RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Kingdom Hearts III will not be using Square Enix’s own Luminous Engine, director Tetsuya Nomura announced recently. Instead the company has opted to use Unreal Engine 4; Nomura mentioned only that a “variety of reasons” were behind the change. However, he added that Epic Games had been cooperative during the transition, and that this change has not hindered development progress.

Kingdom Hearts III is coming to the PS4 and Xbox One. A release timeframe has not been announced.

Source: Gematsu

A recent interview with Tetsuya Nomura about Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix briefly put the spotlight on Kingdom Hearts III, revealing a few more details about the latter title. In particular, Nomura stated that development on KHIII is proceeding as planned. Visual rendering in the engine has proven somewhat challenging, but writing and world development are currently on track.

Furthermore, Nomura said they’re looking to keep the time between 2.5 and III‘s release as short as possible. Kingdom Hearts Chi‘s scenario is closely tied to Kingdom Hearts III, to the point of the titles being written concurrently. More is planned for the series beyond III, but no further details were given at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has released another trailer for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix, this one showing off some of the worlds featured in Birth by Sleep Final Mix: Castle of Dreams, Deep Space, Olympus Coliseum, and Enchanted Dominion. View the trailer for yourself here.

As a reminder, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix hits the PS3 on December 2 in North America, followed by the European release on December 5.

Square Enix has revealed the titles it will be showcasing at the upcoming Gamescom. On Consoles and PC, the titles include Final Fantasy XIV, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, Lara Croft and the Temple of Orisis, and Nosgoth. For handhelds and mobile, the list is Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest VIII, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call.

Gamescom will run from August 13 to 17.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has announced that preorders for Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix will be upgraded to the Limited Edition for no additional charge, which adds a collectible Disney pin featuring Sora and Mickey Mouse. As a reminder, the 2.5 Remix includes the final mix versions of Kingdom Hearts II and Birth By Sleep, along with cutscenes from Re:coded.

Source: Gematsu

Speaking with Famitsu, Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto said that Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III will not be at this year’s E3. Hashimoto spoke positively of Final Fantasy XV‘s development, and that “we are working diligently on Kingdom Hearts III,” but stated that new information for either game would not be present at the show.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix announced that the Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix will hit North America on December 2, with the European release planned for December 5. The HD redux includes the Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, along with cinematics from Kingdom Hearts: Re:coded, and the price has been set at $39.99.

Source: Gematsu

In a recent interview with Famitsu, series director Tetsuya Nomura revealed a few choice tidbits about both Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix and Kingdom Hearts 3. Of particular note are the following:

• Kingdom Hearts 3 and the 2.5 Remix are being developed simultaneously by the Osaka team.
• Nomura has begun writing and editing for Kingdom Hearts 3.
• The team behind the 1.5 Remix is handling 2.5, and the process is moving quicker with the HD conversion system already in place.
• Re: Coded is not as long as 358/2 Days, though some of the events of Disney Worlds will have new representations. New voices are also being added.
• Scenes from Re: Coded tie into Dream Drop Distance.

Source: Gematsu

In a recent interview, Square Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto stated that Final Fantasy XV and Kingdom Hearts III are not in simultaneous development. “Both have Tetsuya Nomura as their director,” said Hashimoto, “so we can’t create these two big games at the same time. It’s a difficult job, as we want each game to be perfect in terms of quality.”

The announcement for Kingdom Hearts III, he added, was specifically to address speculation on the sequel, though a timeframe for development was not clarified. Hashimoto emphasized that there is still much work to do. Both titles will see a PS4/Xbox One release, though neither has a known release window at this time.

Source: Gematsu

Persona 4: Arena finally has Yukari. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 08/17/13’ »

While they had Tetsuya Nomura sitting still for Final Fantasy XV, they also questioned him about Kingdom Hearts III. The details are as follows:

• Nomura is co-directing the title along with Tai Yasue. Rie Nishi is producing, and Yoko Shimomura is serving as composer (Shimomura is also composing for FFXV.)
• Plotwise, the game once again follows Sora and company across multiple Disney worlds, searching for a key to return hearts; this serves as the final episode in the “Dark Seeker” chapter, and is a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. The exact Disney worlds to be used have not been finalized.
• Nomura did not deny the possibility (but also could not confirm) of Riku and Kairi being playable.
• A playable demo exists internally; the hardware in use was not specified.

Source: Gematsu

Square Enix has announced that the long-awaited #3 in the Kingdom Hearts series would be heading to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is said to feature a more mature Sora as the protagonist, alongside Donald and Goofy as they visit a slew of new Disney worlds. No release date was given, though the game is said to be in development at Square Enix’s Osaka studio.

Square Enix has updated the official site for the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix, revealing the release dates as September 10 in North America, and September 13 in Europe.

If Light Yagami was a military strategist, he’d be Shu. Continue reading ‘Mass Media 03/03/13’ »

Square Enix has revealed that the Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix will launch in North America and Europe this fall.

Source: Gematsu

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

Speaking with Famitsu, Kingdom Hearts co-director Tai Yasue revealed that the 1.5 HD Remix of the first game is between 80 and 90 percent done. KH1.5 is planned to launch in Japan next year, although a more specific timeframe has not been stated.

Source: Gematsu

In an interesting turn of events, Square Enix will be bringing older Kingdom Hearts titles to the PS3 in one tidy bundle. The 1.5 HD Remix includes HD-remastered versions of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, Chain of Memories,, and 358/2 Days; Final Mix being the previously Japanese-exclusive re-release of the original.

No details have been given regarding the Japanese release, and a US release was not confirmed.

Source: Joystiq

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’ »

While Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance has been on sale since last month in Japan, Square Enix has announced plans to release a demo verison through the Nintendo e-Shop, starting May 2. The demo drops you in a portion of Traverse Town, controlling Sora and a preset Dream Eater party. Reportedly, you’ll need about 90mb of space and can play the demo 15 times.

Source: Andriasang