Masahiro Sakurai: Why Wii U owners wait longer for SSB4

Source: Kotaku

"Checking is done both domestically and overseas, so for a game like Smash Bros., several hundred people are employed. So, debugging alone becomes a huge project. So much so that one of the biggest reasons for the separate release dates for the 3DS and Wii U versions was so that we could shift the debugging periods."

As gamers, we are able to laugh at funny glitches, and yell at developers over game-breaking bugs that are stumbled upon by accident, but very few of us are subjected to the process of actually finding them. With a game like Smash Bros., the varying combinations and complex coding involved is mind-blowing.

"In a previous Smash Bros., we found a bug during the debugging process where if fighter A hits item B and fighters C and D are simultaneously affected, the game would freeze. Considering not only the different fighters, but items, stages, color settings, play rules, and game modes, the number of varying combinations are astronomical. In order to properly debug, every pattern must be tried, but such a task would be impossible no matter how many decades or centuries you take.

There are many reasons why a game's release date will be delayed, but eight or nine times out of ten, it's usually because a bug couldn't be fixed in time. But it's better than releasing a product like that."

- Masahiro Sakurai

This is why Nintendo doesn't go third party.

Indeed, it is.

Sounds more than fair.

Let's be realzies here, Nintendo games are pretty damn solid when it comes to bugs and glitches.

In other news.....Water is good for you.

Too bad that, due to Wii U's struggle, I see some go as far as ask Nintendo to rush their games.

Love how they don't rush games or release them with lots of bugs, unlike some other developers.

Nice jab at EA.

BUGS? EA releases games that are downright broken and don't work.

This is why Nintendo games can be played now and ten years from now and still be considered awesome.

And when quality suffers, they'll say: "See! SEE! Nintendo's game quality is going down the tube! They need to get out of the gaming business!"

Best for Nintendo to get the game nice and polished.

Admittingly, I haven't played any more recent EA games, so I haven't experienced all these problems. And I don't have much desire to, if it's really that bad. I've heard all about it, and watched videos of bugs and stuff.

People are so hard on Nintendo and yet they are the only company not doing half of all the annoying crap others are doing. And when they do...like DLC..or F2P...or day one DLC...they do it right.

LOL at that bug exemple. Making games is not easy people. :P

And then the same people who find these words admirable would be mad at devs for delaying western games.

Exactly.

@freedomfreak: Sounds more than fair.

Let's be realzies here, Nintendo games are pretty damn solid when it comes to bugs and glitches

No doubt about that.

Bethesda, take notes.

golly, that fabled Nintendo polish coming through.

Yes, excellent.

This is why Nintendo is excellent.

Hey, rest of the industry, instead of laughing at these guys, maybe look at what they do for a change...?

Unlike many other publishers who release throwaway iterations of a franchise only to replace them a year later (making bugs a case of out of sight out of mind) Nintendo 1st party games tend to be evergreen sellers - even maintaining high price tags for years. Nintendo can't afford to complacently put out a broken Zelda or Smash Bros cos once it's out that game is going maybe one of two releases from that franchise for that platform's lifecycle.

Breaking up the release of the 3DS and Wii U version was the best idea ever. Too bad ORAS will probably be released along side the Wii U's Smash....

There are many reasons why a game's release date will be delayed, but eight or nine times out of ten, it's usually because a bug couldn't be fixed in time. But it's better than releasing a product like that.

What's sad is that it's becoming the standard to release the game broken and just patch it later.

Good on Sakurai for actually finishing his games before releasing them.

It's a shame they can't get it out earlier, a Wii U Smash Bros holiday bundle would be nice. All they'll have to work with is Captain Toad and Hyrule Warriors, and maybe (doubt it) a Bayonetta 2 bundle. But, like he said, better it come out as bug free as possible.

I have doubts though if this is really the case, or just a cover story. I mean having both a 3DS and Wii U I want the Wii U version if both came out at the same time. However, they're not, and the 3DS version is releasing first, and my compulsive side will probably pick it up first and then get the Wii U one later, whereas if they were both available at once I'd just get the Wii U version. I wonder if Nintendo anticipates this with other gamers in order to maximize sales.

But, giving them the benefit of the doubt, in choosing which platform to support first it makes sense to support the 3DS, the userbase is bigger and they can garner more buzz for the title which can help prop up the Wii U version when it releases. Plus they can take greater advantage of the holiday season when sales are at their best.

Sigh I hope their initials efforts are so great that it doesn't get delayed to 2015. Well what I'm saying is "I hope there's not that many bugs during debugging!"

Why does Nintendo always feel the need to come out and explain shit that really is irrelevant to Joe Blow consumer, yet is pretty common sense knowledge for anyone familiar with software development? Why do they always feel compelled to justify and excuse their delays with explanations?

Agreed. Wouldn't want a buggy product, but I just wish they had exterminated it sooner haha.

Because Joe Blow Consumer of today apparently has a hard time telling the difference between the Wii and Wiiu. lol.