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Blue Dragon flying high in Japan
Websites (including us) have been spouting Blue Dragon's significance for ages now -- just look at all these stories -- and it's finally time for the game to put up or shut up. The game released today -- both individually and in a spiffy bundle -- and Joystiq reports that it already looks to become the most popular 360 game in Japan by far. Of course, that's not really saying much, though it is important to note that the game is also driving hardware sales. If Microsoft has any hope in the Land of the Rising Sun, it rests in the arms (wings?) of Blue Dragon. After all, if the RPG dream team of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Toriyama, and Nobuo Uematsu aren't enough to entice the Japanese, there just isn't much more that Microsoft can do. Hit the read link for more pictures.We've asked this question before, but do you think Microsoft needs Japan in order to win the new-gen console war?
Blue Dragon sets Japan ablaze
Akira Toriyama, Nobuo Uematsu, Hironobu Sakaguchi: all three are famous names in Japan. And all three are closely associated with Blue Dragon, the Mistwalker Xbox 360 RPG that was released in Japan this morning. For an Xbox 360 title here in Japan, where the format has to date been failing spectacularly, Blue Dragon is set to become the system's most successful game by some distance. Pre-orders for the Blue Dragon Xbox 360 hardware bundle sold out some weeks ago, while gamers queued for their copies in Akihabara this morning. We had no problem finding a copy of the game in Osaka today, however -- it's popular, but it's not unobtainable. Regardless, at this rate, Blue Dragon could still become a flagship series for Microsoft in Japan. No wonder Sakaguchi recently revealed plans for Blue Dragon 2... Jump for more photos from this morning's in-store launch event at Akihabara's Yodobashi Camera.
Japanese Blue Dragon bundle: the unboxing [update 2]
Yes, we know. You've already seen the Blue Dragon box. Why show us again, you say. Dear friends, that was merely a box. Now this, this is a bundle, and as bundles go, the Japanese Blue Dragon bundle is a monster. The bundle comes packed with goodies, first of which is of course Blue Dragon itself. Also included in the box: a 360 Core system, a 2007 Blue Dragon calendar (though 2007 is actually the year of the pig), a Blue Dragon faceplate, and five (!) figurines representing each character from the game. It's a little odd that the bundle includes no way of saving your game (kind of an important feature in RPGs), but then we expect Microsoft is hoping to make few bucks on hard drives and memory cards. Some of you may have heard that Blue Dragon received an impressive 37/40 from Famitsu, Japan's biggest gaming mag, so it will be interesting to see how this bundle fares at retail. Oh, and lest we forget, it should be available in Japan today. Head over to 1UP for more pictures.Update 2: This bundle has no hard drive.
Japanese release day highlights: 12.07.06
It's getting really cold in Japan. Like, two pairs of socks cold. And as the outside gets colder, the inside gets warmer. Inevitably, we stay indoors more and play more games. This is the time of year when Thursdays become even more important to us. And today's shop for new games should be a particularly warming one. Here's what we plan to pick up in Osaka's Den Den Town: Blue Dragon (the biggest Xbox 360 game in Japan to date -- a 3-DVD set that scored 37/40 in Famitsu) Ryu Ga Gotoku 2 (aka Yakuza 2 -- by orange-skinned Toshihiro Nagoshi; PS2) Ape Escape Racer (like Mario Kart, but with more monkeys and some disco balls; PSP) PaRappa the Rapper (Chop Chop Master Onion gets cut up and refried for the PSP) Power Pro Kun Pocket 9 (big-headed baseball from Konami; DS)
Blue Dragon: more discs = better game
The first game to bite the DVD format bullet and come on three (yes count 'em, three) DVDs is none other than Blue Dragon. IGN has pictures of the packaging in all its three disc glory. Amazingly enough, all the discs fit in one normal sized DVD case. Microsoft is also throwing a launch party in Japan and beaming a countdown to launch clock on the side of an abandoned building. But back to the goods. Three discs could be seen as the negative effects of not including an HD player into the 360 ... but I'm the optimistic type and say three discs is extremely bad ass. You could use the extra discs as ninja stars! Anyway, I'm putting my yearly blogging salary ($4.65) on Halo 3 coming out on seven discs ... any takers?[Thanks, Nitin]
Watch Blue Dragon's opening sequence
We missed the Blue Dragon update last week, so this week we have two new videos for you. The first -- embedded above -- is Blue Dragon's playable opening sequence. It's very serene and poetic in that Howl's Moving Castle sort of way, though we're not sure how much we like the robotic voice that announces what you're doing. Hearing the digital female voice say "item" as you pick something up sort of pulls you out of the narrative. Still, the game is gorgeous. The second video -- embedded after the break -- showcases a shooting sequence, which takes place in (what else?) an airship. The shooting sequence is in real time, which might allay some of the fears of RPG fans that are more accustomed to KOTOR. Watch both videos and tell us what you think . (As always, high definition versions are available at the official Blue Dragon site.)
Blue Dragon comic scans are manga-licious
Microsoft's Japanese baby Blue Dragon has released some very artistic shots of their Japanese comic (manga) art. If the image above hasn't caught your attention, head over to Xboxygen to get some more scans of this very sexy upcoming comic. Fanboys, I know I've asked this before, but I feel the urge to ask you again. Any non-Japense hardcore RPG players looking forward to Blue Dragon next year?
Blue Dragon 2 already in the works?
Blue Dragon, Microsoft's great white blue hope in Japan, isn't even available yet, and rumors are already flying about Blue Dragon 2: the Dragoning*. According to Strategyinformer.com, Famitsu is reporting that Mistwalker is already in production on Blue Dragon 2. It's a well-known fact that Microsoft is pinning all its hopes on Blue Dragon to lift limp 360 sales in Japan. If a sequel is already in development, they must be very confident that it will do just that. Then again, the article doesn't actually mention what platform the game would appear on, so it's possible that Blue Dragon's developer, Mistwalker, is planning to take the game multi-platform. Whatever MS and Mistwalker have up their sleeves, we'll wait to see how good the first Blue Dragon is before we start clamoring for a sequel.*This is a fake (though hilarious) subtitile.[Via Evil Avatar]
New Blue Dragon artwork scans
Over at Xboxygen you can check out some new Blue Dragon scans. Of course it's in Japanese and of course there isn't the littlest hint to what the heck the article is about, but there are some nice screenshots and beautiful artwork on the pages. Heck, it's Blue Dragon just enjoy the pretty pictures already.
Video: Blue Dragon non player characters
The official Blue Dragon website has been updated yet again with a new video (and new screenshots, too). The video features some of the game's non player characters (NPCs) that the player can interact with. They range from weird looking Snifit doppelgangers to minotaurs. Our favorite in the video is what appears to be a living mural on a wall. Check out the video after the break. Oh, and be warned, the music is ... different.
Japan: Blue Dragon bigger than Zelda, MGS4
It's windy and cold outside Fanboy Towers today, and we're betting it's a cold day in Hell, too. First, EA's Superman Returns demo is actually good, and now an Xbox 360 game is in the top 5 on Famitsu's most wanted list. Blue Dragon has landed in 3rd place on the recent poll, outdoing both Metal Gear Solid 4 and the beloved Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. We've blogged (probably too much) about Blue Dragon's importance before, but it now stands at an all time high. With the Playstation 3 launched (and sold out) and the Wii as well, Microsoft has their work cut out for them if they want to make a dent in the Land of the Rising Sun. Ironically, this is also their biggest opportunity. With the PS3 sold out, Microsoft has a big chance to take money away from those who were unable to get a PS3 (hell, with PS3 money you could buy the Blue Dragon bundle and have enough yen left for a sushi dinner). Still, one game may help Microsoft gain a foothold, but it is not enough to sustain interest. If they don't keep rolling out the Japanese flavored content, Japan could quickly drop the 360. As our sister site, Joystiq, points out, the Japanese are not shy about buying a system for one game and then selling it. Then again, Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 has managed to crack the number 15 spot. Maybe that will be enough to hold Japan until Lost Odyssey.[Via Joystiq]
360 game sitting pretty on Famitsu list ... really?
We think it's about time to feel the ground, folks, it may be a bit frigid. Blue Dragon -- Microsoft's latest answer on the big standardized test that is Japanese game market penetration -- is showing initial signs of acceptance. Not just regular "ho-hum" acceptance, but enough to turn some heads (assuming Microsoft didn't hire people to vote). In a recent Famitsu poll, Blue Dragon somehow clawed its way up to #3 on the list of most anticipated titles. Blue Dragon managed to knock off big hitters like Metal Gear Solid 4 and Twilight Princess, #4 and #6 respectively. The big, white box also managed to pull another nod with Dead or Alive Xtreme 2, which fell in at #15. Microsoft is getting some much needed help in boosting its image, especially now that the PS3 has finally landed (in limited quantities anyway) in the public's grubby hands. Of course, Blue Dragon's big push won't mean much if MS can't keep the Japanese-friendly games flowing; Japanese gamers are known for being fickle and trading in game machines after finishing a game. [Thanks, DawgOnU]
Video: Blue Dragon's not so random battles
The official Blue Dragon website was updated with a new video on Friday. The video displays some of the combat evasion tactics that are available to players. This should come as a relief to those that hate constant battle. There are several different ways to evade monster detection: bombs can be thrown to paralyze enemies, players can turn invisible to avoid detection, and enemies can even be killed, avoiding a battle sequence entirely. We'd like to know if killing enemies pre-battle still nets you experience points, but the ability -- presumably granted with a special item -- is welcome. It adds some freshness to the game, which is always welcome in an RPG. Watch the video after the break.
Blue boy walking, new Blue Dragon videos
There are two new Blue Dragon videos up on the official site. The first, set to some of the most terrible rock music imaginable, demonstrates the game's shadow combat system. Somehow, the music gives it a very weird twist. It's as if it were a joke. Seriously, it sounds like Bob Dylan after a stroke. The second video showcases one of Blue Dragon's most overlooked features: walking! If you've ever wanted to see a kid walking around looking at stuff, now's your chance. Both videos are embedded after the break.
Blue Dragon scans, new info
We found these Famitsu scans of Blue Dragon over at French gaming site, Xboxygen. The scans reveal profiles of each character's shadow. For those that don't know, the premise behind Blue Dragon is that each character has a living shadow that is used in combat. The main character's shadow just happens to be a dragon, hence, Blue Dragon. Clever, huh? Anyway, our Japanese is rusty, but we think the shadows are named thus:Giant bird - "Phoenix"Giant bat - "Killa/Killer Bat"Giant tiger - "Saber Tiger"Dragon - "Dragon" (Boy, that one is creative)Minotaur - "Minotauros"We're not sure what the other scans are about. Anybody care to translate, or just give us a general idea?
Blue Dragon fight video, new screens
Today we bring you two entirely new screens from Blue Dragon, that wacky Japanese system seller. We particularly enjoy the screen above, with its "big fish eats smaller fish" mentality. But that's not all, we have even more Blue Dragon goodness: a new video of the game's combat. Check out the video after the break, and check Xboxyde for some screen grabs taken from the video.
Blue Dragon helps boost 360 in Japan
Let no one doubt the power a popular anime artist and a popular RPG developer can have on a system's success in Japan. 1up is reporting that pre-orders for the 10,000 limited edition Blue Dragon Xbox 360 bundles are selling briskly, with some retailers running out of stock within minutes. This is the same console that barely sold 2,000 units in the country last week, making the healthy interest all the more surprising.Is this sales surge a temporary blip due to a collectible bundle, or will Microsoft be able to parlay the interest into a sustainable market share in the country? Either way, we'd advise Microsoft that a boob-filled bundle for Dead or Alive Xtreme 2 couldn't hurt in the land of the giant huggable Kasumi pillow.
Japanese Blue Dragon bundles sell out?
According to YouNEWB.com (we've never heard of them either) a Japanese blog is claiming that Japanese retailer , eDigi, has sold every single Blue Dragon pre-order bundle. What's more, they were reportedly sold out within five minutes. The article doesn't have a lot of specifics. For example, we don't know how many units the retailer had to sell. It could be five or fifty for all we know. So, the info is a little tenuous but good news for Microsoft if true. Would any of our Japanese savvy readers like to take a stab at translating the blog?[Via YouNEWB]
Famitsu head says 360 is dead in Japan
Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Famitsu publisher, Enterbrain, isn't making any bets on 360 winning in Japan. His reasoning: thus far the 360 has sold a paltry 150,000 consoles in Japan. He does concede that Blue Dragon -- Microsoft's would be white knight -- might add another 100,000 by the end of 2006, but that's about it. He goes on to guess that by the end of 2007, the number will only inflate to 560,000 units. Definitely not good. Granted, Hammamura-san is no analyst -- and analysts are always right -- but he does publish Japan's biggest gaming magazine after all. Is his prognosis right? Is Japan a hopeless cause for Microsoft? In the end, does it really even matter? What do you think?
Microsoft's Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle [update 1]
If you're wondering why us round-eyes ain't gonna see a price break on the Xbox 360 this holiday, Japan might have something to do with it. See, Microsoft has put together this sweet, Japan-only Blue Dragon bundle that probably ain't gonna do much to enhance the company's bottom line (read: it's likely subsidized), but will (they hope) juice the 360's pitiable sales in that country. For just ¥29,800 (approximately $252 at the time of this writing), Japanese gamers will walk off with a basic Xbox 360, the Blue Dragon game itself, a limited-edition faceplate (aren't they all?), and five Blue Dragon figurines, according to the fine folks over at Siliconera. We've inserted images of the goods after the break. [Update 1: Post comments have been locked as the bulk of comments posted were off-topic.]
