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Report: Persona Q features FOE battles, touch-screen cartography
While it's long been known that Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth blends characters from Atlus' beloved Persona franchise with the mechanics of its likewise beloved Etrian Odyssey games, we've had scant solid information on how exactly this collaboration would work - until now. Famitsu, via Siliconera translation, claims that the map-making functionality of Etrian Odyssey will make an appearance in Persona Q. This gives prospective dungeon crawlers the chance to sketch out a map of their virtual surroundings using the 3DS' touchscreen. It's unknown how big a role this feature will play in Persona Q, though in the Etrian Odyssey games it was just shy of mandatory for anyone hoping to make any real progress. Likewise, Persona Q will feature FOE encounters. Officially, "FOE" is an acronym for "Formido Oppugnatura Exsequens," but more pragmatically you can think of these FOEs as largely optional boss encounters. Killing a FOE results in great rewards, but more often than not, it will be in a player's best interest to flee from the battle until properly prepared for that specific fight. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth lacks a specific release date, but Atlus has targeted the Fall of 2014 to launch the handheld roleplaying epic. [Image: Atlus]
Sega reveals plan to make Atlus into Atlus once more
In its first major move since acquiring the company in 2013, Sega has revealed plans to split Index Corporation into two separate divisions, according to a Gematsu translation of a Sega press release. Come April 1, Index Corporation will cease to exist and in its place will be two new divisions of the overarching Sega corporate umbrella. Atlus will continue to create the sort of quirky, Japanese games the company is most famous for, while Index Corporation - this new division borrows its name from the now-split subsidiary - will handle things like advertising and content distribution. Sega managing director Yukio Sugino will serve as representative for Atlus while Yasuhiko Hamada, Index executive vice president, will lead Index Corporation. Additionally, Index Digital Media, Inc. (Index Corporation's international arm) will be rebranded Atlus USA Inc. According to Sega, this corporate restructuring will allow both Atlus and Index Corporation to function more smoothly, yet remain independent to create the kind of content that made Atlus an attractive acquisition for Sega in the first place. [Image: Sega]
Atlus summons Black Friday discounts on Vita, 3DS, PS3 games
Though not a retailer in the traditional sense, Atlus couldn't help but be caught up in the festive spirit of Black Friday and has slashed prices on nearly its entire catalog of games. Notable highlights include PlayStation 2 cult hit Odin Sphere for $5, Demon's Souls for $13.49 and Persona 4 Arena for $15 (or $23 if you opt for the game's Ultimate Edition which includes all of its DLC additions). If you're looking for a more recent release, Atlus has also discounted both PS3 and Vita versions of Dragon's Crown (each is now priced at $30), while also reducing the price of Shin Megami Tensei 4 from $50 to $30. As far as caveats, they're generally positive this time around. Most importantly, you should get a jump on these prices, as this sale is already going on. Atlus planned the sale to kick off on November 26 and it will run through December 3. What's more, you won't need to brave rabid crowds of human detritus to score these cheap games. All of the discounts Atlus has prepared for its especially lengthy Black Friday celebration are available either online or in retail stores. Now, when Turkey Claus comes gobbling down your chimney, you can wave off his gifts and instead devour his plump, succulent body in front of friends, family and a Dallas Cowboys game, just as Abraham Lincoln intended.
Atlus' creepy ultrasound site spawns Conception 2 unveiling
Last week we reported on an eerie ultrasound website Atlus had created seemingly as a teaser for a new game. Appropriately, that teaser has given birth to the announcement of Conception 2: Children of the Stars. Developed by Spike Chunsoft, Conception 2 marks the series' first English-language entry. It stars a young man gifted (or cursed?) by the special ability to fight the monsters currently plaguing his world. This makes him a Disciple, and these Disciples are highly in demand as the source of these monsters, the Pandora Labyrinth, has begun churning beasties out at an alarming rate. Luckily, the Labyrinth isn't the only element of the game prone to procreation. Disciples fight these monsters by creating "star children," and just in case the game's title didn't give away the glaring subtext, the process of creating your squad of combatants "brings a new meaning to the phrase 'after-school activities,'" as Atlus puts it. Atlus will publish Conception 2: Children of the Stars on both the 3DS and Vita handhelds in "spring 2014." Each version will be priced at $40. Further information can be found on the game's official website and a litter of screenshots can be found below.
Atlus births mysterious ultrasound teaser site
In lieu of directly telling people what it's working on, Atlus has decided to launch an odd teaser site for its next project, one that features an ultrasound image and little else. The site was discovered yesterday, when Atlus issued a press release centering on its upcoming fighter AquaPazza. The press release seemed a typical info blast focused on that game's costumes, but an unexpected link was found below the usual press release text. That link leads to this website, which as you can see is some manner of Atlus-branded ultrasound. What all this means remains a mystery. Siliconera posits the idea that the text seen on the left side of the image contains references to a number of Atlus-developed and -published games, though that site admits its ideas are pure conjecture. Realistically, we won't know what this site is advertising until Atlus opts to fill in the blanks.
Anime fighter AquaPazza hits PlayStation 3 on November 19
Colorful anime fighter AquaPazza is set to beat its way to PlayStation 3 on November 19. Publisher Atlus also reiterated that the game, which will be available at retail and through the PlayStation Network, will be priced at $29.99. The North American edition will enter the retail arena with version 2.01 of the Japanese arcade spec, featuring 13 characters and "improvements for tournament-grade action." True tournament-level Aquapazza pros know how to say the game's name without imagining a soggy pizza.
Persona 4 Golden rushes North America on November 20
Persona 4 Golden will arrive in North America for the PlayStation Vita on November 20. Publisher Atlus also noted in today's announcement that Persona 4 Golden is Japan's best-selling Vita game to date.The game has received several enhancements from PlayStation 2's Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, including updated audio and graphics, along with new events and a new character. We now know what we'll be playing at the dinner table while ignoring family at Thanksgiving.%Gallery-165800%
Why the future looks expensive for Super Robot Taisen and other Namco Bandai RPGs
This is a column by Kat Bailey dedicated to the analysis of the once beloved Japanese RPG sub-genre. Tune in every Wednesday for thoughts on white-haired villains, giant robots, Infinity+1 swords, and everything else the wonderful world of JRPGs has to offer. It's gone largely unnoticed here in the U.S., but Namco Bandai is in the middle of a grand experiment with its Super Robot Taisen strategy RPG series (which has seen life stateside in the past thanks to Atlus USA). And if you like Japanese RPGs – or anything that's expensive to produce in general – you might want to pay attention, because this could be your future.Namco Bandai's licensed strategy game series -- which teams mechs like Gundam with the likes of Voltron -- has been around for 20 years now, and in that time it's picked up a loyal audience. I know because I'm one of them. We were all excited because we wanted to see how the story would continue in the franchise's latest arc, which kicked off on the PS2.But Namco Bandai, of course, had a curveball. Like the last two Harry Potter films, the SRT sequel would be split into two parts. It even released a boxed set that came with the first of the two games, a story digest recapping the event of the storyline so far, and a slot for the second game. The total price for just one of the games at launch was 7300 yen (about $90).The rising prices go hand-in-hand with the decline of anime and domestic gaming in Japan, and the rise of piracy. Put simply, making a Super Robot Taisen game doesn't come cheap. The series has based its reputation on elaborate 2D animated sequences like this this one, which take time and money to create. And the robots touted in the title are all from well-known mecha series, which means ever higher licensing fees.
Rock of Ages gets Steam-exclusive 'Block of Ages' update; PS3 version launching in May with 'secret bonus content'
We enjoyed our time with Rock of Ages, sure, but we really could've used more outright aggravation in our attempts to wield the game's eponymous main character. Atlus' latest Steam-exclusive update to the game solves that very problem, turning the orb of rock into a solid block. As you might imagine, this makes movement just a tad more difficult than normal, meaning that the various obstacles stopping said rock from pulverizing an opponent's castle are all the more difficult to navigate.Atlus PR man Aram Jabarri demonstrates that frustration in the video we've dropped just above, and you can grab the update for free via Steam right now.In other Rock of Ages news, the game will finally see launch on the PlayStation 3 in May or June, Jabarri told us. "If the quartz is with us, [Rock of Ages] should be out worldwide for PSN in May/June and it will have bonus content, as well as SECRET bonus content that will launch exclusively on PS3," he said. He also clarified that the Block of Ages content "will not appear on any other platform."
Game of Thrones trailer highlights combat and role-playing
The previous trailers for Game of Thrones perhaps didn't cement the fact that, yes, the upcoming game is heavy on role-playing and combat. See for yourself in the new video above.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 summons your wallet on Feb. 28
The above trailer for Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 not only shows off the title's battle system, character interaction mechanics, "master demon fusion" system and demon auctions, but it also reveals the game's North American release date: February 28.Set in an alternate dimension from the first Devil Survivor, Devil Survivor 2 concerns a group of Japanese high-school students who must use their newly discovered "Devil Messenger" abilities to summon demons and rid Japan of the "Septentrion," a group of creatures who also have the ability to summon demons.
Catherine moves 500K copies worldwide
Relationship-infused puzzler Catherine has definitely shipped (and maybe sold) 500,000 copies globally, according to financial results published by Atlus parent company Index. Andriasang also points out strong brand performance by Atlus' Persona series during its latest fiscal year, ended August 31, 2011. Atlus had a slight communications snafu in early August when its cake (above) reported the game sold 200,000 copies -- given our experience with the truthfulness of cake, this should have been immediately suspect. Turns out, Catherine shipped 200K copies, but still sold a respectable 78K during July in North America. We've followed up with Atlus to confirm the shipped vs. sold conundrum and will update when we hear back. Either way, not bad for a niche Japanese game -- and it should teach Shadows of the Damned to put a tantalizing picture of a woman undressing on the cover next time. (Oh, who are we kidding? There won't be a next time.)
Atlus: Catherine EU launch requires EU publisher
Catherine is complicated, and so is the business of publishing and distribution. Following up on German site GamersGlobal's report that there was no release in sight for Catherine, we contacted Atlus about the subtleties of the EU situation. Atlus USA's PR and sales manager Aram Jabbari explained there are "no plans at this time" regarding Catherine's launch in the territory, because the company needs to find a suitable publishing partner. Atlus doesn't have the European infrastructure, so it must first find a distribution partner before it can start promising launch windows. Jabbari cited Atlus titles Persona 4 and 3D Dot Game Heroes, distributed by Square Enix and SouthPeak, respectively, as examples of European partnerships. This is all to say that it's not that Catherine isn't coming to PAL territories, it's just that Atlus needs to find the right buddy. Gamescom is around the corner -- it would be the perfect time to set up or finalize a deal. Catherine will be ready to start her relationship with North America on July 26.
Catherine demo due out sometime before Japanese release
You may not know much about Catherine, the action-adventure game from Atlus that's been teased with some strange trailers, but don't worry -- all will be revealed, says the game's director, with a demo coming early in 2011. Katsura Hashino says that although people have been intrigued by the weird media released so far, many have been confused about what the game actually is, and the demo is apparently designed to reveal exactly that. No word on when the demo will drop, but the game is due out in Japan on February 17, so presumably it'll be out before then. We look forward to making some sense of all the weirdness so far.
Rock of Ages will crash through your famous art
If you're not bowled over by the latest trailer for Rock of Ages, then you might have too much appreciation for fine art. Also, the destruction of Michelangelo's "David" by Sisyphus' timeless rock in this latest trailer could be too much for your tender heart to bear, spectacular as it may be.
Knights in the Nightmare arriving on Nov. 9, bringing Yggdra Union along
Atlus has good news and bad news for players looking forward to Knights in the Nightmare, the upcoming strategy RPG-slash-bullet hell shooter getting ported to the PSP. We'll give you the bad news first, since that's usually the way to go: The game isn't coming out on October 19 as planned. Instead, you'll have to wait a few more weeks, as the release date has been moved back to November 9. We know, that probably ruins your pre-Halloween plans, but wait for the good news. The good news is that Atlus is including a digital copy of Yggdra Union with the purchase of "each and every launch copy" of Knights in the Nightmare. You may not know all about the Dept. Heaven series, so keep in mind that these are the two episodes of the series continuing where Riviera: The Promised Land started out, all produced by Sting Entertainment. In essence, you'll get two obscure Japanese genre mashups for the price of just one. Aren't you glad we told you the bad news first?
Atlus USA president reassures fans
Following Atlus's announcement of a merger into its parent company Index Holdings, you may have been concerned about the state of the developer and publisher. "But what of our RPGs about super-stylish high school students?," you may have asked. "Any news about my beloved sci-fi surgery simulators?" "Will I still have dungeons in which to crawl?" Atlus USA president Shinichi Suzuki issued a statement today to allay our fears. " We want to assure our fans and affiliates that Atlus remains in operation and will continue, as always, to support our beloved community with the finest quality game experiences possible," Suzuki said. You can read the full statement after the break, then take a sigh of relief and get back to your everyday life of wondering when Atlus USA is going to announce a localization of Catherine.
Trine 2 conjures online co-op for XBLA, PSN and PC
While failing to materialize on Xbox Live Arcade, whimsical puzzle platformer Trine found critical success on the PlayStation Network (even including a Platinum Trophy) and PC. Online co-op was a notable omission from the game -- and it's one Atlus and Frozenbyte's reforged partnership hopes to correct with Trine 2, coming to XBLA, PSN and PC in spring 2011. The iconic trio of playable characters returns in Trine 2, each with a new ability to complement the game's more directed approach to puzzle design. Atlus claims that the physics-based challenges will be more difficult to break or avoid outright, but will still accommodate multiple solutions. Hopefully, experimentation -- or "messing around" in gaming parlance -- will still be encouraged, especially now that three friends can tackle puzzles together online. We get dibs on the wizard, by the way. %Gallery-95622%
Rock of Ages rolling out on XBLA, PSN, PC in spring 2011
Atlus continues making boulder moves into the digital distribution space with its E3 2010 reveal of Rock of Ages, a new game from Zeno Clash developer ACE Team. It's scheduled to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC in spring 2011. Rock of Ages is essentially a head-to-head, real-time tower defense game in which two players alternate between defending their castles -- separated by a twisting pathway -- and controlling a big-huge boulder rolling towards their opponent's front door. If you're on a roll, your opponent will attempt to slow and divert your boulder by placing towers, fans and units in its path. As you might expect from ACE Team, the game's art style fluctuates between whimsical and wildly absurd. Levels are derived from four classical art periods and styles, including gothic and renaissance. As Atlus PR manager Aram Jabbari points out, "It's kind of an interesting dichotomy. Blow stuff up with a huge rock and here's a lesson in sophisticated art history."
Motorbikes, alchemy, and demon friend quests now in Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine
Demon Busters in Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online are now enjoying a fresh content update, which includes motorbikes courtesy of the Shinjuku Babel mechanics. This new mode of transportation in the game allows players to travel between zones quickly and in first person perspective. Atlus has also introduced alchemy, a crafting system where players can create new objects with unusual properties. Runes that boost abilities for your demons or potions that augment your own abilities are a few possibilities with the new item mixing system. They've also released more PvE content in the form of demon friend quests, provided your friendships with the infernal powers-that-be are at the appropriate levels. Perhaps the biggest content addition to Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online is the Team Battle system. The title's publisher Aeria Games writes: "Gather your allies and friends to crush your enemies in fast-paced, high intenseity group versus group combat for glory and god-like gear. Choose to fight solo in sided matches against other solo players, or combine your strength with others to demolish the competition in team versus team battle."
