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Square Enix bringing Chaos Rings 3 to mobile, Vita this year
A third entry in Media-Vision's mobile JRPG series Chaos Rings is due to launch for smartphones and the PS Vita in October in Japan, publisher Square Enix announced this week (via Gematsu). Chaos Rings premiered for iOS devices in 2010, finding a niche with genre fans when JRPG-styled adventure games were still scarce in the App Store. A prequel, Chaos Rings Omega, and a sequel followed in the years afterward, and the original game was released for PlayStation Mobile-enabled devices (including the PS Vita) in 2013. Chaos Rings 3 will be priced at 2,800 yen on mobile devices and 4,300 yen for PS Vita. A boxed, limited-edition Prequel Trilogy Special Edition is also coming to the PS Vita, confirming that the Vita version is a fully-fledged release for the platform and not a PlayStation Mobile port. Chaos Rings 3 will launch in Japan on October 16. A North American release has not been announced. [Image: Square Enix]
Portabliss: Chaos Rings 2 (iOS)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Chaos Rings 2. During GDC this year, Cave Vice-President Mikio Watanabe implored smartphone and tablet game developers to price their products appropriately: a high-quality game should come with a higher pricetag. Square Enix's Chaos Rings 2 certainly follows Watanabe's advice.At $18 on iPhone and $20 on iPad, it's among the higher-priced big-name iOS releases. But that old adage of "getting what you pay for" applies, too, as Chaos Rings II is a superb RPG that easily justifies its premium pricetag.%Gallery-151691%
iOS devs appear in new Develop 100 listing
The Develop 100 is a list put together every year of the top video game developers in the world, and this year there's a surprising trend showing up: a lot of iPhone and iOS developers are starting to make the grade. Touch Arcade spotted around 50 iPhone and iPad developers in the list, which is more than I've ever seen in a list usually populated with the likes of Bioware, Nintendo and Blizzard Entertainment. Sure enough, Nintendo is number one this year, but World of Goo creator 2D Boy is in the second spot, with Cut the Rope developer Zepto Lab in third. A little further down, there's Chaos Rings developers Media Vision, along with 1337 Game Design (Dark Nebula), Rockstar Leeds (GTA: Chinatown Wars for iOS) and The Coding Monkeys (Carcassone). That's pretty amazing -- these little iOS developers are beating out much larger devs, like Halo's Bungie and Call of Duty's Treyarch, for the top spots on a pretty prestigious list. One reason for the changes is probably that the list is now weighted more towards the ratings on Metacritic, where iOS games tend to do very well compared to other video game titles (for a number of reasons, from a lower price to a completely different type of media and market). Still, it's interesting to see upstart iOS developers we know and love stacked up in such a favorable way against much larger and more experienced traditional game developers.
Chaos Rings encircles iPad; Square Enix iPhone apps go on sale
Square Enix's pretty iPhone RPG gets prettier today, with the release of Chaos Rings for iPad. Sure, you could already play the original version on iPad (and still can) but the $15.99 iPad-native version has enhanced graphics for the bigger screen. Even if you don't want to take a pair of fighters through fight after fight in the Ark Battle Arena, this release might be good news for you: to celebrate, Square Enix has discounted all its other iPhone titles -- most notably Sliding Heroes, which has been marked down to free. See the full list here (iTunes link).
Wild Arms dev working on PS3/PSP game with worldwide appeal
Media Vision, best known for the Wild Arms RPG series, is working on a new project for PlayStation 3 and PSP. New job listings suggest that the project is quite early in production, and is expected to be "a massive project that will span a long term." While the listing describes the Wild Arms series as being "representative of Japan," this new title for Sony platforms will be one that "appeals to users not just in Japan, but around the world as well." This new project is only the latest in a growing trend of Japanese RPG developers attempting to create a title with worldwide appeal. Most recently, Square Enix made two versions of Nier in an effort to better appeal to Western sensibilities. It'll be interesting to see what approach Media Vision takes for its new globally-focused project. [Via Andriasang]
Square Enix releases Chaos Rings on iPhone, discounts other iPhone games
Square Enix's impressive-looking iPhone RPG, Chaos Rings, is now available from the App Store. If you'd like to try it, you'll have to pay the iPhone equivalent of the Square Enix Tax, as the publisher has priced the Media Vision-developed RPG at $12.99. Chaos Rings is the story of four couples (each in its own storyline) summoned to fight to the death in a tournament for some mysterious reason. The "couple" theme forms the strategic element of battles: you have to decide when to use combined attacks that also open both party members to damage. Paradoxically, the release of this expensive-for-iPhone game also brings savings. To promote the launch of Chaos Rings, Square Enix put its other iPhone games on sale. Among others, Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II are now $6.99 each, Crystal Defenders is now $5.99, and Sliding Heroes has temporarily reached the magic $.99 price point. Even the Final Fantasy XIII gallery is on sale, priced at Still Too Much.
Chaos Rings for iPhone looks like a real RPG
Well, this is a surprise. Square Enix's iPhone RPG Chaos Rings looks, in terms of design, like one of its PlayStation-era RPGs and, in terms of graphical quality, better than one of its PlayStation-era RPGs. Watch the trailer for the Media Vision-developed game after the break, and you'll see what we mean. Dynamic camera angles, detailed -- and stylish -- monsters and characters, and interesting prerendered environments are all on display. What's nice is that since RPGs don't really require precise controls, we can semi-safely get interested in this game without having our hopes dashed by the platform. It could still turn out to be terrible, but it isn't guaranteed to be. [Via Touch Arcade]
There's no date like September 29 for The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road
XSEED announced the release date for the localized version of RIZ-ZOAWD, now more sensibly (but less intriguingly) titled The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road. Players will be rolling Dorothy and co. around the land of Oz with a virtual trackball starting September 29. Perhaps the most noteworthy thing about that date is that it isn't Spring 2010.Beyond the Yellow Brick Road combines the Oz setting and characters with a JRPG design, resulting in something that is, well, really weird.%Gallery-68346%
XSEED clicks heels together, brings Wizard of Oz RPG to North America
A licensed Wizard of Oz game doesn't seem like the biggest news, but the fact that XSEED is publishing it is a clue that there's a little more going on than the usual licensed kids' game. In fact, The Wizard of Oz: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road is a localized version of Media Vision's RIZ-ZOAWD, which is nothing less than a Wizard of Oz-themed JRPG. XSEED has partnered with original Japanese publisher D3 to bring this weird game to North America.Beyond the Yellow Brick Road combines the Oz setting with turn-based Dragon Quest-esque combat, with certain enemies more susceptible to attacks from certain party members, and a trackball-like movement interface. You'll be able to send your flying monkeys out for it this fall.D3 is now a subsidiary of Namco Bandai, which means that The Wizard of Oz is the fourth Namco Bandai game to be picked up by XSEED. %Gallery-68346%
CS Link to add HD programming in Czech Republic next year
Heads-up, Czech Republic. Your nation could be seeing high-def programming as early as next year. At least, that's the word from Media Vision head Martin Janku. In a recent interview with Parabola, the bigwig noted that negotiations to get HD services up and running on CS Link were ongoing, and that current estimates pegged the initial launch sometime in 2009. Furthermore, he also suggested that an internet-delivered channel was in the works, and there's also a push to increase the number of (SD, presumably) channels overall. We like the sound of that.[Via Broadband TV News]
'Toto, I've a feeling we're still in scans'
We were so close to using "Skansas" for that title. So close. Anyway, RIZ-ZOAWD, Media Vision's gorgeous game interpretation of The Wizard of Oz, has made an appearance in the pages of Japanese mag V-Jump, where it continues to look all red-heeled and lovely.There's a serving of character art featuring the cowardly tin woodman, the brainless lion, and the heartless scarecrow (no, wait ...), new screens, and a brief guide to using the green, touch-sensitive trackball that steers Dorothy and Toto. This appears to be quite the versatile tool, with different strokes of the stylus allowing Dorothy to walk, run, and jump, but we can't stop thinking of Microsoft's awful trackball mice whenever we see it. Maybe that's just us, though.Gamekyo has the full scans, so click your heels and get over there for a peek!
The wonderful world map of RIZ-ZOAWD
Every piece of RIZ-ZOAWD news is as important as, if not more than, the announcement of a new Nintendo console. In fact, every single update on any RIZ-ZOAWD information is more important than any news about anything relating to video games in the history of mankind.So, a couple of new screens, then. Famitsu has revealed some new artwork along with the full world map, which is looking pretty stylish. Each area in the game is based upon a different season -- so the changes in environments aren't simply due to Oz being such a trippy place. You can check out a few more screens after the break, and the full collection over at Famitsu.Disclaimer: The above text contains at least one (miniscule) exaggeration.
More from the wonderful wizard of RIZ-ZOAWD
Is RIZ-ZOAWD the most beautiful game in the cosmos? Why, yes. Yes it is. Following on from these screens, we've found a big batch of new media just ready for the drooling. One might get a little bit tired of examining the same game for extended periods of time, but this Wizard of Oz remake is just really, really good-looking.The images show off a range of new enemies, some larger pieces of artwork and a bunch of in-game shots showing Dorothy wandering around doing her red-heeled thing. Check past the break for a few select screens from the pile, and wander over to the Kanji-laden source for a feast of RIZ-ZOAWD righteousness.
Follow RIZ-ZOAWD's yellow brick screenshots
Rather than make us wait for publisher D3P to update RIZ-ZOAWD's official site with images from the game, Famitsu clicked its heels and posted a preview of the Wizard of Oz-inspired RPG with a half dozen screenshots from the magazine pages posted earlier this week. Due this winter and developed by Media.Vision (Wild Arms series), RIZ-ZOAWD features a virtual trackball on the touchscreen which players can rotate to move Dorothy. During battles, enemies appear on the top screen, Dragon Quest-style, with attacks and other commands on the bottom display.So far, the game's seems to follow the 1939 film closely, but instead of living with her Aunt Em and Uncle Harry, the orphaned Dorothy lives alone with only Toto to keep her company. Also, during their adventure in the land of Oz, Dorothy and her party will play through "four fields of play themed in spring, summer, fall and winter." Hopefully, the game will turn out much better than the Sci-Fi channel's reimagining of the original story with its Tin Man miniseries.
RIZ-ZOAWD website is stunning
Anagram-lovers unite for the latest revelation in the RIZ-ZOAWD saga. The Japanese website is now live, and it's achingly beautiful. Note to all artists and designers -- you deserve a raise.After several gorgeous images inviting viewers to the main menu, the four classic Wizard of Oz characters are displayed together. Each one is a fabulous re-imagining of the original designs, with the Tin Man getting some extra shine. The only currently active link directs you to a synopsis of the story -- in Japanese. Well, most people should have the general idea, but there's sure to be countless new ideas in this RPG re-telling. Even with English details still in limbo, you can start appreciating the artwork right here -- right now![Via GoNintendo]
RIZ-ZOAWD confuses all, until they figure it out
Media Vision (best known for the RPG series Wild Arms) are hard at work creating a new RPG for the DS, at this stage titled RIZ-ZOAWD. Yeah, what? It's a perfectly cromulent title.The awesome name is expected to be changed in localization (assuming North America doesn't miss out), but for now you can check out the Famitsu scan showing off a few gameplay screens. A friendly-looking scarecrow can be seen, along wth a girl wearing a blue dress and red slippers ... hmmm, this sounds strangely familiar. If you have strange recollections from The Wizard of Oz, you're not alone. The more Hawking-like readers will also notice that RIZ-ZOAWD is an anagram for WIZARD-OZ.RIZ-ZOAWD will be controlled entirely with the stylus using a track ball (that is, moving a ball to move a character). The game will be released come winter in Japan, but all that cold weather can't be good for Dorothy's complexion.
Brief Wild ARMs XF trailer tells all the basics
In case you're interested in Wild ARMs XF but haven't read our interview with Akifumi Kaneko, then perhaps this brief English trailer will grab your short attention span. In just one minute, the trailer tells you every basic detail you'll need to know about the title's gameplay. This comes in as a nice little info-jolt as this PSP-exclusive strategy RPG will be out soon -- March 11 to be exact.
PSP-exclusive Wild Arms XF confirmed for US
As one of maybe six people who seem to derive enjoyment from Sony and Media Vision's RPG series Wild Arms, I was was understandably pleased with news of publisher XSEED's intent to bring the new PSP-exclusive Wild Arms XF, or Crossfire, to North America next spring, even if those around me could care less. This latest jaunt through the Wild West-themed world of Filgaia will mark a return to the hex-based combat system used in by the previous two games in the franchise. While few other details have been revealed about the game, it's interesting to note that the Japanese version of the title supports linking between it and Wild Arms 5 for the PS2, unlocking new items and boss battles across both titles, giving the handful of us who appreciate the series another reason not to pack away our aging PS2s just yet.
