Title: Capcom shuts down Clover Studios
borgster101 - October 12, 2006 01:01 PM (GMT)
October 12, 2006 - Capcom has announced that by March 2007 Clover Studios will be shut down, the firm was opened in 2004 by Atsushi Inaba and Shinji Mikami of Resident Evil fame the companies most popular game was Viewtiful Joe, which spanned into a series with a sequel on GCN and PS2, fighting game Red Hot Rumble on GCN and spin off adventure Double Trouble on the Nintendo DS. With Okami and God Hand being the developers more recent games for the PS2, whilst Clover gained a reputation quickly amongst gamers for their quality original software, it appears that the sales of these titles were not strong enough to justify Clover’s continued operation, which is an unfortante situation in the game industry, where unique yet top quality titles like Viewtiful Joe and Okami gain cult followings but lack the blockbuster sales.
Capcom’s official statement regarding the closure of Clover Studios reads:
| QUOTE |
| Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has met the goal of developing unique and creative original home video game software, however, in view of promoting a business strategy that concentrates management resources on a selected business to enhance the efficiency of the development power of the entire Capcom group, the dissolution of Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has been raised and passed at a Board of Directors' meeting |
What will become of Clover IP's such as Viewtiful Joe at this stage remains to be seen.
Source: PALGN
UPDATE (13/10/06) In an interview with Next-Gen it was revealed that all copyrights of the titles produced by Clover Studios will be transfered to Capcom as part of the disbandment process, therefore it is possible that we will see for instance another Viewtiful Joe game in the future.
Source: Next-Gen.biz
/backslash - October 12, 2006 03:19 PM (GMT)
It's like Ubisoft's sales with Beyond Good&Evil. No matter how hard the videogame reviewers from websites and magazines pressed that this was a terrific game, some people just wouldn't buy it because it looked different and original.
Stupid gamers! Grow some brain cells! :P
Stupid gamers! Grow some brain cells! :P
thebigm - October 13, 2006 01:23 PM (GMT)
It's sad to see the studio go down, but the people involved still are around, so hopefully the talent is not lost.
NismoR34 - October 14, 2006 05:19 PM (GMT)
It seems a bit odd to me that they decided to close the studio based on recent sales. Recent sales means recent games, which in turn means God Hand and Okami. Why close the studio down in regards to their sales when the two games haven't even released worldwide yet? Seems a bit silly to me, but then again they are released in America and Japan which I suppose are the only important places to release in.
Definitely unfortunate news but I can understand it I suppose, I just hope that both games get released here, Okami especially. DAMN I want that game.
Definitely unfortunate news but I can understand it I suppose, I just hope that both games get released here, Okami especially. DAMN I want that game.
Nags - October 15, 2006 03:47 AM (GMT)
if they wernt region locked id offer to send you a copy
Drake - October 15, 2006 01:58 PM (GMT)
This news is teh gay.
NismoR34 - October 15, 2006 02:57 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (Nags @ Oct 15 2006, 02:47 PM) |
| if they wernt region locked id offer to send you a copy |
Thanks for that, even though the region locking stops it anyway. If it doesn't release here though I will import it, there is no way I am missing out on the game.
ultracrazy1 - October 17, 2006 08:53 PM (GMT)
Just read the other day they're still set to ship Okami and God Hand in February.
borgster101 - October 18, 2006 07:34 AM (GMT)
| QUOTE (ultracrazy1 @ Oct 18 2006, 06:53 AM) |
| Just read the other day they're still set to ship Okami and God Hand in February. |
That's certainly good news :)