Miyamoto on Passive Approach to Games: "Pathetic"

[Krock]

So, Shigeru Miyamoto pretty much dropped a polite version of "fucking casuals" all over us. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/475384/miyamoto-explains-nintendos-renewed-passion-for-the-core/

Here's the part you care about:

Their attitude is, 'okay, I am the customer. You are supposed to entertain me.' It's kind of a passive attitude they're taking, and to me it's kind of a pathetic thing. They do not know how interesting it is if you move one step further and try to challenge yourself.

This can be interperted a few ways. Some might say this is just a passionate developer who's a little frustrated that there are people who don't truly appreciate game design, but others might see this as a look into Nintendo's future. It seems that Nintendo has accepted that the casual audience that they built up with the Wii and DS as flown away. At least, Miyamoto has accepted that.

What does this mean for the direction that Miyamoto and co. are going? More importantly in our eyes, what does this mean for Star Fox U? Given Shiggy's philosphy from the past ten years, I've been a little concerned about him being at the helm of Star Fox. Even though Miyamoto had a big hand in the creation of Star Fox, the idea that he will pull a Sticker Star with the character-heavy Star Fox series is still a big concern.

It's still very likely that he will make the story revert back to SF64 and its cast, I no longer worry that it'll be a mindless minigame collection. I'm confident that Miyamoto will use his experience to provide a fun, challenging, arcade-style Star Fox game.

[LazerMaster5]

All I can say is, filthy casuals.

[Drasiana]

the idea that he will pull a Sticker Star with the character-heavy Star Fox series is still a big concern.

 

I'm not sure why since none of what we saw at E3 gave that impression?? but ok

 

anyway yeah it's good to focus on people who will repeatedly buy video games rather than people who will buy one video game as a novelty and then leave it in the closet for the next 12 years and I'm glad Nintendo is figuring that out

[Krock]

What we saw at E3 didn't give any impression at all. We barely saw anything. Just some reused SF643D assets in a nondescript all-range mode for about five seconds on a screen in the background. If you somehow got an impression from that, you must be seeing something I'm not.

[Drasiana]

There were three demo levels that included a Star Wolf battle and a fight with a kaiju monster, talk of the Arwingcopter and its co-op mode, the Arwing's new ability to transform into the Landmaster (in on-rails stages too, I believe), talk of Star Fox U actually being a series of episodic games "like a TV show", and some lines that suggested Project Guard may be incorporated into the game as well.

 

So yeah, I apparently saw a lot that you didn't.

 

Literally all of this is mentioned on the SFO front page and easily-found articles.

 

Actually by the sound of it the game had a pretty steep learning curve so it's pretty much the exact opposite of something that would be marketed to "casuals".

[Terramax]

Way to go Miyamoto. Offend people for their choice of games, rather than think about making a variety of games for your consoles which are attractive to both core AND casual gamers.

 

Honestly, I think he's just bitter that so many Japanese consumers have shifted to mobile phone games. And I don't blame them -- they look a lot more entertaining than anything Nintendo have pulled out over the last couple of years.

 

It's ironic that he should mention 'challenge', when Nintendo have been falling back on the same franchises for the past 10 years. But, whatever--

 

As for Star Fox U? I don't think he should be at the helm either. Nintendo's problem is that, like most Japanese companies, they rely on the views of elder members to form their games, as opposed to putting further trust on younger blood, whom likely have a greater understanding of the target demographics.

For instance; Nintendo at one point mentioned to 3rd parties that, during the making of the Wii U (with regards to online gaming), that they'd never played a 360 or PS3 before. To me, this is what's really pathetic. People like Miyamoto are too consumed with what they think is best for the audience, rather than auditing what consumers want and enjoy and making games that cater to supply and demand.

 

It stupifies me how the gaming media still holds Miyamoto to such high regard, when (IMO) he's done little since the N64 era to warrent any level of respect. I understand that a new Star Fox games needs to carry a fine balance between franchise mainstayer and fresh ideas, but some of the ideas thrown about with regards to using the Wii U's controller for a more complicated gaming experience, and an episodic setup doesn't strike me as something gamers are interested in. In fact, you don't have to dig deep to find most gamers out there would rather Nintendo just scrap the screen and just sell the console with a normal control pad instead.

 

On a side note, regarding that link; notice how anybody who says anything remotely negative regarding Nintendo receive between 100 - 350 dislikes? Well, you can't say Nintendo fans don't go out of their way to defend their favourite company.

[Drasiana]

Or maybe you could take context into account and realize that a lot of Nintendo's recent troubles have been attributed to their prioritizing of casual gaming while neglecting their core, lasting audience. Being a long-time content creator for Nintendo would make it frustrating to watch your long-time fans grow increasingly annoyed at being ignored when it comes to the bulk of your library. Why do you think it's only now that people are thinking the WiiU may actually be hitting stride? It's because it finally has a library of games that Nintendo fans actually want to play--not just exercise games that your family spends 10 minutes playing at Christmas before forgetting about forever or whatever.

 

Also lol "I don't think gamers want episodic games" yeah okay you go tell that to Telltale but I don't think they'll be able to hear you over the cheery tune they whistle as they skip their way to the bank, a cartoonishly large bag of cash slung over their shoulder.

 

You really can't complain about Nintendo ignoring what the audience wants and then put words into the mouth of the audience. A lot of people, including myself, thinks the episodic style would be a great direction to take Star Fox.

 

e: and Pikmin fucking ruled and 3 was the only thing that made me even consider buying a WiiU up until E3 this year so hey thanks Miyamoto

[The VGM Lover]

e: and Pikmin fucking ruled and 3 was the only thing that made me even consider buying a WiiU up until E3 this year so hey thanks Miyamoto

​I know this thread is old by now, but I just wanna say that I agree. Between all three titles, Arguably, I think that Pikmin 3 is the best. There's just more to do in that game, and it holds the right amount of difficulty for any gamer. Well done, Shiggy.