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Forums - Nintendo - Is Metroid: The Other M Considered First-Party or Third-Party?

Words Of Wisdom on 08 June 2009
NJ5 said:
famousringo said:
I think the line between first and second party is so fuzzy, it might as well not exist.

I don't think it's fuzzy at all. First party is for developers owned entirely by Nintendo, second party is for developers under contract making a game for Nintendo with exclusive rights.

The only potential fuzzy line is between second and third parties, since by the definition above Team Ninja can be a third party at times, and a second party at other times.

 

I think the biggest source of confusion in this thread is that first, second, and third party are descriptions for developers, not games.

Either a developer is owned by a console manufacturer making it first party or it's not and it's third party.  Developers considered "second party" are actually third party that choose to develop solely for one platform for whatever reason.

Metroid:  The Other M is a joint venture between a first party studio and two third party developer/studios.



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Smashchu2 on 09 June 2009

Here's the explanation on it, if no one has given it already

First party games are games developed and published by the same company (so, a mario game made by Nintendo EDA and publsihed by them is first party)
Second party is where Nintendo is the publisher, but not the developer (so I guess it is a second party game)
Third party is where Nintendo is neither the developer, nor the publisher. However, it is still on their system (so Red Steel).

Now, there are second party developers (like HAL labs). This is where Nintendo has a contract with them, but does not own 51% of the development studio. Third party is a developer who is not tied to Nintendo.

So I'm not sure if a second party game explanation was correct. Other M is either first party or second depending on the definition of second party games.