Metroid Prime and Donkey Kong Country Returns developer Retro Studios held a panel discussion at GDC 2011 called "Donkey Kong: Swinging Across Oceans" in which Michael Kelbaugh, Bryan Walker, Kensuke Tanabe, Aaron Walker, Will Bate, Ryan Powell and Chris Volman -- all sporting red Donkey Kong ties -- discussed the development of some of Nintendo's biggest franchises.
Leaked gameplay footage from Nintendo and Retro Studios' canceled project titled 'Harmony' has found its way online.
As the first game to be released in the DKC series in 11 years, fans of Donkey Kong were eager to see how the iconic ape’s adventures continued. And when it was finally released, the game proved well worth the wait. With incredible level design, difficult yet fun platforming gameplay, vibrant presentation and an amazing soundtrack, “Donkey Kong Country Returns” is an amazing side-scrolling platformer and an incredible comeback for one of Nintendo’s oldest mascots.
Currently, the original developers are credited via a generic slate.
It's safe to say that it's the original developers who conceptualised and built these games in such a way that they're worthy of a remaster or remake today. Even if they had nothing to do with the new iteration, the dev team behind a remaster would be nowhere without the original vision – and so, the original dev team deserves a place in the credits of a remaster. That's exactly how former Retro studios engineer Zoid Kirsch feels.
Depending on how long the credits are for the current team, I can see why it would be decided not to essentially double that.
How long or short credits are is irrelevant. Every man or woman who put their time into the creation of anything (tv, movies, animation etc too) should have their names stamped on it, no excuses.
Noone realistically sits and reads every name and actually thanks them, but it's important to the people involved to have it there for what small validation or thanks it brings them. A little thing they can show their friends and family for years to come and feel proud to have contributed to. Kind of like seeing your face for 1 frame in the crowd on TV at a football match and having your own little stamp to show you were there.
Without those original devs, there is no beloved game to remaster and put new names on. Disappointing Nintendo, do the right thing and patch it in.
