Nintendo

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0><script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-47423994-1', 'fortunecity.ws'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> <center> <br> <div> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="http://ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </div> </center> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="http://www.nintendo.com/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.nintendo.com"><U><B>Nintendo</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <IMG SRC="0f164640.gif" border=0 width="100" height="100" ALT="Nintendo Pearl" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="index.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e45c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Home" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e55c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Gamecube" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e65c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="N64" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e75c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="GBA" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e85c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Websites" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0e95c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Comments" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://nintendomailuk.zzn.com/email/english/login/login.asp" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://nintendomailuk.zzn.com/email/engl"><U><IMG SRC="0ea5c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Emails" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id12.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.fortunecity.com/athena/pearl/"><U><IMG SRC="0eb5c1a0.gif" border=0 width="92" height="26" ALT="Forum" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FF0000" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="11900c00dvlddx.jpg"> <div> <I>Nintendo</I><I> News</I></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>News: 11 New Developers Sign Up </U></B></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 22/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> According to the March issue of Nintendo Power, 11 new developers have signed on to develop GameCube games. Here is the breakdown:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Absolute Quality</B></div> <div> <B>Digital Concepts DC Studios Inc.</B></div> <div> <B>Digital Integration</B></div> <div> <B>Doki Denki Studio</B></div> <div> <B>EXAKT Entertainment, LLC</B></div> <div> <B>FarSight Studios</B></div> <div> <B>Fletcher Callen Ltd.</B></div> <div> <B>Gearbox Software</B></div> <div> <B>Semi-Precious Studios</B></div> <div> <B>Shaba Games</B></div> <div> <B>United Developers</B></div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="13a96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>Rumours: Half-Life destined for GameCube? </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> It recently came to my attention as I was reading through Nintendophiles that Gearbox Software has become another 3rd party developer for the Nintendo GameCube. If you do not know who Gearbox Software is and what they are responsible for, then you probably don't know about the many projects they have done in correlation with Valve Software - the developers of the original Half-Life. Gearbox Software were the people behind Half-Life: Opposing Force (PC), Half-Life: Blue Shift (PC), Half-Life: Counter-Strike RETAIL (PC), Half-Life Platinum Pack (PC), and Half-Life for Playstation 2 (PS2); Gearbox is currently working with the original Counter-Strike development team on Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.</div> <bR> <div> Now that you know who Gearbox is, it is time to state the purpose of this rumor. As I have said, Nintendo Power has listed Gearbox Software as a 3rd party developer for the Nintendo GameCube, along with this I have listened to an interview with the president of Gearbox Software - Randy Pitchford - in which he says “The GameCube is wonderful, I have both an X-Box and a GameCube and I would love to do some stuff on the GameCube and I wouldn't be surprised if you hear about that in the near future”. There you have it, that is the exact quote of the man behind Gearbox Software (without a tad of mumbling ;) ) right from the aforementioned interview. However, if that isn't enough for you naysayeys out there, Gearbox is on the lookout for programmers with “Experience modifying the Half-Life code base”.</div> <bR> <div> If you would like to listen to the interview yourself then <A HREF="http://xgr.com/article.php?article=2169" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://xgr.com/article.php?article=2169"><U><U>go here</U></U></A> - then download Part II and listen to the last 20 seconds of it.</div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="11a96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Miyamotos Paris interview </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> Miyamoto continues his European tour with a trip to Paris and yet another interview!</div> <bR> <div> Question: Have you viewed the petition about your new Zelda? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: I am well aware of the internet petition. Of course I listen to the opinions of others but a realistic Zelda would cause problems, in particular if one wants to make a connection between GameCube and Game Boy Advance. </div> <bR> <div> What role does realism play in videogames I ask myself. Is this image more interesting? Sometimes.. however, what if a "detailed" hand with 5 fingers is catching a bottle but the fingers pass right through it? Is this still realistic? Rather than to show each meticulous and tiny detail of a finger, it is more important to make the end action look more credible by working on the movement and functionality of the arms and the hand in relation to the object. </div> <bR> <div> Question: How was your childhood? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: As a child I drew cartoons and manufactured puppets. I played at the arcades a lot and I was known at the time to be very good at Space Invaders (Laughter). I worked 4 or 5 years at Nintendo before starting to make videogames. One day I thought of Donkey Kong... </div> <bR> <div> Question: How do you feel about Sega going third party? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Now that we work with Sega I can finally speak freely about game design with them, in particular with Yuji Naka of Sonic Team. </div> <bR> <div> Question: Has anyone ever asked you to leave Nintendo and join their company? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Yes, I sometimes get proposals to work in other companies, but I do not say anything to my company (laughter). Nintendo is the company which makes the most innovative products. I am not sure that I would be able to make games like that elsewhere. At Nintendo I can make the games which I want (laughter). </div> <bR> <div> Question: Are you rich? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Rich? I don't know.. I don't wear very luxurious clothing (laughter). The money which I earn is mainly dedicated to video games and I am very content. </div> <bR> <div> Question: What do you think of Xbox? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Xbox is a nice machine, but the control pad is really very large and uncomfortable. You know, Japanese don't even carry shoes in their house, they do not like bulky things in their homes. (laughter). Look at the GameCube, it is practical! </div> <bR> <div> Question: Who are your games aimed at? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto:M Everyone! People can say "Mario is only played by the children" but actually I did it for an audience much larger. Pikmin is conceived to be simple and "innocent" but it was made to be appropriate for all the public. I am happy that Pikmin touched the hearts of so many." </div> <bR> <div> Question: Are you developing a Pikmin sequel? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: It would be simple to develop a sequel to Pikmin. (Jokingly) All we would have to do is change the story and make new maps, right?(laughter). I am currently working on something completely different, but you will never see black Pikmin! (laugh). </div> <bR> <div> Question: Will Europe get a good supply of quality games this year? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Our philosophy concerning quality has not changed since the Nintendo 64, but by increasing our internal teams of developers and by having more producers to supervise the external developers, we will indeed be able to release lots of titles in the coming months. </div> <bR> <div> Question: Do you let your children test future games? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: No, my children do not test my early games. We never reveal any confidential information to children. Never! (laughter) </div> <bR> <div> It was only after Pikmin was announced that my children realised the name came from an instrument I play the guitar with at home - a pick. </div> <bR> <div> Question: Do you ever play games with your children? </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Yes, I often play with my children, but I don't always win, especially not in Smash Brothers Melee! I didn't want my children to buy GameCube (laughter), I preferred to get it myself so that I am able to supervise how long they play. </div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto: Before I leave I would like to say I intended to say that in Japan Nintendo, Sega and Namco has announced their collaboration to make the the GameCube arcade board, Triforce. You know, I am really very pleased to say that all the developers are very happy to work with the hardware. It is so easy! </div> <bR> <div> Thanks to Cloudchaser for the translation.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="11a96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Spice Cube coming to Europe! </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> As part of his London conference, Shigeru Miyamoto has confirmed that the spice (orange) coloured Gamecube will be coming to Europe. However, don't expect to pick one up on launch day. Shigeru hinted that the spice coloured variety will be available shortly after the system's European launch. ''To start with in Europe we are going to introduce lilac and black GameCubes, but because we really want as many people as possible to play with Nintendo GameCube, we are soon going to add an orange colour. We are planning to increase the colours later on. I think the compact body with a variety of colours will be suited to the tastes of Europe, rather than a black gigantic body (nice dig at the Xbox - ed).''</div> <bR> <div> There's still no word on whether the spice coloured Gamecube will ever be released in the US however. What a shame!</div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="13796060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Shigeru in London - Transcript </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> Shigeru made his final European visit today and the destination was London. Mario Sunshine, Metroid Prime, Star Fox Adventures and Eternal Darkness were all shown in video form before his speech to a crowd of eager journalists. </div> <bR> <div> The Mario Sunshine footage looked lush. Yoshi was shown in the movie, but why he was present is not known. Mario was shown swinging on bars, and the familiar mesh fences from Super Mario World made a welcome appearance. A Star Fox trailer was shown depicting a bareback dragon-riding scene, and underground racing through a mine shaft. A mini game perhaps? Never-seen-before footage from Metroid Prime was then shown, with great action and amazing graphics. Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness was then previewed, and as expected it looked sensational.</div> <bR> <div> Here's the full transcript:</div> <bR> <div> [movie]</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - When we came to Europe we wanted to be able to show something we haven't yet shown and we believe we'll be able to introduce all these four titles by the end of this year all around the world. Some of them may be late, but that is our hope.</div> <bR> <div> Are you at all interested in working with the new Triforce arcade hardware and what possibilities do you feel it offers?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I actually don't know to what extent I can talk about this, but just to start with a little about Triforce: Triforce is a name of the printed circuit-board for an arcade machine, a joint project between Nintendo, Namco, and our old arch enemy, Sega. We recently made the joint announcement.</div> <bR> <div> Triforce is, of course, the name of an item in The Legend of Zelda. The meaning of it is three forces coming together to become a big power. But the fact that three companies have made the announcement does not mean that other companies are not going to use the system: we believe that Capcom and other companies are going to make use of Triforce.</div> <bR> <div> As a matter of fact, although we have only just announced it, negotiations and development have been going on for a very long time, so that it could be completed in order for our software titles will run at the arcade centre, making use of Triforce. Sometime in March or April, a series of announcements will be made, revealing several software titles that will make use of the hardware - you will be surprised by some of the names there. And needless to say, arcade developer Sega is going to make a number of titles. As for the CPU and graphics chip in the GameCube, these are the ones actually used in the Triforce circuit board. </div> <bR> <div> I think this signifies three important points: Firstly, from long experience of creating arcade games, Namco and Sega understood that the GameCube technology is good enough to make this type of game, and that it's easy and efficient enough to make their software. Of course, its low cost has been taken into consideration. Another important point is that whatever software is made for Triforce will be readily available for GameCube. Thirdly, wait for the announcement in March or April: I'm sure it will surprise you quite a lot.</div> <bR> <div> Excluding your own projects, which GameCube titles are you most impressed by?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - That's a very difficult question to answer as I always try to refrain from making comments on other people's work. I believe Star Wars on Gamecube is much better than its predecessor. Nintendo really wants a good variety of software for Gamecube at this time.</div> <bR> <div> We've also been having conversations with Mr Shinji Mikami, for the line-up of Gamecube software I appreciate the production of titles such as Resident Evil.</div> <bR> <div> You repeatedly stressed that you're trying to move away from the kiddy image, to move away towards an image of GameCubes for everybody, and you've attracted games like Resident Evil and Eternal Darkness; more mature content. This message still doesn't seem to be getting through to developers. Developers that are bringing games across all platforms are still saying that when they bring it out on GameCube they're going to dumb the content down, take out more mature elements. This is obviously going to put potential buyers off. What are you opinions on this?</div> <bR> <div> I often talk with developers, and when they are attempting to decide if they are going to make software for the Nintendo platform, they intentionally try to make it childish sometimes as they think they can sell a lot more software to children. Also, whenever we are having talks with licensees, we make a point in asking them, "Please, you must make something suited for Nintendo". When we are saying we want to have something unique for Nintendo, they obviously mistake it and think Nintendo want some childish-looking games. We are still having meetings with licensees, with companies such as Sega. They often say, "Yes, we wanted to make more adult oriented games, other than making characters look childish," I say, "Yeah, actually that's what we really wanted all the time." From the point of view of first-party of Nintendo licensees, Nintendo really has a responsibility to expand its hardware to much wider audiences. Even in Nintendo first-party titles we are trying to expand.</div> <bR> <div> So when I'm talking about what's unique about Nintendo, it's not childish software but rather with things like the connectivity with the Game Boy Advance.</div> <bR> <div> Rumour's been escalating in the last few months that your GameCube development will be focusing on shorter games like Luigi's Mansion or Pikmin. Is this true?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I think that judging play time depends on the concept of each game. Like with Luigi's Mansion, once you are through to the end, it's the end of the game; Luigi's Mansion is that kind of story-telling genre. In Pikmin, however, I think players are divided into two groups. As soon members of the first group are finished they quit, but the others are people that try and try and try the 10 courses. I made Pikmin in the hope that each player will play it at least three times. Rather than increasing the skill or expanding the play time, we should concentrate more on making unique games by working with a small group of developers.</div> <bR> <div> As for the next Legend of Zelda, it's going to be a relatively big team. For Mario Sunshine I think it's likely to be made by a relatively small team, but it's going to be made to make you play again and again.</div> <bR> <div> What's your impression of the release of the GameCube in Europe?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - First of all, we were going to launch the GameCube in March in Europe, but this would have put us in a disadvantageous position. The only reason we delayed the launch was that we wanted to prepare the right amount of hardware, and by delaying the launch to May we are now trying to store enough inventory. On day one we are trying to ship 500,000 units of GameCube across Europe. Within two months we expect to ship 1 million units in Europe.</div> <bR> <div> I think we're better prepared for the launch of the next console in Europe than anywhere else. For one thing there are the software titles. We shall be able to prepare 20 titles for day one in Europe.</div> <bR> <div> I was involved in the hardware design of this product too, and I myself designed this hardware with a wish that this is going to be played by all family members, from small children to older people, small children and their grandparents. And we really want GameCube to become the platform where unique games are going to be introduced. We made the hardware design and architecture so that it will become the most accepted machine for developers to make software for.</div> <bR> <div> So when developers are making the software for GameCube they are going to appreciate the best possible performance of a videogame while they can have the other function of connectivity. As you can tell it is compact and light. We were selling software on ROM cartridges, but now we are adapting to providing games on small-sized discs. We have able to realise a very sweet reaction between the hardware and the software this time, so I think we've made a convenient development platform.</div> <bR> <div> Needless to say, it's at the lowest price-point in the market.</div> <bR> <div> To start with in Europe we are going to introduce lilac and black GameCubes, but because we really want as many people as possible to play with Nintendo GameCube, we are soon going to add an orange colour. We are planning to increase the colours later on. I think the compact body with a variety of colours will be suited to the tastes of Europe, rather than a back gigantic body.</div> <bR> <div> Most GameCube owners are looking forward to Mario Kart. How is work going and what difficulties have you had improving the formula?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - We've been having a series of meetings about what to do with Mario Kart on GameCube. We have almost come to a decision as to what drastic change to make to the basics of the past Mario Kart games. All I can tell you is that we are hopeful that we can show something early next year.</div> <bR> <div> How are you making sure that third party developers will make full use of the GC's unique controller and the networked GBA aspects?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - First of all, the Nintendo GameCube has very appealing features - the inter-connectivity, good controllers - but we are always happy for others to come up with very good ideas or situations to make use of them. Everybody nowadays is interested in network gaming. People are taking great interest in the connectivity between GameCube and GBA right now and we are intending to include many applications of our own.</div> <bR> <div> The internal mission at Nintendo is to educate the audience and the game player as to what combinations of connectivity are available. Licencees will then find it easier to sell applications with connectivity. For Nintendo it's a big responsibility to expand the possibilities and the environment for new games in Japan. This is something we can do by ourselves. </div> <bR> <div> How important is it for Nintendo to have its own hardware? Would it be better for Nintendo to become like Sega and become software licencees and developers only?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - It's a difficult question to answer but Nintendo is making hardware in order to make software. The videogame industry has become mainstream, and people often regard it is primarily a software-selling industry. In other words, all you have to do is make the programs and sell them. Period. But Nintendo has a different opinion. We, of course, are selling the games of Konami [and others], but that's just one aspect of our business. Nintendo's main business is to provide the world with unique entertainment.</div> <bR> <div> I had a mentor [Don't ask us who, because we don't know - Ed] in my office in the past, and when I told her I had the word artist on my business card he scolded me. Now what we are doing is a business of glamour. If you put a business title on your card you will contain constrain the possibilities.</div> <bR> <div> Nintendo was traditionally a playing card company, now Nintendo makes playing cards on which certain barcodes are printed and by letting the card be read by a special barcode reader, certain information will appear on GBA games.</div> <bR> <div> How do you think that Hiroshi Yamauchi's [Nintendo Japan's president]retirement will affect Nintendo's future?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I really don't know. For example, after his retirement, it'll matter how much influence he attempts to put on Nintendo. By now we have learnt quite a lot from him regarding the way Nintendo should be operated. So even after he retires his influence will be felt dearly by the company. Perhaps though we will be a lot freer in terms of design after he's gone. Please don't write that! [laughs]</div> <bR> <div> Sony has announced its plans for online gaming. When will you announce yours?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - This is being explored along the same lines as other connectivity issues such as between GBA and GameCube and making four-player games for GameCube. Putting a game online doesn't necessarily mean it will become any more interesting than it already is. I think there is a definite danger that combined network gaming can become a permanent escape from reality for the game developer. They become stuck with making new ideas, always thinking about making online games next time, so that the present offline games suffer. Once you have made one single online networked game you can't easily go on to the next project. You have to keep watching the game's progress; in other words you end up doing maintenance. For example, in Japan it seems as though role-playing games are selling very well but in reality it's just Final Fantasy that is selling well in the market. So even if you are talking about online networking games, if you have a monthly subscription fee you just can't tell how much software you have to create to begin with, and how many companies can get a profit.</div> <bR> <div> Also, as I said before, Nintendo cannot guarantee 100 percent about the networking environment and we guess that by 2005 only around 20 percent of European households will have access to broadband. Nintendo cannot afford to program for only 20 percent of households when we have the possibility to sell to 100 percent of them with non-networked games. Also we wish to provide a wide range of people with a variety of new entertainment, from small children to very old people. With online networked games, that's just one type of person.</div> <bR> <div> For the software, I have already made so many games by connecting four GBAs together or by using four controllers on the GameCube.</div> <bR> <div> We could make a Pikmin online game.</div> <bR> <div> We are ready to go onto the online networks, but having said that we do not believe that all future gaming shall be played online.</div> <bR> <div> How do you take the reaction to the cartoon Zelda and do you believe that what you have to offer is relevant to what the majority of gamers want regarding realistic games?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I think that we are exploring certain types of reality, but I believe that games should be judged by playing them not by mere appearances. That's why I have not brought the latest videotape of Zelda footage with me. We are going to exhibit the Legend of Zelda gameplay at the E3 show this year.</div> <bR> <div> In the third-party development disclaimer for GBA it has a detailed section on infra-red communication. Will that be a feature on the new model?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - We don't have anything along those lines planned. Always we are working on many different ideas and projects when it comes to connecting the technology sides of applications.</div> <bR> <div> Do you think gaming has a positive effect on society?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I don't know. When I was a small child I was the kind of kid who was deeply into reading comics. At that time Manga was becoming big amongst children. Also Japanese TV stations started broadcasting Manga programs. But then after a while I became so addicted to cartoons that I started drawing them myself. I became quite good at it and that led to where I am now, making games. So looking backwards, what was good about that time was that my parents gave me guidance saying that I should not read cartoons all the time. So they restricted the time I could read them, but I also tried to sneak a look. But I wasn't always reading them all the time. I was also into fishing, I played baseball and tried to play outside a lot. I believe it is most important for children is to have many experiences. The use of games are a type of media is something we should consider carefully. If you ask specifically my attitude as a game designer, then I'm always trying to make my games carefully designed so that a game-player can be forced to think about many different ideas throughout the game. That's the beauty of an interactive medium like videogames.</div> <bR> <div> Because of the length of time it took to announce GameCube's European launch date, sometimes European gamers view Europe as less important than either America or Japan: can you reassure us that Nintendo loves us?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - I'm very sorry, and that's why I'm actually here today. I have visited Germany, Spain Italy, France and now England, in order to talk to European people directly along with Mr. Iwata. However, just a few days ago, his father-in-law unfortunately passed away so he had to return home. He was very sorry, and left a message saying he really wanted to be in the UK today.</div> <bR> <div> I really want people around the world to enjoy Nintendo games equally, and in order to do so we are now setting up a system whereby each software developer is having a dialogue with different people in charge of localisation. In order to have an efficient localisation process, we have already set up such a facility in Europe where people working on localisation are getting together to produce quality products.</div> <bR> <div> In the past you've been very reluctant to describe what you do as art. How do you feel about other people describing what you do as art?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - Somewhere in our minds in the games industry we have a kind of inferiority complex compared to people working on art and people working in the movie industry. </div> <bR> <div> Parents are often feel comfortable by watching their children watching Disney movies, but they always tend to become worried about children playing with Nintendo video games, so in the past I've always thought that I should make software that parents feel comfortable with whenever they see their children playing. </div> <bR> <div> How critical is the lack of a DVD player in GameCube, and does the size of the disc restrict the potential for building bigger games in the future?</div> <bR> <div> Miyamoto - If you look at gameplay aspects and gaming experience, we've come up with the best hardware ever with the Nintendo GameCube system.</div> <bR> <div> These kind of hardware devices [DVD-playing consoles] are destined to be broken and will need repairing: even if your gameplay system is OK, if your DVD system playback is out of order you'll have to get it repaired which can cost a lot of money. </div> <bR> <div> And look at the small, compact size of the Nintendo GameCube - once again we wanted to make something for all ages, so even small children can handle it easily, and small hands can carry this disc easily. Also, when it comes to the accessing time for the media this is quite good in comparison: for example, in order to access a bigger disc, you need more power.</div> <bR> <div> Another key point is with copy protection, which I think is one of the biggest issues in Europe. From a game making point of view, game creators are now going to receive money that they are credited for: the customised optical disc offers strong protection against copyright infringement.</div> <bR> <div> Unfortunately, in some cases you may need two optical discs to play a game like Resident Evil, but for the majority of the games, one disc is enough. A problem is that people seem to demand realistic graphics from software: I'm not convinced that by relying on this the game can be any good. I'm not sure if it's the whole world demanding realistic graphics or just a limited number of gamesplayers, but some developers are in the mind-set that they feel threatened by the world into making realistic gameplay right now.</div> <bR> <div> Therefore, they just cannot afford the time to make unique software because they feel the pressure to make realistic games and are obsessed with graphics. In the end they cannot recoup their investment in the game. So, in a way the smaller disc is a message from Nintendo that you don't need to fill out the capacity of a normal sized DVD disc. If we want to make larger software, then we just make the game on two or three discs.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Thanks to Computer and Videogames for the transcript.</div> <div> <U><IMG SRC="13696060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Eternal Darkness Shot </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> Did not have enough? Well, we have another new screenshot for you! This time it is Eternal Darkness in the spotlight!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="13589060.jpg" border=0 width="393" height="262" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="11a96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Three new Star Fox Shots!</U> </div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> New shots keep flowing in! This time we have some new Star Fox Adventure screens prepped for you! Enjoy:</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="12e2cd90.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="217" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1302cd90.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="217" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1322be00.jpg" border=0 width="299" height="224" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="12c96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U>News: Metroid Prime Screens! </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> Fresh from the press... two new Metroid Prime screenshots! Don't they look gorgeous!</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="129d4490.jpg" border=0 width="468" height="329" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="12bd33b0.jpg" border=0 width="467" height="315" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="12796060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Mario Sunshine Screenshots! </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> We have two brand new high-res Mario Sunshine screenshots! These are the first ever <B>real</B> screens not taken from a movie.</div> <bR> <div> Check 'm out:</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="126912d0.jpg" border=0 width="401" height="301" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="125932e0.jpg" border=0 width="403" height="302" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U><IMG SRC="12196060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <div> <U>News: Left Field is no longer a 2nd Party </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> Yesterday IGNCube ran a story confirming that this is indeed what has taken place. For whatever reason, relations with Nintendo have changed and the company is no longer a second-party. </div> <bR> <div> It is possible that Left Field was still active shortly after Courtside was released, helping tweak the game for its upcoming release in Europe & Japan. According to IGN’s sources, following completion of Courtside 2002, a large portion of the team at Left Field quit and went to work for Sega / Visual Concepts. These former team members are now allegedly helping develop the GameCube port of NCAA College Basketball. The remainder of Left Field is now working on a series of Backyard Sports kid games for the Humongous / Infogrames label which will appear on next-generation consoles. </div> <bR> <div> A sad sad story... </div> <bR> <div> Source: cube-europe</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="11a96060.gif" border=0 width="406" height="6" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U>News: LOTR Screens & Info </U></div> <bR> <div> Posted on 21/2 by <U>Steve</U></div> <div> <B>Get a feel of what the upcoming Lord of the Rings game is going to look like on the Nintendo GameCube!</B></div> <bR> <div> EA’s first The Lord of the Rings action/adventure game will take players through the roles of the key action heroes from New Line Cinema’s epic film trilogy. As Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas, players will battle Orcs and memorable movie monsters, with other members of the Fellowship taking a very active role during gameplay. The game features dramatic camera views of the action within fully 3D interactive environments taken straight from the big screen. A visceral, tactical combat system will encourage players to be strategic with their selection of characters, weaponry and moves. Multiple titles based on New Line’s The Lord of the Rings license are currently in development for next generation systems, the first game will be released in conjunction with the second movie in Fall 2002.</div> <bR> <div> Check out the shots below:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="120dd4e0.jpg" border=0 width="477" height="334" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="11fdd660.jpg" border=0 width="477" height="358" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="11ee3c50.jpg" border=0 width="227" height="453" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Source: planetgamecube </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Made by Stephen Allred</div> <div>   <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> sw="none";sd="none";ref=""+escape(document.referrer); </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript1.2"> sw=screen.width;nav=navigator.appName; sc=(nav!="Netscape")?screen.colorDepth:screen.pixelDepth; </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> function doit(str) {document.writeln(str);} qs="&sw="+sw+"&sc="+sc+"&ref="+ref; url='http://counter27.bravenet.com/index.php?'; url += 'id=343868&usernum=2291957600&cpv=1'; curl='http://counter27.bravenet.com/counter.php?id=343868&usernum=2291957600'; doit('<a href="'+url+'" target="_top"><img border="0" src="'+curl+qs+'" /></a>') </script> <noscript> <a href="http://counter27.bravenet.com/index.php?id=343868&usernum=2291957600&cpv=1" target="_top"><img src="http://counter27.bravenet.com/counter.php?id=343868&usernum=2291957600" alt="Bravenet.com" border="0" /></a>  </div> <div>                 </div> </td> </tr></table></body>