EA is bringing Mass Effect 3 to the Wii U. FIFA 13 and Madden NFL 13 are also planned. The question is, what is EA planning for the console beyond these three games?
Executive vice president Patrick Soderlund gave a cryptic answer in an interview with CVG.
Soderlund said that the company “doesn’t make ports at all anymore”. There is Mass Effect 3, but I suppose he doesn’t count that game as a port since it’s a BioWare title and a third-party is handling the porting process.
He explained that EA “will always try to take an approach about what is unique for that platform.” Soderlund also noted how the “Wii U has many unique capabilities so you have to embrace the unique elements of the platform otherwise there’s not much point doing it at all.”
“Well I would say EA doesn’t make ports at all anymore. We try to make games that are ideal for each platform as much as possible. Obviously for PS3 and Xbox 360 the systems are similar, so we cross-develop. But we will always try to take an approach about what is unique for that platform. Wii U has many unique capabilities so you have to embrace the unique elements of the platform otherwise there’s not much point doing it at all. There is no general rule for developing a game. We custom tailor for each one, so everything is a bit chaotic, but it’s worth it.”
This week’s Famisu review scores are as follows:
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F (PSV) – 9/8/9/8
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (3DS) – 8/9/7/8
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (PSP) – 8/9/7/8
DiRT Showdown (PS3/360) – 8/8/8/7
Spec Ops: The Line (PS3/360) – 8/8/7/8
Senran Kagura Burst (3DS) – 8/7/7/8
Kami Jigen Game Neptune V (PS3) – 8/8/7/7
Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenkaku Romantan Kansei (PSP) – 8/7/7/7
Custom Drive (PSP) – 8/7/7/6
Aqua Pazza: Aquaplus Dream Match (PS3) – 7/7/6/6
Bakemonogatari Portable (PSP) – 6/6/4/7
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate is on the 3DS. Why did MercurySteam decide to make the game for the platform?
Producer David Cox explained to the Official Nintendo Magazine that the team was very interested in creating a title for a handheld. Regarding the specific choice to go with the 3DS, Cox made note of the fact that the 3D effect and overall hardware fit in well with MercurySteam’s vision.
According to Cox:
“We knew we wanted to do a game on a handheld. Castlevania has traditionally done well on handhelds. And when we looked at different formats, we really liked the 3DS because we knew we could do a really cool 2.5D side-scroller, but with 3DS we had the advantage of layers and layers of 3D and using the stereoscopic camera to go into the world; a dynamism that wouldn’t be on other handhelds. And once we got hold of the hardware, we realised what we could do with it. We essentially built an engine from the ground up for the 3DS, we felt that this was the right format. Traditionally Castlevania has always appeared on Nintendo formats and that appealed to us as fans of the classic.”
Ars Technica says Nintendo Power is dead. The print magazine itself will be shutting down, and the site indicated that a digital version wouldn’t be happening – partially due to a reluctance on Nintendo’s part.
CVG’s sources, weighing in on the matter, claim that a final decision hasn’t been reached. The situation looks very bleak at the moment, but the site writes that Future Publishing “is also considering how and if it should take Nintendo Power in a new digital direction”.
Everyone is expecting the Wii U release date, price, and other launch information to be announced in September. Nintendo has pretty much confirmed themselves today.
If you’re looking forward to hearing more about Wii U, you should keep your eyes pealed for news coming on September 13. Nintendo is set to hold a major Wii U press event on that day with Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime hosting the festivities. An invitation promises to reveal “more about how the Wii U will change the future of gaming and entertainment.”
So mark your calenders, folks. Even though Nintendo didn’t say it outright, that’s the big day for Wii U.
Nintendo Power will be shutting down, according to a new Ars Technica report. Future Publishing apparently told those involved about the move last week. Editors and other staff will be moved to other properties including GamesRadar and MacLife magazine.
An Ars Technica source claims that Nintendo was always “difficult to work with” and hasn’t shown much interest in taking the reigns of the magazine once again. Future began to publish Nintendo Power in 2007 after a contract was settled on.
The site also says that Nintendo was “uninterested in renewing that contract or in taking part in a number of digital initiatives that Future saw as necessary for the long-term health of the brand.”
How many issues will be released? That isn’t known. Similarly, it hasn’t been said how current subscribers will be compensated.
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has fielded a number of questions relating to handheld gaming – competition in particular. Head past the break for his comments on what it would take for his company to stop making dedicated gaming handhelds, the threat of smartphones, how the two platforms differ, and more.
