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Rune Factory, Lufia developer Neverland Co. to file for bankruptcy
Rune Factory and Lufia series developer Neverland Co. has ceased operations and will file for bankruptcy soon, the studio revealed on its website. Siliconera reports that Neverland's statement cites recent "changes in the business environment" as one of the studio's difficulties. Attempts to secure funding for Neverland's future development have been unsuccessful. The news follows a statement in August from Yoshifumi Hashimoto, a producer with Rune Factory 4's publisher, Marvelous AQL. Weeks after its release, Hashimoto stated that RF4 had performed well enough to "greenlight a sequel." Hashimoto also posted on Marvelous AQL's blog for RF4 after Neverland announced its closure, teasing that while the publisher's next title will "remain a secret," the staff members are doing well.
SEGA-inspired Shining Force Online launches beta Thursday
If you thought the one thing missing to make your Thanksgiving perfect this year was an almost-MMO re-imagining of SEGA's Shining Force franchise, you are in luck! Retro game developer unFun Games is launching the beta of Shining Force Online this Thursday night, November 28th, putting familiar characters in an alternate universe. At launch, there will be more than 100 maps and a number of quests, with new worlds and more content added on a daily basis. Described by unFun as a free fan-made MMO, Shining Force Online is a story-driven game that can, according to the official site, "be played almost as if it's a completely single player title," but you "can also interact with other players (if [you] should choose to)." If you do want to interact with others, it will actually cost you; although the game's store won't sell any items or experience, players must purchase the ability to chat with others. Interested players can head to Arcade Country and create an account in order to play the game via browser or download. [Source: unFun Games press release]
More Sega Genesis classics added to Steam
Are you just a few marks short of achieving your dream of being able to play Gunstar Heroes on every gaming platform known to mankind? You can go ahead and check "PC" off your list -- the game, alongside other classics like Alien Soldier, Landstalker, Light Crusader, Shining Force, Shining Force II, Shining in the Darkness, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Sonic and Knuckles, Streets of Rage, Streets of Rage 2, ToeJam and Earl, ToeJam and Earl in Panic on Funkotron, and Wonder Boy III: Monster Lair have all arrived on Steam as part of the SEGA Genesis/Mega Drive Classics Collection 4. You can grab each of these gems (well, some of them are gems, anyways) for $2.99 a pop. You could also grab a bundle featuring 10 of the games above for $7.50 -- though this collection is missing both ToeJam and Earl games, so like, what's the point?
Phantasy Star 2 released for iPhone; other Sega games on sale
Sega is temporarily dropping prices of its iPhone games in honor of kids going back to school. You know, it's been a long time since our GameBoy Advance was confiscated for illicit Pokémon Fire Red playing, but we're pretty sure you're still not allowed to play games during class. Oh well -- it's the thought that counts, Sega! Additionally, Phantasy Star 2 launched today on the App Store with a sale price of $2.99 (normally $4.99). See the complete Sega sale details after the break.
Original Shining Force now available on App Store
Sega hasn't found a whole lot of luck porting its classic titles to the iPhone and iPod Touch, largely due to the twitchy nature of games like Sonic the Hedgehog and the totally non-twitchy nature of the devices' virtual controllers. However, that might not be too huge a problem for the latest Genesis game on the App Store: the classic strategy-RPG Shining Force. The game is currently available on the App Store in North America for $2.99, and doesn't require any split-second spin dashes or evasive maneuvers, meaning you might be able to play it on a glassy, buttonless surface. That's as good a selling point as any, we suppose. Download: Shining Force for iPhone and iPod Touch ($2.99)
Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection bringing official Genesis emulation to iPhone, pain to your wallet
After packaging and re-marketing to us our childhood over Nintendo's Wii Virtual Console and in a multitude of other forms, Sega is putting another platform to good use in its eternal quest to make us poor: the iPhone. Due for the App Store next month, the upcoming Sega Ultimate Genesis Collection will bring together some of Sega's existing, disparate releases for the iPhone under one roof and add a bunch more, allowing users to buy Sega Genesis games directly from the app. The first one's free, of course (Space Harrier II), but after that you'll be paying a decent amount for your emulation fix: Sonic is $6, Golden Axe is $5, and Ecco the Dolphin and Shining Force go for $3. The variety will undoubtedly grow over time, but we would hope that at some point Sega will offer some sort of discounted megabundle, since you can currently get 49 notable Sega titles for around $20 in the form of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Basically: we're not sure if this is all supposed to make us worse or better about jailbreaking.
Sega discounting select Virtual Console titles for the holidays
Sega and Nintendo have teamed up to offer players a few holiday VC deals, announcing on Sega's UK blog that select Virtual Console titles will be discounted for a limited time. From December 24, 2009, until January 6, 2010, select titles will be reduced to 500 Wii Points each from down from 800 Wii Points. Titles getting the 40% off treatment include such Genesis classics as ToeJam & Earl, Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Gunstar Heroes, Puyo Puyo 2, Golden Axe, Shining Force and Streets of Rage. Also, for the lump of coal types, Sega has discounted the "admit it, it stinks" brawler, Altered Beast. It's a great offer for new Wii owners, or those looking to relive their lost youth.
Sega wants your vote for the next Genesis XBLA game
In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Genesis, Sega is asking you, The Internet, to pick the next Genesis game to arrive on Xbox Live Arcade. It doesn't look like an easy choice either, as the list of candidates has some of the console's best games. All told, you can cast your vote for: Earthworm Jim Streets of Rage Golden Axe II Toejam & Earl Shining Force Revenge of Shinobi Wonderboy in Monster World Sega is accepting votes until August 21, so head over to genesispoll.com and vote. We'd be remiss not to mention that all of these games are available on Virtual Console already, but XBLA is guaranteed to add a few extra features, like game saving, Achievements and online multiplayer. Keep that in mind when casting your vote.
Sega unveils new Shining Force teaser site
Upon seeing Sega's latest teaser website, featuring a bright blue sky replete with white, fluffy clouds, you'd be forgiven for hoping that it might have something to do with a new Skies of Arcadia. Alas, such dreams are dashed rather quickly by the text seen above. No, this is a teaser site for a new Shining Force title. Given the state of the Shining series lately, you'd be forgiven for not being terribly excited.The site doesn't reveal any pertinent information about the title -- including what the title actually is -- only referring to it as the latest installment of the Shining Force series and offering the date April 17, 2009. We'll just get everyone's hopes up by saying it's probably a fully localized DS port of all three episodes of Shining Force III*.*That's totally not what it is**.**Probably.[Via Sega Nerds]
VC Monday Madness: Mario Golf and Shining Force II
There were lots of titles that released this week, both on store shelves and distributed through the Wii. On the Virtual Console, we've got two games. So, hit up the video above, then head past the break for the rest.
Retail and download releases for the week of Oct 6th
We could get used to this, folks. Around this time of year, we're bombarded with new games, across all fronts. Well, this week is no different, so we won't waste time yakking it up here, other than to say no dice on Gradius II. Head past the break and get the lowdown on this week's releases.
VC Friday: Thursday edition [Update 1]
And the Nintendo of Europe site leaks another morsel of info! Not long ago, news of Nintendo selling music appeared in our RSS feed weeks early, only to lead to a dead link after it was hastily pulled by Nintendo. And now another slippage has occurred, with Nintendo accidentally revealing (what we suspect are the contents of) tomorrow's PAL Virtual Console update: Earthworm Jim and Shining Force II.Once again, the news appears in our RSS feed (as seen here) while the story itself has been yanked from Ninty's site. All being well then, tomorrow's VC update for Europe and Australia should read something like this: Earthworm Jim -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points Shining Force II: The Ancient Seal -- Mega Drive -- 800 Wii Points These aren't set in stone yet, so we'll label this as a rumor, but it looks likely. Also: "Hurray!" for both of these.Update: And it's confirmed: those are your titles for this week, PAL people! [Thanks, Lanceh!]
Shining Force to light up the DS
It's been over four years since any Shining Force title graced a Nintendo system (not counting the Virtual Console), since which the series has been mostly limited to remakes for Japanese mobile phones.So thank the heavens for Sega, which just announced a totally new entry, titled Shining Force Feather, in the pages of Famitsu. An all-2D strategy RPG, the game is due out in Japan next spring, and features a combination of isometric viewpoints (while out in the field) and a side-on view for battles (as seen in the scan snippet above). Best of all, it's in the talented hands of Flight Plan, who last developed Summon Night: Twin Age, which we really liked. Hit the "Source" link for the full, glorious scans and join us in squealing.Update: Corrected factual error.
VC Tuesday: SRPG Tuesday
This is the week for Japanese gamers who like RPGs with long battles. Two classic, somewhat rare strategy RPG sequels are now available on the Virtual Console. Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 is a quite late release in the Fire Emblem series, having been released as a download for a Super Famicom flash cartridge in 1999, when the Nintendo 64 was already out and tanking in Japan. Shining Force II was released on a plain old cartridge back in 1994, but it's interesting mostly for being a good SRPG. It's also got a better chance of being released outside of Japan, having been released in the U.S. and Europe as a cartridge.Also there's one shooter. It's still the Virtual Console, after all. It's a good shooter, though! Fire Emblem Thracia 776 (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Shining Force II (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points) Darius Plus (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points)
Shining Force developers working on DS RPG
Climax Entertainment, the developers behind the Shining Force series of games, has announced they've begun work on a new DS RPG called Steal Princess. The main character of the game is called Anis (no Borat jokes, please), who is, you may have guessed, the Steal Princess. Her goal is to take back treasures from the Devil King.The game is going to be an action RPG, with field maps and dungeons being displayed in a 3D isometric view. Weapons will deteriorate with use, and the player must not only combat monsters, but also the environment, as they must create new paths and overcome obstacles in order to progress.The game is currently slated for a 2008 release in Japan.
VC Tuesday: Singles week
No new multiplayer games on Japan's Virtual Console this week. It's a perfect week to sit in your apartment alone all day playing role-playing games. Now, if only that apartment didn't have to be located in Japan for us to take advantage.Normally, when an RPG shows up on the Virtual Console, it's big news. This week, Japan gets three, one of which is very big news indeed as the confluence of a good N64 game, an RPG, and a Mario game. Makai Hakkenden SHADA (PC Engine, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) Shining Force (Mega Drive, 1 player, 700 Wii Points) Militia (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Mario Story (Nintendo 64, 1 player, 1000 Wii Points)
Japanese release day highlights: 01.18.07
Korea gets the DS Lite today, while Japan just gets a couple of excellent new DS games. Where's the justice in that? We've already been lured by Wario the Seven's new Japanese TV ads and, of course, by its utterly stupid name. Now it's time to burn our Yen in the name of big moustaches. We'll also be lighting our notes for these newcomers/latecomers: Gears of War (we heard something about this game being "popular" in America; Xbox 360) Excite Truck (better late than never; Wii) Sekaiju no Meikyuu (Atlus' woody good RPG; DS) Shining Force Ikusa (no need to take turns; PS2)
10 franchises that need to return
Racketboy.com recently offered up this list of 'Classic Franchises That Actually NEED a Resurrection'... Darkstalkers Shining Force Battletoads Strider Killer Instinct Vectorman Starcraft System Shock Road Rash PowerStone Runners-up: Clayfighter, Story of Thor/Oasis, Lost Vikings, Rocket Knight Adventures, Jetman, and Jet Set Radio
