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[Roo]

Mario Kart 8 was 2014 - Should have a Mario Kart ready by 2018, anyway (although some of these people are probably helping with mobile projects)
Zelda is coming in 2017

As Shikamaru Ninja pointed out some time ago, the quality and size of the Mario Kart 8 DLC most likely required the entire staff as opposed to some small group made post-launch. That means they were done with the game by early 2015.

Not saying you're wrong as Mario Kart 9 should indeed be ready for 2018 but it definitely won't be released within the first year of NX as Emily is implying.

That only covers the usual 3 year gap between games in the series.
If the shared library concept does pan out, who knows how much longer it will take them to get both versions of the game ready.

 

[James Scott]

i could agree with this. The "May" game.

Yeah, May 2018 sounds likely. Summer suited MK8 and Splatoon well, their best selling Wii U games (?)

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

3DWorld did go on selects mory

 

[Mory Dunz]

Yeah, May 2018 sounds likely. Summer suited MK8 and Splatoon well, their best selling Wii U games (?)

Splatoon isn't up there yet, but I think it's outpacting most games.

3DWorld did go on selects mory

Oh that would explain it. Thanks.

man, Mario Kart 8 being at 7.5m with only 12.8 million Wii U's is a crazy 58% attach rate. And I don't even think it's getting bundled much anymore iirc. It's mostly splatoon, mario maker now.

It's impossible now, but MK9 being a launch game would be something. It seems like their biggest console IP.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

3D Mario and Mario Kart seems a bit much, I get they're going for software being there from day one but still

Remember that in the Wii era, Mario Galaxy, Brawl, and Mario Kart Wii were about 2 months apart from each other. The Wii's first year and a half was a seriously insane streak.

EDIT: Not saying they'll all be there at launch, but having them in the first year is doable. I'm thinking Smash in the launch window, 3D Mario for holiday 2017, and Mario Kart for spring 2018?

 

[jdstorm]

Personally I'm betting that Nintendo will have Splatoon , Mario Maker and Smash 4 ready at launch as the bundled pack in games. People who don't own a Wii U will be stoked that they are getting free versions of these highly esteemed games while WIIU owners were likely going to buy the NX anyway and will appreciate not having to buy these games a 2nd time.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Personally I'm betting that Nintendo will have Splatoon , Mario Maker and Smash 4 ready at launch as the bundled pack in games. People who don't own a Wii U will be stoked that they are getting free versions of these highly esteemed games while WIIU owners were likely going to buy the NX anyway and will appreciate not having to buy these games a 2nd time.

Don't bet any money.

 

[Captain Smoker]

Personally I'm betting that Nintendo will have Splatoon , Mario Maker and Smash 4 ready at launch as the bundled pack in games. People who don't own a Wii U will be stoked that they are getting free versions of these highly esteemed games while WIIU owners were likely going to buy the NX anyway and will appreciate not having to buy these games a 2nd time.

While I don't believe this, it would be certainly interesting, because most of their digital business revenue comes from DLC and that's a lot recently.

413.000.000 $

Mario Kart 8 won't sell that good after the NX launches, but the DLC is going to be downloaded a ton (for sure).



But that's also some kind of strange business move I don't expect, but it could work somehow.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Whatever the game is, it's practically guaranteed to look and play amazing. Seriously the amount of Detail in Tropical Freeze's levels is jaw-dropping. The UC3 art director and his team went to town.

What are you talking about? The dude that came to Retro from Naughty Dog worked at ND for only nine months, and isn't even at Retro anymore.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

Personally I'm betting that Nintendo will have Splatoon , Mario Maker and Smash 4 ready at launch as the bundled pack in games. People who don't own a Wii U will be stoked that they are getting free versions of these highly esteemed games while WIIU owners were likely going to buy the NX anyway and will appreciate not having to buy these games a 2nd time.

Zelda's more-or-less confirmed for launch, and all the reports on Smash suggest it is a launch game. IMO having more than those 2 ports would be overkill. Stagger the releases to spread out the profits.

I think this would be a good launch window lineup.

Zelda - Practically an NX game at this point. A much-anticipated game and a great way to start with a bang.

Pikmin 4 - Pretty much "done" as of mid-2015, so it has to be. It's a quirky tentpole release that will get more attention as a launch game, and provides plenty for core gamers to sink their teeth into.

Smash - "Hey, see this awesome game you missed out on cuz you didn't have a Wii U? Buy our NEW system and on day 1 you get a second chance! Already got it? Double-dip and get exclusive new content!" This and Zelda will likely be the only major launch day ports.

Retro's new IP - New system, new IP from a beloved developer stretching their wings from the first time. Can't go wrong with it.

Anything else, whether new or ported, would be overkill. Splatoon is better served by a sequel at this point considering it'll be 2 years old at the time of NX's launch. Mario Maker DX would be a great title at some point though. There's a few approaches they can take it in.

If Mario Maker is a pre-installed app, I could see them trying an F2P approach. Start off as "Mario Maker Express", and then be able to download more components from the eShop. Then maybe a full-fledged, complete retail edition later in the year? Or just do it retail-wise and ignore the app thing.

Remember that one of the primary purposes of ports is to pad out a release schedule, to make the wait time for new games more bearable. They aren't a substitute for new games - though Smash may be the exception since making an entirely new one at this point of time just seems infeasible, and it's worked great as a service game for the past year, so they'll probably want to use the NX game as the basis for the series for now.

 

[Ansatz]

As Shikamaru Ninja pointed out some time ago, the quality and size of the Mario Kart 8 DLC most likely required the entire staff as opposed to some small group made post-launch. That means they were done with the game by early 2015.

Not saying you're wrong as Mario Kart 9 should indeed be ready for 2018 but it definitely won't be released within the first year of NX as Emily is implying.

That only covers the usual 3 year gap between games in the series.
If the shared library concept does pan out, who knows how much longer it will take them to get both versions of the game ready.

Agreed, AC will be the big holiday 2017 release and MK sometime in the year after.

 

[DecoReturns]

Console Fire Emblem please. You know once the series is healthy for a console release again.

Prequel to Path of Radiance. Ike's dad or Zelguis. Just saying. One day. Please.

 

[The Xtortionist]

so it's not DKC but can David Wise still do the soundtrack

 

[WhiteRabbitEXE]

Console Fire Emblem please. You know once the series is healthy for a console release again.

Prequel to Path of Radiance. Ike's dad or Zelguis. Just saying. One day. Please.

Literally 0% chance Retro is making a console FE, lol. That doesn't even make sense.

 

[HelloMeow]

Too bad. A good Metroid game is the only thing I'd get a Nintendo console for.

 

[Nickle]

I've got some insider info, it isn't F-Zero either. You heard it here first.

 

[DecoReturns]

Literally 0% chance Retro is making a console FE, lol. That doesn't even make sense.

Wrong thread. I was reading on NX games prediction/hopes/blahblah

 

[SweetDonuts]

Remember that in the Wii era, Mario Galaxy, Brawl, and Mario Kart Wii were about 2 months apart from each other. The Wii's first year and a half was a seriously insane streak.

EDIT: Not saying they'll all be there at launch, but having them in the first year is doable. I'm thinking Smash in the launch window, 3D Mario for holiday 2017, and Mario Kart for spring 2018?

Damn, they were?, I can't remember. What a golden time.

 

[Mitsurugi]

Wait, Wii U's best selling game is Mario Kart 8? The most graphically impressive game which also happens to feature local AND online multi-player and doesn't rely on the Gamepad is the best selling on one on Wii U. Nintendo, please take note. If you make graphical stunners which support online multi-player and ordinary controls, fans could react very very positively.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Honest question: does a new Metroid game have to be made by Retro? As great a job as they did with the Prime Trilogy, I can't imagine that there isn't another developer out there that can do the IP just as much justice as Retro did.

Well, Retro was 3 for 3 with Metroid and since then two different developers are 0 for 2

Spoiler

even though Other M wasn't terrible and FF isn't out yet, people have made up their minds

.

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

Well, Retro was 3 for 3 with Metroid and since then two different developers are 0 for 2

Spoiler

even though Other M wasn't terrible and FF isn't out yet, people have made up their minds

.

But what difference would have Retro Studios making Federation Force have made? Maybe the level design might be better or worse, but the admonished concepts would still be there from Kensuke Tanabe (Metroid Prime IP Producer). I'm not judging the game by the way, but the internet would still do so.

 

[TheDinoman]

I just thought of something, actually.

Has anything been said about New Super Mario Bros. NX? I recall Nintendo awhile back saying they wanted it to be a 1 game per console kind of deal much like Mario Kart and Smash Bros. Both 3DS and Wii U got their NSMB so I wouldn't be surprised if a NX installment was announced for launch or something.

 

[Plinko]

Agreed, AC will be the big holiday 2017 release and MK sometime in the year after.

If the mobile AC app is already confirmed to be interacting with the new versions, I think it is quite clear Animal Crossing is a launch title.

 

[jdstorm]

Don't bet any money.

I never do. But it makes sense.

Splatoon, smash and Mario maker will have all made nice profits for Nintendo even when you deduct the money it would cost to port the games.
The ports can be done by smaller independent studios allowing EAD and other first party studios to work on new games. Smash and Mario maker are both more platforms designed for iterative improvement so it makes zero sense to stop supporting them after only a few years.

These games also perfectly appeal to both parents, kids and Nintendo fans. Imagine giving a parent an unlimited 2D Mario game as a pack in title. Throw in Zelda, pimkin and one more first party game as well as a good selection of 3rd Party games and that's a great launch lineup. You have a shooter, Fighter, 2D Platformer, 3D Action adventure, a Stratergy game and ??? That's most genres covered and at least one game will appeal to most gamers.

Remember that one of the primary purposes of ports is to pad out a release schedule, to make the wait time for new games more bearable. They aren't a substitute for new games - though Smash may be the exception since making an entirely new one at this point of time just seems infeasible, and it's worked great as a service game for the past year, so they'll probably want to use the NX game as the basis for the series for now.

Nintendo normally publish around 20 games every year. Across both handheld and console. Assuming the shared library is true. These 3 ports plus 3 launch games in March + 1 game a month for the rest of the year puts them at 16 Games so you could probably expect an extra 2-3 games in November for the lead up to Christmas. Unless those extra games are mobile only.

Still that would be an incredible launch year for the NX - although it seems to be badly missing a racing game. Since Mario Kart 9 is likely due 2018 - unless Nintendo rush it out for Christmas 2017

Edit. I think Nintendo will go for an Overkill approach at launch. The Wii U will sell around 15M units Lifetime. The NX needs to do that in its first year to remain Viable and get long lasting 3rd party support.

 

[IntelliHeath]

As Shikamaru Ninja pointed out some time ago, the quality and size of the Mario Kart 8 DLC most likely required the entire staff as opposed to some small group made post-launch. That means they were done with the game by early 2015.

Not saying you're wrong as Mario Kart 9 should indeed be ready for 2018 but it definitely won't be released within the first year of NX as Emily is implying.

That only covers the usual 3 year gap between games in the series.
If the shared library concept does pan out, who knows how much longer it will take them to get both versions of the game ready.

< always bet for 2018 release date for Mario Kart 9. You could check my previous post! :3

 

[gamerMan]

Wait, Wii U's best selling game is Mario Kart 8? The most graphically impressive game which also happens to feature local AND online multi-player and doesn't rely on the Gamepad is the best selling on one on Wii U. Nintendo, please take note. If you make graphical stunners which support online multi-player and ordinary controls, fans could react very very positively.

This is not the reason Mario Kart has sold well. People love Mario Kart because it is fun to play with friends. It's basically Nintendo's Call Of Duty. It's always one of the best selling games on Nintendo consoles. Even the Mario Kart on Wii sold well and that had the gimmicky wheel gizmo and crappy graphics.

 

[Jpop]

This is not the reason Mario Kart has sold well. People love Mario Kart because it is fun to play with friends. It's basically Nintendo's Call Of Duty. It's always one of the best selling games on Nintendo consoles. Even the Mario Kart on Wii sold well and that had the gimmicky wheel gizmo and crappy graphics.

Even the Mario Kart on Wii... For some reason this statement is just amsusing.

 

[Mory Dunz]

edit:nvm

 

[SweetDonuts]

Still that would be an incredible launch year for the NX - although it seems to be badly missing a racing game. Since Mario Kart 9 is likely due 2018 - unless Nintendo rush it out for Christmas 2017

Nintendo knows this; which is why F-Zero will obviously be a launch title, don't worry.

Spoiler

pls

 

[Dark Cloud]

If she does know the game I would be glad if she didn't told us. Leaks like this are nice so people won't expect Metroid

 

[ozfunghi]

As Shikamaru Ninja pointed out some time ago, the quality and size of the Mario Kart 8 DLC most likely required the entire staff as opposed to some small group made post-launch. That means they were done with the game by early 2015.

I find that hard to believe. Unless the MK team is rather small to begin with. Half the DLC tracks were (based on) old tracks, the entire engine had been perfected, physics, lighting, controls... the entire system was in place and making a dozen extra characters based on existing IP is not something that takes a huge team either, nor should it take very long.

 

[MuchoMalo]

It's not suicide. Nintendo makes the best games there is no need to rely just on franchises. Anything they touch will be successful. Take a look at Splatoon. You don't see Disney just making Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Cinderella all the time. Instead they are making movies like Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph. I think Disney is doing just fine. Sure they will reinvent the Jungle Book, Cinderella every once and awhile.

By focusing on new franchises you are focusing on growing the business and attracting new audiences instead of just keeping the audience you have. You are constantly reinventing your business. You aren't recognized by your franchises but by your brand. A Nintendo game.

If you only focus on franchises, your audience will get smaller and smaller. Imagine Disney just stuck to making a Mickey Mouse movie every 4 years. That would be suicide.

The key word there is "potential." If it works, it'll work in a big way. If it fails, they are screwed irreparably. The safest option with still good potential is to simply do a mix of both. Dropping everything cold-turkey is insanity.

 

[Dark Cloud]

The key word there is "potential." If it works, it'll work in a big way. If it fails, they are screwed irreparably. The safest option with still good potential is to simply do a mix of both. Dropping everything cold-turkey is insanity.

It's Retro Studios dude. They make quality games. And this is Nintendo they get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to new big IPs.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

But what difference would have Retro Studios making Federation Force have made? Maybe the level design might be better or worse, but the admonished concepts would still be there from Kensuke Tanabe (Metroid Prime IP Producer). I'm not judging the game by the way, but the internet would still do so.

The concept itself of Federation Force is not terrible. After Dark Moon, I was thinking that Next Level was inching their way closer to Retro's level. Now, granted, I'll reserve final judgement until FF is out, but there is also no doubt in my mind that Retro would do much, much better with the concept. They have worked with the same producers and have a similar number of staff, so the two studios are comparable. But more than anything, I was thinking that if Retro were making a Metroid game, it would be a "real" one, whether 2D or 3D.

Just to play devil's advocate (I seriously mean that, I LOVE Retro), didn't several people leave after Tropical Freeze? Or am I misremembering?

Not that we know of. Actually, it seems that Retro is more stable than it has been in a long, long time. We all know what happened after Prime 3, and even after Returns, the three lead designers on that game left. And not only that, this is the first time since after Echoes where they immediately began work on their next title following completion of the previous one. Oh, and no side projects working with other studios that we know of. Hopefully they are entirely focusing their efforts on this new game.

 

[MuchoMalo]

It's Retro Studios dude. They make quality games. And this is Nintendo they get the benefit of the doubt when it comes to new big IPs.

This specific conversation wasn't just Retro.

 

[Dark Cloud]

This specific conversation wasn't just Retro.

Ahh I see.

 

[thecouncil]

Release years need to stop being thrown out to the public. They really mean nothing, especially coming from Nintendo. Retro will have a new game in "2017". Heh. Ok, sure. I know this isn't coming from Nintendo but it's just as well.

I'm not even convinced of the NX coming out in March 2017 yet, really.

This far out from a release date and it's almost worth ignoring.

 

[Baron von Loathsome]

yea if its another 9/10 Mario game I'm gonna be fuckin pissed

JC dropping truth bombs.

 

[TunaLover]

I'm not even convinced of the NX coming out in March 2017 yet, really.

This far out from a release date and it's almost worth ignoring.

I don't believe they realease NX on march 2016 either, they already missed the xmas so they are not in hurry (so much), they can drag some months like say april or even may. Being near the launch date they delay it some months, it's well known Nintendo practice.

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

It's not suicide. Nintendo makes the best games there is no need to rely just on franchises. Anything they touch will be successful. Take a look at Splatoon. You don't see Disney just making Mickey Mouse, Goofy, and Cinderella all the time. Instead they are making movies like Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph. I think Disney is doing just fine. Sure they will reinvent the Jungle Book, Cinderella every once and awhile.

By focusing on new franchises you are focusing on growing the business and attracting new audiences instead of just keeping the audience you have. You are constantly reinventing your business. You aren't recognized by your franchises but by your brand. A Nintendo game.

If you only focus on franchises, your audience will get smaller and smaller. Imagine Disney just stuck to making a Mickey Mouse movie every 4 years. That would be suicide.

Half of Pixar's output is sequels.
Disney has a Star Wars movie and 2-3 Marvel movies on their release calender every year.
They're also pretty regularly putting out live action remakes or spinoffs of their classic animated movies.
Their biggest property outside Marvel and Star Wars is the Princess line, which is just merchandising based on their classic ips.

Disney puts out a lot of original work, but they do hedge those bets by leaning HEAVILY into safe franchises.

They can afford to take a risk on Zootopia in 2016 because Rogue One, Captain America Civil War, The Jungle Book, Doctor Strange and Finding Dory are absorbing the risk.

Nintendo's not in as strong a position right now.

 

[bachikarn]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

 

[nckillthegrimace]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

No, after Prime 3, a number of key staff left to make great games like

 

[Jorok Goldblade]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

A lot of those guys are at 343 and Armature now.

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

It doesn't matter, their games are all very good to great.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

Who cares? How great has Armature studios been (the former Retro guys)? It's Nintendos philosophies and tradition is what makes Retro so great, regardless of who's working there or not.

 

[Yonafunu]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

Sure it is. Of course, people leave, people join. It happens everywhere.

 

[Xun]

StarTropics then!

Spoiler

To make the inevitable long wait for Zelda easier to cope with.

 

[James Scott]

RETRO was composed of mainly the Turrok guys and didn't have much of a clue without Nintendo's guidance with Miyamoto upending the tea table fixing what they were doing with Metroid.
They probably suffered from a loss of talent, but it wasn't them that made the studio previously great requiring outside help to finish DKCTF. Still yet to be seen if current RETRO is as good especially with rumors of them getting another producer, but we'll see.

 

[TheSpaceBetween]

Is Retro really the same Retro that made Metroid Prime?

Is any company that released a game in 2002 the same company as they were back then?

There were only about 40 people that made the first two Prime games. Some are still at Retro but many are not. Some are at Armature and Bluepoint, others elsewhere. But Retro has gained a lot of great talent over the years and they are twice as big as the teams that made Prime and Echoes.

RETRO was composed of mainly the Turrok guys and didn't have much of a clue without Nintendo's guidance with Miyamoto upending the tea table fixing what they were doing with Metroid.
They probably suffered from a loss of talent, but it wasn't them that made the studio previously great requiring outside help to finish DKCTF. Still yet to be seen if current RETRO is as good especially with rumors of them getting another producer, but we'll see.

I feel like Miyamoto's contributions to Prime are overstated. We can never exactly know who did what on a game. But if it were as simple as putting Miyamoto on a game to make it great why does Wii Music exist? Why aren't Star Fox and Pikmin 3 and Splatoon 97's on Metacritic like Metroid Prime is? Retro were the ones working 80 hour work weeks and acutally, ya know, making the game. Or did Miyamoto create all that beautiful art, construct the immaculately designed levels and larger world, and program arguably the best looking game on the gamecube to run at 60 frames per second?

 

[Shikamaru Ninja]

The concept itself of Federation Force is not terrible. After Dark Moon, I was thinking that Next Level was inching their way closer to Retro's level. Now, granted, I'll reserve final judgement until FF is out, but there is also no doubt in my mind that Retro would do much, much better with the concept. They have worked with the same producers and have a similar number of staff, so the two studios are comparable. But more than anything, I was thinking that if Retro were making a Metroid game, it would be a "real" one, whether 2D or 3D.

I don't think the concept is terrible at all. I think the notion of Federation Force is cool, my only discord is the chibi pilots which just seems like an odd choice by Tanabe. My argument was that Retro Studios developing the game over Next Level Games doesn't change the discord that certain internet nerds against Federation Force have. I also have discussed why Retro Studios wouldn't be developing a 2D Metroid under Tanabe, It's technically out of his jurisdiction.

I feel like Miyamoto's contributions to Prime are overstated. We can never exactly know who did what on a game.

Kensuke Tanabe was the main producer on Metroid Prime, with Miyamoto kind of overarching supervision at the time. It was likely the NCL collective that decided the decision, but the bigger name got the sole credit.