I doubt it. VGChartz is notorious for massively overtracking such niche games. It sold about 120,000 units in its first six months according to NPD and completely flopped in Japan. Seems pretty unlikely that even with good legs or decent European sales it would manage to crawl to 700k. Sega swore off of M-rated Wii games pretty soon after Madworld for a reason.

It's still a meaningless term, though.  I mean, many people considered Insomniac "second-party" and now they're making games for anyone with couple of bucks to spare.  If Microsoft flew in tomorrow with a basket of yen, Kamiya would want closer relations with them, too.

But you're right, it's all up to Nintendo.  Platinum isn't considering so much as they're hoping.

Buy'em Nintendo!

you're giving me bad memories of RareWare pokoko.

According to CBOAT, this has already happened!

I don't think it's an entirely meaningless term. For example Game Freak is technically independent, even though they never work with anybody but Nintendo anymore.

I'd be surprised if Nintendo is interested in that kind of a relationship with Platinum. They were getting ready to kill off Fire Emblem if Awakening didn't push 250k units. How are they going to feel about an expensive HD game that isn't even going to sniff 250k? Platinum tends to make a lot of these...

It would be a good addition to Nintendo if managed properly. Have one part of the team work on Nintendo franchises (Star Fox P NEEDS to happen) while the rest work on new IP's.

And I'd love to see a Wii U version of Bayonetta. I can't imagine it being too expensive so it's definitely something Nintendo should consider.

Nintendo's promotion and advertising is what worries me...

Well, Platinum has non only a reputation of making original games but also of making violent/mature games, something than Nintendo lacks (on purpose).

It would be a weird combination, that's for sure, but if Platinum remains as "Platinum" and not "Nintendo team #", they could still be perceived by most as an independent developer while the family image that Nintendo has tried to keep would be safe.

Hell, they could even make a deal so their new IPs are first offered to Nintendo who will decide if they are interested in funding it and make it exclusive to their console or, in the case that they are not interested, allowing them to look for another publisher. And at the same time it would allow Platinum to work in external projects like Metal Gear or whatever they are offered to work with. It's a win-win situation for both.

Really? With W101 FW numbers that surprise me. I guess could happen if Bayonetta 2 sells well.

well apparently it does to the other Sony and MS dudes: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkUBfD5SCqU

you know you're doing things right when the entire MS and Sony communities on the internet switch their gears to "Maximum Butthurt" mode.