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Index (Atlus) under criminal investigation for fraudulent accounting

If anybody were to buy Atlus, it should definitely not be a platform holder, because freedom to choose platforms for different games has resulted in many interesting games.
 
ITT, I learnt that 3 of GAF's gaming side mods are Atlus (and by extension JRPG) fans.

That leaves m0dus and bishoptl as undecided, I guess. No mods to champion the bro cause? :(

On topic, I hope Atlus gets out of this alive somehow.
 
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If anybody were to buy Atlus, it should definitely not be a platform holder, because freedom to choose platforms for different games has resulted in many interesting games.

I think one option which I don't see mentioned is that if the game development division of Index is auctioned off or split up, along with all the IPs, the business heads there who run it could get investor partners to basically buy themselves out.
 
I mean it's not like Atlus would ever release something on PC (or Europe) so i would be ok with having them only on Playstation.
Actually, they did have a division that produced PC MMOs (including a SMT one). However they just sold it to Marvelous/XSeed.
 
This is a really embarrassing post. No, it's not the case that a single arguably poor but also explainable decision by Atlus USA suggests that its parent company would be involved in massive and systematic stock fraud. I get it, you only entered the thread to grind your axe.

Pedantic here, but surely the region locking decision (to prevent reverse importing) was made by the Japanese branch/Index and not Atlus USA. Region locking would logically hurt Atlus USA sales rather than benefiting them.
 
Well, if you're concerned for the game development side of things, I'll say that personally I'll be very surprised if they "go under" so to speak without any future in the industry. The Atlus IPs are popular titles in Japan, and Persona in particular has pretty wide transmedia reach across the entertainment industry. The developers at Atlus are also very talented people with a long history in the industry. I think they'll pull through one way or another.

I am very concerned. You're not even a little concerned? This is like a horrifying doomsday scenario in my mind, like exactly what I imagine the end of the world being like. Atlus going down first to signal the coming of the angels of doom :( Am I being too grim?

Do you believe those properties would be picked up by people who could reasonably continue to maintain the talent that worked on these games?

Don't worry, I'm sure Tecmo-Koei will swoop in and buy up their IPs and get Gust or Compile Heart to make Persona 5.


muahahahahaha


edit: fuck, i'm on a list now, aren't i. Just when I made it through E3 :(

Why do you hate me kick51, I don't even KNOW you... :(
 
I think one option which I don't see mentioned is that if the game development division of Index is auctioned off or split up, along with all the IPs, the business heads there who run it could get investor partners to basically buy themselves out.

Didn't work out too well for THQ, although that's a different situation in a different country.
 
MS would be silly to buy Atlus. Sony and Nintendo would do well with buying them up. If Atlus does go to sale, my money is on Sega buying them.
 
Man, this thread is full of terrible suggestions.

Nintendo buy Atlus?

Sony buy Atlus?

Square buy Atlus?

Level-5 buy Atlus?


i can't

I'd be fine with Sony or Nintendo, but the latter is incredibly unlikely regardless. Either way there's a lot worse choices out there. I doubt either would purchase a company of that size just to put them on their own properties. They've delivered a healthy dose of niche titles on both their hardwares, but I don't see either of them stepping in to help. Many many times a company has closed where people speculated Nintendo would help them and they passed on it. I just hope Atlus will be okay after all this news and at least make it out with their properties in tact. It would be devastating for them to be gone because of this. At least Atlus has consistently delivered quality games to make a purchase for a good company more enticing.
 
MS would be silly to buy Atlus. Sony and Nintendo would do well with buying them up. If Atlus does go to sale, my money is on Sega buying them.

Only thing they'll be able to afford are the leftover desks after the Indextlus offices are cleared out.
 
Well no, I meant how they tried to auction off their IP as one package but ended up being forced to sell them off piecemeal. What if SMT and Persona went off to different developers?

I think they're still technically the same IP. I imagine we wouldn't see a breakup of Jack Frost and Pyro Jack.
 
So many Atlus games I enjoyed in the past 15 years, It's really heart breaking to think about it now....

Goodnight sweet prince.
 
Well no, I meant how they tried to auction off their IP as one package but ended up being forced to sell them off piecemeal. What if SMT and Persona went off to different developers?

THQ wanted to auction the entire company as one package. If they were to auction the company off, I don't think anyone wants all of Index as one package either. Just the game development studio and publishing business will do. :P
 
Well no, I meant how they tried to auction off their IP as one package but ended up being forced to sell them off piecemeal. What if SMT and Persona went off to different developers?

That's my point. THQ was a much bigger company with a more diverse portfolio than Atlus. Buying the entire company when you're basically just interested in Volition/Saint's Row or Relic made no sense. Atlus' development arm on the other hand is a rather specialized and any company buying Persona probably would want mainline SMT and the rest as well.
 
I'd feel horrible if Atlus's IPs ended in one place and the talent behind the games someplace else.

No Meguro or Soejima or Hashino or or... in my Persona--I DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT!
 
If anybody were to buy Atlus, it should definitely not be a platform holder, because freedom to choose platforms for different games has resulted in many interesting games.

"Microsoft is proud to announce the addition of Atlus to the Xbox family. Very soon all gamers can enjoy these new titles exclusively on Xbox One."

- Soon to be coming announcement.
 
THQ wanted to auction the entire company as one package. If they were to auction the company off, I don't think anyone wants all of Index as one package either. Just the game development studio and publishing business will do. :P
Also, different country with different laws. Don't suppose Japanese-business/bankruptcy-lawyer-GAF is anywhere to be found?
 
Well, if you're concerned for the game development side of things, I'll say that personally I'll be very surprised if they "go under" so to speak without any future in the industry. The Atlus IPs are popular titles in Japan, and Persona in particular has pretty wide transmedia reach across the entertainment industry. The developers at Atlus are also very talented people with a long history in the industry. I think they'll pull through one way or another.

After this generation of great Japanese dev studios, teams, and individuals rotting on the vine due to lack of money and/or boardroom competance over there, I'll say I hope so. I deeply, deeply hope so.

Don't you think that would be excessive? I don't think he deserv--



Fuck it. You're on THE list now. :(

At least he didnt say Idea Factory. :O
 
If anybody were to buy Atlus, it should definitely not be a platform holder, because freedom to choose platforms for different games has resulted in many interesting games.

Like making a game for a platform with a touchscreen or motion sensing controls where you perform medical operations on patients, right.
 
After this generation of great Japanese dev studios, teams, and individuals rotting on the vine due to lack of money and/or boardroom competance over there, I'll say I hope so. I deeply, deeply hope so.



At least he didnt say Idea Factory. :O

ImageEpoch actually can make good games, at least.
(I enjoyed Fate/Extra and BRS, come at me.)
 
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