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Scribblenauts studio nearly done with DS

5TH Cell cofounder describes upcoming game and Drawn to Life 2 as "last hurrah" on Nintendo's handheld, with focus switching to console games.

5TH Cell has made a name for itself developing distinctive DS games like Drawn to Life, Lock's Quest, and next month's anticipated Scribblenauts. However, in an interview for next week's edition of GameSpot's HotSpot podcast, 5TH Cell cofounder and creative director Jeremiah Slaczka said the studio plans to move away from Nintendo's popular portable and onto consoles once it's finished with its two current projects, Scribblenauts and the DS edition of October's Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter.

Yes, that is an elephant firing a rocket launcher.

Yes, that is an elephant firing a rocket launcher.

"This is our big last hurrah for DS games," Slaczka said. "That's it for original stuff. We're now going to move on to consoles in the next year. We might still do DS; I'm not saying we're not going to [develop DS games]. But our focus is definitely going to be on console."

While Slaczka gave no indication as to what 5TH Cell wants to make for consoles, he did suggest that gamers haven't seen the last of Scribblenauts. When asked how he would turn the game into a franchise, Slaczka said there were "all kinds of cool things we could do with it" and pointed to Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter as an example of how 5TH Cell handles a sequel to one of its games. He also said not to expect farmed-out spin-offs of Scribblenauts like Drawn to Life: SpongeBob SquarePants Edition, which THQ made with Altron as the developer.

"We're definitely keeping it in-house for a while," Slaczka said. "I really like Scribblenauts and think there's a lot of potential there, so we'll see what happens."

For more from Slaczka, including the troubles of making Scribblenauts in a dozen different languages, check out the interview in the August 25 episode of the HotSpot.

47 Comments

  • green_panda9

    Posted Mar 8, 2010 5:59 pm GMT

    Finally a Scribblenauts sequel! Will the sequel be the last edition to the DS before 5th cell moves on to consoles?

  • HallowBastion

    Posted Nov 14, 2009 12:26 pm GMT

    If this is where Drawn to Life ends after the Next Chapter's DS ending, then I'm going to be pretty miffed. Methinks 5th Cell needs to do a proper ending to Drawn to Life, even if it is on the Wii, because this "it was all a dream" ending doesn't cut it.

  • BlazeShaman

    Posted Sep 23, 2009 1:25 am GMT

    Lock's Quest = Great fun! Loved the idea, fun to play.
    Scribblenauts= Extremely great! One of the best DS games tod ate
    Drawn to Life: I am not sure about this game... it is ok, but not nearly as good as Lock's Quest and Scribblenauts. The fun of being able to draw your own character and environment is a novelty for a few hours, but after that it wears a bit thin. However, I am looking forward to trying the Next Chapter, before completely deciding about Drawn to Life.

    All up, I really like 5TH Cell's games, and I find it a shame they are not making any more DS games, however, I do look forward to the kinds of games they could come up with for an XBox 360 or Wii.

  • CoolKid006

    Posted Sep 13, 2009 8:13 am GMT

    2 days!!!

  • creamerdude64

    Posted Sep 7, 2009 9:00 am GMT

    I HATED DRAWN TO LIFE. But I can not wait for this!!!

  • CoolKid006

    Posted Aug 23, 2009 5:13 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts rocks!

  • ultimte3ricecrm

    Posted Aug 22, 2009 2:23 pm GMT

    I can't wait for Scribblenauts! Drawn to Life was fun, I like that one. I've never tried Lock's Quest though.

    Also, I wish 5th Cell good luck in the coming future. Keep up the awesome work guys!

  • sunpanda2012

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 5:21 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts looks awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • fauljosh

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:30 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts may be the biggest hit of this year. I cannot wait to play it. I don't think it'll come out of my DS once I put it in.

  • sergioalb64

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 12:47 pm GMT

    They might go back to DS development; dev. times and costs are way lower for that system and sales are still great, and of course the DS has the biggest install base in gaming history.

    Best wishes to 5th Cell, I'm looking forward to those DS titles, but I do hope they reconsider.

  • Saetch

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 11:54 am GMT

    Squirrel: Planetmoon, not 5th Cell, is developing DTL Wii.

  • -Squirrel-

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 9:56 am GMT

    For as much as this article discusses 5th Cell's conversion to console development, it intrigues me to why they didn't mention that 5th Cell is already working on Drawn to Life for Wii. Clearly they have the dev kits for Wii and apparently know how to program for it, so it's not an unlikely prediction that they will venture to the Wii. If they have to leave the DS, which they unfortunately seem intent to do, the Wii would be the most logical fit for this most extraordinary company.

  • LosDaddie

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 8:41 am GMT

    Please bring the game to XBLA

  • Rect_Pola

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 6:00 am GMT

    I like these guys and think they would be good for consoles. Instead of obsessing over graphics, they refine it enough to "make it work," then focus on taking the depth in gameplay to insane limits.

  • Leo_Colt

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 4:21 am GMT

    This game looks seriously interesting. It even has Giant Enemy Crab in it!

  • viewtiful_jay

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 3:46 am GMT

    I kinda hate to see this. On one hand, I'm glad they'll be trying stuff with other platforms. On the other, the DS is a pretty cheap, easy platform to develop for, and is really kinda low risk. Same with the Wii. If they start developing for the HD consoles, it only takes a couple of poorly received games to tank you, like GRIN.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Aug 20, 2009 1:42 am GMT

    I really do hope Scibblenauts get's a sequel if in fact it is good once it's released

  • NuKkU posted Aug 19, 2009 7:08 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    NuKkU

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 7:08 pm GMT (hide)

    glad to see they will switch to the consoles

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 5:25 pm GMT

    @docstar7: I believe you're making the assumption that they'll be putting Drawn to Life on consoles. They do have a Drawn to Life game coming to the Wii, but they can create other original games too. They don't have to milk three properties forever.

    But even if they don't create any new properties for other systems, Scribblenauts is not really DS-dependant and could appear on any platform.

  • eldin4444

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 4:14 pm GMT

    I dont know , Just hope they dont give up on their original way to do games cuz, everything isnt just gore and stuff good, games like scribblenauts or drawn to life are needed

  • itsTolkien_time

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 4:11 pm GMT

    I am sad to hear they are moving away from the DS, it is the most popular (and one of the best) gaming device this decade.
    With the type of games they produce, I think they might stay in the Nintendo family, which I am fine with, as I own a Wii.
    I just don't see X-box or PS working out, 5th Cell is to good for them! I kid, I kid, both are great.

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 4:04 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts will be legendary

  • soulless4now

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 3:32 pm GMT

    I wonder what console they'll be working on.

  • Ryguy4738 posted Aug 19, 2009 3:26 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Ryguy4738

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 3:26 pm GMT (hide)

    Scibblenauts would suck on the wii like Drawn to Life obviously will. I hate Drawn to Life, but Scribblenauts is a win.

  • SiK99

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:56 pm GMT

    5th Cell is one of the best developers on the DS. This is sad news for DS owners if they really are shifting focus away from the hand-held after Scribblenauts and Drawn to Life 2.

  • wiiplay1

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:53 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts + Wii = EPIC WIN!

  • firecopy

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:51 pm GMT

    What is it with vechiles and jumping over babies with ramps in this game?

  • ThisNameIsDumb

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:50 pm GMT

    when are they making new handhelds? i can't wait!

  • TehEliteElite

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:37 pm GMT

    No love for the PC?

  • docstar7

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:23 pm GMT

    seems like a puzzling decision to me. the type of stuff they have developed really has no place on the PS3 or 360 outside of arcade/psn games. While it would fir well with the wii, the public has shown time and time again that with the wii, unless it's an first party nintendo game it's not really going to sell, no matter how good it is.

  • Crazyguy105

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:15 pm GMT

    SCRIBBLENAUTS!!!!!!!!

    I wish them the best of luck.

  • Foggel

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 2:02 pm GMT

    I'm actually hoping for a good Live Arcade game (and PSN for that matter).

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:39 pm GMT

    If this leads to Scribblenauts on a console, I'm all for it.

  • jmizzal

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:36 pm GMT

    Scribblenauts Wii plz

  • funkymonkey4710

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:34 pm GMT

    Just imagine Scribblenauts for the Wii, that would be epic, they could have higher resolution graphics and a much wider memory to work with in terms of adding any word possible.

  • GSgirl

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:33 pm GMT

    Go for it 5TH Cell

  • ASG_

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:21 pm GMT

    I'm getting this.
    If it has nuclear cats, that is.

  • JesusFreak1990

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:20 pm GMT

    @mikeyvp87 I agree, I have said that once before. Because it's easy for people to mod games on the PC, Scribblenauts would be great on it, as people could add their own words and items, plus people could add a little more graphic content (stuff like blood effects) if they wanted to.

  • robfield

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:16 pm GMT

    That's fine, I think they've left an impressive mark on the DS and Scribblenauts will top it off.

  • mikeyvp87

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 1:00 pm GMT

    I want Scibblenauts on the PC. Imagine that game with all those possibilities on a PC.

  • thps48

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:51 pm GMT

    3D Scribblenauts, anyone? That would be about as tremendously awesome as it would be excruciatingly time-consuming. XD

  • calvinx6 posted Aug 19, 2009 12:40 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    calvinx6

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:40 pm GMT (hide)

    They betrayed the DS fanbase.

  • awssk8er716

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:40 pm GMT

    I love their artstyle. Hopefully they keep it the same on other consoles. I can't wait for Scribblenauts.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:33 pm GMT

    Kind of a puzzling decision. The DS is the perfect platform for their stuff. I wish them the best of luck, though, as they're an excellent developer.

  • somberfox

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:09 pm GMT

    "That's it for original stuff."
    Oh yeah that sentence should make people anticipate their future games... not.

  • roosuu

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 12:04 pm GMT

    Well good luck to them. I hope they do an awesome job on consoles.

  • noobpower13

    Posted Aug 19, 2009 11:51 am GMT

    i think their games would be better on the ds.
    original games fit better on the ds in my opinion.
    the only advantage i see for them if they go to wii is better graphics.

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