RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Final Fantasy XIV has been plagued by a number of problems since its launch two months ago: lag, gameplay that was found lacking by many players, and a slew of negative reviews. Square Enix laid out an extensive plan for improving the troubled game and extended the free trial period twice in hopes of retaining the increasingly disillusioned playerbase.

Now the big boss has stepped in. CEO Yoichi Wada announced on Lodestone, the official Final Fantasy XIV site, that the development team has been restructured. Naoki Yoshida, a relatively unknown but experienced RPG developer, will be the new producer and director. Wada also mentioned that “several new leaders handpicked from other projects” will be joining the existing team. He also stated that the free trial period has been extended until a “concrete plan” for improvement has been formed. Furthermore, the PS3 release has been delayed beyond its anticipated March 2011 release.

Hope you’ve got a media appetite, folks! In today’s update: Dragon Quest Victory, Emil Chronicle Online, Front Mission Evolved, Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, Sangoku Chaos, Shining Hearts, and Venus & Braves PSP.

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 12/09/10: Big McLargeHuge Update’ »

More information about the PSP-bound Valkyria Chronicles 3 has been released, among which are juicy gameplay details and a trailer. 

Continue reading ‘Further Valkyria Chronicles 3 Details Explained, Trailer Revealed’ »

Sony Computer Entertainment formally announced the release date for the PSP-bound White Knight Chronicles Episode Portable: Dogma Wars.  Set for a February 3 release in Japan, the game will feature an online play license that, when activated within two weeks of  release, grants access to limited edition weapons.

The official site for Dogma Wars can be found here. No information was given about a US release.

Source and translation: andriasang

As is basically customary for big releases, Deus Ex: Human Revolution will sold in both regular and collector’s editions.  The Augmented Edition will include an artbook, a “motion graphic novel,” and a bonus DVD containing making-of videos, trailers, and part of the soundtrack.  Those augs run an extra $10 over the base package, with the AE hitting $69.99 on consoles and $59.99 on PC.

Start wearing your sunglasses at night in early 2011.

This past week, Harvest Moon got a dose of online multiplayer in Japan.  Marvelous Entertainment, creators of the farming sim series, launched a free-to-play MMO dubbed Harvest Moon With Everyone.  Players will be responsible for building their own farms, and gain experience for completing tasks to that end, but can also visit other farms to help out with chores and such.

As is common for the model, the base game carries no charge, but players can spend money to buy premium items.  Presently the game is only in Japanese, and no plans have been announced to translate the game for English players.

Source: 1UP

Sesame Street fired half its staff.

Today’s layoffs are brought to you by the letters ‘F’ and ‘U.’

Continue reading ‘Disgaea 4 Media’ »

Not to be outdone, Double Fine has thrown their own hat into the DLC ring with Costume Quest: Grubbins on Ice.  Taking place after the end of Costume Quest, the content drops you into a land of oppressed Grubbins, your candy-stealing nemeses from the original game.

Apart from new costumes and equipment, the content also comes with a patch to address performance issues; new features, such as cutscene pausing, are also added.  With an estimated playtime of about five hours, Grubbins on Ice is set for a PSN/XBLA release this December.

Source: Gamespot

For games that start with F, the DLC keeps on coming.  Details have been released for both Fable III, with content released today, and Fallout New Vegas‘s upcoming Dead Money:

Continue reading ‘DLC News Roundup: Fable III and New Vegas’ »

Via press release, Atlus announced today that Radiant Historia, their upcoming time travel-centric DS RPG, will see a North American release.  Historia will be available at select retailers starting February 22, 2011, and all launch copies will include a bonus CD featuring unique piano arrangements from the game’s score.

This game has too many screens.

Continue reading ‘Disgaea 4 Media’ »

Remember what I said last week about Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together not having a set US release date?  Yeah, forget about that.  Square Enix announced over the weekend that the PSP remake will be released in the States on February 15 of 2011.

Source: 1UP

“More of the same” is only a bad thing if same was bad the first time around. Consider Eschalon: Book II, the next entry in Basilisk’s classic-styled roleplaying series. Functionally identical to Book I, it boasts a few new hooks but overall just expands and refines the content: same engine, same gameplay, same ground rules. That basically means every other paragraph of this review will start with words like “As in Book I” and such. Fortunately, more of Eschalon – a challenging, intelligent, and versatile RPG by any measure – is most definitely a good thing.

Continue reading ‘Eschalon: Book II – Staff Review’ »

As March creeps ever closer, Square Enix and Eidos have just released a new gameplay trailer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution.  Some of the newly debuted stuff is subtle, like interaction highlights around objects and inventory layouts – fans will note that the inventory grid seems to have returned from the first game – but it also shows various weapons, gadgets, and what appears to be a computer hacking interface.  Check it out over at YouTube.

Human Revolution is set for an early 2011 release.

The PSP version of Phantom Brave, subtitled as The Hermuda Triangle, has been give a launch timeframe in the United States and Europe.  In a recent press release, NIS America confirmed that US retail and download copies would be available in March, with the European release, also in March, exclusive to PlayStation Network.  As previously stated, The Hermuda Triangle will include all the content from the Wii adaptation, plus new bonuses added for the jump to PSP.

Barely a month into release, Bethesda has just announced the first downloadable content for Fallout New Vegas.  Dubbed Dead Money, the DLC will find players burned by a deal gone bad.  Partnered with three other captured wastelanders, players must pull off a daring heist, the goal being the treasure of the Sierra Madre Casino.

Dead Money will be available via Xbox Live starting December 21, at the price of 800 MS funbucks.  PS3 and PC availability was not mentioned in the press release, which can be read in its entirety here.

Didn’t I just post media for these games?

Continue reading ‘Mass Media 11/17/10’ »

Developer CD Projekt announced that The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings will launch on May 17 of 2011.  The date had been pushed back a few weeks to allow more time for quality control, according to project lead Adam Badowski.  Additionally, details about the game’s Collector’s Edition will be released via streaming conference through the official site, starting 12:30PM EST on November 18.

Source: 1UP

In the wake of further details for the upcoming November and December updates, Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy XIV players will receive an additional free month if they register by November 19.  All current players will automatically receive the extension, including those who were eligible for the previous one in October.

The November version update is tentatively scheduled for November 25.  Full details can be found at the Lodestone.

With the November update coming up, Square Enix has revealed more information about the soon-to-be changes to Final Fantasy XIV.  The updates contain many items players have been requesting since the game’s release, and a list of key adjustments follows:

Continue reading ‘Tidying Up Final Fantasy XIV: Square Enix Gives More Update Details’ »