FUNimation, Destineer Sign Fullmetal Alchemist Deal

Navarre Corporation subsidiary FUNimation Entertainment and Destineer Publishing Corp jointly announced a new licensing agreement that will bring a series of new games based on the popular anime title Fullmetal Alchemist to North America. This new series of Fullmetal Alchemist video games, which will be made available for a variety of platforms to be announced later this year, will be created and released through an exclusive publishing agreement with Destineer. Two previous games based on the franchise were released by Square Enix in 2005, both of which received lukewarm reception from the media. Fullmetal Alchemist tells the story of Edward and Alphonse Elric, brothers who are gifted in the art of alchemy. However, they quickly learn their limits when they attempt to resurrect their mother, a desperate act that costs Edward an arm and Al his entire body. Outfitted with new metal limbs, Ed and Al, who is now bound to a suit of armor, set out to find the Philosopher Stone - the only thing that can restore them. "This is a great opportunity for us and for the Fullmetal Alchemist brand," explained Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "Destineer brings an incredible level of industry insight and experience to the table and we look forward to the development of exciting Fullmetal Alchemist games."