tgs08
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Rumor: WiiWare sales for third-party devs in the hundreds?
Apparently overheard by 1UP's Shane Bettenhausen at the recently concluded TGS08, third-party developers on WiiWare haven't been raking in the cash. Supposedly, they've only sold "hundreds" of copies of their digital wares, meaning it's largely been a bust for them. We're not sure how valid this is, hence the rumor label.When you think about it, how could stellar titles like LostWinds, World of Goo and Mega Man 9 sell only a few hundred copies? Perhaps the shovelware that is Protöthea and SPOGS Racing only sold a few hundred, if that, but we're thinking that the good games have done pretty well. Hey Nintendo, how about some sales data?Of course, this could all be moot. It's not like there's much of a source on this one (we've checked the latest 1UP show and the latest podcasts, but we haven't been able to find it there), so feel free to apply salt where needed. We're always looking for new games to enjoy. We've got plenty of other WiiWare reviews, if you're into that kind of thing.. If you're so crazy that you want to go to the store and buy something when you could be playing World of Goo or Mega Man 9, we can help with that, too.
TGS 08: Edge of Twilight impressions
Amid the vast array of Japanese developers and publishers on the TGS show floor sat one small booth which seemed slightly out of place. FUZZYEYES, an Australian development studio, chose to debut its upcoming 2009 title, Edge of Twilight, at the show, and we were invited in for a private demo. The game captured our attention with its dichotomous day/night gameplay and intriguing combat.Edge of Twilight is pegged as a steampunk fantasy title which is part Soul Reaver, part God of War. A lot of emphasis is placed on dark and light. Day and night have been split apart, each inhabited by a different civilization. As a half-breed outcast your character, Lex, is able to pass between the two at certain points. Not only does gameplay change in each realm, but your character will also drastically change appearance. During the day Lex looks similar to Keats from Folklore, with a metal arm and a steampunky lancer-style gun. While in this realm you are able to affect machines, your character is too heavy to jump around, rendering platforming sections nearly impassable. At night he transforms into something a little more monstrous. Part Gollum, part Nightcrawler. In this realm machines are dead, but the emphasis is more on platforming. Gallery: Edge of Twilight
Joystiq impressions: Edge of Twilight
Amid the vast array of Japanese developers and publishers on the TGS show floor sat one small booth which seemed slightly out of place. FUZZYEYES, an Australian development studio, chose to debut its upcoming 2009 title, Edge of Twilight, at the show, and we were invited in for a private demo. The game captured our attention with its dichotomous day/night gameplay and intriguing combat.Edge of Twilight is pegged as a steampunk fantasy title which is part Soul Reaver, part God of War. A lot of emphasis is placed on dark and light. Day and night have been split apart, each inhabited by a different civilization. As a half-breed outcast your character, Lex, is able to pass between the two at certain points. Not only does gameplay change in each realm, but your character will also drastically change appearance. During the day Lex looks similar to Keats from Folklore, with a metal arm and a steampunky lancer-style gun. While in this realm you are able to affect machines, your character is too heavy to jump around, rendering platforming sections nearly impassable. At night he transforms into something a little more monstrous. Part Gollum, part Nightcrawler. In this realm machines are dead, but the emphasis is more on platforming. %Gallery-34678%
TGS 08: MGO Meme expansion trailer
The new Meme expansion pack for Metal Gear Online was announced not too long ago. Along with it comes the addition of new maps and two playable fan favorites: Liquid Ocelot and Mei Ling. Both of whom stand tall in this new Meme expansion trailer from the Tokyo Game Show.The TGS 08 trailer also shows off the new maps revealed before: Silo Sunset, Forest Firefight and Winter Warehouse. Also, we get to see some all new customizable parts for your characters. Want an Ocelot stache? Maybe you want to wear that flower Sunny always wears? If those options don't float your boat, you could always put on a blond fro or croc helm.Thanks to the game's M rating we've placed the trailer after the break. So make sure you're of age before taking a peek. We'll be watching!%Gallery-34711%
TGS 08 hands-on: Bleach Soul Carnival
There are probably two questions our readers are most likely to have about Bleach: Soul Carnival, PSP's upcoming 2D chibi-reworking of the popular Shonen Jump series. First: is it good? Second: will it come out to the States? In spite of a strong following in the States (and a slew of other Bleach titles on the Wii and DS), it doesn't appear as if there are any plans on bringing any of Sony's Bleach games out of Japan. And that's a shame, really. Soul Carnival looks to be a worthwhile addition to the PSP lineup.The Heat the Soul series on PSP were met with fan excitement, thanks to their diverse rosters and impressive graphics. However, with five iterations in less than five years, it was clear that Sony had milked that franchise a bit too much. With Soul Carnival, the Bleach series moves away from being a serious fighter, to a cute 2D sidescrolling brawler.Well, we approve of the transformation. While the chibi Bleach characters will be love/hate amongst series fans, we have to say that these new cute interpretations of series favs looks rather charming on the PSP's small screen. They style works very well with the gameplay as well. The intuitive beat-em-up controls make the game instantly accessible -- an aspect crucial in good portable games design.%Gallery-34587%
DS Daily: Most anticipated
Since the first footage of Ni no Kuni: The Another World appeared at the Tokyo Game Show last week, it has become the DS game I'm most looking forward to. A Level 5/Studio Ghibli collaboration is the stuff dreams are made of. The animation, predictably, looks wonderful. I already just want to hold the included spellbook. Maybe stroke it. Is that wrong?Plenty of other titles were showcased last week in Tokyo, so now seems like an appropriate time to see which made the most impact on each of you. Are you crazy about Chrono Trigger? Giddy about Gyakuten Kenji? Cuckoo for Castlevania? If you could have one upcoming DS title in your hands right now, what would it be?
TGS 08: Phantasy Star Portable coming to US fo' sho'
Sega of America quietly told reporters at TGS that their "secret PSP game" was in fact, a localized version of Phantasy Star Portable -- a fact made not-so-secret when Kotaku ran their story today. It's true: PSP is coming to the PSP. Phantasy Star features the same addictive Ad-Hoc multiplayer that made Monster Hunter such a hit amongst Japanese gamers -- and it looks pretty, to boot. Hopefully, this early announcement will appease the American masses that are currently experiencing a PSP games drought. You see? Games are coming. We swear. [Thanks, Ben!]
TGS08: New Fragile trailer reduces stress
Because seriously, how mellow is that tune? Lovely. Yours truly almost drifted off at his keyboard watching this. It's also nice to be reminded that we don't reside in a post-apocalyptic wasteland! This is the Tokyo Game Show trailer for Namco Bandai's Fragile, featuring plenty more of hero Seto and his female colleague Ren (who could both do with a comb through their hair), the floating spirit of a young girl, and a lot of cut-scenery. All in all, it's as enchanting and as beautiful as ever, if a little light on gameplay.%Gallery-26285%
TGS 08: Hands-on with Demon's Souls
click to embiggen "Nothing but a player?s decision and a tactics of using various weapons are important than anything that you really need to think to play." This line, taken from the official Demon's Souls site blurb, should make you feel as scared and confused as I felt when I got my hands on the game. My first thought, "ouch," remains scrawled at the top of my notes and, sadly, it's all downhill from there. Gallery: Demons Souls
TGS 08: Hands-on with Demon's Souls (PS3)
click to embiggen "Nothing but a player?s decision and a tactics of using various weapons are important than anything that you really need to think to play." This line, taken from the official Demon's Souls site blurb, should make you feel as scared and confused as I felt when I got my hands on the game. My first thought, "ouch," remains scrawled at the top of my notes and, sadly, it's all downhill from there.%Gallery-34304%
TGS 08 hands-on: Gomibako (PSN)
Click for high-res image When we say that Gomibako -- a new PSN title -- is trashy, we're not aiming to dis the game. You see, we're not referring to the game's quality, we're simply referring to what the game's all about. The given name "Gomibako" literally means "trash box," or "trash can" if you prefer. It's all about festering piles of garbage and how to get rid of them properly (and by "properly," we really mean "in outrageous and silly ways"). In going about our Earth-friendly activities, Gomibako asks players to fill up a giant blue bin with as much trash as possible. The game plays a lot like Tetris, and so, it's important to properly place each falling piece of garbage in order to conserve space for more items to come. But since we're talking about irregularly-shaped articles of trash, conserving space proves to be a little more difficult than it sounds. Gallery: Gomibako
The stories of Final Fantasy XIII, according to TGS press kit
How helpful are TGS press kits? Well, let us know. Here's word-for-word what we're told about the stories of FFXIII and Versus. (Let us know if you see any similarities.) Final Fantasy XIII:Experience stunning graphics and immersive controls as you delve into the tale of a world where crystals steer the course of human destiny. Final Fantasy Versus XIII:In a kingdom where the order of sword and sorcery reigns, conflict erupts over the last remaining crystal. Experience gravity-defying, action-packed battles in a modern setting.
Monster Hunter 3, two Sega games honored by TGS organizers
CESA announced their list of the best games of TGS 2008, known as the "Future" category of their Japan Game Awards. Of the twelve games given the award (in no specific order), three are on Wii. Of course Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 got a nod; nothing short of not calling it Monster Hunter 3 will keep this from being a ridiculous hit in Japan, and that held true at TGS as well, with the game commanding ridiculous lines. But the two other Wii winners may be more of a surprise: Chunsoft's Sega-published visual novel 428: The World Doesn't Change Even So, and Prope's experimental Let's Tap. Sega must be very happy right about now!For the sake of Nintendo fandom, we'll include the DS winners here as well: the Phoenix Wright spinoff Gyakuten Kenji and Dragon Quest IX, which wasn't even playable.%Gallery-27138%[Via Kotaku]
TGS08: Chrono Trigger, as good as it ever was
This Chrono Trigger trailer from TGS may seem familiar to you. No, not because it's the same ol' Chrono Trigger, but because it's the same ol' trailer. Not precisely the same -- the new trailer is a little longer and differs in parts, but most of it is the same.Listen, we love Chrono Trigger. Which is why we think that maybe Square Enix could use that entire game they have lying around, largely unaltered, and hack out a little more footage for a new trailer.%Gallery-27682%
TGS 08: Patapon 2: bigger, badder and more badass
How big is Patapon 2? Well, take the original game ... and then multiply it by two. The upcoming PSP-exclusive sequel will feature a staggering amount of content which makes the original seem rather diminutive. While the first featured 37 levels, Patapon 2 Don Chaka will feature over 80. There were 187 weapons and items in the original -- and over 500 in the new game. Not only that, Patapon 2 will also feature a new multiplayer mode.While critics and fans have embraced Patapon's unique gameplay, the new content expansion should make the sequel much more appealing to newcomers and veterans alike. The core gameplay remains largely untouched -- each of the face buttons represents a certain sound, and pressing button combinations to the beat will command the Patapon to march, retreat and attack. However, they've added a new twist to the formula. Enter: the Hero Patapon.Players wanted a more personal interaction with their Patapon. With the Hero Patapon, they'll get just that. The Hero has an expanded set of moves and greater HP, making it far deadlier than the standard Patapon. While Patapon were fairly expendable in the original, players will want the Hero to stay alive. As it can be named by the player, many may think of it as their own unique "pet" in the game.%Gallery-27751%
TGS 08: Sony's booth - reality vs fantasty
Click for bigger PlayStations Our statistics show that you, dear reader, are most likely to be of American origin. As a result, you probably don't have access to the Japanese Home beta. It's a shame, because it's the closest you were probably going to get to attending the Tokyo Game Show this year. The Japanese Home "Events and Media" space was updated, allowing those who were unable to reach the show to walk around in a to-scale mock-up of Sony's booth. But just how close does the in-game model come to the real thing? Scarily close. We've attempted to recreate the screenshots by photographing the booth from the correct angles. In each image, the top half shows the Home version and the bottom reveals real life. Thankfully, the real booth was nowhere near as empty as it is in Home. Perhaps a release of the open beta, timed to coincide with TGS, would've allowed even more people to check out their upcoming wares. Opportunity missed. Gallery: Sony's TGS08 booth: Home vs reality
TGS 08 hands-on: Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
When we first heard of Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce (back then it was known by its Asian version name Multi Raid) we didn't think it would be coming over to Western shores. So, it was a nice surprise to see a little press release letting us know that the PSP exclusive will in fact be making a North American and European debut in 2009. Armed with that knowledge, we decided it might be worthwhile checking out the game on the show floor.We picked up the playable demo. There were three characters available for play: Xiahou Dun, Zhao Yun and Sun Shang Xiang; they were all dressed up in their Dynasty Warriors 6 outfits. We chose to play as Zhao Yun and then picked out a map. The load time was fairly tolerable not taking more than a few seconds. Once the stage loaded up, we noticed that the graphics were not that much different from previous DW games on PSP; the character models look actually slightly blockier though.%Gallery-34535%
TGS 08: Sony's booth - reality vs. fantasy
Click for bigger PlayStations Our statistics show that you, dear reader, are most likely to be of American origin. As a result, you probably don't have access to the Japanese Home beta. It's a shame, because it's the closest you were probably going to get to attending the Tokyo Game Show this year. The Japanese Home "Events and Media" space was updated, allowing those who were unable to reach the show to walk around in a to-scale mock-up of Sony's booth. But just how close does the in-game model come to the real thing? Scarily close. We've attempted to recreate the screenshots by photographing the booth from the correct angles. In each image, the top half shows the Home version and the bottom reveals real life. Thankfully, the real booth was nowhere near as empty as it is in Home. Perhaps a release of the open beta, timed to coincide with TGS, would've allowed even more people to check out their upcoming wares. Opportunity missed.%Gallery-34523%
TGS 08: Have a look at Irem's Disaster Report PSP
Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 3 (Disaster Report PSP) is a PSP exclusive for Japan that was shown off at TGS this past week. Despite it being only shown in video format, Irem booth goers who wanted to check it out did end up with quite a treat and a smile on their faces. Irem's booth featured an earthquake simulator (pictured) which shook gamers as a video demonstration showed them how the game works. It looked like a rather interesting experience, though we didn't get time to sit down and ride the monster. While you can't experience the thrill of that machine to help get you better acquainted with Disaster Report PSP, you can do the alternative. You can check out our gallery for 16 all-new pics from the game and perhaps, if you want to, just shake in your seat.%Gallery-34459%
TGS08: Monster Hunter 3 controls: now in English!
Capcom's online control diagrams for Monster Hunter 3 are informative, especially with the video clips. But they lack one important component for most of us: coherent text. Nintendo World Report snapped pictures of English-language move charts at TGS.The five separate control guides completely shatter the notion that the game's controls would be simplified in the transition to Wii. The MH3 controls don't look overcomplicated, just complicated. Every button is used, some in multiple ways. Different weapons have subtly different control schemes. Interestingly, there are different controls for "sub-aqua," so it must be more than just walking around on the bottom of the sea.%Gallery-32281%
