Development History
| In the plan of bringing Street Fighter IV back to the scene, my desire was to bring back everyone into how people used to play Street Fighter 2. We just wanted to bring that passion back to the industry. So when we started, we started from HD [consoles], Xbox 360 and PS3, because that's where we thought most gamers were, so that's how we released the games first [in those consoles]. But obviously, even with those consoles we couldn't quite bring back the sensation we had with Street Fighter 2 because the situation is different now. People play games on different machines, so the next point was iPhone. I thought about releasing a game on iPhone and you know that, again, is directed to a different demography and that also touched the casual gamers as well, and I was then looking for another medium to touch an even bigger casual market, and at that point Nintendo announced 3DS and I decided that that was the way to touch the casual market with Street Fighter. Although it's a hardcore game on a hard gamers console, previous to 3DS, on iPhone we could play with the touch screen as well. With 3DS you've got stunning graphics anyway so all in all, that [the 3DS] is going to be an important core of the Street Fighter gaming in the entire hardcore and casual gamers [community]. |
Why no Wii version.
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RG: This is the last one: Before the Nintendo 3DS was announced, we were a ‘Wii only' site, so people were eager to get Street Fighter 4 on Wii. Then we got the awesome Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom from Niitsuma-san. After eight years without a Nintendo Street Fighter, we wanted to know if there was any chance (before or now) for having it on the Wii and why it didn't become a reality if that was the case. Ono: When it comes to Wii, what I had in mind was Street Fighter Fit. RG: Really? Ono: Because Street Fighter 4's nature kind of slightly differed from the identity Nintendo seemed to be chasing of with the Wii brand, it didn't seem to quite fit. We weren't sure, and we were more inclined to go for the idea of Street Fighter Fit. I actually had a plan, I submitted my game design and everything. When the discussion was about to get further or to be cancelled or whatever, 3DS came in with confidential information from Nintendo, so attention kind of shifted to 3DS and kind of reflected form Wii now. Hopefully, with 3DS I'll get to show off my thumb to everyone. |
Interesting that he thinks the Wii is an exercise equipment and not a casual console, and god forbid a gamer console :D
