Iwata Asks

Iwata Asks headlines

• Pokémon X & Y: Nintendo releases Iwata and Game Freak video chat

  Nintendo president Satoru Iwata is an executive who genuinely understands and loves games, so his Iwata Asks series is well worth a look. In the four videos through the break, Iwata chats with Pokémon X & Y developer Game Freak, delving into what it is that makes the first 3D iteration so special.

• StreetPass Relay idea came from NYC business trip, users in North America report issues with service

  The idea for the Relay feature in StreetPass on 3DS came about due to a Nintendo engineer got when he visited New York City, according to the latest Iwata Asks.

• Game & Wario initially planned as pre-installed Wii U game, reveals Iwata

  Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed that Game & Wario – due to hit Europe June 28 – was originally planned as a pre-loaded Wii U title called Pirates. It didn’t star Mario’s nemesis at all, in fact.

• Animal Crossing: New Leaf contains regional festivals

  The festivals celebrated in your Animal Crossing: New Leaf town will vary dramatically from those seen in other countries.

• Pokémon developer uses Amnesia Fortnight-like prototype system

  Pokémon developer Game Freak has introduced a side-project program to allow its staff to let their creativity flow free – something like Double Fine’s Amnesia Fortnight – with HarmoKnight as its first fruit.

• Wii Street U gets the "Iwata Asks" treatment, reveals Google Maps's insane attention to detail

  Wii Street U is the incoming Google Maps app for Nintendo’s console. It’s the subject of this week’s edition of “Iwata Asks”, a panel session featuring developers and Nintendo president Satoru Iwata himself. The session has revealed Google’s incredible level of detail. They’ve even mapped the sky this time.

• Dragon Quest 7 was inspired by Myst

  Dragon Quest 7’s emphasis on exploration and famously obscure puzzles owe a debt to series creator Yuuji Hori’s interest in Myst.

• Nintendo TVii launch heralds first ever "Reggie Asks"

  Nintendo TVii has launched in North America, which is extremely interesting and important, but oh my gosh Reggie Asks.

• Resident Evil 5 ran on 3DS, inspired Resi: Revelations - Capcom

  Capcom managed to get Resident Evil 5 running on Nintendo 3DS while it was developing survival game Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. The feat would then go on to inspire Resident Evil: Revelations. The studio has discussed the process in Nintendo’s latest instalment of ‘Iwata Asks’.

• Iwata Asks: Wii U GamePad prototype was two WiiMotes taped to a monitor

  The latest edition of Iwata Asks – in which Nintendo president Satoru Iwata quizzes his internal development teams – focused on party game Nintendo Land and the GamePad’s conception, revealing a crude early prototype that consisted of a monitor, two WiiMote controllers and a shit-load of sticky tape. See it below.

• ZombiU developers were unsure if Survival mode were possible

  ZombiU’s Survival mode asks players to complete the entire game with just one player character, a challenge its developers weren’t even certain was possible until the very last minute.

• Pikmin 3 release window confirmed as 'Spring 2013'

  Pikmin 3 has previously been billed as a ‘launch window’ title on Wii U in the States, meaning it will launch before March 31st. New information from Nintendo’s recent ‘Iwata Asks’ panel narrows down the clues a little.

• Pokemon Black & White 2 leads Nintendo's latest 'Iwata Asks' session

  Pokemon Black & White 2 launched last week to stellar reviews – check out all the scores here – and both games are the focus of Nitnendo’s latest instalment of ‘Iwata Asks’ in which the company president Satoru Iwata asks developers questions regarding their game, including the issue of 100-player multiplayer missions. Check out some […]

• Capcom - Resident Evil: Revelations could have been RE6

  Resident Evil: Revelations could have been a core entry rather than a subtitled release, according to producer Masachika Kawata.

• Nintendo: Three Kirby games were cancelled during an 11-year period

  Kirby’s Return to Dreamland producer Shigefumi Kawase has revealed in the latest Iwata Asks that three installments of the Kirby franchise were cancelled midway through development. According to Kawase, the team “spent 11 years making and abandoning these three games.” He also described the titles a bit, once of which was a 2.5D adventure title […]

• Tuesday shorts - Please Make it Stop Edition

  It’s like the Internet developed the ability to vomit, and I’m on mop duty. You may need to set aside some time for this.

• Iwata: "I certainly do not think that Wii was able to cater to every gamer's needs"

  Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata has said he feels Wii was miscategorized by the media as a casual gaming console compared to PS3 and Xbox 360, and while he disagrees with the label, he admitted the console did not “cater” to every gamer’s needs.

• Ocarina of Time's fishing game began as a side-project

  The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time’s fishing game is one of the franchise’s most beloved mini-games, but it began as an illicit side project.

• Miyamoto: "Plain" Zelda's success unexpected

  Nintendo’s design giant Shigeru Miyamoto has said he never expected The Legend of Zelda to become a mainstream hit, and described it as “plain”.