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If Other M really was a "message" to Retro Studios, then it was a pretty shitty message, considering how poorly received it was. (I still don't understand that -- The game was no Prime, but it was still awesome.)
It's true, a ton of good people have left Retro (and that's one reason I'm actually really interested in Halo 4 now). I don't think Retro would have been given Donkey Kong Country Returns if Nintendo was pissed at their own people, though.
It's true, a ton of good people have left Retro (and that's one reason I'm actually really interested in Halo 4 now). I don't think Retro would have been given Donkey Kong Country Returns if Nintendo was pissed at their own people, though.
If Nintendo was trying to "send Retro a message" I doubt Miyamoto would publicly say he'd love to see them do a Zelda game. Theyve been entrusted with Metroid and DKC and done right by them.
Miyamoto has confirmed they are not doing a Zelda game at this time, but still no news on what they are doing.
Miyamoto has confirmed they are not doing a Zelda game at this time, but still no news on what they are doing.
I think Retro Studios is a a developer that really needs to be given creative control to make their own IP. Nintendo can be kind of stubborn but I don't think they're that blunt. Maybe more like, "ok you guys are tired of Metroid. How about making a 2D DK instead for the next project?". If there's one developer under the Nintendo umbrella that's earned the right and respect to do something brand new, it's Retro.
I don't know the history but my immediate thought was whether Nintendo actually owns Retro Studios, and a quick search shows that they apparently do. Retro is simply a subsidiary of Nintendo and like Sony or Microsoft studios they pretty much have to work on whatever Nintendo wants them to work on.
They are secure in that they are a subsidiary of Nintendo, but that doesn't mean that they couldn't be folded into another Nintendo owned subsidiary developer for the creation of a new IP or new game in a series.
Thinking of them as an individual game developer is fine.... but the truth is that they are simply a subsidiary of Nintendo... and Nintendo likely provides almost all the direction in terms of their projects.
... not sure if this added anything, but again, on reading your blog I was struck by whether they were a subsidiary... I'm often surprised by who is outright owned by the publisher (Sony owns the devs of both the SOCOM and Killzone series - Guerilla and the now-defunct Zipper). Corporate ownership seems to explain a lot about the choices a studio makes (or can make). :(
They are secure in that they are a subsidiary of Nintendo, but that doesn't mean that they couldn't be folded into another Nintendo owned subsidiary developer for the creation of a new IP or new game in a series.
Thinking of them as an individual game developer is fine.... but the truth is that they are simply a subsidiary of Nintendo... and Nintendo likely provides almost all the direction in terms of their projects.
... not sure if this added anything, but again, on reading your blog I was struck by whether they were a subsidiary... I'm often surprised by who is outright owned by the publisher (Sony owns the devs of both the SOCOM and Killzone series - Guerilla and the now-defunct Zipper). Corporate ownership seems to explain a lot about the choices a studio makes (or can make). :(
I loved Other M. A lot. The graphics were appropriate, the soundtrack was beautiful, and the gameplay was fun. Every negative review mentioned how Samus had emotions. And that's bad... how? Samus is a chick, she's gonna cry once and a while. When Malkovich died, I felt like her reaction was incredibly appropriate.
But the soundtrack, oh, the soundtrack. It was amazing. Just... amazing. It fit the atmosphere so so well. The alternate theme that you unlocked once you escaped was beautiful. Screw the regular Metroid theme. I loved the alternate theme.
But the soundtrack, oh, the soundtrack. It was amazing. Just... amazing. It fit the atmosphere so so well. The alternate theme that you unlocked once you escaped was beautiful. Screw the regular Metroid theme. I loved the alternate theme.
