The Iwata Asks interviews with Masahiro Sakurai were interesting not just because of the revelations about Smash Bros., but also because they reminded us that Iwata was once just some normal guy who programmed video games for HAL Laboratory. We were pleased to see another Iwata Asks so soon -- and he's interviewing Shigeru Miyamoto this time about his latest project, Wii Fit.As usual, Wii Fit was born of one of Miyamoto's hobbies. Seeking a new, healthier way to relax, Miyamoto quit playing pachinko and took up swimming. He then started graphing his weight daily. This was the basis for the "Wii Health Pack" project, which, at first, didn't have any design specs except measuring weight on a graph. The actual game, then, came from the need to integrate exercise with a device that measured weight. This began with an experiment with balancing on two scales.
The old rumor that Nintendo would be designing a new Balance Board for our big American clown feet is also called into question by the fact that Reggie and other large-footed staffers were brought in to test the Japanese board.
_thumbnail.jpg "Mega Man 9")
_thumbnail.jpg "Smash Bros. Brawl Snapshots")
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-11-2008 @ 9:24PM
NinKenDo said...
This is such a great interview and provides a lot of insight into what it might be like to work at Nintendo. Miyamoto is so amazing at how he takes the most simple and mundane things and turns them into something brilliant.
Reply
2-11-2008 @ 9:27PM
Mr Khan said...
Like when he stared at a hose and thought of Super Mario Sunshine? Or just sat in his garden and thought, "hey, little space explorer men run around the garden and fight the bugs."
I thought he needed a psychoanalyst in the GC era. Great ideas all, but where he got them, none can say...
2-11-2008 @ 10:57PM
mr nimblewick said...
Just learned that you can do your exercises while watching TV. That right there is a killer feature.
Reply
2-12-2008 @ 4:13AM
Anticrawl said...
The best exercise of all is rough sex.
2-12-2008 @ 4:14AM
Anticrawl said...
To bad the ladyfriend isn't as enthusiastic about exercising as I am.
2-12-2008 @ 8:53AM
Dash said...
Did anybody notice that Miyamoto talked about a new 1080ยบ game with the Balance Board? And on top of that Iwata talks about Wii Ware games with the board.
A new 1080 would be great, balance board or not. Hope he wasn't just joking (with Miyamoto-san you never know)
Reply