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[M for Mature]
Shinji Mikami didn't just have a hand in bringing the Viewtiful Joe and Devil May Cry series to gamers. He also helped create the survival horror genre in 1996 through Resident Evil -- so the dude has a pretty impressive resume. Now, he's working with Platinum Games on Vanquish, the upcoming sci-fi shooter set in a fictional future United States in the grip of a cold war with Russia.

According to an interview in this week's Famitsu magazine (via 1UP), Mikami's also working on opening a new independent studio called Tango. His current studio, Straight Story, was formed in 2006 (shortly before Seeds shut its doors and became Platinum Games) and is currently contracted to work on Vanquish and that action-horror project with Grasshopper Manufacture. Upon completion of Vanquish, Straight Story will "fold up" and Mikami will focus on the now 13-strong Tango. Mikami wants to see Tango "grow to 100 people or so in five to seven years."

After Vanquish, Mikami will relocate from his current digs in Osaka to Tokyo, where he hopes to recruit some of the young up-and-comers Japan has to offer. As for Tango's first project, that's still up in the air. "I'd like to make a choice with the rest of the team as we grow our numbers," he said. "I've been speaking with a number of publishers as well, but we haven't signed any contracts yet."

JoystiqShinji Mikami opening new Tokyo-based studio, Tango originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomclovermikamiplatinum-gamesresident-evilseedsseeds-incshinji-mikamistraight-storytangovanquishWed, 17 Mar 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega talks Platinum Games deal, franchises]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/sega-talks-platinum-games-deal-franchises/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/sega-talks-platinum-games-deal-franchises/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/20/sega-talks-platinum-games-deal-franchises/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


In a Q&A session with Gamespot, the folks at Sega detailed some of their plans and expectations for the recently announced four-game publishing deal with Platinum Games. The agreement, which grants Sega exclusive rights to Mad World (Wii), Bayonetta (PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360), Infinite Line (DS) and a mystery title from Resident Evil designer, Shinji Mikami, was officially announced during a special event last week.

"The guys at Platinum are just at the top of their game right now, and what they've delivered is so clearly AAA in every way, when they started to show us product, we had to have it," said Sega of America president, Simon Jeffery. When asked about the marketing challenges inherent in starting up three (possibly four) new IPs, Jeffery notes that Sega is in it for the long run. "What we've seen today is the starting point, but all of those games--Bayonetta, Madworld, Infinite Line--won't be one-offs," he explained. "They're all uniquely different enough from everything in their space to build complete franchises out of. The whole foundation of PlatinumGames is built around that long-term strategy."

Though talk of franchises this early in a game's life would normally elicit concern, the ex-Clover talent at Platinum Games could certainly do with the commercial success to match their critical acclaim. Y'know, aside from the Devil May Cry and Resident Evil guys.

JoystiqSega talks Platinum Games deal, franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 May 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BayonettaCloverDSInfinite-LineMad-WorldPlatinum-GamesPS3SeedsSegaWiiXbox-360Tue, 20 May 2008 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Atsushi Inaba wants to work with Nintendo platforms]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/atsushi-inaba-wants-to-work-with-nintendo-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/atsushi-inaba-wants-to-work-with-nintendo-platforms/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/atsushi-inaba-wants-to-work-with-nintendo-platforms/#commentsFiled under:

Fans of the Viewtiful Joe franchise (or anything from Clover, really) will likely know the name Atsushi Inaba. The closing of Clover was very sad, but eventually led to SEEDS and, now, Platinum Games. So, just what interests Inuba and co. lately?

Why, the DS and Wii, of course. When asked by 1UP on which platforms were desirable launching pads for a new title, Inaba said "Of course the Wii and DS are attractive platforms; they're platforms that aren't competing by way of the graphics. It's more about the gameplay." We couldn't agree more, because playing is believing with the Wii. Immediate releases from Platinum Games might not be on the horizon, however, as Inaba stated "we do want to create games on Wii and DS. But we have staff that has been creating games on the newest technology, like the PS3 and Xbox 360, so we are not interested in cutting that out."

But, this interview is supposedly a bit late hitting the net, so there's also that to consider.

[Via Go Nintendo]

JoystiqAtsushi Inaba wants to work with Nintendo platforms originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atsushi-inabacapcomclovergodhandokamiseedsThu, 31 Jan 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Resident Evil's Shinji Mikami begins work on new project]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/resident-evils-shinji-mikami-begins-work-on-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/resident-evils-shinji-mikami-begins-work-on-new-project/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/30/resident-evils-shinji-mikami-begins-work-on-new-project/#commentsFiled under:


"YEEEeeeees!!!"

We couldn't agree more with Shinji Mikami's recent exclamation on his blog, where he announced that work had finally begun on a new, untitled project. The blog entry (translated by IGN) explains that the Resident Evil creator has managed to assemble a development team for his first endeavor under the Platinum Games banner. Though he says that more staff will be required to complete the game, we don't expect the lack of creative talent will pose much of a problem considering the company he's keeping at the studio.

Mikami, eventually joined by Viewtiful Joe's Atsushi Inaba and Devil May Cry's Hideki Kamiya, departed Capcom in 2006 to form a new company, Seeds. In September 2007, it was announced that Seeds had merged with ODD Incorporated and ruined changed its name to "Platinum Games." NOOOooooo!!!

JoystiqResident Evil's Shinji Mikami begins work on new project originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomCloverPlatinum-GamesSeedsShinji-MikamiShinjiMikamiWed, 30 Jan 2008 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ex-Clover dev team buries 'Seeds' to form 'Platinum Games']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/ex-clover-dev-team-buries-seeds-to-form-platinum-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/ex-clover-dev-team-buries-seeds-to-form-platinum-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/27/ex-clover-dev-team-buries-seeds-to-form-platinum-games/#commentsFiled under:


Shortly after producing the strikingly beautiful Okami and relentlessly challenging God Hand, Capcom's Clover Studios was duly rewarded with cold commercial apathy and prompt liquidation. In February, the studio's lead designer trifecta -- Viewtiful Joe's Atsushi Inaba, Resident Evil's Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry's Hideki Kamiya -- formed a new studio, Seeds, and began the process of hiring new employees.

Just over seven months later, it appears that Seeds will wither before producing even a single game. The company's recruitment website now states that Seeds will undergo a merger with a company called "ODD," resulting in a change of name to "Platinum Games" as of October 1st. No upcoming projects are mentioned, though one would hope that the new title becomes reflective of the success that's eluded Clover for so long.

[Via IGN]

JoystiqEx-Clover dev team buries 'Seeds' to form 'Platinum Games' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 27 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomCloverGod-HandOkamiPlatinum-GamesSeedsThu, 27 Sep 2007 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Capcom, Clover, and a little Wii name-dropping]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/capcom-clover-and-a-little-wii-name-dropping/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/capcom-clover-and-a-little-wii-name-dropping/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/capcom-clover-and-a-little-wii-name-dropping/#commentsFiled under: ,

If someone mentions an amorphous new Wii game in space, we're gonna hear about it, so when Capcom marketing VP Charles Bellfield name-dropped our favorite console in an interview with Kyle Orland over at Gamasutra, our ears perked up. But Bellfield was coy about unleashing any of the juicy details. "I would love to give you my product lineup for the next five years, but ... *laughs* ... we are developing a new title for the Wii platform. We will be making announcements in the coming months as to what these different titles are." Those former Clover employees who are not busily planting Seeds will be hard at work on this title, as well as others.

A new title indicates that it's probably not the Wii Okami you've been hoping for. In fact, Bellfield was quick to push the fact that Capcom is all about churning out original IPs. With the diversity of Capcom's stable of awesome, we can't possibly speculate on what they may have in store for us, but we'll be spending these "coming months" idly dreaming of zombie wolf attorneys.

JoystiqCapcom, Clover, and a little Wii name-dropping originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomCharles BellfieldCharlesBellfielCloverinterviewIPNintendoOkamiSeedsWiiTue, 20 Feb 2007 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[ex-Clover developers are working on Resident Evil 5]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/ex-clover-developers-are-working-on-resident-evil-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/ex-clover-developers-are-working-on-resident-evil-5/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/ex-clover-developers-are-working-on-resident-evil-5/#commentsFiled under:

So, while many of those involved in the now-defunct Clover Studios have moved on to create the new studio Seeds, apparently there are a few developers who were reassigned to Capcom's Resident Evil 5. But didn't Seeds have some of the people involved in the creation of Resident Evil anyway? It would've been wise to ask for Seeds help, but alas.

Charles Bellfield, VP of Marketing, addressed that very issue. "What actually happened is Mikami-san, Kamiya-san and Inaba-san chose to leave the company and do something else and the rest of the Clover team was just incorporated back into the rest of Capcom's development talent pool." What do you guys think? Should Capcom have bit the bullet and asked Seeds to help with Resident Evil 5 or will they be just fine without the creative minds behind the franchise?

Joystiqex-Clover developers are working on Resident Evil 5 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomCloverMicrosoftPlaystation 3Playstation3PS3Resident Evil 5ResidentEvil5SeedsSonyXBox 360Xbox360Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Clover members now working on Resident Evil 5, new Wii game]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/former-clover-members-now-working-on-resident-evil-5-new-wii-ga/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/former-clover-members-now-working-on-resident-evil-5-new-wii-ga/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/20/former-clover-members-now-working-on-resident-evil-5-new-wii-ga/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Capcom's VP of marketing, Charles Bellfield, recently demonstrated extraordinary levels of courage and patience when he was sealed in a (possibly metaphorical) room with our very own Kyle Orland. The experience yielded an interesting interview on Gamasutra, one that touches on the fate of Clover Studios and the not-so-elusive Ace Attorney 3.

On the topic of Clover Studios and its untimely liquidation, Bellfield asserts that several members of the team have simply been integrated into other Capcom groups. "So, for example, some of the team that worked on Clover titles are now helping Takeuchi-san on Resident Evil 5, helping Inafune-san on a new title for the Wii, so I think it's very much the skill set still stays in the company when those individuals stay and, unfortunately, three individuals chose to leave." The three referenced individuals, namely Shinji Mikami, Atsushi Inaba and Hideki Kamiya, have since formed their own studio, Seeds.

Later in the interview, Bellfield expresses some surprise as to the success Phoenix Wright has found in America, with the original title now having shipped over 100,000 copies since its introduction. "It's shipped steadily for the last year, and we've just shipped Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney: Justice for All and we have more coming up, so I think again it's like a good book, it's that word of mouth that gets people out there to learn more about the game." With that, Bellfield likely confirms what we've suspected since Capcom launched it's Ace Attorney 3 contest last week -- the third Phoenix Wright adventure is likely being localized as we speak. English, that is.

JoystiqFormer Clover members now working on Resident Evil 5, new Wii game originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomClover StudiosCloverStudiosKeiji InafuneKeijiInafuneOkamiPS3Resident Evil 5ResidentEvil5SeedsShinji MikamiShinjiMikamiWiiXbox-360Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Clover Studios replaced by Seeds?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/clover-studios-replaced-by-seeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/clover-studios-replaced-by-seeds/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/16/clover-studios-replaced-by-seeds/#commentsFiled under: ,

After the lackluster sales of the absolutely gorgeous and stunning Okami, Capcom closed down their Clover Studios -- also responsible for Viewtiful Joe. Well, doors officially close next month, but it doesn't seem to be the end of the Clover team. Far from it, in fact. Atsushi Inaba, CEO of the defunct Clover, has created a new software development studio named Seeds.

There are over 50 members on staff, including the director of Devil May Cry and creator of Resident Evil, Hideki Kimaya and Shinji Mikami, respectively. Most of the Clover team has signed on as artists, composers and character designers. What isn't known is if this new studio will have any ties to Capcom. In either case, seems we won't be lacking the artistic, gorgeous games Clover is known for. Good luck, Seeds!

JoystiqClover Studios replaced by Seeds? originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Feb 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomClover StudiosCloverStudiosPlayStation 3Playstation3PS3SeedsSonyFri, 16 Feb 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Clover bosses start Seeds, blogger strains to resist botany metaphors [update 1]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-meta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-meta/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-meta/#commentsFiled under:

Four months ago, we started mourning the sad loss of Clover Studio, the development house responsible for beautiful, original games like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and God Hand. Well, now we can wipe our cel-shaded tears away! Atsushi Inaba, Hideki Kamiya, and Resident Evil/Devil May Cry creator Shinji Mikami have held their V-Watches aloft, shouted "Henshin a-go-go, baby!" and transformed the moribund Clover into a new development studio, called Seeds.

And they want you! You know, if you're a qualified programmer or artist of some kind. According to the site, they are in the process of looking for new people to help them make some "weird, amazing games." We Fanboys are hoping that they (and whoever publishes their future work) turn their attentions to the two weirdest, most amazing consoles we can think of. These guys have some prior DS experience, and they've no doubt noticed that the DS has done a little bit of business in Japan, so it seems likely they'll be weirding and amazing it up on two screens in the near future.

[Via Game|Life]
[Update 1: Those insidious italics!]

JoystiqClover bosses start Seeds, blogger strains to resist botany metaphors [update 1] originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomclovercloverstudiodsdsliteinabakamiyamikaminintendookamiseedsviewtifulThu, 15 Feb 2007 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Clover bosses start Seeds, blogger strains to resist botany metaphors (update 1)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-me/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/clover-bosses-start-seeds-blogger-strains-to-resist-botany-me/#commentsFiled under:

Four months ago, we started mourning the sad loss of Clover Studio, the development house responsible for beautiful, original games like Viewtiful Joe, Okami, and God Hand. Well, now we can wipe our cel-shaded tears away! Atsushi Inaba, Hideki Kamiya, and Resident Evil/Devil May Cry creator Shinji Mikami have held their V-Watches aloft, shouted "Henshin a-go-go, baby!" and transformed the moribund Clover into a new development studio, called Seeds.

And they want you! You know, if you're a qualified programmer or artist of some kind. According to the site, they are in the process of looking for new people to help them make some "weird, amazing games." We Fanboys are hoping that they (and whoever publishes their future work) turn their attentions to the two weirdest, most amazing consoles we can think of; given that the Wii is the go-to console for innovation these days (and the only next-gen console that a small developer could realistically afford to make games for) it seems like a natural fit.

[Via Game|Life]

Update: Those insidious italics!

JoystiqClover bosses start Seeds, blogger strains to resist botany metaphors (update 1) originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>capcomcloverdsinabakamiyamikamiSeedswiiThu, 15 Feb 2007 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Former Clover members start up new studio]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/former-clover-members-start-up-new-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/former-clover-members-start-up-new-studio/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/02/15/former-clover-members-start-up-new-studio/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


You know something's rotten in the games industry when the reward for producing a magnificent adventure like Okami is the complete liquidation of your studio. All is not lost, however, as the former members of Capcom's Clover Studios have moved their aspirations to fresher soil. GameDaily BIZ reports that the team's new studio, Seeds, is currently in the process of hiring new employees to join a current roster of 51.

Amongst those lies a designer trifecta: Viewtiful Joe's Atsushi Inaba, Resident Evil's Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry's Hideki Kamiya. Seeds has yet to announce any projects, but a cel-shaded, survival-horror title (with a guitar-wielding protagonist) would certainly be a good start.

JoystiqFormer Clover members start up new studio originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CapcomClover StudiosCloverStudiosDevil May CryDevilMayCryOkamiPS2PS3Resident EvilResidentEvilSeedsWiiXbox-360Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:10:00 EST