Comments on: About The Aksys / Arc System Works Relationship…

By: TheCleaningGuy

TheCleaningGuy — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:28:18 +0000

I appreciate it, the whole scenario used to make my brain hurt.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:59:13 +0000

Thanks for the link. Very informative! I didn't know anyone else thought about asking this so I asked Aksys when I had the chance.

By: TheCleaningGuy

TheCleaningGuy — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 05:28:18 +0000

I appreciate it, the whole scenario used to make my brain hurt.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:59:13 +0000

Thanks for the link. Very informative! I didn't know anyone else thought about asking this so I asked Aksys when I had the chance.

By: matty

matty — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:01:45 +0000

I think Gail said in a podcast at their site that they mentioned about their relationship in a Gamasutra article. Ah, found it!
A quote from producer at Arc, Kouki Sadamori:
"Well, they're a business partner, a company we've got a great relationship with. It's through their help that we've been able to bring our games out in North America.
With another company, we'd have to convince them to purchase licensing rights for such and such an amount, and then they'd release the game. You can't really get around that. From our perspective though, we'd want a contract that guaranteed a certain amount of the take from each copy sold, but getting contracts like that can be really difficult.
This is where Aksys comes in. Because we work in partnership with them, they're willing to divide the royalties with us on each game sold, instead of paying a lump sum for the right to sell it in the States. We also share the extraneous costs.
We handle development and production costs, while Aksys pays for voice acting and localization. It's mutually beneficial, and something that goes beyond a merely contractual relationship. We're both working toward the goal of carving a niche for our games to succeed in the American market.
We're in constant contact with them, discussing the best strategies for marketing each new title as they come up. "
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php...

By: Ereek

Ereek — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:47:32 +0000

Oh, this is interesting. I love this kind of stuff.

By: jarrodand

jarrodand — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:47:01 +0000

I knew Aksys was originally some ex-Atlus USA guys starting up, but I always figured ASW just bought them out or something along the way. Surprised that they're totally separate.

By: matty

matty — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:43:44 +0000

Well, you can just compare the games Arc has to what gets released over here. I would think it's unlikely Aksys would publish something like Hanakosan, but maybe they'd give Ranshima Monogatari Rare Land Story: Shoujo no Yakujou a shot.

By: MrAptronym

MrAptronym — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:21:39 +0000

I always assumed Aksys was just the american subsidiary of Arc Systems Works. I mean… the name…