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Forums - Nintendo - Why do Zelda Console games take 5 years to develop.... ?

Faxanadu on 02 June 2015

Because they can



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Miyamotoo on 02 June 2015

True, but in same time Zelda U is on first Nintendo HD console (that certainly effects on development) and it will be Zelda game with biggest and most open world.



Soundwave on 02 June 2015

Give Zelda to EAD Tokyo. Tell Aonuma's team to go work on something else for a change. They're stagnating IMO.



Davman on 02 June 2015

Does anyone know the number of staff that is occupied with Zelda development?
So we can compare versus other games if they have a small team or they really need that much time.



Miyamotoo on 02 June 2015
Soundwave said:
Give Zelda to EAD Tokyo. Tell Aonuma's team to go work on something else for a change. They're stagnating IMO.

They're not stagnating, A Link Between Worlds is great Zelda game and Zelda U look like it will be one of the best Zelda's ever.



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Cream147 on 02 June 2015
Pavolink said:
Cream147 said:
I honestly think it's better that it isn't any quicker than 4 years. Main Zelda games should be rare treats - something to be vastly anticipated. Each one should be its own individual gem, unique from any other in the series. Should they ideally speed up the development a little bit? Perhaps, but I'd rather they delay and release another gem than rush it out.

In reality we've had 1 new Zelda game, 2 remakes and a spin-off since Skyward Sword so its not like we've been starved of Zelda in the meantime.

3 remakes, not 2. And I played those games many years ago. The spin-off is just that, an spin-off. And the new game is A Link to the Past 2. So, yes I'm starve from new real content.

The third remake is? Majora's Mask 3D, Wind Waker HD and...

And just dismissing ALBW because it's a sequel is ridiculous and completely arbitrary.

Again, in an ideal world I think the new Zelda should be coming out this year, but I'd rather they released a quality game than rush it out. Any quicker than a 4 year cycle and the games would be less special I think.



Miyamotoo on 02 June 2015

Games being more complex and bigger in HD development era and especially with Nintendo takes time with their big games (especially Zelda games), I am totally ok to have one completely new Zelda and one remake per console per generation.
Like we will have this gen, WW HD and Zelda U.



Jumpin on 02 June 2015

1. This is the first time Zelda has been in HD.
2. This is the first time Zelda has been open world.
3. This is Zelda, when the game explores new ground, they don't half ass it only to correct their mistakes during cloned sequels or 4 years of patches and DLC, their aim is to make every single one of them as though constructing a masterpiece which is delivered to the user upfront.



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

Pavolink on 02 June 2015
Jon-Erich said:
Pavolink said:


This.

OP: Incompetence and financial reasons are behind it.

Incompetence because, as much as I love Skyward Sword, it took them a lot to do a game without even a proper overwolrd. 4 years to do A Link Between Worlds, focused on remakes, etc... Aonuma doesn't know at this point what to do with the franchise anymore. He has to remade half of the franchise history to decide to go with a Zelda NES based game, and implementing other things from other games like Hyrule Warriors.

Financial reasons because, first, games are released on holidays, second to fit on celebrations like the 25th anniversary. It won't be a surprise if Zelda HD "fits" by the god's will with the 30th anniversary next year...

The better solutions is for Aonuma and Miyamoto to step down and let someone else with clear ideas to take control of the franchise. Someone like Koizumi. He was heavily involved in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.

Skyward Sword actually had an average development cycle, about three and a half years. A Link Between Worlds started development in 2011 and was finished by 2013. Again, another average develop cycle. In fact, let's analyze the release dates for Zelda games dating back to Twilight Princess since that release would take place 10 years before the intended release of the Wii U Zelda. And I'm only going by games that the Zelda team worked on since Aonuma's role in the remakes and spinoffs was that of an advisor/supervisor:

2006-The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

2007-The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

2007-Link's Crossbow Training (was worked on by EAD Group No. 3 aka the Zelda Team)

2009-The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

2011-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

2013-The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD

2013-The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

2016-Zelda U

So on average, we had to wait about 2 years for a new Zelda game since 2006 and even before then. Only Zelda U seems to be breaking this tradition. Both the console and handheld Zelda games were worked on by the same team so you know they were never spending too much time with one game. With the exception of Link's Crossbow Training and Wind Waker HD, remakes and spinoffs were handled by other studios which allows EAD Group No. 3 to focus their attention on the main games. 

The worst game on this list was Link's Crossbow Training and that wasn't even bad for what it was supposed to be. Those other games were all pretty good. They all stand out from one another and don't feel like a repeat of the same experience and we seem to be getting them at a decent pace. So tell me again why Aonuma is doing such a bad job and why he needs to retire?

First off, there are 2 Zelda teams, one for handhelds and one for consoles. Thus, the line up is like this:

Handheld team:

Phantom Hourglass 2007 - previous game was Minish Cap in 2005

Spirit Tracks 2009 - 2 years

A Link to the past 2 2013 - 4 years

 

Homeconsole team

Twilight Princess 2006 - 4 years after The Wind Waker. The game was delayed a full year to release a Wii version

Skyward Sword 2011 - 5 years

Zelda HD - TBD (at least 5 years)

 

According to experts, remakes doesn't affect development of the main projects, in fact, in some cases like this one, it speed ups.

And btw, if they started ALBW development in 2011, what did the handheld team do between 2010 and 2011?



Proud to be the first cool Nintendo fan ever

Number ONE Zelda fan in the Universe

DKCTF didn't move consoles

Prediction: No Zelda HD for Wii U, quietly moved to the succesor

Predictions for Nintendo NX and Mobile


Pavolink on 02 June 2015
Cream147 said:

The third remake is? Majora's Mask 3D, Wind Waker HD and...

And just dismissing ALBW because it's a sequel is ridiculous and completely arbitrary.

Again, in an ideal world I think the new Zelda should be coming out this year, but I'd rather they released a quality game than rush it out. Any quicker than a 4 year cycle and the games would be less special I think.

Ocarina of Time 3D

And saying A LInk Between Worlds is an original game despite recycling many things, like the overworls and ost, is ridiculous.



Proud to be the first cool Nintendo fan ever

Number ONE Zelda fan in the Universe

DKCTF didn't move consoles

Prediction: No Zelda HD for Wii U, quietly moved to the succesor

Predictions for Nintendo NX and Mobile