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The World Ends With You cameo in Kingdom Hearts 3D notice of 'something' new
Kingdom Hearts producer (and theoretical Final Fantasy Versus XIII lead) Tetsuya Nomura told Famitsu that the appearance of The World Ends With You's Neku Sakuraba in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance portended other things for the character in the future. According to Andriasang, Famitsu asked Nomura if Neku's appearance provided notice of a sequel to the Shibuya-based DS RPG. Nomura didn't quite confirm a sequel, but he did say that the appearance suggested "something" that Square Enix is working on. Last year, Nomura said he wanted to make a sequel to TWEWY "when the time is right." Perhaps the time will be even closer to right two minutes from now, when you've watched the new trailer above (featuring Neku).
Famitsu reveals new Vita games
In this age of A/V overload, it's rare that you get the opportunity to really flex those imagination muscles, but today presents just such a chance. Famitsu got its hands on nine Vita games, but since details are scarce on some and we don't know if others will actually come to America, it's the perfect opportunity to revitalize that atrophied fantasizing gland. A big chunk of the nine were previously announced Ubisoft games (including "Luminous Electronic Symphony," which we assume is the Vita Lumines game). But the magazine also featured some new titles like Game Arts' Ragnarok Odyssey, a "hunting action" game that borrows elements from MMORPG Ragnarok Online and, presumably, the Monster Hunter series. Also, D3's bringing Dream Club Zero to the portable, but since it's a port of a 360 dating sim/visual novel that will never, ever come to the U.S. you probably don't want to waste too much imagination on that one. Perhaps the most intriguing on the list is Acquire's Sumioni, a 2D action game with an inky art style (as you can see in the screen Siliconera ran). Apparently, you'll use both touch pads and an analogue stick to brush away enemies with your ... magical, brushy, ink powers. (C'mon, imagination!) Rounding out the list is Moe Moe Daisensou Gendaiban++, the latest in a strategy series that mysteriously hasn't caught on in the US.
Gaze upon the 3DS circle pad attachment
Last night, we reported on rumors of a wacky 3DS circle pad attachment coming from Nintendo. They're rumors no more, as a picture of the leaked Famitsu article revealing the "SECRET SCOOP" has surfaced. There it is, in all its glory. Say goodbye to any aspirations of pocketing your 3DS if you get one of these. It is, of course, perfect for Monster Hunter Tri G, as it adds three additional shoulder buttons along with that second stick. As Capcom and Nintendo proved with the Classic Controller Pro, Monster Hunter players demand nothing less than a simulacrum of the PS2/PS3 controller. And this should probably turn out to be ... not terribly uncomfortable for playing that game. At home. Oh, we just realized -- this adds a new 3D feature to the system. If you look at both circle pads and position your eyes just right, you should see one circle pad floating above the 3DS. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in.]
Report: 3DS Fatal Frame spinoff uses 3DS cameras as in-game camera
It's kind of the perfect idea: match the Fatal Frame series, in which characters see and fight ghosts through a camera lens, with AR tech like that in the 3DS. And, if early reports out of the latest Famitsu are accurate, we'll soon get the opportunity to see if that idea is executed perfectly. Called "Spirit Diary," the game interacts with an included "AR Notebook" whose functions are curently unknown. In the game, you and a young girl investigate the cursed book. Other modes include AR minigames and a battle mode in which players fight using "spirit pictures" of themselves. It is currently unknown whether this game will be published by Tecmo, who handled most previous Fatal Frames, or Nintendo, who published the Wii Fatal Frame -- and then neglected to release it outside of Japan. [Image: Fatal Frame 4]
Report: Famitsu leak says Persona 4 coming to Vita
The Playstation 2's swan song, Persona 4, will reportedly be receiving a fairly hefty re-release on the PS Vita, according to Andriasang's recent leak of an upcoming issue of Famitsu. The massive RPG was well-received in the console's twilight months, and will only be massiver once its hits Sony's new handheld (under the subtitle The Golden). The site reports the version will include a new character named Mary, additional voice overs and some kind of wireless functionality that lets online friends help you out in a pickle. The magazine also reportedly announces Persona 4: The Ultimate In Mayonaka Arena, a fighter designed by BlazBlue creator Arc System Works for Xbox 360 and PS3. The title will let you brawl as select characters from Personas 3 and 4, and has a new storyline which follows the events of the latter game. Given the lineage of the developer and franchise, we assume that it's going to be absolutely bananas. Update: Famitsu has posted its full report on the games to its website. Go check it out for more details!
3DS moves 200K+ units after price drop in Japan, hits 1.5m total
After a precipitous drop-off in sales, Nintendo dropped the price of the 3DS worldwide and, in Japan at least, the early numbers show a strong consumer response. After enjoying a steep 40 percent discount on August 11 -- from ¥25,000 to ¥15,000 -- 3DS sales spiked up the week of August 8 through 14. Japanese business pub Nikkei pegged sales at 207,000 units while Famitsu publisher slash game publisher slash market research group Enterbrain puts sales a little higher at 214,821 units. Either way, that's the highest week of sales since the console's February debut, when it managed to move nearly 375K units in a week. As a result, the console has finally clipped past the 1.5 million mark in Japan six months after its release, and just two months after reaching the big million. We'll have to wait a bit longer before we learn how last week's price drop affected sales in Europe and North America.
Grasshopper Manufacturing 'Lollipop Chainsaw' for PS3 and 360 [update]
Being a secondhand report of data out of an early leak of Japanese mag Famitsu, it's only right to approach the news of Grasshopper Manufacture's Lollipop Chainsaw for PS3 and Xbox 360 with skepticism. The reports also describe it as a game about a cheerleader raised by zombie hunters, who uses her acrobatic training and a chainsaw to destroy zombies ... which certainly sounds like a Suda game. Additionally, the zombies will spray pink blood on the screen when destroyed, something that Siliconera says is meant to convey a "pop" feel. According to Andriasang, Suda 51 is serving as creative director, with the very busy Akira Yamaoka working on sound. It's reportedly 70% complete, and will be published by Kadokawa Games. Update: Famitsu has posted the first artwork and screenshots of the game, including the above screen.
Capcom reveals Ixion Saga, plans limited alpha in Japan next month
According to Famitsu, Capcom has announced a new title called Ixion Saga, a PC-only multiplayer combat game where three classes (Strikers, Casters and Blasters) will do battle in eight versus eight online matches. There's also a PvE element, so players will be able to form "unions" with other players and take on other creatures. There will be a limited alpha on July 28 in Japan, and the game is due for release there sometime next summer. Capcom has had some success with online titles already, releasing a Monster Hunter MMO in Japan, but this is the first we've heard of an original MMO IP.
Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS 'several years' away, Sakurai says
When Nintendo announced that Smash Bros. was en route to its Wii U and 3DS systems, longtime fans of the fighting series may have, in elation, momentarily forgotten how much time elapses during the announcement and launch. As creative lead Masahiro Sakurai explains in his weekly Famitsu column (translated by 1UP), the next game is "several years" away from completion. "It makes me cringe," he laments, referring to the two game projects being added to his plate. "And I'm not sure it's the smartest thing to make gamers wait for several years, but the early announcement was made chiefly in order to attract new team members." Apparently all of his studio's resources are currently being poured into Kid Icarus: Uprising for the 3DS. "We've got no plans whatsoever -- we've got two new games out there in the open when there's no extra time to work with them at all." At least with these games, Sakurai knew ahead of time. With the Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo head Satoru Iwata announced the game before Sakurai even knew it was a project he would be working on. "With previous projects I had a game design document in place before forming a team, but with this I don't have the time for that. I won't be able to look at every aspect of the game and balance out all the characters by myself this time," he writes. Before the Wii U announcement Sakurai's studio, Project Sora, "had intended to make a 3DS Smash Bros.," but doubled up after seeing the Wii U. "If we went solely for the Wii U, the HD graphics would really bump up the visual effects, but then we'd be stuck in another arms race. If we made this game another extension over the previous one, we'd have to cut out the new things we could possibly do on the 3DS hardware and compete with ourselves again over the size of the character roster and the amount of gameplay we can put in it." If your heart stops every time Iwata takes the stage at a press conference, just imagine how Mr. Sakurai reacts.
Armored Core 5 due in Japan this October
Talk about not a moment too soon! Here we were in an utter panic about what we'd wear this Halloween (we were torn between Ghostsama bin Laden and Green Lantern) when our answer comes direct from the new issue of Famitsu -- albeit via Andriasang. Armored Core 5 is arriving in Japan in October, according to the mag, which should give us plenty of time to pick a robot costume, cobbled together from cardboard boxes and colored tinfoil. Plus, considering the game won't come to North America until early 2012, think how avant garde we'll seem! There's apparently even going to be a closed beta for the game just prior to the Japanese launch. We can only hope we get some invites stateside, so we get an inkling of what foil colors to stock up on.%Gallery-123436%
Muramasa dev Vanillaware creating 'Grand Knights History' for PSP
The latest (leaked) issue of Famitsu brings word of a new project from Vanillaware, creators of Muramasa: The Demon Blade and Odin Sphere. Vanillaware's Grand Knights History is a new RPG for PSP to be published by Marvelous -- with whom the dev worked with on Muramasa -- and planned for release this summer. Players control the leader of one of three warring factions -- "Logress, the ancient kingdom," "Union, kingdom of the knights," or "Avalon, kingdom of magic," -- and take part in turn-based battles accompanied by a group of knights. Grand Knights History is said to include some kind of innovative online play that Vanillaware has yet to explain, but it involves connecting with other players during battle -- and allows for "infinity" players. Chances are we'll hear more about the online system soon, as the game is reportedly 70 percent complete. And knowing Vanillaware's previous output, we can't wait to see the first screens.
Hudson 3DS titles listed as canceled in latest Famitsu
This week's Famitsu notes that several Hudson 3DS titles have been canned, according to Andriasang. The current list includes some of the planned 3DS titles like Bomberman, Bonk and Omega Five, which were all announced last October. Hudson has gone through a serious shift since the Konami takeover earlier this year. Konami is set to take full control of the company and replace Hudson's CEO with its own next week. Update: A Konami spokesperson tells Wired the publisher hasn't "distributed any official list of Hudson products yet."
Resident Evil: Revival Selection brings RE4 and Code Veronica to 360, PS3
PFFFFSSSS! Sorry, but that's the closest onomatopoeia we could come up with for the sound of confetti coming out of a giant cannon. What's the occasion? Why, it's the one millionth port of Resident Evil 4! It's a big honor, and it goes to Biohazard (Resident Evil): Revival Selection, a set of high-definition updates of RE 4 and Code Veronica, that Famitsu says is headed to 360 and PS3. According to Andriasang, the full title may be "Resident Evil Revival Selection HD Remastered Version," and fair warning: If we have to type that out in full every time, we'll never cover this game again. The updates, which have only been announced for Japan at the moment, will feature RE 4's bonus Ada Wong scenario, "Separate Ways." Dirk the Daring was unavailable as of press time to comment on the possibility of these upstarts shattering his record. That said, if any STARS agents come up missing, we'll make Singe's belly the first spot we check.
Naoki Yoshida talks upcoming changes to Final Fantasy XIV
Since taking control of the game in December, Naoki Yoshida has been relatively silent about the future of Final Fantasy XIV -- aside from a letter to kick off the new year and a player poll, development has been oddly quiet. That does appear to be changing, however, with Yoshida giving an interview to Famitsu in which he discussed priorities for the game's further improvements as well as what he doesn't want to change. According to the interview, the team's first priorities are further improvements to the UI and changes to the battle system, with Yoshida cryptically remarking that the world currently seems a little too peaceful. He does note that trying something innovative like the market wards isn't necessarily the best option all the time, and there's a hint that we may see a more traditional auction house put in place for the game. It's interesting news for Final Fantasy XIV fans, no doubt enough to chew on for some speculation -- although how soon any of it will come to pass is anyone's guess.
Gran Turismo 5 creator wants monthly updates, plans premium car upgrades
Gran Turismo 5 may be out in stores, but its creators don't consider their work complete just yet. Since its release, Polyphony Digital's racing game has already received a few updates, with more on the way. Series creator Kazunori Yamauchi explained to Famitsu that "it would be good to have one update every month." Of particular note for car enthusiasts would be the expansion of the game's premium car offerings. Although the game launched with over a thousand cars, only one fifth of the vehicles are represented with "premium" models, which feature higher resolution textures, fully modeled interiors and undercarriages, and damage modeling. Yamauchi promised that new premium cars would be made available for download, but Andriasang notes that he failed to confirm whether or not the updates would be free. Although the team is working on adding new features and updated models into GT5, there are a few items you shouldn't expect via patches: new cars and courses. "They may be added as expansion content," Yamauchi explained, "or we may leave it until the next title."
New Super Mario Bros. Wii tops 4M in Japan, says Enterbrain
Japanese publisher Enterbrain has revealed in this week's Famitsu that New Super Mario Bros. Wii has gone quadruple platinum in the region. NSMBW is Nintendo's first game on the console to achieve that status, having sold 4,001,276 copies as of Sunday. The title will celebrate its one-year anniversary on the market on December 3. Nintendo financial documents reveal that NSMBW had reached global sales of 16.7 million units by the end of September. That's like, if you're being strictly mathematical about it, nearly triple-quintuple-plus-double platinum.
Rumor: Yakuza team developing sci-fi shooter 'Binary Domain'
A rumor inside a rumor has Yakuza and Super Monkey Ball creator Toshihiro Nagoshi working on a game called Binary Domain, which will allegedly be developed by the Yakuza team alongside western developers. Andriasang reports game development will be done in Japan, with voice work produced overseas. The title will apparently be announced officially in Famitsu this week, but so far scans of the Japanese magazine haven't surfaced. Siliconera reports the details about the game come via a Japanese message board that wrote out the specifics. Binary Domain is reportedly a third-person shooter ... featuring robots. The game is reportedly intended to launch globally, but there's no mention of a release window. We should find out if the rumor holds up, later this week.
Famitsu previews upcoming additions to Final Fantasy XIV
Discussion about Final Fantasy XIV of late has centered around the coming November version update, currently slated for today. But there's more coming beyond simply a host of UI fixes and system improvements, some of which have been previewed by Famitsu recently. The translation crew at FFXIVCore has put together a gallery of images as well as small descriptions of what's coming for the game, albeit without much contextual information about when these additions can be expected. The new retainer outfits are a cosmetic addition that's welcome without being overwhelming, but the previews of monsters show off familiar foes from the series as a whole, familiar faces from Final Fantasy XI, and new enemies to fight. And the weapon preview seems to hint at some of the equipment players can look forward to from the notorious monsters slated for implementation before the end of the year. Final Fantasy XIV players are encouraged to take a look at the preview -- and possibly put some time aside for play today.
Armored Core 5 retargeted for early 2011
We're nearing the end of 2010, and with it comes not only the sweet sounds and scents of the holidays, but the yearly retreat of a few popular game titles to the next calendar year. Armored Core 5 is the latest game to join the migration -- a big announcement last January promised the game in 2010, but Famitsu is now reporting that From Software has pushed the date into early 2011. Mech enthusiasts with their calendars marked might be disappointed, but the news shouldn't overheat anyone else's thrusters, as we've already almost got more games to play this holiday season than seems necessary.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin update announced for PSP
Atlus is currently refreshing PSone RPG Persona 2: Innocent Sin for the PSP. Announced in Japanese mag Famitsu (via Siliconera), the release will be in line with that seen in Persona, adding widescreen visuals, gameplay tweaks and a new animation for the opening (the original movie will also be in there for purists). Shoji Meguro, who was in charge of the Persona remake, will direct this project. Persona 2 actually released in two parts as Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment. The latter made it to North America in late 2000, but Innocent Sin has never been officially localized for distribution. We're following up with Atlus to see if it plans on bringing Innocent Sin stateside this time around. Update: Atlus has "no comment" on a North American release of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
