Out of curiosity do they note what the "new platforms" are?
Not that Bandai Namco has done much better lately.
FROM was one of the few (only?) really notable independent game studios in JP. I guess they'll have a steady publisher now in Kadokawa for their domestic releases. I wonder if they'll still be getting other publishers with Western presence to publish overseas, or if Kadokawa will begin publishing their own games in the Western markets.
Source: http://ir.kadokawa.co.jp/topics/20140428fms_fi.pdfKadokawa said:【NEWS RELEASE】
2014年4月28日
株式会社 KADOKAWA
「株式会社フロム・ソフトウェア」株式取得(子会社化)のお知らせ
株式会社KADOKAWA(本社:東京都千代田区、代表取締役社長:松原眞樹 以下KADOKAWA)は、
株式会社フロム・ソフトウェア(本社:東京都渋谷区、代表取締役社長:神直利、以下フロム・ソフト
ウェア)の株式を取得し、子会社化することといたしましたのでお知らせします。
フロム・ソフトウェアは、家庭用ゲーム機向けハイエンドゲームの開発および販売を主力事業として
おり、「DARK SOULS」、「アーマード・コア」、「天誅」等の人気シリーズを有し、2013年には海外の有力ゲ
ーム情報誌 EDGE が選ぶ「世界のゲーム開発スタジオランキング」において、第 8 位に選出されました。
2014年3月に国内はフロム•ソフトウェアより、海外では株式会社バンダイナムコゲームス様より発売を
開始した PlayStation® 3、Xbox 360、PC 向け「DARK SOULS II」は、全世界で多くのファンに支持され
ています。家庭用ゲーム機における3Dアクションとアートに加え、深みのあるゲーム性、そして独自の
高い技術力により、国内外から注目されているゲーム開発会社です。
KADOKAWA はフロム・ソフトウェアをKADOKAWAの100%子会社である株式会社角川ゲームス(東
京都千代田区、代表取締役社長:安田善巳、以下角川ゲームス)と共に、グループのゲーム事業の中核
会社と位置付け、事業を展開する予定です。フロム・ソフトウェアと角川ゲームスの両社は、それぞれ
の得意分野を生かしながら両社の事業を共に拡大発展させるための連携に向けた協議を重ねて参りまし
たところ、フロム・ソフトウェアがKADOKAWAグループに加わり、角川ゲームスとのシナジー効果を
発揮することが最善の策であるとの合意に至り、株式取得を行うことになりました。
今後、フロム・ソフトウェアは、角川ゲームスとの間で企画、開発、販売における資源を相互活用し、
両社の強みを生かした新しいIPおよびゲームの制作、成長が見込まれる海外市場や新しいゲームプラッ
トフォームを見据えた事業展開を行い、グループ各社と連携したネット・デジタル、グローバル市場へ
の進出も積極的に行っていく予定です。
なお、フロム・ソフトウェアの会社概要は以下のとおりです。
1)設 立 : 1986年 11月1日
2)資 本 金 : 2億6,850万円
3)主な事業内容 : ゲームソフトの企画・開発・販売、インターネット上のコンテンツの企画・開発
4)代 表 者 : 代表取締役社長 神 直利
5)従 業 員 数 : 230名(2013年10月)
Why should it be? It went and harmed itself apparently, seeing the reaction coming from people and the press.
Truthfully the smart thing would be to put it on ice for a while and try something else new or go back to the roots. As they obviously overstretched themselves a bit.
The really harsh "criticisms" seem to be coming from a very vocal minority coming from Miyazaki evangelists. Dark Souls 2 rules in it's own right.Why should it be? It went and harmed itself apparently, seeing the reaction coming from people and the press.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadokawa_Shoten
No I don't think they developed Lunar, it was Game Arts, now part of GungHo.
Wait FROM and Kadokawa are making an IP together.......I dunno how I feel about that :/
Out of curiosity do they note what the "new platforms" are?
While they're far from a great publisher I do think they're willing to throw around a few $20+ million budgets, which I'm not entirely convinced of Kadokawa yet, but your other statement suggests they might be willing to.
Wait FROM and Kadokawa are making an IP together.......I dunno how I feel about that :/
Why should it be? It went and harmed itself apparently, seeing the reaction coming from people and the press.
Truthfully the smart thing would be to put it on ice for a while and try something else new or go back to the roots. As they obviously overstretched themselves a bit.
Kadokawa has ties with lots of writers / media companies, From has a ton of talent in the game development field.
Dont really see what the problem is?
Kadokawa publishes like every manga ever so it could be anything.
No they don't. "with an eye on new game platform and in the west where growth is expected" is the wording. Hopefully they mean next gen and not mobile lol.
The fact that it mentions in the west in the same sentence makes me feel it's next gen, since the mobile craze is stronger in Japan.
And another nail in the coffin for the Japanese game industry :\
Yeah, I do not expect this to have positive effects on FROM games.
But this is somewhat worrying.To me the disappointing part of this is that Kadokawa spends very little money on their games, and have a poor track record with identifying and supporting quality.
Unless they intend to change their behavior, I'd have rather a larger publisher bought them.
And another nail in the coffin for the Japanese game industry :\
Yeah, I do not expect this to have positive effects on FROM games.
Kadokawa supports the vita, dark souls/Armoured core vita confirmed?
Kadokawa has ties with lots of writers / media companies, From has a ton of talent in the game development field.
Dont really see what the problem is?
Anyone have a contact at Kadokawa? Tell them to force From Software to make kings field games again instead of souls please.
God bless your tongue.Kadokawa supports the vita, dark souls/Armoured core vita confirmed?
To me the disappointing part of this is that Kadokawa spends very little money on their games, and have a poor track record with identifying and supporting quality.
Unless they intend to change their behavior, I'd have rather a larger publisher bought them.
so is this bad? i'm super ignorant about this company and everything
so is this bad? i'm super ignorant about this company and everything
GHM x
FROM SOFTWARE
NO MORE SOULS
They are making a new IP targeted towards the west.
Aside from that we haven't heard anything, and given their past I don't see them screwing with FROM. At the very least it's neutral event leaning towards positive.
cool, seems like it's just stability and money-fuel for from thenNo. Kadokawa has money comparable to if not greater than most other Japanese publishers, and for better or worse a willingness to green light a lot of things.
Demon's Souls 2 isn't happening. I don't know why people are adamant on it when From and Sony have no reason to pursue it.Japan Studio needs talent for that Demon Souls 2 game...Just saying.
But wow, unexpected buyout though.
I know Kadokawa is a huge publisher within the anime/manga industry, and very few for game unless it is anime-theme.
Could be a good thing though since Kadokawa can bank roll From Software for next gen AC/DS series.
I would like to see a good next gen AC game...add in more crazy anime stuff too so we can pretend it is a ZOE game since that series is dead =(.
It can work. Souls is one of those games you can play in bite-size chunks thanks to constant saving. It would probably also grab some of that Monster Hunting local multiplayer community.God bless your tongue.
Although a Souls game on handheld is hard to digest, as in we don't know if it can work, the prospect of getting one on the Vita is too good. It will also enhance the appeal of the hardware in the hardcore market.
Demon's Souls 2 isn't happening. I don't know why people are adamant on it when From and Sony have no reason to pursue it.
It can work. Souls is one of those games you can play in bite-size chunks thanks to constant saving. It would probably also grab some of that Monster Hunting local multiplayer community.