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[CaVaYeRo]

As you already know, Miyamoto just visited Spain and received his prestigious Príncipe de Asturias award in Communication and Humanities. Yesterday, the day after the official act, we had the honor to partake in a very limited and highly enjoyable 1h+ breakfast-roundtable with the creator and other journalists. We'll post the whole thing, then an English translation, but atm we highlighted some 10 quotes / bullet points from the meeting:

http://www.gamereactor.es/articulos/38501/En+la+mesa+con+Miyamoto:+los+10+titulares/

Unforgettable encounter of course. This man just express peace, happiness, humility and wisdom. I'll share on this OP more HQ pics and English stuff when it's up, but there are some quick points I can point out already:

- Premise: almost every Wii U user will already has Wiimote, Nunchuk and even WM+ - this gives freedom to devs. IR alternate pointing to both screens highly possible
- Miyamoto-san doesn't think they fell behind with online, but now is the right moment and you 'have' to be online with the Wii U.
- Retro qualified for Zelda game, but being in America would leave less-dependent games for them (story, design Japan-only)
- They'll encourage handwritten chatting with Miiverse
- 2 current goals are: own creation and creating teams which doesn't need him.
- iPad Mini screen size is another indication they took the right path with GamePad design

I'll add further explanations when available! But I'm sure other Spanish gaffers might lend a hand

EDIT 1 - On Zelda topic:

Ugh, isn't it a little too much with the Zelda-only discussion? And I found the answer pretty logical. Miyamoto just went: Zelda gets bigger and bigger > we work more and more with other parties > Retro would be totally possible option with a good idea > but script and design remain in Japan and thus contact is super important > difficult communication > Retro better for less internalized projects.

Here's full quote transcript for that question/answer. Aonuma is pretty close to this kind of supportive studios, he says. I guess it's pretty clear after Grezzo.

I think there are other interesting topics there and I'll share more in English when I can, but luckily some other gaffers have done so already. If any moderator considers it's better to split up this thread so non-Zelda debate stays here, I'm totally fine with it.

Sorry if this translation sounds a little weird, the original Spanish is a little iffy imo, probably because its a translation from the original Japanese

If Retro Studios presented themselves to Nintendo with passion and creativity saying that they feel mature and capable/qualified enough to develop a new Legend of Zelda, how would you react to that effusiveness?

(Smiles) Really, with every game we develop, Zelda grows bigger. It's reached a point where, if we had to do it entirely inside Nintendo, we would have to dedicate ourselves exclusively to Zelda given the dimensions it has reached. That's why Nintendo is working with more and more companies either in-house or subcontracted, like Monolith (Xenoblade) or Grezzo (that was related with Final Fantasy) [parenthesis in the original]. Ultimately [in Spanish the word they used doesn't make much sense, in English it makes a little more sense, go figure], Aonuma is very close with this kind of companies in his work, so the possibility of Retro Studios making a new Zelda with a good proposal isn't a farfetched idea at all and could be totally possible.

But on the other hand, so far the design and script of Zelda have been created at Nintendo and that has to keep being the case. Even if Retro Studios is qualified, at the end Nintendo would have to be in very very close contact with the companie that were to create this Zelda and being outside Japan the distance and the timezone differences would make the communication more difficult, so Retro Studios is a company that is more focused on developing projects more independently from Nintendo. Ultimately they wouldn't be the most indicated. This last paragraph really needs an editor in the original, it was unclear and awful sounding in a lot of parts

EDIT 2: My English colleagues published a 10 bullet points summarize of our breakfast with Miyamoto.

EDIT 3: Same as with Zelda-Retro original quote, here's full original question/answer on Wiimote usage and IR aming at double screen.

EDIT 4: Full interview available in original Spanish, pics like this one:

 

[Currygan]

blimey, that Retro quote is going to cause riots here

 

[ZoddGutts]

Sucks that Retro will never get an actual shot with the Zelda franchise.

 

[GeneralManager]

I'm not even sure what he means by that Retro quote. They're qualified but they're not?

Also the online thing. lol.
It's hard to see them changing things, if they don't realize how far behind they are. At least Iwata sees it somewhat.

 

[grimshawish]

Retro quote just means theres a language/distance barrier in giving them Zelda. Its a very important franchise and breaking it up in that way would be unhelpful for development.

Anyway - since when has Retro been the best for Zelda?

 

[sphinx]

interesting but I think we've heard everything it in some way or another.

the thing that stands out is that nintendo wants you to be online at all times... I wonder about the implications of that.

the retro thing.. there's nothing to take out of it, it's basically "yeah, no", there's not even material to discuss about that. Zelda and retro is definitely not happening.

 

[Vanille]

- Miyamoto-san doesn't think they fell behind with online

lol, okay Miyamoto

 

[Snowden's Secret]

I'm not even sure what he means by that Retro quote. They're qualified but they're not?

Also the online thing. lol.
It's hard to see them changing things, if they don't realize how far behind they are. At least Iwata sees it somewhat.

My understanding of it is that Retro is good enough to make a Zelda game, but that they want Zelda to remain distinctly Japanese so distance is an issue ie a too Westernized Zelda is just generic high fantasy WRPG #194.

Of course, I imagine the question was asked in Spanish, translasted into Japanese, then the answer was given in Japanese, translated into Spanish, and now translated into English so maybe something is lost there.

 

[Erethian]

I'm not even sure what he means by that Retro quote. They're qualified but they're not?

I assume what he means is that the Japanese Zelda team would always have a hand in the core design aspects.

But it'd be better to have an exact translation of the quote.

 

[LeleSocho]

Thank God they don't seems to hand over Zelda to Retro...
Not that they aren't good in general it's only that they can't make a Zelda because it would be like Infinity Ward doing a Dragon Quest

 

[CronoShot]

I don't get why they won't let Retro do a Zelda. They let Capcom do several for pete's sake.

Is it just because they're an American company? Then why have American companies done Metroid, Donkey Kong, and Mario games before? Just let them take a crack at it.

 

[Qurupeke]

Retro must make the new Zelda. Please.

 

[JonCha]

"less-dependent" games means what?

 

[TunaLover]

Also the online thing. lol.
It's hard to see them changing things, if they don't realize how far behind they are. At least Iwata sees it somewhat.

Maybe he is refering to actual Wii U online system.

 

[Why would you do that?]

To me it sounded like the fact that they're far away in Texas would make it hard for them to communicate, therefore it wouldn't be easy to have as much of a watchful/controlling eye on the project as they want.

Miyamoto said something like that before, IIRC.

 

[marc^o^]

How much better is the iPad mini screen vs the GamePad in terms of image quality?

 

[Spieler Eins]

They already stated that Retros not gonna do Zelda before, but people will never let it go unfortunately.

 

[ASIS]

I'm not even sure what he means by that Retro quote. They're qualified but they're not?

Also the online thing. lol.
It's hard to see them changing things, if they don't realize how far behind they are. At least Iwata sees it somewhat.

They are talented enough, but communication is crucial for Zelda and it would very difficult to achieve that with them. That's what I understood.

And yeah, about the online.... Yeah..

Also, the idea that every Wii U owner will have a WM+ is foolish, but it fills me with hope that they aren't abandoning that control scheme.

 

[Amir0x]

- Premise: almost every Wii U user will already has Wiimote, Nunchuk and even WM+

That is certainly a premise alright. I have to imagine that developers are not going to agree it's particularly good... about the 'freedom' of having to guess whether or not their audience legitimately has any of these thirty six different controller types over an 'imaginary' premise that 'almost every' Wii U user will have also been a Wii user (or that, even if they were, that they would have kept their Wii stuff instead of trading it in towards a Wii U, or selling the Wii for extra cash.)

Guess we'll see who is right in a year, Miyamoto. I bet that outside of Nintendo games, only an extremely few games will actually develop for wiimote specifics in mind after the first year or so.

 

[Raide]

To me it sounded like the fact that they're far away in Texas would make it hard for them to communicate, therefore it wouldn't be easy to have as much of a watchful/controlling eye on the project as they want.

Miyamoto said something like that before, IIRC.

That sounds about right. The distance just makes it harder to Nintendo to keep track on how the game progresses.

 

[evilromero]

Retro quote just means theres a language/distance barrier in giving them Zelda. Its a very important franchise and breaking it up in that way would be unhelpful for development.

Anyway - since when has Retro been the best for Zelda?

Since they made an awesome Metroid game, which essentially follows the Zelda design philosophy.

 

[Why would you do that?]

They already stated that Retros not gonna do Zelda before, but people will never let it go unfortunately.

If we keep asking they might do it. Look at Pikmin 3.

 

[Currygan]

"less-dependent" games means what,?

it means that Zelda has to have Nintendo's hands on it during the whole development, and with Retro being in the US this isn't really possible. So they're bound to make less-dependent (from Nintendo's involvement) games


this also makes you realize how Nintendo considers the Metroid serie not as important as the others

 

[rouken]

it means that if it isnt a dying franchise or a mario game, retro can't put their hands on it. going by that logic we can guess that retro is working on f zero. woo!

 

[Herbspiceguy]

That conservative attitude towards Legend of Zelda bothers me a little. I really wish Nintendo higher ups would let go of that. It's the Nintendo franchise that's in need of a shake-up and you can't go wrong with a studio like Retro.
I think it would also fit Wii U's image a lot better, rather than having another retread of traditional, very safely designed Legend of Zelda, but in HD.

 

[LeleSocho]

But it'd be better to have an exact translation of the quote.

I think it's something like this (mind you i'm not spanish but italian so there might be some errors)

Until now the development it's always been within Nintendo and this has to continue, even if Retro is qualified being in contact with them is difficult because they are americans. Retro will continue to work on other project with [menos dependencia] (less dependence? maybe intended as not important as) and surely not Zelda.

 

[ASIS]

That conservative attitude towards Legend of Zelda bothers me a little. I really wish Nintendo higher ups would let go of that. It's the Nintendo franchise that's in need of a shake-up and you can't go wrong with a studio like Retro.
I think it would also fit Wii U's image a lot better, rather than having another retread of traditional, very safely designed Legend of Zelda, but in HD.

SS's design was anything but safe.

 

[Currygan]

That conservative attitude towards Legend of Zelda bothers me a little. I really wish Nintendo higher ups would let go of that. It's the Nintendo franchise that's in need of a shake-up and you can't go wrong with a studio like Retro.
I think it would also fit Wii U's image a lot better, rather than having another retread of traditional, very safely designed Legend of Zelda, but in HD.

Zelda is in no need of anything, Skyward Sword showed just that

it's just that some people don't like good things

 

[LeleSocho]

That conservative attitude towards Legend of Zelda bothers me a little. I really wish Nintendo higher ups would let go of that. It's the Nintendo franchise that's in need of a shake-up and you can't go wrong with a studio like Retro.
I think it would also fit Wii U's image a lot better, rather than having another retread of traditional, very safely designed Legend of Zelda, but in HD.

Zelda+western studio can go very very wrong.

 

[JonCha]

it means that Zelda has to have Nintendo's hands on it during the whole development, and with Retro being in the US this isn't really possible. So they're bound to make less-dependent (from Nintendo's involvement) games


this also makes you realize how Nintendo considers the Metroid serie not as important as the others

Right, cheers. And I don't think Metroid has the public resonance Zelda has.

 

[TunaLover]

this also makes you realize how Nintendo considers the Metroid serie not as important as the others

They care about Metroid though (not the same level as Zelda of course), that's why Metroid Prime is a spin-off serie.

 

[Jackano]

I'm relieved thanks to what Miyamoto says about Retro and Zelda. Making Zelda outside Nintendo Japan offices is a non-sense. I'm so glad Shiggy finally made things clear!
What makes a Zelda game a Zelda game is so hard to catch, you will clearly loose it when making something so radical and stupid than developing it overseas. Only thing that can happen then is making a Zelda that is not a Zelda game.

 

[Currygan]

Right, cheers. And I don't think Metroid has the public resonance Zelda has.

it deffo doesn't, but it's still a bit sad to have a confirmation of it

 

[Why would you do that?]

this also makes you realize how Nintendo considers the Metroid serie not as important as the others

Well that was back in the early 2000s when Metroid's last game was 6 years prior. Plus, Zelda is Miyamoto's pride and joy, while Metroid's was Gunpei Yokoi's, who has since left Nintendo and died. Basically, I wouldn't blame them for thinking the series wasn't as important, and I can see why they were willing on taking the gamble of giving it to Retro.

 

[Mariolee]

Zelda+western studio can go very very wrong.

But it's not just any studio, it's Retro, the western studio that gave us some of the best games of each respective series they've worked on.

 

[StuBurns]

Prime is better than any Zelda Nintendo has mustered, I know a lot of those guys have left, but they certainly deserve a shot at it.

 

[Erethian]

I think it's something like this (mind you i'm not spanish but italian so there might be some errors)

Until now the development it's always been within Nintendo and this has to continue, even if Retro is qualified being in contact with them is difficult because they are american. Retro will continue to work on other project with [menos dependencia] (less dependence? maybe intended as not important as) and surely not Zelda.

Thanks. Would be even better to have the original Japanese quote, though, even if we can get the general sentiment of what he meant.

Which makes sense, partly because I don't think handing a new mainline entry entirely over to Retro is some magical panacea for the series. But also because it doesn't actually solve the problem, which should be about the Zelda team learning from their mistakes and making a better game. And nowhere does Miyamoto rule out putting people on the project outside of the Zelda team, it just has to be in a way that's practical.

 

[Resilient]

Why should Retro touch Zelda when clearly the Japanese studios are doing such a stellar job with the IP...

 

[Erethian]

Right, cheers. And I don't think Metroid has the public resonance Zelda has.

It doesn't even have the public resonance Kirby has.

 

[TunaLover]

Prime is better than any Zelda Nintendo has mustered, I know a lot of those guys have left, but they certainly deserve a shot at it.

Any Zelda? Not really.

 

[LeleSocho]

But it's not just any studio, it's Retro, the western studio that gave us some of the best games of each respective series they've worked on.

They can be good how much you want (and they are really good) but they still has the western culture and this is something that Zelda don't need and should avoid at any cost.
It worked with Metroid because it's a way more west-like IP.

 

[Shion]

Why should Retro touch Zelda when clearly the Japanese studios are doing such a stellar job with the IP...

Sarcasm?

Prime is better than any Zelda Nintendo has mustered, I know a lot of those guys have left, but they certainly deserve a shot at it.

That's an exaggeration, but I'd easily put Metroid Prime over every Zelda game produced after Majora's Mask.

 

[Plinko]

I don't understand why people keep pushing for Retro to take Zelda.

The Zelda games are fine. Retro could easily reboot something like the Starfox series or continue the Metroid Prime series.

 

[LeleSocho]

Sarcasm?

Sarcasm?

 

[Currygan]

Sarcasm?

yes indeed. While stating the truth, nonethless

 

[Resilient]

I don't think it's a case of fans pushing for Retro to take Zelda, maybe more a case of fans wanting another dev to try something new with it.

 

[funkystudent]

I don't understand why people keep pushing for Retro to take Zelda.

The Zelda games are fine. Retro could easily reboot something like the Starfox series or continue the Metroid Prime series.

Or you know..... Retro.could make a original IP of there own.

 

[EVH]

So basically, Miyamoto is afraid that Retro could do a better work than Japan with Zelda.

That fucker is really a dictator.

 

[linkboy]

I don't understand why people keep pushing for Retro to take Zelda.

The Zelda games are fine. Retro could easily reboot something like the Starfox series or continue the Metroid Prime series.

Or they could merge Star Fox and Metroid.

 

[MrCunningham]

Sarcasm?

Hey now, Capcom delivered some of the best Zelda games in the series...

But I would love to see retros take on the series. I bet they could do the Zelda name justice.