Kotaku: Bandai

Afro Samurai Gets Comic-Con Appearance

Brian Crecente — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:20:00 MDT

Afro Samurai will be demoed to the public for the first time at this week's Comic-Con International in San Diego, Namco Bandai announced today.

The playable demo will give gamers a chance to check out what looks to be a pretty stylistic fighter based on the Samuel L. Jackson executive produced anime series. There will also be an Afro Samurai panel on Thursday featuring the creators behind the show. Panelist members will include Samuel "Snakes on a Plane" Jackson, THe RZA, Takashi Okazaki and Leo Chu. The group plan to talk about the development process, dish on some behind-the-scenes anecdotes and explain the inspiration behind the characters, music and story.

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES ANNOUNCES PUBLIC DEBUT OF AFRO SAMURAI® AT COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL: SAN DIEGO

Santa Clara, Calif., (July 23, 2008) – NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that the battle to become #1 begins at Comic-Con International: San Diego (July 23-27, San Diego Convention Center) with sneak-peak demos of the Afro Samurai® video game. Based on Spike TV’s critically-acclaimed anime series starring and executive- produced by Samuel L. Jackson, Afro Samurai the game blends urban hip hop culture with traditional Japanese aesthetics to create a brutally fresh cinematic, interactive experience. The playable demos (located in booth# 5037) will provide attendees an early glimpse at this high-style action adventure game before its Q1 2009 release for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. The Afro Samurai anime series is produced by Japanese studio GONZO in association/partnership with GDH K.K. and FUNimation Entertainment.

Adding to the Comic-Con excitement, an Afro Samurai panel will be conducted on Thursday, July 24 (4:15pm – 5:15pm; Room 6B) featuring the creators behind the hit series including star and executive producer Samuel L. Jackson (The Spirit), musical artist The RZA, (Kill Bill), original creator Takashi Okazaki, and executive producer Leo Chu (Spike TV). This will be a rare opportunity to hear from the talent behind the Afro Samurai franchise and how it translates to different platforms such as video games and the anime series. Hear first-hand about their experiences in the development process, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and their inspiration for the characters, music and the story. Be the first to see the worldwide premiere of the exclusive Comic-Con trailer, dazzling artwork from the manga, and never-before-seen demos of the pulse-pounding video game.

Namco-Bandai Rescuing Hellgate From Sinking Flagship?

Leigh Alexander — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 10:20:00 MDT

Namco-Bandai may be stepping in to rescue Hellgate: London from embattled Flagship Studios, who recently suspended private testing for Mythos in the wake of widespread reports that the studio was shutting down.

We've approached Flagship for comment and they've yet to explain their status to us. Then, a posting appeared on Hellgate's official forums from Namco-Bandai's senior director of business development, Zack Karlsson, stating:

Hello Hellgaters,

I know everyone is looking for an announcement, and we'd love to make one — but right now, many things are in flux and we don't have all the information yet. As soon as we do, we'll post here on the forums, on the website, and anywhere else we can find you.

The posting continued:

In the short term, please do not worry. The game is up, the servers are not going away in the short term and any major changes to status will be communicated in advance.

I'd like to ask for your patience as we try to figure it all out and chart a new course. We value your community, your commitment, and your passion for Hellgate and we will make sure that any solution that we architect will support all of you as best as we are able.

Thanks again. We hope to have a real announcement shortly.

Add in the fact that there's now a Hellgate page on Namco-Bandai's official site, it certainly looks like it would like to help out — if they can. HanbitSoft, Flagship's Korean partner/owner, recently claimed Flagship rejected its attempts to buy Hellgate out, and that the game is actually collateral on a loan made to the studio by Comerica. Namco-Bandai most likely had to do some wrangling (and maybe still has to do some) to set this up.

As for Mythos, HanbitSoft itself claims the right to that. We've contacted Namco-Bandai for comment, continue to check in with Flagship, and will update with anything we receive.

[via Videogaming247]

iDOLM@STER For PSP Announced

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 03:00:00 MDT

Until now, nerds who wanted to play Namco's pop idol sim THE iDOLM@STER had two choices: Play the arcade versions or play the Xbox 360 versions. But not every owns an Xbox 360 in Japan. (Shocking, we know.) Good news! There's a new option as Namco Bandai is releasing the game on the PSP. Dubbed THE iDOLM@STER SP, this one player game almost looks like a port of the arcade version with PSP-tweaked graphics. There is a new "mail check" system where players have to check the idol's email from magazine writers, stylists and fans. Since Namco Bandai won't be able to make a killing on DLC like it has with the Xbox 360, the company is releasing three versions of the game with three characters spliced into each one. Maximum profits! The three versions (with characters) are:

THE iDOLM@STER Perfect Sun
• Haruka Amami
• Yayoi Takatsuki
• Makoto Kikuchi

THE iDOLM@STER Wondering Star
• Yukiho Hagiwara
• Iori Minase
• Ami and Mami Futami

THE iDOLM@STER Missing Moon
• Chihaya Kisaragi
• Azusa Miura
• Ritsuko Akizuki

Though, people who buy at launch this winter are mostly likely going to buy all three. But, if you are going to buy only one version, buy the Wondering Star one, 'cause you'll get four characters. That's added value, people.

Thanks for the tip, Muu!

Vader Does His Soul Calibur IV Business In Appropriate Surrounds

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:30:00 MDT

He still doesn't belong in this game, but if he's going to be in it, you may as well use him in his native surrounds. That way you can at least pretend Kilik's an curious bonus character in a Star Wars fighting game, and not the other way around.

Using The Force In Soul Calibur IV

Mike Fahey — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:00:00 MDT

It seems almost pointless to write hands-on impressions of a game several of you have already gotten your hands on, by I assure you my hands are professional trained to receive impressions still harboring the faint traces of a spiral notebook I fell asleep on in 1989. Those are lasting impressions right there. Either way, I got a chance to test my Soul Calibur IV mettle against some of the Namco Bandai folk at E3 last week, and boy did I ever fail to kick complete ass. Word to the wise: don't button mash against employees of the company creating the game. They are wise to such tricks. Could I alter my strategy and beat them at their own game?

No. They were very good. After all, at that point they'd been playing the game for three days straight, so I didn't stand much of a chance. Still I took a few swings, only to discover the force isn't quite so strong in this one.

The reps were really keen on showing off the Star Wars characters, so that's what I mainly played. First came Yoda on the Xbox 360, who proved a bit of a nuisance to my opponent's Cervantes, who couldn't seen to land a high attack to save his life. Yes, Yoda effectively cuts the attack arsenal of his enemies by a third, with upper attacks harmlessly passing over his tiny, wispy head. His character model was excellent - in fact the characters have never looked better, but that's the sort of thing you'd expect from a "next gen" game. I was so busy ~~button mashing~~ gawking at Yoda's character model that I was soundly defeated.

Then I tried out Vader's secret apprentice, and proceeded to get pummeled by my opponent's newly useful upper attacks. He did show me some of the special force moves, including a force lightning attack that actually had me win a round before the Namco Bandai rep realized he was better than that and came back strong.

We moved over to the PlayStation 3 then, where another rep had been working on creating a custom character than looked a lot like Jack from the Tekken series. He moved aside to let me try my luck playing as Darth Vader in a match against an AI opponent.

"So who do you want to fight against?"
"Oh, let me fight against Raphael. She's hot."
"Um, Raphael is a guy."
*blank stare* "Riiiight.

Apparently Raphael is a vampire, a fact that I must have completely missed in the last two games? When did this happen?

Confusion aside, I quickly found the one hidden weakness of lightsabers - real swords. If Obi-Wan had just pulled out a scimitar during his final battle aboard the Death Star, the trilogy would have been severely truncated. I decided to forego button mashing and note taking for actually playing the game as it was intended, and Raphael went down like the little bitch he is.

My final match pitted me as the pointy-breasted, anime-inspired Angol against the game's big boss, bird-armored Algol - no relation. Using a secret combination of "blocking" and "attacking intelligently" the boss soon succumbed to my adorably spiky chest armor and I was triumphant.

Force powers aside, the game plays out much like any other Soul Calibur game does, only prettier. The Soul Calibur series has been uniformly excellent for years, and the fourth installment (technically fifth) looks to be no different. Tons of characters, smooth controls, and what looks like one of the best character creation elements ever included in a fighting game - you were expecting anything less?

Namco Bandai Roundup - Digimon, Naruto, And The Game That Never Ends

Mike Fahey — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:20:00 MDT

My very last E3 appointment was at Namco Bandai on Thursday afternoon, and while the majority of my time was spent getting my ass kicked at Soul Calibur IV, which I will handle in a separate post, they did have several interesting offerings on hand, from the girl-friendly We Cheer to the anime-friendly Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm to the most authentic Digimon experience for the Nintendo DS. Here's some of the titles that Namco Bandai has coming your way.

Digimon World: Championship: As mentioned above, this is the ultimate Digimon experience for the DS, bringing the game back to its handheld electronic pet roots. Use the stylus to capture Digimon in the wild, bring them back to your base to train, feed, and care for them, and then place then in the arena to battle. Includes cleaning up Digi-droppings - it doesn't get any better than that.

We Cheer: God help me, We Cheer didn't look all that bad. Using two Wii controllers you follow the motions depicted on-screen in a style reminiscent of Elite Beat Agents as your tiny cheerleader avatar does her thing. I had one of the reps on hand demo the game for me, and when he asked if I wanted to try I was sorely tempted. This scares me.

PowerUp Forever: PowerUp Forever is a game coming to Xbox Live and PSN that combines the frantic shooter gameplay of Geometry Wars with the growth mechanic of flOw to create a game that could literally have you powering up forever. You pilot a small ship that must destroy certain enemies to unleash a boss. Defeating the boss makes your ship grow, enemies scaling as you progress. Large structures eventually become smaller enemies for you to take on, and this continues forever until you lose all of your life. It's a throwback to the games of yesteryear that wouldn't actually end until the machine exploded. Definitely a purchase for me.

Afro Samurai: We posted impressions of Afro Samurai back in April, which is good because some jerk was completely dominating the display kiosk at Namco Bandai's booth. I did get to watch for a bit, and found the game a bit reminiscent of the Samurai Champloo game for the PS2, which was released by Bandai before the whole Namco deal. There's good reason for this too - developer Grasshopper worked on both titles. I was one of the few folks to really love the Samurai Champloo game, and with this knowledge in hand, Afro Samurai is now situated firmly in my radar.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm: I saw characters I can't tell you about, and with my newfound understanding of the series I even know who they are! The game is going to have 25 characters total, a few of which are sure to surprise and delight fans of the series. The game play is extremely solid and entertaining, though I cheated a bit and downloaded the Qore demo on PSN before I played it at the booth, so I knew what to expect. Despite all of the new characters I saw, I will still play as Hinata, because she is so freaking adorable.

Yup, You're Getting Eternal Sonata On The PS3

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:00:00 MDT

In June, Namco Bandai said of the PS3 version of JRPG Eternal Sonata - currently due for release in Japan - "We have no plans to release the game on the PS3 in the US at this moment". No plans in June, maybe, but this is July, buddy, and Namco Bandai have plans. They've announced that the game will indeed be getting a US release, in the Fall, and just like the Japanese version, will feature extra characters, extra cutscenes and (*squeal*) extra outfits. Presser's only a click away.

Santa Clara, Calif – Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced Eternal Sonata™ for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. An award-winning role-playing game inspired by the life of legendary composer Frederic Chopin, Eternal Sonata is set to arrive on the PLAYSTATION 3 system this fall with new quests, new playable characters, new music and more.

A unique role-playing experience, Eternal Sonata lets gamers travel with 19th century composer Frederic Chopin as he explores a magical dream world during his final hours among the living. Utilizing a breathtaking cel-shaded graphics engine that gives form to the ethereal beauty of Chopin’s music, the game transports players to a vivid world inhabited by brave heroes, fearsome monsters and stunning environments. The game’s fast-paced battle system features an innovative“light and dark” mechanic which allows players to execute different special attacks depending on whether they stand in light or shadow, and transforms enemies into new and fearsome forms. Combining turn-based and real-time elements, this system allows for creative strategy and engaging action in each encounter, breaking new ground in the role-playing genre.

Critically acclaimed upon its original 2007 release, Eternal Sonata was selected as“Best Role-Playing Game” by GameTrailers.com and received“Best Artistic Design honors from IGN.com at E3 2007. The game was also chosen as a runner-up in the role-playing game category at the Spike TV 2007 Video Game Awards.

Eternal Sonata will launch for the PLAYSTATION 3 this fall and is currently available in stores for the Xbox 360. For more information, please visit eternalsonata.namcobandaigames.com.

Afro Samurai "Over Focus" Video Demo

Noah R — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:00:44 MDT

These three videos show you the two types of power-ups in this hip-hop slasher. You've got the basic "In Focus" mode, which turns the cel-shading from color to black and white, slows time and gives you accurate swordplay—you can chop off different body parts. The "Over Focus" mode makes time practically stand still as you run around chopping the limbs off of multiple enemies. The rap soundtrack intensifies during these power-ups as well. I'm looking forward to spending some hands-on time with this game when it comes out early next year.

Read more of Kotaku's Afro Samurai coverage right here.

Soul Calibur IV - So Who Is Algol Anyway?

Mike Fahey — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:20:00 MDT

Let's shift the focus away from the Soul Calibur IV women for a moment to focus on the new big boss of the Soul Caliburse, Algol. Not to be confused with petite Angol, Algol is the king of an ultra ancient civilization, and the strongest character ever in the Soul Calibur series. This according to character designer Hideo Yoshie, who addressed Angol's design in a statement accompanying these new screens of the character today.

So how powerful is the bird-armored ancient ruler? His right hand glows red because he is holding the Soul Edge, and his left hand holds the Soul Calibur and a blue glow. He has 10 different weapons built into his body. In short, he's much more of a bad ass than a generic energy being who mimics the other character's styles could ever be. Hit the jump for the full description in somewhat broken English from Hideo Yoshie.

Answered By Hideo Yoshie, Character Designer

We aimed to make a character that is the “king” of an ultra ancient civilization and a character that obviously proves the setting of being the strongest character ever in SC series.

So, he’s wearing a costume from the ancient kingdom that isn’t recorded in history, and it was really difficult and troublesome to make the design of his costume as so just by looking at it.
The final motif of the amour ended up being the “bird,” but there were many other ideas like the lion, cobra, dinosaur and more.
I believe the design combined dynamism and splendor, and is very cool.

His right hand glows red and his left hand glows blue because he holds the Soul Edge in his right and the Soul Calibur in his left.

Also he has 10 kinds of weapons built in his body and shows a variety of fights never seen before, including flying in the air and sitting in the throne.

I want people to have fun by his buzzard actions.

There was an idea for an additional option which he causes an off-site brawl with a pipe chair instead of the throne, but we were not able to put the idea in the game this time.

By the way, the Algol that shows up in the opening demo is Algol when he was still a human.. That’s why his hair has a different color from within the game. There are some more detailed differences, so please go on and find more differences on him for fun through the game.

ANOTHER Tales Game Coming, This Time For The Wii

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:00:00 MDT

At a press conference held yesterday in Japan, Namco Bandai's Makoto Yoshizumi has apparently announced the development of another Tales game. This time for the Wii. And no, he's not talking about Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World, he's talking about another one. With Dawn of the New World, Tales of Vesperia, Tales of Hearts and Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 all on their way, this makes the currently unnamed title the fifth Tales game currently in developmenti. Leave no stone unturned, Namco Bandai!

Tales Series Continues on Wii [IGN]

New Tales DS Footage

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:30:00 MDT

Announced earlier this week, here's some footage of the latest Tales game for the DS, Tales of Hearts. Glad they went to the trouble of including some CG stuff for a DS game. Also glad they've gone to a lot of trouble for the rest of the graphics, because for a 3D game on the DS, this is looking nice.

[via Go Nintendo]

Check Out SoulCalibur IV's Darth Vader Stage In Action

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 02:00:00 MDT

With all this talk about Star Wars characters in your SoulCalibur IV, it's easy to forget that, yes, you can play as other SC on the Star Wars stages. Like, here Mitsurugi and Siegfried battle it out on the PS3 Darth Vader's stage. Neato stuff happening in the background.

Soul Caliber IV’s Starwars Stage [Aeropause]

SoulCalibur IV Character Creator, Menus And Other Thingies

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:40:00 MDT

A bunch (and we mean a bunch) of new Soulcalibur IV screens have popped up. These are screens that show things like the game's Single Player Mode menu, Arcade Mode, Training Mode, VS Mode, Museum, Character Creation and a comic as well. There's lots of nitty-gritty to click through, but it's interesting stuff.

『ソウルキャリバーIV』のモード＆システム [Dengeki Online]

Soulcalibur IV Adds One More Female Fighter

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:00:48 MDT

With this, the seventh new character to join the Soulcalibur IV line up, we're starting to notice a trend. Kamikirimusi, like her predecessors Shura, Scheherezade, Algol Fear, and Ashlotte, is a female fighter designed by a well known Japanese artist, this time by guest artist Hirokazu Hisayuki. Kamikirimusi will fight with a very large metal club/mace and satisfy fans of exposed upper thigh flesh.

Her facial expression seen in the scan above — click through for the full-sized version if you're just visiting the front page — accurately sums up our thoughts on her design.

iDOLMASTER Tickets Are Crazy Expensive

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:00:00 MDT

Fans of Namco's Xbox 360-exclusive, J-pop idol sim THE iDOLM@STER are rich, it seems. Tickets for the iDOLM@STER event "THE iDOLM@STER 3rd Anniversary Live later this month have been going bananas. Auction prices have hit as high as ¥138,000 or US$1,292 (starting at ¥6,500 or $61) and fetching about $470 on average. The event will have the full iDOLM@STER voice cast in attendance, so perhaps these prices are understandable.

No, no they are not.

アイドルマスターライブ [my game news flash via Sankaku Complex]

Ace Combat 6 Trailer Really Does Make Things Better

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:20:00 MDT

Yes, yes, the Ace Combat 6 trailer voice overs really do make everything better — even Hayao Miyazaki's classic Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Hit the jump for the original AC6 trailer.

Namco's Dancing Wii Game With Added iDOLM@STER

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 07:00:00 MDT

In the upcoming issue of Famitsu, Namco Bandai announced Wii music rhythm game Happy Dance Collection. The game has players rhythmically match Wii-mote motions. Yes, it's cutesy and it's got Mii crowd integration, but the real kicker here is the music. As expected, the game features popular J-Pop like "http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=2CHH8PDJqoI">Popstar" and "Choo Choo TRAIN", but also "Go My Way" from Namco's idol singer simulation Xbox 360 game THE iDOLM@STER. The female dancers also look iDOLM@STEResque. How's that for fan service!
The game is slated for sometime this year.

Wiiでアイドルマスターみたいなゲームを製作中 [Hatimaki]

Namco Bandai Says Soulcalibur IV Install Size "Significantly Overblown"

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 20:00:01 MDT

Namco Bandai's Soulcalibur IV may be known for massive volumes in some aspects of its design, but a rumored 6.5GB hard drive installation for the PlayStation 3 version is not the sort of bloat that sits well with gamers. Add to that an alleged 2GB save file and PS3 owners with a measly 20GB would have had to do some serious housecleaning in between grumbling sessions. The rumors of its disk space requirements have been greatly exaggerated, says the publisher.

"Those numbers are not accurate and are significantly overblown," a Namco Bandai rep told Kotaku. "The actual amount of space for the Soulcalibur IV install and save data file are inline with other games requiring this feature."

Reps did not respond to requests for more accurate (read: exact) installation sizes, nor did they comment on the hard drive requirements for the Xbox 360 version. We have an open request with Namco Bandai and Sony Computer Entertainment America to find out more.

Rumor: Soulcalibur IV Requires Xbox 360 HDD, Needs 8.5GB Of Disk Space On PS3

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:40:09 MDT

According to importer YesAsia, the PlayStation 3 version of Soulcalibur IV will join the ranks of games requiring a substantial installation to the console's hard drive. How substantial? Substantial. About 6.5 GB worth of your HDD, with 2 GB of space on top of that allocated to save data. The latter disk space requirement makes some sense, as the game looks to have a fairly robust character creation tool, which we hope allows for a larger number of custom fighters than its predecessor. Regardless, 2 GB, if true, is still rather hefty.

Xbox 360 fans may also be in hard drive requirement heaven, as the official Xbox site indicates that Soulcalibur IV requires a hard drive to play. This could have huge implications if... wait, who doesn't have an Xbox 360 with a hard drive by now?

We've contacted Namco Bandai Games to verify this information, but have yet to hear back.

Update: We received an update from NBG on the PlayStation 3 version. It should be noted that Xbox.com has removed the "Hard drive required" specification following the publication of this post.

Soulcalibur IV (Japan Version) [YesAsia via NeoGAF]

Soulcalibur IV [Xbox.com]

Ivy's Soulcalibur III Outfit Surprisingly Less Whorish Than We Recall

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:40:01 MDT

If the Soulcalibur IV media flood has you pining for a simpler, more demure Ivy, perhaps this Soulcalibur III era Ivy from Enterbrain will fit the bill. Oh, sure, the breasts are still obscene and the outfit isn't exactly appropriate for Sunday mass, but at least there's some amount of coverage here. Plus, it's perfect for displaying on your work desk. What co-worker wouldn't impressed by $120 USD worth of PVC, molded perfectly into Ivy form?

If the cost and shame hasn't scared you off yet, inquire with your immobile action figure importer of choice, because there's not a ton of time between now and September.

Soul Calibur III 1/6 Ivy [HobbyStock]

Soulcalibur Hits Live Arcade Wednesday

Mike Fahey — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:00:00 MDT

While we've still got several weeks before we can get our hands on Soulcalibur IV, Xbox 360 users can gear up this Wednesday by downloading the original Soulcalibur for Xbox Live Arcade. The game has been given a fresh coat of paint to support high-definition resolutions, as well as multiplayer support in the form of online leaderboards. No online multiplayer, sadly, but the original for the Dreamcast didn't support online multiplayer either and it did just fine. All this can be yours for 800 Microsoft points.

Also appearing on XBLA this week is 280 new questions for Wits & Wagers for 320 points, which is not nearly as exciting as Soulcalibur but certainly has its charm.

This week on Arcade: SOULCALIBUR and Wits & Wagers DLC [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

The Soulcalibur IV Ladies In Action

Mike Fahey — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:20:00 MDT

Ah, the ladies of Soulcalibur IV, as lovely as they are deadly. Namco Bandai has released a series of videos that highlights the various charms of the female side of their roster, from the annoyingly childish voice of Mina to Amy's gothic lolita goodness; Ivy's lack of adequate chest protection to Hilde's full-body steel casing. Hit the jump for four more videos featuring the best female-fighting the SC universe has to offer.

Wonder why they didn't include that Raphael chick? She was hot!

New Soul Calibur IV Screens: Tits

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:20:00 MDT

Sorry for being curt there, but really, that's about all there is to these latest Soul Calibur IV shots. Tits. Oh, and that subtle crotch shot. Good to see Namco Bandai are remembering it's not all about Star Wars, and that there's a church full of the converted who still enjoy being preached to every now and again.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Gameplay, Demo In July

Mike Fahey — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:20:00 MDT

GameSpot's latest episode of their weekly On The Spot show has Namco Bandai marketing manager In Joon Hwang showing off the PlayStation 3 exclusive Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm in action. The game basically takes the fighting from the previous Ultimate Ninja titles and moves it into a 3D arena. The game features 25 characters (*sigh*) along with support character who drop in to help out.

It looks great, but how does it play? We'll know soon enough, as a playable demo will be coming out around E3 in July, initially available exclusively to Qore subscribers and then released to the unwashed masses a couple weeks later.

Update: Good old YouTube. Thanks Kumuasata!

Hit the link for the full episode of On The Spot.

On The Spot for 6/26/08 [GameSpot - Thanks xpowerdumpx!]

Soul Calibur IV Features Hot Tag-Team Action

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:30:00 MDT

The latest issue of Famitsu has more news on Soul Calibur IV. Nothing on Star Wars or disappearing clothes here, though, this stuff's technical: the game will feature tag-team action. Yup, in the good old-fashioned Marvel v Capcom style. Well, almost. It's supposedly not quite as extensive - it's suggested that team-mates are used only for stuff like combos, not full-blooded, mid-battle tap-outs. There's also only mention of it being available in singleplayer, but still. A Vader-Kratos (if confirmed) one-two punch? What a weird and wonderful world we live in.

Soul Calibur IV Features 'Character Swapping' [1UP]

Eternal Sonata On PS3: More Than Just A Port

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 06:20:00 MDT

Eternal Sonata's due on the PS3 (at least in Japan) in September 2008. It was released on the 360 (at least in Japan) in June 2007. Time enough for tri-Crescendo to make the wait a little more worthwhile for PS3 owners, yes? Yes. Plenty of time. The PS3 version will feature two new playable characters, new dungeons, new quests, multiple endings (which depend on your in-game actions), new costumes, some new musical numbers and even new 2D character illustrations. That's a lot of stuff! Maybe even enough to convince some die-hard fans to buy the thing twice. All those upgrades should feature in the Western versions as well, which will be out...sometime in the future.

New Details on Eternal Sonata's PS3 Port [Eternal Sonata]

Tales Of Vesperia Gameplay Footage

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 01:30:00 MDT

Enough of the pretty screenshots. Let's see how Tales of Vesperia looks in motion. Above is what we can expect from the game's battles, while after the jump, a cutscene (all in Japanese) showing the main characters discussing...something. Hopefully an explanation as to why they think it's OK to let a dog smoke.

Tales Of Vesperia Demo Hits Asia

Mike Fahey — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:20:00 MDT

Here's some good news, bad news, and then good news again! The first good news is that Namco Bandai's Xbox 360 exclusive Tales of Vesperia now has a demo up on Xbox Live. The bad news? Currently the demo is only available in India and Asia...but do not fret! There is no fretting! Users in other regions who just so happen to have a Japanese Silver account set up are more than welcome to download the demo and fool around with the title. The icing on this Oreo good-bad-good cake? The demo only weighs in at 278 MB, and it runs in good old English, so no battling with the squigglies. Sweet!

Demo: Tales of Vesperia [Xbox Live's Major Nelson]

Ace Combat Team Working On Anime-Inspired Wii Flier

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:00:00 MDT

On August 2nd, Mamoru Oshii, the director behind anime Ghost In The Shell, will release his new flick The Sky Crawlers. Based on a series of novels, the romance adventure focuses on a group of dogfighter pilots and is set in a fictionalized World War II-type setting. The film just had it's American premiere at the Skywalker Sound studio in California, where soundtrack work for the film was done. And to tie-in with the movie, Namco Bandai is releasing Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces, which is being developed by the Ace Combat team. That's good news! The game will sport an original story and use the Wii Remote for throttle and the Nunchuk for the control stick. It's out the fall in Japan — no word about a Western release.

Innocent Aces [Dengeki Online via Game|Life]

Tales of Vesperia Dated For Japan, Getting Bundle

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:00:00 MDT

Today, it was just announced at the Xbox 360 RPG Premiere 2008 press event that Microsoft will be selling a special Tales of Vesperia Xbox 360 bundle for ¥37,800 (US$356). The Namco Bandai title will be released in Japan on August 7th with a demo out this month. Microsoft showed off the game's opening sequence as well.

Dated, Demo, Bundle [Famitsu]

Microsoft Japan RPG Presser Starting Shortly!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 01:07:23 MDT

Microsoft's Xbox 360 RPG Premiere 2008 press conference is about to get under way in Tokyo. Outside the event, a banner hangs with Namco Bandai Games', Square Enix's and Microsoft's logos. Check back throughout the night for any breaking news from the event.

[Famitsu Pic]

Pac-Man As Feudal Japan Era Ghostbuster

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 20:40:37 MDT

I've always been a bit disappointed with Namco Bandai's attempts at Pac-Man modernization, Pac-Man Championship Edition notwithstanding. The yellow blob's transition to 3D has resulted in some awkward and ugly renditions, but artist Jared Moraitis' spin on the ghost eating hero could make for a fascinating game, should Namco Bandai have the good sense to repurpose the Afro Samurai engine for a more anthropomorphized Pac-Man with some much needed swordplay. Knowing Namco, though, this will have to remain in my dreams until the company has squeezed every drop of blood from the Gundam and Tales Of stones.

Pac-Samurai [Pop Monkey - thanks, Drew!]

Darth Vader's Apprentice Joins Soulcalibur IV Cast

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:00:23 MDT

A brand new character is joining the cast of Soulcalibur IV and, surprisingly enough, this one isn't sporting Jabba the Hutt sized breasts. Darth Vader's "secret apprentice" Starkiller, star of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, will join Yoda and Vader in pitting lightsaber against blade when the game hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 next month. Yes, Starkiller is coming to both versions of Soulcalibur IV, making your decision that much easier.

Soulcalibur IV Unleashed [GameSpot]

Afro Samurai Screen Blast

Brian Crecente — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:00:00 MDT

Bandai Namco just sent over a batch of fresh screenshots for Afro Samurai. The upcoming hip-hop, Samurai, action-adventure game for the 360 looks to feature an interesting blend of hand-drawn and cel-shaded art. It's very pretty stuff. Hit the jump for a clutch of dazzling screens. I hope the play lives up to the fidelity.

No Plans For US PS3 Eternal Sonata Release "At The Moment"

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:00:00 MDT

Timed Xbox 360 exclusive Eternal Sonata is getting a PS3 release with extra content in Japan. But what elsewhere? According to a Namco Bandai US spokesperson:

I can’t speak for any other territories, but I believe Eternal Sonata is only announced for the PS3 in Japan right now... We have no plans to release the game on the PS3 in the US at this moment.

So no plans "at this moment." But tomorrow? The day after that? Next month? Who knows?!

Namco Bandai Eternal Sonata PS3 Japan Only [videogaming247 Thanks, nekotails!]

Oh La La, Soul Calibur IV's Destructible Clothes

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 30 May 2008 22:00:00 MDT

The most recent Soul Calibur IV trailer seems to indicate that besides Star Wars characters and enormous boobs, the game also has destructible body armor. Meaning? That it appears throttling opponents hard enough causes armor to fly off. Wonder if it will be possible to knock Vader's helmet off or if this is just going to your typical disrobe-female-fighters kinda thing. Honestly, we're pulling for naked Yoda.

Pic and video after the jump.

「ソウルキャリバーⅣ」、戦闘中にキャラクターの服が破けることが判明 [Hatimaki]

The Splatterhouse Press Release Is All Sticky

Mike Fahey — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:30:00 MDT

One day the official press release will be faster than the preview magazine cover, but until they develop some sort of magical network that spontaneously connects people all over the world our gaming news will come EGM cover first, then official release. Such is of course the case with Namco Bandai's revival of Splatterhouse, which we've known about for a couple of days now.

The press release does reveal that the game will feature the same characters from the original, including Terror Mask recipient Rick Taylor, his imperiled girlfriend Jennifer, and the iconic setting of West Manor, though a new story written by comic book writer Gordon Rennie (JUDGE DREDD!) will see Rick escaping the confines of the house, scouring the world to rescue his girl.

The promises brutal, combo-infused combat, a new leaping technique that adds a whole new element of explorations, and a regeneration mechanic that uses visible cues rather than a health meter to display Rick's status.

The game is coming to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2009. Hit the jump for the whole sticky mess.

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES ANNOUNCES SPLATTERHOUSE

Classic Action-Horror Franchise to Debut on the Xbox 360® and PLAYSTATION®3 System in 2009 with Gruesome Combat and Heart-Stopping Scares

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (May 29, 2008) – NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced the long-awaited debut of the Splatterhouse franchise on next generation consoles with an all-new installment of the series for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, developed by BottleRocket Entertainment. Inspired by the landmark 1988 arcade hit, Splatterhouse combines visceral, adrenaline-soaked combat with horror elements to deliver an original gaming experience that defies the boundaries of the traditional action category with over-the-top gore and shocking new gameplay mechanics.

Splatterhouse follows college student Rick Taylor as he tries to rescue his girlfriend, Jennifer, who has disappeared after entering the mysterious and run-down West Mansion. Confronted by horrific other-worldly creatures, Rick comes across a mystical sentient mask that promises to give him the power to find Jennifer. Full of desperation and rage, Rick puts on the “Terror Mask” and is transformed into a juggernaut of pure violence and destruction. Featuring an original storyline by critically-acclaimed comic book writer Gordon Rennie (Necronauts, Judge Dredd), Splatterhouse takes Rick beyond the mansion as he scours the ends of the world to rescue his beloved Jennifer.

Embodying the unfiltered, primal aggression of its namesake, Splatterhouse gives players countless ways to decimate the mansion’s assortment of demons, monstrosities and abominations. Featuring a dynamic combat system, Rick will be able to use his brute strength to perform bone-crushing melee combos, savage grapples and wield an assortment of makeshift weapons including the series’ trademark 2x4 and even limbs and heads ripped from enemies themselves. Players will also be able to reanimate the corpses of fallen enemies to fight alongside Rick, imparting strategic depth to the game’s battle and unique puzzle systems. More agile than ever before, Rick can now leap great distances and propel himself to out of reach areas by swinging from outcroppings in the environment, adding an all-new level of exploration to the series.

Introducing a new regeneration mechanic, players will be able to determine Rick’s status in battle by visible cues detailing how injured he is, doing away with the traditional health bar. If he succumbs to the mansion’s deadly inhabitants, they will begin to dismember him, savagely tearing away limbs and ripping at his flesh to expose his internal organs. To survive, Rick must call upon the power of the Terror Mask to regenerate his mutilated body, allowing players to watch in gory detail as bones, veins, muscles and skin return to his body in real-time.

“Splatterhouse promises to deliver an experience full of the gore, hard-hitting action and gritty atmosphere that fans of the franchise expect,” said Todd Thorson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for NAMCO BANDAI Games America, Inc. “Packed with plenty of surprise twists and gripping gameplay, this entirely new entry in the series is set to introduce the bloody saga of Rick and the Terror Mask to a new generation of gamers when it launches in 2009.”

Splatterhouse will launch for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 system in 2009. The game is currently featured on the cover of the June issue of EGM, now available at newsstands nationwide. For more information, please visit www.namcobandaigames.com.

The $600,000 Gundam Painting

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 May 2008 10:00:00 MDT

At a Christie's auction in Hong Kong, Japanese artist Tenmyouya Hisashi 's traditional-meets-modern Gundam painting "RX-78-2 Kabuki-mono 2005 Version" went for HK$4.8 million (approx. US$600,000). Says Hisashi about his work:

In Japan there are many "Gundam-Otaku's," and their adoration of Gundam is intense. Therefore, I did not want to change their image of Gundam. By changing Gundam's "mobile suit" to tattoos, I altered his body, and made him even more customized. I emphasized the very concept of the "mobile suit," and by setting Gundam against a background of gold leaf from traditional Japanese painting, I emphasized Gundam's samurai origins.

Hit the jump for another Hisashi work — this one inspired by a fighting game.

According to the artist:

In my mind, the distinctions between combat video games, manga, and ukiyo-e have become blurred. This is a painting that combines on a single screen the features of moving images, manga frames, and single prints.

Great stuff.

Gun-Slinging Robot [Bloomberg via Sankaku Complex]

More Soul Calibur IV Screens, More... Well, T&A.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:40:00 MDT

Namco Bandai has released new SCIV screens that depict new characters like Death-Star-under-construction dress wearin' and a battle axe carryin' Ashlotte along with sword swingin', thong donnin' Shura. There's more! The screens also confirm Setsuka from Soul Calibur III.

New SCIV Screens [Strategy Informer]

How Many Planes Do AC 6 Fans Need?

Mike Fahey — Wed, 21 May 2008 11:20:00 MDT

After my last Ace Combat 6 DLC post I finally went out and picked up the game, and after a few hours of play I was kicking myself for not grabbing it sooner. Against all sanity I even hopped online to download one of the gaudy Idolmaster planes - only to help me humiliate my foes online of course - and was floored by the sheer number of dlc planes Namco Bandai had pushed out. How many do we really need? 20? 30? How about 8 more?

Yes, next week 8 more planes will be hitting Xbox Live, with two standalone planes and three package deals. Packages include Razgriz Set 4 (3 planes, 300 points), the Jungle Flamingo Set (2 planes, 300 points), and the Idolmaster Ami Mami set, featuring two mercifully unpink planes for 400 Microsoft points.

Have any of you actually been keeping up with these, collecting the whole set, so to speak?

Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation

Xbox Live® Market Place Downloadable Content Available 29 May 2008

Su-33 - TYPE ACE2- (200 Microsoft Points)
Ace Combat 2 Aircraft. A faithful recreation of the Ace Combat 2 aircraft performance design. Outstanding stability and lack of recoil provide for a truly unique sense of flight. Although possessing an extremely durable body, this aircraft lacks SP weapons, which were not introduced until after Ace Combat 2.

Su-47 -GRABACR EMBLEM- (FREE)
Ace Combat: Squadron Leader Grabacr Squadron Aircraft. An aircraft that boasts increased mobility in designated speed zones, but a slight decrease in all other zones. The need for precise speed control makes this aircraft suitable for experienced pilots. The signature aircraft of the Belkan Air Force 229th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Originally employed as an Osean Federation offensive squadron, they took their final stand for the pride of Belka against the rival Razgriz squadron.

RAZGRIZ SET 04 – (300 Microsoft Points)
This is a 3 airplanes set with the colors from the Razgriz airplane colors from Ace Combat 5. The 3 airplanes included are: F-22A、F-117A、Mirage2000-5

• F-22A Raptor - RAZGRIZ
The heroes of Ace Combat: Squadron Leader, Razgriz Squadron Aircraft. Advanced accident prevention systems, and high durability have been incorporated into the design to ensure the survival of all squadron members. Known as both heroes and demons, the Razgriz Squadron's drive towards victory smashed all who stood before them. When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself.

• F-117A Night Hawk – RAZGRIZ
The heroes of Ace Combat: Squadron Leader, Razgriz Squadron Aircraft. Advanced accident prevention systems, and high durability have been incorporated into the design to ensure the survival of all squadron members. Known as both heroes and demons, the Razgriz Squadron's drive towards victory smashed all who stood before them. When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself.

• Mirage2000-5 – RAZGRIZ
The heroes of Ace Combat: Squadron Leader, Razgriz Squadron Aircraft. Advanced accident prevention systems, and high durability have been incorporated into the design to ensure the survival of all squadron members. Known as both heroes and demons, the Razgriz Squadron's drive towards victory smashed all who stood before them. When history witnesses a great change, Razgriz reveals itself.

JUNGLE, FLAMINGO SET – (300 Microsoft Points)
This includes the F-14 in green and the A-10A in pink.

• F-14D SuperTomcat - JUNGLE WING
Monotone color, Green Aircraft. A modified sky painting aircraft for shows and exhibitions, this aircraft is equipped with colored smoke missiles. The missile payload has been maximized for show purposes.

• A-10A ThunderBoltⅡ - FLAMINGO WING
Monotone color, Pink Aircraft. A modified sky painting aircraft for shows and exhibitions, this aircraft is equipped with colored smoke missiles. The missile payload has been maximized for show purposes.

THE IDOLMASTER AMI,MAMI SET – (400 Microsoft Points)
This set includes F-16C and the F-2A with some special Idolmaster colors.

• F-16C Fighting Falcon - THE IDOLMASTER MAMI
THE IDOLMASTER, Mami Futami Aircraft. It's time for this fun-loving prankster to strut her stuff! The battle will hinge on your ability to use her wild and mischievous qualities to your advantage!

• F-2A - THE IDOLMASTER AMI
THE IDOLMASTER, Ami Futami Aircraft. It's time for this fun-loving prankster to strut her stuff! The battle will hinge on your ability to use her wild and mischievous qualities to your advantage!

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