Agreement to Strengthen SQUARE ENIX’s Product Lineup and Diversify Japanese Game Market
Tokyo, Japan, (Jan. 8, 2009) – Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix) today announced that Square Enix and Ubisoft Japan entered into an exclusive distribution agreement under which Square Enix is entitled to distribute UBISOFT Group games exclusively in Japan starting April 2009.
In the increasingly consolidated video game industry, Square Enix has been implementing strategic initiatives to expand its product lineup and strengthen its presence as a global game publisher. In 2008, the company began publishing third-party titles in PAL territories, and in December 2008, published its first overseas-produced game in Japan with the launch of UK-based Frontier Developments Ltd’s LostWindsTM for WiiWare™. This exclusive distribution agreement for UBISOFT Group games will be another key step to achieve the aforementioned goal.
London (8th January 2009) – Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces that DRAGON QUEST®: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride™ will be released across PAL territories on 20th February 2009, exclusively on the Nintendo DS™ handheld system.
Following the fun and colourful path set by DRAGON QUEST: The Chapters of the Chosen™, the second instalment in the Zenithia Trilogy, DRAGON QUEST: The Hand of the Heavenly Bride now journeys onto the Nintendo DS as a high quality remake of the classic DRAGON QUEST V, packed with exciting new features and a truly genre defining story.
These details come from the latest issue of Nintendo Power…
– Animated woodcut-esque cut-scenes
– Only looks like the opening scene is in prerendered 3D
– Shadow as Sir Lancelot, Knuckles as Sir Gawain, Amy Rose as Lady of the Lake
– Shadow and Knuckles playable in multiplayer Battle mode (need to defeat them in single-player Adventure mode first)
– Battle mode: Free-for-all deathmatch or work together to defeat a big enemy as quick as possible
– Impressions of multiplayer not too impressive right now
Thanks to joclo for the news tip.
Monster Hunter 3 producer Ryozo Tsujimoto is uncertain about the fate of the game in the overseas market. He said, “Right now we don’t really know if we’re even going to make an overseas version yet so right now we’re still kind of just looking at the Japanese market. But certainly if the demand is high enough, if you all say, you know, ‘We want it, we want it…'”
A quote from a recent issue of Nintendo Power showed some optimism, as Capcom said that the company wants to take Monster Hunter 3 as an opportunity to reintroduce the series to America.
Meanwhile, Tsujimoto had a few other interesting things to say as well. Tsujimoto states that the development team has been designing the Wii controls in a way so that they won’t tire out the player. Also, the game has been made “adaptable to different kinds of players.” One instance of this can be noticed with the A button. When pressed, a few moves will automatically be strung together and executed without any additional input. Lastly, the graphics have been built from scratch, with “the goal in mind of being the number one in graphics for the Wii.” That might be difficult to do, but Monster Hunter 3 does appear to look like a beautiful game.
VC
1 (1) – Super Mario Bros. 3
2 (2) – Super Mario Bros.
3 (3) – Super Mario World
4 (6) – Pac-Man
5 (5) – The Legend of Zelda
6 (7) – Super Mario Bros. 2
7 (10) – Mario Kart 64
8 (9) – Punch-Out!!
9 (8) – Super Mario 64
10 (4) – Sonic the Hedgehog 2
11 (12) – The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
12 (13) – Donkey Kong Country
13 (11) – Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
14 (14) – Donkey Kong
15 (15) – Tecmo Bowl
16 (17) – sonic the Hedgehog
17 (18) – Excitebike
18 (16) – The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
19 (19) – Paper Mario
20 (N/A) – Galaga
WiiWare
1 (1) – World of Goo
2 (2) – Tetris Party
3 (3) – My Aquarium
4 (6) – Fun! Fun! Minigolf
5 (4) – Dr. Mario Online Rx
6 (7) – Tiki Towers
7 (5) – Target Toss Pro: Bags
8 (N) – CueSports – Pool Revolution
9 (9) – My Pokemon Ranch
10 (11) – Brain Challenge
11 (8) – Defend your Castle
12 (12) – Midnight Bowling
13 (10) – Mega Man 9
14 (14) – Wild West Guns
15 (15) – TV Show King
16 (13) – Bomberman Blast
17 (17) – Pong Toss – Frat Party Games
18 (16) – Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
19 (19) – Sudoku Challenge!
20 (18) – Space Invaders Get Even
Ubisoft has yet to release screenshots for the Wii and DS versions.
A Deadly Creatures staff member has given hardcore gamers an extra incentive to pick up the game when it releases. Unfortunately, if the game doesn’t sell well, then it’s back to creating mini-games. Said Jordan Itkowitz, lead developer of Deadly Creatures:
“It was pretty easy, actually [convincing Ubisoft of Deadly Creatures idea], because of the fact that we pitched it on the Wii — that was the magic word. [THQ] was really interested in doing something for the Wii because they didn’t have a whole lot on the roster for that. They were really supportive of the concept the whole time. I mean, it is kind of an experiment though, because everybody — from fans to the press to gamers — have been saying they want more core stuff on the Wii, and they’re tired of the mini-game compilations. So the response to [the game] so far has been really good. I hope people vote with their dollars in February so we can make some more. Otherwise, it’s back to mini-games.”
I’m pretty much stating the obvious here, but purchasing Deadly Creatures is pretty important. I’m not saying that you should buy it granted the reviews and impressions are less than positive, though over the past few months, the game has been shaping up well.
LONDON, UK – January 7, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced that it has signed a licensing agreement with ABC Studios to develop a video game based on the acclaimed television drama series “Grey’s Anatomy.” Designed for the Wii™, the Nintendo DS™ and PC Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game is scheduled for release early 2009.
“Ubisoft is thrilled to be collaborating with ABC Studios to turn this phenomenal television series into an interactive experience,” said Christian Salomon, vice president of worldwide licensing at Ubisoft. “In Grey’s Anatomy: The Video Game, fans will have a chance to take on the roles of all of their favorite doctors in an all-new original storyline. As each doctor, players will make important personal and professional decisions, explore the direct relationships with each other, and perform the delicate surgeries the series is known for, all through fun and engaging game play.”
