Sources have started to circulate reports that Taito and Capcom are in the final phase of discussions on a possible partnership. This is not yet a merger but it is following the agreement to move over to the TypeX+ hardware and the collapse of the Banpresto distribution agreement that Taito will now be filling the subsequent hole, and following the new Taito/SQX merger - they are looking at Capcom as an interesting acquisition possibility.
The development of new video content from Capcom had been curtailed following the merger of Sammy SEGA in 2004, an agreement with Sammy previously announced at JAMMA'04 that Capcom would be the second developer focusing their work on the A-Wave at launched; never materialized R&D projects ‘Sammy Vs. Capcom' and ‘Street Fighter 4' all shelved.
Another victim of current reshuffling, the Capcom / Banpresto relationship had resulted in the ‘Mobile Suit GunDam SEED' series ended with the last Capcom project (‘Mobile Suit GunDam SEED : Federation Vs. Z.A.F.T. II') programmed by Capcom GM team. Banpresto reverted to their Namco Bandai merger, developing all games 100 per cent internally – most recently sources to the Stinger revealed a new gun game based on the GunDam franchise was on test (‘Mobile Suit GunDam: Spirit of ZEON') by Banpresto – without Capcom involvement.
Continuing to prove its autonomy in the new Bandai Namco Holding operational structure had on test their new gun game, but also held a summer private distributor event in Tokyo during July. The company along with additional Kid Vending products based on exclusive Bandai properties showed ‘The Battle of Yuu Yuu Hakus Yo' (System 256), this the latest cell-shaded fighting game based on a popular Japanese comic book license (Yoshihiro Togashi). Like GunDam and more recently Dragon Ball Z its international popularity is yet to be determined.
News Story with thanks to Kevin Williams, please visit
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