Email: Western developer talks difference between Nintendo developers (with source)

Hey Malstrom hope everything is all well in Texas

I remember an article you wrote about how the developers at Nintendo just want to have fun and think they know what’s best for the player

Well I came across an interview with a western developer who worked on of Splatoon 2 and was asked why salmon run,a popular mode in the game, is not always available and he said this:

“In Japan, there’s a sense of, “We’re making this thing for you, and this is how we think this thing is better enjoyed.” This is why, in Splatoon, the maps rotate every couple of hours. And the modes change. “I bought this game. Why can’t I just enjoy this game the way I want?” That’s not how we think here. Yes, you did buy the game. But we made this game. And we’re pretty confident about how this game should be enjoyed. If you stick with us, and if you get past your initial resistance, you’re going to have the time of your life with this game. You’re really going to love it.”

Now this is he’s insight on the difference between western Devs and Japanese Devs, but I think he’s talking about Nintendo. He also goes on in the interview to say:

“To an American like me, that feels really hostile and a little dramatic. Then again, how many times have I been late to appointments or hanging with friends because the burden of choice made me hesitate when I was picking a restaurant or thinking about what I wanted on my burger? Not being able to play Salmon Run at certain times of the day feels like an inconvenience, but maybe Nintendo’s actually doing me a favor. Now I’ll go to bed instead of staying up all night playing Splatoon!”

https://kotaku.com/nintendo- designer-explains-why-salmon- run-isnt-always-a-1801065018

What bothers me is that Splatoon 2 was made by the young developers in the company, so I’m surprised that this old way of thinking has spreaded so far in the company this is stuff I expected from the old guard at Nintendo like sakamoto and miyamoto and friends.

And yet they made Zelda Breath of the Wild which is full of choice. However, Zelda BoW “Wow!” was made only after many disappointing Zelda games.

As a business, Nintendo is more interested in winning than in being ‘right’. I trust that instinct to eventually emerge over the end. It did over the Gamecube to the Wii. It did over the 3DS and Wii U to the Switch. It did with Skyward Sword to Breath of the Wild. It did with New Super Mario Brothers Wii. I expect Metroid to be ‘corrected’ and ‘revived’ once Sakamoto totally goes down in flames.