RandomNPC – Video Game RPG Reviews, Editorials, and Features

Earlier today, BioWare announced via their social network that a Mass Effect movie is officially in development.  Community coordinator Chris Priestly delivered the announcement, stating that Legendary Pictures (The Dark Knight, 300, Watchmen) acquired the rights to the film adaptation of the game series; on BioWare’s part, Ray Muzyka, Greg Zeschuck, and Casey Hudson have signed on as executive producers.

The announcement, which can be ready in its entirety here, did not specify how many people will get punched in the face.  Estimates are fairly high, however.

SEGA America announced via blog that the next portable installment of the Phantasy Star series will reach US and European retailers later this year.  The aptly-named Phantasy Star Portable 2 is slated for a Fall release on the PSP, though an exact date is not yet known.  However, other details were revealed: the game follows three years after the story missions in Phantasy Star Universe, and will allow for both competitive and four-player co-op gameplay online.

In an update on their official blog, Lionhead revealed that Fable III will launch on the PC alongside the 360 version, with both due out this holiday season.  Apart from retail outlets, the game will be available for download through Games for Windows Live.  Additionally, the 360 version will have a Limited Collector’s Edition costing $79.99, which includes an exclusive quest and location, a set of Fable III playing cards, a guild seal coin, a unique outfit for each gender, and a new dog breed.

The LCE has not been confirmed for PC, though Windows players will have access to downloadable content.

More information about Final Fantasy XIV‘s world has been revealed through the official website.  Of particular note are new details about the city-state of Limsa-Lominsa with sections detailing how grounded ships became major landmarks and improvised centers of government.  Guild information for the city has also been added, covering pursuits from the culinary to the criminal.  Lastly, a world map is now available, appropriately enough, under the “World” section.

Still waiting on the ability to feed a moogle some kupo nuts, Square-Enix.  Just throwing that out there.

Coming straight from XSEED is the announcement of a partnership with Japan-based developer/publisher Nihon Falcom, with the intent of bringing the latest three installments in the Ys series to the PSP.  The ports of the titles in question – Ys Seven, Ys: The Oath of Felghana, and Ys I & II Chronicles – will see a US release, though no date has been announced.

The deal also allows XSEED to release the next three chapters in Falcom’s Legend of Heroes series, the Trails in the Sky trilogy.  As with the above Ys games, release dates are not yet known, though the titles will be brought to the PSP for North America.

The downloadable content machine rolls on.  Next up for Mass Effect 2 is a multi-mission storyline dubbed Overlord, which apparently involves battling through a laboratory and other facilities in an attempt to shut down an enemy AI; on the Normandy this is known as “Tuesday.” (more…)

Coming straight from Bethesda’s blog, the contents of the Collector’s Edition for Fallout: New Vegas have been revealed. In a move sure to delight the six people that dumped their stat points all into luck, the CE keeps the gambling theme and contains the following: (more…)

Title says it all. Natsume just announced that the DS-bound Harvest Moon: Grand Bazaar is set for a July release, with the game expected to show for the first time at E3 in June. In addition to the usual raising animals and harvesting crops to build up their town, players are tasked with running a store and selling items raised from their farms. The game will have a multiplayer mode, allowing players to trade items between each other.

As with prior Harvest Moon games, Grand Bazaar comes with a preorder bonus in the form of a plush horse when ordered through GameStop.

BioWare has just revealed the latest downloadable add-on for Dragon Age: Origins. The tellingly-named Darkspawn Chronicles puts you in control of a hurlock vanguard, responsible for carrying out the whim of the Archdemon and leading the darkspawn against the human nation of Ferelden.

The bullet points suggest some kind of alternate history is at work, exploring what would happen if your Warden didn’t survive their Joining. Unlike previous content, Darkspawn Chronicles is a standalone adventure, though it does unlock an item for both Origins and Awakening.

The content is set for a May release, though an exact day has not been stated. Further information can be found on the Dragon Age website.

What often separates a good adventure from a classic one is whether it leaves you immediately wanting more. So it is with last year’s Dragon Age: Origins, a game sometimes hampered by technical and balance problems but broadly acclaimed for its storytelling and depth of character. The first proper expansion for the game, Awakening is at once familiar territory and new ground, taking established lore and mechanics from Origins and making smart additions to both. Small but recurring issues keep Awakening from ever quite stepping out of Origins‘ shadow, but it takes a lot less time to do much of what Origins did right. (more…)

More details have come out regarding some of Fallout: New Vegas‘s features, and some will look rather familiar to followers of the Fallout 3 modding community. Of particular note: (more…)

An Atlus press release revealed the earth-shattering news that preorders of Persona 3 Portable will get a hat modeled after that of character Junpei Iori. (more…)

NIS America has just launched the official website for Trinity Universe, their upcoming collaboration with Idea Factory and Gust. The site can be found here, and it helpfully reminds us all that the game will hit shelves sometime this June.

As the title may have possibly hinted, upcoming Capcom RPG The Last Ranker has just been dated for a Japanese release on July 15. Coming from the official site, the game will retail in both standard and limited editions, the latter of which is available solely through e-Capcom. For an extra 400ish yen (standard is ¥5,990) players get a 48-page booklet of character illustrations, while both versions of the game will contain a soundtrack CD with bonus piano, violin, and cello compositions of in-game tracks.

Source and translation: Adriasang

In an update to the official website, Nintendo and Monolith Soft released details about three of the main characters for Xenoblade. Apparent frontman Shulk is hitting the books looking for ways to fend off the enemies attacking his hometown, presumably through the use of Monado, the sword for which the game was previously named. Dunban is a hero of the Homs tribe and the current wielder of Monado. Fiorung is Dunban’s responsible sister, and she fills out the obligatory childhood friend role for Shulk.

Xenoblade will hit shelves in Japan on June 10. Safe money says Fiorung will hit Shulk at least once, either due to a comical misunderstanding or because she’s too stubborn to admit she likes him.

Translation: Adrienne “Sicondera” Beck

The battle system behind The Last Story, Mistwalker’s upcoming RPG, got a little more detailed courtesy of a recent post on the developer’s blog. Three tidbits are of particular note: (more…)

A preview of the upcoming Fable III was featured in the Official Xbox Magazine released over the weekend. Among the other bits and pieces discussed was one extremely curious new feature, that being the ability to get airquotes-intimate with another player over co-op. This includes having and raising a child down the line, possibly ruling the kingdom as king and queen, and piping in Barry White at opportune moments over voice chat.

In a related story, the non-existent website Days Since Fox News Complained About Video Games has announced that it is ready to roll its counter back to zero. Its sister fake site, Days Since Someone Referenced Robes and Wizard Hats, issued a statement that it plans to do the same.

Source: OXM UK

In their ongoing bid to acquire every last dollar, yen, euro, and neo-shekel on earth, Nintendo announced the upcoming release of Pokemon Black and Pokemon White. The Japanese website for the games also went live and can be found here; the teaser image indicates the release period is Fall of this year.

The Japanese website for NieR Gestalt and Replicant has been updated with track listings and samples (courtesy of their YouTube channel) from the soundtrack. The tracks and samples can be found under the information sections, and the soundtrack will hit Japanese stores on April 22. Gestalt itself will be out the following day in Japan, with the Japanese-exclusive Replicant due on the 24th.

The US release, simply known as NieR, will launch on the 27th.

Source: RPGLand

The official Xenoblade site has just been updated with, among other things, a Japanese release date and more details about the game world.

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