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[atomsk]

I only want two things

- keep making games as they have been

- all those games getting localized

Don't care what company has to make that happen.

 

[-tetsuo-]

Valve should buy them.

 

[btkadams]

Going with a first party certainly wouldn't be for the best, but that reasoning is just senseless. Look at Atlus output on the PS3 so far. Do you really think they're going to jump to the PS4 anytime soon? They haven't even completely transitioned to last gen yet.

I'm sorry. I don't want them to end up being anyones exclusive. But I don't really see how Atlus would be limited by weaker hardware. Their strenghts aren't really in pushing hardware.

of course game makers can make great games regardless of weak hardware, but my point still stands. why wish for it to be on the platforms with the most limitations (region-locking, specs, network infrastructure)?

edit: let me be clear (in case anyone missed my previous post) that i want them to be multiplatform and don't want them to be bought by sony. i just think nintendo is an odd choice over sony if they were bought by a first party.

 

[Drkirby]

What else does Index own besides Atlus? Sounds like Index wants someone else to buy all of Index, and not just parts. I'm sure the Atlus branch wouldn't have too hard of a time finding a home, sadly being merged into the main company will likely make that harder.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

I'll just leave this here before going to punch some walls.

 

[AranhaHunter]

You might have a point if SMT and Persona were as big as DQ and MH, but they're not. I don't see a bidding war really over Atlus, and what you seem to missing is that as conservative as NCL is, SCEJA is even more conservative when it comes to investment. As little as MS cares about Japan, Sony seems to care only slightly more. I'm sorry, Sony's track record in the region just doesn't support the sort of scenario you obviously want to happen.

I don't really give a damn what happens. Atlus games are garbage to me and the only game of theirs that I liked was Demon's Souls, which they only published anyway. I'm only interested in this from a business POV. SMT and Persona are bigger than any SCE IP besides GT and maybe MNG, and Sony can't afford to lose them forever. You obviously can't fathom the idea of SCE buying them as that would not be something you'd personally want. As I said, I think SE is a much more likely candidate and YoshP already hinted that Sony is not really interested.

 

[Venfayth]

Valve should buy them.

--

As long as Atlus is left alone to work on their games without outside influences, I will be happy.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

I think they have learnt their lesson from Rare. Look at Twisted Pixel. They make niche, weird downloadable games. MS are seemingly letting them do what they want.

For now. Microsoft's long term track record isn't great with their studio acquisitions. Sony's isn't flawless either actually, though they're better than MS.

 

[Blood Diamonds]

EA is the future guisee

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

I think they have learnt their lesson from Rare. Look at Twisted Pixel. They make niche, weird downloadable games. MS are seemingly letting them do what they want.

MS are too big to learn their lesson. The person deciding or the direction of the division will change and that'd be it

 

[Kyon]

I don't really give a damn what happens. Atlus games are garbage to me and the only game of theirs that I liked was Demon's Souls, which they only published anyway. I'm only interested in this from a business POV. SMT and Persona are bigger than any SCE IP besides GT and maybe MNG, and Sony can't afford to lose them forever. You obviously can't fathom the idea of SCE buying them as that would not be something you'd personally want. As I said, I think SE is a much more likely candidate and YoshP already hinted that Sony is not really interested.

again Atlus never made Demons lol

EDIT: oh nvm

 

[Linkhero1]

Any idea when we'll know their fate? Is this something that's going to be known soon? I'm very antsy right now D:

 

[Javier]

Surprise Announcement: Atlus Direct.

Imagine the meltdowns.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

With how Nintendo treats their other subsidiaries, I highly doubt it would be a good idea for them to buy Atlus. Output would drastically decrease to maybe a game a year and a bunch of people would probably get laid off.

Wow, you have a fertile imagination.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

I don't really give a damn what happens. Atlus games are garbage to me and the only game of theirs that I liked was Demon's Souls, which they only published anyway. I'm only interested in this from a business POV. SMT and Persona are bigger than any SCE IP besides GT and maybe MNG, and Sony can't afford to lose them forever. You obviously can't fathom the idea of SCE buying them as that would not be something you'd personally want. As I said, I think SE is a much more likely candidate and YoshP already hinted that Sony is not really interested.

I can't fathom the idea because I'm aware of the reality. Meanwhile in fantasy land Sony should buy Atlus, MAQL, Level 5, Square Enix, etc, etc.

As a fan of Atlus, I don't want any 1st party buying them. Even Nintendo, who I'm also obviously a fan of. I also don't want any 3rd party with an established western publishing branch buying them though (Square Enix, Capcom, Tecmo Koei, Sega, MAQL, Konami, Namco Bandai, etc, etc). Whoever buys Atlus needs to be someone who keeps both Atlus RD1 and Atlus USA going.

 

[Deitus]

I think they have learnt their lesson from Rare. Look at Twisted Pixel. They make niche, weird downloadable games. MS are seemingly letting them do what they want.

As of 2011, Splosion Man has sold 500,000. It's been stated earlier that Atlus's games aren't big sellers.

Twisted Pixel isn't exactly a good counter-example. They have been MS owned since late 2011, and have not put out any new games since then. It's impossible to tell if MS purchasing them has compromised them in any way until they at least put out a couple new games.

 

[Zoator]

I don't really give a damn what happens. Atlus games are garbage to me and the only game of theirs that I liked was Demon's Souls, which they only published anyway. I'm only interested in this from a business POV. SMT and Persona are bigger than any SCE IP besides GT and maybe MNG, and Sony can't afford to lose them forever. You obviously can't fathom the idea of SCE buying them as that would not be something you'd personally want. As I said, I think SE is a much more likely candidate and YoshP already hinted that Sony is not really interested.

Wait, what? You certainly don't mean in terms of sales, considering no SMT or Persona game has even broke 1 million sales worldwide, while there is a rather long list of SCE IPs that have.

 

[NoirVisage]

Well, this happened once:

I'm still salty over them being the only ones to buck the trend of PS3 being region free, In the end:
"its the principalities of it Smokey"

I do hope Atlus lands on its feet though.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

They'd definitely fund it (NCL funds TONS of more niche projects), but NOA might not bring it over. :/

Whens the last time Nintendo funded a new IP at retail WW? That would hurt so much if they had P5 and didn't localise it ;_____;

 

[pieatorium]

I can't fathom the idea because I'm aware of the reality. Meanwhile in fantasy land Sony should buy Atlus, MAQL, Level 5, Square Enix, etc, etc.

As a fan of Atlus, I don't want any 1st party buying them. Even Nintendo, who I'm also obviously a fan of. I also don't want any 3rd party with an established western publishing branch buying them though (Square Enix, Capcom, Tecmo Koei, Sega, MAQL, Konami, Namco Bandai, etc, etc). Whoever buys Atlus needs to be someone who keeps both Atlus RD1 and Atlus USA going.

Whoever buys them should have a EU publishing presence

 

[Linkhero1]

Whens the last time Nintendo funded a new IP at retail WW.

Wonderful 101 is the most recent I can think of.

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

Wait, what? You certainly don't mean in terms of sales, considering no SMT or Persona game has even broke 1 million sales worldwide, while there is a rather long list of SCE IPs that have.

He means in Japan, though even there Mingol now seems to do worse than both SMT and Persona looking at recent sales. We'll see how GT6 goes.

 

[Crash Station]

Wow, you have a fertile imagination.

Look at Monolith. Look at Retro. Look at pretty much everything Nintendo owns. They spread things out. The stuff they own ends up looking like single teams, not entire companies.

 

[Kunan]

I don't care who gets them, as long as they remain pretty hands off and don't can their talent. I want Atlus to continue on. Makes sense for a first party studio to purchase them to bolster their lineup, but it would be nice if they remained third party.

 

[Pikma]

Whens the last time Nintendo funded a new IP at retail WW? That would hurt so much if they had P5 and didn't localise it ;_____;

They're doing it twice right now, The Wonderful 101 and X.

 

[AranhaHunter]

I can't fathom the idea because I'm aware of the reality. Meanwhile in fantasy land Sony should buy Atlus, MAQL, Level 5, Square Enix, etc, etc.

As a fan of Atlus, I don't want any 1st party buying them. Even Nintendo, who I'm also obviously a fan of. I also don't want any 3rd party with an established western publishing branch buying them though (Square Enix, Capcom, Tecmo Koei, Sega, MAQL, Konami, Namco Bandai, etc, etc). Whoever buys Atlus needs to be someone who keeps both Atlus RD1 and Atlus USA going.

Sony should definitely buy one or two JP developers because their presence there is pathetic, but you're right in saying that Sony might not care about that enough to expand their output in their home country. I actually think Nintendo should aggressively pursue Atlus as well, it would greatly strengthen their ironclad grip in JP.

Wait, what? You certainly don't mean in terms of sales, considering no SMT or Persona game has even broke 1 million sales worldwide, while there is a rather long list of SCE IPs that have.

JP sales only, should have specified.

 

[Ouren]

shit

 

[Mr.Monitor]

Question: is Atlus a profitable company for Index or does nobody really know? I'm honestly not too familiar with Index, so I'm curious as to whether or not Atlus could survive as an independent company if necessary. Excuse my ignorance on the subject in general.

 

[lupinko]

Platinum Games should buy/merge with them.

 

[Zoator]

JP sales only, should have specified.

Ah, ok makes sense then -- sorry.

 

[toastyToast]

someone with more skill than me should make a gif of the bad persona 4 ending where MC gets on the train and the door closes then takes off except replace his head with the atlus logo

 

[2+2=5]

no one is here for that

Can you imagine them getting RARE'd?

After what Microsoft have been doing to other first party developers, I'd rather them not go anywhere near Atlus.

I don't know nintendo, but sony was not that good with certain first parties too.
Anyway i was not suggesting ms, i don't even have a ms console, but imo would be wise for ms to buy them...

Why do people overestimate Persona so much? None of the PS2 games even reached 500k in Japan.

No more than Tales of Vesperia, and that didn't do much either.

...ok maybe not so wise, but at least ms would become more "japanese".

 

[Midou]

Valve buying them and getting a bigger Japanese presence on PC and Steam would be quite lovely, don't see it ever happening though.

I'm sure it will work out one way or another, I don't really care if it gets bought by one of the big 3, I'll have all the systems eventually anyways.

 

[Kyon]

I don't know nintendo, but sony is not that good too with first parties.
Anyway i was not suggesting ms, i don't even have a ms console, but imo would be wise for ms to buy them...




...ok maybe not so wise, but at least ms would become more "japanese".

they wouldnt. They would burn the franchises to the ground more so than Sony and Nintendo would. MS consoles dont sell there at all. Their franchises dont sell past a million as it is. Nintendo and Sony are the best options at the end of the day IF we're strictly talking 1st party.

GungHo should buy ha

 

[Various Artists]

Platinum Games should buy/merge with them.

Don't think this is a good idea. For some reason I think platinum is on the verge of bankruptcy at all times. They haven't had the mega hit they deserve yet.

 

[Clov]

Imagine if Idea Factory bought them. PSP exclusive otome games starring the P3 and P4 cast, for eternity.

Spoiler

I wouldn't mind if someone like Nintendo, Sony, or Gungho bought them. Gungho seems to be letting Grasshopper do as they please, so Atlus would be fine with them, wouldn't they?

 

[ZAMtendo]

Nintendo, you know you need Snowboard Kids. Do what is right!

 

[Mr.Monitor]

Don't think this is a good idea. For some reason I think platinum is on the verge of bankruptcy at all times. They haven't had the mega hit they deserve yet.

Yeah, I've always seen them as a company that just barely breaks even on everything they make. Same with Grasshopper. Shame because I love em both.

 

[Clov]

Nintendo, you know you need Snowboard Kids. Do what is right!

Maybe they could develop the next 1080 Snowboarding.

 

[EDarkness]

I have a feeling that it doesn't matter who buys them, they won't be the same. The question should be who would let them keep the most creative freedom. Would Gung Ho REALLY be good for them? Who knows. My feeling is that they'll end up screwed no matter what happens.

 

[NeonZ]

Look at Monolith. Look at Retro. Look at pretty much everything Nintendo owns. They spread things out. The stuff they own ends up looking like single teams, not entire companies.

Intelligent Systems definitely has more than one team - Paper Mario, Warioware and Fire Emblem have continued in parallel for years. There were also other assorted projects, like Pushmo and Crashmo. Monolith also clearly still has multiple teams. Don't forget that Project X Zone was a Monolith game, in spite of being published by Bandai (that was even in Japan though, it isn't a localization failure). Retro isn't a good example considering how they never had a larger output, even if their most recent choice of project is underwhelming.

 

[Marche90]

Man, this is surely not the kind of news that I like waking up to.

Hopefully they'll pull through, and find a good parent company

;_;

 

[lunchwithyuzo]

Whens the last time Nintendo funded a new IP at retail WW? That would hurt so much if they had P5 and didn't localise it ;_____;

Since 2011 (when Catherine came out) it's been Xenoblade Chronicles, Steel Diver, Spirit Camera and The Wonderful 101 for new Japanese IPs that got retail releases worldwide from Nintendo. The Last Story and Pandora's Tower got releases in all 3 major regions too, but only two of them from Nintendo.

In the same period for Sony it's been Soul Sacrifice, Puppeteer, Gravity Rush and Knack. For Microsoft it's been nothing. :/

 

[Aurizen]

what does this mean for future games? and Persona 5?

 

[Reversed]

GAF should buy it.

Get on that, Evilore.

Online games will get 503'd.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Since 2011 (when Catherine came out) it's been Xenoblade Chronicles, Steel Diver, Spirit Camera and The Wonderful 101 for new Japanese IPs that got retail releases worldwide from Nintendo. The Last Story and Pandora's Tower got releases in all 3 major regions too, but only two of them from Nintendo.

In the same period for Sony it's been Soul Sacrifice, Puppeteer, Gravity Rush and Knack. For Microsoft it's been nothing. :/

And that is why no one wants MS to buy Atlus lol.

 

[2+2=5]

I have a feeling that it doesn't matter who buys them, they won't be the same. The question should be who would let them keep the most creative freedom. Would Gung Ho REALLY be good for them? Who knows. My feeling is that they'll end up screwed no matter what happens.

Sadly i think the same.
Sony seems to give some freedom, at least before deciding to milk an ip.

 

[InfiniteNine]

I hope you never want to play a sequel to anything, because you wouldn't get it with Marvelous/XSEED.

But I have Corpse Party Book of Shadows.

 

[SonyToo!™]

As a UK gamer this could be either a good thing or a bad thing considering the companies current half arsed approach with the PAL region.

Hopefully a possible buyer forces Altus into putting more effort into PAL localisations and not withdraws back into just a US & JPN publisher.

With the next gen looming now is not a good time for a niche dev / publisher to go bankrupt as this is the time all the big publishers are on the look out for new studios and IPs to buy and milk to hell and back on the new hardware.

 

[SwordtoWarrior]

Sony or Nintendo needs to step in. This isn't good news.