Nintendo Partnerships Page 3
Namco
Future Potential: Excellent
Starfox isn't the only game Namco has in development for GameCube. Along with Nintendo and Namco's Triforce announcements, the two companies came to an agreement in which Nintendo would publish future Namco software titles to appear on the Nintendo GameCube and Game Boy Advance systems. A total of six Namco Nintendo GameCube titles are slated for release on the Nintendo GameCube by the end of 2003 and beginning of 2004, including the highly acclaimed sequel to Soul Calibur and the Ridge Racer series. Additionally, eight Namco titles are scheduled to appear on the Game Boy Advance within 2002 and '03.
If you don't believe the significance of this announcement, simply look at the following example. Nintendo's Link from The Legend of Zelda will appear as a fighter in Namco's Soul Calibur II releasing on August 19, 2003.
Look for Namco's generous support to continue at the May Electronic Entertainment Expo.
Treasure
Future Potential: Good
This venerated group of ex-Konami employees is well respected for producing titles with solid control, complex play mechanics, stunning graphics and a high degree of difficulty and replay value. The only Nintendo 64 game from Treasure that ever came to the United States was Mischief Makers; a quirky 2-D platformer released back in late 1997. Nevertheless, Nintendo and Treasure have had a close relationship for many years. The two companies collaborated on Sin and Punishment: Successor of Earth released only in Japan.
Treasure recently released Ikaruga for GameCube under publisher Infogrames. Treasure is currently rumored to be developing the GameCube game Wario World to be released on May 26, 2003.
Genius Sonority
Future Potential: Excellent
Genius Sonority is an obscure Japanese development house, founded in June 2002. Created with financial support of Nintendo and The Pokemon Company, Genius Sonority is made up of programmers who worked on such high profile RPGs as Dragon Quest and Earthbound.
Rumors suggest the company is in development with a game based on the Pokemon franchise. Since there is no basis for the truth within these rumors, they are probably best treated as speculation.
Bandai
Future Potential: Good
On September 5, 2002 Bandai announced a partnership with Nintendo. Bandai announced it would be working with Nintendo to create GameCube software. Until now Bandai was only making games for its WonderSwan portable console and Playstation 2.
Bandai, famous for their Mobile Suit Gundam and Digimon games, have confirmed that the company plans on developing five titles for the Nintendo GameCube. One of the titles revealed is a cel-chaded fighter called From TV Animation: One Piece Grand Battle.
Bandai is currently the third largest toy company in the world, comprising 53 subsidiaries in 18 countries. Bandai is an exceptional partner for Nintendo to have on its side.
Media Kite
Future Potential: Good
On September 10, 2002, Japanese developer Media Kite confirmed plans to support Nintendo's GameCube. According to company representatives, two games for the console are currently in development. The first game entitled Pool Edge is described as a billiards game with international appeal and is tentatively scheduled for release on October 25, in Japan. Media Kite is working closely with Nintendo subsidiary NDCube. The second Media Kite title in development for the GameCube is unknown at this time. It's also currently unknown if Nintendo plans to directly publish Pool Edge.
Capcom
Future Potential: Excellent
A press conference held in Japan on September 11, 2002, set the stage for the news, in which respected game designers Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto and Capcom's Shinji Mikami shook hands on an announcement that floored the gaming community.
As a result of this partnership, remakes of Resident Evil 0, Resident Evil 1, Resident Evil 2, Resident Evil 3: Nemesis and Resident Evil: Code Veronica have all been released exclusively on the GameCube. Resident Evil 4 will also be a GameCube exclusive.
Capcom's GameCube development team, Production Studio 4, formally unveiled four new projects in development for Nintendo's GameCube. These include Product Number 03, Viewtiful Joe, Dead Phoenix, and Killer 7. According to company representatives, one of the new games entitled Killer 7 will be largely developed by independent studio Grasshopper Manufacture. While development will be overseen by Capcom's Koichi Suda and Shinji Mikami, the majority of the game's development staff will be recruited from Grasshopper. Best known for its work on several niche PlayStation 2 titles, Grasshopper has previously worked with Victor Interactive on their animated detective simulation Flower Sun and Rain.
Capcom and Nintendo's relationship has never been better. As it appears now, their friendship will continue to grow.