Retro Studios’ Next Game is Something they Proposed to Nintendo, and it Could be a New IP
In yesterday's feature from the podcast, Robertson told us that Retro Studios typically gets three chances to pitch a project to Nintendo, and if the concept isn't greenlit by Nintendo after the third attempt, they'll be assigned a project that NCL deems more likely to sell well.
I asked him later on whether Retro Studios' current project is something they pitched to Nintendo, or whether it was a project Nintendo had deemed "safe."
"I don't actually know what the project is, exactly, but I know that it is something that Retro themselves pitched. … They came off of Tropical Freeze in very late 2013, I think it was, and they continued throughout 2014 pitching new projects. … And then they eventually pitched a project that went through, and NCL greenlit, and I assume that's what they're doing now—by all accounts, it is." — Liam Robertson
We joked for a moment before he more seriously said that based on his discussions with sources at Nintendo, he doubts that Retro is working on Metroid Prime 4.
"I don't think Retro wants to do [Metroid Prime 4]. … I'd be surprised if Retro themselves pitched [that]. I think they've had their fill of Metroid. … And if it is Metroid, then it will be something different—like maybe a 2D one, or something—different from Prime." — Liam Robertson
I then asked him whether they could be working on multiple projects at once—a question many Nintendo fans have been speculating for a while—and whether their new project could be a new IP or one of Nintendo's storied franchises.
"I think they have the potential to work on multiple projects, but I feel like the money isn't there. People don't realize it, but Retro is one of the priciest studios for [Nintendo] to maintain, and I can't see them letting them do two projects at once. As far as I know, they have one NCL producer with them right now, and I couldn't see this person overseeing both of them; I think this person would be doing one.
… And you were saying, 'could it be an original property?' I think, actually, the time is now for Retro to do an original property. They've done two established Nintendo franchises, they've done Metroid and Donkey Kong, and I think now is the time to let them take hold of the reins a bit more for themselves and do that. And I think if it is something that they pitched themselves, then that does make it more likely that they pitched something original." — Liam Robertson
We then questioned whether Retro Studios would be making a game more in-tune with Nintendo's current offerings, like they did with their latest two Donkey Kong Country games, or whether they'd do something more Westernized, like a Witcher or Uncharted-type game more akin to their direction with Metroid Prime. Robertson explains that a Westernized type of project is probably a safe bet, considering their work on Metroid Prime, as well as several projects they developed for Nintendo before settling on Prime, which included a vehicular combat game, an outer space combat game, and an American Football game.
In yesterday's feature from the podcast, Robertson told us that Retro Studios typically gets three chances to pitch a project to Nintendo, and if the concept isn't greenlit by Nintendo after the third attempt, they'll be assigned a project that NCL deems more likely to sell well.
I asked him later on whether Retro Studios' current project is something they pitched to Nintendo, or whether it was a project Nintendo had deemed "safe."
"I don't actually know what the project is, exactly, but I know that it is something that Retro themselves pitched. … They came off of Tropical Freeze in very late 2013, I think it was, and they continued throughout 2014 pitching new projects. … And then they eventually pitched a project that went through, and NCL greenlit, and I assume that's what they're doing now—by all accounts, it is." — Liam Robertson
We joked for a moment before he more seriously said that based on his discussions with sources at Nintendo, he doubts that Retro is working on Metroid Prime 4.
"I don't think Retro wants to do [Metroid Prime 4]. … I'd be surprised if Retro themselves pitched [that]. I think they've had their fill of Metroid. … And if it is Metroid, then it will be something different—like maybe a 2D one, or something—different from Prime." — Liam Robertson
I then asked him whether they could be working on multiple projects at once—a question many Nintendo fans have been speculating for a while—and whether their new project could be a new IP or one of Nintendo's storied franchises.
"I think they have the potential to work on multiple projects, but I feel like the money isn't there. People don't realize it, but Retro is one of the priciest studios for [Nintendo] to maintain, and I can't see them letting them do two projects at once. As far as I know, they have one NCL producer with them right now, and I couldn't see this person overseeing both of them; I think this person would be doing one.
… And you were saying, 'could it be an original property?' I think, actually, the time is now for Retro to do an original property. They've done two established Nintendo franchises, they've done Metroid and Donkey Kong, and I think now is the time to let them take hold of the reins a bit more for themselves and do that. And I think if it is something that they pitched themselves, then that does make it more likely that they pitched something original." — Liam Robertson
We then questioned whether Retro Studios would be making a game more in-tune with Nintendo's current offerings, like they did with their latest two Donkey Kong Country games, or whether they'd do something more Westernized, like a Witcher or Uncharted-type game more akin to their direction with Metroid Prime. Robertson explains that a Westernized type of project is probably a safe bet, considering their work on Metroid Prime, as well as several projects they developed for Nintendo before settling on Prime, which included a vehicular combat game, an outer space combat game, and an American Football game.
- See more at: http://www.gamnesia.com/podcasts/retro-studios-next-game-is-something-they-proposed-to-nintendo-and-it-could#sthash.GzCpbh8n.dpuf
