Ex-Secret of Mana developers join Nintendo

[06.08.00] » New development house to create a networked RPG for the Game Boy Advance.

    Nintendo of Japan has announced the creation of a new development team, curiously entitled Brownie Brown. This new development studio is largely comprised of ex-Square employees, many of whom have previously worked on the Seiken Densetsu series. These include Kameoka Shinichi, who will serve as Brownie Brown's representative director, as well as Kouji Tsuda, who will serve as a director. Shinichi was responsible for the character designs in both Secret of Mana 2 and 3, and Tsuda was a graphic designer for Secret of Mana 3 as well as SaGa Frontier.

    The team is currently at work on an RPG for the Game Boy Advance by the name of Magical Vacation, slated for a release in the second quarter of 2001. While details are still scarce, Nintendo has emphasized the "communication aspect" of the game and how it will take advantage of the system's cell-phone network capability. With support from Nintendo to the tune of 1.8 million dollars in start-up funds, this should certainly be a game to watch as the GBA's release draws nearer.