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| © 2006 Nintendo |
Grand Prize
Wii Sports
Game
Artist: OTA Keizo, representing the Wii Sports development team
(Japan)
A game features popular sports including baseball, tennis, and boxing. Depicts the movements and points to enjoy of each sport and realizes intuitive navigation by the Wii remote controller. This is a hallmark of Wii, which has spread on a global scale regardless of age or nationality.
OTA Keizo, representing the Wii Sports development team
Born in Tokyo, 1969. Majored in Industrial Management at the Chiba Institute of Technology. At Nintendo, he gained experience as a programmer for WAVE RACE 64 and F-ZERO X. He is currently engaged in developing games that utilize his technical knowledge.
I happened to become involved in the development of the Wii through this sports game, which sought to gather the most enjoyable aspects of five different kinds of sports (tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing). As a result of the intuitive Wii interface, men and women of all ages are able to share the fun together. As this software is the result of the efforts of every section of our company, this award commends us all. Taking this as our mental pabulum, we are going to continue working to the best of our ability. Thank you very much.
The Grand Prize winner of the Entertainment Division was decided relatively smoothly and by the unanimous vote of the jury members. However, I would like to make one thing clear, which is that this award is being given not only to Wii Sports software, but to the whole of the Wii system, including the game console, interface, OS, Mii (avatar) and so on. We have judged, in accordance with the purpose of this prize, that “Wii as media” is worthy of the Grand Prize. The first success in the history of the computer game business was based on table tennis. Wii Sports is exploring a new frontier of media experience by giving “sports,” the basic motif of games, “a new dress.”
What has lead you to “create a work”?
An interest in creation was always within me. Initially, there is usually nothing especially leading me to create, but during the course of working I discover an individual motivation, which varies between projects.
In the case of Wii Sports , my primary motivations were “I can play this with my family!” and “My children will see their father's work!”
What tools do you use the most at present?
In terms of computer software, I use Photoshop and Autodesk Maya to create materials, and write programs with a free text editor. I also do some simple handcrafting to test ideas, so scissors, a knife, glue, adhesive tape, and LEGO blocks are also amongst my usual tools.
What do you place greatest value on in your work?
That I can be confident in them.
What personal concept do you keep throughout your creative activities?
I don't really think about it, but I suppose it could be said that “movement” is a key factor throughout my work. I find transformation more interesting than staticity because there is more to it. If I buy toys, they almost always have moving parts.
When you create a work, in what way do you think of a presentation using technologies or media as a means to communicate?
I consider finding the right way to deliver a product to its target audience to be very important.
As I am a company employed creator, I am careful to avoid producing work that is complacent; I am always thinking about what new ideas I can convey, rather than what new technologies I can make use of. On account of this, when I choose a means of expression for a new product, I first determine “who it is intended to appeal to,” and with them in mind seek out the most suitable medium.
As I am a company employed creator, I am careful to avoid producing work that is complacent; I am always thinking about what new ideas I can convey, rather than what new technologies I can make use of. On account of this, when I choose a means of expression for a new product, I first determine “who it is intended to appeal to,” and with them in mind seek out the most suitable medium.
Could you name a person, a work, or an event that you have been influenced by the most?
My wife; she is a very different sort of person than I am, and through her I have been exposed to people and worlds that have had a pronounced and positive influence on my work, as well as on myself.
With regards to events, when I was in the first year of elementary school, my teacher completely rejected the value of something I had devised in a handcraft class. I was very much shocked at that time, but I think this incident has given me strength in later life as a creator.
With regards to events, when I was in the first year of elementary school, my teacher completely rejected the value of something I had devised in a handcraft class. I was very much shocked at that time, but I think this incident has given me strength in later life as a creator.
What kind of work would you like to create in the future?
I am hoping to create something fun, as well as being innovative enough to cause people to think “what a surprise!”
What is the meaning or importance of “to create” for you?
I feel that the act of creation is the expression of something complex that previously existed only within the mind into a form that is recognizable to the five senses. Not only does this help me to understand myself, but when I look at other people's work, I feel as though I am seeing some aspect of their mind.
Surely, art and creation are a common means of communication, for they embody a world that cannot be described with words.
