According to some sources, Zelda Wii was already in development in 2006, so even before Twilight Princess launching.

So if the game finally arrives at the end of this year 2010, it will have the longest development cycle in a Zelda game: 5 years.

Even longer than Ocarina of time (three years).

Will that be truth?

http://wii.nintendolife.com/news/2010/01/near_five_year_development_cycle_for_zelda_wii

if it comes out this year it's more like 4 years.

Whoa. On one hand, that's just ridiculous. But on the other hand, it may have been in pre-production since then (hell, Pixar occasionally spends 7 years on a movie including pre-production time). They may have been brainstorming how to tackle a whole motion-control Zelda revamp since they started brainstorming motion-control gameplay at all. Zelda does seem to be the biggest beast to tackle when it comes to motion-control. Mario doesn't need motion control, but they found some really great ways to sneak it in, and Metroid really just needed IR pointer controls and a few gestures. But the way Zelda games work, I think it really does need to be rebuilt from the ground up for motion controls. I bet we would've seen a new Zelda by now if it wasn't for Motion+ pushing it back.

I really doubt they've been *actively* developing the game since 2006. I remember those rumours that said a new Zelda was in development since before TP came out, and I do belive those rumours were later debunked as false, Nintendo needed all the time and resources they could get to get TP finished and out on time.
I could see how they would've started development on the new title sometime shortly after TP came out, but that would imo probably have been pre-production processes, like Rubang said...

I would guess Ocarina of Time had a longer development time than three years considering the First Playable was shown in 1995 and the game was released in the holiday season of 1998.

If it will really set a new bar for this genre and it is something "never seen before" as Aonuma said, and I believe this man, then this development cycle is worth it.

It's not the same as developing Zelda in the same successfull formula. I all about total makeover for it. No matter what, even if I hate it I'll play it because it's Zelda.


I'd buy a Zelda brick if there was one available.

Twilight Princess was pretty much finished by late 2005, early 2006. They spent the extra time on motion controls for the Wii version, and to release the game along side the Wii.

It's entirely possible Zelda Wii has been in development for 5 years or so, but I doubt it will have been in-depth development 5 years ago. 4 years of development sounds closer to the mark.

Mario 64 was in development for 4 years right? Would it be that outrageous to claim that Zelda Wii took a year longer?

Perhaps the addition of motion plus threw them off

It all depends on the scale and scope of development.
It could be just story ideas or story boards four years ago. It is doubtful it was programming.

Mike from Morgantown