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Interview: Atlus on localizing 3D Dot Game Heroes
Atlus is following up the surprise PS3 hit Demon's Souls with another From Software title: The retro-inspired action RPG 3D Dot Game Heroes. While we wait for the game's May release to plunge North America into a new retrogaming renaissance (or just be fun), we spoke to Atlus's Manager of PR and Sales, Aram Jabbari, and editor Scott Strichart about the strategy for localizing the game, about its retro roots and about Spelunker. Joystiq: How did Atlus arrive at the budget pricing for this game? Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales, Atlus: We made a conscious decision early on to make the game as irresistible a value as possible. While the door isn't entirely closed on Atlus Spoils goodies, we are presently leaning towards passing on as much savings to our beloved fans as possible. Though we feel the game is far meatier in content than the 8- and 16-bit games it lampoons, we are also cognizant of how a simpler retro gaming experience compares to some of the epic current gen releases, at least in the minds of some gamers, and we want to do everything in our power to entice them to experience 3DDGH for themselves. %Gallery-83457%
3D Dot Game Heroes' first English language screens
Click to Ys into the galleryAtlus has seen fit to bestow some new 3D Dot Game Heroes screenshots upon us, featuring a noteworthy addition to the game: the English language. These are the first screens of the localized version, which means that we can now make sense of the character editor for the first time! Some of these screens also feature something else that rarely makes it into 3D Dot screenshots: the UI. There's actually kind of a lot of stuff on the screen, which is a surprise given the otherwise retro presentation. Of course, being an Atlus game, some clever dialogue is also on display, like the reference to the classic Ys combat system in the screenshot featured above. %Gallery-83457%
Atlus shipping 3D Dot Game Heroes in North America on May 11
In a late-night press release, Atlus announced that it is in fact the company publishing 3D Dot Game Heroes in North America, confirming its status as the publisher of choice for fans of both Zelda homages and From Software games. The company even went so far to give the PS3 game a precise date: May 11, a day which will play host to an unheard-of number of underlines and gold stars on our calendar. GameStop, however, says May 3. We're willing to accept "May" as specific enough for now. We've got some delightful new screens in the gallery below, if, like us, you're nowhere near over the novelty of giant pixels rendered in HD. Update: Commenter Orchard Pear points out that the GameStop listing also prices the game at just $39.99. If that turned out to be the final price, it would basically be a miracle performed by the gods of retro gaming. %Gallery-78343%
Metal Gear Solid 4's hero as a 3D Dot Game Hero
One poster at Hachimaki didn't keep us waiting at all for a custom 3D Dot Game Heroes version of Metal Gear Solid 4's Old Snake. The game isn't even officially released in Japan yet! But this artist got hold of a pre-street-dated copy and set immediately to work on an Old Snake avatar in the game's character editor. Snake will have No Place to Hide in the wide-open, blocky expanses of 3D Dot Game Heroes' kingdom, but he'll presumably be able to compensate with a combination of Close Quarters Combat and Long Distance Swords. Update: See a video after the break. [Via Andriasang]
See the history of 3D Dot Game Heroes' world in new trailer
Don't get too angry when the discussion about From Software's 3D Dot Game Heroes centers around classic Zelda. It's plainly obvious from this new trailer (after the break) that From is not only being totally up front about the game's inspiration, but inviting comparisons. The introductory story sequence, the environments, and even the music strongly recall Nintendo's flagship adventure series. But From has done a great job of making something that doesn't just appeal to our nostalgia -- we're just as excited about this game on its own merits. We're ready to start upgrading our swords to ridiculous extremes. Not that nostalgia isn't an important part of it! Blogger Maxell011 (via GameSetWatch) pointed out the game's loading screens, which remake famous game boxes in Dot Game Heroes style. That Castlevania (above, with the original box) homage might be enough to sell a few copies.
LGJ: 3D Dot Game Infringement
Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq ("LGJ"), a column on legal issues as they relate to video games: If you're like me, then you've likely been following Joystiq's coverage of 3D Dot Game Heroes and thinking "I really, really hope this gets translated and released in the US." After all, if you're a gamer like me then you love the idea of a 3D homage to the 2D games you grew up with. Of course, it's less likely that you're a lawyer like me, and so it's also less likely that you read through the comments and had an immediate reaction to the countless cries of copyright infringement in the game. Those repetitive, vocal cries have brought me to this column, which aims to answer the big question: is 3D Dot Game Heroes copyright infringement? Let me start off by saying the analysis here is just my opinion, and a court could always find otherwise. Where this discussion really needs to start is what elements seem to be infringing. Now would be a good time to view the trailer or some screenshots, if you haven't yet. The main complaints I've heard, and can see from the trailer, are the environments (both overworld and dungeon) bear a striking resemblance to the Zelda universe (The Legend of Zelda and Link to the Past, specifically), while the hero characters bear a striking resemblance to those from the Final Fantasy and Dragon Warrior past. Some of the monsters also bear quite a resemblance to Zelda baddies. And, of course, the music is certainly inspired by classic Zelda music. So, case closed, right? Well, no, that's not how copyright infringement works.
Put on your rose-colored glasses for the first 3D Dot Game Heroes trailer
From Software's homage to classic 8-bit gaming in upcoming Japanese release 3D Dot Game Heroes has been expressed in the first trailer. Sure, it absolutely reeks of the original Legend of Zelda, but in an updated, tongue-in-cheek kinda way. It certainly doesn't hurt that, visually speaking, it's stunning from beginning to end. We've got screenshots and the gorgeous video above, but only a Japanese release date so far -- how about some love for the rest of the world, eh? %Gallery-70578%
3D Dot Game Heroes gets more modern, more retro
From Software has released new details about its retro-fabulous adventure game, 3D Dot Game Heroes, showing off four default playable characters and a method for creating even more. The group of existing main characters holds a hero, a prince, and some kind of itinerant scholar who carries a book around. But if you don't like those guys, you can use a Cube Kingdom-like editor to build your own character out of voxels! Examples shown include a big cube and a stick figure. You'll be able to make custom animations for each of their movements as well. The fourth in-game character we haven't mentioned yet: the title character from IREM's Spelunker, who appears in a bizarre bit of cross-promotion. Spelunker seems to behave in 3D Dot Game Heroes much as he does in his own game -- which is to say he dies if he falls from almost any height.
From Software's 3D Dot Game Heroes does pixel art PS3-style
From Software's latest PS3 game takes 8-bit sprites and mostly updates them for the current generation, with amazing results. 3D Dot Game Heroes takes place in a classic RPG kingdom whose king, following the successful defeat of a demon lord, declares that the world should be 3D from now on. In the process, something goes wrong, though we don't know what yet, and solving that crisis is the basis of the gameplay. We've captured the screens from the rotating display on the official website and subsequently have been staring at them all morning. The game's super high-resolution rendering of 3D pixel art is striking. There's even a tilt-shift effect on the images to make everything look miniature. 3D Dot Game Heroes will be out in Japan in November. %Gallery-70578% [Thanks, Jason]
