‘Samba De Amigo Party-To-Go’ Apple Arcade Interview – Shun Nakamura on Reviving Amigo, Song Choices, Motion Controls on Nintendo Switch, and More – TouchArcade

SEGA recently released Samba de Amigo: Social gathering-To-Go () on Apple Arcade and Samba de Amigo: Social gathering Central on Nintendo Swap worldwide as the primary new entries within the sequence in ages. Learn our overview of the Apple Arcade sport here and Nintendo Swap sport here. Following each of these launches, I had an opportunity to speak to the legendary Shun Nakamura from SEGA about Samba de Amigo, reviving the sequence, different SEGA franchises he hopes to carry again, tune decisions, future plans, movement controls, his favourite espresso, what he’s enjoying proper now, and much more.

TouchArcade: Firstly, a belated Joyful Birthday to you.

Shun Nakamura: Thanks. I turned 51. Normally in Japan, individuals will work till 60, so for now, I’d love to do the most effective I can throughout the 9 years in order that I’ve no regrets.

TA: Inform us slightly bit about your self and what you’ve been doing not too long ago at SEGA.

SN: Sure, so not too long ago, as it’s possible you’ll remember, I’ve been actively working to carry again Samba de Amigo to this contemporary period. Even at this age, relating to new {hardware}, I used to be reminded once more of how new and enjoyable it was to have it in my palms, and the way fascinating it’s to consider making one thing new. As a creator, I’ve been primarily centered on creating Samba, however aside from that, my division has been busy engaged on loads of titles deliberate to be launched, resembling Sonic Superstars and the Sonic Frontiers replace.

TA: The Samba de Amigo sequence has been round for over twenty years. What led to it getting a revival throughout Apple Arcade, Swap, and VR?

SN: An enormous issue is that it has been widespread within the trade as of late to carry again earlier IPs. With that in thoughts, when the Nintendo Swap {hardware} was defined to me for the primary time, I believed we could possibly develop a brand new Samba if there are two Pleasure-Con included on the Swap. At first, we tried making a special title that had a novel twist, however it ended up not making it to launch. Even then, I wished to problem myself to attempt once more, and so this pattern within the trade was an enormous purpose why Samba has gotten a revival. With that in thoughts, with the enchantment of all these different platforms, resembling the convenience of use with Apple Arcade, and the immersive feeling of VR, I believed each had been applicable to unfold the informal facet of Samba, so we’ve made the choice to develop it as multiplatform title whereas specializing in every platform’s strengths.

TA: How did you method resurrecting Samba de Amigo for the trendy period?

SN: Bringing again older IPs might be very tough, as a result of if it stays the identical because it was prior to now, we gained’t entice new customers, and if we make all the things new, it is probably not interesting to the unique sport’s followers. Taking this, we took the tactic to maintain the bottom of the idea the identical, however modernizing it. This title has the idea, “foolish and enjoyable.” Even when the era could have modified, the enchantment of the idea itself doesn’t change. Prior to now, we had locations like arcades the place individuals had been capable of have enjoyable round others, so I questioned the place individuals would try this now. To me, it might be locations like TikTok or social media. There’s a widespread connection there the place you’ll play music and have a lot enjoyable dancing whereas everybody watches. With that, I revived the brand new Samba that saved the identical core “foolish enjoyable” idea of the unique, after which carried out that trendy TikTok tradition the place individuals can have enjoyable with music and motion into the sport.

TA: Whereas the Swap model is getting paid DLC, Apple Arcade seemingly will see new content material via updates. Inform us slightly bit about how the songs had been chosen for Samba de Amigo Social gathering-To-Go.

SN: Sure, relating to Apple Arcade, songs shall be added via updates, so please stay up for it!

We additionally mentioned quite a bit on how we might modernize the music together with the sport. We obtained loads of suggestions through the Dreamcast days that individuals wished to play with songs that aren’t solely from the Latin music style. Again within the day, we used to solely develop for the arcades in Japan, so we weren’t fascinated with branching out to the abroad market on the time. This time, as we labored on modernizing the sport, we selected songs that loads of the customers from all over the world would be capable of take pleasure in. Additionally, it was extraordinarily tough to decide on the songs from the angle of somebody dwelling in Japan, particularly relating to present Western traits. We now had abroad workers, and a Western advisor helped select the songs, and left it of their palms to make the ultimate record. As well as, what us on the dev facet thought was vital was whether or not our idea would match with that given tune. Some tracks with an excellent rhythm could have this upbeat tempo that continues endlessly, however has no intonations in between, which we felt was key to having a dynamic and pleasant expertise. To that finish, we selected our tune candidates for the sport based mostly on if individuals would be capable of let free and really feel the “foolish enjoyable” of Samba.

TA: How was it translating the normal movement management gameplay to the touch controllers?

SN: Even within the earlier Dreamcast model, there have been extra customers that loved utilizing the controller, so I already had a sense that it was going to be enjoyable even when it wasn’t with movement controls. Relating to the contact controllers, I made a title prior to now referred to as Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure for Nintendo 3DS and I put a Samba minigame within it. That sport was performed through contact – it additionally labored fairly nicely, and gamers had enjoyable with it. Contact controllers additionally don’t have that random “wing it” side that movement controls are inclined to have, so I believed that customers would nonetheless have loads of enjoyable. Subsequently, on this case, I had no issues in translating it over. Nonetheless, elements resembling physique actions and finger actions do differ with the movement controls in comparison with contact, so the “enjoyable” individuals discover within the sport can differ as nicely. Both manner, I’d be thrilled if gamers might give each a attempt.

TA: Will Samba de Amigo on Apple Arcade get movement controller assist with Pleasure-Cons sooner or later since iOS units now assist Pleasure-Cons?

SN: The sport does assist Pleasure-Con controllers, however the buttons on the Pleasure-Con are completely different from these discovered on different controllers. Subsequently, those that wish to use them might want to regulate the button mapping via their iPhone settings, in order that works. However whereas with different video games, it’s merely a matter of fixing the controls, this sport places loads of emphasis on particular buttons and their positions in relation to what’s occurring on the display screen, so gamers might want to hold this in thoughts when making these changes.

As for movement controls, as a result of complexity concerned with what I simply went over, we don’t plan to assist that presently.

TA: Lots of basic SEGA songs from prior video games aren’t included in Samba de Amigo Social gathering-To-Go. Are there plans to carry Samba de Janeiro to the sport? It felt just like the theme tune for the sequence.

SN: As I shared in a earlier reply, we’re planning on including quite a lot of songs via future updates to the sport. Numerous issues are nonetheless at the moment into consideration, so I might ask to please stay up for what we have now deliberate!

TA: Sega has a wealthy historical past of music throughout its personal video games, and likewise Atlus titles. Will any of these songs be added to Samba de Amigo Social gathering-To-Go?

SN: Likewise, we have now obtained loads of suggestions. We hope that this title reaches extra individuals, and from there, we’d like so as to add much more songs.

TA: What are your ideas on the present state of rhythm video games as we speak?

SN: Within the division that I’m a part of, there’s a Music Crew that makes a extremely popular arcade sport in Japan referred to as “maimai”. We had been capable of ask for his or her recommendation and have them concerned within the growth as nicely. Within the basic rhythm video games, there are video video games like this, and moreover, Sega has a cellular title referred to as “Hatsune Miku: Colourful Stage!”. We expect that these video games each ship each the deepness and the variability, thus reaching extra customers.

I really feel like there are loads of video games which can be nearer to that feeling of enjoying a stay instrument, and you might be simply making these very predetermined or predictable strikes whereas enjoying. I personally wish to go away these sorts of video games for others to make and as a substitute create one thing that has the attraction of one thing that lets gamers suppose outdoors of the field however nonetheless has that vital enchantment of a online game, like Samba.

TA: What’s your favourite sport that you simply’ve labored on throughout all of the years?

SN: I discussed it earlier than, however there’s a sport referred to as Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure that I really like and is a sport I really feel like we might have achieved extra with. It combines music and gameplay, linking each of these parts collectively as a substitute of simply commonplace gameplay, and there’s additionally a storyline on prime of that. There are some elements that weren’t fairly there, however it’s undoubtedly a title I really like.

TA: In case you might, which SEGA franchise would you carry again as we speak that you simply haven’t had an opportunity to to date.

SN: The Sonic sequence, which I proceed to work on, is supported by an unlimited quantity of followers and has a number of video games to its identify. So, by way of video games that I’ve had a deep involvement with and should not have a sequel, one can be Billy Hatcher, and the opposite, once more, must be Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure. I’ve loads of concepts I wish to check out now for each video games so I’m hoping I’ll have a chance, similar to with Samba.

TA: What have you ever been enjoying not too long ago?

SN: I performed Pikmin 4 not too long ago. It’s a sport I’ve beloved for the reason that first sport so I’m personally completely satisfied that this sport reached lots of people with this 4th installment. The GameCube had loads of nice video games. Billy Hatcher’s an incredible sport as nicely by the way in which! Haha

TA: What’s your favourite sort of espresso when you have one?

SN: I simply completely love my café lattes and I drink over 3 cups a day. It’s an incredible stress reliever to have once I’m overworked so I can’t think about a world with out it.

We’d wish to thank Shun Nakamura and Apple for his or her time right here.