RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Addressing the official Final Fantasy XIV forums, producer Naoki Yoshida announced some of the upcoming changes with the latest version.  Of particular note is a move away from guildleves as a central mechanic, which Yoshida openly admits is a retraction from prior statements about the system.  Replacing them will be actual quests, as has been requested by fans for some time.  Leves will still be available, but are being repositioned more as solo content: a quick and optional means of character building in between more time-consuming adventures.  Details about the changes to the system are bulleted below: (more…)

Via press release, XSEED has announced that Solatorobo, a DS sequel to the PSone-era Tail Concerto, will see a US release in September.  The voices remain in Japanese and the localization will see only minor tweaks from the European version.

Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada fielded questions recently at the company’s annual shareholder’s meeting.  The questions covered a curious selection of topics, including the following: (more…)

Sony Online Entertainment announced recently that the other Star Wars MMO, Star Wars Galaxies, will be shut down by the year’s end.  The game will no longer be for sale starting September 15, with no further subscriptions sold and no new or reactivated accounts allowed in.  The company plans to run a “galaxy-ending” event to send the game off in December, with further details to follow.

The announcement can be read in full on the official Galaxies website.

A good evening to all of you! My apologies for the lateness of this update, suffice it to say it’s been a busy week on this end. Still, there’s just enough time for a news rundown, so let’s get at it. Tonight, we talk about the following:

• PopCap is looking for a billion-dollar acquisition, and EA looks to be the buyer.  Why fight Zynga when you can pay others to do it?
• Streaming game service Gaikai teams up with WalMart to let you play game demos online through your browser.  Bandwidth-capping ISPs are going to love this.
• An internal newsletter reveals Eve Online developers debating the merits of microtransactions.  The internet’s response: casual and relaxed.  So very, very relaxed.
• Rumors are a-circulatin’ that Xenoblade Chronicles might not make to America.  Europe is stunned by the possibility of being the lucky ones this time.
• Namco-Bandai admits that Microsoft paid them $Texas to keep Tales of Vesperia on the 360 in the west.  Hmm… you think that’d get Valkyria Chronicles 3 over here?
• Microsoft also plans to use Kinect for interactive advertising on TV and in games.  Oh goody, more of the opposite of what I wanted!

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Bethesda announced via official blog that Old World Blues, the next downloadable content for Fallout New Vegas, will be released on July 19. Prior to release, New Vegas will see a title update to provide support for the content and to address performance and stability issues.

No word was given on a timeframe for Lonesome Road, the final planned DLC originally set to launch sometime in July.

Playing the original Command & Conquer has reminded me of the bizarre rituals and alchemy one must do to get old games working. I know not what sorcery allows the screen resolution window on the desktop to keep the colors in-game from getting scrambled, but you can’t argue with results.

And speaking of alchemy, we’ve got some media for you: Atelier Meruru, Grand Knight’s History, Noora to Toki no Koubou, and Over My Dead Body. Check it out this-a-way! (more…)

Via press release, Square Enix announced that an art exhibition in New York City will feature works centered around the world of Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Starting July 28, the event is being hosted at the Wooster Street Social Club and will run for two weeks. Both well-known and emerging artists will have their creations on display, with proceeds from all sales to be put towards “supporting further education in the arts.”

The press release and a list of the artists who will be present can be read in full here.

Valkyria Chronicles 2 had at least four major hurdles to clear: deliver a second helping of the first game’s quirky strategy and action; adhere to the cartoony, yet charming and often beautiful aesthetics; tie it together with a strong narrative; and do it all with the PSP’s hardware. It doesn’t quite clear them all, as it is saddled with competing partial stories and lingering smaller issues from its predecessor. However, VC2 expands intelligently on existing mechanics and smoothly adapts the engine to the portable platform so much that it feels right at home. (more…)

Hey people, it’s that time again: time to wish it wasn’t Sunday and we all didn’t have to get up in the morning.  But as long as we’re putting off sleep, how about we gather ’round and talk news for a while?  In today’s episode:

• The Great Hacking Bonanza of 2011 continues at a startling pace, including Sega, BioWare, and the CIA as some of the latest targets.
• Amidst this, rival hackers try to unmask each other: LulzSec vs. th3j35t3r vs. Anon vs. everybody else.  Where’s Thunderdome when you need it?
• A new Kinect accessory makes it more useful in tight quarters, promising a rash of broken furniture and appliances in small apartments the world over.
• Miyamoto: At present, the Wii U is a one controller to one console deal.  Maybe we’ll let you hook up a 3DS or something, we’re not really sure.
• Rock Paper Shotgun regales us with the story of a man trying to trademark the word “edge.”  Seriously, read the whole thing if you have the time.
• Speculation on the console wars to come, a game company disappears from the face of the Earth, an idea fit for a Duke, and much more!

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So close to all D’s, yet so far. In a press release today, Square Enix announced that downloadable content for Dissidia 012 Duodecim is now available on the PlayStation Network. At $0.99 per purchase, the content ranges from additional outfits to background music packs; the latter including music from previous Final Fantasy games. The full list of options is available here.

Director David Silverman, by way of his Twitter feed, announced that Mass Effect 3 would feature the female Commander Shepard more prominently in advertising. Specifically, he confirmed that the company is working on a trailer featuring FemShep, and she will be on the boxart of the Collector’s Edition alongside her male counterpart.

Evening, folks! Hope you brought your appetite for media, because we have, shall we say, generous portions. In today’s update: Cardboard Troopers, Dai 2 Ji Super Robot Taisen OG, Dragon’s Crown, Final Fantasy XIII-2, Grand Knight’s History, Hyperdimension Neptunia Mk2, Pandora’s Tower, Tales of the Abyss 3DS, Tales of Xillia, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Dig in! (more…)

Howdy-ho, people! It’s time for the news, and what, oh what could we possibly have to talk about? Let’s get right to it:

• Microsoft: KINECT KINECT KINECT KINECT!  KINECT? KINECT!! Also, shooters, most of which you already knew about.  That said, the Tomb Raider game looks right up my alley.
• What MS didn’t say: cloud storage for Live data, profiles available through any 360, and Blackwater (yes, that Blackwater) is getting a Kinect-equipped shooter.
• Sony: Sorry for the inconvenience of having your data stolen of the outage.  We hope you’ll accept this modest 3DTV bundle price as compensation.
• More Sony: PSVita revealed, priced at $249-299 US dollars.  Let the handheld wars recommence!
• Nintendo: ZELDA ZELDA ZEL- okay, enough about the Wii.  Here’s some 3DS stuff.  Alright, enough of that.  New console time!
• Wii U: See all the stuff you can do with the controller?  No, the controller’s not the console.  No, we don’t have anything ready yet.  Look at the controller!
• EA and Ubisoft’s conferences, notable absences, and more!

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Speaking at Sony’s press conference, Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, announced that an unnamed title in the Bioshock universe will appear on the NGP/PS Vita.  Levine indicated that this would be a new story, although little else was revealed.

Mandatory viewing for all Deus Ex fans.

Howdy folks!  Getting busy around here before E3, but we still have time to wrap up the news. Let’s break it down:

• Groupon joins Zynga, PopCap, etc. in preparing to go public, despite not actually making a profit.  We should make a drinking game out of this.
• A huge preview build for Deus Ex: Human Revolution got leaked to the internet.  To everyone’s surprise, nobody minds.  File that under “did not see coming.”
• Interplay teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, as they seemingly have for years now.  But don’t worry, Fallout Online is gonna be here any day now!
• Dueling digital distribution services: Gamestop automatically charges for re-downloading “insurance,” which its competitors give away for free…
• …while EA launches its own DD network coincidentally named after one of the studios it absorbed.  Oooh, awk~waaard.
• E3 pre-conference projections: Nintendo’s new hardware, Sony’s image problem, and Microsoft’s Kinect… stuff.

In addition we have some late-breaking news that didn’t make it into the recording: NPR and NECN.com reported that not only was Nintendo hacked, but they were hacked by the same group that’s been plaguing Sony recently.  No data was stolen in the Nintendo hack, but the group, calling itself Lulz Security, has claimed responsibility for an attack on Sony Pictures that resulted in a million more users’ personal information.

From where I sit there’s actually a fairly clear line between exposing a company’s lackluster security procedures – which Sony is clearly guilty of – and releasing sensitive information for all to see.  The second Robin Hood starts shooting random people and telling them to blame the authorities for failing to protect them, he’s lost the argument.  I don’t see the Nintendo hack changing the game much, although I’d put money down that these ongoing hacks are going to draw more attention than LulzSec might like.  Much as it pains me to admit, life isn’t Shadowrun, and when the feds come knocking the game’s pretty much over.

And now, on with the actual episode.  Enjoy!

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Evening, people! No fanfare this time around, just the media. Here’s what we have today: Atelier Meruru, Dai 2 Ji Super Robot Taisen OG, Growlanser 4: Overload, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Nero Climax, and Tales of the Abyss 3DS. (more…)

With at least one MMO – actually two – already on its plate, Square Enix has revealed that a new online property is in the works. Little is known, though CEO Yoichi Wada has mentioned the company plans to run another MMO alongside Final Fantasy XIV. This title is already in development, and Wada hinted that a proper announcement will take place sometime before the end of the fiscal year.

Commenting on FFXIV, Wada says more work is needed but the company is “at the point where they can see the target.”

Source: 1UP

Namco Bandai announced this week that Tales of Xillia will see a September 8 release in Japan. Retailing separately at ¥8,379, Xillia will also be packaged in a special PS3 bundle that includes the game and a custom-colored system for ¥37,980.

Source: Andriasang

The latest trailer for Deus Ex: Human Revolution was released today, showing a bit more gameplay and hinting at Adam’s personal stake in the proceedings. Check the full thing out care of IGN or YouTube. And now, back to my media blackout so I can go into this game with as little hype as possible.