Next Level games quick climb up Nintendo ranks is quite surprising

[Incubi]

cycycychris said:

Incubi said:

fleischr said:

Clyde32 said:
They split off from EA. Nintendo liked what the team did while they were at EA.

Kind of OT, but worth saying: I'd love to see Criterion split off from EA. Based on their stellar job on NFSMWU on Wii U, their great track record, and their interest in other racing/alternative sports they'd be a great fit bringing back WaveRace and ExciteBike

On 3rd January 2014, it was announced that co-founders Alex Ward and Fiona Sperry have left Criterion to found a new studio.

Sadly, one of them(I think it was alex ward) made it pretty well known that they have no plans on putting any games on the Wii U. Or working with Nintendo.

To me it looked like they wanted to form an independent "contractor" style studio ala Platinum/Level 5 etc. I'd think that means Nintendo could contract them just as anyone else could. I'm curious as to how they would handle something like F-Zero XD