Mii channel began as a DS project
by John Bardinelli 
{ Mar 18th 2007 at 12:07PM }
Towards the end of GDC, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto revealed they had been toying with the concept of Mii creation for almost 20 years but were "never able to turn it into much of anything". It finally found a home on the Wii, but a recent developer's chat uncovered a few early screenshots of the Mii editor -- on the DS.The concept doesn't seem to have changed much from this build to the final product, though the visuals did go through a much-needed evolution. Having a portable version of our Mii does have a certain charm, but it isn't likely Nintendo will invest resources in a pocket-sized Mii creator.
[Via NeoGAF]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Myke @ Mar 18th 2007 12:18PM
Wow, that would lend itself perfectly to the DS touch pad, it's shame they never tried it.
Uhmm @ Mar 18th 2007 12:30PM
It's a shame they're using a handheld feature on a 'new-gen' console.
scott @ Mar 18th 2007 12:32PM
Kinda like the ps3's menu system, eh #2?
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 12:34PM
@3.. No they use that system for all Sony products.
Wilbur @ Mar 18th 2007 12:36PM
Mii is like a lame baby's toy compared to Home... the hype is over.. back to the drawing boards shiggy.. you blew it.
lol.. is anyone still using their wii for the weather, news, or voting? lol .. NintenLame..
Patryk @ Mar 18th 2007 12:38PM
#2
That has to be the strangest comment I've read in a long while. How is it a shame? The Mii Channel is probably the most innovative addition to the Wii console overall. Not only that... it's become the focal point for Wii Sports, Wii Play, and the messaging service.
scott @ Mar 18th 2007 12:38PM
#4, your fellow fanboy was nitpicking about an idea they thought up for the DS, then implemented on the Wii. Why this even matters is irrelevant, but I see no difference between the PsP's menu system being ported over to the PS3.
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 12:39PM
@6. Probably true, but the fact is it could be a whole lot more, and the only reason it isn't is because it was meant for the DS.
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 12:41PM
@Scott. The PS3 XMB isn't even comparable to the Mii system. If you wanted to you could compare Mii Channels to the XMB because that is the main interface.
Patryk @ Mar 18th 2007 12:44PM
#6
I could have sworn it was initially made for the Nintendo Famicom console... I thought I read that somewhere here on Joystiq. What's wrong with polishing up solid ideas and releasing them for modern day units?
Patryk @ Mar 18th 2007 12:51PM
#8
I could have sworn it was initially made for the Nintendo Famicom console... I thought I read that somewhere here on Joystiq. What's wrong with polishing up solid ideas and releasing them for modern day units?
Joshua @ Mar 18th 2007 12:51PM
Naslund (#9), you're trying to change the point. An analogy of comparisons doesn't mean the two things in the analogy have to be related.
And everyone's missing the point. The basic idea behind the Mii Channel started back on the Famicom. Watch Miyamoto's GDC keynote speech for the details.
Furthermore, I really can't understand the comparison to Sony's Home thing, Wilbur (#5). The Mii Channel and the PlayStation Home are two completely different things. The only similarity is that you create something in both. That's it.
Avinash_Tyagi @ Mar 18th 2007 12:54PM
#5
No one wants the PS3, 0nly 127,000 sold last month, and now even Sony's CEO is talking about PS3 failing
just me @ Mar 18th 2007 1:05PM
Actually XMB is improved on the PS3, over the original PSP implementation. The same basic functionality is present though.
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 12:53PM
@12. I'm glad you said that. Lots of the Wiibots on some boards are claiming that Sony is copying Mii channels by allowing you to create a character, etc.
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 12:56PM
@14. You must've been listening to a fake CEO. No CEO would talk about their console failing. And as far as PS3 not selling goes, 127,000 last month, with no games, 600 console, is very respectable. You should also consider Asia in your biased statement, and the fact that the UK launch hasn't happened yet.
Avinash_Tyagi @ Mar 18th 2007 1:03PM
#15,
Nope,Stringer is talking about the PS3 failing, just go to PS3fanboy and see.
Also its also being beaten by Wii in Japan as well, even with Wii having supply issues
Also Europe won't save the PS3, most europeans are ticked at the gimping they recieved from Sony
Naslund @ Mar 18th 2007 1:05PM
Uhh he never said PS3 is failing. He said 'IF WE FAIL'. And the PS3 is only lagging behind in Japan by about 12,000 units. Factor in the fact that the Wii is cheaper by an arm and a leg, you've got some pretty good sales.
Koopaknight29 @ Mar 18th 2007 1:08PM
Huh, that's an interesting factoid. That makes some sense and I could see it being implemented quite well on the DS. Maybe they will do this in a later DS game, perhaps.
Oh, and Home looks less Mii-ish and more Second Life-ish... without furries of course. Could be good, could crash and burn as jerks flood the community and ruin it for everyone. We'll see, huh?
Wilbur @ Mar 18th 2007 1:13PM
The surge in Wii sales making up for 10+ years of Nintendo console mediocrity... its only a spike though; do you really think that in 7 years the Wii is going to be pushing 300k units a month like the PS2. You would have to be the biggest fanbois to believe that.
Sales are already dying off in Japan; they dont care about Zelda or Metroid... the biggest sellers there are throw-away minigames. And, the crap that works on the DS doesnt on the Wii. like Pokemon and brain training.
Avinash_Tyagi @ Mar 18th 2007 1:18PM
#17
Wii is still in short supply in Japan, while PS3 is on the shelves, so Wii sales are constrained by supply not demand, PS3 by demand.
Also the fact that Sony is even contemplating failure speaks volumes, they were formerly the big dogs, but now they are falling
Avinash_Tyagi @ Mar 18th 2007 1:16PM
#17
Wii is still in short supply in Japan, while PS3 is on the shelves, so Wii sales are constrained by supply not demand, PS3 by demand.
Also the fact that Sony is even contemplating failure speaks volumes, they were formerly the big dogs, but now they are falling
Joshua @ Mar 18th 2007 1:17PM
Naslund (#17), the distance between Wii and PS3 in sales is far greater than that, both in Japan and the Americas. I don't where you got your "12,000" from, but it's way off.
Avinash_Tyagi @ Mar 18th 2007 1:20PM
#20
You keep telling yourself that the Wii is dropping off, the Wii still has supply issues.
PS3 on the other hand is in ample supply and still can't sell
RPGuy @ Mar 18th 2007 1:29PM
@17:
Last recorded numbers I've seen lists the Wii as 1.2 MILLION ahead in Japan. The system's selling out every week, and its sales are currently constrained by supply. A far cry from the "12,000" you state. :)
By the way, where does this "cheaper" argument hold water? If I recall, the Gamecube did fairly poorly through its lifespan, even though it was cheaper than the competition.
Quaddw @ Mar 18th 2007 1:42PM
OMG, POINTLESS FANBOY WARS RUN!!!!!
Sensai @ Mar 18th 2007 1:45PM
Well this turned into a flame war.
And to whoever wanted to know, this idea has supposedly been being worked on since the NES.
#19, I was thinking the same thing. And, knowing the Sony community (no offense fellas), it's probably going to be filled with porn fifteen minutes after it launches.
Mr Khan @ Mar 18th 2007 2:02PM
@ Sensai, argument doesn't hold much water, i already have Ron Jeremy on my Wii, it just showed up from one of my friends one day (not sure which one)
But yes, this was an idea from a long time ago, it came close to implementation on the N64DD (and probably would have had the add-on actually succeeded), and on the DS (don't know why they didn't there)
And the only reason people are saying HOME is a "Mii too" is because its a feature that Sony is ADDING to their console, much like the Sixaxis, while Sony has been working on Home for some time, they didn't really decide to implement it until after the console launched, which meant its not meant to be an integral part of the experience
Sure, they're nothing alike, and i don't see it as a Mii too thing, just explaining the reasoning
BPM @ Mar 18th 2007 2:49PM
"Oh, and Home looks less Mii-ish and more Second Life-ish... without furries of course."
Then I'm sold on Home. :P
(No offense to the furries out there)
Catprog @ Mar 18th 2007 6:39PM
I think it is 18,000 a week
some person @ Mar 18th 2007 6:46PM
No, the Mii channel began as a NES project, but no one thought it would work out, the DS Mii "channel" was just a test.
LongshotX @ Mar 18th 2007 9:54PM
I'm sorry The Nintendo Mii thing is cute for the first 5 minutes but is lame afterwards. It is sad that they had to use a concept developed for a handheld on a supposedly next gen console. I mean they could have added some depth to the Mii feature like maybe a House and if you wanted to play with your friend you walk to their house and all your Local friends are in your Neighborhood. Something. God its just seems so...how can I put it. It just feels like Nintendo said "Look Gamecube failed, but if we make a real pretty case, make it appeal to everyone, repackage the Gamecube, and make a new Gimmicky controller than it'll sale like crazy!" Damn you Nintendo that is an all time low. As if Mario Party 8....8! I say, wasn't enough.
Purple Haze @ Mar 18th 2007 11:51PM
@Avinash_tyagi
I'm also pissed at square for making every game come out here so late.
I only just finished Final Fantasy 12 2 days and im in new zealand.
If i were in America i woulda known that it wasnt a real final fantasy months ago.
Taffer @ Mar 19th 2007 1:08AM
How the hell is Final Fantasy 12 not a real one? Or are you freaking out because they made battles a lot less tedious?
NintendoFanbot @ Mar 19th 2007 3:54AM
Longshot X said:
"I mean they could have added some depth to the Mii feature like maybe a House and if you wanted to play with your friend you walk to their house and all your Local friends are in your Neighborhood. Something."
Maybe MySims or Animal Crossing will interest you. Yeah.
Miyamoto provided insight to the origins of the Mii system, that it began as a feature on the Famicom (Disk System). In the last few months I was actually wondering to myself if Miis could be carried on DS and it seems like it was the other way around the whole time. :o
Gavin @ Mar 19th 2007 8:50AM
The whole Mii thing combined with the Wii's online setup is just further proof that Nintendo isn't concerned with this system being a long-term competitor. It already looks dated and silly, so can you imagine what it will look like in five or six years? The whole thing is a big joke, and the software lineup looks absolutely NO different than the Gamecube so far. This system is going to do a nose-dive in North America once the buying frenzy amongst the fanbase dies off and the novelty is over.
Myke @ Mar 19th 2007 10:54AM
"This system is going to do a nose-dive in North America once the buying frenzy amongst the fanbase dies off and the novelty is over."
You're right, the exact same way that PC's will become the dominant force in gaming as soon as the novelty of playing games on your TV wears off...
Unless they just STOP making games alltogether, there will always be a reason to play the system. Just like the other two systems, and even the PS2 still. If they make games, people will play, the "novelty" of the controller doesnt matter as long as there is always something to use it with, get over it man.
Tanster @ Mar 19th 2007 4:20PM
@32
Its coming out soon, its called MySims. In addition to Animal Crossing and Nintendogs.
---
if Mii's are old, what do you call that in your hand sony fanboy? a handicapped ps2 controller? PUHLEAZE
Tabascork @ Mar 19th 2007 9:52PM
Jesus, Sony will not fail as long as EA puts out games and Madden keeps coming for more. The Dreamcast failed because EA Sports didn't support it.(2K Sports wasn't enough to satisfy users)
EA pretty much decides if a console fails or survives. Sixaxis sucks hard by the way, it's just not natural in a crippled ps2 controller, I tried to use it in Motostorm at GameStop and failed.
john @ Apr 6th 2007 10:52AM
Yes, clearly they were stupid to use a feature that they thought of using for the DS. Because the DS is doing so badly right now....
Seriously, how does that make the idea any better or worse?