I haven't seen this around, so I though I might as well post it:

Atlus are pushing Persona in a big way in Japan. Starting next month, Japanese publisher, ASCII Media Works, will launch a monthly Persona Magazine starting on November 7th. The first issue will include a 16-page feature on Persona 4 The Animation, including an interview with the director.

A regular column in the magazine will also flesh out the world, characters and game systems of the Persona series. Naturally, the magazine will also contain information on upcoming titles such as Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena and Persona 4: The Golden.

A Dengeki Online report translated by Anime News Network also reveals that the Persona 3 manga that was serialized in Dengeki Black Maoh magazine will be featured in the Persona Magazine as well. Additionally, a spin-off of the ongoing Persona 4 manga will be included in the magazine as well.

Source 

I've never heard of a game series getting its own magazine, but it must have happened in the past, right? Too bad it won't be in English, but I'm looking forward to the new info it will contain, particularly relating to the fighting game.

I'd honestly be shocked if Pokemon has never had its own monthly publication in Japan.

That seems so weird. I mean, I love Persona (3 and up anyway) and all, but a whole magazine?

Whateves. As weird as it is, I would totally buy it.

well....I guess I need to learn japanese

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

I don't even know what to think of this.
 
@Hailinel: Pokemon had its own monthly publication in the states.

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Tan said:

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

Yep. Giant Bomb's the reason why the magazine is only being released in Japan.

Seems legit.

@Xolare said:

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Tan said:

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

Yep. Giant Bomb's the reason why the magazine is only being released in Japan.

Seems legit.

I did the math, seems right to me.

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Tan said:

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

Yep. Giant Bomb's the reason why the magazine is only being released in Japan.

Seems legit.

@TooWalrus said:

@Xolare said:

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Tan said:

Obviously we have Giantbomb to thank, right guys?

Yep. Giant Bomb's the reason why the magazine is only being released in Japan.

Seems legit.

We've done so much for Japan... what with our whole-hearted endorcement of their wonderful thermos', on sale now!

Zojirushi thermoses made of Persona magazines. Coming this Winter.

I'd buy a Persona thermos. Hell, they should just think of making a whole lot of Persona branded products. Official action figures, trading cards, pillow cases, clothing, backpacks...

@FluxWaveZ said:

I'd buy a Persona thermos. Hell, they should just think of making a whole lot of Persona branded products. Official action figures, trading cards, pillow cases, clothing, backpacks...

I could hardly push myself to put a persona rainmeter them on my computer. I doubt i'd want to buy a Persona magazine and read it in public. Especially in Japan where I'd just look like some failed Otaku.

I'll probably go pick up a copy when it hits newstands here just to see how much interesting dedicated content they can actually put into a Persona magazine. Lord knows I've made way stupider purchasing decisions than ones like this that at least let me keep my Japanese literacy afloat tangentially.

@Xolare: Actually, in my experience with talking to native Japanese friends here, Persona is considered to be a pretty non-otaku franchise. At least in my case, I know more people who like just Persona and not actual otaku-pandering series than those who are both into Persona and "an otaku." There's merchandising galore that does naturally end up in otaku-catering shops, but conversely, you can also find a lot of it in the Japanese equivalents of Barnes and Noble/Borders and other such mainstream shops, non-otaku too. Atlus does a pretty thorough job here of not marketing the series to just one demographic.

This is going too far. Games, comics, and anime are one thing, but a magazine? I'm sorry Atlus, but you've lost me here.

But I suppose that's why I'm not a rabid Japanese Persona fanboy. I'm just a guy who likes watching Jeff and Vinny play P4.

I'm sorry Atlus, but you've lost me here.

I'm just a guy who likes watching Jeff and Vinny play P4.

wow they're really milking it huh

Persona everywhere in every form and I'm loving every bit of it. I can't wait for the Persona musical.

wow they're really milking it huh

That seems unnecessary.

Is there really enough about the Persona series as a whole to warrant a magazine? Wouldn't a Shin Megami Tensei magazine or an Atlus magazine make more sense?

I doubt it'll last a very long time. More than likely they're just drumming up hype for all the P4 stuff coming out. It's not like it's even leaving Japan, and this almost seems par for the course over there. Didn't they release a magazine for the Tales series too?

Hell, maybe it'll even hang around long enough to announce P5.

Hell, maybe it'll even hang around long enough to announce P5.

@FluxWaveZ said:

@benjaebe said:

Hell, maybe it'll even hang around long enough to announce P5.

They've already announced Persona 5.

Announce it more.

Just give me Persona 5 please Atlus

Do you think it'll have a centerfold?

They made a magazine about a PS2 game?

Did I just travel through time or something?

Oh wait, its just Japan.

@coakroach said:

They made a magazine about a PS2 game?

Did I just travel through time or something?

Oh wait, its just Japan.

I mean it's not like there's a vita version coming out, or an anime...

I'd buy a Chie sparring buddy. Nah mean.

@Slaker117 said:

That seems unnecessary.

yea a whole magazine couldn;t they just update the website or something

Is there even enough Persona related products to justify an actual magazine? Even if it was a broader scope and they made it a SMT magazine they still don't have that much products coming out.

@Video_Game_King said:

Is there really enough about the Persona series as a whole to warrant a magazine? Wouldn't a Shin Megami Tensei magazine or an Atlus magazine make more sense?

Hah I didn't see that post before, and it's almost word for word my entire post.

@Video_Game_King said:

Is there really enough about the Persona series as a whole to warrant a magazine? Wouldn't a Shin Megami Tensei magazine or an Atlus magazine make more sense?

Hah I didn't see that post before, and it's almost word for word my entire post.

• Persona 4: The Animation
• Persona 4: The Golden
• Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena
• Persona 5
• Persona 4 Social
• Persona series in general (not just upcoming releases)
• Persona 3 manga
• Persona 4 manga

@nrh79 said:

Do you think it'll have a centerfold?

@FluxWaveZ:   But in the long term, though? (Also, has there been anything on Persona 5? At all?)

Does it come with a copy of Persona 5? Or if I buy it, will it speed the production of Persona 5?

@nrh79 said:

Do you think it'll have a centerfold?

@FluxWaveZ said:

@Video_Game_King: A lot of people seem to have an unnatural obsession with Chie, so I don't think it would be too much of a bother.

And I doubt that any Persona-related centerfold would be any worse than, say, Shadow Rise.

@Video_Game_King said:

@Hailinel: What about the girl from the first game? You know, the one with all the moles? Or the final boss? Or Hitler? Who said it had to be limited to Persona 4 chicks?

All of the moles?

And which final boss are you talking about?

@Gangsterlax said:

wow they're really milking it huh

Yeah, it's really weird - Persona is a fairly popular and beloved franchise, but I don't see the market for a P-exclusive magazine. I only hope that they're not going to kill the whole franchise off prematurely, although it sure seems like they're doing their best.

If i see it somewhere i will buy it. Even though i cant read a single word of japanese.

I can see this magazine lasting for quite a while. With all of the upcoming Persona-related content coming in the future, a monthly magazine shouldn't be hard to maintain. As long as they don't take this as a sign to create a TCG somewhere down the road, I'm perfectly fine with it.

This is insane. Absolutely insane. I like the Persona Series myself, but for god's sake it does NOT REQUIRE A MAGAZINE. I mean, what would the articles be about? "Foxes - should they wear aprons?" "Chill-with-Yosuke: What's the deal with those headphones?" and "Robotic ladies - what your engine oil says about you!"?

A yearly magazine, or a tri-monthly magazine, I could understand, for marketing. But a monthly magazine? I just... I just imagine that every single person who works on that Magazine must feel such a bottomless sea of despair that their life has come to that point. I know that's how I would feel if I had to write for a magazine that deals with a fictional video game universe (well, at least one that's no where near as big as WoW or an MMO).

I just hope Western companies don't start to do this as well. I shudder to think of seeing: "Perks: The Call of Duty Magazine" or "Treasures and Guns: The World of Nathan Drake!" or "Tiger's Course: Your Golf Video game magazine!". I think I'd sink into suicidal despair.

This world is doomed.

Uh, P4 came out three years ago right?

@Korolev said:

This is insane. Absolutely insane. I like the Persona Series myself, but for god's sake it does NOT REQUIRE A MAGAZINE. I mean, what would the articles be about? "Foxes - should they wear aprons?" "Chill-with-Yosuke: What's the deal with those headphones?" and "Robotic ladies - what your engine oil says about you!"?

I would totally read a magazine that has articles like that.

Sadly, its going to be more along the lines of interviews with staff and announcements.

@sungahymn:

P4:The Golden, P4:Animation, P4: TUIMA

@MooseyMcMan said:

This is going too far. Games, comics, and anime are one thing, but a magazine? I'm sorry Atlus, but you've lost me here.

But I suppose that's why I'm not a rabid Japanese Persona fanboy. I'm just a guy who likes watching Jeff and Vinny play P4.

Well, I am a rabid Persona fanboy and this seems pretty lame to me.

....Its not that unusual in japan, though, is it? Game-based magazines.

You know what Persona 4 needs? It's not an anime, or a magazine, or even a fighting game.

It's fucking Persona 5!