Atari fights to keep Dragon Ball Z

FUNimation claims deal for games based on popular anime was terminated after publisher violated license agreements.

It's been a rough month for Atari, starting with the dismissal of five members of its board of directors, courtesy of parent company Infogrames. While the outgoing directors had been replaced within a week, a group of frustrated Atari shareholders accused Infogrames of intentionally undermining the company's stock price in preparation to buy out the remaining shareholders.

The month is ending with even more corporate drama for the company, as an Atari Securities and Exchange Commission filing last week revealed that it is currently embroiled in a dispute over its Dragon Ball Z license.

According to Atari, the company has the rights to release games based on the series thanks to a pair of agreements with US anime firm FUNimation Productions. However, the publisher received a notice from FUNimation earlier this month accusing it of breaching those agreements.

As a result, FUNimation now claims that Atari's license to make Dragon Ball Z games has been terminated. Atari doesn't agree and has been distributing the games as usual. The two companies are now in talks to reach a temporary agreement that would buy them time to resolve their issues regarding the original license.

Dragon Ball Z has been Atari's most prolific licensed property in recent years, bringing in $85 million in the company's fiscal 2005, according to its latest annual report. The remainder of Atari's current catalog is headlined by properties like Dungeons & Dragons, Backyard Sports, and Godzilla. Should Atari lose the Dragon Ball Z license, it would join Driver, Stuntman, Transformers, and a handful of Hasbro games like Monopoly as high-profile losses to the publisher's stable of properties.

197 Comments

  • tenlong

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 5:41 am PT

    They are still making dbz games . Just not released by atari. Namco bandai will most likely released the new games.

  • owens_jay

    Posted Apr 18, 2009 2:14 pm PT

    too bad

  • skywalkerforce

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 4:49 pm PT

    KAAAAAAAAA MEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAA MEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAA

  • joedf00

    Posted Feb 3, 2009 9:37 am PT

    WHAT THE? I'm getting a wii and budokai tenkaichi 3 then no Budokai Tenkaichi 4 or 5? That's poppycock of poppycockiness of poppycockers!

  • pichblack56

    Posted Jan 1, 2009 5:04 pm PT

    Tat they get in trouble for making a good game wat kind of crap is that man ive watched that anime since i was 6

  • gavinescoe

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 11:36 pm PT

    SHUT THE HELL UP WHO DOYA THINK WILL MAKE MORE DBZ GAMES

  • gavinescoe

    Posted Jul 31, 2008 11:29 pm PT

    That SUCKS!!!!!!. SSSUUUCCKKKSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE D B Z

  • F-Gohan

    Posted Jul 30, 2008 6:31 pm PT

    What?! Now Atari is in troubule for selling a good DBZ game. ridiculous.
    i'm a huge DBZ fan. This is not good news

  • Desalater6

    Posted Feb 5, 2008 6:47 pm PT

    this is not good im a fan of DBZ iv bin watching DBZ since i was 7

  • MakUub

    Posted Dec 19, 2007 8:24 am PT

    This can't be this is not a good thing for atari

  • searingSKITSO

    Posted Dec 8, 2007 1:28 pm PT

    this could be a good thing. the last game was ok but nothing to brag about, if some one else had the rights they might actually make a realy good game, not just a mediocre fighting game.

  • MakUub

    Posted Dec 7, 2007 8:43 am PT

    This is bad please let atari keep thier liscence

  • Dark_nesss

    Posted Dec 6, 2007 4:31 pm PT

    Atari only publishes them....but i would wish spike would hand over the game making license to some1 else im tired of these crappy games...the only good ones were the original Budokais the Tenkaichi series just blows hard...

  • MakUub

    Posted Dec 2, 2007 9:55 am PT

    I think Atari should keep DBZ games what if the make it much better than the last one and the last let them keep it please I beg u

  • flash786

    Posted Nov 30, 2007 9:32 pm PT

    yeah i realy loved atari after they released our beloved dbz series......well it will be a great loss for atari if they lose dbz and it will be a loss for us to

  • megamanzero32

    Posted Nov 30, 2007 9:33 am PT

    Meh, I used to hate Atari, but until they brought out B3, I actually clapped and paid attention. I would like them to keep making the games, just ummmm.....bring back B3 please >_> *misses being a counter whore T_T*

  • perurocks914

    Posted Nov 29, 2007 6:53 pm PT

    hey guys im not a stalker but if you give me your wii number we could play online on super smash when it comes out so i can see if gamespot gamers have a real challenger. It will be fun no homo My wii number is 5237 6606 8876 2482

  • taven14

    Posted Nov 29, 2007 1:58 pm PT

    This game is amazing you should get it if you liked the first bcuase its better that tye first one but only a little and i still fun beating the hell out of ya oponent but can get boring

  • perurocks914

    Posted Nov 19, 2007 7:51 pm PT

    Im just glad that the Wii version will have online play. Finally i can beat people from Jappan who think there so hard core with these games. Americans are just as good (if we set are mind to it)

  • flip13lolb

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 2:14 pm PT

    ok dbz bt2 was good on wii I don't want them to change something going so well IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT I MEAN COME ON

  • PS2to-the-end

    Posted Nov 16, 2007 7:04 am PT

    Awwww... COME ON!!!! Atari MADE these games what they are! If it were'nt for Atari, DBZ games would surely suck!

  • Sonic_Freak12

    Posted Nov 15, 2007 10:49 pm PT

    What? Atari's license to make DBZ games has been terminated?! No way they should have give Atari a chance. If there aren't new DBZ games I'm bored!

  • gamgameboy100

    Posted Nov 12, 2007 3:57 pm PT

    This sucks I was so waiting for this game to come out this month .Already have it fully paid off in the reserve and everything.Im tired of waiting! First Brawl and now this

  • MakUub

    Posted Nov 12, 2007 11:15 am PT

    this sucks eggs big time they shd just give Atari another chance they keep ruining the game dates because of this crap i don't no why this keeps happening this is bad

  • MakUub

    Posted Nov 12, 2007 10:58 am PT

    I'm piiiiiiiiiiiissseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed this is stupid why are they duin this they shud just let atari keep DBZ it's fair so what what if the made a mistake

  • perurocks914

    Posted Nov 10, 2007 10:56 am PT

    im just pissed because they keep moving the release dates for games that are really going to make money like Super Smash and DBZ the wait just keeps growing

  • IgotNoGoodName

    Posted Nov 9, 2007 7:53 am PT

    well salmangoku not saying that for sure or anything but if they do cut from each other im sure atari would try to sell whats left but that could put a limit on the game so they wouldnt keep making it so it would definatly disapear but im sure it will be sold for a long time

  • alberto2045

    Posted Nov 8, 2007 7:50 pm PT

    wait didnt they just realeased a DBZ Tenkaichi game recenty I keep seeing a new DBZ game in the magazines well not matter DBZ is the best along with Saint Seiya

  • suprsolider

    Posted Nov 7, 2007 7:01 pm PT

    Well, all Atari has to do is make a agreement with Toei who owns the DBZ rights in the first place. Funimation has been granted (they down own the rights) to Dragonball.

    Toei is the real boss, so they just have to make a deal with Toei and cut Funimation at the pass if they want to be dicks.

  • salmangoku

    Posted Nov 7, 2007 5:17 pm PT

    Igotnogoodgame wrote:
    well no offense but duh the games gunna come out i mean they would never just take away a game i know people reserved it and if FUNimation took away from Atari BAD business so many people would be pissed i reserved my game today because i heard ps2 might be sold tomorrow if your right though then this might be a one shipment deal and there wont be a wii version

    does that mean that there will be only one shippent of this game to each store?

  • beastmr2

    Posted Nov 7, 2007 2:02 pm PT

    i still think the best dbz game was budokai 3

  • IgotNoGoodName

    Posted Nov 6, 2007 10:14 pm PT

    well no offense but duh the games gunna come out i mean they would never just take away a game i know people reserved it and if FUNimation took away from Atari BAD business so many people would be pissed i reserved my game today because i heard ps2 might be sold tomorrow if your right though then this might be a one shipment deal and there wont be a wii version

  • perurocks914

    Posted Nov 6, 2007 9:39 pm PT

    they should just let this game come out and give the license to another company or the wait was for nothing

  • SuperTrunks11

    Posted Nov 6, 2007 5:03 am PT

    **** i agree this sucks i hope they will still DBZ games.

  • IgotNoGoodName

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 10:30 pm PT

    **** this SUCKS FUNimation are fools its great games and if they keep the good games up from atari kids will want to watch the series (because you know they are coming out with seasons 1-whatever) the more atari makes kick ass DBZ games kids will want to buy more dbz franchize giving FUNimation more money and keep fans happy so if they are doing it for money or for the fans its hard to say i think its becoming pride? WELL whatever **** comes from this maybe a new company with some more promise can get a DBZ grip....or one with less talent.... pray for the best

  • salmangoku

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 4:58 pm PT

    And will Tenkaichi 3 for ps2 release or not and for wii?

  • salmangoku

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 4:52 pm PT

    Just like everyone wants to know what rule/regulation did Atari break or this this a stunt for popularity?

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 1:08 pm PT

    I just think that Atari needs to approach the DBZ games in a new fashion than they've done before. It might lead to an exceptional game!

    But yeah that would suck if they lost it because that's a good sized moneymaker for them!

  • monk12345

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 12:38 pm PT

    Huh, so Atari is losing their only cash cow. I wonder what rules did they break? @Grib85 Only the budokai games are good dragonball games and they aren't even made by Atari. For those who didn't know, they only publish it, while the game is actually made by Spike in japan. That means there only job is localizing and translating it. Those medicore action rpg dragonballs games are only the ones that are actually developed by themselves.

  • Misfit1119

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 11:49 am PT

    Yeah lets take DBZ away from them and hopefully get a good developer on the DBZ games. It could do for someone else handling it... just not EA, dear god.

  • Ultra_Saiyan13

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 8:04 am PT

    they should make more awesome Dragon Ball Z games. they are great!

  • Sokol4ever

    Posted Nov 5, 2007 5:39 am PT

    Hopefully the agreement is found, Dragon Ball is a great franchise and a good Anime.

  • supersonicGO

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 11:35 pm PT

    oh oh

  • happyfaceboy

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 8:38 pm PT

    atari...it is time for a new anime to play with

  • jannlee111

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 7:37 pm PT

    well i love all dbz games except i never played super dbz i heard it sucked. i did play sagas. was disapointed, but still loved for it was dbz. i think atari should be able to keep the license and if they want to give it to someone else they should do that too. there should be two companies with dbz franchise merchandise. think about twice the dbz games. that would be boner-rific!!!

  • lillan2967

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 7:26 pm PT

    Dragonball Z is a great concept for a game, and if a developer can precisely capture the action that made it special, then it could possibly be one of the best games ever. But that would be very hard to do.

  • fullmetalsonic

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 3:14 pm PT

    atari make the next one be for you lose the licensed plz i liked all the games (but Sagas) man...

  • Gribb85

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 7:41 am PT

    Dragonball z games from Atari have varied from unbelievably poor (DBZ Sagas) to good (Budokai 3). Give another publisher a chance to use the license maybe they will fully utilize the powers of the license and actually make a really good game.

  • diamond2d

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 7:15 am PT

    yeah i agree with Oozaru_Kakkarot they did get abit to cocky.....!

  • Oozaru_Kakkarot

    Posted Nov 4, 2007 6:37 am PT

    Atari got too cocky waving around Dragon Ball Z titles like they owned them and Funimation came in and kicked them in the groin to make them remember who the real boss is!!! lol

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