Japanese Developer Cing Files for Bankruptcy

[Doctor Setebos]

Another day, another story of a developer closing its doors. This time the victim is Cing, a rather small company responsible for the well-received (but poor-selling) Little King's Story on the Wii, as well as the phenomenal DS games Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Trace Memory. Both of those DS games were published by Nintendo. Cing also worked with Tecmo on the Monster Rancher DS series and mystery/puzzle game Again for the DS.

The company was apparently unable to come out from underneath about $3M worth of liabilities and debt.

Source - GamesIndustry (http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/nintendo-developer-cing-files-for-bankruptcy-report)

[ElektroDragon]

Shame, this was a quality developer. One of the few third parties to make a decent Wii game too. I guess Nintendo didn't pay them enough.

[rein]

Little Kings Story is one of the games that made me want to re-purchase a Wii. Hotel Dusk: Room 215 and Trace Memory both speak for themselves. Too bad.

[Deimos]

What does this mean for the Hotel Dusk sequel, Last Window? I know it just came out in Japan about a month ago. Does this mean we won't see a translated release over here?

[Hawkzombie]

Ya heard it here first, folks (http://www.colonyofgamers.com/cogforums/showthread.php?t=16126) :D

Shame, this was a quality developer. One of the few third parties to make a decent Wii game too. I guess Nintendo didn't pay them enough.

Yes, because that's what decides if a game company makes or breaks...if the publisher pays them enough for an underselling title. It's all Nintendo's fault.

[Mike Kelehan]

What does this mean for the Hotel Dusk sequel, Last Window? I know it just came out in Japan about a month ago. Does this mean we won't see a translated release over here?

That's all in Nintendo's hands. Since they published it in Japan, they're the only ones who can publish it here. We actually got Hotel Dusk a few days BEFORE Japan, so NOA's silence is troubling.

On this plus side, though, Cing's very Hotel Dusk-like game Again is coming out this month. If that sells well, it will bode well for Last Window.

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/againfbichoushinrishousakan/index.html

[Purple Santa]

On this plus side, though, Cing's very Hotel Dusk-like game Again is coming out this month. If that sells well, it will bode well for Last Window.

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/againfbichoushinrishousakan/index.html

Thanks for the heads up on this. I am going to pre-order it now.

[Savok]

None of you bastards bought Little King's Story did you?

[Doctor Setebos]

None of you bastards bought Little King's Story did you?It's in my Goozex queue.

[Savok]

That's it, I'm bombing France.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Shame, this was a quality developer. One of the few third parties to make a decent Wii game too. I guess Nintendo didn't pay them enough.

This is unbelievably ignorant.

Also, I still don't know how they made a puzzle that required me to use 2 fingers for a single-touch system.

[Doctor Setebos]

That's it, I'm bombing France.Fine by me.

Also: somewhat-related side-note: next time you happen across something you feel might be the least bit newsworthy, please feel free to post it using the "Submit News" link on the front page. That's what it's there for! I feel bad that I overlooked your post.

This goes for everyone.

[Savok]

Eh, my post is made of my usual venom, hardly front page material.

[Widgetcraft]

Fine by me.

Also: somewhat-related side-note: next time you happen across something you feel might be the least bit newsworthy, please feel free to post it using the "Submit News" link on the front page. That's what it's there for! I feel bad that I overlooked your post.

This goes for everyone.

Ahh, didn't realize that such a thing was implemented. I used to submit news to EvAv occasionally, but once we moved over here I was under the impression that it was a staff-only deal.

[Doctor Setebos]

Ahh, didn't realize that such a thing was implemented. I used to submit news to EvAv occasionally, but once we moved over here I was under the impression that it was a staff-only deal.I don't think it's been as highly publicized as it probably should be. But yes, it's there. :)

[Spigot]

None of you bastards bought Little King's Story did you?I did! Day 1! Now I really do need to play more of it, but I've loved what time I've spent on it.

That's all in Nintendo's hands. Since they published it in Japan, they're the only ones who can publish it here. We actually got Hotel Dusk a few days BEFORE Japan, so NOA's silence is troubling.

On this plus side, though, Cing's very Hotel Dusk-like game Again is coming out this month. If that sells well, it will bode well for Last Window.

http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/againfbichoushinrishousakan/index.htmlThanks for the heads-up. I forgot about Again.

I'm always a little saddened when a developer with a clear artistic vision and, in this case, some rock solid game design ends up going out of business.

[MagGnome]

I'm always a little saddened when a developer with a clear artistic vision and, in this case, some rock solid game design ends up going out of business.

Unfortunately it happens all the time. An "artistic vision" rarely leads to a hot title in today's crappy videogame market.

Meh. :p

This is sad news indeed. Hotel Dusk is probably my favorite game on the DS, and a great adventure game regardless of the platform.

[Spigot]

This is sad news indeed. Hotel Dusk is probably my favorite game on the DS, and a great adventure game regardless of the platform.That's the real kicker about Cing going down. They're one of the few houses that really seemed to take what the DS was capable of and run with it. Take a look at Trace Memory. It was a veritable showcase of 'you can't do this on anything except a DS' design.

[MagGnome]

I never played Trace Memory.

[Chris_D]

Trace Memory was a bit short and I enjoyed Hotel Dusk's story more. But, its a solid bargain bin pickup if you see it.
(a friend borrowed my copy of Trace Memory and lost it!)

[Generation ABXY]

None of you bastards bought Little King's Story did you?

I always meant to - does that count?

Shame about this, though; of what I've played, I've enjoyed their games. (Though I suppose they could always re-form or make 'em elsewhere. They aren't being killed, after all.)

[Hawkzombie]

I was always meaning to get LKS...I bought Trace Memory first thing with my DS, and Hotel Dusk as soon as I found a copy. Trace was decent, bit short, but Spig is right, it was a perfect showcase of utilizing all aspects of the DS for more than just a 'touch menu screen'

[Generation ABXY]

Yeah, I only ever got Trace Memory and Hotel Dusk, too. I only recently got around to even popping in the latter, but I quite enjoyed Trace Memory (and was interested in that Wii sequel).

[MagGnome]

You haven't played Hotel Dusk, ABXY?

You're dead to me.

[Generation ABXY]

You haven't played Hotel Dusk, ABXY?

You're dead to me.

Well, I hadn't at one time. It sat in a box with a bunch of other DS games, and I didn't break it out until you told me I needed to play it. :)

Of course, I don't have my DS right now, so I only got but so far into it...

[MagGnome]

You really need to play it all the way through. It's great!

[Hawkzombie]

I got stuck on one bit and meant to Gamefaq it, but forgot and it fell between the cracks. But it was a great play before then. This has reminded me I need to finish :p

[MagGnome]

Finish it now!

Why bother buying a game if you're not going to play it? ;)