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PSA: August's Games With Gold now live
A new month brings with it new things. Most of them, like bills, aren't fun. But you know what is fun? Video games. And if you happen to be an Xbox Live Gold subscriber, there are four games you can snag this month for free, three of which have just gone live and are available right now. From today until August 15, you can dress your Xbox Avatar in some off-road gear and rev engines in Motorcross Madness for Xbox 360. Xbox One owners meanwhile can fly the unfriendly skies in either Crimson Dragon or Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut. In the former, players control a dragon. In the latter, you'll get behind the flight stick of a transforming spaceship fighter. The only deal not currently active is the Games With Gold offer of Dishonored. But that's okay; being the stealthy assassin he is, we imagine Corvo is just taking his sweet time to line up the perfect kill. Dishonored will sneak out of Games With Gold's shadow on August 16 and remain free until August 31. [Image: Microsoft]
Panzer Dragoon creator wants to make Crimson Dragon RPG
If Crimson Dragon is successful, developer Grounding Inc. hopes it will become a franchise, creator Yukio Futatsugi told Joystiq during E3. When asked if he would ever return to role-playing games, Futatsugi told us he'd like to see Crimson Dragon spun out into a full-fledged RPG. Futatsugi is best known for creating the Panzer Dragoon series, notably the much loved but hard to find RPG, Panzer Dragoon Saga, so the prospect of a Crimson Dragon RPG should be an exciting one for fans. Right now the team is focused solely on finishing the current game, he said, but the story and atmosphere of Crimson Dragon have been crafted in such a way that it could easily be turned into an RPG. Grounding already has many team members who worked on the likes of Panzer Dragoon Saga and Panzer Dragoon Orta, including Crimson Dragon's programming lead, design lead, art lead and sound team. When the decision was made to bring Crimson Dragon to Xbox One, the team also acquired the art designer from Futatsugi's original Xbox cult classic, Phantom Dust. Of course, few people have played Panzer Dragoon Saga, and many may not understand what all the fuss is about. The game was released at the end of the Sega Saturn's lifecycle, and only 30,000 copies were produced for North America. I asked Futatsugi if he'd like to see Panzer Dragoon Saga re-released as a downloadable game, especially given Sega's recent retro push with games like Jet Set Radio and Nights. He would like to see Saga re-released, he said, and the subject comes up from time to time at the Grounding offices. Usually, these discussions end with the team realizing that the game would be very difficult to remake. Still, Futatsugi said he would love to play it again.
Crimson Dragon developer Grounding Inc not working on new Nintendo project [update]
Update: Grounding Inc has contacted Joystiq, saying that it is not working on any projects with Nintendo. For the record, in our interview recording Mr. Futatsugi's interpreter clearly states that the company is "currently working on a Nintendo title." Grounding says that Mr. Futatsugi was referring to the company's prior relationship with Nintendo, and that there are no current projects in the works. Grounding Inc is hard at work creating Crimson Dragon for Xbox One, but the studio is also making another unannounced project for Nintendo, game director Yukio Futatsugi tells Joystiq. Unfortunately, Futatsugi didn't offer any details about the game or which platform it's being developed for. Crimson Dragon may be getting Grounding the most attention right now, but the studio has a history of working with Nintendo. It developed two Nintendo-published WiiWare games in 2009, and it also released Sakura Samurai on the 3DS eShop last year.
Crimson Dragon delayed in Japan, no new release date provided
Crimson Dragon was recently given a June 13 release date in Japan. However, even if you do have access to a Japanese Xbox Live account, you shouldn't expect it on XBLA this week, as the Kinect game by Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi has been delayed at the last minute.The Japanese release of the game currently has no announced release date – quite a change from June 13. No reason was offered for the sudden delay.
Crimson Dragon spreads its wings in a new trailer
When we first heard Microsoft was backing a game called Project Draco, we thought it was a Harry Potter spinoff title featuring Draco Malfoy, Winky the house-elf and Minerva McGonagall in a Three's Company-style RPG. Turns out it's a flying shooter for Kinect starring dragons, which is way cooler, we admit.Director Yukio Futatsugi described some specifics of Crimson Dragon, the official title for Project Draco, at a Microsoft event, listed by Famitsu and unofficially translated by XBLA enthusiast @lifeflower. According to the translation, Crimson Dragon will allow players to ride six different dragons, but Futatsugi showed three, the Blood Skin, Dark Shoulder and a hairy number called Snow Wing.Check out a few pictures from the event showing off some blurry, big dragons, right here.
Crimson Dragon is Project Draco's final name, game still gorgeous
Try and look surprised: the Australian classification of Panzer Dragoon-esque on-rails shooter Project Draco as "Crimson Dragon" was accurate, as the game has been officially renamed. The new title was confirmed during an Xbox 360 event in Japan this week, wherein a handful of new shots were shown off as well. As you can see for yourself, the game is looking gorgeous (Avatar-esque, if we can), and Famitsu was feeling notably positive on the Kinect-controlled XBLA title. Crimson Dragon is expected to launch at an unnamed point in 2012.And yes, it is highly unlikely the renaming has anything do with infamous TNA wrestler Chris Hamrick, in case you were wondering.
Crimson Dragon rated in Australia, features markings of 'Project Draco'
It would appear the final name of "Project Draco" will be Crimson Dragon, if the pieces of a recent Australian classification fit neatly together. The author of the classification is listed as Grounding Inc., with Microsoft as publisher. Also, the game is called Crimson Dragon, which seems to perfectly describe the flying reptilian protagonist of the game.Project Draco, a Kinect-based dragon shooter, is heavily inspired by the Panzer Dragoon series. This observation is totally cool since the game is under the direction of Panzer Dragoon creator Yukio Futatsugi and many of the game's original team members. Project Draco is expected to fly sometime this year.
Project Draco flying to XBLA in 2012
Previously announced as a 2011 title, Joystiq learned today that Project Draco, the Grounding Inc. Kinect project "inspired" by Panzer Dragoon, will actually be released in 2012. We can also reveal that the title is much more than inspired by Team Andromeda's seminal on-rails shooter. Straight up: Project Draco is basically Panzer Dragoon Kinect. We'll have our full hands-on impressions up soon.
Project Draco brings dragons to Kinect in 2011
Kinect isn't just about petting animals and playing sports games. The newly announced Project Draco from Grounding Inc. is about dragons, and it's Kinect-enabled. Yukio Futatsugi, creator of Phantom Dust and collaborator on Panzer Dragoon, revealed the game at Microsoft's TGS conference this year. "What I wanted to do most is to fly," Futatsugi explained to the audience. Unfortunately, other than a few red dragons flying through the environment, not much else was shown. It's pegged with a 2011 date. %Gallery-102399%
