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Concerto Gate's publisher previews Square/Enix's new MMO
Square Enix just recently released their first trailer for the in-development MMO Concerto Gate. The game is slated as a sequel to the highly successful Crossgate title they've run in Asia for the last seven years. 1up's Jeff Green had the chance to sit with the folks at OnNet USA, the US publisher of this title, to discuss what the general style of gameplay will be like. In a word, it is unique. Players will find themselves adopting one very specific role within the game world, acting as an adventurer, crafter, or "special class". There will be 15 different classes, but each of them is incredibly niche. If, for example, you've always wanted to explore the world of lumberjacking online - you will now have your chance. It's a free-to-play title to boot, bringing a sometimes-maligned business model into sharp focus. Read through to 1up's article for full details on this decidedly unusual gameworld.
CyberConnect2 planning something or other for the DS
CyberConnect2, like every Japanese developer with any damn sense, is working on a new game for the DS. The question is: what is it? Based on this preview image, the likely candidates are: a new Tail Concerto game, and a new entry in the excessively serial .hack series.The big mechs and anthropomorphic animals suggest Tail Concerto. However, the reference to "The World" (which was the name of the fake MMORPG in .hack) as well as a character that looks just like .hack's protagonist Kite, hint at a .hack game.Who knows? Maybe it'll be a combination of the two. Maybe it'll be a board game with characters from both series.[Via NeoGAF]
Chicago Sinfonietta arranges concerto for ringtones
It seems that ringtones of every frequency have skyrocketed up the list of popular pet peeves (at least in boardrooms and lecture halls), but the Chicago Sinfonietta went against the grain by kicking off its 20th anniversary season with a piece that would drive interviewers, ministers, professors, and less-than-understanding managers insane. David Baker, a music professor at Indiana University, crafted the "participatory Concertino for Cell Phones and Orchestra" after symphony director Paul Freeman conjured the idea of having attendees blast those monophonic jams on cue in order to create an abstract form of musical art. Utilizing colored signals resembling a stoplight, guests were armed and ready to emit whatever ringtone they pleased, and the cacophonic barrage of high-pitched beeps reportedly formed a euphonic medley that only an artist could appreciate. While we aren't sure if this newfangled form of music will ever hit the iTunes Music Store, catching it on Verizon's V CAST service might not be too far fetched.
