Archive for February 2nd, 2007
Hot Flashes: The Life Ending Adventure
The Japanese title is Jineseiowata no Daibouken and it’s one of the most maddeningly hard platformers I’ve ever had the good fortune to play. I’d seen mention of it pop up on the Web earlier this week, but my weak keyboard skills left me confused and frustrated until I caught wind of an Insert Credit write-up on the game, which made it a little easier to understand, no easier to actually play.
It’s a straightforward jumping/shooting platformer a la Mega Man (from which it borrows its sound effects) with minimal ASCII graphics. Rich with in-jokes, there’s a lot to discover, if you have the skills.
Having difficulty? Check out this YouTube clip, but be wary of spoilers. Try to get as far as you can first.
Have fun!
The Life Ending Adventure [via Insert Credit]
Microsoft Brings Square-Enix Shooter Stateside?
In one of IGN’s recent Mailbags, one of the IGN editors made a throwaway comment that had big implications—for me, personally, and for any other space shooter fans looking for something to fill the void on their Xbox 360s. In response to a reader question about Square-Enix licensing the Unreal Engine for future development, this sentence was nestled deep within.
Project Sylpheed, by way, is coming to the US and Microsoft is publishing it — though I am not sure it uses the UT engine.
Well, I’d say that’s good news! The game, developed by Game Arts and SETA was released in Japan last September to a cool reception from Famitsu (29/40) but seems to have been a hit with fans. It’s reminiscent of the old PlayStation series Colony Wars, but with extra anime flavor and prettier explosions.
Okay, MS. You’ve convinced me. I’m jumping in.
Square Enix and Unreal Engine - IGN Mailbag [via NeoGAF]
Project Sylpheed Official Japanese Site
Dan Aykroyd Talks Ghostbusters Game
Boy, the upcoming Ghostbusters game already has quite the storied, confusing history—especially for a game that hasn’t been announced. Let’s recap quickly. YouTube videos surface. Fearing further disappointment in life, we doubt they’re real. Turns out they are. We rejoice. Then, Sony supposedly pulls the plug.
Now, it appears that the game is indeed on, regardless of whether current developer Zootfly is at the helm. According to Dan Aykroyd (aka the Ghostbuster’s Dr. Ray Stantz):
Universal purchased the rights from Sony for a game. I’m actually going to have to perform and do some motion capture for them. That will be next year.
Well, that about wraps that up. A Ghostbusters game is coming, but not before some time next year, if Aykroyd’s dates are to be believed.
Dan all about blues & booze [Edmonton Sun]
Dan Aykroyd to appear in Ghostbusters game [Gamespot]
Spectrobes Screen Smorgasbord
Here’s a handful of screenies and box art from Buena Vista Games and Jupiter’s original title, Spectrobes. That sexy group shot? Why that’s the Jupiter team.
Lost Planet Pricetag? $40 Million
According to today’s Forbes profile on the company that published Keiji Inafune’s epic shooter, Capcom is in deep about forty million bucks getting Lost Planet out the door, on store shelves, and into the minds of gamers.
Forbes details Capcom’s executive VP of publishing in North America and Europe Mark Beaumont and his efforts to shake up the company’s marketing. In the case of Lost Planet, advertising and awareness came to a cool $20 million. Combined with a $20 million development budget and you’ll see where that $60 you plop down goes.
So where did that twenty mill go? Theater advertising, the two Xbox Live demos, TV spots, community funding—it all costs money. Apparently, a lot of money.
Found Planet [Forbes]
Sega Announces Universe At War
Sega has announced that they’re bringing the Petroglyph developed real time strategy game Universe At War: Earth Assault to the PC later this year. The development house is responsible for Star Wars: Empire at War, the well-received Star Wars RTS title from LucasArts (natch) that hit store shelves last February.
The game looks great and all that—check our gallery below—but when Sega announces an RTS, I’m hoping for a game based on the great ChuChu versus Puyo war that’s often being played out in my head.
WORLD DOMINATION AT STAKE AS SEGA ANNOUNCES UNIVERSE AT WAR: EARTH ASSAULT FOR THE PC
The Future of Earth Hangs in the Balance in the Next Epic Real-Time Strategy Game from Petroglyph, Makers of Star Wars: Empire at War
SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON (February 2, 2007) - SEGA® of America Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced the development of Universe at War: Earth Assault for the PC. Developed by Petroglyph, this combat-intensive real-time strategy (RTS) game enlists players in an epic struggle to prevent total alien domination of planet Earth. Universe at War: Earth Assault is scheduled to ship to retailers in North America and Europe in the Fall of 2007.
Universe at War: Earth Assault is set in the near-future when multiple factions from across the galaxy have come to Earth to wage epic warfare. Containing numerous features and customization options never-before-seen in the RTS genre, Universe at War: Earth Assault will create an exceptional strategy experience for single-player and especially multiplayer battles.
“Universe at War: Earth Assault will surpass the limits of what gamers expect to see in an RTS game,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President of Marketing, SEGA of America, Inc. “Petroglyph has a proven pedigree of critically acclaimed RTS title creation under its belt with team members that have worked on the original Command and Conquer and Command and Conquer: Red Alert. Universe at War: Earth Assault will be the culmination of years of development expertise in creating exciting and innovative RTS titles.”
Universe at War: Earth Assault will employ a unique balance system called “Tactical Dynamics” that allows players to retrain and customize units in the midst of battle to better cope with enemy forces and tactical situations. Weaponry and defenses can be modified in true real-time to take advantage of constantly shifting battlefield conditions. Fully customizable tech trees will allow players to control the development of technologies that they deem key to victory.
Battles in Universe at War: Earth Assault will be large in scope and take place in malleable and deforming environments. Deadly sci-fi weapons and alien powers will allow players to destroy cities and whole territories on a global scale. Because the world of Universe at War: Earth Assault is persistent, players will be able to revisit previous battlegrounds to find them still smoldering in ruins.
Featuring innovative multiplayer modes inspired by popular massively multiplayer online games and competitive online playable titles, Universe at War: Earth Assault will give players achievements, rewards, and medals in a balanced environment to further encourage players to move forward in the game. Players from around the world will battle in persistent-style online campaigns for ultimate faction supremacy across a virtual representation of the Earth.
For more information on the game, please visit www.sega.com/universeatwar.
About SEGA® of America, Inc.
SEGA® of America, Inc. is the American Publishing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The SEGA® of America Web Site is located at “http://www.SEGA.com” www.SEGA.com.
About SEGA® Europe Ltd.
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Publishing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops, publishes and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. The SEGA® Europe Web Site is located at “http://www.sega-europe.com” www.sega-europe.com.
# # #
More PS3 Firmware Fun
PLAYSTATION 3 owners looking to get online were greeted with a new firmware update today, bringing the system software up an extra hundredth of a point to 1.51. So what thrilling changes are in store for those of us looking for new enticing functionality from our PS3s?
This, apparently.
New for 1.51: Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.
Err. What? We’ve heard reports of some PlayStation 2 software backward compatability issues being resolved, but those aren’t listed in the official changelog. We’ll see if we can get to the bottom of what “expanded” support we can now enjoy.
PLAYSTATION 3 System Software Update
Feature: Disney Finds Tradition With Spectrobes
Somewhere along where the bullet train glides and down past where Suntory distills whiskey, lies Kyoto. If Tokyo is in charge of keeping things new and modern, Kyoto bares the burden of upholding the old, the traditional. It’s a crisp, warm morning in late January as I hop in a taxi. It’s a four dollar train ride from my house to Kyoto. The cab’s gonna be slightly more expensive, but I was told Disney would reimburse.
First up, meet with Buena Vista Games PR. Then head over to Jupiter Corporation to check out their new joint DS title, Spectrobes. Jupiter is the studio behind Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Mario’s Super Picross and the upcoming It’s A Wonderful World. The company has gone from a three man team working out of a beat-up, run-down apartment to its current incarnation in just 15 years.
For Disney, a company that has relied on its own movies for game ideas, this is their first original game. There are no established characters, no mice and no ducks for it to rely on. And for the 100 employee strong Jupiter, its biggest title to date — An entirely new game backed by Disney.
We arrive in Kyoto’s Fushimi area. We being me, Anoop Gantayat from IGN and some gentleman from Play Magazine. I didn’t get his name, because he never gave it to me, but he seemed friendly enough. With him is a rotund Japanese photographer. There’s William Barns, who does localization and translating for Jupiter as well. We clomp out of the station, down a street towards a covered shopping street.
It appears that Jupiter Corporation is located across from the bullet train and the car ride. A camera crew appears. They are going to film b-roll someone says, but I’m not paying attention. We enter a building, climb out of the elevator and take off our shoes. There’s a room in the back. I do a quick inventory: Refrigerator, microwave, cardboard boxes, CRT television, Wii, three Wii games, Spectrobes posters and a table covered with canned and bottled drinks.
There was a press event yesterday in Tokyo. Jet-lagged and cranky, I missed it. Buena Vista’s Kentaro Hisai is bringing me up to speed. Jupiter guys are scurrying about trying to connect the DS to a Samsung screen. No luck.
“The screens are so small, we gotta get friendly,” he says, scooting his chair close. He gives a quick plot run down. In short: Set in the future. An evil species called the Krawl is attempting to take over. Planetary Patrol Officers Rallen and Jeena dig up an extinct species called “Spectrobes,” the Krawl’s enemy. These fossils are re-animated and used in a battle to save the galaxy.
There are 24 base type creatures, which can then evolve into 127 different types. Adding items and customizing the creatures brings the grand total to over 500 monsters. Ensuing Pokémon comparisons are inevitable, if not warranted. Though, there is something fresh about the game, something that keeps it from Poké-clone territory.
DS connected to the Samsung screen!
In-game, both screens are in 3D. We’ve seen this before, but it’s still nice to see it again. Graphic Designer Kouji Kiriyama explains: “We wanted to show the entire field as you played.” Kiriyama is wearing a bandana. Spectrobes director Aguru Tanaka is not and adds, “DS games usually run at 64 frames per second. To make the both screens in 3D, we had to run each at 32 frames per second and then alternate between them as they run.”
I count the people in the room. There are 14.
To find the fossils, players scour planets. A small Spectrobe follows the player and to scan the ground, simply press the touch screen. If blue sparkles appear, then there is a mineral to be unearthed. Yellow sparkles indicate that there are fossils. Touch the screen again and begin the excavation.
Press the “L” button to scan the fossil or mineral. There are an array of tools for digging. Some of them are more powerful and can accidently destroy whatever you’re digging up.
“You’ve got all this debris. What do you do?” Hisai asks me.
“Get a vacuum,” I retort.
“Good idea, but no. You blow.” He blows at the mic, and all the debris is dusted off the rock.
Oh, right.
Hisai pulls out a fossil — A fossil for a creature that the game’s Planner Koji Arai doesn’t seem to have heard of. Arai asks what the fossil is, and Buena Vista’s Hisai tells him. Arai kinda sits there, hands on hips, thinking. He looks over at the posters off all the monsters. Still thinking out loud. Someone locates the monster on the poster. Oh, of course!
I give it a go. Start clearing off rock and promptly destroy the fossil. Another go, and start gingering unearthing the stone. Once you clear 95 percent of the fossil, you can unearth it. Easy, it’s not, but fun. We’re told that the remains haven’t been placed randomly, and it’s hinted at that fossils are usually located behind rocks or next to trees.
After you’ve got your fossil, you take it to the ship and put it in an awaking chamber. Then scream at the DS for three seconds to awaken it. Perfect for train gaming! After that, give the creature a name.
I count the drinks on the table. There are 12. We are two drinks short. Somebody’s gonna be thirsty.
The Creature Planner (capitalize?) Kyouske Sakaya says that the creatures were inspired by traditional Japanese art. That was the design motif. He elaborates;
“You know, Kyoto has been around for many generations. Seeing these traditional things definitely has influenced me. We would go to temples and gather ideas.”
Later, Buena Vista’s Hisai chimes in: “We have two thousand years of history that people still are interested in. People haven’t forgotten. It’s popularity isn’t waning.” Hisai is wearing a camouflage Mickey Mouse shirt.
Jupiter has been working on this title for two and a half years — one and half of it being actual production. Sure, the game wasn’t something they took to Disney, but something Disney asked them to make. But they’ve put in insane hours to finish it and figure out things like ad-hoc WiFi. The bandanna guy actually ended up in the hospital, apparently from overwork.
We’re shown plastic cards that can be used with the game. There are little numbered holes in the cards. Pplace them on the screen in order and press in the holes with your stylus to unlock a monster. The cards are slightly bigger than the touch screen.
One of the other journalists asks if there are plans to franchise Spectrobes like Pokémon, spin it off until oblivion. The attitude on both the Disney and the Jupiter appears to be wait and see how the game does.
“How much are the cards?” I ask.
“Free.”
Four of them will be included with the game, and extra packs will be distributed for free at retailers. They’re still ironing it out. Some creatures are available only via cards. So add cards to monsters and the DS, and Spectrobes seems to have every base in kiddy hit covered.
The meeting wraps up. Slowly. We trade business cards, and the team stands against the wall with posters, because they make a better background than a fridge, microwave and cardboard boxes. The rotund photographer snaps off a flurry of shots, and we all shuffle over to the door. The bottled and canned drinks sit on the table untouched.
There’s a lunch planned, but I politely decline and make my way up the shopping arcade towards the train station. Alone. There’s a convenience store, and I duck in for something to drink. Make my way over to the register, where there’s a display for a Tokyo Disneyland campaign. I pay for my drink and leave.
Scumbags Swipe Cancer Victim’s Xbox 360
Bone cancer victim and high school varsity basketball player Jeffrey Cota is off the court, but kept his game going on his Xbox 360. That is, until he underwent surgery in Boston and had his 360 stolen from his home by three (alleged) sons of bitches. Two have been arrested, with a third expected in the clink soon, say police.
So what good could come out of a basketball career ending illness and a home robbery? The kindness of strangers (duh)!
When his parents broke the news about the theft, in the same breath they were able to say somebody has already donated an Xbox to you with enough money to replace all the games.
Man, that kid is SO lucky. Just kidding. That’s not funny at all.
Thanks for the tip, Michael.
2 arrested in theft of Xbox from cancer patient [Boston Globe]
Japanese Retailers: Used 360s > Used PS3s
You might think that no one in Japan wants an Xbox 360. But you know what they want less? The 20 GB model of the PLAYSTATION 3. Mega retailer Sofmap is only giving 27,000 yen cash to folks trading in a used 20GB PS3…
…and 27,500 yen for a used Xbox 360. This is what you might call a raw deal for resellers, as the 20 GB model of the PS3 retails for 49,980 yen, while the 360 goes for a much cheaper 38,980.
Mock Sony’s choice to limit European PLAYSTATION 3 sales to the 60 GB model, but maybe they’re right.
Thanks for the tip, pokemogu.
Shhh: Today’s hottest game video: Zelda secrets
Filed under: Hacks, Nintendo Wii, Adventure
Spoiler alert. Today’s video pick is a GameTrailers tour through Twilight Princess secrets. The fanboys have surely won this game at least once by now, so the video will either show tricks they can recreate on their own, or they’ll feel smug knowing they handled the game perfectly the first time.
If you haven’t bested the Zelda game yet, know that you’ll never be able to un-watch the surprises after the break. Do you have the willpower to finish exploring the game first?
Continue reading Shhh: Today’s hottest game video: Zelda secrets
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Today in Joystiq: February 2, 2007
Filed under: Nintendo Wii
Joystiquery
Lost Planet Photochop contest: the best of the rest
Japanese hardware sales, Jan. 22 - Jan. 28: fear the facts edition
Joystiq profile: Dueling Analogs’ Steve Napierski
The Political Game: Industry should distance itself from Columbine game
Today’s flight simmiest video: Vulcan - BlackBuck raid test in Falkland/Malvinas flight sim
News
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl smash sales records in Japan
Xbox 360 Achievements policy amended
Mass Effect release date spotted on official Xbox site
Mass Media joins THQ family
WipEout sequels on PS3, PSP inspiring PlayStation Network growth
Nvidia: saying graphics don’t matter is ‘nonsense’
Konami announces Dance Dance Revolution: Hottest Party for Wii
Konami Gamers Day Media Blowout
Sega announces Universe at War: Earth Assault
Aussies get 360 HD DVD March 29 for $249 AUD
SplitFish details PS3 force feedback tech
Swim. Eat. flOw.
Rumors & Speculation
PlayStation 3 1.51 update fixes Blu-ray pausing?
Culture
Conan takes on Serena in Wii Tennis
Game Trailers: The 10 most anticipated games of 2007
Wii + DJ = WiiJ (Duh!)
Permalink | Email this | Comments
What Are You Playing This Weekend?
Now that the Wii is in the house, the Wario Ware mini-games are all unlocked, the Wii Sports novelty has worn off, what’s a gamer to do? Finally unwrap that $4.99 copy of Metroid Prime 2! It’s actually already unwrapped and I’m about two hours in, but that’s pretty much all I’ll be doing this weekend.
Likewise, the DS, with a copy of Castlevania Portrait of Ruin sits waiting by the throne, itching for a fifteen minute sit-down play session.
Other than that, I’ve got a copy of The Warriors (the movie) waiting to see the inside of my PLAYSTATION 3. That about does it for me. What are you, the comment access enabled masses, planning on firing up this weekend?
Ubisoft Bringing Senko no Ronde For 360 Over?
Released last summer in Japan for the Xbox 360 and summarily over-pimped by yours truly, G.rev’s hybrid shmup-fighter hasn’t shown up on any Western release lists. Until now.
Listings for Senko no Ronde Rev. X, published by Ubisoft, have appeared on mega-site Gamespot and multiple North American online retailers. All list different dates in May but all peg Ubi as the publisher.
Coincidence? Of course not! We await comment from Ubisoft but know, deep in our hearts, that our localization prayers have been answered.
DDR Parties On The Wii
We saw this one coming a mile away. DDR enthusiasts around the world are going to have to learn some new moves, now that Konami has announced Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party for the Wii. Using the wiimote and the nunchuk (Kung-Fu Fightin’ better damn well be included), Hottest Party goes beyond fancy footwork to include arm movement as well, much like was seen in Wario Ware’s dancing level, only more complicated. Music from the past four decades will accompany up to four players dancing in synch, or horribly, horribly out of synch. I except YouTube to be flooded with videos once this little number hits the streets later this year.
Wii gets ‘Hottest’ DDR yet [GameSpot]
Nintendo Valentines
Nothing says I love you like a rectangular printed sheet of inkjet paper containing romantic message from a random Nintendo character. The folks at Play-Nintendo have realized this, and in honor of Valentine’s Day they are creating new special printable cards every day until the 14th, each containing a different Nintendo game personality. So far they’ve featured Samus, Tingle, Tom Nook, Link, and my personal favorite so far, Navi, seen left.
The cards range from eh to pretty amusing, and are probably the best way to tell a gaming friend that they are worth 1/6 of a piece of paper and some ink. I really wouldn’t recommend giving one of these to your significant other, as Play-Nintendo suggests, unless you are 8 years old or in a special ed program, which oddly enough covers a large portion of our readership. Not you, of course.
Nintendo Valentines [Play-Nintendo]
Swim. Eat. flOw.
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Action, Online, Simulations, Video, Rhythm
flOw’s migration onto PlayStation 3 has been a slow evolutionary process. But as promised, Sony has delivered the game trailer (above) to PlayStation Store on time, suggesting that flOw itself is also on course; now set to arrive near the end of the month. Is it time to start considering Sony’s service as a viable player in the downloadable (casual) games space? Or do we wait for Calling All Cars?
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Japanese hardware sales, Jan. 22 - Jan. 28: fear the facts edition
Filed under: Nintendo DS, Nintendo GameCube, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Business
With the majority of consoles still showing a decline in sales this week, it has become abundantly clear that Japanese gamers have finally identified what’s most important in life — that would be living. This realization is, of course, accompanied by a strong need for these enlightened gamers to distance themselves from that which most threatens their ability to live.
Indeed, gaming poses what is perhaps the greatest danger of all to our fragile society and our defenseless youth. If those emotionless red arrows could convey any sort of directive, it would be to cast down your controllers and run away as fast as you can. The evil of gaming is directly responsible for putting your life in danger! If you don’t believe us, believe the statistics presented after the break.
- DS Lite: 194,526 
66,879 (52.39%)
- Wii: 83,754 
2,641 (3.06%)
- PSP: 35,700 1,332 (3.60%)
- PS2: 20,995 826 (4.10%)
- PS3: 19,996 1,109 (5.25%)
- Xbox 360: 7,365324 (4.60%)
- Game Boy Micro: 1,177 687 (36.86%)
- GBA SP: 1,023475 (31.71%)
- Gamecube: 347 207 (37.36%)
- DS Phat: 8241 (33.33%)
- GBA: 34 60 (63.83%)
[Source: Media Create]
See also: Previous Japanese hardware sales charts
Continue reading Japanese hardware sales, Jan. 22 - Jan. 28: fear the facts edition
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Is That A Spartan In Your Pocket?
Big news for Halo fans looking for something to do in case the power goes out. WizKids games, creators of HeroClix, Mage Knight, and Pirates series of collectible miniatures games has announced an agreement with Microsoft and Bungie to create Halo ActionClix. Supposedly playing much like HeroClix, the first set will include over 80 unique figures, along with preview content from Halo 3. Also in the works are vehicle packs, including “a big surprise planned for San Diego Comic-Con this July.”
Speculating on that big surprise should keep those excited by this news occupied until the first preview figures hit in July, followed by an expected September launch of the full blown game. I’ll be spending my time trying to guess how many different colored Spartans are being included in the 80 unique figure number.
WIZKIDS ANNOUNCES HALO ACTIONCLIX COLLECTABLE MINIATURES GAME [WizKids.com - Thanks Jay!]
SplitFish details PS3 force feedback tech
Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Peripherals, Business
See, whatcha do is, take a big ole’ fish, split that sucka, stuff a buncha SixAxis parts in his belly, sew ‘im back up, smash a couple buttons thru his eyes, then glue the rest of ‘dem necessities on – and BAM! You should get ’bout two minutes of force feedback…
As it turns out, SplitFish’s SensorFX technology isn’t quite as sophisticated as we imagine above. The Edmonton tinkerer explains that its version of force feedback uses no moving parts, but is capable of delivering a range of sensations throughout different locations of the controller — okay, but can you also eat it once the “battery” is dead? SensorFX apparently features two distinct modes, one for games that already support force feedback, and one for games that don’t; yes folks, it just takes a guess, and rumbles away.
SplitFish also confirms that it has not yet previewed its latest technology for Sony, as Sony spokesman Dave Karakker indicated earlier this week. SplitFish made no further assumption about the possibility of SensorFX being incorporated into a future version of Sony’s SixAxis, but did reveal plans to work with both game publishers and hardware manufactures (maybe Nintendo and Microsoft want in too, maybe) in an effort to gain multi-platform support for its patent-pending force feedback invention.
[Via press release]
Permalink | Email this | Comments
