Namco, Konami, Sega and more comment on GameCube
The big guns shape up behing the GameCube. Full write up.
Famitsu magazine recently got most of Japan’s leading developers together in a room and refused to let them go until they spilled their collective guts. The question was “What do you make of the GameCube?”
Sega’s Tetsu Kayama said, “If Nintendo manages to keep to its current schedule, I think the GameCube has a chance to become a tremendous success.” Kayama expressed he had concerns that Nintendo’s President Hiroshi Yamauchi may hold back the GameCube until a more comprehensive list of titles is available. “It will be pretty tough if it’s delayed because 45% of console hardware sales are done during the holiday season.
Whether Yamauchi will heed hardware advice from Sega remains to be seen.
Namco guru Yasuhiko Asada was full of positivity towards the GameCube. “Nintendo is the one to watch,” he stated. “We have great interest in making the GameCube our target machine.” These comments come as no surprise. Namco has just posted its greatest ever loss, a fact the company attributed to poor PlayStation 2 sales and a high level of GameCube support.
Namco’s US office was a little more reserved. “As far as developing for GameCube or Xbox, there have been no agreements signed, though Namco is considering developing for these platforms. Can you name a developer that isn’t?”
The highly-respected Ideo Kitakami of Konami said that the company “Has no plans to make GameCube the company’s main focus in 2001,” but confirmed that Konami would be looking into producing GameCube titles. He also confirmed that Konami had received several development kits for Nintendo’s new console.
Yoshiiki Okamoto, Capcom’s director of research and development expressed that Capcom was fully committed to GameCube support. “We plan on putting a lot of effort behind the GameCube,” he said. “We are unsure at present where the platform is heading. Nintendo seems to know what game players want.” With the greatest of respect to Capcom, a 2D arcade fighter would be an easy way of testing the water. Proven gameplay over flashy and expensive production as an initial release would prove a prudent move.
The most glittering praise to be directed at the GameCube came from Grandia developers Game Arts. A company spokesman said that Nintendo seemed like the only company to be really serious about making games better.
It is a difficult time for developers at present. They have to keep Sony sweet due to the market dominance of its machines. Many companies and individuals have complained that the PlayStation 2 is difficult to program for. If the GameCube is received well by the public, it has a great chance of toppling the PlayStation 2 and fending off the Xbox on developer support alone.
Sega’s Tetsu Kayama said, “If Nintendo manages to keep to its current schedule, I think the GameCube has a chance to become a tremendous success.” Kayama expressed he had concerns that Nintendo’s President Hiroshi Yamauchi may hold back the GameCube until a more comprehensive list of titles is available. “It will be pretty tough if it’s delayed because 45% of console hardware sales are done during the holiday season.
Whether Yamauchi will heed hardware advice from Sega remains to be seen.
Namco guru Yasuhiko Asada was full of positivity towards the GameCube. “Nintendo is the one to watch,” he stated. “We have great interest in making the GameCube our target machine.” These comments come as no surprise. Namco has just posted its greatest ever loss, a fact the company attributed to poor PlayStation 2 sales and a high level of GameCube support.
Namco’s US office was a little more reserved. “As far as developing for GameCube or Xbox, there have been no agreements signed, though Namco is considering developing for these platforms. Can you name a developer that isn’t?”
The highly-respected Ideo Kitakami of Konami said that the company “Has no plans to make GameCube the company’s main focus in 2001,” but confirmed that Konami would be looking into producing GameCube titles. He also confirmed that Konami had received several development kits for Nintendo’s new console.
Yoshiiki Okamoto, Capcom’s director of research and development expressed that Capcom was fully committed to GameCube support. “We plan on putting a lot of effort behind the GameCube,” he said. “We are unsure at present where the platform is heading. Nintendo seems to know what game players want.” With the greatest of respect to Capcom, a 2D arcade fighter would be an easy way of testing the water. Proven gameplay over flashy and expensive production as an initial release would prove a prudent move.
The most glittering praise to be directed at the GameCube came from Grandia developers Game Arts. A company spokesman said that Nintendo seemed like the only company to be really serious about making games better.
It is a difficult time for developers at present. They have to keep Sony sweet due to the market dominance of its machines. Many companies and individuals have complained that the PlayStation 2 is difficult to program for. If the GameCube is received well by the public, it has a great chance of toppling the PlayStation 2 and fending off the Xbox on developer support alone.
Companies:
Nintendo
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