1333 replies to this topic

[Radien]

It's a very interesting interview you can probably find on Nintendo Power's website. I recommend checking it out if you have the time.

Thanks; that answers it. I don't suppose you have a link...?

[The Satellite]

Turns out I can't find one. Nintendo Power's website apparently doesn't have articles on it anymore.

I do, however, have the magazine in front of me. As much of a pain as it might be, I will type up the entire interview for you guys. Due to length and potential spoilers (though nothing large), it is in spoiler tags, so you'll have to click them to see.

Spoiler

This sampling of Skyward Sword that we got to play—what does it represent? Is it an area from the final game or a test area or what?

Well, in the demo what you're seeing is an area that will actually end up being divided more—and of course, you won't be able to proceed quite so easily through it—but it represents a very early stage where Link, for the first time, travels down to the realm below the clouds. That being said, the giant skeleton that you fight when you go inside the tree, and [the fight against] the giant scorpion, aren't in those locations within the game. We just put them there for the demo version.

Would this be considered a dungeon or a field in the final game?

It's the field.

You've mentioned trying to make the game structure different from past Zelda games. Could you elaborate more on how the title is structured?

You just asked me, "Does this represent a field or a dungeon?" That's really kind of the change that we're doing to the structure this time around. So traditionally, a dungeon would be a bunch of small rooms connected and you'd have to clear one to get to the next and to the next and then finally you get to the boss at the end.... However, this time around what we're trying to do is take maybe some of that dungeon structure and actually move it out of those small connected rooms and, say, into an area that might traditionally be considered a field. [We may] take some of the same elements—some challenges that allow you to progress through the field rather than it being an area of small connected rooms—and maybe there's a boss character at the end of that....

Traditionally a dungeon is a place where it's all about combat and going from room to room, again, defeating enemies to get to the end. Now, this time we're thinking about creating dungeons maybe where you don't have a sword and your goal is not to defeat them, but to circumvent them or run away from them to clear that particular dungeon, and that's one way the structure is different from other Zelda titles.

Is this graphical style sort of a happy medium between the visual styles of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess?

We didn't choose this art style for this game because we preferred one art style over another. Those art styles didn't really contribute to our choice of art styles this time around. The reason we have the arty style that we do, and this is something that [Zelda creator] Mr. [Shigeru] Miyamoto talked about as well, is that we're focusing on swordplay. And to make the swordplay accessible and clear to the user, that has informed how we created the character designs and why we have some of the exaggerated features for the characters. Implementing those exaggerated features also impacts the visual design, because if we had too realistic of an art style then those exaggerations or deformations of the characters aren't appealing. So we chose an art style that works with that—the elements that are necessary to support the gameplay.

Were any other visual styles considered?

When we were looking at the basic gameplay, and we looked at what we needed to support that gameplay, the thing that we really focused on was that exaggeration of different features of different enemy designs. Really, this was the art style that we settled upon, so we really didn't try anything else and then toss those aside to use this one. I can say that, of course, the art style that we used to help highlight those character exaggerations did inform what we did with the rest of the scenery, so that is where we got sort of that watercolor, more impressionist style of art for all of the scenery and stuff you see—that all stems from the choices we made for the art style of the character design.

I really like the art style. It sort of reminds me of a polygonal version of Minish Cap.

[Laughs] Why was that?

Certainly the colors. The big mushrooms as well.

For us, we chose to really give a clear representation of things. That was one of the reasons we chose this art style—so we could really define what [things] look like. And I think Minish Cap was probably developed with the same idea in mind, so there were probably some natural similarities.

The demo featured eight slots for items. Does that mean there will be only eight items in the game?

We don't really want to talk too much about the number of items. If you look at [using] the Wii MotionPlus accessory, the eight item slots is just a really good feel for item selection, so that's why that's there now. That's not to say that it wouldn't increase or that we might be able to fit something else in there that works just as well but has more items.

What is your favorite item to use so far?

Well, one of the items that I'm really fond of and is new this time around is the beetle—the flying insect that goes out. Right now all you've seen is using the beetle to retrieve items or to drop bombs, but there are lots of different ways to use the beetle. For example, one of the things we're looking at and thinking about is the having the beetle be able to go out almost like a flying camera. It can go out and scout out larger areas [while you're in] a safe spot. You can look over places you might not want to travel to quite yet. I think we're going to be able to use what the beetle can do to help us solve puzzles, so the way we implement the inherent functionality of the beetle within the gameplay is something we're still looking at, but I think the possibilities are vast, and we're very excited about it. One of the things I think we might want to try is, of course, you know, we also have characters within the Legend of Zelda—Gorons and Zoras—so with some of the inhabitants of the world it'd be great to use maybe the beetle to do some of those events that you would normally do. You know, sometimes they'll challenge you to a race of some sort or something. Hopefully we'll be able to implement the beetle in some of the gameplay interactions with those races.

Speaking of puzzle design, there are new items, new combat, a new structure—will there be new approaches to the puzzles?

Absolutely. We're thinking of new types of puzzles. Not only new types of puzzles, but new ways to implement new Wii MotionPlus that'll allow us to solve puzzles in ways we haven't done in the past. One thing also that I'd like to mention is that the sword itself has a treasure-seeking ability and so using the sword to seek out new treasures and hidden objects is something that we're going to do. I'd like people to look forward to imagining how we're going to use the sword to do that.

Along the same line, with so many things changing, should we still expect to see Princess Zelda and Ganon in the game?

Seeing that it is The Legend of Zelda, we can't have a game wihtout Zelda! So I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing her. As to whether or not Ganon will be making an appearance, we don't want to make any comments on that as of yet.

Does this game fit into the existing Zelda continuity, or is this a separate story?

I think we've talked with the media about this before, about Ocarina of Time being sort of the oldest story in the Zelda timeline, but, of course, in Ocarina of Time the Master Sword already exists, so it's obviously safe to say that this takes place before Ocarina of Time.

Have you given any thought to including voice acting in the Zelda series? If not for Link, then maybe for other characters?

Personally, I don't want to have Link speak in the game. We haven't had him talk at all up to this point. It's part of the series's history. It would just, to me, break the image of Link to have him speak. In terms of other characters, if Link never talks and everybody else in the game is chatting and whatnot I also think that's sort of an off mixture, so it's not something, that, to be honest, I've really thought I want to be superactive about or I've really pressed for. It just hasn't come up to me personally.

Say, since the game is partially set in the sky, any chance Epona is a Pegasus?

[Laughs] I hadn't thought of that! You surprised me with that one! Of course, you know, Link does have to travel between Skyloft and the land below, and back and forth, so he's obviously going to have to do that via some sort of conveyance. That being said, I'd like to reveal that at a later time, so I don't want to give away too much other than to say that he is going to be traveling between the two. However, I can guarantee he's not going to be flying around like [Pit from] Kid Icarus.

What's something really cool in the Skyward Sword demo that the average player might not notice—something that's sort of a secret?

It's not something that's a secret, but I haven't seen many people do it when I've had the opportunity to watch people play, and that's the way that you can fight the Deku Baba plants that come out and try to grab you. They come out and you can see that they open this way [horizontally] or they open this way [vertically], and you have to swing your sword [in the corresponding direction], but another way to defeat them is to take your bombs and huck them at them, and the Deku Baba will actually grab the bomb out of the air or off the ground and hold it in its mouth, and then, of course, it explodes and you defeat them. I haven't really seen people doing that, and I think that it's a fun way to play—another interesting way to defeat the enemies rather than just traditional swordplay.

Has the tea table been upended during development of this game?

Not yet! With that being said, Mr. Miyamoto has been pretty active in collaborating with us this time around. I mean, obviously he always is, but one of the things under his directive that he wanted to have for the E3 version was that if you charge your sword up and swing, you release those energy beams. That was something that Mr. Miyamoto definitely wanted to have in the E3 demo, and we really worked hard to get it ready and actually got it in. It's a new element that we were just able to implement before E3. Luckily for us, since Mr. Miyamoto is so involved in all of our discussions and whatnot, I don't think we're going to give him the opportunity to come in and upend the tea table this time, because he's not going to go and turn around on something that he's helping make! He's not going to be able to flip that over!

— From the September 2010 issue of Nintendo Power, pages 53-55.

[Sir Evan]

Really tempted to read that. But I would rather not spoil the article for when my issue of NP arrives. My copies of that magazine always seem to arrive a good week or two after everyone else's.

Anyways, it'll be interesting if that area is, in fact, a field. It looked a lot more like a dungeon to me, with the doors and the enemies that looked more difficult than ChuChus. If so, I wonder what the dungeons will look like.

[Radien]

Turns out I can't find one. Nintendo Power's website apparently doesn't have articles on it anymore.

I do, however, have the magazine in front of me. As much of a pain as it might be, I will type up the entire interview for you guys. Due to length and potential spoilers (though nothing large), it is in spoiler tags, so you'll have to click them to see.

Pshhh, the things Zelda fans consider spoilers. I mean, I even hear the term "gameplay spoilers"... which usually describes stuff they'd be showing as a demo on big screens at Gamestop.

Out of respect for the effort you put into transcribing that article, I read all of it. Thank you! I didn't consider any of it too spoilery, and it was very interesting; I feel encouraged about the progress they're making on the game. But no mistake, it doesn't sound like it's any more than halfway done yet, if that.

[Jupiter]

But no mistake, it doesn't sound like it's any more than halfway done yet, if that.

I sort of agree...and they have said that they only chose a graphical style recently (within the past year if not more recently) and that Motion+ was not going to be in the game until after Wii Sports Resort game out...

So, this is the biggest mystery regarding this game for me: what in the names of Din, Farore, and Nayru where they doing from 2006-2009??

Also, thanks for typing up the article Satellite!

[sigtau]

it doesn't sound like it's any more than halfway done yet, if that.

Sit back and enjoy the delays, boys, this is going to be a while.

[Radien]

I sort of agree...and they have said that they only chose a graphical style recently (within the past year if not more recently) and that Motion+ was not going to be in the game until after Wii Sports Resort game out...

So, this is the biggest mystery regarding this game for me: what in the names of Din, Farore, and Nayru where they doing from 2006-2009??

The Wii Motion Plus only makes the Wiimote better, right?... Doesn't it enhance motion for any game, not just those that require it? I suspect they're only requiring it for Zelda for two reasons:

1. It'll make the game so much better that they don't want anyone playing the game without it, and
2. it'll sell tons of Wii Motion Pluses, getting them out amongst consumers to use on future games.

As for what they were doing with it, I'm sure they had a temporary controller scheme set up for testing, if they even got that far. A lot of the design process involves boring game engine stuff you and I never think about. Working out how the game determines collisions, for instance, is important regardless of the controller scheme. That's one reason why Ocarina of Time was able to use Mario 64's engine as a base.

And as for the graphical style, early portrayals of characters and monsters in OoT gameplay demos show how the look of a character can evolve as designs are finalized. 3D models can be whipped up for testing before they are set in stone. It's probably even easier to re-texture environments.

Sit back and enjoy the delays, boys, this is going to be a while.

After witnessing enough cut dungeons, I am in favor of delays for Zelda when necessary. A release month hasn't even been speculated yet, so it's too early to complain.

[The Satellite]

There's an "Iwata Asks" segment (which can be seen here) that came out not long after E3 where it reveals that Aonuma didn't want Wii MotionPlus support, but Miyamoto did, and even brought on the developer of Wii Sports Resort to convince Aonuma to use a swordplay engine similar to that one, and apparently it worked. As much as I dislike the thought of motion-controlled swordplay, I'd rather have it with MotionPlus support so it doesn't suck like people now say TP Wii's did.

[Jupiter]

The Wii Motion Plus only makes the Wiimote better, right?... Doesn't it enhance motion for any game, not just those that require it? I suspect they're only requiring it for Zelda for two reasons:

1. It'll make the game so much better that they don't want anyone playing the game without it, and
2. it'll sell tons of Wii Motion Pluses, getting them out amongst consumers to use on future games.

Well...I don't know about that.

I think you are saying that Motion+ is better in degree, but not in kind. That could be true...but I would argue that Motion+ makes the motion controls qualitatively different. It's not simply that the tracking the sword to your motion is more accurate, it is so accurate and tracks different types of motions to the point that it is a different (not just better) control mechanism. Could you really have the kind of accuracy necessary to fight that scorpion monster in the demo using the standard Wiimote...I don't think so. Could you possibly use the bow & arrow, beetle, or whip without Motion+, absolutely not. Not in the way they are using them and for the types of challenges and puzzles they are designing into this game. To my mind, incorporating Motion+ completely changes the game's design. It's a different game with it, not just an enhanced one.

Edited by Jupiter, 01 August 2010 - 10:19 PM.

[Jared]

Is that E3 demo really the field, or is it just a rumor?
I hope the Wiimote + comes with it

[The Satellite]

Is that E3 demo really the field, or is it just a rumor?

Eiji Aonuma confirmed it's the field.

[Eddard McHorn Van-Schnuder]

I just wanted to point out that so far, it looks like they're ripping of THP's story I will sue

But anyways, back to being serious... more or less... I'm really starting to like the looks of this more and more. I mean, I liked it when we first saw it, but overtime it has sort of grown on me even further, and now... I think it looks great. I'm just a little scared about what TS pointed out, that he said the "field" is what we saw in the E3 demo... to me, that looked more like a small forest, and to be honest, I really would prefer an actual field.

Though then again, he could have been talking about the whole matter of some dungeons being "more like the field-type of area", so for all we know, we haven't seen the actual "Hyrule Field" yet. (If it's even in the game)

[Jared]

Is that E3 demo really the field, or is it just a rumor?

Eiji Aonuma confirmed it's the field.

Wow.
I'm guessing it will be changed loads though.

[Ventus]

Hay has anybody found out the release date yet?