Koei, Crave, Playlogic sign up with ESA

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Apr 28, 2009 1:56 pm PT

Publishers of Dynasty Warriors, Pinball Hall of Fame, and Obscure 2 join the ranks of US gaming industry trade group.

While the Entertainment Software Association may look at big fish like Activision Blizzard, NCsoft, and id Software as "the ones that got away," the industry trade group has been steadily reeling in smaller catches. Today the ESA announced three such additions to its membership.

The Dynasty Warriors: Gundam uprising may begin at this year's E3.

On the first-timers front, Japanese publisher Koei and Netherlands-based Playlogic have joined the ESA as new members. Best known for its Dynasty Warriors franchise, Koei will bring with it recent acquisition Tecmo, developer of the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series of games. Fellow enlistee Playlogic keeps a lower profile, publishing titles like the Xbox racer Xyanide and the forthcoming Obscure 2 and developing titles for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe on the side.

Beyond these new recruits to the ESA, prodigal publisher Crave Entertainment has returned to the fold after parting ways with the trade group in June of 2008. At the time, Crave stressed that its departure was a necessary step in order for the struggling company to focus on its impending sale, which was eventually completed earlier this year. With a focus on casual and budget games, Crave releases titles like Brunswick Bowling and the Pinball Hall of Fame series.

With the inclusion of these three publishers, the ESA now boasts 28 members, eight of which have signed on since the beginning of the year.

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ocannon
Posted Aug 12, 2009 4:13 pm PT

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]
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tamabeast04
Posted Apr 29, 2009 11:12 am PT

wouldn't mind if crave made a new shadow madness type game...
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kmatras69
Posted Apr 28, 2009 7:26 pm PT

If you like pirating games expect a jail cell with your name on it in the future while I walk by laughing at you. I want more Publishers to sign up it helps make E3 larger for one and it gives protection to those that are signed with them. Win Win for all of us True Gamers and for the Publishers
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_AbBaNdOn
Posted Apr 28, 2009 5:36 pm PT

What the heck is an ESA??
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denicola_a_god
Posted Apr 28, 2009 4:08 pm PT

good news
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DamnedApples
Posted Apr 28, 2009 4:04 pm PT

I don't pirate games so.........aside from that, maybe Koei will be more motivated to hold their games in development longer. Bladestorm and Dynasty Warriors could be great if they underwent more development time IMO. Actually, here's one: They could combine the two games into one, since on has tactics and strategy, while the other had mindless hack n' slash action. If they combined the two they could get an intuitive hack n' slash game. Online multiplayer would also help as well...
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RockmanSRD
Posted Apr 28, 2009 3:39 pm PT

I guess this is good for Koei...

Since I play their games on consoles, I really have no reason to pirate them, so it won't bother me any.
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ColdfireTrilogy
Posted Apr 28, 2009 3:07 pm PT

Depends on if you pirate games or not, the ESA does a great job of protecting its investors and is constantly sending out Cease and Desist papers to those who are torrenting they members products.
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shii666
Posted Apr 28, 2009 2:27 pm PT

Should this be a good thing, or a bad thing?
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