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7:13 AM on 07.16.2008

49 comments
E3 08: Miyamoto 'flattered' by Microsoft's innovative new Mii system
Jim Sterling

E3 08: Miyamoto 'flattered' by Microsoft's innovative new Mii system screenshot

If you've been following E3 (since it's such an obscure event) then you'll doubtless be aware of Microsoft's new innovations, such as motion sensing microphones, blinking lights, EyeToys and even this fantastic new "Mii" concept, which is innovative because the Miis are called avatars, and avatar is a word with three syllables in it. That's pretty inventive.

Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto has had the nerve to try and claim some sort of credit for Microsoft's creation, as if he invented Miis first and is being copied. Speaking with IGN, Shigeru made the following bold-faced statement concerning The 'Soft's genius:

I don't really use the term avatar to refer to what we've done with the Miis. We created the Miis with the idea that the people you live with in your house or family, you also live together with inside the TV, and you can use those characters interchangeably in the games you play. To see that a company like Microsoft has taken something we've done and kind of looked at it in a way and brought it out on their platform to kind of show that we've done has become the standard, I find quite flattering. But on the other hand, I think probably the basic ideas behind perhaps those two different systems are different and because of that I think they will probably develop in different ways.

Sickening. You should be disgusted with yourself, Shigeru. You'll be trying to take credit for the Sixaxis next, you shameless thief.



MORE IN OUR E3 SECTION

Latest comment by BattyAdroit |view all 49 comments
Nintendo certainly invented the concept of a digital representation of one's self. And Kannon is the most thoughtful, articulate poster ever....




Dtoiders have posted 46 comments:

Reaprar's Avatar
Reaprar at 07/16/2008 07:11

Oh Jim, I love you sometimes.

Also, he does kinda have something there, Avatars are generally a glorification of yourself, or something you want to be (something mentioned in the live demo itself) where as the Mii's are supposed to be you.

Can't believe he picked up on that so quickly.
Nogarda's Avatar
Nogarda at 07/16/2008 07:17

Yeah I see so sort of microsoft based sims relation with the 'avatars' but the second you have to pay 200 points for a virtual shirt watch people go crazy with rage, etc etc etc. It'ld be the debate of christmas most likely if thats the case.
pumpy's Avatar
pumpy at 07/16/2008 07:17

I think the new avatars feature will be great on XBL but I mean you have to admit, they totally ripped off Nintendo's Mii style. They should have mad the avatars look less pastey and made them like artistic and almost like a drawing or art. Simply, just make them have a different look. Because the faces are practically identical to the Mii faces.
SWE3tMadness's Avatar
SWE3tMadness at 07/16/2008 07:32

Actually, I think Shiggy responded to this well. He wasn't pissed about it or anything, and even took it as a compliment to the Mii system. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and whatnot.
Scrixx's Avatar
Scrixx at 07/16/2008 07:38

Hmm Mii's before Avatars. Ha.

MSN Had "Avatars" before Mii's.
Reaprar's Avatar
Reaprar at 07/16/2008 07:43

@Scrixx
Ugh, I've never facepalmed so bad at a comment in my life, even if that was some lame attempt at humor just.. ugh.
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 07/16/2008 07:51

BUT JIM!

Isn't what we hardcore have been clambering for all this time really been getting our hair did at the local barber shop? Or shaking trees and picking fruit endlessly?

I don't remember ever signing up to be hardcore and wanting story, gameplay, and action... ridiculous.
falinter's Avatar
falinter at 07/16/2008 07:54

dude I just put this comment on the wrong article that Jim wrote!

I think it still applys to all Nintendo stuff though ;)
matmanx1's Avatar
matmanx1 at 07/16/2008 08:05

Sarcasm ftw!
gamesronlygames's Avatar
gamesronlygames at 07/16/2008 08:08

Nintendos show was a joke. It was like they were pandering to board executives with the litany of profit margins and shovelware upswings. I felt bad for Shawn the snowboarder to have to watch that crazed business woman try to snowboard. They all looked like complete idiots. As much as I love Nintendos foundational past and few good current games the rest is becoming more and more lamentable-almost to the fact Nintendo will eventually not be considered a video game company any longer-they will be relegated to toys r us trade shows,etc while MS and SOny duke it out. What a pity-with so many great IPs to build on they bring out this shlock!
JonDarkwood's Avatar
JonDarkwood at 07/16/2008 08:28

Now if only Nintendo would copy Microsoft's and Sony's decent games and hardware.
Scrixx's Avatar
Scrixx at 07/16/2008 08:32

@Reaprar: Ever heard of dynamic display pictures. I think they're enhancing that idea but for the 360. I don't think its a complete ripoff of Miis.

So troll somewhere else.
Tubatic's Avatar
Tubatic at 07/16/2008 08:34

Dude, the avatars look like Miis.

Of all the way that one could go about making their avatars look, they look like Miis.

I'd think the same thing, too!
sylphx's Avatar
sylphx at 07/16/2008 08:35

nice copy and paste gamesronlygames.
Demtor's Avatar
Demtor at 07/16/2008 08:49

Avatars look like they have some personality to them. Mii's have always looked fucking retarded to me... just like everything else Nintendo seems to be doing these days.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 07/16/2008 08:50

I don't care about these avatars, though I have to admit it looks more amusing then just a name on a list... it will add some personality to the gamer behind the gamertag I hope...

My GF is really exited about them :)
cryocide's Avatar
cryocide at 07/16/2008 08:59

So let me get this straight. You're saying that the type of avatars which date back at least to the mid 90's that I used to play with in virtual reality worlds, were created by Nintendo and sent back in time?! Holy crap, I never knew!


Those avatars don't look like Miis any more than Miis look like Lego people or classic Fisher-Price Little People.

Jesus, this whole who-copied-who conspiracy crap is getting out of hand. Sony copied Nintendo with motion control, except that Nintendo licensed it from Gyration, Inc who used it in mice years before. And now Miyamoto himself is caught-up in it. Has everyone been drinking stupid juice or what?
Alexradl's Avatar
Alexradl at 07/16/2008 09:11

Kannon:

My e-penis is bigger than your e-penis.
Misanthrope's Avatar
Misanthrope at 07/16/2008 09:22

Microsoft formula: turn your console into a mixing pot of other people ideas and run them out of business.

So they took PC games and Playstation 2 games with the xbox, one generation later they have overtaken Sony and it ain't looking like God of War III will be enough to bring Sony back.

Now Microsoft has set up their eyes upon Nintendo...I'd be worried if I was Nintendo, they don't seem to realize that with Bill Gates behind em they have the bank to live through a lot and still come out on top.
savagesaladin's Avatar
savagesaladin at 07/16/2008 09:34

When I scrolled down and saw the picture I actually thought it was new Miis from the wii. That actually does look like a ripoff to me. Whatever, don't care. Kind of looks like a mix from PS3's Home characters and the Wii's Mii's.

RIP THEM BOTH OFF! Whats next, motion controlled controllers in the shape of remotes?? Again, don't really care. Not taking sides. Not a tool.
Bizznet's Avatar
Bizznet at 07/16/2008 09:41

Games journalism is serious business.
Crunshii's Avatar
Crunshii at 07/16/2008 09:47

ah Microsoft, you never change. :) why not just buy Nintendo so you can say "its totally MS original"
ender_x's Avatar
ender_x at 07/16/2008 09:49

Though I love nintendo. I love the wii. I love mario, zelda, and all the stupid fucking mario party games. I MIGHT even like pokemon.
However, that being said - though the wii is amazing, the only really good games don't utilize a lot of the 'motion' control. It's basically a wireless point-at-the-screen mouse type deal. so no, nintendo doesn't have the market on avatars. Even remotely.
Bans's Avatar
Bans at 07/16/2008 09:49

MS has been doing this for DECADES! I do think this is a cool idea as long as they implement it properly. Lets see where they take this.
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 07/16/2008 10:11

Guys, guys, stop fighting over something that no one wants.
Rigor Mortis's Avatar
Rigor Mortis at 07/16/2008 10:14

@Kannon

Dude, that was the most fucking obvious sarcasm in the history of space and time. HOW did you miss it?
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 07/16/2008 10:20

Kanon = fail
Steel Squirrel's Avatar
Steel Squirrel at 07/16/2008 10:22

LOL @ people taking things the wrong way.
Springsteen's Avatar
Springsteen at 07/16/2008 10:32

If you raped and killed Shiggy's mom, wife and children, he would simply hug you and say "Your childhood must have been hard. Come. Let's play Wii Sports and try to put everything that's happened to you into perspective".

Now, really, THAT's one easy-going fella. While everyone's too busy complaining and trying to strip off Nintendo's credit from everything, repeating the "they are a different... THING. That's not videogame. We're videogame. WE ARE!" Shiggy throws flowers and compliments at them.

Trollers, fanboys, listen up: If Myiamoto has reached Nirvana, why can't you?
Springsteen's Avatar
Springsteen at 07/16/2008 10:33

And Sterling, GOD DAMM YOU! How can you hate on everything and destroy all that's sacred and good? It's obvious that the avatars are the rip-off here. How can you be SO DUMB? The Mii came before, DUH!

...

Because misunderstanding is the new black.
loki d20's Avatar
loki d20 at 07/16/2008 10:35

Are people really missing on the facetious commentary made by Jim here? He is going to be laughing his ass off when he comes back to read some of these comments.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 07/16/2008 10:50

"fuck you sterling. do you think for one second Microsoft would even consider "avatars" if the Wii wasn't selling as fast as it is. Motion sensing, more casual gaming and avatars, this wasnt even on their minds until Nintendo smashed their sales record in little to no time. you act like nintendo didnt help bring many of today's standards into gaming. sure they may not be your cup of tea, but give them a little credit for once.

this is not me bashing MS but you Sterling, you're a prick, a fanboy and a piss poor blogger who's only looking to start a fight and controversy rather then help push the medium to that of respect. crawl back in your hole, if you can still fit in it."

Thank you, and I hope you are diagnosed with cancer one day.
Antlerbot's Avatar
Antlerbot at 07/16/2008 11:04

@ Kannon -

really? how many times were you dropped on your head as a child?

must be a foreigner. its the only possibility that makes sense.
T9X's Avatar
T9X at 07/16/2008 11:18

Well rip-off or not,I kinda dig the idea,as long as its fleshed out and not just a half baked cash in.I was kind of partial to the gamertag pics,not really sure if the whole "avatar" thing will completly replace them from my friends list or not.But it could be interesting,if they let you fully and completly customize the little fuckers.Maybe,like an achievement in gears 2 will not only up your gamerscore,but also give you the option of equiping a chainsaw bayonet for your avatar.Lol,we will see very soon exactly how well microsoft has it all planned out though.
CyanideBlues's Avatar
CyanideBlues at 07/16/2008 11:26

I do honestly hope that Kannon was actually playing along, really convincingly, lest I lose further hope in the human race.
RAB's Avatar
RAB at 07/16/2008 11:53

FUCK. THAT.
908peruvian's Avatar
908peruvian at 07/16/2008 12:03

fuck Mii's

fuck Avatars

fuck Home

fuck littlebig planet

you should only care if you're a 10 yr old
nintendoll's Avatar
nintendoll at 07/16/2008 12:16

someone higher up on the comments (don't remember who) said that it would be cool if the avatars were a different art style. Microsoft, make it a contest like you did for designing the shell of the 360!

Also, I want some sort of bad-ass robot as my avatar, not my little girl self. If I can't be a robot and/or bear I will be sorely disappointed.
cejIIIut's Avatar
cejIIIut at 07/16/2008 13:00

The reality is with the avatars Microsoft's hands were tied, with the Wii having Mii's and Sony sometime in the next decade releasing Home, you can't be the only console without some form of personal/ingame character customization.

And the art style of the avatars, what were they going to do just copy the cartoon style of the Mii's or copy the realism of Sony's home. Your two competitors already have the two extremes of how you can make digital people (cartoony & realistic) and it looked like microsoft (who doesn't design them rare does) shot somewhere in the middle with something more realistic than the mii's but cartoony enough to not be Home 360.
misfit's Avatar
misfit at 07/16/2008 14:33

For me, Nintendo has always been about being inventive, taking chances and blazing a trail for others to follow. Sure, I feel that at the moment, the 360 is the machine with the most good games. But Nintendo has always been willing to gamble when it comes to new ideas. Sometimes it does't pay off. This time it did. And MS took notice.
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 07/16/2008 23:49

If I can't put a robot head on my avatar, I don't want it.
Ha_do_ken's Avatar
Ha_do_ken at 07/17/2008 09:32

you can guarantee MS points will suddenly become a factor here...
aaronf's Avatar
aaronf at 07/17/2008 11:41

I don't care if any vendor copies ideas from any other vendor (Sony, NIntendo, M$, etc), as long as they don't claim they are being innovative. Copying and improving on other people's ideas is a part of the process of progressing. The only problem I have with M$ is that when they blatantly rip off other people's ideas, they usually make it half assed and try to pretend they came up with the idea all on their own.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 07/17/2008 12:09

No wonder Nintendo can shit out a piece of filth and it will sell like God's semen, people like Kannon are everywhere.

My opinion?

I want to turn on my 360 and play a game, I [i]dont[i/] want to have to look at a stupid fucking character in between. At least with Home it's completely optional. And no, I don't know what the point of Home is, and I don't care.
smurfee mcgee's Avatar
smurfee mcgee at 07/17/2008 16:45

lol @ " sell like God's semen"
BattyAdroit's Avatar
BattyAdroit at 07/18/2008 00:54

Nintendo certainly invented the concept of a digital representation of one's self.

And Kannon is the most thoughtful, articulate poster ever.


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