Nintendo should REALLY think about locking this project up!

[BetterLateThanNever]

This is a group of talent that was once part of the small team in the Banjo barn. This was, of course, back in Rare's glory days. These people made huge, multi-million sellers. Banjo-Tooie was actually the N64's final million+ seller not called Mario Party 3! This is a game that was released very late in November 2000 in North America and Japan and released way out in April 2001 in Europe and Oceania as one of Nintendo's last N64 games, even if Rare officially published this sequel themselves.



And look at Banjo-Kazooie, practically a mid-gen N64 game in 1998, and the 10th-best seller on the platform ever with 3.65 million units.

...And DK64 is 7th at over 5.2 million!

Source:

If Nintendo truly believes that great software drives hardware (PS2 and PS4's early successes are arguably based on THE PROMISE of good software), then they should finance this project/studio, and ensure a physical release and Nintendo ownership of the IP. People miss GOOD 3D platformers, and sales figures and critical acclaim from the peak of the genre in the 5th generation clearly show that "collect-a-thon" was not a dirty word when done right.

[Krockhead]

It'd be an incredibly smart move by Nintendo. One thing Nintendo lacks but totally needs is another Western developer that can sell big time. All they really have right now is Retro, who can only make a couple games per generation.

But you have to realize something about Playtonic vs. Rare. Rare just hammered out quality title after quality title in a short amount of time, and their games sold. Just look at the chart you posted. Rare was(and still is) a relatively big company. They were sectioned into small groups literally stationed in barns. Playtonic is the equivalent of just one of those teams, in fact, they're a little bit smaller. Playtonic alone would not give Nintendo the Rare-like presence they desperately need. Like Retro, they'd only be making a couple games per generation. It'd still be a smart move though.

As smart as it may be, I don't think I'd want to see it. I want Playtonic's games to reach the broadest possible audience. The only positive I could see is that a close relationship between Playtonic and Nintendo might give the Backtogether Boys a chance to work on Donkey Kong again.

[Lupo]

[Jellyfunk]

No publisher should have any control over Playtonic.
Nintendo made Rare turn Dinosaur Planet into a Starfox game that the fans disliked.

[BetterLateThanNever]

I agree with Krockhead and we wouldn't be talking about very many games per generation. Yes, this is a tiny team. But the smaller team also means less $$$$ involved in locking this up, and a chance to throw Retro and ex-Rare developers together on a DK down the line. Previously, Monster Games had helped Retro with Tropical Freeze.

It should be noted that Banjo-Kazooie was easily one of the most financially and critically successful new IP's Nintendo has launched in the past 20 years and it sold more than 1 in 10 for every N64.

[Lupo]

[BetterLateThanNever]

[Lupo]

[Jellyfunk]

[Lupo]

[Jellyfunk]

[Nomonoke]

As a more recent example, Nintendo and Platinum Games for Bayonetta 2 seemed to go incredibly smoothly, and Nintendo took on a more observational role.

I'm not saying Nintendo hasn't messed up partnerships in the past (obviously they have) but they're very capable of partnering correctly.

[POE]

I would love if Playtonic becomes a Nintendo´s second party studio.

[Jayveer]

[CGB Spender]

I will never understand why people encourage exclusivity.

What do you gain by it being on the specific platform you want it on? The ability to go "Haha, I can play this and you can't"?

They are looking at PC and Wii U, and maybe other platforms. That's good, the gaming industry could do with less exclusive games. Try to be glad that more people who share your hobby will get to play it and spend less time wishing for more bragging rights on your platform of choice.

[BetterLateThanNever]

Consoles are different and exclusive games are not an issue. We don't need everything to be uniform and everyone to be included on every platform. No thank you. Many indie devs like Playtonic do this for a variety of reasons, but let's not be naive and pretend exclusive games don't matter to dedicated gaming platforms or that it would be better if all systems were equal. They're not, often it is technically, often it is in market segment. Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are always looking for exclusives.

Don't be lame please.

[clanker]

This is some tricky stuff.

Of course Playtonic as 2nd party to Nintendo sounds alluring, partly because the games seem like they will fit in with Nintendo's general style and partly because everyone wants that 90's partnership magic back. But it's not the 90's anymore, and it's probably best for Playtonic financially and in terms of people recognizing their brand to be on as many systems as possible. I think part of the reason Playtonic is doing things they way they're doing is because they don't really want to answer to suits about how to make their games.

Or maybe I'm still bitter about Starfox Adventures, who knows

[Alph]

I think a Nintendo/Playtonic partnership could be really beneficial down the line. It could give Playtonic access to a bigger budget to make bigger and better games with and it could allow their games to be fully advertised and given a physical retail release. And who wouldn't love a Playtonic helmed Donkey Kong game?

[SpongeTheSquid]

I would honestly love if Nintendo did partner or bought up Playtonic. What I'm concerned about is if they'd actually do it.

Nintendo has been very different since Iwata was put in charge. A part of me wonders if Nintendo would even want to do it. Not to mention Tropical Freeze apparently under performed. Why would Nintendo wanna buy back the guys who made DKC if Donkey Kong isn't selling? I don't blame Retro or the game itself, but the Wii U for it's sales to be honest.

[Rare]

I hope Nintendo locks up this project. It would fit right in with their line up and they'd have their golden goose back.