Additional details about the 3DS-based Fire Emblem: Awakening have been revealed. The game will feature a steady flow of downloadable maps each week after release, with the content itself accessible through the in-game location known as the Outrealm Gate. Further content will be distributed for free through SpotPass, and players can also use StreetPass to create custom teams to assist other players.
Nintendo has meanwhile confirmed that a 3DS Awakening bundle will see distribution in North America, arriving on the current launch day of February 4.
Source: Gematsu
The 49ers have made me $25 richer.
Continue reading ‘Mass Media 01/12/13’ »
It’s tempting to label Drox Operative as Din’s Curse with spaceships. The two titles share a lot on the surface, from the almost identical UI to the randomly generated worlds that develop organically. Yet Curse looked like just another dungeon crawler, and it delivered one of the smartest twists on the genre in years. Looks, after all, can be deceiving, and behind Operative‘s textbook looting and questing lies a unique and truly dynamic game world. It’s part RPG, part grand strategy, and all oh-hey-it’s-two-in-the-morning-already.
Continue reading ‘Drox Operative – Staff Review’ »
Nintendo has announced Pokemon X and Pokemon Y, which will at last bring the series into the third dimension on the 3DS. Via trailer, we have an idea of which starter Pokemon will be added, along with a worldwide release window of October.
Check said trailer for yourself over on YouTube. Yes, it still prints money.
Namco Bandai has announced a slight delay in Ni no Kuni‘s European release. The game will instead launch on February 1, attributed to logistics and distribution delays. As compensation, the company will be offering a free downloadable gift to all affected players.
The US release date of January 22 has not been affected.
Source: Gematsu
While NIS America had previously stated that Atelier Ayesha would see a North American release, it appears that Tecmo Koei – current parent company of Gust, the series developer – will be handling localization. The ESRB has rated the title, listing Tecmo Koei as the game’s publisher. Neither they nor Gust have confirmed this, however, and a formal announcement is still pending.
Source: Gematsu
Atlus has just announced that Demon’s Souls will go digital, launching on PlayStation Network starting January 8. Setting the price at $19.99, Atlus also plans to host a Pure White World Tendency event to commemorate the release; weakening enemies and strengthening players for one week, ending January 14.
Source: Gematsu
The dead have risen, and are asking for money.
Black Isle Studios, the name associated with such role-playing classics as Fallout 2 and Planescape: Torment, has been resurrected to an extent by Interplay. Naturally the actual teams behind those games have long since moved on to other companies and projects, although two of the original staff – Chris Taylor and Mark Green – have indeed rejoined the company. This unusual course of action is to promote a strategy RPG with a post-apocalyptic bent, currently called Project V13.
You may recall that as the name Interplay selected for its planned Fallout MMO, though the current PV13 pitch describes it as more of a single-player affair. You may also remember Interplay lost the rights to develop anything with the name Fallout in it. Indeed, the very name is bleeped out of their introduction video.
But here’s where it gets really weird.
Continue reading ‘Black Isle Proposes Crowdfunded Strategy RPG’ »
Square Enix has just announced that the PS3 high definition re-release of Kingdom Hearts will launch starting March 14, 2013. Interestingly, although the release is currently for Japan only, Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix will have an English voice option alongside Japanese subtitles. As a reminder, the 1.5 Remix includes the original game (Final Mix), Chain of Memories, and 358/2 Days.
Source: Gematsu
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers will at last see a release in North America. The 3DS remake of the late 90s Saturn (later PlayStation) RPG launched in Japan back in August, and will hit US retailers sometime in spring. So sayeth the trailer released by Atlus, which you can see for yourself on YouTube.
In most places, you get snow on Christmas Eve. Here we get rain.
Continue reading ‘Christmas Eve Mass Media’ »
As the title says, Tales of Hearts R will launch on the PSVita in Japan starting March 7, 2013. Retail price is set at 6,480 yen, or 5,830 yen for the download version.
Source: Gematsu
NIS America has revealed the release date for Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory. The console-tan moepocalypse resumes in North America on March 12, 2013; Europe, March 15.
Source: Gematsu
Namco Bandai has announced that Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch has gone gold, with all development and localization completed. The game will hit North American PS3s starting on January 22, 2013, with the European release to follow on January 25.
Source: Gematsu
In a recent interview, Dark Souls 2‘s director Tomohiro Shibuya made mention that their approach to the sequel may be more straightforward. “I personally am the sort of person who likes to be more direct than subtle,” said Shibuya. This apparently means both story and gameplay elements, though few specifics were given. Shibuya did confirm the game is a direct sequel, and Dark Souls director Hidetaka Miyazaki will still be supervising development.
Dark Souls 2 is about 25 percent complete, though a 2013 release is uncertain. Reportedly, the world creation staff has nearly doubled.
Source: Eurogamer, Gematsu
Falcom has just revealed the next Legend of Heroes title, planned to launch next year in Japan. Sen no Kiseki, as it’s subbed, will be a full 3D spin in the series for both PS3 and Vita. Little is known about the game itself, but the jump to 3D will be paired with more voice acting and a faster-paced battle system.
Source: Gematsu
In a rather interesting move, Square Enix has released Final Fantasy Theatrhythm on iOS. While the base game is free, it comes with only two songs pre-installed. The rest of the tracklist is accessible through in-app purchases, priced at about 99 cents per song. With over a hundred tracks, you’re looking at >$100 to get the whole shebang.
DLC, she be a demanding mistress.
Source: Eurogamer
This game is a case study in the inequality of gender character designs.
Continue reading ‘Demon Gaze Media’ »
Game Arts’ Ragnarok Odyssey, which launched on the Vita in Japan back in February, will be hitting stores worldwide this winter. No specific date was given, however.
Source: Eurogamer
Efforts to balance Star Wars: The Old Republic‘s free-to-play features are ongoing, as communicated by executive producer Jeff Hickman. Over on the official website, he describes the process as an ongoing dialogue between players and developers, citing adjustments in Preferred Status upgrades and larger global character limits. Previous changes included increases in PVP limits and additional Quickbars.
For the curious, Hickman’s full post can be read here.
