PlatinumGames
Encyclopedia
Platinum Games, Inc. is a Japan
-based independent video game development company
. It was founded under the name Seeds, Inc. on August 1, 2006 by Shinji Mikami
, Atsushi Inaba
and Hideki Kamiya
, the former key members of Capcom
's Clover Studio
and still retains many other former members of the studio.
and Ōkami
. In October 2006, the Capcom Board of Directors voted to shut down the studio. The dissolution took place in March 2007 and all original IP
s developed by Clover (Viewtiful Joe, Ōkami and God Hand
) remained with Capcom.
The company merged with ODD Incorporated in October 2007. In May 2008, PlatinumGames announced a four game deal with Sega
. The games involved in the development and publishing deal included Bayonetta
, a "stylish action game" for the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
directed by Hideki Kamiya and featuring "a witch battling angels", a science-fiction RPG for the Nintendo DS
called Infinite Space
, and MadWorld
, an "ultra ultra violent" action game for the Wii
with black and white Sin City
-inspired graphics. The fourth title, Vanquish
, directed by Shinji Mikami, was released October 19, 2010. Mikami has since announced his departure from Platinum Games to form his own development studio, Tango Gameworks, that was subsequently acquired by ZeniMax Media
. Atsushi Inaba stated that the "partnership has been great" and expressed his gratitude for allowing the company "maximum freedom" in development.
In October 2010, Atsushi Inaba mentioned that the company was in talks to extend their partnership with Sega. In the following December, Sega of America vice president of sales and marketing Alan Pritchard confirmed that a fifth game had been added to the development contract, but did not announce any other details on the game. The title was revealed in January 2011 to be Anarchy Reigns (Max Anarchy in Japan), a "massively multi-player beat-em-up" scheduled for release in January 2012.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based independent video game development company
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
. It was founded under the name Seeds, Inc. on August 1, 2006 by Shinji Mikami
Shinji Mikami
is a Japanese video game designer best known for creating the seminal survival horror series Resident Evil. He also contributed to some of Capcom's most popular post-32-bit era franchises, including Viewtiful Joe, Devil May Cry, and Ace Attorney, where he served as an executive producer...
, Atsushi Inaba
Atsushi Inaba
is a Japanese video game producer for Platinum Games. He is also the former CEO and producer of the Capcom subsidiary Clover Studio, best known as the creative force behind Viewtiful Joe, Ōkami and God Hand.-Career:...
and Hideki Kamiya
Hideki Kamiya
is a video game designer formerly employed by Capcom and Clover Studio. He is currently working with former Clover Studio members at Platinum Games.- Career :...
, the former key members of Capcom
Capcom
is a Japanese developer and publisher of video games, known for creating multi-million-selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Chaos Legion, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil. Capcom developed and published Bionic Commando, Lost Planet and Dark Void too, but they are less known. Its...
's Clover Studio
Clover Studio
Clover Studio was an independent Japanese development studio, funded by Capcom Japan. Clover Studio developed the PlayStation 2 port of Viewtiful Joe, both versions of Viewtiful Joe 2 for the Nintendo GameCube and PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation 2 titles Ōkami and God Hand...
and still retains many other former members of the studio.
History
Clover Studio was responsible for many critically acclaimed titles such as Viewtiful JoeViewtiful Joe
is a video game developed by Capcom's Production Studio 4 for the Nintendo GameCube. It was originally released in 2003 as a part of the Capcom Five under director Hideki Kamiya and producer Atsushi Inaba. Viewtiful Joe was later ported to the Sony PlayStation 2 by the same design team under the...
and Ōkami
Okami
is an action-adventure video game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. It was released for Sony's PlayStation 2 video game console in 2006 in Japan and North America, and 2007 in Europe and Australia...
. In October 2006, the Capcom Board of Directors voted to shut down the studio. The dissolution took place in March 2007 and all original IP
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
s developed by Clover (Viewtiful Joe, Ōkami and God Hand
God Hand (video game)
is an action beat 'em up video game developed by Clover Studio and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 video game console. God Hand was directed by Resident Evil designer Shinji Mikami. It was released in 2006 in Japan and North America and in 2007 in PAL territories...
) remained with Capcom.
The company merged with ODD Incorporated in October 2007. In May 2008, PlatinumGames announced a four game deal with Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. The games involved in the development and publishing deal included Bayonetta
Bayonetta
is a hack and slash action game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 developed by Platinum Games in cooperation with publisher Sega. Set in a fictional city in Europe, the game centers on its title character, Bayonetta, who uses pistols and magical attacks to defeat enemies...
, a "stylish action game" for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
directed by Hideki Kamiya and featuring "a witch battling angels", a science-fiction RPG for the Nintendo DS
Nintendo DS
The is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
called Infinite Space
Infinite Space
, initially announced as "Infinite Line",. is a science-fiction role-playing game developed by Nude Maker and Platinum Games for the Nintendo DS. It was the third of a four game publishing deal with Sega...
, and MadWorld
MadWorld
is a video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released for the Wii on March 10, 2009 in North America, on March 20 in Europe, March 26 in Australia, and February 10 in Japan...
, an "ultra ultra violent" action game for the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
with black and white Sin City
Sin City
Sin City is the title for a series of neo-noir comics by Frank Miller. The first story originally appeared in "Dark Horse Presents Fifth Anniversary Special" , and continued in Dark Horse Presents #51–62 from May 1991 to June 1992, under the title of Sin City, serialized in thirteen parts. Several...
-inspired graphics. The fourth title, Vanquish
Vanquish (video game)
is a third-person shooter video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The game was released in October 2010, after having been in development since 2007....
, directed by Shinji Mikami, was released October 19, 2010. Mikami has since announced his departure from Platinum Games to form his own development studio, Tango Gameworks, that was subsequently acquired by ZeniMax Media
ZeniMax Media
ZeniMax Media Inc. is an American media company that develops and publishes computer and video games through its subsidiaries. ZeniMax is known as the owner of id Software , Bethesda Softworks , Arkane Studios , Tango Gameworks and...
. Atsushi Inaba stated that the "partnership has been great" and expressed his gratitude for allowing the company "maximum freedom" in development.
In October 2010, Atsushi Inaba mentioned that the company was in talks to extend their partnership with Sega. In the following December, Sega of America vice president of sales and marketing Alan Pritchard confirmed that a fifth game had been added to the development contract, but did not announce any other details on the game. The title was revealed in January 2011 to be Anarchy Reigns (Max Anarchy in Japan), a "massively multi-player beat-em-up" scheduled for release in January 2012.
Games developed
- MadWorldMadWorldis a video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega. It was released for the Wii on March 10, 2009 in North America, on March 20 in Europe, March 26 in Australia, and February 10 in Japan...
(2009) - Infinite SpaceInfinite Space, initially announced as "Infinite Line",. is a science-fiction role-playing game developed by Nude Maker and Platinum Games for the Nintendo DS. It was the third of a four game publishing deal with Sega...
(2009) - BayonettaBayonettais a hack and slash action game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 developed by Platinum Games in cooperation with publisher Sega. Set in a fictional city in Europe, the game centers on its title character, Bayonetta, who uses pistols and magical attacks to defeat enemies...
(2010) - VanquishVanquish (video game)is a third-person shooter video game developed by Platinum Games and published by Sega for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. The game was released in October 2010, after having been in development since 2007....
(2010) - Anarchy ReignsAnarchy ReignsAnarchy Reigns, known in Japan as is an upcoming online beat 'em up game currently in development by Platinum Games. It is their fifth game of their publishing deal with Sega and is being produced by Atsushi Inaba and directed by Masaki Yamanaka...
(2012)