Topic: Iwata Discusses the Next Nintendo Portable and Zelda

[Penguin_Of_Thyme]

Nintendo President speaks about the successor to the Nintendo DS, the Wii Vitality Sensor, and the release of the next Legend of Zelda.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20721

 CEO and President of Nintendo Satoru Iwata recently let loose the first details about the portable console to follow the Nintendo DS. In a recent interview with Japan's second most circulated paper, the Asahi Shimbun, Iwata stated that the "requirements for the [next Nintendo handheld] will be higher resolution screens and sensors that will be able to read the player's movement."    

While development appears to be underway on the new portable device, Iwata was not willing to divulge a release date. "Being that the DS just broke sales records in the US, a launch date for its successor is not something to talk about," Iwata explained.    

In the interview, Iwata also stressed Nintendo's reluctance to deliver content through cellular networks in a similar fashion to the iPhone. Iwata summed up his position on the matter by saying, "monthly payment systems don't sync well with gaming." However, Iwata does believes that, "connecting to the net [increases] one's enjoyment of the DS," and explained that Nintendo is actively seeking additional partners throughout Japan to offer free Wi-Fi hotspots.    

Along with discussing the next Nintendo portable, Iwata revealed that the next entry in the Legend of Zelda series would be available before the end of 2010. Nintendo also plans to unveil the first titles using the Wii Vitality Sensor in July, and hopes to have the peripheral hit the marketplace as soon as possible.    

Special thanks to Japan Correspondent Matthew Walker for translating the Iwata interview.

[stevey]

Iwata revealed that the next entry in the Legend of Zelda series would be delayed to the end of 2012

fixed

[Caliban]

2011 for new home console Zelda, I say.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

I'd love to see it this year, see what kind of rush-job Nintendo tries to pull on us this time.

"Link's Kendo Training," a series of on-rails stick fights.

[King of Twitch]

"Nintendo also plans to unveil the first titles using the Wii Vitality Sensor in July,"

Plural, titles?? HOW ABOUT SOME SHOWING OFF SOME MOTION PLUS TITLES AUGHHH

[Chozo Ghost]

All this new gaming potential makes me depressed the world will end in 2012. *cry*

[Peachylala]

Sony's magic wand has the potential to be nothing.
 
360's camera...thing has the potential to be...something.
 
WiiMotion + has the potential already. Third excuse makers just can't wrap their heads around it.

[NWR_pap64]

Nintendo isn't doing a lot with MP either. So far there are three Nintendo games confirmed for it: Dynamic Slash (Regein whatever the game is), Span Smasher and Zelda Wii.

[Peachylala]

MP does have it's use though. I find that it makes the motion controls a bit less jittery... but that's just me.

[Halbred]

MP sounds too much like Metroid Prime. Let's use M+ for what I think you're talking about.

[KDR_11k]

"Link's Kendo Training," a series of on-rails stick fights.

Get a Link Mii and you can play that already.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

You're right.  Nintendo's probably just repackaging that and slapping a Legend of Zelda title on the box.

[Ian Sane]

I am both surprised and not surprised that Nintendo is talking about motion sensors.  I'm surprised in the sense that I didn't really think about motion control in a new Nintendo portable.  But I probably SHOULD have thought of that and now that the idea has been brought up it seems like such a no-brainer that Nintendo would want to do that.

My concern though is how well will it work.  Waving your arms around is very doable in your living room but you can't be doing that on a bus.  Tilting is probably the best one can do practically on a handheld.  There also is a major change to the dynamic of motion control when your screen is attached to the controller.

I sincerely doubt that Zelda, Metroid and Mario will all be released for the Wii in 2010.  It will not happen.

[MegaByte]

How many people here have used iPhone/Android/etc.?  The motion control there is not necessarily used in the same manner as the Wii.  Mostly it's for tilting/orientation, and small jerks (like NSMBW).  Given the logical and pervasive uses there, it was almost a given that the next handheld would have to have it.

[KDR_11k]

I don't really see it as that useful, it's mostly used as a replacement for an analog stick and hampered by the limited mobility of your hands (can't do a 90° upwards turn because the thing still has to face you).

[MegaByte]

Also, they could do their walking training without needing another peripheral, as well as Kirby Tilt-n-tumble and Wario Ware Twisted-like games.  Accelerometers have come down to next to nothing in price thanks to stuff like the Wii.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I assume motion controls of the DS2/HDS would mean tilting like an iPhone, and with using the camera for orientation .
But I'm also open to motion controls meaning some Natal like software using the camera. Recognizing facial expressions and hand movements/signals.

Sign Language Training is one of the first things that come to mind.

[MegaByte]

So like Face Training (Japan only) or DSi (WarioWare Snapped, etc)-- but with better resolution and software.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I've never played either of those games (but I did think of Face Training while typing that), but sure. I don't know how either of those games work, but if Nintendo has already Natal'd on a the DS before Natal has Natal'd on the 360, that would be pretty funny.

[MegaByte]

Well the concept is the same, but Natal uses infrared to enhance the body shapes and Bayesian training for feature matching (much like software to handle the Remote and Motion Plus -- I'm not sure what the DSi uses).  Infrared would be an interesting addition, though Microsoft might have that patented.

[King of Twitch]

This could open up some interesting possibilities for porting New Super Mario Brothers DS as a launch title.

[BlackNMild2k1]

This could open up some interesting possibilities for porting New Super Mario Brothers DS as a launch title.

huh? Why would they want to do that?
NSMB is already on the DS, why would they want to port the DS game to the new and very likely BC DS2?

[Chozo Ghost]

There also is a major change to the dynamic of motion control when your screen is attached to the controller.

Why does it necessarily have to be built into the DS itself? Nintendo could create a blue-tooth stylus that would operate like a wii-mote to some extent. You couldn't have many buttons (if any), but you could shake it or swing it or move it around independently of the DS system, and that could have lots of potential for the games.

[Chozo Ghost]

This could open up some interesting possibilities for porting New Super Mario Brothers DS as a launch title.

Terrible idea.

However, it might work to port SM Galaxy to the DS2. If Nintendo follows what I'm envisioning of a stylus that can work as a tiny wiimote, that would easily be very doable provided the system can handle the graphics and all that. Basically, the DS2 would be a pocket version of the Wii.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I doubt there would be a wiimote stylus for the DS2.
too much computer stuff in too small of a space.
not to mention too expensive to replace if you lose it.