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Square Enix trademarks Mindjack and Mindhack in Europe
Square Enix appears to be covering its bases related to games with Mind as a prefix. As Siliconera notes, the company previously trademarked Mindhack in Europe and now has done the same for Mindjack in the region. Reportedly the major difference between the two trademarks is that Mindjack specifically mentions use in online video games. We're following up with Square Enix, but with E3 so close now, the company is probably stuffing its corporate press release piñata for the event. Perhaps the Mind- games will be stuffed in there with Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light details.
EU Harmony of Despair trademark hints at new Castlevania
Siliconera dug up a European trademark filed by Konami for something called "Harmony of Despair," and they correctly point out that it certainly sounds like another Castlevania game. Since the classic Symphony of the Night, Castlevania games are often subtitled with music-themed "X of X" titles, including Lament of Innocence and Aria of Sorrow, and the upcoming Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. There's no indication in the trademark exactly what the game will be (it's just marked as "video game software" and related services), and while Dawn of Sorrow, the series' first DS title, gave an acronymic hint to the system, obviously Harmony of Despair doesn't. Wait -- "H.D."? It must be for the rumored iPhone HD releasing later this year! Mystery solved!
Q Games working on '3D Space Tank' for Nintendo
Australia's OFLC has rated 3D Space Tank, which is apparently a new title for Nintendo by PixelJunk studio Q Games. Siliconera found the listing, but, beyond a generic name (which has never stopped the studio before), details are scarce. The studio has been producing games for DSiWare, but there's no clear indication at this time what platform this latest game is for. We've contacted Q Games for any details that it would like to share, hopefully the answer will be crisp and clear, not just a bunch of pixel junk. Update: Q Games is deferring to Nintendo.
Sega trademarks 'Let's Go Island'; possible 'Let's Go Jungle' sequel or port
On another trademark walkabout, Siliconera dug up evidence of Let's Go Island: Lost on the Island of Tropics and its European logo. The paperwork implies that Sega's arcade shooter, Let's Go Jungle: Lost on the Island of Spice, is apparently getting a sequel or console port -- if the trademark leads to action. The arcade version of Let's Go Jungle has two players sitting in Jeep-looking booth with mounted light guns. It's not a stretch to imagine an on-rails shooter for the Wii, as the console goes with those like peanut butter matched with slightly inaccurate chocolate. Check out a video of Let's Go Jungle -- and its amazing voice work -- after the break.
Bon Jovi wants you to live on prayer, buy Final Fantasy
Seeing as no fewer than three of Bon Jovi's four members are sporting bad cases of Final Fantasy hair, it makes perfect sense that Square would tap the band to promote Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers in Japan. According to Siliconera, ads for the game will begin airing later this month featuring the song "We Weren't Born to Follow." If you recognize the song, it's likely because it made headlines as Bon Jovi's record-setting 100th title that sounds like a douchey high school's senior class motto.
Siliconera breaks down PSP game prices: PSN vs. Amazon
Siliconera has gone through the effort of taking all the PlayStation Store's digitally distributed PSP game prices and comparing them to the current cost for a UMD hard copy through Amazon. The list is eye-opening, with the prices shifting -- sometimes dramatically -- between which retail outlet offers the better price. It should be noted that third-party retailers selling through Amazon, which are used for some of the prices in the list, can seriously skew results (especially with the shipping cost added). Sony had previously mentioned it seeks to maintain "pricing parity" between its digital and boxed titles. Go over to Siliconera to check out the full list. Oh, and if you'd like to see comparisons to retailers other than Amazon, why not offer your research services to them.
Silicon Valley company creating AO-only 'SexBox' console
It's been a while since we'd last heard the term "SexBox." Too long, in fact. Thankfully, Silicon Xtal Corporation is bringing it back, recently registering a trademark for the word first brought up surrounding the great Mass Effect sex debacle of 2008. According to the filing, SXC intends on making a video game system "which plays interactive Adult Only rated (AO) video game software titles." Considering only around 20 AO-rated titles even exist and no major game publisher currently publishes them, we were left wondering what exactly the business model here will be -- that is, until we read the rest of the description. In addition to specializing in AO games, the SexBox will also give users access to "AO content and entertainment in all other digital forms," which in this case means a ton of delivery methods. "Audio, video, HDTV, DVD, online, gaming, social networking, webcams, video on-demand, downloading, movie rentals, purchases ..." and the list goes on. Finally, somewhere to go for all the mature content we can get! Unfortunately, it appears that someone beat them to it.[Via Siliconera]
Producer: Wesker not returning to Resident Evil (yeah, right)
It's going to be difficult to be completely spoiler-free for this one, so fair warning. During a panel at Comic-Con, Resident Evil 5 producer Masachika Kawata was asked if Albert Wesker would return in a future Resident Evil title, considering Resident Evil 5 leaves you believing he's gone. According to SIliconera, Kawata says Wesker's days in Resident Evil are over. "Even if you want Albert Wesker to come back there is no chance of that happening," Kawata told the audience. Of course, Kawata forgets that Wesker will be seen in the upcoming Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, which takes place in Raccoon City during Resident Evil 2's storyline. As for Wesker going the way of the Dodo, we'll believe that when we see it. Or don't see him, we should say.
Way of the Samurai 2 Portable announced and dated for Japan
Originally released on PlayStation 2 back in May of 2004, Way of the Samurai 2 hit American shores by way of Japanese megapublisher Capcom. After bringing the first in the series to Japanese PSPs last year, the game's developer, Spike, recently announced in Famitsu that it'll be porting the sequel to the handheld. Unfortunately, while the PSP is region-free, we doubt it'll come with an English language choice for those of you interested in living out your dreams of roaming the Japanese countryside, fighting injustice at every turn. And though we asked Capcom for comment on an American release, considering the first one never arrived, we're not expecting much. Siliconera says the game releases in Japan on September 3 for around $40 (plus airfare).[Via Siliconera]
Sony patents more motion tech, uses everyday objects
We'd be lying if we didn't say we're a bit worried about the future of gaming controllers. Between the Nintendo's MotionPlus, Microsoft's Project Natal and Sony's ... erm ... motion thing, our precious game pads get more and more antique looking every day. And according to a recent patent filed by Sony that Siliconera found, our precious controllers have one more thing to fear: everyday objects. That's right, friends -- in the future, we could be using our real-life keys to open doors, our swords to slice up fools, and our guns (not outside of the US) to shoot up the screen "accidentally." The patent shows off a PlayStation Eye-based system that can recognize 3D objects and use them in-game based on various actions taken by the player -- something Microsoft claims it's Natal is also capable of doing. Various household items will be affected in different ways, the example given being a U-shaped object that, when turned upwards, becomes a sword, versus a U-shaped block when facing downwards (think Halo's Covenant Energy Sword). Apparently the system is able to scan a whole mess of objects and store them in a databank for future use. Like so much future tech we've seen recently, we're taking this one with a full truckload of salt until we get some face time.
Fitness Hero! Workout Hero! (Not from Activision, though!)
Trademarks for both Fitness Hero and Workout Hero have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Siliconera, which spends its summer afternoons looking up trademarks, found the listings aren't by Activision, but by VPT Technologies, an exergaming developer.We said it before -- when Gearbox Software registered War Hero -- doesn't Activision own the word "hero" in relation to any video game by this point? We know Activision is litigious -- even when it's wrong. Some attorney on retainer should be all over this.
New Korean PSP bundles inbound, ads include giant system and 'hotness'
Three new PSP bundles are bound for Korea, two containing the popular fighting title, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection. The Tekken bundle is available in with either a white or black system along with the game and a 4GB memory stick. The third bundle, called the DMB Pack, includes a South Korea-specific (Read: Not import friendly) TV tuner and 32MB memory stick and the unit. Wait, a 32MB memory stick? Is that still a thing? Each bundle is priced at 278,000₩ ($218 US).Oh, and as you would have guessed by the headline of this story, Sony is using a giant PSP with a teaspoon of sexuality to promote the bundles. Makes sense to us!%Gallery-67142%
Report: The Last Remnant sold better in the West, poorly in general
It seems as though Square Enix's attempt to reach out to Western gamers with The Last Remnant has done little in the way of olive branch extension, with the title selling 220,000 units since its release last year. According to Siliconera (and corroborated with info from VGChartz.com), the game sold even worse in Japan, where 360 saturation is notably low, moving only 160,000 units, making the game a relative success with Western audiences.That being said, combined worldwide sales for the game totaled just over half of a million units, with 560,000 selling altogether (more than 400k of which were sold in North America and Europe). Hopefully the acquisition of Eidos will do more for the Japanese company in the west than The Last Remnant did.
Square Enix's 'Vanguard Storm' is more Crystal Defenders, but not tower defense
It turns out that the Square Enix Vanguard Storm trademark from last month was merely the subtitle for another Crystal Defenders game, available now for $5 on iPhone and iPod Touch (there's a "lite" version to demo). Siliconera notes that Vanguard isn't a tower defense game, but a "monster blocking game," as evidenced by the video after the break. Instead of a tower defense game where enemies are on a path, Vanguard has enemies moving from left to right. The player is charged with adding the proper character classes to block the monstrous onslaught. No console releases of the game have been announced, but other Crystal Defenders titles started on mobile and moved to home consoles.
Nintendo's next step may be into the playpen
A patent filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office today tells the tale of an edutainment-laden future for Nintendo, reports Siliconera. According to the patent, the console maker's next property (properties?) may feature a mess of different learning tools aimed at young children, defined in the patent as, "toddlers and pre-kindergartners, and/or people with disabilities." The various ideas presented within the patent range from matching animal sounds with animal pictures to lessons in daily chores to building your first laser gun. Alright -- fine -- we made up that last one.Littered throughout the images included with the patent are a couple of familiar Nintendo characters (Mario and Pikachu), though, according to Siliconera, the report specifically mentions "television and/or licensed cartoon characters like Pikachu, Dora the Explorer, and Bob the Builder." Though this patent may have been filed, we want to remind you that none of these plans are by any means final and for all anyone knows, could be nothing more than what they are now -- ideas. One thing is for sure, no matter what happens, we all now know that Nintendo believes children to wear totally badass future shoes. Check out the gallery below for an extensive visual tour of what may very well be the next step Nintendo takes.%Gallery-48249%
PixelJunk packed 3-in-1 trunk for Asia
The PSN PixelJunk series will be bundled in the PixelJunk 3in1 Pack for the Asian market, reports Siliconera. The bundle will include Racers, Monsters and Eden. All games have English or Japanese language options, but there's no word yet if the disc includes the Monsters expansion or the Eden soundtrack.Although we've yet to hear back from Sony Europe, Sony America let us know that it has no "official announcements at this time about the PixelJunk series." If the region didn't deserve a hard copy for Siren: Blood Curse's 9 gigglebytes, what chance does PixelJunk have? Ending on a good note: at least PS3 games aren't region locked.[Update: Q Games president Dylan Cuthbert confirmed to Joystiq that this PixelJunk pack is Asia-only. "Right now, this special bundle is for Asia only."]
Echochrome hitting North American PS3s this Spring
Originally, Siliconera had reported that the upcoming perplexing puzzle game will be coming to North America sometime this Summer. Now, it seems, the real release date for the downloadable title will be sometime this Spring. Only the PS3 version of the game is guaranteed outside of Japan, however, as the PSP version's fate is still very much undetermined. Japan's PSP version of Echochrome will feature extra levels and features that the PS3 version will not, so we'd be very disappointed not to see these reach the West in some form or another.When asked whether the extra content could be released for the PS3 version as DLC the Sony PR rep responded that the feature list for the PS3 version had not been announced yet. With Spring swiftly approaching, we'd hope that an announcement regarding the game's features will be coming soon. We're far more likely to pay for the game if it's more than just a demo for a non-existant PSP game.
Wii's most popular VC games
Siliconera's Spencer Yip put together the handy-dandy spreadsheet you see above featuring the most popular Wii Virtual Console games, available for review now following the recent Wii update. The list shows Japan on the left and the US on the right. Nobody seems to know how the popularity of these games is determined, after Siliconera made their list, it changed for Wii Fanboy, then again when we checked. Hopefully the system will become clearer in time.Look at all that Mario in the Top 10, with a heavy dose of Link for the US. This will certainly be an interesting chart to watch as more games become available. Maybe it will finally spur Xbox Live Arcade to get one. It would be interesting to know what's popular on XBLA, at least we know it wouldn't be Mario all the way down.[Via Wii Fanboy]
DS Fanboy travels Around the Interweb to whine about hard games
Siliconera has started doing these great roundtables called "From Around the Interweb" in which various game writers opine on a topic. The last one was about the DS Style series-- check it out for some interesting discussion on non-games!This week, Spencer was kind enough to invite me along for a discussion of hard games. This week's panel included Spencer, RawMeatCowboy from GoNintendo, CheapyD from CheapAssGamer, PSP Fanboy's Andrew Yoon (who has made mysterious appearances here!), and, for some reason, me! We were all able to reach a consensus on the divisive issue of whether or not hard games were, in fact, hard. I had a great time and I was honored to be in such illustrious company!
Spectral Vs Generations: when strategy characters brawl
NIS America has released several Idea Factory games so far, including Generations of Chaos and Spectral Souls. But one game they haven't released on PSP is the fighting game Spectral versus Generation, which features characters from both series duking it out. I certainly can't say I ever predicted seeing strategy RPG characters throw down in a 2D fighter, but here it is. Ironically, Midas Interactive is bringing this unique crossover title to European stores. Wait, what's so ironic? Previous titles in the Generations of Chaos and Spectral Souls series have never come to Europe. This makes it quite likely that the average European gamer won't even be aware of any of the characters involved. Don't worry Idea Factory fans! Since your PSP can play games from any region, you just need to find an importer, and you're good to go. [Via Siliconera]
