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Ace Combat series soars past 10 million copies sold
While Namco Bandai's big news yesterday came with weapons in hand, the company also let slip that its long-running arcade-style aerial combat series, Ace Combat, has surpassed more than 10 million units sold worldwide, with the franchise's fifth offspring, The Unsung War, contributing more than a million to that total in North America alone. The series first took to the skies in 1995 with Air Combat for the original PlayStation, and has since enjoyed the company of eight additional sequels and spin-offs on multiple platforms, from the PS2 and PSP, to even 2005's Ace Combat Advance for the GBA, with the visually stunning Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360 reminding us all that we feel the need ... the need for speed.
Joystiq checks out Ace Combat 6
Joystiq got a chance to try out Ace Combat 6 at E3 last week, and they came away impressed. Of particular note are the game's incredible graphics. According to Joystiq, the earth below is damned near photo-realistic. Even individual buildings are actually rendered. Furthermore, the gameplay proves to be intense, with midair skirmishes occurring all throughout the open skies. Ground and naval combat come into play as well, and players have some control over that as well, being able to command allies to target certain enemies. Yup, not much bad to say about Ace Combat 6 at all. Check out the game's jaw dropping graphics in the gallery below. Better yet, check out the demo on Xbox Live. %Gallery-5045%
Ace Combat 6 and NCAA Football 2008 demos on Xbox Live
If you're like one certain disgruntled Joystiq blogger who's kicking it east coast this week, you've felt a little jilted watching all the new games everyone will get to play at E3. But you know what? Let those snobs have their fun. We that remain are going to be having some exclusive sneak preview action of our own with the new demos of Ace Combat 6 and NCAA Football 2008 on Xbox Live. Sure, they may get to check out a few, well, hotter properties, but you know how journalists at E3 are ... it just kills them that the blogger they left behind has access to something that they don't. We bet those guys wish they brought their 360s now! ... Wait, really? Well, crap.
Ace Combat 6 demo flies out next week
In the latest episode of GameSpot's On the Spot, In Joon Hwang, Product Marketing Manager for Namco Bandai, revealed that a demo for Ace Combat 6 should be available on Xbox Live Marketplace next week. Ace Combat 6 is the first in the flight combat series to appear on a non-Sony console and also the first new-gen entry in the series. Hwang notes that the game's support system has been revamped, and players will now be able give commands to naval, air, and ground combat units during play. Expect to hear more about Ace Combat 6 from E3 next week. [Thanks, Dark Mobius]
Ace Combat 6 flies into retailers this October
Today, NAMCO announced the release date for Xbox 360 (timed) exclusive Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation and that it'll be available in two flavors this Fall. The game will release October 23rd in the US and will be available in the typical standard edition as well as a limited edition which will be bundled with the arcade stick for $150. Ace Combat 6 promises intense multiplayer dog fights, impressive visuals, and enhanced AI that should make it a stand out in the flight genre. This will be another 360 game that we're adding to our already massive list of must play games of 2007.
Watch Ace Combat 6 and The Bigs on XBLM
A couple of new trailers landed on Xbox Live Marketplace this morning. First we have a trailer for Ace Combat 6, it's the same cheesy trailer we saw released before, with lots of American pride and important-sounding music (think Armageddon). Our favorite moment is when a woman's voice breaks through the chaos: "I don't know a whole lot about war, but there's something I need to tell you." Yes, the cheese-factor is strong with this one. The Bigs trailer, on the other hand, is straight up balls-to-bat action (still no demo, by the way). You've got big, beefy players, flaming baseballs, and home runs so powerful that they could bring down small aircraft. For those of you without access to your 360, we've embedded it at the top of the post. Enjoy.
Ace Combat 6 stick cheaper than a real jet
Namco Bandai has announced that it will release a special bundle for its upcoming aeronautical adventure, Ace Combat 6. The bundle will include the game, a limited edition Xbox 360 faceplate and the sweet flight stick combo seen above. The stick is manufactured by HORI, makers of the ultra-hard-to-find Dead or Alive 4 arcade stick. But how much does it cost, you say? Not $89.95! No, not $79.95. Not even $69.95! That's right, the Ace Combat 6 bundle will retail for ... $150! The bundle is expected to arrive this holiday season. Any flight sim junkies out there willing to take the plunge? [Via Joystiq]
Ace Combat 6 flight stick bundle
It's no Steel Battalion control console, but who are we to be picky? Namco Bandai announced today an Ace Combat 6 bundle that includes a flightstick dubbed Ace-Edge. The entire package, which also includes a custom Xbox 360 faceplate, will retail for $150. Flight enthusiasm may have the wallet for that, but we'll stick with a cheaper option like Tiltboard. Or more likely, we'll just play with our unmodded Xbox 360 controllers and be happy with that. Ace Combat 6 is coming exclusively to Xbox 360 this holiday season.
Ace Combat 6 trailer locks on to internet
The first trailer for Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation has found its way onto the intertubes, courtesy of GameSpot. Much to our surprise, the game features jets and the piloting of said jets. The first in the Namco series to appear on a non-Sony platform, Ace Combat 6 looks to up the ante with an emotional plot line centered around terrorism and protecting the next generation (of people, not consoles) from harm. The trailer features lots of interaction between a mother and her little girl, jets, terrorists, and plenty of swelling music. Check it out and tell us what you think. [Thanks, Dark Mobius]
Ace Combat 6 a timed exclusive only
It was announced last month that Ace Combat 6 would be making its way to the Xbox 360, making it the first entry in the series to appear on a non-Sony platform. What was more, no announcements were made regarding a PS3 version of the game, leading many to assume that the game was exclusive to the Xbox 360. It turns out that the PS3 (and possibly other platforms) will see the title, though not simultaneously with the 360. According to a post on PS3Forums, the latest issue of PSM confirms that the game will be a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360. The length of the exclusivity period isn't mentioned. Even though it's only a timed exclusive, it's interesting that Namco would release a long time Sony exclusive on a Microsoft platform first. At any rate, more console love is better for everyone, right? Prepare to fly the deadly skies later this year.
Ace Combat flies onto 360
Wow, it's quite a day for new 360 titles that were once Sony exclusives. First Capcom announces that Devil May Cry 4 will be making an appearance on the Xbox 360, and now we've learned that Ace Combat 6 is making the jump as well (we should really start keeping a checklist). A flight combat game, Ace Combat has graced only Sony platforms since its inception, with entries in the series landing on PS1, PS2, and the PSP. The news comes from Pro-G, who in turn pulled the info from the latest Famitsu. Very little is known about the game except that it will feature combat between two factions. Online versus and co-op are also expected. The game is scheduled to arrive some time in 2007. Could this open the door for more major Namco franchises on the 360?
Ace Combat 6 revealed as an Xbox 360 exclusive
In an event that shall only be referred to as "Mondayton," Capcom shocked everyone by announcing a would-be exclusive for Microsoft's platform. Today, it's Namco Bandai's turn. Mirroring the Xbox 360 launch with Ridge Racer 6, Ace Combat 6: Kaiho e no Senbi has been unveiled as an Xbox 360 exclusive. IGN did the Famitsu translation work for the rest of us and fished out the details. Helming the project will be Ace Combat veterans Hiroyuki Ichiyanagi and Natsuki Isaki, serving as producer and director respectively. There will be two huge additions to the series with the first being the Dynamic Mission system. Players will be teaming up with ally pilots that can be manipulated to take care of various tasks outside the scope of the primary objective, which can then open up new missions mid-battle. The other addition? Online play, of course. While no number of players are mentioned, there are currently battle royal and team battle modes, as well as a co-operative play that allows players to team-up against an enemy force. Ace Combat 6 is due out in Japan this year with no set release or announcement for the Western world, though expect one sooner than later.
RUMOR: Ace Combat lands on Microsoft's ship
Sony has to stop losing these games! Perhaps "losing" is too strong of a word. Maybe it should be more of a "let slip through one's fingers" phrase. Anyway, a scan has come out of the magazine Xboxyde showing pictures of Ace Combat 6 and a big "XBOX360" tag. So, it's safe to assume that the game is going multi-platform, right? ...Right? Sadly, no. Rumor is going around that the long-running flight game is going to be a Microsoft exclusive. That's right, it's moving all the way to Microsoft and won't look back. On top of the announcement of Devil May Cry 4 is going to be multiplatform (you'll notice Nick didn't post that one... he was busy crying into a pillow. Not really.) these dual announcements are fairly damaging blows to Sony. Well, you know what they say... money is power. Not "knowledge is power", interestingly enough. Come on, Sony! Hang on to MGS4 and FFXIII or else you've got very little outside of your own development house.
