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Okami prints now available, celestial brush not included
A limited edition run of high-resolution fine art prints based on Capcom's Okami are now available for purchase through digital art specialists Cook and Becker. Each print is hand-numbered and comes with a certificate of authenticity. None of them were painted by a sun goddess who takes on the form of a wolf with a paintbrush tail, unfortunately. Not familiar with Cook and Becker's work? It's the art dealership behind the "museum-grade" prints featuring the fungal apocalypse from The Last of Us and the futuristic landscapes of Mirror's Edge and the Mass Effect series, plus many more. The Okami prints range in price from $80 to $130, while frames can add upward of $200. We hope you've already got plenty of pennies saved up though, as the sun has already set on several prints, which is a slightly poetic way of saying sold out. [Image: Cook and Becker/Capcom]
Mikami: Vanquish designed with more mainstream appeal than God Hand
If Platinum Games's Vanquish looks less like the idiosyncratic weirdness we've come to expect from Platinum Games, and more like something targeted at the core games market, well, it is. "We're definitely going for something a little more massmarket that will appeal to a wide audience," producer Shinji Mikami told Edge. Mikami specifically contrasted Vanquish with God Hand, a PS2 brawler he created at Clover Studio. "I've released a lot of titles before," he said, "and I feel that, perhaps specifically with regard to God Hand, I was given too much freedom to make that game just as I liked. It didn't sell too well." While we understand Mikami's desire for commercial success (like he had with the Resident Evil and Devil May Cry games), we'd suggest that the only people who need to change their decision-making process in response to God Hand are the ones who didn't buy God Hand. %Gallery-87352%
Japanese gamers want Persona 4, Phoenix Wright anime series (and so do we)
Japanese gaming pub Dengenki recently polled its readers on what series they'd like to see translated into anime form. The Top 10 list looks nearly exactly the same as our own wishlist: 1. Persona 4 2. Phoenix Wright 3. Okami 4. Kingdom Hearts 5. Idol Master 6. Metal Gear Solid 7. Yakuza 8. BlazBlue 9. Persona 3 10. Atelier Rorona Atlus' PS2 RPG Persona 4 tops the list, managing to beat out some big names like Kingdom Hearts and Metal Gear Solid. Perhaps the success of Persona: Trinity Soul reminded readers that the franchise works in serialized TV format? While we'd certainly like to see another Persona anime, an adaptation of Phoenix Wright seems like a no-brainer. Capcom, are you reading this? [Via Andriasang]
PSA: Go buy Okami for $20 at the Capcom Store
It's okay, we can wait. Just head over to the Capcom Store and buy your copy of Okami right now. It's only $20. What's that? Oh, yes, that price applies to both the PS2 and Wii versions. Seriously, Capcom lowered the price to $20. We know, right? What? You say you haven't even played Okami yet? You'd better hurry up and buy it before someone finds out. It's okay, we won't tell anyone.
Have a brush with Okami for $25
More lovely Okami art here. Here's a bargain you should wolf down with a quickness: GameStop is currently selling Okami for the low, low price of $24.99.We're a tad late to this one (we are reliably informed it's been at this price for a few days, so you should definitely tell us this in the comments, perhaps adding "lawl old"), but when a game as great as Clover's masterpiece is so cheap, it doesn't harm to remind you again. Also, by providing fifty hours plus of entertainment for under twenty-five bucks, this is the perfect game for a recession! See also: Ready at Dawn talks Okami with Wii Fanboy%Gallery-16485%[Via Go Nintendo]
Check the mail: Okami covers finally ship
Just in time for you to have traded the game in three weeks ago, the replacement covers for the Wii version of Okami have finally shipped. If you can cast your minds back to late April, you'll recall when the video game blogging gods tricked Capcom into accidentally hiding the IGN logo on the box art for the game. Though Capcom made quick work of announcing a fix, the replacement covers haven't been so speedy, but, thankfully, jilted fans should be receiving them any day now. %Gallery-30569%
The Okami goofs continue: Clover contributions pulled from Wii port end credits
Poor Okami for the Wii. You just can't seem to get good press, whether it be through your hilarious advertising or more hilarious boxart (at least we got a pretty neat fix, though!) Now, the game's director, Hideki Kamiya, is upset that Clover's contributions to the game were cut from the Wii title's ending credits.Trust us, we're not trying to poke fun, because, and we'll be complete honest here, we want to have Clover Studio's babies. We loved those guys and every project they had their hands on. And, even if it's a Wii port, we think him and other Clover staff members that worked on the game should be credited. Capcom doesn't think so, however.Since the end credits were all one movie (which had the Clover logo at the end of it), Capcom decided to pull the entire credits. They claim that they had no access to the original source file for the logo, so they couldn't just pull that. If you ask us, that sauce is kind of weak, because in this day and age, the ability to quickly transfer information between parties is widely known and Capcom could've easily picked up a phone and called whomever they needed to. Also, there's, uh, e-mail.If you want to see the original ending credits, cruise past the break.%Gallery-16485%
Clover staff credits cut from Okami Wii, original director 'shocked'
Posting on the official blog of his new studio Platinum Games, Okami director Hideki Kamiya, who developed the original PlayStation 2 version with the now defunct Clover Studio, addresses (in English) Capcom's "incredibly disappointing" decision to cut the original credits. Capcom says the cut was made because the original staff roll, which is a pre-rendered movie, contains the Clover logo (at the very, very end), and since Clover was not involved with the Wii port directly, Capcom had "no right" to leave the old logo. Capcom claims it couldn't remove the logo (at the very, very end) because it didn't have the source file. What, couldn't pick up a phone or fire off a few emails? Kamiya explains that it's not simply the removal of his name and the staff names from the credits that upsets him. "Of course, we all have pride in our work; we all want to stand up and say 'I made this!' Yet more importantly, I find it extremely regrettable that the omoi that went into the staff roll is gone from the game as well." (A translator's note explains "omoi" is "best defined as a combination of thoughts, emotions, and messages.") Kamiya stresses the importance of this post-game omoi, specifically describing the relevance of Okami's original credits in relation to the epic length of the game. "It was a special staff roll for a special moment," writes Kamiya. "And now it is gone." Jeez, after the watermark debacle, Wii's Okami seemed transformed into a "comedy of errors." Now it's just a true tragedy, huh? [Via Kotaku]
IGN watermark on Okami Wii strategy guide cover
Lightning does strike twice, and by lightning we mean botched cover art. The Okami Wii box cover wasn't the only victim of the IGN watermark, as it turns out the BradyGames strategy guide also proudly displays the blemish. The automatic reaction to this information would be, "Well, duh! They got the cover from Capcom. So, of course, it'll be there too." Funny thing: The watermark is actually in a different spot. However the error occurred is up for speculation. We just hope this little fiasco urges publishers to supply its designers with the assets to do their job properly. Or, designers should feel free to take assets from us with the Joystiq watermark on them. We totally give permission!
Wii Warm Up: Watermarkgate
Capcom did a very admirable job of making up for an error that nobody but snarky bloggers actually cared about. A lot more people cared once we found out that beautiful replacement artwork was available! We wonder, however, how many people actually cared -- how many people were offended who either bought Okami twice or dutifully held on to their Nintendo fandom, firm in the belief that Okami wouldn't be any good without waggle? For us, it was just a few seconds of lulz. We didn't hold anything against Capcom or anything, except that, of course, we would have preferred Wii Fanboy watermarks to IGN's.
Capcom fixes Okami boxart goof awesomely
The Okami boxart issue discovered this week, or Watermarkgate, could have been a huge embarrassment for Capcom. Instead, it's become a totally great situation for everyone who bought the game. Capcom announced via their blog that any Okami owner can receive a free replacement boxart in one of three styles. One is just the normal boxart with (presumably) less IGN advertising, but the other two are beautiful art pieces with no Wii box design conventions.So not only do you get amazing new boxart free from Capcom, you also have a highly collectible "error" art. And there's probably something inside the box, as well -- maybe a game or whatever.%Gallery-16485%[Via Capcom Blog; thanks, Roto13!]
Capcom offers box art 'redemption' for Okami Wii
Capcom has responded to the Okami Wii box snafu by offering replacement cover artwork "to better reflect the artistic nature of the game," which we presume is a more professional way to say "to better remove the reflection of the IGN watermark." Head over to the Cover Artwork Redemption page (yes, they call it redemption) to fill out the form and choose one of three designs, including a "redesigned" version of the original. Previews for the other two replacements are shown above. The offer is free and an email confirmation from Capcom states the cover art will be shipping "in the next few weeks."
Uh-Ohkami: Capcom botches Okami Wii box art, inadvertently advertises IGN
With all the work that goes into the designing, writing, and programming of a game (especially for a title as hotly anticipated as Capcom's waggle-infused port of the PS2 under-appreciated gem Okami), we assumed that there would be one person at every video game publisher who would give the final retail packaging a once-over, keeping a keen eye out for any typos, printing errors, or hidden watermarks from popular video game news sites. Then again, maybe that's just us. As is the unfortunate case with the Wii Okami box art -- NeoGAF user Bob Digi discovered that right above a permanent "sticker" promoting the game's high score in Play magazine (an unsightly blemish in its own right) sits a fairly clear IGN watermark, the result of the artwork's background being photoshopped from an image on IGN's Okami PS2 site. Then again, perhaps the game underwent some serious changes in its Nintendo transition, and now features protagonist Amaterasu traveling throughout feudal Japan, devouring the logos of major gaming news sites. [Thanks, Riven.]
Chance meeting at Game Developers Conference led to Okami Wii
Our waggle-loving friends at Nintendo Wii Fanboy had a chance to sit down with Didier Malenfant, Ready at Dawn's president and co-founder, to talk about the developer's port of Okami for Wii (also dubbed "Okam-Wii"). Malenfant talked about, among other parts of the porting process, the origins of the project -- turns out it was a chance meeting with Capcom's Christian Svensson at a Game Developers Conference party. Behold the power of an industry-wide networking opportunity, folks.
More like Whoa-kami
Capcom has made another set of lush, gorgeous Okami concept art available, and again we're awestruck by the beauty of the game's design. Stuff like this is how we always imagine "next generation" games to look, rather than the shinier, browner look new games are going for now. Even though we had plenty of time to gawk at Okami back on the PS2, we're still amazed by it now.The latest set of art displays Okami's beautiful environments, which put the backdrops in games that are not Okami to shame. If these don't make you want to play the game, then you have probably just completed Okami within the last day or so.%Gallery-16485%
Okami Wii-treats to April 15
Initially "driving towards" a March 25th release,Clover Studios' swan song, Okami, is now set to arrive a few weeks later. Gamespot conveys Capcom's official release date of April 15, allowing Okami a bit of extra breathing room between it and mega-title Brawl. Capcom didn't give an explanation for the "delay," but it's worth noting that Wii port developer Ready at Dawn just had its hands full getting God of War: Chains of Olympus out the door. So, go ahead and make the Wii version of Okami a Tax Day present to yourself -- you deserve it. %Gallery-16455%
GDC08: Okami -- wider is better
Click for full resolution image, in all of its 480p glory. Ready at Dawn's upcoming Wii port of Okami is gaining some weight. It's wider than its PS2 predecessor, and filled with so many p's. 480 of them, in fact. Wii owners with progressive cables will definitely want to check out these first direct-feed images from the upcoming port. The PS2 version was already stunning, but having these extra pixels should make it look even more vivid than before. Okami is due out March 25. %Gallery-16455%
Okami Wii shines with new widescreen, progressive scan support
Contrary to what has previously been stated, the Nintendo Wii port of Okami will have some extra frills. A listing on Capcom's website reveals that Clover Studio's masterpiece will now support widescreen (16:9) and 480p progressive scan support. That should give you more than enough reason to finally splurge on some Wii component cables. Developer Ready at Dawn, who is responsible for the port, had previously said the game would be an "exact port" with only Wii remote support added during brush stroke moments. While this isn't new content, the technical improvement is a welcome addition to this visually stunning title. Okam-Wii (not an official title) is due out March 25.
Okami Wii-ports for duty on March 25
You people should be thanking Ready at Dawn for providing you with a means of escape from the unforgiving and surprisingly creative torture we had planned for all Okami skippers. By purchasing the "exact" Wii port of Clover Studios' beautiful swan song when it releases on March 25th (the date Capcom says it's "currently driving towards"), you'll earn yourself a chance at redemption. And by the time you're actually playing it on March 26th (the intro is a bit on the long side), you'll thank us for pointing you to the best Zelda game in years.
Shinji Mikami + David Lynch = development heaven?
You may know Shinji Mikami not by name, but by project -- he's one of the main creative forces behind games like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, and the strangely forgotten about Dino Crisis. He's left Capcom and is currently an external board member on the newly formed SEEDS studio, born from the ashes of Clover Studios. What's surprising is that prior to Clover's closing, he actually formed another, private development team called Straight Story -- named after the crazy David Lynch movie. No worries, any projects he releases will carry the SEEDS brand, so there shouldn't be too much confusion there.As an aside, Mikami apologized for the multi-platform-itude of Resident Evil 4 and how he knew some people bought a GameCube just for that game... then it came to PlayStation 2. It seems like he harbors a little resentment towards Capcom... probably why he left.Anyway, Mikami told Famitsu that he's currently working on a couple of projects, but there won't be too much released about them until well into 2008. However, he plans to show something around summer regarding a project he's working on with the fellas that churned out the psycho-trippy Killer 7. Wonder what he's cooking up?
