tgs-2009
Latest
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Ni no Kuni
Level-5's Ni no Kuni: The Another World is, in general, a pretty standard JRPG. However, it's a pretty standard RPG that takes place in a Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke) world, and is thus magical. It really feels like you're inhabiting a Ghibli movie, from the appearance of swarms of cute little spherical characters to the lush forest environments. The frequent animated cutscenes and the persistent voice acting (every line of text in the demo, whether in a cutscene or spoken in a pop-up text window) is fully voiced, which helps the cinematic feel.
TGS 2009: It's a Gundam! ... stylus!
Situated right by the entrance to the TGS expo floor, Mori Games drew attention to its selection of DS accessories with Gundam models. Since everyone in Japan loves Gundam, and everyone writing this post (that's me!) loves DS accessories, it was an effective tactic.The stars of this, uh, booth ... were definitely the DS styli. As Gundam weapons, they're crafted to the scale of popular Gundam models and terminate in a point suitable for use on a DS. We don't want to think that's pure awesome, but here we are posting it, so you can guess how we really feel ...
TGS 2009: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker's epic 10-minute trailer
Hideo Kojima wasn't kidding around when he said his crack MGS4 development team was going for an epic, console-quality Metal Gear experience with Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on PSP. This freshly released TGS 2009 trailer for the game is proof positive that Kojima Productions is putting its all into the release -- it looks absolutely amazing, clearly building on the presentation and gameplay of both MGS4 and MGS3: Snake Eater.Of course, you don't just have to settle for the trailer. Once it's got you good and pumped up to choke out some fools as Big Boss himself, check our post from yesterday to down-la-li-lu-le-load the TGS demo for play on your very own PSP. How cool is that?
TGS 2009: Capps talks about missing 'perching' cover system from Gears of War 2
"Everyone expects sequels to be bigger and better," Dr. Michael Capps said in his Gears of War panel at Tokyo Game Show. While talking about visual prototyping, he showcased a new type of cover that was in development for GoW2 called "perching" that was ultimately removed from the game. This system would allow for the player to take cover behind a wall as usual, but by pushing up, Marcus would be able to grab the top of the wall, and pull up. Hanging from the top of the wall, players would be able to fire their gun, with an improved vertical vantage of the battlefield.It looked really cool, yes, but Capps talked about how they couldn't implement it in the game because it simply broke the game -- especially in multiplayer. It would be unfair if players could see the entire battlefield, while still being able to stay in cover. Too bad ... because it did look really cool.
TGS 2009: Epic Games opens new Tokyo studio
You wouldn't think a panel called "Adapting the 'Gears of War' Franchise for Global Consumption" wouldn't take place at Tokyo Game Show. Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps admitted that Gears of War was its biggest franchise, and that "Xbox is not the number one platform here in Japan." However, that didn't stop Capps from having some big news for panel attendees."We're hiring, in a speech at Tokyo Game Show," Capps said immediately following his announcement of a brand new Epic Games studio in Tokyo. The team will be responsible for providing support for the Unreal Engine to Japanese studios. It's a known problem that many Japanese teams have been unable to effectively work with the engine, most recently evidenced by the sluggish performance of The Last Remnant on Xbox 360.The new team may eventually work on new games. Capps did admit that "we are fanboys of Japanese gaming ... We have deep respect for the long history of excellent Japanese games," pointing out to Epic Games' recently released Shadow Complex. Perhaps Epic can hire Kingdom Hearts' Testuya Nomura to make the chainsaw game of his dreams.
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Resonance of Fate
The stylish Resonance of Fate (End of Eternity, as it's known in Japan) blends a semi-turn-based, conventional RPG battle system with a high-speed action game -- with guns. Guns fall into three categories: machine guns, handguns, and grenades. (Machine gun–class weapons do "scratch damage," which depletes an enemy's life, but leaves the possibility for it to regenerate over time.) I got to check out the TGS demo before interviewing its developers, giving me this opportunity to tell you about it. More importantly, though, the experience gave me something to talk to the developers about (more on that later), and in turn I avoided a very awkward social interaction. %Gallery-63415%
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden
Somehow, despite not really being all about RPGs, I've been unofficially appointed "The RPG Guy" at TGS. Almost everything I've played has involved selecting "fight" out of a menu. And, in general, I've been okay with that, because all the RPGs I've been dropped into have been both easy to understand and charming in their own ways. Four Warriors of Light: Final Fantasy Gaiden is very easy to understand and very charming. It might be patterned after past Final Fantasy games on the NES, but the effect is basically Dragon Quest: Final Fantasy Edition.%Gallery-73955%
New Crackdown 2 screens -- zombies included [updated]
Click to embiggen Is it still kosher to assume zombies are what's being featured in these Crackdown 2 screens? We saw a glimpse of the ... let's call them "mutated" enemies in the trailer released back at E3, but we'd yet to see them being punched, kicked, and exploded so vociferously before. With any luck, we'll nab some new gameplay video -- or maybe just impressions of new gameplay video -- when we check out the game this week at the Tokyo Game Show. Update: After spotting 10 unlisted Crackdown 2 images on Ruffian's Flickr page, we were asked by Microsoft to remove the screens due to an exclusivity agreement with Game Informer magazine. In the interest of playing nice, we've complied with the request. We'll have the images back on Joystiq as soon as possible, we assure you ... though a Google Images search might net you results a bit sooner. %Gallery-74365%
TGS2009: Shinobu decapitates, Travis works in No More Heroes 2 videos
Above, you'll find a look at one of No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle's playable characters, Shinobu, straight out of TGS 2009. You may recognize her from the first game -- if you don't, we're no longer BFFs and we totally want our mixtapes back. Shinobu's going to be fully playable in Desperate Struggle and looks like quite the killing machine, though we must say her weapon's lack of beam and laser technology is somewhat off-putting. If you're wondering about series protagonist Travis Touchdown, know that he's also here in this Joystiq post. Past the break, we've got two videos showing off some of the jobs Travis will undertake for spare cash in the sequel: coconut gatherer and rare steak preparer. What? You've never gathered coconuts for some extra spending money? %Gallery-73949%
TGS 2009: Xbox 360 Creator Panel Discussion recap
Dubbed a "public brainstorming session" in a sorry-I-couldn't-make-it introductory video from Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business VP, Don Mattrick, the Xbox 360 Creator Discussion Panel saw three esteemed Japanese game developers share their dreams and designs for Project Natal.It was immediately noted that no ideas or concepts -- erupting from Hideo Kojima (Metal Gear Solid), Keiji Inafune (Mega Man, Dead Rising) and Toshihiro Nagoshi (Monkey Ball, Yakuza) -- should be considered actual, in-development concepts. Which is just as well, because it didn't take long for the trio to joke about a motion-enabled female feel-'em-up (see above gesture for context).Keiji Inafune was the one to bring it up, noting that the evolution of controllers was "way behind the evolution of graphics." According to Inafune, "Body language is part of this important evolution. With Natal we can involve ourselves. I'm getting really excited and show it in my body or action. Instead of pressing the button, it can be truly immersive experience."%Gallery-73915%
Square Enix & PopCap team for puzzle RPG 'Gyromancer'
Square Enix is teaming up with the "broadly appealing" e-crack peddling masters at PopCap Games on Gyromancer, a new puzzle RPG for XBLA and PC. At its core, Gyromancer is a re-skinned version of PopCap's Bejeweled Twist with Square Enix delivering the ... um, big hair? Maybe some writing -- or 20-minute cutscenes? We have no idea. There's currently no scheduled release date for Gyromancer, but we've definitely had our fill of Puzzle Quest clones recently. Give it some time and, you know, something different. Then again, PopCap has a nasty habit of turning tired casual-gaming genres into gold.
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Tsumuji
Is it a Zelda clone? Yes. Is that a bad thing? We don't think so. EA Japan's Tsumuji will seem instantly familiar to anyone who have played any of the "Celda" games on DS/Gamecube. The art is not just reminiscent of Nintendo's classic: the main character looks nearly the same! (Granted, he wears a red tunic, not a green one.)The story begins with generic JRPG convention #1: our hero wakes up in a small remote village. Inexplicably, the game wants you to throw a rock at your mom's precious china. It's easy, too. Just simply tap on a faraway item to throw a rock at it. None to pleased about losing a valuable treasure, your mom punishes you by giving you money to buy a delicious meat dinner (seriously). Your character takes the money and lifts it in the air in a motion that should be familiar to most Nintendo fans.Beyond the presentation, most of the gameplay will also be more-than-reminiscent of the DS Zelda games. Your character is controlled entirely through the stylus: simply drag the stylus to where you want your character to go and click on people/items you want to interact with.%Gallery-73770%
TGS 2009: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles heads to South America
Capcom has unloaded a truckload of new media onto TGS attendees for upcoming Wii point-n-shooter Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, featuring a new, South American chapter. Leon Kennedy and RE4 bad guy (and Prototype, uh, prototype) Jack Krauser form an unlikely team for the side story. As if that wasn't enough to purple nurple the most diehard of Resident Evil fans, there's some re-imagining of elements from Code Veronica sprinkled into the new game as well. After you've digested the video above, shoot past the break for another, and if you're looking for something a bit less moving, head into our gallery below. Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles is scheduled for release on November 17.%Gallery-73897%
Joystiq vs. TGS 2009: Day One
Beyond delicious sushi and adorably small cola bottles, Japan is host to TGS 2009, and Joystiq is here covering it all. Day One, however, has been light on sights and heavy on discussion panels and keynotes. That said, our Joystiq vs. TGS 2009: Day One video does give you a closer look at what we're checking out on the other side of the world. From booth babe parades to respectful game developer legends, Day One has been a random first episode of the TGS 2009 saga -- with plenty to come in the following days.
TGS 2009: Make room for 'PlayStation Room'
Sony has announced a new PSP service for designing 3D avatars and "my room" spaces, along with blog, album, and group gathering and chat support. Um ... does this sound familiar to anyone?Yes, it looks like PlayStation Home is coming to PSP ... sort of. PlayStation Room (officially spelled with an infinity symbol in place of the "oo" in Room) will be added to PSP in an upcoming firmware update this winter and can be launched directly from the PlayStation Network section of the XMB. Just like in Home, PSP owners will be able to invite other PlayStation players into their rooms to "enjoy real time communication." Is that what the kids call it these days?While anything remotely resembling PlayStation Home has us reeling with trepidation, we do think Room's stylized avatars look significantly less creepy than the Home avatars ripped from the uncanny valley. We're also hopeful that the advent of Room will mean the addition of much-needed features, like a friends list and proper messaging services. And just imagine the connectivity possibilities: PlayStation HomeRoom! ... Anybody?%Gallery-73907%
FFXIV casts its second trailer spell
The latest trailer for Final Fantasy XIV is both lengthy and a blend of in-game and CG footage. Honestly, we're not even sure why Square Enix is bothering with any of the CG, because we'd be fine with everything being rendered in-engine. Still, it all looks beautiful and wonderfully imaginative in a way that you'd expect from a Final Fantasy game.So, what information can we glean from the trailer? Well, there's probably going to be a card game to play and, uh, you'll be fighting monsters you're probably familiar with, but in a nice nostalgic way.Beyond that, the video has some intermittent text -- as many Japanese RPG trailers are want to do -- and more of that big ship battle to soak in. Oh yeah and cat girls, there's always cat girls . See the video after the break.
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Dante's Inferno (PSP)
While the PS3/360 game is largely criticized for being exactly like God of War, we could only wish the same held true for the PSP version of Dante's Inferno. Developed by A2M, the PSP version falls short of every benchmark set by Ready at Dawn's critically acclaimed Chains of Olympus. While few developers have been able to wring such incredible power out of Sony's handheld, it's immediately clear that A2M's efforts fall flat. Whereas Chains of Olympus featured volumetric fog and dynamic lighting, Dante's Inferno looks dull and lifeless.The console versions of Dante's Inferno do a remarkable job of copying Kratos' moves, button for button. The PSP game also does a copycat job: everything, from the standard strike, to the spin move, to the dodge, is mapped exactly according to the blueprint laid out by Sony. However, a good game requires more than just copying another game's controls. Dante's Inferno misses the flourishes that made Ready at Dawn's game so successful: visual flourishes, subtle pauses when striking, dynamic camera movement, and easily accessible finishing moves.%Gallery-51141%
TGS 2009: Oh yeah, this is that Alienware announcement
Did you feel that? It could only be one of two things: the Large Hadron Collider has exploded, tearing our universe in half, or Alienware has completely shaken "the gaming world to its foundation." According to Alienware, the M15x is "the most powerful 15-inch gaming laptop in the universe" and its Area-51 and Area-51 ALX are "designed for extreme gamers and tech enthusiasts who demand only the latest, most advanced equipment." Wait ... this can't be ... just as we predicted! Oh, and the desktops have retractable ventilation scales. Seriously. Better watch out for micro black holes!
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Army of Two: The 40th Day
Andrew: "Oh my god, you shot her in the face!" Ross: "Hey, we're an army of two. I don't want a third wheel." Seconds after booting up the Tokyo Game Show demo of Army of Two: The 40th Day, we managed to completely botch a hostage "rescue" operation, while brutally murdering the four terrorists involved. Our morality meter went down quite significantly after that, we're sure. Had we managed to progress with some more finesse, we would've been able to sneak behind two enemies, grab them and "negotiate" a solution for the others. Is there a morally "good" way out of a situation like that? Perhaps, but we'll never know. While it's easy to simply accuse Ross of insatiable bloodthirstiness, his less-than-graceful approach at this scenario could be blamed on the (admittedly early) build's choppy framerate, and the sometimes confusing controls. Ross found it difficult to stick to cover, and move from one place to another; I found myself inadvertently switching between crouching, cover and something in between. %Gallery-73808%
Sony hacks 15 percent from PSP's price in Japan
While Sony seemed more than willing to show off its new PSP Go Converter and even more willing to gloat about its one millionth PS3 Slim sale, this little tidbit was pushed away in some neglected corner of the Tokyo Game Show. Thankfully for you, we're dedicated to leaving no stone unturned, and now we've discovered that the outfit is fixing to cut 15 percent from the PSP-3000's price tag... but only in Japan. Starting on October 1st, the UMD-friendly handheld will be offered in The Land of the Rising Sun for ¥16,800, or just over $185 using current conversion tables. So Sony -- any plans to hook the rest of the world up? You don't want to see us pout.
