Master Gamer News

April 20, 2001
   The recently-released May issue of Next Generation Magazine reveals many 
new details on the recent meltdown at Nintendo's Austin, Texas-based 
developer, Retro Studios.  Since being founded in 1998, Retro has spent over
$40 million without actually producing much of anything that Nintendo deems 
satisfactory.  
   It was previously known that Nintendo laid off more than 20 Retro 
employees earlier this year and cancelled more than one of Retro's game, but 
Next Generation's report goes into never-before-published specifics.  What
follows below is Master Gamer's summary of Next Generation's report.  For 
the full story with many more details, check out the May issue of NextGen 
(on newsstands now).
   Originally a third-person game, Retro's Metroid game for the GameCube was 
changed to a first-person shooter at the request of Nintendo's head of 
development, Shigeru Miyamoto, who was very displeased with the game's 
original camera system.  The challenge of transforming Metroid into a first-
person shooter caused the under-achieving development team to fall far 
behind schedule, and as of the beginning of this year, the game's internal 
release date was set for late 2002.
   Retro's online vehicular combat game was put on "indefinite hold" because,
in Retro's own words, "We never got details from Nintendo on the Internet 
end.  Hell, we had David Zoid, the network programmer for Quake 1 through 3 
saying that he'd do all of the national server set-up himself if Nintendo 
would just give him the specs... every time we'd ask what was going on with 
(online), we'd get no answers.  That doesn't mean there weren't any, but 
Nintendo wasn't willing or able to share them with a second-party developer 
making an Internet title-- go figure."
   Nintendo also ceased development on an arcade-style football game that 
was on pace to be a GameCube launch game.  Retro sources told Next 
Generation, "There was a realization by the team that it couldn't compete 
with Madden... now our game has been cut loose because EA Sports and Sega 
are bringing their well-respected franchises to the table.  There's just no 
more room.  Honestly, Nintendo doesn't care about football all that much.  
It'll sell here in the States, but not in Europe or Japan."
   The final Retro game in development was an untitled action/RPG, and 
unlike the company's football and vehicular combat games, this one has not 
been cancelled.  In Retro's own words, this game is "very similar to Zelda 
for the Nintendo 64, with our own twists."  At the beginning of this year, 
Retro's RPG had an internal release date of late 2002, but this was before 
all of the multi-player modes were removed so that the team could focus on 
the single-player aspects.
   When a Nintendo employee was sent to Retro's headquarters with the job of
laying off more than 20 Retro employees and cancelling two games, Retro's 
president and founder Jeff Spangenberg was so distraught that he didn't show
up for work on the fateful day.  Nintendo has now given Retro two deadlines:
Have playable demos of both Metroid and the RPG ready for the E3 show in May,
and have both games completely finished in time for the GameCube launch.
   In the time since the May issue of Next Generation went to press in early 
March, another round of lay-offs has taken place at Retro Studios due to the 
company's continued lack of work ethic.  Given the fact that Retro's RPG and 
Metroid were set for late 2002 as of a few months ago, it remains a strong 
possibility that Retro will be unable to meet Nintendo's deadline of having 
both games ready for the GameCube's US launch in November.

   After months of undercover sting operations, all Staples stores in 
Michigan will now require gamers to provide proof of age before buying 
Mature-rated video games.  As part of the state's undercover operation, 35 
children under the age of 17 went into retailers and tried to buy M-rated 
games, and 31 of the children were successful in their attempts.  
   While presumably on a break from her consultation sessions with communist
leaders throughout the world, Michigan Attorney General Jennifer Granholm 
found the time to say, "I applaud Staples for stepping up to the plate and 
doing their part to help keep ultra-violent video games out of the hands of 
our children... I hope that Michigan consumers will exercise the power of 
their pocketbooks to support retailers who've pledged to be part of the 
solution to youth violence."

   Nintendo's president Hiroshi Yamauchi has said that the GameCube may never
be released at all.  Speaking with France-based AFX News, Yamauchi said, "If 
we are unable to see a positive response at E3, this will have a disastrous 
impact on Nintendo, and we may have to consider freezing the GameCube 
business altogether."
   In related news, a report on financial web site Forbes.com doesn't speak 
highly about the future of Nintendo's GameCube.  The article says, "Kids may
love Zelda and Mario, but that won't be enough to keep Nintendo out of last 
place in a three-way battle to dominate the $6.5 billion video game industry.
Though Nintendo is sure to remain the video game maker of choice for the 
elementary school set, Microsoft and Sony will split the spoils from the 
growing, and more lucrative, population of adult gamers."
   The report continues, "Nintendo's options are limited... Nintendo is 
venturing into risky territory with the GameCube, which will likely be 
mauled by the stylish PlayStation 2 and Xbox.  The games in development for 
Sony and Microsoft have more sophisticated graphics and themes, and appeal 
to a growing market of late-teen and adult video game players."

   Disney Interactive is preparing to release a first-person shooter for the
PC called Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire: Trial By Fire.  Leave it to 
Disney to come up with yet another catchy title, second only to Walt Disney 
World Quest: Magical Racing Tour.  This multi-player, first-person shooter 
is based on the LithTech engine and is supposedly being aimed at an older 
crowd than the usual Disney fare.  
   Disney representatives claim that Trial By Fire will be "edgy" and will 
not be "cutesy."  It swill be released on May 15, exactly one month before 
the theatrical release of Disney's accompanying movie, Disney's Atlantis: 
The Lost Empire.  In order to promote the game and the movie, Disney has 
shipped over 10 million demo CDs that contain four levels from the game.

   The newest issue of the Pro Wrestling Torch weekly newsletter reports 
that WWF superstar The Rock has been offered the lead role in the upcoming 
movie based on Duke Nukem.  The Rock is currently is currently filming 
Scorpion King, the third movie in the Mummy series, and is also taking 
acting lessions in preperation for future movie roles.  The Torch also 
reports, "The WWF has the option of reviewing and approving all outside 
projects, so it's not a given that he will accept the Duke Nukem role."

   Yet another company has entered into negotiations to buy Activision.  
Joining THQ and Pacific Century CyberWorks in the virtual bidding war is 
Japanese publisher Konami.  Konami may be looking for a new partner to help 
strengthen its US operations, due to the fact that its agreement with 
Universal Interactive is on the verge of falling apart.  Universal is 
apparently interested in self-publishing games based on its properties, 
despite the fact that it just signed a multi-year publishing deal with 
Konami last year.

   Taiwan-based Vista Group has acquired the video game publishing rights to 
the critically-acclaimed motion picture, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.  The
first game based on the movie will be released late this year for the PC, 
with numerous console versions to follow in early 2002.  The game is being 
developed on four different consoles: The Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and
Dreamcast.

   Legendary game developer Sid Meier, best known for his work on 
Civilization 2 and Alpha Centauri, is working on a game set in the universe 
of The Sims.  According to EA's own official web site for The Sims, Meier 
"has been spotted at Maxis on a few occasions in recent months... although 
the specifics are a closely-guarded secret, we can tell you that Sid and 
Firaxis are working on a Sim title that is due out later this year."

   Is Namco working on Xbox games?  It depends on who you ask.  Famistu of 
Japan reported that Namco was indeed partaking in Xbox development, only to 
have Namco deny that the report was true.  Just two days later, the manager 
of Namco's consumer division, Yoichi Haraguchi, made the following statement:
"We are excited about the Xbox... we will be announcing details on our Xbox 
titles this coming May at E3.  We hope to make them launch titles."

   The Wall Street Journal reports that Sega's Xbox games will only be 
exclusive to the system for a limited period of time.  The agreement between 
Microsoft and Sega stipulates that after a certain amount of time has passed
(which could be anywhere from one to six months), Sega will be legally able 
to release its Xbox games for other systems as well.  Of the 11 Xbox games 
that Sega is developing, the four that have been announced are the newest 
editions of Panzer Dragoon, Sega GT, Jet Grind Radio, and Gun Valkyrie.

   Infogrames must not have learned its lesson with the poorly-received and 
poor-selling Nintendo 64 game, Mission Impossible, because the company keeps
coming back for more.  Infogrames has now acquired the video game rights to 
Mission Impossible 2.  The game based on Mission Impossible 2 is due out in 
late 2002 for the Xbox and PlayStation 2.  Infogrames has a sure hit on its 
hands given the fact that the game will be based on a bad movie that will be
two and a half years old by the time the game is released.

NEWS BRIEFS
   Sega has all-but-confirmed its support of the GameCube.  Sega of America's
VP of corporate marketing Charles Bellfield says, "You can expect to see 
announcements from us with regards to the GameCube, but at this point we 
haven't released any specific details."

   Beloved game developer SNK has filed for bankruptcy.  The long-term fate 
of SNK's properties has not yet been decided, but for now Aruze owns the 
publishing rights.  In addition to numerous fighting games, SNK was best 
known for the Neo Geo and the Neo Geo Pocket Color.

   A recent press release from Sony about MLB 2002 calls it the newest 
edition in "the most popular baseball franchise on the PlayStation."  If 
you're talking about sales, EA's Triple Play series has always had a huge 
edge over MLB, and the same goes for press reviews.  Given these two facts, 
what exactly is Sony's criteria for "most popular baseball franchise"?

   In an effort to make EverQuest even more of a mass-market game than it 
already is, Sony Online Entertainment has re-released the game with new 
packaging and a $10 price point.  The game's subscription fee remains $10
per month.

   Media Vision, best known for developing the cult hit RPG Wild Arms, is 
working on a bizarre Xbox game.  The only details currently available are 
that you control a mouse in the game, with almost 20 computer-controlled 
rodents playing alongside you.  This unique game is scheduled for release 
shortly after the launch of the Xbox.

   Koei has announced its plans to make an online strategy game for the Xbox
called Crimson Sea.  Making use of both fantasy and sci-fi themes, this game
is due out in late 2002.

   After paying a huge amount for the rights to the Harry Potter license, 
Electronic Arts is working frantically to have a quickly-put-together kart 
racing game ready for release when the first Harry Potter movie hits 
theaters this November.  More ambitious Harry Potter games will follow 
sometime in 2002.

SALES CHARTS
   The following sales charts are based on sales from March 1 to 31.

Top Ten Best-Selling Games For All Systems
1. Pokemon Stadium 2 for Nintendo 64
2. Onimusha for PlayStation 2
3. The Bouncer for PlayStation 2
4. Pokemon Silver for Game Boy Color
5. Pokemon Gold for Game Boy Color
6. Zone of the Enders for PlayStation 2
7. Triple Play Baseball for PlayStation 2
8. Madden NFL 2001 for PlayStation (click on the blue text for Master Gamer's
review of the game)
9. Paper Mario for Nintendo 64
10.Conker's Bad Fur Day for Nintendo 64

Top Five Best-Selling PlayStation 2 Games
1. Onimusha
2. The Bouncer
3. Zone of the Enders
4. Triple Play Baseball
5. Madden NFL 2001

Top Five Best-Selling Dreamcast Games
1. Crazy Taxi
2. NBA 2K1
3. Sonic Adventure
4. Phantasy Star Online
5. Daytona USA: Network Racing

Top Five Best-Selling PlayStation 1 Games
1. Gran Turismo 2
2. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2
3. Driver 2
4. Spec Ops: Stealth Patrol
5. WWF Smackdown 2

Top Five Best-Selling Nintendo 64 Games
1. Pokemon Stadium 2
2. Paper Mario
3. Conker's Bad Fur Day
4. Super Smash Bros.
5. Donkey Kong 64

   The following is a list of old games that are still among the top ten 
best sellers for their respective systems: 
Gran Turismo 2
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater
Driver
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
Super Smash Bros.
Donkey Kong 64
Pokemon Stadium
Super Mario 64
Crazy Taxi
Sonic Adventure
NBA 2K

Sources for news: Fastest Game News Online, ZDNet, GameFan, Blue's News, 
Next Generation, Adrenaline Vault, MCV, The Magic Box, GameSpy, Daily Radar, 
Core Magazine, PSX 2 Online, PS2 Era, Nintendorks, IGN, RPGamer, Famistu, 
Gaming Age, The NPD Group, PC Data, www.cowdance.com

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