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German Apollo Justice screenshots are a good sign
Siliconera's Spencer Yip came across some screenshots of the German localization of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney and rejoiced. Not because German is awesome (although we suppose it is a pretty neat language) but because evidence of any work being done on a version in any European language portends that the English version is even farther along. In fact, if Capcom is even thinking about a European release, we estimate that the US version must have been out for about two years already.More information about the European version can be found at Nintendo's European site, which lists some very Teutonic-sounding names for the twin lawyers known as Garyuu Kirihito and Garyuu Kyouya in Japan: Klavier and Kristoph Gavin. In addition, Apollo's assistant, called Minuki in Japanese, is called Trucy in the European release. Could these be the American character names as well?
Ace Attorney: J-Rock for All
The song is all in Japanese and the lyrics go by way to quickly for us to translate, but we've decided to feature this fan-created Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban 4) because We haven't had any Ace Attorney stuff in a while, and we were getting antsy, and We are super impressed with the work put into making the animations match the song ("Makka na Chikai," the opening theme of the Buso Renkin anime.) We're a little surprised-- we didn't realize we enjoyed fan-created Ace Attorney videos this much. But we were totally into watching new prosecuter Kyouya Garyuu lip-sync and air-guitar along to the theme song of some anime we never watched. [Via NeoGAF]
Ha-ha, rumors!
Gamefly, longtime supplier of pre-announcement reveals of new games (they also rent games, or whatever) now has a listing for a Wii version of the PS2/PSP Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game. For those of you who outright refuse to read news about games on other platforms, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law is a Capcom-published adventure game in the same format as the Ace Attorney series, but with the cast and writers of Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman. This needs to happen. We want to play this game anyway, being fans of both Phoenix Wright and Harvey Birdman, and we'd totally prefer using the Wiimote to navigate its menu-driven interface. Plus there's that whole liking-the-Wii thing that is, you know, the premise of this website.[Via Siliconera]
Cheap games at Toys R Us
When reader Aaron wrote in to inform us that his local Toys R Us store had volumes upon volumes of DS games, drastically reduced in price, we thought nothing more than "Oh, awesome, cheap games." This was quickly shifted toward feelings of absolute disgust, as we saw the store had way too many copies of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney on their hands.Anyway, if you have some spare time today, you might want to hit up the bargain bin at your local Toys R Us.
Ace Attorney producer testifies
GayGamer's Tiny Dancer conducted a brief interview with Ace Attorney series producer Minae Matsukawa, presumably while she was on a break from staring at dozens of identical blue suits. Matsukawa answered a few questions about everyone's favorite GBA/DS courtroom adventure series, including a question about the release of the DS-exclusive fourth game, which, she said, will be announced sometime after the US release of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations. And, of course, Matsukawa deployed the requisite implied threat of ending the series if you don't buy the next game and promote it as hard as you can: "Yes, we would like to [release Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney] very much, and we're working to make sure that happens. But it's kind of pointless if number three doesn't do very well, so we want to make sure people know about that, buy it, and tell their friends!"
Go to Comic-Con, get your Ace Attorney signed, play some games
If you're planning on attending Comic-Con, you might want to pack your copy of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney. Why? Well, the game's producer Minae Matsukawa, will be on-hand to sign autographs. If you're as obsessed with the lawyer-em-up titles as we are, then such a prospect is reason enough to attend.Outside of that, Capcom will be bringing lots of their products to the show, apparently. Game stations with DS titles Mega Man Star Force, Mega Man ZX Advent, and Ace Attorney will also be on-hand to enjoy. And, you can even have your photo taken with Mega Man and Harvey Birdman!While we'd like to attend, unfortunately the airlines won't let us fly with our shackles on (driving is an option, but iron shackles really kill our gas mileage). And, while we'd like to take them off, our Joystiq overlords would never allow it, for we would be free to run away as fast as we can.
New screens show off Trials, a few Tribulations as well
Only a few scant months stand between us and the release of the next Ace Attorney game in its localized form, and believe us when we we say we are ready. It's hard to decide if the new screens (some of which are merely English versions of other screens) make the waiting better or worse, but we couldn't withhold them. That would just be mean. So make us feel good about sharing, and check out the updated gallery below. If you missed the newer trailer a few weeks back, check it out, too. Or watch it again -- we did! %Gallery-3478%
Phoenix Wright soundtracks meet America
Phoenix Wright is the most unlikely success story on the DS. First, a series of very Japanese Game Boy Advance graphical text adventures about murder trials was ported to the DS. Then the series started getting localized for the US, and it became a surprise hit. It just got more unlikely: not only are we getting US releases of game soundtrack CDs for a handheld game, but we're getting themed arranged soundtracks. Now we are so happy, we do the dance of joy!Capcom announced a licensing deal for Gyakuten Meets Orchestra and Gyakuten Meets Jazz, to be released here as Ace Attorney Meets Orchestra and Ace Attorney Meets Jazz! Go buy them. Go buy them and tell Capcom they're doing a good thing. [Thanks, CJMErl!]
DS Daily: Changing of the guard
Fans of the Ace Attorney series have probably figured out that the newest game features a new attorney, for reasons we're not gonna get into here. The point is, our beloved Phoenix Wright is out as the star, and the new kid, Apollo Justice is in. It's not the first time this has happened in a franchise, either. We're not just talking about spin-offs, like Tingle's Rosy Yet Crazy Land of Rupee Insanity, but an honest-to-goodness changing of the guard. Sometimes it doesn't last, as in Metal Gear Solid 2, and sometimes, the change is hardly noticeable, as with the parade of green-clad heroes who are forever saving princesses in the land of Hyrule. But with the Ace Attorney series and other instances, what do you think about it? Does it bother you to lose a cherished hero in favor of some johnny-come-lately?
Phoenix Wright: Sales for All
Amazon has cut the price of Phoenix Wright: Justice for All, the sequel to everyone's favorite court-based adventure game, bringing it down to $19.99. We don't expect this deal to last for long, so race your shopping cart to the checkout lane as fast as your feet will allow.If for some reason, God forbid, you haven't played Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney yet and are hesitant to start the series midway through, don't forget that you can also pick up a used copy at GameStop or EB Games for as low as $21.99! We admit, that's still pretty expensive for a game as old as this one, but it's better than paying full price. All you'll need to take advantage of this sorta-bargain is the coupon we posted earlier this morning.
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trailers and Tribulations
We were just coming down from our adrenaline-fueled reverie over Contra 4 when this came along and OBJECTED its way into our lives. TAKE THAT!, normal heart rate! It's a trailer for Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations! What's more, Capcom USA bloggers promise frequent updates on the official blog and in the forums! It's so nice when a company thinks about all of us non-E3-goers who just want to see some cartoon arguing. [Via NeoGAF]
Mii Spotlight: In character edition
It seems like everyone loves to make Mii versions of their favorite characters, whether they're from films, games, or television shows, and who can blame them? It's very satisfying to finish a Mii that turns out well and show it off, just to see if it's immediately recognizable. Considering that, it's no surprise that people send us lots of random characters, and often, they're Miis of characters that are just so brilliant, or from things that we love, and we can't resist them.We dedicate this week's Mii spotlight to all the great character Miis we haven't seen yet ... and we wait with bated breath to see what else you guys can come up with after seeing this week's submissions.
DS Daily: Narcissus Tort
So, some of you didn't like "Apollo Justice" as the potential name for the hero of the fourth Ace Attorney game. We don't even know if that's the name yet, but it didn't stop anyone from reacting to it.We want to see you do better. Here are the rules: the first name should be a mythological character (and not necessarily a Greek or Roman one, Anansi fans) and the last name should be a surname that has a relatively common homophone (like "Wright"/"Right"). Right? Right. If you can use a legal term, so much the better.Oh, and remember, this is us, so we encourage ridiculousness. Bellerophon Bench, anyone?
Gyakuten Saiban 4 gets the French preview treatment
We've been up to our elbows in Ace Attorney-related stuff lately, and if you know us at all, you know that makes us extraordinarily happy. With Trials and Tribulations headed our way soon (or the Japanese DS release of Gyakuten Saiban 3 even sooner), we're focused heavily on the next installment in the series, Gyakuten Saiban 4 -- the one without the man himself, Phoenix Wright, taking the lead as the title lawyer. A lot of longtime fans are a little concerned about the tone of the series with this switch, but the folks at Jeux France assure us that while we may be faced with a new character (with brand new abilities!), the game is business as usual. In fact, it may even be better than usual; the preview intimates that the cases are more interesting and sport even better production than those in the earlier games, and we can't object to that.%Gallery-3549%
Objection! Capcom registers 'Apollo Justice'
According to the NeoGAF forums, Capcom has just registered an unusual trademark: Apollo Justice. If we follow the strands of speculation like so many dots, the trail leads to Phoenix Wright and the western name for Housuke Odoroki, the new hero of Ace Attorney 4. It fits the lawyerly theme of the series, and Housuke is written with the kanji character for "law", so unless Capcom is planning a new IP (or a gigantic moon-mounted laser), it looks like we have a winner.
Hold it! Ace Attorney 4 ships 500,000; series ships 2 million
After managing to sequester the top spot of the Japanese charts with 250,000 in sales, Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Ace Attorney 4) has shipped a total of 500,000 units since its April 12 release. That puts the series up to 2 million units shipped worldwide.Although the game -- the first in the series made specifically for the DS and the first without Phoenix Wright as counsel -- did not ship with an English language mode, such confidence in the series all but guarantees Capcom will push the title through its translation department and overseas. An English-language version of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorneys Trials and Tribulations is coming out in September.
Judgment generator is guilty of being awesome
Capcom is promoting its release of Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Ace Attorney) in Japan with a "judgment generator" video that anyone can drop faces and text into. The short clip's scene depicts a group of reporters waiting outside a courthouse as a man comes running towards them to announce the jury's decision. The verdict? That's up to you to decide!The prompts to enter text and upload/crop images are all in Japanese, but it shouldn't take you longer than a few seconds to figure out what's required. Why not mock up one of your own, and comment with a link to your video? You'll have to keep Japan's right-to-left text placement in mind and also compensate for the ten-character limit, but we're confident that you'll come up with something creative! We've already made a couple that you can see after the post break!
Take that! Ace Attorney overrules Mario in Japan
A text-heavy and fundamentally unhinged lawyer adventure game? You must be kidding.Actually, no. A few years ago, the very suggestion of such a game would have garnered an uncaring shrug and a disbelieving, "Only in Japan." But now, the thought of the Phoenix Wright series being available "only in Japan" is one that generates a seething anger, the kind that results in bricks being flung through Capcom office windows. It's just as well they've already announced the English release of Phoenix Wright 3: Trials and Tribulations -- or more accurately, Ace Attorney 3.Even with our man Phoenix replaced as protagonist by Housuke Odoroki in Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Ace Attorney 4), the game has managed to break into the Japanese sales charts with aplomb. Hitting the top spot with over 250,000 copies sold in one week, the crazy courtroom sim comfortably beats out fellow DS game, Mario vs. Donkey Kong 2: March of the Minis, which sold just over 92,000 copies. Third place in the DS-dominated list goes to supreme waggle champ, Wii Sports, with 41,035 sold.
Gyakuten Saiban 4 in the subway (and in our hearts)
If we had to walk past this every day, we're pretty sure we would just never be able to put the DS down. For once, we're actually a little glad that awesome video game ads aren't everywhere here. Nah, we're not fooling anyone. We would love to see this stuff! And it looks like Capcom loves to show it to us, because they are all about promoting Gyakuten Saiban 4 -- even in the subway. Probably because this franchise is huge.[Via Go Nintendo]
Rumor: Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations
What's the opposite of OBJECTION!? Oh, we know! APPROVAL! A Gamecrazy employee posted this screen from his store's computer system over on the awesome Phoenix Wright fansite Court Records. It shows a game called PHOENIX WRIGHT-TRIALS TRIBU, to be released on September 25. We'll go ahead and deduce that the full title would be Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, and that since it names Phoenix in the title and not the new guy, that this is a DS port of Gyakuten Saiban 3. Retail computer systems aren't the most reliable sources of information, but we doubt Gamecrazy would make up a title. Plus, we've had evidence that GS3 was going to be localized for a while. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're going to go to Gamecrazy and reserve our copy of the game. If they aren't open yet, we'll just break in. No problem! [Via NeoGAF]
