Nintendo has never seriously courted the eSports community but it has made some encouraging noises of late; the Nintendo Switch reveal famously showed Splatoon 2 being played in a tournament environment, and with the soon-to-be-released ARMS the company has another competitive title which - on paper, at least - would be perfectly suited to the eSports world.
Speaking in an interview with TIME, ARMS producer Kosuke Yabuki has admitted that he would "love" to see the game become an eSport, but he adds that it's by no means a certainty:
TIME: It sounds like you're essentially positioning Arms as the first hardcore motion control game, or maybe even first motion control eSport.
Yabuki: I think that's a great take, and I actually think Arms might be the first game that has such depth with its technique in its motion controls. I think it would be great if Arms were to become an eSport, but it's not quite clear yet whether Nintendo will go down that path and become a proper eSport. It's not a certainty yet that Arms will be a huge hit with people. We'll see how many people play. But if it does go down that route, we'll see what Nintendo as a company does with eSports.
Yabuki also revealed that ARMS was developed on the same floor as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and that the two teams shared tools to help balance their games:
TIME: At the Game Developers Conference this year the Zelda development team spoke of using a data aggregation tool to chart and scrutinize different play styles. How much of Arms was designed around similar aggregation tools versus straight player feedback?
Yabuki: Arms and Breath of the Wild are made on the same floor at Nintendo, and we are able to use things that the Breath of the Wild team found useful. But it's important for us to choose the right tools for the game. In development of this game, we looked a lot at the results of the battles, the overall picture of what character matches well with what character and what arms go up well against what arms. That information comes from humans fighting other humans.
But we also use the artificial intelligence in the game to match A.I. against itself and look at that data. And of course the players who participated in the Arms test this last weekend, we looked at that to check and see if there are any balance issues.
Do you think ARMS could seriously become an eSport? Could the eSports community really embrace a motion-controlled title? Tell us your thoughts by posting a comment below.
[source time.com]
Comments (39)
"Embraced." I see what you did there.
Oh, ARMS is Absolutely deserved for being an eSport games.
I pray for the Best so ARMS can be Loved by a lot of peoples.
Although I don't think it will happen, it would be really awesome if ARMS became an eSport. Also interesting how BOTW and ARMS shared several tools during development.
I can't see this happening at all but I'm prepared to eat my words.
ARMS DLC of Link using double clawshots confirmed 😉
Its nice to think about but hard to imagine, also good on him for being humble and understanding that it could still be greeted with lukewarm reception (even though I doubt it)
I bet he would. Don't see it happening though.
I don't think it will be too popular honestly. This is a nintendo website and still the crowd seems divided. How would you measure interest for this game outside of hardcore nintendo fans?
I hate eSports, and the eSports crowd.
Keep them away from Nintendo.
At least he humbled himself and understands it could go anyway
@Neon_Blues
Eh.... it depends on the title.
ARMS is fit title for eSports games.
Well, it will probably all come down to whether it's a proper skill-based game or slight waggle-fest at the end of the day. If it leans too much in the direction of waggle and luck it might destroy its chances of anyone taking it fully seriously, certainly in terms of being accepted as a proper eSports-worthy fighter. Regardless, I'm sure a whole load of casuals, families, and hardcore Nintendo fans will embrace it either way. Also, if it did actually become an eSports title, it would be one of the few/only games that is also a proper "sport", as it were, seeing as it does actually involve real physical activity and movement while playing it (at least in thumbs-up mode), which would be kinda cool.
Why would I use motion controls when playing competitively? Motion controls are for when playing drunk. Joy con dog controller is for competitive.
Don't see it happening (where the likes of Pokken failed)
Maybe Splatoon.
Though the eSport bubble is currently growing on an alarming rate.
Once the bubble pops, probably only a few games will be left there.
(BTW, cue in the baseless `I hate eSports` comments :>)
Heh, this I would love to see.
@super08mario On the Switch reddit, where half the crowd is not part of the core nintendo fans, the reaction to the game has been mostly positive, with many that were previously on the fence about it now fully aboard the hype train.
Not happening
The traditional controls aren't good enough
@Gridatttack Pokken failed because of TPCis mismanagement
@impurekind I very much agree. Another thing is that as an esport almost no one would use motion controls. Tournaments last for hours and if you had to play through 50+ matches in a day, you would most like opt for a less strenuous method of contol. Another point again motion controls is precision and reliability. While the joycons seem mote accurate that the wiimote, at a tournament level you value controls that allow you to be exact and consistent. It would be terrible to lose a match because the game didn't register a punch the right way
I think if the competitive scene adds ARMS they would be using pro controllers.
If Nintendo aren't that interested in eSports, then why did they try to promote Splatoon 2 being fit for an eSport in the Switch reveal trailer.
@Neon_Blues
Nintendo is already Esports. Officially, they allowed Smash to be played at EVO, and prior to that Smash has had very many grass-roots tournaments. Nintendo also runs the Pokemon championships.
I think Esports is a positive. It showcases strong players and the community that forms around the title increases the understanding and longevity of that game. Why do you dislike Esports?
There are 2 factors to if a game can become an eSport.
1. How much money is the publisher putting into sponsoring tournaments and creating prize pools?
Nintendo has traditionally not been very supportive of the competitive communities of their games. Even if they allow it, which they haven't always done, they don't put much monetary support into the scene in the long run.
2. How fun is it to spectate? How many people want to spectate it?
This is a major deciding factor to if you get support from advertisers that would provide money to keep the eSport alive.
The last factor is of course, how fun is it to play over long periods, but if there is enough money to be made playing the game, people will play it even if they don't enjoy it.
Keep in mind, this is specifically as an eSport, there could be competitive communities build around ARMS if the game ends up being enjoyable enough, with okay money involved, but it wouldn't reach "eSport" levels.
For example, Punk, a Street Fighter 5 player, won $150,000 last week on a tournament that was broadcast on TBS, because Capcom aggressively pushes Street Fighter 5 as a competitive game, and injects, and arranges for others to inject, money into the scene to keep people wanting to play for the money. Street Fighter 5 itself, while not terrible, is still often is complained a lot about by its user base because of its many problems, and the mechanics of the game are often said to be simple and non flexible.
But because there is good money involved, lots of people play it competitively anyway. The high level of competition with money on the line keeps the game interesting, even if you're not that interested in the game itself.
@Fighter_Hayabusa Actually the Pokemon Company runs those competitions. You can tell, there is a huge hacker problem within the Pokemon competitive scene, something that would most likely be dealt with if Nintendo were in charge.
I do agree that eSports are good, although the Melee/ProjectM community is a bit toxic, they demonstrate high-level play and just seem like some good fun at the lower levels.
I don't think so, especially for how inaccurate motion controls can be some times. Also ARMS is just Wii boxing 2.0.
I'll have to look into the traditional control setups because I find the subtly in the motion controls to be very responsive and fun. People are finding them better? Or preferable because of unfamiliarity? Not going to bother until I own it. The test punch hours are too precious and the thumbs-up style too satisfying to waste for now.
@Meaty-cheeky Wii boxing 2.0? So, now I don't respect your opinion. :/
@aaronsullivan I know calling ARMS Wii Boxing 2.0 sounds harsh, but Nintendo is trying to say that the Joy-con are better than the Wii remotes, but they feel exactly the same when it comes to motion controls. I might be judging this game to early, but from playing the testpunch I haven't been impressed.
Somehow I just don't see it happening with this game.
@SunnyD-Pad
Hey, watch out with your words !
Or I will call the Administrator !
@SunnyD-Pad Be very careful with what you say on here, you'll be reported in no time!
Maybe then you'll learn to be respectful to others on here.
Nintendo could use with another good esport game, but Arms? Idk, man.
@SunnyD-Pad Watch the profanity, try again.
@Meaty-cheeky just dont agree
I think the motion controls are great and very precise. I hear the Wii boxing comments and yeah you can go there but there's so much more to this game than throwing your arms like crazy. With that said I find the testpunch hours being spread apart you can't always pick up the joycons and nail your opponent unless your on top of the game. You got to warm up. It plays great tho. I'm looking forward to it.
@Meaty-cheeky Don't care about harsh, just inaccuracy. ARMS has punching which is where the similarity to Wii Boxing ends. Wii Boxing didn't even use motion plus, ability to move around and aim, etc. Makes your opinion, how the motion controls feel "exactly" the same, just seem like you haven't actually played it, even though I believe you probably have.
Sorry but the game is just not entertaining to watch. It might be entertaining to play but thats not enough to make it a good spectator sport.
Did he say it with a straight face?
@SunnyD-Pad This is a Nintendo site, kids use this place...and with that, you're getting a ban. Enjoy your time here while you still can.
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