Namco Bandai Posts Major Loss; Announces Workforce Cuts

[Doctor Setebos]

It's a very sad day to be a fan (or employee) of struggling Japanese developer and publisher Namco Bandai. In financial reporting for the last three quarters of 2009, the company revealed a staggering $130M loss. This is comparison to a nearly $100M profit during the same period in the previous year. Alongside the financial news, Namco Bandai also announced that they would be eliminating 10% of their current workforce, which amounts to roughly 630 jobs.

On a somewhat related side-note, has Namco had any games come out this past year besides Tekken 6?

Source - GamesIndustry and GamesIndustry

[DoctorFinger]

From Wiki, here's their slate from 2009

Afro Samurai
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja 4
Klonoa
One Piece: Unlimited Cruise
Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny
Tales of VS
Tekken 6: Bloodline Rebellion
Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2
Tales of Graces

Of those only Tekken and Afro Samurai were released on the PS3/360. Most of the others are Wii, PSP or both.

[Cactaur]

They're making tons of money off add-on DLC for idol master and vesperia etc. How'd they end up in the red?

[TrackZero]

Originally Posted by Cactaur

They're making tons of money off add-on DLC for idol master and vesperia etc. How'd they end up in the red?

Not sure. Considering how much branded IP....well, shovelware isn't fair, but what I'd consider definite money-makers just because of the brand they have, you'd think they'd be fine.

[menage]

Don't they have Gundamn as well?

Seriously, I quite like them, but they haven't evolved one bit form the PS2 era gamewise..

[Doctor Setebos]

Originally Posted by TrackZero

Not sure. Considering how much branded IP....well, shovelware isn't fair, but what I'd consider definite money-makers just because of the brand they have, you'd think they'd be fine.

Agreed. Tales, Soul Calibur, Tekken, and Naruto should sell just on name alone.

[Gorvi]

They also had the Vesperia PS3 release, I think that did well for them in Japan.

[Heretic Machine]

Originally Posted by Gorvi

They also had the Vesperia PS3 release, I think that did well for them in Japan.

And like so many Namco products, it isn't coming to the USA. I'll be surprised if we get Tales of Graces (one of the best Tales games, from what I've heard).

[Doctor Setebos]

Originally Posted by Heretic Machine

And like so many Namco products, it isn't coming to the USA. I'll be surprised if we get Tales of Graces (one of the best Tales games, from what I've heard).

We'd better get it. I bought Dawn of the New World which was an absolute joke of a "Tales" game. Namco owes me a true Tales Wii game.

[Heretic Machine]

Originally Posted by Doctor Setebos

We'd better get it. I bought Dawn of the New World which was an absolute joke of a "Tales" game. Namco owes me a true Tales Wii game.

Yeah, I heard that was... not so good.

[Doctor Setebos]

Originally Posted by Heretic Machine

Yeah, I heard that was... not so good.

That's an understatement. The game actually looked worse than it's GameCube predecessor and had a horrible, confusing story that made no sense at all. It controlled poorly. It had horrendous sound production. It was just a complete mess.

[ElektroDragon]

It is because they released garbage like Tekken 6 and Afro Samurai last year, compared to previous years where they released gems like Eternal Sonata, Soul Calibur IV, Tales of Vesperia, etc.

[OldJadedGamer]

Yeah, their output has been garbage. Crap in, crap out.

[menage]

Their fighting games are pretty good. I really enjoyed Soul Calibur 4

[Hawkzombie]

I personally liked Afro Samurai. But like most companies, they have hits and misses. They just need a Soul Calibur 5 to bring themselves back into the black Only reason I ever got rid of that game was I sold my old PS3 and needed some game to throw into the mix. I can still find the 360 CE around here, so I might go pick that up.

[Chris_D]

In Japan there has been a buttload of releases. Lots of Gundam and Naruto games, the Drum game on the Wii, Tales of Grace on the Wii which did sell poorly, Tales of Vesperia, other anime licenses like Nanoha.

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Chris_D

In Japan there has been a buttload of releases. Lots of Gundam and Naruto games, the Drum game on the Wii, Tales of Grace on the Wii which did sell poorly, Tales of Vesperia, other anime licenses like Nanoha.

I would kill for an HD version of Taiko Drummaster.