Could Nintendo’s True ‘Unprecedented Partnership’ Be With Namco Bandai?

In the wake of what appeared to be an HD Pokemon game teased at the recent Pokemon Game Show, a more clear picture of what may be quite a partnership between Nintendo and Namco Bandai appears to be manifesting.

[PopRocks359]

It would be if Namco was putting ANY of their upcoming current generation games on the Wii U. I assume this is because of poor sales for Tekken on Wii U.

[TruthbeTold]

Well, all things considered, each 3rd party has an opportunity to make money from Wii U development. They just each have to figure out how best to do it. If Tekken doesn't sell well, but 'Pokken' does, then Namco has found a solution.

[admiralvic]

"They just each have to figure out how best to do it."

They just need to take a risk, which none of them seem willing to do. It's very difficult when you port an older game (Tekken, Mass Effect 3, Darksiders 2) to a new system, but expect these games to sell like hot cakes.

Like if I wanted Tekken, then I probably bought it when it released on the PS3 / Xbox. If I wanted Tekken when it first released for the Wii U, then I would probably buy the aforementioned versions, since they were down to $20 or so dollars by that point.

The other problem is half ***ed ports / multiplatform releases. I don't recall Injustice coming with preorder DLC Wii U side and I recall them getting the DLC characters / costumes last among the three consoles (totally a way to sell your game to people). Rayman Legends is now multiplat and I have to admit that I rather play the Vita version (cheaper / exclusive stuff) than the Wii U version. Finally the upcoming Batman game doesn't have online, so that will no doubt sell poorly.

The issue isn't figuring out to sell and simply giving the Wii U a chance. No one is looking to buy crappy ports and lesser products just to drum up support for the Wii U, Much less buy a Wii U in the first place.

[TruthbeTold]

While I agree with you that they should never expect success with late or half assed ports, I'm not convinced that there are a huge amount of fighting game fans (outside of Smash Bros), FPS fans, or Dark Sand box game type of fans who own a Wii U right now. In fact, if you own a Wii U and love CoD, then you probably already own a PS360 and would prefer to play there with your friends and in the community that is really into that. This sort of thing is just as much an issue imo regarding sales of certain types of games on Wii U.

[admiralvic]

I would agree, but you can never predict these things. All we can really say for sure is that no one can expect big sales from lazy cash grabs.

[Neonridr]

@admiralvic - the Wii U version of Rayman has exclusive stuff that the others don't have as well. Plus the Wii U version will look and play the best, but if the Vita is your cup of tea, all the power to you.

And as for Batman missing the online component.. come on.. were you really going to play Batman online anyways?

I understand what you are saying about shoddy ports lacking features. But I will still get multiplat games on my Wii U to show my support regardless.

[Loadedklip]

Actually Tekken did bad on ALL consoles ... not just Wii U ... look it up.

[lizard81288]

I would buy both of those.

[ZeroX9876]

well, I would love too see this game in action!

Nintendo, please, just release a Full Open-World pokemon game on the Wii U than can interact with Pokemon X & Y. Just Call it Pokemon Z, put some nice 3d graphics on it, some cross play and trading with the 3DS and were good to go.

[Kalebninja]

an open world game would be awesome but it should either be for the 7th gen or a side game but not z

[Misaka_x_Touma]

nope not happening.

Game Freak Director said he no bringing a RPG Pokemon game to Wii U

[Kalebninja]

you know those guys always lie right?

[sephiroth420]

please no

[Kalebninja]

tales of link? pokken tournament? sounding pretty cool hope they show something during the next direct

[jonboi24]

I thought Namco Bandai was working on Smash Bros?

[Shok]

Namco has multiple teams. They're not just one group of developers.

[falcon97]

When WiiU released there were rumours of a Pokemon Online game ??? this is it...

[Summons75]

Pokemon Tekken style? interesting but the thought of Tales games on my WiiU is highly exciting!

[Kevlar009]

If The HD Tales of Symphonia was also coming to WiiU I would say there is a pretty big partnership (the original was exclusive to the Gamecube, at least for a time).

What they have is strictly business. Namco has a history with fighting games and toys, which is why Nintendo most likely brought them on.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

It still would be entitled as a Esclusive 75%.
Since PS2 only got in Japan while GC got worlwide.
Similar case for Vesperia on 360 vs PS3.

[Xof]

God, I hope not.

Most of the games I end up importing are Namco-Bandai. The last thing I want to see is them developing more games on Nintendo platforms.

[PopRocks359]

Heaven forbid there are Wii U owners who may actually want to play some of their games. I myself want to get the new DBZ game on Wii U since my closest friends with Wii Us are Dragon Ball Z fans and the game is supposed to have online co-op.

[TruthbeTold]

Hopefully there are enough of us, that we do get those games. I'd personally like to see the Naruto games on Wii U as well.

[Xof]

If they move to WiiU, what makes you think they'd be localized?

Many Namco-Bandai games are not localized. If you want to play a game that's on platform X but not platform Y, buy platform X. Shifting all or most of the games from a single publisher to a platform that region-locks is bad news for everyone.

[PopRocks359]

@Xof

Clearly you lack reading comprehension skills.

First off, I already own a PS3, however my friends do not and cannot really afford to get more consoles (two cases in particular were family holiday gifts). They all have Wii Us and are DBZ fans.

Furthermore, Dragon Ball Z games are fairly consistently localized. So your argument holds little, if any water in this case.

[Xof]

Clearly, you're the one lacking reading comprehension skills.

I'm speaking in the general case; I'm not talking about you specifically. If something is beneficial to YOU but still detrimental to the majority it's a BAD thing. To insist otherwise is extremely egotistical.

The simple fact of the matter is that if Namco-Bandai shifted development to Nintendo consoles, far fewer of their games would be playable by Western gamers. This is an inarguable fact. It doesn't matter if you'd be effected or not--fewer games is a bad thing for gamers.

[Thelastlivingbot]

If it was a little No Mercy in its style, that would get me to buy it. I've been wanting to toss Pikachu off a ladder and drop an elbow on him. That would be sweet.

[falcon97]

Let me say them graphics look next next gen wow if this comes to life and is a wiiu game then i really can't believe just how sick the wiiu will become....these pokemon games get more advertising then anything out there,lets just say if a pokemon online game does come to wiiu it will make the world aware of WiiU and its power...

[TruthbeTold]

Yeah, regardless of what the game actually is, I'm very interested in finding out.

[kirbyu]

"Tales of Link"

No! NO! PLEASE PLEASE NO!!!!!!!!

[TruthbeTold]

You don't like Tales style of games? Or are just averse to crossovers with Link in general? Or?

[kirbyu]

Mario Kart Arcade GP DX is also developed by Namco Bandai and features Pac-Man. That game came out July 2013, so this Nintendo/Namco Bandai partnership is even more possible.

[BATRA]

ALL HELL WILL BREAK OUT SELL AND SELL THOSE WII U MAKE IT HAPPEN POKEMON IS GOING TO RULE THE WII U

[ZeekQuattro]

This is an odd partnership. Why would Nintendo agree to let Namco Bandai make Star Fox, Smash Bros. & potentially a Pokemon game and not make sure to get some 3rd party Namco games on their consoles in the process. Two old ports in the last 10 months is laughable at best.

[Misaka_x_Touma]

Star Fox Assault was a great game.
SSB is being co-developed by them

[CouldHaveYelledUiiW]

I hope that they are making a LoZelda RPG-

But I would rather Nintendo's own "Intelligent Systems" (Makers of F.E. and I think 1st SSBros. games) makes it.

Every Zelda Timeline has potential and the minor characters could be worth exploration.

Plus,
I would love to see a Link that travels through all of the Timelines for some grand reason (stepping through each world art style).

"Crisis On Infinite Hyrules"
And it would be nice if you had to walk-through old epic battles of past Links.

For instance:
You could go into a time-warp and come out during an HD realized final battle of OoT's Link vs. Gannon.