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[Spirit Icana]

http://www.rpgdl.org/est3/neveroff2013.html

According to this report of an offline meeting event with old Lufia staffers, Shino mentioned that he's managing a soba place set up by his dad in 2010: http://tabelog.com/tochigi/A0903/A090302/9010883/

Okay cool! Thank you very much.

Glad the man is doing okay.

You just solved a years long mystery for me.

 

[PixyJunket]

Dang, I kind of liked their Shining games (the action RPG ones, right?).

Pour one out.

 

[IncandescentPrecept]

I never understood why they were for the most part exclusive developers.

 

[Riffled]

That's horrible. There is a place in this world for developers like Neverland Company (even though all they've made recently is Rune Factory games)....at times, I really hate this focus on AAA gaming. So no more Lufia or Rune Factory.

Help us Sega, you are our only hope....

Actually, they have been affiliated with Sega for dev support of their games, after Shining stuff.

Same story with Media.Vision (Wild Arms people).

 

[-Horizon-]

No, no, not like this. Rune Factory ;-;

 

[MikeDip]

This saddens me

 

[duckroll]

I never understood why they were for the most part exclusive developers.

You don't understand that for small independent RPG developers in Japan there aren't really many options available from publishers?

 

[Sophia]

Lufia 2 is one of my favorite RPGs of all time...

God this sucks.

 

[OceanBlue]

Damn, I've put a lot of time into RF4 since I got it and I really enjoyed RF3. Hopefully the staff can find good places for themselves somewhere else.

 

[faridmon]

The hell. This means that having a successful franchise does not guarantee you being in the business. Sad to see them go like this despite the great Rune Factory games.

I wonder who are going to develop the series from here onwards.

 

[The Technomancer]

Ah shit. I thought Rune Factory did well for them

 

[kurahador]

Nooooooo...

 

[influentzar]

I never understood why they were for the most part exclusive developers.

they are always exclusive developer in my heart since Lufia

 

[Knurek]

I always wondered, if the Lufia/Rune Factory Neverland was this the same Neverland that made a lot of PSP games for Idea Factory?

 

[influentzar]

I always wondered, if the Lufia/Rune Factory Neverland was this the same Neverland that made a lot of PSP games for Idea Factory?

What title? Rengoku?

EDIT: sorry, I don't find any of their games on PSP outside Japan

 

[IncandescentPrecept]

You don't understand that for small independent RPG developers in Japan there aren't really many options available from publishers?

In time Japanese developers too will become daring and be less at the mercy of publishers. A bit like Oddworld Inhabitants.

 

[vareon]

So what happens to the next Rune Factory, if any? I remember Marvelous saying they were quite happy with the sales, so I imagine they were working on the next installment. But we heard nothing since then, until this. RF5 never exists, or it was cancelled, or it was given to another studio from the start?

 

[Knurek]

What title? Rengoku?

Neverland Card Battles, Aedis Eclipse - Generation of Chaos, Blazing Soul Accelate, Itsuka Kono Te ga Kegareru Toki ni - Spectral Force Legacy, both Rengoku games, Spectral Souls - Resurrection of the Ethereal Empire, Spectral vs. Generation

Probably more, those are just the ones I have tagged.

 

[Coxy]

I always wondered, if the Lufia/Rune Factory Neverland was this the same Neverland that made a lot of PSP games for Idea Factory?

Neverland was the umbrella Franchise for those games, not the developer

 

[influentzar]

Neverland Card Battles, Aedis Eclipse - Generation of Chaos, Blazing Soul Accelate, Itsuka Kono Te ga Kegareru Toki ni - Spectral Force Legacy, both Rengoku games, Spectral Souls - Resurrection of the Ethereal Empire, Spectral vs. Generation

Probably more, those are just the ones I have tagged.

"Neverland(Often labeled IF Neverland by many to prevent confusion) is the name and, is one of Japanese video gaming company Idea Factory's biggest franchises since 1996; the company starting business in 1994."
Kind of the name of the team and the world used by Idea Factory, different than Neverland Co.Ltd

 

[Samurai_Heart]

=(

 

[darkziosj]

Godammit good companies die and trash like EA lives screw this seriously.

 

[slaughterking]

Lufia II will always be very dear to me. Sad to see them go.

 

[Skyfireblaze]

Oh dear, I hope the best for the employees and also for the Rune Factory series :/

 

[Eiolon]

Well I never played Rune Factory but did not like what was done with the Shining "Force" name with Neo. Always sad to hear people lose their jobs though, especially during the holidays.

 

[influentzar]

Godammit good companies die and trash like EA lives screw this seriously.

one is a publisher, the other is a developer.
one on the west, the other on east.

 

[Crayons]

Such awful news. I especially feel really bad now because I've never bought any of their games.

RIP Rune Factory

 

[Jintor]

Damnit... RIP

 

[Zukuu]

I liked Rune Factory D:

 

[shaowebb]

God no not more studios dying...here is hoping they all land on their feet. This industry is getting really rough. The divide between AAA studios and indie studios is cutting pretty wide now...not many mid tier studios are making it work these days and more and more it seems like things are turning out in a manner where if you are not in a AAA studio you wont survive and will get forced down into the indies.

 

[cultureculture]

Sad news indeed.

 

[ShadowgeistX]

Let's not forget they made the awesome Record of Lodoss War game on Dreamcast. Such a shame, was hoping we'd see more games from them.

 

[zenosparadox]

Let's not forget they made the awesome Record of Lodoss War game on Dreamcast. Such a shame, was hoping we'd see more games from them.

I was just about to post this. Glad someone else remembers the game fondly!

 

[FataIChoice]

They must have been in some serious debt or something, Rune Factory 4 seemed to be a roaring success.
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/19/marvelous-aql-profits-soar-thanks-to-rune-factory-4-and-senran-kagura-burst/

Marvelous AQL reported 620 million yen ($7.82 million) of net profit for the company’s second quarter. That’s an upward revision of 106.7% more profit than they expected.

Strong sales of Rune Factory 4 and Senran Kagura: Burst were the reason for the jump. Marvelous AQL said initial orders exceeded expectations and repeat orders have been favorable.

 

[duckroll]

They must have been in some serious debt or something, Rune Factory 4 seemed to be a roaring success.
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/10/19/marvelous-aql-profits-soar-thanks-to-rune-factory-4-and-senran-kagura-burst/

What would that success have to do with them though? How do you imagine it could help them with their debts aside from simply employing them for another Rune Factory game?

 

[jj984jj]

Damn, I liked their games, they satisfied that small but still wanted part of my gaming. Rune Factory 4 is a great entry for that series as well. I hope the developers can find a new home, though I can understand if a few might retire after being in the industry so long.

 

[FataIChoice]

What would that success have to do with them though? How do you imagine it could help them with their debts aside from simply employing them for another Rune Factory game?

Wasn't another sequel announced already?

 

[Maxim726X]

More importantly, this means no more Lufia.

I kept the hope alive. Lufia 2 is still one of the best games I've ever played.

 

[Shouta]

Aw, =(

I even liked the DS re-imagining of Lufia 2 for the most part.

 

[sörine]

This is really sad. Reminds me that I've always wanted to play Chaos Seed.

 

[Senor Kami]

*souldbladevoice*
The legend will never die

 

[daffy]

Why didn't you guys buy RF4.

ronpaulitdidnthavetobelikethis.jpg

It's not our fault imo. Sarahpalinitdidhavetobelikethis.pwpt

Sad news indeed.

((((((((((((((

 

[Warrior_Keoni]

Ah jeez, terrible news. Lufia and Lufia 2 were one of the original RPGs that I enjoyed playing from start to finish.

 

[CTLance]

Fucking hell. I can't believe it.

What a sad day. Rest in peace, Neverland Company.

 

[Wilsongt]

Rune Factory...

Screw Shining Force Neo, but that is more on Sega than Neverland...

 

[JoeyJungle]

NO! I'm still waiting for Lufia 3!

 

[Matt Attack]

This is so sad. RF4 was my first Rune Factory but I quite liked it. R.I.P.

 

[ohlawd]

I bought Rune Factory 4 day one so this isn't my fault. Got to play more of it tho.

Hopefully everyone can get back on their feet soon.

 

[Edge_Maverick]

This is sad. Rune Factory 4 had great sales and this happens.

 

[duckroll]

Wasn't another sequel announced already?

I don't know, but the point is a game they made being successful doesn't mean they see a cent of it.