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Sakurai and Kobayashi Release Messages Regarding Smash Bros.

by Patrick Barnett - June 21, 2012, 10:14 pm EDT
Total comments: 18 Source: Nintendo

Sakurai delivers a personal message after the recent Nintendo Direct.

Masahiro Sakurai, the man in charge of the next Super Smash Bros. game has released a message discussing his partnership with Namco Bandai on the game.

Masaya Kobayashi also released a message which showed his excitement to be working on the project alongside Sakurai. He went on to explain what members of his team would be working on the project

Both messages can be read below.

Masahiro Sakurai

Hello, I'm Masahiro Sakurai, the director of the Super Smash Bros. series.

It's my personal belief that the only time a creative product really resonates is in that first moment when it's actually in front of you. With that said, I've realized that if we keep the new Super Smash Bros. title's development structure secret, it'll only create more and more speculation, and I won't be able to develop the game with any freedom. That's why I've decided to announce this news right now, even though it's still very early on.

I would love to provide more information, but for now, I'm going to stay quiet until I have something solid to show you.

The project has just gotten started. Bear in mind that not only are we developing two titles simultaneously, but we announced the project before we even started actual development, so I'm afraid we will likely have to keep you waiting for quite a while. Please be patient.

Currently, the prototype prepared by NAMCO BANDAI Games and NAMCO BANDAI Studios' special team looks pretty good, and it's working great. In order to take advantage of the fact that there will be versions for two different systems, and to maximize and offer fun new gameplay elements, the entire team is going to work hard together. Thank you.

Masaya Kobayashi

Hello, everyone. I'm Masaya Kobayashi of NAMCO BANDAI Studios. I'm so honored to be able to join the Smash Bros. team--that globally popular series of which Japan is particularly proud—and to work alongside of Mr. Sakurai.

In order to make Mr. Sakurai proud, we will take on this project with NAMCO BANDAI's best staff! Yoshito Higuchi, the producer and the director of the "Tales" series, Tetsuya Akatsuka, producer and director of "Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs.," the art director/sound director of the "SoulCalibur" series, the main development team staff from the "TEKKEN" series…and that's just for starters. All the top creators from NAMCO BANDAI are gathered here to create a never-before-seen dream team for this project. We will fully utilize our experience and knowledge in action/fighting game development, technical capability, and organizational strength, and we hereby promise you that we will develop the best and most powerful "Super Smash Bros." title ever! Don't miss it!

Representative works:

Masaya Kobayashi
"Ridge Racer" series
"We Ski" (Wii) series"
Go Vacation" (Wii)

Yoshito Higuchi
"SoulCalibur" series
"Tales of the Abyss"
"Tales of Vesperia"

Talkback

EnnerJune 22, 2012

The collaboration with Namco Bandai is surprising news. It colors how the Smash Bros. series and Sakurai's games are outside of what one expects from Nintendo. The potential cross overs with Namco Bandai series is sure to be the top of speculation for Smash Bros 4. The obvious candidates would be from Tekken, Soul Calibur, and the Tales series. However, it would be neat to see stuff from Ridge Racer and Ace Combat (as long as it isn't Assault Horizon, don't like that one). Of course, the craziest and weirdest candidate would be the Idolm@ster series. If a stage, support trophy, or playable character from Idolm@ster makes it in to the kerfuffle, then I will be grinning with glee for the game.


With the involvement of the Tekken team, I wonder if the competitive aspects and potential of Smash Bros. will be taken more seriously for the fourth game. I would welcome it as some of the randomness (e.g. tripping) and absurdity (e.g. New Pork City) of Brawl ultimately detract from the game.

ZupJune 22, 2012

I'm fairly excited for the crossover potential, since it opens up Baten Kaitos characters as trophies at least, and playable possibly!

AdrockJune 22, 2012

Some people on the internetz are upset because the last time Namco developed a Nintendo franchise, we got Star Fox Assault. I don't share that concern. Smash Bros. U and 3DS seem like their in good hands. Unless you're Tomonobu Itagaki, the fact that these games are being handled by the Tekken development team should be reassuring. I think having staff with experience developing a fighting game franchise will only help the game. I don't want Smash Bros. to turn into a more tradition fighting game, but the Tekken team should be able to give Sakurai insight that he never had before working with Hal Labs and Game Arts.

I'm excited that the art director of the Soul Calibur series is working on the game. I hope he can find a good balance in Smash Bros. There was something odd about seeing Mario in actual denim.

CaterkillerMatthew Osborne, Contributing WriterJune 22, 2012

The first thing that came to mind was "Assault!" but now I have extremely high hopes. At least thanks to Adrock's post below I honestly think this is going to be the best Smash Bros title ever! Doesn't matter if you are like me who enjoyes playing Free For All with all items or if you are also like me who enjoyes playing 1vs1 tourny style with no items, I think we are in for something grand.

Killer_Man_JaroTom Malina, Associate Editor (Europe)June 22, 2012

Anything that helps the scope of the game/helps the game be made in a somewhat decent time frame, I am all for.

I do have slight worries about this new Smash Bros., specifically related to their platforms. As the de-facto king of local multiplayer, I am concerned about the relevance the 3DS version will have when 4 systems and 4 copies of the game are needed to create that experience. As for the Wii U version, I've been wondering about controls. The Remote-only and Remote + Nunchuk options from Brawl will probably return, but many of us are traditionalists who are stuck in the ways of Melee. Will we want to invest in multiple Classic Controllers or Wii U Pro Controllers?

This is, of course, stuff that won't be answered for at least a year, likely longer. I just wanted to throw those out there.

Pixelated PixiesJune 22, 2012

Quote from: Enner

With the involvement of the Tekken team, I wonder if the competitive aspects and potential of Smash Bros. will be taken more seriously for the fourth game. I would welcome it as some of the randomness (e.g. tripping) and absurdity (e.g. New Pork City) of Brawl ultimately detract from the game.


This is my hope aswell. As with Mario Kart, Smash Bros has the esssentials for a fun competitive game, but in the past it's been undermined by Sakurai's insistence that randomness be given a certain precedence over skill.  I've also never been a fan of Brawl's overly floaty physics. Given the nature of the game (players being hit up into the air and then trying to land again) a certain amount of buoyancy is necessary, but I would argue that Brawl pushed it too far, with every character bouncing around like they're in a Kirby game. I hope this new game gives more heft and weight to the characters.

LeontJune 22, 2012

Wait, if the art director from Soul Calibur is working on this game... Does that mean we can expect Zelda, Samus and Peach in super sexy outfits with huge breasts bouncing all over the place?!


I don't know how to feel about that... Happy/sad?

AdrockJune 22, 2012

Quote from: Killer_Man_Jaro

The Remote-only and Remote + Nunchuk options from Brawl will probably return, but many of us are traditionalists who are stuck in the ways of Melee. Will we want to invest in multiple Classic Controllers or Wii U Pro Controllers?

You know you're going to. No use trying to resist. ;)

I expect to buy 2 Pro Controllers. For all the 4 times I'll have more than 1 person over, they can deal with either the regular Classic Controller or Classic Controller Pro I already have. There's bound to be a GamePad option. I'll be covered for the most part.

AdrockJune 22, 2012

According to this, sone random person on Twitter called Namco "incompetent" and Sakurai laid the smackdown on him. That dude then rage quit Twitter.

I still don't get the hate. First, this isn't the Assualt team. Second, the people involved have pretty good track records. Third, Sakaurai is still in charge. Fourth, shut up.

CericJune 22, 2012

I'm hoping since there will be a 3DS version as well that you will have the option of using a 3DS as another controller.  Possibly mimicking parts of what the Gamepad will do.

I'm a little wary of a traditional fighter team being involved because it might stifle breaking tradition.

AdrockJune 22, 2012

Quote from: Ceric

I'm a little wary of a traditional fighter team being involved because it might stifle breaking tradition.

I'm not. Brawl was developed primarily by Game Arts, a company known for RPG series such as Lunar and Grandia. Monolith Soft also lent a hand. Besides some questionable design choices which was probably more Sakurai having final say, they did a fine job developing the game. I, actually, have more faith in these games because the Tekken team is involved. They're aware of how important precision and balance is to a fighting game, especially after Tekken 6 which had like 40 selectable characters. I don't recall reading that Tekken 6 had any major balance issues. In fact, some people on the intenetz have said it was one of the most balanced fighters out there.

Evan_BJune 22, 2012

Sakurai's still in charge, and the gameplay is going to be same old Smash Bros. I don't see why people are freaking out.

Bman87301June 22, 2012

Quote from: Adrock

Some people on the internetz are upset because the last time Namco developed a Nintendo franchise, we got Star Fox Assault.

Actually, I believe the last time Namco developed a Nintendo franchise we in fact got Mario Kart Arcade GP 2... Star Fox Assault was just the first of three.

Speaking of which, this makes the potential for another Pac-Man crossover quite high. I wonder who else can expect to see from the Namco-Bandai universe-- Lloyd Irving? *keeps fingers crossed*

According to the numbering system of Mario Kart 7, those arcade games don't exist, so Assault is indeed the last game they made for Nintendo.

AdrockJune 22, 2012

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

According to the numbering system of Mario Kart 7, those arcade games don't exist, so Assault is indeed the last game they made for Nintendo.

Lulz. +1

In Sakurai I trust.

steveyJune 23, 2012

Quote from: Leont

Wait, if the art director from Soul Calibur is working on this game... Does that mean we can expect Zelda, Samus and Peach in super sexy outfits with huge breasts bouncing all over the place?!


I don't know how to feel about that... Happy/sad?

It's
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/n64/All_right.png

S-U-P-E-RTy Shughart, Staff AlumnusJune 24, 2012

Getting people that know how to make fighting games involved in your fighting game development is a good idea. And historically has been!

Quote:

It's
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y267/n64/All_right.png



:faust: http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/forums/Themes/core/images/post/thumbup.gif

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