koei
Latest
Crave crawls back to ESA; PlayLogic, Koei join organization
The Entertainment Software Association announced today that Koei, PlayLogic and ... Crave Entertainment are "the three newest members" of the trade organization. Okay, Koei and PlayLogic are new, but Crave would fall under the Gamestop definition of "new."Crave left the ESA last year, but it appears that even the trade organization didn't notice in the midst of losing Activision/Vivendi, LucasArts and id. Oh well, Crave. Allow us to welcome you back to the ESA.
Koei Tecmo exec calls company 'Kotec,' we snicker
Game Watch reports that a party was recently held at Tokyo's Imperial Hotel celebrating the merger between Tecmo and Koei. During the festivities -- which included Koei co-founder Keiko Erikawa singing "The Girl from Ipanema" -- an executive decided to try out a new moniker for the company: Kotec. Not a bad amalgamation -- though our own staff was really rooting for Moei -- but there's something ... off about it. Something we can't quite place. Oh, wait, now we remember.Maybe the company should just follow Namco Bandai's example and stick with Koei Tecmo.[Via Kotaku]
Koei's Ni-OH is back from the dead
Hey, remember Koei's PS3-exclusive action title, Ni-OH? You don't? Well, maybe that's because it all but vanished after making a brief, non-playable appearance at TGS in 2006, never to be heard from again -- that is, until the latest issue of Famitsu confirmed that Koei is, in fact, still working on the title. Admittedly, we'd probably be more excited about this development if we'd have heard anything about the game over the past three years. You don't call, you don't write, and now you expect us to let you just walk right back into our lives? It's not that easy, pal.
VC in Brief: Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (SNES)
Uncharted Waters: New Horizons (SNES, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)We say: Patient gamers should check it out!New Horizons is a game that will appeal to strategy fans and pretty much nobody else. Even though it has a fairly unique and fun combat system, the hurdle of getting into significant combat and actually progressing the game is hard to climb, given the game's clumsy out-of-combat controls and complicated menu system. It's still fun, but be prepared to spend plenty of time doing a lot of mundane tasks before you actually can get into the tasty bits of gameplay. Every week, we like to check out what's new on the Virtual Console. We offer these videos as a sort of taste to help you decide whether or not you would want the game in question. We also toss in our own two cents because we're pushy jerks.
Koei and Tecmo's merger commemorated with new logo
Say goodbye to one more classic Japanese game company logo. The newly merged Koei-Tecmo holding company revealed its logo, which features a K and T inside circular outlines. We say "one more classic logo" and not "two," because the Koei logo we most strongly associated with the brand was replaced in the last console generation with the "bubble" logo on which this new one is based. We didn't even realize there was a stylized K in the Koei logo until we saw this new variant.We suppose if we can get used to the "new" Konami logo, we can get used to this. We will never get over the loss of the Namco logo, however.[Via NeoGAF]
Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce demo out tomorrow
Strikeforce is a rather radical departure for the aging Dynasty Warriors series. Yes, you'll still be unleashing massive combos on hordes of enemies, but now you'll be able to do so with stylish, outlandish moves. Taking a page from Monster Hunter, this iteration of the series encourages 4-player multiplayer.A demo will be available on the PlayStation Store tomorrow, featuring "the strongest warriors of the Three Kingdoms." You'll want to grab three other PSP-owning friends in order to best tackle this experience.Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce will be out in April in the US, May in Europe. Check out a trailer after the break.%Gallery-34535%
VC/WiiWare Tuesday: Calm waters
Japan has it pretty rough in terms of downloadable game releases this week. Gamers have the choice between a super-niche strategy game from Koei or a Master System Sonic game. Uncharted Waters II will make an appearance on the North American Virtual Console, by the way, as Uncharted Waters: New Horizons -- it was rated by the ESRB back in November. Uncharted Waters II (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Sonic Chaos (Sega Master System, 1 player, 500 Wii Points) The slim pickings on Virtual Console are a feast compared to Japan's WiiWare offerings this week: Nothing
Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce hits North America in April
Click to enter gallery Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce was originally pegged for a March launch, but the latest Koei press release states the portable beat-em-up will instead be out a month later on April 28. This North American release in April comes only two months behind Japan's February debut -- that's got to be some sort of localization record. Co-Optimus reports that the game will ship to Europe on May 1. If you've never heard of the game before, make sure to read our two hands-on previews. We've also added some fresh new screens in our gallery below, including the North American box art. %Gallery-34535%
Exclusive PS3 RPG Atelier Rorona revealed
Turn-based aficionados will be pleased to hear that the PS3 is getting an exclusive RPG: Atelier Rorona. An entry in the Atelier series from Nippon Ichi, Rorona will continue the series' emphasis on crafting and synthesizing, according to the first details in Japanese mag Dengeki.The magazine article says more info will be known come March 27, when Dengeki will run another feature on the title. [image]
Warriors Orochi: The Collective coming to PS3
The Blu-ray compilation of Warriors Orochi games, Musou Orochi Z, will be released in Japan later this week and, if online rental service GameFly is right, it could be coming to North America, too. A listing for Warriors Orochi: The Collective was discovered in GameFly's database by Siliconera and, by the sound of it, the two games are one and the same. This is not the first time that GameFly has prematurely unveiled upcoming games, having spoiled Atlus' Devil Summoner 2 surprise. For those who just can't get enough Warriors games from Koei, Warriors Orochi: The Collective combines the first two PS2 Orochi games onto a single Blu-ray disc with upgrades and added content. It'll be the first Orochi title to appear on the PS3.
Koei doubling Singapore staff to boost game 'quantity' ... and 'quality'
Singapore is the latest kingdom to be romanced by Japanese publisher Koei. Edge reports that the company plans to ramp up headcount at its Singapore studio, potentially more than doubling the branch's current headcount of around 50 staff, with up to 60 new faces in the months ahead. The studio was first founded in 2005, and is primarily focused on online efforts, including Romance of the Three Kingdoms Online.No reason or exact time frame for the upgrade has been revealed. However, Koei co-founder Keiko Erikawa noted an interest in boosting the Singapore branch's game-making capabilities "both in quantity and in quality." Of course, with Koei set to join top-heavy rival Tecmo in bed in April, it's just as likely that Erikawa's statement is code for "jiggle" and "physics."
.jpg.cf.jpg)
Joystiq hands-on: Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce
This isn't the first time we've played of Koei's new Three Kingdoms beat-em-up for PSP, Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce. We mashed the same buttons last year at TGS. Back then, we focused on the familiarity of the combat action, while noting how character transformations and other nuances affected the gameplay. Since then, little has changed in terms of general combat; however, we've learned new things about other aspects of the game.The latest build of Strikeforce, a demo that can be found on the Japanese PlayStation Store, contains quite a lot more content than the previous one. This new sample contains a full roster for all three major kingdoms in the game. (Check out what the full roster looks like here.) Upon choosing a character to play as, players will be taken to the unique introductory cut scene for each kingdom. These cut scenes are gorgeous, pre-rendered CG equal in quality to thoe found in previous DW games.%Gallery-34535%
Shareholders approve Koei/Tecmo merger
The last of Tecmo's investors finally caved, giving the company's $207 million merger with Koei the green light. At the end of it all, Tecmo shareholders will come away with 0.9 shares in the merged company for every Tecmo share in their portfolios, while Koei stakeholders will net a one-to-one swap. The Japanese pair will officially tie the knot on April 1, giving us hope that Dynasty Warriors' disturbing lack of jiggle-tech may someday be realized. Those kingdoms, you know, they're not going to romance themselves.
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 in Europe by March 27
If you had asked us in 2007 if we thought Dynasty Warriors meets Gundam was a good idea, we probably would've just laughed. It seemed like such a silly concept, perhaps because of the connotations associated with both titles; however, in actuality, it's pretty much what every Gundam fan really wants. It's then not folly to think that Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 is the natural next step. With its release in Japan last month, DW:G2 is set to spread out into Europe on March 27. A North American date has yet to be announced, though we don't suppose that it would trail far behind. Gallery: Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Strike First. Strike Hard. New Dynasty Warriors trailer
Koei's Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce is only two months away. At CES, the company projected its new Strikeforce trailer for the masses to see. Now, you can see it too. This trailer showcases the high-flying action of the button masher. It's predictably Dynasty Warriors, but that's not such a bad thing -- especially when you can take it on the go.Check out the video and the new screens, uploaded to our gallery: %Gallery-34535%
Musou Orochi Z announced for Japan
Orochi games have been making the rounds on PS2, 360 and even the PSP; however, there were no titles on the PS3. Well, until now that is. Musou Orochi Z was just recently announced for Japan. It's not a new game but actually a compilation of both Orochi 1 & 2 beat'em ups on Blu-ray. This new release supposedly will have upgraded graphics, more enemies on screen at once, four new playable characters and 12 fresh Story Mode chapters. The game is expected to hit Japan on March 12. Though a release in other territories has yet to be confirmed, StrategyInformer -- who has contacted Koei -- reports that a European version is very likely. Said a Koei rep to SI: "No definite plans yet but the Warriors Orochi games proved really popular over here [in Europe] so I'm sure it will." It's a very informal answer, but at least there are some signs of interest internally.Source 1 - PS3 HyperSource 2 - StrategyInformer
Tecmo-Koei merger faces opposition from investor
Though the planned merger between Koei and Tecmo was recently finalized, one of Tecmo's largest investors, Effissimo Capital Management Pte, has expressed some concern over the benefits shareholders might expect to gain in the aftermath. "We have not had sufficient information from the company to make a judgment on the merger, such as the feasibility of their plan to raise shareholder value," Effissimo Director Takashi Kosaka said in a statement published by Bloomberg.It's unclear whether the firm, which owns 17.6 percent of Tecmo, will act to delay the formation of the new holding company, scheduled to occur on April 1, 2009. We suspect both companies will reassure Mr. Kosaka by emailing him some provocative artwork from the inevitable hit game, Dynasty Warriors: X-Treme Feudal Beach Volleyball.[Via Gamasutra]
North American DW: Strikeforce out March 24
We knew Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce was coming stateside, but we didn't think it would be hitting this early. According to the latest release date schedule posted by Koei, the next iteration of DW on PSP will be out by March 24, 2009 in North America.If you've yet heard of this title, then make sure to read all about it in our hands-on preview. Those screenshots down below also look mighty tempting, wouldn't you say? Gallery: Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
Koei strategy pair rated by ESRB
The ESRB has rated a pair of Koei games that aren't Dynasty Warriors for release on the Virtual Console. Both are historical strategic RPGs, though with very different settings. The first, Nobunaga's Ambition (top screens above), tasks players with conquering feudal Japan, while Uncharted Waters: New Horizons is based more on life at sea, and lets you indulge in sailing, trading, and even piracy.We assume these are the NES versions, though could be wrong -- there were versions of each on the Genesis and SNES. Considering a boxed of copy of either goes for about $20 or $25 on eBay, we could be in for a bargain when these appear.
Tecmo and Koei's merger finally complete
We know this isn't exactly earth-shattering. After all, both Tecmo and Koei had already revealed that they were creating an integration plan and joining forces. So now it's finally all hammered out, with joint operations to begin in April of next year.No, the real reason we wanted to bring this to your attention was the figure that got it all done: $207 million. If that number sounds sort of familiar, it should: Koei turned down a buyout offer from Square-Enix a few months ago to the tune of $206 million. Ouch! Square's gonna need a Phoenix Down to come back from a burn like that.
