Topic: E3 2009 to reveal big software, from the man himself, Iwata. PS2 in his sights.

[KDR_11k]

Will you people stop it with Kid Icarus already? That rumor was bullshit and hyping it up again only causes disappointment. Hey, guys, there's already a WiiWare game that's aimed at the Kid Icarus legacy in the works, how about you focus on that?

What would resurrecting Kid Icarus do anyway except throw an old brand on a new game? What would really remain of the old game in a modern 3d version?

Also didn't Factor 5 go tits up?

As for western vs japanese stuff, japanese designs in fiction tend to be very ornate and mosty designed around looking cool when doing things like forming interesting silhouettes with every action and such. Western designs are often more practical with the parts having a purpose beyond looking cool and often unrealistically weird designs being avoided. This is most apparent when you compare the designs for mechs, e.g. the Gundam compared to the machines from Earthsiege (I'm not sure Battletech counts fully since its mech collection was "bootstrapped" with designs stolen from Macross and Dougram)

BTW, the names like goomba and koopa are western names, the Japanese ones are kuribo and nokonoko respectively.

[Adrock]

Resurrecting Kid Icarus gives Nintendo fans another good game to play. With all the nothing Nintendo had Q4 2008, I don't know why bringing Pit back can be a bad thing (assuming the game wouldn't suck). I do agree that the rumor is BS. There's nothing to support it other than IGN's cryptic hints which is basically BS anyway.

[blackfootsteps]

So, um, why do the "hardcore" people ignore the games from the fall conference?

Fixed.

That is a good question. I'd love to find out more about those NEW IPs like Dynamic Slash and the one set in space..

The reason these games are ignored (read: forgotten) is that we know next to nothing about them. We need to be thrown a bone in order to chew.

[Chozo Ghost]

As for the style of the game being Japanese, well maybe original one was, but why does that mean the modern sequel necessarily has to be? Retro did a good job with Metroid Prime despite being a western developer. Why would Kid Icarus be worse off in a western studio's hands? Since its actually baed on Greek Mythology, maybe a western touch is actually an improvement.

[EasyCure]

So, um, why do the "hardcore" people ignore the games from the fall conference?

Fixed.

That is a good question. I'd love to find out more about those NEW IPs like Dynamic Slash and the one set in space..

The reason these games are ignored (read: forgotten) is that we know next to nothing about them. We need to be thrown a bone in order to chew.

But the bone everyones chewing on is a squeezy toy, aka fake, aka stupid rumour. Those not chewing on these real bones (albeit as small as they are) are starving themselves for, well, no reason.

[NWR_pap64]

Going back to the new IP discussion...

I believe the reason why new IPs are important to any company is because it keeps a lot of people working, it keeps companies fresh and more new blood is inserted into game development (as in new employees, creators and such).

I believe that when Ian and Lindy say they want the next big new IP from Nintendo they mean they want a new franchise that could rival the excellence of Mario, Zelda, Kirby and Pokemon, a game that becomes a worldwide hit, not just a cult classic or something like that.

The reality of the situation is that Miyamoto won't be around forever. Either he will retire or die while working at Nintendo. Right now he's pretty much the glue that holds the company together. He provides most of the innovation at the company and he can't be everywhere. Nintendo should try and focus on young developers or creators with potentially good ideas so in the event that Miyamoto  leaves forever they could have someone to keep pumping out new ideas.

And they can. Remember, Pokemon was just a small game about catching creatures in the wild and training them to do battle. It was a simple game with crude graphics, simple music and some limitations. Yet, the gameplay was solid enough that it brought a lot of new fans in and became a worldwide hit.

While Animal Crossing didn't create a similar sensation it also brought a lot of new fans in despite its simplicity.

Like I mentioned earlier at one point or another ALL major franchises were new ideas waiting to be tested. And they got where they are today because publishers were daring enough to give them a chance.

So to sum it up new IPs are important because it keeps a company fresh and relevant and gives birth to young creators who might be tomorrow's creative leaders.

[Kairon]

While Animal Crossing didn't create a similar sensation it also brought a lot of new fans in despite its simplicity.

Animal Crossing on the DS just crossed the 10 million sold mark. I bet the Wii version is at or over 2 million worldwide already. In fact, the Wii version could easily outsell the combined numbers for the last Tomb Raider game, or the last Prince of Persia game.

I agree that it hasn't been a Pokemon-like sensation, but I just wanted to point out that Animal Crossing should be considered a MAJOR newer franchise for Nintendo. (especially since I sort of left it out of my list of major new Nintendo IPs...eheh)

[Chozo Ghost]

The reality of the situation is that Miyamoto won't be around forever. Either he will retire or die while working at Nintendo.

Don't say that! Miyamoto will live forever. He's going to be like Che Guevara, and will have his face on T-shirts and so forth... I hope Nintendo will build a Robot or something and find a way to upload Miyamoto's genius brain into it so that he will be able to continue creating games from beyond the grave.

[KDR_11k]

Miyamoto is creating new ideas, just instead of slapping a pre-defined character in there he lets the player pick his own avatar with the Miis. Malstrom's theory was that nintendo only makes new franchises to match new hardware (e.g. F Zero for mode 7, Pikmin for the GC's ability to handle so many things).

The reason these games are ignored (read: forgotten) is that we know next to nothing about them. We need to be thrown a bone in order to chew.

Yet people talk about Kid Icarus as if it was a confirmed fact.

[Chozo Ghost]

Kid Icarus might not be confirmed, but Nintendo has been reviving a lot of its dormant old franchises lately (sin & punishment, Punch-out, etc.) so why wouldn't they revive Icarus as well? Plus he was included in Smash Bros. and there's no way that would have happened unless Nintendo was giving him some thought.

[KDR_11k]

That is still way more far fetched than a game that has a trailer released already.

[Ian Sane]

Animal Crossing is totally a relatively new major IP from Nintendo.  My only beef with it is that instead of making a full-out sequel to it Nintendo just slightly upgrades it each time.  Since I already have the Cube version I've never seen any reason to get Super Animal Crossing Turbo on the Wii.

Though not all IPs are equal.  Animal Crossing and Pikmin are a much bigger deal since they're developed internally by Nintendo themselves.  A new IP from an obscure or unproven developer that is only be published by Nintendo is not as big of a deal as it lacks the guaranteed quality that a first party Nintendo title almost certainly will have.

[KDR_11k]

What would a full-out sequel to a do-what-you-want game like AC really do? All you can do is add more features.

[Ian Sane]

What would a full-out sequel to a do-what-you-want game like AC really do? All you can do is add more features.

The exact same characters populate your town regardless of what game you have.  For starters how about a completely different cast?  How about different settings for towns instead of always a forest?  Have it in a jungle or a mountain or a big city or outer space or the wild west or medieval times or in Nintendo themed environments like Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom.  Hell this isn't even hard.  There's so much more they could do with this franchise.

[Kairon]

For starters how about a completely different cast?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo!!!!!!! I have an emotional connection with my familiar faces.... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

How about different settings for towns instead of always a forest?

That could work, but not to the extent of your suggestions. Just some different environs. Desert towns, plains towns, forest towns! But uh... not medieval theme park towns...

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

"A new IP from an obscure or unproven developer that is only be published by Nintendo is not as big of a deal as it lacks the guaranteed quality that a first party Nintendo title almost certainly will have."

They also lack the marketing $$$ of first-party efforts.  Why does Nintendo bother sending troops to die?

[TofuFury]

I'd hate an AC game with all new villagers. I have a lot of fun seeing old villagers move in to stay. While I understand people want fresh faces, I just don't want to see them all go.

I do think Nintendo will do better with this E3. They've seen what happens when they have a lackluster event, and I don't think they want to send out more letters apologizing for their showing.

As far as a wishlist goes, I'd be happy if Nintendo showed any of the following:

Wii-
Starfox Wii
Yoshi's Island Wii
Mario Galaxy 2
Pikmin 3
A new and interesting IP

DS-
US releases for Mother 1-3 (yeah, I know, not happening) and Soma Bringer

[KDR_11k]

Another Mario main game at E3 won't happen, they're not going to rush Mario just to make E3 more interesting.

Nintendo has total freedom this E3, there's no threat that needs to be preempted so they can do whatever they want.

As for new IPs, considering they already have 4-5 new IPs in their upcoming release list for Japan (you know, the one with the million sellers listed) the chance is pretty close to 100% that they'll show at least one of them at E3.

[Chozo Ghost]

I agree. There may be another main Mario game for the Wii (which would break a trend set by the last two Nintendo consoles) but I doubt it would come out so soon after Galaxy. Nintendo tends to milk their releases for all they're worth before even thinking about a sequel.

[GoldenPhoenix]

City Folk is a pretty sizeable leap from AC on GC. I'm not sure I could even go back to the limited scope of that game. I'm having way too much fun with people here!

[DAaaMan64]

A new IP from an obscure or unproven developer that is only be published by Nintendo is not as big of a deal as it lacks the guaranteed quality that a first party Nintendo title almost certainly will have.

Grr no. You just unintentionally or otherwise ripped on BWii. >.<  That game is awesome.

[Ian Sane]

I would assume that a new Zelda would come before a new Mario.  Twilight Princess is really a Gamecube game.  They haven't made a Zelda specifically with the Wii in mind yet.  You figure they would do that before making another Mario.  I would be shocked if we got more than one Mario.  The N64 and Gamecube each only had one.

[NWR_pap64]

I would assume that a new Zelda would come before a new Mario.  Twilight Princess is really a Gamecube game.  They haven't made a Zelda specifically with the Wii in mind yet.  You figure they would do that before making another Mario.  I would be shocked if we got more than one Mario.  The N64 and Gamecube each only had one.

Yes, Twilight Princess was pretty much the "Play on Wii" game in the series. They used it to test new ideas on the Wii and see how the audience would react to it. While it was a massive hit everywhere it pretty much flopped in Japan.

If they announce a new Zelda for the Wii I expect they will push it as a groundbreaking experience, probably leagues different from TP.

[Stogi]

If they announce a new Zelda for the Wii I expect they will push it as a groundbreaking experience, probably leagues different from TP.

We can only hope.

Still, while I don't think Zelda only can boost sales past the PS2. While Zelda is the best example of classic gaming, I fully expect Nintendo to announce another Wii____ series. My guess is Wii Health.

[Flames_of_chaos]

If they announce a new Zelda for the Wii I expect they will push it as a groundbreaking experience, probably leagues different from TP.

We can only hope.

Still, while I don't think Zelda only can boost sales past the PS2. While Zelda is the best example of classic gaming, I fully expect Nintendo to announce another Wii____ series. My guess is Wii Health.

Wii Health is essentially Wii Fit.