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Space Invaders landing on iPad today
So you just spent $600 on an iPad. How better to show off the capabilities of your state-of-the-art gadget than with ... Space Invaders? Taito released an iPad version (for $5) of its iPhone Space Invaders app worldwide -- and thanks to common iPad naming conventions, Taito thought it was a good idea to call it Space Invaders HD. The iPad game offers, of course, a larger-scale presentation of both the 1978 game and Space Invaders Part II, as well as some promotional flyers and other vintage artifacts. It also has a rather cool new feature: a two-player mode that flips the screen so that players sitting across from one another can take turns. It's modeled on the classic cocktail-style arcade machines, and Taito even went so far as to demonstrate the game on iPads sitting on those arcade machines at an event in Japan.
Space Invaders Infinity Gene XBLA, PSN versions confirmed
According to Siliconera, the latest issue of Famitsu confirms what a source (and the OFLC ratings board) told Joystiq: Taito's ever-adapting shooter, Space Invaders Infinity Gene, is being released on Xbox 360 and PS3. The game appears in the magazine's table of contents. Additionally, 1UP reports that other Japanese game magazines have confirmed the Infinity Gene console release, which is said to be a downloadable port of the iPhone game for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. Even if it's just a direct port, we relish the opportunity to play this already-great game without covering up any of the screen with a big fat finger.
Rumor: Space Invaders Infinity Gene cloned for XBLA and PSN
A trusted Joystiq source has confirmed that Taito's mobile and iPhone game Space Invaders Infinity Gene is coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Further corroborating our source's intel is Australian ratings board the OFLC, which has published a rating for an unspecified "multiplatform" release of Infinity Gene. Ubisoft, which distributes Square Enix titles in Australia is listed as the publisher. (Square Enix is the parent company of Taito.) With some neat functionality -- the iPhone version lets players generate levels based on their stored music -- and an HD facelift, we'd be willing to bet Space Invaders Infinity Gene wouldn't find much opposition on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. Previously, Taito released a version of its handheld series Space Invaders Extreme on XBLA to positive reception.
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: RayStorm HD, Zeno Clash
Two very different games on Xbox Live Arcade this week, folks. First up, we have RayStorm HD a revamp of the classic arcade, PlayStation and Saturn shooter of yore. If you've played a shmup before, you'll be right at home. The other game, however, is an odd, odd duck. Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition is a first-person brawler with shooting elements and one of the most bizarre, surreal art styles on XBLA. If nothing else, you should download it just to see it. Watch the latest XBLA in Brief and see if either game deserves your hard-earned 1200 ($15). [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes. [Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly. [RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically. [M4V] Download the M4V directly. Xbox.com: Add RayStorm HD trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue Xbox.com: Add Zeno Clash trial version to your Xbox 360 download queue
ESRB: Dariusburst is approaching fast
Providing further evidence of a localization for the US-trademarked DariusBurst, the ESRB has rated the PSP shmup. It was released in Japan on both UMD and as a download on Christmas Eve of last year. For those of us who have never played any shooter before (ever), the ESRB describes the gameplay: "From a side-scrolling perspective, players navigate through outer space while shooting at the numerous enemy units. Ships, objects, and enemies explode when hit, sometimes with realistic or slow-motion effects. " We love this new world in which developers are selling shmups again. They were ridiculously popular in the 8- and 16-bit eras, but North American releases were few and far between for most of the last three generations. And now we're seeing this and RayStorm HD from Taito, DeathSmiles from Cave, and even an iPhone version of EspGaluda 2 in the the same year -- oh, and Cho Aniki.
Taito shoots RayStorm HD at North America May 5
Shooter fans in the mood for something with a bit more of a classical sensibility than the insane "bullet hell" shmups being made these days should look forward to May 5. Square Enix just announced the North American release date for the XBLA RayStorm HD, the updated remake of a classic Taito vertical shooter (but not the one with the robot fish), and it's the same May 5 date at which Japanese Xbox owners (both of them) and PlayStation 3 owners will be able to get the game. Sadly, no PSN release date was included in the announcement -- something about which we're checking with the publisher.
Raystorm HD storming Japanese XBLA and PSN May 5
Though "mum" is still the word on the stateside release plans of Taito's renovated shoot-em-up Raystorm HD, Japanese scrolling aerial warfare enthusiasts will be pleased to know the game's recently announced, completely imminent release date. According to Japanese gaming news site Game Watch, Taito has confirmed the game will arrive in Japan on XBLA May 5 for 1,200 and PSN May 6 for 1,500 yen. Just like every other time we've written about Raystorm HD, we'll contact Taito to see if we can find out anything about the game's North American release. Should we hear anything back, we'll travel directly to Vegas, because we've obviously been stricken with an impossible amount of good fortune.
Japanese Nintendo downloads: Darius Twin, Max & the Magic Marker
With only one download per service, Japan's Wii and DSi Shops this week resemble the kind of updates we're used to in North America. At least the content is mostly good. Darius Twin, the SNES debut of Taito's horizontal shmup series, provides multiplayer shooting against a variety of giant robotic sea creatures. And Rakugaki Hero is the World Game Parade–localized Max & the Magic Marker. As for, Let's Make a Zoo on DSiWare, it was released elsewhere as Zoo Frenzy. It's all the fun of managing a fake zoo! The full list of weekly releases follows: Darius Twin (Super Famicom, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points) Rakugaki Hero (WiiWare, 1 player, 800 Wii Points) Let's Make a Zoo (DSiWare, 1 player, 800 DSi Points)
Warner Bros. in talks to produce Space Invaders movie
According to a recent report from the L.A. Times, Warner Bros. is in talks with Japanese game developer Taito to secure the rights for a film adaptation of Space Invaders. The Times speculates the film would be a big-budget action-blockbuster, helmed by prolific producers of big-budget action-blockbusters, such as Mark Gordon, Jason Blum and Guymon Casady. In other news, we're planning on doing our own version of Space Invaders pretty soon, only it will be about us, attempting to invade outer space, because we don't want to live on this stupid, terrible planet anymore. [Via IGN]
Taito iPhone games on sale for the holidays
Taito is celebrating the success of its iPhone games in the best possible way: by making some of them cheaper. The Square Enix-owned publisher announced that its lineup of iPhone games appeared in Apple's "Rewind 2009" lists for 65 different regional App Stores, and that it's temporarily discounting Cooking Mama and Bust-a-Move to mark the occasion. Cooking Mama is $3.99 for the first 50,000 people who download it, or until January 4 (whichever comes first). Bust-a-Move is just $2.99 from now until January 4. Taito also alerted us to new in-app purchases for that game, consisting of a new two-player cooperative mode and four additional 50-stage packs.
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Qix++
Taito's unleashed a new puzzle game on Xbox Live Arcade this week: Qix++ for $10 (800). The demo version of the game only offers two levels to try out, but the full game sports 16 different stages and a multiplayer mode. So, without further ado, check out the video above to see what the game is all about. Shortcut: Download the trial version of Qix++ [Via Xbox.com]
Cooking Mama coming to arcades, looks pretty unsanitary
We hate to go all Howard Hughes on you guys, but we must admit: This touch-screen equipped arcade version of Cooking Mama fills every bone in our body with germophobic discomfort. That can partially be attributed to the fact that we've seen our fair share of filthy hands attached to the wrists of arcade dwellers. Then again, perhaps we just have a visceral, sickening reaction to seeing raw fish being prepared by the aforementioned unwashed digits. Gyyeeeuuuuhhh. Check out some footage from the arcade port after the jump, then go ahead and cancel that reservation for Red Lobster. You won't be needing (or wanting) it any time soon. [Via GoNintendo]
Square Enix's new Lufia game is a Lufia II remake
Last week, Square Enix announced a new entry in Taito's long-dormant Lufia(or Estpolis) series for an unknown platform. As it turns out, it's not entirely new, though enough is being changed that it might as well be. The new Lufia is, in fact, a remake of 1995's Lufia II, redone in 3D for the DS. According to IGN's summary of a Famitsu article, that's not the only change. The game is now an action RPG instead of a turn-based game -- with combo-based attacks, and the ability to launch enemies into the air, as well as switch party members mid-combo. In addition, it will be fully voice acted. Estpolis will be released in Japan on February 25.
Square Enix announces new Lufia game, platforms unknown
We understand Square Enix's desire to branch out, but its latest move is just ... it's incomprehensible. To go from being the world's premier developer of RPGs to creators of shower paraphernalia? It makes no sense, but it's what's happening -- according to a recent Famitsu article, Squeenix is now working on a new Luffa. This is uncharted territory for the company, but we can safely assume that it will be a very high quality Luffa, designed specifically for people with soft skin and outrageously spiky hair. Update: It's been brought to our attention that the Famitsu article actually reveals that Taito (which Squeenix owns) is working on a new installment in the Lufia franchise (known as Estopolis in Japan), which looks a lot like "Luffa," so you really can't blame us for getting confused. No platforms have been announced, but the team from the original Lufia & the Fortress of Doom will be behind the wheel, so it should be fairly reminiscent of the classic SNES RPGs of yesteryear. Also, it probably won't help you clean yourself in the shower. Sorry about that. [Via Andriasang]
Space Invaders Extreme Z invades Japan's DSiWare
Taito surprised us with a last-minute addition to the Japanese DSi Shop, and a rather awesome one at that: a modified downloadable version of Space Invaders Extreme 2! Space Invaders Extreme Z features three "courses" of increasing difficulty based on SIE2's levels, playable in "score attack" and "time attack" modes. Space Invaders Extreme Z is available on DSiWare now (in Japan only) for 500 DSi Points. It's the first DSiWare game from Taito, who has released several WiiWare titles including Space Invaders Get Even, Bubble Bobble Plus, Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! and Arkanoid Plus -- all of which were released in North America.
Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure ascends to XBLA next week
Taito has revealed that not only is the Xbox Live Arcade version of WiiWare's Rainbow Islands: Towering Adventure! real, but it's coming out in Japan on October 28, which means it could be out worldwide at the same time. A Japanese press release contained a single screen (pictured above), confirming that the game looks pretty much just like the WiiWare version with bigger UI elements -- it's still kind of a mess, visually, and it still features those weirdly human-sized characters; instead of the adorably round Bub and Bob we grew up with. Towering Adventure also differs from the arcade classic by making the ascent up the game's tower a continuous pursuit, even during boss battles.[Thanks, sacra] Source (PDF link)
Reminder: Space Invaders Extreme 2 out extremely soon
Click to invade our gallerySpace Invaders Extreme 2 hasn't managed to build up much hype; an unfortunate circumstance that can be attributed to Square Enix mentioning the North American release of the game once, in May, and then not again until just now. In fact, had it not been for Nintendo's release calendar, we wouldn't have been certain of the release date (October 20 -- a.k.a. next Tuesday) until today, when Taito's parent company, Square Enix, confirmed it. Is it too late to pre-order?And so, we're only too happy to use this occasion to refresh your memory: Space Invaders Extreme 2 is out very soon! In fact, it's been out all month in Europe and has garnered positive reviews. Turn on a strobe light and have a look at the new screens to prepare yourself for the sequel to one of the best games of 2008.%Gallery-75732%
Darius Burst trailer is explosive
The PSP is home to some unexpected shooter revivals. Thexder was just released on PSN, R-Type returned -- as a strategy game! -- and there's even a new Cho Aniki. Compared to those random releases, the announcement of a new Darius isn't too shocking. But it is very welcome.The trailer for Darius Burst seems to hit the highlights of the Darius experience -- namely, spaceships and giant robot versions of aquatic creatures. And it looks hot. Hot enough to send us back through the series in anticipation of the December 24 Japanese release, and for us to send our sincerest wishes to Taito parent company Square Enix. Sell this to us!
This Wednesday: Military Madness and Football Genius Bust-a-Move onto XBLA
This week's Xbox Live Arcade lineup is Madness -- Madness, we tell you! Well, okay, so it includes Hudson's revival of the TurboGrafx-16 classic Military Madness, but also two other releases. Still: Madness! Military Madness: Nectaris takes the hex-map strategy game into the era of polygons and -- better yet -- four-person online play. It's going to run 800 ($10), which is considerably less than a used TG-16, a TurboChip (remember those? If so, you're old) and the original game will cost you on eBay.Another classic strikes back in the form of Bust-A-Move Live, the latest retooling of the bubble-shooting puzzle game that's appeared on every system dating back to the abacus. Did you know it's a spin-off of Bubble Bobble Neo from two weeks back? Well, it is. It's also 800 ($10).Rounding out the bunch -- and making us thankful that every XBLA game has a trial version -- is Football Genius, a football trivia game about that kinda football; otherwise known as "soccer" up in here. We'd give the 800 ($10) release a shot ... if our goal was to be bored. (We love you, soccer/footie fans, but c'mon, seriously?)
NintendoWare Weekly: Dragon Quest Wars, Arkanoid Plus, Altered Beast
Welcome to another Monday, a day when most of us with jobs or school must go back to that place we just love to spend most of our time each week. That is, unless you're one of the lucky few who just sit around waiting for the Wii and DSi shops to update. If you fall into the latter group, we'd just like to thank you for waking up this early to check out what's available for download today on the Wii and DSi. It's nice of you to do so considering you don't have any obligation to be up before noon. Boy, that must be nice. So head past the break and see what's available already!
