5:31 PM on 04.27.2007
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After losing Rare, Silicon Knights and a handful of other talented second-party development contracts, Nintendo's finally on the offensive in the Corporate Circle of Life, gobbling up other companies for its own profit. Today, Bandai Namco Holdings announced that Nintendo is purchasing an 80% stake in Monolith Soft, makers of the Xenosaga trilogy and Baten Kaitos series, as well as the upcoming Disaster: Day of Crisis on the Wii. As part of the deal, Bandai Namco will retain a 16% share of the studio for its own dastardly schemes, but this news bodes well for Nintendo. On top of its own history of for-the-most-part excellent games (XSII notwithstanding -- that game makes the baby Jesus cry), Monolith Soft includes a slew of former Square employees responsible for titles like Chrono Cross and Xenogears. Years after the mass-exodus of quality RPG development that went out the door with Square prior to the Nintendo 64's advent, it looks like the big N is finally going to get some muscle in the realm of epic androgynous gaming. What with Nintendo's money-printing hardware and all -- those evil, evil men and their quest for, y'know, profit -- it's surprising that this kind of thing doesn't happen more often now that Nintendo's got the green to do it. There are plenty of worthy development studios that would fit right at home with Nintendo. Why the hell hasn't anybody purchased Treasure and showered them in cash and women? Nintendo, get on it! [Via IGN] |
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21 comments + 95764 views
Also sprach Miyamoto ... apparently.
Jenseits von Gut und Yamauchi.
Of course, now that I've invoked his name, I can't help but post his picture. Gaze and tremble:
Yamauchi was such an awesome crazy bastard. I miss him.
Dear Nintendo,
Namco X Capcom for the Wii, please. No no, don't "Wii-ify" it. That's not necessary. Just translate it and release it. That's all I ask.
Thanks,
Me.
Hm...I don't think I've ever played any Monolith Soft game, but it seems that Xenosaga and Baten Kaitos are on my to-play list. Good for Nintendo.
This is awesome news...Just let us see more Xeno and Chrono and less Baten Kaitos. God, those games sucked ass.
True story, a key Nintendo developer was working on key for the N64, deadlines were approaching and the game was nowhere near complete, in an effort to meet deadlines, the design team woirked around the clock, but still there was too much work to be done in the short space of time available.
The developer in question recalls how on one of those round the clock shifts, on a rainy night, Yamauchi appeared at the window outside in the rain, the developer thought that the stress had started to make him see things, but Yamauchi proceeded to open the door, enter the room and walk right up to him, he leant down and said only a few words "This title is important to Nintendo".
The title was finished in time.
Yamauchi was proper old school japan, a bit like Miyazaki. When Disney edited his Princess Mononoke for the US market, Miyazaki sent a parcel with a samurai sword and a letter saying "No cuts".
Dear Nintendo:
Hi, how are you doing? I hope you're doing well.
I have one word for you: SEEDS.
That is all.
@Kia: Baten Kaitos rocked so much face, it should be illegal. The only, and I mean only bad thing about the original Baten Kaitos was the voice acting. If you don't like card-based RPGs, I can see why you wouldn't enjoy it, but that's no reason to say it sucked.
I wish comments were editable, because I always forget to say something:
This is fucking awesome news. Nintendo, I have a list of studios for you to pick up. I know you didn't ask for it, but I'm e-mailing it to you already. Since you just got Monolith, you can go ahead and scratch it off the list.
monolith made that awesome mech FPS "Shogo." anyone 'member that game?
Chrono Trigger.
@ Bahamut_Zero:
Shogo was awesome (as were No One Lives Forever, Tron 2.0, and FEAR) but those were the other Monolith.
I really think this was a smart move. Wish Silicon Knights was still developing for them, but they're doing great stuff anyways. I'm a fan of Baten Kaitos, but I had no idea there were people from the Chrono Cross team involved, Chrono Trigger too?? Or is that hoping to much? Pretty exciting either way. Hope Disaster is actually good.
Bahamut, yeah that's the GOOD Monolith you're thinking of. The one who never makes sequels to the games you really want to play.
ah shit. that sucks! Serially guys, where's my Tron 3.0? The weapons in that game rocked. I'm super serial.
any other purchases coming up that might be rumored?
Has anybody noticed how all ex-Nintendo second party developers (Silicon Knights, Rare, Left Field (I think)) have gone downhill since they left the Big N?
I think the Nintendo philosophy pervades companies beyond obsessive quality control.
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