Clover Studio

History

To facilitate Viewtiful Joe 2s development, Capcom turned "Team Viewtiful" into Clover Studio, a semi-autonomous production company with a focus on developing new intellectual properties (IPs). The separation was also in part due to Resident Evil 4s PlayStation 2 release, which caused significant tensions between Capcom and Mikami, who had touted the game's console exclusivity. Clover Studio was able to produce two more games in the Viewtiful Joe series, which serve as side-stories, and commissioned an anime adaptation which was handled by Group TAC. Clover's next big project was Ōkami, a "brand-focused project" fitting with Capcom's goal for Clover to develop new IPs. Although it was a critical success, it failed to live up to Capcom's sales expectations; Clover's next project God Hand did even worse. Compounding this problem, Clover's developers still felt stifled under the weight of Capcom's corporate management, who were reluctant or actively opposed to risky new ideas.

Capcom shut down Clover Studio in late 2006, after Atsushi Inaba, Hideki Kamiya and Shinji Mikami left the company.

These resignations were part of a series of high-profile departures from Capcom, including Yoshiki Okamoto in 2003 and Keiji Inafune in 2010. Inafune complained of similar problems, as Inaba, Kamiya and Mikami, namely that Capcom management had a rule dictating that at least 70-80 percent of all new projects must be sequels of existing properties, with the actual number very close to 100 percent at any time.

Legacy

They would go on to found PlatinumGames with members of their old studio. In 2008, they announced the "Platinum Three", referring to MadWorld, Infinite Space, and Bayonetta, which would attempt to carry on the Capcom Five's ambitious and creative original spirit.

In 2009, Capcom producer and Senior Corporate Officer of R&D Keiji Inafune, told 1UP.com that the company had no interest at the time to produce sequels to Clover titles.

In 2010, Capcom released a sequel to Ōkami titled, Ōkamiden for the Nintendo DS.

Characters from Viewtiful Joe and Ōkami have appeared in other Capcom media. Viewtiful Joe and Yami, antagonist of Ōkami, appear in the 2008 fighting game Tatsunoko vs. Capcom. Viewtiful Joe and Amaterasu, the protagonist of Ōkami, both appear as playable characters in the 2011 fighting game Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3.

A high-definition port of Ōkami, remastered by Capcom and HexaDrive, was released on the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network in October 2012 and for retail in Japan in November 2012. The high-definition port was also released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in December 2017 worldwide, with a Nintendo Switch version released in August 2018.

Games developed

References

References

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2. (12 October 2006). "Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World".
3. Gantayat, Anoop. (February 15, 2007). "Clover Reborn".
4. [http://www.platinumgames.co.jp/main/index.html プラチナゲームズ株式会社]
5. Sinclair, Brendan. (November 3, 2010). "ZeniMax acquires Shinji Mikami studio".
6. Cooper, Dalton. (2024-12-13). "Okami Sequel With Hideki Kamiya and a Revived Clover Studio is in Development".
7. Sheffield, Brandon. (23 October 2006). "Capcom & Clover, Over and Over: Former Clover Head Atsushi Inaba on a Post-Capcom World". [[Gamasutra]].
8. Bailey, Kat. (31 March 2010). "Shinji Mikami Launches Teaser Site with Harakiri Flash Game". [[1UP.com]].
9. Cullen, Johnny. (12 November 2010). "Mikami originally displeased at becoming producer at Capcom". [[VG24/7]].
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11. Drake, Shannon. (8 May 2007). "Vision Doesn't Sell Copies". The Escapist.
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14. Kohler, Chris. (29 October 2010). "Mega Man Creator's Departure Completes Capcom Talent Exodus". Wired.com.
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16. Bergervoet, Erwin. (14 May 2008). "PlatinumGames onthult de nieuwe 'Capcom Five'". Gamer.nl.
17. Mielke, James. (5 March 2009). "Keiji Inafune Talks Mega Man Revivals, Strider Possibilites: News from 1UP.com".
18. Feit, Daniel. (September 26, 2009). "Hands on: Okamiden Demo Is Cute, But Short".
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20. (19 May 2009). "Tatsunoko vs. Capcom confirmed for US, EU".
21. Aziz, Hamza. (August 18, 2010). "GC 10: Viewtiful Joe and Dormammu join Marvel vs Capcom 3". [[Destructoid]].
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