Nintendo Relying on "Integrity" of Developers for 3DS Ports

[John Funk]

Nintendo Relying on "Integrity" of Developers for 3DS Ports

What's stopping developers from lazily porting Wii and last-generation games to the 3DS and calling it a day? Their integrity, hopefully.

Nintendo's 3DS made quite a splash upon its debut at E3 last month, with many impressed by its glasses-free 3D technology and high-power graphics - not to mention an impressive lineup of games in development. But while gamers licked their chops over ports of some legendary classics [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101392-Nintendo-Remaking-Legendary-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-For-3DS], others expressed concern that the handheld would become naught but a breeding ground for lazy 3D "remakes."

Speaking with Nintendo's legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, IGN UK asked exactly that [http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/110/1104396p1.html]: Is Nintendo worried that developers might "take the lazy way out" and just port their library of Wii and PS2 games to the system?

Miyamoto said that the idea of ports in general wasn't a bad one - that there were "certain titles from the past that when accompanied with 3D visuals it really can change the feel of the gameplay," - but acknowledged that a faithful in-depth port that used the 3D to full effect was different from a quick rush job.

"I think we just have to rely on the integrity of the developers and the products that they're making," said Miyamoto. "[We] do think that there will be new ideas [too] ... [from] people like Mr. Kojima from Konami and Mr. Inafune from Capcom. These are individuals who are themselves very excited about developing for the system and are talking about leading development with their main teams, so I do expect that there's going to be a lot of new content and new ideas coming out of them."

Having developers like Kojima and Inafune on your side is all well and good, Miyamoto-san - nobody's complaining about that. And while I think it speaks to Nintendo's faith that it's willing to gamble on the integrity of developers, I also find myself doubtful that said integrity is worth gambling on.

(IGN UK [http://uk.ds.ign.com/articles/110/1104396p1.html])

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[HSIAMetalKing]

Yeah good luck with that.

 

[AzrealMaximillion]

I can't say anything positive about it until I actually see it for myself. This has to be the most challenging product to market if most of your consumers can't see what all the fuss is about until it's release.

 

[BlueHighwind]

What's so bad about ports? Yes, they mean that a new game hasn't been made, but for us sad gaming peons who can't buy every good game from every generation, it means we might finally be able to play Devil May Cry. Or what us perfectly fine individuals who weren't born in the 80s and thus didn't know of the existence of the Sega Saturn until roughly 2006 and so could never play NiGHTs or Panzer Dragoon?

If it weren't for ports I never would have been able to play: Donkey Kong, Super Mario Bros, Super Mario 2 (either one), Super Mario 3, Super Mario World, Yoshi's Island, Final Fantasy I - VI, Final Fantasy Tactics, Chrono Trigger, Metroid, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Fire Emblem 1, The Legend of Zelda, The Legend of Zelda 2, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Kid Icarus, and about a dozen other titles that I probably forgot to include for various reasons. So don't bad mouth ports.

 

[Atmos Duality]

Indeed he hits the heart of the matter for me.
I'm not buying a system if all I get are remakes.

 

[Roboto]

Back in the day, Rareware sold out to Microsoft. Remember that, Nintendo?

 

[Fire Daemon]

To be honest I care more about actually playing the games than the 3D they come with. If a port/remake has shitty 3D I'll just turn it off and play the game normally.

I'll be buying games I have difficulty buying now for the 3DS. I don't think I'll get Starfox or OoT because I already own those and a graphical/3D improvement wont be worth me buying it again. I'll probably get things like the Atlus games because I have difficulty tracking those down.

 

[rembrandtqeinstein]

"relying on integrity" is a cop out. It translates to "we don't want to expend the resources or take responsibility for policing the game offerings on our system." But as I said in another thread third parties don't matter to Nintendo and haven't since the NES. They make their money off the hardware and their first party games. If a 3rd party wants to get in on the action great, if not no biggie for Ninty.

That said I don't see what the big deal is from a consumers perspective about shovelware. It doesn't prevent good games from being made, it doesn't prevent me from buying selectively what I want. There is no longer an issue with competition for shelf space since only little kids and grandmas buy games based on the pretty cover picture anymore.

Where shovelware is an issue is for first world game developers. Their whip-cracking publisher overlords see "Petz MCIIXXV Somalian Spitting Quagga" made a bunch of money and cost $50 and 2 goats to develop by a Sri Lankan startup. Then they expect the same ROI for the AAA voice acted by Mark Hamil and Johnny Depp, full rendered, motion captured, puzzle, platform, rpg, fps, space fighter with mmo aspects they just sunk 150 million into creating.

But I really don't care, the games "industry" lives on the souls of young ambitious game developers that get digested and excreted after they are burned out before their 23rd birthday. For every dev that quits there are 1k willing to swim through that river of shit for a chance to work in the industry.

tl;dr

so what, shovelware and ports will happen, it doesn't matter except that it generates forum whargarrbll

 

[Woodsey]

The reason the Wii has such shovelware (apart from the fact that it sells gloriously) is because Nintendo are so awful at 3rd party dev support.

 

[Jack and Calumon]

Spoiler: Actual transcript with meeting between Shiggy and Mr Kotick.

Shiggy: Oh hello there Mr Kotick. How are you?

Kotick: Honestly, rather confused. About Nintendo actually!

Shiggy: I know I am highly regarded in Nintendo, but you should really be speaking with the higher ups. I can't help you much.

Kotick: Wait, you know? Man, where's my 3DS development kits?

Shiggy: The 3DS is quite happy without you.

Kotick: But I have so much money! Think about what I can do bringing Call of Duty to it!

Shiggy: I see only disappointment, like your previous handheld Call of Duty games.

Kotick: But...I have Guitar Hero.

Shiggy: If you continue to throw this disappointing games at me along with your failed Handheld ports, then can you please leave.

[small]Did not really happen.[/small]

Calumon: I hope Bandai knows what to make for the 3DS! ^^

 

[Breaker deGodot]

But while gamers licked their chops over ports of some legendary classics [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/101392-Nintendo-Remaking-Legendary-Zelda-Ocarina-of-Time-For-3DS], others expressed concern that the handheld would become naught but a breeding ground for lazy 3D "remakes."

Well, at least they admit it.

 

[Deofuta]

Although I can see the potential harm in shovel ware, I feel there is great potential in catering to remakes. Of course there will be new titles, but until they start showing up, I am going to look forward to some great ports.

 

[OtherSideofSky]

Oh well, it's getting the next Super Robot Wars, so that'll at least be something new (as long as it's not region locked).

 

[Atmos Duality]

You're worried about remakes?! We'd be lucky for that!


I'm more worried (and expecting) ubisoft to release a bunch of "Imagine! In 3d!" games... that's definitely integrity... hah

Pardon me if I'm just a wee bit tired of the massive layer of stagnation sitting over the market for the last 4 years.

Though I may end up having to jam a pencil through my eye if they make a 3D version of Sprung.

 

[Kanodin0]

I don't really see the problem. Yeah plenty of people will make lazy ports relying on 3d, and I will just not buy them. As long as games actually worthwhile are being made I don't see why it's a big deal.

 

[tomvw]

Shovelware is part of the course for any console, particularly the latest Nintendo entries. But eventually the cream of the crop will shine through.

Indeed he hits the heart of the matter for me.
I'm not buying a system if all I get are remakes.

You're worried about remakes?! We'd be lucky for that!


I'm more worried (and expecting) ubisoft to release a bunch of "Imagine! In 3d!" games... that's definitely integrity... hah

That's not a theory, that's reality (knowing Ubi).

 

[Tom Phoenix]

Oh well, it's getting the next Super Robot Wars, so that'll at least be something new (as long as it's not region locked).

And as long as it doesn't have 3D SD models like GC/XO/NEO. I know they want to make use of the 3D technology, but I am sure they can do that without those awful models. -_-

Anyway, other than enabling third-party developers with friendly hardware and a generous policy, there is little Nintendo itself can do to ensure that remakes won't be just straight ports. It will be up to the developers themselves to produce quality games for the platform.