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  • Capcom closes Clover Studio's

    Update 2

    Next Gen has some more information on Mikami and others fate:

    Q: We’ve heard that the famous creators such as [Resident Evil creator] Mr. [Shinji] Mikami, [Okami producer] Mr. [Atsushi] Inaba and [Devil May Cry director] Mr. [Hideki] Kamiya have quit, is this true? Why didn’t they come back to Capcom?

    A: Mr. Mikami had already left Capcom in November 2005 but signed on a separate contract with us. Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya have also left Capcom in June and July of this year respectively. Naturally, we had hoped that Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya to come back to us, however, both of them told us that they wanted a new challenge at a new environment. As far as Capcom’s concerned, now all the resources should be used more effectively and more efficiently since they are centralized.

    Q: Don’t you think of Mr. Mikami’s departure as a huge loss? Who’s going to produce Resident Evil series from now on?

    A: We have a signed contract with Mr. Mikami separately. In any case, we have many creators that have worked on Resident Evil series titles and have enough knowledge of the series. Mr. Mikami will also work in our R&D. By the way, Mr. Takeuchi is producing Resident Evil 5 (he’s worked on the original Resident Evil).
    このサイトでは私アキラが日々の生活の中で実際に体験した大人な世界のリアルな情報をご紹介しています。出会い系を駆使したセフレの作り方から国内外の風俗、jkビジネスの最たる例であるリフレ、果ては今女性の間で流行っているパパ活までその実態を徹底調査しています。


    Thanks to Umon for this one!

    The team responsible for games such as Viewtiful Joe, Okami and God Hand has been officially closed by Capcom. You may recall this studio was formed on July 1st 2004. Shinji Mikami himself was appointed to the studio after expressing his desire to move past the Resident Evil series.

    With this move, its unknown if Shinji will once again command the reigns of the Resident Evil series, but what is known is that all employee's have been re-intergrated with Capcom.

    Rumors are around however that team members will leave Capcom to form their own studio. No word on Shinji's fate however.

    Thanks goes to Jon Brittan at the Beyond3d Forums.

    Update:

    The official Capcom PR is available. The reason stated is:

    Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has met the goal of developing unique and creative original home video game software, however, in view of promoting a business strategy that concentrates management resources on a selected business to enhance the efficiency of the development power of the entire Capcom group, the dissolution of Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has been raised and passed at a Board of Directors' meeting.
    Read more at Capcom.
    Last edited by Dot50Cal; 10-12-2006, 03:43 PM.

  • #2
    This seems like a great pity, Clover have been responsible for some great titles. I think the remaining team should go work for Grasshopper, make a sub-division there or something.

    Comment


    • #3
      Grasshopper doesn't even have enough resources as one Capcom R&D studio, and often look for publishers. Clover's establishment by itself raised a few eyebrows, it doesn't surprise me that they're dissolving it. It was a mere extension of Studio 4, and some you know that the key figures there were Mikami, Kamiya, and Inaba. The first two have been "advisors" to the development of many titles in the past two years while they were in Clover; heck, Mikami was directing RE4 for Kobayashi (and now "advising" on RE5). Add DMC3, and now DMC4 for Kamiya.

      They'll go back to creating the same type of games internally, so I wouldn't take any premature (popped up rather quick, didn't they?) rumours to heart. But it's possible that Okamoto or Funamizu will pick a few up now.

      I think the commercial performance of the games had more to do with this than mere effeciency. They're produced 5 original titles, and only one has been met with critical acclaim (Okami). Add a 6th title if you want to count the PS2 port of VJ1.

      Comment


      • #4
        And lets not forget that their latest release, God Hand, hasn't recieved the most favourable of reviews from some parts of the media
        Last edited by Cyber_Shinobi; 10-12-2006, 02:39 PM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Holy shite.. some light was shed on the status of the head figures:

          Q: We’ve heard that the famous creators such as [Resident Evil creator] Mr. [Shinji] Mikami, [Okami producer] Mr. [Atsushi] Inaba and [Devil May Cry director] Mr. [Hideki] Kamiya have quit, is this true? Why didn’t they come back to Capcom?

          A: Mr. Mikami had already left Capcom in November 2005 but signed on a separate contract with us. Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya have also left Capcom in June and July of this year respectively. Naturally, we had hoped that Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya to come back to us, however, both of them told us that they wanted a new challenge at a new environment. As far as Capcom’s concerned, now all the resources should be used more effectively and more efficiently since they are centralized.

          Q: Don’t you think of Mr. Mikami’s departure as a huge loss? Who’s going to produce Resident Evil series from now on?

          A: We have a signed contract with Mr. Mikami separately. In any case, we have many creators that have worked on Resident Evil series titles and have enough knowledge of the series. Mr. Mikami will also work in our R&D. By the way, Mr. Takeuchi is producing Resident Evil 5 (he’s worked on the original Resident Evil).
          このサイトでは私アキラが日々の生活の中で実際に体験した大人な世界のリアルな情報をご紹介しています。出会い系を駆使したセフレの作り方から国内外の風俗、jkビジネスの最たる例であるリフレ、果ては今女性の間で流行っているパパ活までその実態を徹底調査しています。


          This is truly shocking stuff, particularly in regards to Inaba and Kamiya. So I suppose a rumour of an indie developer headed by Inaba (with Kamiya) is a strong possibility.
          Last edited by Umon Daisuke; 10-12-2006, 03:28 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Shinji Mikami always said he would quit(cut of his head) if Resident Evil 4 was ported to another system. It was, and he did...
            But didn't follow through with his promise fully obviously. And will he work on another Resident Evil title? I'm not so sure myself. It really wouldn't suprise me if he didn't.

            I bet there is more to the reasons for Inaba and Kamiya leaving that Capcom isn't letting us know. I can't see it just being that they "want a new challenge".
            Last edited by Cyber_Shinobi; 10-12-2006, 04:27 PM.

            Comment


            • #7
              Quitting a year after the port's announcement would tell you that he had another reason; it's business after all.

              I don't know, "change of environment" has been touted rather frequently whenever a big name leaves the company. There isn't much creative freedom within a large company. I bet that Okami's longer than expected development cycle pushed a few buttons with the higher ups, and in turn Kamiya & co. were given a hard time. They did pull the rug from under his feet with DMC2 without notice that gave him the impression that he might be fired for taking so long to develop the game.

              Comment


              • #8
                wow this sucks, clover did give out some extraordinary games

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