agetec
Latest
ESRB rates Armored Core 3 Portable for stateside release
Giant robots on a tiny screen? How unthinkably farcical! From Software managed to see beyond this astute observation earlier this year when it ported Armored Core 3, a six-year-old PS2 title, to the PSP in Japan. It looks like America will also be exposed to this amusing juxtaposition, as the ESRB recently rated a U.S. version of Armored Core 3 Portable. From Software has yet to officially reveal a stateside version of the mega-mech sim, but we predict we'll be hearing just such an announcement soon. Hopefully, it'll be accompanied by a English-language version of the above trailer. (Such drama! It's like a robot-centric soap opera!)
Way of the Samurai 3 cuttin' fools in NA this October
The graphics may be a bit undercooked and the series' last entry may have been released in the States over five years ago, but we certainly were happy to hear that Way of the Samurai 3 will be arriving on October 13th in the US. Agetec and UFO Interactive -- in charge of publishing the PS3 and 360 iterations, respectively -- officially announced the game's impending October arrival yesterday, as well as news of an iPhone iteration of the game currently available for free.Sure, the iPhone version of WotS3 isn't much more than a side-scrolling brawler, but hey, it's free! Hopefully that can sate your samurai murdering urges for another month. Way of the Samurai 3 ($0.00): [Via Destructoid]
Way of the Samurai 3 coming to North America via two publishers
At long last, there's an answer to the following timeless riddle -- how many publishers does it take to port a Japanese-centric franchise to North America on two different systems? Okay, fine, that's not so much a timeless riddle as it is a question we just made up, but it's been answered regardless: In the case of Way of the Samurai 3, the answer is two. Agetec and UFO Interactive will be bringing Spike's samurai sim stateside, each publishing the title on one platform a piece (PS3 and Xbox 360, respectively).We knew UFO would be bringing the game to North American 360s -- but couldn't foresee Agetec's involvement in the game's importing. Now we just need Atlus to bring the game to the Wii, and this bizarre localization triumvirate will be complete.
NintendoWare Weekly: Water Warfare in for a Reel Fishing Challenge
It wouldn't be Monday without new games to download across Nintendo platforms. This week's highlight is definitely Hudson's first-person soaker, Water Warfare. It's a neat concept, but we really think Hudson could've spent some time tightening up the graphics on level three.%Gallery-48416%
ESRB rates Bubble Bobble Plus!
We'll get to discussing the details of this news in just a second, but there's something that we must get out of the way first:Yaaaaaaaaay!The ESRB has posted a rating for Bubble Bobble Plus!, the WiiWare version of Taito's wonderful arcade platformer. We don't know when it will come out here -- Nintendo is seemingly very careful to make sure nobody knows when downloadable games are coming out -- but at least we know that Square Enix is planning it. And we are so happy.In other ESRB WiiWare news, it appears that Silver Star Chess is coming to North America, published by Agetec. "Players can browse through a menu screen that displays still images of fictional opponents," the description reads. "One of the still images depicts a female opponent wearing a dress that exposes deep cleavage." So there's that.%Gallery-43668%
Fading Shadows coming to US, courtesy of Agetec
The unique PSP-exclusive puzzler, Fading Shadows, is coming to America, courtesy of Agetec. In the game, players must direct a mystical beam of light to help a magical orb traverse various trap-filled puzzles. There are fifty levels to try when the game comes out this Summer.One of the more intriguing aspects of Fading Shadows is the game's detailed story, an unusual addition to the puzzle genre. With such an inspired style, we can't help but be a bit intrigued by the game. (See video here.)"We're very happy to be publishing this game as we think many people will be fascinated by the story," says Agetec's producer Mark Johnson. "It's an incredible, one-of-a-kind game that features an intriguing story, brain teasing puzzles, and unique gameplay. Puzzle fans will not be disappointed."%Gallery-9855%
Agetec providing Americans with the opportunity to Touch Darts
Sega's Touch Darts was released in Europe last summer, but Sega didn't make any sign of releasing it in the U.S. Agetec has stepped in and picked up the publishing rights for the game, planning to release it next month. Agetec really knows how to spot easy localization jobs -- first LOL, and now this, which was already in English.Touch Darts is exactly what it sounds like: darts, played on the touchscreen. It is not a game about poking your fingers, although that would be totally hilarious and weird. But despite just being a game about regular darts, it sounds feature-rich: it includes four modes: tournament, challenge, quickplay, and multiplayer, with four-player single-card gameplay. Challenge mode is dart-tossing minigames that provide variations on the basic rules of darts. We're pretty sure they won't, but we'd be amused if Agetec planned to release the dart stylus along with the game.%Gallery-22808%[Via press release]
Agetec shows kid-friendly PS2 love in Falling Stars
Refusing to close the lid on the PS2's casket, Armored Core publisher Agetec has announced plans to bring last-gen RPG Falling Stars to North America this summer. The game casts players in the role of a young girl named Luna on a quest to save the village of Dazzleon from her own green-skinned uncle and his obsession with turning peaceful creatures into evil pets. According to Agetec, the Ivolgamus-created Falling Stars will include "cute characters, fun mini games, and simplified controls." Wait, is this a PS2 or Wii game we're talking about here? Either way, this role-playing game for the younger set will no doubt give players coming off of the Lithuanian developer's Barbie as The Island Princess something else to look forward to after nap time.
Europeans get to LOL with Bakushow
We won't bombard you with more details about LOL (we can really only LOL so many times in one day), but news just rolled in that Rising Star would be bringing the game to Europe. Instead of being called LOL, though, it will be titled Bakushow, which means "big laugh" in Japanese.There's no word yet on whether Rising Star will follow in Agetec's footsteps and make the game available online only, but even if it is available in stores, we're sure it won't be the easiest game to find. Rising Star also gently reminds us that "Billy No Mates need not apply," since this software includes no single player mode. You probably already knew that, but we just wanted an excuse to write "Billy No Mates."If that doesn't deter you, we've added some new screens to our gallery (for the love of all that is holy, we get it, you can ask people to draw pandas!) should you feel so inclined to check them out.%Gallery-18526%[Via press release]
Look Online for LOL
Skip and Route24's LOL is seemingly a very freeform game. It has no prescribed content, just an open canvas with which you can design your own trivia or drawing game -- or anything else you want that involves sending pictures and text between DS systems. It provides the infrastructure and a timer, and that's pretty much it! But LOL is defined as much by its constraints as it is its freedom, in that it is a strictly multiplayer-only game. Don't have any friends around? It doesn't work. Now it seems there's another restriction: according to Agetec's product page, LOL will only be available online when it is released on May 30th. This has the effect of ensuring that what was once going to be just a bizarre game will be a very expensive bizarre game within a year's time. Also found on the product page: new screens (in our gallery!) and the boxart, with the ESRB "Game Experience May Change During Online Play" notice. Online play?%Gallery-18526%[Via Siliconera]
A multiplayer-only drawing game? LOL!
"If the game is boring, you are boring." That's how Agetec is choosing to market a localized version of Skip's bizarre Archime DS, a multiplayer-only game that is entirely dependent on user-generated content. And we mean entirely.LOL DS is little more than a networked drawing pad. One player issues challenges to the others and determines a time limit. It is then up to the other players to fulfill that challenge using drawings or words. The group then votes on a winner, who is then the leader of the next round. And that's LOL!Is this emergent gameplay, or no gameplay? It's a very bold move on Agetec's part to release this, much as it was for Skip to release it in Japan.%Gallery-18526%[Via press release]
Laugh at Agetec's new DS game, 'LOL'
"If the game is boring, then you are boring." So says the motto of Agetec's newly announced DS game, "LOL." Billed as a "unique, free-form gaming experience," our first reaction to LOL is to erupt with laughter. A veritable LOLcano if you will, like the one we LOLlerbladed down whilst on LOLiday in MongLOLia. "As long as you are a fun-loving person with a little bit of an imagination, there should be no reason you find LOL to be anything less than a great time with your friends," says Agetec producer, Hiro Fukuoka. Indeed, you'll have to imagine most of the gameplay come this May, as LOL consists entirely of players writing and sending "challenges" to each other in the form of on-screen messages. The answers to the challenge (remember, the "crazier the challenge, the more fun everyone will have") are then shared between participants who then choose a winner amongst themselves. If they can find one.So confident is Agetec in the power of imagination that it hasn't even bothered to include a single-player mode. "We decided not to include a single player mode in the game because that would defeat the purpose," says Mark Johnson, seemingly unaware of the purpose's execution-style offing at the hands of Pictochat years ago. "LOL concentrates on the comedic joy of using the imagination of everyone in the room." You'll probably have to lock the door though, LOL!%Gallery-18396%
Rhythm N' Notes schools you in music
With the amount of training games available on the DS, it was only a matter of time before one involving music came along. Sure, there are plenty of rhythm-based games for the music lover in you to enjoy, but none of them actually teach you anything aside from which sunglasses go best with a red fro.That's probably why the folks over at Agetec felt the need to bring us Rhythm N' Notes, which came out today for the budget price of $19.99. The game is designed to teach you about the technical aspects of music through interactive lessons with a piano and drums. If you already think that time signatures and chords ain't no thang, Rhythm N' Notes isn't letting you off the hook just yet. Not only is this game designed for the musically inept, but it also has multiple difficulty levels for the more advanced musician. So now you're out of excuses to avoid this game ... unless you just don't give a damn.%Gallery-9005%
DS Fanboy Review: Brain Buster Puzzle Pak
Sometimes, a package doesn't really tell you what you need to know about a game -- and it can actually be misleading or off-putting. As tragic as the thought is, the box art for Brain Buster Puzzle Pak falls into that category. Up close, the art is rough, jagged, and looks like it might have been printed in someone's home office.So is the game also unfortunately bad? Not even a bit -- Agetec's Brain Buster Puzzle Pak lives up to its name and is packed, as promised, with an array of brain-busting puzzles. The puzzle standard, sudoku, is present, but BBPP brings in four other games as well, all presented by a professor who in no way resembles Dr. Kawashima. By that, we mean he actually has a body.
Agetec reveals Rhythm 'n Notes for DS this Fall
Agetec fired off a press release today, informing us of a new entrant into the rhythm-based game genre on the DS in Rhythm 'n Notes. Set to hit Nintendo's dual-screened handheld this Fall, the game will feature both note-and-chord recognition and rhythm exercises. "Educational games that are truly fun are hard to come by," said Mark Johnson, Producer at Agetec, Inc. "Rhythm 'n Notes gets it right with addictive, enriching play." Be sure to hit up the gallery below for some images and keep an eye on DS Fanboy for news on the game as it comes in.%Gallery-3573%[Via press release]
Brain Buster screens
Wow, it seems like just yesterday that we were first talking about the new Brain Buster Puzzle Pak that's coming out in February, and already we have crisp new screens filled with puzzle goodness. The background screens are attractive, and not so busy as to distract from the numeric action, and the mostly pastel palette should be easy on the eyes after a few hours of puzzle grinding. Check out a few more screens after the jump!
Get ready to bust that brain
Does your brain need some hot puzzle action? Not to fret! Agetec has the answer, though you'll just have to wait until next February to get down with the puzzles. The publisher's latest, the Brain Buster Puzzle Pak is set to bring five different games to the DS: Sudoku, Kakuro, Light Up, Nurikabe, and Slitherlink (aka Fences), all of which were created in conjunction with popular Japanese puzzle mag Nikoli. [Via press release]
