Retro Studios Says They’ve Overcome HD Learning Curve, That Wii U is “a Powerhouse”, and Confirms New Game

Retro Studios has overcome the shackles of standard definition development

With a new console came new expectations for Nintendo latest home console. Among many other hopes and dreams were expectations of finally being able to play games from Nintendo’s development divisions in glorious high-definition. These expectations were not unfounded either as Nintendo had just got finished showing two beautiful Wii U tech demos during E3 2011. Moreover, there were plenty positive comments from third party developers to be found about the Wii U. Unfortunately, none of these expectations held up, resulting in 15 uneventful months to pass. Such only sparked speculative concerns on whether or not the Wii U was capable of anything noteworthy, ultimately destroying the majority of any enthusiasm behind the system.

However, those who have kept up with the latest Wii U news have an idea of why there has not been a stellar software presence on the Wii U over the last year. Several times, Nintendo has admitted that the HD learning curve took them off guard, probably prompting them to delay many of their planned releases.

“…When it comes to the scale of software development, Wii U with HD graphics requires about twice the human resources than before.” explained legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto ”Please allow me to explain that we may have underestimated the scale of this change and as a result, the overall software development took more time than originally anticipated just as we tried to polish the software at the completion phase of development. However, we are almost out of this phase, and we are also trying to create something unique utilizing an easier development approach called “Nintendo Web Framework.”

The fruits of Nintendo’s new Web Framework approach have definintely begun to show, with 120+ indie games already in the works for Wii U, but whatever happened to overcoming the hurdle of development in high-definition?

GameStop recently received the chance to sit down with Retro Studios CEO Michael Kelbaugh to discuss their experience developing on Nintendo’s Wii U. What ensued was a slew of reassurance remarks and a confirmation of a new game.

“Unfortunately, the perception is that it’s not a very powerful machine,” Kelbaugh said about the Wii U. “That’s just not true. It’s a powerhouse. It’s more than adequate to make great games on.”

Kelbaugh went on to express that Wii U is “great box to make games on” and also revealed the teams status as game developers. Retro Studios has been working with the Wii U for quite some time, with Donkey Kong Conutry: Tropical Freeze marking their debut on the platform. Kelbaugh explained that his team had to overcome a steep learning curve as they transitioned from Wii to Wii U. Despite this, GameStop’s report says that Kelbaugh was “happy to face this challenge, as it meant his artists became “uncorked” and free from the “traditional limitations” they’d been under for so long with the original Wii”

“It was really fun being able to crack that open for the first time and learning HD techniques; pixel shading, having a lot more horsepower and how that impacts the team. It was really fun to watch our artists just go crazy because now they didn’t really have to worry about polygons anymore. ‘Make as many as you want!’” Kelbaugh continued.

In the same interview Nintendo producer Kensuke Tanabe revealed that the Texas-based studio has been developing a new unannounced video game title for a few months, with the team hard at work since wrapping up Tropical Freeze production in November. When asked on what was next for the studio, Kelbaugh naturally made sure to keep his lips sealed.

“We love working with Donkey Kong. It’s a great character.” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. We love working with Metroid Prime, with Mario Kart; those are fun, fun games to work on. So, you know, you can’t lose. Every one of those IPs have been a lot of fun to play with and work on and [we'd] love to come back to them sometime.”

I think Wii U has been due for a big release for some time now. Let’s hope Retro Studio’s new project is able to restore enthusiasm for Nintendo’s console division.

I think the game will take too long and when it is announced which is probably next year, it will already be too late for any restoration of WiiUs enthusiasm

Retro Studios will do absolutely nothing to help the Wii U's current state, just as DKC:TF did absolutely nothing to help.

Wii U will be on its deathbed by the time the next Retro game is even ready to go. I suspect it will get transferred in mid-development to being a game for Nintendo's next portable machine in about a year even if it is a Wii U game for now.

There are several things to take from this:

1. Retro is working on a new game for Wii U. It will probably be good and nice to look at, and almost certainly not Donkey Kong. It probably will be an existing IP.
2. DKC:TF was done in November. Nintendo wisely delayed it to reduce the winter game drought and avoid competition with SM3DW.

I think Retro almost certainly will make one more game for Wii U before moving on. It will probably be the swan song for the system at the rate they are producing titles, however.

At this point, I don't really care if it revives the Wii U. I'm just happy I'll get another great Retro title to play with on Wii U.

Too late. Better do a big heavy graphical game for launch of Wii U's succesor.

I hope they are working on fps with a classy and stylish agent in it...The world are still waiting for this to happen...

probably true, but metroid prime did nothing for the gamecube but it still is one of the best games i've ever played.  retro is the one nintendo studio i'm always excited to see what they have coming next.