I got prime location at Nintendo’s keynote at GDC by Satoru Iwata. Sitting 5 rows back on the center aisle. I got to see everything and everyone up close. I live blogged everything, but my internet connection wasn’t working in the Esplanade room, so I’m bringing it all to you now. All times are ET since I didn’t feel like changing my laptop time

11:52 – Waiting for keynote to start. Watching Totillo, Keighly, Takahashi chat with Reggie.

11:58 – There’s a DSi dev station setup on stage. Maybe showing off US launch DSi-ware games?

12:07 – Megan Scavio takes the stage for intro, talking about the Wii and Iwata’s history

12:09 – Satoru Iwata takes the stage pimping a leather jacket

12:10 – Now more than 50 million Wii sold around the world, making it fastest selling video game hardware in history

12:11 – Sales of Nintendo products exceeding all others in European markets

12:12 – Software sells hardware. Couldn’t say it better myself. Hopefully he’s got some goods for the hardcore this year.

12:12 – Iwata thanks everyone at Nintendo and the fans for everything they’ve done (selling, creating, buying)

12:13 – Later he’s going to explain why 3rd party software can thrive on Nintendo platforms, but he understands the concern that people have regarding this issue.

12:15 – Talking about his history of joining Nintendo around the time of the SNES. They were in a “Death Spiral” in development. Had financial pressure and very little time to get things done, which leads to poorer quality and poorer sales.

12:17 – The way Nintendo develops product, particularly Mr Miyamoto, is not the same as everyone else

12:18 – Going to share a few ways Mr Miyamoto works to share some hints and ideas. His core concepts being by observing other human beings. He is curious particularly when he sees something a lot of people enjoy. Analyzed what part of the activity is the fun part to try to bring that to games. This is why he can invent games that are popular with veteran gamers and those who’ve never played before.

12:20 – Pikman came from his gardening habits, Nintendogs came from him getting a puppy, Wii Fit came from him weighing himself every day.

12:21 – Iwata jokes that Miyamoto has an NDA for talking about his hobbies.

Miyamoto is on an “Upward Spiral”.
- Ideas are everywhere
- Personal communication
- Prototype stage – showing what wii sports boxing looks like in prototype. miyamoto told the team to only be concerned with the wii remote actions and what happens.
- small teams – sometimes just one programmer for a prototype
- Multiple projects – he can clearly distinguish which details must be perfectly finished during each stage of development and which can just be tentatively finished.
- Trial and error – need to make sure what really is fun is there in the game. Sometimes prototype phase can last more than 2 years, sometimes needs to be stopped. “This is the nature of trial and error”. Projects that succeed move on and only then do Iwata and Miyamoto discuss timing for project completion.

12:27 – Iwata says it’s ironic that Miyamoto was his mentor and now works for him.

12:28 – Not knowing how things are progressing makes it hard for Iwata to expect when certain projects will be done. Not good for his mental health. Gets a laugh.

12:29 – Sometimes Miyamoto flips over the tea table, but helps rearrange the dishes the way they need to be – he can flip a game concept over and rearrange it the way it needs to be to be fun and successful. Miyamoto never throws away dishes, though, even if he removes them from the table.

12:30 – Hoped that Nintendogs would launch with original DS and Super Mario Galaxy would launch with Wii. Didn’t happen, but Wii Sports did get completed for the Wii launch by Miyamoto.

12:31 – Sharing one more Miyamoto approach before he leaves the topic. Crowd is very subdued. Miyamoto randomly kidnapping employees – handed controller and told to start enjoying themself. No marketers present, no list of questions, no need for player to talk about reactions. Miyamoto will never allow development team to tell players how to get through levels. Because they can’t send developers to every home, same can be said for kidnapped employee. “Miyamoto’s Over the Shoulder view” because he watches over them to see where they are happy, frustrated, etc.

12:3 – One goal by Miyamoto and Nintendo is surprise. In order for consumers to be surprised, they need to surprise themselves. Japanese performer Tsunku contacted Nintendo in 2004 to make a game and was very passionate about it. Small development team was put together in 2005 to put together prototype headed by Yoshio Sakamoto and Kazuyoshi Osawa. Quickest way to learn rhythm is to dance, so developers danced. Showing video, very funny. First time in his career that Iwata had to approve a budget for dance lessons. Eventually just 5 team members were needed to finish Rizumu Tengoku rhythm game for DS, released in August 2006 in Japan. Rhythm Heaven in the West. Showing video of the game. This time team was even smaller, only 3 members. Didn’t expect the game to be a hit from the start. Great sales in Japan, in stores in 11 days in Japan. Iwata giving Nintendo DS Rhythm Heaven to everyone in attendance. People like free stuff

12:42 – 20% of Wii owners never had a video game console in their home. 47% of all new DS owners last year were female. Existing gamers, though, are who are supporting the industry.

12:43 – Misconceptions about what’s going on in the industry, ie 3rd party games not succeeding on Wii.

12:44 – Virtual console reminds gamers of what they’ve missed. Used VC and solid first party franchises to build the install base. More 3rd party games were sold for Wii than any other platform in 2008 according to NPD.

12:46 – Wii Balance Board just shy of 15mil gobal install base (PS3 is about 17-18mil). Wow.

12:46 – Rock n Roll Climber wii ware game being shown, uses balance board. Shown by Jonathan ??? from NOA. Uses Wii remote and nunchuck for hands and balance board for feet and weight shift to climb a rock wall. At end of ever stage, you get rock n roll payoff… shown an electric guitar to shred to. Made no sense together.

12:49 – Iwata back on stage. Actively looking for ways to expand development opportunities on Nintendo platforms. 90% of all wii ware games are from third party.

12:50 – Talking about and showing Wii storage. Guy from Treehouse games on stage. SD card shown on Wii home screen. System Menu 4.0. Clicking SD card takes you to SD card screen. 20 separate screens, like Wii Menu. Have to go to SD card menu to see them all. Biggest change… Wii handles SDHC cards… cards up to 32gb on the market. This is big. Can also download content directly to SD card from Wii Shop channel. Can launch content directly off SD card (wii ware, VC, channels). Short loading time. Loads Zelda 2 VC off SD card. Launches fast into game.

12:54 – Iwata back on stage. System Menu 4.0 launches today. Available for download right now.

12:55 – Square Enix is bringing games to Wii Ware and VC. FF4 – The After Years – sequel to FF4 on the SNES. Available in 2009. Final Fantasy coming to VS, available in Japan in May followed by 5 other in the series. Everywhere else in the world, FF1 and FF4 will be available, more details from Square Enix.

12:56 – Bill from Treehouse back on stage, showing off DSi Ware games. Two games being shown to personalize and share things. First is a Japanese game that roughly translates to “Moving Memo”. He’s drawing a car and a line for a road, can animate it, use microphone to add background sounds. Can upload to a central server so anyone can see. Showing video of what more artistic people can do with the game. Honestly looks a little boring for most people with very little art skills.

1:02 – Showing Wario Ware Snapped, used the DSi camera. Wario Ware mini games, but uses your face and movements to perform actions. Seems a little tough to do on the go with a DS. Quick and simple things. Shows you video of what you were doing after the game ends, which is hilarious.

1:04 – Iwata back, 2 million DSi sold in Japan since launch. Amazon reports more preorder for DSi than any system in history. Gamestop has 2x the amount of preorders for DSi than first DS.

1:05 – They have not forgotten about the interest of the most interested gamers. Iwata spent too much money growing up on Space Invaders. Announced Virtual Console Arcade. Meh applause. Can get classic arcade games. 4 will be available at first in all world, 6 in Japan. Available today.

1:07 – Nintendo is thankful for 3rd parties, but needs to satisfy loyalists. DS video being shown. Zelda on a train.  Cool gameplay being shown, looks like the Phantom Hourglass. The Legend of Zelda – Spirit Attacks (tentative name). Available later this year. Lots of applause.

1:09 – Iwata saying that during last great depression, people invented a lot of awesome things, and this could be the same with wii ware and dsi ware during this recession. “Future of video games is in your hands and I cannot wait for you to show us your surprise”

That’s in, folks. All in all, it was just okay. Expect more analysis later.