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Watch the Sands of Destruction anime online right now
Sega sneaked the Image Epoch-developed apocalyptic RPG Sands of Destruction into stores this week. In a display of corporately synergistic timing, FUNimation has also released the anime online -- for free! If you don't mind watching it in a window on your computer, you can see either the first two episodes in dubbed format or all 13 episodes with subtitles. Of course, for those of you who enjoy watching things on televisions, FUNimation plans to release a two-DVD set containing the entire season on January 26. We haven't watched yet, but we're definitely looking forward to this feel-good tale of some kids out to destroy the world and save humanity from beast-man enslavement. [Via GSW]
TGS 2009: The Recap Post
Last week, the Tokyo Game Show brought in over 100 posts worth of news, previews, interviews, galleries, and videos. Clearly, a lot happened. If you're looking for a comprehensive list of all the goings-on during TGS 2009, Joystiq has you covered -- and organized! Click on a platform below to scan the highlights: (On the far right: that's "News" and "Culture" on the top and bottom, respectively)
TGS 2009: Interview: imageepoch and Sega on Sands of Destruction
Though Sands of Destruction has been out in Japan since late 2008, developer imageepoch was present at Tokyo Game Show conducting interviews for the DS RPG in order to promote the January 2010 Western release. We spoke with representatives from both imageepoch and Sega about the unconventional 2D game, learning a bit about what's been changed for the US version, talking about how cute the character Taupy (right) is and finding out what the deal is with the title change in the most unexpectedly awkward way possible.%Gallery-24031%
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Sands of Destruction
Sands of Destruction has been a long time coming. After being released in Japan in September, it was announced for North America in December 2008, and then given a distant release date of January 2010. I was honestly a little surprised that the English version of Image Epoch's RPG was actually in attendance in Sega's meeting room at TGS, as that suggests it's a real game that Sega actually intends to publish. %Gallery-24031%
Sands of Destruction game and anime due early 2010
Funimation has obtained the rights to the anime series based on Sega's upcoming DS RPG, Sands of Destruction. Funimation plans to begin airing the first thirteen-episode season of the Production I.G-produced anime in spring of 2010. Like the DS game, the show stars a kid named Kyrie who gets drawn into a secret organization determined to destroy the world -- in order to free humans from subjugation.In the same press release announcing the anime deal, Sega offered a January 2010 release date for the DS game itself. The game was first announced for North American release in December of last year. There's something kind of nostalgic about waiting over a year for the translation of an RPG.%Gallery-24031%
Sands, and giant teddy bears, of Destruction
Sega's been quiet about Sands of Destruction since the December announcement of a US release for the world-ending game. Today, it released a new trailer for the RPG which, rarely for the genre, is all gameplay. Slightly fuzzy, zoomed out gameplay, but all gameplay. New screens have also been add to the gallery.We might not be incredibly enthused about the voice acting, but the combination of 16-bit style 2D role-playing and, uh, giant animate teddy bears flinging smaller animate teddy bears at monsters means Sands of Destruction is staying on our radar. It's still, unfortunately, a distant blip -- Sega currently has the game scheduled for a winter 2010 release.%Gallery-24031%
Sega officially announces Sands of Destruction
We knew it was coming, but Sega finally saw fit to send out the press release announcing the North American version of World Destruction, called Sands of Destruction. The press release is even dated December 4! We'd love to know what happened to make Sega decide at the last minute to sit on the announcement for a week.According to the press release, Sands of Destruction follows a group called the World Annihilation Front who, in an attempt to free the world from the tyrannical Ferals, decide to destroy it, using the powers of a kid named Kyrie Illunis.The "voice system" seems to have been dubbed the "Quip System" in the US release: characters can enhance and change their status in battle by saying "inspiring battle commands," which are found throughout the world and equipped by characters. It's a game about trying not to save the world, in which you battle by talking! All they need in order to totally break JRPG tradition is to put a very friendly, outgoing person in the lead who remembers his childhood just fine.%Gallery-24031%[Thanks, Volcynika!]
Sega leak confirms planned US release for World Destruction
For their planned December 4 announcement of the US release of Image Epoch's RPG World Destruction, Sega PR uploaded a set of English screenshots to their FTP server. They then proceeded not to make an announcement. NeoGAFfer Volcynika spotted the suspicious "Sands of Destruction" folder on the FTP server and checked the contents to find four screens, which you can see in our gallery. We can confirm that yes, they were found on Sega's PR server.It's not too much of a surprise: Image Epoch president Ryoei Mikage told Siliconera at TGS that the company was currently working on the North American version of the game, with new music from Chrono Trigger composer Yasunori Mitsuda. We're happy to see an "official" "announcement," though, of course! We expect a for-real announcement soon, to catch up with this leak.%Gallery-24031%
