Bio: John Boske

Nickname
John "Karlinn" Boske
E-mail
karlinn@randomnpc.com
Profile
Just your average, lazy, mildly obsessive-compulsive 20-something gamer/writer, with aspirations of doing either of the latter for pay sometime in the near future. I make no secret of my PC gaming heritage, nor the fact that I use 'heritage' improperly to describe a tendency to favor; I believe the proper word there is proclivity. But I digress.

I do that a lot too, by the way.

Anyhow, until further notice I'm your resident editor person who occasionally deigns to review games, but mostly is just here to keep things running as smoothly and error-free as possible. I have a strong fondness for literature of all kinds, have a man-crush on Warren Spector, and possess a soft spot for those games that offer little more than a really cool idea. I'm also one of the nicest, most laid-back people you're going to find without the aid of "herbal supplements", and I'm told I should be in radio.

If only, my friends. *If only*.

Posts by John Boske

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Conception II Gets Demo This Month

Monday, March 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

For those who simply can’t wait to have children and then take them on adventures, Atlus plans to release a demo of Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars for both PS Vita and 3DS versions. The demo will be available on March 25, and completing it will unlock bonus items in the full game, which in turn launches on April 15.

Source: Gematsu

Denpa Men 3 Confirmed for NA/EU Release

Monday, March 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

The Denpa Men 3: Rise of the Digi Toll has been confirmed for release in North America and Europe. The latest entry in Genius Sorority’s RPG series will be available on the 3DS eShop this summer; exact dates were not given at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Natural Doctrine Details: Dragon Tribe and Bonuses

Monday, March 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

More Natural Doctrine details have emerged, this time revealing more about the game’s dragon tribe. Specifically, elemental-themed Blue and Red Wyverns hound the player as they approach the tribe’s territory, an area called the Dragon Cemetary. After fleeing said wyverns, the player is introduced to the tribe proper by a bizarre goblin, who apparently is one of the few of his kind that can understand human language.

Outside the game, different retailers will reportedly offer different bonuses for copies of the game. Imagine will include a specially-drawn cloth poster, Furu 1 Online throws in a small soundtrack disc, and Geo adds an original PS Vita skin.

Source: Gematsu

Costume Quest 2 in Development

Monday, March 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

A follow-up to Costume Quest has been announced by Double Fine Productions and publisher Midnight City. Costume Quest 2 once again follows the adventures of trick-or-treaters Wren and Reynold, and will feature new costumes, battle system updates, and a quirky “unmistakably Double Fine” story. Console and PC versions are expected, but specific platforms were not part of the announcement.

Source: Gematsu

Personas 5, Q, 4 Arena Ultimax, and Dancing All Night Confirmed for North America

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Sensing that fans have been kept in suspense long enough, Atlus has at last confirmed that the plethora of Persona games being discussed lately – Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Persona 4: Dancing All Night, and of course Persona 5 – will all be seeing a North American release. Shadow of the Labyrinth (3DS) and Arena Ultimax (PS3/360) are planned for Fall releases this year, while Dancing All Night (PS Vita) and Persona 5 are listed for 2015.

Source: Gematsu

Theatrhythm: Curtain Call Details Revealed

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Square Enix has released a few more tidbits about Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call. In particular, the sequel will add Machina and Rem from Type-0 as playable characters, while new enemies include Golbez, Zeromus, Gigantuar, Goobbue, Sahagin, King Behemoth, Braska’s Final Aeon, Bomb King, Reno, and Magitek Armor.

More notably, the game will feature a one-on-one Versus Battle mode, where players compete against both computer controlled enemies and each other for the high score. Quest Medley is another new mode, putting players on a “Chaos Map” where they complete variable-length quests; you’ll also receive quests through StreetPass.

Curtain Call is set for an April 24 release on the 3DS in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Natural Doctrine Delayed to April

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Kadokawa Games announced that Natural Doctrine is being pushed back to April, past its planned March 19 launch date. No exact date was given, and no specific reason was cited for the delay.

Source: Gematsu

Drakengard 3 Story DLC Set for March Release

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

The first story add-on for Drakengard 3 will be available on March 6 in Japan, according to this week’s Famitsu. Consisting of memories of the Utautai sisters, the DLC will be released in weekly installments for 600 yen apiece, each one covering a different sister. The follow-up DLC will launch on March 13, March 20, March 27, and April 3.

Source: Gematsu

Demon Gaze Gets Disgaea Characters via Free DLC

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Demon Gaze will be adding Disgaea characters Etna, Flonne, Sicily, Asagi, and Prinny as party members via DLC, NIS America announced. The content will be downloadable on launch day – April 22 for North America, April 25 for Europe – and will be free for the first month following release.

Source: Gematsu

Next Seiken Densetsu Bound for iOS/Android

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Square Enix is developing Seiken Densetsu: Rise of Mana for iOS and Android, this week’s Famitsu revealed. The game will follow the typical free-to-play format, featuring microtransactions for certain items, and supports up to eight-person multiplayer. Storywise, Rise of Mana follows a hero who is both an angel and a devil in the same body; the plot seems to center on how they ended up in this predicament, with players switching between the two during gameplay.

No release date was given at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Shin Megami Tensei 1 Getting English Release on iOS

Thursday, February 27th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Atlus has announced that the very first Shin Megami Tensei, which has not left Japan thus far, will at last be getting an English release on iOS. A port of the 2003 GBA version, Shin Megami Tensei will be available on iOS next month.

Source: Gematsu

Final Fantasy XV Far Along in Development

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Interviews

In a recent interview, Final Fantasy series producer Yoshinori Kitase stated that Final Fantasy XV is “quite far into development.” He added that the title is a “very high priority” for Square Enix, though he also clarified that the title is not competing with Kingdom Hearts III for development resources.

According to Kitase, the PS4 and Xbox One’s capabilities allow for more things to happen on screen at any given moment, and that “certainly one thing that’s going to come up is having battles with a lot more participants involved.” Kitase also suggested they may use elements of previous Final Fantasy battle systems – XII‘s Gambit system was brought up as a possibility – though he did not concretely state that this was the case.

Source: Gematsu

Mugen Souls Z Dated for May Release

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Presumably in the same breath, NIS America announced that PS3 RPG Mugen Souls Z will launch in North America and Europe this May. The title will be avilable at retail and through the PlayStation Network.

Source: Gematsu

Battle Princess of Arcadias Announced for NA, EU Digital Release

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

While on the subject of bringing stuff over, NIS America revealed that Nippon Ichi’s PS3 action RPG Battle Princess of Arcadias will be getting North American and European releases via PlayStation Network. No timeframe was given for the launch date.

Source: Gematsu

Disgaea 4 Vita Going Global

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Disgaea 4: Return, the PS Vita redux of Disgaea 4, will be launching in North America and Europe this summer, NIS America announced recently. Titled Disgaea 4: A Promise Revisited for its western release, the game will feature new characters, scenarios, spells, music, and all DLC present on the PS3 version.

Source: Gematsu

Fairy Fencer F Set for Western Release

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

NIS America announced that Fairy Fencer F will be getting a North American and European release. Dual audio – Japanese and English – has been confirmed, and the title will launch in both regions sometime this year.

Source: Gematsu

Unsung Story Hits Kickstarter Goal

Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Unsung Story, Yasumi Matsuno’s Kickstarter-funded RPG, has exceeded its funding goal of $600,000, with a final tally of $660,126. As a result, the game will be released on PC, Mac, Windows Tablets, and Linux, in addition to the planned iOS and Android versions.

Source: Gematsu

Natural Doctrine to Feature Cross-Play and Cross-Save

Thursday, February 20th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Kadokawa Games has released more information regarding Natural Doctrine‘s multiplayer. Specifically, multiplayer is crossplatform; PS3, PS4, and PS Vita players will be able to play against each other in both online and ad-hoc modes.

Additionally, save data can be transferred between platforms via the PlayStation Network. To highlight this feature, a Natural Doctrine “Take Out Pack” will be sold separately for 7,980 yen, which includes the PS4 disc version and a download code for the Vita version.

Source: Gematsu

Tales of Asteria Headed for iOS, Android

Thursday, February 20th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Namco Bandai has announced another Tales mashup title, Tales of Asteria, which will feature Cless, Lloyd, Luke, Yuri, Sophie, and Milla. Few details about the story have been revealed at this time, though pre-registration has begun at the official site.

Asteria is planned for a spring release in Japan.

Source: Gematsu

Deep Down Producer Clarifies Protagonist

Thursday, February 20th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Following the reveal that Capcom’s upcoming PS4 RPG Deep Down will feature only a male playable character, producer Kazunori Sugiura posted an explanation on Facebook. Apparently there was a misconception in another news article, claiming there were twelve main characters in the game, all men; Sugiura posted that “There is one male main character in Deep Down. The story is being developed around him and his surrounding Ravens comrades.”

Sugiura expressed gratitude for the attention the game is receiving, though he added that, at present, a worldwide release has not been decided on.

Source: Gematsu