ATLUS announces it will publish Citizens of Earth, as the retro-inspired RPG reverts to a traditional funding model after a Kickstarter campaign failed to raise the capital needed for the project. Word is the game will come to Windows, PS4, PS Vita, Wii U, and 3DS later this year as a download-only title. Here's a Citizens of Earth teaser trailer and more can be found on the Citizens of Earth website. Here's the announcement of the game, including details on a contest to help design one of the game's titular citizens:

Being the Vice President of the World means asking not what you can do for your countrymen, but what your countrymen can do for you! And specifically in the case of Citizens of Earth, it means making them fight your battles for you -- and we're talking literal battles here, since Citizens of Earth is a role-playing game from indie developer Eden Industries and published by Atlus U.S.A., Inc. The game will be released later in 2014 as a download-only title for PC, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Nintendo 3DS™, and Wii U™. For more information, check out the official website: http://www.atlus.com/citizensofearth

The retro-inspired Citizens of Earth pits players as the second-highest-paid bureaucrat in the land. The game begins just after winning a long, drawn-out candidacy, and the VP returns to his hometown for some taxpayer-funded rest and relaxation. But after just one night passes, the VP awakens to find the world gone berserk! As elected official he has two responsibilities: investigate what's caused people to go crazy... and delegate as much of the dirty work as possible. Citizens of Earth has 40 wacky citizens to recruit and send into battle. Wait, did we just say there are 40 playable characters? Why not make it... 41!

ATLUS Holding Open Contest to Contribute a Playable Citizen to Citizens of Earth

That's right, we're letting Joe or Jill Schmoe get their taste of that game development brass ring by holding a contest to contribute their ideas for a citizen that Eden Industries will then add to the game! Full contest rules and online entry form can be found here: http://www.atlus.com/citizensofearth/coty

We'll narrow the field down to five finalists on April 18 and hold a public vote on our Facebook page.

*now back to your irregularly scheduled press release*

Citizens of Earth features include:

Gotta Recruit 'em All -- Every vote counts, and sometimes you have to do some pretty shameful things to get them... Citizens of Earth has 40 citizens to collect to fight in your party, each with their own unique play-style and out-of-combat world abilities. Everyone in town will lend a hand, from the way-too-jittery Barista and the ever-optimistic Weatherlady to the notoriously skeezy car salesman and the ridiculously shy (and totally real) Sasquatch!

Occupy Earth! -- It's time to take back Earth from the opposition. There are no random encounters in Citizens of Earth; you'll see every enemy on the field before you fight them. So go ahead and maneuver around those unwanted encounters or command your constituents to charge in for an ambush! As long as the VP's got a party to do his dirty work, it's all good!

It's Déjà Vu All Over Again... But Better -- Citizens of Earth has some serious nostalgic cues, but don't worry, we didn't skimp on the graphics for the sake of being retro. This title goes far beyond the 16-bit standard, with real-time lighting, HD art, a day/night cycle, weather effects, and more.

Four- or Eight-Year Terms -- The depth of content in Citizens of Earth means you can play a quick and casual adventure or a white-knuckle, pray-you-survive-until-the-next-turn grind-fest! The game is filled with hours of bonus content to explore, optional side-quests, and of course, citizens waiting to be recruited!

Citizens of Earth will be available in North America and Europe later in 2014 as a download-only title for the PS4, PS Vita, 3DS, Wii U and PC. Developed by Eden Industries and published by ATLUS.