Miyamoto: Guitar Hero a "cover band"

By Robert Purchese Published 27 October, 2008

Wii Music the real-creation-deal.

Nintendo creative star Shigeru Miyamoto believes Guitar Hero is a "cover band" compared to the creativity on offer in Wii Music, which is due out here on 14th November.

"As a game designer, I looked at Beatmania and Guitar Hero. Those games let people be the best cover band they could possibly be. As a musician, I wanted to create a game that lets people express themselves in music, and with Wii Music I think we achieved that," Miyamoto told GameSpot.

"With Wii Music, everyone in the house can pick it up and, within a few minutes, start playing music... Wii Music lets people experience that higher level of musical creation without having to spend years training."

Miyamoto said his latest creation is a "musical arrangement engine" where you can rearrange familiar songs such as "Frere Jacques" for up to six instruments, producing all sorts of results depending on your choices: reggae or rap, classical or death metal (probably).

There are 60 songs and 60 instruments in the full version of Wii Music. Tracks range from videogame themes to "Every Breath You Take" by the Police, and instruments vary from turntables to violins.

But will this, the latest big game from Nintendo designed to appeal to non-gamers, click with the core audience braying for more Marios and Metroids?

"We didn't look at the question of whether or not it would appeal to core gamers or casual gamers," Miyamoto said. "It really depends on one's interest in music, not their interest in games. If you're the type of person who taps your feet to a song, I think this will interest you."

"I think you'll find people who are as hardcore playing Wii Music as any other game. I have found that, as a single player, you can spend over three hours arranging a single song. Since there's 50 songs, simple math tells you that you can spend 150 hours playing it - and that's just by yourself.

"I am actually getting concerned about how much I'm playing it!" he added.

However, Miyamoto did reiterate Nintendo's comments in August when he said, "We're not forgetting we need to keep making Zelda games, though!"

Wii Music is due out here on 14th November. Look out for our review very soon.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (48) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • InfiniteFury #1 3 years ago

    Disappointing really to see him joining in the cross-platform/game/whatever willy-waving.

    Back to the design table please it's what you're very good at.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 09:56

  • morriss #2 3 years ago

    Has anyone told him it's shit?

  • ParanoidZombie #3 3 years ago

    Fuck both games - and Rock Band too. Play real music with a real instrument, FFS.

  • billythekid #4 3 years ago

    Post with a real brain, FFS.

  • LHH #5 3 years ago

    Wii music the real creation tool?

    The muppet should be talking about the Korg DS10 more if he wants real music creation.

  • Mr_Dodger #6 3 years ago

    "Fuck both games - and Rock Band too. Play real music with a real instrument, FFS. "

    Fuck driving games - get a real car ffs.
    Fuck shooters - join the army ffs.
    etc

    Clownshoes.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 10:10

  • MavSkipper #7 3 years ago

    Rock Band/Guitar Hero aren't really music creation games.

    "As a musician, I wanted to create a game that lets people express themselves in music, and with Wii Music I think we achieved that"

    Seriously, if you're a musician, you buy real instruments and compose/make your own music.

  • Spanky #8 3 years ago

    "As a musician..."? Wha?

  • penhalion #9 3 years ago

    Has anyone told him that listening to music doesn't make him a musician?
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 10:19

  • Doctor_What #10 3 years ago

    This is my unconvinced face.

  • septimus #11 3 years ago

    Miyamoto - stop producing shit.

    Wii music is is horrid but it will sell because it has Wii in the title.

  • monkeylite #12 3 years ago

    This guy really thinks that highly of himself... how sad the house of Nintendo has become.

  • JahB #13 3 years ago

    what happened to him? he used to make some of the greatest games in gaming history, but nowadays all he seems to do is brainfart...

  • Mildew #14 3 years ago

    Average metacritic score of 63 - reviews more or less confirm what I expected of it.

  • ChrisS #15 3 years ago

    Has anyone taken the time to read the article? He's not comparing the two, he's saying that Guitar Hero allows you to become the best cover band you can be - which is entirely true - and saying Wii Music is something different - also true. He's not slagging them off, even if the title and opening para hints otherwise. Presumably to get the kind of knee-jerk reaction hits some people have afforded the piece.

    @ morriss - have you played it, out of interest?

  • Avaloner #16 3 years ago

    @ Penhalion: you should know that Miyamoto can play the guitar and banjo quite well.

  • Triggerhappytel #17 3 years ago

    Shigsy, no offence, but as far as I am concerned you can piss off and come back when you guys have a new Zelda or Mario to show.

    Wii Music looks about as appealing as syphilis.

  • DFawkes #18 3 years ago

    I've always given Shigsy a bit of give-and-take when it comes to passing from the "creative genius" line, to "dick". I think he's passed it though. Dick.

  • Monkey_Puncher #19 3 years ago

    Yes, I to want to make awful sounding midi versions of the Super Mario theme and twinkle twinkle little star on my virtual cow bell by waving my arms around like I'm having a seisure...

    I love you Shiggy, but I can't understand why the fuck anyone would care about Wii Music.

  • andywilkie35 #20 3 years ago

    Gotta be said, if I can "play" cover versions of songs or make my own music on a Wii remote whilst holding it to my face shouting "OMGITSATRUMPETLOL!" whilst dribbling everywhere, then he can shove his Wii Music up his arse

    Just for the record, no I haven't played it (obviously) and have no desire to because its bollocks.

    Also I play guitar and piano to a high standard so I can play music should I want to. Rock Band and Guitar Hero are good for banter

    @TriggerHappyTel, nice one!

  • spazmo #21 3 years ago

    EG go moron fishing again i see.

  • Xerx3s #22 3 years ago

    Watched the vids on gt. A) it looks devoid of the things that make games like gh good at what they are and b) either the vids are completely out of sync or the player seems to have no real influence on the game (or the game assumes what the player wants to do).

  • Doctor_What #23 3 years ago

    Care to justify that insult? What part of remixing French folk songs using the WiiMote sounds more engaging than strumming along to Bowie? Maybe Wii Music will prove to be an incredible mixer... But I doubt it.

  • LazyDan #24 3 years ago

    I love how PERSONALLY OFFENDED people are by this game. People who take games too seriously, that is.

    Go back to discussing how Metal Gear Solid 4 is a cinematic masterpiece you pompous twats.

  • ChrisS #25 3 years ago

    EG go moron fishing again i see.

    LOL. Nicely put.

    (It's amazing how few people have actually read the text before commenting.)

  • IronCladChicken #26 3 years ago

    lol@spazmo - Good call man!

  • Charlie_Miso #27 3 years ago

    WII MUSIC STOLE MY BABY!

  • chrisjm #28 3 years ago

    worst nintendo developed game ever?

  • Xerx3s #29 3 years ago

    "I love how PERSONALLY OFFENDED people are by this game. People who take games too seriously, that is."

    I love it when people make presumptuous comments on the basis of criticism.

    "Go back to discussing how Metal Gear Solid 4 is a cinematic masterpiece you pompous twats. "

    Sorry but wtf? Just read that out loud for a moment will you? I've read the entire thread again but the only one acting like a pompous twat is you. Is it really necessary to post such shit?

  • Canyarion #30 3 years ago

    When I listen to music, I always like to mess things up a bit. Humming notes that aren't there, but that do sound right. Or humming only some of the notes.
    Wii Music lets you do that, which sounds awesome. Too bad there aren't many cool songs in the game.

  • secombe #31 3 years ago

    It's comment threads like this that help me realise why the Daily Mail does so well.

  • Masarin #32 3 years ago

    "I love how PERSONALLY OFFENDED people are by this game. People who take games too seriously, that is. "

    Games is business. Business is money. Money is serious shit.

  • TheLittlestHobo #33 3 years ago

    Spazmo: lol. A vital service actually, as it allows you to fill up your ignore list from one handy spot!

  • FenderMaster #34 3 years ago

    Miyamoto....

    you used to be cool...

    btw Guitar Hero: World Tour has a recording studio, allows much more for creative expression than slight variations of midi versions of Grandfather Clock and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star!!

    word

  • Monkey_Puncher #35 3 years ago

    I don't think you'll find many people are actually reacting to the flamebait topic, most can't understand what the point in Wii Music is..

  • Progguitarist #36 3 years ago

    Talk about misinterpretting the guys words.

    Wii music allows you to improvise as you play. You are playing within the confines of the songs yes but the phrasing and note placement of the melody, rhythmic and bass lines are at your discretion. Guitar Hero and Rock Band (both excellent games) do not allow this, you follow the note chart to the letter, if you dont you fail. Even the music creation tools in GHWT require you to stick exactly to what you have created.

    People seem to have a hard time letting go of the idea that theres no score or point to it. Read the IGN review and listen to how the guy slags it off for having no challenge yet any of the videos he made sound like arse. The challenge is making something sound good with it rather than trying to get 1,000 note chains and perfect scores.
    Edited by 1 at 27/10/08 @ 14:04

  • kangarootoo #37 3 years ago

    "Play real music with a real instrument, FFS"

    /issues mountain sized yawn

  • SliderNL #38 3 years ago

    Games makers overestimate how many people are willing to spend time to create things in games. A perfect example is the Movies, a great Tycoon-game in which you could make everything. From special effect, costumes etc. But because it was to much nobody used it.

    Depending on the game only 5 procent are willing to create something for or with it (quote from BioWare). Maybe it's different for the casual crowd, but I think it will be lower. Great quote "We're not forgetting we need to keep making Zelda games, though!"

    The problem is not that there's no new Zelda, there is NOTHING for the hardcore gamer

    no new F-Zero, Golden Sun, Star Fox, no NEW IP (shooters, racing game, RPG, adventure)

    The Wii is the most successful console because Nintendo abandoned it's fans, in exchange for a new bigger audience.

  • jack_klugman #39 3 years ago

    The challenge is making something sound good with it rather than trying to get 1,000 note chains and perfect scores.

    @Progguitarist:

    Which sounds entirely joyous frankly! I can't wait.

  • Garulon #40 3 years ago

    "The challenge is making something sound good with it rather than trying to get 1,000 note chains and perfect scores."

    Stop bigging it up, it's a £40 Major Morgan. And Myamoto's talent dried up back in the N64 days to those of you buying the same games over and over

  • robson_wii #41 3 years ago

    Wasn't Miyamoto responsible for Pikmin? ^^^ I'm sure Pikmin was out after the N64 and was quality (new IP). Sadly it didn't sell in droves. Maybe that's why they're looking at different avenues and new ideas.

  • Les #42 3 years ago

    "The Wii is the most successful console because Nintendo abandoned it's fans, in exchange for a new bigger audience."

    Exactly and what a great move! It's gaming's long awaited revolution and like all true revolutions it hurts initially, especially for the establishment. That's why Wii will be more significant for gaming in the long run than the PS3 and 360 no matter how many games that could not even be called evolutions of their genre get a 10/10...

  • dudefella #43 3 years ago

    My fucking sides are splitting. The Wii, a revolution? Are you fucking kidding me?

    The only positive thing about the Wii is that it gets more people to play games. Hopefully that will get them to move on to real games sooner or later.

  • Les #44 3 years ago

    "The Wii, a revolution? Are you fucking kidding me?

    The only positive thing about the Wii is that it gets more people to play games."

    Which is the sole purpose of any manufacturer of video game consoles. Not a bad thing to have as its 'only' positive quality... But it's exactly reactions like this one from gamers that shows how enormous an achievement the Wii actually is. Instead of MS and Sony that simply looked at the last gen and added some power, Nintendo saw a chance to change gaming and acted upon it. Risky surely but it has paid off big time.

    "Hopefully that will get them to move on to real games sooner or later."

    It's more likely 'real games will be Wii-ified. And let's be glad. It's about time that developers learned that they can't just get away with recycling the same old gameplay with an increased pixel count. They'll actually have to use their imaginations. Can only lead to good things for any gamer.

  • Kilroy #45 3 years ago

    Now, I hate these mudslinging battles, but Les... Seriously. What games on Wii has actually used the developers imagination?
    I'm genuinely curious, because most of what I've seen is the same games they could have released on Gamecube, but with added waggling.
    Sure, I can see the point of having way more consumers than before, but I for one would be without it, if all we're getting is Ninjabread man shovel ware for easy money...

  • robson_wii #46 3 years ago

    Try Zak and Wiki. It's a point and click interface (with a little waggle) but it works nicely. Metroid Corruption uses the remote to look around and feels quite natural. Wii sports is a very good tech demo with plenty of variety of controller useage. Mercury Meltdown has a nice approach. Any more? Probably...

  • Les #47 3 years ago

    "Seriously. What games on Wii has actually used the developers imagination?"

    Lots. Take Wii Fit, Mario Galaxy and No More Heroes as examples. Of course you can still make crap games on the Wii, as many developers have done because they approach it as just another console. Developers will have to change the way they work (heavy focus on graphics and little else) if they want to get the most out of the Wii. Wii's huge success makes it very likely they will.

    "I'm genuinely curious, because most of what I've seen is the same games they could have released on Gamecube, but with added waggling"

    All PS3 and 360 games could have been released on PS2 and xbox if they decreased the resolution. Wii has taken a bigger generational leap than PS3 and 360 in that regard.
    Edited by 1 at 29/10/08 @ 13:15

  • warlockuk #48 3 years ago

    If the Wii can play fast enough for Death Metal I might be tempted with a Wii. Might.


    Miiiiiight.