Miyamoto Criticizes Third Party Developers, Wants to Expand Miis

[FriskyTanuki]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158427
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3158415

The whole interview itself:
http://ncroal.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=549476

If there's only one piece of advice that I could give to the managers of third party companies, it would be that a lot of times it seems that when they're putting games out on Nintendo hardware, those games are being developed by their third-string team or their fourth-string team. Maybe that's because they see those products as being unique projects or somewhat smaller-scale projects. But when Nintendo puts out a title that is designed to really support and sell its hardware, that title is always developed by one of our number one teams. And so I think that when it comes to the question of trying to compete with our software, I would really like to see the parties try to do that with their number one teams rather than with the third- or fourth-string teams. [Laughs.]

This is one of the bigger problems with the Wii's third party support, along with the trend of PSP ports, that is hurting the system right now.

With regard to the PlayStation Home, obviously we have seen a lot of people who have been interested in doing that type of thing for a long time, from Little Computer People to what we have done with the Miis to the Sims, so a lot of people have looked at different ways to take that and do something with it. I wouldn't be surprised if we also did something along those lines further in the future.

[bmulligan]

it seems that when they're putting games out on Nintendo hardware, those games are being developed by their third-string team or their fourth-string team.

Maybe if they had a first string system, they'd put the first string development team on the job. It's a vicious circle. This generation, however, it already sounds like there's a new commitment to Nintendo based on it's current success.

[dallow]

Awwww.

[Scrubking]

If there's only one piece of advice that I could give to the managers of third party companies, it would be that a lot of times it seems that when they're putting games out on Nintendo hardware, those games are being developed by their third-string team or their fourth-string team. Maybe that's because they see those products as being unique projects or somewhat smaller-scale projects. But when Nintendo puts out a title that is designed to really support and sell its hardware, that title is always developed by one of our number one teams. And so I think that when it comes to the question of trying to compete with our software, I would really like to see the parties try to do that with their number one teams rather than with the third- or fourth-string teams. [Laughs.]

:applause:

About time someone at Nintendo says something about the problem the Wii is having with third parties and their "wii versions" of games.

Now it's time to take the next step and get on their asses about making some good games for the Wii.

[yukine]

It's up to the developers to make good games, don't blame the hardware, take risks and put some originality into your titles already.

[Kapwanil]

To be fair if you have a good group of programmers you can pretty much push a system above and beyond what anyone would believe the system is capable of. In an NES Dev class I was in many years ago some small groups of casual programmers and NES fans were able to put together NES game demos that pushed some abilities beyond what one could imagine possible. One of the most memorable ones utilized parallax scrolling, which wasn't really a "big" thing until the 16-bit era and involves a lot of programming prowess and another pretty much sidestepped the entire 8-sprite limit in a fascinating and brilliant way.

That's not to say that the problem can be easily solved by getting your best and brightest programmers to jump on any and all titles but there is certainly something to be said for better quality going into a project rather than a mindset of "let's just port this and rework the controls."

[mykevermin]

I can't help but feel that this kind of talk would be widely lauded by gamers if he singled out Ubisoft for putting out shovelware on the Wii.

$50 for a port of Prince of Persia? Kiss my grits.

[Scobie]

I can't help but feel that this kind of talk would be widely lauded by gamers if he singled out Ubisoft for putting out shovelware on the Wii.

We all want Iwata to hold a press conference where he says "Ubisoft, Majesco, Midway -- please stop using the Wii as a toilet." But Miyamoto's statement is as good as we're gonna get. Dang Japanese people and their overly polite ways...

[KingDox]

I hope once Nintendo hits 10 Million sales that 3rd parties will start putting out the good stuff and not all these half ass games.

[mykevermin]

Majesco still exists!?!? What in the tits are they putting out?

And my apologies for forgetting about Midway and their Armageddons and Rampages.

[botticus]

Majesco still exists!?!? What in the tits are they putting out?

And my apologies for forgetting about Midway and their Armageddons and Rampages.Cooking Mama, of course!

Majesco is hardly the worst of the offenders. They're just on the shitlist right now for trying to put out a budget title for a not-very-budgety price.

Ubisoft probably gets a pass (for now) because they actually put effort into Red Steel and Rayman (yes, I liked both, as did many other people).

[mykevermin]

I'm a bit crabby about the fact that Trauma Center appears to be mission-for-mission identical to the DS title. I've only played about 6-8 surgeries on either, but playing through the DS version (I played Wii first, then decided to "visit the Wii title's origins" and buy the DS game), I got this feeling that I've played it before.

I haven't played any Cooking Mama, but a cursory glance at peoples' feelings for Wario Ware (and its price) suggests that's a glass house Nintendo lives in.

[botticus]

I'm a bit crabby about the fact that Trauma Center appears to be mission-for-mission identical to the DS title. I've only played about 6-8 surgeries on either, but playing through the DS version (I played Wii first, then decided to "visit the Wii title's origins" and buy the DS game), I got this feeling that I've played it before.

I haven't played any Cooking Mama, but a cursory glance at peoples' feelings for Wario Ware (and its price) suggests that's a glass house Nintendo lives in.Only reason I don't include Trauma Center in there is because at least Trauma Center was a full-priced (deservedly so) DS game. Cooking Mama was not. Trauma Center adds an extra mission at the end of each chapter as well.

And yeah, I've never paid more than $10 for a WarioWare title, nor do I plan to, so I can't argue there.

[Scobie]

I haven't played any Cooking Mama, but a cursory glance at peoples' feelings for Wario Ware (and its price) suggests that's a glass house Nintendo lives in.

Cooking Mama for $50 was kind of like Majesco putting a flaming bag of crap on your doorstep, ringing your doorbell, and after you open it and experience the immediate horror of the flaming bag of crap, running in from the side and groining you with steel-toed boots.

While also overpriced at $50, WarioWare at least has some inspiration to it and good play control, although it was shockingly featureless for a franchise where we've come to expect bonus content out the wazzoo.

I've been getting a real bad feeling since January... maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I just don't see *any* third party titles worth my money on even the most distant horizon. I'm also not exactly stoked on a lot of the 1st party stuff (no, not even Super Paper Mario or Fire Emblem or Metroid, etc.). The electric kool-aid is wearing off.

[botticus]

Cooking Mama for $50 was kind of like Majesco putting a flaming bag of crap on your doorstep, ringing your doorbell, and after you open it and experience the immediate horror of the flaming bag of crap, running in from the side and groining you with steel-toed boots.

While also overpriced at $50, WarioWare at least has some inspiration to it and good play control, although it was shockingly featureless for a franchise where we've come to expect bonus content out the wazzoo.

I've been getting a real bad feeling since January... maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I just don't see *any* third party titles worth my money on even the most distant horizon. I'm also not exactly stoked on a lot of the 1st party stuff (no, not even Super Paper Mario or Fire Emblem or Metroid, etc.). The electric kool-aid is wearing off.So... what games were you expecting to be hyped about then? I hear Yoot Saito might be remaking Odama for the Wii, I can only imagine that's the Nintendo franchise you bought a new console for. ;)

[soonersfan60]

I bought the Wii to play first party games (SPM, Brawl, MP8, Pokemon--for my son). I have Madden and Super Monkey Ball, along with Zelda (the main reason I wanted Wii right away). Other developers need to show me they deserve my money. Sonic I will be getting, Guitar Hero on Wii I'll get, Phoenix Wright on Wii I'll get; the rest need to impress me. I think they will eventually, but just remember how long it took good 3rd party stuff to start appearing on DS. I have about 1/3 3rd party games for DS, and I would expect the same on Wii. We won't know the true level of quality of 3rd party games at least until this Christmas, and maybe even later because good games take time to develop (and many publishers are just starting Wii support now). Be patient.

[maigoyume]

Phoenix Wright on Wii I'll getwoah woah woah, hold the boat, where did you hear this sexy tidbit of info? 8-)

[benjamouth]

I think Ninty need to tread carefully at the moment, they'd better start getting more Wii's on shelves so the User base will be of sufficent size that 3rd-party devs can justify spending more time and money developing decent games for it.

I applaud Nintendo's new direction this generation but they need to be careful that they don't end up in a no-mans land where the "non-gamers" that were attracted to the Wii have lost interest in it and "hard-core" gamers have bought all the first party stuff and can find better versisions of 3rd party games on PS3 or 360.

Nintendo have innovated once again, but I'd like to seem them stay
financially succesful this gen and not end up with another Gamecube on their hands.

[soonersfan60]

woah woah woah, hold the boat, where did you hear this sexy tidbit of info? 8-)

I saw that somewhere, but I don't recall...

[ArthurDigbySellers]

I also bought the Wii to primarily play 1st party Nintendo games. People criticize the Wii as being a "Zelda playing machine" but I would actually take that as a compliment if I was Nintendo. If millions of people are buying the Wii just to play Zelda, it speaks to the quality of the title.

Some good 3rd party games sprinkled here and there would be nice, but between my Wii, my DS (my most played hardware by FAR), and my eventual 360, I'll be able to play all the games I really want to play.

Miyamoto and co. are not going to come right out and slam 3rd parties because whether we like the crap they are shoveling to the Wii or not, those games still make money. Parents who bought a Wii for their kids are going to buy Cars, Over the Hedge, etc., for their kids. They don't care if it is a crappy port of a PS2 (or PSP) game or not. Those kind of games may cloud the way that gaming enthusiasts look at the Wii, but Nintendo can't afford to alienate 3rd parties by effectively saying "stop porting shit games to our console." The reality is that these shitty games are some of the best sellers.

[io]

I've been getting a real bad feeling since January... maybe I'm not looking in the right places, but I just don't see *any* third party titles worth my money on even the most distant horizon. I'm also not exactly stoked on a lot of the 1st party stuff (no, not even Super Paper Mario or Fire Emblem or Metroid, etc.). The electric kool-aid is wearing off.

Well, I agree somewhat about the 3rd party stuff but I think we'll start seeing the good 3rd party games this Fall and into next year - once the ones who held off at first get their first fully-developed Wii-specific games out the door. I think Squeenix will come through, for one.

But you lost me on the 1st party stuff. If you aren't stoked for SPM, then I'm not sure what to say ;).

[Scobie]

But you lost me on the 1st party stuff. If you aren't stoked for SPM, then I'm not sure what to say ;).

I'll get SPM at the annual TRU B2G1. Right now I'm waaaay more interested in playing GH II and Oblivion on the 360. The Wii has fallen behind the 360 and the DS for my gaming needs, and that's come as a huge surprise to me. I went into this thing with such a full head of steam and it's been slowly and steadily punched out of me.

[yukine]

I'll get SPM at the annual TRU B2G1. Right now I'm waaaay more interested in playing GH II and Oblivion on the 360. The Wii has fallen behind the 360 and the DS for my gaming needs, and that's come as a huge surprise to me. I went into this thing with such a full head of steam and it's been slowly and steadily punched out of me.

You have officially joined the 360 side.

So long, my Nintendo comrade. :cry:

[Scobie]

You have officially joined the 360 side.

So long, my Nintendo comrade. :cry:

I know, it totally sucks. But I just want more than the Wii can give me right now.

[panasonic]

imo 90% third party non exclusive on gamecube were not worth the money and i feel that way for the wii. I only buy first party games on nintendo consoles because they are the best

[The Crotch]

imo 90% third party non exclusive on gamecube were not worth the money...The same is true for pretty much every major console ever. Or do you think PS2's "Bloody Roar (eXtreme?)" was magically better than the GameCube version?


Scobie: I still love you for your avatar.

[io]

You have officially joined the 360 side.

So long, my Nintendo comrade. :cry:

Yes, he joined the dark side and I will soon be following (with my "dark" Xbox Elite no less :lol:). However, I can't see the 360 taking over from the Wii - but then I think Scobie thought the same thing. We shall see how it goes with me... I intend it to be my 4th (out of 5) systems - Wii/GC, DS, PS2, 360, followed up last by the poor ol' PSP. (Of course as of right now the PS2 is #1 as I've been putting serious time into Rogue Galaxy).