Interview: Atlus’ Nich Maragos On Etrian Odyssey

March 21, 2007

Atlus USA is certainly no stranger to obscure, niche releases, fantastic (Disgaea: Hour of Darkness), terrible (Magna Carta: Tears of Blood), and misunderstood (Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land). The company has become synonymous with localization just left of normal, and while perhaps not ideal for mainstream acceptance, there is little question that Atlus’ localization efforts have found appreciation among hardcore video game enthusiasts. Perhaps that is why the fan community marshals such zealous support with each newly announced project, the latest of which is Etrian Odyssey, a new RPG for the Nintendo DS known as Sekaiju no Meikyuu in Japan. Recently we had the opportunity to speak with Atlus USA’s Nich Maragos, a former video game journalist whose resume includes both 1UP and Gamasutra.

Etrian Odyssey represents Maragos’ first game where he’s served as a project lead, through he has been an editor on Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, Yggdra Union, Monster Kingdom Jewel Summoner, and Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja. In addition to editing Etrian Odyssey’s text, he is overseeing other aspects of the game’s localization as well.

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