Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa recently stated in a follow-up Q&A to Nintendo's six months earnings report how important it was for the company to create new game experiences. In a rare western interview with TIME in October, he also mentioned how it was vital for Nintendo's development teams to "try something new" and step into "unfamiliar territory" with their ideas.
Now, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has doubled-down on this, reinforcing the fact Nintendo is all about new ideas. At the same event where he received his Person of Cultural Merit award, Mr. Miyamoto said he would focus on new experiences to bring smiles to people around the world, without falling back too much on past creations.
I intend to keep trying to create something new that brings smiles to people around the world without focusing too much on what we have already created.
It wouldn't be hard to argue that the best thing about Nintendo is its rich history, but as of late, the company has certainly made it loud and clear it's all about "new" ideas and experiences. Some examples of this include Labo VR and in more recent times Ring Fit Adventure.
Miyamoto's latest comment also slots right in with his ones about resorting to other methods to capture the attention of seemingly reluctant markets – with projects such as theme parks.
In saying this, it doesn't mean Nintendo is necessarily abandoning its older ideas and creations. In the same Nintendo Q&A, Furukawa acknowledged how "past games" were a very valuable asset to the company and went onto mention how The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening was seen by many players as the perfect mix of new and nostalgic experiences.
[source asia.nikkei.com]
Comments 87
Hey, Game Freak, why don't you take notes from this?
So no new F-Zero?
I love Nintendo's franchises, but I also love how they dare to try new things. And while I'm at it, I also love Miyamoto for being the founding father of some of my most beloved franchises (and my number one most loved franchise, Zelda). With all he has accomplished and put out, he'd be hard pressed to do wrong in my book!
Sounds great! Can't wait to see what they have! Just give us F Zero GX or a sequel, Mario Sunshine HD and Pikmin 4 plus the previous 3 games and then get on with those new experiences. Or at least Gamecube Online. Thank you!
New is good. But never forget where you came from. Mario Samus and Kirby have brought you to be a Titan. Love up to your fans expectations.
Lol 2 of their biggest games in recent times are Links Awakening remaster and Xenoblade remaster.
@Flowerlark more ports the better I say. But these would be amazing to have.
@Dezzy
In all fairness these are shaking up the old formula and for all intents and purposes are brand new experiences. Xenoblade 1 HD is gonna feature old, unused areas from the original and expand on content for instance. New experiences don't exclude older games.
@Dezzy Yeah, but Breath of the Wild made a ton of waves. I do wish that part of the new wave of ideas would actually be marrying Mario/Peach and Luigi/Daisy.
I like it when Nintendo does a little of both. Without revisiting the same series and ideas we wouldn't get great games like Mario Odyssey, Link's Awakening, Smash Bros., Fire Emblem Three Houses or Mario Kart (which is still surprisingly good). But without new ideas we wouldn't get cool innovations like Splatoon, Ring Fit, Arms, or Astral Chain (not Nintendo, but still an original idea funded by them).
There is definitely room for more new ideas, but no reason to ignore the old ideas that are still working either.
So no smash ultimate remake in 2020? Aww man
Is that why Bowser keep coming back or why Star Fox Zero is "New" Star Fox 64??🤔
This is somewhat concerning coming from Miyamoto. I know he's a legend and I'm all for trying out new ideas, but sometimes he goes overboard. Like he gets an idea for an unorthodox control method or accessory and then forcibly pushes it into a game with no option to not use it if it's difficult or uncomfortable and also uses a new entry in a very well known franchise to do it with, which is the only worrisome thing for me.
I'd like to think he uses these words in that he wants to try different things, but not tie them to old franchises.
The DS Zeldas are a prime example of when I don't like it when he does that. I found those games very tedious and difficult to control (to the point I never finished Spirit Tracks, it was so obtuse) and there was no way to turn off the 'new experiences' and play conventionally. And it was a mainline entry for the series.
Something like Splatoon is an example of how to do it right. With their control scheme, which people could turn off if they didn't like it, it was a different take on shooters and it was a new IP as opposed to making it a Metroid entry.
That being said, existing franchises should change and evolve, like what BotW did for Zelda (well, BotW actually brought it back to its roots), but that's different than using an existing franchise to force people to use your unconventional controls or accessories (something Valve is also doing currently with Half-Life).
You go forward without remember how the past builds the future. That's called being innovative without forgetting where you came from.
@Elvie - Oooooooooowwwww.
Don’t mind them trying new things as long as they show good judgement when determining what should be dumped back at the drawing board.
Star Fox Zero is a great example of something they tried and shouldn’t have shipped.
The Switch on the other hands been a terrific success.
No wonder they killed monthly updates for NES/SNES Online.
I'm obviously not opposed to new ideas or experiences. Whether it's a completely new idea or IP or a twist on an existing one.
I will say for the latter, it's best to weigh those ideas and how much you commit to them based on the exposure of the franchise. A new twist or idea for a Mario or Zelda game is fine. But I think it's best for a long dormant franchise like F-Zero to be reintroduced as something a bit more familiar.
@Flowerlark They're still porting Wii U games, Xenoblade is getting a remake, and their last game on 3DS was Epic freaking Yarn. I take PR statements like this with at least a pinch of salt.
Ok but Pikmin 4 first, please!
I love that they still make glorious weirdness like Warioware, Sushi Striker, and The Stretchers. I think that "why the f not" mentality is what allowed them to pour years and untold resources into completely reinventing Zelda with BOTW. In an era of risk aversive corporate media, having a cowboy company that says "this makes no sense... but we're gonna do it anyway" is SO refreshing.
@Smigit I agree, but think the mentality that gave us SF:Z is the same mentality that allowed something like the switch to be made. A mad scientist company will inevitably make both the sublime and the ridiculous.
@Muddy_4_Ever
The Switch is a safe smart decision forced by the failure of Wii U where they thought their Wii audience would buy into whatever they’d put out, people had been pretty vocal about wanting them to combine handheld and home console into a single system very early into the Wii U’s life due to its struggles and the advancement of mobile technology. Nintendo/Miyamoto likely wanted a Wii U 2 with a glasses free 3D screen on its gamepad.
So NO
Fzero
Pikmin
Makes me sad
Any updates on the Mario movie being made by shudders Illumination?
@SalvorHardin Hubris always seems to bite the dominating company in the butt when the next gen comes along. Nintendo with the 3DS and Wii U. Microsoft with the Xbox One. Sony with the PS3. It’ll be interesting to see Sony’s rollout of the PS5. Also, Nintendo’s next moves after the Switch era dies down. Actually, all three. Sony and Nintendo because of their success. Microsoft because they took such a shellacking.
@Flowerlark yeah I’m losing hope for Metroid Prime Trilogy and Thousand Year Door re-releases 😢
I think Nintendo should assemble a new development team just for remakes and re-releases. They could focus on that and the “normal” Nintendo dev teams create new stuff... we all win!
@Isaix Bowser and Star Fox Zero's plot are story elements, not the experience. If Super Mario 64 was a 2D platformer like SMW but featured Wario as a villain would that be as revolutionary as the 3D platformer with a Bowser kidnapped Peach plot?
The thing I like about Miyamoto's approach is his aim to make the experience distinct from each other. Not just the same gameplay with a new story, but innovative new approaches to the ways you play the same series.
@DenDen If F-Zero or Pikmin would sell millions of copies (which they don't) Nintendo would bring them back for sure. Also it could still happen.
is this news? hasn't he said this many times before? next year is interesting as not a lot of Nintendo made games announced yet. BOTW2 and Metroid still seem unlikely in 2020.
@quinnyboy58 I think BOTW2 will be a 2020 title, and Bayonetta 3. I also think we'll either see Super Mario 3D World ported or a sequel to Super Mario Odyssey.
Metroid Prime 4 will be a 2021 title at the earliest.
@sanderev I think you’re right with BOTW2 coming 2020. Galaxy 1&2 had a similar gap.
Hope Bayonetta 3 makes it for next year but remember that it isn’t a Nintendo game, just an exclusive.
@LavaTwilight really, pikmin 4 would be great!
Just be careful not to make a new Star Fox Zero, I do feel Nintendo "innovate" for the sake of it sometimes and no amount of window dressing can disguise the fact that Link's Awakening is a 20 year old game in every single way.
I do find it funny when they come out with these things and their most successful games on the Switch are Mario Kart from the Wii U, a 3D Mario game, another Smash Bros game, another Pokemon game (can you imagine any other developer getting away with selling 2 versions of the same game?), granted Zelda had some new ideas amongst the couple it borrowed from Ubisoft but that is the only major success on Switch that has any significant changes for its franchise.
Would love to see them salvage Start Fox Zero with better controls on Switch.
Ok no more Mario's then
Sure, sure, new experiences , definitely.
Now give us Prime Trilogy HD already!
The new experiences angle doesn't seem to apply to the "New" Super Mario Bros. titles who all have identical visual styles with exceptions only made for the resolution of each system they've been on. Thankfully, Odyssey dared to invest in new sprites
@Cotillion We have to decide if game design is a creative art, where people can try, experiment and fail, or a science that just needs standards and optimization for the purpose to be good for everyone.
@Robzilla THANK YOU! No kidding! I check every morning in the hopes that I'll see Pikmin 4 news!
I never got round to buying a WiiU. So please take my money and give me NS versions of SM3DW, Pikmin 3 and The Wonderful 101.
Took him long enough.
@glaemay try, experiment and fail/succeed forms the basis of science as well as creative art. The parallels are striking. Game design is both a science and an art. No need to decide
Pikmin4 is so not happening and it makes me so very sad. I think it’s time for a rerun of Pikmin 1-3. Classics. I think the time pressure of Pikmin1 actually makes it my favourite.
@Joe-b haha no kidding? I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's such a loved franchise and we know it's close to Miyamoto-San's heart, so why not just do it already?
As long as they don't pull a Konami and focus more on pachinko machines than video games, I'll be happy.
Pikmin 4 were anounced during Wii U days, then they said it were well into development. Then put on hold when Switch launched.
@Joe-b @beazlen1 @LavaTwilight I long for the day when we finally hear what on earth happened to the fabled Pikmin 4 that Miyamoto claimed was "basically finished" all those years ago, at this point I feel like they're deliberately holding it back to use it to fill a production schedule gap. There's no way it could possibly have been so far along in development and then scrapped, surely?
I know someone further up in the comments said Pikmin isn't a big seller but I don't think the games have been flops, not by a long chalk. (Edit: looks like Pikmin 1, 2, and 3 each sold over 1.2 million units, I know it's small for Nintendo but those are not sales to be sniffed at!)
Hm as long as a new pikmin game is coming, state all you want.
Still hoping for a Wario Land remake or new entry... or Mario Land 2: 6 golden coins. I’ve said this before but I’m praying
@LavaTwilight yah, bring it already
@Otoemetry yah. It will be nice.
@Andymad I share the same hopes.
Nintendo keeps pumping out WarioWare and NSMB games for those characters and I could care less for them.
@Flowerlark Why is that necessary? I mean it's possible but just play them on the Wii U and if you don't have a Wii U then why not go ask your parents to go buy you a wii u for Christmas then.
@brunojenso Really hope that it would be at this year's game awards but I also wonder if they can put traditional controls in for Metroid Prime 3 considering that they implied that it would be hard to transition wii motion controls to switch motion controls with skyward sword.
As usual, CEO talks never reflect reality. They're only made to make enthusiasm grow in others despite some stupid decisions.
According to my experience, fortunately employees usually tend to ignore such speeches, at least as long as they care to get things done.
@Pinkarray Well if it's to be believed they've already done the work.... maybe.
I don't know about the Game Awards, they may have used it in the past as a launchpad – but there was nothing last year. I stayed up really late in the UK hoping to see some Nintendo love, or frankly anything remotely interesting looking, but it was all PS4/XBO world war games and other stuff that was of zero interest to me (I think there was one unique looking game actually but I can't remember the name). It was (from my pov) all the worst of gaming and gamers in one horrendous and tedious show. I'm not sure it's the right environment for Nintendo.
Their will be plenty of time for remakes and remasters once he's gone.
@Flowerlark sorry. I didn't intend to baby you I just don't know you and I don't know how poor or rich you are. I'm 21 and I still ask my family for Christmas gifts. That's the spirit of Christmas is giving people what they want or something they may like. Same for birthdays. I'm not saying you aren't capable of buying something yourself.
so can we get Billy Hatcher And The Giant Egg 2
Given the vast majority of Switch 1st party titles are from established franchises, I don’t think this is anything to be concerned about. In fact this seems to be exactly what people were asking for (demanding) in the Wii U era. More new IP. More new ideas. But it wouldn’t surprise me if people don’t know what they really want.
It should be a mixture of both. And I think they’re doing a pretty good job of that.
@KingBowser86 yea marrying the Mario's and princess and Daisy would probably start some feminist or gender kind of retaliation with today crazies
@Dirty0814 I think the only reason it hasn't been done is because of how "aged characters" drag down lighter-hearted franchises and introduce complex relationship issue considerations and fanwork that could potentially destroy the franchise's image and thus existence.
I don't mind new experiences when they work, but sometimes I just want to play something familiar. I could get a lot of heat for saying this, but I think Miyamoto has too much influence in the company, and if Larry Bundy Jr's story is correct, he pretty much drove Rare away by mutilation Dinosaur Planet.
Hoping for new experiences like Ring Fit Adventure. Really enjoying that so far, and unlike Wii Fit, I'm actually breaking a sweat.
Thankfully Miyamoto is just one person, and has the luxury to fiddle around with silly personal projects. The rest of Nintendo need to listen to fans, and we want an F-Zero Ultimate, an upgraded Star Fox and Metroid Prime Trilogy. FZU would primarily be enhanced FZ64, complete with track editor, and with about 40 of the best tracks from older games that would all be 4-player split-screen, not to forget tracks from FZ AX.
We know this already.
He's been trying to force gimmicks into all the games he's had his hands on, regardless of the experience is better than before, he only cares that it's different.
Great for some new IP's, but it's still nice to keep in touch with the old IP's too. Mario Golf hasn't seen a console addition since the Gamecube, they could also try to bring back some of their older forgotten franchises in different experiences...Wrecking Crew, Duck Hunt, Startropics (I believe it's another company, but nintendo could definitely buy it and make a new version or remasters of the older two) and even try to bring back the original Gamecube's Chibi Robo...or Custom Robo, Eternal Darkness, F-zero, Wave Race and 1080. Another nice thing would be the addition of real sports titles possibly too, but please, no more of the accessories that we end up collecting just to play one game using them.
So does this mean Arms 2 AND a 2D Mario that's actually NEW? Because I'm down for that.
No reason they can’t do both
@TheAwesomeBowser Seriously, why hasn't Nintendo bought Game Freak? It would improve the quality of the mainline Pokemon games.
New experiences as in: Splatoon, Super Mario Maker, Ring Fit Adventures, ARMS, Breath of the Wild (old IP, but really different game), Super Mario Odyssey, Tetris 99. This is almost always about games created internally at Nintendo.
Remakes will still happen, but those are commonly made by third / second party studio's.
Id rather have NEW games from old genres, Kid icarus, Kirby, Punch out, Fzero, Mother, Metroid, Starfox, and from Konami a new Castlevania with Simon Belmont, New goemon.
From Capcom more megaman, a New Streetfighter on the switch.
So i can go on. Old genres in a new jacket.
At this point, 3D platformers would be a new thing for a lot of the franchises. Kirby, Yoshi and Donkey Kong need to join Mario in 3D. Not saying to ditch 2D platformers, but each installment feels more like refinement than innovation, as opposed to the 3D Mario titles. The anniversary of DK64 has reminded me how much I'd like to see this happen.
@Tipehtfomottob don’t forget Xenoblade X
Except when it came to paper mario, don't create any new characters, the big man said!
as long as zelda keep shining, i'm fine
@Elvie nope, and they could always do comics/mangas for stuff they won't make games of. Just 2 steps forward, one step back, just like with black friday lol.
The man is a legend and 67 years old and he don't plant to retire... He's not doing it for money, he could take another role. He loves creating games.
Playing a 4K non-blurry Zelda Skyward Sword remake (without motion controls) would be a most welcome ‘new experience’ to Nintendo fans. Just saying...
Hm, so that's why Virtual console is so meaningless to them and the only n64 games on the Switch are Turok and DOOM 64
Why not both🤷🏾♂️ My opinion
Is this why we haven’t gotten a Pikmin 4 :,(
Its what I love about Nintendo, they make new loves, but keep the old around for faithfuls and newcomers. 💜
@Cotillion Not worrying at all. What is most worrying is the evergrowing trend of game "journalists" who couldn't find their way out of a wet paperbag influencing people's opinion. Worse : Often when a game comes out using innovative controls/mechanics (usually by Nintendo), but it's not explicitly made for the hardcore of the hardcore crowd, the bad players will use these """credible reviewers""" in their efforts of trying to blame their lack of skill/intelligence/patience on some purported flaw of the game. The result of this lack of innovation/ambition is boring walking simulators like God of War or Super Mario Odyssey.
About giving people more options with regards to controls : A game that wants to utilize its maximum potential is constructed with a specific control scheme in mind, in the case of Star Fox Zero, the Gamepad is absolutely vital to the gameplay. Motion controls are also a must as they are more precise for aiming than analog sticks. Those are objective facts, not opinions, now if you have a problem with the control scheme, then it's your problem as it means you're too fat/lazy/dumb/disabled and your opinion is irrelevant to normal/well adjusted people who have what it takes to enjoy the game for what it is, instead of what it should be according to you.
I want a new Earthbound, or some kind of hybrid Remaster/Remake of the Snes game with a little bit of Mother 1 and 3 mixed together in one massive, bizarre supernatural/scifi rpg.
Tap here to load 87 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...