1. NdCube which originally started as a subsidiary Nintendo company for GameCube and Game Boy Advance development, started as a joint venture with 78% shares for Nintendo and 13% shares by Dentsu (Nintendo's advertizing firm). But the company has struggled and lost several employees to SONY. As of 2010, Nintendo has completely overhauled the developer and bought out Dentsu's small shares, and now is the sole proprietor. NdCube is now being considered a Nintendo R&D instead of just a subsidiary as per Nd Cube's website. Nintendo has also expanded the studio, by opening a second division in Sapporo and Tokyo. Both near Nintendo's branch offices.
2. Mario Party is definitely in danger of being less poignant. Not only is Wii Party very successful in Japan, but lead Mario Party staff has indeed left Hudson and joined Nd Cube. For those who don't know the original Mario Party staff was actually a Nintendo/Hudson joint venture called Monegi. Although because of their invisible credits, everyone solely credits Hudson.
3. Wii Party from concept was designed to capture a larger audience than Mario Party.
4. Sakamoto explains that Metroid was conceived with a deep story from the beginning. But game development was very different when the game was first conceived. As technology and development has sophisticated, Sakamoto has been able to express the story himself and some of the original design team have encapsulated. This game in particular is a very "romantic" project for him, and something full of many ideas formed in the past years.
source: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403137
Good to hear that Nintendo kept NDCube around, they'll need more developers in the coming years. Mario Party looks like it isn't going to be coming back with the original staff gone and Wii Party designed to overtake its sales. Hopefully we'll hear more information from Japan soon.
