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GameCube made Miyamoto "very sad" News
GameCube
GameBoy Advance
DS
Wii
Retro
News
by
Oli Welsh
Speaking to Japanese magazine Famitsu - as reported by 1up - Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed his sadness at the lack of popularity and creative-dead end Nintendo experienced during the GameCube era.
"This is a job where you have a plan and you polish it endlessly while getting help from others. If Nintendo's games fail to stand out as games that aren't made that way proliferate, then it shows that the creation process is for nothing, which made me very sad," the designer told Famitsu.
"That was especially obvious during the GameCube era; Nintendo titles were hardly even discussed by the general public back then," he continued.
Miyamoto blames the lull in the company's fortunes on his "fascination" with creating techincally demanding 3D worlds, and Nintendo's focus on direct competition with Sony and Microsoft during "the N64 and the era after it".
"There was an era when Nintendo was going in the direction of doing the same things other companies did," he said. "The more we competed with new companies entering the market, the more we started acting similar to them. But is being number one in that competition the same as being number one with the general public? That's the question we had.
"Entertainment is something that you have to look at the world with a very wide eye as you create it. I always thought that, but there were a few years where I was unable to get off other people's trends. It was a dilemma in my mind."
Miyamoto feels Nintendo's reconnection with the general public began with it going back to its roots, with the Classic NES series of Game Boy Advance reissues of games from the company's golden era. But it was former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi who truly kick-started the company with the concept for the Nintendo DS.
"In the end we didn't want a new game system, but a product that would make the entire world go crazy," Miyamoto said. "And so Yamauchi said 'two screens'. That turned the development lab upside down!"
His own desire for touch controls completed the picture. "So we went through some trial-and-error work which ultimately connected to the touch pen, something I had wanted to have for a while. I didn't think two screens was enough to make the DS a success, but the touch pen is what puts it all together, both in terms of cost and design."
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TheTingler
12/03/09 @ 09:14
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And yet I still prefer The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Eternal Darkness, Metroid Prime, Mario Kart and Smash Bros on GameCube, and that's just from Nintendo. I'll admit Mario Galaxy is better than Sunshine, though.
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It worked though, we got some stonking games in those eras. Zelda, Mario, Metroid Prime was as far from playing with the rest as I am from Angelina Jolie's underwear drawer, and Eternal Darkness is still in my rack of games and I still get it out from time to time, it's bloody awesome because it was different. The DS started off nicely too, and was really nice if a little shaky to start with. Pokemon was still awesome and there were RPG's and various other little tidbits for Nintendo consoles that you knew would just be quality, Resident Evil 4 anyone? So come on, pull the other one. The 'Cube and N64 eras were massive leaps and bounds ahead of the rivals, they copied YOU! We're not blind!
Look at you now. Twilight Princess, awesome as it was, was more of a repeat of previous games. Almost to a fault. Games on Wii in general are... umm... average. And Metroid Prime, once a beacon of hope as the way forward for FPS adventures, sold its soul and decided it wanted to jump into bed with Halo. The DS gets Brain Training #50 (that's what it feels like now but yes it's an overexaggeration) and the whole system is treated with contempt by developers bastardising their own series and churning out horse manure for the general masses. You've become more commercialised than Sony and Microsoft combined, and that - for the companies we're speaking of - is not only a feat, it's pure bloody evil! Not only that, Nintendo are proposing to put the prices up as well. ... To quote a Mr Jon Stewart... F*** YOU! edit; I'd like to apologise but I think this little annoyance needed to be put down.
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most recently on 12/03/09 @ 09:19
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"Didn't he make Wii music? ¬_¬ "
LOL! Cube was great, had many gems (currently hunting down RE: Remake) it's just many weren't 1st party (Double Dash was OK I guess). Funny thing about the Cube, Mrs bad09 sold off the Wii a while ago because she hated it. That's fine if you don't use it but the strange thing is she never used its B/C but recently spent money Re-buying a Gamecube! She prefers playing Cube on a Cube for some reason.... Oh and Rogue Squadron games rocked!
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most recently on 12/03/09 @ 09:20
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Ranger_Ryu
12/03/09 @ 09:30
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Nintendo games didn't stand out? I just looked at my gamecube games and most of them are Nintendo made.....pretty much Nintendo games were the only gamecube games that were any good (barring SEGA's Skies of Arcadia legends,and Capcom's RE releases of course)
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kangarootoo
12/03/09 @ 09:32
+1
If you look at Nintendo's advertising campaigns these days (household names in prime time slots on terrestrial TV channels), and then you look at how Nintendo appeared to view any market that wasn't Japan back in the days of the GC... I don't think it takes a genius to see where things went wrong.
The GC was a decent system, and it did have some great games on it (Eternal Darkness is on my top ten list of games of all time... ALL TIME), but the visibility of the console and its games was pretty poor compared to its rivals (the PS2 was EVERYWHERE and had been for years, and the XBox obviously got a real push by MS as their first venture into the console market). I KNOW that we the thin edge of the hardcore wedge were quite aware of it, but despite what we might like to think, we aren't rich enough to float a whole platform. |
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+1
The Wii is ending up like the GC, it suffers from a small volume of quality releases compared to the other consoles, there is maybe half the number of good games released per quarter compared to the PS3 and 360.
Shame really that for every Super Mario Galaxy or Mario Kart or MadWorld there are 25 Doctor Who Top Trumps, My Little Starz Pet Hairdressing Donkey , Wii washing up the dishes simulator and Compendium of poorly executed minigames with graphics and control issues volume 36. Ah well I guess I'll just savour the good games all the more. |
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andywilkie35
12/03/09 @ 09:38
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Hmmm, my impression is that Mario Sunshine aside, the Gamecube "versions" were superior to the Wii ones
Paper Mario > Super Paper Mario Mario Kart DD >>>> Terrible Mario Kart Wii Wind Waker > Twilight Princess (just) Smash Bros is essentially the same game considering its only playable with the GC controller (coz the Wii remote is turd) Metroid Primes 1 & 2 > Metroid Prime 3 If anything they've taken at least a step backwards, if not several Plus it had Eternal Darkness and the perfect Tales of Symphonia |
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kangarootoo
12/03/09 @ 09:42
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The Wii may be heading the same way in terms of the games, but the visibility of the platform means it won't take the same path in a business sense. I expect that Nintendo can keep selling the consoles to brand new customers for some while yet, which in turn will provide revenue (because of course, they make money on each console sold) that allows them to continue their high profile ad campaigns.
On the subject of the games, just because there are a lot of games we don't like doesn't mean they are bad games. There are a lot of people out there genuinely enjoying many of the more "mainstream" Wii games. Its not because they are stupid, or sheep, or "not real gamers" (God, I have that term - beyond ridiculous) or any of the playground insults that some people insist on throwing their way. Its just that they have different tastes to some of us. So what, is my response. Good for them, good for Nintendo. If the Wii doesn't float your boat, buy something else and sleep easy in your bed says I. |
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-1
Personally, I think the GameCube had a stronger selection of games than the Wii so far. I mean it's telling that two of the Wii's best games, namely Resident Evil 4 and Zelda: Twilight Princess were GameCube titles. In the case of the latter game it was arguably better on that platform anyway as it had better camera control and no tacked-on "waggle" attacks.
Apart from the superlative Super Mario Galaxy, Metroid Prime 3 and to a lesser extent Super Smash Bros. Brawl, the remainder of the Wii's catalogue is fairly undistinguished and lacking in my opinion bar the odd third-party title like Zack & Wiki. The machine has far too many weak last gen ports IMO, which is kind of ironic given that the Nintendo were criticised for not trying anything new with the GameCube as far as the franchises went. Now we have third-parties doing the same thing, only they take old games and pass them off as new. Even Nintendo seem content to release rehashes of GameCube games on the Wii for their new found user base. Are Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Mario Kart Wii and Mario Power Tennis really that different from the GameCube titles? I think Nintendo reached their creative peak with the SNES and N64 myself and apart from the odd classic since like Super Mario Galaxy and Zelda: Twilight Princess, most of their other stuff has been fairly mundane and unoriginal. Their low point must be the dreadful Wii Music? They've sold their souls to the casual gamer and ignored the fan base that helped them get where they are today. I can't say I blame them, they're in the business to make money and what they're doing with the Wii is achieving exactly that. However, it is fairly depressing for me to see Nintendo slowly moving away from making the kind of games that made consoles like the N64 so special in the first place. It's sad really because I've been tempted several times to sell my unused Wii and really the only thing stopping me is that Nintendo might release another classic like Super Mario Galaxy. |
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farticusmaximus
12/03/09 @ 09:52
+2
DO NOT DISS NINTENDO or smelly will cry all over you.
You don't want to make a grown man* cry do you? *with the mind of a child |
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@andywilkie35 - +1
I think I enjoyed The Wind Waker more than Twilight Princess too. The gorgeous timeless visual style of the former game and the sailing, etc., gave the game a unique and different feel to other Zelda games even if the gameplay follows the same familiar format. With Twilight Princess the visuals actually look more dated than The Wind Waker and the game does feel a lot like Ocarina of Time, both in style and setting. It's still a really great game though; even a formulistic Zelda game is ten times better than most other games. |
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I loved my GameCube! It was my first non-Sega console I got after my Dreamcast (and I got it with Sonic Adventure 1 & 2, Crazy Taxi, Phantasy Online and Sonic Mega Collection for the record).
I think Nintendo's games on that machine were great. I loved Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime, F-Zero and even Mario Sunshine - I thought all of them were great games of a high quality. I know for a fact I wouldn't have a Wii right now if I didn't get a GameCube originally. If I bought a PS2 back then I'd now have a PS3 and if I had bought and Xbox I'd now have a 360. |
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I know why he was sad. I mean, it didn't print money.
To be honest, I too prefer some of the GC iterations to the Wii ones. Wind Waker for example. I really don't like Metroid Prime though, felt too stiff after playing Super Metroid. Also, the GC has Eternal Darkness, which does wear a bit thin once you see all the messages, but is still cool. |
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"I know for a fact I wouldn't have a Wii right now if I didn't get a GameCube originally. If I bought a PS2 back then I'd now have a PS3 and if I had bought and Xbox I'd now have a 360."
Why? Does buying one machine tie you to the brand for life or something? Brand loyalties suck, play 'em all it's more fun! |
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"Why? Does buying one machine tie you to the brand for life or something? Brand loyalties suck, play 'em all it's more fun! " - a quote by bad09.
Backwards compatibility, Daddy-o. I'd hate to give up all those games I bought, and still love to play, from the previous system. I'm a bit of a minimilist so I only like having one machine under the TV - basically I weigh up the options carefully before I get a new console. |
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"Backwards compatibility, Daddy-o. I'd hate to give up all those games I bought, and still love to play, from the previous system. I'm a bit of a minimilist so I only like having one machine under the TV - basically I weigh up the options carefully before I get a new console."
Fair play, myself I have 4 boxes and a PC! Although I could loose one if Sony did the right thing and put back B/C in PS3. Luckily the Cube is round my girlfriends :) |
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kinky_mong
12/03/09 @ 10:40
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Pretty much in full agreement with andywilkie's comparison of GC>Wii, except that I think Metroid Prime 3 is equally on a par with the first two purely because it showed that the Wii remote can be a great control system when a developer puts their mind to it.
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kangarootoo
12/03/09 @ 10:43
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"Backwards compatibility, Daddy-o"
That isn't why people get so tribal about their chosen platforms though. There is no proper logical reason, its just human nature. Backwards compatability is what guides future purchasing habits. Its not what turns apparently normal people into furious maniacs on the internet. |
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muscleblade
12/03/09 @ 11:03
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"and if I had bought and Xbox I'd now have a 360. "
Too bad you didnt buy an Xbox then. |
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"That isn't why people get so tribal about their chosen platforms though. There is no proper logical reason, its just human nature.
Backwards compatability is what guides future purchasing habits. Its not what turns apparently normal people into furious maniacs on the internet." - as quotethed by kangarootoo. I know - he was asking me why I decided to go for a Wii after a GameCube, not anyone else. It was my choice to get it so I could play all my old GameCube games - lord knows what reasons other people have. |
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muscleblade
12/03/09 @ 11:07
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"Metroid Prime was worth the existence of the console alone.
One of my tope five games of all time" Yes it was. A fantastic game no doubth. RE4 was the best game last gen imo and it was a gamecube exclusive to begin with. The PS2 version didnt match the fantastic visuals of the gamecube version either. |
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It's funny how easily people forget. The latter half of the Gamecube era was awful. There were basically no triple-A Nintendo games the last two years prior to Wii.
Nintendo games released in the US between November 19, 2004 - November 19, 2006 (Wii launch): Battalion Wars Chibi-Robo! Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Donkey Konga 2 Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance Geist Mario Party 6 Mario Party 7 Mario Superstar Baseball Odama Pokemon XD Star Fox: Assault Super Mario Strikers So then, to put this into perspective, the Wii came out and Nintendo gave us Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, Super Mario Galaxy, Smash Bros. Brawl, Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn, Excite Truck, Super Paper Mario and Mario Kart Wii within a year and a half... Nintendo abandoning the hardcore with Wii, eh? |
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kinky_mong
12/03/09 @ 11:53
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barat makes a VERY good point. For me personally it was great because at was at uni at the time so actually got on with my work rather than wasting time playing the Gamecube.
Geist was indeed fucking terrible. Nearly spoilt the Christmas of '05 for me. |
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Wastelander
12/03/09 @ 11:58
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TBF, Twilight Princess was alaways a Gamecube game.
That's two major Zeldas in its lifetime. I played a good bit of it at a trade show about a year before anyone even knew what a Wii was. |
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IneptPercy
12/03/09 @ 11:59
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Remember getting my cube imported (got the orange one) there wasn't many amazing games but there was enough. As it is it will be going on ebay soon along with many games, shame but I need some money.
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Wastelander
12/03/09 @ 12:05
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Also,
Battalion Wars Mario Superstar Baseball Donkey Kong Jungle Beat Star Fox: Assault and Super Mario Strikers were all anticipated exclusives for Gamecube owners. How many Wii owners would kill for a new Mario Baseball or Starfox at the moment? What do they get? A repackage of Jungle Beat. |
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@Darren
Yeah, I guess you could say that Smash Bros. Brawl a year ago was the last great Nintendo game on Wii. Point is we had these droughts before in earlier generations. It seems like bad scheduling releasing both a new Mario, Zelda and Metroid in year 1 and then basically nothing to please the hardcore for some time. But I'm really excited about what Retro and Nintendo's Mario and Zelda team are doing now. I guess we'll find out at E3. @Wastelander Actually, Nintendo released a sequel to Mario Superstar Baseball, Mario Super Sluggers, in the US in August. No Euro date yet though. And Star Fox: Assault was awful.
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Collymilad
12/03/09 @ 12:46
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Sorry Miyamoto but nothings changed.
The only people who give a shit about Nintendo now are casual gamers who wont talk about your games at all, they will just play them, and a few hardcore who haven't had the sense to realise than Nintendo don't care about them anymore. I'm just gonna ignore comments like "what's a real gamer" because couldn't really care what casuals have to say.
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most recently on 12/03/09 @ 12:46
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I hope he never talks to any real gamers about the Wii ... dude would walk away crying. Fuck that shit.
a real gamer knows who miyamoto is and what he gave us. hate the wii as much as you want (i do too), but we're still talking about the dude who made mario and zelda. and probably wouldn't walk up to miyamoto and have the nerve (or the audacity) to criticise. |
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@barat
It seems like bad scheduling releasing both a new Mario, Zelda and Metroid in year 1 and then basically nothing to please the hardcore for some time. But I'm really excited about what Retro and Nintendo's Mario and Zelda team are doing now. I guess we'll find out at E3. Releasing all those titles at the start of the consoles lifespan was being touted as a very good thing by Nintendo at last years E3. They went on about how they released the big name franchises at the start as a service to the "core" gamers and, yeah, it was good to get Metroid, Mario and Zelda at the start but it left them in a situation where they had nothing left in the tank for a follow-up. Their "core" Christmas 2008 releases were non-existent and they've been as quiet as they usually are about just about everything else since E3. Apart, of course, from telling us that they haven't forgotten the "core" audience. Personally, I don't think we will find out all that much this year, last year's E3 was a complete wash-out for Nintendo, IMO. Hell, I'd love to be wrong though.
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most recently on 12/03/09 @ 12:56
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Vertical Stand
12/03/09 @ 13:11
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I feel for those who passed on the likes of Chibi Robo - a great game that would probably be ripe for rediscovery if a Wii version was made, and I might think its fundamentally broken but I enjoyed the bonkers Odama. Besides, I would say to barat and others if the Gamecube catalogue is so poor compared to the Wii, why are Nintendo filling out its current schedule with Gamecube titles from throughout its entire lifespan?
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most recently on 12/03/09 @ 13:11
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canIdoyabombsforya
12/03/09 @ 13:14
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berelain
""this why Nintendo still aren't showing any signs of catering to their old skool gaming audience, and are still focussing on mass market gimmick appeal? " Quite an interesting post. If something is cheap then it goes hand in hand with mass market appeal. Back in the old skool days, hardware was around $500 in todays money. Perhaps Microsoft's and Sony's strategy of giving consoles away has cheapened the gamer? Perhaps if the credit crunch continues, there will only be Nintendo left. With them investing back into R&D instead of subsidising the latest and greatest GPUs maybe gaming can go back to the glory days. |
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farticusmaximus
12/03/09 @ 13:19
-1
"maybe gaming can go back to the glory days"
God I hope not. I think you may need some rose-tinting removal cream. Gaming is better than ever right now, you are just looking in the wrong place. |
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