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DS Daily: The signing
Yesterday's eBay treasure-find got us thinking. We tend to idolize certain figures in the gaming world, even if they happen to just be suave business men. And don't get us wrong, Iwata-san is the very definition of a ladies' man. But in all the realm of gaming, from players to publishers, who would you want to sign your DS?Bonus points if you don't pick Miyamoto, but, uh, we totally pick Miyamoto. I mean, he deserves it, right? And he's got such a cool signature.
eBay alert: DS Phat signed all over
Up for grabs on eBay is a DS Fanboy's dream: a DS signed by not only Shigeru Miyamoto, but also Satoru Iwata and the voice of Mario, Charles Martinet. Why would anyone want to get rid of such a priceless beauty? Turns out, school loans. But all of the money won't be going to school loans, as the seller will be setting aside 25% of the profit to go to Child's Play. At the time we were writing this piece up, the current bid was $330.00. We have a feeling that'll be going much higher before the end of the auction on the 19th.
Halo DS ... never existed?
Put on your sleuthing caps, ladies and gents, we have a bonafide mystery on our hands. Surely you remember, with chagrin and unfulfilled longing, the news of the canceled Halo DS project, reported by IGN editor-in-chief Matt Casamassina. He even went so far as to say that he played the title, and love him or hate him, Matt tends to speak verily. Enter: last night's San Francisco Halo 3 beta event. The Bungie team, responsible for the development of all things Halo, were interviewed by numerous gaming outlets and media sources, including one Rumor Reporter. When asked about the ill-fated Halo DS, Bungie's Brian Gerrard, Director of Franchise and Community Affairs, commented, "Wow, I have never heard or seen such a project, nor do we have plans for any DS Halo title."We doubt either of these two respected news sources were lying or mistaken, which leaves the question: who made the mysterious Halo DS, the one Matt C. played? There's only one obvious answer, of course.Shiggy made it.[Thanks, Bruce!]
Miyamoto: I want to make games you don't know you want
Shigeru Miyamoto, the be-everything guy at Nintendo we love so much, recently conducted an interview with Entertainment Weekly in response to his being named as one of Time's 100 Most Influential. As if the amount of respect we have for the man could increase, he found a way through his answers in this interview. Especially so when the question of creating something like Halo came up."I could make Halo," Miyamoto says. "It's not that I couldn't design that game. It's just that I choose not to. One thing about my game design is that I never try to look for what people want and then try to make that game design. I always try to create new experiences that are fun to play." And that's what we love about Miyamoto. He could be developing those kinds of games, but he'd rather innovate then compensate. We respect that, even if it means that not all of his games are going to be amazing.[Via IGN]
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass boxart
The Japanese boxart for The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is up on Amazon for all to see. We're hugely excited about the new Zelda, and advise you check here for the screens we showed you last week. It's coming out on Saturday July 23rd, exactly 11 years after the Nintendo 64 hit the shelves. It's highly unusual for a game to come out on a Saturday in Japan, where Thursday is the traditional release day for new titles. Whatever -- we want to get our hands on Phantom Hourglass as soon as possible![Via Nintendo iNSIDE]
The galaxy awaits Mario's big return
With only a few months to go before the release of Super Mario Galaxy, expectations couldn't be higher for Nintendo's flagship hero. The title was recently confirmed for release this year, leaving our Nunchuk thumbs quivering in anticipation.Mario is carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders, however. The groundbreaking titles, from the original Super Mario Brothers through to Super Mario 64 (sorry, Mario Sunshine), were more than great games; they also defined their platforms, setting new standards both technically and in terms of design.It's no surprise then, that bloggers are starting to make demands for what they want to see in the new release. Check the link to see what people want this time around, and let us know what you want included.
Miyamoto makes the print version of Time 100
We all knew that Shigeru Miyamoto would rank pretty highly on the online version of Time magazine's list of the most influential people; after all, it was people like us determining the rank.What's surprising is that Miyamoto also appears in the print version of the Time list, which was not determined by Internet polling, but by Time magazine editors, who probably know a little more about who's influential in the world. This one isn't ranked hierarchically; the fact that Miyamoto is #92 out of 100 is only because he's categorized in the last section, "Builders and Titans." Put down your torches.Strangely, the piece about Miyamoto is written by Johnathan "Fata1ty" Wendel, who, as a competitive PC gamer, seems pretty far removed from the fun-for-all Wii phenomenon. He's also possibly the first Time writer with a part-1337 name.
Miyamoto more influential than Nelson Mandela: Confirmed
It seems you're not just Time Magazine's overall person of the year, you're also the most influential. At least when it comes to influencing a poll on the 100 most influential people of the year. After being nominated for Time's own top 100, it comes as little surprise to see Nintendo's legendary designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, place highly in the list constructed by internet users. With an average rating of 75 (out of 100) and 129,573 votes, the Mario maestro places 9th and effortlessly defeats the likes of Oprah Winfrey (43rd), George W. Bush (97th), George Clooney (26th) and Nelson Mandela (24th). Sure, the anti-apartheid, pro-democracy Nobel Peace prize winner wasn't involved in the creation of a new video game system this year, but we'd be remiss not to point out the amusing and somewhat bizarre priorities of voters.And what of the list above Miyamoto? There you'll find Kiefer Sutherland (8th), J.K. Rowling (6th), Dane Cook and, nestled snugly in first position, Rain (who?). Time Magazine's own list wisely does away with rankings and lumps the designer on page 92, but not before suffering a critical lapse in sanity and asking Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel to extend his fingers beyond the WASD keys. Noting that Miyamoto "opened the world" to a host of "people who never even wanted to visit it before" is about all Wendel's article can manage before losing the plot and discussing his 12 championship wins, ultra-performance PCs and how he'll spend the rest of his life "championing video gaming as an equal to pro football or basketball." Good thing he didn't write the Mandela bit, then.
Miyamoto ends up at #9 on the Time 100
An expert team of historians and sociologists have finished their initial research, and have determined that Shigeru Miyamoto is the 9th most influential person of the year. We're totally kidding about the experts and the research-- it was just a web poll. Rather than taking the time to go down the top 8 and make fun of them, we'll leave the baffling revelation of who made the cut as an exercise for you. You'll be surprised, and kind of confused! Maybe even a little disgusted!
Update: Shiggy is doing great in the Time 100
Behind Rain, who is a Korean pop star and Stephen Colbert, who is one of the funniest folks on television, Shigeru Miyamoto is currently holding down third place in the race for most influential people of the year, according to Time. We just felt a little reminder was in order, in case you missed our last post informing you of his presence in the race. So, if you haven't gone over there to help Shiggy out, we suggest you do so now.Do it now, or else we'll cry.[Thanks, Ben!]
eBay seller plays MONEY MAKING GAME with Miyamoto-signed GBA
This limited-edition Zelda Game Boy Advance signed by Shigeru Miyamoto is really damned cool. There's no controversy about that point. But is it $2,157.86 worth of cool? That position might be too shaky for us.It was apparently okay with one eBay shopper, because that was the final selling price for the system. At a price like that, we bet the guy won't even play games on it. And a Game Boy Advance that doesn't play Super Dodge Ball Advance is worth far less than two thousand dollars to us.[Via Game|Life]
Miyamoto hasn't quite taken over this Time Magazine list
The list is the Time 100, which profiles 100 people that, in Time's opinion, are the most influential. And this year, our opinions will help shape Time's. And that's why we say Shigeru Miyamoto hasn't taken over the list yet. If there's anything gamers are good at, it's being vocal on the Internet. He's currently sitting at number 3 on the list with an average rating of 92, but we're sure that our collective clicking-on-things power will drive him to the top of the list. Sure, that's above every world leader and every scientist, but if they wanted carefully-researched decisions about relative world influence, they shouldn't have asked the Internet. They're lucky that we're even voting for real people.
Miyamoto nominated for Time 100
In 2004 it was Ken Kutaragi. In 2005 it was the Halo designers. In 2006 it was ... no one.Yes, Time's last list of the 100 most influential people in the world broke from tradition and didn't feel the need to include anyone from the game industry. While nobodies like Nicolas Ghesquiere and Rain got coveted spots on the list, the leaders of a $12.5 billion industry got bupkis.Luckily, you can help rectify this situation. Yes, you, as Time's person of the year, can go independently rate the nearly 200 candidates who are being considered for the 2007 list, including Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto. As of this posting, Miyamoto is ranked 60th, between Indra Nooyi and Albert Osterhaus (a.k.a. two people you've never heard of) with 113 votes and an average rating of 75 out of 100.The ranking system is based on total points accrued, not the average, so more votes equals a better rank. Vote early and vote often -- it's not like you have anything better to do at work.[Thanks hvnlysoldr]
Help Miyamoto get a nod from Time Magazine
Time magazine's website is running a feature right now where candidates are up for being included in the Time 100. What is the Time 100? Well, it's a who's-who list of influential and powerful people, a list that certainly demands to have one of, if not the most, influential game designers in the industry, Shigeru Miyamoto. Lucky for him, you can have a say in who makes the list. All you have to do is follow the read link and give Mr. Miyamoto a rating. As of right now, he's got an average rating of 79, but we're sure that will come up. So, head on over and let your voice be heard.
Nintendo boosts profit forecast fourth time this fiscal year
Still not content with forecasting massive already profits, Nintendo has raised its sales forecast a fourth time for the fiscal year that ended March 31. Total sales are now said to be ¥966 billion (US $8.1 billion), up from the previous estimation of ¥900 billion (US $7.5 billion). Nintendo said they also expected their profit to beat expectations, which they set at a record ¥185 billion operating profit and ¥120 billion (just over US $1 billion) net profit.Actual figures will be announced April 26. In the meantime, Nintendo will be busy constructing a life size version of Super Mario World with a twelve-foot naked, chocolate Miyamoto effigy in the middle of the world. Don't worry, we hear mint leaves will cover up his naughty bits.
Molyneux becomes French knight, farts in our general direction
Peter Molyneux, responsible for such mixed blessings as Fable, Black and White, and The Movies, has received the Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et de Lettres award from the French government, just like Mario mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto did last year. The award makes both gentlemen honorary French knights. No word on whether they get to prance about in suits of armor, but we'll keep you posted.
Where will your Mii go today?
Well, today your Mii may only cross the Plaza a few times and stop to chat with Walter about bowling and Vietnam, but tomorrow, the sky may be the limit. Shigeru Miyamoto, in a recent interview after GDC, indicated that Nintendo may well craft their own Home-like system, a la the coming PS3 interface. But it's not a matter of copying from Sony; Miyamoto made a great point when he said that the idea of Miis is certainly not new. He referenced other examples of avatars over the years, and also said that he hopes more developers work along these lines. For Nintendo's future, Miyamoto indicated that they may move in a Sims-type direction, which sounds an awful lot like 'Mii Crossing' to us. But some of the most interesting parts of the interview come when Miyamoto compares the Mii creation experience to game development. Making Miis, he says, is almost like putting the player into the developer's position, and that's something he would like to expand in the future. We're pretty sure we could get behind that as well.[Via Joystiq]
Miyamoto talks hardcore gamers, promises 'other enhancements'
It seems we staunch Nintendo fans weren't the only ones who were at times a bit concerned as we neared the Wii launch. Even Miyamoto wasn't sure that the system really could offer something for everyone. What worried him? The hardcore gaming element. That was even one reason behind the Wii Sports packin -- not only would the game tempt nongamers, but they hoped that hardcore gamers as well would pick up a Wiimote and enjoy the simplicity of Wii Sports. Great, so we've got the hardcore contingent. After Wii Sports and a few other titles, depending on personal preference, what do we have to offer? Part of that problem is that companies are still adjusting to the Wii. Miyamoto pointed out that the sensor bar and control scheme is perfect for a lot of "hardcore" fare (read: shooters), but where are these games? Languishing somewhere in development, most likely. While developers struggle to find those perfect new ideas for the revolutionary console, we have to deal with ports ... and sometimes, that's not all bad. But don't despair, for there is a light at the end of the tunnel -- Miyamoto said, "There are also other enhancements to the Wii interface and developments being planned that are going to really make games for hardcore players a lot more fun and interesting."Let the speculation begin.
Miyamoto calls out third parties
Shigeru Miyamoto sat down with Newsweek's N'Gai Croal earlier this month and aired out his concerns with third party developers not putting their best efforts behind games for Nintendo systems. Companies often find that their biggest competition on consoles like the Wii and DS is Nintendo themselves, but according to Miyamoto, most third parties aren't rising to the challenge with their top development groups. Instead, they're depending on third- or fourth-string teams to produce their titles.While not every game from Nintendo is a blockbuster hit, Miyamoto says that the company makes sure to put its best people behind titles that are "designed to really support and sell hardware." Can most third parties say they're doing the same? If not, then how much longer will it take before developers approach their Wii releases seriously and start using their star teams to create AAA titles for the console?
Time to reinvent Sonic the Hedgehog, says Sega
So, we agree then. In speaking to Newsweek's N'Gai Croal about the Olympic pairing of Sonic and Mario, Sega of America president, Simon Jeffery, echoes a widespread sentiment that it's time to give Sonic a bit of a reboot. "We are actually undergoing a fairly considerable refresh of Sonic as an intellectual property, as a character," says Jeffery. "Sonic on the Wii is probably the first product that's come to market that reflects that. We're not going to be bringing another game out on the other platforms for quite some time, because we feel that it is time to reinvent Sonic, to make Sonic contemporary again." If Sonic and the Secret Rings was the first step in revitalizing a franchise gone astray, it certainly wasn't a very good one. In fact, it turned out to be more like a drunken waddle out of bed before careening down a flight of stairs. Still, it's reassuring to see that Sega is, at the very least, attempting to reestablish their fallen mascot as a character that could convince you to buy his game. Unless, of course, that's still happening... "At the same time, even the recent 360 and Playstation 3 games have sold extremely well," continues Jeffery. "Sonic is still an extremely endearing character; there's still a lot of love for Sonic out there in consumerland." If gamers are trying to send Sega a message, it's getting garbled in consumerland's confusing postal network. If we truly want a Sonic reboot, we'll have to stay away from the hedgehog until he gets his 3D act together. Perhaps a little help from Mario and Miyamoto will set him back on track by the time the 2008 Olympics arrive.
