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Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo now available
Considering Xbox Live is currently knee-deep in face huggers and split-chinned alien jerks, you'd be forgiven for not noticing there's another demo available on Marketplace. That demo is for Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce, otherwise known as that Dynasty Warriors game with a mythical twist, including Dragon Ball-esque character transformations. The demo allows players to try out the single-player mode -- the full game supports four. Like other entries in the series, expect hordes of enemies and, of course, plenty of button mashing. Shortcut: Add the Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo to your 360 download queue [Via Xbox.com]
KoTec 'very interested' in motion control for Ninja Gaiden
One of the highlights of the motion controller demo during Sony's E3 2009 press conference was a swordplay sequence that seemed to handle magnificently. Koei Tecmo must have been paying attention -- in a recent interview with Play Magazine, KoTec's Kenji Matsubara explained the developer is "very interested" in adapting the Ninja Gaiden franchise to work with the new motion sensitive peripheral.However, Matsubara explained that there are some barriers to clear before said adaptation takes place -- namely, he wants to "know how responsive it is," adding that "if you're swinging your arms around like you're using a sword you will soon be tired." Yeah, no kidding. Had the controller already been usable in one of the next-gen Gaiden titles, the games' infamously difficult Hard mode would cause the world's shoulder dislocation rate to skyrocket.[Via NowGamer]
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 gets Japanese release date
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is set to hit stores on October 1 in Japan. Once an Xbox 360 exclusive, Ninja Gaiden's PS3 return combines the 2008 Xbox 360 sequel with new features, including online co-op, two new playable characters and planned fixes to a laundry list of issues found in the original game. Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 is priced at ¥7,800 ($80 US). According to Kotaku, pre-order bonuses for the game include a "starter guide book" and download code for the original Ryu Hayabusa character costume. Better get a good stain remover, getting blood out of a Gi is hellacious.%Gallery-66915%
Tecmo assaulting E3 with ninjas, zombies ... basketball?
Dear Koei, Things are great, and so far infection-free here at E3. Sure, we miss your quirky style, who wouldn't? Still, we're keeping ourselves busy readying games for the show, including Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2, which ships for the PlayStation 3 this fall. Other games we've got at our booth this year include Family Fun Football on the Wii, action game Undead Knights for the PSP, and -- oh -- did you know we were making a basketball game? It's true! We've got several downloadable titles this year, including a "contemporary retro" arcade-style basketball game called NBA Unrivaled and an action puzzler named Puzzlegeddon, both we hope to hit XBLA and PSN later this year. Team Ninja's PS3-exclusive "art nouveau" shooter, Quantum, and the musical 2D platformer Fret Nice will also be on hand, though neither are expected to ship until sometime next year. All in all, we've got a lot of games to show off -- plus without any Dynasty Warriors games blocking our view we've got a clear shot those Ninja Gaiden models. Oo la la! Wishing you were here, Tecmo
Koei-Tecmo focusing on the West, not Japan
Swine Flu may be keeping Koei-Tecmo (well, really just the Koei side) from heading to E3 next month, but it won't keep the company away from North America forever. In fact, Koei-Tecmo plans to have a stronger presence in the West, shifting its focus onto more original, Western-aimed IP. "Our expansion into the Western market is the most important part of our mid-term plan," Koei CEO Kenji Matsubara told MCVUK, citing the yearly decline of the Japanese market as a major factor.Koei's Canadian studio in Toronto will receive the bulk of the workload on these new IPs -- which means the strictly-Japanese work ethics currently at the studio will probably have to go. Hopefully though, it won't get rid of all its ethics.
Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires getting US release in June
Even in this crazy Kotec world it's refreshing to know the sun still rises in the east, Wheaties is still the breakfast of champions and Koei and the Dynasty Warriors are still best buds. Some things, you see, never change.The latest in Koei's venerable action strategy franchise, Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires, will arrive on June 23 for both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, promising character editing and a return to series' button mashing heroics set in China's good old days. Equally ancient is the game's multiplayer mode, with just two players supported offline and apparently no online mode at all. Still, with its boots stuck in history, it sort of completes the symmetry to have the whole experience cemented in the distant past.
Koei Tecmo exec calls company 'Kotec,' we snicker
Game Watch reports that a party was recently held at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel celebrating the merger between Tecmo and Koei. During the festivities -- which included Koei co-founder Keiko Erikawa singing "The Girl from Ipanema" -- an executive decided to try out a new moniker for the company: Kotec. Not a bad amalgamation -- though our own staff was really rooting for Moei -- but there's something ... off about it. Something we can't quite place. Oh, wait, now we remember.Maybe the company should just follow Namco Bandai's example and stick with Koei Tecmo.[Via Kotaku]
