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Interviews
IGN's reporter interviewed
Master game-designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, during the SPACEWORLD
99 show in Japan.
Nintendo's master game-designer
talks with IGN64 about Dolphin, Mario, N64, 64DD and the future.
August 27, 1999
IGN64: Will Super Mario RPG 2 be the last
Mario game for Nintendo 64?
Miyamoto: [Laughs] From the very beginning
it's a rather tough question to answer. We are working on something
else. So I don't know. Luigi is still running [laughs].
It's really dependent on how we're going
to make the transition to the next system.
IGN64: But you still have something in
the works for Nintendo 64 Mario-wise?
Miyamoto: Yes.
IGN64: How is the recently announced Mario
Dolphin game coming along?
Miyamoto: The situation hasn't changed
a lot. I am working on something [for Dolphin] that may eventually
become Mario or it may eventually become Zelda. I start with
many experiments. I can tell you that yes, we are working on
something, but I just can't tell you what it will be yet.
IGN64: We heard that development for Dolphin
is very difficult. Do you think you'll be able to finish enough
launch software for 2000?
Miyamoto: The only thing I can really say
at this point in time is that I don't believe a more gorgeous
version of Mario 64 or a more gorgeous version of Zelda 64 can
be called the Mario Dolphin or Zelda Dolphin. The same thing
should be applied to the third-party developers. When the transition
from one platfrom to another is occurring, the technology is
different and everything is difficult as far as new technology
is concerned. Having said that, there should be some advantage
to making games for Nintendo's new platform because when Nintendo
64 launched to the market it was already the next next-generation
system. In other words, Nintendo 64 already realized a complete
3D technology when it was shifted from Super Nintendo. So, those
developers who have already created good software for Nintendo
64 are already in a stage where they will be able to produce
good software for Dolphin.
In the case of Nintendo 64, we have to
be very experienced. We have to have full knowledge in what will
be able to run on the console. When it comes to Dolphin, it's
so powerful that we don't have to put so much energy in making
some special effects and sophisticated movement. In other words,
we can put priority on the realization of our own game ideas,
rather than trying to make some special effect work.
IGN64: What advantages would you say Dolphin
has over PlayStation 2?
Miyamoto: I'm very hesitant to disclose
anything at this time because that kind of information could
be easily taken by our competitors and maybe applied by them
the next day or two [laughs]. I may not be able to answer your
question directly, but I will say that we are always trying to
develop something that only Nintendo can make. I'm not only talking
about the hardware. When you look at the final specifications
for PlayStation 2 or Dolphin, you may say, ÒOh, this kind
of hardware can be made by NEC, Panasonic or Toshiba." But
there has got to be something only Nintendo can do. We are now
connecting Nintendo 64 with Game Boy and we are trying to expand
on that kind of world. In the case of Dolphin, we may be able
to even expand upon Game Boy connectivity. That kind of thing
is something we are always looking for Ð only something Nintendo
can do.
IGN64: What do you spend most of your time
working on?
Miyamoto: I'm spending most of my time
thinking about how Nintendo should be in five years from now
and how the company should make some procedures to realize that.
And also, not only Nintendo, but how the gaming industry will
be in five years period.
IGN64: So you're not involved with any
specific game right now?
Miyamoto: No, I'm trying to stay away from
any specific game project right now.
IGN64: Are you overseeing Zelda Gaiden?
Miyamoto: From time to time at important
milestones, I have to take a look at it. But I'm always trying
not to be involved with the politics very deeply so that I'm
not, for example, writing specifications or setting deadlines.
IGN64: We played Gaiden a short while ago
and it's very impressive. But we're curious, will Link grow up
in Gaiden?
Miyamoto: I actually don't know, but I
heard that the adult Link will probably appear this time too.
Also, if you say that Gaiden on the show floor is really good
stuff I can feel very comfortable because that means my staff
members have already become better than me when it comes to game
creation.
IGN64: Tell us about ÒUra Zelda."
Miyamoto: Ura Zelda is based on The Ocarina
of Time for 64DD. It has the same construction of gameplay. It's
very much a parody game based on Ocarina of time, but with new
dungeons to explore. It even features the same storyline.
IGN64: Can the 64DD and Dolphin coexist?
Miyamoto: Yes, I believe they can coexist
because they have different missions. 64DD is aiming to have
the network downloading/uploading service. Like Talent Studio
on the show floor, people are going to play it and make their
own data which can then be updated by doing something. In the
case of Dolphin, it's like the Nintendo 64 in that players are
going to purchase software and play with it.
If you're asking whether or not the 64DD
will work with Dolphin, I cannot answer you yet. We are reviewing
the possibility.
IGN64: A magazine in the US reported that
you are working on a multiplayer RPG for Dolphin. We were wondering
if there is any truth to this?
Miyamoto: [Asks translator Minagawa-san]
Have I ever said that? [Both laugh] No, I am not involved in
that kind of project.
IGN64: Awhile back you told the press that
Giles Goddard and the 1080 team had ceased work on a sequel to
the snowboarding franchise for Nintendo 64 in order to develop
tools and software for Dolphin. What has become of the team since
then?
Miyamoto: I really wanted Giles' team to
work on 1080 2, but everybody wants to make something new. The
fact of the matter is that Giles was a contracted employee for
Nintendo and right now he is not employed by the company. Currently,
we are talking with him about a project for Dolphin. That's where
we are right now.
IGN64: You stated before that you are working
on Dolphin's controller. What new features can we look forward
to?
Miyamoto: I cannot show you yet. There
is an existing controller, but it's under modification now and
it's not the time to show you. The major problem is that the
Japanese user says that the N64 controller is too big and the
American user says it's the appropriate size. What do you think
about the size of the N64 controller?
IGN64: We like it, actually. But we think
the Dolphin controller should feature more buttons. Every developer
we speak to complains about the lack of buttons for the N64 controller.
Miyamoto: Maybe we should do a keyboard
[laughs].
IGN64: Describe the differences between
the 64DD and a next-generation console such as Sega's Dreamcast.
Miyamoto: The biggest difference between
the 64DD and the so-called next-generation system is that while
the next-generation system is aiming to intensify the existing
abilities, the 64DD can change the nature of gameplay.
IGN64: In your opinion, what would be the
ideal Dolphin software launch?
Miyamoto: What would you like to come first,
Metroid, Mario or Zelda? I really want to have something unique
and new rather than saying to the public, ÒLook, we have
a new, more gorgeous Mario or a new, more gorgeous Zelda."
IGN64: When do you think we'll see the
first tech demo for Dolphin?
Miyamoto: After Sony has disclosed every
specification for PlayStation 2 [laughs].
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