Reggie: GTA welcome on Wii, but only if it's not a port

by Randy Nelson { Jul 23rd 2008 at 7:30PM }

We were just a ... Wii bit shocked when a new Grand Theft Auto was announced for Nintendo DS and not the Big N's wildly popular home console. Still, it's no doubt a coup, but what about a proper Wii installment in the series?

MTV Multiplayer asked Nintendo of America prez Reggie Fils-Amie just that. When prodded on the likelihood that a DS version of GTA might lead to a greater possibility of GTA for Wii, Reggie stated that "GTA on the Wii is all based on what Rockstar and Take-Two want to do," adding, "From our standpoint, if they build a bottoms-up game that takes advantage of what we do well, I'd love to see it on the platform."

We're pretty sure Reggie meant a GTA that's built from the ground up for Wii. Or perhaps he was just getting into the GTA swing of things? If so, naughty Reggie!

Tags: grand-theft-auto, gta, nintendo, rockstar

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Gavin @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:36PM

Hey Reggie, don't hold your breath.

Chase @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:51PM

Or maybe he should...

eldee @ Jul 23rd 2008 11:46PM

I don't understand what exactly he's asking for in the first place.. Nintendo obviously loves ports, just look at the entire first year of releases for the Wii. They were just PS2 titles with waggle..

IMO he should be leaping at an opportunity to garner more interest in the hardcore crowd. Especially with the stupid ass remarks they've been making lately.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 24th 2008 1:15AM

NO.DOUBT.

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/rockstars-dan-houser-disses-casual-gaming-explains-process-of/

Houser hates the Wii and casual gaming.

tc @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:44PM

now that they've pissed off all their 3rd party developers they're trying to court some more?

are you familiar with the old robot saying "does not compute"?

Gavin @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:53PM

Nintendo has a history of repeatedly pissing off 3rd party developers and putting distance between themselves. Believe me, this is nothing new.

4MyFriends @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:27PM

How exactly did they "piss off" 3rd party developers, when in fact they have been pissing off Nintendo all gen with shit that are on par with free flash based software?

Also, Sony wasn't exactly Prince charming themselves...

Gavin @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:39PM

Slow to get them development kits, not fortchcoming with technical info on upcoming projects, still mired in a 20th century online setup, lack of Mii support, no quality control to weed out crap on the system, etc, etc, etc and that is just recent stuff. In the past they have been sued because of pricing issues and their usage as carts as a way of making money off 3rd party publishers are some of the major issues in the past. The cart thing was huge because you HAD to buy the carts from them so they made money on EVERY game released for their systems even if the publisher ended up losing money on it. That was a HUGE reason why so many fled from Nintendo during the N64 days.

Youthinized @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:46PM

*insert not hi-def console remark*

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:46PM

But.....but.....tmac and Fenix told me that Nintendo turned its back on hardcore gamers, so this CAN'T POSSIBLY be true

Noshino @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:07PM

uh...they aren't exactly helping them either

"Multiplayer: But have you had any conversations with them about that?

Fils-Aime: I have not had any of those conversations."

Nor seem to want to convince them to do so...don't you think?

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:21PM

If they make games for DS, then why not Wii? Wii has a more "hardcore" crowd than DS (minus the dungeon crawler RPG crowd). Which do YOU think would sell better?

If they were "excited" to do this game, whos to say they aren't plotting out a GTA Wii? I've even got a title

Grand Theft Auto: Wars in Ireland. You play as Douglas O' Callaghan, an Irish immigrant who comes to America before the start of WWII to find a good job and reunite with your family.

See, its not that hard to make. All you need are mafia missions and a full functioning world and you've got a million seller

Noshino @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:33PM

The DS version, it is actually rather naive (or idiotic in this case) to think that the Wii is aimed more to hardcore gamers than the DS

Youthinized @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:51PM

Then again...

Beating a hooker down with your wii-mote does sound interesting...

mr mobius @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:55PM

If only Manhunt 2 had more hookers to beat instead of other people it would have had less trouble from the ESRB.

Tez (PSN: Tezasaurus) @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:09PM

Hookers, no, but The Godfather for the Wii does a lot of open-ended GTA type stuff with the Wiimote. It's actually a very good port, I recommend it.

Zsavior @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:52PM

/sigh, here we go again,

WiiTA? @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:54PM

I think Reggie means a Wii-exclusive GTA would have to use Miis.

Cesaria (cesariatic.wordpress.com) @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:18PM

I would play that. Oh god would I play that.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 24th 2008 11:22AM

THAT would be funny... omg that would be funny. A nicely rendered world and crappy miis walking around getting smacked. Thought the stripclubs would suck... hitler dancing? no thanks.

Lone Starr @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:55PM

So they're fine with all this shovelware crap on their console, but if it's a port of GTA, they don't want it?

My brain is officially fried.

4MyFriends @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:27PM

Great reading comprehension there champ!

Vaf @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:45PM

Exactly what I thought.
Many many of the Wiis games are either shovelware or ports and T2 has already done good Wii ports(go see bully for example).
I think that Reggie said it out of pure pride or ego.
Nintendo is so high right now in the industry and Rockstar still refuses to make GTA for their console that they just say something like that to make it look like if they didnt even want it,Nintendo ends looking cool.

"Hey guys would you like it if Rockstar made a GTA for you?
Sure dude if its a good original one whatever but we dont want any lame ports lol we are too cool for that"

Donald @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:58PM

I understand why he would say that though. I mean how many good ports for the Wii have there been? (Hint: None) Why would he think it would be any different with a GTA4 port?

Noshino @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:09PM

Hey Donald, you should really look up things beforehand...have you heard of this game called Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition...

time @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:31PM

"I mean how many good ports for the Wii have there been? (Hint: None)"

You obviously have no idea what you're talking about. There's Resident Evil 4 Wii, which is considered the best version of the game. Then there's Okami, Bully, etc.

CJLopez @ Jul 24th 2008 1:37PM

Oh!!! I have another

Zelda: Twilight Princess (is a port from the cube version)
House of the Death 2&3
Dead Rising. Chop till you drop (not out yet, but it'll be awesome)

And i'm sure there are a couple more games wich are ports and are pretty good

elpmis @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:56PM

Yeah, I'm sure Rock Star will get right on that...

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:01PM

Do you know of some secret game they are working on at the moment (Other than Chinatown Wars)?

importuner923 @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:02PM

LOL!

Noshino @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:13PM

Shaq-Fu

Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Midnight Club: Los Angeles Remix
Beaterator
L.A. Noire
Red Dead Revolver 2

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:25PM

Beaterator? Its still being made? the PSP seems more lucrative every day

/serious
//waiting for $200 bundle

4MyFriends @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:28PM

One things for certain, they aren't going to work on a PS3 exclusive GTA.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 24th 2008 1:08AM

@Shaq Fu

Maybe I am tired and your joke went over my head. Maybe you do not live in America (terrorist!). I would bet a pretty penny that the new God Of War Bundle is $200.00 here in the states.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jul 24th 2008 1:39AM

@4myfriends

Sony had timed exclusivity with GTA IV on the PS3. In exchange for a multiplatform release Somy (allegedly) will get two new console exclusive franchises.

If I had to bet I would say an exclusive type of GTA for the Wii would also include the PS2. The Wii (simply put) does not have enough of an audience for an exclusive title unless Nintendo will help with the cost of such an endeavor. Otherwise, that title mill make it on the PS2, probably a more simple version for PSP and another simple DS game.

There is ZERO 0.0 reason for Rockstar to develop a Wii only GTA game. They will milk that cow.

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 24th 2008 2:03AM

McPoop

I'm talking about the one they showed at E3, the Ratchet and Clank one

Tyrannius @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:02PM

lol bottoms up

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:04PM

If its a "port" of San Andreas with better graphics and IR shooting, I would pre-order it this very moment

Killjebus @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:35PM

Better graphics...you mean use cartoony environments and Miis right? Instead of blood FLOWERS would fly out of victims you landed on with your Mii's buttocks just like Mario.

Maybe there could be an icecream mission where you use the Wiimote with wm+ to simulate an icecream eating competition, or use the Jack Llalane Stepper to simulate a hula-hoop and you could challange the local "gang" to take over territory. Or take on all comers at the playground using the WM+ to simulate climing on the junglebars or other fun things at the playground...with WM+ the possibilities are nearly endless and remeber....Nintendo is all about making people SMILE.

The Fatass of Kickassness @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:01PM

I usually despise your posts Killjebus but that made me laugh out loud. +1

xGeneral DEATHx @ Jul 24th 2008 8:16AM

Holy shit that was funny...I need to change pants now.

Phantom @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:16PM

I want a special exclusive(unless sony or MS come out with a motion controller) first person GTA , with full wii-mote controls . with GTA4's adult nightime "gameplay" scenes .

All with full use of Wiimote .

Roto13 @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:28PM

Can this trend of using the word "coup" every time a game is speculated about/hinted at/announced/mentioned/shat on please end now?

4MyFriends @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:33PM

Oh for fuck sakes people, if they had gotten you direct ports of the 3 last gen GTAs with waggle/IR, you guys would bitch regardless because they are just ports. If you are going to constantly complain about Nintendo, at least do it for proper reasons without making yourselves look like hypocrites.

Killjebus @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:38PM

Get used to it...someone said 2day the Nintendo is the NEW Sony.

Nintendo did it to themselves, they have NOONE to blame but themselves....masochists they must be.

Mr Khan @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:39PM

Even Ike would know this fight can't be won. Ignorant Hate is stronger than the Black Knight. Hell, it's stronger than Ashera

Mr Khan @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:36PM

Isn't inconceivable. If there's something GTA and Wii actually have in common, it's mainstream appeal. Maybe not with the *same* kind of mainstream appeal, but it probably has quite a bit of overlap with the semi-casual PS2 market that made GTAs the best selling games of last generation

And the semantics of the title might confuse some. Of course they'd accept a GTA port, it would still be head and shoulders above most of what they accept. Reggie himself would prefer that they not, however

HB96st @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:38PM

Sorry nintendo, but ya did me dirty.. I will be trading in my wii now, thanks.. Thanks for Mario'ing me to death. I can't get 1 FPS (no, not metroid) from nintendo?? 1 mature racing game? 1 mature sports game?? And NO, No nintendo mascots PLEASE!!

But I know I wont get that from ya'll so bye bye wii.. Shee, it was collecting dust anyway..

Not even another Blast Corps or something along those lines??

I would trade in my ds too, but im playing FF tactics on that.. I will now get a psp-HRRKK!! *forces throw-up back down throat.