Canned Koizumi game from 1999

Canned Koizumi game from 1999

Nintendo-Nerd (guest) 21 Jan 2015 15:47

While researching on the development of Majora's Mask I found something really interesting…

"Koizumi: Actually, at the time I started working on Majora’s Mask, I had already been busy designing another game. I’m incredibly ambitious, you see. But then, Miyamoto…
Miyamoto: Recalled you.
Koizumi: I heard the whispers… “Zelda… Zelda… Zelda…!” And my game was canned!"

Source: www dot glitterberri dot com/majoras-mask/staff-interview/zelda-is-always-bringing-something-new-to-the-table/

So between Ocarina of Time (late 1998) and Majora's Mask (early 1999) Koizumi was working on another project! That really blew my mind. Also, it appears that OoT and MM cutscene director Takumi Kawagoe worked with Koizumi on the canned game.

I'm really wondering what Koizumi's canned project could have been. Maybe this was Super Mario 64 2? After all, this was canned around 1999, for all we now, and both Koizumi and Kawagoe worked on the original SM64. But then comes the following passage:

"I’d originally been designing a board game, based around the theme of cops and robbers. I wanted to make it so that you technically had to catch the criminal within a week, but, in reality, you could finish the game in an hour. I figured I’d just throw what I already had into Majora’s Mask."

Seems like Koizumi had a more original game in mind. If I understand this correctly, he transfered the time concept of his idea to the Majora's Mask project, after his own game got scrapped.

Maybe you have an idea what game Koizumi could have been working on? Is there more information? I'm really interested in this one!

Re: Canned Koizumi game from 1999

Kyoto Ninja 23 Jan 2015 02:31

Great find. If you recall, Koizumi was also working on a Zelda II prototype for the Super FX chip. I think Miyamoto or Koizumi mentions this in an Iwata asks. Unfortunately, Nintendo has a lot of cool prototypes that never release. More often than not, these prototypes end up as mini-games in Mario or Zelda titles, or the party themed compilation games.

Nintendo-Nerd (guest) 23 Jan 2015 13:49

Yeah, that's true. Remember, Koizumi also directed the Super Mario 128 tech demo. In my opinion he's the most imaginative Nintendo director. It's a shame that he has to fullfil a producer's duties these days!

Re: Canned Koizumi game from 1999

Kyoto Ninja 24 Jan 2015 20:20

I think he actually directed The Legend of Zelda Space World Demo and Super Mario 128 Space World tech demo.

Koizumi is a Group Manager and Producer now, but this is a rather intimate role where he still gets to supervise 2-3 projects rather closely are opposed to the senior executive type of producers like Miyamoto or Tezuka, who often seem to get small demonstrations to watch periodically rather than be part of the development process.

Re: Canned Koizumi game from 1999

pischu 25 Jan 2015 22:23

Yeah, that interview has been around for a while now.

How often did it happen at Nintendo that after someone got promoted to Group Manager, he still directed a game afterwards? In the pre-Gamecube days it happened a few times, but since Iwata took over it has been very strict. Sakamoto with Other M maybe? Though he wasn't the only Director on that game.