Post by: NewsBot on April 13, 2004, 11:33:48 AM
Reports broke today of Silicon Knights ending their second-party exclusive development deal with Nintendo. The story first ran on IGNcube, and PGC has confirmed the information with Denis Dyack, President of Silicon Knights.
Dyack confirmed that his company is no longer an exclusive developer for Nintendo, but he could not offer much further information.
"Our relationship with Nintendo is still strong, and it's possible that we may develop games for Nintendo in the future. This was a positive split, and we continue to have a great respect for Iwata-san (President of NCL) and the other people at Nintendo."
The real cause of the split is still shrouded in secrecy, however. Dyack could not comment on whether Silicon Knights is now an indepenent developer or if the company has aligned itself with one of Nintendo's competitors, or even if Nintendo currently maintains the investment stake it made in Silicon Knights back in 2000.
"Right now, because of the proprietary nature of game development, we can't say much."
Nintendo of America offered a similarly agreeable, vague description of today's events:
"Nintendo and Silicon Knights have reached an agreement allowing Silicon Knights to pursue its vision of videogame entertainment with other companies. Nintendo respects the creative work of Silicon Knights and the parties have left the door open to work on future projects that meet the creative vision of both companies."
Planet GameCube will be following this story closely, although official details of the developer's future are not expected for some time.
Post by: Ecrofirt on April 13, 2004, 11:46:04 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on April 13, 2004, 11:46:31 AM
SK/Nintendo breakup thread
Post by: bubicus on April 13, 2004, 11:57:29 AM
Of course, reactionaries will have a field day with this one. "Ooooo, look, Nintendo's losing another developer! Oookiee oookie (jump around like monkeys, scratch armpits)."
Post by: The Omen on April 13, 2004, 12:13:40 PM
Post by: Olpus on April 13, 2004, 12:37:13 PM
Post by: nickmitch on April 13, 2004, 12:40:55 PM
This break up is tearing me apart inside.
Maybe they'll just be good 3rd party friends.
Post by: NotRimmer on April 13, 2004, 12:42:56 PM
Post by: JB on April 13, 2004, 12:46:23 PM
Now the next bit of my post is filled with baseless speculation.
Could it be that Konami paid Silicon Knights a large amount of money to (temporarily) lose their second party status with Nintendo? Think about it, Konami and Silicon Knights made The Twin Snakes together. If Konami wanted to port Twin Snakes to the PS2 or X-Box, they would have to get permission from Nintendo to do that, since part of the gamecode belongs to Silicon Knights. If Silicon Knights was no longer a second party, this would no longer be an issue and the game would get a PS2/X-Box release.
What's the bets that Konami are going to announce that at E3?
Post by: Ian Sane on April 13, 2004, 12:55:10 PM
That would be the ultimate "f*ck you" from Konami to Nintendo. Nintendo lends Konami their second party to make a game that gets released on the PS2 and Xbox? I think it's safe to say that that would completely kill Konami's relationship with Nintendo. It would be the ultimate example of stabbing someone in the back.
Not that I don't think that would happen though. In fact I would prefer if it happened because it's not nearly as bad as SK just plain leaving.
Post by: Berto2K on April 13, 2004, 01:01:03 PM
Post by: ThePerm on April 13, 2004, 01:06:52 PM
i don't know about this...i really love my SK/Nintendo tag team. It was really sad to see Rare go, but at the same time Rare's quality of games was going down. On the other hand Eternal Darkness and Metal Gear TTS are on my favorite games lists of all time. I only see Silicon Knight's games getting better. Hearing such news really wrenches my heart. I don't need another "fuck you!" like i got from Sega and Rare. Im hoping if anything its not going to have a negative effect on SK and Nintendo fans.
Post by: BigJim on April 13, 2004, 01:14:53 PM
Perhaps the types of games SK wants to make are simply not best suited for GameCube. As a fan of SK as well, I want them to be successful. A game like ED or a concept like Too Human would probably do really well on PS2 or Xbox.
They can still make GCN games. This isn't Rare over again, unless someone in Redmond scoops them up in the next 24 hours with a piece of their $52 billion in corporate cash.
Sorry for the double-posting. Don't kill me.
Post by: mjbd on April 13, 2004, 02:02:01 PM
Post by: NotRimmer on April 13, 2004, 02:04:57 PM
Post by: GaimeGuy on April 13, 2004, 02:08:07 PM
Either way, best of luck to Silicon Knights. Frankly, there's nothing to be upset about: The same thing happened with Square Enix, and you don't see them supporting anything but the Ps2, still. It's not like SK is leaving Nintendo (I doubt they ever will, especially with the way they get along). They just want to expand, as is natural in the business world. It also doesn't mean that SK will develop for other platforms: They just broke off the 2nd party deal, which means that the publishing deal having Nintendo publish SK's games is now over. Actually, I think it already was over: MGS:TTS is published by Konami, not Nintendo, so there really isn't much to be concerned about.
Post by: GaimeGuy on April 13, 2004, 02:10:15 PM
Post by: CaseyRyback on April 13, 2004, 02:29:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: NotRimmer
Didn't Eternal Darkness commercials air during damn near every commercial break during the World Cup? That doesn't sound like no advertising to me
I never saw more than 5 commercial for the game. Never even saw one for TTS.
Nintendo has lost me. I do not understand why they let these NA development teams when they fill such a void. Someone needs to clean house at NOA and start at the top (perrin I am looking at you and all the other brass)
Post by: nolimit19 on April 13, 2004, 02:35:00 PM
Post by: Evan_G on April 13, 2004, 02:37:43 PM
Post by: nolimit19 on April 13, 2004, 02:46:25 PM
Post by: savanna03 on April 13, 2004, 03:05:26 PM
Post by: kennyb27 on April 13, 2004, 03:11:33 PM
Eternal Darkness was one of my favorite games of this generation and even of all time. And I don't know if anyone has mentioned what may be the worst part about this: Too Human.
Post by: davidlow122 on April 13, 2004, 03:19:32 PM
Post by: Rob91883 on April 13, 2004, 03:22:40 PM
I'm sad to See Silicon Knights not be an exclusive developer anymore because they are very commited, and talented artist. I was hoping for Too Human since the first time I heard of them being a 2nd party developer, I hope it still comes out on a Nintendo console in the future. Now that they are going, I think it would have been best if they would have come out with Too Human instead of The Metal Gear Solid remake.
Post by: Draygaia on April 13, 2004, 04:00:30 PM
Post by: Polemistis on April 13, 2004, 04:00:33 PM
Post by: Djunknown on April 13, 2004, 04:43:08 PM
Unless they pull a Factor 5, who are technically a 3rd party, but they just 'coincidentally' just make games 'Cube, I'm willing to bet that the next collaboration between SK and Konami will go multi-platform. Maybe it won't grace a Nintendo system at all as Konami seems to be content giving us Yugi-Oh and some Disney Games. Unless Nintendo stops being a wimp and start securing those exclusives. I hope I'm wrong...
Anyways, best of luck to all SK staff; maybe someday Mr.Dyack will be free to tell us what really happend.
Post by: GaimeGuy on April 13, 2004, 05:06:52 PM
Post by: Pale on April 13, 2004, 05:10:58 PM
Post by: Termin8Anakin on April 13, 2004, 05:20:36 PM
I will scream my lungs out now. *screams*
*breathes*
*screams more*
WHY? I know there wasn't that many games in the pipeline, but seriously, what exactly did Nintendo do 'wrong' to have SK leave?
I think it was the lack of advertising, and the potential lack of well-written, mature games on Nintendo consoles. You saw how something like ED did on GC, compared to Silent Hill, Siren and other horror games on other consoles.
I hope the freedom of being a 3rd party does good things for them, but I hope they remain closer to Ninty than ever before, like Factor 5 and perhaps Zoonami.
I think Konami somehow did all this.
Post by: theasylumofthedamned on April 13, 2004, 05:25:35 PM
*groans* I guess we can kiss Too Human bye-bye.....
PS: What? You really think that SK is going to bother to bring Too Human to the Cube now that they can develop for Sony and MS? Hah....
Post by: Caustic Saint on April 13, 2004, 05:29:57 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: GaimeGuy
GUYS, GUYS, GUYS. SK is not LEAVING Nintendo. SK is GOING everywhere! -_-
Well, at least one person managed to read past the headline....
Post by: mouse_clicker on April 13, 2004, 05:46:16 PM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on April 13, 2004, 05:50:49 PM
Post by: ThePerm on April 13, 2004, 05:56:24 PM
Post by: Berny on April 13, 2004, 05:58:06 PM
And it's April 13! Damn, not a Friday. Still unlucky.
Post by: mouse_clicker on April 13, 2004, 06:03:42 PM
Quote
Tue April 13, 2004 3:33 PM
=O You're right, Perm! That is kind of creepy, since I'm guessing it wasn't planned that way.
Post by: Grey Ninja on April 13, 2004, 06:24:09 PM
Post by: Berny on April 13, 2004, 06:32:26 PM
Welcome back even if it's just for that one post.
Post by: savanna03 on April 13, 2004, 06:49:07 PM
Post by: WuTangTurtle on April 13, 2004, 07:00:27 PM
Post by: NotRimmer on April 13, 2004, 07:22:47 PM
Post by: mouse_clicker on April 13, 2004, 07:28:37 PM
Post by: ThePerm on April 13, 2004, 08:05:12 PM
Post by: Catbus Is Taken on April 13, 2004, 08:10:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: savanna03
huh??? arggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! SILICON KNIGHT!!!
Yeah man, this sucks, I can't play Eternal Darkness anymore cuz they're now non-exclusive. Well, thats one investment down the drain. I can only hope that the next nintendo game I buy will stick around.
Post by: MysticGohan24 on April 13, 2004, 08:34:42 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: mouse_clickerQuote
Tue April 13, 2004 3:33 PM
=O You're right, Perm! That is kind of creepy, since I'm guessing it wasn't planned that way.
I don't get it, what does 3:33 mean? It's not like 666.... is it? Wouldn't it be 6hr 6min. 6sec at night?
I'm confused as what could of caused it
Post by: ThePerm on April 13, 2004, 08:40:46 PM
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on April 13, 2004, 08:50:06 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would do ANYTHING for this news to not be true.
would you work in a gas station?
Post by: NotRimmer on April 13, 2004, 08:53:45 PM
Post by: Joshums2 on April 13, 2004, 08:54:14 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would do ANYTHING for this news to not be true.
Would you stand on one foot?
Post by: NotRimmer on April 13, 2004, 08:58:40 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would do ANYTHING for this news to not be true.
Would ya...would ya kill a man?
Post by: ThePerm on April 13, 2004, 09:12:32 PM
Post by: DrZoidberg on April 13, 2004, 10:36:00 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would do ANYTHING for this news to not be true.
would you explain ED's deep literary references to me?
Post by: Catbus Is Taken on April 13, 2004, 10:39:13 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: S-U-P-E-RQuote
Originally posted by: Grey Ninja
I would do ANYTHING for this news to not be true.
would you work in a gas station?
THE PAIN OF WORKING IN A GAS STATION IS ALL CONSUMING
Post by: Joshums2 on April 13, 2004, 10:41:32 PM
Quote
would you explain ED's deep literary references to me?
Chiturga represents man's struggle with nature, Zolototh represents man's interpersonal struggle with himself, and Ulyoth represents man's struggle with society. Deep stuff.
Post by: Armed on April 13, 2004, 10:51:47 PM
Post by: Joshums4 on April 13, 2004, 10:55:51 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Joshums2Quote
would you explain ED's deep literary references to me?
Chiturga represents man's struggle with nature, Zolototh represents man's interpersonal struggle with himself, and Ulyoth represents man's struggle with society. Deep stuff.
Your mom is deep stuff
Post by: Catbus Is Taken on April 13, 2004, 11:10:23 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Joshums4Quote
Originally posted by: Joshums2Quote
would you explain ED's deep literary references to me?
Chiturga represents man's struggle with nature, Zolototh represents man's interpersonal struggle with himself, and Ulyoth represents man's struggle with society. Deep stuff.
Your mom is deep stuff
WHOA LEFTFIELD
Post by: ruby_onix on April 13, 2004, 11:17:22 PM
It feels to me that this news is a bigger blow than the loss of Rare. On a personal level, I liked Silicon Knights better than Rare, even though I only really saw Eternal Darkness (which is still stuck in my "must play" pile, sorry Denis) and MGS:TTS (which my brother needs to lend me, already) from SK, but I felt that SK had about as much "potential" going for them as Rare did at their N64-era height.
The loss of Rare was pretty shocking (although I have been telling people since Square left that they were putting way too much faith in the made-up "second party" label), but the loss of SK makes it seem like a "trend". Not only is Nintendo unable to hang onto any shreds of third party support, but they can't even hang onto their second parties anymore. Jonny had to point out earlier that we knew for sure that Retro wouldn't be jumping ship, because Nintendo completely OWNS them. Is that what it takes? People will ditch Nintendo, unless you nail them to their seats? Next thing you know, people will be questioning Miyamoto's loyalty. Oh wait, some people already are doing that...
Now, I know that we need to wait for some more news before we start jumping to conclusions. I mean, look at Factor 5. They've never been a "second party" to Nintendo, but they often seem to be as good as one, or better.
But I can't see how this downgrade in SK's Nintendo-relationship status could possibly be a good thing for Nintendo fans. I mean, look at Factor 5 again. They're under growing pressure to support other platforms. Last I heard, didn't they say they were porting Rogue Leader 2 to the XBox?
And some people say that this might be better for SK. That Nintendo never advertised their games enough. Mature games sell better on the PS2 and XBox. Do you really think that any other third party publishers would be willing to spend more money backing SK than Nintendo did? And sure, Silent Hill sells better on the PS2/XBox than Eternal Darkness did on the GameCube. But do you think PS2/XBox owners would take a game like ED over a game like Silent Hill?
Hey Denis, if you're reading this, I do wish you luck. No matter where you end up, or what games you end up doing. Especially if you end up right here though, on Nintendo systems, digging gems like the MSX versions of Metal Gear 1&2 (and maybe some Tokimeki Memorial, pretty please) out of the Konami vault for us. That'd be great!
Post by: KDR_11k on April 14, 2004, 12:49:06 AM
Post by: Uncle Rich AiAi on April 14, 2004, 01:00:46 AM
I get the feeling losing SK will not be as big as you think. Maybe Nintendo let them go because their games didn't sell well? Yeah, you all say that was b/c of lack of advertising and/or mature games sell better on PS2 & Xbox, but maybe Nintendo thought differently??? Konami's fault? That's pure cockamamy.
Anyway, I wish SK the best of luck and hope they will support Nintendo consoles in the future.
Post by: thecubedcanuck on April 14, 2004, 02:35:25 AM
Rare was a washed up has been developer when they left, SK is in their prime.
This is a big FU to the north american fanbase from Iwata.
Post by: Mario on April 14, 2004, 02:42:03 AM
Post by: Infernal Monkey on April 14, 2004, 02:43:28 AM
Post by: odifiend on April 14, 2004, 03:47:05 AM
SK game two years ago was a great experience and, for a change, it was a none multiplayer game with replay value. Not since OoT and Super Mario have I replayed a single player game that many times. Actually that's a lie- I'm currently replaying MGS:TTS. If you read they 'average' reviews, what makes it average is that often the reviewer played the original. What do you want SK to do, make a NEW game BASED on the first MGS?
If you are a gamer that can appreciate a plot (I know am talking to Nintendo loyalists, so I won't hold my breath) and great gameplay, you can't bash the twin snakes. Kojima set up a solid story years ago, and in this new incarnation, the sound effects and the visuals are spot on thanks to SK. They know how to tap in to the cube's power which is more than you can say for any developer including Nintendo (after playing the multimedia nightmare that was Pokemon Colloseum).
