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StarTopic Nintendo First Party Software Development |ST| Nintendo Party Superstars

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Three Hopes credits.


Nothing really surprsing on the EPD/IS front, as expected. Tsutomu Tei is credited as a supervisor, so he’s still at IS despite not being credited since Echoes.

A number of staff, including the director, engineering lead, and one of the producers, were last credited on Attack on Titan 2 in 2018 according to Mobygames. Unless there’s a game missing or something else got cancelled in between, Three Hopes could have been in development for quite a while.
 
Three Hopes credits.


Nothing really surprsing on the EPD/IS front, as expected. Tsutomu Tei is credited as a supervisor, so he’s still at IS despite not being credited since Echoes.

A number of staff, including the director, engineering lead, and one of the producers, were last credited on Attack on Titan 2 in 2018 according to Mobygames. Unless there’s a game missing or something else got cancelled in between, Three Hopes could have been in development for quite a while.
Yeah I can totally see the resemblance to AOT2. Intriguing.
 
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Definitive proof that Prime Remake was finished last september

Contract Senior Environment Artist
Retro Studios · Full-time
Jan 2021 - Sep 2021 · 9 mos
Austin, Texas Metropolitan
Unannounced project. Asset and level optimization, LOD creation and improvement, lightmapping, aesthetic adjustment/correction, general troubleshooting, and bug fixing through pre-alpha to project completion.
This conflicts with the main rumor about Metroid Prime remastered in the first place right? First time I heard about it was that guy on ResetEra who said when Metroid Prime 4 was failing at Bandai Namco, Nintendo was impressed with Retro's work on Metroid Prime remastered and put them on Prime 4. That would would mean Metroid Prime remastered was being worked on as far back as 2018. Have I missed something?
 
This conflicts with the main rumor about Metroid Prime remastered in the first place right? First time I heard about it was that guy on ResetEra who said when Metroid Prime 4 was failing at Bandai Namco, Nintendo was impressed with Retro's work on Metroid Prime remastered and put them on Prime 4. That would would mean Metroid Prime remastered was being worked on as far back as 2018. Have I missed something?
i think its right,its exact like the insider said
Late 2017/Early 2018 - Prime remake started
Mid/Late 2018 - Nintendo impressed by the quality of the graphics,cancels Namco Prime 4, Retro takes over Prime 4
2019 - while Game Designers,Programmers and Concept Artists are in the planning stages of Prime 4,the rest of the team is working on the remake
Late 2019 - Prime 4 gets to the point it need more artists,retro creates an outsourcing department to help finishing the remake
2020 - Small team at retro and outsource partners keep working on Prime Remake
January 2021 - Prime Remake is feature complete, a large number of contractors is hired to help polish the game graphics
Sepember 2021 - Prime Remake is finished,all the contractors hired in january are let go,team now full on Prime 4
 
A number of staff, including the director, engineering lead, and one of the producers, were last credited on Attack on Titan 2 in 2018 according to Mobygames. Unless there’s a game missing or something else got cancelled in between, Three Hopes could have been in development for quite a while.
Looking further into it, AOT 2 had a large expansion in 2019 and the staff I mentioned above also worked on One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 in 2020, so the gap makes more sense now.
 
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i think its right,its exact like the insider said
Late 2017/Early 2018 - Prime remake started
Mid/Late 2018 - Nintendo impressed by the quality of the graphics,cancels Namco Prime 4, Retro takes over Prime 4
2019 - while Game Designers,Programmers and Concept Artists are in the planning stages of Prime 4,the rest of the team is working on the remake
Late 2019 - Prime 4 gets to the point it need more artists,retro creates an outsourcing department to help finishing the remake
2020 - Small team at retro and outsource partners keep working on Prime Remake
January 2021 - Prime Remake is feature complete, a large number of contractors is hired to help polish the game graphics
Sepember 2021 - Prime Remake is finished,all the contractors hired in january are let go,team now full on Prime 4
I guess I am confused about the "pre alpha to project completion" part if he worked on it from Jan - Sept 2021. Based on the rumored timeline the game was being worked on it late 2018.
 
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120 from nintendo
80 from monolith
165 from outsourcing
230 testers(japan,usa,europe)
320 voice work,localization,special thanks

Thanks.

I wondered if they currently have another Wii U launch games scenario happening over there where basically over half of Kyoto is working on BOTW2 to get it done and out, having to neglect other games in development in the process.

With BOTW it doesn't seem like that was the case. Though to be fair, how many employees did EPD Kyoto consist of in 2015/2016? I remember Nintendo mentioning that in 2019 it was 700 employees in total at Kyoto, though that probably also includes staff unrelated to software development as well.
 
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This was a thought that sprung from a recent discussion about first vs. third party but do we know why Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors are published by KT in Japan and Nintendo overseas?
That's basically how they chose to make the deal work. KT is very much able to publish in Japan but Nintendo has the stronger distribution network overseas. I imagine KT cut is higher for domestic sales since they publish it there.
 
That's basically how they chose to make the deal work. KT is very much able to publish in Japan but Nintendo has the stronger distribution network overseas. I imagine KT cut is higher for domestic sales since they publish it there.

It's just weird to see the games listed as games licensed for overseas release. Would be interesting to see the actual deal on this.
 
Thanks.

I wondered if they currently have another Wii U launch games scenario happening over there where basically over half of Kyoto is working on BOTW2 to get it done and out, having to neglect other games in development in the process.

With BOTW it doesn't seem like that was the case. Though to be fair, how many employees did EPD Kyoto consist of in 2015/2016? I remember Nintendo mentioning that in 2019 it was 700 employees in total at Kyoto, though that probably also includes staff unrelated to software development as well.
Its not so bad,of the 12 game designers who worked on BOTW
5 haven't worked on anything
3 worked on Splatoon 2
2 worked on Super Mario Maker 2
1 worked on Mario Kart Tour
1 worked on RingFit Adventure

of the 30 artists
11 haven't worked on anything
9 worked on RingFit Adventure
5 worked on Animal Crossing
2 worked on Switch Sports
2 worked on Super Mario Odyssey
1 worked on Arms

most of the team already worked in other switch games,its monolith that got clogged and had to double its size to compensate 70% of their staff at the time working on zelda
 
This was a thought that sprung from a recent discussion about first vs. third party but do we know why Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors are published by KT in Japan and Nintendo overseas?
it's probably a matter of KT having enough clout to ask for and receive the license for the IPs in addition to being able to work on story extensions
 
This was a thought that sprung from a recent discussion about first vs. third party but do we know why Hyrule Warriors and Fire Emblem Warriors are published by KT in Japan and Nintendo overseas?
It's important to remember some context around Koei's business. For a long time they've wanted to expand the reach of the Warriors brand in the West, and partnering with popular brands like Zelda and Fire Emblem help them achieve that goal. Using Nintendo's marketing arm helps them get the Warriors brand in front of way more people than Koei Tecmo America's ever could. The publishing duties aren't important, it's about growing the brand.
 
somehow camelot became even smaller, 37 developers now,the team is smaller than when they made mario golf on gamecube,not much bigger than the 64 games
holy shit. I thought they were small but slowly growing y know? So i thought something around 60 to 70 devs. Its actually impressive how they managed to do the mario spin offs lol.

I wonder if they will be the next to declare bankruptcy. They certainly cant do golden sun that's for sure lol
 
holy shit. I thought they were small but slowly growing y know? So i thought something around 60 to 70 devs. Its actually impressive how they managed to do the mario spin offs lol.

I wonder if they will be the next to declare bankruptcy. They certainly cant do golden sun that's for sure lol
The big difference with Alphadream is that Camelot games have been successful, in fact more than ever. Them staying small seems a decision they have made for unknown reasons but I dont think is due to financial ones, I could see Camelot closing once the brothers retire and most employees will just end up in a new Nintendo backed studio.
 
The big difference with Alphadream is that Camelot games have been successful, in fact more than ever.
Bowser's Inside Story is currently nearly 1m ahead Camelot's best-selling game ever, Tennis Aces, in units sold (4.56m vs 3.66m).

AlphaDream's issues weren't that they were never successful; and there wasn't even an immediate strong decline at first since Dream Team is still the second best selling game in the series (Paper Jam definitely declined, but even then 1.07m was likely still solid for a game made with strong asset reuse from Sticker Star and Dream Team). Allegedly it wasn't even the string of low-budget remakes that did them in; it was their first attempt at HD console development, targeting Switch / PS4 (so without Nintendo backing), that fell apart and led to their bankrupcy.
 
Bowser's Inside Story is currently nearly 1m ahead Camelot's best-selling game ever, Tennis Aces, in units sold (4.56m vs 3.66m).

AlphaDream's issues weren't that they were never successful; and there wasn't even an immediate strong decline at first since Dream Team is still the second best selling game in the series (Paper Jam definitely declined, but even then 1.07m was likely still solid for a game made with strong asset reuse from Sticker Star and Dream Team). Allegedly it wasn't even the string of low-budget remakes that did them in; it was their first attempt at HD console development, targeting Switch / PS4 (so without Nintendo backing), that fell apart and led to their bankrupcy.
Yeah the late 3DS remakes definitely didn’t do well, but they also didn’t cost much. Always felt weird to think those were the reason AD fell apart.
 
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It's just weird to see the games listed as games licensed for overseas release. Would be interesting to see the actual deal on this.
For the third party in these deals (KT, SE, etc.) it will probably depend on what makes them the most money:

1. Paying for the publishing costs and getting a larger cut per game sold
2. Letting Nintendo cover the publishing costs but getting a lower cut per game sold

In Japan where they have a solid infrastructure, it make sense to go for option 1. But in the West where their infrastructure is lesser (and translations are required) it makes sense to let Nintendo cover those costs, as Nintendo's marketing will probably have a significant effect on how the game sells.
 
Bowser's Inside Story is currently nearly 1m ahead Camelot's best-selling game ever, Tennis Aces, in units sold (4.56m vs 3.66m).

AlphaDream's issues weren't that they were never successful; and there wasn't even an immediate strong decline at first since Dream Team is still the second best selling game in the series (Paper Jam definitely declined, but even then 1.07m was likely still solid for a game made with strong asset reuse from Sticker Star and Dream Team). Allegedly it wasn't even the string of low-budget remakes that did them in; it was their first attempt at HD console development, targeting Switch / PS4 (so without Nintendo backing), that fell apart and led to their bankrupcy.
They never did transition to 3d until extremely late and they had a project with ForwardWorks if I remember correctly. FW was known to be a studio killer of sorts
 
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I am very curious about that new game from Next Level Games that is supposedly very close to being finished. My guess is that it must be a smaller title since Mario Strikers released last month, lol.
 
I am very curious about that new game from Next Level Games that is supposedly very close to being finished. My guess is that it must be a smaller title since Mario Strikers released last month, lol.
Where are you hearing that it's close to finishing?
 
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I am very curious about that new game from Next Level Games that is supposedly very close to being finished. My guess is that it must be a smaller title since Mario Strikers released last month, lol.
Punch-Out makes the most sense to me.
 
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Maybe Nintendo will buy Camelot one day
Considering their track record of acquistions I dont think so, they have never bought an independent JP dev (outside of SRD but they were literally in-house devs already) and that will probably not change any time soon until they are forced to and Camelot will not be the one forcing Nintendo to open the bank after 100+ years.

Bowser's Inside Story is currently nearly 1m ahead Camelot's best-selling game ever, Tennis Aces, in units sold (4.56m vs 3.66m).

AlphaDream's issues weren't that they were never successful; and there wasn't even an immediate strong decline at first since Dream Team is still the second best selling game in the series (Paper Jam definitely declined, but even then 1.07m was likely still solid for a game made with strong asset reuse from Sticker Star and Dream Team). Allegedly it wasn't even the string of low-budget remakes that did them in; it was their first attempt at HD console development, targeting Switch / PS4 (so without Nintendo backing), that fell apart and led to their bankrupcy.
I mean with Camelot games being successful that the latest Camelot games have been more successful (and at a higher price point) than Alphadream last games before going bankrupt.
 
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Some Sales context on Mario Sports x Mario RPG

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Blue = Golf ; Yellow = Tennis; Green = Strikers; Orange = Baseball; Grey = Other
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers

EthjXEn_d.webp

Blue = Paper Mario ; Yellow = Mario & Luigi
Titles marked with * lack official sales numbers
 
NLG staff who are either only credited under ”Additional Work” or straight up uncredited in Battle League.

Additional Work

Uncredited

Holliday, MacFarlane, and Nash are now also listed as Studio Directors, along with Jason Carr (which may explain his shift from game design to UI design).

It’s possible that some of the uncredited staff above were contractors to begin with. I noticed that a few LM3 staff later worked on projects involving Waterproof Studios, who is credited in Battle League but there seems to be no crossover. I’ve left them out for now.

I also didn’t include anyone who was credited for “Operations” in LM3, as they seem to have just been moved to “Special Thanks.”
 
NLG staff who are either only credited under ”Additional Work” or straight up uncredited in Battle League.

Additional Work

Uncredited

Holliday, MacFarlane, and Nash are now also listed as Studio Directors, along with Jason Carr (which may explain his shift from game design to UI design).

It’s possible that some of the uncredited staff above were contractors to begin with. I noticed that a few LM3 staff later worked on projects involving Waterproof Studios, who is credited in Battle League but there seems to be no crossover. I’ve left them out for now.

I also didn’t include anyone who was credited for “Operations” in LM3, as they seem to have just been moved to “Special Thanks.”
They all left,some even years before LM3 released,most were contractors

Bryce Holliday (Design)
Cavin Yen (Design)
Mark Bianchin (Design)
Matt McTavish (Design)

Hewan Woolley (Left in 2021)

Alex MacFarlane (Studio Director)
Bjorn Nash (Studio Director)
 
They all left,some even years before LM3 released,most were contractors

Bryce Holliday (Design)
Cavin Yen (Design)
Mark Bianchin (Design)
Matt McTavish (Design)

Hewan Woolley (Left in 2021)

Alex MacFarlane (Studio Director)
Bjorn Nash (Studio Director)
Such a shame those guys left. At least Bryce Holiday is still there as he's really become their MVP.
 
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Hal Laboratory, 202 employees as of July 1, 2022. 205 a year ago.

Camelot: 37 employees as of June 1, 2022
1UP: 75 employees in April 2022
Grezzo: 87 employees as of April 1, 2022
ND Cube: 132 employees in 2022
Good Feel: 138 employees as of January 2022
SRD: 143 employees as of April 2022
Game Freak: 169 employees as of April 2022
Intelligent Systems: 190 employees as of April 2022
Creatures Inc: 207 employees as of February 2022.
Monolith Soft: 273 employees as of December 2021
 
Hal Laboratory, 202 employees as of July 1, 2022. 205 a year ago.

Camelot: 37 employees as of June 1, 2022
1UP: 75 employees in April 2022
Grezzo: 87 employees as of April 1, 2022
ND Cube: 132 employees in 2022
Good Feel: 138 employees as of January 2022
SRD: 143 employees as of April 2022
Game Freak: 169 employees as of April 2022
Intelligent Systems: 190 employees as of April 2022
Creatures Inc: 207 employees as of February 2022.
Monolith Soft: 273 employees as of December 2021
Jesus, this explains a lot about Camelot.
 
Hal Laboratory, 202 employees as of July 1, 2022. 205 a year ago.

Camelot: 37 employees as of June 1, 2022
1UP: 75 employees in April 2022
Grezzo: 87 employees as of April 1, 2022
ND Cube: 132 employees in 2022
Good Feel: 138 employees as of January 2022
SRD: 143 employees as of April 2022
Game Freak: 169 employees as of April 2022
Intelligent Systems: 190 employees as of April 2022
Creatures Inc: 207 employees as of February 2022.
Monolith Soft: 273 employees as of December 2021
I know IS was hiring recently. And it makes sense how they are working on Genealogy in house and in collaboration with KT. Not to mention Paper Mario(2020) and Warioware(2021). Thats a healthy pipeline.
 
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They really need to expand at this point. Unless the owners don't want it to expand.
They seem to be able to deliver constant releases even with their small size,if they feel comfortable with their size there is little reason to expand . It’s not like they have plans to make more ambitious titles or more than one title at once that would need expansion.
 
They seem to be able to deliver constant releases even with their small size,if they feel comfortable with their size there is little reason to expand . It’s not like they have plans to make more ambitious titles or more than one title at once that would need expansion.
It is weird that it is the one of the few studios with that small of a group of people. I thought they had 46 at one point.
 
I believe Emily mentioned that Nintendo still has faith in Golden Sun and might want to hire other studios to work on the property just like they did with Advance Wars and Wayforward.

Their faith in Camelot is more in doubt now.
 


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