Topic: Iwata Discusses Nintendo's Next Console

[Jonnyboy117]

"Allow me to call it GCNext."

GameSpy has published an interview between veteran industry writer Steven Kent and Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo Co. Ltd.  Iwata-san discusses Nintendo's hardware design philosophy, expectations for the next generation, the possibility of a GameCube/GBA portable hybrid, and much more.

The young executive spends much of the interview reiterating past statements regarding the unimportance of increasing technical specifications in the new systems.

...if the next generation of consoles only represents beefed-up technology, there will not be much of a future.

Iwata also talks about Nintendo's next console, giving it a tentative name for the first time:

The abilities of GCNext will be different from what you have seen from consoles in the past. What Nintendo is currently discussing is not about state-of-the-art technology for enhancing processing power. But what I, Miyamoto, and Mr. Takeda [engineering leader Genyo Takeda] are discussing is what should be done to entertain people in a new way; and in order to achieve this, what functionality must be added to our current technology.

There are many other interesting statements in this rare interview, so hit the link above to read it all.

[Rich]

Wait so is Nintendo comprimising power for uniqueness or whats going on here. I hope to god that Nintendo makes a powerful console and then adds its unique technology to it.

[jasongst]

What disappoints me is that while Nintendo is experimenting with new features that hopefully enhance the gameplay experience they ignore a huge feature that people are already asking for: online gaming. They are letting their business mentality cloud their vision. If they would just allow the public to run game servers they would instantly be one step ahead of Microsoft and Sony and they would minimize the necessary financial commitment in the process.

[mouse_clicker]

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"Please understand, I am not saying that technology is unimportant. I understand that technology is important. But if we are just focusing on technology and investing in an IT manufacturing plant to come up with higher performance processing [chips], we will not succeed."

That's exactly what I wanted to hear Iwata say and I'm incredibly happy he did. If that's all the interview was, it would be enough. Heh, I also loved how he's taken to calling the GCNext the "GCN"- mass confusion ensues stateside.

And jesus, guys, how long are we going to have to beat online gaming to death? There is NOTHING new to say about it, so don't even bring it up- it's pointless!  

[Bill Aurion]

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Originally posted by: jasongst
What disappoints me is that while Nintendo is experimenting with new features that hopefully enhance the gameplay experience they ignore a huge feature that people are already asking for: online gaming. They are letting their business mentality cloud their vision.

Let's not turn this into an online discussion, eh?  And it should be painfully clear by now that a majority of gamers do/would not play online games even if given the choice(including myself)...And online gaming will never reach it's full potential until it can be provided free, which is a lot easier said than done...  

[GaimeGuy]

The interview is more of the same, but it sounds like the DS is only  one of the new ways Nintendo plans to revolutionize the industry.    I say it's great!  The industry needs a good shakeup!  

[- NintendoFan -]

I'm just glad that he realizes that technology is important.

[Ian Sane]

I have a feeling that years from now people are going to say one of two things: "Iwata killed Nintendo" or "Iwata saved Nintendo."  The guy is on a completely different plane than the rest of the industry and I don't think any of us can accurately predict what's going to happen with him in charge.  Judging by what he's said he plans on taking some HUGE risks.

Like the rest you I'm glad he said they shouldn't focus on "just" technology.  That sounds like they are going to focus on improving the performance of the next machine while also innovating.  It's very important that the next machine can match the other consoles in hardware.  Innovating is great but they need a safety net.  The N5 (I like that name better than GCNext) has to also be able to play the types of games that people like now.  That means the specs have to match the other consoles and that means the controller has to be very adaptable for all types of games.  If they make a purely "gimmick" console it better be the f*cking holodeck or it will bomb.  No matter how great of an idea they come up with it won't take off overnight and they'll need "traditional" games to ease people in.

I am a little worried though since Nintendo has been the console maker who cried wolf lately.  They've talked of innovation a lot and have delivered gimmicks like the e-Reader instead.  If this new type of gaming they plan on introducing is as LAME as most of the other "new" stuff they've tried no one will care.  They have to truly have something that's unique and worthwhile to play with.

[Pale]

Nintendo really should do the smart thing and stuff some more gigahertz into the next machine just to shut the ignorant people up.  It wouldn't be that expensive and could work as damage control...

[Termin8Anakin]

You know, there really is nothing wrong with going the direction of technological super-beast, but at the same time implementing all the same innvotive ideas they have in store.
But they're looking for ways to save money for themselves AND developers, so either way, Nintendo i splaying it smart.

I personally wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo came up with the most powerful console, took the modest route and said 'Oh, this isn't THAT advanced is it?' then look at the competitors and said 'oh, thats all they came up with? oh ok'. how freaking funny would that be hahahah

[nickmitch]

By focusing on software what they're really saying is, "It'll take you 15 hours to get past the 1st dungen in the next Zelda game. That is if your really good." But really I think that Iwata is not concerned with the PSP at all and Game spy sort of reasured him on that with the whole Gamegear etc. crap. And I think that they should make regular discs instead of mini discs that way they'll be loads more space and DVD/CD funtions will be usable.

[Bill Aurion]

If Ninty can find a way to anti-pirate regular DVDs, I guarantee you they would switch over to them...

[couchmonkey]

My question is, will the next generation of systems actually impress people with their technology?  For all of the previous generations of gaming consoles, there was a clear difference in power between one generation and the next.  A below average looking GameCube game is still clearly better looking than the prettiest Nintendo 64 game, and an average Nintendo 64 game is still "better" looking (or at least more 3 dimensional) than the prettiest Super NES game...etc. etc.  I question whether or not the leap in graphics in this generation will match that.

I've seen one tech demo posted on IGN, Dark Sector.  I watched it, and I don't think the game is clearly better looking than Resident Evil 4 or Halo 2 or Ninja Gaiden.  I admit the game is obviously really early, and when I see it in person instead of on a tiny video I'll notice the little differences, but I honestly don't think most average consumers will be able to tell the difference.

I still hope Nintendo basically matches or beats the technology coming from Sony and Microsoft, because it will be necessary to impress people when they ask how it compares to the other systems in terms of power.  But ultimately, when people actually see the games, they won't be able to tell the difference.

[mouse_clicker]

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I personally wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo came up with the most powerful console, took the modest route and said 'Oh, this isn't THAT advanced is it?' then look at the competitors and said 'oh, thats all they came up with? oh ok'. how freaking funny would that be hahahah

That's almost what Nintendo did this generation- the Gamecube is at least as powerful as the XBox and perhaps even more powerful, yet they seriously lowballed their own specs.

[Djunknown]

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That's almost what Nintendo did this generation- the Gamecube is at least as powerful as the XBox and perhaps even more powerful, yet they seriously lowballed their own specs.

Hmm... Let's put it this way: As far as visuals, the 'Box is capbable of higher poly counts. Now we all can see the difference. However, its been said that the 'Cube can do better lighting effects(Or they can do more with texturing, something to that effect, I'm not a techie...). A prime example of its is Soul Calibur 2; most reviews when comparing the versions had that while the 'Box version is capable of higher resolutions, the 'Cube cersion was better lighting effects. Now that's just the visuals.

As far as Iwata's interview, it was well done, and inspires a sense of hope and confidence.  The quote that hits home for me is this:

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not just a beefed-up version of GameCube, but something that will be easy to program. In the long run, that will make game development on our new system more profitable."

With people going on how the costs of game production going up because the technology is getting more complex, and need more people to the same job (Like 3d modeling for example.), and that they barely break even, let alone make a profit, Nintendo wants to buck this trend. If they can do some cool stuff without all the fuss, Nintendo may save gaming again.  But let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'd would love to think by the next generation, Sony's system is still hard to program, and that they see they can do more with the GCNext with less hassle/investment , hmmm.... maybe those 3rd parties start flocking back?  Just a thought (Or a fool's hope...)

If Microsoft's XNA is any indication of "the next step", my guess is that you will no longer need a seperate cinematics engine, the in-game engine(s) should be impressive enough. Save some gigs! Just another thought....

[mouse_clicker]

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Hmm... Let's put it this way: As far as visuals, the 'Box is capbable of higher poly counts. Now we all can see the difference. However, its been said that the 'Cube can do better lighting effects(Or they can do more with texturing, something to that effect, I'm not a techie...). A prime example of its is Soul Calibur 2; most reviews when comparing the versions had that while the 'Box version is capable of higher resolutions, the 'Cube cersion was better lighting effects. Now that's just the visuals.

Eh, technically speaking, the two most graphically advanced console games this generation, Rogue Leader and Rebel Strike, are on the Gamecube. They both push more polygons at a higher and more consistant framerate with more effects than any other console game- one of them is even a launch title that was made in less than 9 months! No XBox game has matched either Rebel Strike's or even Rogue Leader's level of graphical quality. Granted this isn't proof that the Gamecube is more powerful, but it makes you wonder why the XBox has yet to meet such a feat when Microsoft claims it's at least 3 times more powerful than the Gamecube.

[Bill Aurion]

Remember, it's not how powerful a system is, but how the developers use it... ^_^

[Ian Sane]

"That's almost what Nintendo did this generation- the Gamecube is at least as powerful as the XBox and perhaps even more powerful, yet they seriously lowballed their own specs."

Did they ever.  So much so that it probably hurt them.  A lot of people, including developers, didn't catch on to Nintendo's modesty and there's still a misconception among the public that the Cube has the weakest hardware.  Next time they should just brag.  It's not like blatantly lying about their hardware's abilities hurt Sony.  Modesty doesn't create hype.

"Remember, it's not how powerful a system is, but how the developers use it... ^_^"

Yeah and most developers are lazy hacks who will never bother to make full use of hardware.  So the best bet is to give them a fair bit of raw power in the hardware so they don't have to be talented to get great graphics.  The really talented developers  are going to get good stuff out of ANY hardware.  So it's best for Nintendo to not assume everyone is as talented as they are.  If they think they've included more than enough RAM, they should add more.  

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Let's NOT get into the graphical discussion, cuz I haven't seen one objective, comprehensive, VALID review/comparison yet.

[ruby_onix]

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Heh, I also loved how he's taken to calling the GCNext the "GCN"- mass confusion ensues stateside.

"GCNext" = "GCN ext" = "GameCube extension" (or perhaps "GameCube external"?)

The N5's gonna be an add-on! The biggest, best, and most widely-supported add-on ever seen in videogame history! People will treat it like an entirely new console! Everything you think you know about add-ons is irrelevant!

Iwata is okay with calling at a "GCN", because it will be a GCN! No confusion needed!

Oh wait, I said Iwata, not Denis Dyack.

Hmmm... I still have my suspicions... but nevermind...

[jasonditz]

Who needs DVDs? I want to see them go back to the cartridge-based system. They're apparently putting impressively large amounts of data into a small form factor card for the DS, that same technology should be able to scale up without adding too much cost. A 1.5 GB cartridge beats a 6 GB disc any day of the week in my book, I want fewer moving parts and no load times.

I agree 100% with Iwata. Spending a lot of time on powerful hardware is just silly, because any idiot with a hundred billion dollars to piss away can slap a commodity PC into a green box and call it "the world's most powerful console". The hardware should enable the enhancements, it shouldn't BE the enhancements.

[Deguello]

"They've talked of innovation a lot and have delivered gimmicks like the e-Reader instead."

Definition time!

gim*mick

1. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
2. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
3. An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project: an advertising gimmick.
4. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch.
5. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.

And since the E-reader doesn't exactly allow you to cheat at gambling, #1 doesn't count.  I'm so glad that somebody likes the E-reader and thinks it clever and innovatite.  I do.  It's a cool gimmick.

[Kyosho]

"Who needs DVDs? I want to see them go back to the cartridge-based system."

I do.  The N64's cartridge system was one of its downfalls.

1) more space, 2) cheaper, 3) more freedom.

[jasonditz]

The N64 had a downfall? Seems like a console that was both profitable for the company and produced so many of the greatest titles of all time is not that bad a thing to try to duplicate.

Reasons for a cartridge:

1. No Load Times
2. No Scratched Discs
3. No disc drive motors burning out, no lenses getting scratched
4. Battery Backup
5. In-cartridge peripherals (SuperFX chip)

[KDR_11k]

Quote
Originally posted by: Kyosho

3) more freedom.

...?

I'd say the technology is unimportant as long as it doesn't restrict the games. If I want a crowd of a few hundred people on screen that should be doable, if I want to make a really big game that should be doable, if I want three kilometres view distance that should be doable. If the technology is advanced enough to allow for almost every game thinkable (note that this doesn't necessarily mean e.g. crowds of 10000 polygon characters, just something that can be recognized as a crowd and behaves like a crowd) everything else is superficial. The GC was a big advantage over the N64 because you could spend more polygons to allow for more complex levels or more characters in a game. The N5 should allow for larger crowds and levels, thus enhancing the gameplay possibilities. Apparently that's not enough for Nintendo's taste so they'll add more screens, a touchpad, etc (keep in mind that Iwata said the DS was a sample of the N5 in some ways).