Square buys Taito

[Melf]

From Gamespot:

Taito will become a subsidiary of Square Enix starting September 28; move costs Square $565 million.

TOKYO--Square Enix today announced it has successfully acquired Taito through its agreed takeover bid. Square Enix hoped to acquire at least 67 percent of Taito's stock (247,900 shares), but was able to get a hold of 93.7 percent of all shares issued by the company (346,689 shares). Effective September 28, Taito will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix.

Last month, Square announced its intentions to initiate a friendly takeover of Taito. The company offered to pay a 12-percent premium over Taito's closing share price on August 22. Square Enix said it would rescind the tender offer if it failed to acquire at least 67 percent of Taito stock between August 22 and September 21, but it would seek alternate takeover methods if it failed. Square Enix's acquisition of Taito's 93.7 percent share is expected to cost approximately 62.79 billion yen ($564.74 million).

Taito sucks lately but their back catalog is incredible. I want more compilations and maybe some new installments. I just don't hope we see Bub and Bob in Kingdom Hearts 3 :t:

[Sega Uranus]

Square sucks latley too...



Bub and Bob in KH3 would kick ass though! :lol:

[Dartagnan1083]

I wonder if this will affect Sega's prior deal with Taito to publish their classic collection in the states.

If it does, I wonder if it will spur any further relationship to Squeenix.

[GeckoYamori]

Maybe they can make a Darius that doesn't suck.

[David J.]

Taito is worth that much? Wow.

[Drixxel]

This is an interesting acquisition.. I wonder what Square Enix has planned, as they seem adamant in their lust for Taito gold. Maybe they'll start publishing games with a 'Taito' brand, much like Atari's modern fate. Who knows.. maybe the bigwigs of Square Enix are all just huge fans of Elevator Action.

The Taito Legends collection looks very cool, but the Capcom Classics Collection has peaked my immediate interest moreso.

[Melf]

How I'd kill for a Classic Taito Shmup Collection. :(

[j_factor]

Taito hasn't done that much lately (aside from Graffiti Kingdom), but they've made some incredible games. I'm pretty sure they also own all the rights to Domark's games...

New Cosmic Fantasy?

[David J.]

I thought Domark was bought by USgold which was bought by Eidos?

[Drixxel]

I believe how it goes is that Eidos acquired Domark in 1995 in order to help itself gain entry into the gaming market. Before that I think Domark was affiliated with Spectrum Holobyte somehow.. probably some kind of a publishing deal. Taito seem to have been involved with Domark on a few games, but I'm not certain they own the rights to anything. If they do.. great!

Taito have a staggeringly large game library to draw upon.. I'm sure a number of Taito collections await us in the future, maybe even that Classic Taito Shmup Collection that Melf would take a man's life for.

[David J.]

I'm sure Domark just ported some Taito games to computers and consoles or what not.

[dementia]

Zweihander. Now.

[Dartagnan1083]

Here's what I posted about earlier
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/09/13/news_6133138.html

Hope it goes through in wake of the buyout.

[Drixxel]

I suspect that Sega will still handle publishing duties.. there's only a month to go until the release, and the publishing deal was inked prior to the buyout. I doubt Square Enix will interfere.. it'll just slow down the title's launch, and seeing as Square Enix now owns Taito's eternal soul, Taito's share of the game sales will just go into the Square Enix vault. Should be fine.

[Fang]

Taito has been around a long time and made some good arcade games. I think Ninja Gaiden was one of them.

[j_factor]

Ninja Gaiden was Tecmo, you silly goose. :P

[hadjiquest]

I got Taito Legends for my PS2 and it was published by Sega. That disc got all the games I grew up playing. Operation Wolf is my favourite. I also like Bubble Bobble. I can't wait 'til Taito legends Vol 2. Comes out. Square Enix or Sega, I still gotta get that.