Ubisoft Shanghai producer Liu Jun recently shed some light on the Wii U version of Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Topics include offline co-op, GamePad usage, DLC support, and more.
Read on below for a few excerpts. The full interview can be found over at Nintendo Life.
Mark Rubin, executive producer over at Infinity Ward, shared a much-too-short clip on Twitter teasing “squad” gameplay for Call of Duty: Ghosts. It only lasts seven seconds, but we do get a brief look at “online play” and “options” menus. There’s also something labeled “Squads” at the top of the screen.
We should be hearing more during the Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer reveal later this month.
How do new projects inside Nintendo begin? How are new ideas fostered? Company officials gave an inside look of sorts through an explanation provided to SAIPO:
“In software development, there’s no proposal to the actual company. At first, 2-3 people bring the idea to the table, and then actually write the program and build a prototype game. As the project moves forward, more people are hired, and the game gradually takes shape. In the end, the team will end up between 30-50 people, and if it is a large title, it can get up to 70 people.”
For Japanese manufacturers, elements such as the suggested retail price, date, overview, expected costs, and making a proposal describing the workforce along with other items are what leads to approval for the beginning of development. When it comes to Nintendo, however, there is no proposal to stop the ability to develop freely. Employees can actually build a prototype, and as long as the game is interesting, it has a shot at getting the green light.
Mid-level executives from Nintendo also said:
“We don’t have a concept of ‘continually getting better and better’ within the company, because this doesn’t apply to making new things. We don’t mission statement, motto, or song to support this thinking either. We are just a company that is blind to this idea.”
Also worth noting, the privileges of the development team are rather large – even if the president has a chance to intervene, he doesn’t do so often. As an example, some consoles such as the Nintendo 64 didn’t sell particularly well, but from possible failure, there is a simple corporate thinking of always being able to challenge the situation.
Thanks to Mo for the tip.
Monster Hunter Frontier G will allow players to chat in two ways on Wii U.
Players only need to press the ZL/ZR buttons to bring up a touch screen keyboard on the GamePad. But as 4Gamer points out, you will need to be careful when confronting a monster since the it’s displayed on the controller’s entire screen. That’s where having the full world on the TV comes in handy.
There will be a second option if typing on the GamePad isn’t your sort of thing. Capcom has confirmed that the Wii U version will fully support actual, real life keyboards.
Retromade Games is bringing at least two games to the Wii U: Hell IX, a helicopter shooter and Fixie Joe, a run & jump experience.
Actually, there’s one catch with the former. Hell IX will need to reach its Kickstarter funding goal of $22,000 in order to begin production.
Hell IX and Fixie Joe titles appear to be just the start of Retromade’s support. CEO Jose A. Gallardo told Nintendo Life about a couple of new ideas – “one related to space conquest and combat and the other related to ancient Asian mythologies, a sort of MMO.”
Jett Rocket originally started out on Wii as a WiiWare title. In December 2011, developer Shin’en announced a sequel for the 3DS as an eShop release.
Yet even though Jett Rocket is making the transition from console to handheld, Shin’en isn’t opposed to bring Jett Rocket II to the Wii U eShop.
You may remember how, a few weeks ago, Shin’en published a tweet that seemed to ask fans about their feelings regarding an HD version. We followed up with the studio about the possibility of a Wii U port, and were told the following:
“We originally didn’t plan a Wii U version of JR2 but since we connected a 3DS devkit to a TV to capture some footage we realized the game would work great on the big screen. So if fans really ask for it we would be happy to go for it.”
So there you have it. Want Jett Rocket II on Wii U? Let Shin’en know!
This week’s Japanese eShop update is as follows:
3DS
Downloadable Titles
Simple Series DL Series Vol. 14 The Dasshutsu Game – Uragiri no Misshitsu – 700 yen
Solitiba – 500 yen
Oshare na Koinu 3D (retail title) – 4,800 yen
Disney Magic Castle: My Happy Life (retail title) – 5,480 yen
Doki Doki! Purikura Nari Kiri Life (retail title) – 4,980 yen
Denpa Ningen no RPG 3 DEMO – FREE
Nekketsu K?ha Kunio-kun SP Rant? Ky?s?kyoku DEMO – FREE
Virtual Console
Battle City (Famicom) – 500 yen
Wii U
Downloadable Titles
Bandai Channel (Video Service) – FREE (with monthly fee of 1,050 yen)
Virtual Console
Famicom Tantei Club Part II: Ushiro ni Tatsu Sh?jo (Zen K?hen) (Super Famicom) – 800 yen
