117

Miyamoto: Fewer people are interested in playing Zelda

ITANI | May 08, 2007 | News | Wii 
I think casual gamers in this modern generation actually selected their games depending on how cool the box art is and what it features. Talking to people and venturing through islands and towns is old, everyone now looks for how many weapons each game has and how violent it is.
Legendary Nintendo game designer Shigeru Miyamoto has told Entertainment Weekly that he believes Twilight Princess didn't do well in Japan because there are fewer and fewer people interested in playing big RPGs.

When asked his opinion on why Zelda isn't doing well in Japan, Miyamoto replied, "Well, I think a lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game. And a lot of the people who would want to play it [due to chronic shortages of the console] can't find a Wii! But mostly, I think it's that there are fewer and fewer people who are interested in playing a big role-playing game like Zelda."

In the interview Miyamoto also expressed his wish to create a game that makes those darn kids respect their elders: "In Japan, there are a lot of trains that have sections reserved for the elderly or pregnant women. Young people in Japan sometimes sit in them, but if people come up and need them, you are supposed to get up. But most of the kids don't! It really upsets me. If I could build a game that somehow made the young people respect their elders...

"And there is another issue bugging me. In Japan there are a lot of people who freelance or work under the table - people who don't pay any taxes. I look at places in the world where people understand that paying taxes to the government helps society. In Japan there's not that understanding. So [social responsibility] is yet another issue I might address in a game. But I probably sound like an old man when I bring these things up."

News Story attached to:
12 comments | go to source (www.computerandvideogames.com) | send to friend
Register as a member to subscribe comments.

Comments with -5 or lower "thumbs" are removed from display.

  • 0 thumbs!
    Storm | May 08, 2007
    I actually agree with him on some examples he made. RPG's were over-used as is with the PS2, that maybe now people just need a good break from them. Though that's no excuse, this is Zelda we are talking about, it's a classic.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Gary15 | May 08, 2007
    I personally love long rpgs, but I can see where he's coming from, the Wii aimed itself at more casual gamers who are less likely to want to spend so much time and effort on games.
    • 0 thumbs!
      oOhennersOo | May 08, 2007
      I agree completely dude. One of my reservations of the Wii was that it might be a little TOO much "pick-up-and-play", and that games as immersive as Zelda might be overlooked by games like Wii Sports and Wii Play.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Wolfwood | May 08, 2007
    I hope this doesn't mean that the focus on a casual gaming audience with the Wii will ultimately hamper the success of Nintendo's more "traditional" gaming franchises. President Iwata himsef is hoping to satisfy more "hard-core" gamers with the Wii in the long run after all.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Rinkydink | May 08, 2007
    Yeah I agree that less people these days are interested in RPGs, though this is Zelda we are talking about. The Zelda fans will of course continue to buy them, but it will be harder to attract new Zelda fans in the future.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Subtle Demise | May 08, 2007
    I don't get it, Twilight Princess wasn't really all that big. It was pretty short compared to most other Zelda titles. It's sad that we probably won't be seeing many RPGs for Wii, as it's the only new console I have any interest in buying.
  • 0 thumbs!
    gotenks992 | May 08, 2007
    Long RPGs have always been something I'd love playing. It gives me something to do. LOZ TP just never seem to get me addicted to playing it.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Dudeguy | May 08, 2007
    Honestly, I just see this as the Zelda series needing to evolve. It needs things like voice acting, orchestrated music and renovated gameplay. The gameplay and especially the bosses have become FAR too easy.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Xegaldis | May 08, 2007
    I agree. Seeing as Twilight Princess was the first Zelda game I ever played, I was a little disappointed after what I'd heard of them. From what my friends had to say, and other people, they were meant to be a really great series, and I'm sure some of the older games were. But, playing Twilight Princess, I thought it was a little too easy, and just wasn't what I expected.
  • 0 thumbs!
    KingX2 | May 08, 2007
    The Legend of Zelda is a great series. Unfortunately, the recent Zelda games have become too easy. The older games like Majora's Mask and Ocarina of time were more difficult, which made them score high in the rankings. I just hope this series gets more difficult. My guess is that they made Twilight Princess easier, so younger kids wanting to play the game could beat it, which increases profit sales. The more people that want the game, and buy it, the more the game earns. Regardless, this series needs to be more difficult.
  • 0 thumbs!
    Fluidity | May 09, 2007
    I have to admit, I was also disappointed in Twilight Princess. I'm not really surprised to see this. Hopefully they'll get some new ideas in the future. =)
  • 0 thumbs!
    Mario_1 | May 10, 2007
    Uh... Earth to everyone: LoZ isn't a role-playing game. It's an action/adventure.

This news story is archived and is closed to comments now.

Submit Newshelp

Recent Forum Threads

Recently Approved

Top Contributors

This Month
Gothic Girl 475 pts
chautemoc 278 pts
Deathsythe 259 pts
Silver Mir.. 173 pts
Tyranitar24 125 pts
Akira_EX 123 pts
Coltrain 74 pts
bbb7002004 69 pts
All-Time
Gothic Girl 14734 pts
Krunal 11813 pts
Linkin Par.. 9920 pts
Final Blade 8640 pts
xsynergyx 8079 pts
mistermostyn 7868 pts
Silver Mir.. 7359 pts
chautemoc 6730 pts
ITANI 6350 pts
Storm 5642 pts

Stats

Today
Published News: 9
Comments: 116
Points Given: 226
Users Registered: 2
This Month
Published News: 125
Comments: 902
Points Given: 1995
Users Registered: 7
All Time
Published News: 9804
Comments: 65276
Points Given: 156844
Users Registered: 482

Conventions / Trade Shows

(0.4052/d/aeon)