Nippon Ichi Cancels Game Projects Following Earnings Drop

Things are looking bleak for Disgaea developer Nippon Ichi. In Japan today, the company shared its first quarter earnings report, revealing a 40% drop in sales from the same period last year and an operating loss of 15 million yen.

While the company's consumer games division actually made a slight 32 million yen profit over the quarter, it will be affected by some restructuring. Following the earnings report, Nippon Ichi issued a statement saying that it will be taking a special 21 million yen loss for the current fiscal year as it cancels three games that have been in development since last year. The games are being cancelled because the company felt that achieving sales and high quality for the three would be difficult.

So what are these three cancelled projects? Nippon Ichi did not say. They may very well be unannounced projects.

Despite the bad news, Nippon Ichi continues to churn out some brilliantly bizarre game ideas. The latest, in development at RPG specialist Imageepoch, is called Criminal Girls. In this PSP RPG, you play as guide to a group of girls who've been banished to hell. You'll lead the girls back to the living world while training them mentally and physically for the return. The training apparently involves spanking, massaging and other risque activities.

Nippon Ichi also has more traditional (?) games in the works. The next Disgaea is expected to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show next month.


Source: IGN