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[lunchwithyuzo]

A platform holder buying Atlus is such a bad idea, and nobody should be wishing for that at all. I get the feeling someone like Gung Ho will step up though.

Gung Ho's a good suggestion as they'd likely keep Atlus USA intact to act as their western publishing arm. As important as Atlus RD1 is, I think Atlus USA is getting a bit overlooked in this and I'd be gutted if they just got closed down as the result of an aquisition or merger (like we saw with Hudson Entertainment, Enix USA, etc).

What other medium to large-ish sized JP pub could use a US publisher? Level 5? Takara Tomy? From Software? Spike Chunsoft? Kadokawa Games?

 

[nckillthegrimace]

My three guesses are Gung Ho, Marvelous, and (out of left field) Zenimax.

Zenimax would blow because I don't see them allowing Atlus to continue handheld development.

 

[Magicpaint]

If they go with GungHo, I fear they maybe forced to go online, or at least convert their games to online. :|

?
Aren't they making a P&D game for 3DS that is a more traditional RPG?

 

[SolidSnakex]

Zenimax would blow because I don't see them allowing Atlus to continue handheld development.

That'd probably be far down on the list of issues with Zenimax buying them based on the horror stories that have come out about that company.

 

[Arelaz]

I'm so scared, someone hold me ;~;

 

[jj984jj]

GungHo recently bought Grasshopper Manufacture, which, to my knowledge, isn't making any online games .

They also bought Acquire, who is publishing Mind 0 and developing Rain with PlayStation C.A.M.P. Neither are online IIRC.

 

[Coxy]

They also bought Acquire, who is publishing Mind 0 and developing Rain with PlayStation C.A.M.P.

and who they put straight to work on Road to Dragons for iOS

 

[Cactus]

I apologize if this has been discussed already, but if a company like GungHo buys Index/Atlus, would the corrupt management come as well, or would they vacate their positions?

 

[Deitus]

Gung Ho's a good suggestion as they'd likely keep Atlus USA intact to act as their western publishing arm. As important as Atlus RD1 is, I think Atlus USA is getting a bit overlooked in this and I'd be gutted if they just got closed down as the result of an aquisition or merger (like we saw with Hudson Entertainment, Enix USA, etc).

What other medium to large-ish sized JP pub could use a US publisher? Level 5? Takara Tomy? From Software? Spike Chunsoft? Kadokawa Games?

From Software could definitely use a Western publishing arm, and they have worked with Atlus USA in the past, so it might be a good fit. But I don't know if they have the resources to just buy Atlus outright.

I would be pretty pleased with that outcome if it happened though, provided they left Atlus development teams to their own devices. I just don't see it as a realistic outcome.

 

[RMI]

I'm so scared, someone hold me ;~;

yep. hopefully this all turns out alright.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

GungHo recently bought Grasshopper Manufacture, which, to my knowledge, isn't making any online games .

GameArts has been doing plenty of console stuff since their buyout too.

 

[jj984jj]

and who they put straight to work on Road to Dragons for iOS

Alongside their consumer games and partnerships, including the two projects I mentioned. Not sure what the problem is, Atlus IPs have been on mobile before.

 

[Cornbread78]

I apologize if this has been discussed already, but if a company like GungHo buys Index/Atlus, would the corrupt management come as well, or would they vacate their positions?

It could come with them, or be shown the door immediately, it's up to teh purchasing company. The employees are considered assets as well, so they can be let go immediately.

 

[pirata]

Oh God, of course this happens to the company developing the one game I've really wanted to play for the past five years.

 

[Jamix012]

Alongside their consumer games and partnerships, including the two projects I mentioned. Not sure what the problem is, Atlus IPs have been on mobile before.

Out of curiosity, when? I don't recall Atlus mobile games ever, but perhaps they were Japan only?

 

[DigitalDevilSummoner]

Why not Square enix ? They need someone to develop FF XV-2.

 

[jj984jj]

Out of curiosity, when? I don't recall Atlus mobile games ever, but perhaps they were Japan only?

Yeah, they are largely for Japan only services:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Atlus_downloadable_games#Mobile_phone_games

 

[Rad-]

SE should buy them. They have been lacking JRPG talent lately.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

Atlus is my favorite developer, I'm worried as fuck.... I hope it all ends up well.

 

[bobbychalkers]

As long as I get my SMT X FE I don't care who buys them. I'd rather a first party not buy them. I don't want to witness that shitstorm.

 

[DR2K]

I imagine Nintendo would be three most likely to pick them up.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

I imagine Nintendo would be three most likely to pick them up.

Most likely of the 3 first parties yes, undoubtedly. But I still think Nintendo's not likely at all really.

 

[kanamechan]

As long as Etrians come out on my 3DS and are as good as they have been, I wouldn't mind if McDonalds picked them up.

Someone has to!

 

[InsaneZero]

SE should buy them. They have been lacking JRPG talent lately.

SE won't buy them, simply because the strengths of Index Digital Media don't contribute to SE's current business plan.

 

[DaBoss]

As long as Etrians come out on my 3DS and are as good as they have been, I wouldn't mind if McDonalds picked them up.

Someone has to!

This post made my day.

 

[jay]

As long as Etrians come out on my 3DS and are as good as they have been, I wouldn't mind if McDonalds picked them up.

Someone has to!

Atlawson

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

SE should buy them. They have been lacking JRPG talent lately.

I don't want Atlus RD1 thrown into the FFXIV slave pits, and I don't want Atlus USA to get Enixed.

Square Enix is probably the WORST possible outcome imo.

 

[duckroll]

I apologize if this has been discussed already, but if a company like GungHo buys Index/Atlus, would the corrupt management come as well, or would they vacate their positions?

The (allegedly) corrupt management has already been removed. They will have no part in the restructuring process.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Everything will be okay people. It's the larger corporation that has issues, not Atlus themselves.

 

[DR2K]

Most likely of the 3 first parties yes, undoubtedly. But I still think Nintendo's not likely at all really.

Of the 3 they have the most to gain. With a major wii u game in development.

 

[ash_ag]

GungHo recently bought Grasshopper Manufacture, which, to my knowledge, isn't making any online games .

GungHo must really rebrand themselves; new logo, drop the 'Online' from their full name, tidy up their assets. Having Grasshopper and Acquire studios and IPs is huge alone. If they get Atlus, they instantly become a pretty considerable force in the Japanese industry.

 

[The Wheel of Fortune]

As long as Etrians come out on my 3DS and are as good as they have been, I wouldn't mind if McDonalds picked them up.

Someone has to!

lol what the hell.

This is going to be really interesting to watch... I hope it has a happy ending.

 

[InsaneZero]

Everything will be okay people. It's the larger corporation that has issues, not Atlus themselves.

Atlus has been merged into Index for a while now. There's no distinction between the two.

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

I can dream of Nintendo buying them, right? I love what they've been doing on the 3DS... and Etrian Odyssey has its home in Nintendo handhelds.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jOum7_MN6c

 

[Crash Station]

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'm guessing a buyout would lead to layoffs on the development side?

Man, this is depressing

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jOum7_MN6c

Heartless

 

[wsippel]

I just don't see it. Nintendo either. Sony has been trying to shed studios, not buy more and Nintendo is Nintendo. Can't see them buying ATLUS, especially with Miyamoto at the helm of creative.

I'm pretty sure Miyamoto knows very well that there are things Nintendo needs that he can't do or doesn't want to do. If Nintendo were to buy Atlus, they'd put them under SPD's supervision, just like Monolith, Retro or IntSys - and Miyamoto would have very little to do with them.

But it doesn't really matter, as their sponsor will probably end up being GungHo or some Chinese company like Tencent or Perfect World.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

I can dream of Nintendo buying them, right? I love what they've been doing on the 3DS... and Etrian Odyssey has its home in Nintendo handhelds.

No. No one wants to buy a WiiU to play Persona. Would you buy a Vita just to play EO?

As has been said millions of times in this thread third party is the best option.

 

[AranhaHunter]

A platform holder buying Atlus is such a bad idea, and nobody should be wishing for that at all. I get the feeling someone like Gung Ho will step up though.

I do not really care for Atlus games, not my cup of tea, so I'm just looking at this from a business perspective. Sony needs to expand their portfolio in Japan, that's a fact. Sony only has 2 IPs (GT and MNG) that sell as good or better than SMT and Persona. Nintendo could also be very interested in purchasing them in order to try to get a major mindshare in JP as they already have the 2 biggest 3rd party franchises exclusive to their systems as well as their system selling first party IPs. Adding Persona and SMT, along with X, would boost Nintendo with the hardcore crowd. I think Sony would be more aggressive than Nintendo due to the fact that they can't really let Nintendo slowly get all the major JP franchises exclusively.

For shits and giggles I would like Microsoft to buy them, but pretty sure MS is out of this equation. I honestly think SE is the most likely buyer, if someone indeed buys them.

Sony doesn't buy Japanese studios either. They never have in fact, not once.

They have invested in a JP studio though, matter of fact they invested $100+ million into one. I think that kind of cash could comfortably purchase all of Atlus and still have money left over for hookers and cocaine.

 

[Sendou]

No. No one wants to buy a WiiU to play Persona. Would you buy a Vita just to play EO?

As has been said millions of times in this thread third party is the best option.

Yes! Wait, I already own one and there's no chance Sony would let Atlus develop anything original on Vita even if they bought them.

 

[Jrpgfanatic]

Worst news of the generation, I'm freaking out over here...

 

[MuddyDonut]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jOum7_MN6c

Perfect

 

[Mauricio_Magus]

No. No one wants to buy a WiiU to play Persona. Would you buy a Vita just to play EO?

As has been said millions of times in this thread third party is the best option.

I'd buy a Wii U for Persona and SMTxFE

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

They have invested in a JP studio though, matter of fact they invested $100+ million into one. I think that kind of cash could comfortably purchase all of Atlus and still save money for hookers and cocaine.

So has Microsoft. Neither has ever bought a JP studio though.

 

[metalslimer]

I can dream of Nintendo buying them, right? I love what they've been doing on the 3DS... and Etrian Odyssey has its home in Nintendo handhelds.

Well it would probably be better for Europe, but please no 1st party.

Editersona 5 would be 3DS if nintendo bought them.

 

[A Human Becoming]

Atlus has been merged into Index for a while now. There's no distinction between the two.

I'm just saying Atlus will reemerge in some fashion. I don't know all the details but I can't imagine that division is the cause of bankrupcy.

 

[Linkhero1]

Didn't even realize they were struggling. wtf...

How soon will we know their fate?

 

[rbenchley]

Zenimax would blow because I don't see them allowing Atlus to continue handheld development.

I'm probably the one person on the board that would enjoy that. MegaTen games on HD consoles and PC instead of crappy handhelds? Yes please! In all seriousness, I would love for someone like Sega/Sammy to step in if they have the cash and it makes sense to them. They would probably continue to serve the current fanbase on handhelds and their PC friendliness means that they would entertain thoughts of releasing games like Persona 5 on Steam..

 

[NeonZ]

I'm just saying Atlus will reemerge in some fashion. I don't know all the details but I can't imagine that division is the cause of bankrupcy.

Did you not read the first post? We know that the Atlus division was actually profitable. The problem was everything else.