Iwata Asks is a series of interviews conducted by former Nintendo Global President Satoru Iwata with key creators behind the making of Nintendo games and hardware.



Iwata Asks Home

Nintendo 3DS



Volume 5 Asking Mr. Miyamoto Right Before Release

Nintendo 3DS Built-in Software

Iwata

Today I'd like to ask Miyamoto-san a few things before the Nintendo 3DS system is released.

Miyamoto

Sure.

Iwata

The first question is on the title Steel Diver.1I believe you're working on it hands-on.

Miyamoto

Yes. 1. Steel Diver™: A submarine combat game featuring three modes: side-scrolling action, periscope action and strategy simulation. Under development for the Nintendo 3DS™ system and scheduled for release on March 17, 2011 in Japan.

Iwata

The game play consists of "slowly moving a submarine." For the lack of a better word, this game is very "plain."

Miyamoto

I guess so. (laughs)

Iwata

One question is what made you want to create this game for the Nintendo 3DS system now? Another is, why did you decide to remake The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time2 and Star Fox 643for the Nintendo 3DS system?

Miyamoto

Uh-huh. 2. The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time™: An action-adventure game first released for the Nintendo 64 system in November 1998. A remake, entitled The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, is scheduled for release for the Nintendo 3DS system.

3. Star Fox 64™: A 3D shooting game first released in April 1997 for the Nintendo 64 system. A remake, entitled Star Fox 64 3D, is scheduled for release for the Nintendo 3DS system.

Iwata

And finally, I have a question in regard to the Nintendo 3DS built-in software. There is quite a number of software included in the hardware this time around. What made you decide to add so many?

Miyamoto

All right. So where should I start?

Iwata

Well, why don't we start with the ones with release dates that are the closest?

Miyamoto

Then let's go with the built-in software first.

Iwata

The Nintendo 3DS system has AR Games, Face Raiders, StreetPass Mii Plaza and much, much more. In other words, just having the Nintendo 3DS system will allow you to play a variety of games.

Miyamoto

Right.

Iwata

In Nintendo's past history, (Hiroshi) Yamauchi-san has said, "The hardware is just a box you buy only because you want to play games which run on the hardware." Those were his exact words. (laughs)

Miyamoto

I remember that! (laughs)

Iwata

Though the way he said it may be a bit rough around the edges, it was a very easy-to-understand explanation of the business model at the time.

Miyamoto

Yes.

Iwata

And beyond that period, when the Nintendo DS system was released you had PictoChat4 built-in on the hardware for the very first time. The Wii console also had various other built-in features added, while the Nintendo DSi system even had cameras and sound. And this time, for the Nintendo 3DS system, it will have a variety of built-in software. What were your intentions when you decided to do this? 4. PictoChat™: A built-in software program of the Nintendo DS system; words and drawings can be exchanged among as many as 16 DS units.

Miyamoto

Well, basically speaking, over half of the built-in software was not planned by me from the beginning. Many people within the company suggested and researched many things, which made it happen in its current form.

Iwata

Oh, right. For example, in AR Games, you can add various objects to the real scenery seen through the camera. This will allow you to mix the virtual world with reality. And this is something members of the Entertainment Analysis & Development Department (EAD) have been working on for some time.

Miyamoto

Yes. It started off like their science fair project, for which we did not have any specific hardware to run. (laughs)

Iwata

And when you first saw it, you knew it would be a great idea for a new game?

Miyamoto

No, I didn't! At the time, I said, "We can't use that kind of stuff as a new game." (laughs)

Iwata

(laughs)

Miyamoto

I said something like, "You can't let trends decide what you do."

Iwata

(laughs) You are very strict on not following current trends.

Miyamoto

But as the basic features of the Nintendo 3DS system started to become fixed, all the ideas from here and there started to make a lot more sense.

Iwata

You're exactly right about that.

Miyamoto

Once we decided on taking it to 3D, it all happened very quickly. Suggestions like "we have a camera on it, so let's make it possible to take 3D photos" started to be made one after another. Even the projects I felt doubtful of in the beginning, when the prototypes were completed, we all felt very convinced that it would work.

Iwata

Yes. When they took a 3D photo themselves, just looking at it on the spot made them feel very happy.

Miyamoto

That's right.

Iwata

Of course, 3D photo-taking existed in the past, but it had never been so readily available to so many people and they would be able to so easily pick it up and enjoy.

Miyamoto

You don't have to buy a special camera or use a special printing process. You can take the pictures and see them on the spot to get surprised. That entire experience is a fun entertainment.

Iwata

Yes. You can enjoy using the Nintendo 3DS system even just as a viewer for 3D photos.

Miyamoto

If you just look at it that way, it's like a very easy-to-use 3D photo frame. In that sense, I thought it would be better to keep it built into the Nintendo 3DS system so everyone would be able to use it together. I felt the same way about the AR Games, Face Raiders and Nintendo 3DS Sound software. They were all included under the same philosophy.

Iwata

I see.

Miyamoto

Among the built-in software of the Nintendo 3DS system, the one we put the most focus on is Mii Maker application.

Iwata

Right.