Inafune and Suda 51 join social games rush

Several of Japan’s high profile ‘traditional’ games developers have signed a defining contract to build content for the social and mobile platform Mobage.

The Mobage network, owned by industry giant DeNA, will be supported by games from the likes of ex-Capcom boss Keiji Inafune and Grasshopper chief Goichi Suda.

Also on board is Sonic creator Yuji Naka, Marvelous Entertainment’s Yoshifumi Hashimoto and Crafts & Meister’s Noritaka Funamizu.

Inafune, the creator of Mega Man who quit unceremoniously to found his own indie startup, is building a mobile app called J.J. Rockets.

“The nature of the game hasn’t been revealed,” according to an Andriasang report, “but Inafune suggested it will be an action game”.

Suda 51, meanwhile, will be building a spin-off from his most lucrative franchise No More Heroes.

Hashimoto is working on a Harvest Moon title, the report added.

DeNA remains a hot company in game analysts circles. The firm’ operating profit grew to $181 million in the final three months of 2010 – a 182 per cent year-on-year increase.

Last year the Tokyo-based firm bought mobile games studio Ngmoco in a deal worth around $400 million.