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Akai Katana trailer is a whirlwind of introduction
This trailer for Akai Katana goes by pretty quickly and can be intensely confusing, so consider it practice for the real game.This crazy shooter from Cave is coming to Xbox 360 in Europe and North America thanks to Rising Star Games, who has been publishing niche Japanese stuff in PAL territories forever, and is only just starting up in America. Rising Star promises more details about the American version (currently set for Q2) soon, giving you more time to figure out what's happening in the video.
Rising Star Games to bring JP titles to US, starting with Akai Katana
Rising Star Games, UK publisher of Japanese franchises such as Harvest Moon and No More Heroes, is making a foray into US publishing, MCV reports. Rising Star has opened an office in California and plans to release its first title, Cave's Akai Katana, on Xbox 360 in Q2 2012. We've watched with bitter jealousy as Japan and Europe enjoyed some of these releases exclusively, and Cave in particular has been very good at rubbing it in our faces. Party's over, Cave.Rising Star has also launched an offshoot to handle its downloadable releases, called Rising Star Games Digital. "Rising Star Games Digital has been something we've been working on for a while," company MD Martin Defries said. "We envisage a huge growth in downloadable product over the coming years, and intend to play a big part shaping the future development of our exciting industry."
Bit.Trip Saga and Complete ride a Rising Star to Europe
Bit.Trip Saga for 3DS and Bit.Trip Complete for Wii came out in September here in North America, collecting all six WiiWare Bit.Trip games into convenient new formats and, in the case of Complete, adding new challenges. Not that there wasn't enough challenge to be found already. For those of you in Europe looking for a more portable, three-dimensional and/or expanded Bit.Trip experience, Rising Star Games has signed on to publish Saga and Complete in that region, in the first quarter of 2012. Complete on Wii will include a soundtrack sampler, just as it does in North America. It's a nice way to kick back and relax when not playing the games -- you certainly won't do any kicking back while playing them. Maybe some kicking.%Gallery-138323%%Gallery-138322%
Deadly Premonition walking backwards to UK Games on Demand next week
Eager to virtually explore the bizarre world of Agent York in Deadly Premonition, but can't seem to locate a hard copy of the cult hit? Rising Star Games has you covered, as the publisher plans to launch the title digitally through Xbox Live's Games on Demand service next week, on July 5, for an unannounced price -- at least in the UK. We've reached out to DP's North American publisher, Ignition Entertainment, to see if it's landing Stateside as well. So, rather than spending July 5 sweating profusely, how about grabbing a piping hot cup of coffee, turning on the AC, and walking through the doors of perception with us? Don't worry, we'll bring the pie. Update: The game will cost £14.99/€19.99 in the UK/EU, and Rising Star is only handling distribution in PAL territories. We've yet to hear back from Ignition reps.
Rising Star Games sees a Deadly Premonition in Europe
Deadly Premonition, Access Games' creepy, low-budget survival horror adventure starring an insane FBI investigator, is on the way to Europe. Former Marvelous partner and "Home of Japanese Games" Rising Star Games will publish the surreal open-world Xbox 360 game in Europe this "autumn," for £24.99 ($39), which isn't quite as wallet-friendly as the North American release's $19.99 price point, but is still less than full price. In the press release, Rising Star noted the unusual range of reactions from reviewers, including IGN's 2/10 review. Seriously, this quote is in the press release announcing the game: "Awful in nearly every way... Terrible controls. Terrible pacing. Terrible sound effects. Terrible visuals." Absolutely everything about this game is insane, even the people publishing it.
No More Heroes 2 set for May 28 in Europe
Okay, now we have an official European release date for No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle. Rising Star Games has finally announced what we hope is the final date: May 28. Rising Star didn't mention a reason for the delay, though at least you can take heart in the fact that none of the extra time was spent removing blood from the game. If you're feeling put off by the four-month wait -- or if you're having a flashback to the past of European game publishing, when everything came out half a year or more after the North American release -- at least you don't have it as bad as Japan. There, No More Heroes 2 still has no release date at all.
Rumor: No More Heroes 2 delayed in Europe
Remember when we triumphantly announced that No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle would finally arrive in Europe this April? Yeah, about that. GoNintendo reports that the game has been delayed until May 21 in Europe. The Amazon listing corroborates this new date, but we have yet to see an official announcement from Rising Star (so we're checking with the publisher). We'd say the game is well worth waiting for, but we doubt our endorsement would actually help anyone wait. In fact, it would probably make the wait even harder. Good thing we decided not to say that.
Rising Star crowdsources Spanish localization of Fragile Dreams
Rising Star Games has taken an unusual, cost-effective step to get Fragile Dreams into Spanish-speaking homes. In collaboration with fansite DSWii.es, Rising Star is helping a group of 50 fans produce their own translation of the game's 35,000-word script. The translated text will be made available from DSWii and Rising Star's site following the European release of the game on March 19. This is a clever approach to localization for a couple of reasons. First, fifty motivated kids will be able to get the job done in a fraction of the time a professional localization team would take. Additionally, it'll be much easier for Rising Star to laugh off the inevitable errors than it would with a 'real' localization.
No More Heroes 2 touches down in Europe in April
Europe has been waiting patiently for No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle -- except, of course, for those within Europe who imported it and had to wait only for shipping from the US. Rising Star Games has finally announced a release window for Grasshopper Manufacture's mass-assassination adventure: the end of April. No coin fountains this time for the European market, either. Unlike the first game, the European release of No More Heroes 2 will be completely uncensored. In fact, Rising Star was careful to point out in the press release that the game contains "red blood. Lots and lots of red blood."
Play a Half-Minute Hero demo for a few minutes next week
If the thought of buying before trying seems as alien as making a sandwich out of textbooks and old toilet paper tubes, then you'll want to keep reading: Rising Star has announced that a demo of Half-Minute Hero will hit the EU PSN next week. Dubbed "Hero Mode," the demo will allow players to select between three missions included in the final game. Half-Minute Hero features a series of quick challenges blending together a menagerie of genres, such as RPG, RTS and even shoot-em-ups. It's currently set to release in Europe on February 12. [Via Videogamer]
Report: Rising Star regains rights to Marvelous games after stock sale
Even though Marvelous Entertainment just sold off its controlling stake in European publisher Rising Star Games, Rising Star will continue to bring Europeans Harvest Moon, No More Heroes and other Marvelous games. Due to low sales in the West, Marvelous sold its stake in Rising Star to Japanese publisher Intergrow. When this deal was announced late last week, it led to speculation that Rising Star and other publishers would then have to license Marvelous games on a case-by-case basis to publish them in Europe. However, Rising Star managing director Martin Defries told MCV that Rising Star has reacquired the publishing rights in Europe. "I am delighted to have secured further additional backing from an important Japanese company, whilst continuing our content relationship with Marvelous Entertainment," Defries said. Sales would suggest that an unfortunately small number of people are affected either way, but it should be comforting to some of you to have a reliable pipeline for Marvelous products.
Samurai Shodown Sen out in Europe this spring
Click to sho' more screensThe publishing status of Samurai Shodown: Edge of Destiny in North America is somewhat up in the air, given Ignition's recent silence about the game and Atlus' announcement that it's publishing SNK's Metal Slug XX (leading to speculation that Ignition's deal with SNK is over). There's no doubt, however, that the game's coming out in Europe. European publisher Rising Star Games has announced that it will publish the 3D Samurai Shodown sequel on Xbox 360 this spring under the name Samurai Shodown Sen. The game features classic Samurai Shodown fighters, like Ukyo and Nakoruru, with a weird mix of international characters -- like, in our experience, a Viking. %Gallery-83694%
Half-Minute Hero finds time for Europe
If you've been following Joystiq, you should be familiar with Half-Minute Hero, the zany RPG in which the apocalypse threatens to arrive every thirty seconds. Rising Star Games is taking care of the European release of the game, which will be readied on February 12th, 2010. A press release describes Half-Minute Hero as a "love-letter to 8-bit classics," thanks to its retro inspired graphics. Disturbingly, Rising Star Games' Martin Defries says "it's a game which keeps on giving - but like an inexperienced teenager: 30 seconds at a time." We're not entirely sure what that's supposed to mean, but we would advise not keeping your kids around this guy.
Muramasa publisher: UK retailers avoiding original IP
Rising Star Games, the European publishing partner of Marvelous Entertainment, is speaking out against UK retailers declining to stock Muramasa: The Demon Blade, which comes out November 13th in the region. COO Martin DeFries told MCV in an open letter, "Here in the UK, the game will not be available to buy in the majority of games retail outlets." He claims that the issue is not with the game itself, but retailers' over-reliance on safer, existing intellectual property. "If it is not first-party, a sequel or supported by a multi-million pound advertising spend, they are just not interested." Defries lamented that Muramasa could find its way into stores -- when it's traded in. Defries pondered in his letter whether the seemingly growing emphasis on franchises represents a "dumbing-down of the medium" that results in consumers having "little or no exposure to a rich and different gaming experience." Of course, retailers (and publishers) have preferred the sure thing for as long as there have been sequels, but actually not being able to market your game, especially one as interesting as Muramasa, seems especially frustrating.
Fragile arrives on European shores early 2010
The tri-Crescendo-developed Namco Bandai RPG, Fragile, will eventually make its way to Europe, GameSpot reports. Sometime in early 2010, Europeans will be able to get their own taste of this post-apocalyptic title following Seto, who is believed to be the last living human being. It's kind of like I Am Legend, but, like, bearable. Made by the same team behind Eternal Sonata, Fragile is currently set to release in North America during the holidays courtesy of XSEED, and will arrive in Europe via Rising Star Games.%Gallery-26285%
Teaser for new European Wii game 'Feels' like Ju-On
Rising Star Games sent out a video teasing the announcement of a new game at the upcoming London MCM Expo. The video features people holding Wiimotes in a dark room in front of a flickering TV, and then having the crap scared out of them -- an idea last used for Nintendo's hilarious Fatal Frame IV commercials.A brief image shown at the end of the trailer pretty definitively confirms the mystery title to be Kyoufu Taikan Ju-On (translated by Siliconera as "Feel Fear Ju-On"), the Wii horror title being made under the supervision of The Grudge director Takashi Shimizu. If Rising Star is picking this up for Europe, we should be able to expect a North American version from either XSEED, who works with Rising Star owner Marvelous on North American publishing, or Ignition, who publishes many AQ Interactive titles like Blue Dragon Plus and Boing! Docomodake DS. The video is available after the break.
Rising Star dates: European release dates for Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga, more
Last year, Rising Star Games announced European release plans for a ton of games, including Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga, all wrapped in a vague "2009-2010" period. Rising Star just sent out a new list, featuring much more specific information. Eldar Saga, an action RPG with online co-op(!), will be released in Europe this November. Nobody has said anything about a North American release, but we wouldn't be surprised to see either Atlus or the even more obvious XSEED/Marvelous team to pick it up.Other European release dates of note: Steal Princess in May, Luminous Arc 2 in October, and, uh, an Angel Cat Sugar game in October.
Rising Star taking Little King's Story on the road
Rising Star Games, Marvelous's European publishing partner, has high expectations for Little King's Story. The company plans a large marketing campaign in Europe for the adorable sim/RTS -- the region in which LKS will debut. Rising Star's Yen Hau sees the game as appealing to "'potentially anyone who owns a Wii." In addition to print and online advertising, Rising Star plans a "road show," about which few details are known other than that it will continue through May, when it will finish at the London MCM Expo. After the break, Rising Star's Tyrone Walcott provides the most detailed rundown of the gameplay we've seen yet, with plenty of accompanying video. %Gallery-24969%
Europe to learn 'Little King's Story' first
Marvelous is still assuring everybody that Little King's Story is coming out, announcing yet another release date. Unless another delay is in the forecast, the latest news should make European Wii owners happy: European publisher Rising Star Games is planning to release the game on April 24, before it comes out anywhere else. The last announced North American release date for the town-building RPG was February 17, but XSEED said even before then that the game was likely to be delayed -- which it obviously has. GameStop currently has a May 15 release date -- not to mention an adorable pre-order bonus! %Gallery-24969%
Little King's Story to be told in Europe
Where would Europe be without Rising Star Games? Answer: in a very, very dark place. The European publishing arm of Marvelous has already announced localizations of Muramasa: The Demon Blade and No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle, and has now confirmed plans to bring Cing's hat-obsessed strategy title, Little's King Story, to the region next March. You can watch a trailer for the game here, if you like, and make yourself queasy with the cloying cuteness of it all. Not only that, but nine new screens (sadly not wearing adorable hats) sneaked into our gallery! %Gallery-24969%
