RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

In preparation for the Mass Effect prequel movie, Paragon Lost, an official site – currently a teaser only – has been set up here.

You know it’s true.

Sorry for the delay, folks! Man, ME3 and Super Tuesday tomorrow! The political junkie and the Mass Effect fanboy are having a fistfight for dominance in my brain stem. Gonna be busyyyyyy~

Anyway, to the news:

• Mass Effect 3 comes out tomorrow, or, if pirates are to be believed, today.  Guess somebody got ahold of one of those low-orbit packages.  And speaking of which…
• …one of them got stuck in a tree north of San Francisco, boldly resisting an intrepid IGN team’s attempt to dislodge it.  Well, at least bears weren’t involved.
• UK retailer GAME is in a bit of financial trouble, revealing they will be unable to stock Mass Effect 3 or Mario Party 9.  Hey, guys?  I know your parents probably told you honesty is the best policy and all, but, uh, you may have wanted to make something up this one time.
• The rumor mill is abuzz that Valve may be developing a Steam-centric PC-slash-console with baseline stats for modern games.  Hey Valve, Derek and I got this great idea for a mascot.  You ready for this?  He’s a scientist, see, and he’s fighting an alien invasion…
• Facebook gaming takes a sharp downturn from 2011, with the company having to work harder to draw in new users.
• By contrast, Zynga unveils their own content delivery platform to stand apart from Facebook, forgetting how they got so many people playing their games in the first place.
• Pokemon Black & White Version 2 makes like Daft Punk and goes around the world, Kinect gets a tinfoil hat accessory, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Should’ve Kept the Base’ »

Due to circumstances entirely beyond my control, that were totally not related to making sure all my Mass Effect 2 saves were ready for Mass Effect 3, What Happened This Week will be uploaded tomorrow night instead. Apologies, folks! I know, I’m trying to be more punctual about this, but life and my attention deficiency have funny ways of mocking my attempts to plan things.

Two Shepards down, two to go. D:

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 03/03/2012’ »

Well, more accurately, Atlus does the opening, but whatever. Etrian Odyssey IV‘s official site is now open and available here. Additionally, the developer’s blog (hereabouts) has explained the reasons for including casual mode. One reason was, naturally, for newcomers to the series. The other was so the team could increase the difficulty of normal mode. Oh, goody.

Source: Andriasang

Just in case Aigis wasn’t enough for your robot girl needs in Persona 4 Arena, Atlus has you covered. Famitsu has revealed the character Labrys, who wields a giant axe and is herself robotic, female, and dressed in a schoolgirl outfit for some reason. As an uncultured philistine who has yet to play Persona 4, I’m told she’s a new creation for the series, and it’s not yet known how she fits into the whole thing.

Source: Andriasang

While a Persona 2: Eternal Punishment PSP remake had been rumored before, Atlus has confirmed the title is in development. A teaser site is available here, and the official site will go live on March 8.

As the other half of Persona 2 (Innocent Sin being the first half), Eternal Punishment will have a few new features on PSP. In particular, loading times have been improved, events can be skipped, battle animations can be simplified to speed up combat, and new scenarios have been added.

Source: Andriasang

In a clear move to make previous headlines look silly, Nintendo has confirmed that Pokemon Black and White Version 2 will see a worldwide release in fall of this year. Previously assumed to be a straight sequel, the addition of “version” to the title suggests it may simply be the original game with new additions. However, it is not known which is the case.

As previously mentioned, both games will be out in June for Japan.

Source: 1UP

Game Freak’s Junichi Masuda has announced that Pokemon Black and White 2 are in development. While the series has avoided traditional numbered sequels up to now, Black and White 2 are indeed direct sequels to 2010/2011’s Pokemon Black and White. Both titles are set for a simultaneous Japanese release on DS this June.

No worldwide release has been confirmed at this time.

Source: Andriasang

“Anytime, Fly Girl.”

I don’t know about you guys, but I dropped my pacifist playthrough right then and there.  But enough about how I pass the time waiting for Mass Effect 3, it’s time for the news!  Here’s what we’ve got:

• A fake Pokemon Yellow gets into the iOS App Store and places at #3 on the chart.  How did an obvious counterfeit get by Apple’s screening process?  The answer is in the question.
• The above prompts discussion about how Nintendo should release its games on iOS, followed by Pachter claiming the Wii was a bubble.  I explain why that word doesn’t mean what he thinks it means, using Nintendo’s gigantohuge pile of cash and utterly puny debts to illustrate.
• Beloved podcast group Idle Thumbs launched a Kickstarter project to fund their return.  Yeah, I’ll throw some money down to see these guys return.  In a related story, Double Fine’s project is up to $2.2mil.  Yikes.
• The Last Story has been confirmed for North America.  Two down, one to go!  The Wii needs stuff like this to smooth the transition to the Wii U.
• After a lengthy stay as a 360 exclusive, Alan Wake finally makes the jump to PC… and recoups porting costs in two days.  Serve the Newell and share in His bounty.
• OK’s violent videogame tax dies in committee, fewer videogame transactions are using credit cards, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – You Keep Using That Word’ »

With the shiny new English title of Persona 4: Arena, Atlus revealed the Persona 4 fighting game will be making an appearance on North American PS3s and 360s this summer. The Japanese-only arcade variant – The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena – will go live starting March 1.

Additionally, Enterbrain – publisher of Famitsu – announced that they are releasing a special Famitsu DX pack for Persona 4: The Golden. Sold exclusively through Enterbrain’s site, the ¥10,290 package includes a multi-pouch designed like Marie’s bag, a set of ten postcards, and six A3 posters alongside the game itself.

Source: Andriasang

Sales data for Theatrhythm Final Fantasy suggests a fairly modest first week performance, between 67,000 and 69,000 depending on the source. However, sell-through data – sales compared to total inventory – indicate the title sold about 90% of its initial stock, with Dengeki reporting that many shops were sold out of the title over the weekend.

Source: Andriasang

For a mere ¥1,200, iPhone users can now pick up the original Shin Megami Tensei. A port of the 2003 Game Boy Advance version – itself a daisy chain of remakes stretching back to the Super Famicom – the iPhone entry has a few new features, including a music player, a demon guide, and a special mode that gives additional story and character details.

Source: Andriasang

With Final Fantasy XI hitting its tenth year in running, Square Enix will be throwing a celebration to commemorate the event. “Vana Fest 2012: A Decade of Final Fantasy XI” is to be held on June 23/24, with an image on the official site suggesting Tokyo as the “where.” An exact location is not yet known.

Via Famitsu, Atlus has just announced that Etrian Odyssey IV is in development for the 3DS. Little is known beyond a release date of July 5 for Japan, although it apparently will feature adjustable difficulty even during the game. EOIV has been priced at ¥6,279, with an official site opening up hereabouts later this week.

Source: Andriasang

XSEED announced today that it will be publishing The Last Story in North America. Many had lost hope that this Wii RPG would ever arrive in this part of the world after Nintendo announced some time ago that it had no plans to localize it. Fortunately, their wait is no longer indefinite, as the game will be out sometime this summer.

The Last Story was developed by MISTWALKER studio. which is headed by former Square Enix developer/producer Hironobu Sakaguchi. It is perhaps interesting to note that XSEED founder Jun Iwasaki is the former CEO of Square.

In other self-explanatory headlines, Square Enix announced that the Dragon Quest X beta will begin this week on February 23. As previously stated, the beta is currently restricted to Japan.

Source: Andriasang

The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki Evolution, the PS Vita redux of Zero no Kiseki, has been given a release window of August. An exact date was not specified.

Source: Andriasang

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance will reportedly feature a system that recaps the series story to date. Under a ‘memoirs’ submenu (which includes tutorials and game hints), players will be able to read summaries of previous games – Birth By Sleep, 358/2 Days, even the first Kingdom Hearts – to bring them up to speed.

Source: Andriasang

Note to self: if Recettear is any indication, EasyGameStation’s Chantelise is worth a look.  It’s never too late to enjoy indie RPG goodness.  But I ramble, this isn’t about me and my compulsive Steam purchases, it’s time for the news!  Here’s what we’re covering:

• SCE’s Shu Yoshida explains why the Vita stumbled in Japan, and how for the US/EU release this time shall be different!  We examine why it probably won’t be different at all, Steve.
• Jack Tretton confirms we won’t see any PS4 developments this year, freeing them up to wait for Microsoft to release their specs focus on the Vita.
• Meanwhile, EA plans some unusual marketing schemes for Mass Effect 3, including launching early copies of it via weather balloons into the stratosphere.  Quoth Sarcastic Hawke, “What could possibly go wrong?”
• Brian Fargo of inXile Entertainment announces a Kickstarter plan to fund production of Wasteland 2.  And here I figured it’d take months to test the limits of Kickstarter’s power.
• The Guinness Book of World Records crowns, by popular vote, Call of Duty: Black Ops as the best videogame ending ever.  I wish I were kidding.
• One of BioWare’s more accomplished writers strikes out on their own, Bobby Kotick gets elected to Coca-Cola’s board of directors, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Step One: Secure 3Gs’ »