Tag Archives: Nintendo

Train2Game News: Games industry speculation about ‘spectacular’ new consoles

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GAMESTOP CEO Paul Raines expects a next-gen console next year with another to follow in 2014.

On top of that EA – one of the largest games companies in the World says we should look forward to the gaming future.

Paul Raines speculates that Microsoft’s Xbox 720 and Sony’s Playstation 4 will not both be coming out in 2013 like previously thought. One will be released in 2013 with the other following in 2014.

Which comes first remains to be seen.

Mr Raines said “This week, I’m getting a lot of rumours that are very interesting about 2013 but we have not been expecting two more consoles in 2013.

“We’re expecting Wii U this Christmas, another console next year, and another one in ’14. These rumours change every week, but we’re hearing more about next year.”

EA Labels president Frank Gibeau has said the number of gamers has raised exponentially. 10 years ago there was an estimated 200 million worldwide. Now the number is estimated at almost 2 billion.

He added that EA has several new IPS in the works ready for launch with the next-gen consoles.

Mr Gibeau said “The time to launch an IP is at the front-end of the hardware cycle, and if you look historically the majority of new IPS are introduced within the first 24 months of each cycle of hardware platforms. Right now, we’re working on three to five new IPs for the next gen.

“When you launch a new IP it needs to do something really, really remarkable, and that’s easier to do when you have a new set of technology that gives you novel capabilities.

“I’ve seen the machines that we’re building games for, and they’re spectacular.”

Train2Game News: Nintendo Wii U supports free-to-play

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Nintendo will support free-to-play games for their upcoming Wii U console. That’s what president Satoru Iwata told an audience of analysts at a Q&A session during E3, report Digital Spy.

“With respect to the Wii U system, when we began working on it, one of our goals was to have a variety of purchase options and additional e-commerce options available at its launch,” said Iwata.

“And because of that, we have prepared a Digital Rights Management system. We have designed the system from a technical standpoint to allow developers to freely take advantage of things like free to play and micro transactions.” he added.

While free-to-play has become a popular model for PC, it isn’t as popular on consoles. Ghost Recon Online, a free-to-play version of Ubisoft’s tactical shooter is one of the game’s following the model that’ll be arriving on Nintendo Wii U.

As reported by The Train2Game Blog, One analyst believes the Wii U will be the “Swiss army knife” of gaming.

There’s more about free-to-play and its benefits here on The Train2Game Blog, while be sure to keep reading for the latest news on the Nintendo Wii U.

What are your thoughts on Nintendo introducing free-to-play to their console? Will it be a success?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game News: Nintendo Wii U is the “Swiss army knife” of gaming

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E3 saw Nintendo reveal more about the Wii U, with one analyst dubbing the upcoming console the “Swiss army knife” of video games.

The one hour presentation saw Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime and Shigeru Miyamoto discuss how the tablet controller can be used in conjunction with the current Wii-remotes and how a “social window” allows new ways to play while allowing users to connect with others.

“For 30 years, game machines … couldn’t take on a more important role than the TV itself,” said Miyamoto  “We knew our next system was going to have its own dedicated screen even if it had to be small. We wanted it to be the first screen people went to when they went into the living room.”

Using the mini-monitor on the game pad was demonstrated by Pikmin 3 and how it uses it to monitor your strategy and the game world as you play through a TV, along with showing off a variety of other things the Wii U can do.

Nintendo has made the console a “Swiss Army knife” said P.J. McNealy of Digital World Research. “Nintendo has a history of creating hardware devices that it takes advantage of over time, whether it was voice commands, the touch panel, the accelerometer, or the gyroscope.”

As of yet there are no price or release date details for the Nintendo Wii U. Games shown for the console however include Nintendo Land, Pikmin 3 and a Wii U version of Batman: Arkham City.

What are your thoughts on the Nintendo Wii U? Do you have a clearer idea of what its about after the E3 presentation?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.


Train2Game News: When and where to watch Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo E3 conferences

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Train2Game News won’t be updating over the Bank Holiday, as we’ll be enjoying the extended weekend like many of you. However, the games industry won’t be stopping, with E3, the biggest event in the video games calendar beginning at the start of next week.

Many of the large publishers and hardware developers will be streaming their conferences live from Los Angeles, allowing you to watch them as they happen, or in the case of some, watch them you’re willing to stay up until the early hours here in the UK!

Microsoft are the first of the console manufactures to give their E3 presentation on Monday 4th June at 17:15 British time, which you can watch live on the Xbox website, or through your Xbox console if you’re an Xbox Live Gold subscriber.

Sony’s E3 press conference in which they’ll run through their latest plans for PlayStation, takes place on Tuesday 5th June at 02:00 British time, and will be available to watch through the Sony E3 2012 website.

Nintendo have three separate live streams planned, but all of them are likely to follow the same theme; their next console, Wii U. Their main conference takes place on Tuesday 5th June at 17:00, a Developer discussion, perhaps the most interesting part for Train2Game students, bright and early on Wednesday 6th June at 07:30a.m. Nintendo’s Software Showcase is on Thursday at 02:00a.m. All three Nintendo presentations can be seen on their official E3 website.

Of course, The Train2Game Blog will be back on Wednesday, ready to bring you all the big news that comes out of E3.

What are you most looking forward to about E3 2012?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Wii U hardware “constantly changing” say Team Ninja

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Wii U controllerTrain2Game students haven’t heard much about Nintendo’s Wii U since it was revealed at E3 last year, but one developer has broken the industry silence and discussed the upcoming console.

Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive developers Team Ninja have spoken about the Wii U, and say it’s “very easy” to develop for, despite the constantly changing hardware.

“Nintendo asked us what we would want from the hardware. And when we gave them our feedback, we could see that they really listened and made changes. The hardware is currently changing constantly.” Ninja’s Yasuda Fumihiko told Gamefront.

He described the Nintendo Wii U’s touch screen control pad to their handheld console, the Nintendo DS.

“The control via a touch screen is like the Nintendo DS, we worked on the NDS with Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, and we would like to take some elements from it and install them in the U Wii version of Ninja Gaiden 3.” said Fumihiko.

The Train2Game Blog has previously reported that Nintendo believe the Wii U’s audience will be different to that of the current Wii console.

Wired Productions Senior Producer Kevin Leathers discussed the Nintendo Wii U in an interview with The Train2Game Blog towards the end of last year.

There’s no specific release date for the Nintendo Wii U as of yet, but reports suggest it’ll be here before the end of 2012.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Team Ninja’s comments about the Wii U? Is the fact it’s apparently easy to develop for something that’s encouraging for you?

Leave your comments here on The Train2Game Blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GoNintendo]

Train2Game news: Nintendo deny Miyamoto “retirement” reports

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Shigeru MiyamotoTrain2Game blog readers will have read news this morning that that Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto is retiring. Nintendo, however, have denied that he’ll be stepping down from his position.

The legendary game designer had told Wired he wanted to retire from his position to “be in the forefront of game development once again myself. Probably working on a smaller project with even younger developers”

However, Nintendo have told MCV that Miyamoto isn’t going anywhere.

Video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto’s role at Nintendo is not changing,” said a Nintendo spokesman. “He will continue to be a driving force in Nintendo’s development efforts.

“In discussing his priorities at Nintendo in a media interview, Mr Miyamoto explained how he is encouraging the younger developers at the company to take more initiative and responsibility for developing software. He attempted to convey his priorities moving forward, inclusive of overseeing all video game development and ensuring the quality of all products.

“Mr Miyamoto also discussed his desire to pursue fresh ideas and experiences of the kind that sparked his initial interest in video games.”

Miyamoto has previously stated how he’s keen to teach younger game developers, and as reported by the Train2Game blog, the Nintendo man wants to teach when he eventually does retire from game development.

What are your thoughts on this apparent misunderstanding?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Mario creator Miyamoto on “retiring” to work on smaller projects

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Shigeru MiyamotoSuper Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto has revealed he wants to step down from his current role as Head of Nintendo Development to get hands on with smaller projects.

“Inside our office, I’ve been recently declaring, ‘I’m going to retire, I’m going to retire.” The 59 year old Miyamoto said in an interview with Wired. “I’m not saying that I’m going to retire from game development altogether. What I mean by retiring is, retiring from my current position.”

“What I really want to do is be in the forefront of game development once again myself. Probably working on a smaller project with even younger developers” he said

“Or I might be interested in making something that I can make myself, by myself. Something really small. I’m not intending to start from things that require a five-year development time. I’m interested in doing a variety of many other things.” Miyamoto added.

His words could be construed as a desire to create smaller titles in the mobile game mould.

However, Nintendo have denied that the legendary game designer will be leaving his current role.

“This is absolutely not true,” a Nintendo spokeswoman told Reuters. “There seems to have been a misunderstanding. He has said all along that he wants to train the younger generation. He has no intention of stepping down. Please do not be concerned.”

The Train2Game blog has previously reported that the game design veteran wants to teach game development when he eventually retires. You can find out Miyamoto’s thoughts on the role of a game designer here on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Miyamoto’s comments?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Wired]

Train2Game news: Wii U audience will be ‘different’ to Wii consumers say Nintendo

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Wii U controllerNintendo believe that their Wii U console will appeal to a different type of audience than the Nintendo Wii.  At least that’s according to Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aime.

“The consumer buying Wii hardware today is going to be a different consumer than the one who will be buying Wii U in the future,” he told TIME.

“This is the first holiday that the Wii is available at $149.99 or below, so its an expanded demographic we’re reaching. These are consumers who have heard about Wii for the past couple years, but at $199 or $249 it was economically out of their reach.

“We haven’t announced pricing for Wii U, but you can definitely expect that pricing is going to be different and that the games are going to be different.” said Fils-Aime, in an interview that should provide interest to Train2Game students.

As reported by the Train2Game blog, Nintendo have previously claimed that their Wii U console will attract core gamers.  The company revealed the Wii U during their E3 presentation, and you can find out more about it here on the Train2Game blog.

Nintendo haven’t revealed a release date for the Wii U, but in an interview with the Train2Game blog, We Sing Rock producer Kevin Leathers revealed that they’re already looking into developing for the new console.

So Train2Game, what do you make of Fils-Aime’s comments? Do you believe the Wii U will appeal to a different kind of audience? Is the new Nintendo console on your radar?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Time]

Train2Game news: Nintendo Wii U not a ‘transitional platform’

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EA’s Peter Moore doesn’t believe the Nintendo Wii U is a stop gap between current consoles and the next-generation of consoles.

As reported by the Train2Game blog, the Nintendo Wii was revealed at this year’s E3 conference.

“People will start talking about it being a transitional platform. And I don’t think that’s going to be the case, and here’s why,” EA COO Moore told Industry Gamers.

The Nintendo Wii U’s controller looks like a tablet computer, similar to the Apple iPad, but the EA man doesn’t think its’s an issue

“I think the controller [is huge]. This is not about specs anymore… In the early days of our industry, this stuff was absolutely about how much better the games looked… Now it’s about interfaces. Now it’s about building a community in a rich, powerful way.

“Nintendo’s job, quite frankly, is to build a better mousetrap with regards to the way that we use the controller. So I don’t know what Xbox and PlayStation’s plans for their next platforms are, but it’s not going to be hanging on graphic fidelity. I guarantee you that.”

Moore also added that Nintendo ‘totally gets’ the importance of online multiplayer to modern gamers. Many Train2Game students play games together, often organised through the Train2Game forum.

“It’s critically important to us and we are relieved, if anything else, that they have made a huge [online] commitment that they have presented to us,” Moore said.

“Online certainly was not a factor with the Wii, as you know; although they had capabilities, it just wasn’t there at the level that both Xbox Live and PlayStation had. But I think Nintendo totally gets that multiplayer, building community, co-op play, having the ability to bring games that are deeper – all of these things are now very important.”

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, Nintendo believe gamers will love the Wii U.

So Train2Game, do you think the Wii U will rival the next generation of software? Or is it going to fall away once the next Sony and Microsoft consoles arrive?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Industry Gamers]

Train2Game students: Want to develop an FPS? Sorry, that’ll make the Pokémon director sad…

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Many Train2Game students enjoy First Person Shooters such as Call of Duty or Halo, and may have desires to develop them in future.

With the FPS being arguably the most popular genre, it’s no surprise that Train2Game students may consider developing them. But be warned, by doing so you’ll be making Pokémon Black and Pokémon White director Junichi Masuda sad

Writing about E3 on his blog – in partially broken English – Masuda said:

“This year, FPS war games were trend!! A lot of splatter scenes!! Blood spread everywhere. Shooting a lot, killing a lot,”

“The game developer seems get used to ‘kill’ the target. Therefore, I felt ‘how to kill’ became a focus of developing game. For that reason, target become zombie and alien…” he continued.

“These targets’ savage attack and human counterattacks… It became savage contents and you never know. Mmm… It is the player who choose the game to play. As a game creator, it is little sad!”

Masuda concluded by lamenting the lack of originality in the games being shown at E3.

“Majority of the games look like a same game. There were little of original games. I felt a sense of crisis with above part.”

Train2Game Game Designers in particular will know that it’s quite important for games to be innovative and distinctive, and while the games on show at E3 were impressive to look at, some might agree with Masuda in them being a bit too similar to each other.

The Train2Game blog has previously reported that the team behind Pokémon are confident in their ability to design and create new, distinctive creatures for future games in the series.

The success of Pokémon, which as Train2Game students may remember, topped the UK Charts in March, demonstrates that there’s a base for various types of games out there!

So Train2Game, do you agree with Masuda? Are too many games are about killing? Is it a ‘crisis’ for game developers?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source:  Siliconera]