Miyamoto: Sony, MS games "same old experiences with new graphics" [update 1]

by Ross Miller { May 22nd 2006 at 5:25PM }

From the same article where Shigeru Miyamoto called Sony's motion-sensing PS3 controller flattering to Nintendo, the legendary game designer criticised both Sony and Microsoft's E3 showing as "the next generation of the same old videogames - it's the same old experiences with new graphics." The quote is, one could guess, a lead-in to lauding Nintendo's new controller: "... and while there are people who enjoy that, we're really talking about the next leap in interactive entertainment, and really bringing interactive entertainment not just to videogame fans but to everyone."

As we have seen with DS games, many hit titles do not use the touch screen, opting instead for a more classic control scheme. Miyamoto's concession ("while there are people who enjoy" last-gen games with next-gen graphical tweaks) might be indicative of many Wii titles not using the system's unique controls to their fullest extent. We laud innovation, but it should be said that forcing developers to add motion-sensing to every title could harm titles that would benefit from more classic controls.

Another point one should make is that all game companies -- Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, and third-party developers -- have franchises that see very little update with each iteration. Be it Mario Party or Madden, GTA or Quake, some titles see very little change each generation. And all companies are at fault for that.

[update 1: Check out the full interview here -- thanks, that guy!]

Tags: franchises

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

that guy @ May 22nd 2006 5:36PM

Not to sound like a broken record, but here's the original interview, in its entirety:

http://wham.canoe.ca/news/2006/05/20/1590245-sun.html

Brian @ May 22nd 2006 5:37PM

The thing I look for in games in superior storytelling. With video games developers are offered a unigue ability to tell stories on a grand scale that involve the viewer. Nintendo has never been a great story teller. With the exception of Zelda story, emotion, and character have always been secondary. I like the fact that the PS3 is such a large canvas and think that there is alot of freedom there. I am intrigued by the Wii, but I don't exactly see how my experience will be trully enhanced by using motion capture instead of controllers.

had2comment @ May 22nd 2006 5:43PM

The success of Geometry Wars on the Xbox 360 has once again shown that a good game is a good game no matter what the graphics are.

http://www.joystiq.com/2006/05/12/geometry-wars-superstar-shoots-for-millions/

Pretty graphics for a game are great, but without a good gameplay foundation to stand on, then the game will fail. So will its system.

The same stands for the Wii's controller. Just because it is new doesn't mean it is good. "Innovative" controls on a game are great, but without a good gameplay foundation to stand on, then the game will fail. So will its system.

It comes down to the games, as it always does. Can developers use the [Wii's controller/Xbox 360's graphics/PS3's graphics] to make a great gameplay experience? Even those developers that crank out time honored hits like Madden 5092?

I don't think the Wii's controller alone is going to make the system a success, just as I don't think the Xbox 360's graphics alone have made it a success. Show me good games, and I'll show you gamers playing those games.

Lunker @ May 22nd 2006 5:44PM

The picture posted with the article is terribly telling: When the showcase piece of the PS3 is literally a PS2 game retrofitted with better graphics, it's hard to argue with what Miyamoto's talking about. Personally, I feel that the Wii controller will never REPLACE traditional controllers, but it offers such a wonderfully different experience that people will naturally gravitate toward one or, if they really like gaming, both.

The key, as with the stock market, is in diversity: SOME innovative and revolutionary titles, and SOME refined and evolutionary titles. Not every game has to be Katamari Damacy to be enjoyable, you know.

And I wouldn't worry about people hamfistedly putting "gimmicks" into their games -- look at the DS. Yes, there are some very clumsy uses, but after those typically early games, companies realize that you don't have to use all of a system's capabilities or special features for the sake of fulfilling a checklist, and they really start exploring possibilities. It's also worth noting that one of the most hotly anticipated titles -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl -- allegedly doesn't use motion-sensing at all.

Jeremy Wright @ May 22nd 2006 5:44PM

End of the day it's about gameplay. And between the 360's AAA titles now coming out and the Arcade titles, I get a little of the classic gameplay with a little of the new. It's a great balance.

So far, the PS3's launch lineup looks even worse than the 360's did. With 1 or 2 exceptions it's all EA games or sequels (while the 360's was all EA games, sequels or FPS's).

I'm sure that'll beef up, but if were a console exec, I'd be holding the "we're innovating in gameplay" lines until I'd actually delivered products that were innovative.

jrodliebs @ May 22nd 2006 5:48PM

well i guess im in the last gen with new gen graphics, but i think it is more than new gen graphics (which still arent ALL that amazing yet). its also about greater capacity to do things in games. whether it be a favorite sandbox game that has even more mindless minigames to do, it also includes more cars, guns, people, maps, etc, better physics. Gimme Gran Tourismo with even more cars, better graphics, more customization, more tracks, better physics, greater feel for speed and so on. Next gen means less linear games, and to me thats really what i want overall. I like the idea of old games done up in new gen fashion. Im not saying that the Wii will have fun games and isnt innovative, it will and it is. im just saying that im not completely interested or ready to have my gaming done in a completely new way. Also, i feel that its true that if Nintendo tries to have all of their games use some motion sensing it will hurt the games in the end. And as for everyone completely excited to the Wii innovation, i hope it is everything you are expecting.

Edmund @ May 22nd 2006 5:53PM

Nintendo forcing developers to make Wii games using motion control would be just like Sony not allowing developers to make 2-D Playstation games. But I wouldn't worry. The DS has many great games that don't use touch control, and two of the best, New Super Mario Bros. and Mario Kart DS, are first party Nintendo titles.

Kerber @ May 22nd 2006 6:01PM

I'm for innovation as much as the next guy, but Nintendo is using a very misleading argument as the foundation for their new system. They assume that people will enjoy their new, oh-so-different games more than the tried-and-true genres that have undergone years of fine-tuning -- and not just graphically.

"Last-gen" control systems and games evolved in parallel to produce the systems available today. The XBOX360 and PS3 are the result of hundreds of modifications (i.e. small innovations) to graphics, controls, artistic styles, and gameplay mechanics that have accumulated over the years. To throw all of that progress away and start anew is not only risky, but maybe even a bit silly. Games have evolved this way for a reason: people like this stuff. The lack of innovation in today's games isn't due to laziness of the game developers. New games feature minor improvements over old games because developers have learned that we'll buy them. If drastic innovation were such a commodity, why do games like Halo 2 out-sell games like Psychonauts, in spite of the potentially broader audience for the latter game?

Like most gamers, I'm a Nintendo fanboy at heart. But claims of superiority-due-to-drastic-innovation smell a bit like desperation to me. Carve out your own little niche, but don't bad-mouth the kinds of games that you helped to popularize just to remind us how different you're trying to be.

Caleb @ May 22nd 2006 6:07PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Wzmf0ChL24

Enjoy!

striderhayasa @ May 22nd 2006 6:11PM

Sorry Brian I'm going to have to disagree with you there. Great Gameplay with great storytelling from Nintendo....

Paper Mario
Super Mario RPG
Mario and Luigi: SuperStar Saga
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time
Zelda: take your pick
Metroid: take your pick. Metroid Prime is a shining example
StarFox: take your pick

That's a lot of games when you think about how long we've been playing these titles.

soco @ May 22nd 2006 6:20PM

that's such a silly statement to say. yeah there are many experiences that are the same, but honestly, if you compare some of top games today to those from say 5 or 10 years ago, i think you'll find that on average the games are better in more ways than just graphics.

besides Nintendo is offering us the same old games now for 20 years, except this time instead of just enhancing the graphics, they're changing the control scheme a bit. come to think of it, that doesn't seem like such a big innovation when it's just changing the interface. the gameplay has got to change significantly as well.

l.m.orchard @ May 22nd 2006 6:22PM

Personally, I'm tired of "storytelling" as it appears in most games. Maybe I'm just one of those aging casual gamers now, but I want a fun game first and foremost. I've got plenty of avenues through which to be told a story - through podcasts, books, TV, movies, etc. I'm tired of games that are really just barely interactive slot-car rides. If you're really going to use a game to tell a story, better make it a non-linear hyper-story where my actions really drive a causal path through a world. Otherwise, the effort would be better placed in coming up with something genuinely fun to play.

Matthew @ May 22nd 2006 6:23PM

You know what, Miyamoto is 100% right. If you think about it, everyone's excited. E3's still pretty fresh in their minds. The graphics look great across all consoles, especially the 360 and PS3. But when you get down to it, how excited are you really going to be when your playing those games on your own t.v.? Will it feel like experiences you've had a thousand times before? I feel nowadays more people like talking about games and keeping up-to-date with the companies than actually playing the games themselves.

BlackYoshi @ May 22nd 2006 6:23PM

So, was all the games Nintendo has been making since the Super Nintendo the "same old experience" because it didn't have a new control scheme. I hate to break it to them, most of the best DS titles barely use the touch screen. Partners in Time, NSMB, Castlevania, and Mario Kart use it weakly or not at all. Animal Crossing basically uses it to make patterns. And honestly, I really wasn't minding those "same old experiences" like Metroid Prime or other games.

Fandel @ May 22nd 2006 6:29PM

With all do respect from Nintendo. I would be more inclined to listen to Nintendo on the innovation front if the last 5 games that they released for the game-cube didn't involve Mario playing some type of sport.

Also, while it's nice that Nintendo is innovating with the controller(whether the Wii controller will work in practice, gameplay wise has yet to be determined) I would really like it if Nintendo would start to come up with "innovating" along with "innovating" new characters.

I would like to see something a little more innovating for the Wii than another Super Smash Brothers, another sequel to Metroid, another Zelda, or yet another 3 or 4 Mario sports/party/dance games. Don't get me wrong, those games are nice, but I would like to see a new "innovating" Nintendo made franchise for the Wii.

Night Elve @ May 22nd 2006 6:31PM

I have to disagree with the "Little Update" on games like GTA, at least for me the great fun and new stuff of GTA: San Andreas is way different compared to Vice City.

They are two way different games if you know what i mean.

pukerua-KiWii @ May 22nd 2006 6:32PM

"...it's the same old experiences with new graphics."

Fair enough comment, I'd have to agree. Although the heightened graphics do make the same old games a little more enjoyable.

The Mole @ May 22nd 2006 6:36PM

If you sit down and think about it, Sony has done an amazing thing. It's convinced thousands if not millions of Playstation gamers that 1080p means something to them. It's the first time that I can ever remember a computer resolution meaning ANYTHING to a game since Diablo 2 went from 640x480 to 800x600. In OpenGL and DirectX the games all play the same independant of the resolution. The only thing that 1080p gives you is the lack of interlacing at 1920x1080. Big deal. You CAN'T tell the difference. If the developers can't take care of jaggies and such at 720p with anti-aliasing and all the other gfx tricks, 1080p won't help. Personally, I'd be a lot happier if Sony just stuck with 720p and tried to push better AA and more cool effects. That would make more difference graphically.

Wait, now they tricked me too! Now I don't even care about the gameplay, I want pretty pixels too! I think it's time for me to go home and play some Xbox 360. MMM High Def Gaming....

As a side note, To Miyamoto. His work is phenominal, but Nintendo is just as guilty of the same old experiences with new graphics. That is not a bad thing, but once Nintendo comes up with an original idea, at least three sequels are sure to follow. That is where Nintendo really innovated. They started the clone wars....with their own past success.

Cloud @ May 22nd 2006 6:37PM

I'm just waiting for hollodecks to come out for really interesting games. Something about turning photons into physical mass in a true VR environment makes me tingle all over =3

Unlike Me @ May 22nd 2006 6:38PM

Is this guy on drugs? Since when have we already played Gears of War, Mass Effect, Too Human and Huxley before?

mr slippyfist @ May 22nd 2006 6:39PM

yaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

when can i play mario party 77? or GTA for Wii? id like to swing that controller like the purple dildo in GTA:SA

herman @ May 22nd 2006 6:41PM

It amazes me how Nintendo tries to prop themselves up as the kings of innovation. did they not have a Mario game, a Zelda game, as well as Super Smash Bros at their E3 show? I appreiciate their attempts to keep things fresh, but they have recycled the same games and characters since the NES. Everytime a new Nintendo handheld comes out, there are remakes of their old games. And wasn't this Zelda supposed to be on the Gamecube? If Nintendo could invent some new franchises I would possibly buy their innovation argument. Graphics are not everything, but when done right they can enhance gameplay. Story is important also, but Nintendo is too busy rescuing a princess to see that. They have the younger market locked and I am glad to see a company that caters to the younger crowd, but do not bash the big dogs that cater to older gamers due to your inability to either compete or break away from your established cash cows.

calthaer @ May 22nd 2006 6:44PM

I was going to say before I read the end of the post...Mario is still jumping, Link is still chopping things with his sword, and Kirby still goes around sucking things in. When I see Nintendo publish a game that has as much depth as Richard Garriott's games did oh - ten YEARS ago, then I'll listen to Miyamoto's criticism.

A clear-cut case of the pot calling the kettle "black."

Andir @ May 22nd 2006 6:44PM

The history of Gran Turismo (if I remember correctly) points to an ever increasing physics and vehicle characteristics engine. You can change how your car drives by adjusting the shock rebound, ride height, etc.

I suppose they missed this by only looking at the fact that the grpahics looked better. This is why I have high hopes for PS3 games....if the developers get off their asses and code up additions to utilize this extra potential. The new games should have that next level of realism or feel.

Right now everyone looks at the consoles and says, "with the added processor core, we can play music while you race" instead of, "with the new core, we can calculate the position of a hundred objects on this core, while using the main core to handle the graphics calls, sound initialization...". The developers have a very narrow mindset on how to use the extra processors. This is the problem.

Eric @ May 22nd 2006 6:48PM

Why the hell is it that games only can be innovative to Miyamoto and Nintendo fanboys by how the player interacts with the game through the controller?

I don't see why he has to slam both Sony and Microsoft for advancing graphics technology. Next gen has ALWAYS been about better graphics.
Notice Nintendo never seems to mention the gamecube had superior graphics capabilities over the PS2 because for some reason up until recently even Nintendo knew graphics meant next-gen---but now Nintendo can't afford to hang with the larger companies wallets, so it's suddenly "innovation through new interaction is the ONLY kind of innovation, graphics capabilites is just old!"

Personally I've never played a AAA title that had eye-popping graphics that has not brought something new to gaming. For example, I remember the first time I played MGS2 on PS2, I was blown away how we could interact with the enemies, environment, and not to mention how damn PRETTY everything was. I will agree that graphics doesn't mean everything, but few really good titles that have great graphics, copy what has already been done.

I don't see why Miaymoto has to rip on Sony and Microsoft when both companies applaud Nintendo's efforts to bring something new to gaming. Sony and Microsoft have their strengths, Nintendo has their's--respect.

Shagi @ May 22nd 2006 6:51PM

Wii = Same old experience and graphics with a different controller.

I dont see how changing the controller changes the core game mechanics of a game. If you ask me Nintendo is pushing this a little too far. COuldn't we have a Wii with the new controller and the potential for better amazing graphical experiences. The answer is yes we could, but nintendo didnt want to compete with the tech of the 2 giants.

There are plenty of original gaming experiences to be had if they ever get made. It doesn't take a new controller to deliver it.

Brian @ May 22nd 2006 6:54PM

#10,

Metroid and Star Fox had shitty stories. Star Fox is a shitty game and while I enjoyed Prime it did little to make me care about what I was doing. To me, games should be more like KOTOR or NeverWinter Nights. But that's just me. But I will maintain until my dying day that There is not a single Nintendo game (except for some - not all - of the Zelda games) that has a story worth a damn.

Staticneuron @ May 22nd 2006 6:55PM

striderhayasa, I would really like to stick up for nintendo here but you slapped me in the face with reality.

Zelda, Starfox and mario RPG had great storytelling elements. As for the rest of the games... they had great environments but I do not think the storytelling is on the same level. I am one of the biggests fans of super metroid out there. Prime was a good game but didn't match super metroid on the terms of storytelling. I am of the camp that thinks nintendo (with the exception of starfox and Zelda( have fallen of the ball abit. There is a difference between having fun, getting absorbed in a game and having the game tell a story. Perfect examples of this are the prime series.... you can build the back story by reading or ignore it all together. The games that have great storytelling do not allow you to ignore the story.

Ianc02 @ May 22nd 2006 6:59PM

I have to say the storyline in Gran Turismo has me so gripped i can't wait for the next instalment.

Having played and finished Prime and Echoes, i'm glad to see that the final installment of the trilogy is almost upon us. Story did not end at Echoes GT freaks.

Staticneuron @ May 22nd 2006 7:03PM

To be more to the point I can easily see how nintendo's new controller can be more immersive than the other consoles but does that automatically equal better games? Where do you stand on that issue? What makes a game good? I prefer excelent storylines, Decent graphics and solid gameplay. I noticed alot of people not to seem to care about storyline only to have the gameplay become paramount. I haven't meet any people who play crappy games just because they "look" good.

So as far as I can see, they bulk of the gaming followers want one of those features if not both. My problem with the gamecube is that it had alot of "fun" games but not that many with deep or intriguing storylines. I just hope the Wii is not a repeat of that.

Nintendo Kiddy @ May 22nd 2006 7:07PM

In 2015 Nintendo announces at E3 the release of Zelda 9, Mario 512, Metroid 10, and the new Wii Boots that allow you to kick your enemies on screen! Also, for the 3rd generation in a row Nintendo has decided in the interest of gameplay to release the Wii for the 9th year in a row. Included will be an adapter allowing players to downgrade their HDTVs to decade old resolutions of the Wii.

Thank goodness for Nintendo innovation!

idioteraser @ May 22nd 2006 7:13PM

Sigh there are a great many upcoming DS games that use the touchscreen. Also it should be noticed the mic and second can enhance games. Try thinking out of the box. More and more people are bored with the 360. People weren't excited at E3 with the PS3. 99% of people who went into the Sony walked out disappointed and rejoined the line to the Nintendo booth.

Pretty much everyone who left the Nintendo booth was smiling or looked to have lots of fun.

Each of the Zelda games at least added more gameplay elements. You aren't just using your sword remember.

Try thinking out of the frigging box!!!

Eric @ May 22nd 2006 7:15PM

"I have to say the storyline in Gran Turismo has me so gripped i can't wait for the next instalment."

I must say, when I bought all 4 of the Gran Turismo series games and played them expecting nothing more or less of a driving simulator heavy into mechanical adjustments and physics, I felt there was always something missing...STORYLINE of course! Thanks for pointing that out. I'll keep that in mind the next time I buy Nintendo Wii's new driving simulator, with Storyline! o_0?

striderhayasa @ May 22nd 2006 7:23PM

I disagree Black Yoshi. Meteos, Animal Crossing, Nintendogs, Metroid Prime Hunters are games that show what good development is on the DS using it's unique functions. Animal Crossing is better played with the stylus. Advanced Wars and Age of Empires are better with the stylus and touch screen too.

I do believe that games can flourish without the use of the touch screen on the DS but the added functions add so many more possibilities on the development end. The Wii mote does the same. It offers possibilities on the development end that weren't quite possible before. Personally, I'm all for it because it's hard to disagree with Miyamoto when you see Final Fantasy 13 (when is it ever going to be FINAL) Another Metal Gear, another Devil May Cry, Another Gran Turismo, Another Tekken....it's getting redundant.

Sacredleader @ May 22nd 2006 7:24PM

Nintendo say's same old game's with prettier graphic's. Well I say same old game's with just new controller. Regardless of how pretty it is or how you control it the game's themself are what's going to make the difference.

that guy @ May 22nd 2006 7:31PM

#14 - Nintendo is trying new first party games and franchises. Project H.A.M.M.E.R. and Day of Crisis are coming out for Wii and are both completely new. Nintendo also happened to launch of its best new franchises on the GameCube with Pikmin. You can throw Nintendogs in the mix as well (we all know that's gonna come to Wii, or some kind of sequel to DS), as well as Chibi Robo and more (rumoured) titles by Miyamoto for Wii, and there ARE new franchises coming from Nintendo.

Brian @ May 22nd 2006 7:48PM

"Final Fantasy 13 (when is it ever going to be FINAL) Another Metal Gear, another Devil May Cry, Another Gran Turismo, Another Tekken....it's getting redundant."

Because Nintendo has introduced so many new and di8fferent franchises since 1989.

MetaHuman @ May 22nd 2006 7:50PM

You guys as gamers might be able to tell the difference of all the GTAs, Maddens, and such (I could explain how all the Mario Parties are different) but to other people who aren't as familiar with the franchises or gaming for that matter, they won't see very big differences. They won't know what makes GTA III different from SA, or the other 1000 games that involve you shooting things. From gameplay I've seen, Gears of War looks like Kill-Switch, I'm not saying anything about the quality of either though. I could describe the differences between the Medal of Honor games, the Battlefield games, the Call of Duty games, the Brothers in Arms games, but it's possible that they won't care and just pick up the most popular one (Halo 2).

Something physical like the controller could instantly explain how a game is different. I'm beginning to ramble though.

Johnny @ May 22nd 2006 8:00PM

"More and more people are bored with the 360"

I Play it everyday and everyone i know has one does so to altough you have a point if you mean offline besides oblivion.

"Sigh there are a great many upcoming DS games that use the touchscreen"

Name Five

And then ask yourself do they really use it to an enjoyable level?

Using the microphone in a game is annoying and most games use of a second screen is useless. The only thing thats ever used to a decent level of Fun is the Touch Screen

skyrous @ May 22nd 2006 8:11PM

Everyone complaining about nintendo's endless sequels clearly has never played any of the games their complaining about. And there is nothing annoying than people pretending they have knowledge.

Lets look at the core mario franchise. Super Mario Brothers created the side scrolling platform game. Mario 2, 3 and 4 were improved revisions on the same concept. Mario 64 was the first 3D console games. entirely new genre created from "yet another endless mario sequel" and then cloned endlessly by everyone else, then sunshine was a refinment of that concept. on top of that you have mario kart nintendo's take on driving games. smash brothers which which is nintendo's very novel take on fighting games... in fact it is unlike any other fighting game on the market. More recently you had the mario sports games (soccer, golf, baseball, etc) sports games are a staple of all consoles. Mario party was one of the earliest modern "party games" which every console has at least one of those now, another genre that nintendo got into on the ground floor.

Not every concept is completely original but nintendo never clones someone elses game they always add their own twist to any genre, that makes it stand out from the competition. When was the last time any nintendo made game got a bad review in any game magazine?

And that's just the mario franchise. metroid is completely different from the side scrolling platformer released in 1986. it's become nintendo's fps franchise. Zelda is the adventure game frachise and it's innovations over the past 20 years are way too numerous to mention.

Yes nintendo takes the same characters and re-uses them in all their games, but the games have evolved with the times and are as good or ussually better than The competitions offerings.

Add to that the new franchises they've created nintendogs is the currently standard in pet simulators, pikmin was a completely new take on lemmings puzzle mechanics. animal crossing which is only going to get better now that online play is here. and lets not forget pokemon which by itself has made nintendo more money than MS lost on the xbox.

If nintendo actually did just pump out sequel after sequel every year just every other publisher "New Super Mario Brothers" would be a gamecube title called "Super Mario 20".

SetupWeasel @ May 22nd 2006 8:45PM

"The thing I look for in games in superior storytelling. With video games developers are offered a unigue ability to tell stories on a grand scale that involve the viewer. Nintendo has never been a great story teller. With the exception of Zelda story, emotion, and character have always been secondary."

There are maybe 10 video games ever made that had stories that I might want to sit down and read if they had been made novels and not games, and most of them were not good games. Most people who go on and on about storylines in video games wouldn't know a good story if it bit them in the face.

All I look for is a game where the storyline doesn't get in the way. Far too many of these story-heavy games are glorified movies with hours of tedium between cutscenes. On a related note, I deeply regret my purchase of Dragon Quest 8.

"With all do respect from Nintendo. I would be more inclined to listen to Nintendo on the innovation front if the last 5 games that they released for the game-cube didn't involve Mario playing some type of sport."

Last 2 Nintendo games for the GC? Odama and Chibi-Robo. Two brand new titles.

"I was going to say before I read the end of the post...Mario is still jumping, Link is still chopping things with his sword, and Kirby still goes around sucking things in. When I see Nintendo publish a game that has as much depth as Richard Garriott's games did oh - ten YEARS ago, then I'll listen to Miyamoto's criticism."

So you won't be satisfied until Nintendo releases a Mario game where he doesn't jump? Thanks for adding to the conversation.

By the way, Ultima games are digital Ambien. ZZZZZ.

V1L3 @ May 22nd 2006 8:47PM

skryous: "Lets look at the core mario franchise. Super Mario Brothers created the side scrolling platform game. Mario 2, 3 and 4 were improved revisions on the same concept."

Agreed. There's nothing wrong with that at all. Yet Miyamoto seems to be saying that there is. Unless he's talking about original IP's, which the GameCube had, what, 2 of? He must not have seen all the original games coming out at E3 (Spore, Gears of War, Viva Pinata, Assasin's Creed, Bioshock).

I can see his point about merely upgrading visuals, but I don't see that happening in the industry, or at least I don't see those games selling bucketloads. If Oblivion had just been Morrowind with prettier graphics, there's no way it would have been the success it has been.

I think what Miyamoto is suggesting that the general gaming populace are MORONS. We know the difference between a good original game (Spore), a good sequel which improves on the original (Half Life 2) and a sequel that's just been trotted out with slightly better visuals in order to cash in (almost any EA sports title).

The value of a game is based on many elements - graphics, sound, gameplay, storytelling, voice acting, art style, atmosphere, immersion, and that intangible element that makes a game really hit home (Shadow of the Colossus?).

Controls are a very minor part of that. If you have a really good game, people would play it with a cinder block covered in rusty nails if they had to.

But hey, at least we have our DS' and copies of Mario Kart, Star Fox, Zelda and NEW Super Mario Brothers.... Sorry, what was he saying about sequels again?

Feep @ May 22nd 2006 8:55PM

Lots of anti-Nintendo comments on this. The classic argument is that how could Nintendo bash others for lack of innovation, when all they do is recycle their own franchises over and over again?

I beg to differ. Nintendo's internal studios make games, just like any other software company. Many of these companies have been around almost as long as Nintendo itself, yet how many star franchises do they have? Two, three? Let's take a look at Nintendo.

Mario.
Zelda.
Donkey Kong.
Pokemon.
Star Fox.
Metroid.
Pikmin.
Super Smash Bros.
Pilotwings.
Dozens of other smaller franchises, like Wave Race, or Punch-out, or whatever.

These series have produced the finest games in the history of electronic entertainment, and yet Nintendo very rarely "shoots out" another sequel without massive overhauls. Metroid Prime and Super Metroid shared the same name, but can you honestly tell me that those two games don't play completely differently? Has Zelda failed to innovate and evolve, every single iteration? Even the major Mario games, with the exception of Sunshine, have brought platforming to an entirely new level at every release.

Nintendo reuses their brand names because those names have become synonymous with quality and fun, and so people will buy them. But very rarely does Nintendo simply sit on its franchises and spit out another game (exception: Mario Party. I know. So sue them. They're still fun). Find me another software company that can lay claim to even half of the amazing games and innovations that Nintendo has brought to the table.

idioteraser @ May 22nd 2006 8:58PM

Fine I shall name five upcoming DS games that use the touch screen.

Elite Beat Agents. A new game based on Ouendan but due to the difficulties of localization a completly new story, new characters and new songs were made for this game.

Cooking Mama. Mind you this is a English localization of the Japanese release so I will add another game.

Cooking mama btw uses the microphone to cool down food like in real life cooking.

Black and White Creatures. Even uses the mic to berate or encourage your creatures.

Hotel Dusk: Room 215.

Mysterious Theif Rousessau.

Sudoku Gridmaster

Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: And Justice for All.

Spectrobes

There is a game whose title escapes me but your drawings become reality.

The people that diss the touch screen have obviously never played Trauma Center or several of the minigame type games such as Warioware Touched.

As for a second screen it's pretty usefull to have a constant map and even menu tasks become a hell of a lot easier. Also you get a lot less clutter on the main screen with the action if all the other stuff such as the HUD is down below or above.

Metroid Prime hunters is a lot easier with the stylus once you get used to it.

idioteraser @ May 22nd 2006 9:02PM

Also doesn't each Mario Party and Warioware have different minigames or a twist on them?

As for the Mario sports titles that has more to do with putting a mascot in them to try something out. Mario is a testing ground for new concepts. He has been a mascot since the game and watch days.

At least each zelda, mario title has brought in geninely new stuff.

idioteraser @ May 22nd 2006 9:07PM

Lots of the games coming for the PS3 and 360 really there is nothing to distingush a great deal of them. Those pS3 games a lot of peopel that tried them out said they were basically PS2 games just made prettier.

Resistance Fall of Man the game designer couldn't justify how his game was different.

The Nintendo games when asked about such as Warioware Smooth Moves, Red Steel at least their developers nailed why their titles were different.

Assainsin's Creed? How is it different then the other similar type games that have come before?

Gears of War? Odd i have seen past titles exactly like it. Looks more like a movie you cannot interact with then a game.

Viva Pinata? Great a huge marketing deal to cash in on children and people call Nintendo kiddy.

Bioshock? What's different about it?

At least Spore is a culimnation of lots of different things but it has elements of dozens of past Will Wright titles. Sure it will be unique but it is telling that those others you named well nothing really that different from them.

mrBucket @ May 22nd 2006 9:14PM

"The thing I look for in games in superior storytelling"

Wow, go watch your animated porn and masturbate to a picture of Cloud why your at it.

As for Nintendo, they have made a lot of sequels but that’s what the gamers want. They have been know to create new franchises all the time but i guess that all of u don't consider wii sports, brain age, pikmen ,electro plankton, excite truck and many more to be new innovations in the way we play games.

Oh and I forgot worship square enix.

superguido @ May 22nd 2006 9:24PM

In what way is he wrong? I mean, for a good deal of time now games have seen only very, very incremental improvements and refinements to gameplay. Yes, technically every game is "a new experience", but how many games recently have been markedly different than what has been done before? Look at what was really well-received this year at E3 and you won't see games that are breaking new ground, but that are refining the core mechanics of already existing gameplay.

Not that there's anything wrong with refinement of course, but I think it's safe to say that playing the Wii for the first time is going to be a much, much different experience than playing whatever game you played beforehand. And that experience will continue to be refined, of course, and at a certain point become standard enough that it needs to be changed.

But it's not like they're totally abandoning the old control style. From what we know right now, apparently the new Super Smash Bros. won't be using the new controller. Some experiences demand it, while some experiences will be enhanced and greatly changed by the new controller.

clee @ May 22nd 2006 9:54PM

Haha, have to totally agree with you there skyrous. It displays real ignorance to say Nintendo makes only sequels. To me, they are doing very well at not milking a game. How many sequels of Mario 64 did we see on the N64? None. If EA had the Mario IP I am sure we would be definitely seeing Mario 128 (literally) by now.

Also, Joystiq really do like making inflammatory headlines from misquoted comments. If you read the entire interview, Miyamoto does not sound at all condescending or superior. If you read the other Joystiq post, where the headline was 'Miyamoto calls Sony's DualShake "flattering" [update 1]', people were praising Miyamoto in the comments section, saying he is so humble. In this post, the headline suggests in the SAME INTERVIEW that Miyamoto said a derogatory remark about the competition, and the anti-Nintendo brigade hop on board. That was not what he meant. What Miyamoto meant was that you can go and play your 360's and PS3's if you are satisfied by what the current generation of gaming is offering. If you are willing to experience a new paradigm of control scheme, you should play the Wii, that's all he said.

Come on joystiq, stop being the flamers, and the readers should stop being the sheep.