Jubenhimer
Member
In an effort to bring more of its first party game development in-house, Nintendo is building two new development centers near it's HQ and Kyoto Research Center.
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Nintendo building new facility for in-house development
- Thread starter Jubenhimer
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cinnamonandgravy
Member
cmon nintendo, crack open some new IPs.
Companion Cube
Member
This is to support development of Xenoblade 3 right? Right?
Woopah
Member
They are already 25% bigger than they were pre-Switch launch. This is the next stage of their expansion
This is likely more related to EPD rather then MonolithSoft, but they have been rapidly growing MonolithSoft and we should see Xenoblade 3 next year (apparently it was supposed to release this year).
Captain Toad
Banned
That huge ass building is going to fit in someone's house??
Games I would love to see from Nintendo:
- a proper racing game, a GT-like or FH-like with the same formula but not necessarily with a realistic graphics. Maybe a Stunt Race FX nextgen, bigger, with more cars and customizations;
- a new type of RPG like Zelda but without the limits of Zelda because its traditions. Something from the concept arts they didn't use because they didn't fit well on Zelda. Ok, maybe just a new Earthbound in 3D.
- a proper racing game, a GT-like or FH-like with the same formula but not necessarily with a realistic graphics. Maybe a Stunt Race FX nextgen, bigger, with more cars and customizations;
- a new type of RPG like Zelda but without the limits of Zelda because its traditions. Something from the concept arts they didn't use because they didn't fit well on Zelda. Ok, maybe just a new Earthbound in 3D.
MAtgS
Member
It'll be in Sakurai's pants. They're quite roomy since they have to be large enough for the massive balls he has for getting Banjo and Sora in SSB.
V4skunk
Banned
They are clever though by not over extending.
TLZ
Banned
More 1-2 Switch and Labo and you'll love it.
carlosrox
Banned
Are a lot of Nintendo devs dying from COVID or something? Yeah right!
Oh you mean COVID restrictions? Sounds a lot more accurate.
Anyways now that I've gotten my daily COVID reminder.... This is good news but damn I thought they were already doing this what with the Switch no longer splitting up the talent between handheld and console dev?
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Woopah
Member
Combining the existing talent wouldn't require them to need more space. It's the 100s of new developers they are going to hire that will require this new office space.
KingGhidorah
Banned
- Star Fox
- Kid Icarus
- More Zelda Remakes
- Buy half of Capcom
- Kid Icarus
- More Zelda Remakes
- Buy half of Capcom
SlimeGooGoo
Party Gooper
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Mister Wolf
Member
Might be the fanboy in me but I think they plan to use Xenoblade 3 to show off the Switch successor. Wouldnt be surprised if the next release we get from Monolith Soft is a definitive edition of Xenoblade X.
Scotty W
Member
I told everyone about this last year but no one paid attention.
Punished Miku
Gold Member
I drove past those buildings once. Super plain office buildings but was fun to see.
RoyalLaFlame
Banned
This is good. Maybe these new places can help speed up the development of METROID PRIME 4 NINTENDO!
jakinov
Member
That would just take up more resources from making existing IP games. Which they don't release as frequently as they used to. There's plenty of new IP elsewhere and people really enjoy Zelda, Mario, etc. sequels so why take risk making new IP for the sake of making new IP.
Woopah
Member
Because then you have chance for more success. Sure, some new IP they publish could stay small like Astral Chain or Game Builder Garage, but others could be huge hits like Splatoon or Ring Fit.
SlimeGooGoo
Party Gooper
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jakinov
Member
Resources are finite that if they are working on the new game it prevents them from making other games. As games take longer and longer to make more and more of these finite resources would need to be put on the bread-winning projects. If they have an idea or they don't have their hands full already then sure focus on new IP but I don't see much reason to make new IP for the sake of doing it. It's unneeded risk at this point. Espcially when it seems like their existing franchises are selling better than ever.
Coolwhhip
Neophyte
Guess so. But Nintendo has huge holes in their release schedule still. I'm sure there is enough talent in their area.
NeoIkaruGAF
Gold Member
Damn, Metroid Prime 4 development must be in a worse state than we thought.
Woopah
Member
They definitely had holes in 2020, but they had a pretty solid release schedule in 2019 and 2021 and 2022 looks promising too. I see this expansion as helping them remain one of the most prolific major publishers in the industry despite rising development times. It'll also help protect them against future pandemics or other disruptions.
All of Nintendo's big franchises were new IP at some point. Imagine if they had never invested in things like Animal Crossing, Splatoon or Ring Fit. They'd be in a worse position if they didn't. Basically, why stick to having 10 bread-winning franchises if you can have 15 or 20.
Papacheeks
Banned
Too little too late. Lots of high profile people have left and retired. It shows how incompetent Nintendo is. Should have expanded long time ago for development. Their out put is too infrequent. They rely on cap on and indie way too much.
jakinov
Member
They are in a position where it's not as beneficial to go out of their way to create new IP. because they didn't hgave any and many older IP also originated when games were less risky to amke. Like I said in my other post if they have a good idea then sure. But again the number of employeee they have are finite, if they are making a new IP for the sake of new IP it prevents them from making another game that's for less risky and already shown potential to have high reward. I'm not saying they should never create new IP either. But until thet have enough resources to continue to release games at the candence they want and have the number of ongoing projects that they want at a given time working on existing IP then they can focus on expanding to create new IP. Because right now we're just talking about more risk same reward as opposed to more risk more reward.
Woopah
Member
The trouble is you don't know what is a "good idea" is until you try. It would very-short sighted of Nintendo to only focus on what franchises they currently have rather than finding new opportunities for
growth. Between their own teams and external partners I believe they have enough to publish existing franchises and new IPs. Take a look at 2019 for instance:
Established IP: Yoshi, Mario, Tetris, Boxboy, Fire Emblem, Marvel Ultimate Alliance, Zelda, Kirby, Luigi's Mansion, Pokemon,
New IP: Astral Chain, Daemon Ex Machina, Ring Fit Adventure, Stretchers
That's what they should aim for every year I believe.
jakinov
Member
They can build small internal prototypes and pitch the ideas intenrally without commiting a whole team and saying "let's build a new IP for the sake of building new IP". It's not about their publishing capacity as it is about how many developers they have to do the bulk of the work. Again not saying they shouldn't do new IP, again their resources are fininte which means limited. They have X numbers of employees to make a game. LEts say they have 100 employees for simplicity. And they have 5 IPs with whatver many spinoffs, let ssay 10 projects across 3-5 years. Which averages around 10 employees per project. Ifyou get 10 employees working on a new IP; you aren't looking at growth because you stopped working on another project that already likely to sell really well. It's when you add more employees so you have 120 to make new projects you see growth. But at this point Nintendo does not have enough employees to do all the proejcts they want to do.They probably want like 15-20 projects going on with their 5 IP across 3-5 years instead. Once they hit that, that's when it becomes more fruitful to make new IP for the sake of making new IP. It's a different story for someone like Microsoft because their IPs sell like shit that taking the risk to create a new IP can lead to an IP that sells double/triple what their current IPs sell. A Microsoft franchises that sells < 5 million can benefit from 6,7,8,9, 10 million in sales. A Nintendo franchise that has previously done 10 million, when you take the developers away from making that sequel and you make a new IP that sells 6,7,8,9 or evne 10 million; that's not really growth.It selling even better is possible but signficantly even more unlikely. Until they maximize on the projects with the existing IP, that's when they should explicitly go and try and create new IP. Nintendo has shown they are willing to create new IP. But currnetly taking up finite resources whether it's people or money to make a new IP with no actual plan for what it is, is risky and takes away from other IP and other projects that are already likely to be succesful.
Ezquimacore
Banned
They don't open studios to close then next year like others do, that's why everytime they acquire or make a new building it's meaningful. Iook at monolith soft, already have like 5 studios.
Ezquimacore
Banned
So that's it, Nintendo is finally doomed.
KingGhidorah
Banned
Nice to see Nintendo expanding in Japan, not in the West. Now that they re-claimed Japan, they must protect and strengthen their home base
Woopah
Member
The part in bold is exactly what they do. And not just for new IP, most instalments in their existing franchises also start off as small prototypes before committing a whole team.
I would say that they are not "building new IP for the sake of building new IP", just like they don't build sequels for the sake of building sequels. They publish new IP to achiebe a mixutre of the following:
A. Make more revenue in software sales than it cost to develop
B. Establish a fanbase that can be served with sequels for years to come
C. Expand the variety of software on Switch and make the platform more attractive, convincing more people to buy the Switch hardware and get invested in the ecosystem
Ultimately I think we both agree that Nintendo should continue investing in a mixture of existing and new IP, and that this expansion will help them get the right balance.
Even though these developers will be based in Japan, their purpose will be strengthen Nintendo's presence globally. I do think Nintendo should also be expanding their Western development as well, through new partnerships (the acquisition of Next Level Games was also smart in that particular scenario).
KingGhidorah
Banned
I disagree. Stay the fuck away from Western studios.
Western studios are poisoned by woke shit. Nintendo don't need none of that crap.....plus they have enough Western studios already
Woopah
Member
Nintendo's been focused on inclusivity for a long time and them getting more diverse isn't going to destroy the company or anything.
This year they worked with a Western studio on a game with female protagonist and also acquired a new Western studio. Both moves will be good for them and gamers.
KingGhidorah
Banned
Woopah
Member
Which I'm definitely happy about. I'm just also happy about them strengthening in the West as well.
V4skunk
Banned
Nope. Retro Studios have been at it for over 3 years now. I check the jobs on their site every few months and I'd say they are at an advanced stage of development and even starting a new big project.
mcjmetroid
Member
They're in house output has been lacking somewhat this generation, what's there is very good but not enough. Well I mean there is enough to sell the switch units so mission accomplished.
But they seriously need more new IPs..people are going to get tired of Mario and Zelda eventually again. You shouldn't need to wait another 10 or so years for them to become popular again each time. Have something new ready when it does happen.
Did they come up with anything else other than labo or ring fit adventures this gen that's new?
But they seriously need more new IPs..people are going to get tired of Mario and Zelda eventually again. You shouldn't need to wait another 10 or so years for them to become popular again each time. Have something new ready when it does happen.
Did they come up with anything else other than labo or ring fit adventures this gen that's new?
SlimeGooGoo
Party Gooper
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Woopah
Member
The new IP this gen specifically from the team this expansion will impact is: 1 2 Switch, Arms, Labo, Ring Fit Adventure and Game Builder Garage. The rest of their new IP have come from collaborations with other developers.
mcjmetroid
Member
The word diverse used to be a very positive word and it still is to a point but nowadays we know what developers say when they say diverse.
Nintendo still aren't that kind of diverse which is perfectly fine to me
RoadHazard
Gold Member
Seems badly needed, they barely release any big inhouse developed games anymore.
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