bishopcruz Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 It's a sad day for me, and for those of us who remember them, Working Designs has closed its doors as Victor Ireland announced this week. Here's his post on it on his own message boards. "First of all, sorry for being incommunicado for such a long time. It's been a busy time, as you'll see. "There's no easy way to say it, so I just will. Working Designs is gone. All the staff has been laid off and the office is closed and has been for some time. Yes, the website is still here, and I am going to do my best to keep it tucked away somewhere on the 'net so it doesn't become an illicit domain. (Of course, some of the haters may be of the mind that it's been illicit all along, heh!). "The most frustrating part of all of this is that I know that our fanbase is still there. Growlanser Generations sold well, but of course not better than it would have sold as two separate titles. We just spent too much time fighting the good fight to even get it out, and other games approved. "Though almost finished and substantially improved from the Japanese release, Goemon is dead for the US, and that was really the final straw. If I can't guarantee that the games I personally choose for us to release in the US can actually get approved and come out, there's no business to be done. There is a possibility that it may be released in Europe (as well as Growlanser Generations), but nothing is finalized yet. "I know many of you will have lots of questions, and there will be some I can answer, and some I can't. Sony has made it clear that they do not want the details of their dealings with any publisher made public. Suffice to say that you would buy what we wanted to sell if we could sell it. "I want to thank each and every one of you personally for being a fan, buying the games we released, and telling your friends. You HAVE made a difference, because you bought the crazy things we did. Thanks to YOU, there are deluxe packs, pack-in soundtracks, better packaging, great hint guides, and better localizations in general. We said it a lot, but it really was true. We were nothing without you. "For the future, there are still great opportunities. I have been in touch with a number of other publishers and manufacturers and I will be working with some of the WD staff to do games for other publishers for the time being, but not as Working Designs. One thing that holds a ton of promise is XBOX 360 RPGs, and I've contacted Microsoft about getting what's underway in Japan out in the US and helping to get more done worldwide. We'll see what happens on that front, but please let them know that YOU WANT MORE JRPGs here. There's some amazing stuff coming for the '360 in Japan, and I know I want it - I think you will, too. "Thanks for everything. It's a tough road ahead for games that aren't of the least-common-denominator variety. The choices you make with your hardware dollars are more important than ever for the generation that is upon us. "With that, I bid all of us... "...Good night, and Good Luck." It's a damn shame, but I wish I could say I didn't see this coming. I mean these were the guys who gave me some of the best memories I ever had as far as RPGs were concerned. Yet, they couldn't get a game out on time if it killed them, and well, I think that the competition from other companies in bringing JRPGs over probably hurt them too. That and, let's be honest, I didn't see Goemon helping their fortunes any. Not saying of course that Sony helped in any way. They are fucking hard core when it comes to bringing shit over from Japan. Not only did they not let some stiff WD wanted to bring out over, they also killed other projects from companies like NEC, who was going to translate Ys 1 and 2 Eternal Story for PS2. I think that is the thing that gets me, 2-D games are made in Japan, but Sony won't let them come out here from what I understand. In either case, I say we raise a toast to WD, they deserve one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtype Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Not saying of course that Sony helped in any way. They are fucking hard core when it comes to bringing shit over from Japan. Not only did they not let some stiff WD wanted to bring out over, they also killed other projects from companies like NEC, who was going to translate Ys 1 and 2 Eternal Story for PS2. I think that is the thing that gets me, 2-D games are made in Japan, but Sony won't let them come out here from what I understand. It was the same when WD was trying to release Arc the lad way back in the day. Sony didn't want any RPG'S that were 2D to come out on the PS1. Yeah they finally got the go ahead to do so, but only after the PS1 was on it last days. I just wish to know why sony is anal about 2D games. 3D game's doesn't mean it's makes a better game. In either case, I say we raise a toast to WD, they deserve one They will be missed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted December 18, 2005 Share Posted December 18, 2005 these guys made me not feel like shit for owning a Sega-CD back in the day...no lie, Lunar 1 & 2 alone carried the system for me, that's how much i enjoyed them. When i could, i followed them loyaly: Alundra, Cosmic Fantasy II, the great Lunar remakes, even that shooter one. Bishop's right, they coudlnt get things out the door on time, but fuck me if they werent a superior product when they did: translation was top notich, and when you played a re-make, it really was worth anotehr go-through. Still never got to play Arc the Lad, i remember drooling over it in issues of Gamefan in the day. Yeah, never got that Sony'd let other 2D things fly, but RPGs not so much - then again, before FF VII, we wre lucky to get any at all. Still...id read my original Lunar hint book just to read Vic's interviews and programmers talking about how much effor they put in it to keep the game's feel. In a time where weve got comapines like Atlus that never really hooked me, and Sqaure/Enix, i keep feelin like theyre too scared to put out anything that's not a huge name sequel thsese days....WD had heart, and im gonna miss the fuck out of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 All is not lost! News - Victor Ireland (of Working Designs) starts new copmany News - Victor Ireland (of Working Designs) starts new company Posted by Josh Freund at 11:52:38 PM EST on 7.26.2006. Victor Ireland, famed founder of Working Designs (known for localizing the Lunar titles and other RPGs), has revealed that he is heading up a new company called Gaijinworks. RPG fans who were disheartened to hear that Working Designs was gone for good last December should be happy to hear this news. Though Working Designs stuck to the PS1 and PS2, Victor said that anything is possible now, in a post on the Neo GAF forums: I can't say much at the moment except that Gaijinworks will not be console-monogamous. I don't hate Nintendo, and the economics of the DS are improving almost daily as the console takes off and manufacturing turn time improves. Point of fact, you could see Gaijinworks on consoles anywhere...or everywhere. He also clarified the name behind the company: It really isn't that complicated. It's all about turning a negative into a positive and communicating what we do succinctly. "Gaijin" is literally "outsider", and it's commonly held as a derogatory Japanese tag. The "Works" is implying a foundry or such like place where craftsmen work something fluid into something strong and solid. The logo is a Japanese (modern) flag with a gear around the middle. Gaijinworks. Literally, a place where damned outsiders craft Japanese games into stuff for you to care about in English. Gaijinworks' site currently just contains the company's logo, but there should be more there come this fall according to Vic. We'll be sure to update upon receiving any further details regarding Gaijinworks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtype Posted July 30, 2006 Share Posted July 30, 2006 I was reading about that last night. It made my day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtype Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Victor Ireland=Gaijinworks? How you broke our hearts with your lies Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 http://www.siliconera.com/2010/09/21...-psn-releases/ http://www.sunsoftgames.com/interact...c.php?f=2&t=75 GAF - he's actively posting in there, too Alundra and Arc the Lad are just the beginning. Gaijinworks founder Vic Ireland confirmed both titles and said more are coming. “This is kind of off-topic because this isn’t a Sunsoft thing, but yes, these titles are the first of many I have been working on for release on PSN at Gaijinworks. There should be an official press release about them with all the details soon, but look for these first two very shortly,” whoah, didn't know Alundra/Arc were coming to PSN next month. can't wait to hear the next announcements, GAF link has him talking about how tricky the rights on these things are too. Love to see him get them on steam as well one day, but as it stands with US PSN's shitty selection of their awesome PS1 catalog, good on him for getting this through (you see that shit, Square? any idea how much $ you're sitting on with even your non-FF releases from this same time period?!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtype Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 MEH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 DD releases of games newtype (and almost no one else) have on disk leave newtype uninterested/unsupportive, news at 11. me, i'm happy to see more quality up on the store, even if i'll prolly pass, myself. Got damn near the end in Alundra before a game mag spoiled it outta nowhere, never did give the Arc collection a try. still excited to see what else they're looking to bring over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newtype Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Maybe if were games we never got I'll be more happy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 well...yeah, of course. but hard-to-find ones are a great call too; id still love to see Atlus, Konami etc drop some of their PSX classics on PSN. any games in particular, though? i don't recall too many j-rpg/adventure ones from that era that i know i missed out on, past square's Sokagi (sp?) and Toabl no 2. me, i'd fucking love to see some of those Saturn ones i missed out on, but i dont know how likely that is, given all the loss of source code from some of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Sexy Hat Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 I would really like to play Snatcher and Panzer Dragoon Saga. Damn living in a PAL territory, damn you Brits! Why couldn't we just let the japs take over Australia in WW2. Then I wouldn't have this problem. I would have awesome video games and be able to speak and read Japanese. Hell Yeah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.