Каскадный · [ Стандартный ] · Линейный Star Fox Zero, Новый СтарФокс от Миямото и Platinum!

[dimm0505]

Глубокий анализ моушн управления в игре. Чего хотели добиться Nintendo и Platinum? Что хорошо, а что плохо? Может кому-нибудь окажется полезным:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m544qfVMIPs

[dimm0505]

Для SF Guard выпустили апдейт:

» Нажмите, для открытия спойлера «

Rank-Calculation Values Adjusted
Rank-calculation values for all maps and all squad sizes have been adjusted.

Abilities of Robots Deployed in Squads Adjusted.
The abilities of the following robots have been adjusted. Please note that these changes only apply to robots deployed in player-created squads. Robots appearing in the main missions and extra missions are not affected.

Spec Upgrades:
Snailblazer: Strength has been increased from 2 to 3.
Drill Hi-Ho: Speed has been increased by approx. 35%.
K.O.F. Unit: Speed has been increased by approx. 60%.
BOO Unit: Chaos Points cost decreased from 10 to 9.

Spec Downgrades:
Jumprella: Combat Points cost increased from 2 to 3.
P.O.P. Unit: Speed of yellow form decreased by approx. 10%. Speed of red form decreased by approx. 20%.

Squad Lifespan Extended.
Previously, squads not accessed for 30 days were deleted from the server. This period has been extended to 60 days. This timer can be reset for a squad by updating that squad or accessing its records.

Replay-Data Lifespan Extended.
Previously, replay data not accessed for 20 days was deleted from the server. This period has been extended to 40 days. Please note that it is not currently possible to reset this timer.

Сообщение отредактировал dimm0505 - Четверг, 26 мая 2016, 11:33

[dimm0505]

Собрал в кучу огроменное интервью (из трех частей) с создателями SFZ, включая Миямото, Platinum Games и других:

» Нажмите, для открытия спойлера «

Star Fox Zero – Dev Team Interview: Part One
13/05/2016

It’s Got to Feel Immersive and Look Cool

Interviewees:
Shigeru Miyamoto, Creative Fellow, Nintendo Senior Managing Director (Pictured left)
Yugo Hayashi, Game Director, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Division (Pictured right)

Hello there! My name is Akinori Sao and I am a writer who set up the Japanese game magazine ’64 Dream’ (now known as ‘Nintendo DREAM’) pretty much exactly 20 years ago. I worked for many years as that publication’s chief editor before deciding to take a step back from the front line a few years ago. I’d always wanted to live in Kyoto, where Nintendo HQ is located, and ended up settling there where I became involved in books, magazines and websites while also keeping my hand in as a freelance writer – I suppose you could call me a gun for hire.

My latest order was to work on an interview with the team behind the Wii U title Star Fox Zero, which released on 22nd April in Europe. I went to Nintendo’s headquarters to speak with Shigeru Miyamoto, who worked as producer and supervising director on this game, along with the director, Yugo Hayashi, and asked them what had gone on behind the scenes during the game’s development.

This interview has been split into three parts: the theme of the first part is the need to ensure that the game both looked cool and had a really immersive feel. I asked the two directors how they had set out to realise their vision for the latest Star Fox title. Now let’s see what they had to say. Here goes!

Part One: It’s Got to Feel Immersive and Look Cool
The Importance of Voices in Star Fox
Sao: Star Fox 64(1) for the Nintendo 64 was released pretty much exactly 19 years ago. Miyamoto-san, you took part in a developer roundtable event at the Tokyo Game Show(2) as a special guest just before it was released. Do you recall that event?

1. Star Fox 64: the second instalment in the Star Fox series was released in Japan for Nintendo 64 in April 1997, and for Europe during October 1997 as Lylat Wars.

2. Tokyo Game Show: an industry event for computer and video games held every September in Tokyo, Japan.

Miyamoto: A roundtable event at Tokyo Game Show, you say? Really? Did that happen?

Sao: So you don’t remember it?

Miyamoto: Hmm. No, I can’t say that I do.

Sao: Well, that’s hardly surprising. It was 19 years ago after all! (laughs) In any case, after that roundtable event, I had the chance to interview you and we spoke about Star Fox 64.

Miyamoto: Right.

Sao: We spoke at first about the game’s difficulty level. I then mentioned that there was a lot of talking this time. When I said that, you responded by saying that you had indeed been talking a lot at the roundtable, and that it was probably because you were so excited. But you’d got the wrong end of the stick. What I meant is that the characters in the game talked a lot! (laughs)

Miyamoto: So it wasn’t me who was talking so much, it was the characters in Star Fox 64! (laughs)


Sao: That’s right! (laughs) The voiced lines are a really important element in the Star Fox titles. But at the same time, it was hardly unusual back then – there was a tendency for characters in games to talk a lot.

Miyamoto: Yes, you’re right. It was fashionable to use voice actors to give the characters spoken lines. But I personally thought that if the lines were repetitive or didn’t have much connection with what was going on in the game, it would be better not to have any spoken lines at all.

Sao: Sometimes you have to sit through lots of dialogue when you just want to get on with the game.

Miyamoto: Yes, but I think that in the case of Star Fox 64, the voices really work in the context of the game.

Sao: In a shooting game, you don’t have time to read text that might appear on the screen, but by using voiced lines, you can give the player hints and guide them towards the best strategy to follow.




Miyamoto: Right, and we wanted to get that information across in as few lines as possible. It’s a fast-paced game, so it’s really important that the lines are short and punchy. Having someone shouting, ‘Look up there!’ or, ‘There are enemies on our tail!’ also serves to up the excitement and makes the whole experience feel cooler for the player.

Sao: In a classic 3D shooter, it wouldn’t really be fair to have enemies coming up behind the player where they couldn’t see them, but if you have someone shouting ‘Look out behind you!’ it gives the player the chance to react accordingly.

Miyamoto: Right. By having other characters speak, it increases the scope of the action.

Sao: But even so, it’s pretty nasty of the enemy to sneak up behind you!

Miyamoto: Yes, but there’s nothing to stop you slamming on the brakes, flipping over in mid-air and blasting them before they get you! (laughs)



Sao: Ah, I see! So you’re giving them a taste of their own medicine. That’s Slippy’s style, isn’t it? (laughs)

It’s Like You’re Right There in the Cockpit
Sao: Hayashi-san, you worked as the director on this title, but when Star Fox 64 came out, you would have been...?

Miyamoto: You hadn’t been born yet, had you?

Hayashi: That’s not quite true! (laughs) I was a high school student, and I was really into Star Fox. I had the strategy guide and everything. I used to get all my friends over and we’d take part in battles together.

Sao: So as a high school student back then, what impression did you have of Star Fox 64?

Hayashi: At first I thought it might be a bit too difficult, but I realised pretty quickly that once you play a little, you get better and better. I remember how you’d be able to find better routes through a level, so you’d rack up a higher score, and before you knew it, you were completely absorbed in the action. I’d play every day and see what score I could get. That way, I’d be able to tell what kind of physical shape I was in at any given point.


Miyamoto: It turned out that you were much more of a Star Fox 64 expert than I was, which was a huge help! (laughs)

Hayashi: (laughs) You just spoke about the voices in the game, and I really think that even though it was a really fast-paced shooting game where the timing of attacks was really important, all those short vocal lines never interfered with the gameplay. They drew you deeper into the story and made it a more immersive and vibrant experience.

Sao: And that sense of being part of the action brings me on to the new system(3)employed in Star Fox Zero for the voiced lines. It really ups the realism and I was very surprised when I first heard it in action. It’s as if your allies and enemies are right there next to you...

3. Star Fox Zero on Wii U uses a system called 3D Voice that allows some voiced lines to be heard through the Wii U GamePad speakers.

Miyamoto: Yes, it feels strange, doesn’t it?

Sao: It really does. It’s as if you’re wearing a really high-end set of headphones.

Miyamoto: There are a lot of techniques you can use for stereophonic sound effects, but this one is really specific to this game. When you’re holding the Wii U GamePad, the speakers are a set distance from you, so it really does feel like someone’s whispering in your ear.

Hayashi: In this title, Fox McCloud is wearing a kind of visor that covers one eye, so by using this technique for the voices, you get the sense that you’re listening to the other characters via that headset.


Sao: Yes, it feels like you’re right there in the cockpit of the Arwing and that you’re really communicating with the other characters.

Miyamoto: We did things like having enemy voices come from the left speaker, and your allies’ voices from the right.

Hayashi: I think that we’ve really managed to ramp up the sense of realism in comparison with Star Fox 64.

I Wanted to See Something Cool
Sao: What originally motivated you to make a new Star Fox title?

Miyamoto: I wanted see something really cool.

Sao: What do you mean?

Miyamoto: When I was a kid, I would hold plastic models of aeroplanes and fly them right in front of my eyes, just like this... (twisting and turning his hand) I’d make the sound of the engines too.

Sao: So you’d pretend that you were flying the plane, right? (laughs)

Miyamoto: Yes, and as a kid playing like that, there’d be times I’d find something that looked so cool.


Sao: So you’d find an angle that you thought looked really great and that would make you happy.

Miyamoto: Right, and in this game, because we had both the TV and the Wii U GamePad screen, I wanted to have images shot from different angles both showing in real time.




That lets you do all sorts of experiments, like imagining you’re in the control tower flying a remote control plane, while at the same time you can see what the control tower looks like from the cockpit.

Sao: So you started off experimenting with the cameras.

Miyamoto: Yes, and then I’d find that it looked cooler watching from the control tower. It’s the same in a racing game. Obviously, while you’re playing, you see the action from the driving seat, but you’ll often find that the replays from different angles end up looking cooler, right?

Sao: Yes, I know what you mean.

Miyamoto: That’s why I decided I wanted to use the dual screen system of having both the Wii U GamePad and the TV, and have cool images of the Arwing flying shown on the TV, while the images from the cockpit were displayed on the Wii U GamePad screen.

Sao: And the Wii U GamePad’s motion controls also make it easier to target the enemy.

Miyamoto: That’s right. We’ve made it so the player is free to watch the action on the screen they prefer, depending on what’s going on at that point. It also lets anyone who’s watching you play enjoy really cool scenes. That’s how it came about – I thought, if I want to realise this vision, we’re really going to have to make a new Star Fox title for Wii U.

Sao: I see. And what scenes do you think look best, Hayashi-san?

Hayashi: Well, on the initial Corneria stage, there is an enemy boss, which is this huge battleship.

Sao: Ah yes. You take out its laser cannons one by one in order to defeat it.

Hayashi: Right, and if you fly below the battleship, there’s this moment when this broken piece of wreckage from the ship smashes into you, and I thought that was just really unfair.

Sao: So if you’re watching the action from the cockpit via the Wii U GamePad, you won’t know what’s hit you.

Hayashi: Yes, but if you watch it from the other angle you’ll be able to fly under the enemy ship, avoiding that flying piece of wreckage and it just looks so cool.




Miyamoto: Just because you’ve beaten the boss, it doesn’t mean you can just forget all about a stage. You’ll want to play the same stage again and again and work on finding your own personal cool scenes. That adds a whole new way to enjoy Star Fox this time round.

An Intuitive Control System
Sao: I believe that one of your goals during the development of this game was to make full use of the Wii U GamePad.

Miyamoto: Yes, that’s right. The two control sticks on the Wii U GamePad allow for really intuitive gameplay. In the N64 version, the braking and boost functions were triggered using buttons…



Hayashi: But this time round, you can boost your speed by pushing the right stick forward and brake by simply tilting it back towards you.

Sao: So that means you don’t have to worry about remembering which button the brake is. The controls are completely intuitive.

Miyamoto: Right. And in addition to the two sticks, you press the ZR Button to shoot and target enemies using the motion controls, which makes it all even more intuitive. It’s a really simple control system. The only other thing to think about is occasionally using the A Button to transform your ship.

Sao: Even so, listening to that, I think this might seem rather complicated to someone who has never played the game before.

Hayashi: Well, that’s why we’ve made it so you don’t have to go straight into battle if you don’t want to. You can give Training a go first.




Miyamoto: Ah, yes. If you do the training mode properly, everything will make sense and it will be easier to come up with strategies in battle.

Hayashi: For the training mode, we discussed whether or not we should allow the player to see every type of ship right from the start.

Sao: In the end, you’ve allowed the player to fly ships that feature in levels they won’t have reached yet.

Hayashi: Yes, we did.

Miyamoto: We were really in two minds about all this, but in the end we decided that it would be tricky to suddenly find yourself in a new ship in a later stage and not have the first clue how to fly it. Early in the game’s development, we’d kind of assumed that we wouldn’t need to explain how to fly the ships – players would just be able to get the hang of it. That’s why we put a line in the game saying something like, ‘The controls are fairly simple. I hope you enjoy giving it a try.’

Sao: So the idea was that you’d use that line when you first get in a new ship, right? (laughs)

Miyamoto: That’s right. But then right at the end of the development process, we created the training mode and that line slotted right into place. (laughs) Partway through development, we hadn’t quite known what to do with that line, but it turned out it was a good idea to have recorded it.

Sao: Right, that line sounds perfectly natural in the training mode.

Miyamoto: Right. And my advice to everyone who plays the game is to start off by doing the training mode.


Star Fox Zero – Dev Team Interview: Part Two
20/05/2016

New Vehicles Broaden the Scope of the Gameplay

Interviewees:

Shigeru Miyamoto, Creative Fellow, Nintendo Senior Managing Director (pictured)

Yugo Hayashi, Game Director, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Division

Hello there! I’m the gun for hire – I mean writer – Akinori Sao. Hopefully you enjoyed the first interview in this series, which was about the need to make the new Star Fox title both cool and immersive. If you recall, the game’s director Yugo Hayashi told me that he had been in high school when Star Fox came out for the Nintendo 64. That really brought it home to me how much time has passed since that title was released.

Now, for the second interview, our theme is the way that the new vehicles in this title have broadened the scope of the gameplay. Naturally, old favourites like the Arwing are present and correct, but now they can transform, and there are entirely new spacecraft available too. Today we’re going to find out how this has affected the way you play Star Fox, and we’ll also learn some top secret techniques for racking up high scores. Right, let’s get started!

Part Two: New Vehicles Broaden the Scope of the Gameplay
Revisiting Things We Created 20 Years Ago
Sao: In Star Fox Zero, Fox McCloud’s ship can transform, and this is a major part of the gameplay.

Miyamoto: Yes, in this title, the Arwing can turn into the Walker, which can travel on land. The idea for this goes right back to the legendary Star Fox 2 which was in development for Super Nintendo but got cancelled once we knew the Nintendo 64 was on the way. In Star Fox 2, you could transform into a robot in order to get into narrow spaces like enemy battleships. Now in this new title, you can press the A Button whenever you like and turn your ship into the Walker.




Hayashi: But actually in the new game, you can play using the original Walker that was developed for the long-lost Star Fox 2.

Sao: Huh? What do you mean?

Hayashi: Well, if you tap a Fox McCloud amiibo on the Wii U GamePad, you’ll be able to use an Arwing from the Super Nintendo era...



Sao: And it’s not just the Arwing itself. You get the full Super Nintendo experience, with the lasers, bombs, sound effects and everything.

Hayashi: That’s right. And you can also change into the robot form we created for Star Fox 2 and control it. We call it the Retro Walker.




Miyamoto: So we’ve resurrected the simple polygon models from more than 20 years ago using today’s technology.

Sao: So you not only get to use the old Arwing, but you can even try out an old version of the Walker!

Miyamoto: There are amiibo of both Fox McCloud and Falco from the Super Smash Bros. series, and we really wanted this game to offer something to players who had bought them. So that’s what we came up with.


Transform and Land on an Enemy Battleship
Sao: So the Walker you created for this title was based on the original in Star Fox 2. When I saw how it moved, I couldn’t help thinking of a bird. I mean, when it comes down to land, it even flutters its wings.



Miyamoto: It looks pretty cute, don’t you think? (laughs)

Sao: Yes, it really does! (laughs)

Miyamoto: When I first suggested we make its wings flap, I wasn’t being entirely serious, but then we gave it a try and everyone thought it looked really good. Actually, the robot that we originally designed for Star Fox 2 had bird feet. We wanted to make this one like a bird right from the start, and the modellers worked really hard to realise that vision.

Hayashi: We’ve made it so that when your craft transforms, all its parts are used and none are out of place.

Sao: So you mean it would be possible to make a plastic model of the Arwing and make it so it transforms into the Walker?

Miyamoto: Yes, definitely. Actually, we experimented with making an amiibo like that, but we were a little worried about whether its joints were sturdy enough, so we decided to hold off releasing it in the end.

Sao: Oh, that’s a real shame.

Miyamoto: Yes, I’m sad about it too. We worked really hard on it.

Sao: Now, on a slightly different topic, I want to discuss how having the space craft transform has broadened the scope of the gameplay. For instance, in the opening stage on Corneria in Star Fox 64(1) on the Nintendo 64, you can only fly the Arwing. But this time round, you can transform into the Walker and travel over the planet’s surface. It opens up all sorts of different angles.

1. Star Fox 64: the second instalment in the Star Fox series was released in Japan for Nintendo 64 in April 1997, and for Europe during October 1997 as Lylat Wars.

Miyamoto: Yes, that’s right. If you transform into the Walker, you can land right on top of the enemy’s battleship and that made me incredibly happy the first time I did it.


Sao: So speaking as someone who made the game, it made you happy?

Miyamoto: You have no idea! (laughs) It’s totally unthinkable to have the Arwing landing on top of an enemy, but by transforming into the Walker, it’s really easy to take out the key targets and destroy the battleship. But you have to be ready to change back into the Arwing and fly to safety when the ground beneath your feet is destroyed. If you stay as the Walker, you’re going to go down along with the battleship! (laughs)

Sao: (laughs)

Miyamoto: We’ve been able to make it so the gameplay is quite realistic and coherent and you can try landing on various enemies and find out what happens.

The Excitement of an Adventure Game
Sao: So in Star Fox Zero, as well as flying in the Arwing, you can travel over the surface in a tank called the Landmaster.



But there’s also a curious vehicle called the Gyrowing which makes its first appearance. Can you tell me how the idea for this variant on the helicopter came about?



Miyamoto: Well, as you’re always navigating a 3D space in a vehicle, we wanted something that would allow a lot of freedom of movement and let you hover in mid-air. That’s how we ended up coming up with the Gyrowing. Then we had the idea of a robot called the Direct-i which you could lower to the ground to perform tasks for you.


Sao: Direct-i is really lovable, isn’t he?

Miyamoto: Yes, there’s something really pure-hearted about him! (laughs)


Sao: Right. And his voice is really cute too! (laughs)

Miyamoto: We had two screens to play with, so we experimented with showing what Direct-i can see. We played with all sorts of visual effects, like having him look up and see the Gyrowing floating above him. That was a lot of fun and inspired us as we went about designing the stage itself.

Hayashi: It was an idea that really broadened the scope of the gameplay. Direct-i is small, so he can access areas where the Gyrowing can’t go, and that means…

Miyamoto: Ah, but you always have to remember that Direct-i is attached to the Gyrowing with a cable, so it can only travel over a limited distance.

Sao: Direct-i can fire lasers, but the Zoness stage where the Gyrowing appears is by no means a shoot ‘em up, is it?

Miyamoto: No, it isn’t. The stage where you get to use the Gyrowing is essentially an adventure game.

Sao: Zoness is a little like The Legend of Zelda, isn’t it? There are all sorts of gameplay elements to enjoy. So it’s not just a question of blasting every enemy. For example, there might be an object above an enemy that you can shoot down and hit them with. There are lots of things like that, so you really have to use your head.



Miyamoto: There are different ways to defeat enemies, and you’ll get a different score depending on which one you use. There are these submarines that float on the surface of the water and get in your way. You can either take out their robotic sections, causing them to stray off course, or you can hit their cannons and blow the whole sub up. And you can catch the Zoness Sharks, of course. You know about that one, right?

Sao: What’s that? You can catch fish now? (laughs)

Miyamoto: Yes, you can! (laughs) When you’re in the Gyrowing, there’s this enemy called the Zoness Shark which jumps out of the water, opens its mouth and fires at you.

Sao: Oh, so that’s a shark, is it? I found those really annoying, so I always blasted them right away.

Miyamoto: Ah, but that’s such a shame! (laughs) You should have got one to eat Direct-i.

Sao: So those things can eat that little robot, can they?

Miyamoto: Yes, if you dangle the Direct-i above the surface of the water, a shark’s going to appear and swallow it.



Sao: And what happens then?

Miyamoto: If you reel in Direct-i right at the moment he’s swallowed, you’ll earn five Hit points.

Sao: Well, I never! (laughs)

Miyamoto: Once you know that little trick, you can rack up lots of points. Also remember that there are sharks that pop up all the time, and then there are those that only appear when you’re at a distance. But they’re there all right, under the surface. So if you dangle Direct-i above where they’re lurking, you can lure them out and get yourself five points! (laughs)

Sao: Wow!

Miyamoto: There are all sorts of mysteries on Zoness waiting to be revealed, so see what you can find!

Sao: I’m very glad we had this little chat! (laughs)

A Title You Had to Be Involved In
Sao: Listening to you speak, Miyamoto-san, it sounds like you were deeply involved in the development of this game.

Miyamoto: Well, I am credited as both producer and supervising director, and I’d say that what I did was pretty close to working as a director.

Sao: When did you last take on that kind of role?

Miyamoto: On The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time(2), which came out in 1998, I was close to being a director, but was credited as a producer. So the last time I was credited as a director would have been before that, on Super Mario 64(3).

2. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: an action-adventure game released for the Nintendo 64 in Japan on November 1998, and for Europe during December 1998.

3. Super Mario 64: the first 3D action game in the Super Mario series. Release for the Nintendo 64 in Japan in June 1996, and for Europe during March 1997.

Sao: So it’s been 20 years since you were last credited as a director.

Miyamoto: Yes, that’s right.

Sao: What was it about this title that led you to be so involved in its development?

Miyamoto: Hmm. I wonder. Perhaps because I couldn’t find anyone who’d do the job for me?

Hayashi: (laughs)

Miyamoto: Anyway, we ended up with three directors on the project. Myself, Hayashi-san, who’s sitting next to me, and Yusuke Hashimoto(4) from Platinum Games who we developed the game with.

Sao: Perhaps the reason you took on the role of director for the first time in 20 years was because you thought Star Fox Zero was a title you felt you had to be involved in.

Miyamoto: Yes, yes, that’s it. Very well put!

Sao: (laughs)

Miyamoto: I was the one who originally said he wanted to make Star Fox, so I guess I had no choice but to decide how it was going to be made.


Sao: But when you play the game, you can tell that you really enjoyed working on it.

Miyamoto: Right. That’s because I just did whatever I wanted! (laughs)

Sao: Hayashi-san, you were in high school when the original came out, as we know. What did you learn as director this time round? Were there moments when you thought, ‘Ah, so that’s how they did it...’?

Hayashi: Absolutely. There were plenty of moments like that. I’d realise, for instance, that the placing of every single building had a purpose. That kind of thing happened a lot. When I’d played the game at high school, I’d always felt like I was free to fly wherever I wanted, and this time I learned that the buildings are positioned precisely so that you feel that.

Miyamoto: You learned that simply by changing how something is positioned, it can really affect the gameplay.

Hayashi: Yes, that’s right. I learned where the best place for an enemy to appear was so that it feels really satisfying to blast it.

Sao: So it took 19 years for you to finally understand why a certain building was where it was, or why an enemy appeared at a certain point.

Hayashi: You’re right! (laughs) With this title, I learned how much thought goes into ensuring that everyone is going to enjoy playing it.

Star Fox Zero – Dev Team Interview: Part Three
27/05/2016

Our Focus During Development

Interviewees:
Shigeru Miyamoto, Creative Fellow, Nintendo Senior Managing Director (Pictured second from the right)
Yugo Hayashi, Game Director, Nintendo Entertainment Planning & Development Division (Pictured right)

Hello there! My name is Akinori Sao and I’m a writer who‘s filled with joy every time I hear the Star Fox theme. But anyway, let’s turn now to the final part – the last level, if you will –of our Star Fox Zero interview. Mr Miyamoto spoke in our last interview about working as a director for the first time in 20 years with boyish glee.

Now, for this final discussion, we’re going to look at the development process and find out what a veteran director like Mr Miyamoto and a young rookie like Mr Hayashi set out to achieve with Star Fox Zero. Naturally we’re also going to talk about Star Fox Guardwhich was released together with the Star Fox Zero, as well as a short animation that you can watch online. Okay, here goes!

Part Three: Our Focus During Development
Your skills improve the more you play
Sao: There’s so much to enjoy in Star Fox Zero, but I wanted to ask you what aspects of the gameplay you focused most on during the game’s development?

Miyamoto: For me, the most important thing was feeling as if you were really the pilot.

Sao: I guess part of that were the voices that you can hear in the cockpit, which we spoke about in the first part of this interview.

Miyamoto: Yes, that was one aspect of it. There’s also the way that you can devise your own individual strategy and then carry it out, boosting your score in the process. Things like that all come into it.

Sao: Yes, it’s important that you don’t just plunge blindly into the action but instead come up with a tactical approach that you can then try out.

Miyamoto: Right. I think that in an action game, this will increase your sense of achievement. Action games can be tough, and I’m sure there are plenty of players who would like them to be a bit easier. But for me, the fundamental appeal of an action game is that your skills improve the more you play. What I mean is that someone who may not be all that good at first has room to improve and can take satisfaction from that. We aimed to make a game where that is possible – isn’t that right, Hayashi-san?


Hayashi: Yes, we did. We spoke last time about the positioning of buildings, and it was the same with enemies and other objects. I would discuss their location with Miyamoto-san and spend a lot of time fine-tuning them. Everything’s structured so that you can play each stage again and again, and gradually improve your score.

Sao: I see. So it’s designed so that you might think it a bit tough when you first play, but if you persevere, you’ll steadily improve.

Miyamoto: That’s it. You can play the same stage over and over, and you’re guaranteed to discover new things. But having said that, in a game like this, you’re bound to hit upon your own way to approach each stage.

Sao: So as you play the same stages again and again, you’ll settle on a way to approach them.

Miyamoto: You’ll start by finding your own route through a stage, but after that, if you experiment with other approaches, you’re sure to find other ways that work. You can then use that approach four or five times, try to perfect it, and then you’ll be in a position to decide which one works best. We designed the game carefully to allow these kinds of possibilities.

Sao: So you might think that flying through a particular stage in a particular way is the best approach, but that’s not necessarily the case.

Miyamoto: If you watch other players, you’ll realise that there are other ways to do it. There are always things you can learn from each other.

Why Dogs and Monkeys Don’t Get Along
Sao: What other issues did you focus on while you were making the game?

Miyamoto: Well, I’ve often said that the story is secondary to the gameplay…

Sao: Yes, you’ve said that a lot.

Miyamoto: But actually, when it came to making Star Fox Zero, I paid a lot of attention to the story. I was particularly concerned with the relationship between each character, for example between Fox McCloud and his father, or the way that the canine characters related to the monkeys.

Sao: So by canine characters, you mean the Cornerian army led by General Pepper, which Fox McCloud and his friends belong to.

Miyamoto: That’s right.

Sao: Then on the other side, you’ve got the monkeys, with Andross being the chief antagonist. So basically you’ve constructed it so that the dogs are fighting the monkeys.

Miyamoto: Right, but if it was just a tale of good versus evil, it would end up being too simple and leave no room for the imagination. In Japanese culture, we talk about dogs and monkeys not getting along with each other, but it’s nice to delve a bit deeper and find out why. So we’ve come up with a backstory this time round.

Sao: So it isn’t a simple tale of good versus evil?

Miyamoto: No, it isn’t. A new element in the story is the introduction of the teleporter…



Sao: You can use teleporters to travel to new areas.

Miyamoto: That’s right. But that’s not all. The teleporters are closely related to the story. The split between those who wish to use them and those who wish to abolish them explains why the dogs and monkeys are enemies.

Sao: So there turns out to be a reason why they don’t get along.

Miyamoto: Right. I really wanted to add this element to the story, so I came up with a Star Fox Zero animation(1).

1. Star Fox Zero: The Battle Begins: the first-ever animated short based on the Star Fox games and characters, produced in a collaboration between Shigeru Miyamoto, Production I.G and WIT STUDIO.

Sao: You really did get very deeply involved in this game!

Miyamoto: I really threw myself into it! (laughs) Anyway, I feel that by watching this animation, players will be able to get more deeply into the game. If you watch it before you play, you’ll understand the game world better.

Sao: Ah, I’m looking forward to seeing it.

Miyamoto: We actually completed work on that animation just before the game was released, so it’s available now for you to watch.

Subscribe to Nintendo UK on
Star Fox Guard is Fun Even for Big Groups
Sao: Now, you’re releasing Star Fox Guard along with Star Fox Zero. Can you tell me how this game came about?

Miyamoto: Well, Hayashi-san directed this game, at least for the first part, so I think it’s best to let him speak about it.

Hayashi: Sure. Well, Star Fox Guard began as an idea we came up with to utilise two screens. We worked on developing something where even people who weren’t playing could watch the action on the TV and enjoy it too.


Sao: The genre of the game is best described as a surveillance camera shooting game.

Hayashi: Yes, that’s it. You’re defending a mining facility against waves of robots that are attacking it. You have 12 cameras with lasers attached that you’ll use to take out the enemy.




Sao: So you have the views from 12 different cameras all shown on a single TV screen.

Hayashi: Yes, that’s right. I think if you’re playing alone, you might start to panic a bit as you try to spot which camera the robots are near. But if you’ve got other people there, they can help you out by shouting, “Look at camera three! It’s a robot!” That makes it a lot easier to take out the robots as they try to storm the base.

Sao: So it’s technically a one-player game, but actually you can enjoy this game with others too.

Hayashi: That’s right.

Miyamoto: Originally we came up with this game as a kind of introduction to Star Fox Zero. Some people find shooting games difficult, but in Star Fox Guard, you just have to point the camera in the right direction before opening fire, so it’s easy for players to get to grips with. We wanted something that was both simple and fun.

Sao: A game with 12 screens seems more achievable now in a time where large-screen TVs are becoming the norm.

Miyamoto: Yes, that’s a big factor. This is an idea we’ve experimented with since the Super Nintendo era, but with a game console that has two screens and the larger TVs we have today, it felt like this was the best time to release this game.



If You’re Worried, Try Invincibility Mode
Sao: To conclude this series of interviews, I wonder if you could say a few words to the readers.

Miyamoto: At its heart, Star Fox Zero is a game that’s about finding a path. To put a figure on it, I’d say there are around 20 different ways to navigate through the game, and while you might be perfecting one route, you could discover another and end up coming up with your own original way to negotiate a stage. I think that approaching the game in this way will give players a lot of enjoyment.


Sao: You could also select an approach each time you play. So for instance, you could focus exclusively on racking up a high score, or you could dedicate yourself to finding a new route and try flying or running into all sorts of places.

Miyamoto: Yes, you’re right. I’d recommend watching videos of other people playing as you’re bound to pick up tips that will encourage you to find out everything that’s in the game.

Sao: How about you, Hayashi-san?

Hayashi: In the first part of the interview, we spoke about the immersive elements of the game, like the 3D feel of the voices. The only way to really experience this is to play the game yourself. I feel that we’ve come up with a game that really brings you close to the action, whether it’s the intuitive controls made possible by using two sticks, or the view from the cockpit via the Wii U GamePad screen. The game can be challenging, but I think that as you play, you’ll really start to feel like you’re right there in the cockpit of the Arwing doing battle with the enemy. It’s an exciting game that will give you sweaty palms and I think players are going to enjoy that a lot.


Sao: You just mentioned that the game was somewhat challenging, but for players who perhaps lack confidence, there’s a mode where you have an invincible Arwing, isn’t there?

Hayashi: That’s right. If you fail to complete your mission three times in a row*, you’ll be given an item when you restart that will make you invincible.



*If you run out of ships after playing from the start three times in a row, the item that makes you invincible will be available the next time you start.

Sao: So that means your ship won’t be destroyed no matter how much damage it takes.

Hayashi: That’s right. But to make up for that, your score won’t be saved.

Miyamoto: We were intent on making the game accessible to as many players as possible, but we were aware that some people won’t want to play the Invincibility Mode. That meant we were really torn about whether to make it available after you failed three times or if it should be six times.

Hayashi: But if someone doesn’t want to make use of the invincibility feature, they don’t have to use the item. We left it up to the player.

Sao: For someone like me whose ship tends to get destroyed a lot, it’s a nice feeling to have the option of an invincible Arwing after failing three times.

Miyamoto: Well, it seems like we chose right by making it three times.

Hayashi: It would seem so! (laughs)

That concludes our interview with the team behind Star Fox Zero. There wasn’t enough room to include it in the interview, but at one point, Mr Miyamoto made reference to Star Fox Zero as the culmination of his vision for Star Fox, made possible by the Wii U.

Mr Miyamoto is of course the creator of the Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda series, so needless to say, Star Fox Zero stretches the possibilities of a shooting game. Mr Miyamoto has spent many years distilling the essence of action and adventure games, and this has resulted in a game packed with enjoyable elements. Who’d have thought you’d even be able to go fishing?

So there we have it – the culmination of the Star Fox series is available now. Mr Hayashi mentioned at the end that it was quite a challenging game, but that’ll make it even more satisfying to beat it. Also, if you aren’t a natural action game fan, Invincibility Mode is sure to make your life easier.

Now, if everyone’s ready, it’s time to take off and do battle!

Несмотря ни на что, может кому-то даже интересно будет =))

[Luigi]

Как же я рад, что выменял этот диск на другую игру.
До сих пор могу гонять старфокса с SNES на эмуляторах и с удовольствием открыл и не раз перепрошел для себя старфокса на 3DS (N64 я пропустил в свое время).
Вообще люблю рельсовые шутеры и скролл шутеры.
Но эта "игра" просто реально какой-то треш и издевательство во всем, без исключений.
Уровни вызывают четкое дежавю.
Управление выбешивает на середине игры - играть неудобно, а тренироваться часами ради прохождения трехчасовой игры - нафиг надо.
Голоса героев и анимация уродская.
Ну пипец, зачем такое днище выпускать было.
Бывают плохие игры - пропустишь их, даже немного поиграв и ладно.
А тут прям издеваетельство. "Привет, геймеры. Вот вам кусок олдскул игры, мудохайтесь с управлением, ностальгируйте по зверюшкам-буратино, лазер нацепи-спутник полети, кстати по фулл-прайсу. Nintendo, душевность, слезы счастья".

[_rain]

Как же я рад, что выменял этот диск на другую игру.
До сих пор могу гонять старфокса с SNES на эмуляторах и с удовольствием открыл и не раз перепрошел для себя старфокса на 3DS (N64 я пропустил в свое время).
Вообще люблю рельсовые шутеры и скролл шутеры.
Но эта "игра" просто реально какой-то треш и издевательство во всем, без исключений.
Уровни вызывают четкое дежавю.
Управление выбешивает на середине игры - играть неудобно, а тренироваться часами ради прохождения трехчасовой игры - нафиг надо.
Голоса героев и анимация уродская.
Ну пипец, зачем такое днище выпускать было.
Бывают плохие игры - пропустишь их, даже немного поиграв и ладно.
А тут прям издеваетельство. "Привет, геймеры. Вот вам кусок олдскул игры, мудохайтесь с управлением, ностальгируйте по зверюшкам-буратино, лазер нацепи-спутник полети, кстати по фулл-прайсу. Nintendo, душевность, слезы счастья".

Ну мне вот очень понравилась игра. Управление интересное, именно такие "фишки" я и ждал на WiiU. Есть несколько путей прохождения и дополнительные челленджи- где ты там увидел "трёхчасовую игру" я не знаю. При том что во все старфоксы до этого я играл, думаю можно считать меня фанатом серии

[AleriF]

Я тут нашел видео, где сравнивают SF 64 3D и SF Zero. И вот многие сцены очень похожи, а титры вообще идентичны, вплоть до диалогов. Я вот не понимаю: это в итоге что-то типа ремастера?

[Luigi]

Я тут нашел видео, где сравнивают SF 64 3D и SF Zero. И вот многие сцены очень похожи, а титры вообще идентичны, вплоть до диалогов. Я вот не понимаю: это в итоге что-то типа ремастера?

Очень на то похоже.
Т.е. игру с N64 перенесли на 3DS, потом подтянули до HD, прикрутили сложное в освоении управление (не оставив классическое) и вы итоге выдают это на новую игру.
Халтура. По факту римейк римейка игры 1997 года...
Увы и ах. SF 64 3D при этому очень достойный вариант.

[dimm0505]

Ну пипец, зачем такое днище выпускать было.

Ну это же игра САМОГО Миямото, с его особенным видением использования геймпада =) Кто же его в Nintendo "посадит" то? Хотя такого уж прямо отвращения у меня лично игра не вызывала, управление да, требует привычки. А по сути обычная аркадная стрелялка.

[КоляКарп]

Играл. До этого нив одну игру серии не играл и не видел. Ужас! И в эту игру играют? И это на НексГене!