Topic: Japanese Developers Discuss Nintendo DS

[Jonnyboy117]

Quotes from Nagoshi, Naka, Super Takahashi Bros., and more.

GameScience has translated an article from Famitsu Weekly, in which Japanese game developers gave their initial feedback on the Nintendo DS.  In a poll, 93% of developers said they have high hopes for the system, while about 60% of retailers and consumers had high hopes.  (Note that Japanese developers have had development kits for the system since some time in 2003.)

Several famous game creators offered specific comments on the system and its surprise announcement:

"It should allow the birth of a whole host of new ideas and play experiences that haven't existed before" - Amusement Vision's (Toshihiro) Nagoshi

"We would definitely like to release something for the launch" - Sonic Team's Yuji Naka

"In a game industry that is feeling more and more penned in, this should create a few openings." - Camelot's Hiroyuki Takahashi

"Because the handheld market is so important for the "Super Robot Wars" series, we are thinking of ways to put something out as soon as possible" - Banpresto's Terada

Hit GameScience's website to read the rest of the comments and poll results.

[PaLaDiN]

Hmmm... 93%, huh?

I really want to see this baby...

[GaimeGuy]

Amusement Vision's Nagoshi
- The first time I saw it, I thought "?", then when reading the specs, that turned into "!"

[mouse_clicker]

I'm very glad to see the DS has some strong Japanese support. I hope Nintendo pursues American developers just as much and that they are as optimistic as their eastern brethren.

[Ian Sane]

I still am unsure how financially successful the DS will be but at the very least I like the potential support.  This is the ultimate system for innovative game designers.  In the end I think the lineup will be very hardcore which likely will hurt overall sales but it's going to get a lot of the really good developers working with Nintendo, which of course will benefit future Nintendo systems.

If this thing takes off I think you're going to start to see a real split between the elite and the average game designers as well as Japanese and American companies.

[nolimit19]

i had a really good idea in a dream the other night for a ds game. something with spying....i dont remember my dreams very well, but it was cool at the time.

[Djunknown]

If nothing else, it will let companies flex their creative muscle. But I'm willing to bet that EA will just write it off and just focus on the PSP. If EA releases Madden and the rest of their sports lineup on PSP, its over. Unless these Japanese developers really wow us. They're already 'wowed' as is, now its time to put that 'wow' factor into the games.

Nolimit19, if you can picture the a game on DS, man, that's some imagination.

[Bill Aurion]

I bet one of those companies that doesn't see the DS taking off is Square-Enix... ;_____; ...I want Terranigma so badly...

"In a game industry that is feeling more and more penned in, this should create a few openings." - Camelot's Hiroyuki Takahashi

Now give me another Golden Sun!

[nickmitch]

I can really see how a Madden game could work on screen on the QB the other on the reciver so you can wait and see if their open, but i don't know how'll you'll be able to switch recievers to get the one you want unless it goes to the most open player automatically.

[Polemistis]

Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane

If this thing takes off I think you're going to start to see a real split between the elite and the average game designers as well as Japanese and American companies.

I got my fingures crossed that happens !

[NWR_Lindy]

I'm hyped for this thing now.  Usually developers are some of the hardest people to impress, and all of these big names are coming out and saying that the DS is really innovative.  Excellent.

I think the Madden games could easily be put on the DS...play field on one screen, playbook on the other.  I think EA will release Madden for the both the PSP and DS...why not?  It looks like they're shaping up to be two totally distinct markets.

silks

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

At first, I had doubts about the DS, but after reading all these quotes, it has me excited.  The DS is what this industry needs, an innovative console which will allow new innovative games!

Masahiro Sakurai - "Easy to use hardware is great"
Sonic Team's Yuji Naka - "We've been waiting for this! We'll be sure to try out something new with this"
Tetsuya Mizuguchi - "I expect this will also lead to the possibility of improving people's brains"

These quotes are getting me more and more excited....I can't wait for E3!

[Ian Sane]

"But I'm willing to bet that EA will just write it off and just focus on the PSP. If EA releases Madden and the rest of their sports lineup on PSP, its over."

It may be over in the US but not in Japan.  Madden is a non-factor in Japan.  Even if the DS only has Japanese support it should still be able to stay alive.  Naturally it would do well in Japan and Japanese games sell better over here than American games over there.  I think sports game fans aren't really the target demographic for the DS anyway.  The DS is really more for hardcore game enthusiasts and Nintendo fans, neither of which would be turned off by the lack of Madden.

Besides knowing EA they wouldl port over Madden anyway to make a quick buck.  It's not like they would even have to use the second screen.

[odifiend]

What I find so funny about EA's lack of support is that the demo Nintendo showed the world is how this could expand (though minorly) the sports genre by giving the player different perspectives of the field.  The one important developer who seems uninterested is none other than sports specialist, EA.  Sigh.  But yeah I'm with Ian, EA has always ported their stuff over, and from the japanese developers comments it sounds like the system is easy to work with.

Sonic Team's Yuji Naka - "We've been waiting for this! We'll be sure to try out something new with this"

Sonic Team trying something new?  It is about time .  (Yeah they did Billy and Heroes, ST defenders don't have to remind me.) Yuji Naka's got skillz, and now he has a sweet (sounding) tool.

[Bill Aurion]

Pah, EA just doesn't have any creativity...

EA guy:  I know!  Let's add 2 more polygons to each character in our next Madden game!
EA guy 2:  Now THAT'S innovation!

*sigh*

[ThePerm]

well the talk that the japanese devs have is really exciting...i mean think about this...some of the problems with games today is its really hard to start from scratch because lotsa current ideas exist...however this is new...and it gives people wacky ideas and revives some newness in the industry....i have came up with a bunch of ideas for the system...2d and 3d....