Shigeru Miyamoto thinks Nintendo is expanding gaming

Even gaming god Shigeru Miyamoto admits that Nintendo has botched the Gamecube. In an interview over at GameBrink he said, “It wasnÂ’t that there werenÂ’t enough titles but, Nintendo just couldnÂ’t make the titles that would sell well for the different markets.” Miyamoto even goes on to declare that Nintendo doesn’t want to call Wii a next generation console.

I guess they know that Sony and Microsoft can beat them when it comes to raw power. In fact, he even admits that the Wii is way underpowered compared to the competition. He says: “The hardware is basically a GC. WeÂ’ve upgraded our development tools to new versions but, you can still use GC programs as they are.”

So what are they going to do? Sony and Microsoft are already locked in a battle to keep trumping each other with better and better hardware. I guess they’ve decided to do what the Japanese do best in gaming: take a different direction. In other words, innovate.

When he was asked about non-game related titles appearing on consoles, Mr. Miyamoto quickly used the cooking games on the DS as an example of how they’re always willing to provide means to stretch the definition of what makes a game. Miyamoto said: “If you donÂ’t have a catchy name such as ‘War and Weapons’, you wouldnÂ’t think itÂ’s a game title but, for something like, ‘Get Absorbed in Cooking’, youÂ’ll already know what itÂ’s about on the DS.”

More on what Miyamoto said after the jump!

Even gaming god Shigeru Miyamoto admits that Nintendo has botched the Gamecube. In an interview over at GameBrink he said, “It wasnÂ’t that there werenÂ’t enough titles but, Nintendo just couldnÂ’t make the titles that would sell well for the different markets.” Miyamoto even goes on to declare that Nintendo doesn’t want to call Wii a next generation console.

I guess they know that Sony and Microsoft can beat them when it comes to raw power. In fact, he even admits that the Wii is way underpowered compared to the competition. He says: “The hardware is basically a GC. WeÂ’ve upgraded our development tools to new versions but, you can still use GC programs as they are.”

So what are they going to do? Sony and Microsoft are already locked in a battle to keep trumping each other with better and better hardware. I guess they’ve decided to do what the Japanese do best in gaming: take a different direction. In other words, innovate.

When he was asked about non-game related titles appearing on consoles, Mr. Miyamoto quickly used the cooking games on the DS as an example of how they’re always willing to provide means to stretch the definition of what makes a game. Miyamoto said: “If you donÂ’t have a catchy name such as ‘War and Weapons’, you wouldnÂ’t think itÂ’s a game title but, for something like, ‘Get Absorbed in Cooking’, youÂ’ll already know what itÂ’s about on the DS.”

Now before you laugh at what Miyamoto just said, take time to think. Titles like Cooking Mama may seem weird now, but so did Dance Dance Revolution years ago. Remember a few years ago when the “stealth” genre didn’t even exist (in people’s minds)?  Metal Gear Solid suddenly came into picture and presto, we get oodles and oodles of games built on that concept.

They want us to play differently. We know that. That’s been their marketing spin for months. The question is, will we buy it? I’m not talking about the console, I’m asking if we will welcome their fancy new “way to play”? Games like Cooking Mama and Phoenix Wright are still getting flak from “teh fan-bois” for not being “real” games.

Personally, I think we will buy it. The Japanese aren’t the only ones who innovate when it comes to gameplay. GTA was a totally new “style” of gaming that’s mostly western. But then, our definition of what makes a game keeps expanding anyway. The primary requirement is that it just has to be fun.

Jump up and down on panels with arrows? Sure. Beat drumsticks on a pretend drum? Sure. Wave around a weird looking remote pretending I’m holding a katana or conducting an orchestra? Sure. As long as I’m having fun, it’s a game to me.

Via GameBrink