For anyone who doesn't like the Skyward Sword's motion controls...

Iwata - The other day, Miyamoto-san said, "I'll never be able to play the old way again!"

Aonuma - Yes, he's been saying that.

Iwata - But I would imagine that Wii MotionPlus presents a new challenge to the overwhelming majority of players out there. They must feel uneasy about the controls changing so dramatically.

Aonuma - I suppose so.

Iwata - Tanaka-san, as a developer of the game, what would you say to people like that?

Tanaka - I'd like people who feel they aren't very good at button controls to feel more confident about this game. I think some people have felt that with controllers until now there was a distance between themselves and the gameworld, but this time, when you want to do something, it is directly reflected in Link's movement via Wii MotionPlus, so the gameworld feels much closer. I would recommend they give it a try.

Iwata - How about you, Kobayashi-san?

Kobayashi - I was involved in development of Wii Sports Resort. I wasn't in charge of Tennis, but that game distinguished between forehand and backhand shots.

Iwata - You can swing the racket whichever way you want, from the right or the left.

Kobayashi - After growing accustomed to those controls, I played another tennis game and was like, "Oh…the racket's a button." (laughs)

Iwata - Using buttons as controls felt strange.

Kobayashi - That's right. When making this game, to confirm specifications, I played The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and tried to swing the sword in whatever direction I wanted and couldn't do it. I then thought, "I can't go back."

Fujibayashi - I feel the same way. But the controls are new, so some people will feel something is a little off for the first 10 or 15 minutes.

Iwata - Because the manner of playing is so different than before.

Fujibayashi - But they'll gradually get used to it and the next thing they know, they'll feel like something is off about games you control by punching buttons.

Iwata - And you, Aonuma-san?

Aonuma - I feel as if Wii MotionPlus, and the Wii Remote Plus, have completely become tools. With a conventional controller, there are all these things you have to remember, being presented the controller and pressing these buttons—like remembering the right sequences in fighting games. To tell the truth, I'm not a big fan of games like that.

Iwata - You're not good at them? (laughs)

Aonuma - That's right, I'm not! (laughs) I can't remember the commands. But the compatibility between The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and Wii MotionPlus are outstanding. Just by swinging the remote, or tilting it, or twisting it, you can perform all kinds of actions, so there's no need to remember anything. I hope people will feel as if they have a new tool and try swinging it around.

Iwata - I suppose it's like gradually becoming able to use a brush better, or a chisel.

Aonuma - Yes, it is. Or maybe a musical instrument. As you're using it, your body grows familiar with it and you gradually master the use of it.

Fujibayashi - Like Miyamoto-san said, it's part of your muscle-memory.

Aonuma - Yes, your body remembers it. So whatever you do, you can't go back to the way controls used to be. When I watch people play at game shows, I think it's interesting how everyone plays a different way.

Iwata - You can handle this tool any way you want, so each user's personality comes out.

Aonuma - That's right. It's interesting how some people move their body a lot and swing around the Wii Remote Plus, while some people make little discrete movements around their waist to move it.

Iwata - You can use the Wii Remote Plus without moving it a whole lot.

Aonuma - Yes. When you get tired, you can use less strength and play using less taxing movements.