News publication Bloomberg has published an article dedicated to Animal Crossing: New Horizons which has been deemed as the perfect escape from the coronavirus pandemic throughout the world. One of the things raised within the article in that developers at Nintendo are allowed as much time as they need on projects to ensure that they live up to fans expectations. This is a far cry from many companies within the video games industry.
“Nintendo developers are allowed as much time as they need to be satisfied with the quality of the game before its release, according to a company programmer, who asked not to be identified because he’s not authorized to comment publicly.”
Well, there must always be a balance to the matter. A lot of Kickstarter-games turns out bad and delayed because they don’t have a publisher to “nag” at them.
Also look at the history of Panzer Dragoon Saga. It’s a great title, and one of the best RPG’s of all time, but it cost Sega so much because it took such time it was a big contribution to Saturn’s failure (a mile away from taking all the blame). Lack of experience and structure.
Thing is, more time doesn’t necessarily correlate to a better game. It’s good to have enough time ofc, but the thing every work environment needs is structure. Crash Bandicoot 2 was made in record speed, and it turned out superb. Structure. Never liked that “a rushed game will always…” quote. Time can make motivation and structure go away. Games like Ark Survival Evolved and Star Citizen are milking people for an experience that seemingly never is getting finished.
I’m not here to say that Nintendo is doing some bad here, it’s great that they give their developers time. But someone remember Metroid Prime Federation Force? That was a DSi game that was thrown around or something. People didn’t like that (for more reasons than just the Prime name).
Well, if they want to take their time on finishing up there projects and titles to satisfied fans like us, then its not a huge issue for me at this point. The only thing i’m still waiting from them is there upcoming reveals soon.
that one of the reason i love Nintendo so much, they put care in every game and franchise they release unlike most game companies.
Bayonetta 3? Since nintendo is working on it too
Basically the programmer said. We take our time.
Its ok if they want to take there time. I don’t mind at all.
They should.
exactly.
Well, there must always be a balance to the matter. A lot of Kickstarter-games turns out bad and delayed because they don’t have a publisher to “nag” at them.
Also look at the history of Panzer Dragoon Saga. It’s a great title, and one of the best RPG’s of all time, but it cost Sega so much because it took such time it was a big contribution to Saturn’s failure (a mile away from taking all the blame). Lack of experience and structure.
Thing is, more time doesn’t necessarily correlate to a better game. It’s good to have enough time ofc, but the thing every work environment needs is structure. Crash Bandicoot 2 was made in record speed, and it turned out superb. Structure. Never liked that “a rushed game will always…” quote. Time can make motivation and structure go away. Games like Ark Survival Evolved and Star Citizen are milking people for an experience that seemingly never is getting finished.
I’m not here to say that Nintendo is doing some bad here, it’s great that they give their developers time. But someone remember Metroid Prime Federation Force? That was a DSi game that was thrown around or something. People didn’t like that (for more reasons than just the Prime name).
Indeed time can make motivation go away but depends on how you are working on a project. Some basic questions can be like those:
1) Are you working alone on this project, feature of the game, structure, or with other people?
2) The team is actually there to help you in case you don’t understand how to solve a problem?
3) Are the objectives (I wrote objectives because I can’t think of a better word right now) explained well since the beginning?
The reason why I wrote those questions it’s because I did a job 5 years ago where 2 devs told me to do 2 things completely different that it wasn’t really related to the work I had to do and plus those things should have be done in 1 day.
I’ll admit that I wasn’t really good because I never took a job until then and I have faced how actually devs work but the problem I had was the lack of experience and the knowledge of some tools that I never used in my life.
That’s why I like the answer of this Nintendo programmer. When they work on a project, they take the time to make a good product (if possible).
Of course some games weren’t fun because they didn’t listen to fans and so they tried to show us a spin-off, experiment “Game”.
In the end I prefer to have time on a project and not to be forced to make something rushed.
Rushed is almost never a good thing. Reasonable deadlines, structure and as little stress as possible – on the developers – is the way to go in my book. But I’m quite sure Nintendo provides all this, even in these “take all the time you need” situations. Animal Crossing turned out great, so Nintendo is doing it right.
Nintendo gives to workers some sales for take Yoga lessons. So they are prepared.
Hope you didn’t get too much trouble and stress with your work. Did you guys manage to finish the project?
Kinda.
Well, if they want to take their time on finishing up there projects and titles to satisfied fans like us, then its not a huge issue for me at this point. The only thing i’m still waiting from them is there upcoming reveals soon.
That’s how you make games that are still fun to play decades later.
that one of the reason i love Nintendo so much, they put care in every game and franchise they release unlike most game companies.
“A delayed game is eventually, but a rushed game is bad forever”
–Shigeru Miyamoto
Bayonetta 3? Since nintendo is working on it too
I wish COVID19 happened before Sword and Shield because those games needed more dev time.
I think that had less to do with time given and more to do with their goals for the game, not to mention that gameshark and Nintendo’s relationship works differently from their other developers
NO ONE wants Covid-19, period.
Also, it would’ve screwed over the Sonic movie (as well as the holiday season) big time. That film was a true miracle in so many areas.
-A good Sonic movie
-A good Sonic thing
-Did well in the box office, despite it’s initial delay
-Surpassed Detective Pikachu
-Beat Birds of Prey, and its SJW feminist agenda
-A good video game movie (that isn’t an anime)
-A good Jim Carrey movie for the first time in ages.
-A good movie to watch on Valentine’s Day
-A good lesson for how listening to hardcore fans actually pays off.
-Was released ONE MONTH before Covid-19 hell.
I may be missing a few more examples.
But yeah, Covid-19 is not a plot device to get mileage out of.
That’s how you make games that are still fun to play decades later.
I suppose in the case of New Horizons, the delay from 2019 to March 20, 2020 in order for the devs to sink more time into polishing it was an unintentional light in the darkness that is COVID-19. With an unprecedented amount of people shuttered away while the virus makes its rounds, it probably helps those people keep some hold of their sanity. I still wish we could beat the virus up a la Peacock’s Goodfellas blockbuster in Skullgirls.
“A delayed game is eventually, but a rushed game is bad forever”
–Shigeru Miyamoto
“A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is bad forever”
–Shigeru Miyamoto
I suppose in the case of New Horizons, the delay from 2019 to March 20, 2020 in order for the devs to sink more time into polishing it was an unintentional light in the darkness that is COVID-19. With an unprecedented amount of people shuttered away while the virus makes its rounds, it probably helps those people keep some hold of their sanity. I still wish we could beat the virus up a la Peacock’s Goodfellas blockbuster in Skullgirls.
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