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Factor Five no longer on current consoles


Dan B.

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I haven't touched my Gamecube in months. Waiting for Donkey Konga and Unity.

 

If Nintendo ever leaves the 'home' console game, I sure hope they develop for the others.

 

This is not intended as a slam on Nintendo, but a part of me thinks they should put all of their resources into defending their handheld market against the PSP.

 

Perhaps the Factor 5 decision is guided by LucasBucks .

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Before anyone jumps to the conclusion that this is an anti-Nintendo development, they are now saying that they've ceased all development for current generation consoles, not just the Gamecube, according to this article at the G-Spot:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/04/14/news_6093544.html

 

However, Eggebrecht was quick to dispel any "doom" that might surround Factor 5's announcement. Echoing Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack, he emphasized his enthusiasm for Nintendo's future console efforts. "We are extremely excited about both DS and GCNext, so any talk of us abandoning Nintendo platforms altogether is just not true," he told GameSpot.

 

According to Eggebrecht, the only reason Factor 5 has stopped making GameCube games was that they've abandoned current-generation hardware altogether. "It is simply because we have moved into next-generation development," he said.

 

As for which future console Factor 5 was creating games for, Eggebrecht was unspecific, saying only "there might be a surprise [announcement] coming from us."

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Actually, if you check with Gamespot they reported that Factor 5 isn't "leaving" Nintendo, they are just abandoning all current gen consoles to develop for next gen ones.

 

My guess is one of those next gen games will be Pilotwings for the N5, but I'm not sure what else they may have in development.

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It sounds like Factor 5 are concentrating on what they do best - that rather impressive audio middleware, rather than remaking Rogue Squadron again. Makes sense that they would be throwing their weight behind getting the tools ready for the next lot of consoles (whether that be the PSP, GCNext or XNA packages) sooner rather than later.

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At the very least, it looks as if Factor 5 is no longer a Nintendo-exclussive company. As much as I didn't like the last Rogue Squadron game, I am sad to see this happen to the Big N, especially with Silicon Knights ending its second-party status the previous day!

 

So, does this mean that those Rebel X rumors may in fact hold some merit? ;)

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Thanks for the clarification. Although it does sound a little better for Nintendo that they are not being abandoned for another current generation console, that's certainly the impression you get when reading IGN's article:

 

Factor 5 president Julian Eggebrecht said the company would not develop any more titles for Nintendo's GameCube console. The studio is currently creating software for other platforms.

 

Hopefully that surprise announcement about their future support will arrive along with E3.

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I would not be overly shocked if IGN worded that article for a little more *cough* journalistic oomph.

 

Especially given how quick it followed the SK news, though the two events are not the same, since Factor 5 won't be giving anything to anyone else either.

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I don't care how you spin it this is still bad news for Nintendo. When a title is released on all three platforms the Gamecube version is, without exception, the worst selling varient. The only thing Nintendo has going for them is exclusivity.

It doesn't really matter at this point if Factor 5 is only abandoning current consoles to work on the next generation platforms because Nintendo shows no signs of altering its strategy of exclusivity or nothing. They did it on N64 and further refined the suicidal strategy with Gamecube -I see no evidence leading me to assume their next console will fare differently.

 

The only positive I can come up with is that the Rogue Squadron games were among the most non-interactive and dull shooters I have ever experienced. Still, their Star Wars license and phenomenal graphics lead to very nice sales numbers for Nintendo...numbers they're going to be on the short end of after Factor 5 releases games for other consoles.

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I don't care how you spin it this is still bad news for Nintendo. When a title is released on all three platforms the Gamecube version is, without exception, the worst selling varient

 

What about Soul Calibur 2? I know the GC version sold pretty well.

 

 

The only positive I can come up with is that the Rogue Squadron games were among the most non-interactive and dull shooters I have ever experienced.

 

That is your opinion. :) I happen to like the various RS games, (with the exception of Rebel Strike - those on-foot levels were just plain awful). And I'm sure that others feel the same way. It isn't always guaranteed that the Star Wars license will sell games. (Bounty Hunter,for example).

 

IMHO, this might turn out to be a good move for all. Microsoft & Nintendo weren't going to be the top dog with this generation of consoles. It is about the correct time to start working on the next level for most developers. I have a small hunch that EA is doing just that as we speak.

 

Has Nintendo made mistakes? Sure. But that certainly doesn't mean that they are washed up & done. Hopefully,like I stated in a prior post, E3 will provide us with some tidbits for their future.

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What about Soul Calibur 2? I know the GC version sold pretty well.

 

If there were an exception that would certainly be the closest. I don't have numbers in front of me but the sheer number of PS2's on the planet tell me it's very likely it outsold the Gamecube version.

 

That is your opinion. I happen to like the various RS games, (with the exception of Rebel Strike - those on-foot levels were just plain awful). And I'm sure that others feel the same way.

 

I hope I made it obvious that was my opinion. The only fact in that paragraph was, as you pointed out, that there are people who really like these games. I just cannot figure out why.

 

When I say it's "bad news for Nintendo" I mean that from a "it's going to be a revenue loss for Nintendo" perspective. Loss of a Factor 5 Nintendo exclusive is a loss of potential revenue. In no way do I perceive this as another "end of Nintendo as we know it" event. Nintendo has proven they can maintain profitability with their unique strategy.

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