Jonti Davies
Articles by Jonti Davies
Kororinpa rolls onto Japanese phones
Hudson's Kororinpa, a game so short that it has to stand on a stool to get served at bars, has been ported from the Wii to Japan's i-Mode phones. The mobile version doesn't have any arm-waving shenanigans, of course, but it does appear to faithfully replicate most other aspects of the game. Kororinpa Mobile even does a decent job of copying the Wii original's 480i visuals. The i-Mode version was released in Japan yesterday, where it can be downloaded to 3G phones for just ¥315 (US$2.67).%Gallery-2404%
Q-Games' PixelJunk, as seen in Famitsu
This week's issue of Weekly Famitsu has an interview with Dylan Cuthbert of Kyoto-based developer Q-Games. The double-page spread reveals Q-Games' latest project, PixelJunk, which is being designed as a series of "casual games" for download from the PS3's PlayStation Store. We've taken some shots of the first PixelJunk images, as seen on the pages Famitsu, for your perusal. Pictured are three titles in the very early stages of development, including what looks like a static-screen top-down racer and another game that has Lemmingsy overtones. Q-Games is in talks with SCEA to bring PixelJunk to the West. %Gallery-2390%
NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams confirmed for Wii this winter
Yes. According to Famitsu, Sonic Team USA will have its sequel to legendary Saturn title NiGHTS ready for a Wii release this winter. NiGHTS 2 will now be known as NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams (although that name isn't confirmed for the Japanese market). Famitsu explains that the main attraction of Journey of Dreams is how it provides gameplay with the Wii Remote, where you can glide, drift, ascend, and loop-the-loop without even thinking about the controls. Takashi Izuka of Sonic Team USA is Producer of NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. He leaves Famitsu, and the rest of the weeping-with-tears-of-joy world, with this comment: "In 1996, we created the NiGHTS character to achieve a concept of 'being refreshed from being able to fly in the sky'. 11 years later, at last, we have broken our silence. NiGHTS will now fly in a new dream world: new stages, new story, and on the new Wii platform. Please look forward to NiGHTS and friends exploring this brand new adventure." Yes.
More English Training (necessary) on DS
The sequel to last year's successful Eigo ga Nigate na Otona no DS Training (translation: DS Training for Adults who Struggle with English) has just been released in Japan. Nintendo is promoting More English Training, the new title, with a TV ad campaign that shows how dangerous it can be to keep on saying "yes." You could end up with a mega-deluxe-super-whopper, or worse. Click for the clip. (And for this story in reverse, don't forget to level-up your Japanese!)
Japanese release day highlights: 03.22.07
Some game release Thursdays in Japan are surprisingly dull. Today is one of those days, really, but there is some digital sunshine in the Akihabara sky. If you have the means, do consider these three gems before economizing for the big releases of April*: Armored Core 4 (online mech goodness from From Software; Xbox 360) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu Portable 2 (bigheaded baseball; PSP) Front Mission: The First (SquEnix' frontin' robots; DS) *Next month's Japanese hitters include Super Paper Mario, Gyakuten Saiban 4, Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, and Panel de Pon DS. Wallets at the ready.
New Ouendan 2 images appear in Famitsu
French site Jeux France has "plus d'images" (which, we think, means "more images") of potential DS GOTY Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Tamashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan -- aka Ouendan 2. The new scans are taken from the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu and reveal that Ippongi Ryuta (pictured, above left, in determined pose) returns, while a newbie called Saionji Hayato wears an astronaut outfit in at least one space-based level. Ouendan 2 is still on for a 2007 release in Japan, which could translate to a 2008 Westernization. Hit Jeux France for more scanner love. [Image credit: Jeux France / Famitsu]
Minna no Golf 5 demo hits Japanese PlayStation Store
If you don't already have a dummy Japanese PSN account, now's the time to make one. We've spent the past 19 minutes downloading a playable demo of Clap Hanz' Minna no Golf 5, which is the PS3 debut for a series that's also known as Hot Shots Golf and Everybody's Golf. The demo weighs in at 241MB, and a quick play reveals what could be the greenest game of 2007 -- it just needs some frame-rate improvement in places and we'll be sold. The final product is due for release in Japan this July.
Japan gets celebrity-endorsed Miis
Have a look at this here Japanese commercial for the genius of Mii. It stars two famous personalities -- Akashiya Sanma, renowned comedian/TV presenter (pictured, with teeth), and Shuuzou Matsuoka, one-time tennis player (pictured on the right) -- both of whom are having a great time as they construct their own faces. Possibly* as the start of an official celebrity cloning project, Nintendo of Japan is releasing these A-list Miis through WiiConnect24, which means that all (connected) Japanese Wiis will be receiving a message and file from NCL very soon. The duo will only be available until April 29, however, at which point the men in white coats will escort them back to a Kyoto lab. (*possibly not)
Japanese release day highlights: 03.08.07
It's Thursday -- woohoo! That means new releases for Joystiq's bloggers and readers in Japan (and a "now shipping" date for the import tribe). If you're here, or there, consider splashing your Yen on these nifty gems: Virtua Tennis 3 ("ace," "a smash," "grand slam," etc.; Sega, PS3) Bomberman Land Wii (it's not Bomberman: Act Zero, so just be thankful; Hudson, Wii) Eyeshield 21 (an American Football RPG from Nintendo; NCL, Wii) Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 29: Monster World Complete Collection (pictured and collected: Wonderboy; not pictured but collected: Monster Land, Wonderboy III, Monster World II, Wonderboy V, Monster World IV; Sega, PS2) Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana (it's a Mana game; SquareEnix, DS) Yoshi's Island DS (home at last; Artoon, DS)
Okami creator 'disappointed' by Twilight Princess
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Okami_creator_disappointed_by_Twilight_Princess'; Okami is deeply beautiful to our eyes, and it's a superb game. Twilight Princess, we feel, is a deeply brilliant game. But is Link's most recent adventure also beautiful? Okami's Director, Hideki Kamiya, was in Tokyo last week to pick up an Entertainment Award (for his work on Okami, natch) at the 10th Media Arts Festival, which is an event held annually by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs. (And that must have felt good, after Capcom's no-show at the AIAS awards.)Kamiya was asked how he felt about Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and he explained: "To be frank, I was disappointed when I saw [Twilight Princess'] visuals. I'm a Zelda freak -- it's no overstatement to say that I created Okami because of Zelda. I really wanted [Twilight Princess] to have that regal aura, because Zelda was what we were aspiring to. I wanted it to show me things that were surprising, but..."So, which game do you find to be more beautiful?[Thanks, pokemogu]
Mizuguchi's Every Extend Extra Extreme announced for XBLA
It was never going to be Rez, and we knew it -- not unless Q has surprises for us -- but Tetsuya Mizuguchi's next bound-for-XBLA opus does have sufficient neon-on-black to make us very happy Marketplace campers. Every Extend Extra Extreme, or E4 for short, is a new take on E3 (which Q developed for the PSP last year). The original Every Extend game was developed by Omega for the PC (the freeware version is here). Described as a "trippy visual journey of self destruction," E4 will enable you to play with your own tunes -- or, according to the peoplespeak of Q's press release, "wiz ur muzik" -- and against others in an online versus mode. If you're hooked on the PSP version (and if not, do get hooked), you'll know that the gameplay is all about chain reactions. Pretty chain reactions. But this XBLA version also offers Leaderboards and Achievements to keep the chain junkies flying. When, you ask? "Later this year." %Gallery-1918%
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd sells a million in Japan
It's not unusual to see million-selling games on the DS (as Tom Jones would have crooned), but Monster Hunter Portable 2nd is the first PSP game to manage that feat inside Japan. The game got off to a great start last week and, according to a press release from Capcom, as of today one million units have been shipped to retail. Whether this is the start of something big in terms of a comeback for the PSP, or just a one-off success story, it still leaves Sony with an awful lot of work to do if it intends the PSP to ever catch up with the DS' phenomenal performance in Japan. Either way, it's great news for Capcom!
Japanese software sales: week ending 02.25.07
Media Create's Japanese sales data for the past week has just been released, revealing a PS3-free Top 30 that is headed by a monster hit (yes) for the PSP at Number One. For more mixed signals, set your dials to receive this week's Top Ten: Monster Hunter Portable 2nd - 705,281 units sold last week (new entry / Capcom, PSP) Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - 80,002 (new entry / Alchemist, PS2) Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess - 75,359 (new entry / Nintendo, Wii) Sim City DS - 50,826 (new entry / EA, DS) Professor Layton and the Mysterious Town - 49,979 (186,716 sales to date / Level-5, DS) Wii Sports - 47,503 (1,090,736 / Nintendo, Wii) Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX - 45,792 (new entry / Tomy, Wii) Dragon Quest Monsters Joker - 40,507 (1,174,576 / SquareEnix, DS) Wii Play - 35,811 (944,586 / Nintendo, Wii) Picross DS - 26,693 (183,357 / Nintendo, DS) And here are some lessons we can learn from the big figures: The PSP is ALIVE, and Monster Hunter is the WINNER EA has had a place in Japan, after all (see also: firing the whole Japanese studio was a really clever thing for EA to do) There are as many Wii titles as there are DS games in this week's Top Ten -- Japan is bowing to its Nintendo duarchy
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd off to a quick start in Japan
Famitsu is reporting on the impressive demand for Capcom's PSP RPG Monster Hunter Portable 2nd, which has launched in Japan this morning. Around 140 people were in line outside the West Shinjuku branch of Yodobashi Camera before the store opened, while more than 200 people were at the Ikebukuro branch of Bic Camera. Promotion of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd has had an impact -- the game's TV commercial seems to have aired more frequently here in the past week than that of any other game (this blogger watches too much Japanese telly), and the PSP hardware-plus-game bundle also appears to be selling out in Tokyo. Chances are, this PSP hit will top next week's Japanese sales chart. [Image credit: Famitsu]
R-Type Delta hits Japanese PlayStation Store
It's that time of month again, as Sony opens its PSone archives to bring a new selection of old games to PS3 users' PSPs. And yes, it is a useful service -- especially for those who can't persuade their PSPs to run the PSone games they already own. Seven PSone titles are re-released today via the Japanese portal of Sony's PlayStation Store, bringing the total number available there to 31, and each release is priced at ¥525 (US$4.33). The seven (of which we'd class only one as "magnificent") are: Shanghai Dynasty (Success) The Drugmania (Hamster) R-Type Delta (Irem) Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (SCE) Puzzle Mania (Hamster) Pet in TV (SCE) Yaku: Yuujou Dangi (Idea Factory)
Japanese software sales: week ending 02.18.07
Media Create's Japanese sales data for the past week has just been released, revealing a plummet for Virtua Fighter 5 (number one a week earlier, number 25 last week) and a great start for this week's WINNER, Professor Layton: Professor Layton and the Mysterious Town - 136,736 units sold last week (new entry / Level-5, DS) Tales of Destiny 2 - 73,022 (new entry / NamcoBandai, PSP) Bleach DS 2nd - 45,486 (new entry / Sega, DS) Death Note - 44,600 (new entry / Konami, DS) Soul Cradle - 43,253 (new entry / Nippon Ichi, PS2) Picross DS - 41,105 (156,664 sales to date / Nintendo, DS) Dragon Quest Monsters Joker - 39,598 (1,134,069 / SquareEnix, DS) Wii Sports - 39,128 (1,043,683 / Nintendo, Wii) Wii Play - 29,342 (908,774 / Nintendo, Wii) More Brain Training - 28,254 (3,991,966 / Nintendo, DS) And here are some lessons we can learn from the big figures: Professor Layton, you are the WINNER PS2 is still a viable format in Japan, with four titles in Media Create's Top 30 Very soon, Nintendo will have provided More Brain Training to four million Japanese minds
Panel de Pon DS announced
Panel de Pon, aka Tetris Attack aka Panel de Pon, is a game we've loved in many guises. We loved it on the Super Famicom, with its fairies and pixie music (nothing to do with Frank Black); we loved it on the SNES, when it became Tetris Attack; and we even flirted with the GBA version in Nintendo Puzzle League. What we really need now is more Panel de Pon -- and according to Nintendo's latest release schedule, we're going to get just that. The Japanese version of Panel de Pon DS lands on April 26, with wi-fi multiplayer and -- as seen in these screens -- some very funky backgrounds. No news of a Western release as yet, but we can't imagine why it would be a Japanese exclusive.%Gallery-1738%[Image credit: Famitsu]
Gundam Musou HD promo movie now downloadable
Gundam Musou, thank Koei, looks nothing like Gundam: Crossfire. And the other differences between Musou and last year's ugliest new-gen duckling aren't merely superficial ones -- Koei's game appears to have some depth, more gameplay modes, and... did we mention that it's not butt-ugly? To help you see why this game ranks near the top of Famitsu's readers' most wanted chart, and why Sony has okayed a PS3 hardware bundle, publisher NamcoBandai has just released a promo movie on the Japanese PlayStation Store. Gundam fans and Dynasty Warriors alike should get in there (set up a fake Japanese account for access) and get downloading. "Pronto."
New Super Paper Mario Wii screens (in our favorite ratio)
Since its announcement at E3 2006, Super Paper Mario has made a format shift and still managed to keep a suspiciously low profile. It's a game that has been developed in the shadows, with only occasional flashes to give the poor gaming press anything to write about. At last, though, Super Paper Mario is coming out into the open. Nintendo today confirmed an April 19 release for Japan, which means that Super Paper Mario (like the Wii itself) is going to debut in North America. The new 16:9 screens here show how beautiful the game has become and, although Wii Remote functions are yet to be properly explained, Famitsu reports that Peach's umbrella can be used to access secret areas. (Here come the Super Mario Bros. 2 flashbacks.) We're intrigued to see how Super Paper Mario can flit from 2D to 3D at the press of a button and retain some sort of consistency. America can discover on April 9 whether Intelligent Systems' ambitious project has succeeded -- and more importantly, find out whether Bowser ends up marrying Peach. The horror.%Gallery-1722%[Image credit: Famitsu]
Elite Beat Agents sequel is on (oh yes)
Dengeki Online has today posted Nintendo of Japan's latest release schedule, which includes mention of the long-awaited sequel to -- drum-roll for nervous anticipation -- Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan (which was rejigged for the West as Elite Beat Agents). There's no release date mentioned other than a non-specific "during 2007." Four-player action is confirmed, though, as is the new sensation's snappy title: Moero! Nekketsu Rhythm Tamashii Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Got all that? Quick translation: Burn! Hot-Blooded Rhythm Spirit, Yo! Fight! Cheerleading. Need we say more?