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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Should Nintendo bolster their Western Development Empire?

TheMisterManGuy on 20 July 2019
Currently, The majority of Nintendo's software development divisions and subsidiaries are Japanese. Nintendo EPD, Intelligent Systems, MonolithSoft, HAL Laboratory. With a few Western subsidiaries and partners, Nintendo Software Technology, Retro Studios, and Next Level games being among them. Over the years though, Nintendo's western development has declined in both output and relevancy. NST was locked into MvDK games and Ports after burning bridges with Project H.A.M.M.E.R., Retro Studios has spent 5 years toiling away at... whatever the hell they're making at this point. And Next Level Games isn't even a true subsidiary. It's weird because two major Japanese publishers, Square Enix and Sega, already have quite a few Western developers under their belt.

In the past, Nintendo has said they don't like doing studio acquisitions a lot since they feel a game is nothing without the creative talent behind it, and if those leave, then you get stuck with a big metaphorical paperweight, which is why they prefer co-productions with independent studios over buyouts. But with a new CEO Shuntaro Furukawa, and a change in management over the years, should Nintendo at least do more to bolster a sizable western development empire? Nintendo's got a lot of talent behind them, but I do think they can add a bit more cultural variety to their portfolio with a few acquisitions. It doesn't have to be a Microsoft-level shopping spree, but acquiring a few western studios wouldn't hurt I don't think. Plus, they could help the Switch be even more appealing to Western gamers as well.
 


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Dulfite on 20 July 2019

I think if they opened up a new studio in U.S.A. that focused on western RPG's pretty much only, it would be glorious. Like, their own little Bethesda studio.



Vodacixi on 20 July 2019

It's that time of the year already? Ok...

Yes, Nintendo should make a few more western games.



JRPGfan on 20 July 2019

tbh.... no?
What makes nintendo great is that its quirky and very japanese (in a good way) :)

If they do go that route, I hope its rpgs instead of shooters.



Kai_Mao on 20 July 2019

It would probably take several years for anything to come in fruition. Not to mention, for a Nintendo-dedicated studio (not necessarily like Retro) would have to be in constant communication with Nintendo and formulate as a team under Nintendo's culture, which I do not know if western developers are keen on doing. I know there are some staff members in Nintendo's development teams that came from the West, but a whole team? Idk..



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Dulfite on 20 July 2019
CaptainExplosion said:
Dulfite said:
I think if they opened up a new studio in U.S.A. that focused on western RPG's pretty much only, it would be glorious. Like, their own little Bethesda studio.

Yes, but without the launch glitches and Fallout 76.

Yep, agreed. Though I'd prefer RPGs more in the vein of Kotor 1/2, Lord of the rings the third age rather than skyrim or fallout. I prefer open world games with long and good quality linear stories in addition to good sidequests. I felt like Skyrim had a lot of good side stuff, but the main story was short and not that good.



Jumpin on 20 July 2019

I honestly couldn't care less. Their strength is their Japanese studios who completely demolish the productivity and quality of the vast majority of western studios. Western studios seemed like they would be the specialists at open world and emergent gameplay, and Nintendo SMASHED them into the stratosphere with Breath of the Wild. Nintendo beat Western studios at their own game.

IMO, their greatest win would NOT be building studios in the west as that's rather pointless (there's nothing to be gained); they should look for quality companies to create relationships with and form second party divisions: like they did with RARE. Perhaps Microsoft would be a good relationship for Nintendo?



I describe myself as a little dose of toxic masculinity.

Dulfite on 20 July 2019
CaptainExplosion said:
Dulfite said:

Yep, agreed. Though I'd prefer RPGs more in the vein of Kotor 1/2, Lord of the rings the third age rather than skyrim or fallout. I prefer open world games with long and good quality linear stories in addition to good sidequests. I felt like Skyrim had a lot of good side stuff, but the main story was short and not that good.

Agreed, since BioWare will never make another KOTOR thanks to EA.

At this point, based on ME Andromeda and Anthem, I don't think I'd even want them to make Kotor 3. I'd rather someone else just make a Canon remake of the original and start from there.



Dulfite on 20 July 2019
Jumpin said:
I honestly couldn't care less. Their strength is their Japanese studios who completely demolish the productivity and quality of the vast majority of western studios. Western studios seemed like they would be the specialists at open world and emergent gameplay, and Nintendo SMASHED them into the stratosphere with Breath of the Wild. Nintendo beat Western studios at their own game.

IMO, their greatest win would NOT be building studios in the west as that's rather pointless (there's nothing to be gained); they should look for quality companies to create relationships with and form second party divisions: like they did with RARE. Perhaps Microsoft would be a good relationship for Nintendo?

If Microsoft and Nintendo joined forces I would be so happy. 



Kai_Mao on 20 July 2019
Dulfite said:
Jumpin said:
I honestly couldn't care less. Their strength is their Japanese studios who completely demolish the productivity and quality of the vast majority of western studios. Western studios seemed like they would be the specialists at open world and emergent gameplay, and Nintendo SMASHED them into the stratosphere with Breath of the Wild. Nintendo beat Western studios at their own game.

IMO, their greatest win would NOT be building studios in the west as that's rather pointless (there's nothing to be gained); they should look for quality companies to create relationships with and form second party divisions: like they did with RARE. Perhaps Microsoft would be a good relationship for Nintendo?

If Microsoft and Nintendo joined forces I would be so happy. 

I think the Internet would explode and not function for weeks while people walk with their brains out of their heads if Master Chief becomes a Smash Bros. fighter.