Metroids 25th Anniversary

[flamepanther]

not a conscious attempt to somehow dishonor Yokoi.

I don't think any one said that there is a conscious attempt to dishonor Yokoi.

The idea I've seen tossed around that Nintendo is deliberately ignoring Yokoi's contributions seems tantamount to the same thing to me. Fortunately, that idea is pretty obviously mistaken.

[Flake]

not a conscious attempt to somehow dishonor Yokoi.

I don't think any one said that there is a conscious attempt to dishonor Yokoi.

The idea I've seen tossed around that Nintendo is deliberately ignoring Yokoi's contributions seems tantamount to the same thing to me. Fortunately, that idea is pretty obviously mistaken.

I don't think anyone says Nintendo is doing it on purpose - just that they are doing it. That notion had been kicking around for awhile but it really came to head during the Anniversary - You'd think Mario Land would have gotten some kind of a nod when Nintendo was stressing the history of the character so strongly?

It's just weird.

[flamepanther]

It doesn't seem strange to me. Very few videogame anniversary retrospectives pay much attention to "gaiden" games.

In the meantime, Nintendo has made tons of fond nods to Yokoi's many other games and gizmos. Many. The question isn't why Nintendo is ignoring his legacy, because they aren't. The question is why are some fans ignoring it.

[swiftzx]

I'd like to add my input about Yokoi. I doubt they're trying to ignore his creations; why look at the resurgence in the past couple of years with Game and Watch Collections and bringing back a Game and Watch game. Was the game Ball? Also, don't forget about Mr.Game and Watch in SSBB

[flamepanther]

Also, don't forget about Mr.Game and Watch in SSBB

Don't forget R.O.B. in SSBB either! He was Yokoi's too.

[Breetai]

The idea I've seen tossed around that Nintendo is deliberately ignoring Yokoi's contributions seems tantamount to the same thing to me.

I'm not claiming that Nintendo is doing anything against Gunpei, but do not underestimate the Japanese (or even east Asian) ability of holding grudges. They do it to a degree that is dumbfounding to a lot of westerners, especially North Americans (yes, I know about Catholic/Protestants, English/French, Greek/Turkey, etc.).

[flamepanther]

I'm not claiming that Nintendo is doing anything against Gunpei, but do not underestimate the Japanese (or even east Asian) ability of holding grudges. They do it to a degree that is dumbfounding to a lot of westerners, especially North Americans (yes, I know about Catholic/Protestants, English/French, Greek/Turkey, etc.).

I don't see what relevance that has when Nintendo clearly isn't neglecting or denigrating Yokoi's legacy at all. Miyamoto speaks fondly and reverently about Yokoi. There's clearly no grudge on his part. Iwata wasn't in charge when the Virtual Boy failed, or when Yokoi left the company, so he'd have no personal cause for a grudge--not to mention he should be sympathetic at this point when it comes to taking responsibility for an underselling 3D game system. The rest of the company is cranking out a steady trickle of homages to Gunpei Yokoi's work--not something you do for somebody you've got a grudge against.

The whole topic is a conspiracy theory, and the vast body of evidence is firmly against it.

[pakopako]

I'd like to add my input about Yokoi. I doubt they're trying to ignore his creations; why look at the resurgence in the past couple of years with Game and Watch Collections and bringing back a Game and Watch game. Was the game Ball? Also, don't forget about Mr.Game and Watch in SSBB

Don't forget about the philosophy behind the GameBoy which was used for the Wii (lateral thinking with withering technology).
Or the almighty D-Pad. (Even with analog sticks, players love the D-pad.)

[Breetai]

I don't see what relevance that has when Nintendo clearly isn't neglecting or denigrating Yokoi's legacy at all.

I don't know much about the situation, but I do know something about Japanese cultural traits (that are not necessarily part of every individual, but are present overall in a culture). They might or might not be relevant here. I really do not know.

The whole topic is a conspiracy theory, and the vast body of evidence is firmly against it.

You make it sound like conspiracy theories are always a negative thing. Anyway, like I said, I don't know much about this situation; only that Gunpei left Nintendo to work with Bandai after the Virtual Boy thing, before his accidental death. I know nothing beyond that and what I just read in this thread.

Gunpei was behind a LOT of awesome things in gaming history; the d-pad, the Game & Watch, Donkey Kong (partially), Mario Bros. (partially), Kid Icarus, Metroid, Game Boy, Wonderswan, etc. That's off the top of my head. He was a definite asset to Nintendo and gaming in general.

[flamepanther]

Gunpei was behind a LOT of awesome things in gaming history; the d-pad, the Game & Watch, Donkey Kong (partially), Mario Bros. (partially), Kid Icarus, Metroid, Game Boy, Wonderswan, etc. That's off the top of my head. He was a definite asset to Nintendo and gaming in general.

Thanks for reminding me about Kid Icarus. That's another thing Nintendo is bringing back.