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UFO Interactive now publishing Monster Rancher DS
Tecmo was all set to release Monster Rancher DS alongside Again. The game was finished, and both games had March release dates. Now, Monster Rancher -- a longtime Tecmo series -- is being published by UFO Interactive, and moving to a summer release. The box shows both the UFO and Koei Tecmo logos. This is the result of the same "strategic partnership" with Tecmo Koei through which UFO is publishing Monster Racers, a game that Koei had on display at E3 2009. We thought that had already been released -- but UFO has it scheduled for this summer as well. [Via Siliconera]
Move supported by 36 companies, 20 games this fiscal year
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/03/10/sonys-move-supported-by-36-pubs-and-devs-gets-20-games-this-fi/'; At Sony's special GDC event, Activision, Capcom, WB Games, Namco Bandai, Square Enix, Ubisoft, EA, Disney, Konami, Sega, Crave and Tecmo Koei all confirmed that they'll be supporting the Move in future versions of their games. Although that confirmation came in the form of a slide full of company logos and word from Sony vice-president of marketing and PSN that, "Virtually every third-party publisher" will support the new motion-control device. Sony's Jack Tretton went on to say that 36 publishers and third-party developers will support it, and according to a press release, "In fiscal year 2010, SCE Worldwide Studios will also release more than 20 games that are either dedicated to or supported with the PlayStation Move platform. While this same group of publishers will probably support Microsoft's Project Natal as well, it's good to know that everyone is onboard. But onboard how? Are they developing Move departments that will get every possible ounce of gameplay out of these things? Or do they mean support like backrubs and cookies? We aren't sure what titles will be supported just yet, but our team of Joystiqers are waving the Move about as you read this, and we'll have more news very soon.
North Star Musou video introduces game's cast
Frankly, we don't know why anyone wouldn't be satisfied with Kenshiro in North Star Musou, but Koei's seen fit to add a bit of a variety to the game's cast of characters. The above promo video spotted by the Koei Warriors site chronicles several other selectable karate people. The guy with the rocket launcher kinda threw us for a loop, though -- what good is a giant tube gun when everyone in the future is so easily exploded through poking? [Thanks, Peter]
Tecmo Bowl Throwback official, coming to XBLA & PSN
Tecmo Bowl Throwback was first revealed through a trusted Joystiq source back in January (and then subsequently popped up in an ESRB rating), so we weren't exactly thrown into a tizzy when Tecmo released the official announcement today. Throwback will be released on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this spring. As previously understood, the game will be a remake of the SNES's Tecmo Super Bowl and will feature an option to "switch to the classic 2D style." Developed by seasoned remake studio Southend Interactive (Lode Runner, R-Type), the game's main new feature (aside from "all new 3D graphics," of course) is online play. Today's announcement additionally revealed Throwback will feature 32 teams and online leaderboards and customizable options for teams and rosters, and ... and ... whoa, whoa, it's almost like we're talking about a simulation football game here! Relax -- sorry about that. Try to cool down with the screenshots below. %Gallery-87016%
Itagaki's suit against Tecmo ends in settlement
Finally, Tomonobu Itagaki can have a restful night of sleep in his sunglasses. The ongoing legal dispute between the Dead or Alive creator and former employer Tecmo, over unpaid salary and bonuses, has ended in a settlement. Itagaki announced the resolution of the dispute in a public statement. Itagaki didn't specify the terms, but we can only imagine a copy of Dead or Alive Paradise was involved. "How could I resist?" we imagine him saying, "It's my own private paradise, in the palm of my hand!" As for things Itagaki actually said, the statement (per Andriasang's translation) revealed that he's working on something new: "I cannot wait for the day when I can announce to everyone the new title that I'm currently conceiving." Itagaki's aiming for "world class entertainment" with "a greater depth of play than before."
Tecmo Koei lowers profit forecast after Q3 losses
Tecmo Koei has announced that it's lowering its annual operating profit forecast (essentially its guess for how much profit it will bring in before taxes) by a painful 95%. In addition, stock fell 9.5% to 630 yen ($7). This comes after the announcement of disappointing third-quarter losses (PDF link) totaling 1.842 billion yen ($20.4 million), and after the announcement that two high-profile games, Quantum Theory and Trinity: Zill O'll Zero, have been delayed, thus eliminating whatever they would have contributed to the current fiscal year. Now it's all up to Dead or Alive: Paradise and the Western releases of Monster Rancher DS and Again. Source [PDF]
DOA Paradise special edition is predictably naughty
Let's be honest: You're not thinking about getting Dead or Alive Paradise for the intuitive volleyball mechanics or the scenic, beach-front battles -- this game lacks both. You're buying this game because you want to ogle fake women with comically large and bouncy breasts. Or, according to Tecmo, you're buying this because you're a woman who has never purchased a Tecmo title before and this is something relevant to your interests. Either way, the company's hoping you'll want to pay extra for a special edition bundle of the "game." Game Watch points out the extra busty package set to release in Japan -- complete with inappropriate Kasumi statue add-on and several other items, including a "Secret Picture Collection" and soundtrack CD. It's like a one-man pity party start-up kit. Are you guys getting it yet? Wanting this makes you a pervert. There's no word on whether this'll make its way over to the States when the game releases in March, but we'll be sure to let you know.
Last Rebellion heading to Europe March 12, US 'in February'
You can imagine our surprise when we discovered Nippon Ichi's Last Rebellion had gotten itself a release date -- it's been nearly nine months since we last heard anything on the title (and that was its announcement!). The game's set to hit PlayStation 3 consoles on March 12 in Europe and 'February' for North America, just in time for those of you who love JRPGs yet are stridently against the purchase of Final Fantasy XIII. In fact, between the release of FFXIII on March 9, Resonance of Fate launching the same day, and now this, we're inclined to rename the whole month with a JRPG theme. How about "Manarch?" Maybe "Marchic?" Perhaps "Marchlotsofbeltsandzippers?" Alright, alright -- we've clearly gone too far. %Gallery-63008%
See North Star Musou's gory details in video teaser
Tecmo Koei opened a teaser site for the new North Star Musou, featuring a brief clip of in-game action. If you're familiar with either Fist of the North Star or the Dynasty Warriors games, you know exactly what to expect: a little post-apocalyptic Mad Max-esque wasteland, and one giant guy exploding a horde of identical thugs with his bare fists and feet. The combination of these two licenses is doing a pretty good job of renewing our interest in both!See the footage after the break. If you squint, it kind of looks like a high-definition God Hand sequel.%Gallery-75563%[Via Andriasang]
Gitaroo Man Lives, other titles added to Japanese PlayStation Store
The Japanese PlayStation Store recently received a massive booster shot from Sony and a number of third-party developers who've made a few of their PSP titles downloadable. Coded Arms, Dynasty Warriors and Valhalla Knights are among the notable downloadable games -- but the inclusion of Koei's cult classic rhythm title, Gitaroo Man Lives, is what really sets our hearts a-flutter. Available for just ¥1,200 (about $14), we'd be hard pressed to not buy this hard-to-find gem five or six times should it come stateside. Speaking of which, we've contacted Koei to see if they plan on bringing U-1's epic journey to the North American PlayStation Store. We'll let you know whether or not the developer plans on breaking our hearts.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 limited edition is HMV exclusive in Europe
The announcement of the European version of the Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 limited edition, releasing on October 2, reveals bonuses mostly identical to the North American version -- by which we mean "that one book." The Ninja Gaiden Treasury , as it's called, includes the same strategy guide, comic, and art sections advertised with the American release, though Tecmo Koei Europe offers a bit more detail about it. The comic, for example, is a "prologue comic" designed by Team Ninja. The downloadable costume is also part of the LE.Europe's version includes one thing the American release doesn't: a complete soundtrack. Other than that, it's identical -- right down to the exclusivity to a single retailer. The Sigma 2 limited edition will only be sold at HMV, for £39.99, though Tecmo's announcement says the RRP is £49.99.
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 slices and dices North America this September
You read that right, folks. The co-op compatible, new and improved Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 will (Izuna) drop into stores on September 29th. Arriving just in time for the busy holiday rush, this updated version of the 2008 Xbox 360 exclusive features two three extra playable characters, along with a puzzling reduction in violent displays. %Gallery-48452%
Tecmo Koei CEO to Sony: "please cut the price" of the PS3
Activision's CEO has already gone public with his complaints about the price of the PS3, and it looks he's not alone among industry bigwigs with a bone to pick with Sony, with the CEO of the newly formed Tecmo Koei now coming out and echoing his concerns. Speaking with CVG, Tecmo Koei's Kenji Matsubara says that whenever he speaks about the issue with Sony reps, he asks them to "please cut the price" of the PS3, adding that "from a publisher's point of view we would welcome a price cut for PS3 and we are waiting, definitely." He doesn't quite go so far as pull an Activision and threaten to ditch support for the console if Sony doesn't drop the price, however, although it seems safe to assume that these complains will only grow louder -- at least until Sony actually does cut the price of the PS3, that is. [Via gamesindustry.biz]
Tomonobu Itagaki returns with new team, new game, same badass attitude
During a recent interview with 1UP, ex-Tecmo employee and leather lover Tomonobu Itagaki (along with comrades Hiroaki Matsui, Katsunori Ehara, and Yoshifuru Okamoto) iterated that he is returning to gaming, and will be backed up by a brand new team on a project for a future game. Unfortunately, we won't see anything on this new game at next week's E3, although Itagaki did confirm he would be in attendance.The new company is tentatively called "Tokyo Vikings" (how ... appropriate) and is largely comprised of ex-Team Ninja staff, including a majority of the folks who worked on Ninja Gaiden 2. Surprisingly, his new team even managed to snag some key character designers from Virtua Fighter 5.Itagaki was overall pretty tight-lipped about the new team and its mystery project, but did confirm that it wouldn't be a fighting game, as Itagaki is sure he's hit the ceiling there with Dead or Alive 4. He wouldn't comment on whether it would be an Xbox 360 exclusive, or heading to other consoles such as the PS3, but his past affiliations with Microsoft might suggest a likely path for his future games.
PSP impressions: Gitaroo Man
During the last day of E3, the very last game that I got my hands on before being ushered out the door like some kind of animal was Gitaroo Man over at Koei's booth. I had honestly never played a Gitaroo Man title before, however was familiar with the premise. Basically, you're a kid, with a cool dog sidekick, who battles evil as the Gitaroo Man, the ultimate guitar-wielding super hero. I played two songs before I was forced to leave, which were the first and second song, coincidentally. The gameplay of the title is rhythm-based, where the player is forced to time button presses to the song through several segments of the song, which each have their own distinct play style during the overall song's "battle." One area asks you to press either the X, O, Triangle, or Square buttons in time with icons representing each respectively as they fly toward the center of the screen, while other segments ask you to trace a line with the d-pad while pressing the O button in time with marked riffs in the song. Overall, the gameplay was loads of fun and left me wanting more.
