Gamers of the newly launched Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD found unique creators at Retro Studios aren’t featured within the credit. As an alternative, the remaster’s credit acknowledge the way it’s “based mostly on the work of the unique growth employees.”
We have seen better scrutiny over crediting (and their omissions) inside video games these days. Credit for current high-profile titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, The Callisto Protocol, and Cranium & Bones didn’t correctly record translators or employees who left the studio earlier than the sport’s launch.
Nintendo has beforehand come underneath fireplace for this observe. The music app it launched final yr options soundtracks from its first-party video games and would not credit score their respective composers. Exterior translators additionally beforehand alleged they repeatedly weren’t credited correctly by what was described by sources as Nintendo coverage.
Not the primary Retro Studios crediting gaffe
Just like the Donkey Kong remaster, the credit for 2023’s Metroid Prime Remastered say it is “based mostly on the work of Metroid Prime (unique Nintendo GameCube and Wii variations) growth employees.” Zoid Kirsch, a former Retro engineer on the unique Prime, stated on the time he was “let down” by the shortage of correct crediting. “I labored with so many wonderful folks on the sport and everybody’s identify must be included within the remaster, not only a single card like this.”
In an announcement about Donkey Kong Nation Returns HD, Nintendo informed Eurogamer it “believes in giving correct credit score for anybody concerned in making or contributing to a sport’s creation, and worth the contributions that every one employees make throughout the growth course of.”
At time of writing, it has not defined why it omitted the unique Retro group from the remaster’s credit. Likewise, it has not stated if it would replace the credit, which earlier builders like Obsidian have accomplished.
