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WRUP: Welcome the nub edition
With this week's big release being Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, you can bet we're dying to sink our teeth into the game. Not only are we looking to see how the newbie attorney handles himself, but also how Capcom handled developing the latest iteration in the series specifically for the DS, instead of the GBA-to-DS porting that went on with previous installments. Of course, it's not that the porting was a bad thing; the Ace Attorney games are some of our most favorite of all time.So will you be tackling some of Apollo's cases this weekend? We know we will.%Gallery-10043%
Apollo Justice hands-on round-up
Folks at IGN and GameSpot got their hands on Apollo Justice this week, which means there are some interesting sets of hands-on impressions floating around ... and also means the potential for spoilers is increasing with every moment as we approach the release of the fourth game in the franchise. We'll be very general here, and if you just can't wait for every possible tidbit, head on over and read at your own risk. Both outlets report that the new installment starts out in similar fashion to the others; that is, the first case is something of a tutorial that helps players find their way around the courtroom process and get to know their main character. Further, this game seems to live up to all the wackiness, fun, and wit of the previous games in the series ... something many may have worried about due to the new cast. Never fear, dedicated fans. It looks like Apollo Justice is set to be just as guilty a pleasure as his predecessor. %Gallery-10043%Read - Hands-on with IGNRead - Hands-on with GameSpot
The first OBJECTION! is free
In anticipation of the English-language release of Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney, Capcom has released an officially translated version of their Gyakuten Saiban 4 demo, which covers the beginning of the game, through the first cross-examination. If you're trying to maintain a spoiler-free life before the release of the DS cartridge, steer clear, because this is a segment of the actual game, even if it is presented as a "mock trial." However, if you don't consider the first few minutes of the first case spoiler material, and if you want to see Winston Payne's new suit (which we think is even better than the haircut), you could find worse ways to blow a few minutes on the Internet than by playing some Apollo Justice.
WRUP: Solving the case edition
Much like the comedy in the show, we felt something zany and non sequitur like the video above would fit nicely. And, if you're the one person looking at this week's releases and snatching up some title about air boarding or whatever, this might not be the topic for you. Instead, we want to hear from all of you who decided to take the plunge with Harvey Birdman.How many cases have you been through? How are you finding the game to be so far? Is it fun, are you disappointed in it?%Gallery-7527%
Wii releases for the week of January 7th
There's a big title releasing this week. Hopefully, it's one you're as excited about as we are. Heck, we've been drooling over the damn thing long enough now, Now it's time it actually releases to retail, so we can get our dirty hands on it and find out if all of the pining was worth it. Oh, and there's that Sonic thing releasing, too.This week's console releases include: Sonic Riders: Zero Gravity Luxor: Pharoah's Challenge Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law
Another shot at Harvey Birdman stuff from Capcom
The last time Capcom dangled free Harvey Birdman DVDs and assorted stuff in front of you, they asked you to do stuff. Not illegal stuff or anything, but still -- effort. How audacious of them! We're not about to waste precious minutes of our busy day slaving away in Photoshop.That's why their latest contest is so much nicer. All you have to do is preorder the Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game, which, if you want Birdman swag, you were probably planning to do anyway. The first 500 preorderers will get a chance at a prize pack containing the entire TV series on DVD, four bobbleheads, and four posters. You don't even have to do that since an alternate, no-purchase-required entry method can be found in the contest's official rules. That may be the smart way to enter even if you do plan on buying the game, since Capcom's online shop is perilous.
GameStop lists Apollo Justice for a February release
A listing for Ace Attorney: Apollo Justice has surfaced at GameStop's online site, claiming the game would grace retail shelves on the 19th of February. Although the listing is hardly confirmed, we're crossing our fingers that this is the true release date.We might have initially thought the game was coming too soon following Trials & Tribulations, but that isn't the case any longer. We want this game. And we want it now. Also, we wonder about possible pre-order gifts, although we won't be pre-ordering through Capcom directly, we assure you.[Via Court Records; thanks, MaHe!]
Can Capcom's Ace Attorney contest has winnarz?
Capcom has announced the winners of their Ace Attorney LOLcat contest, and released all of the entries into the LOLcat's natural habitat, the Internet. There, they can roam free and pop up randomly as responses on message boards. There's a big old Flickr gallery of Ace Attorney art combined with popular Internet parlance to browse through. Lulz and objections abound. The winning image, from Kimberly Powell, is actually quite funny. Funny enough to earn a copy of Phoenix Wright 3 and some stuff signed by Minae Matsukawa. Any of you responsible for one of these entries? Confess to the crime of creativity![Via Capcom Blog]
We misjudged Apollo Justice
Yesterday, we said that Capcom was releasing Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney too quickly after Trials and Tribulations and the closely related Harvey Birdman game. But then we saw these English screenshots and our emotions took over. Get here as soon as you can, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney!We just can't wait to play the thing and learn about all the over-the-top quirks of the new cast. Who cares if, once we're basically caught up with the Japanese release schedule, we'll have to wait like two years for the next game? We prefer our gratification instant.%Gallery-10043%
Ace Attorney 4 coming criminally early
According to a Capcom press release, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney will be released in the U.S. in early 2008. This fourth entry in the Ace Attorney series features a new protagonist, new characters, and more touch-screen integration than the previous three, since it's the first one to be made from the ground up with the DS in mind. But, of course, if you've read DS Fanboy for any number of seconds, you have no doubt absorbed all kinds of information about the Ace Attorney series.The timing seems a little strange. The previous three Ace Attorneys were released in the fall, about one year apart. Why would they move it up to whatever unspecified period they're referring to as "early 2008?" With Harvey Birdman on the Wii out in January, that's a lot of rapid-fire lawyer-game releases. We guess they just couldn't HOLD IT any longer oh man, we're sorry.
Who is the cat with the firm release date?
Last we heard, Capcom's lawyerin' adventure game, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, was pushed back into an approximately January-sized window to avoid being released among a million other high-profile games. That window has been narrowed down into a cozy single day, January 8th. Uh, so try to make Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations last until then! Of course, if you don't have a DS, get one, and then you'll have lots of OBJECTING to keep you busy until January. Or play other stuff. We're just here to make gentle suggestions. The good news is that there may be non-garbage at the end of the wait. Chris Kohler has played the game, and remarked about it positively. He knocked the difficulty, but called it "certainly just as funny as the show and well-animated besides."
Final Fantasy IV gently mocked by Ace Attorney
The Ace Attorney games have always sported first-class localized dialogue, managing to be witty and original in whatever language they choose. What's more, some of the references are delightful -- check out this oh-so-subtle nod* to Final Fantasy IV's dodgy Engrish translation, as it appears in Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Trials and Tribulations. Blink and you'd miss it.If you're currently staring at your screen, slack-jawed and with a look of utter befuddlement, then head here for an explanation, so that you can feel as geeky superior as we do for getting it.* Our apologies for the rather blurry pic, but it gets the point across.
Qualcomm's legal quarrels continue... against its own lawyers
If you had an inkling that Qualcomm's legal altercations were finally concluding, you'd be badly mistaken. Reportedly, the chip maker is now feuding with 19 of its own attorneys (or should we say, prior attorneys) over "who should shoulder the blame for what a judge called 'gross misconduct on a massive scale' at a past trial." Apparently, 21 crucial e-mails and some 200,000 pages of documents owned by Qualcomm were withheld until after Broadcom trials, which was unsurprisingly seen as a "carefully orchestrated plan and deadly determination to hold hostage the entire industry." Now, US Magistrate Judge Barbara Major is "considering sanctions" against the lawyers in question, which has placed their careers in danger and is "prolonging a damaging episode for Qualcomm." We're tempted to ask what could possibly happen next, but quite frankly, we're terrified of the answer.
Daniel Cooperman joins Apple as new General Counsel
Daniel Cooperman, formerly of Oracle, has joined Apple as its new Senior VP, General Counsel and Secretary. He reports directly to the Steve. Due to start his new job on November 1st, Cooperman replaces Donald J Rosenberg, who is leaving the company. Apple's glowing press release tells us that Cooperman graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College and then attended Stanford's Business and Law schools.
Nintendo officially getting that thing Capcom sent them
Gamefly is vindicated again. Wii gamers are indeed getting the Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game, on the same day the PS2 and PSP versions are released: November 13. Unfortunately, there's a $10 penalty for wanting to play this on the Wii-- the Wii version costs $40 versus the $30 PS2 and PSP versions.On the upside, paying ten dollars more for a game than it costs on the PS2 really gives us a taste of the next-generation experience. And on the real upside, we're getting the comedy lawyer adventure in the first place. And, if it's as basically like Phoenix Wright as it looks, and as funny as the show is, that's a big old victory for the Wii.[Via Game|Life; the title joke references the same line used in this other Game|Life post, but it's from the show, so we don't think they have an exclusive claim on it.]
UniquePhones's iPhone unlock release 'slowed' by AT&T lawyers
Hope you weren't waiting in tense anticipation to get your hands on UniquePhones's iPhone unlock software, because things certainly aren't going as planned. Reportedly, the gurus behind the software unlock were contacted by "a Silicon Valley law firm" who is "slowing down the release of the software." Of course, they still claim to have the app "ready to go," but until this legal hubbub gets cleared up, it seems like their method of freeing your iPhone will remain a well kept secret. We'll keep you posted.
Gyakuten Saiban 4 is huge
Capcom announced today that Gyakuten Saiban 4 passed the half-million mark in shipped copies today, a new record for the series. It's no surprise that being on the DS boosted sales; it's likely to boost sales of anything. But let's not diminish the accomplishment. Gyakuten Saiban 4 is a hit! This milestone has contributed strongly to another milestone: as of today, the Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) series has shipped 2 million copies in Japan alone. That's pretty great for any series, much less a text adventure series! If there were any objections within Capcom about spending the money to localize GS4, they've probably been shot down by now.
Phoenix Wright, step down. Capcom's bringing Harvey Birdman
The popular DS lawyer-ing game, Phoenix Wright, proved to be a fan favorite around the world. Now, Capcom is trying their hand at yet another lawyer game, but it's going to be unlike anything you could've ever expected. Capcom and Cartoon Network are teaming up to bring Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law to PSP (and PS2). We're hoping that Harvey Birdman will have all the fun of Capcom's other series, but with a hipper, edgier tone.Unfortunately, details and screenshots have not yet been released. Although the premise has us a excited, we can't help but look at developer High Voltage's track record, and get a little worried. (The Family Guy and Leisure Suit Larry games don't really offer much street cred.) Capcom better get this one right, or it won't be too long before PSP fans are screaming "Objection!" ... for all the wrong reasons. [Via Joystiq]
Gyakuten Saiban (Phoenix Wright) 4 won't feature English translation
Impatient fans and savvy importers know that the Phoenix Wright games in Japan (Gyakuten Saiban) are released with both English and Japanese languages on one cart. But according to Play Asia, the fourth game in the series won't follow that trend. Written on the Gyakuten Saiban 4 product page in big bold letters are the foreboding words "Japanese language support ONLY".Don't panic, this doesn't mean the game won't be localized. With importers jumping the gun and grabbing the Japanese copy before everyone else, Capcom is simply trying to ensure their localization efforts aren't going to waste.[Via Siliconera]
AI program slammed for practicing law without a license
While artificial intelligence programs offering legal advice aren't exactly anything new, as Wired's 27B Stroke 6 reports, it looks like we've now seen the first case of one running into trouble with the law for doing so. The over-eager AI in question was offering its services to entrepreneur Henry Ihejirika, who put the program to use on two of his websites, offering bankruptcy assistance to clients without the hassle of a face-to-face meeting. Things were apparently going swimmingly until a bankruptcy trustee noticed errors in some of the forms that were submitted by a client of the site, which led them to investigate the situation, ultimately resulting in Iherjirka heading to court to explain himself. After reviewing the case, a bankruptcy judge ruled that the software went far beyond simply providing clerical services and was, in effect, practicing law without a license. That meant Ihejirka had to pull the plug on the system, as well as pay fines and return all fees he had collected from clients. While the AI could not be reached for comment, it'll no doubt find plenty of work on the inside, helping out prison guards with their taxes.[Via Boing Boing]
