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General and Gaming => Modern Video Games => Topic started by: darko on June 28, 2013, 12:51:38 am

Title: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: darko on June 28, 2013, 12:51:38 am
http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/06/27/atlus-parent-company-investigated-for-fraud-files-for-bankruptcy/ (http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/06/27/atlus-parent-company-investigated-for-fraud-files-for-bankruptcy/)
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: desocietas on June 28, 2013, 02:09:55 am
:(  Thankfully, I found this

http://www.destructoid.com/atlus-usa-currently-a-ok-amid-index-corp-financial-mess-257160.phtml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Will let me sleep a little better...
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: varkias on June 28, 2013, 12:35:12 pm
:(  Thankfully, I found this

http://www.destructoid.com/atlus-usa-currently-a-ok-amid-index-corp-financial-mess-257160.phtml?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Will let me sleep a little better...

I'm still pretty worried.  Most likely Atlus will be sold off in order for it's parent company to re-coop it's loses.  So who's able to buy them?  Sony? EA?  I'm doubtful they'll have the same freedom as they do now.  As a company they take a lot of risk (which we love) on some of the titles they bring here.  I truly hope they make it through this unmolested by the bigs.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: jobocan on June 28, 2013, 12:58:07 pm
I do hope Nintendo picks them up, seems like a match made in heaven. They can probably afford it, and they're already in a good relationship right now.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on June 28, 2013, 01:38:10 pm
Honestly...I don't know what kind of funds NISA's sitting on top of -but- if they can't afford to buy Atlus outright, I'd like to see a "NISA <==> Atlus" merger/partnership just to see more games get console (and/or console + handheld) releases as opposed to almost everything going to the handhelds  8)
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: varkias on June 28, 2013, 07:10:23 pm
Honestly...I don't know what kind of funds NISA's sitting on top of -but- if they can't afford to buy Atlus outright, I'd like to see a "NISA <==> Atlus" merger/partnership just to see more games get console (and/or console + handheld) releases as opposed to almost everything going to the handhelds  8)

That is a sweet idea!
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: sin2beta on June 28, 2013, 07:42:50 pm
I do hope Nintendo picks them up, seems like a match made in heaven. They can probably afford it, and they're already in a good relationship right now.

Then project rainfall could have twice as much work...
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: foxhack on June 28, 2013, 08:03:53 pm
I do hope Nintendo picks them up, seems like a match made in heaven. They can probably afford it, and they're already in a good relationship right now.
Yeah, no thanks.

If Nintendo picks them up say goodbye to releases on anything other than Nintendo systems.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: jobocan on June 28, 2013, 08:13:03 pm
I do hope Nintendo picks them up, seems like a match made in heaven. They can probably afford it, and they're already in a good relationship right now.
Yeah, no thanks.

If Nintendo picks them up say goodbye to releases on anything other than Nintendo systems.

I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: foxhack on June 28, 2013, 08:35:02 pm
I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
For one thing, you can bet half their titles would never get released outside of Japan. Not to mention Nintendo would keep sticking their nose in their business. Persona 6 Featuring Mario? It can happen.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: haloofthesun on June 28, 2013, 09:29:37 pm
I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
For one thing, you can bet half their titles would never get released outside of Japan. Not to mention Nintendo would keep sticking their nose in their business. Persona 6 Featuring Mario? It can happen.

Considering SMT 4 has gotten a rather large amount of pre-orders in the US and Etrian Odyssey 4 is one of the top selling 3DS games, I'd say that's doubtful.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: jobocan on June 29, 2013, 01:40:58 am
I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
For one thing, you can bet half their titles would never get released outside of Japan. Not to mention Nintendo would keep sticking their nose in their business. Persona 6 Featuring Mario? It can happen.

I don't know, I don't get this whole "Nintendo ruins everything they touch" logic.
People kept saying that about Bayonetta 2, how they'd make it shit because... they're Nintendo. Now that we saw gameplay for that we know that nothing bad happened to the game even though Nintendo funded it.

I really think they'd just let Atlus do whatever they want as they are, except their games wouldn't be on Sony consoles anymore. And I don't see that as a problem.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: foxhack on June 29, 2013, 11:02:25 am
I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
For one thing, you can bet half their titles would never get released outside of Japan. Not to mention Nintendo would keep sticking their nose in their business. Persona 6 Featuring Mario? It can happen.

I don't know, I don't get this whole "Nintendo ruins everything they touch" logic.
People kept saying that about Bayonetta 2, how they'd make it shit because... they're Nintendo. Now that we saw gameplay for that we know that nothing bad happened to the game even though Nintendo funded it.

I really think they'd just let Atlus do whatever they want as they are, except their games wouldn't be on Sony consoles anymore. And I don't see that as a problem.
The incredibly reduced install base isn't a problem? Take 2 estimates that there are more than 120 million  Ps3 / 360 consoles combined as of June 7 (source (http://www.examiner.com/article/gta-5-publisher-discusses-ps3-and-xbox-360-install-base)). Add whatever amount of Vitas have been sold to that, plus add Atlus small but constant PC sales (they've published a number of indie games.)

Now, some places say the Wii U has sold much, much less than that. (Wikipedia says 3 million as of March, though I suspect the number is much higher after the Xbone presentation.). The 3DS? 31 Million.

Which means a lot less revenue. A lot less people to sell games to.

Also, they don't ruin everything they touch - but Megaten has always been a series that is completely different from anything Nintendo's ever produced or funded. Very unlike their "family friendly" style.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on June 29, 2013, 11:24:57 am
I frankly don't see why that'd be an issue at all.
For one thing, you can bet half their titles would never get released outside of Japan. Not to mention Nintendo would keep sticking their nose in their business. Persona 6 Featuring Mario? It can happen.

I don't know, I don't get this whole "Nintendo ruins everything they touch" logic.
People kept saying that about Bayonetta 2, how they'd make it shit because... they're Nintendo. Now that we saw gameplay for that we know that nothing bad happened to the game even though Nintendo funded it.

I really think they'd just let Atlus do whatever they want as they are, except their games wouldn't be on Sony consoles anymore. And I don't see that as a problem.
The incredibly reduced install base isn't a problem? Take 2 estimates that there are more than 120 million  Ps3 / 360 consoles combined as of June 7 (source (http://www.examiner.com/article/gta-5-publisher-discusses-ps3-and-xbox-360-install-base)). Add whatever amount of Vitas have been sold to that, plus add Atlus small but constant PC sales (they've published a number of indie games.)

Now, some places say the Wii U has sold much, much less than that. (Wikipedia says 3 million as of March, though I suspect the number is much higher after the Xbone presentation.). The 3DS? 31 Million.

Which means a lot less revenue. A lot less people to sell games to.

Also, they don't ruin everything they touch - but Megaten has always been a series that is completely different from anything Nintendo's ever produced or funded. Very unlike their "family friendly" style.

Gotta agree w/ Foxhack on this one because:

1).  Like he said, the size of the install base,

2).  How far off (something like, say, the SMT series) is from the games and tones/styles of games that Nintendo does well, and

3).  Look at how many Atlus (and NISA, even) games have started out as "console-only" games...only to later receive ports/re-makes (usually w/ more features & content) on the hand-held systems.

Though I always prefer a console's ability to use my fav controllers & play on a big screen instead of a tiny one...I'll always be strongly for *BOTH* (Niche games (my favorites:) getting released on as many different platforms as possible) in order to reach as many gamers & support their developers & creators as much as possible.

I guess that a more "recent" example would be Persona(s) 3 & 4...sold great on consoles - then sold great on hand-helds = (IMO) win/win  8)
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: scott on June 29, 2013, 11:34:17 am
I guess that a more "recent" example would be Persona(s) 3 & 4...sold great on consoles - then sold great on hand-helds = (IMO) win/win  8)

Too bad Persona 3 sucks balls on PSP compared to the PS2 version. It's so trimmed down and the point and click adventure set up of the day section is crap.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: foxhack on June 29, 2013, 11:40:28 am
I know my post sounded a bit anti-Nintendo, but far from it. I loved the company growing up.

But imagine all of Atlus' back catalog being locked away in a vault because they wouldn't re-release any of their PS1 stuff anywhere.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on June 29, 2013, 11:43:14 am
I guess that a more "recent" example would be Persona(s) 3 & 4...sold great on consoles - then sold great on hand-helds = (IMO) win/win  8)

Too bad Persona 3 sucks balls on PSP compared to the PS2 version. It's so trimmed down and the point and click adventure set up of the day section is crap.

I've only played P3 & P4 on the PS2.

I seem to remember a lot of people preferring (I forget which one) it on the hand-held, though because it added a whole, new (female) playable character, new social links, and, the ability to control party members individually - instead of being stuck w/ just being able to pick/set their AI's...

then again, like I said - if there's a console version...that'll always be the one that I play  ;D
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: jobocan on June 30, 2013, 10:42:40 pm

I don't know, I don't get this whole "Nintendo ruins everything they touch" logic.
People kept saying that about Bayonetta 2, how they'd make it shit because... they're Nintendo. Now that we saw gameplay for that we know that nothing bad happened to the game even though Nintendo funded it.

I really think they'd just let Atlus do whatever they want as they are, except their games wouldn't be on Sony consoles anymore. And I don't see that as a problem.
The incredibly reduced install base isn't a problem? Take 2 estimates that there are more than 120 million  Ps3 / 360 consoles combined as of June 7 (source (http://www.examiner.com/article/gta-5-publisher-discusses-ps3-and-xbox-360-install-base)). Add whatever amount of Vitas have been sold to that, plus add Atlus small but constant PC sales (they've published a number of indie games.)

Now, some places say the Wii U has sold much, much less than that. (Wikipedia says 3 million as of March, though I suspect the number is much higher after the Xbone presentation.). The 3DS? 31 Million.

Which means a lot less revenue. A lot less people to sell games to.

Also, they don't ruin everything they touch - but Megaten has always been a series that is completely different from anything Nintendo's ever produced or funded. Very unlike their "family friendly" style.

I sorta get what you're saying then (especially the "games locked in a vault" thing from your other post, that's definitely a legit grievance).

But I think a large part of the Atlus fanbase would be willing to buy the Nintendo consoles if they don't already have them to play all the Atlus games (I mean, a lot of them probably have a 3DS already for SMT4, and will get a Wii U at some point for Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem). And the Wii U will likely start selling proper numbers by the end of the year now that it's actually getting games.
It's true that it would reach a smaller audience and that could potentially suck for them, but I'm not completely convinced that it would end up being that big a problem. Atlus fans are pretty loyal after all.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: blipcs76 on July 01, 2013, 11:17:18 am
It would be a brilliant move for Nintendo to snatch up Atlus.  It would serve both to increase the number of exclusives coming to the WiiU as well as bring more core games to the system.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on July 01, 2013, 11:30:38 am
It would be a brilliant move for Nintendo to snatch up Atlus.  It would serve both to increase the number of exclusives coming to the WiiU as well as bring more core games to the system.

Couldn't the same really be said for Sony, M$, AND Nintendo (for their respective consoles & hand-helds, of course)?
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: blipcs76 on July 01, 2013, 02:23:44 pm
It would be a brilliant move for Nintendo to snatch up Atlus.  It would serve both to increase the number of exclusives coming to the WiiU as well as bring more core games to the system.

Couldn't the same really be said for Sony, M$, AND Nintendo (for their respective consoles & hand-helds, of course)?

Yes, but Nintendo is far more in need of exclusive core titles than Sony and MS.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on July 01, 2013, 03:26:21 pm
It would be a brilliant move for Nintendo to snatch up Atlus.  It would serve both to increase the number of exclusives coming to the WiiU as well as bring more core games to the system.

Couldn't the same really be said for Sony, M$, AND Nintendo (for their respective consoles & hand-helds, of course)?

Yes, but Nintendo is far more in need of exclusive core titles than Sony and MS.

Agreed.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: nintendojuggalo on July 05, 2013, 06:59:21 am
Good. That's what they get for releasing dating hentai puzzle simulators.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: sin2beta on August 05, 2013, 12:41:16 am
It seems SEGA put their hat in the ring to buy ATLUS with what seem to be the leading bids...

http://segabits.com/blog/2013/08/02/sega-sammy-one-of-the-companies-interested-in-purchasing-atlus-parent-company/
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: haloofthesun on August 05, 2013, 01:26:27 am
It doesn't seem as though many gaming companies bid on them. Capcom did, but I don't think it was a very large bid in comparison. Hope Sega gets them, they'd be a good fit.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: sin2beta on August 05, 2013, 08:33:35 pm
Part of me thinks SEGA would be good. Part doesn't. It wasn't long ago that they announced the only western releases they would do would be sonic, football manager, and total war. However, they recently shocked me by bringing Hatsune Miku over. However, they still have no word of Yakuza 5...
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: haloofthesun on August 05, 2013, 11:06:15 pm
Atlus has been a huge localization powerhouse, and more than that they tend to publish a lot of games that wouldn't normally see a Western release. So hopefully, if Sega were to acquire them, that would help with that problem.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: karyann on August 31, 2013, 08:25:36 pm
Anybody seen anything recently about the bids on Atlus? I can't seem to find anything about it, and I'm really curious to know who will finally get them...
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: sin2beta on September 19, 2013, 11:48:56 pm
So, SEGA bought Atlus, huh?
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on September 20, 2013, 09:29:24 am
So, SEGA bought Atlus, huh?

Yep.

I heard that they bought them for 14 million yen (not sure what that converts to in dollars).

I *still* would have loved to have seen Atlus + NISA merge/combine...I think it would have been good chemistry.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: soera on September 20, 2013, 12:32:13 pm
I think I called the Sega purchase somewhere. Could be pretty interesting. We will see!
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: htimreimer on September 20, 2013, 12:44:38 pm
So, SEGA bought Atlus, huh?
I heard that they bought them for 14 million yen (not sure what that converts to in dollars).
sega got them for 20 billion yen (around $201,740,000.00 USD) and sega had the highest bid for atlus

both j trust (a japanese financial services firm) and nintndo had bids for atlus among 17 other companies
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: brunauss on September 20, 2013, 01:23:33 pm
NOW... willl Sega do right by the loyal developers of Tex Murphy and not screw up with the marketing? Hopefully not. For the record, Fox has valid points with Nintendo's behavior with owned studios. I am thankful that Metroid and Bayonetta has been left alone in this respect.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: sin2beta on September 21, 2013, 12:39:00 am
I think I called the Sega purchase somewhere. Could be pretty interesting. We will see!

I figured they would win once they put their hat in the ring. SEGA doesn't seem to fool around when they show interest in buying someone. They will overpay rather than not purchase. This is my favorite purchase so far of theirs.

Now, as much as it hurts me to say this, I think this will be bad for ATLUS fans. I've been covering SEGA news for a site and following the company for years. Generally, they hate localizing Japanese games in the Western market. PSO2 just isn't coming. Yakuza seems to have stopped coming over. This is a major shame because Yakuza is the best thing SEGA has done since going third party. And even announced a year ago that the only thing that would come to the West are Sonic, Football Manager, and Total War. They've back tracked on this a little bit. However, I think the sales of Project X Zone and Hatsune Miku will make SEGA conservative in the West again. Despite everything. SEGA is still a different company in the East and in the West. I fear ATLUS is a purchase for SEGA of Japan. Not SEGA of America or SEGA of Europe.
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: disgaeniac on September 21, 2013, 08:41:43 am
I think I called the Sega purchase somewhere. Could be pretty interesting. We will see!

I figured they would win once they put their hat in the ring. SEGA doesn't seem to fool around when they show interest in buying someone. They will overpay rather than not purchase. This is my favorite purchase so far of theirs.

Now, as much as it hurts me to say this, I think this will be bad for ATLUS fans. I've been covering SEGA news for a site and following the company for years. Generally, they hate localizing Japanese games in the Western market. PSO2 just isn't coming. Yakuza seems to have stopped coming over. This is a major shame because Yakuza is the best thing SEGA has done since going third party. And even announced a year ago that the only thing that would come to the West are Sonic, Football Manager, and Total War. They've back tracked on this a little bit. However, I think the sales of Project X Zone and Hatsune Miku will make SEGA conservative in the West again. Despite everything. SEGA is still a different company in the East and in the West. I fear ATLUS is a purchase for SEGA of Japan. Not SEGA of America or SEGA of Europe.

Truth.

Look how they dropped (their own) ball with the Valkyria Chronicles series...for those who don't know:

- the 1st was an awesome, sleeper hit, slowly building a huge & (almost) rabid fan base,

- the 2nd was handheld-only, and

- the 3rd never made it out of Japan.

Nice way to capitalize on a success, there, Sega  :-\
Title: Re: Atlus might be in trouble!
Post by: htimreimer on September 21, 2013, 02:35:40 pm

I think I called the Sega purchase somewhere. Could be pretty interesting. We will see!
I fear ATLUS is a purchase for SEGA of Japan. Not SEGA of America or SEGA of Europe.
it was sega dream corporation that acquired atlus and all operations of index corp