Nintendo says Sony has a "Mii-too" approach

by Nick Doerr { Mar 10th 2007 at 1:00PM }

Goodness! Using Mii as a pun... again, it'll never get old, using these words in ways clearly not the actual spelling, but pronounced phonetically the same as the actual word! Sorry, sorry... anyway, while GDC may be over, we're not finished reporting on it yet. This is in reference to Nintendo's response to the announcement of PlayStation HOME. Nintendo stated, "This is an example of Sony's "Mii-too" approach. But as Mr. Miyamoto states, Nintendo years ago considered and rejected the type of approach Sony is now taking." Which, we assume, means a virtual world.

We've got to admit: the idea of PlayStation HOME isn't an completely original idea in concept (Sims, Second Life, actual life, Miis), but the execution of it is going to be something fresh to that "fake life" genre. Nintendo may say that Sony is taking a "Mii-too" approach, but Nintendo took their approach from already existing ideas, too. You know why they did that? Because they're good ideas. Good ideas deserve props. So, props to both Nintendo and Sony for good ideas! We have to wonder, though... will Microsoft hop on this bandwagon or keep what finely-tuned service they already have?

Tags: HOME, Mii, Nintendo, PlayStation 3, Playstation3, PS3, Sony, Wii

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Stef Geiger @ Mar 10th 2007 1:28PM

Right. Well, if that's how it is, the Rare is a copycat for making a 3D shooter after Quake.

There's plenty of "Oh, that's a good idea, lets do something like it" in all industries and it's not even a bad thing. But in this case, it's not even copying someone elses idea. How ELSE would you have a whole bunch of people who don't know each other congregate and talk? Ah yes, a massive chatroom.

Even if Sony was "copying" Nintendo, I still wouldn't fault them. Personally, I would likely prefer the Sony product because I hate the mentality and style behind most Nintendo concepts.

Dan @ Mar 10th 2007 1:53PM

Agreed.

Joshua Campbell @ Mar 10th 2007 1:53PM

hey i am using a Mac and i do not get why MICROSOFT is so up in arms about a copy *:SNEEZE:* VISTA, sorry i really need to take something for that, anyway i cant wait for my Home on my PlayStation 3 console, when is that update (Wallpaper,Etc) coming i heard it was the 8th, nothing yet...

Bored @ Mar 10th 2007 1:57PM

Nintendo's arrogance showing up once more. They simply always claim they invented everything, and mindless fanboys believe them. They just use Miyamoto's name to give their bullshit credibility.

Home was developed INDEPENDENTLY, and prior to any knowledge of Nintendo's Mii. For over two years. FACT.

Before these displays of unbelievable arrogance on Nintendo's part, I actually was considering a Wii. Congratulations, Nintendo, you just lost a client.

Stef Geiger @ Mar 10th 2007 2:25PM

Yeah, seriously, good point, it's clear that Home has been in the works since before Nintendo was public about their ideas, and before Second Life was really in the public eye.

And yeah, if people are going to start throwing sh*t at companies for copying things, we'd HAVE to start with Microsoft. All they've been doing for the past decade is adding features that Mac OS has had for close to two decades.

Killer @ Mar 10th 2007 2:58PM

I don't see what the big deal is. Microsoft and Nintendo should be praising this. I mean a company competitor thinks that Microsoft and Nintendo both have very superb ideas. They wouldn't have made HOME if they thought that it was stupid and going to suck.

(Also) My god, why are there so many one sided idealist for apple. Apple and Microsoft copy each other. Every company "copies" one another. Look at the soft drink companies. Pepsi and Coke. Copying up the ass. It's called business. There is nothing wrong with it (as long as they stay outside the patents of that said product). Being one side minded destroys.

J @ Mar 10th 2007 10:40PM

So on the basis of a sarcastic press comment, you have decided to not buy a console, and i assume any other nintendo products for the rest of your life. Thats a pretty serious reaction to f**k all. Still if it wasn't for zealots and morons where would the world be ... lets wait and see.

And if it took sony 2 years to create a GTA style lobby thing, then they should really consider expanding the team working on their systems software beyond the 2 people obviously currently doing it.

rfom @ Mar 10th 2007 3:30PM

"Apple and Microsoft copy each other. "
Worng, that copying goes just one way.
Also if Ninty doesnt like copying...they should drop the optical drive (copied from PS1) and go back to their cartridges.

Killer @ Mar 10th 2007 3:44PM

@ rfom
Thanks for that one sided biase opinion. Question really is, why does it bother you so much? Is it because you have a MAC and you don't like the idea of competition to your OS?

There is nothing wrong with improving ideas with general ideas of other companies.

Satan'sClause @ Mar 10th 2007 6:35PM

"Also if Ninty doesnt like copying...they should drop the optical drive (copied from PS1) and go back to their cartridges."

I'm not a technical dweeb but you might want to think back a little further.

Stef Geiger @ Mar 10th 2007 5:20PM

I think I can speak for all fed-up PC users when I say that the only thing that bothers me about the "copying" is that Microsoft claims that they're innovating and creating all these new features, some of which have been around on mac OS for literally more than a decade.

SKI @ Mar 10th 2007 5:30PM

@rfom

Do you know anything at all of how the PS1 came into being? The playstation project was a joint venture between Sony and Nintendo that fell through (basically by Nintendo stabbing Sony in the back). Nintendo always meant to to CDs but didn't think the tech at the time was better then cartridges. After N64 didn't sell as well as planned, the finally started using optical media for games.

Thomas @ Mar 10th 2007 9:49PM

What nerve Nintendo has... why don't just give Sony some credit for having a good idea... from what I understand, this Playstation home was been thought out since 2005; and you have to admit the whole thing doesn't seem like something Sony just slapped together.

Nintendo should copy Nintendo... Sony took that Super nes controllers, and made the Dual Shock, and after that... Nintendo has just messed up every controller they've made.

Shadow El @ Mar 10th 2007 9:54PM

"Nintendo has just messed up every controller they've made."

See: Wii-mote. >_>

Oh, wait. This is PS3 fanboy. My bad.

ill trooper @ Mar 10th 2007 10:15PM

"(Also) My god, why are there so many one sided idealist for apple. Apple and Microsoft copy each other. Every company "copies" one another. Look at the soft drink companies. Pepsi and Coke. Copying up the ass. It's called business. There is nothing wrong with it (as long as they stay outside the patents of that said product). Being one side minded destroys."

Well... the reason this is so upsetting to us long-term Apple users is that mice, windows, and GUI user-interfaces were introduced to the marketplace by Apple several YEARS before Windows was even STARTED, much less a usable, stable platform, which I consider to have finally happened with Windows 3.0. So it wasn't a case of Microsoft and Apple trading ideas on tiny features, but rather, Microsoft deciding that a GUI operating system was the way things were heading, and RIPPED OFF the Apple operating system nearly to the 'T.' And then over on Joystiq and 360Fanboy I have to wade through comments about LIVE getting ripped off by Sony... People REALLY don't know what to get upset about. Either learn the history of all these companies and who innovated what and when they did it... Then I'll take someone's comments seriously... Or do what most of us do: use what works best for you and hope that any innovations make it to your chosen system.

Nothing to get all wound up about, now that it's 20 years later and Apple still shines when put up against anything Windows offers, with the exception of marketshare, which doesn't bother me that much anymore, as I also have a PC for gaming. There is one 3D program I'd love to see on Mac: XSi SoftImage, still only for Windows...

Dan @ Mar 11th 2007 1:37AM

@ill trooper
Ok.. and Apple developed mice first?
No, they copied it from Xerox.
Every retard should just accept that good ideas become the norm.

Dan @ Mar 11th 2007 1:41AM

Actually it appears Apple stole more than just the use of a mouse:
"PARC has been the incubator of many elements of modern computing. Most were included in the Alto, which introduced and unified most aspects of now-standard personal computer usage model: the mouse[1], computer generated color graphics, a graphical user interface featuring windows and icons, the WYSIWYG text editor, InterPress (a resolution-independent graphical page description language and the precursor to PostScript), Ethernet, and fully formed object-oriented programming in the Smalltalk programming language and integrated development environment. The laser printer was developed at the same time, as an integral part of the overall environment."
From wikipedia's article on "Xerox PARC"

mushiking @ Mar 11th 2007 5:10AM

this is Nintendo on the defense for a change. it's already proven a dozen times that they have been working on this years. 1up also said it during their podcast.

Bored @ Mar 11th 2007 7:15AM

@J:
"So on the basis of a sarcastic press comment, you have decided to not buy a console, and i assume any other nintendo products for the rest of your life. Thats a pretty serious reaction to f**k all."

Nope, on the basis of SEVERAL arrogant comments, this one being the most obvious insult to my intelligence. Rest of my life? You assume wrong. I'll just hold on the Game Cube with motion sensing for now.
I already came close to giving up on the PS3 when I heard of the limited BC, but as long as there are enough new games releases... then I guess I can pass on GoW and Okami.

"And if it took sony 2 years to create a GTA style lobby thing, then they should really consider expanding the team working on their systems software beyond the 2 people obviously currently doing it."

It's not just a GTA style lobby, they also spent a lot of time making it advertisers-friendly, expandable for third-party publishers to promote their products, making content that they intend to sell themselves, and it's meant to operate with any game in order to work effectively as a lobby. Think for a second, I know it's difficult for you...

"Still if it wasn't for zealots and morons where would the world be ... lets wait and see."

Exactly. :)

Mr Tourette @ Mar 11th 2007 1:32PM

"Personally, I would likely prefer the Sony product because I hate the mentality and style behind most Nintendo concepts."

"Nintendo's arrogance showing up once more... Before these displays of unbelievable arrogance on Nintendo's part, I actually was considering a Wii. Congratulations, Nintendo, you just lost a client."

"Also if Ninty doesnt like copying...they should drop the optical drive (copied from PS1) and go back to their cartridges."

"basically by Nintendo stabbing Sony in the back"

"Nintendo has just messed up every controller they've made."

These comments defy belief. You wonder why everyone unites against videogame enthusiasts and, particulary, Sony fanboys? Think about these comments guys, take a good long hard look in the mirror and ask yourselves; "do I really like it that hard up the arse?".

Elliot @ Aug 30th 2008 3:34PM

Why is everyone so judgemental about Nintendo. Also, its not really copying, Sony is being inspired. Sony really needs a killer app or something. If they get this right they might just stand a chance against microsoft's titan; XBox Live.

sonyguy @ Mar 12th 2007 1:25AM

Bored. At least Nintendo didn't tack on their motion controls because at the last minute thought yes this will be a big thing and just for the record don't be such a fucking loser fanboy not to know that Nintendo is the reason Sony is even in the market dumbass. If it wasn't for Nintendo running to Phillips over Sony the playstation brand wouldn't even be here. I can't understand why Sony fanboys have to bash Nintendo. Have some respect. I think it's great Sony took their own idea of the playstation one and ran with it. They stole the market for a few years because of this. However if they will do it with the ps3 remains to be unseen as of yet. One thing is for sure. They have forced Nintendo to bring something new to the table. That is a win for all gamers. This market can't expand if new things don't come. Hell we as gamers demand it. It's cool to be a fanboy and all but at least know your foe. Miyamoto is all Nintendo has needed. He's a god among game developer's. Also to mention compared to Sony. Nintendo is the second largest game producer. Number one is Ea. Sony isn't even in the fucking top ten. To me that is pathetic that they rely so much on third party support. Both Nintendo and Sony have their faults. However Sony has shown more arrogance than Nintendo with the ps3 and this early in the game for it to still be found on shelves isn't anything to brag about.

Brad @ Mar 12th 2007 10:49AM

I sure hope this garbage doesn't make its way onto the 360.

path @ Mar 13th 2007 1:37AM

"Well... the reason this is so upsetting to us long-term Apple users is that mice, windows, and GUI user-interfaces were introduced to the marketplace by Apple several YEARS before Windows was even STARTED"

That may be true, but it wasn't Apples ideas. It was Xerox. Only Xerox, after throwing millions into research, didn't know what to do with what they had - they were afraid to use it. So the researchers got fed up and invited Steve Jobs to play...

They showed Steve 3 things, and his dumb ass only saw one... the GUI. Bill Gates would've walked away from the Xerox lab with all 3 - 1. GUI 2. Networking 3. Object Oriented Programming - especially 3, since Bill is a programmer first and foremost. Bill would've made the first Windows version with object oriented programming and networking straight off the bat if he'd had seen what Steve saw. The first Macs would've paled in comparison.

But I'm not MS fanboy... I would've loved to see what would've happened if Xerox hit the green lights (I'm sure a few old heads at Xerox have dreams of what might have been too)...