Sora Ltd/Sakurai now part of Nintendo

[Da Robot]

This just in!

Nintendo has just announced that Sakurai has teamed up with Nintendo on a new project and that his company Sora Ltd is now a first party company dedicated to making core titles.

The first title in development has been codenamed "Project Sora" and Iwata has said it is not another Smash Bros.

“It’s not Smash Bros. I asked for. …I can promise an experience that’s different from anything [you’ve played] up until now" Satoru Iwata.

Source.



Well this is good news now isn't it?

EDIT: Sakurai's name fixed . . . After many, many months

[Wildcat]

Hell yes it is. This is great news. ^_^

[TV Eye]

I still think of Kingdom Hearts everytime I hear "Sora ltd."

[Koopaul]

Well this calls for a celebration! This is the best news I've heard in a long long time!

[Da Robot]

MORE INFO!



Taken from the Iwata Asks with Sakurai (in Japanese still)


Nintendo announced today the formation of Project Sora, a subsidiary that will develop a new title to be directed by Smash Bros. Brawl director Masahiro Sakurai.

Located in Tokyo's Idabashi area, the new studio, officially formed on January 22, has capital of 200 million yen, provided 72% by Nintendo, with Sakurai's studio Sora and other parties providing the rest. Sakurai will serve as the company's president. The studio has, or will have, a staff of 30.

The two companies opened up today a website through which they'll be soliciting employees for the mysterious project. According to the employment page at the site, Project Sora seeks programmers, 3D character and map production staff, sound effect staff, and game planners to begin work in early May. The period of employ will last, at the longest, through the project's completion, listed at the site as being planned for two years from now.

This site describes the title as "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."

Also at the site, interested parties will find a dialogue between Nintendo president Satoru Iwata and Sakurai offering a few Japanese language hints at what the new project may be.

In the discussion, Iwata refers to the game as "A new experiment, both for Mr. Sakurai and for Nintendo." While admitting that he cannot disclose the content of the game, Sakurai adds "We've started a special project. We're not sure how it will sell or if it will be accepted. Our goal is not just to make a single game. We can promise that you'll be able to experience something different."

The new project, Iwata explains, came about as he told Sakurai that Nintendo was looking to making something new and asked if he would be interested. Sakurai explains that he took the offer because, as a freelance developer, the conditions were perfect -- he'd be given a team, a company, and an office and left with the task of making a special project.

Iwata has apparently been privy to a glimpse at the game's design document. "I'm scared to ask, but how is the content of the new plan?" asks Sakurai. Iwata's response is: "From our perspective, it's not something that overlaps oddly with something that would come from Nintendo or those close to Nintendo. He later describes the project as, "It's something that can be made because Nintendo is backing you up, but is also something that Nintendo could not make."

The new game may have leanings towards core players. "If one were simply considering effective use of funding," explains Sakurai, "we'd have went with a plan similar to Touch Generations. But that's not I wanted." He later adds, "We want to make something that will be wanted even by the more hardcore game players, and something that offers new ideas."

Discussing some of the background of the studio's facilities, Sakurai notes that he looked in a variety of areas in Tokyo, including Shinjuku and Akihabara, but decided in the end on Idabashi, a business area in the heart of the city. The focus, he says, was on finding a location that would be easily accessible to a variety of people and would offer plenty of outside eating facilities. He points out that the building in which the studio will be located is new and that it does not have any columns running through it, allowing the development members to see one another.

Also speaking about the facilities, Iwata notes that with Smash Bros., the development studio got extremely crowded during peak development times. This time, they've learned from the experience and have invested in a large office even though initially there will be too much space.

The site does not specify a platform for the game, nor does it get into specifics on content. The site also does not mention release details, although the employment listing suggests a release in 2011.

[Fryguy64]

Oooooh! Sakurai nearly got away, but then Iwata just snapped him right back!

I wonder if there will be a similar level of hype build-up for this title. I'm also curious what kind of game is "Nintendo-like, but couldn't be made by Nintendo." Ambitious indeed!

Anyway, good stuff to look forward to! In 2 years time!

[BeamClaws]

Sakurai just can't get away from Nintendo. He's probably really mad right now.

[Koopaul]

Well, Sakurai never fails to give us something brilliant. Whatever new IP he's working on will probably make the next Smash Bros. ;D

[parrothead]

If it's not a new SSB game, then it might be either similar to the SSB series or the Kirby series.

[Dances in Undergarments]

Just because thats what he's made in the past doesn't mean its what he will make now.

[Deleted]

I get the feeling that this new IP is something completely original for both Sora/Sakurai and Nintendo...remember, Sakurai has stated in the past that he dislikes producing rehash concepts, which is why he hasn't worked on a proper Kirby game in a while (Kirby's Air Ride being the last). He prefers following paths that open new doors, that breath life into the game industry. So I doubt it's going to be like Smash Bros. or Kirby at all, you know? Especially if it's something Nintendo couldn't make on their own, because Nintendo has handled Kirby/SSB through HAL Labs.

So I'm excited about what this new title will be. Because Sora Ltd. is behind it, I know it's going to be top quality awesome.

[Koopaul]

"something that Nintendo could not do on its own"

Is it just me or does that statement seem egotistical. Not to sound like a fanboy, but I can't imagine a game Nintendo couldn't make on their own. Maybe something they "wouldn't" make, but not "couldn't" make.

[kirbychu]

...How is it egotistical for the president of Nintendo to say Nintendo couldn't make that game on their own? That's like... the exact opposite of egotism.

[Deleted]

Koopaul, what's egocentric about admitting you can't do something? Okay, I guess it depends on the context, but in Iwata's case, he's being humble. It's way different. Like Kirbychu said, it's the polar opposite of egocentric.

No offense man, but I think you read way too much into these things. You may want to step back and properly examine what's being said when it comes to Nintendo, since it's a habit for you to jump to a conclusion without really thinking about what you're saying.

[Arcadenik]

That's cool. I just knew that Sakurai would eventually come back to Nintendo and he did! Here's hoping for a new SSB and/or a SSB spin-off RPG or something as good as Kirby.