The company, based in Austin, Texas, has been mostly silent (beyond their work on Metroid Prime Trilogy) after completing the Metroid Prime games. Rumors have circulated about what they've been up to since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption was released in 2007.
The only hint Retro has given was in an interview with IGN last year when Metroid Prime Trilogy was released. "I think you'll be very excited when you find out what we're working on," is all that they said in regards to their future plans.
This should be cleared up in about two days, with Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference kicking off E3 on Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. PDT.
What's the source of this rumor? IGN pulling stuff out of their magic hat to generate page views?
If this rumor is true, I hope it is a mainline Donkey Kong and not just another spin-off.
That is true. Are we talking the NES titles? The DKC series of platformers? The Mario and DK series?If this rumor is true, I hope it is a mainline Donkey Kong and not just another spin-off.
What is a mainline Donkey Kong game, though? The series has taken so many different forms that I'm not sure there's a standard at this point.
If this rumor ends up true, I'll be supremely disappointed. Just the idea of waiting 3 years to see what Retro was working, and the finding out they're working on a B/C-list franchise like Donkey Kong would be incredibly underwhelming.
I'm totally with Insanolord. They released three of the best games in the pantheon of Nintendo platforms and then POOF! disappeared for the next two years. Very strange.
However, since two years is about what it takes to make a full-fledged Wii game, it wouldn't surprise me if a Retro game will be the big title this Christmas (since it'll be finished already, or close to it), and Zelda will get delayed to early 2011. That's my call.
I'm totally with Insanolord. They released three of the best games in the pantheon of Nintendo platforms and then POOF! disappeared for the next two years. Very strange.
However, since two years is about what it takes to make a full-fledged Wii game, it wouldn't surprise me if a Retro game will be the big title this Christmas (since it'll be finished already, or close to it), and Zelda will get delayed to early 2011. That's my call.
Maybe Zelda is the game Retro's been working on!
Whoo-woooo!
There's no way that Nintendo would let a non-Japanese developer work on a "sacred cow" franchise like Zelda. No way. Now the B-level franchises like Donkey Kong, Metroid, StarFox, F-Zero, etc. - those are and have been fair game. But Pokemon, Mario, and Zelda will always be Japan-developed, I'm confident in that.
Of course, at this point somebody will scream "Mario RPG", at which time I will tell you to shut up.
There's no way that Nintendo would let a non-Japanese developer work on a "sacred cow" franchise like Zelda. No way. Now the B-level franchises like Donkey Kong, Metroid, StarFox, F-Zero, etc. - those are and have been fair game. But Pokemon, Mario, and Zelda will always be Japan-developed, I'm confident in that.
Of course, at this point somebody will scream "Mario RPG", at which time I will tell you to shut up.
And yet, on the most recent RFN there was the discussion of how Reggie being appointed to his position was surprising, and not just because of his Pizza-Hut origins.
I demand Greg be hired to do Donkey Kong's voice acting.
Rare is a complete mess and has been for more than 10 years, I don't think anyone could help them. Silicon Knights is apparently willing to do more with Nintendo, but maybe Nintendo is reluctant since their last few games have not sold well.
Speaking of Star Fox, that would be interesting for Retro Studios (although Nintendo doesn't seem too interested in the franchise right now).
Rare is a complete mess and has been for more than 10 years, I don't think anyone could help them. Silicon Knights is apparently willing to do more with Nintendo, but maybe Nintendo is reluctant since their last few games have not sold well.
Speaking of Star Fox, that would be interesting for Retro Studios (although Nintendo doesn't seem too interested in the franchise right now).
The most fun I have had with a Star Fox game is the multiplayer on Assault. That either says something about me, or the franchise.
