Nintendo's Presentation at GDC06 by Iwata

[Bobbler]

Go can be 5 in Japanese. Has been mentioned before.

Ah, didn't see it mentioned when I skimmed through.

 

[Megadrive1988]

Not sure if this was mentioned... but doesn't "Go" mean 5 in Japanese? (like Suda Goichi - Suda 51). Rev is Nintendo's 5th console (NES, SNES, N64, GC, Rev), so it makes sense as a dual meaning.

interesting.... as in GoLion! (Voltron) ?

 

[barnak]

11:06: Bill invites people up on stage: the director of the GDC, Geoff Keighley (G4's Attack of the Show host), and developer Will Wright. The three try out Brain Age and compete in an arithmetic challenge.

 

[v0rt3x]

nm dual post.

 

[StefanS]

11:09 AM MDT- Trennon wins with a low score, but Wright has a Brain Age of 41. Audience laughs. Keeley's gets in the 60's, Moledina ends up with a 37.

EDIT Iwata is back again

 

[Refreshment]

So it was a multiplayer competition over WIFI, i dont remember BT having multiplayer.

That sounds great. I wonder how the players and crowd reacted?

 

[StefanS]

So it was a multiplayer competition over WIFI, i dont remember BT having multiplayer.

That sounds great. I wonder how the players and crowd reacted?

Well, they've added Sudoku as well to the US/Euro version

EDIT he's talking about WiFi now

 

[Megadrive1988]

Another rumor is that Nintendo GO is the online service Nintendo will provide to Revolution owners, or something along the lines... (online service so)

hmmm... Nintendo Go = 'Star Road' online network ? Star Road was rumored for Dolphin/StarCube/Gamecube right before the unvieling at Spaceworld 2000.

 

[Refreshment]

I have heard about sudoku before but im not familiar with the game.

Anyway, Nintendo is going to release BT at 20.00 U.S. dollars?, like they did in Japan (of course the equivalent in yen )

I really hope so, since thats one of its main appeals.

 

[StefanS]

11:22 AM MDT- Trennon is coming back to demo Metroid. Speaks briefly about the game. Three development team members are coming on-stage to test multiplayer. Iwata expects to get "destroyed" in the game. They play the game, with the four DS screens blown up on the big screen to show the action.

EDIT: Iwata back again
EDIT2:Zelda DS... Celshaded
EDIT3:
11:31 AM PDT- Iwata begins talking about the Revolution and how the concept for the controller was originated.

 

[barnak]

11:31: Iwata is asked all the time: How did you get the idea for the Revolution controller. Elaborates on how some people are afraid to touch regular game controllers.

 

[StefanS]

Press release:
This release just hit the wire:



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/20050516/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."

EDIT: Sg. is coming up?

 

[StefanS]

It's over

Summary:

* Revolution backlog also features Sega Genesis games & TurboGrafx
* the download service will be comparable to ITunes
* Nintendo tries to be different:

Most important story is still to be told: how developers will work with the new consoles. Huge amounts of money are needed to market games, to create the elaborate graphics, etc. Elaborates on Nintendo's desire to do something different -- provide solutions for people with great ideas. Nintendo understands importance of graphics. Games like Mario, Zelda, Metroid will all look better than ever. But those will not be the only types of games. Stresses innovation. Essential to reach new audience: younger people, older people. Nintendo is commited to creating a development environment that lets developers and publishers expand and express themselves. In a few weeks, you will play and see and understand our philosophy.

* WiFi is important to them
* Games: Zelda DS celshaded, Brain Training, Metroid Hunters

 

[Titanio]

Nice news about access to the Megadrive catalogue. Who'd have thunk 15 years ago Also, nice about Zelda DS, looking forward to seeing it. But the scarcity of Revolution discussion and info was quite disappointing. I can't believe they spent something like 40 minutes on Brain Training

 

[Mefisutoferesu]

It seems there's a few pics being snuck out... looks like Zelda DS is 2.5D?

http://blog.wired.com/games/

 

[DigitalSoul]

Revolution backlog also features Sega Genesis games & TurboGrafx
s

Thats sweet. Of course I was a Genesis man

 

[pc999]

Great news IMO, if they put this at low price it should sell like hot cakes (is this the english expression, right?).

 

[v0rt3x]

kotaku will have video of zelda later.

 

[Refreshment]

Not only the backlog is nice now with Sega and Turbografx stuff, but they need to secure this, so it wont end up in the other competitors online services.

I think at the right price is a nice draw for people that have been into gaming from long time ago.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Revolution backlog also features Sega Genesis games & TurboGrafx

That is the ultimate irony. The original Sonic the Hedgehog on a Nintendo Console. Who'd a thunk it.