Atlus

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Atlus
Type Public (JASDAQ: 7866)
Founded 1986
Headquarters Tokyo, Japan
Industry Video games
Revenue ▲¥21.34 billion (2007)[1]
Parent Index Holdings
Website www.atlus.com

Atlus (株式会社アトラス Kabushiki-gaisha atorasu?) is a Japanese computer and video game developer and publisher. It is known for developing the role-playing series Shin Megami Tensei which, counting spin-offs, has dozens of installments. The first Megami Tensei was an NES game developed by Namco based on a trilogy of novels, but after the second, Atlus took over the series. Atlus also released Shin Megami Tensei for the Super Famicom. Their corporate mascot is Jack Frost from Shin Megami Tensei.

Atlus also published Growlanser, a real time strategy/RPG from the creators of the classic Langrisser series, Career Soft. After the success of the first game, they acquired Career Soft, who developed the second through fifth installments in-house. In October 30, 2007, it was acquired by the Index Holdings enterprise.

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[edit] Atlus U.S.A.

Atlus U.S.A., established in 1991, is the American subsidiary of Japanese video game publisher Atlus. Atlus U.S.A. publishes games created by Atlus Co., Ltd. as well as by other developers. Atlus U.S.A. is strictly a publisher, ofttimes localizing obscure or niche titles from other Japanese developers. Atlus U.S.A operates from Irvine, California.

They released Revelations: Persona for PlayStation and Revelations: The Demon Slayer for Game Boy Color, translations of their parent company's main series, Shin Megami Tensei.

One of Atlus U.S.A.'s most known work in the United States is their localization of the cult classic Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, which was created by Nippon Ichi Software. They are also known for publishing the tactical role-playing game Tactics Ogre and Game Boy Advance remakes of the Kunio-kun and Double Dragon games for Million (a company composed of former Technos Japan Corp. employees). Other notable titles include Snowboard Kids and Snowboard Kids 2 for the Nintendo 64 and most recently, Odin Sphere and the Trauma Center series.

In 2004, in collaboration with Sting and Bandai, Atlus U.S.A. released Riviera: The Promised Land, an RPG for the Game Boy Advance. In the Fall of 2006, Atlus U.S.A., once again along with Sting, released Yggdra Union, a strategy RPG for the Game Boy Advance.[1]

[edit] Jack Frost

Jack Frost used as part of one version of the company logo
Jack Frost used as part of one version of the company logo

Jack Frost is the mascot of Atlus. He resembles a snowman, but has teeth, a tail, no nose, and wears a joker hat and shoes. His catchphrase is "Hee-Ho". He has appeared in several Atlus games, including several entries in the Shin Megami Tensei series and Jack Bros. He is a hidden character in the both the American and Japanese versions of SBK: Snowboard Kids, but has a larger role in the Japanese version.

Jack Frost has derived a family in its universe and more relatives were created since Shin Megami Tensei II. Such as King Frost, Frost 5 Senshi (warriors (of justice)), Ja-aku Frost (Black Frost), etc.

Jack Frost also makes a cameo appearance as a button/brooch on the clothing of the gunner class in Etrian odyssey II, another game by Atlus.

[edit] Games developed by Atlus

[edit] Games published by Atlus

[edit] References

  1. ^ RPGFan News - E3 2006 (2006). Retrieved on Sept 10, 2007.

[edit] External links