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Wii

Suda 51: No More Heroes Series is Going Beyond Wii

by Chuck Jose - July 15, 2009, 5:21 pm EDT
Total comments: 46 Source: Edge Online

The company has plans to evolve series into a major franchise.

In a recent article from Edge Online, Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda (a.k.a. Suda 51) said his company plans to evolve No More Heroes into a bigger franchise. For the studio, the only way to accomplish that would be to look past the Wii and into other systems. He expressed that No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle will probably be the last game in the series to be developed on the Wii.

"Wii is a great platform, but we’ve done everything we can with it now.”

In a story by 1UP, Suda added that his interest in working with Natal.

"We developed No More Heroes with the Wii Remote in mind, but now I want to think about games with Natal in mind. I have to ask myself, as a game designer, what new games can be done with this, what can be an interesting experience and challenge, and I'm looking forward to that."

Ubisoft plans to publish No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle in early 2010 in the West.

Talkback

broodwarsJuly 15, 2009

Yeah, good luck selling your nutty games outside your small niche Nintendo audience, and welcome to the vast ocean of PlayStation and Microsoft gamers who play better games than you make and are even more likely to ignore you.  Well done, Suda 51.  Well done.  But not to worry, because I'm sure Nintendo will grant your request and keep you relevant by putting Travis Touchdown in the next Smash Bros.  lol...

Seriously, as small as his audience is on Wii does he really think that No More Heroes will stand out on other consoles where "mature" games are much more prevalent?

AVJuly 15, 2009

1st of all saying this BEFORE you release the 2nd game is just damning that game to failure.

Why should I buy that game when i know for a fact that the story will continue on a game console I don't own.

2nd the game might work with Natal or PS3 wand thingy but it won't be the same.

What about all the people who supported your game on Wii ? is that audience worthless to you.

3rd why would PS3 or 360 owners care about the 3rd game in a franchise if they can't play the 1st and 2nd game without owning a Wii. It would be like releasing God of War 3 on MAC . The Mac audience might be happy to get the game, but without being able to play the first 2 games it doesn't make much sense story wise.

Do they plan to re-release NMH and Desperate Struggle on those consoles as well. If so that's going to be allot of money needed and potentially they might not care. 360 and PS3 have plenty of its own exclusives, so this might bomb on those consoles .

I guess business wise it's a good idea to get a bigger market, but what ever happened respecting the audience.

StratosJuly 15, 2009

There have been lots of series that have transferred systems. Final Fantasy, Metal Gear, Mega Man, Resident Evil. So I don't think the 'you have to play the previous ones' holds much water. Maybe for some of the convoluted story, but that is what reboots are for. What if he makes NMH3 not need too much knowledge of the previous games?

I'll buy it even if I know the third is coming to another system. Firstly, it could come to both systems. Secondly, NMHs will be a great game on it's own (I'm assuming).

Time will tell. I say everyone buy it (assuming it is really good) and show what kind of sales it can do on Wii. Then if it flops on that other system, they will bring it back to us (like with RE4 and other games that were eventually ported).

EnnerJuly 15, 2009

Quote from: Mr.

I guess business wise it's a good idea to get a bigger market, but what ever happened respecting the audience.

Since when did expanding to other platforms disrespect the audience? It's not like Suda 51 owed anything to anyone, especially when he has expressed interest in developing for other consoles.

I think this is a good thing since that means other game fans who only own the other systems now have a chance to play a No More Heroes game.

mantidorJuly 15, 2009

I seriously doubt "they have done everything possible on the wii", then again their games have failed to call my attention. I also really doubt other platforms will offer more possible things to do, besides graphics, and they don't look like the kind of developer that can invest the kind of money needed for quality graphics on the so called "HD" consoles. They are also pretty much delusional if they think they can have a bigger market for their games there.

If you are a niche developer and can't make it huge on the dominant console forget about trying it in the second and third. The market leader is your safer bet. It's kind of ridiculous to even think about it but it seems like a lot of developers were following fanboish posts on the more popular internet gaming forums as their marketing guidelines.

Now not only is the market-leading Wii not getting a lot of third-party support, it's losing some of the exclusive support it already had.

LJKKJLCM9July 15, 2009

cause Killer 7 did so much better on the PS2 than the GC or something?

Suda creates niche games, and no matter what system he makes them on, they will reach a small audience.  I'm going to buy the 2nd game because I enjoyed the first one, but this will hardly be a franchise that will ever sell a console, so I won't be buying another console to play these games.  If I happen to own one it goes to, so be it.

THE JACKEL

StogiJuly 16, 2009

I wish them the best of luck.

PeachylalaJuly 16, 2009

Quote from: insanolord

Now not only is the market-leading Wii not getting a lot of third-party support, it's losing some of the exclusive support it already had.

N64 and GCN had some plausible reasons for third parties shifting support. The cartridge medium (N64), and the "everything must be MATURE!! and not on a purple purse" mentality last gen being the main problems.

This generation is basically 3rd Excuse Makers. IN BROWN SHADING.

StratosJuly 16, 2009

Quote from: True

Quote from: insanolord

Now not only is the market-leading Wii not getting a lot of third-party support, it's losing some of the exclusive support it already had.

N64 and GCN had some plausible reasons for third parties shifting support. The cartridge medium (N64), and the "everything must be MATURE!! and not on a purple purse" mentality last gen being the main problems.

This generation is basically 3rd Excuse Makers. IN BROWN SHADING.

I will miss the vibrant and colorful world (well, characters at least) of Santa Destroy.  Hard to Define colors and objects will their their place.

broodwarsJuly 16, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: True

Quote from: insanolord

Now not only is the market-leading Wii not getting a lot of third-party support, it's losing some of the exclusive support it already had.

N64 and GCN had some plausible reasons for third parties shifting support. The cartridge medium (N64), and the "everything must be MATURE!! and not on a purple purse" mentality last gen being the main problems.

This generation is basically 3rd Excuse Makers. IN BROWN SHADING.

I will miss the vibrant and colorful world (well, characters at least) of Santa Destroy.  Hard to Define colors and objects will their their place.

I don't see Suda 51 suddenly changing his wacked-out art style just because he's looking to jump off the wobbling Wii 3rd party ship.  It might become a little more refined with sharper lines; bolder colors; and perhaps even more gore but I don't see it changing much beyond that.

My problem with Suda 51 is that while I generally enjoyed No More Heroes, the guy can't make an above-average game to save his life.  He really is the epitome of Pro's "3rd Excuse Makers": he's pretentiously complaining that he needs to jump ship to the other platforms because he can't make a game that people actually want to buy on Wii (or PS2 for that matter).  The platform is his problem, not the quality of his games apparently.  And while he's doing so, he apparently wants Nintendo to put Travis Touchdown in the next Smash Bros. as if Suda 51 was actually someone important to Nintendo's marketing strategy.  He manages to throw enough bizarre things together to make his stuff at least interesting, but while I can appreciate that to some degree that doesn't make him worthy of the all the attention he's trying to garner for himself.

StratosJuly 16, 2009

It was a joke piggybacking True's brown shading comment.

I do agree with you though that he is being an excuse maker.

Did he really say he wanted Tuchdown in the next Smash?

broodwarsJuly 16, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Did he really say he wanted Tuchdown in the next Smash?

Ask and ye shall receive: http://www.destructoid.com/suda-51-wants-travis-touchdown-in-smash-bros--138979.phtml

Considering that news story came out just a day or two after Suda's original announcement that NMH2 was going to be the last in the series on Wii, I found his statement in that above about link about wanting Touchdown to be in Smash Bros. to just be hilarious.

PeachylalaJuly 16, 2009

Basically my Brown Shading joke was piggybacked by Stratos. Yeah.

Quote from: broodwars]]Considering

Hideo - Wanted Snake in Melee. Got him in Brawl. We didn't get any games from him (which is either a good or bad thing).

Suda51 - Deciding to put NMH on different platforms, but wants Travis in the next Smash game.

THE ERA OF EXCUSE MAKERS!

StratosJuly 16, 2009

And I was really hoping for an MGS2 remake or a port of the PS2 MGS collection on Wii.

A pity no one bought Twin Snakes.

EasyCureJuly 16, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

And I was really hoping for an MGS2 remake or a port of the PS2 MGS collection on Wii.

A pity no one bought Twin Snakes.

I DID! used from gamestop during a buy 2 get one 1 free deal..

vuduJuly 16, 2009

NMH3 probably won't be released until 2012 at the earliest.  A new Nintendo console will be introduced around that time.  Assuming it has motion controls, Suda will be best served creating NMH3 with the Natal in mind and then porting it to the new Nintendo system.

BwrJim!July 16, 2009

So, this is actually old news as far as the internet is concernced.  Would it be easier to let you all in on it when it happens?

It's good your getting the information though to more people. 

Will the series work on other systems?  hmmmm, im not too sure. ON nintendos console it was fresh, but now... not so much.

PeachylalaJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

And I was really hoping for an MGS2 remake or a port of the PS2 MGS collection on Wii.

A pity no one bought Twin Snakes.

This article from Ravi on The Snake Soup (maker of that famous Make Yer Own BnB Unit) basically explains why the Twin Snakes wasn't that great. It's here.

REmake sold well because it was a good game. MGS:TS? Not so much.

StratosJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: True

Quote from: Stratos

And I was really hoping for an MGS2 remake or a port of the PS2 MGS collection on Wii.

A pity no one bought Twin Snakes.

This article from Ravi on The Snake Soup (maker of that famous Make Yer Own BnB Unit) basically explains why the Twin Snakes wasn't that great. It's here.

REmake sold well because it was a good game. MGS:TS? Not so much.

I disagree with some of the things that article stated. The author was uninformed on some things that would have changed his tone some, especially at the end. But that is for another thread.

PeachylalaJuly 17, 2009

Can you eleborate? I may have to bump my MGS thread in the General Gaming section...

StratosJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: True

Can you eleborate? I may have to bump my MGS thread in the General Gaming section...

I was actually going to try and find it in a little bit. If you find it first, bump it and I'll elaborate there later.

ShyGuyJuly 17, 2009

Multiplatform release on teh Wii Plus?

NinGurl69 *hugglesJuly 17, 2009

They can take their multiplatipus strategy and sit themselves on an erect broomstick.

SundoulosJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: EasyCure

Quote from: Stratos

And I was really hoping for an MGS2 remake or a port of the PS2 MGS collection on Wii.

A pity no one bought Twin Snakes.

I DID! used from gamestop during a buy 2 get one 1 free deal..

I did, too.  I still have it and play it from time to time.

EasyCureJuly 17, 2009

I've been meaning to go back and try to get as many dog tags as possible, since TS was the first MGS i played and was very bad at the stealth thing at first. Well, not so much that i was bad at being stealthy, but i'd panic when i'd be seen and go on a killing spree haha.

I'll probably never do it though, oh well!

Smash_BrotherJuly 17, 2009

MGS:TS was awesome. I've seldom had so much fun with a game.

But I'm not sure about Suda's actions here. If anything, it would've been much wiser to wait until after releasing NMH2 before declaring that NMH3 will be on another console.

BwrJim!July 17, 2009

I was thinking, the best way for this game to evolve may be along the lines of an mmorpg.

Luigi DudeJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: Smash_Brother

But I'm not sure about Suda's actions here. If anything, it would've been much wiser to wait until after releasing NMH2 before declaring that NMH3 will be on another console.

Yeah, Suda might have just Viewitful Joe'd his series.  The first Viewtiful Joe had success on the Gamecube just like NMH did on the Wii.  But then Capcom got greedy and decided to port the first game to the PS2, before announcing Viewtiful Joe 2 for the Gamecube, which would also be coming to the PS2 as well.

Needless to say, the PS2 port of Viewtiful Joe bombed because PS2 owners didn't care for it, Viewtiful Joe 2 on the Gamecube bombed because Nintendo fans were pissed off.  And since PS2 owners didn't care for the first Viewtiful Joe, the second game did beyond terrible on the PS2.

So in the end, Capcom ended up killing the series because they underestimated the Nintendo fanbase and overestimated the so-called hardcore gamers on the other systems.  Suda seems to be doing the same thing, thinking that the HD owners will magically give him greater sales, even though there's no evidence that a game like No More Heroes would do any better on those systems.

PeachylalaJuly 17, 2009

Quote from: Luigi

Yeah, Suda might have just Viewitful Joe'd his series.  The first Viewtiful Joe had success on the Gamecube just like NMH did on the Wii.  But then Capcom got greedy and decided to port the first game to the PS2, before announcing Viewtiful Joe 2 for the Gamecube, which would also be coming to the PS2 as well.

I don't think VJ had that much success on the Cube like NHM had on the Wii. I think we need sale units to debunk that. VJ however is the better game out of the two, in my personal opinion.

Quote:

Needless to say, the PS2 port of Viewtiful Joe bombed because PS2 owners didn't care for it, Viewtiful Joe 2 on the Gamecube bombed because Nintendo fans were pissed off.  And since PS2 owners didn't care for the first Viewtiful Joe, the second game did beyond terrible on the PS2.

Karma is indeed a harsh mistress when it comes to Nintendo fans. Piss them off, it will sting in the end. It happened to VJ 2, it may well happen to NMH2.

TJ SpykeJuly 19, 2009

Quote from: True

I don't think VJ had that much success on the Cube like NHM had on the Wii. I think we need sale units to debunk that. VJ however is the better game out of the two, in my personal opinion.

BwrJim!July 19, 2009

remember the whole godzilla..  Sold extremly well on cube, sold poorly on others..

corperate thought: "lets just push the sequel on the other platforms and forget about the cube"
Corperate afterthought: "wha happend?"

StratosJuly 19, 2009

Quote from: BwrJim!

remember the whole godzilla..  Sold extremly well on cube, sold poorly on others..

corperate thought: "lets just push the sequel on the other platforms and forget about the cube"
Corperate afterthought: "wha happend?"

Same with Soul Calibur 3/4, Prince of Persia series and Beyond Good and Evil.

broodwarsJuly 19, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: BwrJim!

remember the whole godzilla..  Sold extremly well on cube, sold poorly on others..

corperate thought: "lets just push the sequel on the other platforms and forget about the cube"
Corperate afterthought: "wha happend?"

Same with Soul Calibur 3/4, Prince of Persia series and Beyond Good and Evil.

Hold up now, I don't think the Wii could handle the latest PoP or what we've seen of the new Beyond Good & Evil, so it's not really fair to bring those up.  Soul Calibur 3/4 is fair game, though.

PeachylalaJuly 19, 2009

Soul Caliber 3 kind of deserved it (it wasn't that good), but 4? It really bombed? Sale figures please?

Quote:

The GameCube version sold about 275K and the PS2 version about 40K, and those are worldwide numbers.

Most of the Cube's sales might just be NA/EU. VJ has a fanbase here, we loved it that much. (<3 my VJ).

Quote:

Hold up now, I don't think the Wii could handle the latest PoP or what we've seen of the new Beyond Good & Evil, so it's not really fair to bring those up.

First one,might find success. Second? It will fail, massively. If it sells, then the 360/PS3 fanbase do have taste.

It wont make a dent in the Rabbids Gone Home sales though. Rabbids have a huge fanbase, BG&E does not.

StratosJuly 20, 2009

Quote from: broodwars

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: BwrJim!

remember the whole godzilla..  Sold extremly well on cube, sold poorly on others..

corperate thought: "lets just push the sequel on the other platforms and forget about the cube"
Corperate afterthought: "wha happend?"

Same with Soul Calibur 3/4, Prince of Persia series and Beyond Good and Evil.

Hold up now, I don't think the Wii could handle the latest PoP or what we've seen of the new Beyond Good & Evil, so it's not really fair to bring those up.  Soul Calibur 3/4 is fair game, though.

My point was that they ignored the system that sold the most copies. Wii is the market leader. PoP and BG&E should have been made with it in mind from the beginning.

I'm especially sorrowful of BG&E.

IceColdJuly 20, 2009

Don't care, the first one was pretty shitty.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJuly 20, 2009

Lapsed gamer now?

StratosJuly 20, 2009

Quote from: IceCold

Don't care, the first one was pretty shitty.

The first BG&E? Bit your tongue! It was awesome. It was as good as games like Twilight Princess I would say.

broodwarsJuly 20, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: IceCold

Don't care, the first one was pretty ****ty.

The first BG&E? Bit your tongue! It was awesome. It was as good as games like Twilight Princess I would say.

Meh, I wouldn't call the first BG&E "****ty", but it was pretty average.  I just never saw anything particularly exceptional about the gameplay, especially the lousy stealth mechanic.  And this is just a pet peeve, but it really bothered me that a game called "beyond good and evil" strictly was about good vs. evil with no gray area inbetween.  Oustanding music and graphics, though.

vuduJuly 20, 2009

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: IceCold

Don't care, the first one was pretty shitty.

The first BG&E? Bit your tongue! It was awesome. It was as good as games like Twilight Princess I would say.

He was referring to NMH.

EasyCureJuly 20, 2009

Quote from: vudu

Quote from: Stratos

Quote from: IceCold

Don't care, the first one was pretty shitty.

The first BG&E? Bit your tongue! It was awesome. It was as good as games like Twilight Princess I would say.

He was referring to NMH.

And he was wrong ;)

He's just made he couldn't get the Schpeltiger on a crazy futuristic track with jump and loops at intense speeds, or use the GCN bongos to rhythmically combo enemies with Travis"' beam katana :P

Ian SaneJuly 21, 2009

This is not encouraging but since it involves Wii third party support being embarassingly poor it's not unexpected.  This happened with the Cube and the way things have been going, regardless of how idiotic it may seem, it was probably inevitable.  Regardless of what the reason is third parties clearly do NOT want to support the Wii and it was only a matter of time before the console started losing some of the support it did have.

The Wii's sales will likely be unaffected.  Nintendo will be unaffected.  The Wii is so polarizing that it won't really affect the userbase; the Wii is either the absolute worst console or the absolute greatest and no one is going to change their opinion over this.

Will No More Heroes do better on the other consoles?  Probably not.  It's a big fish in a small pond and only stands out because for the Wii there is so little else for that target market.  Though there is the image of the Wii being the casual console so Suda 51 probably believes that even if the overall Wii userbase is larger the amount of the userbase that would actually be the market for his game is greater on the other consoles.  This is probably what the vast majority of third parties think (and we can't really disprove them though I don't think anyone has truly put up ANY sort of a decent effort and Nintendo's core games do sell).

According to the incredibly reliable source of Wikipedia, ;) when first day sales of No More Heroes in Japan were disappointing Suda51 said that "only Nintendo is doing well in regard to the Wii's success because of its adoption by casual gamers."  He later retracted the comment but he did say it so at some point he probably believed it.

The thing is though is that No More Heroes isn't good enough to be a huge iconic game franchise in any environment.  Low sales could entirely be deserved.

NinGurl69 *hugglesJuly 21, 2009

You know it cuz you've played it, right?

vuduSeptember 21, 2009

Quote from: vudu

NMH3 probably won't be released until 2012 at the earliest.  A new Nintendo console will be introduced around that time.  Assuming it has motion controls, Suda will be best served creating NMH3 with the Natal in mind and then porting it to the new Nintendo system.

Hey, look at that; I was right.

Someone owes me a Coke.

PeachylalaSeptember 21, 2009

Congrats Suda, you may not be that stupid after all.

Too bad you can't give your intelligence to Hideo.

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