Miyamoto Discusses Nintendo’s Future
Discusses what Nintendo will be after the Wii.
With the Wii, Nintendo has proved a lot of things. One of the most prevalent things that Nintendo has displayed, is that video games can get people involved in more ways than by simply holding a controller while sitting on their couches.
Esteemed Nintendo game developer Shigeru Miyamoto spoke with Popular Mechanics recently (via Gamasutra) about the future of games, and specifically the future of the company. Nintendo is in good shape with the Wii (see: piles of money laying around Nintendo HQ), and they will build off their success in the future.
Miyamoto touched on many things during his interview, and one of the main things was how video games are entering more homes everyday, and in newer ways. Miyamoto argued:
"What I've found really in the past four or five years—since the launch of the DS and Wii—so many more people have come into contact with video games that I think there's a much better understanding of what they have to offer and they are becoming a much greater part of everyone's daily life."
With games like Wii Fit and EA Sports Active, the Wii is getting more people involved, as well as re-inventing a new gaming genre, exergaming.
Miyamoto makes his vision clear, in that when he is asked where he sees video games heading in the future, he responds by saying, "As time goes on, I think we're going to see how the system of the video-game console and this interactive interface is going to gradually bleed in to other elements of, say, home electronics and daily life." It is clear that Miyamoto wants to continue with this new trend started with the Wii, which encompasses more of entertainment than just traditional gaming.
The "interactive interface" that Miyamoto speaks of is another key element Nintendo will continue to build on. It is their belief that creating an intuitive experience is one of the key elements to creating a system. This ranges from the Wii's channel interface, to gameplay itself consisting of natural and simple motions.
Miyamoto also touched on a very hot topic, that of Nintendo's console future. When I say touched on, I really mean barely touched on, as he only mentioned two key phrases. He's looking for it to be "compact" and "perhaps even more cost-efficient."
Take from this what you will, but I'm curious to see what you think he means. Is he referring to a Playstation 2 Slim type of upgrade for the Wii? Or could he be referring to a new console?