SAN JOSE, Calif., March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Nintendo President
Satoru Iwata
today challenged a crowd of game developers to think differently and take a
fresh approach to the creation of video games. During his keynote address at
the Game Developers Conference in San Jose, Calif., Iwata said Nintendo will
provide developers with the tools they need to disrupt the traditional methods
of game creation, much as the company already has.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050915/LATH122-b)
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh...16/NINTENDOLOGO)
These tools include the controller for Nintendo's next home console
(code-named Revolution), which lets users control the action on their
television screens through the motion of the controller itself. The
controller lets game developers create new kinds of gaming experiences, ones
that enhance the experience for hard-core gamers while making video games more
accessible and less intimidating to novices. The new forms of innovative
software that can be created by any size developer will be made available for
download via Revolution's Virtual Console service.
"This new approach is like stepping onto an unexplored continent for the
first time, with all the potential for discovery that suggests," Iwata said.
"No one else can match the environment we're creating for expanding the game
experience to everyone. Our path is not linear, but dynamic."
Iwata also announced partnerships with Sega and Hudson to offer
downloadable access to their classic games via Revolution's Virtual Console.
Revolution owners will be able to relive their past gaming glories from the
Sega Genesis console by playing a "best of" selection from more than 1,000
Genesis titles, as well as games sold for the TurboGrafx console (a system
jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). These games join Revolution's access to
20 years of fan-favorite Nintendo games from the NES(R), Super NES(R) and
Nintendo(R) 64 eras.
Iwata also revealed for the first time that a new game called The Legend
of Zelda(R): Phantom Hourglass would be released for Nintendo DS later this
year.
Iwata, a game developer himself, revealed behind-the-scenes stories about
the development of three key initiatives.
For the industry leading Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, internal engineers and
developers overcame a series of hurdles to make the system seamless and
flexible enough to allow players to choose to play wirelessly either with
friends or against unknown opponents. The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection reached
1 million unique users in just 18 weeks -- nearly five times the adoption rate
of the leading online game console network.
He described a pivotal meeting in coming to agreement on development of
the incredibly popular "brain games" in Japan. A leading Japanese scientist
attached a sci-fi-looking wired helmet to a Nintendo staffer and then visually
demonstrated stimulation of brain activity as the staffer played prototype
software.
Finally, he described the hundreds of sketches, dozens of prototypes and
company-wide collaboration that led to the final form of the unique Revolution
controller system, which resembles a traditional TV remote control. He called
the related research and manufacturing costs of the new control system,
"...our method to disrupt the market...realizing a new way to connect a player
to his game."

GDC 2006: Nintendo Conference Report
Iwata explains plan for "Disrupting Development"
by Garnett Lee, 03/23/2006




30 of 35 users recommend this story.
Nintendo Co., Ltd President Satoru Iwata is delivering a keynote entitled "Disrupting Development" at the 2006 Game Developers Conference in San Jose this morning. With Sony and Microsoft poised toe-to-toe to duke it out for the eye-candy end of next-generation gaming, Nintendo has been distancing itself from the fight. Instead, it looks to focus on encouraging imaginative new directions that break out of the traditional game development model and attract a whole new audience. With legions of fans anticipating what that will look like, 1UP editors are on hand to provide live updates as they happen.
11:00 a.m. PST

Iwata came out immediately drawing references from pop culture -- comparing Nintendo's tact to that of Pepsi. Much like the soda company had expanded beyond its origins into chips and bottled waters, so too will Nintendo branch out. The first evidence of success in this strategy can be seen in the DS and, he boasted, "Most industry growth last year came from just this product line." To support this statement he displayed a chart showing DS selling 6 million units in 14 months. That's faster than either GBA or PS2.

Keeping with the mainstream theme he then went on to discussing the development of the upcoming Brain Age for DS that has been such a runaway success in Japan. He told the crowd, "it started where all great game ideas begin -- the board of directors," and admitted that it had been originated as something for seniors and then expanded for all ages.

After recounting the story of how the development task force got together with the author of the Train Your Brain book, Iwata brought Bill Trinen on stage for a live demo of the game in action. And to play the game with him he brought up on the stage Will Wright, Geoff Keighly and Jamil Moledina. Trinen doesn't hold back and comes out ahead, with Moledina, Wright and Keighly coming in behind him. They play the obligatory rematch and this time everyone comes out about even.

11:20 a.m. PST

When Iwata came back on stage he changed the topic to DS Wi-Fi. Nintendo's focus has been about making it easy to use, and it's paid off. "We reached one million users almost five times faster than xbox live," he told the audience. To demo it he brought Bill Trinen back up to show Metroid Prime Hunters for a four-player match.

But it was his next announcement that got the crowd excited. A new Zelda is coming to DS, and it's in full 3D using the same graphics seen in Wind Waker. Titled The Legend of Zelda: The Phantom Hourglass the trailer showed the action using both screens at times and from the looks of it this will be one of the most gorgeous games for the DS yet released. And, more exciting, it will be playable at E3 with a release before the end of the year.

11:40 a.m. PST

And finally the subject turned to Nintendo's next home console, the Revolution. After relating the story of how a programmer came up with the one handed idea and the compromise of the nunchaku stick accessory for the Metroid Prime producers Iwata went on to the virtual console capabilities of the machine. He revealed that in addition to Nintendo library titles it will include Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 games. He said that "not all of them will be available but the best of them will."

Pricing is still being discussed. Iwata compared the videogame business to a bookstore that only sold expensive volumes of encyclopedias. In the environment of big-budget games he suggested that Tetris would have needed a movie license and better cinematic to see the light of day. He closed out by offereing, "video games are meant to be just one thing: fun, fun for everyone."

http://media.nintendo-europe.com/compel/video/cri9US3Ag5tBu3OkYw7e30hIK1Rv3Sa8.mov

Zelds DS

Im on the fence with the new controller. Its a cool idea but too gimicky....


Still I thought the same way about the DS and look at how well thats doing.

http://media.nintendo-europe.com/compel ... Rv3Sa8.mov

Zelds DS

Ok people I officially have an erection. The Revolution might just be able to pull Nintendo's console buisness into the stratosphere again. I mean, it's going to be super affordable and out before the PS3. Plus, you KNOW that it'll be the critic's favorite. They'll hopefully pimp the hell out of it, just like they do with DS.

So excited! And Zelda DS! Yesss

edit: here's a non-glamour shot of the actual system at GDC