Disgaea-3
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Disgaea 3 getting free DLC in Japan
Nippon Ichi hasn't released Disgaea 3 in America yet, but Japan is already getting its first taste of DLC for the popular SRPG. On April 25th (that's today in Japan), ten more playable characters will be added to the game. According to Siliconera, "If you clear the game and Mao's level is higher than one of the additional characters he/she will join your party. One character joins at a time and Nippon Ichi has not announced what level Mao needs to be to recruit any of them."Unlike DLC in many other games, this update will cost absolutely nothing. Free. Hopefully, NIS America will be just as generous when this title eventually makes its way stateside.
Joystiq interview: NIS America talks Disgaea 3's PS3 move
As we mentioned earlier this week, we recently had the opportunity to grill the folks at niche publisher NIS America regarding Disgaea 3, a game that represents not only the third in the company's most popular franchise, but also the first to be released on the PlayStation 3. It's a series we have enjoyed since its debut in 2003, but we wisely decided to keep our enthusiasm for the sequel in check – after all, the point of the visit was to find out exactly why NIS moved the series to the PS3, a decision that has summarily divided the company's existing fan base like a tsunami bomb. To find out the what, why and how, we turned to company marketing guru Jack Niida for an explanation, and in the following interview he talks localization, the move to a new platform, and even the possibility of moving Disgaea to another console. For the complete scoop, read on.%Gallery-4958%
PS2 not powerful enough to handle Disgaea 3
Disgaea 3 certainly doesn't look "next-gen" at first glance. However, Nippon Ichi swears that this title simply wouldn't be possible on any other platform. Marketing coordinator Jack Niida, commented about the game's sprites, and the complexities they feature:"It's simply because PS2 lacks the processing power and memory capacity to support Disgaea 3," Jack told Joystiq. "PS2 could not load the same amount of data on to memory and process it like the PS3; therefore, we decided to develop it for the next-gen platform." He added that "the character sprites for Disgaea 3 take 3~4 times the amount of labor to create compared to Disgaea 2," and the team is "doing our best to improve the sprites."Regardless of the fidelity of the graphics, there's something truly charming about this upcoming strategy release. The series' trademark humor certainly goes a long way in compensating for any visual shortcomings. Gallery: Disgaea 3 (PS3)
NIS America: PS2 lacks the power to run Disgaea 3
How important are graphics in the scheme of game design? Do they trump audio? Level design? Gameplay? Peer pressure probably dictates that we downplay the importance of graphics, but the impact of eye candy cannot be understated. Anyone believing differently need only take a cursory glance at comments made by readers in reaction to news that NIS America would bring the third game in its popular console strategy franchise Disgaea to the PlayStation 3 this August. The reactions were made not to the game's release date, but rather to the title's appearance, which despite calling Sony's latest console home, look very much the part of a last gen release. Recently we caught up with the publisher's marketing coordinator Jack Niida, and asked him a number of questions about the game, including just what's the deal with Disgaea 3's lack of visual fidelity. "It's simply because PS2 lacks the processing power and memory capacity to support Disgaea 3," Jack told us. "PS2 could not load the same amount of data on to memory and process it like the PS3; therefore, we decided to develop it for the next-gen platform." He added that "the character sprites for Disgaea 3 take 3~4 times the amount of labor to create compared to Disgaea 2," and the team is "doing our best to improve the sprites." While you mull over that justification, and decided if it's enough of a reason to continue to look forward to Disgaea 3's release this fall, look for our complete interview with NIS America later this week. %Gallery-4958%
Disgaea 3 to power level for PS3 this August
Tactical strategy game fans may not know much about art, but they know what they like, and in less than five years developer and publisher Nippon Ichi has done more to strike a chord with this audience than most game companies do in a lifetime -- thanks in no small part to titles like Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Phantom Brave, and La Pucelle: Tactics. Without question the Disgaea franchise has become the calling card of both Nippon Ichi and its North American publishing arm NIS America, and for most it was not a question of if, but rather when the series' third entry, which shipped in Japan in January, would make the trip overseas. Now NISA has confirmed that the game will be released in North America in August, bringing the series' unique blend of humor and strategy to the PlayStation 3. Sure it may lack the high-defness we're used to seeing in our PS3 games -- honestly it still looks the part of game we'd expect to play on the PS2 – but what Disgaea 3 lacks in eye candy we can be sure it more than makes up for in ridiculous grinding. %Gallery-4958%
Disgaea 3 cameos discuss who Mao's parents are
Here's a treat for all you hardcore Disgaea fans. It's actually kind of funny if you understand Japanese. See, Mao, the main character of the third title is interrupted in his quest by Laharl, Etna, and Flonne, from the first Disgaea game. Laharl says Mao is his son, but Flonne and Etna can't agree on who the mother is. It goes on for a bit, but ends up being a big joke -- and boy is Mao's face red!We're excited to get this game in English already. We're sure the whole situation would have been oodles more entertaining if we understood it better.[via SiliconEra]
Feeling a bit Japanese today? The Disgaea 3 intro knows how you feel
Are you ready for some hilarious Japanese antics? The intro sequence for Disgaea 3, which releases in Japan this month, has been found online and it's certainly ... amusing. The strategy RPG series is well known for its cutesy anime art and this video has buckets of the stuff. Not to mention a J-pop tune to go along with it. There's no release date for the game outside of Japan, so chances are you might have to import this one. Having said that, Disgaea 1 and 2 for PS2 both made it to America and Europe, but they did take over 6 months to do so.[Via NeoGAF]
Get ready for some sprites: new Disgaea 3 trailer
The reaction to the upcoming PS3-exclusive Disgaea 3 has been mixed. Some Nippon Ichi fans are glad to have yet another iteration of their famed SRPG series. However, others are critical of the game's lackluster visual presentation. At first glance, the game looks like a PS2 game -- albeit, running in HD. We love the flashier spell effects, but we wouldn't complain seeing higher resolution sprites. The style is impeccable, but the tech behind it simply doesn't follow suit. PS3 fans with access to the Japanese PSN can also download this trailer to their PS3s through the Store.
Disgaea 3 screenshot extravaganza
If you've been wondering what Disgaea 3 will look like on your HDTV, we've got a gazillion new screenshots to frisbee throw at you. Yep. The sprites are still the low-res generally-recycled stuff from the last generation of consoles, but they do look like they've been softened up a hair. The level design is still quite basic, but totally smooth. NIS isn't taking home any trophies for graphics, but it's always been their gameplay that grabbed us. This will probably succeed in that, so the fact that we privileged PS3 owners get first dibs is icing on the cake. We've also received word that a release date for the addictive strategy RPG has been set -- January 31, 2008 is the date for Japan, so if you're an import-savvy fellow, there's probably not much you'd miss besides the humorous dialogue. If you've played the previous games, you'd be able to figure this out. Just a few more throwing options and monster fusions. Oh, and be sure not to choke on any pretzels and die. The Netherworld would miss you.
Brand new Disgaea 3 trailer
SRPG fans have their faces contort in strange ways when they hear Disgaea. Some say this weird anomaly is called ... a smile? This brand new trailer for this PS3 exclusive is a bit blurry, but shows some of the biggest special effects this "next gen" sequel features. It's weird seeing such small sprites being rendered on a system as powerful as the PS3 -- let's hope Nippon Ichi puts it to great use.
Disgaea 3 website opens its doors to the mortal realm
As the Prinnies would probably say, "Welcome back to the world of Disgaea, d00d." Then they'd probably explode or something. Anyhow, Nippon Ichi has opened up the official Disgaea 3 website, detailing bits of the story and pictures of characters ... you know, the usual website-related stuff. Our problem is, as usual, our inability to read kanji and most things Japanese. Despite that, we're sure the text is tantalizing and obscurely humorous and we can't wait to read more of it in English when the title hits the PS3 sometime next year.
Disgaea 3 scans reveal mad scientist main character
The first ever Japanese magazine scans for the upcoming PS3-exclusive Disgaea 3 have surfaced on the internet. In them, we see the series' trademark art style come into play again. The cast has changed from the previous two games. The forlorn individual at the bottom is Mao, and he looks to be a crazed scientist of sorts. The official site for Disgaea 3 will open on September 21st (isn't that around the time of Tokyo Game Show?). Hardcore Disgaea fans will want to mark their calendars, knowing that trailers and screenshots are bound to shower upon them on that day. [Via NeoGAF]
Disgaea 3 goes to school ... and PS3
Hardcore RPG fans are all weeping somewhere, grateful that Nippon Ichi has announced a new Disgaea game -- and it looks to be exclusive for PS3. The sequel, which is planned for 2008, doesn't appear to make any "next-gen" visual enhancements for the series, but we don't think Disgaea fans will care. As long as this sequel will retain the charm that we've come to expect from the franchise, we believe fans have a lot to look forward to. [Via IGN]
