Topic: WayForward Starts Shantae Fan Club to Drum Up Support For Sequel

[Kairon]

Clap your hands if you believe in genies. Or just join the fan club!
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=15038

 It's not easy to get a publishing deal for a game that isn't based on an established brand or franchise. Just ask Matt Bozon, creative director of WayForward, who's been trying to get a deal for a sequel to the studio's 2002 Game Boy Color title Shantae, a platformer which featured a genie who belly-dances and whips her hair.    

Contributing to IGN Mailbag in May of this year to answer a reader question, Bozon wrote,    

 

"when Shantae GBC was completed, it went to manufacturing, but then sat in the cue [sic] for 8 months while GBA took over the planet. Upon its release, it didn't sell huge numbers but the reviews were stellar. While many publishers are willing to push the [sequel to the] game, the lowly sales of the original make it a tough sell to the folks who crunch numbers, and the retailers."

 

   

But WayForward, who this year released Contra 4 and Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck for the DS, hasn't given up yet. They recently started a page on their website for the Shantae Fan Club so fans of the franchise can sign-up and offer their support for a future sequel. WayForward hopes this information will help them convince publishers to sign Shantae up for a new game. In a letter addressed to "friends of Sequin Land," the website explains that,    

 

"what Shantae needs (she talks in her sleep) are fans in great numbers to get loud. We’ve pitched sequels on all systems, and have had publishing deals on the table. What keeps this passionate lass tethered down are the low sales of original hardcore games in this age of mega-hitting dog petting, mama-cooking, brain training games. The question on the minds of our cash focused partners; how many Shantae fans are out there, ready to buy up a sequel? If we build it, will they come?"

 

[Kairon]

Here's hoping.

*claps hands*

You know, I wonder if UncleBob has a copy of the original GBC Shantae lying around...

[LuigiHann]

What made me sad about Shantae was how much it showed the untapped potential of the GBC, just as the GBC was being declared dead. A real shame it didn't get released earlier.  

[that Baby guy]

Steam engines.

[Infernal Monkey]

Maybe they should head to Europe for a publisher, there's a lot of European DS games by small time developers that will never see the light of day in America! And the system is region free, so ooh. Secret: Everyone should import Chronos Twin. Seriously, it's been dropped down to a mere $26 AUD. That's $22 US. GO!

[KDR_11k]

I thought Chronos Twin is PHAIL?

[Infernal Monkey]

More like awesome. =o One of the best uses of the DS yet, plus its difficulty is set at NIGHTMARE which is what more games are in desperate need of these days.

[Bartman3010]

if Nintendo had that Virtual Console business going for the DS or whatever, I'd vote for Shantae to be part of the launch group...

[Galford]

I don't know what to say about this.

Wasn't Shatae suppose to be one of those games that did things the GBC wasn't capable of?
It's sorta sits next to Tyrannoursor Tex on the wtf scale...

[Kairon]

Someone seriously needs to buy up Way Forward and throw some money behind 'em. Hmmm... maybe a possible target for Nintendo acquisition? I don't know if Way Forward has the chops for a full blown console game, but I bet they'd do wonders on WiiWare....