News
2 CommentsCapcom reports fiscal 2012 results, reiterates focus on streamlining business and cutting costs
By Samit Sarkar on May 08, 2013 05.08.13
Capcom reported financial results for its 2012 fiscal year today, posting a significant drop in net income due to restructuring costs as the company shifts focus for a future in which it expects development costs to rise on next-generation consoles. The Japanese publisher's 2012 fiscal year ran from April 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013. Capcom tallied net sales of 94.08 billion yen ($953.2 million) for the full year, a 14.6 percent jump from the 82.07 billion yen ($831.3 million) it recorded in the 2011 fiscal year. But net income dropped by 55.8 percent from 6.72 billion yen ($68.1 million) in fiscal 2011 to 2.97 billion yen ($30.1 million) this past year. The major drop in Capcom's net income resulted largely from a "special loss" of 6.95 billion yen ($70.4 million) associated...
News
2 CommentsLost Planet 3 delayed again, to Aug. 27 in North America and Aug. 30 in Europe
By Samit Sarkar on Apr 09, 2013 04.09.13
Lost Planet 3 has been delayed a second time — it is now set for release Aug. 27 in North America and Aug. 30 in Europe, publisher Capcom announced today. Last month, Capcom pushed the title back from its previous "early 2013" window to June 26. Capcom did not give a reason for the new delay. Lost Planet 3 will be available on Windows PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For more on the game's melding of East and West, check out our feature from January. Update: When reached for comment, a Capcom spokesperson told Polygon, "The release date for Lost Planet 3 has moved for business reasons."
News
4 CommentsCapcom heading to PAX East with games, teases a 'surprise or two'
By Dave Tach on Mar 21, 2013 03.21.13
Capcom's PAX East attendance this weekend will feature games like Capcom Arcade Cabinet, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and more, including "maybe an additional surprise or two," according to a press release from the company. Capcom's booth (#948) will feature: Capcom Arcade Cabinet Darkstalkers: Resurrection Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Players can also get their hands on Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate at booth #1092.) Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen Resident Evil Revelations Remember Me Lost Planet 3 The company will also be sponsoring the "World of Capcom" panel, to be held at the Phoenix Theater on Friday, March 22, from noon to 1 p.m. ET. Capcom producers and product managers will discuss upcoming games to be released later this year as well as "some new product announcements." PAX...
News
5 CommentsLost Planet 3 delayed to June 26 in North America, June 28 in Europe
By Emily Gera on Mar 06, 2013 03.06.13
Capcom has moved the Spark Unlimited developed Lost Planet 3 to a June 26 release in North America, with a June 28 launch to follow in Europe, the publisher announced today. Lost Planet 3 was originally targeted for an "early 2013" release in North America, with some retailers pointing to a March release for the game. The game marks the debut collaboration between the publisher and developer, following Capcom's decision to use a Western studio to help create a more cinematic and story-driven experience compared to the previous entries in the series. Check out our in-depth feature with Capcom Japan producer Andrew Szymanski regarding how this collaboration came to be. The game is coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.
News
6 CommentsCapcom announcing two new games during PAX East panel
By Brian Crecente on Feb 28, 2013 02.28.13
Capcom will be making announcements for two new games during their World of Capcom panel on the Friday of PAX East in Boston. The panel, which kicks off at noon on the first day of the show, will be moderated by Francis Mao and feature a panel of not-yet-named Capcom producers and product managers. The panel is set to discuss the latest details on "all of the upcoming Capcom games" including the recently dated Remember Me, Lost Planet 3, Resident Evil: Revelations, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen and those two new games, according to the company. Capcom will also have a number of games on the show floor including Darkstalkers Resurrection, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen, Remember Me and Lost Planet 3. PAX East runs from March 22 through March 24 and Polygon will be on hand covering all of...
Feature
13 CommentsEast meets West: Capcom's Lost Planet 3 blueprint
By Sam Machkovech on Jan 23, 2013 01.23.13
Attempting double redemption Attempting double redemption Years of language lessons and game design training later, Szymanski's name has made the credit rolls of Japanese video games, including fare produced by Tecmo, Microsoft and Capcom — and his own last name's jumble of consonants and vowels might seem fake to a new generation of gamers. Szymanski now calls Tokyo home, but his role can't be what he expected as a wide-eyed "Eff Eff" fan. He's a project lead at Capcom for Lost Planet 3 — but that means overseeing the efforts of Spark Unlimited, a game developer in Los Angeles. Capcom has hired the company to put a Western spin on an already Western-friendly series. For the past few years, as the West has outgrown Japan in game consumption, more Japanese game...
Deals
8 CommentsMicrosoft Store offers $20 in Microsoft Points for pre-orders of upcoming games
By Griffin McElroy on Jan 18, 2013 01.18.13
Microsoft Store is running a promotion offering 1600 Microsoft Points ($20) to shoppers who pre-order major upcoming Xbox 360 titles like Grand Theft Auto 5 and BioShock Infinite. Ten different games are applicable for the free points, all of which cost the standard MSRP of $59.99: Grand Theft Auto 5 BioShock Infinite Tomb Raider Lost Planet 3 Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance Crysis 3 Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 Dead Space 3 South Park: The Stick of Truth The site doesn't mention how long the promotion will run, so if you were planning on picking up any of those titles, this may be an avenue worth considering.
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8 CommentsLost Planet 3's protagonist will be a universal character everyone can relate to, Capcom says
By Tracey Lien on Nov 30, 2012 11.30.12
The protagonist in Capcom's Lost Planet 3 will be more of an average Joe compared to the protagonists in previous Lost Planet games, according to developer Matt Sophos from Spark Unlimited. Speaking to Siliconera, Sophos said that the studio wanted to create a compelling and cinematic experience where the lead character was someone that all audiences can relate to. "He's got western trappings; he's a bearded guy like Kurt Russell in The Thing," Sophos said. "He listens to a certain style of music and has a colloquialism. Our story is based on universal themes. Jim is there on the planet to take care of his family back home. These are the kind of things that anyone can relate to, whether you're an eastern audience or a western audience." Sophos adds that the themes and motivations of...
'Lost Planet 3' features more narrative-driven gameplay
By Megan Farokhmanesh on Sep 22, 2012 09.22.12
Lost Planet 3 will focus heavily on narrative elements and changing weather conditions, producer Andrew Szymanski told Capcom Unity. Szymanski touched briefly on the challenges of starting a new entry in a franchise and how creators approached the latest Lost Planet. "We look at the strengths of the franchise and the weaknesses of the franchise, and sort of what development setup is going to give us the best results," said Szymanski. "In the case of Lost Planet, the creative director [Kenji Oguro] came to me, and he knew that we wanted to go for a more narrative direction, a more cinematic direction with a strong protagonist, and that we wanted to kind of bump up the ante, if you will, on the shooter mechanics of the game." "It was sort of natural progression," said Syzmanski. Lost...
Keiji Inafune explains the origins of 'Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z' and its Western roots
By Michael McWhertor on Sep 21, 2012 09.21.12
The creator of Mega Man and Dead Rising now has his hands on Ninja Gaiden, after a fashion, thanks to his collaboration with Team Ninja. Keiji Inafune's development company Comcept is teaming up with Team Ninja and developer Spark Unlimited to create Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z. Inafune and Team Ninja head Yosuke Hayashi unveiled the title earlier this week, a console game that will pit ninja against ninja against zombie. Much of the game is still a mystery, but Inafune tells Polygon that the game is already playable and that development is progressing well. "It's going to be a game that's not about just slashing and action," he said. "It's going to be taking in the goodness of Ninja Gaiden, so it's going to be a different and new action game." Following his departure from Capcom in 2010,...
