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[Oldschool]

US, April 20, 2009 - Fans eagerly awaiting the American release of Muramasa: The Demon Blade should keep their eyes peeled for some new publishing news in the near future. First, IGN has learned that XSEED Games, formerly set to debut the title stateside, will no longer be handling distribution. The company released a statement to IGN confirming this news this morning.

XSEED Games confirms that it is no longer involved with the North American release of Muramasa: The Demon Blade. XSEED Games and Marvelous had previously announced the game as part of the initial line up between the two publishing partners. We firmly believe in the product and will look forward to seeing it release in North America. We enjoy and respect our relationship with Marvelous, and are committed to working together to deliver an amazing line up of games in the US including the highly anticipated Little King's Story, the epic RPG Arc Rise Fantasia and Suda51's intriguing mystery adventure Flower, Sun, Rain.

IGN expects news about the game's new U.S. publisher soon. Stay tuned.

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/974/974308p1.html

 

[MisterHero]

;_______;

i wish noa would publish stuff

 

[schuelma]

Interesting

 

[dallow_bg]

Was scared it wouldn't be localized for a second.

 

[BlueMagic]

I swear Reggie, if this doesn't come out in America...

 

[Kai Ozu]

So dose this mean a even longer wait?

 

[SilverLunar]

I wonder what happened.

 

[Neo C.]

i wish noa would publish stuff

NOA?:lol

 

[Nemo]

NoE, do your thing

 

[Cosmonaut X]

Hm. Reading between the lines, it seems Marvelous pulled out. Wonder why?

 

[FoneBone]

I wonder what happened.

Maybe a bigger publisher offered to pick it up and put more into marketing than Xseed would have?

 

[PepsimanVsJoe]

Ehhhh that's not a good sign at all.

 

[Dascu]

I'm calling it: Ubisoft got it and they're going to replace the boxart with generic ninja art.

 

[Shadow780]

Well, as long as it's coming out.

 

[MoogPaul]

Definitely a bigger publisher. Selling 80%+ of your initial shipment will draw attention.

 

[bryehn]

Atlus save us.

 

[Kifimbo]

Maybe a bigger publisher offered to pick it up and put more into marketing than Xseed would have?

That's a good guess. But XSEED/Marvelous contract had to be broken. Either XSEED didn't respect it and lost the rights to publish the game or Marvelous broke the contract and they (or the mysterious new publisher) paid the price.

 

[SovanJedi]

Hm. Reading between the lines, it seems Marvelous pulled out. Wonder why?

I hate to be the one to make mention of such a thing in a thread, but maybe they were less than impressed with its debut in Japan and fear for its success rate Stateside...? Even for a niche title there could still be room for it to underperform.

 

[Haunted]

Well, as long as it's coming out.

.

 

[Flying_Phoenix]

Probably Atlus as Odin Sphere was such a huge success for them.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

man we need hero of legend in here to give us the NOOOZ SCOOP from his emailing a pr rep

 

[Darkpen]

I can guess a handfulof publishers that would pick it up, but news like this doesn't help.

 

[Cosmonaut X]

I hate to be the one to make mention of such a thing in a thread, but maybe they were less than impressed with its debut in Japan and fear for its success rate Stateside...? Even for a niche title there could still be room for it to underperform.

Well, it's certainly going to sell through its initial shipment in Japan, but it's not clear yet whether it will meet the domestic target of 56k Marvelous set for it (I think it will, but the Wii market in Japan is quite unpredictable).

Perhaps they are plumping for a publisher with more clout to try and improve its chances, but I wonder whether there may be some behind-the-scenes issue (Rune Factory Frontier?)

 

[Kilrogg]

Didn't someone hint at this in another thread like, yesterday or 2 days ago? From what I recall, they didn't seem unhappy about that either, so I suspect the game will still be published in the US, only by another publisher.

Maybe SEGA? They seem to enjoy publishing fairly niche/risky titles on the Wii these days .

 

[mollipen]

Didn't someone hint at this in another thread like, yesterday or 2 days ago? From what I recall, they didn't seem unhappy about that either, so I suspect the game will still be published in the US, only by another publisher.

The game is still being published in the US. Anybody worrying about that is getting themselves worried over nothing.

 

[Cosmo Clock 21]

My initial reaction was that XSEED has its hands full with Little King's Story and the like, but who knows?

 

[Cosmonaut X]

The game is still being published in the US. Anybody worrying about that is getting themselves worried over nothing.

Bu-bu-bu-buuuu REGGIE! FatalframedisastercaptainrainbowRRRRAAAAAARGH!





(I think that covers it ;-) )

 

[Stumpokapow]

My initial reaction was that XSEED has its hands full with Little King's Story and the like, but who knows?

Every single title they've been publishing has gotten delayed this year, so it might be a case of 1) XSeed needs to drop a project, 2) Marvelous wants to push the title big, 3) Mystery publisher wanted the game and serendipity just worked its magic

 

[mollipen]

By the way... I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be giving this news out yet or not, but the new publisher is Activision. The game is indeed going to be delayed, because they're making a few tweaks to it. The male character is being changed to Tony Hawk, the female to Judy Nails (from Guitar Hero), and the title now will be "Activision All-Stars vs. The Soulless Armada from Ancient Japan." Oh, and the game will now be in 3D.

So, again, nothing to worry about.

 

[v1cious]

rats fleeing a sinking ship. i mean i'm not saying the game will be bad, but sales on the other hand...

 

[Tenks]

By the way... I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be giving this news out yet or not, but the new publisher is Activision. The game is indeed going to be delayed, because they're making a few tweaks to it. The male character is being changed to Tony Hawk, the female to Judy Nails (from Guitar Hero), and the title now will be "Activision All-Stars vs. The Soulless Armada from Ancient Japan." Oh, and the game will now be in 3D.

So, again, nothing to worry about.

Don't forget that they also announced the squeal and the sequel to the sequel already

 

[Chumly]

rats fleeing a sinking ship. i mean i'm not saying the game will be mad, but sales on the other hand...

:lol :lol :lol

So many dumb comments come from you

 

[zigg]

Every single title they've been publishing has gotten delayed this year, so it might be a case of 1) XSeed needs to drop a project, 2) Marvelous wants to push the title big, 3) Mystery publisher wanted the game and serendipity just worked its magic

This is pretty much my operating theory as well, for what it's worth.

 

[Kurosaki Ichigo]

Every single title they've been publishing has gotten delayed this year, so it might be a case of 1) XSeed needs to drop a project, 2) Marvelous wants to push the title big, 3) Mystery publisher wanted the game and serendipity just worked its magic

It sounds to me like option 2. Changing to a better distribution partner than XSEED...Ubisoft and Atlus come to mind.

 

[BikoBiko]

NoE, do your thing

NoE should publish Muramasa in the US?

 

[Yazus]

Sega? Atlus?

Fuck you NoA,I hope NoE at least does his job

 

[lupinko]

Time to import then.

 

[mollipen]

Time to import then.

...why?

 

[Stumpokapow]

Sega? Atlus?

Fuck you NoA,I hope NoE at least does his job

yes, fuck noa because marvelous is going with a publisher other than xseed on muramasa

wait what?

 

[billy.sea]

I'm calling it: Ubisoft got it and they're going to replace the boxart with generic ninja art.

You can't blame them because simple move (nearly no cost) like that will make the game sell million.

 

[zigg]

Time to import then.

You could at least wait for the new publisher to be announced :lol

 

[BikoBiko]

Sega? Atlus?

Fuck you NoA,I hope NoE at least does his job

This has nothing to do with Nintendo. It's being published by Rising Star in the EU.

 

[billy.sea]

NoE should publish Muramasa in the US?

They probably just as pissed as we do at Reggie and should just come over and publish Fatal Frame and Disaster here.

 

[Akai]

Auuuugh...I'm a little worried now, because if anyone was going to keep the game as close to the original as possible (maybe even the Japanese voice-acting), it was XSEED... =\

 

[AceBandage]

Man, so many people freaking out and blaming Nintendo for this?
Amazing...
Anyway, I'm putting my money on Sega. Seems to be their thing lately.

 

[Mamesj]

Is it misdirected hate day on gaf? :lol

there's no problem here. It'll get picked up by a different, probably larger publisher, and will sell 10 copies instead of 9, as a result of one 2" x 2" ad in the back of game informer magazine.

 

[CrisKre]

Is there any cause of concern here?

I think the title is implying there is another publisher lined up for the title. Am i missing something?

 

[Volcynika]

As long as it's a publisher that'll give the game a great localization, I'm happy.

(C'monnnnnnnnnn Atlus, you haven't announced your second half of 2009 lineup! /excluding Persona PSP)

*hopes for good things*

Also, you people yelling at Nintendo are completely stupid, so quit your complaining.

 

[Yazus]

This has nothing to do with Nintendo. It's being published by Rising Star in the EU.

b...but there has to be some hate for NoA right?

 

[Chairhome]

I hope that this announcement means that XSEED is focusing on Retro Game Challenge 2. Cause that's what should be happening.