RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Title has it all. By way of Dengeki Playstation, Compile Heart has revealed the launch date for God Dimensional Game Neptune V: August 30.

Source: Andriasang

“Markets can remain irrational longer than you can remain solvent.” John Maynard Keynes said that, and I’d wager he knows a little more about the economy than you do, because he invented it! Yeah, the financial world is abuzz over Facebook’s IPO, and we’ve got our own take on that, along with a few other items of interest. Behold:

• 38 Studios (Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning) owes the state of Rhode Island $75 million in loan payments.  I don’t even have a quip, you have to hear the whole crazy situation to believe it.
• Facebook, as mentioned, went public, and then immediately flatlined before dropping a few bucks today.  Cue me feeling smug in three… two…
• Activision drops its suit against EA over the Infinity Ward fiasco, on revelation that they went to absurd lengths to dig up dirt on IW staff.  Bobby Kotick, up to no good?  Pshaw, sirrah.
• Epic unveils the Unreal 4 engine, prompting a new wave of speculation as to how many shades of brown and grey it can render.
• CD Projekt’s hiring for a modern IP.  Given their work with fantasy IP, I expect good things.  Difficult things that kill me in the tutorial, but good things all the same.
• Diablo III goes live, then dies, then lives again, then dies again, and so on.  Who could possibly have forseen difficulties with millions of players going online at once?
• Square Enix is profitable again, Bamco keeps busy with the Tales series,  and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Go Public or Die Trying’ »

Heya folks! Due to unexpected interference from reality, What Happened This Week will be uploaded tomorrow instead of tonight. Fortunately, thanks to this happy accident – which in no way involved napping in a warm sunbeam listening to the Sox humiliate the Cubs – I’ll be able to gauge how Facebook’s doing on day two and whether what happened Friday is part of a long-term trend. Sorry for the hold up. I’ll see you all tomorrow night!

A recent batch of screenshots has unveiled a few more Pokemon Black/White 2 details. A World Tournament arena lets you stage fights using single battle, double battle, and other rules, and you’ll have access to historical trainers through this mode. The game also supports Nintendo’s wi-fi connection service, which unlocks unique downloadable trainers. And lastly the game features a movie-making mode, aptly titled “Pokewood,” though the extent of its options is not yet known.

Source: Andriasang

Along with the next main Tales entry, Namco Bandai has revealed a Droid-based strategy title for the series. Tales of the World: Tactics Union, as is customary with those of the “World” designation, will feature existing characters battling each other, this time in a strategy RPG context. The title goes live on July 2 – currently Japan only – and by itself is free to play with item transactions, though you’ll also need membership in KDDI’s AU Smart Pass program (¥390/mo).

Source: Andriasang

While giving an interview to Famitsu for a Final Fantasy VII anniversary feature, Tetsuya Nomura apparently couldn’t avoid commenting about the hopes/rumors/fever dreams of a remake. While he is aware that demand for such a thing is high, he reiterated that the company’s priority is new titles. He also added that he believes Yoshinori Kitase is “the true successor of the [Final Fantasy] series.”

You may resume not holding your breath now.

Source: Andriasang

Nintendo has just announced a partnership with Square Enix and NTT East and West Japan regarding Dragon Quest X. Naturally, the aim is to push sales for all three companies: Wiis for Nintendo, DQX for Square Enix, and NTT’s Flets Hikari internet service. Specifically, Flets Hikari will be the recommended service for DQX, and all three companies will hold promotions targeted at their respective customers; Nintendo/Squenix touting the internet service, NTT offering DQX copies through random drawings, and so on.

Source: Andriasang

Atlus has just opened the official site for the 3DS remake of Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers. Information is still being added, however the site is located here for the curious and Nihongo-literate.

As the main page helpfully reminds us, Soul Hackers launches for the 3DS in Japan on August 30.

Nanako is the little sister everyone wants.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 05/19/12’ »

CD Projekt Red, developers of The Witcher series, have posted a series of job openings for a yet-unannounced “RPG in a brand new setting.” While little is known about this new IP, the posting indicates the game will be separate from The Witcher universe, and fantasy standbys in general; elves, dwarves, sorceresses, etc. Specific job details are available on the official site, located here for your convenience.

While Namco Bandai has said very little about the next Tales game, they have confirmed, by way of Famitsu, that it will be a “mothership” title; that is, a main series entry alongside Xillia, Vesperia, Graces, etc. Further information is being held until the Tales of Festival, scheduled for June 2.

Source: Andriasang

Following both fake and actual leaks of release dates, Square Enix has officially launched Final Fantasy XIII-2‘s May DLC. The Lightning episode is priced at ¥600/400MSP, with Snow behind it at ¥400/320MSP, and the rest – Serah White Mage, Noel Black Mage, and the Moogle costume set – costing ¥300/240MSP.

Incidentally, Square Enix also posted a sharp turnaround in earnings, with net income jumping from a ¥12 million loss to a ¥6 million gain. According to Square Enix, the boost is largely owed to higher-than-expected console game sales – Deus Ex: Human Revolution and Final Fantasy XIII-2 were cited in particular – along with growth on the web and smartphone side.

Source: Andriasang

Look, Blizzard, I told you: I’ll come back when you start making RTSs.  Complete RTSs, not the shenanigans you’re pulling with Starcraft 2.  Your Diablo III screenshots, while delicious, have no power over me!  I’ll not be tempted, damn you!

…I’m gonna wind up buying Diablo III, aren’t I.  Nyaugh.  Anyhoo, let’s get to some news:

• Japan makes noises about regulating a peculiar form of gambling social media sales.  Japanese game companies shriek in horror, including a few you may recognize.
• EA confirms it’s restructuring, which includes some of the previously-mentioned layoffs.  CEO John Riccitiello also owns up to the company’s distant second place in social gaming.
• All aboard the doom train: Sony posts its forecasted loss, announcing (in a roundabout fashion) a meager 1.8 million Vita sales.  Experts (and professional amateurs such as myself) opine on what may save the device.
• Microsoft, by way of Michael Pachter: “Don’t expect a lot of game stuff [at E3]; expect a lot of dashboard, interface, multimedia.”  Excellent, now I know which conference I can ignore.
• Tetsuya Nomura indicates that he’d like to see Kingdom Hearts return to consoles.  Square Enix confirmed for working on the Blizzard-Valve Timescale.
• Diablo III preorders make it bigger than Jesus, Redbox goofs on Max Payne 3, social gaming is slowing down in the US, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Random Revenue Generators’ »

The part of Edge will now be played by Porom, because Edge sucks.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 05/12/12’ »

As is common amongst Square Enix RPGs, Bravely Default will feature a job system. Somewhat less commonly, you’ll have to fight certain boss critters to clear them. This week’s Jump specifies a boss battle against a group of soldiers who are pursuing the game’s heroine; titled by their jobs, these include a white mage, a black mage, and a monk. Naturally, changing your job adjusts your character’s battle style, special abilities, and outfit.

Source: Andriasang

Crunge Products’ upcoming iOS RPG, Borderwalkers, boasts a surprising list of talent for the platform. The following are confirmed for the development staff:

• Minoru Akao: Programming
• Yuzuki Ikeda: Opening Illustration
• Nobuo Uematsu: Music
• Hisanobu Kometani: Monster Design
• Tsutomu Narita: Music Arrange
• Kazushige Nojima: Scenario
• Nakaba Higurashi: Monster Design
• Hideo Minaba: Character Design
• Arata Hanyuda: Direction/Planning
• Hiroshi Yamaji: Producer

Source: Andriasang

Via Famitsu, the release date for Sol Trigger has been announced. Imageepoch’s last PSP RPG hits Japanese stores on August 30, priced at ¥6,279, with preorders throwing in bonus soundtrack and drama CDs.

Source: Andriasang

Guess who’s back!  How’s everybody doing?  I spent the weekend watching mutants and mercenaries duke it out in the Capitol building.  And then I came home to play Fallout 3 heyoooooooooo!  Okay, yeah, obvious joke is obvious, but DC is a cool town even if you’re not a political junkie such as myself.  But anyway, it’s good to be back at home base, got my computer a shiny new video card, the Mass Effect 3 review finally done, and ready to get down to business.  So let’s get on it!  In today’s headlines we have:

• Bethesda announces The Elder Scrolls Online.  I explain why this is not going anywhere profitable, and point to a much more interesting property they’re funding for one Shinji Mikami.
• A Forbes article breaks down that Zynga, Groupon, and Facebook work with an accounting firm that makes rules up as they go.  I wish I were kidding.
• Eurogamer runs a lengthy piece on the demise of Free Radical.  Long story short, it took a little more treachery than doped-up marines going “Boosh!”
• NVidia rolls out a top-of-the-line graphics card for $1000.00.  How else can a month’s salary last until next week when they push the envelope even further?
• FilePlanet is no longer being updated, thus preparing itself for the annals of Internet history.  Behold, children, the days when patches didn’t download themselves.
• Electronic Arts rolls out an Indie Bundle, upending basically every sensible definition of the term ‘indie.’  And on Steam, no less, making it all the more confusing.
• A Chinese company develops a console specifically for pirates China, EA asks for feedback on Origin, I speculate based on Sega-centric Steam deals, and more!

Continue reading ‘What Happened This Week – Capitalism Means Never Saying Sorry’ »

Five years prior, Mass Effect was BioWare’s new, unproven IP, and exclusive to the 360. Now it’s a critically acclaimed, multiplatform epic that’s broken records all the way to its third and presumably final chapter. Expectations couldn’t be higher, and no doubt BioWare could empathize in feeling the weight of a galaxy on their shoulders. Although noticeably flawed, for the most part Mass Effect 3 is every bit the emotional, action-packed, and deeply personal adventure it was advertised to be, and it’s not fair to claim that a highly criticized ending undermines the whole experience. Yet here I am, about to say exactly that: Mass Effect 3 fumbles the end so spectacularly that, rather than feeling satisfied or eager to revisit the saga, I’m just ready to put the whole sad mess behind me.

Continue reading ‘Mass Effect 3 – Staff Review’ »

Bethesda has just announced that Skyrim will soon receive its first DLC pack. Titled Dawnguard, the content is scheduled to launch this summer, and will be hitting 360 first. Further info will follow when E3 rolls around.

As long as we’re talking Elder Scrolls, an MMO with TES as the setting is apparently in development. Developed by Zenimax Online Studios, The Elder Scrolls Online is set about a thousand years before the events of Skyrim. The plot reportedly concerns the daedric prince Molag Bal as he attempts to dominate all of Tamriel; his specialty being the enslavement of mortals, that’s probably a bad thing.

TES Online is loosely scheduled for a 2013 PC/Mac release.

Source: Joystiq, Game Informer