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[Psycho_Mantis]

Same could be said about those who want Sony to buy them.

Note how I said any other first party.

 

[RPGamer92]

Note how I said any other first party.

Indeed lol

 

[Squire]

No, Index is selling Atlus.

Atlus is the company attracting bids for $203 million. Because development teams cost a hell of a lot of money.

I wasn't trying to spin the IP's as a selling point, but they are undeniably a value add proposition. Persona and SMT both have at least some weight in Japan. You pay for that kind of nostalgia.

No. Index is being bought out. It is not a sale of Atlus. It is not a piecemeal sale. At Lu's is not worth $200m.

If Sony is at the table, Nintendo should be too. 200 million+ may seem stupid if things are going to stay the same without it, but the added value of preventing their rival from getting an upper hand makes the investment more enticing. You can easily swap Nintendo and Sony in my statement.

No one said Sony is at the table.

Are you guys even reading the thread?

 

[childplease]

Weird that Sega wants them, they don't see interested in console development.

Persona on pc bring it on.

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

It's sad Atlus' fate is in the balance here, and they could be sent to a corporate overlord who cannot leave them be to very negative results, and we have this conversation constantly drug back to Console Warz over and over again.

 

[Riki]

I'll never understand where people got the idea that Nintendo was going to buy Atlus. It's just absolute insanity.

 

[Crimsonclaw111]

Microsoft will buy them out just because they don't like Japan.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

I'll never understand where people got the idea that Nintendo was going to buy Atlus. It's just absolute insanity.

Fanboys....they have the craziest dreams.

 

[1st Course]

And remember, it's "Index Corp." that's up for purchase, not just the game developer Atlus. That includes many other media properties and a publishing business.

Yeah, this is why I think that it's very unlikely that Sony or Nintendo could be involved in this.

 

[androvsky]

Absolutely.

The last thing Nintendo needs, though, is to waste money on a small Japanese developer who makes otaku games.


.

Well, the absolute last thing Nintendo needs is to spend big bucks on getting family-friendly platformers from third-party devs as exclusives. I would've thought they had that covered, but nope, somehow there's a Sonic exclusive (and even Rayman for a bit). Nailing down all of Atlus's future output would expand Nintendo's market a bit, since they're not guaranteed everything now. Just most of it.

What Nintendo should've done was go nuts during the THQ auction.

 

[Pound_lb003]

No. Index is being bought out. It is not a sale of Atlus. It is not a piecemeal sale. At Lu's is not worth $200m.

Index filed for bankruptcy (or rehabilitation) and is selling it's subsidiaries. Piecemeal.

EDIT: Well, I can say that as definitely as Gameinformer's translation.

 

[Easy_D]

I hope they're bought by people who know Europe exists.

 

[Squire]

Index filed for bankruptcy (or rehabilitation) and is selling it's subsidiaries. Piecemeal.

Nope. They're selling the company as a whole. It's not peacemeal. This has been covered. Read the thread.

 

[AniHawk]

I'll never understand where people got the idea that Nintendo was going to buy Atlus. It's just absolute insanity.

it's not that far-fetched. there's a lot of 3ds support from them recently, and there was a ton of handheld and console support last gen. this generation they're making a crossover game, supported smt iv in combination with a popular first-party title, and are bringing that game to other regions themselves.

it goes a bit more beyond the standard third-party/first-party relationship, especially for nintendo. but like letting namco make star fox or square enix make a mario rpg, it doesn't mean nintendo's going to buy the company. as has been said, nintendo's more into partnerships. there's probably less to be worried about overall.

 

[Pound_lb003]

Nope. They're selling the company as a whole. It's not peacemeal. This has been covered. Read the thread.

So is every translation generalising about Index as Atlus?

I was under the impression that they were looking to generate something liquid from their assets, as part of the 'rehabilitation' process. Why are Index looking for 15 billion yen, if they're the ones being sold?

 

[Squire]

So is every translation generalising about Index as Atlus?

I was under the impression that they were looking to generate something liquid from their assets, as part of the 'rehabilitation' process. Why are Index looking for 15 billion yen, if they're the ones being sold?

Yes. Most sites are getting it wrong. I've done so myself while writing about the subject.

 

[Pound_lb003]

Yes. Most sites are getting it wrong. I've done so myself while writing about the subject.

Okay, well I feel stupid, but at least I have a scapegoat.

 

[IncandescentPrecept]

Nope. They're selling the company as a whole. It's not peacemeal. This has been covered. Read the thread.

In that case, the odds of Sega buying them is slim as well.

 

[Squire]

In that case, the odds of Sega buying them is slim as well.

Sega doesn't want them. Sega-Sammy - Sega's parent company - does. SS has their hands in many things. Sega is their games division.

 

[ElFly]

The best move for Nintendo would be to enter a society with another company (say, Sega) and buy only a part of Atlus.

This way they can still secure Atlus support, without the burden of the whole company.

 

[chaosblade]

Sega doesn't want them. Sega-Sammy - Sega's parent company - does. SS has their hands in many things. Sega is their games division.

Yep. Sega-Sammy is a holding company (like Index). It's entirely possible that Atlus would still exist outside Sega if that purchase was made, though I think that's unlikely. The heads of the company would probably find it easier to keep a single games division.

 

[Pound_lb003]

What the hell else does Index deal with?

Starting to make less sense as a game industry purchase.

 

[BLACK AMERICAN PSYCHO]

The best move for Nintendo would be to enter a society with another company (say, Sega) and buy only a part of Atlus.

This way they can still secure Atlus support, without the burden of the whole company.

Why would any other company want to share with nintendo?

 

[Tamanon]

The best move for Nintendo would be to enter a society with another company (say, Sega) and buy only a part of Atlus.

This way they can still secure Atlus support, without the burden of the whole company.

Why would Atlus stop 3DS support?

 

[Gorillaz]

So who are the 20 companies that want them other then Sega?

Sony?
MS?
Nintendo?
Square?

 

[Squire]

Yep. Sega-Sammy is a holding company (like Index). It's entirely possible that Atlus would still exist outside Sega if that purchase was made, though I think that's unlikely. The heads of the company would probably find it easier to keep a single games division.

Most likely. They're so small though, I wouldn't be surprised to see them just left as their own division. Sega might not want to manage them and Sammy might oblige. Who knows?

What the hell else does Index deal with?

Starting to make less sense as a game industry purchase.

Exactly. That's why the top suspects are other media companies. SS, GungHo, Kadokawa, etc. It won't be a console holder or a company that only makes video games. I don't know what else Index does myself.

 

[Vamphuntr]

Exactly. That's why the top suspects are other media companies. SS, GungHo, Kadokawa, etc. It won't be a console holder or a company that only makes video games. I don't know what else Index does myself.

You can find more about them here http://indexweb.jp/english/group.html

They have a business in the mobile device industry called Net Index, they have a studio that makes CG/animations called Index Amusement, they also have many studios working on mobile games in Europe and Thailand.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

J Trust makes bid for Atlus parent:

J Trust, the Japanese financial services firm five percent owned by Goldman Sachs, has made an offer to purchase Atlus parent company Index, currently up for grabs.

The company, according to Bloomberg, aims to use cash raised through a record rights offering to fund takeover bids, including Index, as part of a client-boosting strategy. During an interview, J Trust CEO Nobuyoshi Fujisawa said the company can spend as much as 130 billion yen (approx. $1.3 billion) in cash on buyouts without seeking external financing.

So now we know of at least one other company interested in getting Index.

 

[Go_Ly_Dow]

Sounds like they have made an actual offer and more than just the "expressed interest" stuff in the OP.

 

[jcm]

J Trust makes bid for Atlus parent:


So now we know of at least one other company interested in getting Index.

That sounds really weird to me. From the article:

“It’s a good idea to buy companies that do communication and application businesses for smartphones and tap their client bases to market our financial services,” Fujisawa said on Aug. 5, citing the successes of online retailer Rakuten Inc. (4755) and Yahoo Japan Corp. They “started as providers of Internet services and grew bigger by attracting existing customers into their financial businesses.”

They want to buy Index in order to offer their users credit cards? I'm not sure they're the best choice to keep our pals at Atlus intact.

 

[duckroll]

So we know 2 of the companies. I wonder how many more will out themselves before we actually get news of the outcome for the final tender.

 

[Mpl90]

That sounds really weird to me. From the article:

“It’s a good idea to buy companies that do communication and application businesses for smartphones and tap their client bases to market our financial services,” Fujisawa said on Aug. 5, citing the successes of online retailer Rakuten Inc. (4755) and Yahoo Japan Corp. They “started as providers of Internet services and grew bigger by attracting existing customers into their financial businesses.”

They want to buy Index in order to offer their users credit cards? I'm not sure they're the best choice to keep our pals at Atlus intact.

Nostalgia Critic: AN ATLUS CREDIT CARD?!?!?!

 

[Starfish Hero]

So who are the 20 companies that want them other then Sega?

Sony?
MS?
Nintendo?
Square?

Honestly, if Sega was one of the most notable potential buyers, I doubt any of those companies are interested.

 

[Bsigg12]

So who are the 20 companies that want them other then Sega?

Sony?
MS?
Nintendo?
Square?

No because they aren't bidding on just Atlus. In order to get Atlus they'll have to get Index which for those companies doesn't make any since.

 

[Nirolak]

Honestly, if Sega was one of the most notable potential buyers, I doubt any of those companies are interested.

Yeah to me Sega being highlighted either implies their intentions are high or that they're one of the only (if not the only) game company bidding.

Everyone else might be there to sell you credit cards (this doesn't speak well to them releasing low margin games in the West) or hook you on online gambling or whatever.

 

[RedSwirl]

I'll never understand where people got the idea that Nintendo was going to buy Atlus. It's just absolute insanity.

It's not happening, but it's also not extremely far-fetched. Nintendo has been pretty deep in bed with Atlus recently.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

Yeah to me Sega being highlighted either implies their intentions are high or that they're one of the only (if not the only) game company bidding.

Everyone else might be there to sell you credit cards (this doesn't speak we'll to them releasing low margin games in the West) or hook you on online gambling or whatever.

Heh, and suddenly Sega seems like the most potentially favorable outcome.

 

[Squire]

Heh, and suddenly Sega seems like the most potentially favorable outcome.

If Sega has any interest in preserving the status quo at Atlus and aren't bring cheap, I imagine they're in the lead.

 

[Femmeworth]

J Trust makes bid for Atlus parent:


So now we know of at least one other company interested in getting Index.

That's totally reassuring. :\

 

[mrjohill]

I was wondering something...if a company like j trust buys index could atlus be sold off at a later date if j trust doesn't want them?

 

[Squire]

I was wondering something...if a company like j trust buys index could atlus be sold off at a later date if j trust doesn't want them?

Of course.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

I was wondering something...if a company like j trust buys index could atlus be sold off at a later date if j trust doesn't want them?

I'd imagine that could happen, sure.

Atlus is Index. Bad reporting always makes it sound like "Atlus" is some development subsidiary, but it's not true. There is no developer called Atlus any longer, they ARE Index.

Hm, so I guess what the company who owned Index would sell would be the individual IPs.

 

[duckroll]

I was wondering something...if a company like j trust buys index could atlus be sold off at a later date if j trust doesn't want them?

Atlus is Index. Bad reporting always makes it sound like "Atlus" is some development subsidiary, but it's not true. There is no developer called Atlus any longer, they ARE Index.

 

[Squire]

Atlus is Index. Bad reporting always makes it sound like "Atlus" is some development subsidiary, but it's not true. There is no developer called Atlus any longer, they ARE Index.

So we're totally clear: They are Index, but not all of Index. They are the portion of the company that makes video games, but they are not an actual, seperate subsidiary. Atlus is, at this point, just a name and logo that Index owns.

Correct?

 

[JB2448]

I thought Index Corporation's video game development division is currently a subsidiary, Index Digital Media, Inc.. Is this incorrect?

Edit: If I'm reading Index's group profile correctly, Index Digital Media, Inc. is just its North American publishing arm, while its development takes place as its second main business venture. Is that correct, or am I misreading it?

 

[duckroll]

So we're totally clear: They are Index, but not all of Index. They are the portion of the company that makes video games, but they are not an actual, seperate subsidiary. Atlus is, at this point, just a name and logo that Index owns.

Correct?

The company Index Corporation has 3 divisions - Mobile/Social, Consumer Games, and Amusement Machines. That's their entire core business. The consumer games division is what people call "Atlus" because of the brand recognition. The mobile/social side of Index also uses quite a bit of consumer game IPs from Atlus games.

The subsidiaries which Index owns which can easily sold off are:

1) Index Multimedia - a European arm which does social/mobile content.
2) Index Corp Thailand - another social/mobile content subsidiary in Thailand
3) Index Digital Media - more commonly known as Atlus USA
4) Index Amusement - a CG studio providing content for advertising and amusement rides

 

[Squire]

Thanks, Duckroll.

 

[djtiesto]

SEGA buying them and getting them to work on a traditional, turn-based, offline Phantasy Star 5... that right there would prove the existence of God.

 

[CertifiedFP]

Oh dear, forget what bad could happen if Sega acquires them, WORSE could happen. Looks like some company not even remotely related (Or even interested) in gaming is interested in buying ATLUS:

J Trust made a preliminary offer for the software developer, which specializes in mobile gaming and applications, as part of a client-boosting strategy, Chief Executive Officer Nobuyoshi Fujisawa, 43, said in an interview. Tokyo-based J Trust can spend as much as 130 billion yen ($1.3 billion) in cash on buyouts without seeking external financing, he said.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...-index-corp-in-bid-to-tap-online-clients.html

If Sega gets ATLUS and Persona 5 isn't localized - I can live with that, I can learn Japanese. But if this "Financial services firm" gets ATLUS, well, looks like Persona's going to have something in common with System Shock - Being on ice because the IP holder isn't interested even remotely in game development.

 

[Sir_Crocodile]

Oh dear, forget what bad could happen if Sega acquires them, WORSE could happen. Looks like some company not even remotely related (Or even interested) in gaming is interested in buying ATLUS:



http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-...-index-corp-in-bid-to-tap-online-clients.html

If Sega gets ATLUS and Persona 5 isn't localized - I can live with that, I can learn Japanese. But if this "Financial services firm" gets ATLUS, well, looks like Persona's going to have something in common with System Shock - Being on ice because the IP holder isn't interested even remotely in game development.

We knew that on the eleventh.