Topic: Fatal Frame IP Now Co-Owned by Nintendo

[Webmalfunction]

Get ready for an expanded Smash Bros. roster!

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/30850

The Fatal Frame IP is now co-owned by Nintendo, as reported by Rely On Horror.

After recently updating its copyright status, it has been revealed that in addition to co-owning Fatal Frame (also known as Project Zero), Nintendo also has full ownership of Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir on 3DS, a spin-off of the franchise.

The two most recent console iterations of the series were also Wii exclusives - Zero: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse in 2008 and Project Zero 2: Crimson Butterfly Wii Edition, set to release next week. The former was only released in Japan, and the latter is getting a European localization, however a North American release is still up in the air.

[leahsdad]

I can't imagine that was a terribly expensive deal...has the Fatal Frame series ever been more than "somewhat" successful?  I think not. 

[Crimm]

Quite likely that is the case.


However, it is fairly irregular for one company to buy co-ownership of a franchise so closely linked to its creators. I have to presume they have a shared longer-term vision for the franchise that Nintendo was selling and Tecmo bought into. There really wasn't any reason for Nintendo to make the buy otherwise - the franchise were already Nintendo exclusive by default.

[ShyGuy]

Luigi and his Mansion equipment could beat those Fatal Frame ghosts into submission!

[Crimm]

Luigi and his Mansion equipment could beat those Fatal Frame ghosts into submission!

What a horrifying crossover.

[SonofMrPeanut]

Luigi and his Mansion equipment could beat those Fatal Frame ghosts into submission!

What a horrifying crossover.

That is some truly GHASLTY wordplay.

[C-Olimar]

Great idea about Smash Bros.! I also hope we get a Xenoblade character - outside the box, y'know?

[ejamer]

Makes you wonder why North America only gets a short, gimmicky, spin-off title from the series instead of a mainline entry like Project Zero 2, doesn't it?  (Yes, I'm bitter and disgruntled.)

[Mataata]

Yeesh, with Namco and this new IP in on it, I'm worried if Smash Bros 4 will be colorful and Nintendo-y at all.

[ThePerm]

Namco makes Pacman

[Pandabair]

Should be interesting to use the WiiU tablet as the camera in a Fatal Frame game. It's my second favorite survival horror series after Silent Hill.

[Ailingforale]

Pacman riding a giant robot, or just plain old pacman with his red sneakers?

[broodwars]

This is a really odd pickup for Nintendo, as Fatal Frame is an extremely niche franchise that has never done particularly well outside Japan.  And considering it doesn't look like NoA's bringing the Fatal Frame 2 "remake" over, I'm not sure what the point of this is.  I like the franchise from playing Fatal Frame 2 on the PS2, but I don't see this franchise having a future after how it's been handled this generation.

[Luigi Dude]

This is a really odd pickup for Nintendo, as Fatal Frame is an extremely niche franchise that has never done particularly well outside Japan.  And considering it doesn't look like NoA's bringing the Fatal Frame 2 "remake" over, I'm not sure what the point of this is.  I like the franchise from playing Fatal Frame 2 on the PS2, but I don't see this franchise having a future after how it's been handled this generation.

Once again, NCL has no problem releasing lots of niche games in Japan.  Unlike NOA, NCL is always looking to create more variety in their lineup.  So adding a niche survival horror series is something they would do since Nintendo currently lacks that type of game.  Plus even with all the bugs Fatal Frame 4 ended up being the best selling game in the series in Japan so Nintendo might be hoping to help grow it in Japan even more.

[Chozo Ghost]

Maybe the fact the game is niche actually has something to do with it? Being niche means the price would be very low. Its definitely a "fix-er-uper" but imagine what can happen with this with Nintendo's leadership and quality control intimately involved every step of the way and Nintendo's vast marketing resources pushing it.

Its just like someone who goes around getting rusted pieces of junk for dirt cheap and then fixing them up and turning them into gold which they can profit off of. The way you make a profit in business is to buy something low and then sell it high. If Nintendo bought this for dirt cheap then the first step is complete. It probably makes more sense to buy something like this than something that's incredibly popular like for example the Mortal Kombat franchise. The more popular something is the more expensive the price tag, and the less potential for making a profit on your investment.

[TJ Spyke]

This is a really odd pickup for Nintendo, as Fatal Frame is an extremely niche franchise that has never done particularly well outside Japan.  And considering it doesn't look like NoA's bringing the Fatal Frame 2 "remake" over, I'm not sure what the point of this is.  I like the franchise from playing Fatal Frame 2 on the PS2, but I don't see this franchise having a future after how it's been handled this generation.

Once again, NCL has no problem releasing lots of niche games in Japan.  Unlike NOA, NCL is always looking to create more variety in their lineup.  So adding a niche survival horror series is something they would do since Nintendo currently lacks that type of game.  Plus even with all the bugs Fatal Frame 4 ended up being the best selling game in the series in Japan so Nintendo might be hoping to help grow it in Japan even more.

Japan in general gets lots of niche games, not just from Nintendo. Hell, there are whole developers who make only games that come out in just Japan. Many of these games would not make a profit in other regions, so financially it would be stupid for their publisher to release them here.

[Crimm]

Namco makes Pacman

Pac-Man is an emotionally unstable, petulant, prick. He's dark as hell! Don't believe me - go play Pac-Man 2.

[Stogi]

Maybe the fact the game is niche actually has something to do with it? Being niche means the price would be very low.

I don't know where you got that assumption. If we're talking about the whole industry of 'niche', then niche is actually pretty damn expensive.