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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More Muramasa DLC Coming Next Week

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Marvelous has announced that the next DLC-slash-expansion for Muramasa Rebirth, titled The Tale of the Seven Night Ghostly Curse, will launch in Japan on July 10. This episode – third of the four-part Genroku Legends series – centers around a ninja afflicted by the titular curse after breaking a holy mirror. Hilarity and murder attempts ensue.

Source: Gematsu

Dragon Quest XI Enters Development

Thursday, June 19th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Dragon Quest series creator Yuji Horii, during a recent radio interview, confirmed that Dragon Quest XI is now in development. Few exact details were given at this time, though Horii mentioned wanting to play the title on a big screen, and that the series’ 30th anniversary is 2016.

Source: Gematsu

Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem “On Schedule”

Thursday, June 19th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Amidst a roundtable on the 3DS’ newly announced Code Name S.T.E.A.M., one attendee asked for an update on Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem, which is being developed by the same company (Intelligent Systems). Nintendo’s Hitoshi Yamagami stated only that, “We’re right on schedule,” adding that “if I answer in any more detail I will lose my job so please have mercy on me.”

Source: Gematsu

Shining Resonance Features Dragon/Hero Transformation

Thursday, June 19th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

As previously mentioned, Shining Resonance stars the Shining Dragon Irvan as the protagonist. Famitsu confirms that the dragon will be able to travel in a more compact human form, shifting between the two as needed. A halfway between state called “Progress Body” will also have some combat applications, unspecified but likely involving dragony death.

Shining Resonance hits the PS3 in Japan on December 11.

Source: Gematsu

Tales of Zestiria Planned for Shorter Regional Release Interval

Thursday, June 19th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Bandai Namco’s Dennis Lee, global brand manager for the Tales series, stated that Tales of Zestiria will launch for both Japan and the west in the same year. Speaking at an E3 Interview, he said that “We’ve gone from over two years with Xillia 1, and now we’ve gotten it down to a year, and we’re going to get it to less than that for Tales of Zestiria—it’s going to be in the same year as the Japanese release. So they’re working on shrinking that time down as much as possible.”

A timeframe for either release has yet to be announced.

Source: Gematsu

Final Fantasy Explorers Announced

Thursday, June 19th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Square Enix recently announced Final Fantasy Explorers, an action RPG for the 3DS, with details emerging over the last few days. The game features four-player multiplayer, with characters selecting from 20 playable jobs, including Knight, Dragon Knight, Thief, Monk, Ninja, White Mage, Red Mage, Black Mage, Time Mage, and Bard.

Explorers will support both local and online co-op, and will feature a monster training system to fill out empty player slots. Players will also be able to change jobs, and even equip the current job with select skills mastered from other jobs.

The story centers around the titular explorers, who have arrived at the recently-unearthed island of Amostra in search of its vast crystal deposits. Said crystals, apparently, boast a mysterious connection to life on the planet, while also being a power source for human civilizations.

No release period has been announced at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Persona Q Premium Edition, Preorder Bonuses Announced

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

First-run preorders of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth will include uniquely designed packaging and a special Tarot card set, Atlus announced today. The cards, evokers used in Persona 4, will be a collector’s set spread across Shadow of the Labyrinth and Persona 4 Arena Ultimax; the former includes Arcanas XI through XXI.

Additionally, Atlus will be releasing a premium edition for Shadow of the Labyrinth. For $79.99, the ‘Wild Cards’ edition will include the same Tarot card set as first-run copies, along with an art booklet, soundtrack CD, and deluxe hard case for the 3DS XL.

Shadow of the Labyrinth is set for a fall release this year.

Source: Gematsu

Monolith Soft Reveals X Title as Xenoblade Chronicles X

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

The enigmatic X that Monolith recently teased at has been revealed in full: Xenoblade Chronicles X, a Wii U RPG and followup to Xenoblade Chronicles. Chronicles X is planned for 2015.

Source: Polygon

Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire Set for November 21 Launch

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

At E3 today, Nintendo announced that Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire are set for a November 21 release in North America. Observe for yourself with a new trailer for the games, available on YouTube.

Fantasy Life Coming to NA, EU in October

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Level-5’s Fantasy Life has been set for an October release in North America and Europe, Nintendo announced during its digital event at E3. The title hits the 3DS in North America starting October 24; the European release is also planned for October, though an exact date was not given.

Source: Gematsu

Final Fantasy Type-0 Coming to PS4, Xbox One

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Square Enix confirmed today that Final Fantasy Type-0 will at last be coming to the west. Specifically, the title – which originally launched for the PSP – will be getting the HD treatment for its release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, according to director Hajime Tabata. A release timeframe was not announced.

Source: Joystiq

Shin Megami Tensei IV European Release Set for Q3 2014

Tuesday, June 10th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Atlus has announced that Shin Megami Tensei IV will launch for Europe in Q3 this year. The company will self-publish the title, which will be available only as a digital release through the Nintendo eShop.

Source: Gematsu

The Witcher 3 Trailer Reveals February 2015 Release Date

Sunday, June 8th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

With E3 2014 nearly upon us, CD Projekt Red have released a new trailer for The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt. Said trailer, over on YouTube, lists the game’s release date as February 24, 2015. CD Projekt’s own GOG.com is also offering a 20% discount on preorders for those who own both previous Witcher titles on the site, and those purchased at retail, through Steam, or other outlets can be registered with GOG to receive free backup copies.

Theatrhythm Curtain Call Dated Globally, Collector’s Edition Revealed

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

In a recent announcement, Square Enix confirmed that Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call is planned for a September release; 9/16 in North America, 9/19 in Europe. A collector’s edition will include a special pouch, a “best of” Curtain Call music CD, a five-track remix selections CD, and five premium CollectaCards featured in the game. This bundle will be priced at $69.99/£44.99, and will be limited to a 5000-print run.

Source: Gematsu

Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III to be Absent From E3 2014

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Speaking with Famitsu, Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto said that Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III will not be at this year’s E3. Hashimoto spoke positively of Final Fantasy XV‘s development, and that “we are working diligently on Kingdom Hearts III,” but stated that new information for either game would not be present at the show.

Source: Gematsu

Adachi Added to P4 Arena Ultimax Lineup as DLC

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Persona 4‘s Tohru Adachi has joined the Persona 4 Arena Ultimax roster, available as DLC to those who buy first-run copies. The title itself is planned for a fall release on both PS3 and 360.

Source: Gematsu

Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix Set for December NA, EU Release

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Square Enix announced that the Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix will hit North America on December 2, with the European release planned for December 5. The HD redux includes the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, along with cinematics from Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded, and the price has been set at $39.99.

Source: Gematsu

Atlus Reveals E3 2014 Lineup, Announces Pinball RPG

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Atlus has announced the titles they’ll be showcasing during E3 this year; and by this year, of course, we mean ‘starting Tuesday’. The list includes the expected Persona titles – Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Persona 4: Dancing All Night, and Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth – alongside Abyss Odyssey, Citizens of Earth, and the newly-revealed pinball RPG Rollers of the Realm.

Regarding that last one, Rollers of the Realm comes courtesy of developer Phantom Compass, and indeed works RPG mechanics and dungeon crawling around a pinball interface. Enemy creatures server as the ‘bumpers’, which can attack the pinball flippers, while the pinballs themselves are your playable characters. The game will be playable at E3, and will launch on PS4, PS Vita, and PC. A release date has not been announced.

Source: Gematsu

Pokemon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire Details

Saturday, June 7th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

More information has emerged regarding Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. As previously mentioned, the titles make use of dual protagonists, one male and one female, and the character not chosen by the player shows up as a supporting character. Some story elements will also differ between versions. For instance, Team Magma is the primary enemy in Omega Ruby, whereas Team Aqua opposes the player in Alpha Sapphire.

Mega Diancie, Mega Sceptile, and Mega Swampert join the list of Mega Evolutions, while a brand new evolution method, called Primeval Devolution, will be available. Details about this new feature are still coming, though Groudon and Kyogre have been confirmed for Primeval evolutions.

Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire hit the 3DS worldwide later this year.

Source: Gematsu

Tales of the World: Reve Unitia Set for October Japanese Release

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014 by | Posted in Game News

Tales of the World: Reve Unitia has been set for an October 23 release in Japan, Bandai Namco recently announced. The 3DS title will be priced at 5,210 yen.

Source: Gematsu