Kotaku: seeds

PlatinumGames' Craptastic Name Explained!

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 23:30:31 MDT

Ack! Well, lame-named Platinum Games (formerly the awesomely named "SEEDS") has posted its new homepage today. The start-up company is actually named PlatinumGames and not Platinum Games. The company seems to be in full hiring phase, and the website is wall-to-wall recruitment. Specially, the company is looking for planners, programmers, designers, sound designers and web designers. PlatinumGames is even looking for foreigners who can speak Japanese. There are messages from PlatinumGames' bigwigs Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil creator), Hideki Kamiya (Devil May Cry creator) and Atsushi Inaba (Okami producer) in which they talk about why they entered the industry and whatnot. In the "About Us" section, PlatinumGames president and former Capcom 3rd Production Studio member Tatsuya Minami explains why the ho-hum name "PlatinumGames" was chosen:

The meaning of "platinum" is that it doesn't deteriorate, and it holds its quality over time. Users won't be betrayed by the quality, which will remain high.

Deep. Minami also says PlatinumGames will be making "original" titles for a world-wide audience. Sounds reminiscent of the SEEDS manifesto, so we are expecting interesting title from them. Name still sucks, though. Click through the site, there are pictures of a PS3, so maybe they're working on a PS3 game or just playing one for fun. Who knows!

Hit the jump for a pic of Kamiya's Gundamized desk.

Squint and maybe you can see what they're working on...

PlatinumGames [Official Site]

Seeds Gets Craptastic New Name

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 23:00:27 MDT

Clover Studios was Capcom's boutique team behind game innovative games like Okami and God Hand. What's more, Clover is a pretty nice name! When things soured with Capcom, the studio was shuttered and producer Atsushi Inaba, Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry creator Hideki Kamiya formed SEEDS. It was Clover reborn, and likewise it also had a cool name. The emphasis here is had. Over on the SEEDS official website, there is a notice that Seeds is apparently merging with ~~IT company ODD Solutions~~ ODD Corporation to form, brace yourself, Platinum Games. Yes, PLATINUM GAMES. The website says something like:

On October 1, 2007, SEEDS Corporation will merge with ODD Corporation to create "Platinum Games," which will be a fresh step forward.

More like a step backwards, amirite? Clover went from SEEDS to what sounds like a shitty PC game maker. And merging with a company called "ODD"? Strange! Any name would be better than Platinum Games — hell, they should've called this start up Earth. Ungh.

Seeds [Official Site]

Eds Note: As pointed out on forum NeoGAF, the ODD Corporation linked above (ODD Solutions) might not be what SEEDS is merging with. SEEDS is merging with a company called ODD Corporation, but info about that company is scant.

Okami Creator Itching for Sequel

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:00:29 MDT

Wii port or not, before I start, know: At the moment, Capcom has no concrete plans to make Okami 2, and nothing has been greenlit. However! Insiders tell us that Devil May Cry creator and Okami designer Hideki Kamiya really would like to make Okami 2. The Union Jack lovin' game creator is very interested in doing a sequel and has voiced this desire. Unfortunately, since the game is a Capcom/Clover title, it's not his decision to make. It's just something that he'd really like to do. What's more, Kamiya tells our insider that the dissolution of Clover had nothing to do with poor Okami sales. Rather, producer Atsushi Inaba had an argument with Capcom management.

SEEDS Studio

Kim Phu — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 12:40:00 MDT

CLOVER studio, who have in the past been responsible for Okami and Viewtiful Joe, is now SEEDS studio (I guess they are going backwards?). Designers Kamiya and Mikami are apparently working on a few big titles for (assumably) the PS3 and the Xbox 360 as they will no longer be supporting the PS2 any longer. What they're working on is still kept tightly under wraps, but I'm sure these talented fellas will be able to churn out something we all like. Kim Phu

SEEDS Working on Multiple-platforms [Deeko News]

From Clover To Seeds: Okami Creator's New Gig

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 17:40:47 MST

In a heart-wrenching move to many, Clover Studios was shuttered late last year. Fronted by Atsushi Inaba, the studio brought us titles like Okami and GODHAND. We had heard rumblings that Inaba had created another Osaka-based studio. What's more, it apparently had big financial backing.

The website for Inaba's new company SEEDS has gone live. SEEDS was founded way back in August 2006, which was a couple months before Capcom closed Clover. As of January, the new outfit was 51 employees strong. The company's message page boasts a powerhouse staff with the likes of producer Atsushi Inaba, Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami and Devil May Cry/Viewtiful Joe creator Hideki Kamiya.

The company seems to still be in the recruiting phase and sets forth this company philosophy of creating new entertainment for people living in a new world and looking towards the future of gaming (hence, the company name "SEEDS"). States it's always considering "worldwide," because it wants more more to play its games. In the company's site there does seem to be a largely international focus and concentration on the "play" aspect of gaming. If past Clover and Capcom titles are anything to go by, whatever SEEDS does output should be anything but run-of-the-mill. Looking forward to it. Brian Ashcraft

New Clover Studio [SEEDS via NeoGAF]