to feel like they're better than others. From a classical psychological standpoint, they do it because they feel powerless and unimportant in their own lives and feel the need to inflate their own sense of importance through denigrating and dismissing others, as they feel so many do to them. They'll try and say it's because these games are easy or pointless, but all video games are pointless. It's entertainment. And don't get me started how easy some "hardcore" games are (Gears, Halo).

Personally, I think casual games are a good thing. At least some out of all the casual gamers will get into gaming because of this. It helps to break down the stereotypes of video game players as only dorks and little kids. Also, the more people play video games, casual or not, the more people are likely to see that not all video games are violent gorefests that turn people into insane murderers.

stupid_mcgee

Im sorry to be an ass but. This is just stupid.

DarkHavoc99

@Midnightchronicles: Because it takes more work to put together the next Mario, Zelda, etc than it does to implement the Wii series.

It's called taking a break creatively once in a while. A creator can get just as burned out on a franchise as the players can.

TRT-X

Wow, a lot of people taking these comments way beyond what's said.

Shiggy's got a good point. WiiMusic would be a great tool for getting young kids interested.

Look at what Guitar Hero and Rock Band have done to get people interested in real instruments. And that's a significantly different group.

The game concept sucks, but this assessment is accurate.

TRT-X

The only thing making Wii Music seem good is the ways Shigsy keeps praising it...

Steffanic

Great idea! Get kids to make total asses of them selves at a WiiMusic concert then when they grow up and suck at an instrument on stage they won't be so unaccustomed to the laughing and finger pointing.

Jaysius

He just said he likes making Wii Music more than he likes making Mario.

..meaning we might be doomed.

Ashurahori

I agree with him, WiiMusic seems like something perfect for kids to learn about music and different instruments and sounds..

CockroachMan

One thing that's bothered me since the Wii was released isn't so much that it's aimed at the broader casual market, but that Nintendo themselves as software developers don't seem interested in making enduring, classic products anymore. Does anyone honestly think they'll come back to play Wii Sports 5 years from now?

When you thought of Nintendo in the past, most would say they were synonymous with making classic, quality games that generations could appreciate. Nintendo's image was 'quality'. With the Wii they now just come off as another EA, all about the money. Obviously every developer/publisher is in it for the money, but that doesn't mean it has to be so OBVIOUS.

Now that their software is so bound to the hardware, once that becomes outdated so does their product (which is already happening). Years from now when motion control becomes more advanced, regular Wii games will probably feel like garbage by comparison.

I guess for the play and chuck gamer this isn't a big deal, if it doesn't last, sell it and move on, who cares? I'm not a collector or hoarder by any means, but I have an expectation when I invest in a console that I will build a moderate library of classics that I can play again in a few years.

The Wii is getting a decent share of keeper titles from third parties, but really what it all comes back to is my disappointment in Nintendo as software developers. They used to be the highest pedigree for game development, and now they're making gimmicky tech demos for a motion controller.

russtophiles

@stupid_mcgee: Miyamoto doesn't play video games in his spare time and instead plays the banjo and guitar.

stupid_mcgee

@Midnightchronicles: I'm sure Wii Music was pretty cool for Miyamoto. He's a musician himself and played in a Japanese bluegrass band before working at Nintendo.

It might surprise some, but Miyamoto doesn't play video games in his spare time and instead. One more bit of trivia: Miyamoto was the music composer for Donley Kong.

stupid_mcgee

@muu: It's not so much as a horrible thing for kids to find new ways into music through gaming. But it's that a lot of talent is gone to waste, I really don't see how Mr. Miyamoto here contributed much to the project since any one of Nintendo's internal developers could have done the same thing. But I could also be missing the bigger picture. we'll just have to see what the attachment rate for the game will be after they've exhausted it, and find there's nothing more to it.

Kaizuden

I don't see how the Wii would aid music ed in the classroom well but it sure is something Beloved and I as grandparents would be interested in for the grandkids. Games with an educational component sell well in our demographic. Let me tell you, grandparents will nearly bankrupt themselves when it comes to gifts for the little ones. Shiggy's on to something; he just doesn't realize it's not schools who will be interested in his new game.

Chilly Hollow

"I've even thought it would it would be great if kindergartens or elementary schools got Wii Music and began kid's music education with that..."

Because then I'd make even more money!

(I kid because I love....)

However, I think convincing a school district to go out and buy a Wii would be just a bit of a hard sell. Just off the top of my head:

1. Video game machines are expensive. Wiimotes aren't cheap either. In many districts, that 1 time cost of 250 (Wii) + 120 (3 x Wiimotes) + 50 = too much money.

2. Could you imagine only letting 4 kids at a time play out of an entire classroom?

3. Could you imagine public outcry if kids were playing video games in the classroom? Faux News would have a field day.

It's a cute idea, but I really don't think it's realistic.

NateN

I don't see how this would be good. It could potentially show children the joy of 'creating music' without having to learn music theory or mastering an instrument. However, it could also make children reluctant to learn a real instrument because Wii music is so much easier. I'm inclined to say the latter is the most likely outcome.

manicfoot

@Ashurahori: When he made Mario his paycheck wasn't 10% of what it is now.. I would like it more too!

CockroachMan

oh that fuzzy huggable granpa Miyamoto. his loving rhetoric is strong with the force. like saruman, his words control the will of men and women to hug loving granpas. and buy stuff.

s.

ciruela

@Jaysius: People don't do that, at least not with 'classical' instruments or in Jazz. Idol is not a valid representation of any serious music performance.

hikaizer

As a musician and a student studying how to teach young children and beginners to play an instrument, I have to say this is a terrible idea. There's so much that a program can't begin to teach, nor can it cater to the individual needs of each student or adapt to the different learning styles of each student.

It's not a simple matter of saying this is a stupid idea, or a great idea. Learning an instrument is an intensive and personal commitment. Even learning basic music ideas off it could be bad. As an aide and a fun reward it could work, but it cannot really adequately replace a human teacher at any level of education.

hikaizer

@stupid_mcgee: i agree, the new casual surge can only be good for the industry. it's not as if it will take over the hardcore side. there always will be an ever increasing demand for hardcore games.

Ahmunnaeetchoo

I understand wanting to use this as a segway for kids to learn real instruments, but as Ashcraft said, what about kazoos? Let's not also forget xylophones, recorders, and singing. Kids can have fun learning music with REAL instruments that are simple and fun. I love videogames, but I also love music, and while WiiMusic may lead to children playing instruments (I hope so), I honestly would rather have children physically playing instruments, like kazoos or even toy keyboards instead. Much more interactive and a higher sense of accomplishment for children.

HanJeSu

Everyones is alreayd pre judjing Wii Music as very bad, but I have learn from a early age not to form an opinion wihtou trying things first. BEsides, I've been accompanyng Miyamoto's work for decades, why whould I stop now? I will purchase this.

Shiryu

@TRT-X:

But at least Rock Band and Guitar Hero emulated an instrument. Wii Music does little more than imitate one of those fancy rattles babies are given that have vibration activated sound boxes instead of plastic beans inside.

otakujpop

If its not for you, its not for you.

Kotaku readers that lives their lifes locked into their rooms like 360 and PS3 FPSs and like to complain in a blog about videogame gossip. I like this.

Stop read and comment about games and go play them. Thats the difference between gaming in the past and today. In the past you simply play the games and have fun. Today you have to go to internet and complain about everything instead of play.

Im really upset that i am those type too!

diegojose

Music education usually begins with things like, oh, I dunno, learning to read music and applying it to a real instrument instead of flailing around like an idiot. True, I think Wii Music could help a child choose which instrument to eventually study, but I don't think Wii Music should ever be considered "educational" unless there's some facet of gameplay we've yet to see.

Miyamoto is far too into his own ideas. It reeks of self-righteousness.

tlozwarlock

You know what would be amazing? That when the game comes out, we discover that the game is amazing and that Miyamoto is not becoming senile...

Yeah, I still believe in Santa Claus...

roger9614462

Maybe Nintendo is just trying to do the opposite of Apple. Become chic then get a exclusive deal with the nation's public schools.

otakujpop

@stupid_mcgee: I'm of the firm belief there is no such thing as casual or hardcore games.

There's casual and hardcore gamers, but no single game can qualify as either.

My example is the same as it was on day 1: I could play Bejeweled 3 hours a day, 7 days a week...and I could pop in Halo once a week for and hour.

Does that suddenly mean Bejeweled or Halo is hardcore/casual?

One can be a hardcore Bejeweled player and still not be a hardcore gamer. And one can be a casual Halo player but not be a casual gamer.

When you get right down to it, this whole "casual vs. hardcore" thing got started due to the marketing execs for the different companies trying to convince their customers they're somehow more special/better than the other companies customers.

TRT-X

It's official: he's just lost it.

hibikir

No, it would be great if music education started out with real music.

Cilos

@hikaizer: That doesn't sound like what he's thinking.

Shiggy's looking at it as a gateway for younger kids to be introduced to music.

I repeat my previous point regarding GH/RB introducing people to different instruments and encouraging some to go out and start trying learn.

Nobody's saying: "Play WiiMusic and you'll learn the trumpet."

It's: "Play WiiMusic and you might become interested in the trumpet."

TRT-X

@matthewbennion: I was also a "special needs" case in Kindergarten. And I can tell you that Wii Music looks seriously retarded.

dowingba

@otakujpop: But at least Rock Band and Guitar Hero emulated an instrument.

And your typical pre-school or kindergartner is going ot have a heck of time playing anything beyond easy (yes I know there's exceptions).

Nobody is saying "WiiMusic will teach you to play an instrument." They're saying "WiiMusic will get you interested in music."

TRT-X

@stupid_mcgee: I disagree completely about your first statement. It's not because the 'hardcore crowd' get some kind of twisted feeling of self importance when dissing Wii Sports/Fit/Play/Music, it's simply because a lot of Nintendo fans feel that the more time is spent on developing these lifestyle games, the less time is spent on developing the games we want. Like it or not, Nintendo's classic franchises can't be replicated by any other developer and damnit, I want my new Mario/Zelda/Samus/new IP(gasp) game!

And to Ahmunnaeetchoo below: This is exactly the situation Nintendo fans are currently facing: Sure, the industry as a whole will continue to make hardcore games, but it's looking increasingly likely Nintendo wil not.

Stompy1

@yeah write:

...both of which are FUCKING AWESOME, you douchebag.
I kid, but seriously, animal crackers are the shit.

Darthvinder

@TRT-X: "A creator can get just as burned out on a franchise as the players can."
More so, most of the time, and then when THEY get sick of it, they put out trash that makes US sick of it.

ALT

Reminds me of Mario Paint, but it might be worse than Mario Paint if you can't make your own proprietary formatted sheet music.

ThaiGrocer

For God's sake. I want a game! Not some education toy for kids.

Ryumeka

@ThaiGrocer:

I loved Mario Paint. OK? LOVED IT.
I was also 10.

gessyca

Oh fuck that...

I actually have a degree in music education, and I don't think I would let anyone who actually wants to learn how to play an instrument anywhere near this game. It'll reinforce an idea where you can play whatever comes to your mind without learning the basics of playing an instrument. There are a lot of technical nuances on just about any instrument that must be learned before anyone can be considered competent on it.

The only place this game has in a school, if at all, is in the toy bin, because everything I've seen for this game is just that: a mindless toy. Really little kids dig that stuff.

Mini-Boss

When I was in elementary school, we didn't have real instruments. We had sticks that you banged together. Maybe they were "rhythm sticks." I think Wii Music would be a step up from that.

gsilverfish

@TRT-X: That's a very interesting take on it and I agree with your point. I know some people that rack up some crazy amounts of times on "casual" games and some gamers that are pretty casual about their "hardcore" games.

@Stompy1: I can understand that. Some people I see writing on forums and elsewhere simply hate these games because they're not another FPS or RTS. The thing I don't get about casual games taking away development time is, many of these studios are small and wouldn't be able to make a big-title game anyways. Since many of these studios are so small, if they weren't making casual games for the Wii they;d be making games for the DS or for other smaller systems where small-scale games are reasonably expected. Some casual games do have large studios, such as Maxis with The Sims.

The problem comes in with "we want." Who is "we" and where does this consensus come from? I like playing the Sims 2 and apparently a bunch of other people do too. I also like Gears of War and beat the snot out of that game. More games sold means more money, means more projects, means more employees, means more experience, means they can go and start their own studios or more easily work for other studios.

I don't see casual games as taking away from the development of hardcore games, but merely augmenting it. I see this whole hate on casual games as a red herring. It's like saying that Mexicans are taking all our good jobs. They aren't and never were. All our good blue-collar jobs are being outsourced and the anti-immigrant stance is so that people won't get made at the real culprits. In this case, the real culprits are games like Halo that have made the idea of challenge a joke. It used to be that a good challenging game could last you a few months at least. Nowadays you're lucky if it takes more than a week to beat a game.

stupid_mcgee

@Mini-Boss:

Yea, but isn't that exactly the point of Wii Music? The music you play isn't a preset tune where you have to hit the chords correctly. It lets you play and experiment with the music, that's what Miyamoto is so excited about. You can play along with the tune, but you can also improvise along the way.

It's of course not the same as a real music instrument, but it does try to catch the same kind of feel.

Timooo

hahahahahaha yeah sure...

really I hope not

mpar

@Gofthick: He sort of is though.

Wii Music will appeal to the majority... just not the majority of hardcore gamers.

KingHippo

please let this game fail... please...

darvos

@stupid_mcgee: It seems to me as though you're putting hardcore gamers down in the same way that you accuse them of putting down casuals.

As a musician, this could be a great introduction to rhythm - if you can get a kid to beat the remote in waltz, that's pretty cool. That is the extent of the goodness of this product.

ZeroFlowne

I don't understand how this will sell boatloads? Don't get me wrong it probably will, just how? Who wants this crap?

*Confused*

boots555

@stupid_mcgee: This is despicable, but it made my day because of it. :)

Enkur

@Mini-Boss: So by that logic you'd also keep them far, far away from Guitar Hero and the like? Seems only fair as their form of 'imitative music' doesn't do a particularly good job at teaching folk the nuance of a real instrument either.

Your words that it "reinforce an idea where you can play whatever comes to your mind without learning the basics of playing an instrument"

I suppose we'll have to rid the world of first-person shooters as well, because they technically don't represent real gun totin', or goodbye to any RTS as clear military strategy can't compete with clicking on units.

Oh how terrible it'll be when applied realism comes to games! Its incredibly how irrational otherwise rational people come when confronted with their own unsubstantiated, baseless fanboy behavior. You'd expect a group who reads a rabid GAMING BLOG would be a bit more supportive to furthering the idea and expanding the concept of what videogaming is. But I guess that would require too much 'nuance' for some people here.

loserguy

Real musical instruments are hella expensive, especially within most public schools. With a single instrument - used, and in shoddy shape - running upwards of $300-$500 getting enough of them for even one class would be terribly expensive...

To say nothing of the health perspective...public schools are extremely worried about transmission of childhood disease and such.

My school's music program was forcibly shut down years before I left, and almost everyone I have ever talked to lost theirs as well. The results weren't "make due with what you have", but most public schools treat the issue as penultimate; all or nothing. Realistically, its difficult to teach music appreciation without something resembling instruments, unless you're into just listening. Its a strange system for learning, and I don't think you could find anyone to agree with it.

But we trust Shiggy, as his track record on the subject is better than anyone's. When I first saw Wii Music I couldn't help thinking - "Jesus, this thing could really change everything" Same thing happened with Wii Sports, and now they've got that thing in hospitals and rehab units. It boggles my mind that ANYONE who frequents Kotaku would be anything other than totally for this thing, unless they're dead-set on keeping videogame evolution stifled and mass-market penetration curbed.

You'd also think that after all the countless Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Rock Revolution, Guitar Praise, and who-knows-how-many copies of the SAME FRIGGIN GAME that they'd want something...I don't know...different? Seriously, I'm all for Wii Music if it helps kids learn or appreciate music that doesn't involve iTunes and Bit Torrents.

loserguy

DO NOT WANT.

When I went to school, we started with singing (or maybe group clapping?) and a few years into elementary, much like Japanese kids, we all had to learn to play the recorder.

I'm a huge fan of just about every music game, but Wii Music looks so crude, rudimentary, and busted that I can't imagine it would have any educational value. I mean... Miyamoto can actually pick a pretty mean banjo, but he couldn't even make pre-recorded classic Nintendo tunes sound recognizable, though he clearly thinks you can do no wrong trying to play this thing.

Maybe give it to a toddler and let them shake the controller and make weird noises with it... I'm not even kidding. I wouldn't count on any more education from it than Teletubbies though unless it has a good undisclosed classroom mode or something.

fuchikoma

It's a concept ahead of the curve. After I played Elite Beat Agents so much I felt like a damn rythmic virtuoso, I had nostalgia trips back to Parappa and then progressing to sampling Guitar Hero and its sequels I started to think about games that could play more like jamming with a group of friends as opposed to rigidly practicing over people's songs and effectively learning 'covers'.

Something to give people the buzz of making music without learning 'technique' such as the way guitarists fret the notes, the specific way you hit a snare drum with the stick, the specific way you blow into a trumpet and so on. Just something to replicate the buzz of making a massive noise with your friends and improvising over each other without having to invest £100s into instruments and lessons. People would get drunk together and play it like they do with singstar now, and enjoy laughing at each other. It would be an overnight hit, the sheer word of mouth alone would be priceless!

I sat at work one day in between calls (I work at an IT call centre) contemplating this concept of a garage jam-esque game. And then a few days later I see the unveiling of WiiMusic at E3 on the internet.

Damn you Miyamoto for beating me! Although if it had to be anyone it had to be you.

I can't wait to play this with my family at Christmas after a few (or a lot) of drinks. Or after getting blazed with the band after real band practice!

If you people can no longer be cheered up by Miyamoto, what can you be cheered up by?

Peace!
NP

new_pornographer

@loserguy:
I think that's why so many schools use recorders - that and ease of maintenance and transportation (I just had a vinyl pouch with a snap for mine.) You can even get a Yamaha recorder for $5-$20.

Of course, you have to endure a room full of grade schoolers basically tooting on whistles, but... it's a working, recognized musical instrument that costs less than an easily stolen Wiimote.

As for disease, the dirtiest household/office items are the mouse, keyboard, and phone handset. It's a small step to include game controllers unless they're sanitized regularly and everyone washes their hands before using them. Seriously, they're nasty - infection is usually hand to eye or hand to mouth this way. Certainly kids shouldn't ever have to share a woodwind (or brass,) but they're so cheap, if they can afford a pencil case, they can afford an instrument.

fuchikoma

@Gofthick: Like KingHippo said, you got it backwards. You and I want games that the minority enjoy.

headcase

Miyamoto has commited a mutiny of the gaming community. I recommend we overthrow him and take over Nintendo, he is obviously not fit to lead any longer.

K-Squad! (Badass Edition)

God I want to kill him for saying that. No Miyamoto! Music education should start with actual god damned music! Give kids instruments not magic wands.

perrinbar

@manicfoot: Agree with this. It's like instilling a false sense of hope in regards to learning an actual instrument.

akanekun

[quote]What's the point of starting young children with real musical instruments when you can sell them Wii Music[/quote]
Well not all the cities have music hall, or music schools; even our schools have problems to get instruments. And well is really expensie to buy real instruments.

alfredofroylan

Eh the first instruments most kids learn to play now a days are recorders flutes. How expensive are they? 20 bucks.... and they are literally unbreakable in the hands of a child unless they throw it under a steam roller.

Honestly, this idea is not practical at all. How are they learning any music from this? They're just moving their hands around. It's a great idea for Nintendo, so they can fatten their wallets some more.

RyuriTatsujin

It's funny they are excited because I'm probably the least excited i've ever been. I can almost understand Rock Band but Wii music? Please, pick up a decent real flute/recorder for the same price. Or make your own out of a carrot.

Kasreyn

@K-Squad! (Badass Edition):Miyamoto does not run Nintendo. Pay attention.

And you guys can enjoy your sour grapes but I promise you, within a month or more of Wii Music's launch, what he talks about will come true.

Learn to cope folks, you lot have turned into the angry half blind rednecks shooting at kids who step on your grass and the new blood and developers alike are laughing at you for now. Soon they will ignore you.

Foxstar Sixtail

As a musician IRL I really object to this. Guitar Hero and Rock Band at least require some practice to get right and a sense of rhythm.

This "game" requires nothing of the kind. No learning, no skill, no practice.

So that' a great thing to start teaching kids, huh? Don't bother learning anything, eventually someone will come up with a system that'll do it for you automatically.

Pfft.

Dajmin

@new_pornographer:
If you're good enough to play EBA and Guitar Hero, you might like "Jam With the Band" aka "Daigasso! Band Brothers" for the DS. The only downside is it sounds like ancient MIDI music, but you can pick all sorts of instruments and play your part, and jam multiplayer with others. Dunno what's in the USA version but the Japanese one has some Nintendo music, free stuff like Wii Music, and a not too shabby selection of contemporary J-pop.

There were some good vids of people playing in groups before it launched, but now I can't find a single one. I guess there's a deluxe version now with karaoke lyrics and singing judgement though...

fuchikoma

Nintendo has mastered the art of gimmickism

Grandreaper999

While I obviously have to admit he's a genius, Miyamoto is also one of the biggest jackasses in the industry as well. Oh well, at least he doesn't plaster his name on everything, though I think people only do that after they stop making top selling games.

Luziphir

I fail to see how flailing your arms about or flicking your wrist actually helps teach fundamentals of an actual instrument.

Killa_Charlie

@K-Squad! (Badass Edition): Your comment is basically the exact root of everything wrong with the gaming community these days. Grow up and get over it. Not everything is for you.

Ueziel

No, no, no, no, bad Miyamoto! Wii music should not be the basis for any music education, because it has no educational value.

As a tool to generate interest, sure. But, as with anything else, there will be too many that try to use this in a way that is not appropriate. Plus I smell the stink of marketing to young children, which I find distasteful.

crashlanding

@Luziphir:He's a jackass? Really? Grow up and get over yourself.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Ueziel:Indeed. Thank you for pointing this out. Like I said, the new blood and developers are laughing at folks like him now. Soon they will ignore him.

Foxstar Sixtail

As a musician I find this highly insulting. STFU Myamoto, you're an idiot. What you're doing isn't music.

K_K

@crashlanding: Marketing a child's toy that is meant to create general interest in music to a child is distasteful? What?

Ueziel

I would have to say no to that, but it does sound like a fun toy.

Benjo

@kitsuneconundrum: HA!
I carry around books in my pocket around that size. I wonder if anyone has ever thought that about me.

firstworldman

All the money he will get for so little effort. I'd be bouncing off the walls if I was making Wii Music.

MeanBob866

@Ryumeka: Oh no! It's not for you! Get over it.

Ueziel

@Killa_Charlie: It doesn't. It isn't supposed to teach fundamentals. It's supposed to create interest. You get a young child listening and enjoying that music interactively by having them do whatever they want but still make that music (because honestly, no small child would actually would have the patience to start learning a musical instrument in any other way) and then a few years later, like any toy for small children, they outgrow it and the parent asks if they'd like to learn music. Child says yes, things are good.

Ueziel

It's more then random waving to music, btw. You can play to the music in a number of ways. You can play together with the rhythm, but you can also improvise. You can play loud, or very soft. It may zound dull, but with hundreds of instruments and songs (and animals >.>) it does create a lot of room for creativity and fun. And the game has more option then just playing songs.

You know, I have high hopes for this game. It actually looks genuinly fun, for all ages.

Timooo

It would be great if I could play my guitar by shaking it up and down.

CousinWalter

In case there was any doubt that Miyamoto flipped his lid, those doubts are now gone in my mind.

spartansCreed

No Shigeru! No! Bad Miyamoto!

I understand you want to hook em while they're young for that lifetime of profits to follow, but kids deserve a shot at learning REAL music.

REAL music cannot be simulated by a videogame, it is the feeling you get creating sound with the subtle manipulations your lungs, mouth, fingers, etc and a video game (or anything else) simply can't capture that. Wii Music is the musical equivalent of a blow up doll. Close in practice, pathetic in reality.

Why not just get rid of PE and have em play Wii Sports while you're at it? C'mon Shigeru!

ca$h

@fuchikoma: Thanks for the heads up!

new_pornographer

I think Miyamoto is aware that the Wii is just the starting point for these types of games, he knows that the quality of them will eventually grow... that is if real musicians, chefs, fitness professionals etc take them seriously and make serious ones. Like I said its just a starting point but Miyamoto's dreams are huge

Nipz

No. That would result in a lot of crushed hopes and dreams when children realize that shaking a guitar up and down doesn't actually make it play face-melting solos. I have no musical talent, and even I know that the only way to teach music is with REAL INSTRUMENTS. As an interest generator, maybe.

Placentasaurus

@K_K:
As a musician too, I just wanna say I like you and agree.

ca$h

Well, since so many core gamers are bashing it -- even when they haven't even played it -- then it is sure to be a hit.

I am sure you guys bashed Wii Fit and Brain Training games and we all know how well they did on the sales charts.

You core gamers don't think outside outside of the box like the genius Miyamoto. That's why he has been leading his company for 20+ years and he is a big part why Nintendo is thriving now. Have your accomplishments superceded his?

CartesianDualist

@BTFzor_Freestyle: My school gave me instruments. But I never changed what I wanted to play, just learned multiple instruments.
And as a musician, I find Wii Music insulting in a way that I can't fault other music games. Other music games require at least a degree of dedication. In Wii Music you just go through the motions, no skill required, no focus required. It seems like more and more the Wii is trying to become like Real Life Lite. At least other games try to give you an enhanced version of what you could do in real life. Live out some fantasy. But no, with this they're not just cheapening an actual pursuit, like Rock Band or Guitar Hero, they're mocking it. Wave your arms around, be a cheerleader. Its disgusting to ask for money for this.

ZeroBlade

ehh.. I think music education should start with a real instrument

GearsOfWar12

i believe in shiggy.

So far he hasn't let me down, so....i believe!

:)

Onizuka-GTO

@Ueziel: terribly sorry that was meant to crashlanding

Mactheridon

No Mr. miyamoto, quit the silly games and start working on my Starfox Wii!!!!

Mactheridon

@Ueziel: Thats not something you know, wait until its released at least.

Mactheridon

I wish computer gaming was Miyamotos hobby instead of trying to learn music instruments -_-

Zorba

@Hero-Link: oh bah, i wanted to post " Iwata: Well, there, with Wii 'anything', there's a strong possibility of raising people's basic level of 'anything' education.

Hero-Link

"Iwata: Well, there, with Wii , there's a strong possibility of raising people's basic level of education."

Hero-Link

This expensive musical instrument argument is garbage. I started on kazoos, ocarinas, harmonicas, and recorders before moving onto a Casio keyboard by the age of 5 or 6. All of those wind instruments could be purchased for under $5; I even made an ocarina out of clay. The keyboard was expensive at the time, but you can get simple versions now for next to nothing; I had a $30 keyboard watch when I was a kid and you can get kids keyboards for under $20. My first guitar was $120 and you can get those for under $100. You can get new violins online for $50.

Yes, premium instruments are expensive and maybe certain instruments are expensive, but in this day and age, getting started with real instruments is cheaper than ever.

kingofallcosmos

If we were expecting Rock Band but from Nintendo then we are right on the money.

Remember Miyamoto is a musician by profession, if he makes a game it's going to be great, if he makes a game about something he does for a living then omfg.
Rock Band mimics playing music by using the technical aspect of music and being "hardcore" about the button pressing requirements and strumming. This game is true to the art form of music, yes that's right this game is probably sharing the closest semblance to art out of any game ever created.

This is PURE genius, Miyamoto may have created interactive art where the player can be the artist, or a part of the art but have influences.

dib8rman

@CartesianDualist:
Profit does not determine quality. No one argues that this will not make money, but it is debatable whether this is the best thing for starting children on the path to making real music. Actual starter instruments, things that kids can play with and make their own music with, can be purchased for under $5.

kingofallcosmos

And that's the reason Nintendo's gonna keep making this crap.

VedetteNanobots

How the heck are we supposed to play this game right now?

VedetteNanobots

this is the same system that has an aquarium as a game

UgoKollar

I wholeheartedly believe the answer to your question about "Air banding" would be ZERO. You might want to learn to play music after hearing music, but it's certainly not because normal people run around 'air banding' and think, 'Gee I clearly have a lot of skillz in muzak!!'

WilonaMalinkoo

I'll give Wii the benefit of the doubt until I hold it ion my hands and 'make music'. But it won't take much to persuade me that wii-music education is only Guitar Hero on steroids. There's no substitute and there's no shortcuts to just great information delivered to people who dedicate time to learning music on real instruments....like MusickEd.com.

CatherineDaboot

I actually think Wii Music as part of music classes in school is a great idea. Think about it for a minute. The Wii's strong point has been appealing to casuals. That's who it's aimed at. I'll be surprised if this doesn't sell over 500,000 personally. I gotta give Miyamoto credit for trying all these new ideas. Thanks to the Wii and Wii Fit people in families who never play games finally are and that's great

@Diego: I hope I have your name right my friend but I wanted to thank you VERY much for saying what I'd love to: Just play the games and enjoy them instead of sitting here going "Fail!" "Lame!" or "This sucks" This whole fanboy thing is WAY WAY out of control and it's frankly sad. When the Super NES came out, people were standing at stores gawking at it for what it was, a great system with great games. They were playing and enjoying them for the most part. Yes there was some warring but it makes what's going on these days look like friendly banter. So just please stop the warring, enjoy the games and judge them on their own merits..as games and not whether they are on PS3 or 360.

bh7812

@kitsuneconundrum: That's his wallet for meeting with the press/general public. For meeting with Microsoft/Sony execs and flunkeys, he prefers a large sack with a Dollar Sign on it.

As for making new musicians, if WiiMusic takes off, expect a major bubble of experimental albums out around 2010.

masked_marsoe

Read this blog, and like me, you will then finally get what Nintendo are trying to achieve with this title. Very, very clever. Changed my expectations dramatically, and if they can pull it off - Wow! http://seanmalstrom.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/why-wii-music-is-genius/ PS - Been playing games for over 30 years - not a gushing schoolboy!

BessKristi

It makes me feel bad about nintento knowing the most influencial creator ever is having more fun with a music game,then one of the greatest games of all times in mario bros.

MirandaCadiwampus

miyamoto looks ready to DEVOUR SOULS!!

raunchytoilet

This is stupid. As a former musician and student along with having family members who are early music educators, I'm offended at his comments. Grabbing a controller and shaking or waving it does not teach *anything* that is musically oriented. Playing music takes practice... because it's hard. Coordination, identification, actuation -- all of it is necessary even to play a simple tune like Mary Had a Little Lamb. Why is Nintendo promoting dumbing down our children even more? And what classroom can spend $800+ on a WII plus TV, extra controllers, etc.? Utterly ridiculous.

OliveRablash