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Senran Kagura making PS4 debut with Estival Versus
Marvelous' portable action series Senran Kagura will make its first console appearance with next year's PlayStation 4 release of Senran Kagura: Estival Versus, as revealed during Sony's pre-TGS press conference today. While many series entries have made their way stateside courtesy of publisher Xseed, a localization for Estival Versus has not been announced. For now, it hits Japan on March 26, and a Vita version is also confirmed. [Image: Sony]
Luminous Arc Infinity to light up Vita
Sony announced a new Vita entry in the Luminous Arc tactical RPG series at this morning's pre-TGS conference. The Marvelous-published series has traditionally been limited to the DS, but there were once rumors of a PSP version. Many years on, the brand new Luminous Arc Infinity will come to Sony's current handheld. Details remain limited for now. [Image: Sony]
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.
Don't call the new Harvest Moon game 'Harvest Moon'
Xseed Games has picked up the North American publishing rights to the next entry in Marvelous' long-running Harvest Moon series, announcing that it will release the sequel Story of Seasons for the Nintendo 3DS in North America later this year. Published by Natsume since its Super NES debut in 1997, the farming-focused Harvest Moon series has seen numerous sequels and spinoffs in the years that followed, including the ongoing Rune Factory subseries. Natsume still owns the rights to the "Harvest Moon" trademark in North America, however, requiring Xseed to rename its upcoming 3DS game Story of Seasons. Despite the new name, Story of Seasons shares much of its development staff with previous Harvest Moon games, including producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto and character designer Igusa Matsuyama. Story of Seasons also retains core series mechanics like crop-tending, animal care, and character growth and customization. Xseed notes that further details will be revealed at E3 next month. [Image: Xseed]
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]
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]."
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.
Report: Checkpoint sues Marvelous AQL, claiming 'hostile takeover' plan
Game studio Checkpoint has filed suit against Marvelous AQL, claiming that the Japanese publisher attempted to take over Checkpoint in an effort to avoid a $2.5 million payout. The suit names Marvelous, XSEED, a former Checkpoint employee, and others on breach of contract, theft of trade secrets, and more.According to Gamasutra's summary of the case, Marvelous made a deal in 2011 through which it would pay $2.5 million in exchange for 35 percent of Checkpoint and two shipped games. Following the release of those two games, AviNation and Party Politics, the two companies planned a similar $2.5 million arrangement for two more games.However, Checkpoint CEO Brian Wiklem alleged in the suit that chief technical officer Christopher Masterton, owner of 24 percent of Checkpoint, met with Marvelous to sell his own shares and give Marvelous control of the company without Wiklem's consent. Marvelous then hired Masterton and 14 other Checkpoint staffers to work at XSEED. Masterton is now technical lead.Furthermore, the suit claims, the former Checkpoint staff are now using Checkpoint tech at XSEED, and Masterton refuses to hand over the logins for Checkpoint's Facebook page and other accounts. We've asked MAQL for comment.
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut arrives on PS3 in Q1 2013 [update: Move confirmed]
Deadly Premonition: The Director's Cut is pulling into PlayStation 3 in the first quarter of 2013 for North America and Europe, Rising Star Games announced. The enhanced re-release includes new content, and will receive new downloadable content. It also features a high definition face-lift and reworked controls.Deadly Premonition creator SWERY65 announced the remastered PS3 edition of his 2010 cult favorite back in March, telling us it would feature new content and Move controls. The press release from Rising Star makes no mention of Move, so we've reached out to the publisher for confirmation.Update: Rising Star confirmed to us Move support is still planned.
PSA: Half-Minute Hero on Steam today
Half Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax Ultimate Boy, the adventure that lasts 30 seconds at a time, is available today on Steam. The game is expected to be priced at $10 and is also currently available on XBLA and PSP.There is still no word on sequel Hero 30 Second, which launched in Japan last year, making its way across the Pacific pond.%Gallery-164540%
Mega Man creator's JJ Rockets hits Android in Japan, stars US president
JJ Rockets, a side-scrolling action game from Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune, comes to Android in Japan today. More importantly, as Siliconera reports, it looks brilliantly bizarre.First off, you play as the President of the United States - probably not specifically the big O. Then you transform into what looks like a futuristic superhero version of Evel Knievel, all to save humanity from a swarm of evil mutants. Each stage has a three-minute time limit, with the stage only complete once the final boss is defeated. A promotional image from the Google Play listing suggests a diverse arsenal to choose from, while one screenshot shows a Batman-like 'Bwoom!' and 'Kaboom!!In summary: Mega Man platforming action, US super-president, time-limits, comic book stylings, and lots of fun-looking weapons. This is why we're interested.We reached out to Marvelous AQL, who are publishing JJ Rockets in Japan, but the company declined to provide any further comment. We do know, though, the game is also releasing on iOS at some point. As it is, we wouldn't be surprised by a Western release of another Marvelous-published Inafune game.
Half-Minute Hero speeds onto PC September 27
Half-Minute Hero is coming to PC on September 27, priced at $9.99 according to its listing on the Playism portal. It will also be available on Steam. This is the second port of the 2009 PlayStation Portable game, following its arrival on Xbox Live Arcade last year. The PC port includes all of the XBLA version's extra content, including the alternative high-res look.Meanwhile, there remains no word on Half-Minute Hero's sequel reaching Western shores. Hero 30 Second, which focuses on and expands the first game's Hero 30 mode, was released in Japan last year on PSP.%Gallery-164540%
Soul Sacrifice is Keiji Inafune's Vita game, features gruesome magic
While Sony's Japan Studio is the only listed name on the teaser video for Soul Sacrifice, a new Famitsu story adds some other names to the roster. Former Capcom exec, current Comcept/Intercept head, and Neptunia mk2 weapon Keiji Inafune is in charge of planning on the Vita game for his company Comcept.That would mean Soul Sacrifice is the Vita game he semi-accidentally announced, and then attempted to unannounce, earlier this year. Inafune is working with developer Marvelous AQL, with composers Yasunori Mitsuda and Wataru Hokoyama providing music.The game allows players to cast powerful magic spells, but requires a payment ("Sacrifice") for each. You can sacrifice objects, but the most powerful spells require you to give up parts of your character's body – in an example given, you give up an eye to summon a Gorgon. The player has been enslaved by a sorcerer, and captured in a small cell, when a demonic book appears that allows the player to experience past magical battles – which you can do with up to four players.Head to Famitsu now to see many, many screenshots and pieces of Comcept concept art.
Keiji Inafune on why you shouldn't tease unannounced projects
"I don't think I mentioned anything about PlayStation Vita," Keiji Inafune told me in an interview this morning. His answer -- an outright lie -- elicited laughs from myself and his translator, both of us having attended his state of the Japanese game industry panel yesterday at GDC 2012 -- where he teased a PlayStation Vita project."I can say that I got in trouble from Sony," he said. Uh oh! Unsurprisingly, Inafune wouldn't budge on any more details, only adding that, "You should be able to hear something more in detail soon." That's right, folks -- even important devs like Keiji Inafune can't just walk around saying whatever they want about unannounced projects all willy nilly.But don't fret, fans, as Inafune plans on launching his already announced Nintendo 3DS project, King of Pirates, worldwide. "For all my titles, I'm looking to do worldwide publishing. I can't say who is publishing because it could be Marvelous directly or maybe they're going to find another publisher in the US," he said. "But the plan is to do it worldwide."
Keiji Inafune reveals 'King of Pirates,' heading to 3DS in 2012
Ex-Capcom head of production, Keiji Inafune, has yet another pot on the stove. His company, Intercept, announced its next game last night: "King of Pirates" for the Nintendo 3DS, which brings Inafune back into console development (as previously hinted). The game is apparently set on a massive ocean, "where heroes fight for ambition, justice, and their lives," according to a note from Inafune. 4Gamer reports that the game is planned as a trilogy, and features some form of multiplayer. The teaser trailer, however, doesn't go very far in explaining what the game is actually about, though it seems to indicate some form of ship battle game -- the official website describes it as "pirate action adventure." The trailer does let slip some other information, however, such as who's publishing the game, namely Marvelous AQL, makers of the Harvest Moon series. Currently, King of Pirates is only slated for launch in Japan, though we'd be surprised if it didn't end up in other territories eventually. In fact, according to Inafune's own development philosophy, it's almost guaranteed to arrive elsewhere.%Gallery-135800%
Xseed publishing Vanillaware's online RPG 'Grand Knights History'
XSEED has picked up Vanillaware's recent PSP release, the turn-based RPG Grand Knights History, with the intention to publish it in both UMD and digital releases this winter. Rising Star Games will publish it in Europe at an unspecified time. Vanillaware, if you can't quite place the name, is the developer of absurdly pretty 2D games like Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Odin Sphere, and the upcoming Dragon's Crown. Grand Knights History depicts a war between three European-style nations, Union, Avalon, and Logres. Players choose one of the factions, recruit teams of soldiers, and face off against the other two armies in battles that take place over 30 hours. Each team member is fully customizable. During TGS, I spoke with producer Yoshifumi Hashimoto, from development partner and publisher Marvelous, who explained the unique online functionality of this title -- the part that he thinks will help appeal to western audiences. "The way it works is you have these four parties online," composed from within a group of 32 characters you've built. "When you're online, you can take direct control of one of these; the other three will battle automatically. The other three parties are synced up to the server. But if you can't get online, all four will fight on their own." While the online play is seen as a feature to draw in western players, the choice of gameplay system displays what seems to be a uniquely Japanese view. "The reason this was chosen: we did Muramasa: The Demon Blade with Vanillaware previously," Hashimoto said, "an action game. Some people are good at action, and some people are not. So with this game -- everybody can play a turn-based battle, and so every player will be able to get through the story and see the end, which is what we wanted."%Gallery-134648%
Rumor: Little King's Story sequel coming to PlayStation Vita [update]
According to a purported Famitsu leak, one of the best games of 2009 (which most people didn't play) will see a sequel on Sony's new handheld. Andriasang reports that a sequel to Marvelous's Pikmin-ish town-building action strategy game, Little King's Story, was announced for the Vita in this week's Famitsu. The title of this new game translates to "The King, The Demon King and the Seven Princesses: New King Story," and it features new designs for the characters. Yoshiro Kimura headed this game with Cing, Town Factory, and other assorted developers; he's since left Marvelous for Grasshopper Manufacture, and Cing has gone bankrupt, leaving the identity of this game's developer somewhat of a mystery. Of course, it's premature to worry about things like that when we don't even know the game is real, something we're attempting to confirm with Marvelous now. Update: Andriasang has more details. Konami is publishing the new game instead of Marvelous, though Marvelous is still involved in some way. The Vita release has more "realistic proportions" in its characters, and a full touch-based control scheme. And it'll be playable at Tokyo Game Show in Sony's booth.
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax review: Impressed for time
Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax takes the gameplay of a traditional JRPG, and squeezes it all into 30-second chunks. Inspired by this feat of game design magic, I decided to see if I could fit my whole review into 30 seconds as well. %Gallery-124531%
Let Travis Touchdown show you how to play No More Heroes with Move
Say you're interested in No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise, but you have no imagination. How best to communicate the Move controls to you? Japanese publisher Marvelous has figured it out, by having someone dressed as Travis Touchdown demonstrate the game using the PS3 motion controller. That way, you won't be confused at all about what motions to perform, and whom you'll be manipulating when you make those motions! Just for reference, we're reasonably certain the controls work even if you aren't wearing a Travis Touchdown costume. You won't have to worry about that until a Kinect version of No More Heroes comes along. Warning: he goes through most of the second assassination, so if you'd consider that a spoiler, don't watch.
Half-Minute Hero XBLA's optional HD look revealed
The XBLA version of Half-Minute Hero changes the original beyond cutting it down to all "Hero 30" mode and adding a crazy new name. As revealed in screens on the newly launched website, Half-Minute Hero: Super Mega Neo Climax gives players the option to replace the retro-ish pixelated look with a new high-res style that renders all the characters as adorable, circle-faced sprites. The "classic" look will also be available. Siliconera reports that there are 62 new missions in the XBLA version, and describes the online mode as a "race against other players to save the world." Like any part of this game isn't a race! Super Mega Neo Climax will be out June 29.%Gallery-124531%
