Codemasters not ruling out Dirt 4 for Switch
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch | 15 Comments
Codemasters announced Dirt 4 yesterday. It’s the next entry in the company’s long-running racing series. At least initially, the game won’t be coming to Switch, but senior designer Darren Hayward isn’t ruling out the possibility of it happening in the future.
Hayward told Daily Star:
“Personally, I’ve got my Switch pre-ordered and I’m getting it day one. Obviously at launch [DiRT 4] is not coming to Switch. We’d already picked our platforms. We’ve nothing to announce right now, but, I wouldn’t rule it out.”
Hayward was also asked how he thinks racing games can work on a system like Switch. He said in response:
“There are signs of more traditional games coming out for Switch with full controller support like Skyrim, but would Dirt Rally or Dirt 4 work on a split Switch controller? I think we’d have to do quite a lot in terms of extra tweaks.”
“When you take it away and you’ve got it in tablet mode with the Joy-Cons it’s great, but those split controllers, that’s custom game design right there specifically for that platform. There are not many inputs, so you’d have to have super simplified controls and because of that, it may not be the ideal scenario for DiRT 4. That said, I could definitely see Nintendo Switch having some compelling racing experiences.”
More: Codemasters, Darren Hayward, Dirt 4, interview
Tantalus working on Switch version of Rime, dev still hoping for May, exploring physical release
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch eShop | 29 Comments
The Switch version of Rime isn’t being handled by Tequila Works directly. While the original team is involved in how it progresses, Tantalus is behind the actual development. Tantalus is also working on Sonic Mania for Switch.
Tequila Works told IGN:
“The Nintendo Switch version is being developed by Tantalus, the studio behind the HD version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. We worked side by side with them to ensure the Nintendo Switch version is absolutely true to the original vision we have for RiME, and they are doing a terrific work indeed! We are really enthusiastic about Nintendo Switch and we are immensely happy about releasing RiME on that console, but it’s too early to discuss future developments. Let’s finish RiME first! :)”
Tequila Works also mentioned that “There is still a lot of development to take into consideration, but we’re working hard to get the Nintendo Switch version ready for release at the same time as the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows PC versions in May.” A physical release could happen, as the studio is “working with Grey Box to check on the production pricing for cartridge Switch releases. We’ll ideally have additional information before long.”
More: Grey Box, interview, Raul Rubio, Rime, Six Foot, Tequila Works
Aonuma doesn’t think VR is well-suited for Zelda
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News | 47 Comments
Gameblog was recently given the opportunity to interview Eiji Aonuma, the producer of Zelda. At one point, Aonuma was asked about his thoughts regarding Zelda and virtual reality.
At least for the time being, the two aren’t a match. VR allows the player to see the world from their own point of view. With Zelda, however, the purpose is to watch Link grow.
Aonuma’s words are roughly translated as follows.
“You know, one of the interests of the Zelda games is to evolve Link and therefore see him grow. In VR, you would no longer see Link, you would see the world from your personal point of view, so I think it would not be very ‘Zelda'”.
More: Eiji Aonuma, interview, top
Aonuma on Zelda: Breath of the Wild – physics engine, Monolith Soft’s role, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 36 Comments
Once again, another Zelda: Breath of the Wild-focused interview with series producer Eiji Aonuma is online. Gamekult was able to ask the developer about various topics, ranging from the physics engine to Monolith Soft’s role.
We have a summary after the break. However, we’ll also be looking to eventually provide a native translation of the interview, since some parts of the discussion just aren’t clear without knowledge of French.
Aonuma confirms voice acting in all of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s cut-scenes
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 80 Comments
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is the first time that a game in the franchise features true voice acting, and Nintendo is going all out in this department. Series producer informed Gamekult that all cut-scenes will be voiced. Originally, it sounds like only the major cut-scenes were going to have voiceover.
Aonuma also spoke about how previous Zelda games didn’t feature voice acting. Other characters were left silent since Link never talks, and it seemed strange that everyone would speak except for him.
Aonuma on Zelda: Breath of the Wild – scrapped GamePad plans, Switch development, more
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 63 Comments
Interviews with Eiji Aonuma continue to surface. Jeuxvideo, another French outlet, posted an interview with the Zelda series about producer today.
Aonuma touched on topics such as initial plans for the Wii U GamePad as well as working with Switch. A summary of the interview can be found below.
– Again keeping quiet on timeline placement
– For clues, remember the voice of the women who says the world has suffered many battles against Ganon
– The team wanted to create something it never had before
– Because of this, Nintendo decided to make a bigger Zelda game
– Then tried to find ways to make the world interesting
– They decided to start working with the assets from Wind Waker as ground to reach the anime style they were aiming at.
– While he played, studied and took inspirations from games like Skyrim / GTA / The Witcher 3
– However, Aonauma stresses that the Zelda touch being part of all Zelda games is more important
– His teams are more “serious” that him and when he brings such ideas they would tell him that they need to do something more original or even better or more Zeldaish
– From a technical standpoint, it didn’t take a long time to create the game
– Development choices, such as making an open world, is what took so long along with ambitious plans
– Since it was originally planned for Wii U, the team thought it’d be funny if Link had a tablet similar to the GamePad
– Modified some elements of gameplay when Switch arrived
– Ex: could no longer use dual screens with the GamePad
– Tablet aspect of the game was reduced due to Switch
– Aonuma not talking DLC; says that if it were to happen, it would be after the game releases, so nothing to share right now
– Working with Switch went well, and porting Zelda over went faster than expected
– He and his dev teams are far from mastering the Switch’s hardware
– The Sheikah Slate was supposed to symbolize the GamePad, but was abandoned when the Switch version came into the picture
– The idea was that the tablet would talk to you
– When playing on the TV, the GamePad would display information and the tablet would speak
– Ultimately felt that the GamePad was out of place
Aonuma on making nature the focus of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 3 Comments
“In Zelda: Breath of the Wild, how did you get the idea to make the nature the focus of the game?”
Nintendo of France has started to put out a series of videos with Eiji Aonuma about Breath of the Wild. Fans were able to submit questions to the Zelda producer, the first of which asks why nature is the focus of the game.
Aonuma’s response was as follows:
“The Zelda series has always told the evolution of Link in his world. At the start of the game, he’s not very strong, but little by little, he will gain power. The reason why the games takes place in very natural environments is that it seemed to suit those kinds of stories, and this time, nature has taken a bigger role. It’s an execution choice, as you are free of your movements and you will travel a lot. We had to make a gigantic world with great plains, to give players a feel of total immersion, and that’s why we worked a lot on the animation, ambient sounds, and nature sounds, to get a better feel of the different environments.”
"Dans #Zelda: #BreathOfTheWild, comment avez-vous eu l'idée de propulser la nature au centre du jeu ?"
D’autres réponses arriveront bientôt. pic.twitter.com/9MALOUI360— Nintendo France (@NintendoFrance) January 25, 2017
We should be seeing more answers from Aonuma over the next few days.
Massive thanks to LuigiBlood for the native translation.
Aonuma says Zelda: Breath of the Wild won’t feature HD Rumble
Posted on 7 years ago by Fernando in News, Switch, Wii U | 82 Comments
Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma is giving a lot of information about Breath of the Wild lately. In an interview with French site Gameblog, Aonuma was able to clear up some uncertainty surrounding HD Rumble.
Even though there has been some speculation about the new game including this feature, Aonuma confirms that HD Rumble won’t be supported. His words, roughly translated, are as follows:
“Of course, if the game had been created exclusively for the Switch, we could benefit from the unique capabilities of the machine, including HD Rumble. It is quite extraordinary, for example, you can try to guess how many balls are hidden in the controller … That’s something I would have liked to use.”
In the same interview, Aonuma reconfirms that both versions of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Switch and Wii U – will offer the same exact gameplay experience.
Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford talks Switch and Nintendo, leaves the door open to future possibilities
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in General Nintendo, News, Switch | 19 Comments
Over on Glixel, there’s a pretty massive interview with Gearbox Software president and CEO Randy Pitchford. One portion of the discussion went over Pitchford’s recent comments about Switch.
Pitchford said last week that he doesn’t see Borderlands 3 happening on Switch. Communications with Nintendo had been taking place, but stopped for unknown reasons.
Now Pitchford has elaborated on that and much more in Glixel’s interview. He had plenty of praise for Switch, and did also say that “there might be some scenarios where if the Switch becomes a place where there’s a huge number of customers, and it doesn’t compromise the experience that we’re making – there could be a scenario where us or Take-Two and 2K decide to take the effort to make it happen.”
Read up on Pitchford’s full comments below.
More: Gearbox Software, interview, Randy Pitchford, top
Epona is in Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Posted on 7 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Switch, Wii U | 15 Comments
Epona, Link’s trusty horse who has appeared in various Zelda games, will be returning in Breath of the Wild. Producer Eiji Aonuma shared the news with IGN Portugal. However, he wasn’t willing to reveal specific details about Epona’s appearance, including where to find her.
Aside from Epona, various horses can be found throughout the world in Breath of the Wild. Horses you encounter will need to be tamed. Each one also has unique stats, including strength, speed, stamina, temperament, and bond. Horses can be named as well.
