Within our own world, a new frontier awaits…
IRVINE, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 5, 2009 – Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced Shin Megami Tensei®: Strange Journey™, a first-person science fiction RPG for Nintendo DS™. A startlingly original entry in the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei universe, Strange Journey takes the heralded RPG franchise to exciting new frontiers. The game has already released in Japan to strong demand and critical acclaim, earning a 10/9/9/8 from Famitsu, the highest score the popular magazine has ever awarded a Shin Megami Tensei title.
In the near future, a mysterious, growing, black void appears at the Earth’s southern pole. Unable to determine its cause and powerless to stop its deadly encroachment, humanity sends an elite team of explorers into the heart of the phenomenon, just as Strange Journey’s look and feel represent a return to the heart of Shin Megami Tensei, bringing to mind the all-time classic Nocturne™. With over 300 demons to bribe, coerce, and negotiate with to gain assistance in battle, Strange Journey is every bit the deep, rewarding RPG experience fans have come to expect from the SMT franchise, yet delivered with a fresh new sci-fi story that taps into mature themes of morality and introspection.
Warning: There may be some spoilers in the screenshots
Thanks to Mr_Zora_Decu for the news tip!
Press Your Luck® 2010 Edition Now on Store Shelves
SAN FRANCISCO – November 5, 2009 – Ubisoft today announced the official launch of Press Your Luck® 2010 Edition. Currently available for the Nintendo Wii(TM) system, the Nintendo DS(TM) system and Windows-based PC, Press Your Luck® 2010 Edition features single- or multiplayer modes so that more people can get in on the fun and play together. Additionally, the game allows players to design and customize their own personal avatar. The game has been created by Ludia and is licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME).
Press Your Luck® is a true-to-life revival of the famous game show from the 80’s rendered with a dynamic new design. Players assume the role of one of the three contestants competing to win by answering a series of trivia questions correctly, to earn “spins” on the Big Board of cash and prizes. All of the elements of the original TV game show, including thousands of general knowledge trivia questions to challenge players, are included, as well as animations of the memorably mischievous Whammy character to punctuate the game. Whichever player ends the game with the highest earnings wins, while successfully avoiding the dreaded Whammy or risk losing it all. Additionally, there are a host of special unlockable items to reward players for progress in the game.
Thanks to Ross M for the news tip!
Namco Bandai will be making a “major announcement” in a week, but there are a few clues as to what this game may actually be. First, when you visit the teaser site, the page says that it’s “Next RPG Project K.” So, it’s probably an RPG. There’s also some speculation that the game may be a new Tales title for the DS.
Thanks to Thomas N for the news tip!
This response comes from Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, again, from the Q&A portion of Nintendo’s latest financial briefing. Iwata was addressing the question of “if a decrease in the current financial performance is rather temporary” and if Nintendo will “be able to put the company back to the growth orbit” thanks to “the strong software lineup.”
“I cannot understand at all why some people come to think that Nintendo has lost its edge as soon as they hear such news that other companies are newly applying for motion sensing technology. If fun and interesting software to take advantage of the technology could be created that easily, a number of other titles which are more fun than Wii Sports must have been already launched for Wii. Why in real life are not so many? The total power factor to combine both the technologies and software at the appropriate level must be the reason why Nintendo has been appreciated in the marketplace, and when someone argues that Nintendo has lost its edge when the actual products have not been launched yet, I feel something must be wrong here.”
This is yet another snippet from Nintendo’s Q&A session of the company’s latest financial briefing. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was asked about the connection rates of the DS and Wii (including Wii no Ma). According to Iwata, “the connection of Wii is around 35%, in the Japanese market. And that of DS is probably, 20% or so. It had increased with the measures like Nintendo Zone with McDonald’s to lower the hurdle for connection, but has not reached the 30% mark.” He then went on to discuss digital distribution:
“And regarding your question about the download sales including WiiWare and DSiWare, so-called digital distribution in English, there is actually a variety of views about how much it will replace retailers and package software. Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time. But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time. In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital. In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in 5 years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then. Habits of life do not change such radically and quickly.
Personally, what I believe is the most important factor for Internet connection is expanding titles’ lifespan rather than replacing the packaged software to digital distribution. With the Internet connection, players can purchase additional features or receive extra services. As a result they will play a single software for a longer time without feeling bored and will not sell it to the used-game shops, which will then contribute to more software sales. I believe such a utilization of the Internet connection is one of the major directions we should aim for and we will continue to try and raise the connection ratio.”
Adventure RPG Brings Dramatic Post-Apocalyptic World to Life
Torrance, Calif., (November 5, 2009) –XSEED Games announced today that FRAGILE: FAREWELL RUINS OF THE MOON will be published in North America under the new name FRAGILE DREAMS: FAREWELL RUINS OF THE MOON. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games and tri-Crescendo, and released by NAMCO BANDAI Games as Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon in Japan, FRAGILE DREAMS: FAREWELL RUINS OF THE MOON will be available in North America in early 2010, exclusively for Wii™.
FRAGILE DREAMS: FAREWELL RUINS OF THE MOON finds protagonist Seto exploring an eerie and abandoned world, seemingly populated only by haunting ghosts and demons. Players utilize the Wii Remote™ as a flashlight to illuminate Seto’s surroundings, solve puzzles and interact with the environment. Gamers are immersed in an intensely cinematic experience where desolate, strangely beautiful atmospheres filled with gorgeous graphics and stunning lighting effects are brought to life by an emotional musical score. Explore the narrative of a lonely and lost soul as he encounters memorable characters and discover the back story behind scavenged items that provide insight on people’s last days before the apocalypse.
Update: Changed the video to a direct-feed version
Both the video and shots below are off-screen, but it’s amazes me that this is how we’re seeing the first footage of the game in action. We’re still waiting for a trailer, Activision!
