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Namco considering motion control in Soul Calibur IV
While the chances of us getting platform-specific characters, like Spawn, aren't very likely in Soul Calibur IV, Namco is hard at work at offering other bonuses. In an interview with 1up, Katsutoshi Sasaki, the game's director, said his team at Project Soul is looking into the possibility of including Sixaxis motion control. He said it's "something that we're considering, but we'll have to come up with some good ideas for it first." But that's not all. In the same interview, lead programmer Masaaki Hoshino said they're also hoping to give gamers the ability to save their custom characters to the PS3's memory card and take it to a friend's house to do battle.Although it seems like it would be difficult for the developers to include any sort of motion control that would make sense, toting your custom characters on a memory card would be pretty handy. All we care about, though, are Ivy's friends and finally some Soul Calibur online action!
Duel Love: Finally, a game for REAL men
As racy as Doki Doki Majo Shinpan is, its cutesy art style and playful witch themes just doesn't meet our testosterone quota, a standard set by years of exposure to bald space marines and beefy Konami ads. Bandai Namco's Duel Love, however, is definitely something more suited to our virile tastes.Yes, you play as a female transfer student vying for the affection of effeminate boys, and there are, at the very least, five pairs of male nipples that can be displayed at any time, but at the game's core is a secret fight club in which the shirtless lads duke it out during after-school hours. That's pretty much just like Street Fighter, right? It doesn't get any manlier than that.Oh yeah, you don't actually trade punches with anyone in the game; instead, you beguile one of the fighters into inviting you to one of his backdoor bouts. Once there, you can cheer him on with the DS's mic to strengthen him and aid his attacks. You'll also be able to wipe him down afterwards in the locker room, toweling off his sweaty physique via a touchscreen minigame.And if you want to take it further, but aren't sure how he'll react, after you've massaged all the knots out of his muscular shoulders, you can whisper breathlessly, a fraction of an inch away from his ear, "I have always admired you ... senpai," before running out of the room with a single tear trailing down your face.That last feature might not be officially supported by Duel Love, but we're not going to let that get in the way of our completely heterosexual, red-blooded relationship with Yuki-san!
Tekken 6's Bob hates skinny people
A few weeks ago, we learned all about Bob's interesting training habits that involved consuming heavy doses of donuts, but until today, we haven't seen the newest Tekken 6 fighter in action.GamesRadar has published several images that prove, despite Bob's weight problem, he's actually quite a nimble fellow. Who would've thought a character that resembles the late Chris Farley could kick above his head?Bob and the rest of the Tekken 6 cast are set to hit the PS3 next year.
Beautiful Katamari page rolls over Wii, picks it up [update 1]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/Beautiful_Katamari_s_product_page_lists_Wii_as_supported_platform'; Though it isn't as official as a press release, Bandai Namco Games' product page for Beautiful Katamari lists the Nintendo Wii as a supported platform, leaving the waggle-fied version's release date at "to be determined."Rumors about Beautiful Katamari coming to the Wii have been fluttering around our heads, like ill-behaved imps, since the title was first announced, poking us with miniature spears and doing their damndest to pull our attention away from our daily tasks. To be honest, it's hard for us to get excited about the gossip anymore.Four Katamari Damacy titles have already been released or announced since the original game's debut only three years ago, lending oversaturation comparisons between the action puzzler and Capcom's Viewtiful Joe. Mixed impressions for Me and My Katamari on the PSP and Beautiful Katamari's Xbox 360 demo haven't hyped us for a potential Prince of Cosmos appearance on the Wii either.[Update 1: Info pertaining to the Wii has since been removed from the product page, suggesting that its inclusion was either a misinformed error on Bandai Namco Games' part or a detail that the developer is still waiting to officially announce. You decide.]
Disney-themed USB keys lock kids into childish environments
While we've seen USB-based peripherals that aim to keep your youngsters in a safe and innocent PC environment, Bandai and Buffalo have teamed up to make kid-friendly computing a bit more bearable. The duo has crafted a unique USB key, which is slated to be available in Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh versions, that simultaneously locks the PC into "Kid Mode," password protects the parent's session in the background, and opens up a world of mom-approved fun for the little ones to enjoy. The software that resides on the key includes a dedicated browser for safe surfing, a time regulator to keep them from growing addicted, and options for parents to select precisely what apps their offspring can / can't access. Reportedly, the units are expected to land in mid-September over in Japan, and while pricing has yet to be confirmed, we're hearing it'll run you around ¥3,480 ($30).
More (D) cups runneth over: new SC IV shots
If you were worried that Ivy would be the only character with comically large breasts in Soul Calibur IV, then we can officially ease your mind. Namco Bandai has released some fresh screens and character art from the upcoming weapons-based fighter, and, well, the proof is in the pudding as it were. In addition to Ivy's mammoth mammaries, both Sophitia and her sister Cassandra have ample bosoms and some revealing outfits with which to showcase them. They don't quite have the "science experiment gone wrong" quality that Ivy's bust has, but they're nothing to sneeze at. And Voldo, well, Voldo has some special cleavage and bulges of his own. Check out the gallery below for the new images.%Gallery-6024%
USK lists Warhammer: Mark of Chaos for 360
Ah, the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle, better known as the USK or, simply, the German version of the ESRB. We love 'em. Why? Because they constantly tip us off about games that publishers work so darned hard to keep secret. For example, the USK has now listed Namco Bandai and Black Hole Entertainment"s Warhammer: Mark of Chaos for the Xbox 360. A real time strategy title that debuted last holiday to decent reviews, Mark of Chaos would be yet another addition to the Xbox 360's burgeoning RTS library. The 360 game has another subtitle tacked onto it, making the full title actually Warhammer: Mark of Chaos -- Battle March. Whether this means we'll see a completely retooled game or an expansion to the original we're not sure. In an interesting twist, the entry on in the USK database is labeled "GC-Demo" which would lead us to believe we'll see a Mark of Chaos demo before too long. Once again, thanks USK![Via IGN. Thanks, IncredibleBulk92]
Tales site offers up some assets
If you're interested in navigating Japanese websites, the online space set aside for Namco Bandai's upcoming Tales of Innocence game is a cup of tea you should be most satisfied with. There's some screens from the game, character bios and an incredible wealth of Japanese text that our minds are incapable of translating. There's also a trailer at the site, but we already showed it to you, fine reader.[Via Go Nintendo]
Major anime studios split on HD DVD / Blu-ray decision
For the anime lovers out there, there's no question that even cartoons have a very different feel in HD, so we're sure there's quite a few of you out there clamoring for more HD renditions of your favorite shows. Unfortunately, there seems to be quite a bit of discord when it comes to settling on a format of choice. According to a report at IGN, Bandai looks to be squarely in the HD DVD camp (despite conflicting reports), while FUNimation seemed to prefer Blu-ray and Geneon remained undecided. Generally speaking, none of the firms seemed to think that branching out to other high-definition film formats was out of the realm of possibility, but if the major producers do indeed choose opposing sides, the hardcore anime fans may want to check out a hybrid player to prevent future heartaches.
E307: Soul Calibur Legends trailer
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo_wii/E3_2007_Soul_Calibur_Legends_Trailer'; After finally getting to see Soul Calibur Legends in action, we're not sure bashing a bunch of clay vases or fighting a boulder up stairs is our idea of the definitive hack-and-slash experience. Also, we're not convinced the game will have one-to-one gesture measurement, either. We are convinced that battling gigantic boss monsters is fun, though.%Gallery-3272%
Club Nintendo members get exclusive Gundam figure
And we get exclusive jealousy. To promote the release of Mobile Suit Gundam MS Front 0079, Nintendo and Bandai Namco are giving away neat free stuff. Preorders of the game are rewarded with Gundam 0079 memorial DVD's. And Club Nintendo, purveyor of many frustratingly awesome freebies, is giving away limited-edition Gundam RX78-2 models-- in an exclusive color.There are some new screenshots of the game at GAME Watch, but we don't know if we even want to look. Games are just no fun unless buying them earns you junk you didn't even want in the first place.
Beautiful Katamari to be 360 exclusive
Again, the rumors turned out to be true! Beautiful Katamari is headed to the Xbox 360 exclusively with no PS3 version in sight. In the latest issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, they state that production on the PS3 version of Beautiful Katamari has been halted and that the Xbox 360 version is set to roll out this Fall. Famitsu also uncovered a few new multiplayer details including split screen co-op and online battle modes. Heavenly.And so another game completes its journey to becoming an Xbox 360 exclusive title. Maybe Namco would be kind enough to tell us exactly why they decided against developing Beautiful Katamari on the PS3. Because god knows we'd love to gush over all the juicy details.
Ace Combat 6 demo flies out next week
In the latest episode of GameSpot's On the Spot, In Joon Hwang, Product Marketing Manager for Namco Bandai, revealed that a demo for Ace Combat 6 should be available on Xbox Live Marketplace next week. Ace Combat 6 is the first in the flight combat series to appear on a non-Sony console and also the first new-gen entry in the series. Hwang notes that the game's support system has been revamped, and players will now be able give commands to naval, air, and ground combat units during play. Expect to hear more about Ace Combat 6 from E3 next week. [Thanks, Dark Mobius]
Rumor: Beautiful Katamari drops PS3, picks up Wii
Rumors surfaced over the last couple of weeks about Beautiful Katamari rolling itself away from PlayStation 3 and towards Nintendo Wii. An Xbox 360 version, already weighted its own speculation, is the only confirmed version to be shown at next week's E3. Now comes word that Famitsu (via PS3 Center) has validated the rumors and that Namco Bandai has indeed quietly canceled a PS3 iteration in favor of rolling the Prince of All Cosmos onto the Wii. As we have yet to see the purported issue of Famitsu, we're still labeling this as rumor fodder. We've contacted Namco Bandai for a statement. In the meantime, take a stroll down memory lane with our recent b[ack]log on We Love Katamari.[Via Evil Avatar]
Namco E3 lineup confirms Katamari exclusivity?
If you needed any more confirmation that Beautiful Katamari will only roll on the Xbox 360, you need look no further than Namco Bandai's recently released E3 lineup. Eurogamer has the list and was quick to notice that the Xbox 360 was the only platform designated for the title. Is it ironclad proof that Beautiful Katamari is 360 exclusive? No, but it's pretty damned close. Other Namco Bandai 360 games to be shown at E3 include Dynasty Warriors Gundam, Ace Combat 6, Eternal Sonata, and Culdcept SAGA.
Namco Bandai reveals E3 lineup
Namco Bandai let loose a press release earlier, making known their intentions to show off several games at next week's scaled-down E3. Of the titles that they plan on showing, a couple of Wii games featured here at the site will be making their presence know. Namco Bandai's Wii lineup will include: Space Station Tycoon Soul Calibur Legends Namco Museum: REMIX Now, with Soul Calibur Legends being at about 40% complete, we're sure a nice playable build will be available. As for the other two games, that's still up in the air.[Via press release]
Train your brain in public
Imagine an alternate universe in which arcades not only exist, but are still stocked with new games. Now imagine that one of the biggest and most impressive-looking units in the place is a brain training game. As you may have guessed, it's not an alternate universe! You know, because the coverage on this site is limited to just the one universe.Minna de Kitaeru Zenno Training is an arcade brain training game released in late 2006 by Bandai Namco, created under the supervision of the smartest disembodied head we know, Dr. Ryuta Kawashima. Much like Brain Age, it uses a touch screen to present simple mathematical and logical tasks. But unlike Brain Age, Zenno Training is on a huge screen in the middle of a game center.It's quite amazing how popular brain training has become! We wonder if Bandai Namco expects people to go back to the arcade every day for training. That would be so diabolical!
The universe really is full of Katamari rumors
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/The_universe_really_is_full_of_Katamari_rumors'; Remember the rumor that Beautiful Katamari was going to roll onto the Wii? It won't die. It's come back again, this time with psychotic reasoning behind it.IGN's Matt Casamassina has "100 percent reliable" word from mysterious, anonymous sources that Bandai Namco is planning a version of the game on Wii. As the story goes, they encountered difficulty porting Beautiful Katamari to the PS3, so Namco decided to scrap it and create a new Wii version instead.This is really the part that arouses our suspicion. A port is too hard, so they switch over to an all-new game? It just sounds like an excuse to troll the PS3 and make the Wii look better at the same time. It may be true, but we're not taking that reasoning as an explanation for anything.We still aren't sure we should even care, with no Keita Takahashi involvement, but we can't help but become wistful when we think about a new Katamari. We wish we could hear some final word about this. We're tired of the emotional rollercoaster![Via GayGamer]
Watch Ace Combat 6 and The Bigs on XBLM
A couple of new trailers landed on Xbox Live Marketplace this morning. First we have a trailer for Ace Combat 6, it's the same cheesy trailer we saw released before, with lots of American pride and important-sounding music (think Armageddon). Our favorite moment is when a woman's voice breaks through the chaos: "I don't know a whole lot about war, but there's something I need to tell you." Yes, the cheese-factor is strong with this one. The Bigs trailer, on the other hand, is straight up balls-to-bat action (still no demo, by the way). You've got big, beefy players, flaming baseballs, and home runs so powerful that they could bring down small aircraft. For those of you without access to your 360, we've embedded it at the top of the post. Enjoy.
Japanese game pubs jumping from Sony to Nintendo
The biggest third parties in Japan are throwing their support behind Nintendo in a big way. Namco/Bandai, Sega and Capcom are all increasing both the number of distinct titles and the number of units ordered for games on Nintendo systems, according to research done by the Nikkei newspaper and reported by Variety Asia. Namco Bandai alone is planning a ridiculous 115 games for the DS and Wii in fiscal 2007, a 109 percent increase. Sony, meanwhile, can expect a 30 to 40 percent decline in shipment orders from the big three, according to the report.In more potential bad news for Sony, the Variety article off-handedly mentions that "Square Enix ... has no plans to develop titles for the PS3 until sales improve enough to make the steep development costs financially worthwhile." This seems to confirm earlier reports that the company wouldn't release any PS3 games until the next fiscal year starts on April 1, 2008. Deep breaths, Final Fantasy fans. Just remember, patience is a virtue.
