G-REV President Slams DS and PSP

‘You can’t say that!’ Seemingly, you can…

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G-REV President Slams DS and PSP
As everyone knows, you’re not allowed so say things about modern portable games machines that might upset their manufacturers. Developers especially are expected to politely discuss the merits of every platform, often in a promotional video for the platform holder. Yuji Naka, you may remember, really does love developing for Nokia’s N-Gage. He said as much in a video presentation.

G-REV (Border Down) president Hiroyuki Maruyama is different. Speaking to Edge, he made his thoughts on the DS very clear. “Many present the DS as the platform of ideas, of concepts, but the use of specific features like the touch panel actually limits your freedom to create. Of course, if a game makes natural and fun use of these features, I see a lot of potential; but if you don’t use the pen and the double screens, your game is meaningless on the DS. Forcing you to use these features confines you in a very narrow environment, so I’m a little afraid about the machine’s future.” Wow. Colon and letter O. You can’t say that. It’s not allowed.

Next on Maruyama-san’s radar of doom was Sony’s ever-intriguing PSP. “The PSP is just a PlayStation with a beautiful screen. I don’t see any merit in that. Of course there are a few interesting titles like this use of cards in Metal Gear Acid, but so what? Why should I develop or play on the PSP? For its wireless features? If the wireless network becomes global and easily accessible, then I see the potential for very interesting developments, but currently the PSP is less of a console and more of a business move from Sony – for itself, and against Nintendo. As a game console, I don’t see its merit.”

Not shy, is he?
Games:

Comments

fluffstardx 27 Jun 2005 11:14
1/7
Wow. Subtle as a knife to the ribs.

He is right though; to not use the DS features is considered "a waste", and as such everybody tries to use them. And not seeing anything special about having a Playstsation with a shiny screen has been quite the common comment.
TigerUppercut 27 Jun 2005 11:30
2/7
Indeed. The scariest thing is that he's right and he's the first person ever to have dared say it!
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Joji 27 Jun 2005 12:14
3/7
Maruyama has come out and said what he thinks and I respect him for letting us know his thoughts. As a smaller japanese developer I can see that he may feel really squeezed by todays industry, the others two.

I dont agree with his DS comments, sure the tools for it on offer might frustrate developer, but to be honest developers have had it pretty easy for a while now and needed a new challenge Sony were not providing.

Any developer out there is an artist and all Nintendo has asked is produce games with limited canvas and colours etc (the spec and interface) and show how good you really are and earn your respect again. So far even EA have been in two minds as what to do which speaks volumes in their arena of creativity, don't you think? Those that want an infinite canvas can develop for home consoles, just where most of gaming is stuck in a rut.

From a small developer like G-Rev who's used to producing arcade games they must learn to adjust (especially when arcades are perhaps closing even in japan) and broaden their horizons. Making shoot em ups is cool for japan but they might not keep you in food and housing with a limited audience. On the other hand his arguement against DS is trumped by none other than Majesco and their pretty little shoot em up Nanostray (I'm sure the developers of Nanostray are a smaller development team, perhaps like his or similar). If Maruyama opened his eyes he'd see you can do those same types of games 'he and his team prefer making' on DS.

His PSP views hit pretty close to home on Sony. PSP is overpriced and due to their own errors Sony need a result soon. However this doesn't look likely with DS kickin it's arse in sales and three new home consoles on the way soon.

The Edge 151 article is a good one and also feature the views of two other small japanese developers heads Hiroshi Kimura of Milestone (developers of DC/GC shooter Chaos Field) and Toshiaki Fujino of Triangle Service (developer of DC shooter Trizeal). I totally agree with Toshiaki's PSP views, that it's just a PS2 and little else.

Their views are worthy reading too. I admire them all putting ideas and small teams before large profit identikit games like most of the industry mind.
acidviper 27 Jun 2005 12:14
4/7
G-rev games sucks ass. WTF does he want to develop for mobile phones. This guy is a nobody if he's alienating Sony and Nintendo. Have fun developing for nobody in the Japanese market retard.
dmgice 27 Jun 2005 12:26
5/7
Saying that having options limits options is called circular reasoning. That's like saying: "Damn it, there are a two roads. That must mean I am forced to go down both of them."

Anyone with a BRAIN sees two roads and says: "Hey. I think I'll take that one, it's less traveled.

Oh, Shi'nen makes Nanostray. They started out making sound tools and working on a GBC game called Iridion. That GBC game never came out. Then they made the pretty and lackluster shooter on rails Iridion 3D. Then they made Iridion 2, which was a pure sliced gold.
NiktheGreek 27 Jun 2005 14:38
6/7
acidviper wrote:
G-rev games sucks ass.

Which is why Senko no Ronde is gaining a lot of coverage in Japan? A one-on-one 2D shooter isn't something that comes along every day. Did you even play Border Down?

acidviper wrote:
This guy is a nobody if he's alienating Sony and Nintendo. Have fun developing for nobody in the Japanese market retard.

The funny thing is, G.Rev has never even published a PS2 or Gamecube game. All their titles (four, at present) have been developed for the Naomi arcade board and the first two were ported to the Dreamcast, with Senko no Ronde hopefully yet to come.
DaPistolPat 29 Jun 2005 03:42
7/7
I do indeed have to say that that guy is a moron, a developer you say he is well the only thing it seems he is, is a developer who wants the hardware maker to do everything in the development process except put their name on it, that step souly for the moron. But serious the DS provides inovative tools to make games as well as more buttons then th GBA so I really don't get how he could not create something cool, and the PSP has some nice hardware specs to make games and a decent button lay out so there should be no problem there. Basically it is completly up to the develop to come up with a cool story and a fun and easy control scheme and if he can't do that then he is the problem not the platform makers hardware.
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