Reporting from a developer's conference (open forum)

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Hey all. For those of you who were around last year, may remember this thread:
Developer Conference (http://www.digitpress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=70364&highlight=conference/url)

Well, it's getting near that time again, so I'm posting an open forum for you to think up questions you'd like to ask, and things you'd like me to report back with this year.

You have about a month to think about it. I will do my best to poise any questions from you that you want 'straight-from-the-horse's-mouth' answers to.

Most gaming companies will be represented: Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony, Atari, Activision, Capcom, SquareEnix, TakeTwo, SNK, Sega, MadCatz, Prima, Bradygames, EA, Namco, Tecmo, Vivendi, D3, Atlus, etc, etc. The only one I can think of that's always a no-show is Blizzard.

I reserve the right to ask the questions at my discretion. I cannot guarantee I'll be able to ask everyone's questions. I will not ask defamatory questions, or tell a company they suck. Don't ask questions about Halo 3. Please don't ask anything incredibly specific about gameplay.

So with that said, take some time and think about anything you'd like to put up for consideration. You've got a month to think of some excellent questions. I look forwards to hearing them, and the answers they will generate!

[poloplayr]

Wii, Wii and Wii.

[Muscelli]

sega- any plans on Nights into dreams?

snk- Will they be continuing the 2d games

[kainemaxwell]

Is Square-Enix planning to develop for the Wii?

[suckerpunch5]

I'd like to know how long developers plan on supporting the GBA and PS2, given their huge install bases. That would be interesting to me.

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Wii, Wii and Wii.

specifically?



sega- any plans on Nights into dreams?

snk- Will they be continuing the 2d games[/url]

So, you want to know if there's any plans for the Nights franchise in general?
Also, I assume SNK will, but I'll ask. There's also a post around here citing they won't be developing for PS3 until 2009. I'm going to be inquiring about that as well.


Is Square-Enix planning to develop for the Wii?
I remember hearing that there'd be a FF:CC and a DQ game for the Wii at launch, but that may be a rumor. Good question.



I'd like to know how long developers plan on supporting the GBA and PS2, given their huge install bases. That would be interesting to me.
Great question! I'll see how many companies I can fire that one too.

Keep em coming guys :)

[PapaStu]

Is Square-Enix planning to develop for the Wii?
I remember hearing that there'd be a FF:CC and a DQ game for the Wii at launch, but that may be a rumor. Good question.

Its no rumor.... They've already announced 2 titles.
Dragon Quest Swords (http://www.gamespot.com/wii/rpg/dragonquest/news.html?sid=6149474&mode=previews)
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers (http://www.gamespot.com/wii/rpg/finalfantasycrystalchronicles/news.html?sid=6149473&mode=previews)

Ask Sony how their PSP porting of all the PlayStation games is coming along and when they are going to hit the market.

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

I have Several Questions

To Atari
When are you going to make games again that are "easy to learn and Diffucult to Master?"

To Nintendo
Do you have plans to make More Consoles (2600, INTV, SMS, etc.) a part of your Virtual Console?

To Sega
Will there be a ZAXXON Sequel?

To Activision
Will you be Publishing Raid on the River For the Wii and DS?

[Drexel923]

Question for Microsoft:

Will we ever see multi user (group) private chat on the 360...if so, then when?

[Richter Belmount]

microsoft:
when is the next backwards compatibility update?

will the us be getting
senko no ronde from japan? if no why not?

[SamuraiSmurfette]

will the us be getting
senko no ronde from japan? if no why not?

who's the Japanese publisher of this?

[Richter Belmount]

hmm sorry for the last response I think its sega

[kainemaxwell]

Will there be a Castlevania in the Wii's future?

[Ed Oscuro]

Will there be a Castlevania in the Wii's future?
You'd need to ask IGA about that one, but he's already said it's not going to happen anytime soon. The best one can do is just petition somebody to ask him to make one.

source (http://kotaku.com/gaming/nintendo/castlevania-not-coming-to-wii-174404.php)

[blissfulnoise]

For Nintendo:

GBA:
- Mother 3 and/or Mother 1+2: Will they see a USA release on the GBA? How about the DS?

Wii and the Virtual Console:
- Will they use a points based system similiar to Microsoft?
- How many games are expected at launch?
- Will the Virtual Console have any Japanese exclusive titles available for the US? Or possibly a region free system?
- Will there be online play or leaderboards featured?

Wii:
- Will some Wii games support a standard, non motion, controller? What about some games with a dual control scheme (e.g. Wii Zelda or Metroid 3 with the Gamecube pad).
- Price, release date, blah, blah.
- Estimated number of units to be shipped at launch.
- Will online play utilize a system similar to friends codes on the DS?
- What about voice chat in game?
- When are we getting Wii Kid Icarus?

DS:
- Web browser. When?
- What about Voice Chat outside of any particular game?
- Any 2D Metroid goodness in the near future?

For Sony:

PS3:
- Will the PS3 be region free in it's backwards compatibility? e.g. Japanese PS2/PS1 games on a US PS3 system?
- Will the first games to market actually be on Blu-Ray media or will they ship on DVD?
- Do they have a hard price point for Blu-Ray games?
- Is Fumito Ueda working on something for the PS3 right now? Wanna give us a hint?

PSP:
- Does Sony expect to release an official Hard Drive or large capacity device for storage? Specifically for Playstation 1 downloads.
- Are there any plans to re-engineer the PSP similiar to the DS Lite specifically addressing issues with button placement and the D-Pad?

Microsoft:
- What is your opinion on Square-Enix and their seemingly lack of support for your platform even after giving them FFXI on a silver plate?
- Can we expect a unified online play system between Xbox Live and the "Games for Windows" brand in the near future?
- Larger hard drives. When, because this is obviously a given? And how are we going to transfer data between the two?
- Do you plan on ending your 50mb restriction for Xbox Live Arcade games in the near future? Especially seeing the shock announcement of Symphony of the Night?
- Are you courting any other major video game companies to bring their classics to Xbox Live?
- HD-DVD. Come on. When is the system going to ship standard with it?

SNK:
- Capcom vs SNK: Card Fighters Clash 2: When? Online multiplayer?

Capcom:
- Street Fighter IV? What's the next iteration of the series?
- Will Resident Evil 5 see a similtanious release on the X360 and PS3? What about the Wii?
- Namco x Capcom. Will it get a port over here? For the love of God, will it???
- Devil May Cry 4. Xbox 360 bound?
- Any futher plans to bring old franchises to the Xbox 360? Will we see Street Fighter Alpha 3 or Third Strike on there any time soon?
- How freakin' cool is Suda 51? Will Heroes melt my brain? What else is Grasshopper Manufacture working on for you? Are you publishing Kurayami? What about a Killer 7 sequel?

Namco:
- What's your relationship with Keita Takahashi now? Has he left the Katamari Damacy project totally? Will someone else take over? Any plans to see it on the Wii or revive the DS version?
- Namco x Capcom. Will it get a port over here? For the love of God, will it???

Sega:
- Any plans to revitalize the Jet Set Radio franchise on the Wii?
- Ecco the Dolphin. Dead?
- Any sequel or even a port of Segagaga planned now that it's getting some press?
- Virtua Fighter 5. Xbox 360 port?
- Insert enevitable NiGHTs question here.

That's all I'll post for now. Thanks!

[Slate]

THQ And Pandemic: Destroy all humans 2. Once i get crypto to "Bodysnatch" Someone with a car, will i be able to drive that car?

Also in DAH2, Will there be a new ability Or weapon to raise the dead to do to crypto's bidding?

[The Sage of Sega]

I hope these questions aren't too presumptuous.

I'd like to know how developers feel about episodic gaming. I find it to be a fascinating pricing scheme and I feel it is the future of cohesive story development and dollar-for-dollar value. I'd like to see what companies plan on supporting the notion. Also, I'd really like to see whether any of the companies feel episodic gaming on consoles would be viable. I'll leave it up to you to decide how to field these questions. Have fun, and thanks!

[Richter Belmount]

capcom: Oh tell them that their hardcore audience would like to see another suda 51 game , I know about the ps3 and wii but please a 360 game as well? :D

[SamuraiSmurfette]

Okay, I'm about 1 week away. Good questions so far, and not alot of time left. Sorry I havn't been around much (WoW has stolen my life) but I promise to still take these ideas in for you. SO yeah, last call!