Capcom dissolves Clover Studio

Depending on how you look at this, it either means a dissolution or a revolution for one game maker in the business. A recent press release has put up notice that Capcom will be dissolving Clover Studio, one of their subsidiary companies.

If you’ve ever played a Viewtiful Joe game (there were versions for the PS2, PSP, and DS), or if you’ve heard about the exploits of Amaterasu in Okami for the PS2, then you can thank Clover Studio for developing those games. Unfortunately, Capcom‘s decided to let them go. According to their press release, the reason for the dissolution is as follows:

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.

Does this spell the end of Viewtiful Joe games and quirky titles from the game maker? Not necessarily. Over at the Insert Credit website, there is some speculation that this was Capcom’s move to save face. The reason for this idea is that Atsushi Inaba, Clover Studio’s CEO, had thoughts of leaving Capcom to form his own studio, and he may have taken all of Clover with him.

Whether or not it’s a full scale dissolution or a simple parting of ways, we’ll find out in the coming months, as the dissolution of Clover is scheduled for March 2007. We’d love to see more Viewtiful Joe action in the future for all platforms, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.

Depending on how you look at this, it either means a dissolution or a revolution for one game maker in the business. A recent press release has put up notice that Capcom will be dissolving Clover Studio, one of their subsidiary companies.

If you’ve ever played a Viewtiful Joe game (there were versions for the PS2, PSP, and DS), or if you’ve heard about the exploits of Amaterasu in Okami for the PS2, then you can thank Clover Studio for developing those games. Unfortunately, Capcom‘s decided to let them go. According to their press release, the reason for the dissolution is as follows:

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.

Does this spell the end of Viewtiful Joe games and quirky titles from the game maker? Not necessarily. Over at the Insert Credit website, there is some speculation that this was Capcom’s move to save face. The reason for this idea is that Atsushi Inaba, Clover Studio’s CEO, had thoughts of leaving Capcom to form his own studio, and he may have taken all of Clover with him.

Whether or not it’s a full scale dissolution or a simple parting of ways, we’ll find out in the coming months, as the dissolution of Clover is scheduled for March 2007. We’d love to see more Viewtiful Joe action in the future for all platforms, so we’ll keep our fingers crossed.