RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Via Famitsu, Namco Bandai has identified their unnamed, previously announced PS3 title as Toki to Towa. Imageepoch has been tapped as the primary developer, working in conjunction with animation studio Satellite. Few other details were revealed, though an official site is available here.

Source: Andriasang

Hey-hey!  Are you all excited?  I know I am, because a Giants-Patriots rematch in the Super Bowl means we’ll get more of this classy gentleman.  Seriously, Carl’s locks make the NFL worth watching long after your team has washed out because you didn’t have a backup quarterback.

Me?  Bitter?  Pshaw.  Anyway, here’s the latest:

• SOPA and PIPA have been shelved in response to public outcry and prolonged protest.  Major backers withdrawing their support might’ve had something to do with that, too.
• And yet despite the bills not passing, the FBI and DoJ had no trouble shutting down Megaupload and arresting people in New Zealand.  Why, it’s almost like Washington already has broad powers to pursue people in other countries.
• Commentary: despite the bills being on hold for now, expect this issue to resurface at some point.  Google “Congress riders” for just one worrying example.
• All this begs the question of what can be done going forward, both about piracy and the clumsy responses to it.  Ars Technica offers in-depth solutions.  I would start with “try treating your customers like people for a change.”
• Meanwhile at BioWare, The Old Republic suffers an unfortunate PvP issue right when it can least afford one.  This wouldn’t be quite such a problem if the game weren’t so expensive to produce.
• Mass Effect 3 aims to ditch the mission-based structure of Mass Effect 2, going for something more fluid and constant.  You mean like Mass Effect 1, right?
• Zynga buys more mobile game studios.  Yes, Zynga, because that’s what you were doing wrong: not buying enough smaller companies.

 
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And should you need more Japanese eccentricity in your life, NIS America has you covered with their own press release: Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2 will be released on February 28 in North America, with a European release on the 24th.

In a press release, Atlus announced that Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time – previously a Japanese-only entry known as Growlanser IV: Over Reloaded – will launch in North America on July 24. As part of the announcement, a teaser website was set up this-a-way.

This week’s Famitsu revealed another installment in the Super Robot Wars series, titled 2nd Super Robot Taisen Z Saisei Volume. The second part of a set that began with Hakai Volume last April, this one is set for an April 5 release on the PSP. Both retail and download copies will be priced at ¥7,330.

Source: Andriasang

Square Enix announced a release date of March 29 for Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, along with a price tag of ¥6,090. Apart from the standard retail version, a Kingdom Hearts Edition 3DS bundle will also include the game, though that price was not stated.

Source: Andriasang

Alongside the upcoming release of Tales of Innocence R on the Vita, Tales of the Heroes Twin Brave will see a demo launch that same day: January 26. The demo features a sequence with Ruca and Spada – both Innocence characters – that won’t be in the final game. Although Twin Brave is a PSP title, Vita owners will also be able to download the demo.

Source: Andriasang

According to Bethesda, the long-standing lag issue for PS3 versions of Skyrim will be fixed in the 1.4 patch. The patch is expected to go live later this month, though it’s not yet known what else will be addressed.

Source: 1UP

More details have dribbled out for Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, this time centered around the game’s worlds. In addition to the previously listed Hunchback of Notre Dame and Three Musketeers, KH3D will feature a world based on Fantasia.

Source: Andriasang

Just in case you’re in need of a DLC costume fix, Tales of Innocence R has you covered. Post release, the game will feature downloadable outfits, among which are those from past Tales games and the Idolmaster. No prices have been listed yet.

Incidentally, thank you Wikipedia for teaching me more about the Idolmaster than I ever wanted to know.

Source: Andriasang

Just in case you thought Pokemon+Nobunaga’s Ambition was some kind of hallucination, the crossover RPG has been set for a March 17 release, pricing at ¥5,800.

Source: Andriasang

Dragon Quest X will reportedly put more of a focus on story, despite being an MMORPG.  Parties will have a designated “story leader” whom story events will consider the main character, with the rest of the party simply supporting in battle.  DQX‘s five continents will also feature various regional plots: an elven land facing destruction for lack of an important ceremony, a kingdom blighted by a mysterious plague, another country where children are suddenly going missing, and so on.

Additionally, it was confirmed that the game will see quests added post-release, and Square Enix is currently developing quests for each job, race, and continent.

Source: Andriasang

Addressing speculation over EA’s download service, Origin, BioWare’s Chris Priestly posted an FAQ on the official forums.  He confirmed that all PC versions of Mass Effect 3, retail and digital, will require use of Origin.  Apart from a one-time authorization there are no special restrictions; no install limits, and only multiplayer mode will require a constant connection.  However, Mass Effect 3 will not be sold on Steam for the time being.  The full FAQ can be read over yonder.

If you should hear a faint screaming in the distance, a far-off cry of anguish that can only be attributed to a man in intense psychological pain, don’t panic.  That’s just me.

In a recent press release, NIS America announced that Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland will see a May release in North America and Europe.  This was paired with the launching of the game’s official site, available here.

Nothing like a week of updates to make a guy feel like he’s treading old ground, but hey, anything worth talking about is worth talking about again.  Tonight’s discussion topics are as follows:

• The Bethesda-Interplay legal mess comes to a close, with Zenimax paying $2mil for Interplay to stop harassing Fallout and claiming the MMO’s going to make it.
• GSC Game World announces on Facebook that development of STALKER 2 is somehow still underway.  Why do all the beautiful things in life have to be undead?
• Zynga acquires another executive from EA.  Poor Zynga… their stock’s lackluster performance has caused them to mentally regress to last year.
• BioWare reveals that Mass Effect 3 will require Origin and will not be available on steam.  Also, they broke their arm in a boking accident.
• Workers at a Foxconn plant in China threaten mass suicide over low pay and poor conditions.  Industry leaders feign shock that they’re still doing business with Foxconn.
• Ars Technica gets a closer look at the Wii U, and learns surprisingly little.
• Diablo III gets a console version, a Gaikai rep makes a silly assumption about the Big Three, and more!

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And I thought to myself, “maybe I should wait a day on this Bethesda/Interplay settlement story, see if more details emerge Monday.” But then I thought “nah man, let’s go with it. What’s the worst that could happen?” My fault for assuming this was going to drag on, I guess.

Anyway, the aforementioned settlement’s details have been revealed, with ZeniMax paying Interplay $2 million dollars in exchange for returning the full rights of the Fallout name to Bethesda. Thus, Interplay has no further license to continue with Fallout Online.

Source: Eurogamer

BioWare has publicly responded to recent allegations regarding Star Wars: The Old Republic, where players were supposedly banned for visiting certain high-level areas. The original claim, based on a post from Reddit, was that collecting loot from the planet Ilum before reaching the recommended level range could result in a ban.

Community manager Stephen Reid handled the response, detailing what happened on the official forums. In short, players were only banned for confirmed goldfarming. Several players were given warnings or temporary suspensions for repeatedly raiding Ilum containers in large numbers, but no bans were issued on this second group. Simply exploring the area while underleveled and searching containers is not a violation and, according to Reid, was not treated as such.

Source: 1UP

Title says it all. Konami announced that preorders for Suikoden on the PSP – Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki – will include a download code for custom, retailer-specific themes. The official site has a handy guide for which shops carry which themes.

Source: Andriasang

At a recent demo event for Beyond the Labyrinth, Konami and tri-Ace revealed yet more details about the upcoming 3DS RPG. Of particular note are the following:

• Difficulty options include normal, hard, super hard, ultra hard, and hyper hard. The setting can be changed in mid-game, but your clear history will show only the lowest difficulty you used at any point.
• Pressing B will fast forward through event scenes.
• Apart from the previously mentioned outfit editing system, players can apparently import custom creations from outside the game and trade them with others over the internet.
• Save points will fully regenerate your health. You can also partly heal up at special points in the field.
• Party members will converse during battle, and these conversations are logged for reference.
• Estimated playtime is around forty hours.

Source: Andriasang

It’s just not a week in the industry without some long-forgotten property being dug up, only to be reburied just as abruptly.  Times like these are hell for anybody that was born in time to appreciate the 90s.  In tonight’s episode:

• Interplay and Bethesda reach some kind of settlement which allows Interplay to continue pretending to develop Fallout Online.  The judge was kind enough to deliver the settlement notice to the cardboard box Interplay is currently working out of.
• The ESA reaffirms their support of SOPA, whereas Epic Games  – a member of the ESA – actually comes out publicly against it.  It’s… complicated.
• Vox Media plans to launch a gaming news website, and goes on a talent-poaching spree to staff it.  So how many articles about Japanese dating sims can we expect per month?  This is important.
• Speaking of Japan, Japanese retailers preempt Sony by offering in-store price cuts on 3G PS Vitas.  Sony, if you’re hiding Monster Hunter on us, now would be a good time to show it.
• Social game Shenmue Towns is shut down, dashing the hopes of all five people who were aware Shenmue had a social game.
• By contrast, X-Com makes a surprising comeback in all its brainy, strategic glory as X-Com: Enemy Unknown.  Take that, Shooter Season 2011!
• Kaz Hirai is announced as Sony’s next president, the iOS gold rush (and pending disappointment) continues, we deal with E3 and 2012 speculation, and more!

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