Support NeoGAF

[Yukinari]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

Pretty much how most people view it.

Even with a video explaining the story of Nier i could not give a shit about the original game even if its a cult classic.'

Its a combination of Platinum and 2B being so marketable that even Yoko asks for the porn of her.

 

[Meffer]

So does imply Microsoft almost ruined Platinum?

 

[James Scott]

Oh bullshit.

Yoko Taro's games were previously really unpolished games with mediocre gameplay and a good story. They both sold and reviewed poorly.
It's a collaborative effort of action RPG and story

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

So does imply Microsoft almost ruined Platinum?

You'd think, that'd have been a lot of people suddenly no longer having anything to do.

 

[Dusk Golem]

Hey everyone, this is Dusk Golem aka AestheticGamer. I have posted on NeoGAF since 2011, and have decided to resign. I have enjoyed posting about horror games here for years, but I no longer wish to support the site and will be leaving for good. I will still be around the internet, I go by AestheticGamer on YouTube, I make games on Steam as Yai Gameworks, and I plan to go by Dusk Golem on other forums. I'll be joining an off-set of the GAF community leaving to try other ventures like ResetEra (Official Twitter for that here: https://twitter.com/reseteraforum ). I hope some of you who read this may consider it, and I plan to try to expose more people to horror games in the years to come. Just not here.

I hope you all are having a good day, and know I always loved the community, and in the end it's the community I'm going to stick with, not the site itself. If you want to follow me, my official Twitter is here: https://twitter.com/AestheticGamer1

 

[Ganondorfo]

Its sad that most games from Platinum dont sell well. Thats the industry of today, the majority doesnt care anymore about japanese action games. Hence why we havent heard of Devil May Cry news in years.

 

[mugurumakensei]

I think Platinum Games waking up and smelling the coffee and divulging a big title on the PS4 and it's giant fanbase after years of going with Nintendo(Bayonetta 2, Star Fox:Zero Wonderful 101) and Microsoft(Scalebound despite it being cancelled) might have helped this company. 3 games on a failed platform like Wii U and none for the PS4 until Nier Automata just doesn't make much sense. It's good to see Nintendo get 3rd party support do not get me wrong but it just didn't make sense at the time for Platinum games.

I understand they would not have been able to do any of these games without either's support but I think the neglecting of the PS4 wasn't the best decision for Kamiya and his main team. What was the last game he has put on a PS console? Metal Gear Rising which was a multiplatform game?

Between this and now getting Vanquish/Bayonetta 1 on Steam, Platnium game is starting to make some wise moves.

TMNT, LoK, Bayonetta 1, Vanquish, Transformers, Metal Gear Rising, etc., all multi-platform, all pretty low sales ( until PC for Bayonetta 1 and Vanquish ).

Nier succeded not cause it was on PC/PS4 but because it had solid gameplay(because of platinum), a solid story(because of yoko ), and the main character(because of the character designer) was very marketable.

 

[Blindy]

It's not like they had a choice. They work only based on their partner's choice.

Like I said, I am sure they would have wanted Bayonetta 2 to be a multi platform game but Nintendo was the lone one willing to dance with them. I get it. But to have Platnium's A team shy away from the PS4 user fanbase and spend time with 2 disappointing consoles is going to hurt a company.

 

[Lord of Castamere]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

I mean, it succeeded because it was a good game. If the Platinum named sold alone, then they wouldn't have been in that position to begin with. Same with the Yoko name.

It you want to get technical. The combination of the world, story, and characters created by Yoko Taro, brought to life by the developers at Platinum, resulting in a great game that reviewed positively and had good word of mouth and so sold well, saved Platinum

 

[Neff]

And it's the one PlatinumGames title I don't own...

 

[wild wild rice]

That's fucking awesome. Platinum needs to live.

I've been too busy with Switch games, but I've had Nier since day 1 and can't wait to play it.

 

[DrunkShogun]

Just glad to hear platinum is still healthy for the time being. Here's hoping Yoko taro comes back to make more games with platinum. Here's hoping other studios take notice and give platinum a nice budget and time to develop.

 

[jonno394]

Like I said, I am sure they would have wanted Bayonetta 2 to be a multi platform game but Nintendo was the lone one willing to dance with them. I get it. But to have Platnium's A team shy away from the PS4 user fanbase and spend time with 2 disappointing consoles is going to hurt a company.

They get paid either way, regardless of whether a game bombs or is on a machine with a small userbase, that's the nature of contract work.

 

[silva1991]

Bless Nier and Yoko. I wish I liked it as much as most people.

 

[Gitaroo]

What is the director of mgr working on now? Hopefully a good berserk game.

 

[_Ryo_]

Does this mean there is more chance of a Nier sequel?

 

[voodew]

This is so cute. I really hope Platinum becomes a mainstay as a developer for future Drakengard universe titles.

 

[jayu26]

Remember when Automata was gonna be another pretty good game that ultimately bombed?

I made that comment... multiple times. Glad to be wrong.

 

[Stead Fast]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

Then why would someone so devoid of corporate doublespeak like Kamiya go out of his way to owe such thanks to Taro? That isn't some halfway compliment, he sees this game, spearheaded in so many ways by Taro, as what brought them out of danger. Anybody here could have a theory on who made Automata the success it is, but if the head of Platinum sees it and Taro as what saved his studio, I'd trust his words most.

 

[Yukinari]

TMNT, LoK, Bayonetta 1, Vanquish, Transformers, Metal Gear Rising, etc., all multi-platform, all pretty low sales ( until PC for Bayonetta 1 and Vanquish ).

Nier succeded not cause it was on PC/PS4 but because it had solid gameplay, a solid story, and the main character was very marketable.

They shouldnt have to stoop to the level of Korra or TMNT anymore honestly. Those were quick cash ins and Activision is not worth it.

 

[LordKano]

Does this mean there is more chance of a Nier sequel?

Nier 3 will 100% happen, Automata is one of Platinum Games's biggest success.

 

[Ostinatto]

I still have random crashes on the PC version.....

 

[TheLegendaryN]

I really enjoyed their games and it's great to see have success (both critically and financially) with NieR Automata! Really looking forward to their future games - Granblue Re:Link in particular!

 

[IAmtheFMan]

Bless Nier and Yoko. I wish I liked it as much as most people.

I would love an MGS: Twin Snakes scenario (from a gameplay standpoint!) that mixes the gameplay of Automata with the original's story, character and score.

 

[AAMARMO]

So does imply Microsoft almost ruined Platinum?

Yep.

Heard word on the street that people who work at Platinum are telling other Japanese developers to not work with Microsoft/Xbox.

 

[True Fire]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

Absolutely disgusting

 

[semiconscious]

I'm happy for Platinum, Yoko, and Kamiya. NieR deserved a second chance after the first game honestly which was getting cult status over the years and did some things amazingly, Platinum I think is sometimes in their best when able to work with something a bit quirkier, and I think NieR ended up being a perfect fit for Platinum and both really helped esculate the other. Yoko's eccentric and weird dark games bleeds very well with Platinum's quirky but high quality action games with their own quirks but polish in gameplay.

I mean, it's not just Platinum that benefited from this. It's also been Taro's most successful game, and happy both found success in the title. Hope they work more together in the future, since I honestly think they're a great fit for each other.

well said. it can be a risky proposition, but, in this case, i think having a semi-established property & squeenix's involvement really helped. yoko & platinum are definitely an excellent match ...

 

[Regiruler]

I'm kind of conflicted, because I have no interest in nier due to people saying its combat got repetitive.

 

[Mechazawa]

How much did Automata end up selling? I thought it was only a relatively moderate success. Then again, maybe that's exactly what Platinum/Taro needed.

A tearjerker either way. Excellent job to both.

 

[APZonerunner]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

Nah. The truth is somewhere in the middle - Nier was full of amazing ideas executed in a rough as fuck game, and Platinum make amazing feeling games without (mostly) any of the spark of life that Nier had. By combining the two, you get a classic.

How much did Automata end up selling? I thought it was only a relatively moderate success. Then again, maybe that's exactly what Platinum/Taro needed.

A tearjerker either way. Excellent job to both.

It's not exactly shifted FF15 numbers, but for the budget, size and scope of the game it has done incredibly, incredibly well.

 

[Glass Rebel]

Bless.

I will continue to buy every single Platinum and Yoko Taro game.

 

[mugurumakensei]

They shouldnt have to stoop to the level of Korra or TMNT anymore honestly. Those were quick cash ins and Activision is not worth it.

They're an independent developer. They'll be doing those titles for a while. It keeps the lights on while they work on their bigger titles. It's easy work when they already have an engine ready-made for doing those quick titles.

 

[Mifec]

I still have random crashes on the PC version.....

You can thank S-E for that.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I pray everyday that platinum becomes more than a budget studio. They deserve more.

 

[Yukinari]

They're an independent developer. They'll be doing those titles for a while. It keeps the lights on while they work on their bigger titles.

Yeah its just upsetting cause Transformers quality is what i want out of TMNT.

 

[jayu26]

Yep.

Heard word on the street that people who work at Platinum are telling other Japanese developers to not work with Microsoft/Xbox.

Let's not spread rumors shall we.

 

[LotusHD]

Remember when Automata was gonna be another pretty good game that ultimately bombed?

I'm still shocked people were so pessimistic about it. I get it, his past games didn't do as well, but it seemed that the only real issue was its combat. You had the story from Yoko Taro, the music from Okabe, and now the combat from Platinum. Predicted it would be a success waiting to happen from Day 1 from a criticial standpoint, but yea, literally no one predicted it would sell that well, that's for sure.

I'm kind of conflicted, because I have no interest in nier due to people saying its combat got repetitive.

I recommend it.

 

[addik]

Who would have thought that a director who's only sold commercial flops would end up saving Platinum? Man, Yoko Taro's rise to success and Nier: Automata's is one of the best comeback stories I've ever heard.

 

[Blindy]

They get paid either way, regardless of whether a game bombs or is on a machine with a small userbase, that's the nature of contract work.

The problem is it hurts their brand with mainstream gamers when games like Star Fox, and Wonderful 101 bomb so for longevity in the gaming industry, while they get paid upfront for striking console exclusive deals, it doesn't allow them to get even more revenue by selling said games because they have limited themselves to such a small audience.

And I like Platinum's courage to support Nintendo at a point very few 3rd party studios ended up to so this isn't me waving the PS4 pom poms.

 

[Ray Down]

I pray everyday that platinum becomes more than a budget studio. They deserve more.

They need more sucess like this for that to ever happen.

Scalebound was a chance to reach a larger status.

 

[True Fire]

I'm kind of conflicted, because I have no interest in nier due to people saying its combat got repetitive.

It's not about the combat. It's about the story.

 

[cyborgnumberblue]

Hope they don't have to make garbage for Activision anymore.

 

[LeleSocho]

Automata succeeded because it was developed by platinum, not because of the name Nier. No one cared about this franchise before platinum stepped in.
They basically saved themselves

This is so so wrong.

 

[Sakura]

So does imply Microsoft almost ruined Platinum?

Kamiya isn't really saying that Nier saved Platinum from ruin. The saving he is talking about isn't really financial, (although of course, behind the scenes there could be that too).
He is saying that because Nier was a success, it allowed members of the staff to grow, experience a success, and also bring an increase in talented new job applicants etc.
His tweet isn't really saying, thanks to Nier we could keep the lights on, in case some people are reading it that way.

 

[jj984jj]

I think it was a formula that nobody really knew if it would lead to mainstream success. I'm sure Platinum (and of course Kamiya) will always be more thankful due to it being an entire company, but I think they needed each other in this case. Platinum is a company that is flexible enough to work on varying gameplay segments and still deliver a game that the critics would meet a certain standard. I doubt this game would've turned out as good as it did if Yoko Taro was working with a different developer.

 

[Blindy]

TMNT, LoK, Bayonetta 1, Vanquish, Transformers, Metal Gear Rising, etc., all multi-platform, all pretty low sales ( until PC for Bayonetta 1 and Vanquish ).

Nier succeded not cause it was on PC/PS4 but because it had solid gameplay(because of platinum), a solid story(because of yoko ), and the main character(because of the character designer) was very marketable.

Anarchy Reigns as well(Which is also shame Madworld is forever stuck on Wii, another very good decision to put that brutal game on a family friendly system like Wii although Sega was the publisher so not all blame is on Platinum. Madworld should be on the PC right now at the very least)

I hope people don't take it that I am slighting everything on Nier Automata, it's just the power of the PS4 helped the game's cause just as much as the game being high quality and it throwing out a respectful demo that hooked gamers with it's gameplay.

 

[jonno394]

And I like Platinum's courage to support Nintendo at a point very few 3rd party studios ended up to so this isn't me waving the PS4 pom poms.

Again, comments like this really make me think you don't entirely understand. It's not "courage" when you are desperate for well paid contract work, which is your bread and butter, they either supported Nintendo or got no money, it's that simple really..

 

[AAMARMO]

Hope they don't have to make garbage for Activision anymore.

They won't because the Activision license department got shut down.

They probably will work with Nintendo and Square Enix next.

 

[Kayo Police]

2B fanart saved a dev studio, is this the first time something like this happened?

 

[Ray Down]

Hope they don't have to make garbage for Activision anymore.

Activision close down the division heading that operation.

And Platinum needed that to keep some of the lights on.

Them losing that isn't good if they aren't getting new games to make.