Okami Creators, Clover Studio Closed By Capcom

There is no place for "creativity lovers" in today's gaming industry, it seems. Despite having created the well known Viewtiful Joe series, as well as the newly released God Hand action game and the artistically impressive Okami, Japanese developer Clover Studio will sadly be shut down by Capcom. The decision was made at today's Board of Directors' meeting held by Capcom, who also announced that Clover is to be dissolved at the end of March 2007.

Their reasons? As always, purely financial:

"Reason for the Dissolution:

Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has met the goal of developing unique and creative original home video game software, however, in view of promoting a business strategy that concentrates management resources on a selected business to enhance the efficiency of the development power of the entire Capcom group, the dissolution of Clover Studio Co., Ltd. has been raised and passed at a Board of Directors' meeting.

Schedule of Dissolution:

End of March, 2007

Impact on Financial Forecasts:

The impact of the dissolution of Clover Studio Co., Ltd. on the financial forecasts, separately announced on the same day, is inclusive as part of Extraordinary Losses amounting to 400 million yen."

Clover Studio was fouded on July 1, 2004 in Osaka, Japan. The name itself, "Clover", comes from the abbreviation of "creativity lover". So perhaps their tragic fate would have been different today, had their ideology been "cash lover" instead...

R.I.P. Clover Studio (2004-2007)

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)