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Nintendo News
Iwata Talks GCNext
Also covers the industry, competition, and more.
April 12, 2004 - In a feature interview with our friends at GameSpy, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata spoke about the industry, competition, the future, and the successor to GameCube. IGNcube has compiled some of the executive's key points below:
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Iwata said that Nintendo's profitability has suffered due to increased competition. "In the past, Nintendo competed with SEGA, another gaming company," he told GameSpy. "Now our competitors are Sony and Microsoft, companies that do not have games at the core of their business. I must admit, the competition is tougher than ever before; and in the short run, we have seen declining profitability."
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The executive noted that Nintendo's development philosophy is different from Microsoft's and Sony's. On Microsoft hardware development, he said: "I think they are simply looking toward beefed up technology for the next-generation consoles. And from the developers' and programmers' point of view, that kind of machine will be very difficult to work with." Iwata added that the successor to GameCube would, in contrast, be easier to develop for, which would attract more backers.
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Iwata said that Nintendo would continue to try and draw more adult players.
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He noted that the next-generation of consoles would be about more than beefed up technology; that consumers would be interested in new gameplay presentations.
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Nintendo is working on its next-generation system. Allow me to call it GCNext or GCN. The abilities of GCNext will be different from what you have seen from consoles in the past. What Nintendo is currently discussing is not about state-of-the-art technology for enhancing processing power. What I, Miyamoto and Mr. Takeda are discussing is what should be done to entertain people in a new way."
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Iwata conceded that technology is important, but that it would take more than just more powerful chipsets to make GCNext a success.
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The Nintendo president added that the company would continue to work closely with third-party developers to create software for Nintendo systems.
I desided to make this portion of the site because everyone always says PS2 is better than GameCube, and i think that is BULL SH!T.
Here are some reasons GameCube is better.
1. All the good games that are on PS2 are also available on GameCube
2. GameCube has all the classic games like Mario, Metroid and Zelda
3. You can hook it up to the GameBoy Advanced on some games
4. GameCube has wireless controlers
5. You can buy a screen to hook up to the GameCube and play it anywhere
6. It's made by Nintendo
7. It is $75-$100 cheaper
Reasons it is not better.
1. It doesn't play DVD's, but you can get a DVD player for like $50
A few more reasons GameCube is better.
1. It has a lot more exclusive games only available for GameCube
2. Game Boy player that you can hook to it to play Game Boy games on TV.
3. Nintendo has been around for 20 years and has more experience with making video games.
4. The controller design is much better, XBox's are too big and PS2 has too many buttons.
5. GameCube is available in 3 different colors.
6. It is more powerful than the PS2. Ps2 has slower processors and it's graphics are noticeably inferior to the GameCube's
7. Some people may think not having a DVD player is a good thing. Alright let me explain this if there was a DVD player people would be hoging the GameCube to watch there DVD's and you would have to wait to play your favorite games.
8. The GameCube is smaller and easier to take with you to a friends house or on vacation or where ever.
Game Boy Player
Nintendo's Game Boy Player is now available for $49.95. The device, which enables GameCube owners to play their Game Boy Advance titles on a television screen, is highly anticipated by a hardcore percentage of Nintendo fans. You can also play most regular Game Boy games and Game Boy Color games on the Game Boy Player. The Player hooks into the bottom of the GameCube and you slide the games into the front. This device is good because you can play multi-player Game Boy Advanced games with one person on the TV and one on the Game Boy Advanced if you have a link cable.
Video Game Publishers
- Acclaim Entertainment
- Activision
- Atari
- BAM!
- Bethesda Softworks
- Bungie
- Capcom
- Codemasters
- Conspiracy Entertainment
- Crave Entertainment
- EA Sports
- Eidos Interactive
- Electronic Arts
- Empire Interactive
- Encore Software
- Gathering of Developers (God games)
- Gotham Games
- Infogrames
- Interplay
- Kemco Games
- Koei Games
- Konami
- LucasArts Entertainment
- Majesco
- Metro 3D
- Microsoft Games
- Midway Games
- Namco
- Rockstar Games
- SEGA
- Sierra
- Simon and Schuster Interactive
- SquareSoft
- TDK Mediactive
- Tecmo
- THQ
- Titus Interactive
- Ubi Soft
- Universal Interactive
- Xicat Interactive
Acclaim Entertainment
Perhaps BMX XXX has brought the most attention to Acclaim lately, but this publisher has been around since the beginning. A few of their big titles are Crazy Taxi, Turok:Evolution, and Legends of Wrestling II.
Activision
Best known for the Tony Hawk Pro Skater games, Activision makes titles like Wreckless and X-men as well.
Atari
The folks who brought you the granddaddy of all systems, the Atari 2600, now develops cutting edge titles like Splashdown, Terminator and Stuntman.
BAM!
BAM! Has brought us titles like Reign of Fire, Dexter's Lab, and Chase: Hollywood Stunt Driver.
Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks is a software house that is best known for its epic RPG Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Bungie
The company that brought you old school classics like Marathon is now the flagship developer for Microsoft. Here is where you can learn all about Halo 2.
Capcom
Capcom's Website has a global focus, and is customized for each region of the world. This is the home of Street Fighter and Biohazard aka Resident Evil.
Codemasters
Codemasters is an international gaming powerhouse. They are responsible for Colin McRae Rally 3.0, Prisoner of War and many others.
Conspiracy Entertainment
Whether or not you like their games, you will like their site. Conspiracy Entertainment's site is easily as much fun to visit as it is to play their games, which include Enclave and Tiny Toon: Defenders of the Universe.
Crave Entertainment
This multi-platform developer has made some of the best 'sleeper' titles out there, such as UFC Tapout and Battle Realms.
EA Sports
EA Sports makes some of the best sports sim titles out there, including Madden 2003, SSX Tricky, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2003.
Eidos Interactive
Eidos Interactive is the proud home of Hitman 2, TimeSplitters 2, and the phenomenally popular Tomb Raider games.
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts is the big boy on the video game scene. They have hits galore, such as The Sims, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and Medal of Honor.
Empire Interactive
Total Immersion Racing and Bubble Bobble should really make a name for this developer.
Encore Software
We look forwards to seeing more quality game like Phantom Crash and Dragon's Lair 3D from this developer.
Gathering of Developers (God games)
God Games is the hip company that's not afraid to take risks on little known developers and as a result has brought us great games like Max Payne and Serious Sam.
Gotham Games
The home of Conflict: Desert Storm, Serious Sam, and others.
Infogrames
The French are a huge part of the video game industry, and playing no small part in that is Infogrames. Test Drive, Civilization III, RollerCoaster Tycoon, Dungeons & DragonsŪ: Heroes... are you impressed yet?
Interplay
From new games like Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, Giants: Citizen Kabuto, Hunter: The Reckoning, to classics like Descent 3; Interplay has been doing it right for quite some time now.
Kemco Games
This Japanese company brought us Egg Mania: Eggstreme Madness and developed Batman: Dark Tomorrow.
Koei Games
Koei you rule! You brought us Dynasty Warriors 3 and Crimson Sea. Keep 'em coming!
Konami
The Konami site starts off very ugly, but follow the links to your region and it will get MUCH better. Konami makes great games like Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance and Silent Hill 3.
LucasArts Entertainment
Sweet movies, sweet games. This is the home of Star Wars Bounty Hunter, Rogue Leader and Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb.
Majesco
With games like Bomberman Generation and Blood Rayne, Majesco is house selling quality games.
Metro 3D
The developer that brought us Sub Rebellion and Defender of the Crown.
Microsoft Games
Is there anything Microsoft can't build? Well, they seem to have no problem with great games like Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, MechAssault, RalliSport Challenge, and of course, Halo, sweet, Halo.
Midway Games
This is the company that started the congressional debates on violence in video games with Mortal Kombat. Learn all about the new Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance and NFL Blitz.
Namco
Pac-Man and Tekken 4, all under one roof. One has to wonder how those two get along.
Rockstar Games
You want hardcore? Rockstar can do hardcore. How's Max Payne and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City for Hardcore?
SEGA
SEGA exited the hardware market with the Dreamcast. Now it is a premier software publisher for all of the other major consoles. With titles like Shinobi, NFL 2K3, and House of the Dead III, SEGA plans to become the major publisher / developer in the video games industry.
Sierra
The publisher that rocked the PC world with Half Life now brings us titles like Tribes: Aerial Assault, and Malice. One can only hope that they port over some of their killer PC games to our favorite consoles.
Simon and Schuster Interactive
OK,how odd is it that a respectable book publish like Simon and Schuster is the same company that brought us some of the most risque games, like Outlaw Golf and Outlaw Volleyball.
SquareSoft
Their site is almost as magical as their games. The company that produced the Final Fantasy games on the PSone and PS2 seems to have the Midas touch. Every game the make turns to gold; Kingdom Hearts seems to be living proof.
TDK Mediactive
Robotech, Shrek, and He-Man, TDK knows how to make good games out of your favorite animated heroes.
Tecmo
Tecmo is the master of eye candy. Dead or Alive Extreme Beach Volleyball... need I say more? Also home to Rygar, Monster Rancher and Fatal Frame.
THQ
This massive company is home to all the new WWE games like Shut Your Mouth. They make a variety of games like Red Faction II and SpongeBob SquarePants
Titus Interactive
Titus is the home of Barbarian and other games.
Ubi Soft
This French publisher has become one of the biggest in the biz, publishing hit titles like the Rayman series and now Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell.
Universal Interactive
The Thing, Crash Bandicoot, and Spyro the Dragon are just a small sample of Universal's impressive library of games.
Xicat Interactive
Xicat makes games like Motor Trend Presents - Lotus Challenge and Black Stone - Magic & Steel.
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