Iwata Asks Miyamoto about Zelda

[Deception]

The latest Iwata asks has Satoru Iwata interviewing Miyamoto about Link's Crossbow Training. But Miyamoto reveals some ideas for a new Zelda game. Click the Link to read the article.

Iwata Asks:Link's Crossbow Training

[Chozo Ridley]

could you please post some of these ideas that were revealed in the article. (the site is blocked on my computer)

[avroillusion]

Here's some excerpts I think were sort of interesting.

Miyamoto: I see. Well, where should I start? I’ve always been into first person shooter (FPS) style games, 3D games in which you can walk around freely and see things from your own point of view.

Iwata: And why do you like those games?

Miyamoto: I think it is more comfortable, more natural. We are creatures of habit. We don’t look at our feet when we’re walking around, and we’re always trying desperately to take in the scenery while we’re living our lives. So, even in these games I want people to be able to get really into the 3D geography, so it feels like you’re really there, since I think it’s a really natural thing to be able to look around while you’re walking. At first when we were developing The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, I even proposed using a first-person perspective.

Iwata: Ocarina of Time from a first-person perspective!?

Miyamoto: I thought that might surprise you! (laughs)

I thought that the FPS system would be the best way of enabling players to take in the vast terrain of the Hyrule Field. Besides, by not having the player’s character on the screen, we can spend more time and machine power on creating enemies and the environments.

Iwata: During the Nintendo 64 era you had to keep hardware limitations in mind, didn’t you?

Miyamoto: Well, although I had originally planned to make a game with a first-person perspective, the idea of having a child Link in the game was born, and then it became necessary for the hero to be seen on the screen.

Iwata: I see. So, if the hero isn’t visible on screen, it’s really hard to tell the difference between adult Link and the child Link, right?


Miyamoto: That, and also the fact that it’s a total waste not to have Link visible on screen when he is so cool looking! (laughs) So, we decided to have the hero visible in Ocarina of Time, but I had always thought that FPS games which you could operate from your own perspective were really interesting, so I was proactively supporting such projects like the 007 GoldenEye game.

Miyamoto: So, after we finished with the development of Twilight Princess, I talked to the staff about whether or not we could do a side story. With a big series like Zelda, we usually only release a new version every 3-5 years, but we thought it would be great to make something for those people that really enjoyed Twilight Princess where they’d be able to keep playing in the same world. I think it’s important for players to be able to play new games at a fairly fast pace.

Iwata: On the other hand, it’s also probably important to keep the development pace moving for the sake of developers as well, right?

Miyamoto: That’s true. So, I asked our Zelda staff to think about a new project with an extra story based around Twilight Princess. But then, they were coming up with stories that can be described as ’epic tales’ rather than ’side stories’.

Iwata: And the people have to wait 3-5 years for it again?

Miyamoto: Of course it’s also important to continue creating epics, but I do not believe that an epic tale alone can make a great game. I mean, depending on what kind of characteristics are added to a game, the fundamental enjoyment behind it can get lost amongst all the gadgets. With that in mind, we took some time to ponder over the new project and I ultimately suggested that we make a game based on the Twilight Princess that utilized the Wii Zapper.

Iwata: But, even though the original idea for the Wii Zapper came from a Zelda staff member, was there any hesitation on your part about the idea to develop the Wii Zapper in conjunction with Link? Link does not use guns in the first place, does he?

Miyamoto: Yes, that was a bit of a problem initially (smiles). But it didn’t really seem right to make the Wii Zapper for use with Animal Crossing…

On the other hand, the whole reason that this project began was due to the ideas of the Zelda staff, so it really was thanks to them that it went smoothly most of the way.

Iwata: Yeah, an FPS Mario game doesn’t seem to fit either! (laughs)

Miyamoto: So we figured that Link was the logical choice. Then we argued that it would’ve been kind of strange for us to give Link a gun, so I proposed a sort of Terminator style story about a time warp from the future, but…

Iwata: Terminator!?

Is a futuristic Zelda in the cards? :S

[Midna of Twili]

Miyamoto: Well, although I had originally planned to make a game with a first-person perspective, the idea of having a child Link in the game was born, and then it became necessary for the hero to be seen on the screen.

this part of the interview caught my eye...

as i see it, Miyamoto wanted to use the first person perspective and imply that Link was an adult originally, then he states that the "idea of having a child Link in the game was born"...so, does this mean that the original plan was to NOT have a child Link in Oot, just and Adult Link, eliminating the necessity for the "split timeline"...?

[Tazryl]

Yeah that part caught my eye also, thought it was interesting.

The future Zelda part caught my eye as well, but I dont believe this suggests a future Zelda. He only proposed the idea because it would be odd to give Link a gun in the Zelda setting.

neat interview though.