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Recently revealed Vita games already cancelled (good thing they were fake!) [update]
Update: It turns out that three of the games were fakes made by a 4Chan forum user, though Monster Hunter 3 is still listed on Play.com. You got us, forum dude! And we're sorry.Original piece: Play.com has outed Monster Hunter Portable 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Nights, Tales of Innocence R and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD for PlayStation Vita via an early listing, as listed by Eurogamer. The leak confirms the western releases of Monster Hunter Portable 3, Final Fantasy Type-0 and Tales of Innocence R, all of which have previously launched on various Sony platforms in Japan. Vice City Nights is an unannounced title.Sony is hosting the PlayStation Vita Game Heaven on March 9, and we have a feeling that it just might include these titles.
Sony to remaster select PSP titles for PlayStation 3, allow cross-device continuous gameplay
As much as you love your PSP, we suspect that its low graphics definition is starting to bug even the most devoted fans. Sure, you can wait for the almighty NGP, but for the time being, Sony's offering the next best thing for you game connoisseurs: the PSP Remaster series for PlayStation 3. As the name says for itself, Sony will be porting select portable game titles to the PS3 in high-def Blu-ray flavor, and some may even come with new add-on content plus stereoscopic 3D support. But that's not all: gamers will also be able to share game save data between the two platforms, meaning you can pick up where you left off on your preferred device. Pretty neat, though it'll be interesting to see how much Sony and the studios wants to charge for what are essentially the same games you already own. The first PSP Remaster title announced is Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, but this is only heading to Japan at an unknown date -- gamers in other countries will just have to keep squinting at the PSP for now.
'PSP Remaster' series coming to PS3 in Japan, starting with Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
In the wee hours of the morning, Sony Computer Entertainment announced a program which could make several of its popular properties even more profitable: A "PSP Remaster" series, which will port select PSP titles to Blu-ray on PS3. The first entry in the series, which has only been confirmed for the Japanese market, is Capcom's bone-collecting action-RPG Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, which will be infused with a booster shot of "more gorgeous and vibrant" visuals. The series' press release announcement says these PSP ports will be completely compatible with their portable counterparts, allowing players to transfer save data between the two versions, or play with nearby friends using ad-hoc mode on the PS3. The press release also mentions that some games might feature "new add-on content or stereoscopic 3D support" -- however, no other games or North American launch details have been announced. We've got our fingers crossed for some timely E3 elucidation.
Capcom web show shows off Captivate 2011 titles
Capcom Japan PR and Marketing exec Ryosuke Hagiwara recently used an episode of his web show, Hagi Toko, as a platform to show off some of the company's games demoed at Captivate 2011. Catch a glimpse of SSFIV: Arcade Edition, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D and more in the video posted below!
Monster Hunter again captures 'center stage' in Capcom 9-month fiscal report
At this time last year, Capcom was thanking Monster Hunter Tri for helping the company boost its 2009 year-end financial results. Today, Capcom heralded the monstrous shipments of Monster Hunter Freedom 3 that closed out 2010 and propelled the publisher's profits up nearly 300 percent in a nine-month period. During the first three quarters of its current fiscal year (which ends March 31, 2011), Capcom netted ¥6.836 billion (nearly $84 million) in profit -- up from just ¥1.731 the same period the year before. Sales of "Consumer Online Games" (what we call "video games," excluding mobile content) were the driving force, totaling ¥54.057 billion ($663.6 million) -- a bit more than 76 percent of total sales for the business, which includes arcade and amusement ("slot machine") operations. Joining Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (currently only available in Japan), Capcom noted three additional "million-sellers" in the nine-month period (April–December 2010): Dead Rising 2 (with more than 2 million units shipped); Super Street Fighter IV (1.6 million units shipped "mainly to Europe and the United States"); and Lost Planet 2 (1.5 million sold -- "though the figure was less than [the] projected shipment"). During the period, Capcom also worked on "rebuilding the development departments comprising our core competence" in an effort to shift greater resources to its mobile operations, with specific focus on social gaming. Sales of "Mobile Contents" for the three quarters amounted to a modest ¥2.383 billion ($29.25 million), led by a bevy of iPhone releases and some "positive surprises," including the popularity of The Smurfs' Village on Facebook. And Capcom hasn't even accounted for all the MaXplosion press in January yet!
Oh no, it's real-life Monster Hunter food
Japan's insatiable hunger for Monster Hunter can only be cured with ... actual food, inspired by Monster Hunter. Chain restaurant Anrakun is preparing a special menu of four dishes inspired by Capcom's multiplayer hack 'n slash, including a "cow bone" (pictured left) and boney sausages (pictured right). These delicacies are not cheap, going for 609 yen each (~$7.38). These limited-time promotions are quite common in Japan, creating a niche kind of tourism. We're guilty of taking part as well, having gone so far as to review Monster Hunter-branded ramen.
Metal Gear Solid sneaks into Monster Hunter once again
Solid Snake's struggles against enemies 4,000 times larger than himself are far from over -- Capcom and Konami have teamed up once again to put Metal Gear Solid characters into Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. Check out Snake above and The Boss below, both of whom will hit Japan on January 22.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd on track to be Capcom's top-seller in 2010 fiscal year
Capcom has shipped another million copies of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, bringing the total to four million since the game's December 1 release in Japan. It's not only the PSP's fastest-selling title ever, but looks to be Capcom's top-selling title of the 2010 fiscal year (ending Match 31, 2011). The publisher previously announced that the game had become the "fastest-selling game in Capcom's history," and according to the company, Monster Hunter series sales have now reached 17 million units sold. Capcom has also noted that Monster Hunter Portable 3rd has reached the four million–shipped milestone in one month, a feat that took Monster Hunter Freedom Unite two years to achieve. Portable 3rd has yet to be announced for release outside of Japan.
PSP is Japan's best-selling console of 2010, Pokemon Black/White the top game
You could probably guess the two best-selling games in Japan this year: Pokemon Black and White and Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. The DS monster collecting adventure and the PSP monster murder adventure sold 4,734,064 and 3,163,750 units respectively, according to a year-end report by ASCII. Monster Hunter managed to finish in second place after less than one month of sales -- it was released on December 1. It should come as no surprise, given the blockbuster status of those two, that the DS and PSP were the best-selling hardware platforms in Japan as well. The PSP was the only console to show growth in sales versus 2009, selling 600,000 more consoles than the previous year. 2,719,544 DS systems were sold in 2010, down a million from 2009. Find out how other systems did, and see the rest of the top ten best-selling games, after the break.
Capcom: Monster Hunter Portable 3rd ships 3 million in Japan, 'fastest selling game in Capcom's history'
Japanese retailers are clamoring for copies of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd -- but you already knew that, right? The game has shipped another million copies since we last checked in (bringing the total up to three million), and Capcom now claims that Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is "the fastest selling game in Capcom's history." It's also the publisher's "fastest selling PSP title to date," though we imagine most of the competition for that milestone comes from other Monster Hunter games. Capcom plans on extending the game's sales by pursuing a handful of promo campaigns in Japan -- events like "amusement installations located in metropolitan areas" and "large-scale promotions designed to maximize user participation." Large scale promotions .... because of the big big dragons, you see. In the game.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd underwear captures genitalia
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is apparently the fastest selling PSP game ever, so everyone strip down to your official MHP3rd skivvies (available in Japan this month) and dance around. Andriasang has more of Portable 3rd's product tie-ins.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd ships 2nd million units in Japan
Capcom announced today that its Monster Hunter series is still capturing the attention of Japanese gamers, as Monster Hunter Portable 3rd -- which will go by the international title Monster Hunter Freedom 3 -- has shipped two million units during its first week in the region. According to Capcom, the franchise has sold over 15 million units since 2004. Wii-exclusive Monster Hunter Tri did well in the region, but clearly not as well as its portable counterpart. There's currently no announcement of when portable monster hunters outside of Japan can get their 3rd fix.
Metal Gear infiltrates Monster Hunter Portable 3rd
Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker featured nonsensical Monster Hunter content, so it should come as no surprise that Monster Hunter Portable 3rd returns the favor. Well, we say that, but seeing The Boss in Monster Hunter is a shock no matter how prepared we thought we were. The PSP port of Monster Hunter 3 will include armor to make your male or female character look like Snake or The Boss, respectively, along with Metal Gear-inspired costumes for your Felyne companions -- who can now hide in cardboard boxes (just like our cats). The cognitive dissonance is a free, unadvertised bonus.
Monster Hunter Portable 3 gets updated PSP with improved analog stick
Sony has announced another special edition PSP to coincide with the upcoming release of Monster Hunter Portable 3rd. Like previous special edition PSP systems, it will come branded with art. The black and gold system will be available in Japan on December 1st, just in time for the Christmas rush, with a 19800 yen price tag. But, unlike other PSP bundles, this special edition will come with updated hardware. Unique to this iteration is an improved analog stick that should be more comfortable for extended Monster Hunter sessions. In addition, the hardware will come equipped with the (discontinued) Extended Life Battery. There will be a bulge in the system, but players will be able to game for hours longer than a standard PSP. Japanese gamers will be able to pre-order this system starting today.
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd coming to Japan in late 2010
When Capcom woke up this morning, it decided it would like to have roughly a bajillion more dollars by this time next year. It walked over to a secret panel in its foyer, slid it open and pressed a button inside, labeled "New Monster Hunter." A press release was instantaneously launched announcing Monster Hunter Portable 3rd, the next PSP-based entry in the franchise, due out in Japan in late 2010. The announcement heralds new monsters and areas to explore, an expanded "Felyne Comrade" system (we're pretty sure that's Russian for "cat friend") and improved co-op play. There's no word on plans for localization, but Capcom's been pretty diligent in unleashing the Monster Hunter series worldwide. You can get your first look at the outrageously large-sworded title in a trailer posted after the jump. [Thanks Krystian!]
