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[BY2K]

http://www.nintendo.co.uk/News/2017...rom-prototype-to-teary-E3-reveal-1237292.html

NUK: There must have been many pitch meetings between Ubisoft and Nintendo. How did they go?

DS: After we felt as a team that we had something solid, Ubisoft contacted Nintendo and said, “We want to propose the idea.” We were not expecting to meet Nintendo super soon, but the meeting was about three weeks later and we said, “Oh my God, it’s super early!”

We felt that we had to do something special for this pitch. We wanted to avoid any Powerpoint presentation or any design document that would have been boring and ineffective. So we said, “We should work like crazy and go there with a playable prototype.”

When I arrived in front of Miyamoto-san, who is the creator of the games I prefer the most, who inspired my whole career as a games designer, I felt split in two between the urgency to ask for an autograph and at the same time the responsibility to present the idea in the most professional way.

But he loved it! He said, “I’m impressed!” I was not expecting such a reaction. Then he asked me, “Where did you get the Mario and Luigi from, because they look identical to the Nintendo versions?” The truth is that we were so crazy, we wanted this game to happen so much, that even with only three weeks we recreated Mario and Luigi from scratch in order to bring the essence of those two characters to our prototype. I think that this was the moment where we convinced Nintendo of our passion and commitment.

NUK: When Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was finally revealed on stage at E3 2017, you gained instant internet stardom because of your emotional reaction during the reveal. Can you talk us through what that announcement meant to you at the time?

DS: It’s not easy to answer you, but you can imagine the pressure on me, because I’m just part of a team. I’m the creative director, so I feel the pressure. On our shoulders was the responsibility of three years of development. Ubisoft took quite a big risk, because we decided to embark on this game without knowing what the new Nintendo console would be or if the idea would be accepted.

As a Nintendo player, growing up with Miyamoto games, he was almost a father, telling me bedtime stories every night. Seeing Miyamoto-san on stage, I was not ready for him to call out my name. I felt like everything was finally realised and I said ‘don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry’, but then I broke apart.

Also, because a few rumours started on the internet, prior to our announcement, a few people made their own assumptions about the game, but now they can play it and they have changed their minds! They’re having fun and that is the biggest reward ever.

So the conference for me was a wave of emotion that I couldn’t control, but I didn’t know that it was spreading all over the internet until I discovered it the night after. Because I was in the Nintendo booth ready to do a rehearsal for Nintendo Treehouse Live and a guy stopped me saying, “You are super famous in China, you have more than 2 million views on our website” and showed me the picture of me crying. I said, “Oh noooo!”

NUK: It’s been a great reaction to watch. It really seems that gamers around the world can see what this means to you and are happy for you.

DS: I believe so, and I think it’s something I will never forget. I will probably create a still from that conference and frame it in my house. Because it doesn’t happen every day to have a legend on stage presenting a game you did using his characters. It’s more than honorary, it’s an occasion of a lifetime as they say.

Still today I cannot process it entirely. It’s happening but it’s so fast. I was not ready. People queued for three hours at E3 and then said they liked it even after three hours of queuing!

 

[Deft Beck]

I'm glad that he is coming from a passionate place, and it seems that Miyamoto and Nintendo recognize and champion that.

 

[Dark Cloud]

I'll be buying his game day 1. I love his passion and dedication. He put his heart into this game and had lots of pressure.

 

[RandomHopeInc]

Pretty amazing they recreated the models and made a prototype in those three weeks, these guys deserve all the praise.

 

[jon bones]

It's crazy how cynical people approached this, and how clear it is that it's passion project now.

 

[Astral/H3X]

Yeah, holy shit, 3 weeks?!

I was one of the people who was initially dismissive of the game, but just like he says, after the reveal I've changed my mind.

 

[maxcriden]

Thank you for posting this. Between his reaction during the E3 reveal and this interview it is really touching to see how passionate he is. It makes me very eager to play the game.

Edit:

For others like me who are interested in playing his other games, here is his MobyGames page:

http://www.mobygames.com/developer/sheet/view/developerId,53204/

I like the sound of the Jungle Book (GBC) and Mummy (GBA), seems they got good reviews. Rayman GBC is a cool demake also!

Jungle Book:

All of these are minor quibbles. The game's design itself is enough to recommend, since it's such a different type of platformer. Add to that some first-rate graphics and Disney quality animation, honest challenge, tight control, wonderful atmosphere, and simply fun gameplay, and you have one of the surprise greats on the system. 9/10

http://www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-color/walt-disneys-the-jungle-book-mowglis-wild-adventure

I can't find a Mummy page on MobyGames but here's the Metacritic with good reviews:

http://www.metacritic.com/game/game-boy-advance/the-mummy

Anyone play either of these?

Seems he also worked on the fan favorite Beyond Good & Evil, working as "Studio Managers Milan," not sure exactly what that means but that's cool!

 

[DecoReturns]

He said that he was aware by the reaction to the leaks. Yeah, they were pretty harsh at first because everyone assumed the game would looked bad.

 

[BitStyle]

It's crazy how cynical people approached this, and how clear it is that it's passion project now.

It was such an odd-sounding concept in the leaks that many were very skeptical. I mean, it being Rabbids wasn't doing it any favors as well. I was very impressed by the reveal though; went to pre-order the game after seeing the Treehouse demonstration. Makes me feel silly that I doubted the title initially.

 

[grandjedi6]

Gotta give the guy props. Most people wouldn't have the balls or dedication to push through the idea of Mario & Rabbids but it's X-Com. Glad it's worked out for him.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

After seeing how weird the levels are and how much you can customize/modify your gear and how many options there are, this game has really grown on me. Day 1 probably.

 

[cw_sasuke]

It's crazy how cynical people approached this, and how clear it is that it's passion project now.

Didnt make sense at all - Mario is Nintendo most important IP, they never would have Ubisoft develop the whole game alone unless the quality was up there. I always expected it to be good to very good...though i was surprised how good it looked at the end. For a moment i thought it would outshine Mario Odyssey...well then we saw the new Odyssey trailer lol.

 

[Gotdatmoney]

Good interview. The crazy shit people were throwing at this game before it was even announced is baffling. Do people always shit on things before they see them?

 

[Kouriozan]

Already have the game pre-ordered, that moment was really touching too.
I was always on board with the idea though.

 

[ajjow]

Well, now that this guy achieved his dream, he should think about creating his own mascot.

I really like what he did here. But it comes a time that you can't just live by other's creations. You have to create your own.

I hope to play a original game from this guy someday.

 

[aBarreras]

does anyone have a gif of the moment?

 

[TheMagician]

This is why the leaks annoyed me.

The information made people wrongly assume bad things about the game and I hope those behind the leaks think twice before doing the same thing again.

It must have been hurtful after all the hard work the team had put in to see comments online off the back of the leaks and not be able to prove them wrong right there and then.

I'm glad the reveal instantly turned around perception of the game in most people's eyes.

 

[RoboPlato]

This is why the leaks annoyed me.

The information made people wrongly assume bad things about the game and I hope those behind the leaks think twice before doing the same thing again.

It must have been hurtful after all the hard work the team had put in to see comments online off the back of the leaks and not be able to prove them wrong right there and then.

I'm glad the reveal instantly turned around perception of the game in most people's eyes.

I think that actually made the reveal a much more triumphant and moment for the team. They showed it off and proved a lot of people wrong.

 

[correojon]

I didn't know about this story, truth be told I wasn't very interested in the game. But after watching the guy's tears and reading about his passion for the project I'm 100% on board.

 

[James Scott]

Imagine working on something you feel so passionate about and having everyone hating on it before seeing gameplay.
Feels like the first visual leak (Rabbid Peach cropped out pic) was pretty malicious too.
Surprised at how good the game looked and I hope it turns out well. Glad people did a 180 too

 

[Spirited]

The game is looking super good so I hope him and his team all the best. Must have been hard to have seen all the hate after the early leak.

 

[Velocity:Design:Comfort]

Well, now that this guy achieved his dream, he should think about creating his own mascot.

I really like what he did here. But it comes a time that you can't just live by other's creations. You have to create your own.

I hope to play a original game from this guy someday.

He worked on Rayman games multiple times though. Maybe he likes the Rabbids or had a hand in their creation. I wouldn't assume anything here.

 

[Memory]

Great stuff, I was sceptical but the E3 reveal sold me so I'm certainly going to give it a try.

 

[Chindogg]

I think that actually made the reveal a much more triumphant and moment for the team. They showed it off and proved a lot of people wrong.

Exactly. It's the classic overcoming the odds story. Everyone fucking hates Rabbids. Hell I hate Rabbids. They're as insufferable as Minions. The concept behind this game sounded like a tire fire waiting to happen. But the reveal happened.

All that passion and love was poured onto the screen with an absolutely gorgeous, engaging, and challenging game. His team beat every possible expectation and made even NeoGAF change it's tune with one segment.

 

[Aostia]

I think that actually made the reveal a much more triumphant and moment for the team. They showed it off and proved a lot of people wrong.

Yes, it turned out SO GOOD, imho.

 

[Red]

after watching the guy's tears and reading about his passion for the project I'm 100% on board.

I feel the same. When the rumors first began circulating I thought the project sounded like a cynical cash grab, a way of exploiting beloved characters to make a buck. A Mario and Sonic at the Olympics sort of thing. But it's clear this was a passion project, and it sounds like it was created with the utmost respect and reverence for the material. It is a fan game made by a professional studio. That excites me. It looks like a great fit for the Switch.

 

[donny2112]

I'm really glad he talked through his emotions and history from the reveal at the Ubisoft conference. Adds much depth to such a touching moment. Really happy for him!

Game also looks a ton more interesting than I thought it would be, too. Great stuff!

 

[Sammy Samusu]

GOTY

Poor the other Mario.
Poor female Zelda.
Poor everyone.

 

[KingBroly]

I think that actually made the reveal a much more triumphant and moment for the team. They showed it off and proved a lot of people wrong.

I agree with this. For once, the leaks probably helped take a lot of the visceral disgust/hatred for the mere concept alone out of the room. Even if the game looked good, without the leaks, there'd be a lot of hate.

 

[Hero]

Even as a Nintendo fan I was skeptical when the rumors got out, but the footage and gameplay convinced me to get this day one. Super excited for this guy, hope he gets all the recognition he deserves.

This just goes to show why leaks can definitely hurt, because most people had written this off as trash before even seeing anything about it.

 

[TwistedFreeze]

Yeah, I too thought the worst when I saw the leaks. Kind of hard not to be cynical when the idea sounded so bad on paper but, man, they sure proved me and a lot of other people wrong. Can't recall any other time I shifted my opinion of a game so quickly and so hard but I guess the passion shined through and now I'm looking forward to it.

 

[TheThreadsThatBindUs]

I agree with this. For once, the leaks probably helped take a lot of the visceral disgust/hatred for the mere concept alone out of the room. Even if the game looked good, without the leaks, there'd be a lot of hate.

I'm not sure about that, tbh.

This game looks incredible to me. I don't even own a Switch. I don't care how much of an ardent fanboy you are, to see the way the game was presented at E3, with Miyamoto up on the stage giving it and Ubisoft his blessing, I can't really see how anyone outside just pure trolls could hate. It was my moment of E3...

 

[DataGhost]

I have to say that I'm pretty excited to get this game and have fun with it. Though I don't particularly care about the Rabbids, I think it was a good crossover. Hopefully we can see Mario + Rayman next!

 

[budpikmin]

I think that the quality of this game really shines through. I wasn't impressed when we heard about a Rabbids crossover but the presentation of it makes all of that doubt melt away

 

[Instro]

Even as a Nintendo fan I was skeptical when the rumors got out, but the footage and gameplay convinced me to get this day one. Super excited for this guy, hope he gets all the recognition he deserves.

This just goes to show why leaks can definitely hurt, because most people had written this off as trash before even seeing anything about it.

I actually disagree. I think the leaks helped mitigate that intial "wtf is this rabbids thing" response prior to the actual conference. Obviously that also caused people to go in expecting something lame, but at least more focused on what the game was about rather than the just the main concept of Rabbids+Mario.

 

[Takat]

Will def buy on the eshop, I wish you could pre-order on the eshop as well... I want to get the extra guns.

 

[AndrewDean84xX]

It's always awesome when you are reminded that you truly shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. This game did that. While I wasn't as vicious as others were around these parts, but I still had my reservations. No I have no doubts that this game looks truly special on different levels.

Most surprising was hearing the Giant Bomb guys praising it, after shitting on it for weeks.

 

[DecoReturns]

It's always awesome when you are reminded that you truly shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. This game did that. While I wasn't as vicious as others were around these parts, but I still had my reservations. No I have no doubts that this game looks truly special on different levels.

Most surprising was hearing the Giant Bomb guys praising it, after shitting on it for weeks.

I think it was mostly Dan hating on it because he didn't like Rabbids. The other guys seemed intrigued by it. From what I recall in the podcasts.

 

[CharminUltra]

These types of stories truly warm my cockles.

 

[Makonero]

I actually disagree. I think the leaks helped mitigate that intial "wtf is this rabbids thing" response prior to the actual conference. Obviously that also caused people to go in expecting something lame, but at least more focused on what the game was about rather than the just the main concept of Rabbids+Mario.

It also helped lower expectations, which helps when your product is as good as theirs was!

 

[jariw]

Credits to Miyamoto for trusting this guy's passion.

 

[Confused Cheeseburger]

I think Mario + Rabbids is one of the most surprising games to ever grace E3. This is a game that leaked it's guts out. It's a game that sounds like a joke. The shock is the quality and polish present and the complete reversal of fortunes for it. Crows were going endangered with the amount of plates that were served up last week.

 

[AdanVC]

Passionate and talented. But talent is not a thing you magically get, talent becomes after years and years of hard work and practice and this is something this guy has. So much that he and his team managed to impress Miyamoto himself because even if he is very likeable and kind when appears on public, he is VERY harsh when it's time to work and he tends to destroy ideas of other developers even if they spend weeks and even months working on it.

I gotta admit I was one of the bad hombres who was trashing this game when it was first rumored but now I'm eating a whole land of crow because the game looks fantastic!! I'm very looking forward now to play it! I also hope it sells well because it looks charming as heck!

 

[Rymuth]

He seems like a genuinely cool.

 

[WordAssassin]

Well, now that this guy achieved his dream, he should think about creating his own mascot.

I really like what he did here. But it comes a time that you can't just live by other's creations. You have to create your own.

I hope to play a original game from this guy someday.

Intentional or not, this reads as the most backhanded compliment ever. "Sure the guy achieved a dream he's had his whole life, working on one of the most famous IPs in the entire world, alongside someone he's idolized since he was a child. But he needs to stand on his own two feet and make something of his own instead of riding someone else's coattails." What the fuck? How many other people on the planet can claim to have done what he's done? The game isn't even out yet, goddamn.

 

[maxcriden]

NUK: By creating a turn-based strategy game with Mario and Rabbids, you’ve done something completely unexpected when the obvious thing would have been to create a platform game. How did that come about?

DS: The first time I met Miyamoto he told me, “I’m impressed, but please don’t make a platform game out of this.” There is Mario jumping in our game, but it is translated in our game so it’s a Team Jump, it’s different, and he loved that. That was one of the first rules, to find new ideas.

Ha! That is awesome. What is "Team Jump" like in the game, though? Like a bro jump in M&L? I think there's a move like that in those games.

Edit: wait, I think I remember from the E3 footage I saw. It's when you jump on one character in a battle to get more distance on the field, right? Is there also an overworld jump?

 

[WordAssassin]

Ha! That is awesome. What is "Team Jump" like in the game, though? Like a bro jump in M&L? I think there's a move like that in those games.

Edit: wait, I think I remember from the E3 footage I saw. It's when you jump on one character in a battle to get more distance on the field, right? Is there also an overworld jump?

Yeah, I think it's where one character will run to another, the second one gets on their back, the first character jumps onto the second's feet and the second launches them across the battlefield.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Imagine working on something you feel so passionate about and having everyone hating on it before seeing gameplay.
Feels like the first visual leak (Rabbid Peach cropped out pic) was pretty malicious too.
Surprised at how good the game looked and I hope it turns out well. Glad people did a 180 too

I was open minded from the beginning. It sounded good and I wanted to see gameplay. I didn't know if the gameplay would appeal to me, but after seeing it it sure did appeal.

 

[atbigelow]

Yeah I thought the idea of this was a bit offputting when leaked.

But damn, seeing it all in action? This Creative Director guy is my new favorite. He was right, and so many of us wrong. Going to be picking this up Day 1.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

I really hope its a mega hit and I'm going to blind buy it based on that dude having a cry, the weird as fuck initial pictures and the reactions.

I don't even care if it ends up being middling, I feel like I got about 20 bucks worth of entertainment out of it alreay (and it looks nice).