Okami (Greatest Hits) [Play-Asia, via Siliconera]

Once upon a time, games were competitors. Now, primarily, they're entertainers. They aimed to beat you. Now, to be beaten. Our language says much, really. While we've talked about difficulty curves forever, the problems now are "difficulty spikes." No one ever critiques a game for a difficulty-trough - because the former stops you getting anywhere and the latter is just something you coast throug

I'm not one of those gamers that particularly enjoys having my ass handed to me to the point where I simply cannot complete a game, though there are plenty of games that have challenged me to (my) max - I'm also the obsessive type, so the pattern of having side quests and optional challenges galore in my games of choice usually means I have more than enough to keep me busy. This question of balancing the commercial needs of AAA titles with what 'real' gamers (however you want to define that) want to see is an increasingly pressing problem — though not one that I expect will be resolved any time soon, other that to push more and more 'styles' of games towards the fringes.

Hard Times: The Future of Difficult Video Games

I really don't know what under pretext the credits were cut... What do you all think? I feel dejected, and not only because my own name has been erased from my creation. Of course we have pride in our work and we want to scream "We made this!" from the top of our lungs. But more than that, the fact that they cut the entire staff is utterly deplorable.

Kamiya on Credit [Platinum Games via Canned Dogs Thanks, Sarah!]

Eds Note: Oh! For those who are interested in reading the entire post (in English), Platinum Games has posted the official translation here.

...a quasi-16:9 widescreen mode — we call it "quasi" because it's not full resolution; thin black bars remain on each side of the screen.

UPDATE - I'm done with this topic. The build IGN were playing on was, according to Ready At Dawn, an old one, and RaD president Didier Malenfant has promised us that the final, retail build of the game will feature "full 16:9". Case closed. Move along.

On October 1, 2007, SEEDS Corporation will merge with ODD Corporation to create "Platinum Games," which will be a fresh step forward.

Seeds [Official Site]

Eds Note: As pointed out on forum NeoGAF, the ODD Corporation linked above (ODD Solutions) might not be what SEEDS is merging with. SEEDS is merging with a company called ODD Corporation, but info about that company is scant.

SEEDS Working on Multiple-platforms [Deeko News]

From this week's Escapist, a rather sobering look at the 'demise of Clover Studios.' Everyone claims they want new, different, innovative games, but somehow a studio like Clover that produced Viewtiful Joe 2, God Hand and Okami can't stay afloat. The author points out that for a "scrappy independent developer," selling hundreds of thousands of copies would be quite the achievement, but for a division of Capcom it was a "stinging disappointment."

In a post-shutdown interview, [Clover CEO Atsushi] Inaba reflected, "I think that it is becoming almost 'impossible' for an original game to succeed financially. This can't be blamed on anyone, but it's a simple fact that an original game doesn't appeal to the majority of gamers."

Despite tons of essays, blog posts, and whining to the contrary, it would seem that while people like the idea of new and innovative, when push comes to shove, they don't want to plunk down the cold, hard cash - which is the real shame about Clover, because they delivered on their mission of creating innovative and different games. While studios are a business, and in today's world if you don't make money you can expect to be shuttered, it is especially depressing when put next to all the high-minded talk of innovation and creativity. Maggie Greene

Vision Doesn't Sell Copies: The short life of Clover Studios [The Escapist]

Bellfied tells Kyle Orland:

Capcom, unlike most other developers, doesn't have dedicated strict boundaries between each of its development teams. We actually have one pool of development talent at Capcom and those individuals are basically assigned based on the timescales of each product we're working on, so everybody does work on a variety of content and games at Capcom... with the exception of Clover [...] it was managed by [Atsushi] Inaba-san, [Shinji] Mikami-san and [Hideki] Kamiya-san, and the three of them were essentially the individuals that made Clover, plus with the team staff they had about 80 people in total.

Our games need to at least break even and add value back to our shareholders, so it's impossible to make games that are not profitable over and over again. 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. So in fact, while three individuals left, Clover Studios as a separate entity was merged back into the rest of the Capcom teams and today, still, the talent we had, with the exception of three people, is still remaining at Capcom.

While some could make the argument that three very key figures are no longer in the Capcom camp, it would be a disservice to undermine the work that the other 77 Clover staff did while in their employ. Still, we'll continue to lament the closing of Clover while looking forward to see what SEEDS can come up with.

The rest of the interview should not be missed, as Bellfield talks about a number of interesting subjects, including how community feedback influenced the design of Lost Planet, his take on the AIAS awards and Capcom's exclusion, and the surprise success of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. A very good read. Michael McWhertor

Interview: Capcom Vice President of Marketing Charles Bellfield [Gamasutra]

In a heart-wrenching move to many, Clover Studios was shuttered late last year. Fronted by Atsushi Inaba, the studio brought us titles like Okami and GODHAND. We had heard rumblings that Inaba had created another Osaka-based studio. What's more, it apparently had big financial backing.

The website for Inaba's new company SEEDS has gone live. SEEDS was founded way back in August 2006, which was a couple months before Capcom closed Clover. As of January, the new outfit was 51 employees strong. The company's message page boasts a powerhouse staff with the likes of producer Atsushi Inaba, Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry/Viewtiful Joe creator Hideki Kamiya.

The company seems to still be in the recruiting phase and sets forth this company philosophy of creating new entertainment for people living in a new world and looking towards the future of gaming (hence, the company name "SEEDS"). States it's always considering "worldwide," because it wants more more to play its games. In the company's site there does seem to be a largely international focus and concentration on the "play" aspect of gaming. If past Clover and Capcom titles are anything to go by, whatever SEEDS does output should be anything but run-of-the-mill. Looking forward to it. Brian Ashcraft

New Clover Studio [SEEDS via NeoGAF]

Eds Note: "Blind Items" will appear occasionally for gossip and rumors. Hit up the comments section for conjecture and speculation.

Kotaku Pointing Fish says that former Clover honcho and Okami producer Atsushi Inaba is hard at work in his new studio, which is located in the Umeda area of Osaka. The up-start has even hooked up with a company that is, and the Kotaku Pointing Fish quotes, "flushed with cash." Hmm, flushed with cash? Okay, guess away! And keep in mind that Inaba's co-hort Shinji Mikami had a fit with Resident Evil appeared on the PlayStation 2. Brian Ashcraft

When Capcom shuttered Clover, the arm behind Okami and Godhand, grown men cried. Producer Atsushi Inaba fled the company, while his partner-in-crime Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil) kept contractual ties with Capcom.

So, what came of Inaba? What is he doing now? Word from a handful of insiders is that he has set up his own studio in Osaka and is hard at work on new titles. This shouldn't come as a surprise in the least (file under "no duh"), but it is good to hear this chatter. No word what this outfit is called, and we've gotten conflicting reports that Mikami has joined Inaba's boutique studio. Stay tuned until there's something official. Brian Ashcraft

Rumor #1: Capcom Is Publishing SIX Xbox 360 games in 2007!
Source: This chart showing Capcom's Number of Titles Released, often incorrectly referred to as Capcom's latest investor relations report.

Unfortunately, that column featuring six Xbox 360 published games indicates they'll hit by March 2007, the end of Capcom's fiscal year. The column directly to the left shows two 360 games published in the first half of the fiscal year. What were those games? Dead Rising and Street Fighter II Hyper Fighting? Dead Rising for Japan and Dead Rising for... not Japan? It's unclear how Capcom is defining these games, if they're Capcom developed titles or games published by Capcom, but since this chart is from early November, don't expect to see six Capcom titles hit the 360 before the end of Q1 07.

Rumor #2: God Hand and Okami Coming To Xbox 360!
Source: A Japanese PDF issued by Capcom with the words God Hand and Okami in close proximity to the words Xbox 360.

Sadly, the fact that neither title broke sales records and the shuttering of developer Clover Studios tipped off the news hungry. The other clue to the authenticity of the rumor should have been the November 9th date of the news release. The English language version of the release merely indicates that Activision will be distributing titles in Australia and New Zealand and reads: "The first title to be distributed in this manner will be the Xbox 360 title "Lost Planet Extreme Condition" in early 2007, followed by "Okami" and "God Hand" for the Sony PlayStation 2."

As much as I'd like for more Capcom games, especially two of my faves from this year, to hit the 360, it's just not going to happen. At least not any time soon. Michael McWhertor

Granted, this is at one store, but here it is: GOD HAND marked down to 2,600 yen (US $22). The game was originally priced at 7,140 yen ($61). Can't help but think closing Clover was sadly a financial decision, not a creative control one. Regardless, McWhertor points out that the original price was far too high anyway. Agreed. Brian Ashcraft

Eds Note: Bashcraft, here. Sorry about the confusion! This store is buying GOD HAND, not selling it. Well, it is selling it, but not at the price mentioned. My apologies.

Nevermind that it's the only Okami tattoo we've seen...

Reader Eric has taken the celestial needle to his calf, forever marking himself with the wolf god Amaterasu to always remember one of the greatest development studios of all time, the short-lived Clover. R.I.P.

Nice work, Eric, but I'm going to have to stop writing, as the one thing that seems to threaten to fire off my gag reflex is the shaved, black haired male calf, glistening with the shine of Bacitracin. Gack!! There it goes. Michael McWhertor

Sick of hearing about how Capcom smothered Clover Studios with a giant throw pillow and left the arty studio for dead in a dumpster out by the airport? Me neither! Gamasutra's Brandon Sheffield has an insightful interview with Atsushi Inaba from way back at TGS, way back when there was still a Clover Studios. While the word has always been that Clover was a word play on "creativity lover," Inaba points out:

Well we thought pretty hard about it, and it comes from Mikami's name and mine. It takes the 'mi' from his name, meaning three, and the 'ba' from my name, meaning leaf. Put those together and it's 'three leaves,' so even though the logo is a four-leaf clover, the idea actually comes from what plant would have three leaves.

An unlucky clover at that. Brian Ashcraft

Interview with Inaba [Gamasutra]

Former Sega marketer and current Capcom VP, Charles Bellfield pulls no punches in a recent GameDaily interview. With Clover Studios (God Hand, Okami) recent closing, Bellfield talks about what that means for Capcom and what exactly the subsidiary was. He points out that it was "physically a floor in our sixteen-story R&D building in Osaka in Japan. It was identical to the other fifteen floors that were in the same building..." Moreover, the majority of the team has been transitioning from Clover to Capcom for months. Continuing, Bellfield adds:

Does it change the type of content we develop? Not in the slightest chance. Does it change the company at all? Nope. Have a couple of individuals left? Yes... Mikami-san (Resident Evil creator) is still a contracted producer at Capcom, so he's very much part of the team, part of the family just as other producers are... Both Inaba-san (Viewtiful Joe producer) and Kamiya-san have left the company.

He adds that that And Bellfield not only attempts to clarify the Clover situation, but kicks sand in Sega's face for bonus points! When asked for comparisons between his current employer and his previous one, Bellfield dishes:

Capcom's not going to do anything that will cheapen itself in the eyes of the gamer, and we'll only do things to add credibility to who we are as a company. We are not in the market to cheapen ourselves or deliver below par content to our consumers.

This Bellfield guy is a regular barrel of monkeys! Brian Ashcraft

Chatty Charles [GameDaily]

I know you're just as sad and/or angry as I am about the closing of Clover Studios, creators of Viewtiful Joe, Okami and God Hand. My emotions lean closer to "anger" as I realized I was the only one at my local EB to secure a God Hand pre-order. Shame on you, game buying public!

Well, there's not too much more to say about the death of one of the more consistent, arguably more artistic, independent developers this generation, but the dudes at 1UP are going to try. They sat down with Clover boss and game producer Atsushi Inaba to score a little more info. The interview is a few weeks old, probably close to or during the Tokyo Game Show, but Inaba hints very strongly about the inactivity of the studio and talks briefly about future plans.

He also discusses why Okami was never intended for the Wii, but with Capcom taking some of the Clover faithful back into the corporate fold, I won't be surprised to see Okami Paint or God Hand Crotch Party making their way Wii-side soon. Michael McWhertor

Clover Studios' Final Interview? [1UP]
Capcom On Clover Closing and Clover Studio is Dead [Kotaku]

Capcom has supplied game site Next Generation with a Q&A which hopefully clear up some of the confusion (and heartbreak) regarding Clover Studio's shuttering. Capcom states that the subsidiary was liquidated because it would be better to have all the R&D resources in a single company. The fifteen staff members still working in Clover Studio will be transfered to Capcom R&D. Moreover, all the Clover copyrights will revert to Capcom.

Okay. But, what about Clover game designer Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil creator)? And Okami producer Atsushi Inaba? Here's an excerpt from the Capcom questionnaire:

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: Can you tell us more about Mr. Inaba and Mr. Kamiya? We've heard that they are setting up a new company.

A: Since they are not our employees any longer, we can't answer this question.

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).

So, if the Clover game rights and the Clover Studio employees are reverting to Capcom, that means that it's just Inaba and Mikami who are severing relations with Capcom. Right? Brian Ashcraft

Capcom Q&A [Next-Gen]

A source who wishes to remain anonymous is telling me that the Clover gang actually wants to split from Capcom and form their own independent development studio. So the dissolution, then, would have been caused by the developers deciding to take off.

Or perhaps the other way around. I'm sure we'll know more as this story about the makers of God Hand develops. Too bad they can't jus settl this with a round of Jimmy punching. Brian Crecente

As of today, the studio behind Viewtiful Joe, Okami and God Hand is no more. Clover Studio was shuttered by main shareholder Capcom. At a Board of Directors' meeting was held, and it was decided that Clover should dissolved. The reason? According to the Capcom IR release:

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.

The studio was established on July 1, 2004 and takes its name, "clover," from an abbreviation of "creativity lover." Under president and CEO Atsushi Inaba and Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, the studio turned out a handful of inventive titles that were anything but mainstream. Sales, unfortunately, reflected that, and Capcom management took action. It's okay to love creativity, just don't expect it to turn a profit. Clover Studio will be officially liquidated March 2007. Brian Ashcraft

Read The Depressing Release [Capcom, Thanks Torokun!]

Unlike E3, rest its soul, you can actually buy cool stuff from video game publishers at Tokyo Game Show. One of the halls is dedicated to selling t-shirts, mouse pads (with breasts to rest your weary wrist upon, of course), love pillows, statues, towels, and toys.

I'm not sure if they're actually selling this Okami plush or not yet, but if they are I pray to the gods above that this is intended for display only and not for lonely times. Michael McWhertor

Leather clad dominatrix power spanking? Check. Rapid fire mantis-style testicle stabbing? Check. Hard Gay-esque prancing bad boys on the receiving end of an ethereal baseball bat? Err. I guess. Proof that Shinji Mikami and team Clover are three sake carafes deep at each and every post-lunch design meeting? Check!!

Look, God Hand was one of my favorite games at E3, and, paired with Dead Rising, all the proof I needed that developer of the century is the amazing and prolific Capcom. Any chance I can get to see more God Hand, tell you about more God Hand, or have new fodder to write erotic God Hand fanfics, I'll take it. This most recent trailer gives us far more insight into the depth of the game's fighting engine, the move-buying upgrade shop (*sigh*) and the just plain nutball, whacked-out antics that await us come fall. Michael McWhertor

Game site Siliconera uploaded a short Okami game footage clip that shows a tree coming back to life and Amaterasu fighting some badies. Even on YouTube, the game looks ungodly beautiful. Now that is amazing.

Siliconera [Official Site]

Capcom Japan's Playable Lineup [IGN]