Square Enix’s Worldwide technology director Julien Merceron has taken the opportunity to sit down with Games Industry International to talk about the current state of the video games industry. Merceron was asked by the publication what he thought about Nintendo, and their forthcoming Wii U console. Here’s what he had to say:
“If you look at the recent Nintendo platforms, the DS, 3DS and the Wii, it seems like they are trying to avoid aligning too much with Sony’s and Microsoft’s strategies. They are trying to take a different path, a different perspective on things. The type of entertainment they provide focuses not so much on graphics or immersion, but more on high-quality and innovative gameplay. They try to be different, they try to find a different market and they try to solve problems that they perceive as being the most important to solve today. So yeah, Microsoft and Sony are trying to solve different sets of problems. Their focus from a consumer perspective is completely different.”
“I strongly believe that the Wii U is going to provide new ways of interacting with games and there is definitely a community out there that is interested in that. Now there will definitely be another community that won’t be too interested in this, and will be interested more in Hollywood blockbuster type of games with cinematic gameplay experiences.”
“So really I think that if I take a step back on this, I think it is one of the best times for consumers. Today, you can play on iOS, the web, the 360, PS3, Wii, Vita and so many other platforms. Because of the differences, they get a wide variety of experiences. I think it has probably never been as great as today to be a video game player and Nintendo is helping to bring this variety. We saw on the Wii that they helped broaden the market and it benefits everyone. iOS is helping to broaden that market as well. Maybe in five or six years these players will be hardcore players. I would say that all the work Apple and Nintendo are doing today to broaden the market will be one day beneficial to Sony and Microsoft. I hope the new platforms that Sony and Microsoft are making will choose different directions to offer even more variety and diversity for gamers.”
Well Said.
Well said? You mean the part where he’s backslapping Nintendo saying they are on a different consumer market from Sony and Microsoft. Or putting Apple and Nintendo together in the same sentence. Saying how iOS is like Nintendo “broadening the market” and how their gamers will maybe turn into “hardcores” some fictitious day. All while encompassing on that there will be an audience focused on more Hollywood experiences. This basically means he honestly puts the Wii U as a casual gamer device, like an iCrap and its lady hygiene products. And the last time I checked, the real Final Fantasy games, not Crystal Faggots, not is a title for the hardcore player. And him as the head of Square Enix’s Technology, saying he believes the Wii U is a casual device, when it provides the technology, the control options, and the innovation, as well as full support to its devs from Nintendo, shows that he’s a dumbass that’s hoping Microsoft and Sony both take a different direction because obviously the one that Nintendo isn’t interesting him. Forgive me for sounding pissed, but that is not well said, especially to a Final Fantasy fan hoping SquareEnix would finally release a true Final Fantasy game on Wii U.
Your probably going to get none of the ff games or your going to get that crappy terrorist shit the showed of as a final fantasy game now they are trying to copy cod.
Well Said.
Well, sorry to say, but it kinda is true, nintendo going a different direction than sony and MS meant great sales for the Wii. I don’t see why nintendo would change and make a system with great graphics and just the pro controller. YES it would make hardcore nintendo fans happy, but let’s face it, all the hardcore nintendo fans will still buy a system if it has mario zelda metroid and f zero and donkey kong. So because nintendo will still wet the appetite of hardcore gamers, yet goes for a different market, they will again get most of the casuals as well. Casual players aren’t going to put down 600 bucks for the next xbox or ps4. But they would be more willing to put down 300 or (whatever it’ll cost) Nintendo is just looking at sales, and they will probably sell great because parents will always buy the cheapest new system for their kids especially if there are a lot of child friendly games. I would love to see direct ports of games like cod from ps4 to the wii U, but sadly, very sadly, nintendo will probably be left out again, and that is just the sad truth. I’m buying a wii U at launch, but if there isn’t good 3rd party support, I will be daving up for the 720 or ps4 so I can still play games like cod
Huh? I don’t think anyone can find anything bad in this. I agree entirely.
When he said that this is the best time to be a gamer he was flat out lying. That’s bad.
No gamer or dev over the age of 18 can possibly think that the rubbish of the last decade holds a candle to the decade before it.
Everything not by Ninty is shooter rubbish, or over cinematic crap that barely rates as a game. And all of Ninty’s stuff is just rehashed with tweaks. I mean really, NSMB2 and SMBWU, do they expect us to get excited about the announcement of the same game twice?
Compare that to a Link tothe Past, Super Mario World, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Mega Man X., etc etc.
What a joke, come on.
Dude, what is up with everyone saying NSMB is the same game? The last game in that series came out 2009, so you can’t be ”fed up” with it. And just because it looks the same, doesn’t mean it’s the same game. And besides, it’s meant for the kids, they are familiar with how Mario looks, and I see no art style that would fit better than this one, maybe the Super Mario World one, but that’s 16-Bit. If Nintendo would go back to that, people would just whine about Nintendo not stepping into the 21st century of gaming.
It is the same game.
In that you jump on platforms, yeah. Exact same level design and enemies? Maybe not.
Calling it the same game is ignorant and foolish.
it because people have not even played it, they say mario 2d is the same game but not COD? wth people dont see COD as “same game” but mario they do…..
“Everything not by Ninty is shooter rubbish or over cinematic crap that barely rates as a game.”
Seriously? I can’t find any words to describe how I feel about that statement of yours.
But I find it really sad that you have such a limited perspective on games. You miss a lot. A whole lot. You should really try to enjoy any video game, no matter which system it’s on, instead of limiting yourself to Nintendo’s games only. You’ll see that there are many great games out there, not only by Nintendo, and even ones that got released in the last few years. And believe me, they are not only “shooter rubbish” or “over cinematic crap that barely rates as a game”. Because at this moment, with the way of thinking you got right now, you obviously can not call yourself a gamer.
^Not really. He just gave that limp milquetoast response that “it’s a great time to be a gamer because of all these options.” Obviously he either can’t talk about or knows nothing about S-E’s plans for Wii U, so he fell back on that tired “some people may not like it, so we have to cater to all tastes.”
It is neither hot nor cold. Because it is lukewarm I will spew it from my mouth.
“The type of entertainment they provide focuses not so much on graphics or IMMERSION, but more on high-quality and innovative GAMEPLAY.”
I do not agree. Ok, graphics but… immersion?
Gameplay and immersion are twin brothers.
Please.
Nintendo can’t have cinematic gameplay experiences or blockbusters?
what is the wii u, game square enix is making?
Yes.
Agreed! It’s nice that they’re giving compliments and all, but damn they lost a good opportunity to reveal a Wii U game! I want quality Final Fantasy back on Nintendo please!
That’s all well and good, but I have a question for you. Will the next installments of the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts games be comin to the Wii U? They better be. You have no excuse not to. Leave luck to heaven.
KINGDOM HEARTS 333333333333333333333333333333333
I wannnnaaaa onnnn a wwiiii u…….
Hm, somehow I doubt that Kingdom Hearts 3 will be coming to WiiU. Or any other system than to Sony’s PS3 or (most likely, in my opinion) to their up-coming system. The reason why I think this is because all Kingdom Hearts “main games” were on Sony’s home-consoles. By main games I obviously mean Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2. I do know that there were several Kingdom Hearts games on the DS, but they were rather spin-offs and additional stories beside the main games. So yeah, I just believe that they’ll keep it that way. Of course I can not know this and be certain about it in any way, nobody can know what they’re going to with KH3 and there sure is always a possibilty that it could be coming to any system of the current & next generation, but that’s just what I think about the whole thing.
i hate how they say nice things and next thing they say these games will not be on wii, like value said nice things but no game of there ever came to wii, same with others companies.
kinda agree with the first paragraph, except for the immersion thing. nintendo has their own games that have a lot of immersion (like xenoblade).
as for paragraph 2…it actually contradicts his immersion statement from the first one. cinematic gameplay does not an immersive game make. why, he even used Hollywood in the same sentence!
i also don’t like that he’s comparing Apple to the other companies. Apple isn’t into the whole gaming thing that much, even though their products can play games. now, a lot of experiences are being provided, but i’m not sure if this is the best time to be a gamer. a lot of companies, like capcom, have done a lot of backsliding.
so i would have to say that this guy doesn’t really know what he’s talking about.
son of a bitch!! who does he think he is? i would happily buy hitman absolution on wii u!!
任天堂に行く！あなた自身のことを行う！
…I hope this says “Go Nintendo! Do your own thing!”
“Go to Nintendo! Do your own thing!”
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blah blah blah. just make worthwhile rpg games on the wiiu and shut up.
and there these clowns(a.k.a Sony drones & M$ fanboys) that still don’t understand Nintendo strategy saying that Nintendo made a horrible mistake.
In just three words– Kingdom Hearts U!!!!!!!
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I like that Nintendo is trying to take another path different to the others companies. The only thing I want Nintendo to focus always in in their gameplay on the games, not graphics.
Square enix using nintendo as a stepping stone as usual considering that’s where they started. Hollywood blockbuster experience? Little does square enix know that’s what’s killing them, tomb raider sells 3 million and to them it’s a flop, deus ex human revolution didn’t meet their expectations and they consider that a flop. At this point square enix only cares about the benjamins and as harsh as it is to say this I’m glad that the final fantasy series is failing now and becoming as overrated as cod because they think these “hollywood blockbuster experiences” are what needs to be in a game rather than the gameplay of the game. Nintendo really doesn’t need final fantasy anymore now that fire emblem and golden sun have gained popularity.