04-23-2008, 09:33 PM
A couple of sources are reporting that several key members of the Retro Studios development team, the makers of the Metroid Prime games, are leaving the company...
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Shacknews has learned that several key employees from Metroid Prime series developer Retro Studios are no longer with the company.
Design director Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and principal technology engineer Jack Mathews were escorted off the premises last Friday. The simultaneous departure of senior staff members is generally indicative of an intention to branch off and form a new development studio.
Contrary to other rumors, Shacknews has also learned that Retro Studios is not in danger of closing.
Founded in 1998 and purchased by Nintendo in 2001, Retro was responsible for the Metroid Prime trilogy, which concluded with the company's first Wii title last August. The studio's current project is unknown, though it has stated its intent to move away from the Metroid franchise.
Design director Mark Pacini, art director Todd Keller, and principal technology engineer Jack Mathews were escorted off the premises last Friday. The simultaneous departure of senior staff members is generally indicative of an intention to branch off and form a new development studio.
Contrary to other rumors, Shacknews has also learned that Retro Studios is not in danger of closing.
Founded in 1998 and purchased by Nintendo in 2001, Retro was responsible for the Metroid Prime trilogy, which concluded with the company's first Wii title last August. The studio's current project is unknown, though it has stated its intent to move away from the Metroid franchise.
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UPDATE TWO: Something definitely went down at Retro last Friday that made a number of folks not too eager to head back in to the office today. An office that they may not be occupying for much longer.
UPDATE THREE: Another Texan says "pretty much no one at retro would agree to relocate at nintendo's behest, as asinine shenanigans are typically met with little fanfare." Not that hard to believe.
UPDATE FOUR: The proximate Shacknews says that Retro is not closing shop and corroborates the tale from the commenter about senior staff being escorted off premises, but I'm told from a few folks that that there is a general feeling of uneasiness in the Retro offices that could lead to more departures. The quote in the previous update is not meant to imply that relocation is going to happen, just that no Retro employees would relocate if Nintendo asked them to since there is no real incentive for them to so considering Nintendo's previous behavior. Giving extremely little autonomy does not create favorable sentiment.
UPDATE THREE: Another Texan says "pretty much no one at retro would agree to relocate at nintendo's behest, as asinine shenanigans are typically met with little fanfare." Not that hard to believe.
UPDATE FOUR: The proximate Shacknews says that Retro is not closing shop and corroborates the tale from the commenter about senior staff being escorted off premises, but I'm told from a few folks that that there is a general feeling of uneasiness in the Retro offices that could lead to more departures. The quote in the previous update is not meant to imply that relocation is going to happen, just that no Retro employees would relocate if Nintendo asked them to since there is no real incentive for them to so considering Nintendo's previous behavior. Giving extremely little autonomy does not create favorable sentiment.
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This could be really bad news for fans of Retro's work (like me). Though the studio may remain, the departure of key staff members could really hurt the quality of their software (see: Rare).