RandomNPC - Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Atlus Merged With Parent Corporation, Titles and Branding Unaffected

John "Karlinn" Boske — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:50:25 +0000

Corporate group Index Holdings, which counts Atlus Games as a wholly-owned subsidiary, has recently been doing some in-house restructuring. Among the more notable changes is the complete absorption of the Atlus name by Index Holdings. A spokesperson for IH stated that the group intends to focus on game development, and maintained that this will not affect the planned release of any Atlus titles or their respective branding.

Source: Game Watch

Translation: Adrienne “Sicondera” Beck

FFXIV Beta Opens Up, Invites Everyone In for Miqo’kabobs

John "Karlinn" Boske — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:09:15 +0000

Coming straight from Final Fantasy XIV‘s Twitter feed is the announcement that the beta will open up to the public starting Wednesday, September 1 at 2:00 GMT. As a reminder, the full game will be available September 30 for the PC, with the PS3 version expected early in March.

Does more need to be said? Go on, go check it out. And if you happen to see an axe-wielding Miqo’te and her stalwart Hyuran manservant running around, by all means, stop and say howdy.

Golden Sun Dawns This Fall on Nintendo DS

Cortney "Alethea" Stone — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:03:23 +0000

Here’s something to be thankful for. Nintendo announced today that Golden Sun: Dark Dawn will be released on November 29, just days after Thanksgiving in the United States.

Set 30 years after the events of the first two Golden Sun titles, Dark Dawn begins with an attempt to save a friend and progresses toward saving the entire world. Playable characters can collect up more than 70 different Djinn and use their elemental powers to solve puzzles.

NPCast 15: On the Economy – It’s In Your Face, Killing Your Games

John "Karlinn" Boske — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:20:30 +0000

As people everywhere take sides in the latest gaming brouhaha – used games and alternate means of publishers getting more money for them – a thought occurred. While everyone was arguing over whether this or that represents some moral atrocity against our hobby, I started wondering if the lumbering green monster wrecking everything around us might warrant closer attention.

Yes, we’re talking about the economy. Money, cash, spendola; the globe just took an unbelievable beating thanks to complex financial instruments and we’re wondering why companies are getting silly about money. Why, indeed.

Mass Media – Aya’s Hair Edition 08/29/10

Slayer of God — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:58:13 +0000

I’d pay good money to have Aya’s hair.

Parasite Eve: The 3rd Birthday
Source: Famitsu

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Guild Wars 2

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Kingdom Hearts Coded
Source: Famitsu

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Metal Max 3
Source: Game Watch

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Shining Hearts
Source: Game Watch

Mass Media 08/25/10

Slayer of God — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:25:02 +0000

30 Second Hero eh? That’s what my ex used to call me.

30 Second Hero
Source: Dengeki

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Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley

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Okamiden

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Pokemon Black/White
Source: Game Watch

Neverwinter to Go Online in 2011

John "Karlinn" Boske — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:45:26 +0000

Atari announced today that they are developing Neverwinter, an online RPG based around the titular Dungeons & Dragons city. In-house online developer Cryptic, perhaps best known for City of Heroes/Villains and Star Trek Online, is at the helm of the project. While the game shares some of the locations with BioWare’s Neverwinter Nights series, Atari’s Neverwinter will tell its own story, wherein the city is blighted by civil war and a plague outbreak.

Cryptic did not explicitly say Neverwinter is massively multiplayer, though it will require an online connection and players can form five-player teams to work through dungeons and quests. Solo players can recruit computer-controlled allies to clear the same areas, while a content creation system called Forge will let players generate their own storylines and such.

Neverwinter is set for a late 2011 release on the PC. Further information can be located on the official website.

Dragon Age 2 Site Launched, Trailer Released

John "Karlinn" Boske — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:55:24 +0000

BioWare recently launched the official website for Dragon Age 2, which proudly sports a shiny new cinematic trailer and additional information. The trailer depicts a male Hawke – recall that players will be able to set Hawke’s gender – dueling with a large and unpleasant horned fellow. The fight doesn’t quite go as planned, so Hawke resorts to a showy display of magic to cut things short. Apart from why he simply didn’t do that earlier, the question remains what blood has to do with the casting; Hawke visibly dabbles with a cut on his arm before his eyes go all glowy and angry. There are other interesting snippets, played via flashback, that hint at Hawke’s rather tumultuous past.

The website and trailer can be found here. Dragon Age 2 is set for a March 8 release in America, and March 11 in Europe.

Mass Media vos Qwib-Qwib 08/18/10

Slayer of God — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:24:30 +0000

I am proud of the Qwib-Qwib, and I will not flee because of petty insults.

Dragon Age 2

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Fable III

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Harvest Moon: Hero of Leaf Valley

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Last Ranker
Sources: Dengeki

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Shining Hearts
Sources: Dengeki

Hang On to Your Final Fantasy XI Account, Get Free Shoes

Cortney "Alethea" Stone — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 20:28:09 +0000

Is it the shoes? Yes, it is, now that Square Enix has announced three perks for players who subscribe to both Final Fantasy XI and XIV. The first perk is a discount for Final Fantasy XI that reduces the basic monthly fee from $12.95 to $7.00. The second perk gives every newly-created character in Final Fantasy XIV a pair of Hermes Shoes, special footwear that increase movement speed. The third perk lets players transfer their character names from Final Fantasy XI to XIV.

You can find all the details at the official site.