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Phantom Dust being resurrected for Xbox One
Phantom Dust will be brought back for Xbox One, Microsoft announced during its E3 press conference. The original Phantom Dust was an online-focused arena combat game for the original Xbox, created by Yukio Futatsugi, the mind behind Panzer Dragoon. [Image: Joystiq]
Microsoft partners with Japanese developers, games to be announced in 2014
Microsoft has signed on some Japanese development teams to bolster the Xbox One's presence in that region, Microsoft Studios Corporate VP Phil Spencer told Kotaku. Spencer said the as-yet-unannounced games will be revealed in 2014, and that they will be "full Japanese games" as opposed to downloadable ones. Spencer also discussed the hardware manufacturer's relationship with Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi, who recently launched Crimson Dragon on Xbox One. Microsoft is currently "talking to him about what we might want to do next with him," and that "there's some interest out there in some older [intellectual property]." Spencer specifically noted that Phantom Dust, Futatsugi's original Xbox cult classic, has been discussed as a property that could potentially be rebooted. Futatsugi told Joystiq in June at E3 that he would like to make a Crimson Dragon RPG. Spencer added that he expects an increase in Japanese indie developer interest in Xbox One. "We kicked off our independent developer program when were at Tokyo Game Show and saw some top talent walk through the door, so I think you'll see some indies too... I'm committed to the development there."
Pre-release update will make Crimson Dragon less difficult
Reacting to reviewer feedback, the developers behind Crimson Dragon have decided to issue an early update to rebalance the game and make the experience less taxing on players. In a message posted to Xbox Wire, Crimson Dragon director Yukio Futatsugi explains the decision. "Crimson Dragon is designed to be challenging. This has always been my vision for the game," Futatsugi stated. "I want you to feel like you've accomplished something each time you master a mission. To be proud of each dragon you've worked so hard to evolve to its ultimate form. "My challenge as the game director is to find the sweet spot of adhering to my vision for the game while keeping the game from becoming too frustrating," he said. "Using the power of Xbox One's cloud system, we can adjust this balance even after release. Based on the feedback so far, we've decided to make some changes even before the game is released." Futatsugi then outlines three of the biggest changes. Experience points earned during battle will be increased (even if you fail the current mission), the jewels used as in-game currency have been increased in number and frequency of appearance, and the "Casual" and "Classic" difficulty levels have been altered to "better match their intended level of difficulty." All three of these changes should make the game easier, though exactly how much easier is up in the air until the patch arrives.
Panzer Dragoon creator wants to make Crimson Dragon RPG
If Crimson Dragon is successful, developer Grounding Inc. hopes it will become a franchise, creator Yukio Futatsugi told Joystiq during E3. When asked if he would ever return to role-playing games, Futatsugi told us he'd like to see Crimson Dragon spun out into a full-fledged RPG. Futatsugi is best known for creating the Panzer Dragoon series, notably the much loved but hard to find RPG, Panzer Dragoon Saga, so the prospect of a Crimson Dragon RPG should be an exciting one for fans. Right now the team is focused solely on finishing the current game, he said, but the story and atmosphere of Crimson Dragon have been crafted in such a way that it could easily be turned into an RPG. Grounding already has many team members who worked on the likes of Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta, including Crimson Dragon's programming lead, design lead, art lead and sound team. When the decision was made to bring Crimson Dragon to Xbox One, the team also acquired the art designer from Futatsugi's original Xbox cult classic, Phantom Dust. Of course, few people have played Panzer Dragoon Saga, and many may not understand what all the fuss is about. The game was released at the end of the Sega Saturn's lifecycle, and only 30,000 copies were produced for North America. I asked Futatsugi if he'd like to see Panzer Dragoon Saga re-released as a downloadable game, especially given Sega's recent retro push with games like Jet Set Radio and Nights. He would like to see Saga re-released, he said, and the subject comes up from time to time at the Grounding offices. Usually, these discussions end with the team realizing that the game would be very difficult to remake. Still, Futatsugi said he would love to play it again.
Crimson Dragon developer Grounding Inc not working on new Nintendo project [update]
Update: Grounding Inc has contacted Joystiq, saying that it is not working on any projects with Nintendo. For the record, in our interview recording Mr. Futatsugi's interpreter clearly states that the company is "currently working on a Nintendo title." Grounding says that Mr. Futatsugi was referring to the company's prior relationship with Nintendo, and that there are no current projects in the works. Grounding Inc is hard at work creating Crimson Dragon for Xbox One, but the studio is also making another unannounced project for Nintendo, game director Yukio Futatsugi tells Joystiq. Unfortunately, Futatsugi didn't offer any details about the game or which platform it's being developed for. Crimson Dragon may be getting Grounding the most attention right now, but the studio has a history of working with Nintendo. It developed two Nintendo-published WiiWare games in 2009, and it also released Sakura Samurai on the 3DS eShop last year.
Crimson Dragon no longer Kinect-only, uses controller
Crimson Dragon, originally designed as a showpiece for Kinect, is now controlled primarily with a controller. The once Xbox 360 and now Xbox One exclusive abandoned full Kinect control after feedback was received from "passionate fans" – possibly from an accidentally released demo – Microsoft Studios lead producer Yutaka Noma tells Joystiq. The game will still feature Kinect support alongside the traditional control, though it will be used for "intuitive" gestures. The game is being developed by Yukio Futatsugi and Grounding Inc, and it shares a great deal visually and mechanically with Panzer Dragoon, Futatsugi's most well-known series. Now that it's primarily controlled with a standard controller, it shares considerably more. We'll have a preview later this week.
Microsoft announces Crimson Dragon is exclusive to Xbox One [Update: Trailer added]
Microsoft has announced that Crimson Dragon, a planned XBLA Kinect title from Yukio Futatsugi, the creator of Panzer Dragoon, will release as an exclusive on Xbox One. The company showed a quick video of the game during today's press conference, and it looks very similar to the original build, with dragon-riding, Kinect-controlled shooter gameplay. Stay tuned for more, including a release date, when we hear it.%Gallery-191150%
Futatsugi: Crimson Dragon is 'not far' from a final build
Microsoft and Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi are still working on Crimson Dragon, the Kinect rail shooter revealed in 2010 and since hit with a delay and a year-long silence. In fact, Futatsugi tells Eurogamer that Crimson Dragon is "not far off" from completion."Well, the game has been delayed and I know people are waiting for it, but it is definitely moving ahead," Futatsugi says. "Microsoft will announce it when they're ready."A demo for Crimson Dragon launched briefly – and accidentally – on the Japanese Xbox Live Marketplace in January 2012, demonstrating the game's early mechanics and design. We're not saying the gameplay looks like doing the Hokey Pokey in front of a Kinect, but it looks like doing the Hokey Pokey in front of a Kinect. With dragons."When we started working on it I realized that a rail shooter is perfect for Kinect," Futatsugi says. "Kinect can't handle too much movement – you can't move totally freely. Also, it's better to keep the number of recognized movements simple so as not to confuse the Kinect system, and these things make a rail shooter the ideal choice."
Crimson Dragon swoops into Japan on June 13
Crimson Dragon will careen into Japan on June 13 for 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15), Andriasang reports. Crimson Dragon is a Kinect exclusive created by Panzer Dragoon director Yukio Futatsugi that will allow players to ride six different types of dragons while shooting fireballs and laser-inspired projectiles.Yeah, we think it sounds like pretty much the best thing ever, too. Unfortunately, there is no word yet on a western release date.
Crimson Dragon spreads its wings in a new trailer
When we first heard Microsoft was backing a game called Project Draco, we thought it was a Harry Potter spinoff title featuring Draco Malfoy, Winky the house-elf and Minerva McGonagall in a Three's Company-style RPG. Turns out it's a flying shooter for Kinect starring dragons, which is way cooler, we admit.Director Yukio Futatsugi described some specifics of Crimson Dragon, the official title for Project Draco, at a Microsoft event, listed by Famitsu and unofficially translated by XBLA enthusiast @lifeflower. According to the translation, Crimson Dragon will allow players to ride six different dragons, but Futatsugi showed three, the Blood Skin, Dark Shoulder and a hairy number called Snow Wing.Check out a few pictures from the event showing off some blurry, big dragons, right here.
Project Draco director on working with Kinect, the 'lies' of game creation
Speaking to Gamasutra, Project Draco lead Yukio Futatsugi and producer Toshiharu Tange laid out several details about the upcoming Kinect title. First and foremost, it won't actually be called Project Draco on release, though the final title has yet to be decided. The pair also expressed some of the difficulties in developing a title for Kinect. One such issue is that different players will perform actions in different ways. "Previously you could just say 'Press the A button' and everyone got that, but trying to catch all the possible ranges of motion can be tough to implement," said Futatsugi. The pair also discussed some of the processes behind how they create the worlds of their games, including the classic Panzer Dragoon series and Phantom Dust. According to Futatsugi, a good portion of the fantasy is reliant on "lies." Or, to put it more clearly, about 70 percent of his games are "created with a 'realistic' bent," while around 30 percent focuses on "stuff you would never see in real life, such as the supernatural abilities people have." And, you know, riding around on dragons. Check out Gamasutra for the full interview.
Kinect comes to XBLA, Microsoft Game Studios reveals five Japanese titles
Microsoft Game Studios unveiled five new Japanese partnerships during its Tokyo Game Show 2010 keynote today, each intended to "provide fun for users throughout the world." Takashi Sensui, general manager of Xbox in Japan, claimed the projects would "define the future of Xbox 360 and Kinect" -- a future that now promises Kinect-enabled Xbox Live Arcade games. Out of the five new XBLA-exclusive games announced today, three will use Kinect: Haunt, a spooky adventure from Parappa the Rappa's Masaya Matsuura; Project Codename D, a stylish new endeavor from Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51; and Project Draco, a Panzer Dragoon-esque flight game from Phantom Dust creator Yukio Futatsugi. These will join third-party Kinect games Child of Eden, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor and Rise of Nightmares in 2011. Microsoft also revealed Fire-Pro Wrestling from Spike, and a new version of Radiant Silvergun from Treasure (much to the chagrin of eBay profiteers). Both are coming to XBLA in 2011.
Project Draco brings dragons to Kinect in 2011
Kinect isn't just about petting animals and playing sports games. The newly announced Project Draco from Grounding Inc. is about dragons, and it's Kinect-enabled. Yukio Futatsugi, creator of Phantom Dust and collaborator on Panzer Dragoon, revealed the game at Microsoft's TGS conference this year. "What I wanted to do most is to fly," Futatsugi explained to the audience. Unfortunately, other than a few red dragons flying through the environment, not much else was shown. It's pegged with a 2011 date. %Gallery-102399%
