ATLUS has now been bought by SEGA, thoughts?

[ROJM]

I've done some checking. From the hysteria and second messiah nonesense from the web i found two articles that give specific details that wasn't found anywhere else and have to conclude that this is legit because these places aren't known for spreading hogwash. it also coincides with the report.

The first article reports on the aquistion but then it says this.

Sega Sammy Holdings Inc. (6460) won an auction to buy Index Corp., the bankrupt Japanese developer of handheld games, two people with knowledge of the matter said.

The acquisition may be valued at about 14 billion yen ($141 million), said one of the people, who asked not to be identified before an announcement scheduled for as early as today. Index’s bankruptcy advisers plan to complete a deal with Sega Corp., a unit of Sega Sammy, in early November, they said.

Index develops software for Nintendo Co. (7974)’s 3-D handheld players and Sony Corp. (6758)’s PlayStation as well as smartphone applications. The company was forced to file for bankruptcy protection in part because of investment losses from earlier acquisitions, Index said on June 27.

Kazumasa Otsuka, a lawyer at Nijubashi Partners representing Index in bankruptcy, declined to comment, as did Tetsuya Hasegawa, a spokesman for Sega Sammy.

Sega Sammy beat suitors including J Trust Co. for Index in a deal that gives it access to game developers and titles for both mobile devices and consoles. Japanese software makers are trying to speed up development of digital games as consumers shift to play them with smartphones and tablet computers. Index’s titles include the “Shin Megami Tensei” role-playing game for Nintendo’s 3DS handheld player and “Snowboard Kids HD” for mobile devices.

Index drew interest from about 20 potential bidders including Sega Sammy in the first round of the auction, people familiar with the process said Aug. 2.

Founded in 1995, Index expanded by making acquisitions at home and abroad, and raised funds through share sales to domestic companies such as Hakuhodo DY Holdings Inc. (2433), Dentsu Inc. and NEC Corp. (6701), according to its website.

Index, with debt totaling 24.5 billion yen as of May 31, filed for bankruptcy protection with the Tokyo district court on June 27, according to its statement that day. The company hired GCA Savvian Corp. (2174) to advise it on the sale, it said in July.
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2013-09-17/sega-said-to-win-auction-to-buy-bankrupt-japan-gamemaker-index

Although Segasammy is going to absorb the company, it leaves no doubt now that Sega is the ones going to benefit from this deal as they seem to be the one closing the deal according to this report. So despite some people acting that Atlus will be kept as a seperate company alongside Sega, this indicates otherwise that Atlus although it doesn't say as much will be absorbed into Sega somehow. Itm akes me wonder if it was Sega sammy or Sega themselves that was pushing for this buyout.


This indicates how it might work...

Both Sega Sammy Holdings and Index Corporation confirmed on Wednesday that Sega Sammy's subsidiary Sega is taking over the operations of Index Corporation. Index owns and manages Atlus, a former independent company and the current brand of games such as Etrian Odyssey, Shin Megami Tensei, and Persona.

Sega Sammy Holdings was selected as a sponsor under Index Corporation's civil rehabilitation, a relatively new form of bankruptcy procedures in Japan. On Wednesday, the two companies signed an agreement under which Index Corporation's business will be transferred to Sega Dream, a newly established company wholly owned by Sega. The companies plan for the transfer to take effect by November 1.

Nikkei and Bloomberg reported on this transaction earlier on Wednesday. Soon after, Sega issued a news release that did not deny the reports, but said that Sega did not make an announcement
http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-09-18/sega-sammy-atlus-games-index-corporation-confirm-takeover
 

What suprised me is no one else picked this up as it is also mentioned in the PDF release. Sega Dream (HOW IRONIC)  effectivly takes over all of Atlus's assets. I feel this means that this allows Atlus to remain independent but under control of a new company called Sega Dream which is controlled by Sega. The report also said that this Sega Dream is subject to change, which basically means once everyone gets use to Atlus being a Sega company after a few years they'll just reabsorb Sega dreams assets into Sega.

[Nameless 24]

Interesting finds ROJM. I was wondering what SEGA Dreams was about, so it's just an extension for ATLUS to be absorbed into whilst Index's properties are being absorbed into SAMMY's other businesses?

If so, I do think this is a sort of good move in a business sense, but who knows what will happen now?

Unsure about what it means for ATLUS and their games after November 1st, but I am sure SAMMY (and SEGA) have plans in the background to get them up and running as soon as possible.

I wonder what will become of ATLUS' American branch? Personally, I want SEGA of America to be absorbed into ATLUS' side rather than the other way around, and continue to localise both ATLUS and SEGA games efficiently. So advertising more than just Sonic at this point.

Whatever happens though, this will be an interesting few years. I welcome ATLUS fans but I doubt they see the same thing since most didn't want SEGA to absorb the company judging by Internet reactions, I could be wrong though...either way.

Does this mean that any publishing rights ATLUS previously had are now under the SEGA Dream name, or SEGA's?

[Trippled]

I really want statements of the US Atlus and Sega branch.

[ROJM]

Interesting finds ROJM. I was wondering what SEGA Dreams was about, so it's just an extension for ATLUS to be absorbed into whilst Index's properties are being absorbed into SAMMY's other businesses?

If so, I do think this is a sort of good move in a business sense, but who knows what will happen now?

Unsure about what it means for ATLUS and their games after November 1st, but I am sure SAMMY (and SEGA) have plans in the background to get them up and running as soon as possible.

I wonder what will become of ATLUS' American branch? Personally, I want SEGA of America to be absorbed into ATLUS' side rather than the other way around, and continue to localise both ATLUS and SEGA games efficiently. So advertising more than just Sonic at this point.

Whatever happens though, this will be an interesting few years. I welcome ATLUS fans but I doubt they see the same thing since most didn't want SEGA to absorb the company judging by Internet reactions, I could be wrong though...either way.

Does this mean that any publishing rights ATLUS previously had are now under the SEGA Dream name, or SEGA's?

What it means is this
Index shares will be turned into Segasammy ones
Index mobile networks would be absorbed into Sega networks
Atlus publishing should be absorbed by Sega
Atlus retains autonomy. ALL Atlus games are trademarks of Atlus. Atlus retains its own copyrights and IP. But Atlus is now a subsidary of Sega Dream. Which in itself is a subidary of SegaSammy/Sega.
Distribution unaffected since Sega handles Atlus games in japan anyway. Worldwide distrubution will now fall under Sega.
Games will have or should have Atlus logo with Sega or Sega dream logo present on the packages.
Either Atlus USA is dismantled or i suspect will carry on but under new deal. Also Sega games that sega doesn't want to localise will more likely fall into Atlus USA hands. No doubt that any deal struck with Index had to have had Atlus american wing under consideration.
Index/ excutives more likely to be gone but some may remain with added Sega Sammy personnel to run SegaDream. This is speculation but its most likely the reason why Index went with Segasammy's offer rather than anyone else.
Added Speculation. This gives room for other major companies to be taken over by the SegaDream company like Capcom for example..

[Barry the Nomad]

I can't see SEGA America's offices closing down to make Atlus the main branch. Looking at maps, they're 6 hours apart. Maybe SEGA America's offices will expand to include them or they'll buy a new office space for the two in the San Fran area or keep both open and separate.

I'd just assume that SEGA of America comes before Atlus USA.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Atlus+USA+Inc,+Valley+Oak+Drive,+Irvine,+CA&aq=0&oq=atlus&sll=33.670919,-117.787933&sspn=0.010911,0.018797&vpsrc=6&t=h&g=5405+Alton+Pkwy,+Ste+A216,+Irvine,+CA+92604&ie=UTF8&hq=Atlus+USA+Inc,&hnear=Valley+Oak+Dr,+Irvine,+Orange,+California+92618&z=15&cid=9322854572570628537&iwloc=A

[ROJM]

I can't see SEGA America's offices closing down to make Atlus the main branch. Looking at maps, they're 6 hours apart. Maybe SEGA America's offices will expand to include them or they'll buy a new office space for the two in the San Fran area or keep both open and separate.

I'd just assume that SEGA of America comes before Atlus USA.

https://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Atlus+USA+Inc,+Valley+Oak+Drive,+Irvine,+CA&aq=0&oq=atlus&sll=33.670919,-117.787933&sspn=0.010911,0.018797&vpsrc=6&t=h&g=5405+Alton+Pkwy,+Ste+A216,+Irvine,+CA+92604&ie=UTF8&hq=Atlus+USA+Inc,&hnear=Valley+Oak+Dr,+Irvine,+Orange,+California+92618&z=15&cid=9322854572570628537&iwloc=A

Who's talking about closing down SOA? It seems Atlus will remain a seperate entity under the deal which should include their american branch. If anything Sega's localisation team would be the one in trouble.

[Trippled]

Puyo Pop Fever was published by Atlus on the DS.

[Aki-at]

It would be funny if SEGA Sammy purchased them just to see how they can turn niche titles into viable solid sellers.

I wish though people would stop comparing the sales numbers of Atlus titles to SEGA. Shin Megami Tensei IV sold 68,000 in its debut month in the United States, Catherine did 78,000 in its debut month etc for reference, only Yakuza 1 has managed to outsell thoses  SMTIV numbers and that was lifetime sales (75,000) so no, I do not see either series suddenly stopping.

[ROJM]

It would be funny if SEGA Sammy purchased them just to see how they can turn niche titles into viable solid sellers.

I wish though people would stop comparing the sales numbers of Atlus titles to SEGA. Shin Megami Tensei IV sold 68,000 in its debut month in the United States, Catherine did 78,000 in its debut month etc for reference, only Yakuza 1 has managed to outsell thoses  SMTIV numbers and that was lifetime sales (75,000) so no, I do not see either series suddenly stopping.

It would also stop Sega USA shuffling games like SAKURA TAISEN out to other publishers in the future when they have a subsidary in the form of Atlus USA who can do it for them.

[max_cady]

True that, yo. They should've bought the devs that worked on the Saint's Row games.

But SEGA owning the Persona franchise is not exactly a loss.

[Nameless 24]

I am actually okay if ATLUS are the niche distributors. I have no qualms about that at all!

Sure, the brand on the boxes will be ATLUS, but as long as SEGA games are finally localised, then I am happy with that outlook.

Capcom being bought by SEGA? If that happened then you could say that SEGA are expanding themselves to be a pretty huge Third Party Developer...perhaps one to match Namco. (SEGA would need to buy Nippon Ichi too for many to start thinking that SEGA are planning something much bigger than just the ATLUS acquisition).

I am also happy at the prospect that VanillaWare Games will be published under the SEGA brand too!

[ROJM]

Not saying that it will ever happen but you got to think of the implication of this Sega Dream company. Atlus is really the first company(if i am right) to be brought by Sega but still act as they were before. Relic,Creative Assembly and others were dev houses that was absorbed into the Sega brand. This is really different as another rival third party has been acquired. The name Sega dream also reflects of course to the Dreamcast. Imagine a company that houses former independent third parties that get taken over by Sega but are still allowed to act independently but Sega effectivly is their boss. They're a third party or third parties under license from Sega. Basically a corporate version of how companies use to buy license for the DC or other consoles made by Sega, but now in reverse because Sega benefits if other companies like Nintendo or Sony want Atlus or any future SegaDream company games as an exclusive. That doesn't mean that it will happen like that but i don't see it stopping with Atlus especially with Hajime Satomi's ambitions.   

[Trippled]

The Chairman of Sammy having ambitions in the console market....nah

[ROJM]

He's got ambitions in turning SegaSammy into some big entertainment corp, Atlus will help them on part of that. Thanks to index/atlus Sega has a stake in Madhouse,they don't have total control of that company yet. But when you take into consideration the many stakes of shares that they have in other companies including Sansrio the makers of Hello Kitty, all they have to do is wait and pounce whenever these companies run into trouble like Atlus did, which Aki informed this forum that Sega already had a stake in shares in that company.

[CrazyT]

Hope this turns out well. I might not be able to ever look at atlus titles as SEGA titles because of how eseblished they are though.