RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

The conspiracy theorist in me suspects that Windows has built-in functions that detect whenever you’re about to say something bad about Microsoft, and crashes accordingly. How else could one explain that happening right as I’m writing up the podcast, thus losing a large chunk of progress? Other than more reasonable explanations and simple coincidence, I mean.

So yeah, had to rewrite most of the script and I now save compulsively as a result. E3 2012 episode will be up tomorrow. Sorry, folks ;_;

Square Enix announced the release date of its mecha-themed racing RPG, Chousoku Henkei Gyrozetter, and confirmed a 3DS adaptation of same. The arcade version – which, I might add, partly transforms as you shift Transformers-style between car and robot forms – is set for a June 21 release, while the 3DS version will hit shelves sometime in Spring of 2013.

Source: Andriasang

Not content with one portable oddity, Square Enix also uploaded the official site of Final Fantasy Dimensions. Little else is known apart from being an iOS title scheduled for a summer release.

Bethesda has announced a beta program for its upcoming Dawnguard DLC for the 360 version of Skyrim. Interested Dragonborn should direct themselves to the official site for registration, with applicants to be chosen sometime next week. The content itself is planned to launch this summer for 1600 MS funbucks (about $20).

Namco Bandai has announced, by way of an E3 trailer, that Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will see a US release on January 22. A UK release is set for January 25.

Source: Joystiq

From Software has confirmed that Dark Souls will see an updated re-release on both PC and PS3, including all DLC to date and subtitled Artorias of the Abyss. From Software will handle Japanese publishing, with Namco Bandai on the international version. Dark Souls will relaunch starting October 25.

Source: Andriasang

Atlus has just released an update for the arcade version of Persona 4: Arena, making adjustments to basic gameplay and character balance. For those who can read Japanese, a full list of the changes is available here; likely, adjustments are being made with the console adaptation in mind.

At its Tales of Festival event, Namco Bandai revealed the new entry in the series: Tales of Xillia 2. A direct sequel to Xillia, the game focuses on the adventures of main character Ludgar, his cat Lulu, and Ellie, the obligatory plot-critical little girl. Other than taking place one year after Xillia‘s ending, it’s not clear how the plot will intersect with the previous game.

Few details have been revealed, though the game will feature timed decision points that alter certain events; some subtle or conversational, others possibly leading to optional fights. Namco Bandai has uploaded the official site – available here – and indicated a Winter 2012 release window, with the specific date and price to be announced on June 27.

Source: Andriasang

If covering the news has taught me anything, it’s that companies would openly shoot at each other Syndicate-style if only they could get away with it. Anyway, welcome back, on this lovely evening before E3 kicks off! Here’s what’s happening:

• Silicon Knights loses in their lawsuit against Epic, and then loses the countersuit for damages.  Expect Denis Dyack to insist that Too Human will continue… somehow.
• Epic, by the way, rescued members of Big Huge Games, rolling them into a new studio and tasking them with another fantasy action-RPG.  Talk about paying it forward.
• Meanwhile, Activision settles out of court with West and Zampella, thus freeing Activision to keep making Call of Duty and spying on its own people.  “But the future refused to change…”
• CD Projekt reveals their non-Witcher property: Cyberpunk.  Apparently that’s the title of a pen-and-paper game easily confused with Shadowrun.
• Nintendo hosts a pre-E3 video demonstration showing off the Wii U… the exact same aspects we saw last year.  Oh, and a classic-style controller and Nintendo-centric social network.
• E3 predictions: Nintendo needs to have some game demos ready, Sony’s going to spin like an overclocked centrifuge, and Microsoft will be my cue to go get a drink.
• A Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer is mistaken for FFXV, Sony may have picked up Gaikai for PSN-related announcements, and more!

Are you ready?

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By way of retail pamphlet, Atlus has revealed they will be releasing a demo for the upcoming Etrian Odyssey IV. The date has not been announced, though it is known that players will be able to carry data from the demo to the retail version.

Source: Andriasang

Via Dengeki Playstation, Falcom announced that the Vita redux of Legend of Heroes: Zero No Kiseki – subtitled Evolution – has been delayed to a fall release from its original August timeframe.

Source: Andriasang

This week’s Dengeki has brought to light Nippon Ichi’s upcoming Vita title. Tokushu Houdoubu – “Special Report Division,” apparently – is an adventure game based around television reporting and production. File that one under “did not see coming.”

Anyhow, Tokushu Houdoubu is set for an August 23 release, priced at ¥6,090 for retail and ¥5,000 for download.

Source: Andriasang

Following recent speculation over a possible 3DS Tales entry, Namco Bandai’s Yoshito Higuchi clarified via twitter that he is not involved in any of the upcoming games. The rumor began from a misinterpretation of Higuchi’s prior tweet, mentioning he was bringing his 3DS to the upcoming Tales of Festival event and hoped that fellow 3DS-using attendees would turn their SpotPasses on.

Source: Andriasang

Via Famitsu, Atlus has dropped the news that Shin Megami Tensei IV has begun development for the 3DS. Little is currently known about the title, but Atlus intends to open the game’s official site starting tomorrow.

Source: Andriasang

Say what you will about obscure Korean MMOs, but they come up with some catchy (if unrelated) promo videos. But I digress. News time! Here’s what’s going down:

• 38 Studios and Big Huge Games got shuttered this week, their staff laid off and Amalur now property of Rhode Island.  Sadly, not too surprising given the money hole they were in.
• Conflicting sales goals hide the real issue of what those 300+ developers – and their shiny new second mortgages from relocating – are going to do now.
• Meanwhile, BioWare lays off some of its own people from The Old Republic team.  How’s that $200 million development cost working out, guys?
• All this prompts Pachter to speculate that MMOs are dooooooomed!  My take: maybe, if everybody keeps trying to imitate/defeat World of Warcraft.  And speaking of which…
• Diablo III got hacked, with reports of stolen items, money, and even characters.  Getting hacked in a single-player game has got to be some kind of record.
• The horrible, horrible contract between Activision and Bungie is revealed.  Short version: 5 million sales of a new property in six months, and eight titles in eight years.  Read it and weep.
• Sony patents a technology to interrupt your game with advertisements, Japan developers alternatives to kompu gacha, and more!
  

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Bethesda has revealed the next big addition to Skyrim: mounted combat. One of the much-touted features from the Skyrim Game Jam video, mounted combat will be rolled into the game for free with the next patch. It’s currently part of the latest Steam Beta Update (1.6), with console versions to follow.

For further details and patch notes, check out the official blog, located here.

Over on the game’s official Twitter feed, we’ve learned that Bravely Default: Flying Fairy looks to clock in 60-70 hours of playtime. Follow-up posts clarified that as the length of the core quest, with 100% completion likely taking longer.

Source: Andriasang

Evening, everyone. Tragedy strikes the nation as I learn that “grilling food in polite company” and “editing/recording the podcast” are mutually exclusive activities. Thus, What Happened This Week will be up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay folks, but in the meantime I hope you’re enjoying the holiday weekend! See you all tomorrow night!

During a press conference regarding 38 Studios, Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee revealed the studio’s MMO, currently titled Copernicus, is planned for a June launch next year. Little is known about the project other than its basis in the Amalur franchise.

In a recent Game Informer interview, The Elder Scrolls Online director Matt Firor revealed a few choice details about the upcoming MMO. Most notable was that the game’s main quest can be completed entirely by a single player. Quoting from the interview, “The last thing you want to do is have the final confrontation with Mehrunes Dagon as he’s stomping across the Imperial City, and you see like 15 guys behind you waiting to kill him because they’re on the same quest. We have a whole part of the game that is 100 per cent solo, which is the main story, where the world focuses on you.”

Additional details include PVP matches of up to 200 people, and that the game will be played in the typical (for an MMO) third-person perspectve.