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[RampagingSoul]

Siliconera posted parts of the interview here

Interview in here

Couldn't get the interview to load from Monolith Soft's site, however.

Here's something from the interview about Namco:

After the establishment that was funded by Namco (now Bandai Namco Games), Monolith Soft had become a subsidiary of Nintendo following a stock transfer in 2007. Please share more details from the time.

Hirohide Sugiura, Executive Producer: “When Monolith Soft was established, it was actually Namco founder Masaya Nakamura who took great care of us. Nakamura-san’s thoughts on creation was very relatable, he treated us well, and talked to us about all kinds of things. After his retirement, there was a new atmosphere—which is a given, but I felt there was a change from Nakamura-san’s grand ideas.”

Here's something about Nintendo:

Do you feel any kind of “change” since becoming a Nintendo subsidiary?

Sugiura: “That would be a ‘change in consciousness.’ If the content isn’t good enough then Nintendo won’t green-light the commercialization, and that’s a hurdle we naturally raised on our own. Everyone had the level of consciousness that asked ‘is the quality good enough like that?’ and I believe it was quite a change from the time Monolith Soft first started. And this change in the level of consciousness was made possible thanks to the environment provided from being a subsidiary of Nintendo. Looking at it in an administrative point of view, the most important thing is finding the right balance.”

Lock if old.

 

[SalvaPot]

So with Namco they had great ideas but they where satisfied with the product they were able to make more easily, but with Nintendo now they also have to focus on polishing the game as much as possible.

Edit:
I liked this quote:

That's when we received consultation from Nintendo's then-managing director Shinji Hatano. Hatano-san told us ‘just go out there and make something that can't be found elsewhere in the industry, something original with an independent spirit.' That was just the thing Monolith Soft looked to accomplish. And that's when it was decided that we would become a subsidiary of Nintendo."

They were given the freedom to go nuts.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Monolith and Nintendo benefit quite alot from each other...this was def. one of the best Nintendo acquisitions.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Monolith and Nintendo benefit quite alot from each other...this was def. one of the best Nintendo acquisitions.

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

 

[Fou-Lu]

That need for polish is why I want Takahashi to give his six episode epic another shot at Nintendo. We might actually see it get completed that way.

 

[SalvaPot]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

Maybe they will but Mercury Steam =P.

 

[Mediking]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

Yeah agreed. They need to buy just a few more big developers. They have the money.

 

[Dangerous1992]

That need for polish is why I want Takahashi to give his six episode epic another shot at Nintendo. We might actually see it get completed that way.

that hope is dead without a Xeno X sequel :/

 

[NintendosBooger]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

How many big developers have a strong relationship with Nintendo and would be okay with being an exclusive partner?

 

[RampagingSoul]

So with Namco they had great ideas but they where satisfied with the product they were able to make more easily, but with Nintendo now they also have to focus on polishing the game as much as possible.

Edit:
I liked this quote:


They were given the freedom to go nuts.

Yeah, I don't think most companies would allow their subsidiary to make games like the Xenoblade games. I can definitely tell that ambition and freedom is something that drives Monolith Soft forward with their games from what I've played of their games. Nintendo is very hands-off with them, probably.

 

[sublimit]

Monolith and Nintendo benefit quite alot from each other...this was def. one of the best Nintendo acquisitions.

Critically for sure but financially? Sadly i'm not so sure that it has been profitable enough for Nintendo.

 

[Snakeyes]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

Capcom please (if World doesn't light up the charts). They could probably whip them back into their 90's shape.

 

[NateDrake]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

They have no interest in purchasing developers. Talent leaves and you're left with the name, and nothing more. Better to partner with developers to create exclusives than to own them.

 

[L Thammy]

If the content isn’t good enough then Nintendo won’t green-light the commercialization

I would hope Namco does that too.

 

[Hero of Legend]

How many big developers have a strong relationship with Nintendo and would be okay with being an exclusive partner?

Next Level Games is at least medium sized.

Hell just buy Playtonic and recruit more Rare vets and I'd be fine with that.

They have no interest in purchasing developers. Talent leaves and you're left with the name, and nothing more. Better to partner with developers to create exclusives than to own them.

Monolith seems perfectly fine. Why can't another be the same?

 

[whyamihere]

Purchasing MonolithSoft was such a good idea for Nintendo. I'm so excited for what comes next.

 

[sublimit]

They have no interest in purchasing developers. Talent leaves and you're left with the name, and nothing more. Better to partner with developers to create exclusives than to own them.

I don't think this happens as often as you might think in Japanese game development.At least not as often as in the West.

 

[B.K.]

I wish they could have stayed with Bandai Namco. I haven't really liked a Monolithsoft game since Xenosaga Episode III.

 

[titiklabingapat]

Financially though how are they doing? At the end of the day, that's all that matters, sadly.

Although if Nintendo keeps them around to help with stuff like BOTW, maybe it doesn't really matter.

 

[Skittzo0413]

They have no interest in purchasing developers. Talent leaves and you're left with the name, and nothing more. Better to partner with developers to create exclusives than to own them.

And IPs, and some IPs could questionably be worth it. I bet Nintendo/Sakurai could make an incredible Megaman game for instance...

 

[SalvaPot]

Critically for sure but financially? Sadly i'm not so sure that it has been profitable enough for Nintendo.

Xenoblade Wii was described as a sleeper hit, while Reggie mentioned the game surpassed their expectations in NA.

XBX was released on the failing Wii U and yet it did fine, all things considered.

And IPs, and some IPs could questionably be worth it. I bet Nintendo/Sakurai could make an incredible Megaman game for instance...

I don't get this, Nintendo has so many I.P's they can work with and need attention. Also Sakurai is a freelancer, nothing is stopping him to going to CAPCOM and pitch a Mega Man game.

 

[DeuceGamer]

Monolith and Nintendo benefit quite alot from each other...this was def. one of the best Nintendo acquisitions.

Agree. It seems Nintendo helps a lot of Developers raise the bar to the next level when they work together.

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

It would be nice if Nintendo invested in more studio's of course, but I wouldn't expect them all to go as smoothly as this went. I think it has to make sense for both Nintendo and the Developer. Still, any time they can increase their Software output I'd be all for it.

 

[NahaNago]

Capcom please (if World doesn't light up the charts). They could probably whip them back into their 90's shape.

Yep, totally agree but i was looking at it benefiting Nintendo more than Capcom with all of the mature and niche like audience it would bring if they released only on Nintendo. I also feel Nintendo messed up by not aquiring Atlus.

 

[Jakoo]

Critically for sure but financially? Sadly i'm not so sure that it has been profitable enough for Nintendo.

I am not sure. Monolith has worked as a support studio on some of Nintendo's biggest games just in the last year alone (BOTW and Splatoon 2), so even if their games aren't the biggest sellers, clearly they pinch hit in some other important regards.

I would have to imagine that Monoliths experience in world building on Xenoblade was enormously helpful in crafting the overworld for BOTW.

 

[SilverLunar]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

Your crazy acquisition happy mind should be put to sleep, From all the way you talk and emphasis this I have no doubt in my mind that you don't care about what any studio actually produces.
This is such demeaning thought process for many reasons, why do you demand the purchase of Next Level Games for example? They are already under contract with Nintendo, this money wasting move is pointless.


Nintendo won't buy any other studio anymore, and they shouldn't. Just sign a contract and be done with it.

You should be a "fan" of Vevindi, they make all the moves that will satisfy you in the industry

 

[Kingpin Rogers]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

Platinum please.

 

[Easy_D]

Monolith and Nintendo benefit quite alot from each other...this was def. one of the best Nintendo acquisitions.

It really was. Monolith's managed to make some really good tech that Nintendo's benefitted from and Monolith gets to make huge, cool games

Platinum please.

No please. That would get in the way of Platinum and Yoko Taro's blossoming relationship (and Nier Automata 2)

Maybe they will but Mercury Steam =P.

Either that or Mercury Steam will become something similar to Next Level Games in that they have a super tight relationship with Nintendo and get to work on a bunch of their IPs

 

[Mael]

Xenoblade Wii was described as a sleeper hit, while Reggie mentioned the game surpassed their expectations in NA.

XBX was released on the failing Wii U and yet it did fine, all things considered.

We know XenoWii did well enough in Europe, in NA looking at the marketing plan it couldn't possibly have been a failure.
It was harder to find than some Amiibos!
XenoX did good from what we know, I think they commented as such although I can't find the quote.
The fact that they're releasing XenoWii2 so soon shows that they're more than happy with the Xeno brand as far as Nintendo is concerned.

No please. That would get in the way of Platinum and Yoko Taro's blossoming relationship (and Nier Automata 2)

Nintendo wouldn't stop them from working for other publishers as NamcoXwhatever showed.

 

[Ridley327]

Monolith seems perfectly fine. Why can't another be the same?

Most of the companies that people want Nintendo to buy reside in the west, where the culture is a lot different than it is in Japan in terms of retaining employees in the long term. As far as Japan is concerned, I'm not sure there's really that many truly independent developers now for Nintendo to buy, so the opportunity doesn't really come up.

Their third party relationships have been working out well for them thus far, and I see them doing more and more of those in the future, but as far as bolstering their own ranks with acquisitions, I don't see them making any big moves anytime soon.

 

[RoboGeorgeForeman]

Platinum please.

As much as I'm digging Nintendo this gen I'd rather this not happen. We wouldn't have gotten games like MGR or Nier Automata if Platinum was owned by Nintendo.

 

[JCX]

I still remember the gaf thread about Monolithsoft going to Nintendo. Embarrassing in retrospect.

 

[Mael]

The reason Nintendo would "need" to buy other dev houses would be to get a presence in these countries.
i mean Nintendo's France presence is NERD which is very small.
Nintendo absolutely need to have a bigger presence in Industry's hubs like Canada or northern Europe.
If only to have more people in these countries that have connections with their company and force Nintendo to be better at providing dev kits.

Mercury Steam would certainly not be bad for Nintendo for example.

As much as I'm digging Nintendo this gen I'd rather this not happen. We wouldn't have gotten games like MGR or Nier Automata if Platinum was owned by Nintendo.

Nah, if they landed these projects they wouldn't have been cut off from working with other companies, Monolith still work occasionally with Namco.
Heck GameFreak while a special case still can do whatever the hell they want.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

I would hope Nintendo greenlights more of their Sci-Fi ideas. We need more Sci-Fi RPG's.

 

[sublimit]

We know XenoWii did well enough in Europe, in NA looking at the marketing plan it couldn't possibly have been a failure.
It was harder to find than some Amiibos!

I thought that was because it was published by Gamestop and copies were scarce.Not because it was a huge seller.

 

[wrowa]

I still remember the gaf thread about Monolithsoft going to Nintendo. Embarrassing in retrospect.

That was fun. People couldn't believe Nintendo picked up a bad developer like Monolith - fast forward 10 years and Monolith is among Nintendo fans' favorite studios.

 

[Skittzo0413]

I don't get this, Nintendo has so many I.P's they can work with and need attention. Also Sakurai is a freelancer, nothing is stopping him to going to CAPCOM and pitch a Mega Man game.

You're definitely right about Sakurai but for all intents and purposes he really only works with Nintendo. And they have a lot of dormant IPs, but not a huge amount of dormant IPs that are/have been all that successful or recognizable. Capcom seemingly has no interest in working on a new Megaman game and while I doubt Nintendo has any interest either, we can see how well the IP and character was treated in Smash 4 and I think if there was ever interest it would be the perfect combination (Sakurai + Megaman).

But for the overall point in acquiring studios or IPs, I think more diverse and successful IPs could really be a boon to Nintendo platforms especially if they help fill the gaps left by the absence of most third party titles.

 

[Mael]

I thought that was because it was published by Gamestop and copies were scarce.Not because it was a huge seller.

Yep so their projections mustn't have been high.

 

[Pandora012]

I wish they could have stayed with Bandai Namco. I haven't really liked a Monolithsoft game since Xenosaga Episode III.

Kinda agree, didn't like Xenoblade that much. It might be because of my baggage from Gears and Saga. (Or I just need Saga to be involved.)Though I still haven't played XBX, so I might like that one.

 

[Diprosalic]

Hell just buy Playtonic and recruit more Rare vets and I'd be fine with that.

that would be dumb for both parties involved.

 

[Ridley327]

Nah, if they landed these projects they wouldn't have been cut off from working with other companies, Monolith still work occasionally with Namco.
Heck GameFreak while a special case still can do whatever the hell they want.

There's no special case regarding Game Freak. They're a 100% independent developer that's free to work on any system they want, and have been trying to more of that this gen. They just happen to be, along with HAL and IntSys, the most visible success of Nintendo fostering tight third party ties without having to buy them out.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Most of the companies that people want Nintendo to buy reside in the west, where the culture is a lot different than it is in Japan in terms of retaining employees in the long term. As far as Japan is concerned, I'm not sure there's really that many truly independent developers now for Nintendo to buy, so the opportunity doesn't really come up.

Their third party relationships have been working out well for them thus far, and I see them doing more and more of those in the future, but as far as bolstering their own ranks with acquisitions, I don't see them making any big moves anytime soon.

Monolith wasn't independent though. Funny enough, when Nintendo put shares towards Dwango back in 2013, I (and maybe others) thought it could've been a step towards them acquiring Spike Chunsoft, who Nintendo worked quite often (especially during that period) and still do today.

They're a lot bigger than Monolith though and own many IPs so that would cost a pretty penny I'd imagine.

Platinum as far as Japan is concerned seems to be the most viable pick I would think.

 

[RRockman]

That was fun. People couldn't believe Nintendo picked up a bad developer like Monolith - fast forward 10 years and Monolith is among Nintendo fans' favorite studios.

Link please?

 

[Hero of Legend]

that would be dumb for both parties involved.

Why do you say that? Rareware were on top of the world prior to MS buying them out, and several key employees have expressed numerous times how much they miss those days and regret the buyout.

 

[sublimit]

Yep so their projections mustn't have been high.

That doesn't mean it was profitable though.Developments costs (for both Xenoblade titles) must have been very high when compared to other Nintendo first party projects.

 

[Hero of Legend]

Link please?

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152789

It's very true, people were laughing at how Nintendo got ripped-off, and look at where we are now.

 

[TheDinoman]

Hell just buy Playtonic and recruit more Rare vets and I'd be fine with that.

Yeah, I'm sure they'd love to be exclusively owned by a first party publisher after what happened with Microsoft.

 

[Diprosalic]

Why do you say that? Rareware were on top of the world prior to MS buying them out, and several key employees have expressed numerous times how much they miss those days and regret the buyout.

Playtonic is not SNES/N64 RARE, very very far from it actually.
Playtonic needs the multi plat and Nintendo doesn't really add much by having exclusive games from them. They don't have any IPs worth a damn which means talent can just leave and you have a whole bunch of nothing.

 

[Dark Cloud]

Unquestionably. Now if only Nintendo would buy more big developers...

More like now if Nintendo would only expand Retro Studios so they can pump out more games!

 

[SilverLunar]

Do you know what is the best acquisition Nintendo can make?

Global presence, establishing international branches for expanding and supporting developing countries.

Not this studio acquisition nonsense that in the long run won't help (thankfully they aren't doing it).

Meh

 

[Fou-Lu]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=152789

It's very true, people were laughing at how Nintendo got ripped-off, and look at where we are now.

The people laughing were as wrong then as they are now. Monolith Soft made some ambitious and great games before Nintendo, no matter the disappointment in Xenosaga Episode II and the Episode III censorship.