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I have a great EoD thought for you guys today! You can't get much better than a visit from Nintendo's Denise Kaigler! I'm going to stop wasting her space, and let you guys get right to it! See you in a few, short hours.
Denise Kaigler has returned once again to pump out a couple more answers to some questions that you guys asked! She may be extremely busy leading into the holiday season, but she didn't forget about you guys!
For those that don't remember, we had the amazing opportunity of asking Denise Kaigler, Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, a few questions. Well actually, it was you guys that ended up asking the questions. Over the past few months, Denise has been stopping by to put together some answers to what you've asked. This time around, she manages to squeeze in a couple more responses.
Denise has let me know that she'll have one more round of answered questions coming to us in the future. Make sure you stay tuned for those, but for now, enjoy what she has to say below! Your questions are in italics while Denise's answers are in bold.
1. Since Microsoft and Sony are both planning to release motion controls, and it will be Motion+power on their side and only motion in the Nintendo side, what is Nintendo planning to do to even the competition?
It’s interesting … I get asked this type of question from time to time. People are curious how Nintendo will respond to these new motion-control proposals. But remember that in this instance, we’re the ones being responded to. Nintendo’s motion controls created a paradigm shift for the whole industry. We encouraged millions of new people to play and that caused the rest of the industry to sit up and take notice.
This past summer we launched Wii MotionPlus, which brings exacting motion controls to the Wii Remote. I’m sure many of you have tried it out and appreciate its true 1:1 motion. The fact is that we’re the only company for which motion controls are a reality today. So, really, there is no competition.
As far as the “power” part of your question is concerned, the real key to video games is not the tech specs but the answer to the question “is it fun?” I think the history of video games has demonstrated that the fun and experience of playing trump all other considerations.
2. How many games do you know about that are still unannounced? All I’m asking is for a number!
Oh no! No matter how I answer this question, I think you’ll either end up frustrated – or mad at me. J If it’s a small number, you’ll think we don’t have anything in the pipeline. If it’s a big number, you’ll ask why we’re sitting on so many games. The truth is, it really depends on the time of year. Right before E3, for example, I might know of a couple dozen games that Nintendo has up its sleeve that haven’t yet been announced. Knowing about games like Metroid: Other M before anyone else is one of the perks of working for Nintendo.
As always, a very huge thank-you to Denise for stopping by and chatting with all of us. From what I understand, she's quite fond of the GoNintendo gang...meaning you guys! I know I speak for the entire staff and body of readers/podcast listeners when I say that it's truly an honor to have had this opportunity.
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I've got one that's a burning a hole through an unused part of my brain.
You know, reading the End of Day Thoughts helps.
For those that don't remember, we had the amazing opportunity of asking Denise Kaigler, Nintendo of America's vice president of marketing and corporate affairs, a few questions.
Good answers. It's a shame she only answered two questions, but she must be a pretty busy woman! Thanks Denise!
Thank you Denise, that's what I want to hear.
Really now, where is all this MotionPlus support? Zelda using it in the pipeline and...what other titles again? 3rd party? Anyone?
I mean I don't expect her to be like "oh shoot we don't know what's going to happen, this could be bad for Nintendo" but don't resort to the old "Well we set the standard so doesn't matter what happens from here on out LOL" >_<
@Artistic_Anarchy
Almost forgot my tin foil hat!
*puts on tin foil hat
Now this is my conspiracy theory for the day!
@rodjoh
I completely disagree. She answered the same I would. The other motion controls haven't released and don't even have a concrete release date. We don't know the full scoop on them or adequate hands-on to even make a comparison. The truth of the now is that there isn't any competition and no one is sure when there will be.
But its not like they can just sit there and act like nothing is going on, they must be ready to counter.
Even with Zelda using it, it seems as thought it will mostly be the aiming aspect. Something that doesn't need the 1:1 really.
@DonnyDarko420
The question is "with new motion controllers coming out, what are you going to do?"
And she says "We made motion controllers cool." and starts talking about games being fun, which has very little to do with it.
She didn't answer the question, lol.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=378513
Even though half of those games are probably shovelware in that list, there's the support afaik. But I'm sure there will be more games that uses the Motion + in the future.
The only thing I can think, is that her answer was, "We are waiting to see what they accomplish, before we make any moves." Because she had stated that Nintendo was the one being "responded to".
Though her answer about "power" wasn't that great IMO. We all know games are supposed to be FUN, that's Captain Obvious. Just because a game is fun, doesn't mean it can't also look great.
So this answer was not really an answer, more of a vague, "We aren't doing anything about graphics, we are just making FUN GAMES!" Though, when you reference question 2, she won't answer what games they're making...ohhh, the world of PR.
Nintendo knows just as much about the competition as we do, which isn't much. HOw can they prepare to counter something that can turn out totally different than what we first saw at E3?
All Nintendo can do now, is create quality software that utilizes WiiMotion+ effectively, therefore; Zelda Wii. As for third party, Red Steel 2 is looking quite promising.
Other than those two, I', sure we'll be seeing an increase of games that utilize it over time.
Thank you very much for your time Ms. Kaigler!
Then again, I guess that gives them more time to polish?
Still, I'm on the hate train, and nothing can take me from it. Two entire holidays with nothing that I'm truly excited for is a joke. It is not like the games Nintendo's been doing are actually more fun that what is available on other consoles, they are just different - and less polished and with less content most of times. I'm sorry Denise, but I had more fun with Borderlands than with anything Nintendo since Brawl, and it is a third party new IP on other consoles. And NoA's been the worst, not localizing games that I was truly excited for, like Fatal Frame 4, and not developing enough games for the Western market (three years to update Excite Truck into Excitebots, really? Not a single NST game yet? Where are the big partnerships?).
I seem to remember a GoNintendoer who uses a J as his signature.. can't remember who right now.
On topic: Like MoldyClay said, the first question wasn't given a straight answer other than implying that they are not going to do anything about it so far.
As far as the second question.. A couple dozen games sounds like a lot but the question nor the answer specifies on either Wii or DS games.
2) More BS
Denise, it was really nice to come and "answer" questions, but if you really aren't going to answer them, don't bother saying anything.
What's the old saying? Oh yeah, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
Thumper was a wise man Denise, listen to him.
Thank goodness for Epic Mickey. Let's hope it sells so 3rd party might give Wii another chance. Then again, no one does TV commericals for the Wii since the Conduit, so they want their games to fail....
@Garfitor
Nintendo has a lot of dev teams so a dozen or so wouldn't be too far-fetched. Nintendo's dev teams (copy paste from Wikipedia):
First party:
-Brownie Brown
-EAD (including R&D1 and R&D2)
-Intelligent Systems
-Monolith Soft
-NSD
-NST
-Project Sora
-Retro Studios
-SPD
-SDD
-Special-Project
-Technology Development
Second-party:
-AlphaDream
-Ambrella
-Ape/Creatures Inc.
-Camelot Software Planning
-Game Freak
-Genius Sonority
-HAL Laboratory
-Nd Cube
-Noise
-skip Ltd.
And lets not forget the occasional third party collaboration, like the current one with Team Ninja on Metroid: Other M, and before that Nintendo, Tecmo, and Grasshopper Manufacturer all had roles in making Fatal Frame IV.
Both questions requiered her to give potentially inside and classified information regarding response strategies and upcoming games and you expected her to give you the real answer for both??
Rewind back to June 2009 - same question...
IGN: What're your thoughts on Natal, Microsoft's controller-less video camera getup?
Reggie: It's interesting. You could make the argument that the health genre, like Wii Fit, is becoming red ocean -- there's a lot of different content coming out. You could say that in the future, that potentially active playing might be a red ocean in the future depending on what happens with our two competitors. For us, we're making precision control a reality today. What we're showing with Wii Sports Resort really takes the way you handle the controller to a whole new level. So for us, we're focused on the reality of today of how to drive that in an important way within gaming. We'll let our competitors talk about what might or might not be in the future.
Regarding Power/tech specs, hdtv, etc?
Rewind to an October IGN Nintendo Minute...
Denise: No matter what new technologies are developed or how video games look, in the end gamers will decide if it's a good title based on the experience. Ultimately, pretty pictures don't matter. It's all about the game play.
People need to stop asking the same questions over and over because you will keep getting the same responses.
i'm still waiting for journalist to realize that hardcore pointing game like trauma center or sin and punishment 2 can only be made for the 2006 nintendo wiimote pointer. Or any kind of pointing game , moving the whole arm will get old very fast.
Exactly. Also, no software that uses them have been announced yet, so we don't know how much support (if any) is going to be given to them. It's like asking Sony and Microsoft what they think about the Vitality Sensor, since they don't know what type of software Nintendo has in store for it they can't give a proper answer.
Borderlands isn't exactly the best game to mention as far as polish goes. Its inventory and quest system is broken, as far as I can tell. Luckily, the rest of the game is really fun, so they can kinda get away with it.
So yeah, I would question the notion that Nintendo's games have less polish than others. If anything, they're just always missing online play (features). I do agree that other games can be as fun as Nintendo's though. They're just much different, as you said.
@ topic
The problem with her first answer is that they already made their response with WM+. They don't really have anything else planned. Do you want her to say "No comment"? The second question was pretty much a good answer regardless, I don't see why anyone would be angry about it.
Q: How many games do you know about?
A: You won't like the answer...next question please.
Seriously, why even waste our time?
Then she should say "I'm not allowed to answer that question due to confidentiality reasons." At least that would've been some sort of a legitimate answer with an understandable reasoning behind it. Instead she just blew off the question with a piss-poor attempt at humor.
Aiming doesn't need 1:1? I take it you never played Wii Sports Resort... the archery on that is freakin' awesome.
@Jet Pilot
Yeah! How dare she keep answering the same inane questions from the same small group of people who never understand they are asking things no PR person would ever be able to answer before some sort of official announcement with good grace and an attempt to be personable!
Maybe if everything people asked Nintendo representatives about didn't consist of things they couldn't reveal (i.e. the questioners showed a little sense instead of being 'what secrets do you know about Nintendo and why does teh Wii so less graphix?!') then maybe she wouldn't have to say answers like that.
I just hate that people ask almost nothing but things that aren't known by the public because the company is keeping them a secret on purpose and then she gets crapped on for her 'lame answers.'
'Why did she say something human instead of just saying 'i'm not allowed to answer due to confidentiality reasons?'
Probably because a) her job would suck to not try to have fun even though getting asked questions like that constantly by geeks has to suck and b) like you would be complaining less if every answer she gave was 'i can't answer that and sure we know the wii can't do hd and i'm just sorry, ok, i'm just SORRY! I WISH IT COULD!'
Sheesh.
You answered the question urself, they need to have killer stuff coming out. If she says their focus is on "fun" then so be it.
With that said, I'm lookin forward to the Mario games coming out... and Zelda whenever that happens.
My favorite has to be Iwata actually doing the right thing in admitting Wii's momentum has stalled, something Sony would never do. Of course people used this in their hourly "Why the Wii is a fad, and why the real consoles will reign supreme" propaganda, yet no journalist or other Industry people won't touch the Go's failure. It's almost as if they're trying to hide it, as it would be a blow to their plans for "Digital Distribution".
Meh, let Nintendo continue to make money while the competition bleeds it.
"I like how people are not demanding Microsoft and Sony show off their motion device games like they do with Nintendo and Motion Plus games."
How would you know that if you came in here alleging that there was no software being developed for them?
Actually NHL 2K10 has at least three commercials exclusively for the Wii version, and it is a multiplatform game. I've seen them several times on TV.
Also, a couple dozen games shouldn't surprise anyone. Nintendo has a lot of developers (as listed above) and she could also be counting games which have just started developement (which we, the general public, probably wouldn't hear about until a year or two later).
galaxy 2
metroid other m
golden sun
nsmbros.wii
monado
we know there is
pikmin wii
zelda wii
kiby wii
(something from retro)
Most likely nintencats
most likely another mario party
Most likely layton localization
Thats all stuff we know/can assume. Nintendo always has surprises up their sleeves so we'll see whats coming...
I agree, her answer was frustrating to read. She basically reminded everybody how incredible Nintendo is for introducing motion controls in the first place. Then went on to imply that Nintendo's strategy is to rely on brand-loyality and fanboyism to maintain their position. My only hope is that this terrible non-answer to a legitimate question is creative misdirection away from the fact that Nintendo is actually developing some very competitive hardware.
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The first question is easily handled. I recently played TF2 again, and downloaded the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, and I kept going, "This game would be so much better if you had the Wii remote to handle aiming and the melee-attack." In their current states, not even the unique experience of playing an Engineer in TF2 can stand up to Wii FPS Aiming and swinging for melee.