[Shikamaru Ninja]

Official Japanese Iwata's Ask http://www.nintendo.co.jp/3ds/interv...ol1/index.html
English Iwata's Ask http://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interv...rio-kart-7/0/0


EAD Software Development Group No. 1
Producer: Hideki Konno
Director: Kosuke Yabuki
Program Director: Yusuke Shiraiwa
Sound Director: Kenta Nagata
Art Director: Yoshihasa Morimoto
Chief Designer: Masaki Ishikawa
Planning Coordinator: Yuji Ishijo

Retro Studios Inc.
Art Director: Vince Joley
Graphic Design: Ryan Powell
Course Design: Tom Ivey

Japanese-English Iwata's Ask Summary

+ Iwata describes the game as developed by "Nintendo EAD in cooperation with Retro Studios" as opposed to co-development (like Zelda: Toot 3D).

+ Part 1 focused on the design team members of EAD Software Group No.1 and Retro Studios who worked together in designing the tracks and models. Part 2 focused on the leads of the inhouse team at EAD.

+ Development of the game started inhouse with a small team of eight members. Because of Nintendogs+Cats being a direct Hideki Konno and EAD Group 1 game, staff was not available to add to the post-production team (the team that joins core team to finish a game). Other projects at Nintendo also prohibited from drafting sufficient staff.

+ This game was treated as a "core red" meaning it had to make release this year. Hideki Konno initially approached Shinya Takahashi, General Manager of Nintendo SPD, asking him if he could recommend an external team to aid in development. Takahashi referred Kensuke Tanabe, Tanabe who produces all of Retro Studios games with his Nintendo SPD Group 3 team, suggested Retro Studios Inc.

+ EAD members originally hesitant to develop Mario Kart with any help. One team member suggested Mario Kart should purely stay in-house without outside help. But at the end, they all worked together very well.

+ Development team discusses the video confencing methodology they used with Retro Studios. Similarly how EAD Kyoto (management) was using it to supervise EAD Tokyo software. This case was more difficult since EAD Software Group No.1 was sending data to Retro Studios, and Retro Studios would send data back.

+ EAD Group 1 design team developed the 16 new tracks, while Retro Studios concentrated on re-designing the 16 retro tracks with EAD's programmers.

+ Retro Studios was first invited to visit EAD, and see the current build ROM and begin to get a feeel for the game. Later during development, EAD visited Retro Studios, and got to study "American techniques and technology".

+The programmer in charge of Mario Kart Wii tilt controls joined in mid development and worked on gyration controls for Mario Kart 7.

+ Tons of 3D and community features development details.

+ EAD made several adjustments to the classic courses Retro Studios designed in order to mix in better with the 16 brand new inhouse courses.

[Forever]

So Retro was more involved than we thought.

[Vanille]

+ Konno explains that with several production designers joining to finish Nintendogs+Cats for launch, and other "developments at Nintendo taking up other staff" there was "an act of emergency" to have Mario Kart finished by the end of the year. Konno needed more people to get this done.

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

[Shikamaru Ninja]

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

Is it? It seems on par with the Wii version as far as features. Hopefully it has the challenge mode from the DS version as well.

[fisheyes]

So am I supposed to blame EAD or Retro for the appalling lack of Waluigi? Or both? I'll blame both.

[Truth101]

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

Except it isn't...?

[Boney]

Except it isn't...?

no babies ;_;

[Fantastical]

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

How so?

[Truth101]

no babies ;_;

Babies suck. :P

[speedpop]

The game is not out yet and already there are observers stating that it is already lacking?

[markot]

I hate the babies >.<

And damn, Nintendo needs to hire more people!

[AbsoluteZero]

It warms the cockles of my gamer heart to see East & West unite over video game development.

[speedpop]

It warms the cockles of my gamer heart to see East & West unite over video game development.

While the zealous fanatics squabble over development differences and cultural tastes between the two regions like some oppressed group of tribes.

[Boney]

Babies suck. :P

noooooo

[Ezalc]

This game doesn't have Waluigi. There is no excuse for that shit.

[MAtgS]

Does it have missions/bosses like MKDS? If not its barebones.

[@MUWANdo]

They haven't revealed Waluigi, that doesn't mean he's not in. (also who cares)

Did anyone post a thread for the new (huge!) Iwata Asks with Shiggy and Itoi that's ostensibly about the Zelda anniversary but is really just them chatting about nothing in particular?

[Ezalc]

(also who cares)

[LOCK]

Nintendo needs to build new studios/hire new people. Or buy a studio/company. I really don't understand their stance against expansion.

[VariantX]

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

Lol, maybe you need to see the ridge racer vita thread first, then come back and still say that MK7 is barebones.

[@MUWANdo]

Nintendo needs to build new studios/hire new people. Or buy a studio/company. I really don't understand their stance against expansion.

They already own or majority-own dozens of external studios in addition to the several internal studios they run and the second-party studios they have exclusive publishing contracts with. Why do they need to buy more?

[Luigiv]

This game doesn't have Waluigi. There is no excuse for that shit.

I thought everyone hated Waluigi?

[KittenMaster]

So am I supposed to blame EAD or Retro for the appalling lack of Waluigi? Or both? I'll blame both.

This game doesn't have Waluigi. There is no excuse for that shit.

A shame Waluigi isn't in. Instead we got characters like Shyguy, Koopa, Lakitu, and Wiggler who all suffer from the major character design flaw of not being a twin-counterpart of an evil clone for the sole purpose of roster filler and are instead unique, individual, well established and historical enemies that seemingly nobody cares about.

What a freaking travesty.

[Sciz]

I thought everyone hated Waluigi?

That was before he turned out to be one of the few characters in the entire franchise with a personality.

[LOCK]

They already own or majority-own dozens of external studios in addition to the several internal studios they run and the second-party studios they have exclusive publishing contracts with. Why do they need to buy more?

For a company as large and as successful as Nintendo, they are still small, especially in employee numbers.

[Truth101]

For a company as large and as successful as Nintendo, they are still small, especially in employee numbers.

Nintendo needs to build new studios/hire new people. Or buy a studio/company. I really don't understand their stance against expansion.

What does any of that have to do with this thread?

[Watch Da Birdie]

Waluigi hasn't been revealed because they're gunning up for the big reveal of Baby Waluigi.

[Erethian]

Nintendo needs to build new studios/hire new people. Or buy a studio/company. I really don't understand their stance against expansion.

They're building a new massive office complex in Kyoto on an old golf course, though it won't be fully up and running until 2013.

[Spike]

Waluigi will be Nintendo's first DLC.

[GCX]

For a company as large and as successful as Nintendo, they are still small, especially in employee numbers.

They've been hiring a lot of new EAD staff, mostly to meet the demands of HD development. EAD Tokyo for example has two teams instead of one now.

[Boney]

Waluigi will be Nintendo's first DLC.

my first horse armor

[@MUWANdo]

For a company as large and as successful as Nintendo, they are still small, especially in employee numbers.

Again, what is your point? It has absolutely no bearing on the quality of their games or their ability to release them in consistent and timely manner. Why does it matter?

[BowieZ]

I wouldn't be surprised if SpotPass allows Nintendo to rush games to market and offer belated DLC content as a feature.

I'm gunning for an extra Cup or two every Holiday season...

Maybe "Boomerang Cup" with Luigi's Mansion 2, Jungle Returns, Neo-Bowser City 2, and Rainbow Highway.

And "Tanooki Cup" with GCN Wario Colloseum, DS Tick Tock Clock, N64 Yoshi Valley, and GBA Ribbon Road.

or some shit

[Truth101]

I wouldn't be surprised if SpotPass allows Nintendo to rush games to market and offer belated DLC content as a feature. I'm gunning for an extra Cup or two every Holiday season... Maybe "Boomerang Cup" with Luigi's Mansion 2, Jungle Returns, Neo-Bowser City 2, and Rainbow Highway. And "Tanooki Cup" with GCN Wario Colloseum, DS Tick Tock Clock, N64 Yoshi Valley, and GBA Ribbon Road. or some shit

Would be so amazing if we get new tracks as DLC for Mario Kart 7, even a few a year would be amazing.

[web01]

Guess that explains why the game is so barebones.

This is Nintendo we are talking about they usually put in minimum effort..
Hell just look at the Pokemon games no other company could get away with that.

[Ninjagorilla]

So Retro was more involved than we thought.

I have the deepest respect for Retro (especially after DKC Returns, so awesome), but to me this sounds more like Nintendo letting Retro do the "grunt work" / outsourcing art. Let's wait untill it's translated. Retro are awesome anyhow. Also, very fitting that Retro are doing the retro courses :)

Again, what is your point? It has absolutely no bearing on the quality of their games or their ability to release them in consistent and timely manner. Why does it matter?

But it has - Iwata have been talking about this problem in the investor QA's, and that's why they are expanding (as someone mentioned here too).

[Madao]

i don't mind DLC as long as it is free. it's when they start getting greedy that it sucks hard.
buying the game is enough money already and you can't get it for free or cheap (fucking MKDS still sells for full price. MK7 is not going to run into sales problems until the sequel for the 3DS sucessor is out)

[catfish]

This is Nintendo we are talking about they usually put in minimum effort.. Hell just look at the Pokemon games no other company could get away with that.

when you manufacture heroin, you don't really need to put it in a shiny bag.

(I've never played pokemon this is my observations talking)

[Mpl90]

Yes, they're expanding always. But...how can be MK7 considered barebones?!?

[Truth101]

This is Nintendo we are talking about they usually put in minimum effort.. Hell just look at the Pokemon games no other company could get away with that.

This statement should be ridiculed and laughed at because it is so much BS.

[Shiggy]

Didn't you try to tell me that Retro only did some graphics for the DK course?

[rpmurphy]

This is Nintendo we are talking about they usually put in minimum effort.. Hell just look at the Pokemon games no other company could get away with that.

Pokemon games are about as much as most RPG sequels go -- new world, new story, and added gameplay. Not quite sure what you mean by other companies.

[dwu8991]

Yes, they're expanding always. But...how can be MK7 considered barebones?!?

Its bare bones because there's no user content in creating new tracks.

[@MUWANdo]

But it has - Iwata have been talking about this problem in the investor QA's, and that's why they are expanding (as someone mentioned here too).

I'd argue that it's forced them to make better use of the studios they already own - they brought in Brownie Brown to help with Mario 3D, for example, and Monolith helped out on Skyward Sword, and if they weren't listed in the credits you'd never guess they weren't 100% EAD games. I'm not saying they don't need to grow, but they'd be much better served by having the studios they already own work on more software (particularly software that actually sees the light of day) than buying even more studios that don't seem to do a whole lot.

Either way, it seems like a total nonsequitur in the context of this thread.

[stilgar]

This is Nintendo we are talking about they usually put in minimum effort.. Hell just look at the Pokemon games no other company could get away with that.

Sorry to pour water on a drowning man, but WAT. They games are the most polished you can find in the whole universe except their online is two generations behind.

[Nuclear Muffin]

Didn't you try to tell me that Retro only did some graphics for the DK course?

He just wouldn't listen to me... (just like I told him not to make a thread until the English version was available...)

[Celine]

So Retro was more involved than we thought.

And everything Retro Studios touches turn gold ...

[GrotesqueBeauty]

And everything Retro Studios touches turn gold ...

Pretty sure Corruption is only gold plated. :p

[Celine]

Pretty sure Corruption is only gold plated. :p

Gold plated enough for me ;-)

[jj984jj]

I'm glad MonolithSoft and Retro are getting involved with EAD games. I hope that it strengthens their internal development power to allow them to do more, and that this collaboration especially might open up the door for them to collaborate with more western designers at Retro and maybe other studios.