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Sega's pub deal with Platinum is probably ending, will Nintendo/Konami step in?

T

ThatObviousUser

ὁ αἴσχιστος παῖς εἶ
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Here are the facts:

  1. Sega going forward has said it will only focus on key pillars and digital titles.

  2. Nintendo is publishing Platinum's latest game, Project P-100, and Konami is publishing the Platinum-co-developed Metal Gear spinoff Metal Gear Rising. Platinum's next (and probably final) Sega-published game, Anarchy Reigns, is due in Japan early next month with no announced international release.
Bayonetta 2 was highly rumored in the last year, with Hideki Kamiya almost surely returning to direct. However, now all of a sudden Kamiya is directing P-100. We should be able to infer that Sega likely cancelled development of Bayonetta 2 after Platinum's previous games' lukewarm retail receptions, with perhaps the original Bayonetta's non-blockbuster sales factoring in.

Now that Sega's pretty much focused squarely on just "tentpole" (Sonic-like) and digital/mobile games, and after being allegedly "burned" on several Platinum games' weak sales, their publishing agreement is dissolving. If Sega holds true to what they said they'll do, then they won't publish any more of Platinum's games.

Enter Konami or Nintendo. These two represent the only other Japanese publishers Platinum could realistically turn to, not counting Square-Enix (who seems to be more focused on western devs, see: Eidos.) As mentioned, Sega might be out of the picture soon, and there's still probably bad blood with Capcom over the Clover situation.

What would you think if Platinum entered an exclusive publishing agreement with either party? If it were to happen, Konami actually seems less likely of the two to me; Kojima Productions is overseeing several aspects of Rising's development and with it being a spinoff, Konami doesn't seem to be trusting Platinum that much outside of core gameplay. Contrast this to P-100, where Nintendo is letting Kamiya do his own thing.

Of course, a more likely (or overly-optimistic, depending on your view) outcome is that Sega doesn't stick to its guns completely, Konami gives Platinum more free reign after the (almost guaranteed) success of Rising, and Nintendo either drops Platinum if P-100 is a total (worse than normal for Platinum) bomb or it's a success and they continue their partnership. Meaning we get Platinum's games published by all three. Still, it's interesting to imagine what would happen if Platinum went exclusively to Konami or Nintendo. What do you think?
 
Ignis Fatuus said:
Platinum should do Zone of the Enders 3.
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Platinum should reboot God of War. New mythology, Kamiya director, let him do whatever the hell he wants.

Edit: And Sony should partner with them. And by "should," I mean that I don't want Microsoft to do it because I hate them.
 
I'd rather a US or EU company got a hold of Platinum publishing where it can get some actual marketing.
 
I was under the impression Anarchy Reigns was the last title SEGA was publishing. So, it wouldn't be completely odd if they did go to a new publisher. (I hate myself for saying this) but I hope it's Konami, least that way it'll be multi platform.
 
Well... I hope to god they still think Yakuza is a "key pillar". My god... I dunno what'd I'd do without Sega & Square. I'd honestly stop playing console games. (Mainly also because a lot of the games I want that are for console, release on PC too.)
 
zoner said:
I'd rather a US or EU company got a hold of Platinum publishing where it can get some actual marketing.
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If Lollipop Chainsaw does decent numbers, I can see WB looking for more overseas talent and stepping in as a publisher. They've got the talent. They just need the marketing.
 
The Metal Gear IP sells millions for one (well... On home consoles) and if this gets a lot of praise and cult status (like Bayonetta), you can expect Konami to be working with PG more even to the point they might be the exclusive publisher.
 
TheFLYINGManga_Ka said:
I don't see Nintendo picking them up but I can see either Konami or Namco.

Hope they retain the Bayonetta rights.
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Forgot about Namco, I suppose they're a possibility but considering Platinum hasn't worked with them before, or to-date as far as we know, it seems more unlikely than Konami or Nintendo.
 
I will sacrifice any number of animals to make Platinum into an exclusive second party Nintendo developer. The only reason I own an Xbox 360 is for Bayonetta.

In fact, since Sakurai and Kamiya are friends, and Sakurai visited Kamiya recently, we can only assume
pretend
that Sakurai is engaging in a scheme to make Platinum Games second party for Nintendo.

Here's my fantasy conversation between them:
Sakurai: "Hey Kamiya, things must be rough for you. You had to leave your awesome creations behind with Capcom, and now your latest and greatest creation, Bayonetta, has its sequel canceled by Sega because they have worse IP management than Capcom (somehow)."

Kamiya: "It's very frustrating. I make the best games on the planet, but people ignore them in favor of interactive movies with terrible gameplay. My relationship with Sega is starting to resemble Capcom's. I wish I could find a publisher that understood games."

Sakurai: "How about you make a game for the Wii U, exclusively (P-100)? Then I could put a character from it in Smash Bros U, guaranteeing its popularity and success. Then you could slowly develop for Nintendo only, since it's one of a handful of companies that understands what makes videogames fun anymore."

Kamiya: "Yes, let's do that. I am going to work for Nintendo forever, and make Star Fox U."

I'm sure it went exactly like that. *trails off into dreamland*
 
Who's to say a Western power like EA won't swoop in and strike up a Suda 51/Shadows of the Damned-type deal?

Karsticles said:
I will sacrifice any number of animals to make Platinum into an exclusive second party Nintendo developer. The only reason I own an Xbox 360 is for Bayonetta.
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Heh, Bayonetta is the only reason I want a 360. I won't get the PS3 port since it's shit, and it's not on PC...
 
Nintendo would be smart to pick them up. I doubt they would though. Platinum could just keep making games for different publishers all the time like some other Japanese developers.

I'd hate to see Platinum be forced to leave Bayonetta in Sega's hands. Hopefully they learn to keep ownership of their characters after this though.
 
Neiteio said:
Who's to say a Western power like EA won't swoop in and strike up a Suda 51/Shadows of the Damned-type deal?


Heh, Bayonetta is the only reason I want a 360. I won't get the PS3 port since it's shit, and it's not on PC...
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Because EA was a terrible partner and didn't market the game at all. I doubt ANYONE will partner with EA after SOTD.
 
hatchx said:
Kayima, one of the designers at Platinum, expressed interest in making a Star Fox game. I think he was asked which Nintendo franchise he'd choose, so the whole thing has been blown a little out of proportion.
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Actually, Kamiya literally said he'd want Nintendo to come to his office and demand him to make a new Star Fox at gunpoint.
 
I really hope Platinum sticks around in any case. Aligning themselves with Nintendo would be a good move for both of them. There are a ton of really talented folks there and really all they need is a few good franchises and proper funding to be HUGE.

Plus I can totally see them doing a fabulous job with both Starfox and FZero.
 
Nintendo doesn't really buy studios, but I could certainty see them building some sort of relationship with Platinum if P-100 is a success.
 
It's not Sega's fault if true though. The audience spoke with their dollar and most of P* games didn't sell well. Sucks because I thought every one of them was good quality gaming.
 
DeVeAn said:
It's not Sega's fault if true though. The audience spoke with their dollar and most of P* games didn't sell well. Sucks because I thought every one of them was good quality gaming.
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The audience didn't know those games existed. Sega's marketing isn't mocked for no reason.
 
DeVeAn said:
It's not Sega's fault if true though. The audience spoke with their dollar and most of P* games didn't sell well. Sucks because I thought every one of them was good quality gaming.
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Easily the best track record for and most prolific developer of new IPs this generation, ain't even a contest. I really love them almost solely for that reason, (of course, they make excellent games too.)
 
Still upset about Anarchy Reigns here.

Besides that, I can easily see them ending up with either, but it'd be easier for them to have more freedom with Nintendo I'd imagine. I also don't see how they'd end up exclusively with any publisher anytime soon after all the problems with Capcom and the potentially developing issue with Sega and Anarchy Reigns.

But if Nintendo is really committed to appealing to the more "hardcore" crowd I can see them being much more allowing of Platinum doing what they want (even with one of Nintendo's IPs with the success of Sora's revival of Kid Icarus) and maybe even working with Sega for some sequels of their works that were published with them.

However, Konami is an odd story since they're working with an established character from an established franchise. If Rising does really well it's difficult to determine if it's thanks to Platinum or the Metal Gear name, isn't it? At least if we're deciding by sales alone. But if people really like the gameplay and how the game works overall I can see Konami wanting to publish more stuff with them. However, I can't see much of a possibility of Sega projects getting sequels in this situation with them both being competing third parties after all.

To make this short, Sega needs to release Anarchy Reigns in the US & EU and I can't wait for Project P-100 & Rising. They just need to keep making games.
 
I mean, thats what happened. Sega's deal with Platinum is falling through so they're doing work for Konami and Nintendo. Thats not speculation, thats the reality. The only thing missing from the OP is an exclusivity contract but that's just not going to happen.
 
While PG has made one of my favorite games this gen (Bayonetta), I don't think any of the publishers have made a pretty penny on any of the games. Bayonetta probably made a little profit but I'm sure all the other games didn't even break even.

I find it painful to say this, but the problem with PG is that they develop great games that are western-centric (Madworld and Vanquish say hello), but the truth of the matter is that the market in the west is cornered by triple A, dudebro titles, and quite frankly the Japanese can't make games like that. They make great games that I find far more enjoyable to play, but I just can't see a large audience by saying something like Vanquish.
 
Platinum + Nintendo has always felt like a pretty common sense fit to me. Their tendency to emphasize fun gameplay experiences first and foremost would make them a great combo.
 
Highly doubt P* would go with Nintendo as that would likely make their games under that publishing deal exclusive to Nintendo platforms. That doesn't really seem like something Platinum would do with all their titles. They'd miss out on a number of their hardcore fans.
 
You guys really think Nintendo would publish something as sexual as Bayonetta or something as violent as Rising or Mad World?
 
Box of Bunnies said:
I could see Nintendo working further with Platinum if P100 does well.

Captain Falcon character action game directed by Kamiya.
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My dream game has been a Captain Falcon beat 'em up for years. Preferably in 2D, but I'll take a good 3D brawler, too.
Actually, they should just basically make God Hand 2, but with Captain Falcon.
 
zoner said:
You guys really think Nintendo would publish something as sexual as Bayonetta or something as violent as Rising or Mad World?
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Maybe. Retro is supposedly working on something to pull in "hardcore" gamers. Lets see what they come up with and how it sets the standard.
 
AwShucks said:
Highly doubt P* would go with Nintendo as that would likely make their games under that publishing deal exclusive to Nintendo platforms. That doesn't really seem like something Platinum would do with all their titles. They'd miss out on a number of their hardcore fans.
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Missed the news about P-100 did you
 
I'd be interested in seeing just what on Earth Platinum Games could do for Metroid with Nintendo someday after playing Vanquish. License them baby.
 
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