Eguchi This was the start of two-screen gameplay. Iwata Yes. I did that, too. An experiment using the Wii Zapper4 controller was what inspired us to put a gyro sensor in the Nintendo 3DS system, which was in the final phases of development.

Shimamura Yes. After development of Wii Sports Resort, Yamashita-san and I were thinking about something new that would draw upon the knowhow for Wii MotionPlus. We tested gameplay that involved moving the Wii Zapper and having images from the Wii move in sync on a monitor in your hands. It was fairly well received…

Iwata When (Shigeru) Miyamoto-san saw that experiment, he said that he definitely wanted to put a gyro sensor in Nintendo 3DS, so even though the ship was headed out of the harbor, he called it back. This happened after the people in the hardware department had already been declared that "all features are now set!" (laughs)

Yamashita Yeah. (laughs) We intended to present it as a Wii U project, so when it was snatched away for the Nintendo 3DS, we were sad, but also pleased.

Shimamura But thanks to this prototype, however, we were able to explain the structure of Wii U—having a screen in your hands—and it became more compelling.

Iwata The way that Nintendo makes hardware is to take an idea that has arisen and make something makeshift and actually try it out.

Shimamura Right. The next makeshift thing we made for Wii U GamePad concept—a second prototype—is this. Iwata Behold the original form of the Wii U GamePad! (laughs)



Shimamura It's very high-tech—a monitor and controllers stuck together by double-sided tape. (laughs)

Iwata I remember that you made a lot of prototype software with this.

Shimamura Yeah. If we made a list, I think there'd be about 30. Eguchi We used this prototype and two Wii consoles to run simulations for Wii U. EAD isn't a hardware department, but a "handicraft team" knowledgeable about hardware makes stuff like this.

Iwata Making this prototype led to Nintendo Land, so the development period for Nintendo Land was quite long. Shimamura Yes, it was.