Video Game News

[Nickrhodes]

OK guys and gals here is some video game news for ya..^^

Namco announced Xenosaga III for PS2, the game will have the same cast as the second game. The story takes place one year after Xenosaga II, a mystery android T-Eleos will show up....

Namco announced Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War for PS2, the story will take place 15 years before Ace Combat 5, the game will be released in Japan in 2006.

- Capcom announced Devil May Cry 3 Special Edition for PS2, in the game Dante's brother Vergil will be a playable character, and there will be a number of new play modes.

- Konami will release Metal Gear Solid 3 Subsistence for PS2 in Japan on December 22.

- Capcom will release Biohazard 4 (Resident Evil 4) for PS2 in Japan on December 1.

- Sony will release the horror adventure game SIREN 2 for PS2 in Japan in February 2006.

- Bandai announced they will release Naruto: Narutimate Hero 3 for PS2 in winter 2005, the 3rd installment of the popular Naruto fighting game.

- Hamster announced The Conveni 4 for PS2, the 4th installment of the popular convenient store management simulation game, the game is set to release in 2006.

Namco has officially announced Xenosaga I · II for Nintendo DS, the game combines the stories of Xenosaga I & II into one game, with all new stories and an altered 2D battle system.....

Microsoft announced the worldwide launch dates for Xbox 360:

US - Tuesday, November 22, 2005. Xbox 360 Premium Package for $399; Xbox 360 Core System for $299.
Europe - Friday, December 2, 2005. Xbox 360 Premium Edition for Euro 399.99; Xbox 360 Core System for Euro 299.99.
Japan - Saturday, December 10, 2005. Xbox 360 Premium Package for 39,795 yen.
- Microsoft will only release the Xbox 360 Premium Edition in Japan, because the demand for Core System is relatively low in Japan. The Premium Edition will be sold for 37,900 yen (39,795 yen after tax), the package will contain:

20GB Hard Drive
Wireless Controller
Remote Control
Component HD-AV cables
Ethernet Cable
Batteries

Square Enix anounced they will begin a beta test of the Xbox 360 version of Final Fantasy XI in Japan in December 2005, right after the launch in Japan.

Spike announced Way of the Samurai Online for Xbox 360, the game will have online adventure and battle modes, and it is set for release at the end of 2006

Square Enix announced a GameBoy Advance port of the classic RPG Final Fantasy IV, the game will be released in US on December 12.

[lolAerya]

nickrhodes said:

Square Enix announced a GameBoy Advance port of the classic RPG Final Fantasy IV, the game will be released in US on December 12.

O.o I got to buy a gameboy advance then! ff4 is the best ff ever, with fft followed closely at second

[Nickrhodes]

lol ya but i guess FFonline for Xbox 360 is still in the works.. I bet we won't see anything till maybe summer or the fall of next year if they just going to start beta testing in japan..*sigh* o well me and my PS2 can spend some more quality time together till it comes out for Xbox 360..

[Nickrhodes]

Looks like FFonline might not be the only MMORPG to hit the system. Taiwanese developer Interserv announced two new Xbox 360 RPGs at TGS, the first is a MMO action game Suikoden, not to be confused with Konami's Genso Suikoden, this game is based on the Chinese novel of the same name, there will be 108 playable characters, each with unique moves and abilities. The game will support the Item Change system, allowing players to exchange their items over Xbox Live.

For you Metal Gear solid fans Hideo Kojima mentioned that Metal Gear Solid 4: Gun of the Patriots will be the last title in the series he will work on.

Also for those of you that played Phantas Star online like I did Sega revealed that Phantasy Star Universe will support up to 6 players online, the game is set to release in Japan this winter

[Nickrhodes]

Here is something new about Final Fantasy online for Xbox 360. This is a partial interview with Robert Bach who is the Xbox officer and senior vice president.

Famitsu also asked Bach about the beta test for Final Fantasy XI for the Xbox 360. Bach revealed that Microsoft and Square Enix are planning an extremely large-scale beta test for FFXI. It will be so large, in fact, that Bach said anyone that buys an Xbox 360 should be able to participate. Of course, gamers will need to pick up the Xbox 360 package bundled with a hard drive, since FFXI requires it to be played.

Famitsu also asked Bach about whether the public can expect Microsoft to develop an original massively multiplayer role-playing game for the Xbox 360. He said developing a MMORPG requires a complicated infrastructure, so releasing one soon after the launch of a new console is not realistic. However, he hinted that gamers can look forward to a "new MMO" two to three years after the Xbox 360's launch. It was unclear if he was referring to any of the previously announced 360 MMOs, which include Huxley and APB.

Keep in mind this beta testing is for japan only. As for the US it's still unclear and undecided whether or not we will get to beta test the game.

[Nauren]

Its odd of we don't get to beta test it...I mean..Xbox is an american product...only seems right.

[Nickrhodes]

More video game news for ya..^^
Originally I was only suppose to play FFonline for 30days then move over to Xbox to play True Fantasy Live Online. Well that did not happen as they cancelled it at the last minute. However after over one year now some news has surfaces about this game. You'd be hard pressed to find a game whose cancellation caused Xbox owners to shout "D'oh!" louder than True Fantasy Live Online. The ambitious game was slated to be the system's first MMO and it was being crafted by seasoned Japanese developer Level 5, whose resume includes such gems as Dark Cloud 2 and Dragon Quest VIII. The game had all the signs of being one of those special landmark titles for a platform--more than just a seminal moment in the console's software library. The game's ambitious use of Xbox Live, which would have been the most extensive use of the service in a game ever, was more in line with the level of sophistication seen in a PC game. Unfortunately, it appears that Level 5's ambition was what led to TFLO being shelved. The game's scope and rich experience presented a sizable challenge for both the developer and Microsoft within the given time frame.

Besides the expected features, such as the ability to party with friends, you were going to be able to create a character that evolved as you played. An intricate trade-skill system was slated to let you create unique wares personalized with your own "signature." In addition, you could own a home that you could fully customize. Furthermore, your character's evolution made use of an ambitious system that tracked how you played the game and built up your character accordingly. So if your character constantly exerted himself physically--by fighting or blacksmithing--he would become large and muscular, but slightly slower on his feet. On the other hand, if you didn't eat much, your character would grow thin and frail. For an idea of how this would work in game, you can see a very embryonic version of this character-evolution system in the excellent Dark Cloud 2.



Who wouldn't want their own dragon?
As if all that weren't enough to get people excited, the game also featured the ability to travel to different locations in the world by a variety of means, such as by horseback, carriage, ship, camels, magic broomsticks, or even dragons. Best of all, the game offered the promise of a constantly changing world, thanks to plans to make more regions downloadable following the game's release. Unfortunately, getting all of this into the game was too tall of an order, even backed by the considerable power of the Xbox. As development moved along at a snail's pace, the decision was made to cancel the game. Level 5's president Akihiro Hino summed up his feelings on the cancellation in the press release that announced its demise: "True Fantasy Live Online was being developed as the ultimate MMORPG on the Xbox Live, but we couldn't foresee the game to offer innovative new experiences to our users. With extreme regret, we have decided to cancel its development."



Hopefully you'll be able to roll with your crew online one day.
The Bright Side

Now, while we'd love to bust out with a Rocky-style happy ending and tell you that the game is back in development for the Xbox or slated to be a title for the Xbox 360, we can't. As of this writing, TFLO is still, officially, very much dead in the water. However, rumors continue to make the rounds that, in light of the Xbox 360's power and, more importantly, its expanded Xbox Live features, TFLO may well live again. Microsoft is all too aware of how much this game's cancellation stung fans. More significantly, if such an experience can be pulled off well on the Xbox 360, the game could easily become one of the killer apps that offer players the kind of groundbreaking experience MS is aiming to provide. If we were the betting kind, we'd say that it would be smart to assume that TFLO, or a game like it, is in the cards for the 360.

Square Enix announced they will release Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI for GameBoy Advance, as a part of the Final Fantasy Portable project.

Microsoft announced there will be 12 Xbox 360 launch titles in US on November 22, 40 games will be available by the end of the year. Here are the confirmed launch titles:

Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft / Bizarre Creations)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft / Rare)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft / Rare)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Tiger WOods PGA Tour 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
FIFA 06: Road of FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts)
- Atari announced Alone in the Dark, TimeShift for Xbox 360.

- Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4 for Xbox 360.

- THQ/Climax announced they will release MotoGP 2006: Ultimate Racing Technology for Xbox 360 in 2006.

Microsoft announced there will be 12 Xbox 360 launch titles in US on November 22, 40 games will be available by the end of the year. Here are the confirmed launch titles:

Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft / Bizarre Creations)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft / Rare)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft / Rare)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Tiger WOods PGA Tour 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
FIFA 06: Road of FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts)
- Atari announced Alone in the Dark, TimeShift for Xbox 360.

- Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4 for Xbox 360.

- THQ/Climax announced they will release MotoGP 2006: Ultimate Racing Technology for Xbox 360 in 2006.

Microsoft announced there will be 12 Xbox 360 launch titles in US on November 22, 40 games will be available by the end of the year. Here are the confirmed launch titles:

Project Gotham Racing 3 (Microsoft / Bizarre Creations)
Kameo: Elements of Power (Microsoft / Rare)
Perfect Dark Zero (Microsoft / Rare)
Madden NFL 06 (Electronic Arts)
NBA Live 06 (Electronic Arts)
Tiger WOods PGA Tour 06 (Electronic Arts)
Need for Speed Most Wanted (Electronic Arts)
FIFA 06: Road of FIFA World Cup (Electronic Arts)
- Atari announced Alone in the Dark, TimeShift for Xbox 360.

- Ubisoft announced Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell 4 for Xbox 360.

- THQ/Climax announced they will release MotoGP 2006: Ultimate Racing Technology for Xbox 360 in 2006.

[Koga]

Can read stuff about True Fantasy Live Online here:
xbox.ign.com/objects/489/489459.html

You may need to be a subscriber to access some things, like the videos. I have a yearly subscription, forget the price but think it's like $20-$30 yearly.

[stahn]

it says they arent making the game anymore tho lol



kooooooooooooooooooooogaaaaaaa

[Nickrhodes]

Sources close to me say:

Square Enix officially announced Valkyrie Profile Silmeria for PS2, the sequel to Valkyrie Profile in 1999. Square Enix also confirmed that they will release Valkyrie Profile Lenneth for PSP, a port of the Valkyrie Profile for PSone, the PSP version will be released in Japan on March 2, 2006, the game will have new features and a preview of Valkyrie Profile Silmeria

Capcom's Keiji Inafune mentioned to Dorimaga magazine that he plans to release Biohazard 5 [Resident Evil 5] for both PS3 and Xbox 360 simultaneously in Japan, Capcom plans to make this series go multiplatforms. Biohazard 5 will have online elements, but details are not yet available

RUMOR: The pop diva Madonna trashed her free Xbox 360 in a Japanese dumpster, according to the her blog page. (Unconfirmed whether this is truly her blog page.)

Xbox 360 Degrees! [Posted on Dec 6, 2005 madonnasthoughts.blogspot.com/]

I received my FREE Xbox 360 yesterday! Too bad though. The thing over-heated and doesn't work. I was going to play a game with my friends in Japan, but it crashed on us. The power supply on this device is HUGE! At least I know why they called it the Xbox 360 and not the Xbox 2. The damn thing gets up to about 360 DEGREES!!!! It's frightening!
Oh well. My Xbox 360 is in a Japanese dumpster. I just don't have time to fool with getting it replaced. I'm not much into TV or video games anyways. My children aren't allowed to play them either. I guess they were dumb to give me one knowing that I don't really have any use for them. I know they gave them to other celebrities as well. Paris Hilton got one. Barf. That's even more reason to trash the glitchy console!

RUMORS: IGN reported some specs of Nintendo's next generation Revolution console, the source came from developers who worked on the console:

Memory: 128 MB. Based on GameCube's configuration, with an additional 64MB 1T-SRAM.
CPU: Broadway CPU by IBM, extension of Gekko CPU in GC
GPU: Hollywood GPU, extension of Flipper GPU in GC
Media: 4.7GB single layer, 8.5GB double layer
- RUMORS: Revolution was said to be approximately twice as powerful as GameCube, the system may launch with a price tag of $149 or less in US by the end of 2006. Nintendo is pursuiting playability instead of technology like Sony and Microsoft.

Square Enix announced the number of registered players for the PlayOnline MMORPG Final Fantasy XI has exceeded 500,000 users in Japan. The beta test of Final Fantasy XI for Xbox 360 will begin in Japan on December 10

[Nauren]

eh...i'm losing my hopes on Nintendo.....playability BS. No reason we can't have both technology and playability.

[Nickrhodes]

For those that love video game tunes Capcom announced they will begin to sell its soundtrack music over iTunes, the first titles include soundtrack music of Gyakuten Saiban [Phoenix Wright] and Full House Kiss series. Capcom plans to release 3 new titles over iTunes each month.