Atlus

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This article is about the video game company. For the Arkansas wine region, see Altus AVA.
Atlus
株式会社アトラス
Former type Public company (JASDAQ: 7866)
Industry Computer and video games
Fate Acquired[1]
Successor(s) Index Corporation
Founded 7 April 1986
Defunct 1 October 2010 (2010-10-01)
Headquarters Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Products Jack Bros., Megami Tensei Series, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Series, Trauma Center, Etrian Odyssey Series
Revenue Increase ¥2.732 billion (2010)[2]
Net income Increase ¥437 million (2010)[2]
Website www.atlus.com
www.atlusnet.jp

Atlus (株式会社アトラス Kabushiki-gaisha Atorasu?) was a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distribution company based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the role-playing video game franchise Megami Tensei and the surgical simulation/visual novel franchise Trauma Center. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of novels, but after the second game, Atlus formed to publish the series. Its corporate mascot was Jack Frost from Shin Megami Tensei. Atlus is now a brand of Index Corporation.

Atlus is also known for being a contract developer for games in the past, such as the development of The Karate Kid for LJN on the NES, and was known for creating the PC Genjin/Bonk series and Dungeon Explorer series for Hudson Soft.

Contents

History[edit]

In October 2003, Takara acquired Atlus Co., Ltd.[3]

On 21 November 2006, Index Holdings announced the acquisition of Atlus Co., Ltd. beginning on 30 October 2006 and closed on 20 November 2006 via the purchase of 7.7 million (54.93%) stocks (77,000 votes/54.96% voting rights). Atlus Co., Ltd. became a consolidated Index Holdings subsidiary as of 29 November 2006.[4]

On 15 April 2010, Index Holdings announced ATLUS Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of Index Holdings via share exchange, effective on 10 May 2010.[5][6]

On 30 August 2010, Index Holdings announced its merger with ATLUS Co., Ltd. and Index Corporation, with Index Holdings becoming the surviving company, effective on 1 October 2010.[7][8][9] After the merger, Index Corporation would continue to operate ATLUS's business under the ATLUS brand.[10] Though this had caused concern among fans about the future of Atlus, the CEO of Atlus, Shinichi Suzuki officially affirmed that Atlus will continue to provide the "finest quality game experiences possible" and the merger only "further strengthens the foundation of Atlus, both in Japan and here in the United States".[11]

On 9 November 2010, Index Holdings (株式会社インデックス・ホールディングス) announced its renaming to Index Corporation (株式会社インデックス), to be confirmed on the 15th shareholders meeting on 25 November 2010, effective on 1 December 2010.[12][13]

Subsidiary[edit]

New Entertainment Waves Co.,Ltd/NEWS co.ltd. (株式会社NEWS): On 17 September 2009, Index Holdings announced separating ATLUS Co., Ltd.'s amusement facility and related business into a subsidiary named New Entertainment Waves Co.,Ltd[14] (株式会社NEWS), effective on 1 December 2009. At the effective separation day, 172 shares (86%) of the subsidiary's stock were transferred to Chushoukigyou Leisure kikou kabushikigaisha.[15] The company was established on 1 December 2009.[16]

Atlus Co., Ltd[edit]

Atlus published Growlanser, a real time strategy/RPG from the creators of the classic Langrisser series, Career Soft. After the success of the first game, they acquired Career Soft, who developed the second through fifth installments in-house.

In March 2009, Atlus and Sting Entertainment announced in Japan a publishing partnership that will see Atlus as the only publisher of Sting-developed games. Prior to this, Atlus had already published Sting games, including Yggdra Union and Dokapon.[17]

Atlus USA[edit]

Atlus USA, established in 1991, is the American subsidiary of Japanese video game publisher Atlus. Atlus USA publishes games created by Atlus Co., Ltd. as well as by other developers. Atlus USA is strictly a publisher, oftentimes localizing obscure or niche titles from other Japanese developers. Atlus USA operates from Irvine, California.

Many of the Megami Tensei games have not been released in North America. Jack Bros. for the Virtual Boy, Revelations: Persona for the PlayStation, and Revelations: The Demon Slayer for the Game Boy Color were the first three games in the series to have a North American release, all in the 1990s. The American release of Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne in 2004 was the first main series video game to have an American release.[18] Since then, every game from the series has had an American release in addition to the Japanese, including Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army, and Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey.

Atlus USA also has published games under the loose moniker Marl Kingdom, beginning with the relatively unheard of Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, in 2000.[19] One of Atlus USA's most known work in the United States is their localization of the cult classic Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, which was created by Nippon Ichi Software.[19]

Atlus USA has also published the tactical role-playing game Tactics Ogre and Game Boy Advance remakes of the Kunio-kun and Double Dragon games for Million (a company composed of former Technos Japan Corp. employees). Other notable titles include Snowboard Kids and Snowboard Kids 2 for the Nintendo 64 and most recently, Odin Sphere and the Trauma Center series.

In 2004, in collaboration with Sting and Bandai, Atlus U.S.A. released Riviera: The Promised Land, a role-playing video game for the Game Boy Advance, which they had previously released for the Wonderswan Color. In the Fall of 2006, Atlus U.S.A., once again along with Sting, released Yggdra Union, a strategy RPG for the Game Boy Advance.[20]

Following Working Designs publication of Growlanser Generations, Atlus USA released Growlanser: Heritage of War in 2005 and Growlanser Wayfarer of Time on 24 July 2012.

Atlus USA also recently opened an online division, Atlus Online, who is currently servicing Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine, and Pandora Saga.[21]

Marketing[edit]

Jack Frost used as part of one version of the company logo

Jack Frost is the mascot of Atlus.[21] He resembles a snowman, but has teeth, a tail, no nose, and wears a joker hat and shoes. His catchphrase is "Hee-Ho". He has appeared in several Atlus games, including several entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series and Jack Bros. He is a hidden character in both the American and Japanese versions of SBK: Snowboard Kids, but has a larger role in the Japanese version. Jack Frost has derived a family in its universe and more relatives were created since Shin Megami Tensei II. Such as King Frost, Frost 5 Senshi, Ja-aku Frost (Black Frost), etc. Jack Frost also makes a cameo appearance as a button/brooch on the clothing of the gunner class in Etrian Odyssey II, another game by Atlus.

Games developed and published by Atlus[edit]

Main article: List of Atlus games
Main article: List of Atlus downloadable games
See also: Category:Atlus games

Anime based on Atlus games[edit]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Atlus Dissolved By Parent Company". Edge. 31 August 2010. Retrieved 22 September 2012. 
  2. ^ a b "News – Atlus U.S. Records $5 Million Profit For 2010, Attributing Success To Demon's Souls". Gamasutra. Retrieved 25 April 2012. 
  3. ^ 沿革：株式会社アトラス　IR情報・会社情報
  4. ^ "Regarding tender offer results and subsidiary companies". Retrieved 30 August 2010. 
  5. ^ 株式交換公告
  6. ^ 公開買付けの結果及び子会社の異動に関するお知らせ
  7. ^ 当社連結子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ （簡易合併・略式合併）
  8. ^ インデックス・ホールディングス、連結子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ ～グループ価値最大化を図りインデックス、アトラスの２社を吸収合併～
  9. ^ "Atlus Dissolved by Parent Company". 1UP. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  10. ^ 【補足】インデックス・ホールディングス、連結子会社の吸収合併に関するお知らせ アトラスブランドについて
  11. ^ "Atlus Reassures Fans Of Its Future After Merger". 1UP. Retrieved 15 October 2010. 
  12. ^ 商号変更および定款一部変更に関するお知らせ
  13. ^ "Index Holdings to Change Company Name". Reuters. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2012. 
  14. ^ 株式会社ＮＥＷＳ 訂正臨時報告書 2010年10月08日 - 投資関係をなんとなくわかった気になる
  15. ^ 当社子会社（株式会社アトラス）における 会社分割によるアミューズメント施設関連事業の分社化、並びに新設株式会社株式譲渡に関するお知らせ
  16. ^ 株式会社NEWS（ニューズ）設立
  17. ^ "Atlus Partners with Sting". IGN. Retrieved 26 April 2010. 
  18. ^ "Megami Tensei/Shin Megami Tensei". Hardcoregaming101.net. Archived from the original on 11 May 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010. 
  19. ^ a b "Nippon Ichi". Hardcoregaming101.net. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 26 April 2010. 
  20. ^ "RPGFan News – E3 2006". 2006. Archived from the original on 18 September 2007. Retrieved 10 September 2007. 
  21. ^ a b "Atlus Online Open For Business". Kotaku. Retrieved 26 April 2010. 
Video games developed by Atlus
Series
Independent titles
Research and Development Teams
First-party
Second-party
Former affiliates
Other
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