February 27^th, 2002 (12:00am) - Okay, okay. Miyamoto would never be smoking the stuff previously mentioned, and it was probably wrong of me to bring the idea out into the public. However, there have been skeptics regarding Miyamoto’s judgment lately, and it’s as well a mystery as to why the sky is blue, seeing as how there is an answer, but a mystery to many.

Many know what this means. About a week ago, three new screens were released portraying the development of the new Mario title. Let’s just say the gamer’s response was, "What the..?" People were intrigued from the more modern and village-style graphics, leaning towards the borderline of realism between puffy clouds and jagged knives. Originally at Spaceworld’01 these screens were impressive, as of their development life. Now, people seem to think the game has taken a step back. The graphics are definitely more kiddy orientated with kiddy octopi and the like. Gamers have gone as far to accuse Nintendo of enhancing the images more than they actually were. This happened with Microsoft and their images of Amped, at an earlier stage. They were despised for this, and hopefully this isn’t the case with Nintendo.

What I believe Miyamoto doesn’t understand, is that all things family-orientated, does NOT mean they have to look kiddy. Even the menu display looked like kindergarteners splashed paint on the screen. In an interview with him he stated that despite what gamers have hoped he would do regarding the new cel-da, he is keeping on track (fixing the eyes of course, as he should have since they scared me, even though Link as a girl scared me anyway) with the graphics saying gamers will learn to love them. Why give them something they don’t want?

As much as we all love Miyamoto for his work, an end has to come somewhere. In a more recent interview, he said graphic enhancement needs to come to a halt and creativity needs to be focused on. I believe creativity does need to improve with many developer’s titles, but I don’t think graphic enhancement should stop in its tracks. As much as I’m fine with the graphics of today, I still would like to play games that, while still creative, have a nice look that can if they want to, portray real life.

Progressing to a state of ultra-realism will allow developers to use the style they wish to, and if this happens, Miyamoto can be rest assured that creativity is the only thing that can be focused on since the graphics cannot be improved.

This is my opinion, and you may certainly have yours. I’m looking to all games Nintendo, and their graphics will certainly not stop my love for them, it will only help to give the gamers what they want. If you have your opinion, email me at ec2talon@hotmail.com.

~ TEi ~