Topic: Nintendo Not Looking to Expand Studios in America

[Kairon]

Aside from Retro and NST, Nintendo will leave western development to western publishers.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=14910

 Asked by Wired News about whether Nintendo was looking to develop more American games, Nintendo Senior Vice President George Harrison confessed, “I’m not aware of any plans for more software development here in the U.S." Harrison went on to explain that the question of what to make and where to make it lay in the hands of people like Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto in Japan.    

In the past, western development studios tied to Nintendo have helped to round out Nintendo’s Japanese-developed line-up by offering games of a markedly different style, like Retro Studios’ Metroid Prime series. These games supposedly helped Nintendo appeal specifically to western audiences. However, the DS and Wii’s current success seems to be continuing in spite of a lack of these titles from Nintendo, as NST’s Project H.A.M.M.E.R. hasn’t been heard from in a long while and is presumed delayed.    

Instead, Nintendo is content to leave these games to third parties. "They're doing a great job both on DS and on Wii," explains Harrison. “They tend to provide product in categories that we aren't particularly good at doing, like sports or other genres. And since they're western publishers, they tend to be more in tune with western tastes."

[Kairon]

I remember visiting Nintendo's tiny little Career booth at GDC 2007. It's tiny because Nintendo probably doesn't really do a lot of hiring at GDC since they have few developer studios in America, as this article points out. The guy there actually seemed to suggest joining third parties and licensees that work on games for Nintendo systems whenever naive students (i.e. me) walked up to talk to him.

[wandering]

Quote
NST’s Project H.A.M.M.E.R. hasn’t been heard from in a long while and is presumed dead.

Fixed.

[Kairon]

I would've said that, but I had to uphold some semblance of journalistic distance and even-handed tones, you know!

[Plugabugz]

Nintendo have, afaik, no european developers (since rare was sold on).

Why don't they, instead, make Kuju a second-party?  

[Kairon]

Kuju is a collection of several different UK studios actually, and Nintendo only works extensively with just one of those studios, the London one. As far as I can tell Kuju sees itself as an independent third party despite some close relations with both Sony (they make eyeToy software for 'em) and Nintendo (Geometry Wars ports, Battalion Wars).

[DAaaMan64]

God I hope this isn't the last Battalion Wars.

[Crimm]

I thought we confirmed H.A.M.M.E.R. is dead.

Either way, I think this is a bad idea because third parties AREN'T doing a good job on the Wii.

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: Crimm
I thought we confirmed H.A.M.M.E.R. is dead.

Either way, I think this is a bad idea because third parties AREN'T doing a good job on the Wii.

Actually it was put on indefinate hold, so it isn't technically dead.

[mantidor]

"Indefinitely on hold" means dead, raven blade and dead phoenix are both "Indefinitely on hold" (I think both Retro and Capcom used those exact words).

[UncleBob]

Are the Game and Watch e-Reader cards "indefinitely on hold" too?

[GoldenPhoenix]

Quote
Originally posted by: UncleBob
Are the Game and Watch e-Reader cards "indefinitely on hold" too?

They aren't dead though. They could be resurrected like Duke Nukem Forever!

[Spak-Spang]

You know I am ok with this.  If Nintendo wants to expand their North American Studios and influence, they can do that by enlarging Rare and NST.  That way they can keep watch of the fewer companies and have better quality control.  

I think they have two very good development houses and I would rather them take the time and money to nurture and keep those relationships great.  Keep the talent happy, and motivate them with creative freedom and choice options with Nintendo franchises.