Iwata Asks: Mario Kart Wii
Yes, it’s time for another installment of ‘Iwata Asks’ which has now become tradition with new Wii games released from Nintendo themselves. The latest one has Nintendo boss Satoru Iwata, Shigeru Miyamoto, and two developers that worked on Mario Kart Wii discussing both that game as well as the reasoning behind the Wii Wheel and the many prototypes they went through to get the design they liked.
And the reasoning by Mr. Miyamoto, isn’t terribly great. He says:
A steering wheel is so easy to understand. Almost everyone has the experience of using some kind of steering wheel, from riding toy cars with pedals as children, to driving real go-karts at a theme park. Everyone knows how to turn the wheel right in order to go right. Besides, I kind of wanted to make a product that would come in a big box for a change! (laughs)
So the reason why Nintendo is shoving yet another peripheral down our through is because Miyamoto wanted his product to come in a big box!? Thanks ever so much. So now, should I purchase Mario Kart, the Wii Wheel will further clutter up my room alongside the two wii remotes, two nunchuck’s, the classic controller, a Gamecube controller for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and the Wii Guitar for Guitar Hero III - all just for the Wii alone. Wonderful.
Another, still disheartening Nintendo mandate, is repeated a couple times at the end of the interview when Iwata asks if the developers have any last words. Here are some exceprts:
I myself am looking forward to playing Mario Kart Wii with my son. Mario Kart Wii only comes with one Wii Wheel, but you can buy Wii Wheels sold separately as well. It’ll be great if everyone in the family played together using Wii Wheels
We would be very happy if people could play it with their family and friends, and also with people from around the world.
Anyone see a pattern here: Family! It’s all about family to these people. What about near 30-year old gamers who’s family doesn’t give a rats ass about Mario Kart or games in general? Come on Nitty, stop beating the family drum when you know damn well that they only people reading these interviews and activity looking forward to a new Mario Kart are above the booster seat age and most likely live in a dorm.
Read the interview in its entirety here.