Line #1 Creator/RetroStudios


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/retro_studios_logo.jpg]]
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3	Retro Studios is an American [[VideoGames video game]] developer based in Austin, Texas.
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5	The company was founded by [[VideoGame/{{Turok}} Jeff Spangenberg]] in 1998, after he left Creator/{{Acclaim}} and was given funding by {{Creator/Nintendo}} to create four new games for their upcoming Platform/NintendoGameCube system, targeting older audiences. Due to [[TroubledProduction incredibly poor management]], which included Spangenberg rarely appearing at the studio, Creator/ShigeruMiyamoto eventually stepped in to assess the damage. While disappointed in most of their work, Miyamoto was impressed by the work done for an action/adventure game called ''VideoGame/{{Metaforce}}'' and urged the team to create a new ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'' title instead, set to be [[ToughActToFollow the first one since the genre-defining]] [[VideoGame/SuperMetroid SNES installment]]. Every other project would soon end up cancelled in favor of the studio focusing all their efforts on what would become ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'', which was released in November 2002 and, despite the aforementioned struggles, [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail became one of the most beloved titles for the system]] and the start of a critically-acclaimed sub-series of {{First Person Shooter}}s. In the months before ''Prime'''s release, Nintendo would hastily acquire Spangenberg's controlling shares due to his terrible leadership and ousted him from the company (probably didn't help that he was hosting a softcore porn site on their servers), turning Retro Studios into a first-party developer for the Japanese gaming giant just as Creator/{{Rare}} was about to leave Nintendo for Microsoft. For his part, Spangenberg would go on to make ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNIHAFaWck0 The Guy Game]]''. Make of that what you will.
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7	Following the completion of the ''VideoGame/MetroidPrimeTrilogy'' and the departure of key talent from the studio[[note]]these individuals would found [[VideoGame/{{Recore}} Armature Studio]] and Creator/BluepointGames, both renowned for their {{polished port}}s[[/note]], Retro Studios once again found themselves experimenting with a number of ideas until they were tasked with revitalizing [[VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountry another dormant franchise]]. Miyamoto desired to make a new entry in the ''Donkey Kong Country'' series, with Retro Studios being chosen as the development team due to CEO Michael Kelbaugh having past experience with the series as a Q&A tester. ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'' would be revealed during [[UsefulNotes/ElectronicEntertainmentExpo E3]] 2010 and released that holiday season to great reception from fans and critics alike. Retro would remain tied to the franchise for the next several years, being responsible for the ''Franchise/DonkeyKong''-related aspects and "[[AccidentalPun retro]]" tracks of ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'', as well as creating a sequel in the form of ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'', which would later be considered one of the best games in the franchise.
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9	The remainder of the decade saw Retro Studios primarily focused on an unknown project that unfortunately got stuck in DevelopmentHell, and unless the [[https://twitter.com/RetroStudios/status/801548520046075904 occasional picture of barbecued chicken]] was [[EpilepticTrees some sort of clue]], we may never know what that project was. But in an eerie mirror to the studio's beginnings, this project was ultimately scrapped to make way for their return to the ''Metroid Prime'' series, with them becoming the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLIv_UXI_So new developers]] for ''Metroid Prime 4'' following that game's initial {{troubled production}} at a different company.
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11	!!Games developed/co-developed by Retro Studios
12	[[index]]
13	* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime'' ([[Platform/NintendoGameCube GameCube]], 2002)[[/index]]
14	** ''Metroid Prime Remastered'' (Platform/NintendoSwitch, 2023, UpdatedRerelease)[[index]]
15	* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime2Echoes'' ([=GameCube=], 2004)
16	* ''VideoGame/MetroidPrime3Corruption'' (Platform/{{Wii}}, 2007)[[/index]]
17	* ''Metroid Prime Trilogy'' (Wii, 2009; {{compilation rerelease}})[[index]]
18	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryReturns'' (Wii, 2010)[[/index]]
19	** ''Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D'' (Platform/Nintendo3DS, 2013, updated re-release)[[note]]Support studio for Monster Games[[/note]][[index]]
20	* ''VideoGame/MarioKart7'' (Platform/Nintendo3DS, 2011)[[note]]Co-developed alongside Nintendo EAD[[/note]]
21	* ''VideoGame/DonkeyKongCountryTropicalFreeze'' (Platform/WiiU, 2014)[[labelnote:note1]]Wii U version with assistance from Monster Games[[/labelnote]][[labelnote:note2]]Also developed 2018 updated re-release for Nintendo Switch[[/labelnote]]
22	* ''Metroid Prime 4'' (Switch, TBA)
23	[[/index]]

Context Creator / RetroStudios