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[Subaru]

Why people continues to say that there's a possibility to Retro make a new Mario party?
C'mon, Nintendo have ND Cube to make Wii U Party and Mario Party games.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Why people continues to say that there's a possibility to Retro make a new Mario party?
C'mon, Nintendo have ND Cube to make Wii U Party and Mario Party games.

Iwata himself would make a Mario Party before Retro would.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

So I guess RS is not working on ED2.

Give me a WRPG then.

 

[Shiggy]

Ehh we don't know the period of time they worked and notice those are all the senior leads too. They probably aren't directly making the assets they're just delegating so it's not unlikely they would bounce back between both projects while the brunt of work was actively being done by engineers and lower level artists/animators

I'd suggest you read the Iwata's Asks:
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Iwata-Ask...t-All-Began-with-a-Yakiniku-Party-221857.html

Retro had been working on the development of Donkey Kong Country Returns, and the timing when they were going to be wrapped with that title matched the timing we would start needing help. The timing was right, and we ended up making it happen.

I’m Tom Ivey. As the lead planner for course design, I was in charge of creating the courses with the staff of EAD.

That’s right. And, we started development just after they’d finished Donkey Kong Country Returns, in December, when everything was beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Yes. Tom-san was a very quick learner. In less than two months, when I got careless about things like placing item boxes and course design, he was actually pointing it out to me, “Is it okay if you don’t do this here?” Like that.

They were more involved than some make it out to be. After all, they did not simply recreate the old courses. At minimum it took 2 months and I don't think it took them more than 6 months, even with all of Nintendo's inefficiencies, managerial issues, and demands from Japan.



Still, you are correct about that senior staff did not work on it all of the time:

I left the project towards the end to work on other projects, and Bill Vandervoort who came in during the process was working with Ichijo-san very closely, and he had the same feeling.

Also pretty interesting: "I left the project towards the end to work on other projects"

 

[Aquamarine]

Also pretty interesting: "I left the project towards the end to work on other projects"

Many large studios, even if they have only one official project in the works, are always throwing around prototypes and pitches and passion projects and whatnot.

I wouldn't read too much into that comment as proof that Retro has anything in the works other than their Wii U project at the moment. They may very well have something else, but that remains to be seen.

 

[Shiggy]

Many large studios, even if they have only one official project in the works, are always throwing around prototypes and pitches and passion projects and whatnot.

I wouldn't read too much into that comment as proof that Retro has anything in the works other than their Wii U project at the moment. They may very well have something else, but that remains to be seen.

You might be right, just surprised that they would acknowledge that in an official Iwata Asks when they don't even want to officially acknowledge Retro's Sheik and DS pitches.

1) That game was done 18 months ago.
2) Retro expanded by at least a dozen in that time.
3) They only worked on a few tracks. We're not sure how time consuming their work on MK7 was in the first place.
4) Monolithsoft helped work on Skyward Sword, which came out within the same month as MK7, and they managed to crank out quality gameplay footage of what I suspect will be a much larger scale game than the one Retro is working on.

1. Retro started to work on it in December 2010, roughly a year before it was released
2. Do you know when exactly that happened? It's probably doubtful that they put contractors and new people on their major project who have no prior experience in your company. From what I remember, most hirings were done after mid-2011 when MK7 development was done at Retro.
3. They worked on half of the tracks. Though these were only retro tracks, they were partly redesigned and saw changes as demanded by EAD. Development took several months, involving several Retro leads. It's doubtful that they worked on it for a full year though.
4. We have no idea about how involved Monolith was in the development of SS. If you think that I doubt that Retro is not ready to present their Wii U title at E3, you are wrong though.

 

[Fourth Storm]

I can't believe the idea of Retro making ED2 is being seriously discussed. Come on, folks. Talk about your rumors being based on pure wishful thinking...

My guess is Metroid or a Metroid spinoff. I am off the new IP bandwagon for now. I don't think Nintendo will take the risk. They probably still remember the bomba that was Geist, and outside hardcore circles, the Retro logo does't mean much. Even Nintendo games can flop.

 

[Zoramon089]

I can't believe the idea of Retro making ED2 is being seriously discussed. Come on, folks. Talk about your rumors being based on pure wishful thinking...

My guess is Metroid or a Metroid spinoff. I am off the new IP bandwagon for now. I don't think Nintendo will take the risk. They probably still remember the bomba that was Geist, and outside hardcore circles, the Retro logo does't mean much. Even Nintendo games can flop.

I dunno, it seems weird that they've allowed Monolith to create so many new IPs last gen (Soma Bringer, Disaster, Xenoblade) and now possibly X, yet they wouldn't consider letting Retro. I think they've earned it

 

[Fourth Storm]

I dunno, it seems weird that they've allowed Monolith to create so many new IPs last gen (Soma Bringer, Disaster, Xenoblade) and now possibly X, yet they wouldn't consider letting Retro. I think they've earned it

All relatively low budget compared to whatever Retro are working on. And there is a reason Xenoblade got a name change from Monado. One also must take into account Nintendo got the DQ deal, so any jRPG (especially from so prominent a dev) was a pretty safe bet for them.

 

[Aquamarine]

You might be right, just surprised that they would acknowledge that in an official Iwata Asks when they don't even want to officially acknowledge Retro's Sheik and DS pitches.




1. Retro started to work on it in December 2010, roughly a year before it was released
2. Do you know when exactly that happened? It's probably doubtful that they put contractors and new people on their major project who have no prior experience in your company. From what I remember, most hirings were done after mid-2011 when MK7 development was done at Retro.
3. They worked on half of the tracks. Though these were only retro tracks, they were partly redesigned and saw changes as demanded by EAD. Development took several months, involving several Retro leads. It's doubtful that they worked on it for a full year though.
4. We have no idea about how involved Monolith was in the development of SS. If you think that I doubt that Retro is not ready to present their Wii U title at E3, you are wrong though.

What? Of course we have some idea. Various Monolith employees were responsible for Skyward Sword development so Nintendo could have sufficient employees for active production given Skyward Sword's development cycle, much like Retro and Mario Kart 7.

In particular, Monolith was integral to the entirety of Skyward Sword development, with 44 employees from the studio helping NCL's EAD team on Planning, Enemy Design, NPC Design, Object Design, Field Design, Effect Design, Cinema Scene Animation (with Digital Media Lab, Inc.), Project Supervision, Technical Support, and Monolith did the entirety of Skyward Sword's 3D Animation.

It was because of Monolith's close partnership with EAD on Skyward Sword that saw Nintendo's decision to open a smaller Kyoto studio close to Nintendo offices so Monolith could work more closely with EAD / SPD / whatnot in the future.

 

[Subaru]

My bet is that Iwata will appear saying that Retro is making a DKCR2, show the trailer and say after: I know, you want them to make a new Metroid. BUT WAIT FOR IT. They're also making a new metroid! And shows a small teaser (like Bayonetta 2)

 

[Shiggy]

What? Of course we have some idea. Various Monolith employees were responsible for Skyward Sword development so Nintendo could have sufficient employees for active production given Skyward Sword's development cycle, much like Retro and Mario Kart 7.

In particular, Monolith was integral to the entirety of Skyward Sword development, with 44 employees from the studio helping NCL's EAD team on Planning, Enemy Design, NPC Design, Object Design, Field Design, Effect Design, Cinema Scene Animation (with Digital Media Lab, Inc.), Project Supervision, Technical Support, and Monolith did the entirety of Skyward Sword's 3D Animation.

It was because of Monolith's close partnership with EAD on Skyward Sword that saw Nintendo's decision to open a smaller Kyoto studio close to Nintendo offices so Monolith could work more closely with EAD / SPD / whatnot in the future.

Thanks for the clarifaction. I did not remember that the Skyward Sword credits mentioned the individual Monolith members, I thought it only said "Monolith" and no specific names were given.

 

[Moxx19]

Retro has hired more people than they let go. They even had to move to a new building to accommodate a larger staff. Sheesh people, stop with all the doom and gloom.

This. Retro will be fine. Developers leave after projects all the time and they've hired some talented new staff. Whatever their game is will be great.

 

[Sadist]

My bet is that Iwata will appear saying that Retro is making a DKCR2, show the trailer and say after: I know, you want them to make a new Metroid. BUT WAIT FOR IT. They're also making a new metroid! And shows a small teaser (like Bayonetta 2)

Nah.

With all the secrets I'd say Metroid or the revival of an old Nintendo IP.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

My bet is that Iwata will appear saying that Retro is making a DKCR2, show the trailer and say after: I know, you want them to make a new Metroid. BUT WAIT FOR IT. They're also making a new metroid! And shows a small teaser (like Bayonetta 2)

Yea DKCR2 on 3DS

 

[khaaan]

Who owns Captain N? Nintendo doesn't have a 3rd person shooter, Captain N should be their third person shooter.

 

[Hermii]

Is there any reason to think it isn't DKCR2?

Reggie explicitly said its a Wii U game. It would make more sence to release DKCR 2 on ads.

 

[Zoramon089]

All relatively low budget compared to whatever Retro are working on. And there is a reason Xenoblade got a name change from Monado. One also must take into account Nintendo got the DQ deal, so any jRPG (especially from so prominent a dev) was a pretty safe bet for them.

X is low budget? Based on what exactly?! And people Retro said they aren't working on DKCR2. They aren't even working on the 3DS port

 

[Conor 419]

X Post as I didn't see this thread

As an analysis.

At this stage in the industry, I think very few could argue that their are better managed IP than the Mario Kart series. It stands as one of Nintendo's champion properties, the quality has always been unyielding, the gameplay is near perfect. It has outsold the combined might of entire Call of Duty games across a sixth of the platforms. Hideki Konno has ensured the series' relevance over a staggering time period, and as it stands the most recent iteration sold 34 million copies.The property holds unreal, raw power, in every sense of the word.

Retro Studios, besides Monolith, stands as perhaps the only Nintendo studio that you can reliably expect to see something unique. Nintendo have many great studios, but Retro are more than arguably the Nintendo studio which is most well adapted for HD AAA development.

- Hal Laboratory are a talented team, but we are only likely to get 2D platformers from them.
- Intelligent Systems are also very talented, but are most adapted for the 3DS.
- The same can be applied to 1UP, a very small studio tailored for handheld titles.
- Naturally, Game Freak are a similar case.
- Monster Games have just finished Donkey Kong development.

Nintendo EAD are of course, excellent, but highly conservative in their nature when producing 'core' Nintendo titles. Traditionally, they stick to the core IP's. It can be thus deduced, for the best blend of originality, talent, and adaptability for HD development; there is no better studio than Retro for producing a mega title for the Wii U. They are Nintendo's prime western studio, they were responsible for Metroid Prime, the greatest game in the entire industry, and one of the few Nintendo titles that could legitimately challenge a 'mature' audience, yet some people would have you believe they are developing a new Mario Kart.

I think the basis that taking Nintendo's most successful IP, removing it from the status quo and then going on to hand it to one of Nintendo's key differentiators in software development is absolutely wildly unreasonable and I can't help but mark those strongly proposing such an outcome (Nirolak, EatChildren), as highly questionable in their motives.

People may hate on the thought of Nintendo producing an FPS, but I think unless Miyamoto's new team is doing it, then an online focused heavyweight action game is REALLY what Nintendo should be doing right now. If the Mario Kart rumour is true, then dear goddess help them.

 

[Alexios]

Why would Retro be more adapted to HD AAA development than other Nintendo teams? None of them have made any. Maybe Metroid Prime is closer to western tastes but that doesn't make it HD or AAA. It's very minimalistic in design compared to what you see in AAA games from other companies with their cinematic superfluous flair focus and what not. Metroid Prime is quite pure gameplay in comparison, like anything Nintendo.

Anyway, I think it could go either way with them having proven they can do any kind of game competently so I'd rather not hope for something that could be way off and just be pleasantly surprised with whatever.

They could be making anything from a platform game to a racing game to an AAA action adventure to a freaking f2p multiplayer FPS if Nintendo wants to pursue that and they pitched something like it, who knows?

 

[Conor 419]

Why would Retro be more adapted to HD AAA development than other Nintendo teams?

As explained.

Maybe Metroid Prime is closer to western tastes but that doesn't make it HD or AAA.

Well...obviously not, but it's the closest Nintendo has outside Mario or Zelda.

It's very minimalistic in design compared to what you see in AAA games from other companies with their cinematic superfluous flair focus and what not. Metroid Prime is quite pure gameplay in comparison, like anything Nintendo.

I was referring to AAA in terms of budget, not design philosophy.

They could be making anything from a platform game to a racing game to an AAA action adventure to a freaking f2p multiplayer FPS, who knows?

You're right, they could, and they should. Mario Kart or 2D platformer is quite literally worst case scenario.

 

[Pancakes R Us]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

 

[Wishmaster92]

My bet is that Iwata will appear saying that Retro is making a DKCR2, show the trailer and say after: I know, you want them to make a new Metroid. BUT WAIT FOR IT. They're also making a new metroid! And shows a small teaser (like Bayonetta 2)

The second part sounds good, but another donkey kong? Isn't the 3ds supposed to get a donkey kong game late this month?

 

[Schnozberry]

Why would Retro be more adapted to HD AAA development than other Nintendo teams? None of them have made any. Maybe Metroid Prime is closer to western tastes but that doesn't make it HD or AAA. It's very minimalistic in design compared to what you see in AAA games from other companies with their cinematic superfluous flair focus and what not. Metroid Prime is quite pure gameplay in comparison, like anything Nintendo.

Anyway, I think it could go either way with them having proven they can do any kind of game competently so I'd rather not hope for something that could be way off and just be pleasantly surprised with whatever.

They could be making anything from a platform game to a racing game to an AAA action adventure to a freaking f2p multiplayer FPS if Nintendo wants to pursue that and they pitched something like it, who knows?

Based on them hiring people from Naughty Dog, Vigil and others, I would think we should expect to see some kind of action game. They posted jobs for artists that had experience with dragons as well. Could be Metroid related (think Ridley), or perhaps something new altogether. I'm leaning Metroid, because the longer I think about the more it makes sense that they would want what is perhaps Nintendo's best IP at capturing the western audience.

To be honest, I'll be happy if I'm dead wrong and it's a new IP, but I doubt it.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

In that case Nintendo is wasted on their own hardware.

 

[Conor 419]

Metroid deserves it anyway, it's Metroid.

 

[FearMyWrench]

Animal Crossing U

... I'd take this.

 

[Always-honest]

I hope it's metroid or a new ip.

 

[MDSVeritas]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

It's better than Wii. Wii U certainly won't be up to par with other next-gen systems but it's looking fairly competent in delivering a good looking game. Retro's in better shape this gen to deliver a good looking game if they want.

 

[Moxx19]

What if they made a 3rd person Metroid that didn't completely suck?

 

[Uncle Rupee]

Whatever it is, I hope it's not another Donkey Kong game.

 

[Alexios]

Based on them hiring people from Naughty Dog, Vigil and others, I would think we should expect to see some kind of action game. They posted jobs for artists that had experience with dragons as well. Could be Metroid related (think Ridley), or perhaps something new altogether. I'm leaning Metroid, because the longer I think about the more it makes sense that they would want what is perhaps Nintendo's best IP at capturing the western audience.

To be honest, I'll be happy if I'm dead wrong and it's a new IP, but I doubt it.

Why wouldn't they hire them if they're good at their job and applied? Art or other.

Retro had good artists before them too, and they went from Metroid Prime to platformers and kart racing just fine too.

I don't think that means much other than the game having dragons.

 

[Kouriozan]

Well, Super Metroid will be 30 cents during E3 too...
I can see some teasing.

 

[Schnozberry]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

I think Nintendo's mindset is that not everyone needs or can afford a Corvette, but they all might want a car, so let's make a machine that still looks sharp but doesn't cost a fortune.

I'm a PC Gamer, so I completely understand the other argument for power and shiny graphics, but I can see why they would think that way and why they pursue their goals independent of what other console manufacturers are doing. I've come around to their argument as I've gotten older, mostly due to having a family and trying to enjoy game experiences with them. It's pretty hard to covey the importance of high quality anti-aliasing and anisotropic filtering to my wife and daughter who just want to play more Mario Chase.

 

[Schnozberry]

Why wouldn't they hire them if they're good at their job and applied? Art or other.

Retro had good artists before them too, and they went from Metroid Prime to platformers and kart racing just fine too.

I don't think that means much other than the game having dragons.

Well, if you're looking for a specific type of experience to fill gaps in your team's knowledge, you go out and find it. That's all I was saying. It could be complete coincidence, I'm just guessing it isn't.

 

[Pancakes R Us]

I think Nintendo's mindset is that not everyone needs or can afford a Corvette, but they all might want a car, so let's make a machine that still looks sharp but doesn't cost a fortune.

Nintendo managed to make a pretty powerful (for the time and competitors it had then - PS2/Xbox), affordable console with Gamecube.

In that case Nintendo is wasted on their own hardware.

Sometimes, I think they are. I'd enjoy Mario Kart just as much on another machine.

 

[Frolow]

The second part sounds good, but another donkey kong? Isn't the 3ds supposed to get a donkey kong game late this month?

The 3DS is getting a port of DKCR, not an original entry.

 

[MYE]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

Oh jesus, another five years of this

 

[Schnozberry]

Nintendo managed to make a pretty powerful (for the time and competitors it had then - PS2/Xbox), affordable console with Gamecube.

You're absolutely right, and the marketplace didn't respond to it. They lost a ton of money on R&D and recycled a lot of it into the Wii to try and make that money back. Luckily for them, the Wii caught fire. Wii U is even built on top of that architecture, albeit turbocharged with extra cores and an evolved GPU.

 

[Anth0ny]

You're absolutely right, and the marketplace didn't respond to it. They lost a ton of money on R&D and recycled a lot of it into the Wii to try and make that money back. Luckily for them, the Wii caught fire. Wii U is even built on top of that architecture, albeit turbocharged with extra cores and an evolved GPU.

and now the marketplace isn't responding to the wii u and EVERYONE loses.

 

[Schnozberry]

and now the marketplace isn't responding to the wii u and EVERYONE loses.

Well, it's obviously more complicated than just the hardware, but that is the current reality. Hopefully E3 is a reboot and we all can get excited about some great looking software.

 

[Fourth Storm]

X is low budget? Based on what exactly?! And people Retro said they aren't working on DKCR2. They aren't even working on the 3DS port

No, but evidence seems to be pointing to some relation to Xenoblade and I am sure it will end up being Xenosomething even if it is not. The games have taken on a Final Fantasy quality almost. "Just call it Xeno even though the games only share a few common themes."

 

[Meelow]

Sometimes, I think they are. I'd enjoy Mario Kart just as much on another machine.

I'd enjoy not having to buy an Xbox for Halo, but I know I'm going to have to suck it up and deal with it, how Retro thinks really works well with Nintendo.

 

[EightBitNate]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; you guys out way too much faith in Retro. Metroid Prime was a great game, but 2 and 3 couldn't have been that hard to do after establishing the first. There's DKCR, which I haven't played, but I hear is good. Basically, they got 2 games going for them. I don't really expect them to do something incredible.

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

I hate to say it, but I feel like Retro's wasted on Nintendo hardware based on the visuals these guys output. Just imagine the stuff they could do on more powerful systems.

There's like 40 great western developers already doing that. Retro Studios is the few that happens to be a first-party developer for Nintendo. It doesn't make them anymore special, just in the small Nintendo universe really. Next-Level Games and Monster Games have also done great first-party projects under Tanabe and SPD.

Various Monolith employees were responsible for Skyward Sword development so Nintendo could have sufficient employees for active production given Skyward Sword's development cycle, much like Retro and Mario Kart 7.

In particular, Monolith was integral to the entirety of Skyward Sword development, with 44 employees from the studio helping NCL's EAD team on Planning, Enemy Design, NPC Design, .

Monolith was production muscle, like they were in Smash Bros. Brawl. Nintendo should probably do what most Western developers are starting to do and create a porting/asset production studio in China. It really doesn't matter who does the production stuff as long as the director, planning staff, and individual leads do what they are supposed to. Does it matter who modeled a breakable pot or a chicken? Probably not.

---

I don't think Nintendo has internally/externally grown enough to support their systems. The console projects require more people and budgets, and the hand held games require more people and budgets. Even worse, is that President Iwata took game developers away to work on things like Wara Wara Plaza, e-Shop, Miiverse, Wii Street, etc. With all that adversity in mind, you would think Nintendo would use publishing muscle to scout indies for other sources of first-party software.. but that isn't happening much outside of 2 games from Platinum. Maybe Iwata and Miyamoto thought that NSMBU and Nintendo Land were going to explode in Japan and world wide. Same way they thought Nintendogs+Cats would be a system seller for the 3DS. Ok well the 3DS ideology was much more bizarre, even though both strategies were awful.

 

[Doug Heffernan]

Didn't 343 hire a few Retro guys? That would explain why Halo 4 feels kind of Metroid Prime-ish.

 

[JaseMath]

Who owns Captain N? Nintendo doesn't have a 3rd person shooter, Captain N should be their third person shooter.

Star Tropics fills that void nicely. You'll see at E3...you'll all see.

 

[muteant]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; you guys out way too much faith in Retro. Metroid Prime was a great game, but 2 and 3 couldn't have been that hard to do after establishing the first. There's DKCR, which I haven't played, but I hear is good. Basically, they got 2 games going for them. I don't really expect them to do something incredible.

I think the fact that they were able to make a series of FPSs and a 2D platformer that are arguably some of the best ever in their respective genres is a pretty sound reason to be confident in them. (Don't underestimate how good DKCR is. Just an uninterrupted joy to play from the first moment on.) Furthermore, they've evinced a talent for building kick-ass engines.

The new Retro joint is gonna be slammin'.

 

[Zoramon089]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; you guys out way too much faith in Retro. Metroid Prime was a great game, but 2 and 3 couldn't have been that hard to do after establishing the first. There's DKCR, which I haven't played, but I hear is good. Basically, they got 2 games going for them. I don't really expect them to do something incredible.

This is the worst downplaying of a studio I've seen in a long time, if not ever. The sequels couldn't have been 2 hard because the first was good? Does this have any basis in reality? Anyone here could come up with a list of games that dropped off significantly in subsequent sequels! The fact is Retro has yet to produce a game that hasn't been critically acclaimed. Their lowest rated game is DKCR which still has around an 88% on GR

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I've said it before and I'll say it again; you guys out way too much faith in Retro. Metroid Prime was a great game, but 2 and 3 couldn't have been that hard to do after establishing the first. There's DKCR, which I haven't played, but I hear is good. Basically, they got 2 games going for them. I don't really expect them to do something incredible.

Retro has never gave us a bad game thats why we have faith. What you want us to do?