RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Much of Fallout‘s peculiar style comes from its tongue-in-cheek treatment of SCIENCE! – yes, the allcaps-exclamation is an important distinction – as imagined through the lens of nuclear age wonder and Cold War paranoia. Old World Blues, the latest Fallout New Vegas DLC, doesn’t so much as run with this concept as drags it into a rocket pointed at Mars. Although dialogue is somewhat bloated, Blues‘ rampant craziness is a welcome change of pace from the gravely serious Dead Money and Honest Hearts. And if that’s not enough for you, then know that this is still a fun, well-balanced adventure with more ground to cover than any Fallout DLC to date. (more…)

Hey-hey-hey, how’s everybody doing?  Well, we’re all still here, so Debtastrophe 2011 hasn’t completely screwed us over yet.  Still, with markets worldwide getting antsy it’s anybody’s guess what, exactly, is going to happen tomorrow.  The safe money says “bad things.”  In the meantime, let us converse on the following.

• Square Enix posts a bad Q1, which is what happens when you don’t have any major releases for that period.  My take: Squenix needs a Final Fantasy IX.  Well, I want one, at least.
• Atlus scores (relatively) big with Catherine, breaking the 200k mark in its first week.  Larger developers would be aghast at the numbers.  Atlus’ response: “Got a problem?”
• Team Bondi pulls a Blackwater and tries to rebrand itself by getting bought out… by a company that hired many of its ex-employees.  Awk-waaard~
• South Korean officials arrest hackers and programmers for breaking into online games and funneling cash to Best Korea, presumably to fund Kim Jong-Il’s Farmville addiction.
• EA declares that Battlefield 3 will not show up on Steam.  An EA spokesperson is quoted as saying “We hate money and hate ourselves even more.”
• John Carmack gives a great keynote speech at QuakeCon.  He spends some time talking about the technology behind iD’s long-delayed Rage…
• …and provides some fascinating insights into the technical side of game development.  I summarized as best I can in the podcast, but give the whole thing a listen if you have time.

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There’s something oddly fascinating about refreshing the stock ticker throughout the day. It’s like 2008 all over again. But enough about my weird hobbies; you’re here for the media. Here’s what we have today: Dragon’s Dogma, Final Fantasy Tactics iOS, Frontier Gate, Labyrinth Xross Blood Reloaded, Rune Factory 4, and Tales of Xillia. (more…)

CD Projekt has announced that the 360 version of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings has been pushed back to the first quarter of 2012. CEO Adam Kicinski stated the delay gives the developer more time to polish the title, but it was confirmed that the ongoing legal dispute with Namco Bandai over 360 publishing rights is also a factor.

CDP added that it would show a video featuring new DLC as part of “an upcoming, as-yet-unannounced update” for the PC version. No further details were given.

Source: VG 24/7

Released last year for the PC, the school-setting, dungeon-based RPG Labyrinth Xross Blood will see a rerelease on the 360. Developer Experience is adding new event scenes and character voices to the game, which is subtitled as Labyrinth Xross Blood Reloaded. Currently set for a November release in Japan, Reloaded will retail for ¥7140 and includes an artbook and soundtrack.

Source: Andriasang

Appearing in Famitsu is the news that Namco Bandai has a title underway called Heroes Phantasia. At present little is known, though the game will feature characters from various anime series, including the following: s.CRY.ed, Darker Than Black, Read or Die, Slayers Revolution, Sergeant Frog, Blood+, Sorcerous Stabber Orphen, Rune Soldier, and Mai Hime.

Gonna be cross if Yomiko Readman doesn’t show up, N-B. Just saying.

Source: Andriasang

Apple has just approved the iOS adaptation of Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. Originally scheduled for a September 15 release last year, it was since pushed back pending said approval. Tactics will hit the App Store this Thursday, August 4, pricing at $15.99 US.

Source: 1UP

In a statement by mobile games developer G-Mode, CEO Takeshi Miyaji passed away recently. A co-founder of the studio, Miyaji is best known as one of the directors for the Grandia series, having worked on the original Sega Saturn game and its Dreamcast sequel. He had also worked alongside his brother Yoichi for Game Arts on titles like Lunar: The Silver Star and Silpheed. Takeshi later left the company to co-found G-Mode.

Miyaji died this past Friday at the age of 45, though no further information was given.

Source: 1UP

A source close to Gearbox Software has revealed that the developer is currently working on a sequel to Borderlands, with an intent to release sometime next year for 360, PS3, and PC. Although Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has not made any official confirmation, he has indicated the team intends to revisit the series at some point, and one developer’s online resume did make mention of a Borderlands 2.

Reportedly, publisher 2K Games will make a formal announcement soon.

Source: Eurogamer

Greetings to you all on this lovely Sunday, or as the media calls it, “two days until the world ends.” The debt ceiling might be on everyone’s mind these days – actually job creation is, or at least it should be – but we’ve still got some gaming news to cover. In tonight’s gravity-defying* episode:

• The Big N announces a sizable price drop on the 3DS and Iwata takes the heat for low sales numbers.  Some say this is brilliant, others that it’s risky; smarter people say it’s both.
• Alleged members of LulzSec are under increasing scrutiny from the UK authorities, leading to at least one arrest.  This is what happens, Larry!  This is what happens when you [censored by Standards and Practices]!
• Dragon Age 2 disappears from Steam in the wake of their Legacy DLC release, and EA and Valve bicker despite making so much money together off Portal 2.   Somewhere, Bobby Kotick is giggling like a schoolgirl.
• A major Battlefield 3 release party holds a “No girls allowed” stipulation.  Apparently, booting less-than-ideal representatives of the online community requires actual work.
• THQ ends the Red Faction series, wondering why people found a corridor shooter about killing aliens in a cave less interesting than a sandbox destruction simulator on the surface of Mars.
• Kinectimals DLC will add bears to the game.  The title: Kinectimals: Now With Bears! Would that more DLC could be so honest.
• Lastly, I offer some pointers about the debt ceiling fiasco: how we got here, what might happen, and what (little) we can do about it.

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The hard part about rolling up a fresh New Vegas character in preparation for Lonesome Road is remembering all the little things you can do along the way. To wit: I could listen to Chief Hanlon talk for hours. Anyway, time for some media. In today’s update: Class of Heroes 3D, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 3, Half-Minute Hero 2, Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, and Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2.
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Following an investigation, ratings board CERO has declared some of the upcoming Atelier Meruru‘s visual content is unfit for its ‘A’ rating. CERO issued a statement claiming the content was not amongst the materials presented by developer Gust, and as a result have pulled the game’s rating.

For their part, Gust has complied with the decision and halted shipments, which will resume once the game is rerated accordingly. The nature of the inapprorpiate content was not specified.

Source: Andriasang

Phantasy Star Online 2 will inch closer to release with its upcoming Japanese alpha test, scheduled to begin in August. Additionally, further information about the game was unveiled, specifically the following:

• Individual areas will have a 12-person multiplayer limit, with players divided into groups of four.
• Players will have some degree of free aiming with attacks that can target specific body parts.
• Characters level up by class, which in turn grants access to new skills.

The official site was also launched, and can be found here.

Source: 1UP

Y’know the annoying thing about importing stuff? I mean, apart from the cost, the language barrier, the hassle of explaining to your credit card company that no, you’re really you and you’re okaying the transaction? Actually wait, that stuff’s annoying too, but it’s the waiting that really gets to me. Oh well. Anyway, on with some media: Atelier Totori, Disgaea 4, Growlanser 4 Overload, Noora to Toki no Koubou, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. (more…)

Summer rolls on and the heat just isn’t letting up. Who said suburban Chicago could turn into southern Louisiana? How’s everybody else out there holding up? If you’ve got time for the news, gather ’round and listen up. In this week’s episode:

• One of Sony’s insurance groups sues to avoid being legally liable for damage from the hack.  Next time Sony, get them to agree before showing the bill.
• Gameloft stands accused of forcing its employees to work 100+ hour weeks and faking deadlines to maintain crunch time.  And they thought Gameloft wasn’t ready for the big leagues!
• Capcom’s Twitter Guy accidentally implies fans are to blame for Mega Man Legends 3‘s cancellation.  The internet reacts in the usual reserved and dignified manner.
• 1UP posts some interesting analysis on the decline in JRPG localization.  It sure would explain an awful lot.  Looking right at you Square Enix.  Sega, you too.
• Wal-Mart prepares to publish its sales data for video games.  I’m sure that internal memo marked “Join Us Or Die” is just for marketing purposes.
• Zeboyd Games announces that jumping to Steam caused sales to skyrocket.  #pcgamingmasterrace

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Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIII-2 will release in North America in January, following its Japanese launch in December. Speaking with Famitsu, director Motomu Toriyama also revealed that the title will be more open and conducive to exploration than XIII. Additionally, those who clear the game – estimated at about 40 hours – will unlock a replay mode unlike the typical New Game+ option, although this was not explained further.

As for Final Fantasy Type-0, Square Enix has set the release date as October 13 in Japan and the game will price at ¥7700. No US release was announced.

Source: 1UP

Although based on the written works of Andrzej Sapkowski, CD Projekt’s The Witcher proved to be a saga of its own, in no small part from its virtually unprecedented post-release overhaul. Launching to high expectations, The Witcher II: Assassins of Kings quickly loses some steam thanks to early gameplay and interface issues. Sticking with it, however, reveals a complex, sophisticated narrative about big decisions and long-term consequences. Even saying that sells the game short. This is, simply put, one of the best stories the genre has produced in a long time, so if you play games and want to get help to finish these games easier,  using resources as iwantcheats could be helpful.
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In a press release today, Square Enix announced the various goodies it would have on display at Comic-Con in San Diego. Attendees will have access to playable previews of Dead Island, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Final Fantasy XIII-2, and Wakfu. Two one-hour panels will also be devoted to Dead Island and Deus Ex. The press release in full can be read here, and Comic-Con begins this week.

Additionally, another site launched by Square Enix suggests that FFXIII-2 will be on display in Seattle and New York later this year. The site, Word to Your Moogle, lists the dates as August 26-28 for Seattle and October 13-16 for New York, but has little else in the way of information.

And to cap the evening off, how about some nice, relaxing media? Don’t get up; we deliver. Here’s what we’ve got for you: Class of Heroes 3DS, Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Frontier Gate, Noora to Toki no Koubou, Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime 3, and Rune Factory 4.
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We return! Yes, it’s time for another episode of everyone’s favorite news broadcast, with “everyone” defined as “everyone involved in its production.” Well, some of us like it. Pretty quiet this week, I think everybody’s just playing catch-up since the flow of new releases is now something approaching a manageable rate. Anyway, here’s what’s going on:

• Electronic Arts formally purchases PopCap Games and sets hefty profit expectations.  Cue Godfather quotes in three… two…
• Meanwhile, Zynga also attempted to buy PopCap for a cool billion-with-a-b in cash.  When asked where it came from, Zynga coughed and nervously changed the subject.
• Text referencing the 360 is found in Windows 8 code, fueling speculation of how the OS relates to the console.  A bigger question is whether Microsoft has anything real to warrant the upgrade.
• Sony gives an interview about the PSN fiasco, proving once and for all that history was made to be forgotten.  “Great learning experience,” indeed.
• Speaking of interviews, 2K Games sends out a man to make a hideously bad music analogy in a bizarre attempt to defend X-Com‘s FPS reboot.  Ray Charles and Kanye West?  Seriously?
• A Seattle videogame consultant gets banned from the internet by Comcast, someone is preparing to make a Space Invaders movie, and I wake up surrounded by concerned paramedics.  And it’s all this video’s fault!

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