RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

News time, everybody! Get it while it’s hot, metaphorically speaking as the transfer of information is not linked to temperature! In tonight’s episode:

• Zynga’s stock takes a nosedive due to slashed earnings estimates and insiders dumped the stock months ago.  Pardon me, I’ll be over here doing my “I called it” dance.
• Boston Magazine provides an in-depth postmortem on the many, many warning signs leading up to 38 Studios’ closing.  Short version: Schilling mixed up baseball and business.
• Key developers come out strongly against Windows 8, with Gabe Newell saying Valve may encourage Linux development as a hedge.  Mr. Newell, hedges are supposed to save money.
• Crunchyroll breaks down a Japanese poll showing the Japanese are no longer bullish on their own gaming industry.  Clearly, the industry needs more ara ara~
• Square Enix takes to Twitter to confirm Versus XIII is still alive.  CEO Yoichi Wada has to stop himself from saying it’ll be done “when it’s done.”
• FFXIV gets rebranded, Irrational Games uses Metacritic as a hiring requirement, OnLive joins up with the Ouya, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Naysayers Right and Wrong’ »

Capping off the round of Square Enix news, the company will reveal future plans for Final Fantasy XIII on September 1, during the Final Fantasy 25th Anniversary event in Shibuya. More news about the 2.0 release of Final Fantasy XIV is also planned for that same day.

Source: Andriasang

Having previously mentioned the 3DS would factor into Dragon Quest X, Square Enix announced the handheld would receive a series of apps for the game. The first of these, which will be free for download, allows players to perform StreetPass exchanges with their characters, monitor game news, send messages to other players, and check product information on the Traveler’s Bazaar. Follow-up apps have been confirmed but not elaborated at this time, and it is not known when the first will be available.

Source: Andriasang

More details regarding Bravely Default: Flying Fairy have emerged, starting with character customization. Similar to that of Final Fantasy V, the game’s job system lets you learn active and passive skills – Job Commands and Support Abilities – from one job and use them with another. Naturally, this carries limitations; only one Job Command can be set for that of a different job, while Support Abilities are limited by a cost system for allotment. Also revealed was a Tales-like skit system, where on-screen prompts will allow party members to engage in optional dialogue.

As for the package itself, a limited edition of the game will include a copy of the game, the original soundtrack, an art album, a custom 3DS case, and a life size AR poster. The LE runs at ¥12,800, which is double the standard price of ¥6,090 and sold only through Squenix’s e-shop.

Source: Andriasang

Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada took to Twitter to deny rumors that Final Fantasy Versus XIII had been cancelled. Said rumors began circulating last week with a Kotaku article citing unspecified sources; Wada stated that not only is the game still in development, but he had just finished with a periodic meeting for the game.

Source: Andriasang

Via Famitsu: DS RPG Mystery Dungeon Shiren the Wanderer 4 will get a PSP adaptation, imaginatively called Mystery Dungeon Shiren the Wanderer 4+. Apart from three additional dungeons, the game will somehow feature Twitter support. Didn’t see that one coming. 4+ is set to release in October, priced at ¥4,620.

Source: Andriasang

Moving to Square Enix products that definitely exist, the company released iOS RPG Star Burial Dragnir today in Japan. Developed by studio Witch Craft, makers of Mahou Shojou Lyrical Nanoha A’s Portable on PSP, the episodic RPG is split into five chapters and one free prologue chapter. For those curious and undaunted by the language barrier, there’s an official trailer hereabouts.

Source: Andriasang

With original developer Flight Plan shuttered in 2010, the Summon Night series falls to studio Felistella, Namco Bandai revealed recently. Founded in 2007 by ex-Flight Plan staff, Felistella will be heading development on Summon Night 5, along with the PSP ports of 3 and 4.

Source: Andriasang

Ooof… man, what was I thinking? Don’t… nobody even tell me the damage. If I don’t see the bill, it doesn’t exist. I’ll pretend this big stack of games I bought just magically appeared there. Yeah, that works for me. Anyhow, it’s time to distract myself, and you, with the news:

• Apple suffers a serious hack, allowing users to bypass some in-app purchases and get the goods for free.  Welcome to the 99%, Apple users!
• Meanwhile, Microsoft posted its first loss in 26 years.  Strangely enough, they could probably commiserate with Nintendo, right down to the “constant media doom chorus” thing.
• Michael Pachter speculates that Activision strongarmed Nintendo into developing a conventional Wii U controller, a silly notion for multiple reasons.
• Gamasutra’s half-year analysis of gaming industry retail paints a grim picture for 2012.  The numbers don’t lie: CODBLOPS2 probably won’t save this year.
• Torchlight‘s developer uncovers more than a few similar art assets between a Chinese-based iOS MMO and their game.  Purely coincidental, I’m sure.
• Weird new software categories show up on Steam’s droid app, the Ouya’s first game is a prequel to a game planned for 2015, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Now Seventy-Five Percent Off!’ »

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, Bastion (+soundtrack), Beyond Good & Evil (thanks, JMan711!!), Blocks That Matter (thanks, xerozohar!), Burnout Paradise, Civilization V, Driver: San Francisco, Frozen Synapse: Red DLC, Hard Reset, Just Cause 2, KotOR, The Longest Journey, Mirror’s Edge, Mount & Blade: Complete, Payday, Republic Commando, Trine 2, The Walking Dead.

Yeah, yeah, another delay, forget about that. Civ V was engrossing and the Steam Summer Sale ends in a few hours and Witcher 2 is fifteen bucks what are you doing here I DON’T CARE IF YOU HATED THE GAME ON THE FLASH DEAL IT’S FIVE BUCKS GO GO GO

(Update tomorrow once me and my wallet have had time to recover.)

I’m the MVB! Wah ha ha!

Continue reading ‘Not So Mass Media 07/22/12’ »

Regarding various issues with Diablo III post-launch, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime took to the official forums to issue a statement. In particular, he acknowledges that the company underestimated Diablo III‘s launch numbers and the subsequent strain on servers. The company, says Morhaime, used historical data for multiple big-name sales, including past Blizzard titles, and scaled up from its own estimates. Obviously, this wasn’t quite enough, as he says that “we’ve never gone from 0 to more than 6 million players across multiple continents within a few days with a brand-new game.”

Continue reading ‘Blizzard CEO Responds to Diablo III Issues’ »

Namco Bandai has confirmed that Summon Night 5 is in development for the PSP in Japan, with series veterans Takeshi Iizuka and Kei Miyakozuki on the team. While no release date was given, ports of Summon Night 3 and 4 are also on the way, set for respective release dates of October 4 and November 15. No worldwide release was mentioned.

Source: Andriasang

Amidst a new batch of screenshots, Atlus revealed further information about the upcoming 3DS remake of Devil Summoner. Of note are the following:

• Players can switch between the original and new opening animations.
• Loading times are cut down, framerate has improved, and command inputs have quicker response time.
• Full voice acting can be toggled.
• A new demon, Nemecchi, can be upgraded via Devil Souls, which are acquired from others through the street pass.
• A trailer for Shin Megami Tensei IV will be included with Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers.

Source: Andriasang

The Vita remake of Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki has been confirmed for an October 18 release in Japan. Prices are set at ¥6,090 for retail, ¥5,040 as a download, and ¥9,800 for the special edition; the last of which includes a Nendoroid Puchi figure, carrying pouch, cleaning cloth, soundtrack and an original drama CD.

Source: Andriasang

Amidst the hubbub of Comic-Con, Mass Effect producer Mike Gamble commented on DLC for the third installment. While no singleplayer DLC besides the Extended Cut has been confirmed, he did state that Commander Shepard would remain the central (playable) figure. And speaking of the Extended Cut, Gamble confirmed that the Wii U version would have this installed by default over the original ending.

Source: Joystiq

Is this year going fast for anybody else? Maybe it’s my mad scramble to find another job, virtually any job, outside banking right now, so I’m just noticing the passing weeks more. Oh well. It’s news time! In tonight’s episode:

• Via Kickstarter, we have the Ouya: an open source, Droid-based console priced at $99.  Surely this will spearhead the glorious indie revolution that upends gaming forever…
• …except the numbers don’t quite add up, there doesn’t seem to be a concrete prototype, no games have been confirmed, and its own supporters have made comparisons to the Phantom.
• Meanwhile, Nintendo plans to link the Wii U and 3DS through its online service, which will (initially) be free to use.  Shiggy asks: but what of Metroid and Star Fox?
• Vivendi discreetly scopes out possible buyers for an as-yet-unconfirmed sale of its ActiBlizzard stake.  Even money says they’re waiting for CODBLOPS 2 numbers.
• Pachter sez: EA may break out the long knives for John Riccitiello, with Peter More as a possible replacement.  Should’ve kept the base!  And not picked a fight with Activision.
• BioWare reveals its plans for the Ultima franchise: a free-to-play action/RPG.  Ugh, BioWare, and you were doing so well with the Mass Effect 3 DLC!  Why?
• The Last Story gets its worldwide release date, CERN may have found the Higgs-boson, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Kickstart the Atom’ »

BioWare has just released details of the multiplayer-centric Earth DLC for Mass Effect 3. The content features the previously rumored new maps for Rio, Vancouver, and London, three new weapons, and six new human N7 classes. Set for a July 17 release on all platforms (excepting European PS3, which launches July 18), the content will be free for download.

Source: Joystiq

XSEED has just announced that Mistwalker’s Wii RPG The Last Story will see North American shelves starting August 14. Launch copies include an art book, with a soundtrack disc as a preorder bonus from Amazon, GameStop, and EB Canada.

Source: Joystiq

In a recent interview, Dragon’s Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno was quoted as saying “I’m sure many have already cleared the game, but for Dragon’s Dogma, we’re continuing to prepare new play elements. It would be best if you held on to the game for a bit.” Itsuno added that domestic sales were better than expected, and that future content – perhaps in the form of “the next title” – would be possible with sustained fan support.

Source: Andriasang