Miyamoto hints at new Nintendo franchise in 2008

60 Comments by Justin McElroy Jul 31st 2007 12:35PM
Filed under: Culture, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii

In an interview with Dean Takahashi, Shigeru Miyamoto said that Nintendo may introduce some new characters next year "in the same way [Nintendo] came up with Pikmin when [they] introduced the GameCube." While that's all well and good for getting us pumped for The Next Big Thing, we're more interested in Miyamoto's explanation of why it's taking so long.

"I guess I don't necessarily see my job as creating new characters as it is creating new experiences," he said, later adding, "For characters, we came up with the concept of the Miis and that allows people to come up with their own characters." So don't forget you read it here first, the next big Nintendo characters are Chuck Norris, Kenny, Dr. Zoidberg and, of course, indie rockers Wilco. Wow ... the next Smash Bros. is going to be awesome.

Tags: mii, miyamoto, nintendo, smashbros

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Diskoboy: Jul 31st 2007; 12:39PM

Yeah - I'll believe that when I see it.

They're probably talking about a new Kart franchise. I'm guessing Samus will probably get her own Kart game now.

ThornedVenom: Jul 31st 2007; 12:52PM

Miyamoto is such a great developer who has contributed so much to videogaming over the years. A new franchise is good news, I guess. Knowing that he likes to experiment on new types of gameplay, a new franchise should possibly mean that he has an even greater idea for gameplay which couldn't be used for any current Nintendo franchise.

I'm excited about this, if it turns out to be true. The real question is if this new franchise will be aimed to the "casual crowd", Nintendo's new target, or satisfy the "hardcore crowd", the long-time supporters of the console and games.

Nushio: Jul 31st 2007; 1:35PM

One word: Nintencats

Ryuukuro: Jul 31st 2007; 1:39PM

Who cares who it's aimed at? If it's good then I want to play it.

The whole casual/hardcore thing is just a nerdier and more idiotic version of the liberal/conservative mess. A lot of it is just used by fanboys as an excuse to not think and not try games that are new to them.

JodyAnthony: Jul 31st 2007; 1:39PM

One word:
Thundercougarfalconbird

Konny: Jul 31st 2007; 12:53PM

Wario
Waluigi
Wasamus
Wabowser
Wapeach
Wametroid
Wapitt
Wapikachu
Wakoopa
Wapikmin
Wawart
Watoad
Washyguy
Wakirby
Wayoshi

... i figure they have enough content for a new franchise every year, for the next 100 years. They are the most innovative company and never whore out their mascots or come out with lame teriary characters... NEVAR!

eldee: Jul 31st 2007; 12:59PM

Yeah, it'll be a new "Mario _____" game. Mario Fishing? Mario Hackeysack? Who knows.. but I guarantee it features characters from other bread-winning Nintendo franchises.

JodyAnthony: Jul 31st 2007; 1:00PM

Well they had Pikmin last gen. If whatever this new franchise is is as good as Pikmin I'll be happy.

Also I crave a Pikmin Thwii

AmishPhysicist: Jul 31st 2007; 4:44PM

Here's to that. I still tense up every time I hear the sound of a mylar balloon being inflated in Safeway -I'm sure some bastard animal is about to vomit up some crazy lung boulder onto my pikmin.

Greg: Jul 31st 2007; 1:00PM

Mii's aren't characters, they're avatars. Even the most extensive character creation utility isn't going to allow you to actually create a character.

Characters like Mario, Link, and Donkey Kong aren't just avatars- there's more to them than their visual representation. Each character has a unique way of approaching the game world, and solving problems. Link uses an inventory of weapons and tools, DK throws barrels at things, and Mario jumps on enemies, and opens boxes with his head. As a result, each character exists in a game-world where those skills are useful. Mario probably wouldn't do too well in Hyrule.

You can give us the ability to create an avatar, and even outfit that avatar with different skill sets- but we'd be selecting those skill sets from a list, not creating our own. Avatars are customized, while a true character is a fully unique creation. Avatars, while they can be somewhat original, are still just pastiches of existing abilities and appearance traits. A randomizer could create an avatar for you, but no randomizer is ever going to spit out Solid Snake.

hvnlysoldr: Jul 31st 2007; 2:20PM

SmileyFace Mii would disagree with FrownyGirl Mii.

zwarrior: Jul 31st 2007; 1:01PM

I hope they're not talking about wii music.

Psaakyrn: Jul 31st 2007; 1:03PM

And on that note, where did the hammer-arm-to-smash-robots-up game go to? IIRC that's supposed to be one of the new Nintendo franchises for Wii..

vidGuy: Jul 31st 2007; 1:20PM

Project Hammer has been sidelined - we found that out in an E3 interview. The other new Nintendo franchise, Disaster: Day of Crisis, is pretty far into development, though.

License to ill: Jul 31st 2007; 1:04PM

Im so excited Zzzzzzz....

hvnlysoldr: Jul 31st 2007; 2:21PM

Get some sleep ya lazy bum!

GodisaMyth: Jul 31st 2007; 1:04PM

I know what it is.....

Reggie and pals in Drag.

Ali: Jul 31st 2007; 1:05PM

Marios new long lost brother called

Marlugio

Emperor Samoth: Jul 31st 2007; 1:10PM

Man, screw Nintendo. I don't give a flying fish about what they're going to announce. They're full of hot air and all the media's riding their bandwagon. Nintendo runs on hype and the fanboys who buy the same crap over and over again. Enough said.

JodyAnthony: Jul 31st 2007; 1:14PM

you're cool.

FermitTheKrog: Jul 31st 2007; 1:29PM

The market dictates was is or is not cool. Every troll that has "advice" for Nintendo needs to get their facts straight. Like it or not, they are doing quite well without your advice. Every console relies on a handful of successful franchises as flagship products. For every Mario Galaxy you have a Halo 3 or Final Fantasy 813-2. It's the way of the industry, sequels sell. If you don't like it, GTFO.

Emperor Samoth: Jul 31st 2007; 1:11PM

and how do I remove that fucking mario icon from my posting? Fuck Nintendo.

JodyAnthony: Jul 31st 2007; 1:39PM

why do you hate a corporation so?

Hirsbrunner: Jul 31st 2007; 1:14PM

The inbred, dipshit trolls are out in droves today, I see.

JodyAnthony: Jul 31st 2007; 1:15PM

its a thread about nintendo, what do you expect?

Borjan: Jul 31st 2007; 1:20PM

Must be mating season.

Jack of No Trades: Jul 31st 2007; 1:19PM

Stop complaining. Sony and MS get the same amount of trolling. Double standard asses.

Hirsbrunner: Jul 31st 2007; 1:19PM

True. Should've seen it coming.

Hirsbrunner: Jul 31st 2007; 1:22PM

Hey, Jackass of All Trades is back...oh joy.

GodisaMyth: Jul 31st 2007; 1:19PM

C'mon. I can see it now. Reggie and Miyamoto and pals all decked out in the most outlandish drag queen outfits playing some mini-games.

Hell, I would buy a Wii immediatly if this were to happen. The laughs would be endless.

Reggie...GAY*
Miyamoto...GAY*
Nintendo...GAY*

I do not mean homosexual...I mean gay as in happy.

The drag queen mini-game idea I do mean.

Word of the street.: Jul 31st 2007; 2:19PM

Dude you are funny.

This reminds me to a Simpsons episode where the Duff Tour guide says "we have a lot of ideas for the future" and then Homer ask "like what?" and then the Tour guide answers "Ok we dont have ideas for the future,happy?".

If it let you create your own character is an RPG for sure.

dpad: Jul 31st 2007; 2:20PM

Godisamyth...GAY

Hard Gay: Jul 31st 2007; 3:06PM

Hard Gay.....OOOhhhhkkkkkkaaayyyy

vidGuy: Jul 31st 2007; 1:25PM

It's going to be a casual franchise - Miyamoto has been saying his target critic for his new games is his wife. Whether that is good or bad depends on who you are. Either way, it'll be a welcome addition to the Wii's library.

Martez: Jul 31st 2007; 1:45PM

Wii Ski?

Matt B: Jul 31st 2007; 2:50PM

Yellow Snow Edition

GearsMaster: Jul 31st 2007; 1:47PM

Oh ye of little faith...

I'm looking forward to the title. Whether its causal or hardcore.

I hope its causal just so it will piss of all you arrogant hardcore people.

But it would be so sweet if they made FPS....

Lol who am I kidding. Its probably going to be an adventure game or some plaything.

GearsMaster: Jul 31st 2007; 1:50PM

Genius: Jul 31st 2007; 2:01PM

I wonder if it'll be another minigame. Id like to knock the thick layer of dust off my Wii, I really would. Please Nintendo, you can do it.

Slvrgun: Jul 31st 2007; 2:03PM

Yeah this is cool...

flameofdoom666: Jul 31st 2007; 2:18PM

Microsoft and Sony fan boys are crazy. If anyone overkills franches it is THEM. 2 Halo's on 1 system. 2 God of War's 1 system. 4 Rachet and Clanks. 4 Jak and Daxter's. 3 Sly cooper's. 2 KOTOR's. ALL last gen. Compared to 1 Mario game? 1 Smash bros'? 2 Pikmin' (it was a new franchise)? 2 Metroid's (it was transitioned)? and 2 Zelda's (which I don't even consider Twilight Princess a GC game)

You people do not know what you are talking about. Nintendo has been in the industry the longest, so there is going to be more games around, but they DO NOT over kill them. Each game is fresh and new.

samfish: Jul 31st 2007; 2:29PM

THANK YOU!! Someone else FINALLY gets it!
For all the whining about Nintendo pumping out sequels to their popular franchises, they aren't nearly as bad as the competition!

Diskoboy: Jul 31st 2007; 2:44PM

Don't forget the 3 mario party's, 4 different (insert nintendo character here) Kart tiles, The 3 different WarioWare titles, etc... And this is just the GC alone, I won't even get into the flood of sequels on the GBA/DS....

It's not the sequels we're sick of - it's seeing the same characters, over and over again that is beginning to get really annoying. It's like Nintendo truly has run out of Ideas.

Zertoss: Jul 31st 2007; 2:52PM

Nintendo had more than one kart game on the GC? Let's see, there was Mario Kart Double Dash, and there was... um...

megapenguinx: Jul 31st 2007; 3:00PM

There was only Mario Kart.
And 2 Wariowares for the GBA, 1 for the GC, one for the Ds, and one for the Wii.

bender: Jul 31st 2007; 2:19PM

Wait, didn't Miyamoto already say he's working on a new franchise after E3 06? Somebody remind me please it was awhile back.

samfish: Jul 31st 2007; 2:22PM

Whatever it is, it'll almost surely be great.

But I'd just as well settle for a new Kid Icarus or Smash Bros RPG..

Exo: Jul 31st 2007; 2:37PM

Nintendo only gets so much flak because their characters are the ones that have been around the longest while being succesfull at the same time.

while game series like sonic and megaman have been drivin into the ground.

in 20 years will halo and gears be still as popular as they are now? i doubt it other franchises will come and make people forget them cause those types of games can easily become outdated cause fps games and shooters lend themselfs to cutting edge technology.