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Interview: Nintendo's Konno Talks 3DS, NGP, And Ice Hockey
Hideki Konno, a 25-year veteran at Nintendo, was as key member in the development of the 3DS. We caught up with him and localization producer/translator Tim O'Leary [on the right] after his GDC panel discussing that very subject.
What has the consumer reaction been to the 3DS in Japan so far?
I actually left the day after it went on sale in Japan, so I haven’t actually go to hear any of that direct feedback yet. But I do have my own personal Nintendo 3DS, and from my house to the airport I turned on Streetpass, and the day after launch I got four hits or so. So there are already people out there using that function. I’ve looked at a couple things on the web, but I haven’t had the chance to sit down and thoroughly search for information, and I haven’t heard any direct consumer feedback from actual people yet.
What do you think of Sony’s NGP and how does it compare to the 3DS?
It's a bit difficult in terms of comparing the two systems. I think that our goal when we set about making this for our customers for us it’s to surprise them and create these new unique experiences. I don’t know that our goals are the same for one thing. As far as from a user’s perspective, I love these digital gadgets, so when the NGP goes on sale I’m sure I’ll take a look at it and see what software is available for it and what the system can do. Whether or not Sony or Nintendo through the launches of these two different hardware systems are trying to achieve the same goal that’s something that I don’t know. It’s difficult to speak to what they’re trying to do.
With the inclusion of Netflix and video shorts on 3DS, is Nintendo focused on expanding outside of game content on the 3DS further?
As a general direction, absolutely. We’ve been talking about it for awhile. The expansion of the game audience has been a Nintendo theme for a number of years now, so with Nintendo 3DS that’s something that we want to continue. We can bring new and interesting experiences to the table that continue to move us closer to that goal of expanding the audience and that’s definitely something we want to explore. So short answer, yes, we do want to move in that direction. Concrete plans, I cannot say.
The original 3DS prototype looks like quite the contraption. Does it still work, and do you keep it in a special place?
Yes, we’ve saved it. It’s put away. You can play Mario Kart on it. We were able to look at a few different games for Wii and make them 3D on that. That’s not something we’re going to throw out. We did some stuff with Wii Sports Resort and, of course, Mario Kart Wii was running in 3D on there.
Do you think Nintendo will ever go back to a single screen portable or will it be double screen from now on?
It’s difficult to say. But looking at the 3DS I know a lot of people have said, "Why isn’t the lower screen in 3D? Why doesn’t the upper screen have touch panel capability?" To be honest, we don’t think it’s a good match. If the 3D screen had a touch capability, it would just seem really unnatural because when you’re looking at it and it appears to be coming out and you reach in and touch it, it ruins the illusion.
Is Nintendo interested in using cellular data down the road with 3DS so the system will always be connected to the Internet?
To be honest, it’s not something I can speak to directly at the moment. I understand what your question is. When we have some new ideas that we want to bring to the market and we look at how to do that, if that’s the technology or the tool, then we’ll consider it. Personally, I don’t want something that’s going to increase the cost to the end user. If you’re using cellular technology and you have to pay a data plan fee every month, that impacts the end user’s bottom line. It’s not something that I would be very excited about as a consumer. For example, if, in the process of Mario Kart becoming a 3D title, the price was doubled from $40 to $80, I’d have to think about whether or not that was worth it. Personally I just think there are a lot of obstacles between the incorporation of new things like that.
Ice Hockey was your first game at Nintendo and is one of my old favorites. What’s the ideal team lineup of skinny, medium, and large players?
As far as trying to pick the right physique, skinny’s no good… well I shouldn’t say no good. Two big guys and two regular. That’s the team I recommend. No skinny dudes.
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