Why Nintendo needs to buy Factor 5

[andre]

I took the time to read the IGN roundtable discussion on Factor 5. I am very concerned. This company is pretty much in bed with Nintendo, and they take it for granted. Nintendo needs to buy Factor 5, because they are the only company who knows Nintendo software better than Nintendo does. It needs to happen. Those guys cannot be allowed to squander their energy on an inferior console (PS2 obviously) or to support the suX-Box.

[OutlawAdidas]

I know, but I have to disagree with u on that, Nintendo knows their own console the best. Rebel Stike was stunning but there were still some flaws in it that could have been avoided.

[koten]

If you wanna talk about companies nintendo should buy up I still say that treasure and Camalot would be great ideas (they both have a similar relationship with nintendo)

[dopefish]

I belive Nintendo actually used to own Camelot, but Camelot bought themselves out. That doesn't mean that they're not loyal to Ninty though of course. They get to make some of the Mario Sport games I believe so they're pretty partial to Nintendo at the moment.

Yes, Nintendo should buy Factor 5 in my opinion. I read the roundtable yesterday as well. Matt believes that Factor 5 is developing games for the PS2/Xbox, which I tend to not believe. Although it could be in their interest, they have other things to bother with though. The Pilot Wings N5 game of course. But who can really say what they're going to do... They have a fairly good deal with Nintendo right now and they might not want to blow it by going to another console.

The reason Rebel Strike sold poorly was probably due to the fact that it got bad reviews, and that really Rogue Leader imo wasn't really released too long before it. I have Rogue Leader, but haven't had the money to buy the third one, or even the urge. I'm interested, but I'd rather get other games first.

[uboy]

I've never heard of Camelot being owned by Nintendo, frankly I kind of doubt it, since they started off making Hot Shots for the Playstation.

Back on topic, Rebel Strike was good (bought it really cheap) and Factor 5 really know how to push the graphics on the Cube. I don't know if Nintendo would buy them though, thing is that might affect F5's relationship with Lucasarts and their ability to make Star Wars games.

Still, for their graphics and sound abilities alone it might be worth the investment.

[Spartacus]

Yeah, that's what the head guy at F5 said. They don't want to go second party because they wouldn't be able to make Star Wars games. But from what he said, they are pretty much second party....things could have changed though.

[dopefish]

Yeah, I screwed that up. I don't know where I heard that Camelot used to be owned by Nintendo, but it is wrong :\ Sorry about that. They developed some games for the PS1, then Ninty asked them to make some games for them because of the good work they did on the titles for the PS1.

[Lovebird]

wat doesit matter what company they started with? every good companyt otday started with nintendo, and where are they now?

[prime_timer]

sorry andre, but Factor 5 has already squaandered time on the Xbox, but not on games. Rather sound technologies for the Xbox. if youve heard of Factor 5's Musy X system, you know what im talking about.

[rhs_radicalguy]

I think it would be a good idea if Nintendo would buy Factor 5, Cause they're a good game company a I don't want it to go to X-box.

Oh well.

GameCube Rocks!!!!

[Wh|tE gUy]

Factor 5 isn't worth it. Yes they are VERY skilled, but how practical is it to buy a company only for a new Star Wars game every 2 years? They really haven't done anything that great other that technical achievments IMO

[XboxEvolved]

Well the only thing that would be different about their Xbox games is online play, I didn't even buy the last game they bought cause I heard it sorta sucked although they are usually pretty good.

[Sabur]

They should at least buy a majority of the company to insure they have to stay with nintendo, then if they get old and stail then sell them off like they did rare

[XboxEvolved]

It isn't even worth the trouble, Factor 5's games have basically been rehashes of older games since N64. Besides that..if they make sound tech for Xbox then they probably make a pretty penny in royalties, I can see the meeting between nintendo and F5 now "Hey F5 man we would like to buy majority shares into your company forbidding you to build sound tech for Xbox and therego you would screw yourself out of millions, potentially billions of dollars."

"Is that so? Why certainally sir were do I sign?

[Xtreme CHRI$$]

Originally posted by Wh|tE gUy
Factor 5 isn't worth it. Yes they are VERY skilled, but how practical is it to buy a company only for a new Star Wars game every 2 years? They really haven't done anything that great other that technical achievments IMO
I would have to agree with Wh|te on this one. I just don't think it's worth the investment for a company that basically only makes Star Wars games, and they make them around every two years..... I'm not dissin Factor 5, they make great games, it's just that they don't make games that often. About what John said, I don't know, are they really that close with $M?

[bountyhunter]

Originally posted by XboxEvolved
It isn't even worth the trouble, Factor 5's games have basically been rehashes of older games since N64. Besides that..if they make sound tech for Xbox then they probably make a pretty penny in royalties, I can see the meeting between nintendo and F5 now "Hey F5 man we would like to buy majority shares into your company forbidding you to build sound tech for Xbox and therego you would screw yourself out of millions, potentially billions of dollars."

"Is that so? Why certainally sir were do I sign?

Now that's a little exagerated. Xbox isn't generating anywear near a billion dolllars in profit, let alone a billion in revenue.

[XboxEvolved]

Actually it isn't exaggerated, why do you think MS LOSES so much money? They have to pay off their partners and their damned high prices, that is why they are going with IBM and ATi over Intel and nVidia for Xbox 2.

[koten]

Or could it be that they are realizing how much better the GC is and want some of the technology from the companies that built it's chipset?

[XboxEvolved]

Or it could it be Nintendo saw the partnerships MS had with IBM and Ati hmm 6, and 13 years ago before Nintendo even cared about them so they copied Microsoft?

[prime_timer]

Actually, im sure its that IBM and ATI's parts are cheaper than Intels and nVidia's parts

[XboxEvolved]

Yeah I know I was trying to make a point.

[Freak of Kane]

Doesn't matter how much money MS are losing, they still have to cough up the royalty fees...which leads me to believe that F5 are making a pretty penny from GC/XBox royalty fees.

[prime_timer]

of course Factor 5 is making a pretty penny. its one of the 2 reasons they wont go 2nd party. Im sure if they wanted to, they would, but they're bringing in a lot of bacon by remaining an independent 3rd party. Im sure that most of their games will be on the GC.... its pretty much the only platform they develop games for. Why else would Nintendo trust them with Pilotwings if they werent basically a 2nd party?

[Freak of Kane]

Maybe the reason they trusted SEGA with F Zero GX and Namco with Starfox...? And these two are definitely not second party.

EDIT: Thanks prime.

[prime_timer]

oh yeah der de der der *slaps self*.... and dont you mean theyre definently not 3nd party? cause namco and sega are 3rd party.... oh well. as long as Factor 5 makes games exclusively for Nintendo, i'll be happy.

[andre]

but the point is...they might not? heard of Rebel X? they are rumored to port over an advanced version of Rogue Squadron I along with Rogue II and III to the X-Box. I sort of doubt this, because in EGM, the Factor 5 President, Julian Eggenbrecht (sp?) mentioned that it would be 10x harder to port the code to X-Box than to just start from scratch (that's for Rogue III though....) since Rogue III was built only for Cube. So, I think Factor 5 is safe with the Big 'N right now, but not forever. If Nintendo would have pumped more advertising into Rogue III it would have sold better, but then again, it wasn't as good as Rogue II due to the foot missions. ANYWAY. So I guess my point is that Nintendo needs to buy them, or to pay them enough to stay exclusive. Oh yeah, and wasn't Factor 5 the first development studio with GCN kits? They know the Cube inside and out, and are GODS with the software. I'm gonna sh*t myself when I see what they do for N5.

[koten]

Factor 5 is going to make something cool for the N5, i just hope that they stay by Nintendo's side, and not turn tail and run to the sad excuse for compitition

[XboxEvolved]

Well since Factor 5 relies on LucasArts properties (excluding Pilotwings) LucasArts could easily just say "you make this game for Xbox and GameCube or don't make it at all", and if you look at how many games they made for all systems they made 14 for Xbox, 12 for PS2 and 6 for GC.

[andre]

true. but wasn't Rogue II Lucas Art's best selling game ever? or something to that effect. i dunno. i just remember hearing it was the best third party launch title in history....does that mean anything to them? this proves that there is a Star Wars audience on Cube, but Lucas Arts does a poor job at tapping it. And as for Gladius, their only non Star Wars Cube game....ouch. 22, 000 units sucks big time. They should have done better with advertising and stuff.

So....yeah, Factor 5 might not be able to do Star Wars if they get sold, but they were getting sick of Star Wars anyway (refer to the documentaries on Rogue II and III, as well as the June issue of EGM, or was it May?). Plus, they have raw technical talent that nobody else can surpass. Just do it Nintendo!!!!!!

[XboxEvolved]

best launch? Doubtful...me thinks for system launches Soul Calibur would of won.

[prime_timer]

actually, wouldnt Final Fantasy VII be the correct answer.... or did it come out after PS launch?

[bountyhunter]

nah, supernes w/ mario and zelda was best launch ever. And yeh, ffVII came out after ps launch, but it wouldn't make it a winner either way.

[andre]

i am talking third party, geniuses. "Think McFly, Think!!" *Slaps you all on the back of the head*

so, this link here says that it is LucasArts' fastest selling title:
http://cube.ign.com/objects/015/015337.html

and this one says that Rogue Leader is the ONLY 3rd party title to debut as Number One with a console launch.
http://wire.ign.com/articles/358/358808p1.html

but the point of all this is....Factor 5 kicks butt. Lucas Arts was very pleased by these numbers, yet they shaft the Cube time and time again.

[prime_timer]

dont be so sad though.... Wrath Unleashed sucked in every way. Gladius was a lot better (and yes i can compare them, as they were both strategy titles)

[andre]

i wanna play Gladius. see it at wal-mart. might buy it during spring break when i have good time to play an RPG.

[koten]

Who cares about lucas arts games, really? They are not that important to me... I think Ninty should be Factor 5 and get all that raw talent working with Mayamoto, who knows what kind of new task he could set them on?

[Freak of Kane]

Actually, nah...I wouldn't want many of Miyamoto's influence on them - might lead them from making anything that is even slightly mature themed. I don't know about anyone else, but I'm sick of Miyamoto thinking he has to create a "game for everyone" all the time. Not to say they aren't good, mind you.

[koten]

true, Miyamoto is focused on games for everyone... Nintendo needs an Anti-Moto, someone who makes games for mature audiences...

[XboxEvolved]

Actually I thnk by now it is safe to say KOTOR is LucasArt's quickest selling title.

[koten]

And how does this play into Nintendo having to buy Factor 5?

[XboxEvolved]

this link here says that it is LucasArts' fastest selling title:
http://cube.ign.com/objects/015/015337.html w00t

[koten]

I still don't understand whatdifference KOTOR being the best selling Lucase arts game has to do with nintendo buying factor 5, please explaine

[XboxEvolved]

I was replying to his link, but your right it has nothng to do with it, but I still don't think it would be a good idea for Factor 5 to concede to a buyout for the reasons I stated before.

[koten]

I think Factor 5 would benifit from nintendo owning them the same exact way that Silicon Knights did, they have become more presigous, and seam to be able to do wonders with nintendo with Nintendo's help (plus nintendo could provie better funding)

[XboxEvolved]

I think Factor 5 gets plenty of funding (LucasArts is funded by a company that chances are make more money than Nintendo), and that is the funny thing, when you say prestigious. You basically just said you wouldn't even give a care about SK unless they were under nintendo.

[koten]

I probably never would have heard of them had it not been for nintendo, nintendo is one of the reasons for Silicon Kinghts being known

[andre]

true. but Factor 5 has tons of un-tapped potential. And if it comes down to it, Nintendo should buy Factor 5 before EA or Microsoft gobbles them up. It might be a race against time if F5 develops for another system and actually likes it. Heresy.

[XboxEvolved]

Factor 5 has more chance of being bought by LucasArts before ANYONE else, especially because a lot of Factor 5's staff used to work for ILM.

[Cooolcorey]

For a while I thought they were owned by LucasArts.

[koten]

I think they were once...

[andre]

maybe, but these guys came from Germany remember?

[koten]

not really, i have sort of a bad memory...

but their location makes no difference... Nintendo owns companies everywhere. Silicon Knights is in canada and i believe when they owned Rare they were in england

[Shoxx]

Yeah, Rare is in Liverpool, if I'm not mistaken (which is in England, for those not geographically-smart).

Factor 5 would be a good Nintendo 2nd party. I thought they already were though.

[andre]

well...maybe E3 would be a good time to make an announcement..considering Nintendo is going to need some good news because it's not going to unveil N5...yet.

I just got this sweet @ss epiphany...
IF Nintendo bought Factor 5, they would join Silicon Knights and Retro Studios to create a Holy Trinity of Nintendo second parties.

Just think if all three worked on a game together.....*froths at the mouth*

[Wh|tE gUy]

Imagine "the Holy Trinity" would compose entirely of Western developers.

I really would like to see Silicon Knights and Factor 5 combine. The one thing SK is missing is graphic capabilities.