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Star Ocean: Material Trader is social, card-based RPG
The next Star Ocean game, Star Ocean: Material Trader, will incorporate the series' universe of characters and items into a social-oriented, role-playing card game, according to Siliconera's translation of Gamer's report. Series Producer Yoshinori Yamagishi is working with Circle of Mana developer Hippos Lab, Square-Enix's smartphone division, to lead Material Trader's development. The game will reach iOS and Android devices this year. Players help the game's protagonist Tina by collecting "star shards," tackling quests, gathering experience and hoarding money. Hunting for materials and characters while exploring seems to be essential to boosting odds of success in the game. The series' trademark Item Creation mechanic also returns, allowing players to create and equip powerful accessories to their favorite cards. Those who register before it releases will get a special card of Star Ocean: Till the End of Time's Peppita Rossetti.
Square Enix launches Hippos Lab, puts App Store titles on sale
Legendary Japanese game developer Square Enix has launched an internal studio called Hippos Lab, which will be dedicated strictly to making original content for smartphone platforms (specifically Android and iOS, we're guessing, but the company's obviously leaving its options open). The studio's been working on a title since March 7, and we're supposed to see its output very soon. Square Enix has already had a lot of success with its own content on the App Store, both original games and ports from other platforms, but this is a more formal dedication of resources to the mobile gaming market. And speaking of Square Enix's content, the company has put a whole slew of its titles on sale to celebrate the Final Fantasy III release earlier this week. We already told you the first two Final Fantasy games were on sale, but the original Chaos Rings RPG is also half off (cheaper than I've ever seen it), as is the great old Secret of Mana title. And the puzzle/real-time strategy game Sliding Heroes has dropped to the low price of completely free. Some excellent deals from Square Enix on the store right now. [via Engadget]
Square Enix launches Hippos Lab for smartphone game development
Square Enix isn't exactly a stranger to the smartphone scene, but it looks like the company behind Final Fantasy (among countless other games) is now going to be moving quite a bit beyond ports of its existing games for other consoles. The company has just announced the launch of its new Hippos Lab game development studio, which will be primarily focused on creating "high quality original content" for smartphones. Details are unfortunately still pretty light beyond that, but the studio has apparently been up and running since March 7th, and it says it hopes to have its first game "ready soon." No word if they've scored the license for Hungry Hungry Hippos.
Square Enix forms smartphone division, Hippos Lab
Square Enix is hungry, hungry for that smartphone app revenue and has created the Hippos Lab division, which is devoted entirely to the mobile sector. The publisher recently announced the wholly-owned subsidiary, kicking off operations on March 7. There's no word yet on its grand plans or specific products for the group. Last week, Square Enix revealed that it was looking to set up (another) large studio in Canada by 2012.
