14 DAY TRIAL // Speaking at a round table in New York, Shigeru Miyamoto addressed quite a few issues related to videogames, showing why he is so praised by Nintendo and why he is the main cause for the success of series like Mario and Zelda. Based on his answers, Nintendo lovers should not expect digital distribution for Mario titles, a focus on user-generated content or online play anytime soon.
On the topic of the Achievements system, as pioneered by the Xbox 360 and then integrated in the PS3 in the form of Trophies, Miyamoto has stated that "The idea of playing the game in a particular way and having it unlock a special prize that rewards you... it feels like something we've been doing for the last 15-20 years."
The designer believes that online play is not a priority unless the overall experience really requires that. The New Super Mario Bros. Wii could have had online play but the experience is so much better when players are face to face. Of course, online play could come to Mario videogames in future games, as long as it makes for better gameplay and more fun.
Miyamoto also reveals that he is not to keen on digital distribution for new releases, mainly because of the love he has for the physical object that a game case represents. Talking about New Super Mario Bros. Wii, he says that “I prefer to have something physical I can hold in my hand, particularly when it's a nice red package like this!”
It's interesting to see that a man who designs videogames for the very innovative motion tracking system of the Nintendo Wii is so much a traditionalist when it comes to some aspects of the videogaming business, like Achievements and digital distribution. As long as he delivers hit products every year, Nintendo probably does not care too much about his traditionalist streak.