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[Terrell]

I had a terrible dream last night that nothing was revealed at GDC and I got banned as a result.

I don't think NINTENDO will have much to say, but everyone else is going to be busting at the seams to mention SOMETHING. Even if it's devs saying "we're working on SOMETHING, but we can't tell you what. Or show it to you. Or mention it ever again until E3."


I'm still shocked that the revelation that Square Enix is contemplating bring mainline Final Fantasy back to a Nintendo home console hasn't erupted into a big thing and can't believe we totally missed that bit of news. Guess it shows how it only took 1 generation for a system-seller to fall so low down the totem pole, huh?

Anyways, to re-iterate what I said earlier in the thread:

I called Dragon Quest X going to WiiU when GAF's Dragon Quest Defense Force said that we'd fly into the SUN before we ever saw a Dragon Quest on an unproven platform.

And I'm going to call something else... FFVersusXIII is going to come to WiiU, and it will revive interest in the series. Coupled with use of Luminous Engine and a shortening of the production cycle, the series will come back from the dead.

Calling it.

So yeah....

 

[Kenka]

The fact that most 360/PS3 games are rendered at or around 720p hasn't bothered me. Even if Wii U is capable of rendering the same games at 1080p, I'd actually prefer it if they stuck to 720p and pumped out more effects instead.

And by effects I do mean patented pikmin shaders.

Mmmh. Native resolution of TVs nowadays is 1080p. Resizing to 720p comes with IQ disadavtanges and slower response to input (the latter I think since the TV needs time to convert each frame). This was previously discussed on GAF.

So, there are drawbacks in both cases. Personally, I would go with 1080p.

 

[z0m3le]

I get that, and I don't mean to stifle discussion or piss on everyone's parade, but we've been saying these exact same things since June like clockwork and know literally nothing more about the system than we did before. I dare say our overanalysis has led us to know even less. As if we've been given one clue and let it lead us too far in one direction before getting the other two. If our goal here is to actually understand how the system will work, I think these arbitrary numbers are counterintuitive to that goal. Everyone is getting different ideas in their head and no one is close to reaching a consensus. Oh well, I guess when it all comes down to it this is really just a preemptive hype train for E3 with tech jargon thrown in. Carry on. *shrugs*

Well, some things have changed, for one, I don't think people will claim that the system is inferior or on par with 360 anymore, at least not backed up by any reasonable rumors or logic.

Frankly you could never tell me how powerful the ps3 is compared to the ps2, you could throw useless numbers at me, but they will always be subjective.

What I have done, and some others have done, is taken those subjective numbers as a baseline and used the more intriguing "on paper" numbers of some parts, and given people real world quantifiable speculations about what Wii U can do compared to the PS360, and that is to say, that it should be able to push at least twice the pixels and possibly at twice the frame rate, with higher res textures and or more polygon counts.

From there we can pick a lot of games and speculate with at least some idea of what the games will look like on Wii U, I am fairly happy with Idea man's leak though, it just reaffirms the rumors we have gotten in the past, and does sort of back up IGN's rumor as well... Everything is going to be speculation still at this point, but it's based on logical conclusions of what these rumors mean.

 

[Terrell]

The fact that most 360/PS3 games are rendered at or around 720p hasn't bothered me. Even if Wii U is capable of rendering the same games at 1080p, I'd actually prefer it if they stuck to 720p and pumped out more effects instead.

And by effects I do mean patented pikmin shaders.

Being a 1080p TV owner, it's bothered me and would prefer more 1080p games. Especially when I can flick between a Dolphin game on one input then go back to a PS3 game on another and think that the Wii game on Dolphin in some respects looks much better.

 

[z0m3le]

Being a 1080p TV owner, it's bothered me and would prefer more 1080p games. Especially when I can flick between a Dolphin game on one input then go back to a PS3 game on another and think that the Wii game on Dolphin in some respects looks much better.

I really see them pushing 1080p on the Wii U until the PS4 comes out, if the PS4 can push ~twice the pixels, then it will likely mean that Wii U games end up being 720p versions of the PS4's 1080p games, though I think Wii U will be the base model for all games being made next gen... xbox3 won't end up being that much more powerful than the Wii U, so it will just get cross ports with a smoother framerate, while PS4 gets the higher res if Sony pushes the hardware some, but it's easier to upgrade a game and have it run on all 3 systems, then to downgrade a game to port to the lowest system...

Basically, it's super likely that devs are already upgrading their 360 tools to work with Wii U, and they will just use those tools for all ports, cross, up or down porting.

 

[udivision]

I'm still shocked that the revelation that Square Enix is contemplating bring mainline Final Fantasy back to a Nintendo home console hasn't erupted into a big thing and can't believe we totally missed that bit of news. Guess it shows how it only took 1 generation for a system-seller to fall so low down the totem pole, huh?

FFXIII on Xbox 360 happened. FF on Wii U is really not a big deal, when it's obvious that the Wii's hardware was holding it back.

 

[ColdBlooder]

Just a little thought...

Wouldn´t the Gamecube buttonlayout work tons better on the UPad than the standard positioning of the 4 face buttons?

You could instantly "find" the buttons again, when switching back from the Slider, with a bigger "A" button in the middle, 3 smaller the "B", "X" and "y" buttons around it? Bigger "A" button in the middle, smaller "B" to the left, smaller "X" to the right and smaller "Y" on top.

You still have 4 facebuttons but this layout would make more sense if you place it under the slider.

 

[Red UFO]

I really see them pushing 1080p on the Wii U until the PS4 comes out, if the PS4 can push ~twice the pixels, then it will likely mean that Wii U games end up being 720p versions of the PS4's 1080p games, though I think Wii U will be the base model for all games being made next gen... xbox3 won't end up being that much more powerful than the Wii U, so it will just get cross ports with a smoother framerate, while PS4 gets the higher res if Sony pushes the hardware some, but it's easier to upgrade a game and have it run on all 3 systems, then to downgrade a game to port to the lowest system...

Basically, it's super likely that devs are already upgrading their 360 tools to work with Wii U, and they will just use those tools for all ports, cross, up or down porting.

I think this is a VERY optimistic outlook.

 

[z0m3le]

I think this is a VERY optimistic outlook.

It's exactly what happened with the 360, Wii U comes out first, by a good amount of time (I would assume 10months at least.) Devs will be upgrading their tools for this next gen, targeting one box and porting to the others... Those Tools should be done SOMETIME this year, so it would make sense for it to have already happened.

Why did Devs choose to create their tools for the 360? it wasn't expected to be playstation3, nothing was suppose to stop them... When the PS3 did finally come out, they were already targeting the first next gen console, that is what happens in this industry... Just look at the sports games that came out before 2008, only 360's were full featured.

Wii U has a very good chance to do that this Gen, especially with these rumors of xbox3 being so close in performance to it... Also I am optimistic

 

[Terrell]

FFXIII on Xbox 360 happened. FF on Wii U is really not a big deal, when it's obvious that the Wii's hardware was holding it back.

I just figured I'd see some "b-b-b-bu-b-bu-BUT FINAL FANTASY NEEDS THE BEST HARDWARE" bullshit and discussion of how Square Enix is going to (read: mandated to) hold off on mainline FFs until PS4 to meet their stringent max horsepower requirements and give the WiiU more Crystal Chronicles stuff. That's all. I'm actually happy it didn't happen.

 

[Jethro]

Just had thought about the rumored Eternal Darkness 2 although this has been probably already mentioned.

They can build the story very easily around the 2012 phenomenon. In the vein of first one you are playing a group of people through time and try to prevent the Eternal Darkness once more.

 

[Terrell]

Just had thought about the rumored Eternal Darkness 2 although this has been probably already mentioned.

They can build the story very easily around the 2012 phenomenon. In the vein of first one you are playing a group of people through time and try to prevent the Eternal Darkness once more.

Or they could have it so that all of the character actions run concurrently and weave together as one whole narrative across a shorter period of time.

Or hell, maybe even BOTH.

Spoiler

Mantarok causing 2012 could be an interesting idea to play with story-wise, but if the true ending of that game is to be believed, that would mean making Alexandra Roivas an unwitting bad guy, being the pawn of Mantarok and all...

 

[Cookychan]

I just figured I'd see some "b-b-b-bu-b-bu-BUT FINAL FANTASY NEEDS THE BEST HARDWARE" bullshit and discussion of how Square Enix is going to (read: mandated to) hold off on mainline FFs until PS4 to meet their stringent max horsepower requirements and give the WiiU more Crystal Chronicles stuff. That's all. I'm actually happy it didn't happen.

Square Enix needs that high power for those anime haired characters.
You know it.

Spoiler

Please don't take this seriously oh god

 

[z0m3le]

Just had thought about the rumored Eternal Darkness 2 although this has been probably already mentioned.

They can build the story very easily around the 2012 phenomenon. In the vein of first one you are playing a group of people through time and try to prevent the Eternal Darkness once more.

After playing Too Human, I just hope Silicon Knights doesn't have anything to do with it... It would be one thing if that game was produced inside 1 generation and didn't cost 80m+ to make... I don't even understand, if ED2 is made, I hope someone else gets it, not retro btw, I want them on either their own IP (something modern day and gritty would be great... I'd love that future zelda spoof to be a setting for a new adventure IP)

Anyways, I would like to see Capcom redeem itself with a ED2 in a combination of RE2 mystery elements and ED's puzzle type game play, with someone like grasshopper's Suda51 as the director. (yes I picked all Japanese studios, I just think Japanese horror can be very shocking, and I love Suda51's humor)

 

[pieatorium]

It's exactly what happened with the 360, Wii U comes out first, by a good amount of time (I would assume 10months at least.) Devs will be upgrading their tools for this next gen, targeting one box and porting to the others... Those Tools should be done SOMETIME this year, so it would make sense for it to have already happened.

Why did Devs choose to create their tools for the 360? it wasn't expected to be playstation3, nothing was suppose to stop them... When the PS3 did finally come out, they were already targeting the first next gen console, that is what happens in this industry... Just look at the sports games that came out before 2008, only 360's were full featured.

Wii U has a very good chance to do that this Gen, especially with these rumors of xbox3 being so close in performance to it... Also I am optimistic

I actually agree with you a bit but I think it will be the current gen stuff that gets the 1080 (or 60 fps) treatment and the WiiU specific stuff will probably be targeting 720p with all the effects up to 11. Devs have shown throughout this gen that IQ and/or performance is second to effects and features in their minds.

 

[z0m3le]

I actually agree with you a bit but I think it will be the current gen stuff that gets the 1080 (or 60 fps) treatment and the WiiU specific stuff will probably be targeting 720p with all the effects up to 11. Devs have shown throughout this gen that IQ and/or performance is second to effects and features in their minds.

I am pretty sure I agree with what you are saying and maybe I said it wrong, PS360 games that target 720p or sub HD resolutions will actually display at 1080p on Wii U with higher textures and better lighting and effects... I think the frame rates will stay the same though, unless there is just that much more power...

And when PS4 is released, they will target 720p on Wii U and bump it up to 1080p on PS4, depending on it's power, there might be some frame rate drops though, but that is a balancing act for developers not speculators.

 

[pieatorium]

I am pretty sure I agree with what you are saying and maybe I said it wrong, PS360 games that target 720p or sub HD resolutions will actually display at 1080p on Wii U with higher textures and better lighting and effects... I think the frame rates will stay the same though, unless there is just that much more power...

And when PS4 is released, they will target 720p on Wii U and bump it up to 1080p on PS4, depending on it's power, there might be some frame rate drops though, but that is a balancing act for developers not speculators.

Yeah I guess we are on exactly the same page heh, I only mentioned 60 fps because it is a better selling point for certain games than 1080.

 

[shnord]

Mmmh. Native resolution of TVs nowadays is 1080p. Resizing to 720p comes with IQ disadavtanges and slower response to input (the latter I think since the TV needs time to convert each frame). This was previously discussed on GAF.

So, there are drawbacks in both cases. Personally, I would go with 1080p.

The 360 and PS3 can upscale all these ~720p games to 1080p before sending the image to your TV. My scenario would be no different.

Being a 1080p TV owner, it's bothered me and would prefer more 1080p games. Especially when I can flick between a Dolphin game on one input then go back to a PS3 game on another and think that the Wii game on Dolphin in some respects looks much better.

I have a 1080p TV as well and I appreciate the improved clarity, but I actually don't like a lot of current games at high resolutions because it makes the flaws easier to pick out. In particular, polygon edges are easier to see and it bugs the hell out of me. I see it a lot in nature environments. I don't find 1080p worth it unless this issue can be adequately ironed out. But that's just me, personally, IMO, etc.. Maybe Wii U can do it; maybe it can't. We shall see...

I think certain games will definitely work well in 1080p on Wii U though. I wouldn't be surprised to see the next Smash Bros in 1080p at 60fps.

Spoiler

Cubivore 2

 

[z0m3le]

The 360 and PS3 can upscale all these ~720p games to 1080p before sending the image to your TV. My scenario would be no different.


I have a 1080p TV as well and I appreciate the improved clarity, but I actually don't like a lot of current games at high resolutions because it makes the flaws easier to pick out. In particular, polygon edges are easier to see and it bugs the hell out of me. I see it a lot in nature environments. I don't find 1080p worth it unless this issue can be adequately ironed out. But that's just me, personally, IMO, etc.. Maybe Wii U can do it; maybe it can't. We shall see...

I think certain games will definitely work well in 1080p on Wii U though. I wouldn't be surprised to see the next Smash Bros in 1080p at 60fps.

Spoiler

Cubivore 2

Well the nice thing about targeting 1080p, is that you can run the same game at 720p, so it's a win win for everyone.

 

[MDX]

I was just thinking... I wonder if there will be an advanced photo editing APP, or even movie editor APP for the WIIU?

But that brings up another question, since the controller in essence is compatible to tablet / touchscreen smartphone designed apps, does GAF foresee a wave of ports heading towards the WiiU from that market? Will Nintendo allow for the 99cent game on the WiiU marketplace? I now can understand why Iwata's said what he said during the GDC last year. He saw this coming.

Lets take it to the next step. With this new generation of consoles coming, the business model will be flipped. Because what businesses will be after is ACCOUNTS. People will invest a lot in downloads, services, etc. If the money is in accounts, then what you want to do is get as many people to make accounts as possible. If your hardware is expensive, it will become a hurdle for getting new members. Especially if you want people to buy revisions of your hardware.

So with this in mind, Im now wondering what Nintendo's thinking is regarding pricing the WiiU. If they are going after accounts, then I think they will keep the price of the WiiU fairly low, like $250 to 299. In between the Kindle and the iPads. Because in the long run, they will get their money from their marketplace. If Nintendo thinks the demand for their product is high, and they want to make money from hardware, then I see them pricing it at $349-399.

 

[shnord]

Well the nice thing about targeting 1080p, is that you can run the same game at 720p, so it's a win win for everyone.

But if you target 720p then you can pump out more effects, which is the tradeoff. I think it'll be a case-by-case basis.

 

[freddy]

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, but I did say that I would be the most annoying poster on gaf until people finally gave up this nonsense.

You're right. It's a fools' game. Just don't expect any fools to agree with you.

 

[Cookychan]

I'd rather 720p and special add-ons, I don't even know my HDMI TV has 1080p... 1080i maybe.

 

[z0m3le]

But if you target 720p then you can pump out more effects, which is the tradeoff. I think it'll be a case-by-case basis.

Yeah, more or less, this should always be the case, but if a dev is making a game for Wii U and plans to down port to PS360 (like say GTAV for instance) then they will likely put a lot of effort into making the game feel the same between all 3 consoles, but allow the Wii U to look better (more polygon counts, more cars on the road, higher textures, better lighting) but there is a point that they likely won't want to push forward, at that point, they will likely take that extra power and put it into a higher resolution or higher frame rate...

Obviously GTAV could benefit from 60fps (animations and what not) but RPGs would benefit more from a higher resolution, since the character actions won't be as active.

 

[shnord]

GTAV will probably be designed for 30fps, but you're right, if the game is being weighed down by 360/PS3 versions it would definitely be easiest to simply render the Wii U version at a higher res rather than work on improving effects much (if at all). Even if Wii U isn't necessarily powerful enough to render 360/PS3 games at 1080p without some sacrifices, games could at least be rendered at near-1080p resolutions. Or something.

BTW if my arguments are all over the place it's because I'm extremely tired right now, so I probably shouldn't even be posting... I want to be more involved in all the crazy discussions in here though...

But I guess I'll go to bed for now.

And dream of angular nature environments. *shakes fist at the heavens*

 

[Lausebub]

Do we know how the uPads get recharged? Donthey still use batteries or can you charge them with a USB cable? I was thinking, if they only allow 1 controller per system, wouldn't it be cool if the top of the WiiU itself has an inductive field. You just put your controller on it, while the system is turned off. I just hate cables. Would that be even possible concerning other components? I remeber a patent Apple made a few years ago about and inductive field around an iMac. So your iPad, iPhone, mouse and keyboard could get recharged by having them nearby your computer.

 

[z0m3le]

Do we know how the uPads get recharged? Donthey still use batteries or can you charge them with a USB cable? I was thinking, if they only allow 1 controller per system, wouldn't it be cool if the top of the WiiU itself has an inductive field. You just put your controller on it, while the system is turned off. I just hate cables. Would that be even possible concerning other components? I remeber a patent Apple made a few years ago about and inductive field around an iMac. So your iPad, iPhone, mouse and keyboard could get recharged by having them nearby your computer.

Yeah, I imagine an Inductive field would be best, it would also be smart to put it in the system, though most people will keep their controller on their coffee table... I think as long as it can charge from USB, then it will be fine if the inductive field is on the console... Otherwise, I'd rather have them give me a dock I can put near my couch to charge the thing.

 

[Jackano]

Do we know how the uPads get recharged? Donthey still use batteries or can you charge them with a USB cable? I was thinking, if they only allow 1 controller per system, wouldn't it be cool if the top of the WiiU itself has an inductive field. You just put your controller on it, while the system is turned off. I just hate cables. Would that be even possible concerning other components? I remeber a patent Apple made a few years ago about and inductive field around an iMac. So your iPad, iPhone, mouse and keyboard could get recharged by having them nearby your computer.

Knowing Nintendo, proprietary cable that's plugs into the Wii U system, forcing you to let in sleep mode.
But, nevertheless, my bet is on USB cable.

 

[Fjolle]

Do we know how the uPads get recharged? Donthey still use batteries or can you charge them with a USB cable? I was thinking, if they only allow 1 controller per system, wouldn't it be cool if the top of the WiiU itself has an inductive field. You just put your controller on it, while the system is turned off. I just hate cables. Would that be even possible concerning other components? I remeber a patent Apple made a few years ago about and inductive field around an iMac. So your iPad, iPhone, mouse and keyboard could get recharged by having them nearby your computer.

Yes. Because Nintendo will have no problem at all cooling the system with the specs people in here dream about, so why not put in another useless heat dispenser? One of those things that keep my coffee warm would be cool too.

 

[A.KU.MU]

Only 6 more days until Wii U information overload.

Spoiler

Please Nintendo... I can't take it any more.

 

[Kenka]

Only 6 more days until Wii U information overload.

Spoiler

Please Nintendo... I can't take it any more.

Excuse me, what information overload ?

 

[A.KU.MU]

Excuse me, what information overload ?

GDC.

 

[TriGen]

Excuse me, what information overload ?

GDC hope, I guess?

 

[m.i.s.]

I dare say our overanalysis has led us to know even less.

But we DO KNOW (or have a fairly good idea). We just don't want to admit that we know.

 

[Luigiv]

Just a little thought...

Wouldn´t the Gamecube buttonlayout work tons better on the UPad than the standard positioning of the 4 face buttons?

You could instantly "find" the buttons again, when switching back from the Slider, with a bigger "A" button in the middle, 3 smaller the "B", "X" and "y" buttons around it? Bigger "A" button in the middle, smaller "B" to the left, smaller "X" to the right and smaller "Y" on top.

You still have 4 facebuttons but this layout would make more sense if you place it under the slider.

How does the face buttons being beneath the slider make them harder to find than when they're above the slider?

Anyway, as much as I did like the GCN's asymmetrical button layout, it would not be a smart choice for Nintendo to reintroduce them in this age of multiplats and downloadable SNES games. The GCN layout does not play nice with every game.

 

[Antagon]

GTAV will probably be designed for 30fps, but you're right, if the game is being weighed down by 360/PS3 versions it would definitely be easiest to simply render the Wii U version at a higher res rather than work on improving effects much (if at all). Even if Wii U isn't necessarily powerful enough to render 360/PS3 games at 1080p without some sacrifices, games could at least be rendered at near-1080p resolutions. Or something.

BTW if my arguments are all over the place it's because I'm extremely tired right now, so I probably shouldn't even be posting... I want to be more involved in all the crazy discussions in here though...

But I guess I'll go to bed for now.

And dream of angular nature environments. *shakes fist at the heavens*

They could also improve draw distances and shadow res and such, should be next to no work.

 

[Terrell]

After playing Too Human, I just hope Silicon Knights doesn't have anything to do with it... It would be one thing if that game was produced inside 1 generation and didn't cost 80m+ to make... I don't even understand, if ED2 is made, I hope someone else gets it, not retro btw, I want them on either their own IP (something modern day and gritty would be great... I'd love that future zelda spoof to be a setting for a new adventure IP)

Anyways, I would like to see Capcom redeem itself with a ED2 in a combination of RE2 mystery elements and ED's puzzle type game play, with someone like grasshopper's Suda51 as the director. (yes I picked all Japanese studios, I just think Japanese horror can be very shocking, and I love Suda51's humor)

Japanese style horror isn't what made Eternal Darkness what it was, though. It was lingering dread and terrible unease, drawn out from lovingly well-done references to the works of Lovecraft and those of his ilk. If you want a Japanese developer to work on it, they best be well-equipped to draw upon every facet of Victorian-era fantasy horror like the first one did.

 

[z0m3le]

They could also improve draw distances and shadow res and such, should be next to no work.

Well, GTAV is an example, I mean they didn't do much of that for the PC on GTAIV right? So expect a similar thing to happen with the Wii U.

Japanese style horror isn't what made Eternal Darkness what it was, though. It was lingering dread and terrible unease. If you want a Japanese developer to work on it, they best be well-equipped to draw upon every facet of Victorian-era fantasy horror like the first one did.

This might be true, but there were other eras being used, I would hope that they expand the universe by going to new times though, maybe a western setting and possibly a modern setting would be interesting to see too... I just really like the mystery tone that early RE games had, that genre is barely alive now that RE has taken a more action tone. Who ever it is though, I just want to avoid Silicon Knights.

 

[tsab]

HAHAHA megaton incoming? (GDC 2012 speakers)

 

[AceBandage]

Kaplan returns.
:O

 

[Lord Ghirahim]

Kaplan is Turkish for "tiger". /mameshiba

 

[A.KU.MU]

Kaplan returns.
:O

Lol!

 

[Nibel]

Is there something to know about Kaplan besides obvious Wikipedia information?

 

[AceBandage]

Is there something to know about Kaplan besides obvious Wikipedia information?

Lol!

She was a big part of Nintendo's PR, and her and IGN Nintendo Editor (Matt Casasamasina at the time) would do a lot of really weird and crazy interviews.
It was awesome.

 

[Lausebub]

Ready At Dawn Ramping Up For New Third Person Action/Adventure Game

Ready at Dawn, makers of God of War: Chains of Olympus and the Wii version of Okami, are on a hiring spree. Right now, they have job listings ranging from gameplay programmer to senior concept artist. If you are living in the Southern California area you might want to give this page a look.

The game in development is a third person action adventure for a "next generation home console game system." Make of that what you will. Before you say God of War or Daxter, this game is a new intellectual property.

Source

I hope "next generation home console game system" is another way to say "Wii U".

 

[AceBandage]

God of Okami Daxter

 

[TriGen]

Ready At Dawn Ramping Up For New Third Person Action/Adventure Game



Source

I hope "next generation home console game system" is another way to say "Wii U".

That sounds good, I'll hold out hope.

 

[BDGAME]

There are people who still don't believe that Wii U will be able to run the next engine of the Epic?

I mean, come on? It's obvious that it will have power to do so.

The big problem Nintendo had with Wii is the large number of third party games that were not released for it because it can't handle the main engines of this gen.

Nintendo will not release a new hardware to make the same mistake.

 

[Terrell]

This might be true, but there were other eras being used, I would hope that they expand the universe by going to new times though, maybe a western setting and possibly a modern setting would be interesting to see too... I just really like the mystery tone that early RE games had, that genre is barely alive now that RE has taken a more action tone. Who ever it is though, I just want to avoid Silicon Knights.

I agree with this. I wouldn't mind Dyack and Ken McCulloch being brought back to write, though I doubt they'd do it unless Silicon Knights was allowed to be involved. All that you'd really need is someone who understands the inspirations of the narrative. I honestly wouldn't mind Retro having a whack at it, because Nintendo's only other choices for a developer who can hire writing talent to grasp the concepts here is Next Level, and between those 2 choices, Retro is the best one, unless Nintendo wants to seek yet ANOTHER 2nd-party.

 

[z0m3le]

I'm really loving that Nintendo is optimizing popular engines in house, does Sony or Microsoft do this? I'm just interested, because it could go a long way to making Wii U the target console this time. Like 360 was last gen.

I agree with this. I wouldn't mind Dyack and Ken McCulloch being brought back to write, though I doubt they'd do it unless Silicon Knights was allowed to be involved. All that you'd really need is someone who understands the inspirations of the narrative. I honestly wouldn't mind Retro having a whack at it, because Nintendo's only other choices for a developer who can hire writing talent to grasp the concepts here is Next Level, and between those 2 choices, Retro is the best one, unless Nintendo wants to seek yet ANOTHER 2nd-party.

Hopefully Nintendo sees the business opportunity that I see and buys THQ if they get any worse. Imagine having all those western teams under Nintendo's house, you could see a lot of new IPs, and bringing some of THQ's IPs forward. It could definitely improve big title frequency for both 3DS and Wii U hardware, which is currently still a problem with Nintendo.