Drecom Launches Drecom Creators Studio for Indie Game Support
The new studio formalizes Drecom's shift toward incubating external indie projects while simultaneously reaffirming its control over the Wizardry trademark, separating the brand from Atari's acquisition of the early game rights.
Reporting from 1 sources: Anime News Network.
Japanese video game developer Drecom announced on Thursday the launch of a new indie game studio called Drecom Creators Studio. The studio aims to discover the potential of game titles and support projects from development through long-term expansion, with a focus on small creators and teams. Drecom lists several types of support it will offer, including sharing developmental knowledge, financial assistance, marketing, and mixed media expansion. The company is now opening applications for creators to apply through its website. The new studio will also exhibit at the BitSummit PUNCH event, which runs in Kyoto from May 22 to 24. Separately, Drecom recently denied reports that Atari has acquired the trademark rights to the Wizardry IP. Atari had acquired the complete and exclusive rights and the underlying intellectual properties of the first five Wizardry games from the original rights holder. Drecom stated that it has no intention of selling the Wizardry trademark rights or other rights it holds in the future, and will continue to hold the domestic and international trademark rights for the game series and manage the Wizardry IP brand.
Drecom Creators Studio will offer support categories that include developmental knowledge sharing, financial assistance, marketing, and mixed media expansion, according to the announcement. The company is now accepting applications from creators through its website. The studio's first public appearance will be at BitSummit PUNCH, an indie game event in Kyoto running from May 22 to 24.
In a separate statement, Drecom addressed recent reports about the Wizardry franchise. Atari acquired the complete and exclusive rights and the underlying intellectual properties of the first five Wizardry games from the original rights holder. Those five games are Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (1981), Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds (1982), Wizardry III: Legacy of Llylgamyn (1983), Wizardry IV: The Return of Werdna (1987), and Wizardry V: Heart of the Maelstrom (1988). Drecom said it was recently informed of that acquisition. However, Drecom denied that Atari had acquired the Wizardry trademark rights. The company stated it has no intention of selling the Wizardry trademark rights or other rights it holds in the future, and will continue to hold both domestic and international trademark rights for the series and manage the Wizardry IP brand.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network Drecom Announces New Indie Game Studio