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1220485197|%e %b %Y, %H:%M %Z|agohover Conduit Publisher: Impending From PAX, ArsTechnica reports:
Over the past few weeks, Nintendo Wii Fanboy has repeatedly noted the oddity of publisher choice being a teaser. They failed to note why, instead making it sound like some sort of off-the-wall decision by a developer that might not know what they're doing. It's valid to note the oddity of the situation. It's very strange not to explain why publisher choice is SO important. So WiiHD will. Not every publisher can bring their own online network to the table and completely ignore Nintendo's backward FC system (should the need arise). EA has already done it (the need did arise). One presumes Activision could, were they so inclined. If Nintendo were to publish it, obviously they could make any exceptions to their current rule-set that they wanted to (and no one would be happier than WiiHD if Nintendo suddenly went reasonable on us) , but it would be unprecedented. A game like this, unlike some others, NEEDS a sane lobby system. So far, Nintendo has refused to make that sort of system a part of their Wi-Fi Connection network. So if you want it, you need a publisher willing to provide it, or you need Nintendo to make a BIG change. Outside of features, one of the reasons this game had been so hyped is that basic game decisions (such as not including the letter "Z" at the end of the title) were made without publisher interference. If a publisher is getting signed now, they still have plenty of time to ruin the game. This consideration favors different publishers, since EA and Activision are often too big to be bothered with quality (especially on Wii). Capcom would be an encouraging choice on the quality front. If HVS pulls a rabbit out of their hat, and manages to present a publisher capable of providing a full feature set and not ruining the game, it would be about the biggest news of this game's life-cycle. It might also guarantee The Conduit will become one the best games of the Wii's entire lifespan and launch a new franchise as well elevate HVS to the top of the Wii developer ladder. The wrong choice could make The Conduit forgettable and a source of buyer's remorse. The stuff Wii Fanboy would probably expect to be a publicity tease, like the online feature set, are directly tied to the publisher decision. If you dig back through some earlier interviews, you'll find HVS discussing publishers in relation to feature questions that they couldn't yet answer. Do you want lobbies? Do you want solid communication options? Do you want good matchmaking? Do you want a decent ranking system? Then you care how HVS makes THIS decision. It could be the most defining decision of the game. And there's more.
Off-line multiplayer? Splitscreen has been denied in the past. Did they re-assess that decision? Is the offline some sort of cooperative play with rails or quasi-rails? Or might this be off-line vs? Keep your fingers crossed. Finally, not content with what they've already got, HVS used their PAX demoing to aggressively solicit feedback from gamers so they can make the most of the next 6 months:
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Conduit Publisher: Impending
So is there an ideal publisher out there? Who would you have Conduit choose if the decision was yours to make?
There's no ideal publisher "as-is". What HVS needs to do is strike the right deal.
Nintendo could be a great publisher if they'd back off the friend codes and upgrade NWC with a swank lobby system. It isn't something I'd count on, but if they're interested, it's worth trying to negotiate for. HVS has a made a number of references to "working with Nintendo" on various technical feats, and of course, they were invited to show off Conduit at Nintendo's booth at PAX. Hopefully Ninty has the good sense to be a little interested after the lashing fans and press gave them after E3.
I've recommended in the past that EA offer EA Nation access to outside developers and publishers for a fee. Were that access to happen (it won't), Capcom would be an ideal publisher to offer features AND actually help provide excellent quality to the game (rather than interfering with quality control as many publishers would).
I still think EA is the most realistic pick if there's no offers of change on the market. So long as they're willing to offer EA nation access, there's the potential for more features from them than from other publishers (again, as-is). No one trusts EA, and they have a decade long reputation for poor quality. With an EA pick, you'd just have to hope that the details of their contract with HVS gave them very little power while the game is still in development.
While it's best not to make assumptions, the fact they talk about the publisher being revealed the coming month would seem to point to nintendo being publisher.(october is when nintendo holds it's media summit)
Right, but that doesn't necessarily mean its going to be Nintendo, "…it's best not to make assumptions…".
I'm just saying it'd make sense if the reason they have been secretive about the publisher is if nintendo was the one to announce themselves as such.
and the month HVS said to expect an announcement is the same as the summit.
and of course I knew it wasn't a definite confirmation, hence the first part of my post.