Support NeoGAF

[eve241]

Segata :You mean the numbers of Xbox users or their tastes?

Serious question- I understand that for some genres the Wiimote might not be the best implementation......but how would the Wiimote pointer function not completely work on a railshooter? Not trying to be an ass, I just don't really get that statement.

I didn't say it wouldn't work.I just think it wouldn't make it a better game.


bcn-ron : Is it not the true?Oh and I don't mean non-games in a negativly way.It's just a way to adress them.

 

[Kintaro]

This thread is wacked out.

 

[Rolf NB]

bcn-ron : Is it not the true?Oh and I don't mean non-games in a negativly way.It's just a way to adress them.

"Real games", whatever that fuck that means, are performing pretty well on the Wii, there just aren't enough of them. Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers, RE4 Wii, Red Steel and by all accounts Metroid Prime 3 have and are all moving solid if not spectacular numbers. And you're not going to wiggle out of this by saying "they are not driving the platform", because you have no way of discerning that. Wii Play sells like gangbusters not just because people want the game, but because people also want the second controller it happens to be attached to. Looking at the NPD figures, that's one of the two titles that even differentiate Wii software sales from any other console. The other one is Mario Party 8. Then come the action games and the movie-license shit, and your argument is over. Wii Play is most definitely a collection of games anyway, though you might have a point refusing to call Mario Party a game (very weak correlation between player skill and results).

It would be fair to say that local multi-player stuff is very successful on the Wii. Ignoring the strength of everything else though is not.

New Super Mario Bros pretty much killed the "Only non-games sell" argument for the DS, and I have no doubt that the same thing will happen for the Wii this holiday season.

 

[thekad]

I think he said some "real" games are selling well, but the nongames make the most money. And that makes sense.

 

[Acosta]

Your stupid console war is pathetic. He is Yukio Futatsugi, someone who has done real and great things for this industry, and here you are, instead of anticipating and being excited of what he could do now he is back to developing as TRUE GAMERS would do, you are discussing about what he said about Wii.

You people suck, somebody more interested on sales and how good is doing his pet systems against other shouldn´t be allowed to write in a videogames forum.

Fantastic interview by the way, looks really sincere and without PR bullshit at sight. Another fantastic work of James Mielke.

 

[Y2Kev]

Your stupid console war is pathetic. He is Yukio Futatsugi, something who has done real and things for this industry, and here you are, instead of anticipating what he could do now he is back to developing as TRUE GAMERS, you are whinning about what he said about Wii.

You people suck, somebody more interested on sales and how good is doing his pet systems against other shouldn´t be allowed to write in a videogames forum.

Fantastic interview and looks really sincere without PR bullshit. Another fantastic work of James Mielke.

:bow Acosta :bow

 

[Kosma]

Your stupid console war is pathetic. He is Yukio Futatsugi, someone who has done real and great things for this industry, and here you are, instead of anticipating and being excited of what he could do now he is back to developing as TRUE GAMERS would do, you are discussing about what he said about Wii.

You people suck, somebody more interested on sales and how good is doing his pet systems against other shouldn´t be allowed to write in a videogames forum.

Fantastic interview by the way, looks really sincere and without PR bullshit at sight. Another fantastic work of James Mielke.

/applause

But remember this is Neogaf, who cares that the man made effin Panzer Dragoon, it's all about the war.

 

[KINGMOKU]

/applause

But remember this is Neogaf, who cares that the man made effin Panzer Dragoon, it's all about the war.

Says the man who takes part in said war at every given chance.

Stones, glass houses, all that.

 

[etiolate]

All the platforms need more variety. PS3 needs games period, 360 needs more Lost Planet/Blue Dragon stuff and less PC stuff, and 3rd parties need to actually try on Wii. I worry if Bioshock sales aren't up to snuff, that it may be the end of anything not completely action orientated on a MS console.

 

[leroy hacker]

Your stupid console war is pathetic. He is Yukio Futatsugi, someone who has done real and great things for this industry, and here you are, instead of anticipating and being excited of what he could do now he is back to developing as TRUE GAMERS would do, you are discussing about what he said about Wii.

You people suck, somebody more interested on sales and how good is doing his pet systems against other shouldn´t be allowed to write in a videogames forum.

Fantastic interview by the way, looks really sincere and without PR bullshit at sight. Another fantastic work of James Mielke.

Did you actually read the interview? Your fantastic Mielke is the one that put so much console wars content into this interview with an important game creator when he could have been talking about more interesting things. People are talking about these issues because they are most of what the interview was about, largely because Mielke was pushing so hard in that direction. See how he starts the interview with a variation on "non-games are ruining the industry" and develops that with GAF-level anti-Wii cliches:

1UP: How do you feel about the Japanese game market today? The sales don't seem to reward the effort and innovation that goes into these games. It must be discouraging as a game designer, when people only want to buy sequels or play around on their cell phones.

1UP: Yeah, only hardcore people are buying Zelda. Everyone else gets it for Wii Sports or Wii Play and that's it. Eventually Nintendo is going to have to drum up some serious games before everyone else gets bored and goes off and concentrates on their 360s or PS3s, or something else.

1UP: One criticism is that Nintendo always designs consoles for their games. If 3rd parties hop on, well great, but Nintendo always follows the patterns of releasing a B, B-plus game every two or three months, then putting out a triple-A game once or twice a year. Anything else is just filler. It's either Princess Peach or Mario & Luigi to fill the gaps, then its an F-Zero or Mario Kart in the biannual sense, then you might get a real Mario or Zelda game once a year. It's a predictable pattern. So besides the current state of the market, what have you been working on recently?

 

[eve241]

"Real games", whatever that fuck that means, are performing pretty well on the Wii, there just aren't enough of them. Super Paper Mario, Mario Strikers, RE4 Wii, Red Steel and by all accounts Metroid Prime 3 have and are all moving solid if not spectacular numbers. And you're not going to wiggle out of this by saying "they are not driving the platform", because you have no way of discerning that. Wii Play sells like gangbusters not just because people want the game, but because people also want the second controller it happens to be attached to. Looking at the NPD figures, that's one of the two titles that even differentiate Wii software sales from any other console. The other one is Mario Party 8. Then come the action games and the movie-license shit, and your argument is over. Wii Play is most definitely a collection of games anyway, though you might have a point refusing to call Mario Party a game (very weak correlation between player skill and results).

It would be fair to say that local multi-player stuff is very successful on the Wii. Ignoring the strength of everything else though is not.

New Super Mario Bros pretty much killed the "Only non-games sell" argument for the DS, and I have no doubt that the same thing will happen for the Wii this holiday season.

thekad said it best : "I think he said some "real" games are selling well, but the nongames make the most money. And that makes sense."


leroy hacker: Mielke (I never even heard about this guy before) is only putting things in the prespective of (hardcore) gamers.It's true that the latest trend of games is changing the industry.What he's saying isn't really that subjective.It can be either a grim or good scenario depending on the readers' opinion but it's the current situation.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Strangely enough, MS is suffering from the same problem. They have a crazy lineup this holiday season, but beyond that they seem to be refusing to discuss anything outside 2007. It's really weird, because Sony has a few offerings here and there this year, but they seem to be really focused more on what is to come.... weirdness.

Sony has already laid their hands out for the most part, Microsoft hasn't. They want to focus on 2007. They've already said that 2008 stuff will start with TGS. There is no need to worry about the 360 in 2008.

 

[Dragona Akehi]

Oh Jesus.

 

[AniHawk]

Oh Jesus.

Please destroy them.

 

[zeldarooles]

Well what else is he supposed to say? "We're getting our asses handed to us by Nintendo?"

Honestly. These PR comments always get way too blown out of proportion.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Please destroy them.

Do we ever need to ask Dragona to destroy?

 

[DeadyFernGarden]

Wii bigger than Paris Hilton confirmed.(everybody can't stop talking about that box)

 

[Acosta]

Did you actually read the interview? Your fantastic Mielke is the one that put so much console wars content into this interview with an important game creator when he could have been talking about more interesting things. People are talking about these issues because they are most of what the interview was about, largely because Mielke was pushing so hard in that direction. See how he starts the interview with a variation on "non-games are ruining the industry" and develops that with GAF-level anti-Wii cliches:

Saying Wii was the main foucs of the interview is simply lying or not having a single clue of what you are talking, is there because you can´t talk about the reality of the japanese industry without it, but Futatsugi speaks about lot of intimate things about his work at Microsoft, what he did, why he left and what went wrong, that is really hard thing to get in a interview, that is why is a fantastic work.

And that is not remotely the point, the most important thing to discuss of that interview is Futatsugi back to developing. As a gamer, that is the real interesting thing, what a videogames forum should discuss. It´s a real shame you try to justify people talking about Wii as if defending or attacking a console was important or meaningful. It´s BULLSHIT, that is what it is, and there is no reason to justify that.

 

[pswii60]

All the platforms need more variety. PS3 needs games period, 360 needs more Lost Planet/Blue Dragon stuff and less PC stuff, and 3rd parties need to actually try on Wii. I worry if Bioshock sales aren't up to snuff, that it may be the end of anything not completely action orientated on a MS console.

Nothing to worry about there, they're definitely up to snuff here in the UK. It's the second fastest selling 360 game yet, despite also being available for PC.

 

[leroy hacker]

Saying Wii was the main foucs of the interview is simply lying or not having a single clue of what you are talking, is there because you can´t talk about the reality of the japanese industry without it, but Futatsugi speaks about lot of intimate things about his work at Microsoft, what he did, why he left and what went wrong, that is really hard thing to get in a interview, that is why is a fantastic work.

And that is not remotely the point, the most important thing to discuss of that interview is Futatsugi back to developing. As a gamer, that is the real interesting thing, what a videogames forum should discuss. It´s a real shame you try to justify people talking about Wii as if defending or attacking a console was important or meaningful. It´s BULLSHIT, that is what it is, and there is no reason to justify that.

I agree with you that the console wars stuff is bullshit and is not at all the most interesting part of the interview. I was most interested in his complaint that he couldn't criticize Sakaguchi.

I'm not trying to take part in the console wars discussion here, I'm just pointing out that the reason this interview spawned a console wars discussion is because Mielke put so much irrelevant console wars material into the interview that had nothing to do with the main point that Futatsugi is back to developing. My point is that it wasn't a great interview, not that this a great thread.

 

[Phoenix Fang]

Not to long ago the hardcore wii owners were crying out for Panzer Dragoon game on the wii. Now they are hating on the guy who created the games because he said something about the wii that a lot of people have noticed.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Phoenix, comments like yours aren't exactly innocent in this thread being what it is either.

 

[Phoenix Fang]

Phoenix, comments like yours aren't exactly innocent in this thread being what it is either.

Except it's true. It just goes to show how hypocrite fanboys are. I'm not only picking on Nintendo fanboys, it's just that this topic is relevant to my comment.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

Except it's true. It just goes to show how hypocrite fanboys are. I'm not only picking on Nintendo fanboys, it's just that this topic is relevant to my comment.

It is true, and really, left to their own devices they probably would have fucked this thread up all on their own. But your point would be made better if you dropped the childish "wii boy" nonsense, which really just serves to invite inflammatory responses. Know what I'm saying?

 

[Rolf NB]

Note to all staff: it's not really pathetic stupid console war if you're trolling only the Wii. Then it's fantastic work. Jebus.

I agree with you that the console wars stuff is bullshit and is not at all the most interesting part of the interview. I was most interested in his complaint that he couldn't criticize Sakaguchi.

I'm not trying to take part in the console wars discussion here, I'm just pointing out that the reason this interview spawned a console wars discussion is because Mielke put so much irrelevant console wars material into the interview that had nothing to do with the main point that Futatsugi is back to developing. My point is that it wasn't a great interview, not that this a great thread.

Eggsactly.

 

[Phoenix Fang]

It is true, and really, left to their own devices they probably would have fucked this thread up all on their own. But your point would be made better if you dropped the childish "wii boy" nonsense, which really just serves to invite inflammatory responses. Know what I'm saying?

I get what you are saying and I edited my post.

 

[AquaticSquirrel]

Y2Kev
LOL NTards
(Today, 12:22 AM)
Reply | Quote

Never has there been a more appropriate phrase to describe a thread. I congratulate you sir and the mods for giving that tag to you.

 

[iidesuyo]

Phoenix, comments like yours aren't exactly innocent in this thread being what it is either.

What the hell is so wrong about this thread. Nintendo has gone an extreme route with the Wii, it's just natural that not everyone is happy with that. Whenever someone dares to criticise Nintendo it's like "OMG shut up stupid hat0r", "this thread goes down the shitter" etc., that's just annoying.

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

What the hell is so wrong about this thread. Nintendo has gone an extreme route with the Wii, it's just natural that not everyone is happy with that. Whenever someone dares to criticise Nintendo it's like "OMG shut up stupid hat0r", "this thread goes down the shitter" etc., that's just annoying.

Gee...what the hell is wrong with this thread:

- A bunch of people who don't even know who Yukio Futatsugi is jumping down his throat without even reading the interview
- A bunch of people acting like his contributions weren't worthwhile enough to merit him having an opinion
- Someone dragging Itagaki into this for some reason?
- Accusations of bias based on one of the places he used to work, when it's clear he's not particularly indentured to them
- People aren't reading the interview
- Hell, a lot of people aren't reading anything but the Wii comments
- People aren't reading the thread to date to see the multiple corrections made to misinformed people, leading to further misinformation
- Nintendo fans getting cranky about the smallest criticism of the Wii
- Sony/MS fans getting cranky about the Nintendo fans getting cranky about the smallest criticism of the Wii

In (not very) short, this thread is a mess. There was a really good interview there with Yukio if anyone cared to read it instead of looking for system war fodder.

 

[Kittonwy]

He doesn't work for Microsoft anymore. These aren't PR-tainted opinions.

I agree with the guy, honestly. My Wii has only been on like 4 or 5 times this year.

I'm sorry but which company is he with now that he has left MS?

 

[Patrick Klepek]

what the hell happened in this thread

 

[Segata Sanshiro]

I'm sorry but which company is he with now that he has left MS?

The interview doesn't say, just says "Left Microsoft completely to jump back into the world of game development". I'm sure we'll find out as the rest of the interview continues to be posted.

exxy: see my above post for a brief synopsis.

 

[Hero]

I'm not going to even dabble in the system wars aspect of this interview, but one thing that I find is interesting is that he acknowledges that the Xbox is a 'hardcore' gamer machine in Japan, which has a niche audience at best. He also acknowledges that "non-games" are selling so well. While I understand that he's probably a bit disheartened, you need to adapt or die.

I also don't believe in the "only non-games sell well" cliche that's being tossed around a lot lately, but to each their own.

 

[KTallguy]

I'm now really interested in Phantom Dust after looking at some videos on Youtube. The style and animation are great, I can't believe I missed this.

I really want to find Panzer Dragoon RPG somewhere, and give it a shot. That's good too right?

 

[jarrod]

Pretty meh interview... It'd be nice if Futatsugi could've actually talked about what he was working on rather mourning the state of the industry (which if not for Nintendo, would be continuing the perpetual decline it was mired in since 1998).

Wonder if he suceeded in buying back Phantom Dust from Microsoft?

 

[iidesuyo]

(which if not for Nintendo, would be continuing the perpetual decline it was mired in since 1998).

What? The PS2 was the most successful machine in gaming history.

 

[ethelred]

What? The PS2 was the most successful machine in gaming history.

Not in Japan... NES sold more hardware, PSX sold tons more software. Saturn was a better hardcore system than the Xbox.

 

[iidesuyo]

Not in Japan...

...but in the world

Saturn was a better hardcore system than the Xbox

Not surprising, it was 100% Japanese and had many of the arcade ports that were popular then.

 

[Acosta]

Pretty meh interview... It'd be nice if Futatsugi could've actually talked about what he was working on rather mourning the state of the industry (which if not for Nintendo, would be continuing the perpetual decline it was mired in since 1998).

Wonder if he suceeded in buying back Phantom Dust from Microsoft?

He just resigned his position, doubt he has anything to say about what he is doing. You can´t blame him for not liking the state of the affairs, is a personal take.

I wish he hass the chance to work in something big, something so epic as Saga, just think what he could do with a capable studio and funds enough. And work in a combat system as developed as Phantom Dust.

The man is a dreamer and not only that, he is absolutely passionating about games, that is why his projects are fantastic. Probably it will take some years but can´t wait to check what he is doing next. Shame on MS for not profiting from one of the great talents of this industry.

 

[jarrod]

He just resigned his position, doubt he has anything to say about what he is doing. You can´t blame him for not liking the state of the affairs, is a personal take.

I wish he hass the chance to work in something big, something so epic as Saga, just think what he could do with a capable studio and funds enough. And work in a combat system as developed as Phantom Dust.

The man is a dreamer and not only that, he is absolutely passionating about games, that is why his projects are fantastic. Probably it will take some years but can´t wait to check what he is doing next. Shame on MS for not profiting from one of the great talents of this industry.

Well sure... but his "personal take" is a bit boring and seemed somewhat led by the interviewer. I'd be much more excitied to hear what he plans to work on next, though I guess it may be a bit early for that.

I do remember hearing he was trying to buy the Phantom Dust IP... maybe we'll see him get funding from Nakayama/AQI for a new studio? Seems the likely route imo, or maybe working with another AQI related developer (Feelplus, cavia, Artoon, etc) on a project? Hell, Nakayama maybe help him buy back Phantom Dust too?

 

[Acosta]

Well sure... but his "personal take" is a bit boring and seemed somewhat led by the interviewer. I'd be much more excitied to hear what he plans to work on next, though I guess it may be a bit early for that.

I do remember hearing he was trying to buy the Phantom Dust IP... maybe we'll see him get funding from Nakayama/AQI for a new studio? Seems the likely route imo, or maybe working with another AQI related developer (Feelplus, cavia, Artoon, etc) on a project? Hell, Nakayama maybe help him buy back Phantom Dust too?

A new Phantom Dust would be fantastic, totally agree, I am sure he has the contacts to make happen and Microsoft can´t do anything with Phantom Dust IP (hell, they should give it for free for his efforts and the work he did, the alternative is letting it take dust).

 

[Skilotonn]

Great, great interview...

Crappy, crappy thread...

 

[jarrod]

A new Phantom Dust would be fantastic, totally agree, I am sure he has the contacts to make happen and Microsoft can´t do anything with Phantom Dust IP (hell, they should give it for free for his efforts and the work he did, the alternative is letting it take dust).

Oh agreed... I'm a bit shocked that MGS let this sort of talent slip through their fingers.

Maybe Nagoshi will hire him to headline a tiered Panzer revival? I'd kill for either a 360 or Wii all new ground up Panzer Dragoon IV.... then get Land Ho to port the original Saturn games to DS for some franchise cross promotion.

 

[Amir0x]

Yukio Futatsugi = Amirox
confirmed.

In so much as he is totally right like I always am, then yes. But no, just my soul mate. <3 Yukio.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

What a great feature. Too bad the Playstation generation of kids won't ever know this series the same way those of us who owned Saturns at the time do. Definitely the best generation to own all three systems because of their very distinct software strengths, IMO.

My favorite part of the multi-part interview with Futatsugi:

1UP: I think your newness to the industry helped keep the Panzer concept very pure. It had these stark, minimal CG cutscenes, a ship would fly on screen, a couple lines of fictional dialogue would be said, and the subtitle would say "We must find that dragon at all costs" or something, and that was it. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. We were so used to stuff on the SNES or Sega Genesis at that point, that Panzer's cutscenes were mind-blowing. It created an instantly believable world. You bought into it immediately.

YF: I agree that my pureness came from it being my first year, which meant my ideas were very clear, and I thought I could do a lot of things, like this and that and that. But really, what I was able to do was only simple things, but I had a clear vision and the ability to do these simple things, so the balance of everything was there, so that's how Panzer turned out this way. When I create a game this is what I value a lot, which is "Don't talk too much." Don't explain too much, don't talk too much, don't show too much...

1UP: Like Final Fantasy...

YF: [Laughs] Don't say the name! [Laughs] I value having to use your imagination and thinking. Also, back then if you zoomed into the face, the expressions weren't beautiful or anything because of the technology, so the conclusion I came to was since things wouldn't look so great close up, let's put the dragon at a farther view, and that's the best way I thought I could express what I wanted in the game, by borrowing the player's imagination. I don't like in-game cutscenes that much. So with Azel, when we created the demo, I kept saying "Let's create the demo with the actual game-engine, and not CG movies or decoration," because to do that, to use the actual game-engine, users would understand the actual game from the start and would be able to use more of their imagination, rather than get some preconceived notions of the game based on what they saw in CG scenes. So back when I was creating Panzer Dragoon, I didn't think that games were in line with movies. I thought that games were more in line with books. Nowadays with PS3 specs and Xbox 360 specs, the way I think now may be a little outdated, that's how I think and that's what I value.