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From Quake to Dolphin

Retro Studios snaps up major id Software talent for a rumored Dolphin first-person shooter.

February 28, 2000

Two Days ago word came that Dave "Zoid" Kirsch, the designer of the ThreeWave Capture the Flag add-on for all of id Software's Quake games, would be leaving the company. The valued designer, who also maintained all of the Quake games (and created the last five Quake 2 patches), posted a revealing online statement that outlined his reasons for leaving the company and which ended on a very interesting note. "In March, I will begin a new position at Retro Studios. I look forward to joining the team there and working on some exciting new projects."
Texas based Retro Studios, an upstart development house headed by former Iguana Entertainment president Jeff Spangenberg, is heavily funded by Nintendo of America and has bypassed 64-bit software creation altogether in favor of designing games for the Big N's next-generation Dolphin system. Rumors have long surrounded the firm's development efforts, which are said to encapsulate all sorts of interesting software ranging from a racer to an online first-person shooter.

Piecing the clues together, we contacted Zoid for comment about his future plans with Retro, which, it seems, are exactly as we'd expect. When asked if he would be working on a first-person shooter after beginning work at Retro in March, Zoid responded, "I will be focusing on network design and implementation. My game design experience is certainly specific with goal-orientated teamplay in first person shooters." This definitely suggests that Retro is in the works with a first-person shooter and it adds even more weight to the rumors that the company is preparing an online strategy. Mix in Retro's recently registered Internet domain names, www.retroworld.net and www.nintendoonline.com and we begin to grasp the bigger picture of Retro's -- and Nintendo's -- future plans.

Given the talent that Retro has already snapped up, including ex-Iguana programmers and rumored members of the Half-Life team, and now Zoid, Nintendo enthusiasts should be very excited about the possibilities in store for them when the Dolphin system finally launches. In the meantime, we can all rest easy knowing that something very, very special is in the works.

Retro Studios was unavailable for comment.

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Dolby Petitions Dolphin

New information says Dolby Labs is committed to supporting Nintendo's next-generation console.

February 28, 2000

A Help Wanted advertisement posted by Dolby Laboratories reveals a nugget of information about the company's next-generation plans. Evidently Dolby is seeking "knowledgeable, industry savvy leaders to manage [its] game developers relationships." Those relationships extend to Sega, Sony and Nintendo, among other companies, and Dolby has specific plans to target the next-generation crop of machines.

"This exciting opportunity will challenge you in managing worldwide Dolby Labs Game Developers relationships promoting use of Dolby Labs audio technology on existing and next generation PC and Game consoles. Platform focus will include Play Stations 2, Nintendo Dolphin, Sega Dreamcast, as well as PC platforms running under windows 98/2000CE operating systems."

Not exactly a revelation considering Dolby's already established presence in the games industry, but a confirmation nonetheless. Like the PS2, Dolphin will be able to encode two-channel Dolby Pro Logic Surround in real-time and mix that with streaming Digital 5.1 Surround audio from the DVD disc. Expect the highest quality sound possible.

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ArtX on the Record

The Dolphin graphics chip designer clears up a few misleading rumors floating about.

February 28, 2000

Palo Alto based ArtX, the highly secretive firm contracted to design Nintendo's powerful graphics architecture for the Dolphin system, is the subject of many rumors. With the recent announcement that it has been acquired by PC graphics chip giant ATI (which has revealed plans to create chips for Sony set-top boxes), many in the industry have been wondering exactly how this will affect its relationship with Nintendo, if at all.

IGN64 recently chatted with ArtX president David Orton, who quickly obliterated speculation that the company's Dolphin architecture could be licensed out by ATI to competing corporations. "Our graphics development for Nintendo is for Nintendo only," said Orton. Rather, ATI is expected to license ArtX's PC technology, the Aladdin 7 chipset, to the competition, and according to Orton, the Dolphin architecture is "completely different."

Those expecting the ArtX Dolphin chipset to be previewed at the upcoming Game Developers Conference are in for a big disappointment. "ATI and ArtX will be showing the Aladdin 7 [PC chipset] only," commented Orton. It's completely up to Nintendo to unveil its graphics architecture and given the company's conservative stance thus far, we don't suggest holding our breath for the awaited event.

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McGrath Races to N64

Acclaim's Jeremy McGrath endorsed dirt-bike N64 racer ships to retailers.

February 28, 2000

Acclaim Entertainment announced today that Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000, its first dirt-bike racer for Nintendo 64, has shipped to retailers. The game utilizes an all new racing engine, eight stadium arenas, eight licensed motocross tracks, a custom 3D track-editor, motion-captured riders and an over-the-top stunt system.
"Jeremy McGrath has propelled Supercross into the national spotlight, and we expect his popularity to broaden the reach of the sport to the casual gamer," said Steve Felsen, Brand Director of Extreme Sports, Acclaim Entertainment. "Jeremy McGrath Supercross 2000 is as close as anyone is going to get in experiencing what it's like to be Jeremy 'Showtime' McGrath."

Acclaim is backing the game's release with a nationwide marketing campaign that encapsulates everything from television, print and online advertising to in-store merchandising.

"I'm stoked the game is out. It definitely captures the excitement and energy of Supercross racing, so I know fans are going to love it," said McGrath, who did not add, "I'm so rich now that I'm practically above the law!"

Look for IGN64's full review of the game this week.

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Konami Reaffirms GB, GB Advance Support

A Reuters interview with Konami highlights the company's Game Boy Advance plans.

February 28, 2000

With Konami already gearing up for massive PS2 support, the company's managing director Kazumu Kitaue recently spoke with Reuters about its Game Boy Advance opportunities. Kitaue talked briefly about Konami's Mobile 21 partnership with Nintendo, in which it will develop multiplayer games for the Game Boy Advance system, which is still scheduled to launch in Japan this August.
"The joint venture with Nintendo does not affect our relationship with Sony's game-making unit Sony Computer Entertainment. It is our basic policy to make the most for the best-selling machine,'' said Kitaue.

The Konami executive commented that the company is gearing up to develop new innovative games for Gameboy which will be connected to mobile phones with a new adapter to be introduced by Nintendo around April, enabling users to access the Internet to download game software and chat with other players.

"PlayStation2 gives users beautiful graphics but not necessarily new types of games,'' Kitaue said. "Gameboy with a new adapter has a better chance to offer new type of consumer entertainment in the short run.''

Oddly, while Kitaue did not speak specifically about Konami's plans for Nintendo's Dolphin system, he did comment on Microsoft's still unannounced X-Box console, expected to launch late 2001. "Konami will develop games for Microsoft if it really says it will launch a game machine," said the executive. "We believe Microsoft, like Sony, has enough money to spend to make something innovative to attract consumers."

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Pamela Lee and Dolphin

Ubi Soft to bring hit television show VIP to all major formats including Dolphin.

February 28, 2000

Publisher Ubi Soft recently announced that it has nabbed the rights to deliver the tongue-in-cheek humor (and beautiful women) of the hit television show VIP to all major console formats including Nintendo's next-generation Dolphin system. The first games based on the Pamela Lee series will arrive for PC, Dreamcast and PlayStation before the end of the year.

The TV series was first broadcast in the United States in the fall of 1998, and is currently aired in over 60 countries. According to statistics, it is the most popular show among American teenagers. Pamela Anderson Lee plays Vallery Irons, a girl who finds herself propelled into the role of bodyguard to some of California’s biggest stars. With its mixture of action and humor, VIP is set in the glamorous and frenetic world of Hollywood.

In the first crop of games, players must make their way through a variety of 3D action/adventure-styled missions as Vallery Irons (Pamela Lee's character), providing protection for a new star. According to Ubi Soft, "protection is assured by the use of a range of weapons, each more outlandish than the one before."

While Ubi Soft has not yet announced plans to make N64 or Dolphin games based on the VIP license, it does have the rights to do so if it chooses to -- and that, at least, is reassuring... or is it?

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Grab Your Funtastic Colored N64s Early

EB's online presence gives you the chance to get your colored N64 systems before they come out.

February 28, 2000

So you want the smoke colored "Funtastic" Nintendo 64 unit, but you're not sure you can wait until the scheduled March 6 release date for the series of consoles. Well, Electronics Boutique's online site has good news for you -- it's offering the systems now. Indeed, all six colored Nintendo 64 packages for $99 and shipping. Colors available include Smoke, Ice, Fire, Jungle, Watermelon and Grape. IGN64 tested the online ordering system out and received our system the very next day. Now we're in possession of a delightfully colored purple Nintendo 64 unit and we couldn't be happier.

To grab your very own system early, we suggest heading over the EB's online site clicking right here.

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Grab Your Funtastic Colored N64s Early

EB's online presence gives you the chance to get your colored N64 systems before they come out.

February 28, 2000

So you want the smoke colored "Funtastic" Nintendo 64 unit, but you're not sure you can wait until the scheduled March 6 release date for the series of consoles. Well, Electronics Boutique's online site has good news for you -- it's offering the systems now. Indeed, all six colored Nintendo 64 packages for $99 and shipping. Colors available include Smoke, Ice, Fire, Jungle, Watermelon and Grape. IGN64 tested the online ordering system out and received our system the very next day. Now we're in possession of a delightfully colored purple Nintendo 64 unit and we couldn't be happier.

To grab your very own system early, we suggest heading over the EB's online site clicking right here.

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Grab Your Funtastic Colored N64s Early

EB's online presence gives you the chance to get your colored N64 systems before they come out.

February 28, 2000

So you want the smoke colored "Funtastic" Nintendo 64 unit, but you're not sure you can wait until the scheduled March 6 release date for the series of consoles. Well, Electronics Boutique's online site has good news for you -- it's offering the systems now. Indeed, all six colored Nintendo 64 packages for $99 and shipping. Colors available include Smoke, Ice, Fire, Jungle, Watermelon and Grape. IGN64 tested the online ordering system out and received our system the very next day. Now we're in possession of a delightfully colored purple Nintendo 64 unit and we couldn't be happier.

To grab your very own system early, we suggest heading over the EB's online site clicking right here.

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Okamoto Talks Zero

Famitsu scores an interview with Biohazard Zero's main man & we've got the highlights (w/ screens).

February 28, 2000

In a recent interview with Japanese games magazine Famitsu 64+, Flagship designer and Capcom main man Yoshiki Okamoto talked about the company's upcoming Nintendo 64 exclusive Biohazard sequel, Biohazard Zero. The respected producer of research and development at Capcom confirmed that the extra EX files found in the Nintendo 64 version of Resident Evil 2 may offer helpful clues for the company's upcoming Zero game. "It's a fact that there is some info regarding 'Zero' in them, but as to which files and to what is in them, I can't say," commented Okamoto.
The Capcom man also touched on Zero's theme, which he said would be very much like the original game. However, while the time periods will be very much the same, Okamoto stressed that the Zero would have a style all its own. "It will probably have a 'taste' close to Biohazard 1," he said, "It won't be a degeneration though, but a new idea on top of it."

Though vague about what Capcom would be bringing to the table in terms of originality and innovation for the Nintendo 64 exclusive Biohazard Zero game, Okamoto did seem confident. "I can't explain the details yet, but there are a number of things that we could realize now with Nintendo 64 that we couldn't do before." At the same time, Zero will not require (but may utilize) the use of the 4MB Expansion Pak as Capcom is hoping to market the game to all Nintendo 64 owners.

Famitsu raised an interesting point regarding the character that seems to be following Rebecca around in many of the first screenshots of the game previewed to the public. Who is he and, perhaps more importantly, is he a playable character? Okamoto predictably dodged the subject. "Hmm, I wonder?" he said. "You don't even know who that man is yet, right?" When Famitsu asked if he was a computer controlled character, Okamoto delivered a vague statement that would make Mr. Miyamoto himself stand up and take notice. "If their interests were similar, I imagine there would be the possibility that they would help each other out," he responded.

Biohazard Zero is scheduled to ship later this year in Japan with no word on a US conversion yet. However, unless Capcom US is crazy, which we don't suspect it is, a port of the title is already well into planning stages. IGN64 will, of course, have more as it becomes available. In the meantime, we've nabbed two more screens from Famitsu's interview for you. Have at them below.

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A Look at the 64DD's Lineup

IGN64's Japanese correspondent dissects the future software lineup of Nintendo's add-on device.

February 28, 2000

The 64DD, eagerly awaiting its rightful place next to Nintendo's Virtual Boy as one of the company's most miserable failures, has a handful of games on the way in the coming months that are worth talking about. IGN64's Japanese Correspondent Tim Horst recently went through the overseas release dates and came up the facts about each. Here's what Tim had to say:

Here is a list of software coming for that awesome piece of hardware known as the 64DD (do we detect a touch of sarcasm here? -- ed).

Wall Street: the 64DD's "killer app." Little is known about this Wall Street simulation game other than that the object is to buy, sell and trade stocks over the internet. Whether these stocks will be based on real ones or created ones hasn't been specified. Release date: TBA

Gendai Daisenryaku Ultimate War: Seta's latest in the war simulation series. The traditional hex system is gone, replaced with the new "OT System" as described in IGN64's preview of the game. Release date: Spring 2000

Yousuke Ide's Mahjong Juku: Info on Seta's N64 mah jong title has been updated on their website. The release date is given as April 27th. However, this is a ROM title, not a 64DD title. Seta has decided to release the game as both a N64 and a 64DD title. The 64DD title includes a beginners mode that will help you learn the game, but apparently there aren't any other differences. Maybe network play? But who cares, it's mah jong!

Rev Limit: Like just about every other 64DD title, next to nothing is known about Seta's racer. They have yet to update any of their DD titles on their webpages, other than to list that they are in development.

F-Zero X Expansion Kit: Nintendo's expansion kit to the popular cyber-racing game will probably be one of the best titles for the 64DD for some time, even though it is only an expansion kit. Tells you something about most of the DD's original titles. Not only will you have the chance to make your own cars and tracks, but some new tracks have been included as well. Release date: April 2000

Japan Pro Golf Tour 64: Yet another title with "64" in the title. Shouldn't it be 64DD? A more realistic-looking golf game than, say, Mario Golf. The graphics appear better than the two previous N64 sims here (Waialae and Glorious St. Andrews [quite possibly the worst golf game ever]), but how it plays remains to be seen. While nobody is likely to go buy the DD for this, one thing it has going for it is that it features actual Japanese courses and Japanese pros. Most golf games here have been in the "Hot Shots" vein, or used cartoony characters. Release date: Spring 2000

Sound maker: features the most famous music producer in Japan, Tetsuya Komuro, working on the development of the game. Sound Maker was earlier announced as a Mario Artist title, but has taken a totally different direction. Nothing else is known about this title. Release date: TBA

DD Sequencer: a title that is listed on Randnet's homepage. Like its title suggests, this is a type of music creation software, involving the creation/repeating of musical tracks using synthesizers. Nothing else is known. Release date: TBA

Doshin the Giant: Kaihou Sensen-Chibikochiko Daishuugo: The sequel to Doshin the Giant. While swapping back and forth with the original disk, the object of this game is to save the captured Doshin. Kaihou means "release" or "free," while Sensen means "battle front" or "front line." Chibiko is a kind of slang meaning small or tiny, while Daishuugo refers to a great meeting. Whether this means you play as the little people or another Doshin, or a combination of both remains to be seen, since nothing else is known yet. Release date: Summer 2000

Mario Artist-Polygon Studio: Using various parts, you can combine them to make your own 3D models. Once finished, you can not only view your creation, but also move it about freely and "play" with it. Release date: TBA

DT DD: Development is progressing on the DD and the GB simultaneously. It' will be a card game that you can play on the GB and also possesses aspects which could be called a "mobile novel." When connected to the 64DD, there are a number of different things that can be done to allow you to further enjoy the title. Release date: TBA

Dezaemon DD: The 64DD successor to the 3D shooting game creator for the N64. While little is known about this title, the 64DD's greater writing capability and

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