Nintendo is turning its internal testing group into a new company called "Mario Club," according to a Japanese-language internet report viewed by Gamasutra.
Citing news source Nikkei, an
Inside article says that the new Mario Club Limited is being spun off into a separate company, "established for the better treatment of workers."
As a result, existing full-time employee contracts are being modified, and existing part-time workers will become longer-term contract employees.
Mario Club is responsible for various game evaluation services for Nintendo, including playtesting and quality assurance.
The Inside report was not clear on whether the 250-person company will be fully or only partially owned by Nintendo.
There are several cases of Japan-based video game studios which are not full subsidiaries of the manufacturer, but in which Nintendo does hold a controlling stake.
