Well, I don't know a lot about game design, but isn't it a bit strange to hire new artists at this (presumable) late stage in development? I would think stuff such as character/environment art would be created at the beginning of a new project.
Perhaps they really are working on more than 1 project? 'Cos they wrapped up development on DK Country Returns WELL over 2 years ago (the work they did on MK7 can't have taken up much time/effort), so whatever game they're working on ought to be quite far into development by now, ready for release somewhere in Q3/4 this year (the latter being imo entirely).
Besides, some of the new staff they hired are apparently on contract, meaning they're not permanent staff, but specifically hired for a project, after which they're presumably let go. Hiring characters artists and the likes in such a way would hint to a new project in its initial stages, I would think. Then again, I could be dead wrong. But the idea of 2 Retro titles in development is definitely exciting. Metroid Prime 4 + a new IP/revisiting an old, dormant one from Nintendo? Yes please. We'll see, I guess. Nintendo's SO good at keeping secrets. >_<
Nintendo Network ID: Cheebee 3DS Code: 2320 - 6113 - 9046
