Downloadable Zelda content -- in the future

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2006 at 11:00AM }

GamePro is reporting that George Harrison, Senior VP at Nintendo, says they're looking forward to offering "downloadable content, such as additional levels" with Zelda: Twilight Princess.

However, there are no current plans to offer a "post-release online component" and it doesn't look like there is anything in the works. According to Harrison, "I haven't heard of anything yet. I think everyone is still busy trying to make sure the game gets out correctly."

Now, all we can hope is that Zelda doesn't become the Wii's Oblivion ... or [fill in EA game here] with dubious downloadable content. Please Nintendo, even the most jaded gamer has love for Zelda, don't ruin it by microtransactioning us to death.

Tags: gamepro, twilight princess, wii, zelda

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Andrew Yoon @ Nov 6th 2006 11:12AM

Cynics be damned... that sounds amazing. But does TP even need more levels? It's already 70 hours long, isn't it? Also, how would downloadable content integrate into the world? Interesting.

mykie @ Nov 6th 2006 11:08AM

Mario vs DK 2 has free downloadable levels from Nintendo, who's to say that Zelda: TP won't be set up in the same way?

matthew @ Nov 6th 2006 11:14AM

Despite the horse armor joke, Oblivion is not a good example of abusing downloadable content. Beshesda has provided several great quests for very, very cheap.

Tesla @ Nov 6th 2006 11:20AM

I'm as excited as everyone else but where are we going to store that downloadable content???

flyers241 @ Nov 6th 2006 11:16AM

I'm guessing horse armor. Maybe an Okami skin for wolf-Link?

Chris @ Nov 6th 2006 11:17AM

Nintendo, altough they want money just like any other company, does put product quality first. So when content comes out, you can know for a fact it will be worth any amount they charge, if it even costs anything.

I think with games like Oblivion you have young 20-something developers sitting around thinking, "hey a pirate add on would be awesome" and then they make a pirate level. I like it just fine like that, but I think Nintnedo porbably will plan things out step by step and if anything we will beg for more downloadables instead of being swamped by them.

kokernutz @ Nov 6th 2006 11:31AM

Um, the Wii has half a gig of flash RAM and an SD slot.

Shiv @ Nov 6th 2006 11:24AM

Er... Is it just me or does anyone else just see these two things as completely unrelated questions?

It just hapens to be on the site as

1. Zelda Question.

2. General Downloads Question.

3. Zelda Download Question.

Who knows if the questions were even asked in that order? I think people are reading between the lines a bit too much in the Wii-phoria of the moment. If the questions wer asked in the order 2 -> 1 -> 3 and got exactly the same responses, I doube very much that people would be even suggesting that there will be Zelda downloads. The man quite clearly says that he knows of no Zelda downloads but somehow sites are reporting this as potential confirmation?

I think we all need to calm down a little bit. I am excited at the prospect of the Wii, but I don't let it rob me of my rationality. Not TOO much anyway ;)

DeepSleeper @ Nov 6th 2006 11:26AM

Quote:

"GP: What sorts of online features are you looking forward to in the future?
Harrison: Downloadable content, such as additional levels.
GP: Any plans for any type of post-release online component for Twilight Princess?
Harrison: I haven't heard of anything yet. I think everyone is still busy trying to make sure the game gets out correctly."

From the sound of it, that is exactly NOT what he's saying. Or at least, it's too vague to tell if he meant "downloadable content for Zelda is coming" or "I'm looking forward to downloadable content on the Wii in general."

Either way, don't hurry to get excited over this, I'd think.

Zertoss @ Nov 6th 2006 11:28AM

If Nintendo and other developers get crazy with the downloadable content, I'll probably have to buy a ton of SD cards and catalog them.

This one is the Zelda levels, this one has the Smash Bros. characters and levels, this one has the new Mario Galaxy worlds, this one has all the crap Nintendo sent me that I can't pack rat into my Animal Crossing house, this one has Wii channel themes, this one has demos, and this one is still blank.

Maybe I should just buy one HUGE SD card. ;)

Flit @ Nov 6th 2006 11:29AM

Downloadable content? What, a blue or red ring to change link's outfit? I'm all for extra Zelda Content, but zelda games are usually so structured in its items and content (other than the despeciable figurines in WindWaker) I can't imagine much to be downloaded.

nootau @ Nov 6th 2006 11:32AM

My guess would be that they have some kind of complex world building tech (think Timesplitters map editor tech) that you can build a mission or two using the stuff on the Zelda:TP disk. Timesplitters 3 allowed you to create new maps, story plots, scripted events, and junk, and the save was very small on the GC version (like 5 blocks, anyone remember the exact size? or still own the game to check?). I'd say around a 20MB download for a good 2 hour Zelda mission with bosses and such (it'll be bosses from the disk though, no new bosses or enemies).

BlindsideDork @ Nov 6th 2006 11:34AM

Yeah other sites are reporting this too...I say bad reporting.

Zelda questions, random downloadable content question refering to Wii, then reply with no.

He didn't say they are making downloadable content for Zelda! Why does everyone think that? The topic of online content came up in a Zelda convo. And when you throw the word "microtransactions" people think MONEY which Nintendo has yet to say anything about. They mention Wii24Connect as downloading content like skins to your Wii for you, they aren't going to charge you without your permission!

The only way they could do this is if they made side quests or a small dungeon...but that would probably be a BIG download to get all the data.

What you site should be reporting on is if you can buy an external HD and hook it up using the USB drive!

G99 @ Nov 6th 2006 11:36AM

Actually it only has 512 internal memory. But it can fit a SD card. I was able to pick up a 2 gig on sale at office max for 40 bucks.

But from everything I hear from Nintendo, none of their downloadable content will dissapear from the service, so you can re-download it later on.

And I agree with the poster above, I believe that he means that the Wii can have downloadable content like new maps and items, but they will not be doing that for Zelda: TP.

Paul P. @ Nov 6th 2006 11:46AM

Yeah, this quote is being taken WAY out of context.

hardreturn @ Nov 6th 2006 11:43AM

does anyone have a larger version of that inline artwork?

thrillho @ Nov 6th 2006 11:44AM

"14. Actually it only has 512 internal memory. But it can fit a SD card. I was able to pick up a 2 gig on sale at office max for 40 bucks. "

u gotta hit the net for the good prices, i got a 2gb sd for 17.99, fatwallet.com guys..

Tim Marman @ Nov 6th 2006 12:14PM

Agree with matthew (#3) - the horse armor was the only Oblivion content I didn't buy. The other stuff was actually a great value. I'm looking forward to the Nov/Dec new content.

Josh @ Nov 6th 2006 11:55AM

I can't access gamepro.com right now at school, but can we have a direct quote? How do we know he was talking specifically about Twilight Princess? That game is a complete bundle, from start to end (like FFVII was supposed to be before the "Compilation of FFVII" stuff). I don't want extra stuff being thrown in arbitrarily if it was not meant to be (and it wasn't, since TP is a GameCube game).

The NEXT Zelda, however, I wouldn't mind...

> @ Nov 6th 2006 11:55AM

"And I agree with the poster above, I believe that he means that the Wii can have downloadable content like new maps and items, but they will not be doing that for Zelda: TP."

Not with 512mb they wont. Most likely extra stuff will be stamped on the disc; which you later unlock via their online service.

Maps, extra quests, and such will take up way more room than 512.. and devs will develop for the lowest common denominator.

crono141 @ Nov 6th 2006 12:06PM

>

If many complete GC games didn't use the whole disk, why is it far fetched that addons could be compressed to very small sizes for the onboard ram.

And even if that isn't the case, Nintendo is banking on just about everyone using an SD card. And if people run out of space on their 512, then they have to go buy an SD card. I don't think thats a big issue, its built into the system specifically for this.

Vlad @ Nov 6th 2006 10:51PM

could be really cool, could really suck

Martijngamer @ Nov 6th 2006 1:00PM

"downloadable levels"
dungeons or temples, but not levels. this is not Zelda 1 anymore. he is not talking about Zelda.

Other thing is that Eiji Aonuma said himself there will not be Wii-connect24 or online support.

Trickob @ Nov 17th 2006 3:15PM

who cares about the possibility of the prospect of there maybe being a chance that there might be downloadable content for zelda: tp in the future?? my only concern is for the finished product being of the highest quality possible. if its good enough, there won't be any need for additional content. i still play zelda: oot and i enjoy it just as much now as i did when i first played it 8 years ago.

Haunted One @ Nov 6th 2006 1:13PM

This news item is no news item - tell us what the DLC is and if we have to pay for it - THEN and only then can we discuss something. Everything else is speculation at this point.

Reminds me of the Teaser for the Trailer of L.A. Noire (you better read this again) that was advertised on several gaming sites last month.

H.

mykie @ Nov 6th 2006 1:40PM

For once, > actually comes extremely close to almost making a solid point.

Map and character models really don't take up much space, the most space is taken up by assets like graphics, movie files, and audio.

However, anyone with a Gameshark for GCN knows that you can play additional levels that are stored right on the Zelda: Windwaker disc, but cannot ordinarily be unlocked. So who knows?

Fredyytoot @ Nov 6th 2006 1:46PM

its may be skins or features
I hope it cud be a 4-SWORDS online feature or sumfin

Walt's Ghost @ Nov 6th 2006 2:10PM

Anyone know if the Wii's SD slot supports SD HC?

John H. @ Nov 6th 2006 2:32PM

The people who note that this is not an announcement of downloadable Zelda content are correct (and how would such content be integrated with the game anyway, Zelda worlds are usually pretty self-contained).

Further, it must again be emphasized that the word "microtransactions" is, as we watch, being co-opted, away from the idea of tiny, unnoticeable sums used to buy similarly tiny and perishable electronic goods, and towards being the retail model all over again but without physical property involved at all.

This is a bad thing!

Pince @ Nov 6th 2006 4:56PM

I heard a rumor that when you get to the final dungeon of TP, Miyamoto personally comes to your house and steals your piggy bank and you have to get on your knees and beg him to let you buy a 100$ link cable so that you can buy "Zelda:Twilight Princess Download Pack Blue Version Ranger" (To be released) for your DS and then you have to trade all of the Dekumon in the game (yeah, DEKUMON!, catch em all) with someone who has the red version, the green version, and the irridescant special orange holographic version deluxe (damn, you better go get some friends...or some money). Then when you have the final DEKUMON, you buy a card reader and 5 packs of Twilight Princess trading cardscards and if you get a Super Rare Tingle card, you pass it through the reader, then link your DS to your Gamecube (if you dont have one....buy one), link your Gamecube to your friend's Gamecube and link that to a Nintendo Home Nintendo-net Server (to be released)...at which point you can download the final boss of TP for about $25.24...and the final boss is actually just a preview of one of the many fun minigames from Mario Party 9.

I mean, its just a rumor I heard, but it sounds true to me.

SONY real next-gen 1920pi blooray FTW, NING*YDO FTL is for kiddies bad-graphics I dont wanna play with your Wii LOLOLOLOLZOMG

(Aside: Wow, being a fanboy is fun)