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[Pocks]

Retro recently hired some out-of-core specialist (think megatextures for geometry). Dunno how long he'll stay, he left SCE and Visceral rather quickly.

Interesting.. I wonder how long they've been working on Wii U. How recent is recently?

Except for maybe New Super Mario Bros. and Ghost Recon, we have not seen any actual Wii U game. None. Nintendo hasn't shown us any other titles either, but that doesn't mean they don't exist..

...

We did see Killer Freaks, and we know that Darksiders II was up on running on Wii U hardware, although they didn't show it.

 

[wsippel]

Interesting.. I wonder how long they've been working on Wii U. How recent is recently?

Two months ago in this particular case. His previous project is rather interesting (he was the lead programmer): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrZv3ZAlLfs

 

[ShockingAlberto]

Retro had a job listing for people with experience on HD systems last February

It was one of the things that kicked off the Wii successor rumors.

 

[wsippel]

Retro had a job listing for people with experience on HD systems last February

It was one of the things that kicked off the Wii successor rumors.

And they've hired quite a few guys. This guy in particular has more of a background in scientific computing, though. Especially working with point clouds and huge datasets.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

Two months ago in this particular case. His previous project is rather interesting (he was the lead programmer): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrZv3ZAlLfs

This looks pretty impressive indeed, although I am under the impression this stuff is running on a quite powerful PC and that possibly makes it even more impressive.

 

[TunaLover]

And they've hired quite a few guys. This guy in particular has more of a background in scientific computing, though. Especially working with point clouds and huge datasets.

datasets, that word makes my head hurts =/
Having hard time with databases right now...

 

[Übermatik]

Hearing about game Retro hiring specialists for development gets me excited beyond belief. I love this kind of mysterious news...

Huge data assets? Megatextures? Squee!

 

[Gianni Merryman]

Hearing about game Retro hiring specialists for development gets me excited beyond belief. I love this kind of mysterious news...

Huge data assets? Megatextures? Squee!

Interesting point.
For sure, the first thing that springs to my mind thinking of a game that may be requiring new technology expertise, is that this time around we should not be talking another Donkey Kong country game but something different.

Metroid may be a possibility, but also F-Zero, Starfox, who knows?...

 

[blu]

A Metroid-universe MMMMMMMORPG. You heard it here first.

 

[Azure J]

Random far out thought, could this simply be pointing to Retro/Nintendo developing an in-house engine a la MT Framework to be shared and help create games faster among Nintendo's different dev teams versus something going into one game from Retro? Seems like something a tech oriented group like themselves could/would do versus making something one off with a guy like that on board.

 

[StevieP]

Random far out thought, could this simply be pointing to Retro/Nintendo developing an in-house engine a la MT Framework to be shared and help create games faster among Nintendo's different dev teams versus something going into one game from Retro? Seems like something a tech oriented group like themselves could/would do versus making something one off with a guy like that on board.

NST would be on-board with a project like that as well, considering Nintendo's been using them strictly for tech (like emulators) lately.

 

[GDGF]

Random far out thought, could this simply be pointing to Retro/Nintendo developing an in-house engine a la MT Framework to be shared and help create games faster among Nintendo's different dev teams versus something going into one game from Retro? Seems like something a tech oriented group like themselves could/would do versus making something one off with a guy like that on board.

That would be great.

 

[Übermatik]

A Metroid-universe MMMMMMMORPG. You heard it here first.

Hell yes please. Or just HUGE online multiplayer maps, a la Hunters, but bigger, better, bolder.

*mind races at Metroid online multiplayer options/perks etc.*

 

[Gamer @ Heart]

Random far out thought, could this simply be pointing to Retro/Nintendo developing an in-house engine a la MT Framework to be shared and help create games faster among Nintendo's different dev teams versus something going into one game from Retro? Seems like something a tech oriented group like themselves could/would do versus making something one off with a guy like that on board.

Isnt that what EAD does already? Im sure that galaxy engine has been slowly built up, tweaked, and passed around since Jungle beat on GC.

 

[Azure J]

Isnt that what EAD does already? Nintendo is constantly sharing resources.

I know, and there's the countless stories about different engines getting built up upon and the like. Now I'm feeling extra derp because I remember the stories and findings (see Super Mario Galaxy/Smash Brawl in Dolphin) that proved Nintendo was working with high quality assets but shrinking them down to be used in their Wii games.

Guess that engine theory isn't all that. :lol

 

[IceDoesntHelp]

A Metroid-universe MMMMMMMORPG. You heard it here first.

Please no.

 

[BurntPork]

Guys, I can't digest crow feathers. This hurts. ;-;

 

[Boney]

Right, and I don't think the very idea of being stuck with DKCR makes them happy either...

I suppose Retro must be feeling towards Metroid prime not much different from how HAL laboratories must be feeling towards the Super smash bros series, they were pretty stuck with that franchise since the first game on N64 and I can see that they may feel a little frustrated.

HAL has done a bunch of shit.

I feel all I do is call you out! hehehehe

 

[AceBandage]

Retro is clearly making Eternal Darkness 2 with 8 player online co-op.

 

[BlackNMild2k1]

They won't bundle it because there has to be a primary Wii U controller, the same way the Wiimote was the primary input device for the Wii and not the Classic Controller.

What do you think would have happened if the Classic Controller had been included with the original Wii? No 3rd party dev would have even touched the Wiimote and instead would have just use the classic input method.

The point in making those "special" controller the primary input device is that it forces everyone to use them. Otherwise, they wouldn't.

I think it's different circumstances this time around. Last time Devs were resisting change and wanted a traditional controller. If they included the CC in the box, the Wiimote may have been ignored.

This time the uMote is a traditional controller (with lots of extra bells & whostles). So including a Wiimote+ in the box will actually increase the chances of it being supported more often than not since most devs will automatically default to the controller with traditional controls, the uMote. With the WiiU, as it was with the Wii, the wiimote once again will not be the controller of choice.


edit: guess I should have refreshed the thread and finished reading it before replying.

 

[AceBandage]

I doubt they'll include any Wii controllers with the system, simply for one reason.
The Wii was already huge. People already have controllers for it.
Rather, what they SHOULD do, is drop the price of the controllers to like... $20.

 

[Übermatik]

NinjaGaiden - Razor's Edge to be launch game for Wii U.

As one of its upcoming business initiatives, the company says that it plans to actively support new platforms.
It demonstrated this with Dead or Alive Dimensions, Dynasty Warriors VS and FabStyle on 3DS, Dynasty Warriors Next and Ninja Gaiden Sigma on PlayStation Vita, and Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge on Wii U.
Razor's Edge is planned to launch opposite Wii U, according to the presentation materials.

Worth noting.

 

[[Nintex]]

The slide also mentions a "collaboration with a big title" for the latter half of the year

Oh god, Metroid: Other M 2

You're already the BABY BABY BABY

 

[AceBandage]

Oh god, Metroid: Other M 2

You're already the BABY BABY BABY

I'd enjoy a new Other M type game, myself.
Just fix the dialog and remove the crappy controls and you have a near perfect game.

 

[Christine]

I doubt they'll include any Wii controllers with the system, simply for one reason.
The Wii was already huge. People already have controllers for it.
Rather, what they SHOULD do, is drop the price of the controllers to like... $20.

I'm not seeing it. It would just be incoherent--are you expecting them to bundle an IR bar and no remote? Because if the expectation is for people to either own a Wii/order an official IR bar from Nintendo's online store/buy a 3rd party IR bar at retail, the whole endeavor is fucked and they should honestly just not support the device at all.

We don't really do account or tag bets anymore, but I'll eat any amount of crow if they don't include a M+ remote. I've said it before, but I expect the package to be: console, U pad, IR bar, M+ remote, nunchuk. The only part I'm not 100% certain about is the nunchuk.

Much, much better to spend some money subsidizing the presence of this control method on the new console than to drop the price on the remotes. If they can establish the remote as significant on Wii U, they can continue to sell millions of them at well above $20 a pop.

EDIT: The bonus round on my prediction, with extreme specificity:

Nintendo will develop two software packages that showcase and demonstrate the features of the new controller. At least one of these will also promote the use of the M+ remote, both independently and in conjunction with the U pad in various ways.

These games collections will be in many ways analogous to Wii Sports and Wii Play, but inverted in their marketing: the more fully featured software will be sold independently of the console, while the Wii Play equivalent is the pack-in.

 

[AceBandage]

We'll see.
I just don't think Nintendo will want to basically undermine their new UTab by including their old control method.
Though, who knows.
This coming generation will be the most unique in terms of what the big three will pack into their systems.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

HAL has done a bunch of shit.

Yeah, they did other things as well, but the Smash games are usually so huge, there's such a ridiculous amount of stuff- scenarios, weapons, unlockables and whatsnot, testing everything till all elements are well balanced altogether - into them, that I have an idea that working on them is a total energy-draining nightmare, and that once you finish Melee or Brawl - that supposedly takes you ages - you are totally fed up with it, yet they prompt you to start working straight away on the next Smash game for the upcoming new console, so they have all my sympathy.

It's like, say, you work in an office and you always end up doing something extremely dull nobody else wants to do such as making photocopies or dispatching mail, you may feel underused since you feel like trying different things, somethink more engaging.

I feel all I do is call you out! hehehehe

No problem, mate, arguing is the point of a forum and what makes it fun, and unless you don't troll me - and I don't think this is the case - everything's fine, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[AceBandage]

Yeah, they did other things as well, but the Smash games are usually so huge, there's such a ridiculous amount of stuff- scenarios, weapons, unlockables and whatsnot, testing everything till all elements are well balanced altogether - into them, that I have an idea that working on them is a total energy-draining nightmare, and that once you finish Melee or Brawl - that supposedly takes you ages - you are totally fed up with it, yet they prompt you to start working straight away on the next Smash game for the upcoming new console, so they have all my sympathy.

It's like, say, you work in an office and you always end up doing something extremely dull nobody else wants to do such as making photocopies or dispatching mail, you may feel underused since you feel like trying different things, somethink more engaging.



No problem, mate, arguing is the point of a forum and what makes it fun, and unless you don't troll me - and I don't think this is the case - everything's fine, as far as I'm concerned.

HAL doesn't work on Smash alone, though. They form fairly large teams to help with it.
Also, I wouldn't compare making one of the most celebrated fighters of our time to photocopying documents.

 

[BurntPork]

I doubt they'll include any Wii controllers with the system, simply for one reason.
The Wii was already huge. People already have controllers for it.
Rather, what they SHOULD do, is drop the price of the controllers to like... $20.

That doesn't matter. If it's not included, that's the end of support for it from everyone, including Nintendo.

 

[Deguello]

HAL doesn't work on Smash alone, though. They form fairly large teams to help with it.
Also, I wouldn't compare making one of the most celebrated fighters of our time to photocopying documents.

I am rather curious as to what HAL would seemingly rather be working on rather than Smash Brothers.

EDIT: I'm on the side of Nintendo including the Wiimote+ in the Wii U, if only because they've made several movies showing people using the Wiimote+ and the Wii U controller in tandem. It's the whole idea behind the Chase Mii and Battle Mii demonstrations at E3.

 

[AceBandage]

I am rather curious as to what HAL would seemingly rather be working on rather than Smash Brothers.

Kirby.
Definitely Kirby.

That doesn't matter. If it's not included, that's the end of support for it from everyone, including Nintendo.

Nah, Nintendo loves to force stuff like this even when it's hopeless.
But yeah, I see your point.

 

[Deguello]

Kirby.
Definitely Kirby.

Well abracadabra, they've released 3 in the last year alone.

 

[AceBandage]

Well abracadabra they've made 3 in the last year alone.

Actually, only 2.
Epic Yarn was made by Good Feel.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

Also, I wouldn't compare making one of the most celebrated fighters of our time to photocopying documents.

I think if I should work as a videogame developer and I had to choose a videogame to work on, personally I would never ever pick a Smash game, let alone 4 in a row.
Obviously they are well paid for it, and their job is not as boring as photocopying, but I can see they would like to have more creative freedom in order to develop their potentials.

Besides, working on a successful series doesn't necessarily satisfy you professionally; let's look at Bungie, I actually thought they would have worked oh Halo series forever...

 

[AceBandage]

I think if I should work as a videogame developer and I had to choose a videogame to work on, personally I would never ever pick a Smash game, let alone 4 in a row.
Obviously they are well paid for it, and their job is not as boring as photocopying, but I can see they would like to have more freedom to develop their potentials.

Besides, working on a successful series doesn't necessarily satisfy you professionally; let's look at Bungie, I actually thought they would have worked oh Halo series all their lives...

Again, though.
HAL has made much more than just Smash.

Here is what they've made since Smash 64.


[edit] Nintendo GameCube

Kirby Air Ride
Super Smash Bros. Melee



[edit] Game Boy

Adventures of Lolo
Ghostbusters II
HAL Wrestling (publisher; developed by Human Entertainment)
Kirby's Block Ball
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby's Pinball Land
Kirby's Star Stacker
Revenge of the 'Gator
Shanghai
Trax
Vegas Stakes

[edit] Game Boy Color

Blade (video game)

[edit] Game Boy Advance

Battland Cancelled
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Luna Blaze Cancelled
Mother 3

[edit] Nintendo DS

Kirby Canvas Curse
Kirby Squeak Squad
Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Picross 3D
Kirby Mass Attack

[edit] Nintendo 3DS

Face Raiders

[edit] Wii

Kirby's Epic Yarn (Co-developed with Good Feel)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Development Cooperation)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land[4]


So saying "Well, they should work on more than just Smash Brothers!" is, well... redundant. Since they make tons of games.

 

[Deguello]

I think if I should work as a videogame developer and I had to choose a videogame to work on, personally I would never ever pick a Smash game, let alone 4 in a row.
Obviously they are well paid for it, and their job is not as boring as photocopying, but I can see they would like to have more freedom to develop their potentials.

Besides, working on a successful series doesn't necessarily satisfy you professionally; let's look at Bungie, I actually thought they would have worked oh Halo series all their lives...

HAL didn't do 4 Smash Brothers games in a row, dude.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

HAL didn't do 4 Smash Brothers games in a row, dude.

Sorry if I was not enough clear about it, I mean they made:

1 Smash bros on N64
2 Melee on Gamecube
3 Brawl on the Wii
4-5 upcoming titles for WiiU/3DS

In a nutshell I was only pointing out how much everybody seems to be expecting a Smash game as a launch title on each new Nintendo console, but that those games take quite a bunch of time, so they are somehow tied to the series and can hardly do something else.

 

[Deguello]

Sorry if I was not enough clear about it, I mean they made:

1 Smash bros on N64
2 Melee on Gamecube
3 Brawl on the Wii
4-5 upcoming titles for WiiU/3DS

In a nutshell I was only pointing out how much everybody seems to be expecting a Smash game as a launch title on each new Nintendo console, but that those games take quite a bunch of time, so they are somehow tied to the series and can hardly do something else.

Except, you know... they have done something else. Like Kirby platformers and Augmented Reality Shooters and a weird Pokemon Spinoff and a Puzzle game.

Yeah people expect Smash Bros. It's popular. It's good. It will have been 4-5 years since the last one was released. This is hardly the picture of a developer held captive by a fanbase that demands a Smash Brothers and nothing but.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

Again, though.
HAL has made much more than just Smash.

Here is what they've made since Smash 64.


[edit] Nintendo GameCube

Kirby Air Ride
Super Smash Bros. Melee



[edit] Game Boy

Adventures of Lolo
Ghostbusters II
HAL Wrestling (publisher; developed by Human Entertainment)
Kirby's Block Ball
Kirby's Dream Land
Kirby's Dream Land 2
Kirby's Pinball Land
Kirby's Star Stacker
Revenge of the 'Gator
Shanghai
Trax
Vegas Stakes

[edit] Game Boy Color

Blade (video game)

[edit] Game Boy Advance

Battland Cancelled
Kirby & the Amazing Mirror
Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land
Luna Blaze Cancelled
Mother 3

[edit] Nintendo DS

Kirby Canvas Curse
Kirby Squeak Squad
Pokémon Ranger
Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia
Kirby Super Star Ultra
Picross 3D
Kirby Mass Attack

[edit] Nintendo 3DS

Face Raiders

[edit] Wii

Kirby's Epic Yarn (Co-developed with Good Feel)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Development Cooperation)
Kirby's Return to Dream Land[4]


So saying "Well, they should work on more than just Smash Brothers!" is, well... redundant. Since they make tons of games.

To be fair you should have not put in there also GB, GBC and GBA games; actually, since the first Smash on N64 they apparently didn't work on many prominent titles other than Smash bros, aside from a couple of good quality Kirby games on NDS, I give you that, two Pokemon ranger games, and the recent Kirby Epic Yarn on Wii, that is supposedly the biggest budget not-Smash game they have made in ages.

By the way I hope I have made my point clear so I'm calling it a day, since we have discussed this issue quite lengthy, I'll leave this whole HAL laboratories argument alone from now on, besides I wish I hadn't started it in the first place.

 

[Deguello]

To be fair you should have not put in there also GB, GBC and GBA games; actually, since the first Smash on N64 they apparently didn't work on many prominent titles other than Smash bros, aside from a couple of good quality Kirby games on NDS, I give you that, two Pokemon ranger games, and the recent Kirby Epic Yarn on Wii, that is supposedly the biggest not-Smash game they have made in ages.

By the way I hope I have made my point clear so I'm calling it a day, since we have discussed this issue quite lengthy, I'll leave this whole HAL laboratories argument alone from now on.

OK, You did make your point clear. You believe that HAL hasn't worked on anything you consider major since Smash Brothers for the Wii in 2008.

I believe that you believe it.

 

[Boney]

Oh god, Metroid: Other M 2

You're already the BABY BABY BABY

praise the gods

If I recall correctly, HAL also helped with DSiware and other external projects as well.

And most of the grunt work for smash, at least brawl was done outside of HAL.

 

[Gianni Merryman]

OK, You did make your point clear. You believe that HAL hasn't worked on anything you consider major since Smash Brothers for the Wii in 2008.

I believe that you believe it.

I didn't mean that.
I said Kirby games on DS are pretty good quality - I haven't played them myself actually but I could swear by it from what I gather - and that Kirby Epic yarn is their biggest budget-wise game in years.
I don't see what am I saying that is so wrong, but even if I was utterly wrong, you seem to be a little harsh on me.

I am not trolling and I don't mean to upset anyone, I just wanted to share my point of view and that's it.

 

[Coolwhip]

I wonder how they are going to market the Wii U.

The marketing for the 3DS is GODAWFUL at least here in The Netherlands. The commercials are truly terrible. It's basically 2 little kids playing some Nintendogs, I have no clue who would find that appealing. When that game is basically old news. But its the centerpoint of the entire 3DS promotion here.

If they want to appeal to core and casual with the Wii U I'm really curious how they plan to market that.

 

[AceBandage]

I wonder how they are going to market the Wii U.

The marketing for the 3DS is GODAWFUL at least here in The Netherlands. The commercials are truly terrible. It's basically 2 little kids playing some Nintendogs, I have no clue who would find that appealing. When that game is basically old news. But its the centerpoint of the entire 3DS promotion here.

If they want to appeal to core and casual with the Wii U I'm really curious how they plan to market that.

HD Metroid

 

[Gaborn]

I wonder how they are going to market the Wii U.

The marketing for the 3DS is GODAWFUL at least here in The Netherlands. The commercials are truly terrible. It's basically 2 little kids playing some Nintendogs, I have no clue who would find that appealing. When that game is basically old news. But its the centerpoint of the entire 3DS promotion here.

If they want to appeal to core and casual with the Wii U I'm really curious how they plan to market that.

well, i think some of the scenes from that intro video we saw from e3 (the golf scene in particular, the drawing of Link, probably some more) would be a good start. I think people will LOVE the tablet being used in creative ways. More broadly I'd think the ghost recon online trailer would make a BRILLIANT commercial with some mild editing to shorten it slightly, a "core" gamer (read: shooter fanatic) would LOVE that shit.

Madden commercials? two coaches drawing plays. Imagine getting the Harbaughs to join in the commercial and each has a tablet and they each draw a play and end up scoring TDs against each other. Or something. There is a LOT of room for creativity here.

 

[AdventureRacing]

I wonder how they are going to market the Wii U.

The marketing for the 3DS is GODAWFUL at least here in The Netherlands. The commercials are truly terrible. It's basically 2 little kids playing some Nintendogs, I have no clue who would find that appealing. When that game is basically old news. But its the centerpoint of the entire 3DS promotion here.

If they want to appeal to core and casual with the Wii U I'm really curious how they plan to market that.

In australia the 3DS ads are identical to the DS ads except with different celebrities. Hell they even still use nintendogs. Not exactly the best idea when you want to differentiate your system.

 

[TunaLover]

I wonder how will Nintendo handle a new Fire Emblem, Intelligent Systems doesn´t seems very prepared from a technical standpoint.

What do you expect?
Gamecube engine with higher resulution?
Completely new engine?
Revamped gameplay?

 

[AceBandage]

I wonder how will Nintendo handle a new Fire Emblem, Intelligent Systems doesn´t seems very prepared from a technical standpoint.

What do you expect?
Gamecube engine with higher resulution?
Completely new engine?
Revamped gameplay?

HD Hand Drawn Sprites ala Rayman Origins

THEY HAVE TO.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

I wonder how will Nintendo handle a new Fire Emblem, Intelligent Systems doesn´t seems very prepared from a technical standpoint.

What do you expect?
Gamecube engine with higher resulution?
Completely new engine?
Revamped gameplay?

3DS only

 

[TunaLover]

HD Hand Drawn Sprites ala Rayman Origins

THEY HAVE TO.

I would prefer the artstyle showed in Radiant Dawn FMVs.
But I doubt that Nintendo is willing to spend too much for a niche serie, I think they will just up-res some assets, but nothing mindblowing. I want they expand the formula a little though, playing FE without any changes will feels a little tired.