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Neo Steam lets in the soul reapers
It's October, and that means all of the spooky Halloween events are coming out of the woodwork. But how many of them are offering you a pair of steampunk goggles for completing them? Well, only one right now -- Neo Steam.Atlus is throwing open the doors to the Underworld, and all sorts of creepy-crawlies are invading their fantasy steampunk MMO. Defeating these event monsters will get you souls to trade in to special soul reapers to claim pumpkin seeds and pumpkin pie for recovery purposes, but the big 250 soul turn in will get you a special pumpkin hat (as seen above) to commemorate the event.However, some monsters will drop event tickets, which enters your account in for a chance to win a pair of handcrafted steampunk goggles. So, what are you waiting for, an invitation? Kill stuff, get loots!
So that's how they localize a game...
If you thought localization was just a developer running everything through an auto-translator and shoving the game out the door, you're pretty far off according to Atlus U.S.A. The team over at the company that produces some of the best game localizations in the business have written a very insightful post into why game localization takes so long.Atlus doesn't just take a game and throw it through a quick translation process. There's the weeks of the translators playing the original game to get a feel for it, then the weeks of the actual translation, the weeks of re-programming to make the new text, voice-overs, and graphics line up. Then you have the weeks of testing to remove bugs and finally the packaging and shipping process. On a good game release, you're looking at around three and a half months for the localization. For MMOs, you're looking at something much more intensive thanks to the amount of text involved.Interested in the full process? Check out Atlus's production diary number 12 for the full rundown.
Neo Steam editor Jason Ruper on bringing steampunk to MMOs
One of the upcoming free-to-play titles that Massively had a chance to see this month is Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent from Atlus. Our hands-on gallery feature is a good introduction to the look and feel of the game world, but now that Neo Steam is in open beta, we're expecting more info about the game to be forthcoming. We came across a ZAM interview with Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent lead editor Jason Ruper, conducted by Andrew "Tamat" Beegle. Ruper gives some background on the game's setting and lore, saying, "The game has a lush, fantasy-steampunk setting, and everything -- from the machine wasteyards and polluted rivers to the rickety vehicles and the ancient ruins from before the shattering -- contributes to this setting and reminds you that your nation is in a state of reconstruction as well as in the middle of a cold war."
Atlus Games launches online gaming and anime portal
Fans of RPGs like the Persona series and those already playing Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online should be familiar with Atlus Games. The company is branching out into online interaction via a new web portal that's a home for their upcoming (summer release) MMO title Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent as well as having a heavy focus on anime. In fact, users can draw live on the site and collaborate with others in this fashion. We've known that a web portal for MMOs and anime was something on horizon but it became official with yesterday's press release and the launch of the Atlus Online portal. Along with the rest of the wired (and wireless) world, Atlus Online is also on Twitter.
Atlus Online to launch online games portal with new localization of Neo Steam
Atlus is planning to launch their online games portal with a bang, announcing the hybrid steampunk-fantasy MMO Neo Steam: The Shattered Continent as their first game.If Neo Steam sounds familar, it should. GameNetworks has already had an English version of the game running for a few months. However, with HanbitSoft changing the rights over to Atlus, GameNetworks has discontinued service for their version of Neo Steam.Neo Steam will be undergoing an extensive localization process, common to most Atlus Games, to make sure all of the dialogue is written properly and game features are tweaked to support the English language. The game will also be undergoing other updates, including graphical and content updates. Simply put, this will not be the exact same version of the game that has already been released to English speaking audiences.Interested users and previous Neo Steam players will be very interested to hear that signing up for early access to the Atlus Online portal will also let users sign up for the beta of the newly localized Neo Steam. Signing up also allows instant access to their forums, so you can talk and mingle with your fellow neo steamers to your heart's content!
Gamasutra examines sexuality, homophobia in Persona 4
Gamasutra has examined the meaningful portrayal of sexuality in the recently released Persona 4. The protagonist, Kanji Tatsumi, views his alter ego, Shadow Kanji, as an openly gay and flamboyant manifestation within the in-game world, The Midnight Channel. Although Kanji's sexuality remains ambiguous, the developer does not reject the possibility that he might be gay. Instead, the decision to leave Kenji's sexuality open was made to give players more context to the views on homosexuality in Japan. According to Yu Namba, Atlus USA's Persona 4 Project Lead, it was the developer's goal to retain the majority of the Japanese content and accurately portray the Eastern culture regarding the subject. Varying sexual orientations within games from Japan are not unheard of, with Metal Gear Solid 2's Vamp ranking as one of the more famous outed characters. In this case, Kanji's internal turmoil with his orientation is a fascinating take on personal journey, which no other publisher has been brave enough to bring to the North American market.
Legacy of Ys: Books I & II delayed, soundtrack bundled
The hike up to Darm Tower is taking longer than expected. Atlus has bumped the release of Legacy of Ys: Books I & II for the Nintendo DS back two weeks from its originally announced February 10 ship date. Now set for release on February 24, the publisher notes that the entire first printing of the upcoming RPG will now come packaged with the game's soundtrack CD, originally intended just for those who reserved the game. The bundling is part of a "fan appreciation" effort called Atlus Spoils, which according to Atlus is intended to "give a little extra something to the company's faithful followers." The announcement follows yesterday's reveal of Devil Summoner 2, which will come stuffed with a free Raiho plushie. Now here, take this hankie and wipe those silver tears from your eyes.
Atlus: No enhanced version of Persona 4 planned
If you're thinking of holding off on Atlus' upcoming Persona 4 in hopes that the PlayStation 2 RPG will be followed by an even shinier edition, wait NOT! Following April's release of Persona 3 FES, which added enough new content to the RPG to fill a high school student's locker, Atlus now confirmed that "at no point in the future" will it give similar treatment to the upcoming sequel. So whether or not you plan on pre-ordering the game or strolling up to the register on day one, buy with confidence, niche role-playing faithful, when Persona 4 drops onto shelves on December 9.
R-Type Command to include R-9 collectible
If you're looking forward to the upcoming May 6 release of R-Type Command for the PSP, but are wondering where to pick it up, Atlus USA might have just made the decision a tad easier. The company has announced that for a "very limited" time those who buy the game from GameStop, Amazon.com, GameCrazy, EB Games Canada, and other select retailers will be able to take home a free plastic miniature replica of the game's R-9 spacecraft, which we imagine to be perfect for keeping your desktop safe from the Bydo Empire.
Spectral Force 3 site launches, media explosion
A few days ago Atlus launched the official website for Spectral Force 3, the second Xbox 360 title from the acclaimed (niche) publisher based out of Japan. Developed by Idea Factory, of PSP Generation of Chaos fame, Spectral Force 3 takes place in the fantasy world of Neverland during the first Neverland War. Although we haven't heard for sure we are holding out for a playable Peter Pan or, at the very least, a Michael Jackson boss battle. The Xbox 360 exclusive strategy-RPG is expected to hit shelves this May.%Gallery-19629%
Atlus USA reveals Summon Night: Twin Age for DS
Not to be confused with Summons Night, the vampiric lawyer adventure, Summon Night: Twin Age has finally escaped Japan with the aid of increasingly prolific publisher, Atlus USA. The DS action RPG tasks players with guiding summoner Reiha and summonee (?) Aldo through a "richly woven tale of adventure," one complete with multiple endings, sidequests and improbably named garments.Much like The Legend of Zelda: Phourglass, the "action" in this action RPG is entirely initiated by the little stick thingy that came with your DS, with attacking, healing, using items and navigating all done through the power of touch. Summon Night: Twin Age touches down on DS May 20th.%Gallery-18623%
R-Type Command bosses PSP around on May 6
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAs you can see, we follow Atlus USA's requests to the letter. The quirky company has asked us to tell you lot about R-Type Command, "a bold new turn-based strategy entry in the long-celebrated series of side-scrolling shooters." Hitting the PlayStation Portable on May 6th, the game has players going up against the evil "Bydo Empire" in "exciting tactical gameplay!" The exclamation mark is theirs. You'll have close to a hundred different upgradeable units at your command, including those hailing from the aforementioned Bydo Empire. Oh, and a little protip for those eager to engage in the wireless Ad-Hoc multiplayer: Make sure your underwater module with powerful anti-air missiles and torpedoes doesn't lose its resupply function! (That one was ours.)%Gallery-15956%
Atlus USA reveals 'Rondo of Swords' for DS
Though Nintendo let the cat out of the bag yesterday with its extensive first-half 2008 release schedule, not much was known about the scampering feline save for its name, "Rondo of Swords." Admittedly not a great name for a cat, but it seems fitting for an "epic strategy fantasy RPG" from the capturers of quirk, Atlus USA. Judging by the trailer (embedded after the break), the Success-developed DS title is rife with saucer-eyed heroes, stylized attacks and touch-screen tactics -- just the way we like it.The Atlus folks promise multiple storylines, a "unique" combat system and the ability to send some of those annoying party members far, far away on level-raising errands. They also promise never to capture cats in bags again, because it's mean. If you can forgive them, look for Rondo of Swords on April 15, 2008.
Insect mecha to swarm Nintendo DS in 'Drone Tactics'
For too long entomology has gone ignored in game design, with us having to turn to the likes of Insector-X and SimAnt for our six-legged fix. Thankfully niche game publisher Atlus USA aims to change all of that with next March's release of Drone Tactics, a newly announced game of 'mechanized insect RPG strategy' for the DS. Nintendo's touchable handheld is practically tailor made for turn-based SRPGs, and the promise of being able to command our own personal army of customizable "mecha insecta" is just too good to pass up. On top of the game's "dozens of campaign operations," Atlus reveals that Drone Tactics will also include an additional 50 maps and support local wireless multiplayer, inspiring those of us with a thing for arthropods to look forward to the game's March 25 release.
