[Bullet Club]

Nintendo president: "Game development will become even longer, more complex, and more sophisticated"

Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa has explained to Japanese magazine Famitsu that video game development will become even longer, more complex, and more sophisticated in the future and that mergers and acquisitions could be one way to address this. Nintendo isn't the only company to say that video game development is becoming longer, more costly, and more complex, with both Sony and Xbox echoing this statement in the past.

"He also stated that he believes that further lengthening, complexity, and sophistication of game development is inevitable in the future, and that M&A is one possible means to address this, but added, "First of all, we would like to develop human resources who understand Nintendo's brand well within the company and who will be responsible for Nintendo's future development, along with developers who have built our brand over the years. However, the company's basic policy is to "first of all, understand the Nintendo brand well within the company, and develop human resources who will be responsible for the future development of Nintendo, together with developers who have built the brand over the years."

【任天堂決算】質疑応答にて次世代機となる“Switch後継機”に関する質問が相次ぐ。ニンテンドーアカウントは新ハードでも活用 | ゲーム・エンタメ最新情報のファミ通.com

任天堂は公式サイトにて“2024年3月期 決算説明会（オンライン）質疑応答”を掲載した。質疑の内容としては、Nintendo Switch（ニンテンドースイッチ）の後継機に関わるものが大半を占めた。

www.famitsu.com

Source: MyNintendoNews

 

[Spiders]

Call me stupid, but how come creation in every other medium, be it music, video, book publishing, fine art, photography, graphic design, programming, etc., is getting faster, easier, and less complicated?

 

[Bullet Club]

Call me stupid, but how come creation in every other medium, be it music, video, book publishing, fine art, photography, graphic design, programming, etc., is getting faster, easier, and less complicated?

Better technology makes it easier to do those things.

Better technology means bigger, more complicated worlds in games, which makes game creation take longer.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

is this their "HD towns are hard" moment?

Nintendo already streamlined a ton by unifying the handheld and console lines. They saved a ton more time by porting a dead console's library. We should be drowning in first party games.

Management has been frittering away their success (like they usually do) instead of developing processes to save time and money in the future. If they're saying this before Switch 2 launches, then I expect first-party output will be half of what the Switch got.

 

[Rock And Roll]

I mean we only get a mainline Mario/Zelda once sometimes twice a gen if one was launch title, so in that regards the 5-6 year wait shouldn't change. But one thing Nintendo has done well this time around is not trying to make every game a blockbuster like their competitors which allows them to release multiple smaller games through the year. Sounds like they want to go the blockbuster route if they are saying this, it shouldn't take years to develop a smaller Mario/Kirby/niche title. Just make something enjoyable, I doubt the majority of their fanbase really cares a whole lot about the scope of each game.

 

[Spiders]

Better technology makes it easier to do those things.

Better technology means bigger, more complicated worlds in games, which makes game creation take longer.

Sure, but are they complicated (adjective) or complicated (verb) ?

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication"
-Leonardo Davinci

…and let's be honest. Nobody is doing anything that hasn't been done in the Wii/360/PS3 era outside of the graphics pipeline. In fact, often they're doing less re: physics.

 

[Joe T.]

Nintendo, WTF are you doing?

GTA IV was released in 2008, started development in 2004, and that nobody's been able to streamline/improve on that level of game design in almost twenty years, despite the massive leap in tech, does not speak well about the state of major game development.

Take what indie devs like Dennis Gustafsson have been doing, scale it up a bit to expedite the process, and I believe the market would be infinitely better for it at a fraction of the cost.

 

[Pyrate]

Nobody is doing anything that hasn't been done in the Wii/360/PS3 era outside of the graphics pipeline. In fact, often they're doing less re: physics.

We've really been robbed of the potential of utilizing new technology for more exciting stuff like physics, instead all the focus is making the biggest, blandest, emptiest and most static worlds in games. It feels that when other developers looked at Half-Life 2 they went to copy everything else in the game except for arguably the most important aspect of interactivity and physics.

I keep thinking of Outer Wilds for example and how that game has some of the most interesting game worlds I've played in. It wasn't a huge map, and the graphics were "cartoon" style, yet the physics and full star system simulation made it to be some of the most impressive technological work I've seen in a game.

 

[Optimus]

Call me stupid, but how come creation in every other medium, be it music, video, book publishing, fine art, photography, graphic design, programming, etc., is getting faster, easier, and less complicated?

You need to ask the question of which entertainment forms are growing in size and complexity. Is music growing in size or complexity? No. Is book publishing becoming bigger or more complex? No. Fine art? No. In fact, all of what you listed is becoming easier and production efficiency is improving. What is growing in complexity and size is video games, and therefore the lifespan of video game development has been growing almost linearly with each successive generation.

I assume you see this, but I'll refrain from calling you stupid. Everyone else, but Nintendo, has been pushing the envelope in environmental details and visual fidelity. This reads more like Nintendo casually admitting that they're about to have to pony up with their advancements being one generation behind. We played Horizon Zero Dawn and RDR2 last generation, and that's basically the level of complexity they inevitably feel pressured to live up to now. The days of PS3 quality are sunsetting. 12 GB of RAM and DLSS means their current outputs would leave well over half of the available computing resources untapped. I don't think that would fly with also charging $70 price tags for games like TotK.

is this their "HD towns are hard" moment?

Nintendo already streamlined a ton by unifying the handheld and console lines. They saved a ton more time by porting a dead console's library. We should be drowning in first party games.

Management has been frittering away their success (like they usually do) instead of developing processes to save time and money in the future. If they're saying this before Switch 2 launches, then I expect first-party output will be half of what the Switch got.

I don't think this is necessarily a fair assessment. While I do think it's a "HD towns are hard" moment, the fact is that they have been pumping a lot of first party content out every year but just not in what we consider their core properties (ie. Zelda/Donkey Kong/Mario Kart/Smash Bros/Metroid...). We got Mario Wonder last year. There was a 3D Donkey Kong that was like DK64, but publisher acquisitions got that nuked, so that's dead in the water now.

Basically, Nintendo just isn't making the titles we like from them, but they are pumping a lot of stuff out that serves other audiences. It's hard to defend them when they've essentially bastardized the Yoshi and Paper Mario series, shelved the F-Zero and Star Fox, , and decide to pump something out like a 3D Kirby rather than pushing the envelope with franchises like Donkey Kong and Metroid. It's entirely a choice on their part that we get casual Yoshi and Wii Switch Sports and similar.

Totally not going to blame them regarding Mario Kart 8D and its all-time record setting sales. How they've managed that and played it is masterful even if it means we didn't get a totally original new Mario Kart on Switch. 8D is going to be damn near impossible to live up to if they won't break from the current mold and add story and adventure modes to Mario Kart.

As for them frittering away, I think we will need to withhold judgement until we see Switch 2's lineup. There's a 3D Mario, a new Mario Kart, and something else coming down the pipe. And it sounds like MP4 already moved to Switch 2.

Let me also add: Nintendo has publicized that Mario Kart 9 is the most expensive title they've ever produced. We know that Mario Kart 9 has been in production for many years now. What have they created that would make Mario Kart 9 their most costly game they've ever made??

 

[Spiders]

You need to ask the question of which entertainment forms are growing in size and complexity. Is music growing in size or complexity? No. Is book publishing becoming bigger or more complex? No. Fine art? No. In fact, all of what you listed is becoming easier and production efficiency is improving. What is growing in complexity and size is video games, and therefore the lifespan of video game development has been growing almost linearly with each successive generation.

I assume you see this, but I'll refrain from calling you stupid. Everyone else, but Nintendo, has been pushing the envelope in environmental details and visual fidelity. This reads more like Nintendo casually admitting that they're about to have to pony up with their advancements being one generation behind. We played Horizon Zero Dawn and RDR2 last generation, and that's basically the level of complexity they inevitably feel pressured to live up to now. The days of PS3 quality are sunsetting. 12 GB of RAM and DLSS means their current outputs would leave well over half of the available computing resources untapped. I don't think that would fly with also charging $70 price tags for games like TotK.

You can call me stupid I don't mind I did say "outside of the graphics pipeline", but I'll take your point.

I definitely understand what you are saying, but I'll tell you why I find it suspicious. I think about this a lot in terms of "retro" indie devs.

I think about a developer like Toaplan, who designed seminal genre works on proprietary arcade hardware in Assembler/C, and were cranking out games in 6 months, 9 months. They ported Zero Wing to the Mega Drive in 1 month. I only know one indie developer today in that genre who works at that clip, and that's with middleware, with robust tools with their own tech support, with easy access to answers for any question at the search bar.

I don't know what conclusions to draw from that, other than it makes zero sense to me that game development actually takes that long. I think corporate risk aversion and bureaucracy has infected design, but it's just a hunch, I can't prove it.

 

[Chozofication]

Mk9 their most expensive game ever?

Mario kart 9 better have transforming karts ala sonic racing transformed

Swallow your pride and copy the best kart racing idea ever, Nintendo.

 

[Chozofication]

Basically, Nintendo just isn't making the titles we like from them, but they are pumping a lot of stuff out that serves other audiences. It's hard to defend them when they've essentially bastardized the Yoshi and Paper Mario series, shelved the F-Zero and Star Fox, , and decide to pump something out like a 3D Kirby rather than pushing the envelope with franchises like Donkey Kong and Metroid. It's entirely a choice on their part that we get casual Yoshi and Wii Switch Sports and similar.

Um that Yoshi crafted game is as good as any other really, they did a good job. Yoshis island ain't dark souls really wondering what you want from Yoshi.

Kirby and the forgotten land is legitimately the best kirby ever, it's like a labor of love for the series. I LOVE that game. They obviously care about metroid that they canceled one version because quality matters there and they are working on the new prime 4 version when kirby was being made. You also got Metroid Dread.

Your personal preferences aside that rant made no sense aside from Paper mario being intentionally ruined by Miyamoto

 

[Mickmrly]

In terms of mergers and acquisitions, I think that Nintendo should try to acquire Rare for sure. There are a lot of good properties there that they could work on.

On the other hand, buying Koei Tecmo might be a good purchase as well as they already produce a lot of the Warriors games on the Switch and would continue to produce a lot of output.

Sega might be a good buy too. Nintendo could finally save the Sonic franchise from itself. Or destroy it as revenge for the rivalry they had in the past...

 

[HeresJohnny]

Read this as an alibi for increased game prices

 

[CAPTAIN RAINCOAT]

Call me stupid, but how come creation in every other medium, be it music, video, book publishing, fine art, photography, graphic design, programming, etc., is getting faster, easier, and less complicated?

you dont have to design a song that has to be listened to for 8 hours minimum

i do see MS and Nintendo being much closer in the future as they have a very shared history

 

[Spiders]

you dont have to design a song that has to be listened to for 8 hours minimum

i do see MS and Nintendo being much closer in the future as they have a very shared history

I don't understand… you don't have to design a game to be played for 8 hours minimum.
You design songs to be listened to for years, decades. Games should be designed the same way!

My point was the tools are cheaper, easier, faster everywhere for all creative endeavors. Games are the only place it seems to keep getting harder.

There's some other problem in game development growing at an exponential rate parallel to the technology making it easier to develop games.

No other creative medium has this problem. Building highways in California has this problem.

 

[Spiders]

Read this as an alibi for increased game prices

100. I was hoping the merging of handheld and console would also bring two price tiers, but when Sushi Striker came out at $49.99 (!) I knew that wasn't happening. I think TOTK was a test for that higher pricepoint, and nobody will be surprised to see Zelda, 3D Mario, and 3D Metroid with a $70 tag. I think the big question marks will be Pokemon, and then the 2D oriented games and "smaller" games like Yoshi, Kirby, etc.

 

[cryptoadam]

Ya when you have 50 DEIs and 10 DEI consulting firms telling you to recode the entire game because red pants are a racist dog whistle it's going to add time to the game.

 

[Optimus]

Um that Yoshi crafted game is as good as any other really, they did a good job. Yoshis island ain't dark souls really wondering what you want from Yoshi.

Kirby and the forgotten land is legitimately the best kirby ever, it's like a labor of love for the series. I LOVE that game. They obviously care about metroid that they canceled one version because quality matters there and they are working on the new prime 4 version when kirby was being made. You also got Metroid Dread.

Your personal preferences aside that rant made no sense aside from Paper mario being intentionally ruined by Miyamoto

You always slam my weekend posts as not making sense.

So, I consider the Yoshi's Island as one of the greatest Super Mario games. I played it from start to finish again on Switch a few years ago and honestly feel that game stands tall graphically even today. I actually find the game moderately challenging. It's not a walk in the park like many of the recent Yoshi games. Maybe I'm being unfairly critical of Switch Yoshi, but the general feeling with modern day Yoshi games is that they are squarely in the B-category in Nintendo's eyes.

I probably shouldn't have taken a shot at Kirby. I like Kirby. It's just that it's another one of those B-category things with them, although Kirby and the Forgotten Land is legitimately really good. I've played it. My point here was simply that they evidently pushed this while not pushing any Donkey Kong whatsoever. They even failed to just give us another fine DKC from Retro Studios who hasn't done jack squat in forever... (so here's hoping Metroid Prime 4 is pure gold from them).

I'm just disappointed in what they have chosen to push. I want everything they've given us and everything I've wanted. I want both.

 

[Chozofication]

You always slam my weekend posts as not making sense.

So, I consider the Yoshi's Island as one of the greatest Super Mario games. I played it from start to finish again on Switch a few years ago and honestly feel that game stands tall graphically even today. I actually find the game moderately challenging. It's not a walk in the park like many of the recent Yoshi games. Maybe I'm being unfairly critical of Switch Yoshi, but the general feeling with modern day Yoshi games is that they are squarely in the B-category in Nintendo's eyes.

I probably shouldn't have taken a shot at Kirby. I like Kirby. It's just that it's another one of those B-category things with them, although Kirby and the Forgotten Land is legitimately really good. I've played it. My point here was simply that they evidently pushed this while not pushing any Donkey Kong whatsoever. They even failed to just give us another fine DKC from Retro Studios who hasn't done jack squat in forever... (so here's hoping Metroid Prime 4 is pure gold from them).

I'm just disappointed in what they have chosen to push. I want everything they've given us and everything I've wanted. I want both.

Lol ok i'll leave you alone this weekend

I found Yoshi's crafted to be reasonably challenging but it depends on if you wear the costumes or not which let you take extra hits. With costumes though it's a cakewalk.

Plus the time trials, at least some are headache inducing and finding everything in the levels takes time as well.

Not saying it's the best yoshi necessarily, it might be, not sure. It's honestly got a ton of content

Donkey kong i'm with you on that one as well, i've been waiting for a 3d game for 20 years! Personally I hope Retro does it after prime 4. Alternate Prime and Dk perhaps

 

[Optimus]

Lol ok i'll leave you alone this weekend

I found Yoshi's crafted to be reasonably challenging but it depends on if you wear the costumes or not which let you take extra hits. With costumes though it's a cakewalk.

Plus the time trials, at least some are headache inducing and finding everything in the levels takes time as well.

Not saying it's the best yoshi necessarily, it might be, not sure. It's honestly got a ton of content

Donkey kong i'm with you on that one as well, i've been waiting for a 3d game for 20 years! Personally I hope Retro does it after prime 4. Alternate Prime and Dk perhaps

Yes, that's what I would do with Retro Studios. I don't grasp all of the management issues with them. They were seemingly poised to be our successor to Rareware. They needed more financial support and freedom to just run.

I recently played through Tropical Freeze again, and every ounce of that game oozes with passion. It's like they truly love DKC as much as we do. They so thoroughly nailed everything about that game, and it's even like they understood that the original DKC trilogy's least favorite levels were the water levels, and so they fixed it so damn well in Tropical Freeze that it's a featured part of many levels all throughout the game. They got David Wise to do another Donkey Kong OST... because, I'm convinced, they knew how damn well they nailed Tropical Freeze. lol

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Yes, that's what I would do with Retro Studios. I don't grasp all of the management issues with them. They were seemingly poised to be our successor to Rareware. They needed more financial support and freedom to just run.

I recently played through Tropical Freeze again, and every ounce of that game oozes with passion. It's like they truly love DKC as much as we do. They so thoroughly nailed everything about that game, and it's even like they understood that the original DKC trilogy's least favorite levels were the water levels, and so they fixed it so damn well in Tropical Freeze that it's a featured part of many levels all throughout the game. They got David Wise to do another Donkey Kong OST... because, I'm convinced, they knew how damn well they nailed Tropical Freeze. lol

Yep, the Retro studios thing is a bit weird...