This information comes from Iwata Asks…
Iwata: We released three versions of packages for the previous Nintendogs on the launch day. In some ways that was a first, so we had to explain the point to the in-house sales team and seek the distributors’ understanding.
Konno: I think we internally began by discussing 12 versions.
Miyamoto: No, it was 16 at first.
Konno: Huh? It was 16? (laughs)
Miyamoto: At the very start.
Iwata: Not 15?
Miyamoto: I think we talked about making the rack four-by-four…which makes 16. Or was it three by five?
Iwata: Then you explained to the sales people that the game begins from the moment you look at the store display in the real life and trying to decide which dog to choose. (laughs)
Miyamoto: That’s actually what I wanted to do.
Iwata: But when we consulted with Sales, we understood it would be hard for the retail outlets and ended up settling on three versions. This time, when we said, “Won’t one version be enough?” the sales people said, “Absolutely not!” (laughs)
Miyamoto: Right. They said three were a must. (laughs)
16 versions just seems like way too much. I’m pleased that Nintendo stuck with 3 versions in the end. And, as we know, the company is taking a similar approach with nintendogs + cats.
Pilotwings Resort
Nintendogs + Cats: Golden Retriever & New Friends
Nintendogs + Cats: French Bulldog & New Friends
Nintendogs + Cats: Toy Poodle & New Friends
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition
The Sims 3
PES 2011 3D – Pro Evolution Soccer
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
Ridge Racer 3D
Super Monkey Ball 3D
Samurai Warriors: Chronicles
Asphalt 3D
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D
Rayman 3D
We’re still waiting to see what Nintendo of America has in store for their launch lineup, but we’ll let you know what’s being planned as soon as we hear something. I imagine things will be pretty close to the list you see above.
This information comes from Yoshinori Ono…
“In online versus battles, you will not have to worry about going through a complicated selection mode or screen to find a suitable partner. The game will find one for you on the Internet – it will be seamless. Online versus battles will be global, so you’ll be playing against the strongest fighters from Japan and America.”
Super Street Fighter IV 3D is turning out to be one of the strongest launch titles for the 3DS. It’s pretty much supporting every feature the system has to offer. And I definitely welcome seamless battles! The new friend code system will also help make a simpler online experience.
This information comes from the latest Iwata Asks…
Miyamoto: Yeah. When we tested the game on the Nintendo GameCube system, there was a dog whose hair had grown in…
Iwata: That’s right, you first experimented with it on the Nintendo GameCube console when you first wanted to make a game like Nintendogs. Why didn’t that go anywhere and how was it decided that it would be released for the Nintendo DS system?
Miyamoto: The project started when I thought it would be fun to raise a pet in the television, but I thought the Nintendo DS hardware was much better suited to it.
Iwata: With the Nintendo DS systems, you can use the stylus to pet it.
Miyamoto: But with Nintendo DS, we couldn’t show the character of the coat. We now had more hardware power, so we could go back to that super-soft and fluffy feeling. (laughs) And it’s in 3D, so you can pet around their back.
This information comes from the latest edition of Iwata Asks focusing on nintendogs + cats…
Konno: There were even ideas for animals like horses and dolphins. Some people said that horses would definitely sell well in Europe.
Iwata: So you were thinking about it, experimenting, and discussing it. Fate just wasn’t with those experiments and weren’t able to find that key element to validate them as a product.
Konno: Yes. We actually considered it for the Wii system. But it doesn’t have a microphone, so you couldn’t talk to your dog.
Iwata: Oh! So if the Wii Remote controller had a mic, there might have been a Wii version of Nintendogs?
Konno: Yeah. We might have moved forward with it.
Miyamoto: But there’s a distance between the Wii Remote and the television, so it might not have felt like you were petting your dog.
Konno: Right. We decided to consider any good ideas that might come up, but nothing ever developed.
Miyamoto: And to be honest, I didn’t feel like making a follow-up Nintendogs at the time.
Thanks to Thomas N for the tip!
