Miyamoto: Twilight Princess uses Revo controller
Has the saga finally come to a
climactic end? It would seem that we can finally lay this epic opera of speculation, magical allusion
and straightforward
denial to a well deserved rest: According to a Nintendo of Europe interview with recently knighted design genius, Shigeru
Miyamoto, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess will take advantage of the Revolution
controller."I would say that we are progressing well with completing it. And one of the most important features is that, because Revolution can run GameCube software, when you play Twilight Princess on Revolution you can take advantage of the Revolution controller.”
Now, how exactly one would take advantage of the Revolution controller is up for debate (get your mind out of the gutter, please), though we're quite prone to the idea of tossing boomerangs, swinging swords and ensnaring innocent fish. For the rest of the interview, you'll have to either get a bothersome Nintendo VIP membership upon following the link or pay a visit to the GAF forums.
[Via GamersReports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Josh @ Mar 15th 2006 6:07PM
Holy crap! So it's true! I had always hoped Nintendo would stay true to GameCube fans, but whatever. If they want to add Revo support for TP, then let them. Really, I just want to play TP, but maybe this is what delayed it recently...?
It seems they are planning a TP and Revo simultaneous launch, after all...
Fish @ Mar 15th 2006 6:09PM
I've proposed the same concept before, same game, same disk, two different systems with two different ways to play.
My only fear is that that the Revo version may feel gimicky because it wasn't designed from the ground up to be functional with the controler. Then again, they have (and had) plenty of time to tweak controls, so I think that this will be a very good thing.
Designerbradr @ Mar 15th 2006 6:42PM
Fish,
I don't have the same reservations as you regarding the new control scheme, but I understand where you're coming from. I'm very confident, having grown up on Nintendo, that they have revamped the game for the Revo so that the controller works seamlessly with TP gameplay.
Nintendo always starts building a game, especially the Zelda franchise, around the conrol scheme first. This is why a lot of their first-party games play so well and get such high ratings. They feel "right" because the game is designed around the gameplay first and foremost.
No worries... :)
Anthony Graddy @ Mar 16th 2006 12:12AM
It seems to me, like it is not so much that TP will have Revo functionality built into it, but rather that you can use the Revo controller instead of the GCN controller.
This also seems to indicate imo, that any Gamecube (and maybe N64, SNES, NES) game will be able to take advantage of the Revo controller.
If you think about it, the Revo controller will do exactly the same thing as a normal controller, but it will just do it in a different fashion.
To be able to play any Nintendo game with the Revo controller sounds awesome to me!
Derick @ Mar 16th 2006 12:53AM
I think it would be cool if Nintendo had VC like patches that you could download for GCN games that would make the game work with the Rev controller. I'd LOVE MP with the Revmote... They could be stored on your system just like VC games are.
greatslack @ Mar 16th 2006 12:56AM
I don't think it will be too gimmicky, just look at Links Awakening DX, it added functionality for the GBC without leaving too much out for the regular Game Boy. The only thing they added in the GBC was an extra dungeon based on colors. There's really no way to exclude GCN players in this same way, but at the most I think there will just be extra mini-games or secret items that use the revo controller.
wayne @ Mar 16th 2006 7:08AM
FULL ARTICLE FROM NINTENDO VIP :D
To his fans hes a knight in shining armour; a creator of fantastic worlds where plumbers rescue princesses and young boys become sword-wielding heroes. But now Shigeru Miyamoto has become a real life knight himself, of the Order of Arts and Letters.
The title (which doesnt make him Sir Shigeru, sadly) was bestowed upon Mr Miyamoto in Paris this week by the French Ministry of Culture. Miyamoto, along with Michel Rayman Ancel and Frederick Alone in the Dark Raynal, became the first videogame designers in the world to receive such an award.
The accolade is further recognition for Miyamotos lifetime of work that has brought pleasure to millions (and led Time Magazine to call him The Spielberg of Video Games). Also, for a game designer to be honoured for his contribution to the arts is great news for the whole games industry.
We joined Miyamoto in Paris after the ceremony where we got a glimpse of his shiny new medal (check out the pics in the Images gallery), drooled over his Nintendo DS Lite, and played with his new Nintendog: a Dalmatian called Luigi.
Helped by his interpreter we first ask Miyamoto how it feels to be given such a prestigious award, and in his trademark style he remains as humble and down-to-earth as ever.
My feeling is that I have received this on behalf of many other people who have been working together with me to create videogames, he says. And in a much broader sense I think its very important for the industry that we can receive this kind of award.
So does Miyamoto think videogames are now becoming culturally acceptable, like movies and literature?
Videogaming has only about 20-25 years of history; in comparison movies have over 100 years, and literature has a lot longer, says Miyamoto. We have just come to the stage where everybody recognises videogaming, so I think we have just passed the first phase. I think videogaming is going to go forward in an exciting way. We are expecting a number of different new technologies that affect our industry, and the ability of people to deal with new technologies is going to be a vital part of how the videogame industry is going to evolve."
Listening to Miyamoto speak in his easy-going way, we forget for a second that were sitting in a posh Paris hotel, surrounded by journalists from across Europe who are clamouring to interview the legend himself. Theres no doubt Miyamoto is a massive star but does he feel like one?
Well, you know I used to commute to work by bicycle until recently, he says, laughing. But because I am now one of the executive board members, the company ordered me not to, for the sake of risk management!
So what is a typical day in the life of Shigeru Miyamoto?
As for the morning, Im afraid to tell you that I am not a very punctual person, he laughs. But every day I have to work until very late at night. People report to me via email the progress of software in development and I am always looking into whats happening with each game and sometimes, if its necessary, I add my own opinions and advice. That takes up about half of my working time and as for the remainder of the time I visit each developer to see what kind of progress they are making. I often become a tester myself so that I can touch and get a feel for the project they are working on.
So what about his latest project, New Super Mario Bros. (coming to Europe this summer)? Why did he decide to bring back Mario in the classic side-scrolling style?
We are always challenging ourselves to make something really new and this new Super Mario Bros. game is going to be very important. Nintendo DS has been hugely successful, especially in Japan, and we owe a big part of the success to a software line-up called Touch Generations. People who have never played videogames before are purchasing Nintendo DS as their very first game machine.
When we launch New Super Mario Bros. for DS this could be the very first videogame these people play. Of course we already have Super Mario 64 DS but it is a more advanced version of Mario. With New Super Mario Bros. we are going back to the basics. Its going to be simple enough to control but yet have sophisticated enough content. We have been working hard to make the best Super Mario game we can.
Were intrigued. Can he reveal what the games story will be, for instance?
Thats rather interesting because a number of our staff members came up with a number of different stories, says Miyamoto, smiling. I told them that we really dont need any story behind this new Super Mario Bros. at all. I have narrowed down the whole story to about half of what my team originally came up with. Peach is kidnapped, Mario has to go and rescue her from Bowser and the Koopa Kids. Thats about all you need to know for the story! he laughs. But what you really need to know is that in the quest you are going to encounter some unprecedented play ideas.
'Can you give us some examples of these ideas?' we ask.
Well, we have drawn everything from 3D graphics, explains Miyamoto so that from time to time you are going to encounter something really astonishing visually but as far as the gameplay and control is concerned, that is going to be very simple.
When it comes to Mario, sometimes you may be able to do an ultra super jump and you are going to see a very unique and unprecedented jumping style. In terms of Super Mario, everybody already expects him to become bigger but this time, with the help of a Super Giant Mushroom, Super Mario can become gigantic, taking up almost all the screen, and he can destroy everything.
And Mario can also become very small, by using another type of mushroom, right? we add.
Right, says Miyamoto and thats not all. For example, two players can play as Mario and Luigi at the same time, in the multiplayer mode. Sometimes you have to compete with each other to reach the goal, and sometimes they can fight against each other. You remember the game Mario Bros.? In that, Mario and Luigi could sometimes cooperate, sometimes compete. I think its more fun to have two players play simultaneously in this New Super Mario Bros.
And you remember in Super Mario 64 DS we incorporated a number of minigames? Each of these minigames is going to be available in New Super Mario Bros. In each minigame both Mario and Luigi can compete against each other. Some you can play in two-player or four-player mode with one cartridge.
Sounds great! But hang on, didnt Miyamoto mention Koopa Kids a second ago? We havent heard from them in a while. We inquire if the new game has the same kind of Level, World, Fortress, Boss structure as in Super Mario Bros. 3.
Unfortunately I am not in a position to tell you anything further, sorry, but basically yes you are right! says Miyamoto, chuckling.
OK, consider our appetites whetted! So New Mario Bros. is a classic style game, therefore, we want to know, are there going to be classic style cheats, like warp pipes and the old walking along the top of the screen trick?
Well, there will be many people who play New Super Mario Bros. that have never played a Mario Bros. game before," he tells us. "But at the same time we want to evoke a kind of nostalgic feeling in those people who used to play with the past series, so we are now trying to incorporate as many old tricks and tweaks as possible into this new DS version.
OK, time to switch to Miyamotos other famous creation: Zelda. Whats the latest on Twilight Princess?
I would say that we are progressing well with completing it, says Miyamoto. And one of the most important features is that, because Revolution can run GameCube software, when you play Twilight Princess on Revolution you can take advantage of the Revolution controller.
We press further but Miyamoto is remaining tight-lipped on specifics. So, speaking of Revolution, what kind of cool software has he seen so far?
You know, the DS is a very good example when we talk about Revolution software. Nobody would have expected brain training software or puppy communicating software when we were originally talking about the concept of the Nintendo DS. People would never have imagined that line-up of software could ever be as successful in the marketplace as it is now.
In the case of Revolution, there is going to be a lot of software that are so-called 'sequels' to the existing type of games, however what is going to be the most attractive point about Revolution is the other applications. These kind of applications are going to make Revolution something really important for any ordinary household; more specifically catering for each type of family member in the house.
So when can we expect to find out more about Revolution? For instance will everything be revealed at E3?
Almost everything, he laughs. I dont know about the pricing at the moment or anything like that but, yes, basically at E3.
And with that tantalising answer hanging in the air, were told our time is up. Mr Miyamoto is about to be whisked off to catch the Eurostar to London, for more interviews and also to record a special webcast in which he answers questions sent in by you.
So if you fancy pumping him for more details about those Koopa Kids, or want to know what his Brain Training 'brain age' is (clue: it's in the 20s) you can submit your question at www.webchats.tv. If its a good one, Miyamoto will answer it personally on the webcast this Friday.
Plus want to know how you can win the signed Nintendo DS and Mario Kart DS game pictured in the Images gallery? Come back soon for more details!
CubeGuy @ Mar 16th 2006 10:01AM
I'm a little confused; thrilled, but confused.
I find it weird that GCN games can take advantage of the new hardware. GBA games cannot make use of the DS hardware, and GBC games can only *detect* if they are being played on a GBA. It's a bit strange in my opinion. Why would Nintendo be changing their strategy now?
derfreddy.de @ Mar 16th 2006 2:52PM
nintendo already stated that the 3d sensor stuff isnt backward compatible. i guess zelda will be the only cube game using it,
and i dont think the game will take full advantage of the freehand controller. for example if u cant decide if u wanna swing the sword low or high with the gamecube controller, u probably wont be able to do so with the new controller, either.
greatslacks mini game theory is also possible. just like u could use a ds for hints in wind waker.
anyway its a cool gimmick and will make zelda sell even better.
RageOverdose @ Mar 16th 2006 4:26PM
I got to thinkin', and I came up with a theory.
Remember when Nintendo said that this will be the last Zelda as we know it? Well, ever since then, I've wanted to know just how the next game will turn out. So, I'm just speculating, what if they provided a playable demo of the game when played on Revolution? I think it would be cool; show off the next Zelda. What more could we want? The only thing haltering my theory is the planned release of the next Zelda. It could end up being close to launch, or a year later. Who knows?
CubeGuy @ Mar 16th 2006 5:23PM
"nintendo already stated that the 3d sensor stuff isnt backward compatible. i guess zelda will be the only cube game using it"
Any game could be coded to use the controller, but I would think that the Rev would lock out any new hardware to prevent GameCube developers from using the features without proper devkits.
That's how GBA/DS works. The GBA BIOS is self-contained within the DS hardware. When the DS goies into GBA mode, it is impossible to use any DS features until it is shut down.
Probot @ Mar 18th 2006 7:47PM
There's been something of an update to this. In interviews following the first announcement, Miyamoto has revealed a hint (though it's a pretty clear hint) about how the controller will be used.
Quote from one article:
"However, in a subsequent European interview, Miyamoto responded when pressed for a teaser, 'Hmm. One word: Boomerang.'"
Source: http://rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2006/031806a.html