Atlus

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Atlus

Type	Public (JASDAQ: 7866)
Founded	1986
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Industry	Video games
Website	www.atlus.com

Atlus (株式会社アトラス, Kabushiki-gaisha atorasu^?) is a Japanese computer and video game developer and publisher. It is known for developing the role-playing series Shin Megami Tensei which, counting spin-offs, has dozens of installments. The first Megami Tensei was an NES game developed by Namco based on a trilogy of novels, but after the second, Atlus took over the series. Atlus released Shin Megami Tensei for the Super Nintendo, which drastically revamped the series as a non-linear account of the battle between YHWH and Lucifer over a post-apocalyptic earth. While there are only three proper SMT installments, there are also the If.../Persona games, which examine demons in a high school setting, the Devil Summoners, which focus on dungeon hacking, and the Digital Devil Sagas, the first in the series to feature Final Fantasy-style CG cut scenes.

Atlus also published Growlanser, a real time strategy/RPG from the creators of the classic Langrisser series, Career Soft. After the success of the first game, they acquired Career Soft, who developed the second through fifth installments in-house.

[edit] Atlus USA

Atlus USA is an American video game publisher that publishes games created by Atlus as well as by other developers. They have the first chance at, but not exclusive rights to, Atlus games. For instance, Atlus' Growlanser II and Growlanser III were published in the US by Working Designs. Atlus USA is strictly a publisher, ofttimes localizing obscure or niche titles from other Japanese developers.

Atlus USA's most known work in the United States is their localization of the cult classic Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, which was created by Nippon Ichi Software. They are also known for publishing the tactical role-playing game Tactics Ogre and Game Boy Advance remakes of the Nekketsu Kouha: Kunio-Kun and Double Dragon franchises, which were started by the now-defunct Technos Japan Corporation. Other notable titles include Snowboard Kids and Snowboard Kids 2 for the Nintendo 64 and most recently, Contact and the Trauma Center series.

In 2004, in collaboration with Sting and Bandai, Atlus USA released Riviera: The Promised Land, an RPG for the Game Boy Advance. In the Fall of 2006, Atlus USA, once again along with Sting, released Yggdra Union, a strategy RPG for the Game Boy Advance.

Soon after Atlus USA was formed, they released Revelations: Persona for PlayStation and Revelations: Demon Slayer for Gameboy Color, translations of their parent company's main series, Shin Megami Tensei. When they submitted their next Megami Tensei game to Sony Computer Entertainment America, Devil Summoner II : Soul Hackers, it was rejected. They did not release Persona 2: Innocent Sin because it featured weapons in schools at a time when it was a hot political issue, but they did translate its followup Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Since 2005 they have had better luck bringing the series to America, first with Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne, and then publishing both Digital Devil Saga games and Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army. They are slated to bring out Persona 3 in June, 2007.

Atlus USA is notorious for producing only limited production runs of their games. As a result, games published by the company are often difficult to find a few months after their initial release. While unsubstantiated, some fans have allegedly received letters and emails from Atlus USA customer service representatives claiming the reason why is due to the small size and limited clout of the company. Another possible reason is thought to be that Atlus is minimizing its losses in the event that the title sells poorly, as Atlus publishes games in many niche genres that are not necessarily popular in North America. Recent Atlus games like Steambot Chronicles are easier to find, signalling a possible shift in trend.

[edit] Games published by Atlus USA

Game Boy
- Spud's Adventure 1991

Game Boy Advance
- Super Dodge Ball Advance June 11, 2001
- Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis May 6, 2002
- Robopon 2: Cross Version June 12, 2002
- Robopon 2: Ring Version June 12, 2002
- Lufia: The Ruins of Lore May 6, 2003
- Shining Soul September 16, 2003
- DemiKids: Dark Version October 7, 2003
- DemiKids: Light Version October 7, 2003
- Double Dragon Advance November 18, 2003
- King of Fighters EX2: Howling Blood December 15, 2003
- Shining Soul II April 20, 2004
- River City Ransom EX May 25, 2004
- Riviera: The Promised Land June 28, 2005
- Shining Force: Resurrection of the Dark Dragon June 8, 2004
- Super Army War February 22, 2005
- Battle B-Daman July 25, 2006
- Summon Night: Swordcraft Story July 25, 2006
- Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation August 8, 2006
- Summon Night: Swordcraft Story 2 October 2006
- Battle B-Daman: Fire Spirits Fall 2006
- Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 Fall 2006
- Polarium Advance Fall 2006
- Yggdra Union October 24, 2006

Game Boy Color
- Revelations: A Demon Slayer August 27th, 1999
- Robopon: Sun Version December 4th, 2000

GameCube
- Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest November 11th, 2002
- Go! Go! Hypergrind November 18th, 2003

Nintendo 64
- Snowboard Kids March 15th, 1998
- Snowboard Kids 2 March 2nd, 1999
- Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber October 5th, 2000

Nintendo DS
- Bomberman Land Touch! November 2006
- Puyo Pop Fever May 3, 2005
- Trauma Center: Under the Knife October 4th, 2005
- SBK: Snowboard Kids DS November 22nd, 2005
- Deep Labyrinth August 15, 2006
- Contact October 2006
- Touch Detective October 2006
- Etrian Odyssey Q1 2007
- Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja Q1 2007
- Luminous Arc TBA 2007

Nintendo Entertainment System
- Golf Grand Slam 1991
- Rockin' Kats 1991
- Wacky Races 1992
- Widget November 1st, 1992

PlayStation
- Space Griffon June 1, 1997
- Persona October 25th, 1997
- Ogre Battle: Limited Edition November 17th, 1997
- Peak Performance November 17, 1997
- Tactics Ogre May 1st, 1998
- Kartia August 18th, 1998
- Trap Gunner September 24th, 1998
- Bomberman World September 25th, 1998
- Guilty Gear November 10th, 1998
- Eggs of Steel November 19th, 1998
- Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena February 20th, 1999
- Bomberman Fantasy Race July 27th, 1999
- Thousand Arms September 30th 1999
- Tail Concerto October 25th, 1999
- Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure July 30th, 2000
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment November 30th, 2000
- Hoshigami: Ruining Blue Earth August 1st, 2001