By now this news is kind of old but SEGA has purchased Atlus’ troubled owners Index Corp. Atlus’ well-being was a big concern for many people though most people pinned Nintendo as the company who would buy them since a) they made a few high quality 3DS titles and b) they are making Fire Emblem X Shin Megami Tensei for WiiU. So the question is… is this a good thing?
Considering the company in question that now owns it, the answer from me is a flat “no”.
Let’s first start with the most obvious question: how the hell could this company afford it? In case you forgot my Depressing Realities feature from a few odd weeks ago, I mentioned SEGA a couple of times for a very good reason. SEGA is by far the first and most notable victim of the PS3/360 generation, as hardly any of their titles on these systems matched the success they had on Wii (and before you throw MadWorld in my face, it sold the same amount as most of the other non-Nintendo Platinum titles). In order to not die out completely, they went through a severe restructuring that forced them to cancel many titles. Except Aliens: Colonel Marines, and we all know how that turned out.
Which leads to my next point, SEGA can be really fucking incompetent as a publisher. Again, let’s look at the recently released disaster that was the Aliens: CM game… Gearbox not only managed to take money away from SEGA to make other games, but they weren’t even making the game to begin with. It was originally announced in 2007/08, and for five years SEGA didn’t make a peep and thought everything was nice in dandy. This was one of the very few retail games SEGA released after they went through severe restructuring. Also notice how little releases were made for Nintendo systems and most of their output was HD ‘remasters’ of their old games?
So how the hell did Sonic Lost World happen? Hmm, it’s a WiiU exclusive (alongside the 3DS version), and was announced alongside the newest Mario and Sonic At [Insert Oylimpic Event Here]. SEGA being unable to afford anything (except for making Vita titles… seriously), who could’ve made this happen? Nintendo. Just like Bayonetta 2, Nintendo is obviously making this happen. Not Sony, not Microsoft, NIN-TEN-DO.
It took SEGA ten years to realize which system userbase Sonic was popular on even if the games were shitty. I also thought Sonic and the Black Knight was good.
“But Matto, you are worrying too much!” you tell me. I have good reasons to worry! Its SEGA, half of their history is filled to the brim of costly money making errors! And they bought Atlus, makers of incredible cult classics who are seeing great success on NINTENDO systems like the 3DS. I don’t care if Mario and Sonic make SEGA money, because damn it SEGA is terrible with money.
Pietriots 
I share your concern, I’m hoping they also realize that Atlus’ games sell better on Nintendo’s consoles and bring some good games to the Wii U. Btw, I’ve got my Wii U now. I’ve beaten Skyward Sword and I’m loving Ninja Gaiden right now. NNID: donzaloog.
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Your NNID isn’t popping up in my Miiverse search. Are you on Miiverse yet?
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If donzaloog isn’t working then try donzaloog1400.
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Clearly this is part of Nintendo’s overall strategy to snatch up both Sega and Atlus for the price of one…
At least one can only hope so.
Is Nintendo throwing money at the actual development team, or simply helping with publishing costs? Haven’t been able to find a straight answer on that one.
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I was thinking the same thing, but it seems Nintendo doesn’t like to throw around money like that and outright buy studios (especially not ones as big as SEGA). I hope they do, but it seems unlikely.
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It’s ok. Nintendo will basically own them because they’ll be funding all their games. (haha, yes it is absolutely ridiculous that Sega bought Atlus)
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I don’t think we should be THIS worried. Yeah, it kinda sucks, seeing as how Sega’s publishing skills rival EA’s in awfulness, but they are one of the few publishers that treat Nintendo with any respect. Considering their recent quotes and how it was revealed that Sonic and Sega All Stars Racing Transformed got a 1/4 of its sales on Wii U (yeah, what happened to PS360 being the 3rd party haven?), I think Sega will be sticking closer to Ninty from now on. And as someone said above, if things get worse for them, Nintendo will probably buy them out. Plus, Atlus has a great relationship with Nintendo so they can try and talk sense into Sega when they’re about to do something stupid.
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Good points Matto.
I for one, can’t understand why Nintendo didn’t purchase Atlus, especially for the amount it ended up being sold for.
With 3rd parties not supporting Nintendo much these days I would think expanding their 1st party offerings with existing IP’s would be a natural choice. I also think they should’ve purchased some of THQ’s content. Just because THQ couldn’t manage themselves well didn’t mean they didn’t have some decent IP’s.
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I think that sega is purposely screwing up and making bad games I was wondering if sega will do another console with atlus.
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