cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/49816572
In an interview in the new issue of Famitsu, Miyamoto was asked why Nintendo‘s IPs are enjoyed around the world.
Miyamoto replied that the key to a successful game isn’t looking at what’s trending and trying to capitalise on that, but starting with ideas that the developers personally find fun and working around them.
“People have long asked me, ‘why does a mustachioed middle-aged guy like Mario sell so well?’ and I always think, ‘that’s a bit rude, isn’t it?'” Miyamoto joked (via machine translation). “Well, I wonder the same thing myself – why did an older guy like this become a hit? But if you look at it simply, it’s because he was introduced alongside incredibly fun games.
This is not correct.
Nintendo still make games internally. Some series (Kirby, Pokémon, Fire Emblem, Advance Wars, Kid Icarus) have always been outsourced. Some (Metroid) have been outsourced recently. Core Maro, Zelda, Pikmin, Splatoon, and Animal Crossing have always been developed internally.
Nintendo rarely buy other companies. They bought Alpha Dream, to whom Paper Mario had been outsourced, because Alpha Dream was looking for a buyer and Nintendo had previously worked with them.
The only company that kind of fits your statement is Monolith, which Nintendo acquired in the 2000s after Monolith had achieved acclaim with Xenosaga and Xenogears. They make the Xenoblade games nowadays, but that series connection to the previous Xeno games is by theme and style rather than story and character.