News tidbits – NdCube, Mario Party, Metroid: Other M, and Wii Party
NdCube
– Started out as a Nintendo subsidiary (GameCube/GBA development)
– Was a joint venture, 78% shares for Nintendo, 13% shares for Dentsu
– Dentsu is Nintendo’s advertising firm
– Company struggled, some employees left for Sony
– NdCube has seen a massive overhaul this year, Dentsu’s shares were bought out, Nintendo now the sole proprietor
– Company is now more of a Nintendo R&D rather than a subsidiary
– Company has expanded, second division in Sapporo and Tokyo established, both are close to Nintendo’s branch offices
Mario Party
– Franchise could become less relevant
– Wii Party has been successful
– Lead staff has left Hudson, joined Nd Cube
– Original staff was a join venture, Monegi, created by Nintendo and Hudson
– Nintendo wanted to capture a larger audience with Wii Party than Mario Party could
Metroid: Other M
– Always had plans for a deep story
– Game development became much different than the game that was first conceived
– Because of the advancement in technology/development, Sakamoto has been able to express the story himself, original design team has encapsulated
– Game is a “romantic” project for Sakamoto
– Ideas thought of by Sakamoto that were formed in past years are in the game
