Nintendo Working on Relaxation & Horror Games?

By Adam Riley 14.08.2009 15

Nintendo Working on Relaxation & Horror Games? on Nintendo gaming news, videos and discussion

A small tidbit about the upcoming release of the Wii Vitality Sensor has slipped out from Satoru Iwata in a Q&A session on Nintendo's official website. Many people are still unsure of how the idea that seemed to originally come from SETA back in the Nintendo 64 days will be able to revolutionise gaming via the Wii console. However, Satoru Iwata emphasises the fact that people were quick to dismiss the Wii Balance Board when Wii Fit was originally unveiled, and, of course, the Wii Remote itself caught many off-guard when the lid was lifted on that a few years back. Obviously both of those examples are ones that went on to sell millions around the world, whilst the latest add-on, the Wii MotionPlus device for 1:1 movements, has already taken the world by storm thanks to the likes of Wii Sports Resort, Tiger Woods 2010 and Grand Slam Tennis.

So, when asked to discuss the Vitality Sensor further, Iwata-san had this to say on the matter, inadvertently revealing not only a rough release window, but also what games Nintendo is thinking of creating to promote it:

It seems like the Wii Vitality Sensor is a kind of product which we are having some difficulty in addressing its product concept. The majority of the audience at E3 responded to it like "what in the world is Nintendo planning with a single pulse meter?" A human pulse not only contains information as to how many times a heart beats in a minute, but also various kinds of information such as the condition of automatic nerve.

Traditionally, great games has made people excited and stimulated. Wii Vitality Sensor has great potential for various applications like measuring how horrified a player is in a horror title. What we are trying to propose first is a video game with a theme of relaxation, which is completely opposite from traditional ones, to enrich the users' lives. Especially among those who are constantly busy, I am sure you have experienced not being able to go to bed even when you are so tired after a busy day at work and coming home late at night... What if you were able to visualize how to unwind and relax, or check the condition of your automatic nerve by simply inserting your finger in the device once a day? We are conducting some tests internally at Nintendo, and found some patterns among our employees, like improving automatic nerve condition as the weekend nears or vice versa. Seeing what their condition is actually like, they can "visualize" how they are looking forward to weekend. And see completely different patterns on each individual person. And I think you have all had an experience where you are not in tune with how your body is doing or aware of how exhausted you body may be in a busy, strained period, but if you can visibly measure your condition every day, you can start to see how you're doing. It would be like stepping up on a scale every day and seeing the change of your weight. Our new challenge that is different from past software development is to make a video game by using the visible activities of your automatic nerve.

Before Wii Fit launched, everyone doubted how well it could sell. As for Wii Vitality Sensor, I think it will face similar doubts as to whether such a product will sell well in the video game market. Of course no one can tell how people respond to it before the launch. We understand everyone wants to enjoy a vibrant lifestyle, so I believe if the product could support that desire, it would make a large impact in society. We are hoping to make one such proposals a year, or every two years at best, to try and realize what no one has ever done before. As there was concern at E3 this year that people might misunderstand us as makers developing sequels only, we decided to make it (Wii Vitality Sensor) public at the media briefing. We would like to deliver the actual product not too late in the year next year. As I have mentioned, last-minute polishing is crucial for developing video games, so please understand that we'll need to refrain from commenting on an exact release date.


Would you like to see Nintendo make something relaxing for Wii, as well as a horror game? Or do readers have other ideas themselves?

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Comments

I would like to see them make a new Pikmin, Kirby or a whole new GAME series all together.
This vitality sensor is such fail.
:/
If you're going to make peripherals, use them more than once or twice yourselves.
In a GAME.

Why do they have to be used more then once? I'm quite happy theres nothing I want that uses WiiFit Smilie
--
Theres nothing at all wrong with a pulse sensor, or using it in a relaxation-aiding bit of software.

The problem is merely making a big deal of it and giving it a silly name.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+

I'm sorry, Mr Iwata, but I can't hear you over the sound of me not giving a shit. Smilie

1"We're mentalist psychic Scots , which means we can read your mind. If you're lying, your head explodes and we laugh."

Sounds interesting. I'd be interested in seeing how this could tell me how stressed I am before the start of the semester, during and near the end. I think this is a pretty neat concept, but this has casual gamer written all over it.

I've accepted it. Nintendo just isn't for the everyday gamer anymore. Here you have people who has stuck with Nintendo, begging for more sequels and more of their beloved franchises to come back and they're given a vitality sensor, a balance board and something that looks like a rodeo saddle? Fine. I get the full scope of why I wasn't wrong to go multi-console.

I think some of these are great ideas... Nintendo is definitely going in a different direction than the rest which I find is a good thing and a bad thing. Good because of its originality, bad because there aren't alot of games I would like to play on it and there are sporadic droughts of games to look forward to.

Diablo II
"I'll make weapons from your bones!" - The Smith Paladin: I will cleanse this wilderness. Deckard Cain: Stay a while and listen!

Another device that will be supported by one game by nintendo. Then EA or ubi will copy the concept and create shitter titles (but with more depth).

The first concept sounds worse then wii music so well done there. Cant wait for the wii ads that will sell this relaxation game bunch of wankers sat on their white sofas looking buzzed out, sorry i mean \'relaxing\'. More dev time can be wasted on this and taken away from the few decent games you have in development delaying them further.

( Edited 14.08.2009 23:42 by meeto_0 )

Fatal Frame V, where ghosts start jumping out at you more often if you start to calm down too much...Or perhaps Eternal Darkness 2, where the Insanity Meter cranks up accordingly.

Would be great! Smilie

Adam Riley [ Director :: Cubed3 ]

UNITE714: Weekly Prayers | Bible Verses

What I can not understand is why more developers are not porting their arcade titles over. Especially, SEGA who have several "ride interface" games under their belt. I want Top Skater crammed to bursting with extras for use with the balance board damnit!

I've accepted it. Nintendo just isn't for the everyday gamer anymore.

I never understood at all polarised thinking like this.
Why cant Nintendo do both?

Their traditional gamer-release's havnt gone down at all.
You could argue last gen had better games (depends on taste personaly I think Metroid,Mario and Zelda were all better this gen), but quanity wise at least, we are getting much the same number of games even if you ignore WiiFit/Sport/Music.

I think people just have a grass-is-always-greener memory of the last gen.
Nintendo is, at the end of the day, just one games firm, and as far as their own major releases go, there always few and far between.

I think the main difference this gen purhapes if there 2nd party efforts; Disaster, Excitabikes/Bot, BW2....havnt sparked quite the same excitment as say, Eternal Darkness.

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+

Grass is always greener last gen? not at all! Master system was good, mega drive better, Saturn shit, dreamcast awesome.

nes ok, snes great, N64 amazing, cube forgettable, wii frustrating.

Gameboy awesome, GB advance good, DS amazing.

Nintendo is what it is. They definately made the most worst judgements in the last 3 generations. From: cartridges, 8cm discs, cubed shaped consoles, friend codes, poor online support,

Darkflame said:
I've accepted it. Nintendo just isn't for the everyday gamer anymore.

I never understood at all polarised thinking like this.
Why cant Nintendo do both?

There is no problem with this. my DVD player plays hannah montana and batman TDK equally well. But there hasnt been much in terms of mature quality. Problem nintendo is having is it trying to be the pixar of the gaming world. It wants that piece of software that really does appeal to every one. but wii music, wii sport, the balance board, animal crossing etc are not pixar type software. They are falling short in departments. simple things like online or tournament modes.

What we are trying to propose first is a video game with a theme of relaxation, which is completely opposite from traditional ones, to enrich the users' lives.

I'm guessing this means nothing to get excited about. At least for gamers wanting a game to play and not a silly piece of software designed to keep you relaxed. Smilie There's is still Mario Galaxy 2 and Zelda Wii I suppose.

Teetrab said:

I\'ve accepted it. Nintendo just isn\'t for the everyday gamer anymore. Here you have people who has stuck with Nintendo, begging for more sequels and more of their beloved franchises to come back and they\'re given a vitality sensor, a balance board and something that looks like a rodeo saddle?

You missed all the stuff announced at E3 then? New Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Golden Sun and Metroid not good enough for you?

I\'m not really interested in the vitality sensor though. I think it\'s good that they are releasing more stuff that appeals to the \'WiiFit Audience\'. Would suck for them to have bought a console with barely any other games suitable for them.

As for us \'proper gamers\', I think there\'s loads on the horizon to be excited about. And don\'t forget about the DS.

( Edited 15.08.2009 18:27 by Ikana )

Darkflame said:

I never understood at all polarised thinking like this.
Why cant Nintendo do both?


Their traditional gamer-release\'s havnt gone down at all.
You could argue last gen had better games (depends on taste personaly I think Metroid,Mario and Zelda were all better this gen), but quanity wise at least, we are getting much the same number of games even if you ignore WiiFit/Sport/Music.

I think people just have a grass-is-always-greener memory of the last gen.
Nintendo is, at the end of the day, just one games firm, and as far as their own major releases go, there always few and far between.

I think the main difference this gen purhapes if there 2nd party efforts; Disaster, Excitabikes/Bot, BW2....havnt sparked quite the same excitment as say, Eternal Darkness.

Why indeed? Why can\'t Nintendo do both? I\'m not talking about Nintendo as a game developer. They make superb games, but I\'m talking about them as a system. The choice of games that has been released aren\'t as desirable.

I say this because as far as the Wii\'s release I\'ve only bought Smash Brothers Brawl and Sonic and the Secret Rings (Big mistake) and I gave that a chance because websites like Gamespot, IGN and C3 said it was decent. As of right now, I don\'t know if its them or me in terms of who\'s right or wrong. Maybe the industry is changing and I can\'t seem to change with it ...

Personally, I believe that Nintendo Wii is geared toward the casual gamer... a little too much. Yes. I think they\'re doing great with the market with motion control. (And I know I sound like I\'m contradicting myself). They\'re reaching people they\'ve never reached before, but I feel like they\'re neglecting the veterans. Yes I am a Nintendo fan, thats why I\'m so critical on them.

For me, last gen-Nintendo....was decent...the end of the cubes life blew. It blew so hard. I\'m more of a Mario fan. I liked Prime for the Cube, but for the record I SUCK at Zelda games. There, I said it. I can\'t play that game to save my life. I get lost for hours on end and sometimes the answer is laying in my face. So out of those 3 franchises you mentioned I only truly liked 1 (Mario)


Ikana said:
Teetrab said:

I\'ve accepted it. Nintendo just isn\'t for the everyday gamer anymore. Here you have people who has stuck with Nintendo, begging for more sequels and more of their beloved franchises to come back and they\'re given a vitality sensor, a balance board and something that looks like a rodeo saddle?


You missed all the stuff announced at E3 then? New Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Golden Sun and Metroid not good enough for you?

Mario is definitely a yes. Zelda is something I\'ve never been good at. I stopped at Pokemon Silver and Gold. I haven\'t played Golden Sun and Metroid is something I will have to catch up with. I think we\'re missing the over-all point which is, How are they going to implement and advertise this peripheral so that it appears in more than 1 or 2 games before this generation dies out?



I\'m not really interested in the vitality sensor though. I think it\'s good that they are releasing more stuff that appeals to the \'WiiFit Audience\'. Would suck for them to have bought a console with barely any other games suitable for them.

As for us \'proper gamers\', I think there\'s loads on the horizon to be excited about. And don\'t forget about the DS.

I really hope you\'re right.



( Edited 16.08.2009 01:19 by Teetrab )

Diablo II
"I'll make weapons from your bones!" - The Smith Paladin: I will cleanse this wilderness. Deckard Cain: Stay a while and listen!

So out of those 3 franchises you mentioned I only truly liked 1 (Mario)

If you dont like Corruption or Twlight Princess, thats your own taste.
It isnt evidence Nintendo isnt supporting traditional gaming just as much. It just means they arnt supporting your taste Smilie

There have been plenty of other games though; Disaster, Excitabikes/Bots, MarioKart, BW2, Another Code, Fire Emblem, Super Paper Mario etc.

If people prefered last gens quality, fair enough.
Personaly though, I think quanity dosnt show a decrease.

I say this because as far as the Wii\'s release I\'ve only bought Smash Brothers Brawl and Sonic and the Secret Rings (Big mistake)

Talking 1st party release\'s. Not 3rd party.
Also, a lot liked Smash Bros.

meeto_0 said:
Grass is always greener last gen? not at all! Master system was good, mega drive better, Saturn shit, dreamcast awesome.

nes ok, snes great, N64 amazing, cube forgettable, wii frustrating.

No.
I remember the N64 days.
People were moaning about lack of support even more back then.
It was just Nintendo and Rare (when they were good)...that was it.
And even Nintendo people were saying wernt releasing enough.

Coupled with the fact people back then didnt understand why Nintendo went with carts.
(Seems fans, now older, do tend to understand Mario64 and Zelda:OoT wouldnt have been possible with 2-speed cd drives).

Either way; Nintendos own releases havnt gone down.

How are they going to implement and advertise this peripheral so that it appears in more than 1 or 2 games before this generation dies out?

Does it mater?
As long as its fairly cheap, and probably packaged with the games, I dont see it bothering me either way.
I\'ll just ignore it...like I have WiiFit.

If someone comes out I want, I\'ll get it, but thats unlikely.



( Edited 16.08.2009 02:33 by Darkflame )

http://www.fanficmaker.com <-- Tells some truly terrible tales.
Last update; Mice,Plumbers,Animatronics and Airbenders. We also have the socials; Facebook & G+



Does it mater?
As long as its fairly cheap, and probably packaged with the games, I dont see it bothering me either way.
I\'ll just ignore it...like I have WiiFit.

If someone comes out I want, I\'ll get it, but thats unlikely.



Actually it does matter. The peripherals that they released doesn\'t only go to the consumer, it goes to the developers too. What if they don\'t know how to use it properly?

It\'s the equivalent of having a teacher that goes on to new subjects without you completely grasping the first one. There are still developers who still can\'t implement the standard Wii controller in their games! How do you think they will deal with all of the other ones? This will make the dev\'s pretty pissed and they will come out with comments like this:

http://www.cubed3.com/news/12804/

Nevermind the reason he gave, the only reason why he would probably say something like that is because he\'s likely doesn\'t understand the Wii\'s hardware and how to make it work for his advantage.

And most developers aren\'t focused on the casual gamer.

It also matters for Nintendo in terms of production. It would be sad to come out with this and end up with little to no profit.

Forget about rising the hopes of other people for the vitality sensor and crushing it when a new Nintendo system is announced.


EDIT: I hate the quoting system


( Edited 16.08.2009 16:22 by Teetrab )

Diablo II
"I'll make weapons from your bones!" - The Smith Paladin: I will cleanse this wilderness. Deckard Cain: Stay a while and listen!

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