Medabots

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Rocket Company and Imagineer to merge

Imagineer (who began publishing on the Famicom Disk System back in 1986 and are perhaps best known for publishing Populous and Sim City in Japan and today mostly make Sanrio apps on smartphones) are set to merge with Rocket Company (who began publishing on the Game Boy Advance in 2003 and are definitely best known for the Medarot/Medabots series) from 1 July 2016. There will be more of a focus on smartphone games and less focus on retail games. In addition, Imagineer will assume control over the Medarot franchise and will theoretically continue the series. Prominent Rocket Company (and mainline Medarot) developer Delta Arts went under on 30 April. Both the Rocket Company President and Executive Vice President will be retired from 30 June. The merger was agreed by the Board of Directors on 13 May.

Source 1 (http://www.imagineer.co.jp/)
Source 2 (http://www.rocketcompany.co.jp/)
Source 3 (http://medarotters.com/) 

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Delta Arts have closed down

Prominent Rocket Company developer Delta Arts who are most recently known for developing Medarot (Medabots) 7, 8 and 9 on 3DS have announced that they have ended all activities as of April 2016 on their website http://delta-arts.co.jp. Delta Arts also worked on Medarot DS as well as Thomas the Tank Engine, Cinnamoroll and Rilakkuma games on the DS and Shape Boxing on Wii. It’s unknown what will happen with future Medarot RPG games. 

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Thirteenth Japanese Splatfest announced

● Splatoon will see its thirteenth Splatfest on 23-24 April sponsored by 7-Eleven between two flavours of O-nigiri.

● Two New Nintendo 3DS LL’s are up for pre-order until 27 April. The Fire Emblem if model will cost ¥20,304 (+ ¥514 shipping) and the Super Famicom ¥21,600 (+ ¥514). Both models ship in late July.

● Congratulations to one of the more prolific 3DS publishers Flyhigh Works who turn five today. Remember: Let’s Work, Let’s Fly, Let’s High!

● Pokémon Co-Master is apparently available today in Japan on Google Play. Expect the iOS version imminently.

● The official Medabots/Medarot online store Medarotters has opened up at http://medarotters.com

● And Dragon Quest 30th Anniversary (http://www.dragonquest.jp/30th/) now has four sponsors with Toyota, Lawson, Rohto and Lotte. 

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