Nintendo reveals new development studio headed by Smash Bros. creator
by Sam Naylor on February 18, 2009 at 4:28 am
Nintendo have announced a new game development studio, “Sora,” headed by Masahiro Sakurai, the man behind the Smash Bros and Kirby series. A statement on the company’s website states “the thoughts of game designer Masahiro Sakurai and Nintendo have become one, and a new project has started. In order to expand what can be offered to the world through games, we will have Nintendo’s full cooperation and make something that Nintendo could not do on its own.”
The project that the team will be working on has been described by Sakurai as “special” and “something different.” With Sakurai behind the wheel of the new studio, I don’t doubt that the game they produce will be outstanding; Smash Bros. and Kirby have been consistently great series. Although the platform the studio will be developing for is yet to be announced, I have a suspicion that it might be the Wii or the DS.
Wii Review: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
by Kat Bailey on March 8, 2008 at 8:16 pm 
Ask anybody who had a hand in developing the original Super Smash Brothers for the N64 back in 1999, and they would have told you that they thought that the quirky brawler was destined for the bargain bin. Who knew that a game featuring a battle to the death between all of Nintendo’s famed mascots would become such a sensation? Nintendo fans, that’s who. Read more…
GDC 08: Smash Bros. Designer Talks Brawl Roster
by Emily Balistrieri on February 23, 2008 at 3:56 am
“Sorry about that. I’m a bit nervous so I just broke out into song,” joked Masahiro Sakurai, the designer of the Smash Bros. series, after regaling us with a few bars of the chanting trailer soundtrack. He gave an in-depth and very articulate look at the process of developing the latest installment’s character roster.
The line-up was pretty well finalized as early as 2005, with the exception of Sonic, who was added just last year. Characters were selected for their individuality, unique abilities, and balance of both the fighting and game series representation. Read more…
Rose-Tinted Nostalgia: The Top Five Franchises That Nintendo Forgot
by Cavin Smith on December 7, 2007 at 6:18 pm
“No time machine? Not my problem!”
I admit it, I’m a hypocrite. I have no problem busting Nintendo’s chops on forums across the internet for banking on nostalgia these days, but I’ve got a secret rose-tinted past of my own. Like most of you, I grew up on Nintendo — watched the cartoons, ate the cereal, wore the underoos. But I feel like they’ve left a few of my favorite franchises collecting dust while Mario and Zelda get all the glory. Hit the jump for the top 5 series that I think time (and Nintendo) forgot and how they should be resurrected. Read more…











