A legend dies....IREM is closing it's doors!

[maxlords]

I just heard about this....apparently as of September, Irem is closing down for good. They are no longer sustainable as a company. *sniff*

Some of my favorite game ever came from these guys.....

http://www.neoseeker.com/news/16941-ire ... august-11/

[Zorator]

The link doesn't seem to say anything about Irem closing. But if that really is the case it's unfortunate. I wonder if this means they will be taking down all their titles from the Wii shop as well.

[xbl0x180]

I hope someone buys the rights and keeps distributing the R-Type goodness

[MathU]

I hope someone buys the rights and keeps distributing the R-Type goodness

Please let it be SNK Playmore. All the talent left for Nazca after Gunforce 2 anyway, and those very same Metal Slug guys are still making stuff at SNK. Maybe they could even make an R-Type VI!


On another note, what does this mean for DotEmu's Irem Arcade Hits collection? I'm still interested in purchasing that, as soon as they iron out all the kinks.

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Even knowing that this would be coming in advance did not make any less sad... Though knowing most of their team could simply rejoin at SNK Playmore does give a glimmer of hope, I still doubt that they will return to their arcade shooter roots. (I personally would be interested to see how a new Metal Storm would fair now that people are a bit more familiar with the reverse gravity gimmick.)

[Strider77]

Irem has been dead to me for a good long time. Now it can RIP.

[gameoverDude]

I hope someone buys the rights and keeps distributing the R-Type goodness

Please let it be SNK Playmore. All the talent left for Nazca after Gunforce 2 anyway, and those very same Metal Slug guys are still making stuff at SNK. Maybe they could even make an R-Type VI!


On another note, what does this mean for DotEmu's Irem Arcade Hits collection? I'm still interested in purchasing that, as soon as they iron out all the kinks.

WTH is the Pulstar team at... these guys teamed up with MS team + Taito Type X2 hardware = potential for an awesome RTVI and 360/PS3 ports. Hell, even straight to console would be nice.

[AntiFritz]

No more rtype

[TrevHead (TVR)]

IREMs death isnt 100% certain as they are releasing a game for one of the handhelds (DS i think)

Although tbh the company is in such a bad shape and is focussiing whatever little resources it has into games that dont intrest us. It might be better if they did go under then alteast some other company could buy its IPs and put it to good use.

Who owns Taito nowadays? its Square right? I hope they buy out IREM or atleat its arcade IPs.

[njiska]

Irem has been dead to me for a good long time. Now it can RIP.

Pretty much my thoughts on the matter. Hopefully the IPs end up somewhere that will use them for good.

[maxlords]

I haven't been able to find the link but I'd heard September is when they close up shop. Will keep looking for info. While I haven't loved the stuff they have come out with lately (not a good sign for a game company of course) they are one of the greats for arcade style games. I wish they had come out with some compilations a la Taito Legends.

[RNGmaster]

One presumes they didn't know how to handle the checkpoints correctly.

[MathU]

I haven't been able to find the link but I'd heard September is when they close up shop. Will keep looking for info. While I haven't loved the stuff they have come out with lately (not a good sign for a game company of course) they are one of the greats for arcade style games. I wish they had come out with some compilations a la Taito Legends.

They did, only very recently.

[Despatche]

But are they closing?

[Randorama]

Irem died shortly after the release of Gun Head 2 (or whatever the contra clone was called). Sadly, this is technically their second death.

The full story is here.

[Despatche]

Gunforce II, better known as Geostorm.

I knew that would come up. And you guys really think this should go to SNK Playmore, who have so many problems right now that I don't even know where to begin?

[thrillrida]

Sad to see them go but not surprising. Cancelling both of their big PS3 projects while churning out not much else to get excited about will do that to you. Plus this gen gave them the perfect opportunity to exploit their back catalogue on DD platforms and they totally half-assed that, would have been a minimal risk with a potentially huge reward

But the creative director that was working their left awhile ago to open his own company so it's not all bad news

[MathU]

Gunforce II, better known as Geostorm.

I knew that would come up. And you guys really think this should go to SNK Playmore, who have so many problems right now that I don't even know where to begin?

I don't know about SNK's financial condition involving King of Fighters, but Metal Slug 7 was incredible. Those Nazca guys still have what it takes in them to make great games.

[THE]

I don't know about SNK's financial condition involving King of Fighters, but Metal Slug 7 was incredible. Those Nazca guys still have what it takes in them to make great games.

The Nazca guys left SNK after Metal Slug 3.
Metal Slug 4 was made by random Koreans.

Every Metal Slug after 3 can and should be considered rape

[kernow]

Well said. 1-3 ftw

[ChainsawGuitarSP]

Metal Slug 4 is just too hard for you guys. No need to be ashamed about it. :3

[MathU]

The Nazca guys left SNK after Metal Slug 3.

I doubt this is entirely true, but I'd like a source for it. And even if it is, the new Metal Slug team has proven their worth.


If this isn't a remnant of Irem then it's still an awesome tribute.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

That's an interesting find there, MathU. Yep, I recall that end-stage boss taken from the Metal Slug7/Metal Slug XX compliation. Cool insider tribute to Irem indeed.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Last_Dancer]

Irem in trouble? Yes. Closing doors? No

Irem just announced a 3DS game.

Irem makes the most money from pachinko, not from game software.

[Sumez]

The Nazca guys left SNK after Metal Slug 3.
Metal Slug 4 was made by random Koreans.

IF they left SNK, where are they now?
WHO are they anyway - ie. those of them that matters when it comes to gameplay? I'd like to see some head tracking on these guys.

[Randorama]

Some programmers that appeared in the credits of Metal Slug also appear in Dolphin Blue's credits, by Sammy.
The monikers are "Susumu", "Meehir", "Ai Ai", and a few others.

[MauJustice]

Have the games been pulled off of PSN yet? I heard they were only staying up for a limited time now.

I picked up R-Types but I wanted to grab Delta before they disappear.

[gameoverDude]

Have the games been pulled off of PSN yet? I heard they were only staying up for a limited time now.

I picked up R-Types but I wanted to grab Delta before they disappear.

You've got until 8/11. I'll be sure to snatch up Delta, though I have it on PS1 disc already.

[Elixir]

Probably a good time to get Gussun Paradise off the Japanese PS1 store, before it's too late.

[cj iwakura]

It was the lost of Disaster Report that really crippled them. They're just barely hanging on, but not dead yet.