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Disaster Report creator working on new IP for Vita and PS3
The creator of Disaster Report 4, Kazuma Kujo, may have suffered a small setback when his game was canceled following the earthquake in Japan last year. But it hasn't turned him off of game development for good: he reports via Twitter that his new studio at developer Granzella is hard at work on a new title for both the PS3 and the PS Vita. Kujo says that the game will be downloadable, though the PSP isn't planned to be supported at this time. It's a completely original IP, he says, but wouldn't tell Twitter followers in what genre it would be. Granzella is working on at least two titles for the PS3 and the Vita, and this is presumably one of them. Kujo also says he'd like to make a war strategy game at some point, similar to the old R-Type Tactics games, and that he knows followers are looking for a Steambot Chronicles sequel in the future as well. Let's just hope production for all of these goes a little smoother than last time.
Disaster Report creator reports on the disaster of Disaster Report 4
Irem's PS3 survival adventure sequel, Disaster Report 4, was promptly canceled after Japan's March 11 earthquake. Kazuma Kujo, who created the series during his tenure at Irem, has been tweeting about the lost game, with his comments summarized and translated by Andriasang. While the previous Disaster Reports took place during or immediately after a disaster, Kujo said, Disaster Report 4 begins about a week after the event that wrecked the city, allowing players to see the social effects (like discrimination causing strife in shelters) and even recovery efforts following a catastrophe. Toward this theme, you would also have been able to travel with a variety of different characters you meet in the city, as opposed to the single partner of previous games. Since the emphasis was no longer on fleeing the city, you could even visit the same location later and see it partially rebuilt. All of this sounds really interesting, until we remember that it was canned. Kujo said that it wasn't the earthquake that ended this game, but Irem's slow progress in completing it. Kujo has since left the company for a new developer, Granzella.
Rumor: Irem stops production of old Disaster Report games
Japanese retailer Famicom Plaza reports that Irem has halted future production of all Disaster Report games in the wake of Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami, according to Andriasang. The apparent stoppage follows the publisher's cancellation of the fourth installment in the series, which had been scheduled for release next month in Japan. The report of the production halt has apparently caused the previous Disaster Report installments to increase in value (as seen in Amazon Marketplace listings); though it's unclear if copies of the 2002 and 2006 PS2 games have still been in print recently. A third Disaster Report game was released for PSP two years ago.
Yakuza: Of the End, Motorstorm: Apocalypse delayed in Japan; Disaster Report 4 canceled
Citing "various circumstances," both Sega and Sony have announced delays of major game releases, reports Andriasang, while Irem has outright canceled Disaster Report 4. Sega announced that Yakuza: Of the End has been pushed back to a "TBA" release date in Japan, while Sony has altered the MotorStorm: Apocalypse launch to "TBA," as well. both titles were scheduled to be released in Japan this Thursday, March 17. While neither company directly cited the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 as the cause of the delays, it's evident that the disaster prompted the moves; though it's unknown if the reasons extend beyond the two games' disaster-themed premises. Andriasang also reports that Sony has temporarily closed its PlayStation repair and information center, located in one of the worst hit areas of Japan, the Miyagi Prefecture. Just yesterday, Square Enix temporarily shut down the Final Fantasy XI and XIV servers to conserve power in the country. Meanwhile, Irem has canceled Disaster Report 4 without citing a specific reason, according to Andriasang. As the title suggests, DR4 centers around players escaping a city that has just suffered a devastating earthquake. Both DR4 and Yakuza: Of the End were only announced for release in Japan. It's unclear at this point whether MotorStorm: Apocalypse is still on track to launch across Europe this week, as SCEE told GameSpot UK, "[The game's release is] under discussion at the moment. We'll get back to you when we know more." (The game's release in New Zealand was previously delayed following the severe earthquake that struck Christchurch last month.) The North American launch was set for April 12 two months ago. To find out more about how you can help those affected in Japan by the past week's events, head over to RedCross.org.
Disaster Report 4 to shake up PS3 with Move and 3D support
Irem is working on a new Disaster Report game, this time for the PS3. Titled Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 4: Summer Memories, the first HD entry of the franchise has you escaping an earthquake-stricken city in the year 201X. (And no, Mega Man won't be making a cameo ... we think!) In addition to supporting 3D and PlayStation Move, this will be the first title in the series to add a "cleanliness" parameter. According to Andriasang, "if your character gets too dirty, your stress will rise." Thankfully, you'll be able to take care of this with the all-new "use the toilet" feature! It's unclear if Disaster Report 4 will make it stateside. The last entry in the series, a PSP game, never found a publisher. The first two games for PS2 were released as Disaster Report and the pornographic-sounding Raw Danger (pictured above).
