Shigeru Miyamoto
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Miyamoto: Pikmin in the works for Wii U
Nintendo's almost getting in the habit of announcing Pikmin games at its E3 developer roundtable events. Speaking to attendees this evening, Shigeru Miyamoto explained that while development of a new Pikmin began on Wii, it has since been moved to the company's new console, the Wii U. Miyamoto described it as "the perfect system for Pikmin," though tried to distance himself from turning this into a corporate announcement. His non-corporate side, Miyamoto said, "really just wants to tell you we're working on Pikmin." Since the game has been in the works for some time, Captain Olimar and his plant-like companions won't dally "too long" before they touch down in your perilous garden.
The Legend of Zelda symphonies to be held across the country for franchise's 25th anniversary
Shigeru Miyamoto has announced that to celebrate the 25th anniversary for The Legend of Zelda, a series of concerts will be held across the country. These live symphonies will also produce a soundtrack, available to anyone who picks up The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and registers with Club Nintendo, free of charge.
Miyamoto would most like to see a Link to the Past remake on 3DS
Shigeru Miyamoto has a habit for developing games that show off the strength of new Nintendo platforms -- and it sounds like he's planning on doing so once again for the 3DS. Speaking to Edge, Miyamoto explained now that Nintendo has finished developing the 3DS hardware, it can "focus more on gaming" in the coming year, adding that we can expect "remakes of games on 3DS as well." When asked for a specific title he'd like to see remade, Miyamoto reached into his own back catalog, answering, "I think A Link To The Past." Deciding that wasn't enough of a pseudo-sadistic tease, Miyamoto explained some of the functionality he'd like to see in a 3DS Link to the Past remake. "Do you remember Xevious," Miyamoto asked. "It's two-layered and I really wanted to create that at the time. So to see Link To The Past in two layers would be quite attractive for me." Such a remake sounds just perfect for the 3D Classics section of the 3DS eShop -- a storefront which, serendipitously enough, will play host to a renovated version of Xevious itself.
Miyamoto talks Super Mario 3DS, hints at the raccoon's return
In a recent interview with Edge, industry legend Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed two of the suspicions we'd developed regarding the handful of Super Mario 3DS details revealed during the publisher's GDC presentation. First, he explained, "It's a combination of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario on N64." Which makes sense, considering we knew it was being developed by the team between both installments in the Galaxy series. He added that the device's 3D capabilities makes platforming a bit smoother, explaining, "The floors floating in space: in 2D it's difficult to judge the distance, but in 3D it's really easy." Second, remember the tail that was springing out of the logo? That wasn't just some sad remnant of a half-deleted Wingding -- it was, as you probably expected, an appendage. Miyamoto explained, "The tail you mentioned on the logo – it's what you think it is. You probably know what's going to happen using that character." Who, Tanooki? Yeah, we know that guy's style. He's gonna get right in our trash cans, mess up our yard and then fly off into the crisp, night sky. We'll have our opportunity to get reacquainted with that ringtailed jerk relatively soon -- Miyamoto explained, Super Mario 3DS is "completely original, and coming this year."
Rare DS signed by Nintendo vets being auctioned for Japan disaster relief
Kept in a glass case for more than four years, an original model Nintendo DS bearing the autographs of some of Nintendo's key players (and two literal key players) is being auctioned off by its owner to raise money for the Red Cross disaster relief effort in Japan. The red Mario Kart DS promotional system is signed by Mario's creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, along with composer Koji Kondo, Zelda series chief Eiji Aonuma, voice of Mario Charles Martinet and Martin Leung, a pianist who performs with Video Games Live and rose to fame thanks to a YouTube video of him playing the Mario theme blindfolded. Its current owner has vowed to donate 100 percent of their profit from the auction to the Red Cross and provide proof of the donation to the winning bidder. As of this writing, there are six days left to not only get your hands on a rare gaming collectible, but do something good for your fellow man in the process. Visit redcross.org for information on donating directly to the relief effort.
Nintendo considering future 3D video recording 'update' for 3DS
In the latest excerpt from Nintendo's "Iwata Asks" interview about the 3DS, Shigeru Miyamoto excitedly revealed that "Iwata-san also wants to include 3D video in the future!" Iwata tempered that exclamation by saying, "I think it will be fun if we're able to include video recording capabilities with future updates." Clearly, that's no guarantee that such a feature will be added to the handheld's 3D camera functionality, but if Iwata thinks it would be fun, then don't be surprised if you find yourself shooting low-res 3D video with your 3DS at some point in the future! Later in the interview, Hideki Konno joined the group and discussed the StreetPass feature in Nintendogs + Cats. "When you're using StreetPass and exchange data with someone, in walk mode, that person's Mii is walking whatever puppy he or she has chosen," Konno explained. "Then your Miis and puppies talk and exchange gifts." The feature is designed to imitate the random meetings of people walking their dogs on the street ... without having to actually meet random people walking their dogs on the street.
Shigeru Miyamoto profiled: legendary game designer, interior decorating enthusiast
Using traditional conversion metrics, The New Yorker's got ten pictures worth of words on Nintendo's iconic designer Shigeru Miyamoto, arguably the father of modern video games whose cerebral impulses have spawned the likes of Mario and Legend of Zelda. Don't expect any bombshell news (spoiler: the company's hard at work on a portable, glasses-free 3D console), but it's definitely a thorough and entertaining read on the origins of Nintendo's gaming interests and Miyamoto himself. Bonus: given how Miyamoto's non-work time with exercise and gardening became the inspiration for WiiFit and Pikmin, feel free to overanalyze how his fixation with moving around his living room will turn into the next multi-platinum title.
New DSiWare guide app beams out helpful info (in Japan)
Today, Nintendo released a Shigeru Miyamoto pet project for Japan's DSiWare service: "Make Your Own DS Guide," an app that allows users to record image and audio samples, and then push them out to nearby DS systems via Download Play. The idea is that people and businesses can create self-narrated guides for any event or location (like menus for a restaurant or information about an art exhibit). In fact, this idea is based on Nintendo's experiments with using the DS to provide maps and audio tours in museums. You can see the free app in action at Nintendo's DSiWare site.
Miyamoto talks about Wii Music's future, hints at sequel
Last October, when the wounds of Wii Music's critical and commercial failure were still relatively fresh, Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned that "there may still be some possibility" of continuing the franchise. In a recent interview with Techland, Miyamoto went a bit further, explaining, "There's a lot of potential still in Wii Music, I think. Because we're going to change it up, a new interface is coming, and all of that." Them's sequeling words, partner. Miyamoto also addressed the possibility of Mario making an appearance in a Wii Music follow-up, stating "If we get more people to understand what's going on in the game concept, then he might appear in the game. I don't know." He added that a Mario cameo is somewhat unlikely, as "he can't play guitar" or saxophone using his stubby, gloved fingers. That's a good point, Mr. Miyamoto -- we guess he can't play too many instruments. But he can rap with the best of them.
Super Mario World is Miyamoto's favorite Mario game
Speaking to Game Hunters during Mario's 25th-anniversary celebration at the Nintendo World Store, Mario maestro Shigeru Miyamoto revealed some interesting tidbits about everyone's favorite plumber. When asked what fans don't know about Mario, Miyamoto revealed that the development team on Super Mario Bros had considered using the NES D-pad to make Mario jump instead of the A button. We know, madness. Another revealing bit of trivia: Miyamoto admitted that his favorite Mario game is Super Mario World. Miyamoto liked that the game combined the traditional action of the series with new map features, making players "think about where they were going and what they were going to do next." He added that many of the Super Mario World staff went on to become producers and directors. Strangely, Miyamoto neglected to mention the SNES game's standout feature: namely, that the cape is awesome.
Happy birthday, Mario! We share cake with Mario and Miyamoto at NYC's Nintendo World Store
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros., Nintendo invited fans to celebrate with an incredible cake, adorned with recreations of levels from the game. Not only did Mario show up, but so did his creator, Shigeru Miyamoto, and NOA president Reggie Fils-Aime.
Super Mario used to pack a beam gun
OK, so our jealousy of Japan and Europe and their Super Mario Bros. collectors editions has become utterly crushing. N-Styles provides the proverbial camel-back-breaking straw with some original design docs included in the package's history book. Not only are they so totally gorgeous that we want to lay them out on a bed and go full Indecent Proposal, but Andriasang's translation shows they're full of interesting tidbits like the fact that Mario was originally supposed to have a beam gun. Boy, fireballs seem pretty tame now that we know how close we got to ... Mario Chief? Master Plumber? ... Sorry, give us a second, we'll come up with something.
Miyamoto explains why it's 'easy' to make a Mario game
As part of Nintendo's ongoing celebration of Mario's 25th anniversary, the latest edition of Iwata Asks is a lengthy conversation between Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto and guest host Shigesato Itoi, creator of Earthbound. In the interview, Miyamoto suggested that making Mario games has been "easy," thanks to ever-evolving technology. "What's been easy about making the Mario games is that they could naturally change along with the progress of technology," Miyamoto observed. "For example, when you make live action SFX movies and as special effects technology advances, then you have new methods at your disposal." Adapting to new technologies has been key to Mario's longevity, Miyamoto explained. "In the same way, as technology advances, the Mario games change, too [...] And as technology changes, so does what you want to do. If it weren't for that, I don't think I could have stuck with it this far." Because the Mario franchise is meant to change with technology, there hasn't ever been a "roadmap" for the series. Instead, the impromptu schedule of Mario games has fueled its creative stamina. "The games turn out more fun that way than if you planned everything out on paper," Miyamoto added. Although Miyamoto has been working with Nintendo and the Mario series for the past 25 years, it seems the famed designer isn't ready to quit any time soon. When quizzed about his position 25 years from now (when he's 85!), Miyamoto admitted that "I'll probably be working on something." Of course, there's a caveat: "If I'm still alive then."
Miyamoto on Miis migrating to 3DS, evolving network play on the handheld
Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime may be committed to improving the online experience on the Big N's platforms, but legendary designer and Guy Who Makes Things Happen™ at the company, Shigeru Miyamoto, doesn't seem inclined to exactly reinvent network play with 3DS. "We look at [online] more in terms of what can we do to provide that Nintendo flavor or magic to that community or connection experience," he told IGN Australia in an E3 interview the site just now found behind its virtual sofa cushions. "One of the ways that we're looking at doing that, is the idea of really strengthening the tag mode functionality," he explained, referring to an "always on" data-sharing feature most famously employed by Dragon Quest IX on DS. "We think that there will be some unique ideas that come out of that, and that it will have a very unique Nintendo flavor to it." So, not voice chat or friend code-free multiplayer then? Speaking of exchanging things with other 3DS owners: what of Miis? Already transferable from Wii to current DS titles such as Tomodachi Collection and Personal Trainer: Walking, Miyamoto commented that the pint-sized avatars moving to-and-fro between future platforms is "something that we're definitely giving consideration to," and that there's a desire to "continue to try to allow people to use their Miis on different Nintendo systems going forward." We can certainly get down with the idea of 3D Miis -- or, as we call them, "3Miis."
Nintendo's Miyamoto says Miis could make the jump to the 3DS
Nintendo already dropped a hint that Miis could be heading to the 3DS by including some Mii-like characters in the Pilotwings demo at E3 last month, and Shigeru Miyamoto himself has now offered some further confirmation that Nintendo is at least looking at the possibility. Speaking with IGN this week, he says that it is "something that we're definitely giving consideration to," and that Nintendo wants to "continue to try to allow people to use their Miis on different Nintendo systems going forward." While that's not quite a complete confirmation, it definitely sounds like your Mii could be with you for a long time to come.
Miyamoto admits Nintendo needs new characters
If the unveiling of Nintendo's 3DS-based Kid Icarus game wasn't enough to make Nintendo fans smile, some brand-new characters from the company may very well be on the horizon. Speaking during a recent investor call, as picked up by Sankei Newspaper (via 1UP), Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto admitted that "We need new game characters soon," adding that we could see the new characters as soon as next year. While we might argue that Nintendo still has plenty of characters left languishing in a vault somewhere (Balloon Fight, anyone?), it certainly wouldn't hurt to see some fresh faces from the man who brought icons like Donkey Kong and Link into the world. (And no, Miis do not count. Seriously.)
Nintendo CEO Iwata doesn't earn as much as you'd think
We never thought we'd say this about a CEO (it just feels wrong), but Nintendo's Satoru Iwata totally deserves a raise. The CEO's base salary last year was a measly ¥68 million (about $770K), with the executive taking home ¥187 ($2.1 million) after a performance bonus. Nintendo, as a company last year, made roughly $2.45 billion in profit! Nintendo guru Shigeru Miyamoto, along with a group of five other board members, apparently earned just ¥100 million ($1.13 million) total. These guys have to be making more money from stocks or something. Andriasang reports the salary revelations are thanks to a new Japanese law requiring companies to reveal any board members' earnings over ¥100 million ($1.13 million). For comparison, Square Enix's Yoichi Wada collected ¥240 million ($2.7 million), while Sony's Sir Howard Stringer, heading a company that admittedly extends way beyond games, pulled in a cool ¥816.5 million ($9.2 million). As for some CEO salaries from around the world, according to Forbes (via GI.biz), Activision Blizzard's Bobby Kotick is guesstimated to have made $3.15 million in 2009 and EA's John Riccitiello allegedly took home $9.85 million.
Nintendo 'not satisfied' with online efforts, but no big changes in store
Le sigh. For years now, Nintendo's online efforts have quite clearly lagged behind those of Sony and Microsoft, both of which have placed a priority on nailing online multiplayer and making it part of the draw for prospective buyers. Xbox LIVE is a entire universe of online goodies, and it's the exception rather than the rule to see a major title launch on the 360 sans online play; in many ways, Sony sings a similar tune. Nintendo, meanwhile, seems to keep online play on the back burner, occasionally throwing it in where it's easy enough to add but never really going out of its way to make sure the latest AAA title will allow Bobby and Jacky to play from across the street. During an investors meeting last week at E3, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata confessed that he's "not currently satisfied with the online efforts that we have made so far," and that the Big N is "working at ways to improve those." In an episode of corporate double-speak to end all corporate double-speak, he followed up with this gem: "On the other hand, I do not think that online functionality is something that we should be devoting resources to for every single product." Seriously, Iwata? You can't think of a single reason why the next installment of Balls of Fury could benefit from online support? For shame.
Video Interview: Shigeru Miyamoto on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3
You may have read our interview with Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto earlier this week – where we talked about everything from the 3DS to Retro's reboot of Donkey Kong Country to the Wii MotionPlus-enabled Zelda title, Skyward Sword – but why not watch the video also? You can marvel as the voice of Nintendo's Bill Trinen magically appears out of Mr. Miyamoto's mouth thanks to the magic of editing and, as a freebie, you're also hearing the thoughts of one of video gaming's great creators. Find it just after the break.
Interview: Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto, on 3DS, Retro, Zelda and Pikmin 3
Nintendo recently unveiled its 3DS handheld, and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto is hard at work on the next evolution of virtual pets, Nintendogs + Cats, for the system. While the core mechanics remain the same, players will interact with their pets in full 3-D. We had a chance to sit with Miyamoto to see what he thinks of 3-D gaming and more. Joystiq: We knew the 3DS was coming. It was announced a while ago, but we didn't expect so many games to be available. How long have you been working on the technology? Shigeru Miyamoto: Nintendo's been researching 3-D games for over 20 years. The first time we started looking at 3D with an LCD screen was during the GameCube days. We've continued to experiment with it since then, particularly implementing it into the 3DS. That's something we've been working on for the past three years. With games, what's the ratio of Nintendo first party to third party? It seems like some of them are remakes, such as Star Fox. How many are new and updated experiences? When we first launched Nintendo DS, the touch screen became a new innovative face for gaming, and we spent a lot of time creating things that were probably different from the standard games that you've seen, games that are more like books or Brain Training type games. But with Nintendo 3DS, and specifically with the ability to create 3-D visuals, we're finding that, in addition to creating new game ideas, the 3-D visuals really do a lot for past experiences. It'll be a blend. We'll see remakes that take advantage of the 3-D, but we'll also work on new ideas as well.
