Wii Status: unknown

This is a newly formed studio by the former designer of Street Fighter 2. The company has thus far developed Chou Dragon Ball Z for PlayStation 2.

Noritaka Funamizu - Executive Director/Designer (Street Fighter II, Dragon Ball arcade)
Oct. 26, 2005
Funamizu believes that the Revolution controller will fit perfectly with games where you move a cursor about -- in fact, he suggests the controller can do more than an ordinary mouse. A simulation with a focus on action would be perfect for the controller, he suggests. Funamizu closes off his comments with the prediction that that those who've been making games since the old days will have a easier time with the Revolution (a group that includes him, he points out).
June 15, 2005
"There hasn't been much information released about it yet. But I'm looking forward to it as a machine that will feature a distinct kind of fun, different from the direction that the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are headed."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

A fresh start-up that is looking to break into the video game industry. Outside of video simple PC games, the company has created Dungeons and Dragons-style tabletop RPGs and paperback novels.

Ben Serviss
Feb. 15, 2006
"The beauty of Nintendo's concept controller is that it seems to be adaptable to any genre, including those that have yet to be invented. Right out of the gate the wireless & gyroscope combination covers the light gun and music/rhythm genres, and with an aesthetic add-on the controller looks like it'll easily change into a racing wheel. Personally, my mind immediately imagines a hybrid of the Vader duel in Sega's 1998 Star Wars arcade game backed up by a combat engine similar to Treyarch's freestyling fighter Die by the Sword. The proposed accessories that transform the Revolution's remote stick into a conventional controller can only sweeten the deal—imagine popping a plastic sword guard onto the remote for simulated saber action, or a top-heavy accoutrement to emulate a hefty axe. Still, the most appealing concepts are the mysterious ones Nintendo itself will most likely churn out, leaving us common folk to hang our jaws open in complete astonishment."
Sept. 28, 2005
"Absolutely. The new controller will set Nintendo apart in a console market dominated by hardware specs, open up a new playing field for developers, and give consumers the new experiences they've been clamoring for. Now that processing resources are virtually unlimited, it's going to take a drastic move to bring gaming to the next levelsomething that the Revolution's controller could very well accomplish."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: likely

Crossbeam Studios is an entirely fan-created endeavor that will attain success through hard work and perseverance. The group of 16 plans to release software for a Nintendo platform such as Wii. They currently have three projects in the works and are looking for a publisher.

Staff
Feb. 20, 2006
"Today, CSE has a staff of 16 people working on 3 projects for various platforms, most notable, Nintendo Revolution. We are striving to create games that can introduce the player to new worlds and new adventures. We want to tell great stories with innovative gameplay and memorable characters."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown
Parent Company: Eidos

Development studio known for titles such as Tomb Raider, Gex, and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. Crystal Dynamics was acquired by Eidos Interactive in November 1998.

Noah Hughes - Director of Design
December 15, 2005
"In the landscape of primarily linear evolution, it is refresing to see a product like the Revolution that truly strives to redefine game design. As a game designer, I am always excited to see products...which open the door to so many new possibilities."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Original Action Game
Untitled SIMPLE Series Game

D3 Publisher is a subsidiary of D3 Inc. The company is based in Tokyo, Japan. They publish a variety of games across platforms, most recently and notably Naruto: Clash of Ninja for GameCube.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Virtual Console Game

D4 Enterprise is a Japanese developer that owns the rights to games created on the MSX. The company was established on March 3, 2004 and currently has 14 employees.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: likely

Day 1 Studios is known for its MechAssault series on the Microsoft Xbox platform. The company recently signed a development agreement with LucasArts for an unnamed title. They have two studios located in Chicago, IL, and Hunt Valley, MD.

Denny Thorley - President
Aug. 9, 2006
"We've just signed non-disclosures with Nintendo. We're going to be looking at their hardware very carefully." He told Gamasutra.com he finds the price point extremely attractive, and expects development costs should be a little less. Though Day 1 doesn't have direct experience with the Wii, their engineers are evaluating how well their toolset will work in such an environment. "We're not doing Mech games but there's lots of opportunity there for creative stuff."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Deadline Games was stablished in 1996 in a Copenhagen, Denmark. It is known for its third-person shooter series called Total Overdose.

Soeren Lund
Sept. 28, 2005
"Personally, I welcome the new controller design from Nintendo. Whether the Revolution controller is going to be a success or not, of course, still remains to be seen. The novelty and sheer "differentness" of the design has divided many people into pro and con factions, and who is going to be right whole depends on if people can think outside the conventional game interfaces. What the controller design and Nintendo's video has done is to make developers think of totally new ways to interact with the games, which in my book is a success already in itself. The controller is the last part of a console design that hasn't been evolving at the same pace as every other machine part, and this new design is certainly a kick in the head for many people. Hooray for innovation and hopefully we, as game designers, will be able to wield the new mechanics that has been made available to us."


Return to Index Page


» Eidos
Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Game
Developers: Crystal Dynamics

Founded in 1990, Eidos is a large publisher known for several game series including Tomb Raider, Hitman, Gex, Soul Reaver, and Thief.

Bill Gardner - President/CEO
May 01, 2006
"It is Eidos' intention to support all platforms in appropriate specific markets. What does this mean? It means that when it makes good business sense for the company to do so, we will bring our franchises to certain platforms in specific regional markets. Should we believe that it makes good business sense to bring our titles or franchises to the Revolution platform, we will certainly do so, with the approval from Nintendo, of course."
Dec. 15, 2005
"I can certainly see lots of opportunities for classic-style games like platformers that new and old gamers will really enjoy. We've thought of several titles that we're planning that will fit in well. Any game that has the flow of motion in three dimensions will benefit with Revolution. Flying games will be wild and more fun than ever."

Ian Livingstone - Product Acquisition Director
Aug. 15, 2006
"The beauty about being an independent publisher is that you can support any platform, of course, and we are going to support all three. It's quite apparent that it's going to be a much closer race this time around. Sony has had a recent history of being the clear winner, and I don't think anybody believes that's going to be the case this time. It's going to be a much closer race and significantly, I think Nintendo, with the Wii console, is going to be right back up in the thick of it. It's quite interesting that they've decided not to go head-to-head with Microsoft and Sony, with the high quality interactive cinematic action adventure games; they've gone for gameplay over graphics instead. I think that's quite an interesting move and it could be very successful for them."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Eighting is a Japanese studio well-known for its Naruto licensed titles. In February 2006, the studio told IGN, "With the capabilities of the new hardware, we believe that the Revolution will enable us to expand our creativity through it's unique interface. With regards to using the new controller for fighting games, we're excited to be able to explore new options and ideas that will create new experiences for gamers."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Madden NFL '07
Medal of Honor Airborne
Harry Potter
Need for Speed: Carbon
SSX
The Godfather
Tiger Woods PGA Tour
Spore


On March 6, 2003 Nintendo and Electronic Arts announced a collaboration on multiple games that would include exclusive features for connected play between the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance. Games including titles such as Madden NFL 2004 and The Sims were developed by EA, with Nintendo game producer Shigeru Miyamoto providing input on technical game play elements. Nintendo has built a close relationship with Electronic Arts and while Sega pulled its sports titles from the GameCube, EA continues to support the console. Being one of the world's largest publishers, it's very likely EA has several Wii titles cooking.

Larry Probst - Chairman and CEO
Sep. 14, 2006
"I believe the Wii will attract new and casual gamers to the world of interactive entertainment. It's a fun, easy and economical system that will become a bridge to gaming for mainstream audiences. At EA, we are putting more support behind the Wii than any Nintendo hardware launch since the Super NES."

Jeff Brown
Jul. 17, 2006
"Everybody's saying that the Nintendo Wii is so unique that it's going to be the second system people buy, meaning if you own a 360 or a PS3, you'll probably also buy a Nintendo Wii. The funny thing is, some people say that discursively, like it's some sort of dig at Nintendo - and what they don't get is that if you're second on everybody's system, you're first overall. One of the things that we noticed after E3 is we thought, you know, we're going to support Nintendo, they've got an extraordinarily loyal base of consumers all over the world, and we had a number of games we planned to make for Nintendo Wii. That said, we were very surprised by the level of enthusiasm we saw at E3 and subsequently for the Wii."

Chris Cross - Design Director EA LA
Sept. 19, 2005
"Personally Im excited about the new controller. It seems like it will be intuitive for most and a very cool alternative to the standard control paradigm. If we assume game design starts with the interface, try to imagine what new genres might pop up. I cant wait to get one in my hands and try it out. Realistically for the first couple years most developers will be adapting their old games to fit this interface with only a couple really taking advantage of it. Give it a couple game cycles and we should see some interesting stuff at E3 '07. I havent been this excited since Sony put a second stick on their controller."

Vince Dickinson - EA Tiburon
Sept. 28, 2005
"I think it's a fantastic move for the industry (and gamers). Who isn't looking forward to seeing what fun and unique new games Nintendo comes up with? I know I'll be first in line. If anyone can deliver on the promise of expanding the market, it's Nintendo -- and they've proved that in Japan with DS Brain Training and Nintendogs. I think it's also a good move for Nintendo's bottom line as well, as it further differentiates them (in a positive manner) from Sony and Microsoft, which is critical. As for third parties, I think it will be successful for companies that invest the resources to create Nintendo-caliber games. I doubt you'll see as much third party support for the Revolution as the PS3 & Xbox 360, which leaves a great big opening of opportunity for adventurous or niche developers to fill. But companies whose businesses are built on raw cross-platform development are going to see the fewest copies sold on the Revolution."

John Schappert - VP and GM EA Canada
Jan. 1, 2006
"We've got hands on with the Revolution and, sure enough, the controller is revolutionary. It is a control device unlike anything else we have played before."
Dec. 15, 2005
"As a longtime Nintendo fan, I applaud the spirit of innovation and creativity of the Revolution controller. Being wireless and designed similarly to a TV controller, it's an innovative, ergonomic winner right out of the box. The beauty of the controller is that possibilities for new game ideas are limitless...You can build an entire game concept around the controller's features or find ways to intregrate them into existing franchises. Right now at EA, we're exploring both of these paths. Our developers are inspired and excited by the new controller's features."
Sept. 18, 2005
"Game control is essential - it's the area where perhaps the most game-play improvement can be made. While our portfolio represents a full array of titles across all genres, I think our sports titles might be the first to immediately take advantage of what this novel 'freehand' type of control has to offer."

Will Wright - Designer (Spore, The Sims)
Aug. 9, 2006
"We've been messing around with the Wii dev kit and we're really interested in the possibilities there. It's possible the editors might be more manageable on that system. The DS is also very interesting to us, as its control scheme could be very manageable for the game."
May 14, 2006
"I'm rooting for Nintendo...What I don't like is that the way the Wii controller works depends a lot on how close you are to your TV. If you are five feet away it feels one way. If you are 10 feet away, it feels completely different."
Nov. 16, 2005
"Im really interested in the Revolution, to see how the controller works out. That looks pretty cool. It looks very interesting to me. I like the idea of taking the games more outside the box and more into that close-body kind of space."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed developer

Emerging Entertainment develops software for the new generation of gaming consoles (Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii), mainly focusing on games which abstain from any form of visual violence. Emerging Entertainment's projects are based on the Gamebryo engine, which is the technology behind titles such as "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion" for the Xbox 360. Their first title will be released in May 2008. The game is under development by the company's Hamburg Team who is working closely with Blur Studios, Sanuk Software, and Nextgen Studios.

Cosima Preuss-Kuehne - Main Associate CNT Media GmbH
Aug. 15, 2006
"We are showing that you can develop exciting entertainment software without including violence. Games for all ages should win us over with subtle characters and a good sense of humor, not with brutality - just like big family movies."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Virtual Console Game

The company was originally known as ASCII Visual Entertainment. It was first established on January 30, 1987, however the company was later restructured and renamed Enterbrain. Enterbrain publishes Japanese magazines such as Famitsu and is known for games such as the RPG Maker series.

Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Epic Games was established in 1991 and is based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The company is best known for its popular PC shooters Unreal and Unreal Tournament.

Cliff Bleszinski - Lead Designer
Sept. 19, 2005
"It seems as if I Nintendo has found a modular way that they can take the best of the location-based entertainment/arcade experience and bring it home to the user. So all of those games you loved physically interacting with in the arcade the drum game, the fishing one the, uh, poke your friend in the eye one...can really come to life in the living room. I havent been able to hold or use it yet so Ill refrain from any further judgment until I get hands on as thats what really, truly matters - feel!"

Mark Rein - Vice President
Oct. 27, 2005
"Nintendo, you know, is going to make amazing games. I mean that's a given...[referring to the controller joystick] Remember the one that nearly destroyed your thumb on the Dreamcast, and on the N64 remember how after you played a game for a couple of hours you had to suck your thumb for a month? It's that kind of controller...Dont kid yourself, youre gonna see more crappy, cheap, I-wish-I-hadnt-bought-it gimmick games based around that controller..."
Nov. 9, 2005
Nintendo of Europe's, Jim Merrick responded, "Mark has a very narrow section of the business. Epic builds middleware, theyre very technically savvy guys, but he doesnt have a Revolution controller, he doesnt have a dev kit, hes talking about something he knows nothing about...So if hed like to get a dev kit and really dig into it, then Id be interested to hear what he has to say."
Nov. 12, 2005
Mark responds, "I actually said Nintendo's going to make amazing games. I never really passed a judgement on the controller itself. I think the controller's cool! I wasn't bashing Nintendo, I wasn't bashing the controller, I was really just saying that a byproduct of having a device like this is that people are going to make games that possibly are just there because of the controller, as opposed to being great games of themselves, and I said it badly...I regret that...Nintendo and some of the best third parties are going to make amazing games for it...I think Unreal Engine 3 and Nintendo Revolution would be very well suited to each other...We don't know right now what the machine's capable of or not capable of, and we've built Unreal Engine 3 to a certain specification. If the machine can run the engine, it'd be fantastic to have it on there."


Return to Index Page


» Epoch
Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Game

Epoch is a Japanese publisher of interactive entertainment headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is known for its licensed anime titles including Doraemon.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Located in Canada, Exile is known for collaboratively developing titles with Sega's Visual Concepts studio. Most recently, the company worked on Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball with Nintendo for the GameCube, however the title was never released and has since quietly disappeared. It's possible the game may return on Wii.

Nicki Vankoughnett
Sept. 28, 2005
"I think that Nintendo has at the least secured second place for the next console cycle with this control scheme. There are a lot of games that it really won't add a great deal to, and I can see a lot of hard core gamers being resistant to this. But what I am dead certain of is that Nintendo is going to quietly dominate at retail due to demo units of the Revolution. This thing will draw in crowds. I am thinking that even given what Nintendo will lose from jaded gamers who cannot stand any more "kiddie crap" to Microsoft and Sony, that they will pick up at least that many from the Nintendogs crowd."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: no current plans


Originally located in Cologne, Germany, Factor 5 was offered in 1995 -- due to close collaboration with LucasArts -- a move to Northern California. In May 1996 the staff, consisting of 19 people (Among them developers, programmers, graphic artists and musicians), moved to San Rafael, California (Marin County). Factor 5 first started developing titles for Lucas Arts on the PlayStation. However, it moved on and started toying with the Nintendo 64. Its first major endeavor would turn out to be a development necessity rather than a game; it decided to rewrite the Nintendo 64's sound tools and use its own proprietary sound tools titled MusyX and MORT. Nintendo has had a very close relationship with the developer. Factor 5 also created the sound tools for Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and the Nintendo GameCube. The company was one of the first developers to receive development kits for the GameCube, showing off its first GameCube title, Star Wars Rogue Leader: Rogue Squadron II, at Nintendo's 2000 Spaceworld show. Most recently Factor 5, in collaboration with Lucas Arts, released Star Wars Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike on Oct. 21, 2003. At the 2003 E3 Expo, it was also all but confirmed that Factor 5 was working on a Pilotwings sequel for GameCube. However, it's rumored that the companies had a sort of falling out after the release of Rogue Squadron III and that Pilotwings is no longer in development. Recently, the company pledged full support for the PlayStation 3.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Foundation 9 is a collection of independent developers including Backbone, The Collective, Pipeworks, ImaginEngine, and Digital Eclipse. They're known for titles such as Death Jr. and Godzilla: Destroy All Monsters Melee.

Chris Charla - Executive Producer (Death Jr.)
Nov. 26, 2005
If you say, "Oh, you can only use the controller as a gimmick," you're not likely to come up with something that isn't a gimmick. I think for a lot of developers, the jury is out until they can get it and try it for themselves, but I don't think there are too many people in the development community who've dismissed it out of hand based on what they've seen so far. With respect to big franchises that we play on other platforms, I think some of the Revolution offerings may bring some new, better approaches to doing things we're used to doing with a joystick. I don't think it's accurate [that Revolution will have trouble with traditional games], and I don't think it matters as much as people think it will. You'll see some people take stabs at totally original things, and you'll see some people just do a few Revolution specific things. How many of the "new game types" will stick is impossible to say. Just like DS, there will be a period of gimmicky things that kind of don't work, and there may be some traditional genres that may be really enhanced by the controller, and then there is always the chance that there will some crazy breakout hit that changes everything! It's a bummer, and a little irritating, but for the next generation, it's probably not required that your system support HD. I have an HDTV, but I still watch a lot of plain old NTSC content. If the games are good, people won't care if they have to play them in 480i. If the games suck, 1080p doesn't fix that, either!


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

FreeStyle Games is a recently formed studio in the United Kingdom with a staff of around 28. The company is currently developing games for the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable.

Chris Lee - Commercial Director
May 6, 2006
"My feeling is that Nintendo need not, and will not, worry too much about joining the 'next-gen' debate. Consumers have always looked to Nintendo for something a little different, in terms of hardware and software. The prospect of Mario, Zelda, Pikmin and Animal Crossing making an appearance on any system gives it immediate appeal - the challenge now is exploding this niche into a more mass market audience."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed publisher
Announced Software: Untitled Action Game
Untitled Action RPG Game

From Software is a Japanese development studio founded in November 1986 that has grown and released popular titles such as Armored Core and Otogi.

Atsuhi Taniguchi - Producer (Tenchu DS)
Oct. 26, 2005
Admitted in a recent interview that he loves Nintendo hardware, states that he would want to use the expansion pack shown at the press conference (the analogue pad expansion, which Nintendo expects to include with the remote right out of the box) and make a first-person title.

Masanori Takeuchi - (Otogi)
June 15, 2005
"It's like a console that old-time gamers can drool over. It still has some mysteries, but it's not too difficult to imagine what the machine can do, so there should be people that are clearly looking forward to purchasing it. Its capabilities, such as the function to play with the DS via Wi-Fi connection, might change the way of gaming, and it's interesting."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: confirmed developer
Announced Software: Untitled Game

From Yellow to Orange is a new studio formed by Kenji Eno, musician and Japanese game designer of the "D" series of adventure games.

Keiji Eno - Designer (D, D2)
May 23, 2006
Gamasutra met Eno briefly during E3, during which time he professed that he was "making a brand new game." When asked what type of game it would be, he would only say "It will be for a console with a new control device," thereafter waving his hands about in the air very clearly as though he were using a Wii controller.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Frontier Developments has established itself with its PC series Rollercoaster Tycoon. The company is based in the United Kingdom and was established in 1994.

David Braben - Chairman
May 6, 2006
"Undoubtedly the controller is novel, and should work brilliantly for certain games types. But there will be some resistance, particularly with established styles of games, for which new mechanisms will need to be found. There is also a potential downside - assuming it is a huge success, it could be a pyrrhic victory; I am not convinced that others - third or first parties - can't offer similar styles of controller for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, eroding the Revolution's advantage."


Return to Index Page


» Funcom
Wii Status: unknown

This Switzerland based company was formed in 1993. The studio currently publishes and develops massively multiplayer online games for PC and mobile phones.

Ragnar Tornquist - Director
Nov. 30, 2005
"...Nintendo proving that "next-gen" doesn't have to be just "this-gen" with more polygons and prettier textures, and for having the guts to try something truly revolutionary with the Revolution. I'm looking forward to the 360 and the PS3 as much as anyone, but I have to admit to a certain degree of "generation fatigue" before the next one's even started. Seeing the Revolution remote changed all of that, and I'm really looking forward to getting my hands on it. Even if it ends up being a Nintendo-only supported gimmick, it's well worth it. Waving my hand around to make Mario run? I'm so there. So thanks, Nintendo, for giving jaded gamers like me something to look forward to in 2006."


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Gaia Studio is an independent development group formed by Kouji Okada, the father of the Shin Megami Tensei series.

Kouji Okada - President (Shin Megami Tensei)
Oct. 26, 2005
Okada believes the controller will allow for a completely new type of RPG, adding that he'd like to try out many new challenges.


Return to Index Page


Wii Status: unknown

Game Freak is credited for the development of the Pokemon Game Boy series of titles. The company will likely continue supporting Nintendo's handheld with the Pokemon series. Notable past titles include Yoshi (GB), Pokmon Red (GBC), Pokmon Blue (GBC), Pokmon Ruby (GBA), and Pokmon Sapphire (GBA).

Ken Sugimori - Art Director (Pokemon)
Dec. 15, 2005
"While some watched the growing number of buttons on controllers with alarm, Nintendo has bravely taken on the problem, not only by reducing the number of them but also by breaking from the tradition of holding a controller with both hands. It was a surprise, especially since Revolution will enable gameplay that past consoles couldn't. This has expanded the ability for game creators to pursue their visions."
Oct. 21, 2005
Sugimori was surprised when he first saw the controller. He feels that many people have been thrown off from gaming due to increased button counts of controllers, but states that it takes a good amount of courage to actually decide to reduce the number. "You'll be able to do things with the Revolution that you could never do with consoles before," he says, adding with a laugh, "Personally, it's the kind of hardware where, more than making games, I'd rather play them."


Return to Index Page