Aonuma interview: new Wii, DS Zeldas

Kobun Heat · (07-17-2007, 06:48 PM)

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/07/...erview--2.html

I'm sitting in an airport but figured I should let you guys know about this. Aonuma really wanted to stress that they're just bursting with ideas now, not only for Wii but DS as well.

I can honestly say that I've never seen him so energetic during an interview.

Interviews with Shane Kim, Miyamoto, and Peter Moore to follow every day this week.

traveler · (07-17-2007, 06:50 PM)

Thanks much, Kohler! Also, since I didn't really get a chance last week, thanks for all the live blogging you guys did. I was glad to see not everyone forgot about the non big 3 conferences.

megashock5 · (07-17-2007, 06:50 PM)

Awesome, Chris. Keep 'em coming!

Brandon F · (07-17-2007, 06:51 PM)

Awesome! A Wii-mat focused Zelda is just what GAF ordered!

Innotech · (07-17-2007, 06:51 PM)

Aonuma, experiment all you want, but please make the next one cel shaded!

brandonh83 · (07-17-2007, 06:52 PM)

Cel-shading, but good designs this time guys

CrushDance · (07-17-2007, 06:52 PM)

Originally Posted by Brandon F:

Awesome! A Wii-mat focused Zelda is just what GAF ordered!

.....Hello NO! Leave it with just Wiimote controls.

That aside I'm sure we'll see this game in 2099.

Tristam · (07-17-2007, 06:53 PM)

Kohler: Thank you! That was a fantastic interview.

jarrod · (07-17-2007, 06:54 PM)

I actually wouldn't mind seeing him revive Marvelous for a change... maybe using TWW engine and look on Wii?

Oblivion · (07-17-2007, 06:55 PM)

I'm honestly quite surprised he thinks that PH was the first time he's been able to truly do what he wants with the series.

Tristam · (07-17-2007, 06:56 PM)

Originally Posted by Oblivion:

I'm honestly quite surprised he thinks that PH was the first time he's been able to truly do what he wants with the series.

Well it's certainly the first game in the series directed by Aonuma that Miyamoto didn't feel compelled to "upend the tea table" over.

EDIT: Furthermore, Phantom Hourglass deviates further from the "traditional" (or "Miyamoto") Zelda design than Aonuma's other games, although Majora's Mask was wonderfully different as well.

KevinRo · (07-17-2007, 06:57 PM)

Interesting interview. I especially liked the 'upending the tea-table' part. It's just weird imagining Miyamoto mad (cue e3 EA party pic) and throwing a fit over a near finished game.

One thing that struck me as odd was the ending of the interview:

Code:

WN: Can you make a Four Swords? I really want one.

EA: I understand.

WN: Thanks very much.

what kind of ending to an interview is that!

*edit*

Originally Posted by Brandon F:

Awesome! A Wii-mat focused Zelda is just what GAF ordered!

*GASP* Surfing using the WiiFit board!

cartman414 · (07-17-2007, 06:59 PM)

Nice interview. Hope the future for top-down Zelda isn't purely touch-based though, especially if it means less nifty items to play with.

And while a new Four Swords would be nice, I'm a lot more hungry for a new Zelda II. While it hasn't been the first time I've said it, it's been two decades since the original, dagnabbit!

Tom_Cody · (07-17-2007, 07:00 PM)

Great work. I can't wait to read your upcoming interviews.

kay · (07-17-2007, 07:01 PM)

Originally Posted by KevinRo:

Interesting interview. I especially liked the 'upending the tea-table' part. It's just weird imagining Miyamoto mad (cue e3 EA party pic) and throwing a fit over a near finished game.

One thing that struck me as odd was the ending of the interview:

Code:

WN: Can you make a Four Swords? I really want one.

EA: I understand.

WN: Thanks very much.

what kind of ending to an interview is that!

*edit*

*GASP* Surfing using the WiiFit board!

I think he said it jokingly, just the actions are missing from the text.

john tv · (07-17-2007, 07:03 PM)

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

GDGF · (07-17-2007, 07:04 PM)

Thanks muchly!

Wow. Aonuma is looking old. Stress of the job must be getting to him.

NintendosBooger · (07-17-2007, 07:05 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

Better than playing LttP for the first time?

jj984jj · (07-17-2007, 07:06 PM)

Originally Posted by Kobun Heat:

I can honestly say that I've never seen him so energetic during an interview.

And that picture shows it.

john tv · (07-17-2007, 07:07 PM)

Great interview, Kohler!

BTW -- that last "I understand" -- what did he say in Japanese? 分かりました?

Bebpo · (07-17-2007, 07:09 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

How far are you? Because I would strongly disagree. I do think it's quite good. It has tons of little WW-style annoyances though.

Jcgamer60 · (07-17-2007, 07:09 PM)

Excellent interview.

Death_Born · (07-17-2007, 07:12 PM)

Quote:

EA: I know many people who are not core Zelda fans, my friends, for example. I gave them copies of the game and they were very surprised -- they thought it would have been harder, and they were surprised at the potential that there is with gaming.

I hope he doesn't mean the actual difficulty of the game.

Branduil · (07-17-2007, 07:12 PM)

Quote:

This is a first for the Zelda franchise, but Miyamoto actually didn't "upend the tea table" even once. I was really surprised. After we were almost done with the game, Miyamoto played it. I was bracing myself for the worst, but instead he said, "This is good!" And I was like: "...wha?" And it was probably because, for the four months prior, I myself had been upending various smaller tea tables.

And lol at that stupid topic earlier saying there would be no Wii Zelda.

omg rite · (07-17-2007, 07:13 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

I don't doubt it. I haven't played it yet, but everything looks fantastic.

john tv · (07-17-2007, 07:15 PM)

Originally Posted by Bebpo:

How far are you? Because I would strongly disagree. I do think it's quite good. It has tons of little WW-style annoyances though.

Like what kinds of annoyances?

I'm far enough in now to be confident in my opinion. :) It's really awesome. Funny, too!

Night_Trekker · (07-17-2007, 07:20 PM)

Great interview. I can't wait to read the rest.

JDSN · (07-17-2007, 07:21 PM)

Well that made me really excited for Zelda Wii.

Miniboss1232 · (07-17-2007, 07:25 PM)

That was a great interview, Chris. Thanks for that.

All of the positive impressions for Phantom Hourglass have shifted my priorities for the fall lineup. I wasn't even considering the game (as I generally don't get into the portable Zeldas). But it seems fresh and new, which is something I felt Twilight Princess (and, for a long time, the series in general) lacked.

rdellw · (07-17-2007, 07:31 PM)

I beat PH and don't consider there to be any Wind Waker type annoyances o.O. I think its the best DS game and contends with Ocarina possibly as the best Zelda. It'll be even better in english i say!

Also the items in PH are perfectly/awesomely implemented and fun to use. =D Great interview.

DarknessTear · (07-17-2007, 07:33 PM)

Hahaha that picture of Aonuma is terrible. He looks better than that.

Kobun Heat · (07-17-2007, 07:38 PM)

Yeah, I took a couple shots while he was talking but forgot to pose him for some after in case they were bad. which they were. sorry. he is a handsome man, really.

john tv - he just said 'wakarimashita' and left it at that.

BrodiemanTTR · (07-17-2007, 07:38 PM)

BUBUBU AONUMA SAID NO ZELDA ON WII HE'S WORKING ON BRAIN AGE 3.

Bursting with ideas? Sounds good. Hopefully we won't have to wait too long for a fully-realized Wii Zelda.

fernoca · (07-17-2007, 07:43 PM)

Of ALL possible expressions/pictures...

Is like he was asked: Can you pose for a picture...for NeoGAF Photoshops threads??

Dies Iræ · (07-17-2007, 07:47 PM)

That was a great interview. I'm excited to play Aonuma's "take" on the Zelda series - especially now that it has Miyamoto's approval!

WANT

OnWarmerMusic · (07-17-2007, 07:59 PM)

Great interview, Kobun. I'm glad to hear that he's so enthused about the new hardware, especially after that talk the other day about "no more Wii Zelda". This is very reassuring.

The "Four Swords" question made me laugh, btw. Well played.

ziran · (07-17-2007, 08:11 PM)

Phantom Hourglass sounds like Aonuma's coming of age game, and it's awesome to hear!

In previous interviews, especially those about TP, it struck me how concerned he was about his abilities, but the brilliance of Phantom Hourglass has really given him the confidence he deserves, and I bet Miyamoto's just as pleased and happy for him.

Aonuma's really talented (as with all of EAD), so I can't wait to see what Zelda for Wii is like.

Nice interview.

stilgar · (07-17-2007, 08:15 PM)

Finally we'vee got a really interesting discussion, with smart questions (E3, I'm looking at YOU !) . Muchas gracias for the thread.

TSA · (07-17-2007, 08:21 PM)

Originally Posted by Brandon F:

Awesome! A Wii-mat focused Zelda is just what GAF ordered!

I take it Aonuma liked my suggestion on Tuesday ;)

Meta-Knight · (07-17-2007, 08:22 PM)

Originally Posted by Kobun Heat:

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/07/...erview--2.html

I'm sitting in an airport but figured I should let you guys know about this. Aonuma really wanted to stress that they're just bursting with ideas now, not only for Wii but DS as well.

I can honestly say that I've never seen him so energetic during an interview.

Interviews with Shane Kim, Miyamoto, and Peter Moore to follow every day this week.

Great interview. I second the four-swords request

Operations · (07-17-2007, 08:27 PM)

He didn't really answer the Zelda-outsourcing question.

ghibli99 · (07-17-2007, 08:31 PM)

Great interview -- I hate to admit it, but I haven't hit TP in any significant way yet (~1 hour), but reading this interview really makes me want to dive back in. I can't wait for PH!

KTallguy · (07-17-2007, 08:38 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

I agree.

It's an amazing game.

Great interview! I hope that the Zelda series can continue to evolve more and more.

Haunted · (07-17-2007, 08:39 PM)

Originally Posted by Kobun Heat:

http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/07/...erview--2.html

I'm sitting in an airport but figured I should let you guys know about this. Aonuma really wanted to stress that they're just bursting with ideas now, not only for Wii but DS as well.

I can honestly say that I've never seen him so energetic during an interview.

Interviews with Shane Kim, Miyamoto, and Peter Moore to follow every day this week.

Nice interview, thanks Kobun. That he was energetic during the interview and stated the he and his team are bursting with ideas.. that's just awesome news.

Originally Posted by interview:

WN: Were there any "upending the tea table" moments with Miyamoto, this time [referring to Miyamoto's notoriety for telling a team they have to go back to the drawing board on a nearly-finished project]?

EA: This is a first for the Zelda franchise, but Miyamoto actually didn't "upend the tea table" even once. I was really surprised. After we were almost done with the game, Miyamoto played it. I was bracing myself for the worst, but instead he said, "This is good!" And I was like: "...wha?" And it was probably because, for the four months prior, I myself had been upending various smaller tea tables.

Best part of the interview - made me go :o.

Dr.Hadji · (07-17-2007, 08:48 PM)

"me kara uroko"

My favorite part. Zelda doing what it does.

[Nintex] · (07-17-2007, 08:53 PM)

Eonuma seems to be a great succesor to Miyamoto, I can't wait to play PH to see what ideas he brought to the table.

gabe90 · (07-17-2007, 09:04 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

Great interview, Kohler!

BTW -- that last "I understand" -- what did he say in Japanese? 分かりました?

That's how I read it. And as such, in Japanese, it makes perfect sense. Translated to English, I can understand why some people wouldn't really understand.

Cosmozone · (07-17-2007, 09:31 PM)

"me kara uroko"... Interesting. Exactly the same saying exists in German as well.

Originally Posted by Eiji Aonuma:

It's not as though there was a conscious decision to make the story lighter and the characters more funny. But because the graphics are toon-shaded, to have a really dark story with this big-eyed, toon-shaded Link running around just wouldn't fit.

Noooooooooooo!
That would fit perfectly and be totally awesome. DO IT!!!!!!

Just do it.
You'll see.
Everybody will see.

gamergirly · (07-17-2007, 10:42 PM)

The next Zelda?? Bring it

Alcibiades · (07-17-2007, 10:51 PM)

Originally Posted by john tv:

PH is the best Zelda yet, I think. Strong words, I know, but the game is frickin' awesome. :)

Isn't The Legend of Zelda your favorite game of all time?

I know you think no Zelda yet has come close to the first game in terms of the freedom and non-linear structure, not even A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time... Is the Phantom Hourglass love related to this, or something completely different...