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Behind the Music: Q? Entertainment
1UP's continuing coverage of Q? Entertainment has been awesome. Yesterday's update provided us a look into the musical talent behind Lumines and Every Extend Extra. The video chronicles musical legends, including Mondo Grosso. Here's a sample:1UP: Mizuguchi, what sort of special persuasion did you have to provide to Osawa in order to reassure him the music would be used well? Tetsuya Mizuguchi: Well, the first occasion that we met was in a café like today, and, going back to when we were talking about demonstrating the game on laptops since we didn't have an office, I showed [him] my bio and what I was trying to make of this upcoming game. So I showed it, and [Osawa] was like, "Oh, this could work." But it wasn't an instant stamp of approval; he made a face, because it wasn't quite clear how it all worked together. But at the same time, as a musician, even though Osawa-san doesn't completely exist in the videogame industry, a lot of the visual styles in his videos look like [they] could blend together in this interactive world. So to me it wasn't like he was a complete outsider to the interactive arena, [and] I felt like this could still work even though there might be some challenges we still had to overcome. This is a MUST-READ and watch for any Lumines fan out there!
More Mizuguchi previews on Gamespot & IGN
Q? Entertainment is just everywhere these days, huh? As if the astonoshing 1UP coverage wasn't enough, Gamespot and IGN both have extensive hands-on and new videos with both Every Extend Extra and Lumines II.Every Extend ExtraGamespot: Preview | VideoIGN: Preview | Video"From what we've played, Every Extend Extra has all the makings of another Lumines-style piece of gaming crack. The gameplay is accessible, with just the right hooks to be addictive, and the visuals are clever and interesting."Lumines IIGamespot: Preview | VideoIGN: Preview | Video"Given how well the original Lumines came together and how promising Lumines II already looks, we're confident that Q's follow-up will stand as one of the better PSP games this year. The gameplay is as addictive as ever, and the presentation has benefited from the new multimedia approach."Also check out:Q&A with Q? Entertainment
Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi: HD is very important to gaming
Finally, someone who gets it. While some (Nintendo) seem to believe HD comes at the expense of gameplay, Tetsuya Mizuguchi believes that the increased resolution can give games even more emotional impact. He remarks on a feeling that many of us have had, when watching a movie we've seen over and over, watching it again in HD can give an entirely new feeling. Sure playing Mike Tyson's Punch-Out on NES was (and is) fun, but this is 2006. High definition allows you to appreciate lumping up opponents faces in Fight Night Round 3 in ways the SNES never could. Even simple games like Geometry Wars are even more inpressive on HDTVs, there's nothing like having millions of multicolored geometrical shapes chasing you on an enormous screen with no blurring whatsoever. In the interview with Games Industry Mizuguchi goes on to add that he thinks other elements like 5.1 surround sound and particularly online connectivity combine with high-def as a new frontier for gaming.This is the man who created such classics as Sega Rally, Lumines, Rez, Manx TT and others. He understands the importance of good gameplay, but instead of shrugging off HD as a niche product with little value, he's willing to acknowledge the possibilities and look for ways to enhance gamers experience, rather than limit it.
Interview with the Lumines team
1UP: How did it feel when you left Sega? Was it like "We're gonna do this and make our own company" like The Three Musketeers? TM: Huh? This week's 1up cover story focuses all on Q? Entertainment, the minds behind Lumines and the upcoming Every Extend Extra. You'll learn interesting tidbits from today's interview, like how Lumines was created in a karaoke room. You'll also learn how the team wanted to portray something artistic on the PSP's beautiful 16x9 screen. Your fears about short battery life in the upcoming video-intensive Lumines II will be relieved: it seems like the video won't cause too much of a hit on battery life. Your thumbs will get weary knowing that the maximum possible score in Lumines II is now 10 times higher. Finally, you can also read about Q? Entertainment's plan to save the world with downloadable music packs: TM: Yeah, a Relief pack. Within a couple of weeks, we could make a specialized pack -- maybe it costs $5 to download, but it would benefit the victims [of disasters]. There's a ton of really interesting info in the interview. In fact, there are 7 pages to read through, so you better get started now.
Lumines II to use licensed video bait
The latest issue of Game Informer (trust us, or buy/borrow/steal a copy) reports that Lumines II is almost identical to its acclaimed predecessor. The draw will be new unlockable skins, which, this time around, include licensed music videos from artists including Black Eyed Peas, Fatboy Slim, Hoobastank, and Missy Elliot. It's a risky deviation from the standard set in the original, as much of the sequel's soundtrack contains songs that were played out many seasons ago. Gwen Stefani's "Hollaback Girl" ... ? No thank you.With all the technical intricacies of the PSP, one wonders why Lumines II isn't being sold, at least in addition to a full-fledged UMD release, as a downloadable utility (for Lumines), which in turn would give us access to an online store where we could purchase additional skins that include music videos -- or better, bundles that include multiple skins that need to be unlocked through gameplay. But this sounds eerily similar to another future puzzler we've heard of ... Lumines Live, anyone?Buena Vista Game is pimping the Lumines franchise for all it's worth. Go 'head -- that's the business. It's just a shame that there's not more of a collective effort to exploit the potential of the PSP. Instead, we've got a near-identical sequel being hustled to us on UMD for $40. ... Okay, we're stepping down from the podium now ... here are the soundtrack details you're looking for ...
Pump It with the Black Eyed Peas in Lumines II
The tips just keep on coming in today, and I love it! Less work for me!We knew that Lumines II would feature some "pretty famous artists". Buena Vista Games just sent out a press releases and mentioned these songs and boy they are pretty famous: * Beck Black Tambourine * Black Eyed Peas Pump It * Chemical Brothers Star Guitar * Fatboy Slim Gangster Trippin * The Go! Team Bottle Rocket * Gwen Stefani Hollaback Girl * Hoobastank Born to Lead * Junior Senior Take My Time * Missy Elliott Lose Control * New Order TBDTwo additional songs will also appear on the games soundtrack: * Junkie XL Breezer * Stigmato Inc Reality CheckIf this list is indeed true, it appears that Lumines II will be hitting for a much more mainstream crowd. I'm still waiting for more Japanese music to pop up, but for now, I'll take whatever Lumines-related info I can get.[Thanks steve!]
Play Every Extend Extra... on your PC
The Mizuguchi news continues here at PSP Fanboy. The esteemed creator of Lumines and Rez is fusing music and shooters yet again in Every Extend Extra. What is it, you ask? It's pretty hard to explain what this upcoming PSP game is about. My best explanation of the game involves explosions, geometric figures, numbers and vectors. If that doesn't help you at all, don't fret: 1up has discovered a playable demo of the game on the official Japanese website, but it's not for your PSP. Rather, the demo is for your PC. Sure, it would've been nice to play with the grooves on the go, but I'll gladly take this replacement... for now.If your nihongo isn't sharp enough to understand the website, you might just want to click this link to download the demo directly. Unless your computer was made in the stone age, it should be able to run perfectly fine, but you can run this application to find out if your system is up to snuff. Once you get the demo up and running, remember this: press Z. I don't have any other tips to give you, but I'm sure once you master the game, you'll leave some comments here
Lumines II to feature "pretty famous artists" [Update 1]
The original Lumines combined block-dropping puzzle fun with psychadelic images and cool grooves. It was a mesmerizing experience that placed it as one of the top 10 games to play when you're stoned. Even without the influence of illegal drugs, many could appreciate Lumines and its excellent soundtrack. Although the original's song list was excellent, it didn't really have too many high-profile artists, except for Mondo Grosso, the artist behind the addictive "Shinin"'.Speaking at the Develop conference in Europe, Tetsuya Mitzuguchi revealed that the PSP-bound Lumines sequel will feature some "pretty famous artists". Who could these artists be? I'll guess that they'll be Japanese. Maybe we'll see some Orange Range or nobodyknows+ like in a certain DS music game? Personally, I'd kill for some UVERworld. While we won't know for a few weeks, it sure is fun to make a few guesses. Read the full story on GamesIndustry.biz for more details on Mizuguchi's other projects.[Update 1: According to Siliconera, BoA and Mondo Grosso are confirmed for Lumines II. That, to me, is hot.]
More musical Mizuguchi mayhem materializes
Oh, death by alliteration can be most painful indeed. And yet, it's a risk worth taking when it comes to revealing new PSP and DS games from Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the creative, possibly insane game designer behind Space Channel 5 (and it's swinging sequel), Rez, Sega Rally and of course, the criminally addictive Lumines. Featuring heavy musical components that can often be influenced by the player, his recent titles have demonstrated a knack for style and an unusual ability to impart something vaguely resembling inspiration. If you've played through Space Channel 5, you'll know exactly what we mean.Thankfully abandoning orcs and dynastic warriors for greener and more familiar portable pastures, Mizuguchi is now acting as executive producer on Gunpey-R, short for Gunpey Reverse. Based on an older Wonderswan game, Gunpey-R sees the player -- wait for it -- moving square panels up and down in an effort to create lines running from right to left. Success leads to panels vanishing as ooposed to killing you violently when they claw their way to the top of the screen. The PSP version will feature interactive "skins" (in the same vein as Lumines), whereas the DS version will play different sounds as each panel is cleared.Namco Bandai is taking care of publishing duties in Japan, with American and European releases still unaccounted for. Given the success of Q Entertainment's previous games, it shouldn't take too long before everyone is pulled back into a mesmerizing music-and-rhythm marathon. With such a widespread appeal, music is most certainly a sound route to the home of that elusive casual gamer. See also: Lumines Live to hit Xbox Live Arcade Lumines Plus to drop on PS2 Joystiq's top 10 hidden gems of this generation
Lumines to light up XBLA this month?
After the ridiculous abuse he took during the Prey demo debacle, Xbox Live's Major Nelson is understandably jumpy around calendars these days. But that won't stop rabid fanboys from latching onto every vague release date and imbuing it with irrational finality. For example, Xbox.com is now listing a July 2006 release for Lumines. This means that if the game shows up on August 1, hundreds of 14-year-olds will already have descended on poor Major's blog and accused his Mom of personally delaying their fun. We feel for you man. Now where's our game?[Thanks Splode]
Scarf prevents over-the-shoulder gawking
When I used to live in the City of Brotherly Love, I was forced to use mass transportation a lot. I guess force could be too strong of a word, as it was a convenient way to get around. Now that I've relocated to the suburbs, I find a lot of my portable gaming time is spent in the comfort of my own home. Maybe this isn't the case for a lot of you in more urban locales.Anyway, back when I did game on the bus or train, nothing bothered me more than someone breathing down my neck watching me game. Not only did it throw me off from attaining those crazy high scores I'm so used to getting, but I was always paranoid someone was going to try and grab my Game Boy at the next stop. Well, looks like Joe Malia has come up with a rather abnormal solution.This sleeve, which you can see in action through the linked graphic above this post, offers a little more privacy and allows the gamer to get into that highly cherished zone of concentration. Sure, you're guaranteed to receive a few glances of perplexity while wearing the odd garment, but what do you care, you just cleared level 99 in Lumines?
Lumines fiasco redux
Some of you may have noticed a comment from Live Arcade's Ross Erickson on Wednesday's Lumines story. The original post claimed that -- according to Tetsuya Mizuguchi, mind you -- an extra pack would have to be purchased from Marketplace to access online play in Lumines Live. I contacted Mr. Erickson to get to the bottom of this. I asked whether or not he could confirm that Live play will be included with Lumines at no extra cost. I received a one word reply: "Confirmed." There you have it folks. Crisis averted. I would have preferred a less terse reply, but I'll take what I can get. So, knowing that Live play is included, will you buy Lumines if it costs fifteen bucks?
Lumines versus will cost you [update 1]
Many people have already been stunned by Lumines Live's $15 price tag. If you've already been stunned, then there's no telling what this news will do to you. X360F and I take no responsibility for any mental or physical pain and anguish as a result. Here goes: if you want to play Lumines on Live, you'll have to buy another pack that unlocks the feature. Probably, anyway. Lumines creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi hinted that maybe you won't have to pay for what should be a standard feature: "At least that's the way we have it planned right now...We're still trying to determine if we'll package versus in the base package." Like a sucker, I'll probably pay for it. Will you? [Via Xboxic] Update 1: An official response from Microsoft has confirmed that online play will be included at no extra cost. See this follow-up for the full story.
Lumines Live multiplayer blocked by micropayments [update 1]
Kikizo Games reports that Lumines Live's base package -- which will likely cost 1200 Microsoft points ($15) -- will not include Xbox Live multiplayer. The game's creator, Tetsuya Mizuguchi, recently detailed plans to sell multiplayer support as a separate add-on, although he added that the decision had not been finalized. Lumines Live will also feature licensed music and backgrounds available through premium downloads. The original Lumines debuted on the PSP for $40, suggesting that the base price of Lumines Live is a bargain. But charging us extra for multiplayer is a slippery slope and could usher in a series of cannibalized games crowding the casual (and cheap) atmosphere of Xbox Live Arcade. [Update 1: Ross Erickson, the "Worldwide Games Portfolio Manager" for Xbox Live Arcade, let us know that the Lumines micropayment story is "not true." He said the same to sister-site Xbox 360 Fanboy. So, there you go. No more worrying, m'kay?]
2D's glory -- in top five form
This one brought a soft spot to my heart though I'm not sure exactly why. Perhaps it's my old-school gaming nostalgia kicking in, but there's something quite charming about a 2D game in this world of uber three-dimensional madness. Fond memories aside, the good folks at Game Daily put together a nice little list of the "Top Five Most Gorgeous Looking 2D Games." With a mix of old and new, the list's cherry-on-top is the Guilty Gear series -- a personal favorite of mine. If you've never played this insanity-filled fighting series, I suggest you go to your local video store and rent it right away. Other honorable mentions include the PSP titles Loco Roco and Lumines, a couple Yoshi titles, and Metal Slug.
XBLA: SFII in June for $5, Lumines in Aug/Sep for $15, according to leaked mag report [update 1]
Club Skill reports that according to an unspecified magazine leak -- we know, it sounds suspect (but there is a screen shot) -- Street Fighter 2 will finally arrive on the Xbox Live Arcade this month, to the tune of 400 points ($5). The leaked info cites at least 12 additional marketplace releases, including Lumines Live, which is scheduled for release in August/September for an unprecedented* 1200 points. Lumines will be joined by Pac-Man (400 points), Frogger (400 points), and Roboblitz (800 points) in the August/September release window.Also of note, is a Kameo add-on that will beef up the game's difficulty and introduce competitive multiplayer elements (500 points). Again, these release dates and price points have not been officially verified, but the leaked report does list accurate information about several content downloads that have already been released/confirmed.*UPDATE: as noted by several commenters, Bankshot Billiards 2 also retails for 1200 points. And, it's worth noting that Lumines for the PSP debuted with a $39.99 price tag (it's now $19.99).
The PSP: One Year Later
The guys (and gal) over at Gamespot take a look at the PSP after its 1st year on the market, analyzing their favorite aspects of the handheld, games available, and future ideas for improving Sony's portable. With a very unanimous choice of Lumines as the best game available for it, the crew also goes on to explain their frustrations with the limited storage capacity and controls. The one thing they fail to touch on, however, is any frustrations brought on by Sony's continuing quest to thwart all homebrew on the platform. I guess they're not huge fans?
Every Extend Extra footage
This 8.1mb video for the highly-anticipated Every Extend Extra was available at E3, but for all of you out there that were at home, likely covered in salty, warm tears, what is sure to be Tetsuya Mizuguchi's next brilliant offering to the gaming world may be seen. With the smash hits that were Lumines and Meteos, we're willing to bet this game will be just as great.In Every Extend Extra, the goal of the game is for the player to destroy their own ship to create giant chain reaction explosions, which upon being large enough, will reward the player with extra lives, or "extend" gameplay. With a clock ticking away, the tension is huge to pull off amazing explosions and earn "every extended extra" life that you can.[Via QJ]
Lumines Live to hit Xbox Live Arcade
Peter Moore just announced that Tetsuya Mizuguchi's formerly PS(P and 2)-exclusive title, Lumines, is heading to Xbox Live Arcade in the form of Lumines Live. What's new? The music-heavy title will feature Warner Music Group's content integrated into the game. Their example showed a Madonna video playing behind the game. Sony got to borrow some XBL action, all Microsoft's doing is playing catch-up.
Lumines Plus to drop on PS2
In addition to Lumines II, confirmed for PSP, Buena Vista Games will publish Lumines Plus for the PlayStation 2. Plus will be a new version of the original handheld title. Buena Vista Games will also publish two more forthcoming Q Entertainment puzzlers, Every Extend Extra (PSP) and the newly announced Meteos: Disney Edition (DS).Pictured: Lumines II.
