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Rune Factory 4 may tend European fields after all
Rune Factory 4's European release was canceled following the closure of developer Neverland, leaving only North American and Japanese fans to tend its crops. Maybe 2014 was just a bad planting season across the pond though – a report from Siliconera suggests Rune Factory 4 will launch in Europe after all, eventually arriving as a digital piece of produce on the 3DS eShop. After noticing a content rating for the RPG simulator on USK (Germany's equivalent of the ESRB) which lists both Marvelous and XSEED as publishers, Siliconera contacted XSEED Executive VP Ken Berry to learn more. Berry explained that an unnamed group has been working in place of the original development team to secure a European launch "for months," and that XSEED hopes to start the master submission process with Nintendo of Europe "within the next couple weeks." Berry added that the effort was meant to be kept under wraps until the game actually passed Nintendo of Europe's certification, just to ensure European fans wouldn't face another letdown. Content rating boards always spoil all the fun, huh? [Image: Marvelous AQL]
Tecmo Koei now Koei Tecmo in West, Marvelous Inc. drops AQL
2014 is the year of corporate name reversals, it seems. After Namco Bandai became Bandai Namco, Tecmo Koei and MarvelousAQL have decided to get in on the act. Or, as we should say now, Koei Tecmo and Marvelous Inc. It might seem odd, but there is some sense to the moves. When Tecmo and Koei merged in 2009 the resultant company was called Koei Tecmo in Japan, while Western Branches were named Tecmo Koei. Tecmo was the bigger name in the West with the Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive series among others, so putting the Tecmo name first was a smart move. Five years on, the company wants to move forward under a common name globally, and now we have Koei Tecmo Europe and Koei Tecmo America.
Half-Minute Hero 2 rushing onto Steam later this week
We're out of April Fools territory, so we can safely report a new Steam page for Half-Minute Hero: The Second Coming lists the speedy sequel's release date as Friday, April 4. The date was first revealed in a trailer published yesterday, but it also noted a price of $1,000... we're guessing that bit's slightly inaccurate. Hopefully. The follow-up to Half-Minute Hero was previously limited to Japan, where it was released on PSP back in 2011. The sequel follows the motif of chaotic RPG questing in portions of 30 seconds, but adds new features to the mix including four-player multiplayer, Infinite Battle and Time Attack modes, and a map editor. The Second Coming features Big Picture and controller support, and Steam owners of the original Half-Minute Hero get a 25 percent discount on the sequel... that's hopefully not 25 percent of $1,000. [Image: Marvelous AQL]
Half-Minute Hero 2's Western release is rapidly approaching reality
A Western release of Half-Minute Hero 2 on Steam is all but confirmed after Marvelous AQL upped its recent teasing with an English gameplay video and a blurred out release date. Released in Japan as Hero 30 Second back in 2011, Half-Minute Hero 2 always looked likely for a Western version after it appeared in a Steam database link earlier this year. Going by the trailer, game modes include a Story Mode, an Infinite Battle mode where you keep taking on Evil Lords, and a Time Attack mode, all centered around completing quests before the 30-second timer runs out. There's also a Map Editor in which you can create quests and maps, but the trailer focuses on online multiplayer, showing off a battle mode between two players - Japan's original PSP version supports four-player speedy RPG action. [Image: Marvelous AQL]
Rune Factory devs reveal 3DS simulation-RPG, Forbidden Magna
Marvelous AQL's next project is a Nintendo 3DS simulation-RPG developed by veteran Rune Factory series staff, Japanese publication Famitsu announced today. Kinki no Maguna (Forbidden Magna) was previously teased in a countdown site culminating in today's Famitsu reveal. Few specifics regarding the project have been announced, though more details will be revealed when the official site opens on February 17. The announcement follows up on the recent closure of Rune Factory series developer Neverland. The studio filed for bankruptcy late last year, citing "changes in the business environment" for its financial troubles. [Image: Marvelous AQL]
Rune Factory 4 isn't coming to Europe after all
The European production line for Rune Factory 4 churned to a stop this morning, after publisher MarvelousAQL canceled the game for the continent. The first 3DS entry in the Harvest Moon spin-off series was due in Europe this spring, having already been released in Japan and North America. Of course, that announcement came before the bankruptcy and closure of RF4 developer Neverland. "We regret to inform you that the European release of Rune Factory 4 for Nintendo 3DS has been canceled," reads a MAQL Europe statement on distributor Zen United's Rice Digital site. "While MarvelousAQL has made every effort to secure the title's release for this territory, it is, unfortunately, not possible to do so at this time. MAQL and MAQL Europe would like to thank everyone for their support and enthusiasm for their European releases. Please look forward to announcements on new MAQL titles over the coming months." We've reached out to MAQL Europe for more info. As for the Rune Factory series, there's been no news since Neverland's closure in November. Beforehand, MAQL series producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto exclaimed RF4 performed well enough to greenlight RF5. After the closure, Hashimoto said (via Siliconera), "As of now, it'll still remain a secret as to what kind of title we'll be releasing next, but I can say that the staff members are still doing great."
Senran Kagura Burst tearing up Europe eShop, retail in February
Senran Kagura Burst will bring its academy rivalry-oriented shinobi brawls to the streets of Europe, MAQL Europe announced this week. Burst will be released both on the 3DS eShop on February 27, with a retail release following on February 28. A price was not provided, but the North American eShop release was $29.99, $10 lower than the usual rate for new software. Based off a series that has its own manga and anime, Burst is an expansion on the game's 2011 Japanese debut that adds a second campaign called "Crimson Girls." Each campaign follows a rival academy's cast of ninjas through dialog and combo-heavy battles, which result in characters' clothes getting "ripped from their bodies mid-combat."
Konami requests Skullgirls takedown from XBLA, PSN
Following Skullgirls publisher Autumn Games' announced plans to knock out their business deal with Konami, Konami has requested the removal of Skullgirls from the PlayStation Network by December 17 and from Xbox Live Arcade by December 31. After likening the move to Final Fantasy 6's Magic Master casting Ultima before he dies, Skullgirls Design Director Mike Zaimont announced the impending delisting on the Skullgirls Weekly Stream channel. During the broadcast, Zaimont explained that Konami submitted the request to Sony without telling Autumn Games, leaving Sony to deliver the bad news. Zaimont explained that if the team finishes the new, self-published build of Skullgirls before Sony's QA team goes home for the winter break, Squigly and the improvements from the PC update's beta will be available "pretty immediately soon." If the deadline is not made, then Skullgirls will be removed from every regional PSN store other than Japan's, since that version was not published by Konami. Zaimont's requests to push back Konami's delisting date for the PSN until December 31 have been unsuccessful. Zaimont also explained that the new Xbox Live version of Skullgirls will be published by Marvelous AQL. However, since ownership of the property won't transfer from Konami to Marvelous until December 31, the same day as Konami's delisting deadline, Zaimont doesn't "know if Marvelous can submit a build before that or not, but I'm making one on the off chance that they'll be able to." If the new submissions to PSN and XBLA don't make it through each store's respective certification process before the winter break, Skullgirls may disappear from digial storefronts until the QA teams return and clear the builds. Zaimont also noted that it was unclear whether those who have purchased the Konami-published version of Skullgirls will be able to play online after that version is delisted. On a positive note, Zaimont said that that the PC beta for the new update is "going well" and the involved changes will be put into the retail version "right after [the North Eastern Championships]."
Skullgirls patches held up by 'deep business dealings'
Skullgirls publishing partners Autumn Games and Konami have ended their business relationship, but we can't confirm that the two don't go off for a cuddle every so often. Skullgirls patches for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have apparently been held up due to some behind-the-scenes complications between the two companies, but that will no longer be a problem. "Things have not always been hunky-dory between Autumn Games and Konami. Around the time of the last update, it became clear that it would not be possible to proceed with the new patches as long as Konami was involved with Skullgirls," wrote Peter Bartholow of Skullgirls developer Lab Zero Games in a company update. "So, as of today, Autumn and Konami have terminated their business relationship, allowing us to move forward with the PS3 and Xbox 360 patch in a more timely and cost-effective manner." Bartholow notes the testing of the patches is "nearly complete," but now the team has to go through the digital paperwork shuffle of moving the game over to a new publisher. Autumn Games will be the game's PSN publisher, but because "Microsoft doesn't support purely digital publishers," Autumn is partnering with MarvelousAQL for Xbox Live, otherwise "Microsoft would simply delist the game from the Marketplace." "We apologize that these deep business dealings have come between you and the first character your collective efforts have funded, but we're confident that subsequent patches will go more smoothly with this all of this behind us," Bartholow concluded.
Valhalla Knights 3 out Oct. 23 in Europe
XSEED Games' upcoming Vita-exclusive RPG finally has a release date for the fine folks in Europe. Valhalla Knights 3 will arrive in Europe on October 23, XSEED Localization Lead Ryan Graff confirmed in a blog post on the European PlayStation Blog. Valhalla Knights 3 features "200-plus quests and over 500 in-game items, weapons, armor and special goods" in its "over 40 hours of gameplay." The latest in the series will launch in North America on October 15. Available both digitally and in authentic plastic boxes(!), Valhalla Knights 3 carries a $40 price tag.
Final Soul Sacrifice update adds 16 new (and tough!) quests
The Marvelous AQL and Japan Studio-developed Vita-exclusive Soul Sacrifice has been given its final update, SCEA producer Kumi Yuasa revealed in a post on the PlayStation Blog. Update 1.30 adds "16 challenging new quests" to the game, for free. Unlike previous updates, unlock keys from the PlayStation Store are not required to enjoy the content. Yuasa says the game's final bonus quests are all at level ten difficulty. "You'll be tasked with facing challenging boss characters you may have come across before," Yuasa adds. Soul Sacrifice launched for the PlayStation Vita in North America on April 30. The Joystiq review noted that playing it could exact an "unexpected toll on your thoughts." Spooky!
New Harvest Moon en 'root' to 3DS
A new Harvest Moon game is well into production, with Japan expecting to reap the 3DS game in February 2014. Unveiled in this week's Famitsu magazine (via Gematsu and Polygon), the game's subtitle of Tsunagari Shintench translates to something like 'Linking the New World' or 'Connecting New Lands.' We're sure this newest version of the long-running farming sim will have a clearer western name when it makes the journey abroad, although it's only confirmed for Japan so far. The subtitle refers to a new trading station that allows you to purchase from and sell goods to foreign nations. Trading starts small, limited to one country, but as you continue to play the market your global contact list will start to fill up. Tsunagari Shintench also features a safari zone where you can interact with wild animals; according to Famitsu's interview, the game doubles the amount the number of different animals compared to before. Finally, as per previous 3DS entry A New Beginning, the new Harvest Moon supports StreetPass and Wi-Fi letting you trade with and visit other players' farms.
Rune Factory 4 blueprints EU arrival for spring
Distributor Zen United and publisher Marvelous AQL confirmed Rune Factory 4 is coming to Europe, assembling a spring 2014 release window for the farming sim/RPG hybrid. The news comes on the day Rune Factory 4 is out in North America, courtesy of XSEED. The latest in the line of Harvest Moon spinoffs proved a hit in Japan last summer, selling 150,000 copies by the end of September and becoming the best-selling game in the series.
Valhalla Knights 3 to hang with the wrong crowd in October on NA Vitas
Valhalla Knights 3 will host a fight for a treasure capable of granting any wish between a bunch of awful, irredeemable characters in October on the Vita in North America. The party-based action RPG will let players choose between guiding a Human, Elf, Halfling, Dwarf, Beast, Nightmare or Machine. Publisher XSEED's announcement states that each race will have "its own set of strengths which make them predisposed to certain jobs." Twenty job classes will also be available, such as Archer, Prisoner or Akatoki, but players can equip two additional "sub-jobs" in addition to their day job to keep things complicated. Winning fights while pursuing a certain career will diminish your character's ineptitude in that field, ultimately turning them into a professional killing machine. VH3's North American release will add a Wi-Fi online option in addition to the established local ad hoc mode. If you'd rather keep the treasure to yourself, however, you can still go it alone and undoubtedly use your wish for good.
PSA: Skullgirls pre-orders open on Steam, include color palette options
Skullgirls is now available for pre-order on Steam for $14.99. Pre-orders for the fighting game grant players access to the beta, slated to launch on August 22. By pre-ordering the game on Steam, players will also receive the game's color palette DLC, which offers more colorful costume options for Skullgirls' fighters. The flashy fighting game first launched in April 2012 on XBLA and PSN.
Skullgirls PC debut scheduled for August 22
The Marvelous AQL-published PC port of Skullgirls will be available through Steam on August 22, with pre-orders starting on August 1. The announcement was made on-stream earlier today between matches of Super Street Fighter 4 at EVO 2013 in Las Vegas. If you can't wait that long, $36 will still buy entrance into the game's ongoing closed beta, which also grants access to the finished product when it's released at the end of August. The PC version of the game is said to include improved multiplayer functionality and will eventually be the home of Skullgirls' four new DLC characters.
Harvest Moon: A New Beginning cropping up in Europe in Q3
Harvest Moon: A New Beginning embarks for Europe this Q3. As expected distributor Zen United is involved. while publishing is tied to Marvelous AQL Europe. The second 3DS entry after re-release The Tale of Two Towns offers greater customization, allowing players to pick their character's look and clothes, furnish their house how they want, and moves crops and barn around. So, a bit more like Animal Crossing, then, except on a farm - but not much like George Orwell's Animal Farm, because that'd be weird.
Skullgirls' fourth new character is Beowolf
The results are in, and fans have voted to make Beowolf the fourth new character in Lab Zero Games' little fighter that could, Skullgirls. An ex pro wrestler, Beowolf and his trusty folding chair (named The Hurting, naturally) have come out of retirement in order to test the true limits of his strength. Being a wrestler and everything, Beowolf's playstyle has been influence by Street Fighter's Rainbow Mika and El Fuerte, as well as Tekken's King. Beowolf is the fourth new character to be funded by Lab Zero's wildly successful Indiegogo campaign, which raised over $800,000 for DLC production back in March. Three other characters, Eliza, Squigly and Big Band, are also currently in development. Squigly is expected to be the first released, dropping alongside the PC version of the game sometime this summer.
Harvest Moon: A New Beginning ratings point to PAL produce
Harvest Moon: A New Beginning may enter its European phase soon. The 3DS sim, which arrived in North America last October, cropped up on the Australian Classification Board and German ratings board USK over the weekend. Both ratings list Zen United as the publisher - Zen distributed Persona 4 Arena in Europe recently, and has a history of bringing BlazBlue and Arcana Hearts games to the region. We've reached out to Zen in the hopes of cultivating some comment.
Ken Kutaragi now External Director at Marvelous AQL
Former Sony Computer Entertainment chairman and CEO Ken Kutaragi has joined Marvelous AQL as an External Director, according to a Nikkei report. Kutaragi played a significant role in the PlayStation's formative years, and later headed up development of the PlayStation 2 and PS3. He retired from Sony in 2007, but remained as an advisor and SCEI's honorary chairman until 2011. Marvelous AQL co-developed the recent PS Vita release Soul Sacrifice, and created 2012's 3DS farming sim Harvest Moon 3D: A New Beginning. Marvelous subsidiary Xseed recently purchased Atlus Online, rebranding itself as Marvelous USA earlier this month.
