Nicalis Explained

Nicalis, Inc.
Type:Private
Founder:Tyrone Rodriguez
Location City:Santa Ana, California
Location Country:U.S.
Industry:Video games
Subsid:SuperVillain Studios

Nicalis, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher based in Santa Ana, California. The company focuses primarily on indie games and has developed and published both original games as well as ports of existing games. Nicalis was founded in 2007 by Tyrone Rodriguez,[1] a game designer and former game journalist.[2] In 2017, Nicalis announced that they had acquired SuperVillain Studios and Cowboy Color.[3]

Games

Since its founding, the company has developed and published several games, beginning with Dance Dance Revolution: Mobius in 2008 and Cave Story in 2010. In October 2011, Nicalis announced that it would publish a port of VVVVVV for the Nintendo 3DS via the Nintendo eShop.[4] In December 2011, Nicalis offered both NightSky and Cave Story+ for sale as part of Humble Indie Bundle 4.[5] In April 2012, Nicalis announced that its plans to publish the WiiWare port of La-Mulana in the US and EU had been cancelled, citing a steep decline in the WiiWare userbase.[6] In January 2017, it was silently announced that Nicalis would release several of their games on the Nintendo Switch.[7]

Games developed and published

Release YearTitlePlatform(s)Co-developer(s)Notes
2011VVVVVVNintendo 3DSTerry CavanaghPort
2010Cave StoryNintendo 3DS, DSiWare, WiiWareStudio PixelPorts
2011NightSkyMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, iOSNifflas
Cave Story 3DNintendo 3DSStudio Pixel3D remake
Cave Story+Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, LinuxStudio PixelEnhanced port
20141001 SpikesMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Xbox One8-bit Fanatics
GrinsiaNintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch
2015Castle in the DarknessMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS XMatt Kap
VVVVVVPlayStation 4, PS VitaTerry CavanaghPort
2016Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
  • First paid expansion to The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
2017Cave Story+Nintendo SwitchStudio Pixel
Knight TerrorsMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo SwitchFreakZone Games
Tiny Barbarian DXMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo SwitchStarQuail Games
VVVVVVNintendo SwitchTerry CavanaghPort
Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
  • Paid expansion to
  • Physical release for Nintendo Switch
  • Afterbirth is required to use the content in Afterbirth+
2018Save Me Mr TakoNintendo SwitchDeneos GamesPublishing agreement with developer ended in November 2020[8]
2019Crystal CrisisNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft WindowsCrossover puzzle game
2021Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S
  • Paid expansion to
  • Physical release for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch
  • Expansions Afterbirth, and Afterbirth+ are required to use the content in Repentance.
2022Cramped Room of DeathMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchHafiz Mohd RozlanReleased on the Epic Games Store, Steam, and GOG.com[9]
TBA'90s Super GPPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft WindowsPelikan13

Games published

ReleaseTitlePlatform(s)Developer(s)Co-publisher(s)Notes
2006ToribashMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, WiiWareNabi Studios
2013IkachanNintendo 3DSStudio PixelStudio PixelPort
2016Dimensional IntersectionMicrosoft WindowsDNV
Creepy CastleMicrosoft WindowsDopterra
2017PlayStation 4, Nintendo SwitchLizardcubeDotEmu
  • Remake to
  • Port
  • Physical release
Ittle Dew 2+Nintendo SwitchLudosity
  • Sequel to Ittle Dew
  • Enhanced port to Ittle Dew 2
  • Physical release
The End Is NighNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4Edmund McMillen, Tyler GlaielPorts
2018Runner3Nintendo SwitchChoice ProvisionsChoice ProvisionsPhysical release
IkarugaNintendo SwitchTreasure
  • Port
  • Physical release
Code of Princess EXNintendo SwitchStudio Saizensen
  • Enhanced port
  • Physical release
Blade StrangersPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft WindowsStudio Saizensen
RemiLoreMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OnePixellore Inc., REMIMORY
RedoutNintendo Switch34BigThings34BigThingsPort
2020Monkey Barrels[10] Nintendo SwitchGood-FeelPhysical Switch release in North America only
2021Spectacular SparkyMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchFreakZone Games
CritadelMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchPixelian Studio
2022The Legend of Bum-boMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SEdmund McMillen, James Interactive

Awards

Cave Story was nominated for Game of the Year at the 2010 Nintendo Power Awards, as well as WiiWare Game of the Year.[12] The 3DS version of Cave Story was nominated for Best Adventure Game at the 2011 Nintendo Power Awards.[13] At the 2011 Independent Games Festival, Cave Story was a finalist in the category of "Excellence In Visual Art" and both Cave Story and NightSky received honorable mentions in the category of "Excellence In Audio."[14]

Controversy over management

In September 2019, Kotaku editor Jason Schreier posted a lengthy article compiled from interviews with anonymous internal employees of Nicalis and external developers that have used the company related to the management of the company, particularly to its CEO Tyrone Rodriguez. The investigation was spurred by observations from players of brief conflicts between Nicalis and their developers across social media in the years prior. The report asserted that Rodriguez was controlling and exploitative of his employees and encouraged a racist atmosphere within the company. External developers also stated that they felt Nicalis engaged in ghosting; they had signed deals for Nicalis to help publish their games, but later could not get any response from Nicalis, causing them to lose time and potential sales, and forcing them to turn to other publishers.[15] [16] In response to the report, Nicalis issued a statement stating "We do not condone abusive workplace environments or discrimination and have people from all walks of life."[17] Rodriguez apologized on Twitter that his comments to his employees reported in the article were "indefensible and unacceptable".[18]

On hearing of these accusations, Edmund McMillen, who had developed several games through Nicalis, stated that he would no longer be working with the company on any future games, though would still be releasing as originally planned.[15] McMillen recanted his stance in January 2021, citing Rodriguez's adjusted behavior.[19] Nicalis published McMillen's further works, including the console versions of The Legend of Bum-bo in 2022.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Carter. Grey. 27 March 2012. NightSky Dev: Kojima is Terrible At Making Games. The Escapist. 7 March 2014. 2 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402195452/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116513-NightSky-Dev-Kojima-is-Terrible-At-Making-Games. dead.
  2. Web site: Tyrone Rodriguez Developer Biography. www.mobygames.com. 2022-04-08.
  3. Web site: McAloon . Alissa . Cave Story 3D dev Nicalis acquires SuperVillain Studios and Cowboy Color . Gamasutra . 13 April 2017 . Gamasutra . 6 August 2019.
  4. Web site: VVVVVV COMING TO 3DDDDDD!!!!!!. 6 October 2011. 9 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120508144720/http://blog.nicalis.com/2011/10/vvvvvv-coming-to-3dddddd/. 8 May 2012.
  5. Humble Indie Bundle 4 zips up Cave Story, Meat Boy, Shank and more (Wired UK). Brown. Mark. 14 December 2011. Wired. Condé Nast Publications. 9 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20111217101008/http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2011-12/14/humble-indie-bundle-4. 17 December 2011.
  6. Web site: Wii News: WiiWare: 'Window for success passed in 2009' - Nicalis - ComputerAndVideoGames.com. Jackson. Mike. 1 May 2012. Computer and Video Games. Future Publishing. 9 May 2012.
  7. News: Frank. Allegra. Nintendo Switch UI gets new close-up in deleted tweet. January 19, 2017. Polygon. January 19, 2017.
  8. Web site: Delisted Switch Title Save Me Mr Tako Will Return Better Than Ever, Says Creator . McFerran . Damien . December 17, 2020 . . July 23, 2021.
  9. Web site: Sheehan . Gavin . Cramped Room Of Death Announced For Q4 2022 Release . . August 27, 2022 . August 31, 2022.
  10. Web site: 2020-11-09 . Monkey Barrels will have a physical release in the west . 2024-05-07 . Nintendo Everything . en.
  11. nicalis . 1489666452043051012 . The Legend of Bum-bo out now on GOG and Epic Games Store. Help Bum-bo find coin!.
  12. Book: Nintendo Power Issue 250 . 2010 . . . 73.
  13. Book: Nintendo Power Issue 276 . 2012 . . South San Francisco, California.
  14. Web site: 2011 Independent Games Festival Announces Main Competition Finalists. 9 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120501102345/http://igf.com/2011/01/2011_independent_games_festiva_11.html. 1 May 2012.
  15. Web site: Inside The Ghosting, Racism, And Exploitation At Game Publisher Nicalis . Jason . Schreier . Jason Schreier. September 12, 2019 . September 12, 2019 . .
  16. Web site: Following Bombshell Report, More Indies Share Horror Stories of Working With Nicalis . Matthew . Olsen . September 23, 2019 . September 23, 2019 . . September 23, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190923193230/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/following-bombshell-report-more-indie-devs-come-forward-with-stories-of-ghosting-from-nicalis . dead .
  17. Web site: Binding of Isaac creator drops future plans to work with Nicalis after reports of exploitation . Dustin . Bailey . September 12, 2019 . September 12, 2019 . .
  18. Web site: Nicalis founder Tyrone Rodriguez posted a statement on Twitter last night . Jason . Schreier . Jason Schreier . September 13, 2019 . September 13, 2019 . .
  19. Web site: 10 Years After Release, Edmund McMillen Can't Stop Working on 'Binding of Isaac' . Klepek . Patrick . April 6, 2021 . . March 22, 2024.
  20. Web site: The Legend of Bum-bo Arrives on Switch, PS5, & Xbox Series This Month . Friscia . John . June 15, 2022 . . June 23, 2022.

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