SAD SAD SAD

I don't know if I want Nintendo to buy them, because they might end up releasing all of their games only in Japan (or maybe Europe if we're lucky) from now on. I guess that would be better than the alternative, though...

Well, but doesn't Nintendo already publish Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk? But then again, Trace Memory R never made it over to NA, and Hotel Dusk 2... we'll see.

That's too bad. I thought 3rd party games were selling on the Wii? Dev costs couldn't have been too high.

I always thought littleking story was a multi dev house project and not made by just one dev.

If LKS will not see a sequel I will be sad forever

@stephen08 Depends on the game. LKS sold very poorly. Trace Memory 2 never even came to NA, so it only had so much potential for worldwide sales. Actually, their DS games haven't sold exceptionally well either... which is probably why they are bankrupt.

Simbabbad said:

@stephen08 haha, classic Stephen.

Honestly, do you think those Little King's Story would have sold well on any platform?

I was hoping the game did well but you might be right. Have you played it? I think it's one of the top 5 best games on the wii

@Simbabbad

Right. Of course. Niche market etc. etc.

Do you think it wouldn't have sold as well on other consoles?

You know what probably killed the studio? The ballooning cost of HD development.

No it probably wouldn't have sold well on another console. Just because it's on Wii doesn't mean it's a guarantee for success.

LKS is a great game :(

I blame Reggie.

Another Code: R was their most expensive title and it was denied an NA release. (LKS was bigger but only had Cing input, it was Town Factory's game)

The Euro release of AC:R may not have torn up the charts but a US release would surely have raised a reasonable amount. Money they badly needed. :(

Too bad. Maybe someone will pick Cing up for cheap and fund development of Little King's Story 2, in HD for the 360 and PS3!!!



Am cry.

@Y-Alpha
To be fair, if Europeans didn't buy it, there's not a chance in hell that it would have done well in America.

Anyway, poor Cing. I like their moxie, even though I haven't played many of their games. Bankruptcy doesn't mean they're necessarily done, though, right?

Nintendo should internalize them as a scenario/niche game studio. Can't be any weirder than Monolith.

This is sad news. Little King's Story was a great game, with a lot of depth and a lengthy adventure. I'm sure it wasn't too cheap to make, what with the licensed soundtrack. Hotel Dusk was great game too, a huge step up from Trace Memory. I hope someone saves these guys so they can keep making games, they've got some talent.

Bummer. Seems a lot of companies are going under these days.

Anyone that releases a niche game at full price on one console is begging for financial difficulty. It's the one thing in common with all of these development houses that have gone down in flames in the past couple years. You would think people would learn their lesson.

I think it would be worth Nintendo to buy them out and save them.. but they are damn cheap these days.

Oldmanwinter said:

Anyone that releases a niche game at full price on one console is begging for financial difficulty. It's the one thing in common with all of these development houses that have gone down in flames in the past couple years. You would think people would learn their lesson.

That is what's wrong with the industry these days. I don't recall developers having this much trouble previously, there was a decent market for niche games last gen, especially on the PS2. I think it has to do with gamers being uncomfortable spending cash on something that isn't hyped to the heavens and backed by a blockbuster budget and marketing push. Niche games these days are often smaller projects relegated to digital distribution, which is fine, but I still want a healthy amount of niche retail games.

The Wii may be the last crusade for console niche game development, let us enjoy it while it lasts!

@Simbabbad

I just mean that the game was designed with Wii in mind. Although I was disappointed that they didn't use more of the Wii's features, specifically the pointer.

anon_mastermind said:

Oldmanwinter said:

Anyone that releases a niche game at full price on one console is begging for financial difficulty. It's the one thing in common with all of these development houses that have gone down in flames in the past couple years. You would think people would learn their lesson.

That is what's wrong with the industry these days. I don't recall developers having this much trouble previously, there was a decent market for niche games last gen, especially on the PS2. I think it has to do with gamers being uncomfortable spending cash on something that isn't hyped to the heavens and backed by a blockbuster budget and marketing push. Niche games these days are often smaller projects relegated to digital distribution, which is fine, but I still want a healthy amount of niche retail games.

The Wii may be the last crusade for console niche game development, let us enjoy it while it lasts!

Yea, I agree.

That said had LKS retailed for $30 on Steam it probably would have sold through the roof, or at least exceedingly well assuming Valve did their pre order discount/advertising deal, then advertising the day it comes out then weekend sale a couple months down the road. Games like that are factually moving to a digital distribution outlet for a reason.

Console gaming more and more is reliant on a huge front end push. If it doesn't get that, the game and oftentimes studio, goes down. It's moronic. Altering pricing structures and digital distribution factually decreases this problem immensely. Case and point.