In an interview conducted by Game Informer magazine, Team Ninja
Developer Head Tomonobu Itagaki discussed Nintendo's next-generation
console, Wii, including any plans to develop for the system and the
console's compatibility with Team Ninja's franchises.
During the
interview, Itagaki noted he is very interested in the Wii controller.
However, at this time he is engaged in three other projects - Dead or
Alive Xtreme 2, Dead or Alive Cronus and Ninja Gaiden 2 - and is too
busy to work on an original Wii game.
On the topic of Ninja
Gaiden 2, which is presently without a solid platform, Itagaki
expressed concerns with the control scheme if the game was made for
Wii. According to the Tecmo developer, Wii's controller might might be
a potential problem with sword control, especially in the realm of
drawing the weapon backwards and swinging. Also, Itagaki worried
enemies would need to have their intelligence reduced to compensate for
the control issue.
Itagaki stated that people possess
different strength levels, hence making development more difficult
rather than easier, since the development team would have to anticipate
an extensive variation in the speed different people move the
controller. For these reasons, Itagaki was unsure if a game like Ninja
Gaiden 2 could work on Wii.
Currently, Tecmo is preparing
Super Swing Golf Pangya for Wii, slated for a Q1 2007 release, so the
company is in possession of a Wii development kit, although it's
unknown if Itagaki has had the opportunity to work with it yet.
The full Game Informer interview can be found here.
The Wiire will keep you updated.
