Team Ninja: Wii U Still "Changing Constantly"

[Mike Kayatta]

Team Ninja: Wii U Still "Changing Constantly"

With less than a year before the Wii U goes on sale, Team Ninja talks about developing for the still-evolving console.

Nintendo's latest console may be hitting shelves before the end of this year, but that doesn't mean Nintendo has yet to pin down exactly what will be inside the box. According to Ninja Gaiden developer Team Ninja, the console is still changing even now, as Nintendo figures out exactly what the Wii U will need to be powerful, developer-friendly, and financially feasible.

Team Ninja is one of many developers currently fiddling around with Nintendo's new machine, and for one, seems to be enjoying the process thus far, calling it "very easy" and comparing it to working on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Still, there must be some difficulty in working on an unfinished platform, as Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi has revealed that the Wii U's abilities are still in flux.

"They asked us what we would want from the hardware, and when we give them feedback we can see that they have definitely listened and making changes," Hayashi revealed. "The hardware is still changing constantly."

Team Ninja's Fumihiko Yasuda, currently at work on Ninja Gaiden 3 for the Wii U, also mentioned that the tablet controller is "similar" to the touchscreen of the Nintendo DS, making it easier for them to work with after having designed Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the handheld in 2008. Yasuda even hopes to "introduce some elements from that into the Wii U version."

Even though, for now, details are understandably scarce regarding the Wii U's specific hardware and who exactly is working on what for when, we'll hopefully have a slew of shiny new details come E3 in June.

Source: Eurogamer [http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-01-31-wii-u-hardware-changing-constantly-says-team-ninja]

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[MrMixelPixel]

I just realized... that the blue rectangle next to the Wii logo had a U in it...

As for the actual content...

I'm not sure if this is good or bad. It's nice to hear that they are being flexible... but it seems they should have their stuff set in solid rock right now... and not sand.

 

[Zen Toombs]

Frankly, I'd be surprised if the Wii-U didn't have a particularly fluid development.

You're a monster.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Frankly, I'd be surprised if the Wii-U didn't have a particularly fluid development.

You're a monster.

>.> i donno about monster, defiantly in need of some better material though ...

but good, if they're listening to what devs want, then stands to reason they're have what they need to make something that doesn't suck

 

[Micalas]

but good, if they're listening to what devs want, then stands to reason they're have what they need to make something that doesn't suck

A little too late for that. Your controller is either an iPad or a Wiimote when you play on this thing. That makes local multiplayer unfair and we already know their online play is going to be shit.

In singleplayer I could see the iPad control being sort of interesting but that's to be seen.

 

[BehattedWanderer]

Is it crass of me to say that I'm still hurt by the last memorable Team Ninja/Nintendo collaboration? Though, with the idea of it still in flux, I'm again curious as to how much the damn thing will cost. Will it be a reasonable amount for the upgraded hardware? Or will it be excessive to try and recoup some of these "in flux" development costs?

 

[Something Amyss]

Frankly, I'd be surprised if the Wii-U didn't have a particularly fluid development.

I laughed so hard I wiid myself.

 

[OldNewNewOld]

but good, if they're listening to what devs want, then stands to reason they're have what they need to make something that doesn't suck

A little too late for that. Your controller is either an iPad or a Wiimote when you play on this thing. That makes local multiplayer unfair and we already know their online play is going to be shit.

In singleplayer I could see the iPad control being sort of interesting but that's to be seen.

How do you KNOW that?
Every rumor about the Wii U online support says that the online support will be at least on the Xbox 360 level. either your definition of "being shit" is different than mine or you have some inside information that no one has since you KNOW.

You don't think, you don't assume. You KNOW.

Is it crass of me to say that I'm still hurt by the last memorable Team Ninja/Nintendo collaboration? Though, with the idea of it still in flux, I'm again curious as to how much the damn thing will cost. Will it be a reasonable amount for the upgraded hardware? Or will it be excessive to try and recoup some of these "in flux" development costs?

At some point president of Nintendo of America (Reggie Fils-Aime) said that they learned from the 3DS bad lunch and they will try to avoid the same problem.
Pricing will be good and they will have a big starting game library.

He said that the price won't be much higher than the Wii lunch starting price. (not 100% about this part, I read about this some time ago, can't remember to well. Better ask google)

 

[Lunar Templar]

but good, if they're listening to what devs want, then stands to reason they're have what they need to make something that doesn't suck

A little too late for that. Your controller is either an iPad or a Wiimote when you play on this thing. That makes local multiplayer unfair and we already know their online play is going to be shit.

In singleplayer I could see the iPad control being sort of interesting but that's to be seen.

i see no problem, i see a new window to try things you can't with the conventional controllers.

sure its kinda gimmicky, but meh, Nintendo will again, get made fun of by they're competitors, then, get ripped off by those same people when Nintendo starts printing money from the thing

 

[Baresark]

but good, if they're listening to what devs want, then stands to reason they're have what they need to make something that doesn't suck

A little too late for that. Your controller is either an iPad or a Wiimote when you play on this thing. That makes local multiplayer unfair and we already know their online play is going to be shit.

In singleplayer I could see the iPad control being sort of interesting but that's to be seen.

Hang on. Since when does an iPad come with dual analogue sticks, triggers, bumper buttons, a D-pad and four face button? You know, the standard button layout for regular 'non-gimmicky' controllers?

The Wii U has a touchscreen as well as regular controls. That doesn't mean that any and all game input is going to be relegated to the touchscreen. Nintendo already showed with the DS that touch-screen controls can be added to traditional controls to make for some incredibly cool combinations.

Being frank, Metroid on the DS with a stylus came far closer to reaching the accuracy of PC shooters with their mouse/keyboard combo than any number of console quick-scoping shooter have been able to. If Nintendo releases a Metroid that controls as nicely on the Wii U as it did on the the DS, we'll finally have a console shooter that can aim as accurately as any PC shooter.

I'm up for that.

Amen to that. I love when people make the comparison to tablets. It is similar, but the downfall of most phone and tablet games is shitty ass touch screen controls. It's the reason why phones are not overtaking the handheld market at this point, or at very least the reason why handheld systems are still viable.

OT:

That Ninja Gaiden game on the DS was actually incredible. the controls were amazing and what they did with system was impressive. I wouldn't mind some touch screen controls if they were that good. Though, the option for the regular controls is a boon. I just hope that companies don't not put in effort like a lot of companies did not for motion controls. The motion controls were fantastic when they were implemented well. But most companies thought they could make a quick buck on stupid little party games and the majority of them sucked really bad. But when they were implemented well... WOW, fantastic results. And I'll take that kind of control over a PS3 or 360 controller any day of the week.

 

[Sabrestar]

As long as the part that's constantly changing includes the name.

 

[Aiddon_v1legacy]

the whining of the so-called "hardcore" merely gives Nintendo power. I expect them to fully steamroll any and all competitors