Bandai Namco and SCEI to establish a new joint company CELLIUS for Cell software

[one]

Today Bandai Namco Games, Inc (NBGI) and Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc (SCEI) has announced that they'd establish a new joint company CELLIUS to create new entertainment contents enabled by Cell Broadband Engine (Cell/B.E.) in March. The press release makes no mention of PS3 and the main business of this company is "development/sales of audio/visual software and computer software". Bandai Namco has 51% shares while SCE has 49%.

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/game/docs/20070124/cell.htm
http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/release/pdf/070124+.pdf (Japanese PR)

 

[Capeta]

Does this mean Bandai/Namco will release gaming/nongaming software for CELL devices in the future?

 

[Bad_Boy]

Interesting but kinda confusing at the same time.

This means Sony and namco/bandai formed a new development studio of some sort? It doesnt exactly mean namco/bandai is 1st/2nd party to sony but just that they are working together for future projects?

 

[London Geezer]

Seeing Bandai/Namco's latest efforts (to use the term very loosely), i'm not sure whether to laugh or cry at this announcement.

 

[baten]

It seems Ken himself is the boss in this new company!

 

[one]

It seems Ken himself is the boss in this new company!

Well the CEO is from Bandai and Kutaragi is just one of 3 non-executive directors. (other 2 are from Bandai and SCE)

 

[Arwin]

Very interesting. It bodes well for Namco/Bandai support for the PS3.

 

[Naboomagnoli]

Very interesting. It bodes well for Namco/Bandai support for the PS3.

It could also be a real boon for Japanese developers in general; I doubt Cellius will be keeping the fruits of their engine/development tool labours to themselves. I envisage something along the lines of NEON, created by SCE and Codemasters. I wonder how it would be intended to tie in with non-PS3 Cell environments though.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Is there any clue as to the scope of this announcement? Is it a sort of 1st party deal for exclusivity for games on PS3? Or a wider reaching Cell software development with intentions for other Cell devices?

 

[Dave Baumann]

Very interesting. It bodes well for Namco/Bandai support for the PS3.

Actually, I'd see this as a sign that it bodes well for Namco/Bandai's support of platforms other than PS3, as this new company now has a specific focus on PS3/Cell. Whats the point in setting up another company if the parent was to be primarily focused on the platform the new company is focused on?

If you extrapolate that further current Namco/Bandai IP/franchises may be more multiplatform focused and the new company would be concerned with new IP/franchises/software unless Namco/Bandai transfer that IP to the new company (which may well have costs associated with it).

 

[inefficient]

They don't mention that they will be making PS3 games. You would think they would at least try to slip the word Playstation in there if they were.

My first reaction was that they are collaborating for the arcade business and will use Cell based system as their platform. But the fact that they mention they will be focusing on developing content seems to rule that out.

CELLIUS doesn't seem like a likely name for a game developer studio. And I don't see why they would set up an elaborate partnership like this just to setup a game studio for PS3.

Edit: Here is an english version from Bloomberg:
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=SNE:US&sid=as2Ppv1.jUjQ

"Cellius will use Sony's Cell chip, which powers PlayStation 3, to create games for the console and content for mobile phones and personal computers"

 

[Arwin]

Actually, I'd see this as a sign that it bodes well for Namco/Bandai's support of platforms other than PS3, as this new company now has a specific focus on PS3/Cell. Whats the point in setting up another company if the parent was to be primarily focused on the platform the new company is focused on?

If you extrapolate that further current Namco/Bandai IP/franchises may be more multiplatform focused and the new company would be concerned with new IP/franchises/software unless Namco/Bandai transfer that IP to the new company (which may well have costs associated with it).

Namco Bandai is already very much multiplatform focussed. That is nothing new. But any initiative, especially when in collaboration with SCEI, that has as its specific goal to work on Cell software, is going to have a positive influence on software development for the Cell processor. At least, that's my take on this news. Whether this is will result in better BluRay movie playback software, or IP TV support using Cell, or whatever, isn't all that important.

Hey, I'm just a big fan of the Cell processor, okay? Work with me here.

 

[Dave Baumann]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=conewsstory&refer=conews&tkr=SNE:US&sid=as2Ppv1.jUjQ

Cellius will use Sony's Cell chip, which powers PlayStation 3, to create games for the console and content for mobile phones and personal computers, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said today. He would not give earnings forecasts or other details.

 

[Carl B]

More Cell-centric development is more better.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

They don't mention that they will be making PS3 games.

Cellius will use Sony's Cell chip, which powers PlayStation 3, to create games for the console.

Bloomberg are reporting that they will be creating software for the console. Of real note is the reference to creating games for the console, PC and mobiles, which implies Cell PC and mobile products requiring software. I'm wondering now if this is more Cell-only software (games), which would be download titles on PS3, and driven purely by a Cell processor in a mobile, sans GPU. Assuming Sony are to launch Cell based mobiles, they'll want some software, so a software partner developing Cell titles makes a lot of sense. Those titles can also be sold to PS3, giving a development platform and user base for early work before there's many Cell-phones (ha ha ha...oh, forget it!) out there. And as for PC, is a workstation actually in the works? Does anyone really want Tekken Portable on CellPC?

 

[Bobbler]

Sounds to me like a possible candidate for downloadable games?

If they are focusing on PC and phone market as well, then it seems quite possible they won't go for normal sized games.

 

[inefficient]

Soul Calibur III Arcade Edition for PSN in 1080p please.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

If they are focusing on PC and phone market as well.

Presumably these aren't standard PC and phones, on the grounds the remit seems to be development of Cell software. I don't see how they can extend that to x86 and existing mobile chips, without being 'just another software developer.'

 

[Bobbler]

Presumably these aren't standard PC and phones, on the grounds the remit seems to be development of Cell software. I don't see how they can extend that to x86 and existing mobile chips, without being 'just another software developer.'

Yeah, but Cell phone market, regardless of if there is a Cell in it, isn't going to be able to run a game like Resistance... it'll be able to run smaller games that are more appropriate for PSN store (and even those would need to be heavily toned down, but the style of the game is likely more suitable).

Who knows...

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I agree with that...

wondering now if this is more Cell-only software (games), which would be download titles on PS3, and driven purely by a Cell processor in a mobile,

It's the PC software I'm questioning, as presumably download titles to PC over PSN or similar. Creating a company to develop Cell software, and then release that software to x86 and ARM mobiles etc., confuses me. Thus doesn't this announcement imply more Cell products in the works?