Q Entertainment's Twitter feed explains why the game isn't available on the PlayStation Network Store — and in turn, the digital download only PSPgo.

"We would love to bring Lumines/Lumines II to the PSN store," the Q Entertainment Twitter reads, "but there are complications, music licensing, was published by Namco, etc." That was followed up with a: "That said, we're obviously looking into it. :)"

News : Publisher, music issues keep Lumines off PSP Go [PSP] [GamePro]

They're definitely darker and grislier in tone than the original Ninety-Nine Nights, which sure seemed like an interesting proposition, considering the developers involved, but really wasn't that interesting of a final product. Perhaps new developer Feelplus will turn things around, despite not being known for their action game prowess.

Five new screens of Ninety-Nine Nights II await you.

The news comes by way of 1UP, as verified by Q Entertainment producer James Mielke's Twitter page. The iPhone release will include brand new skins and music, distancing it a little from the versions already released on Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, PSP, and PlayStation 2. The release is part of a big Lumines marketing push, which will also include price drops for Lumines Live on XBLA and Lumines Supernova on PSN.

There's also great news for those of us who can't get Genki Rockets' "Heavenly Star" out of their heads. September will also see a re-release of the Heavenly Star and Breeze packs on Xbox Live, with Q pondering porting the Genki Rockets content to the PSN version of the title as well. I don't need either version, as at this point "Heavenly Star" is the default background noise in my head.

Look for all of this Lumines stuff to hit mid to late September, early October latest.

Q Entertainment Bringing Lumines To The iPhone [1UP]

Well, Qubed is still listed as a to be released title at retailers like GameFly. But QJ hasn't made a peep since its announcement as a Wii title. And given recent developments at Atari—including its pull out of E3 2009 and a last minute publisher switch on Ghostbusters for Europe—we're getting a little worried.

Add to that recent chatter from Q Entertainment co-founder Tetsuya Mizuguchi who indicated on his personal blog that he'd had to cancel a new project due to an unspecified "financial crisis" and we start e-mailing people

Unfortunately, multiple emails to Q Entertainment and Miz himself have gone unanswered. And Atari's issued us an official "no comment" about the status of QJ. That might be interpreted as a bad sign.

Siliconera dug up a recent news tidbit about QJ, which apparently licensed a BT and DJ Tiesto track for the game. But that was back in March. So we don't know what to think.

Fortunately, we never actually saw anything concrete on QJ. Maybe what we don't know won't hurt us.

Game site Siliconera found a trademark for Guardian Hearts, which was filed by Mizuguchi's company Q Entertainment.

This is the sixth trademark filed since Q Entertainment was founded in 2003. The others are: Meteos, Q? (company logo), Lumines, Every Extend Extra and the band Genki Rockets.

Is Guardian Hearts Q Entertainment's Next Game? [Siliconera]

The Lumines Classic Pack celebrates four years of music and puzzle goodness by allowing you to purchase 20 skins from the original PSP version of the game for the low price of $4.99 worth of PlayStation real monies. Experience classic stages like the orange and white square stage, the dark green and light green square stage, or the ever popular green and white square stage, all the while wondering why you spent nearly five dollars to relive the experience.

Don't get me wrong, I love some classic Lumines action, but when the classic in question refers to a title that was released less than five years ago, I begin to question our use of the big C word.

The Lumines Supernova More Money Pack will be available on the PlayStation Network tomorrow.

Fortunately, yes. While the color-matching, Tetris-like gameplay is unchanged, a few new modes make Lumines Supernova a worthwhile entry in the series of ports. Like its high-definition predecessor Lumines Live!, Supernova builds upon an already strong gameplay foundation, piling on new modes and features.

Is it worth another trip?

Loved
New Modes: Dig Down mode and the Sequencer add fresh gameplay options to the Lumines experience, thankfully, considering that the core experience is the same one we've been playing for years now. What these two options add are new ways to look at the same gameplay, with the Sequencer simple to use, easy to edit and quick to enjoy. When you're done completing the missions, puzzles and unlocking everything, the stock Challenge Mode still provides a thrill.

Still As Addictive As Ever: Lumines was a great game in 2005 and somehow still remains to feel fresh. It's been hard to pull myself away from the game to write up this review, frankly. The tactics aren't the deepest, but there's still plenty of worthwhile challenge in Lumines Supernova.

Hated
No Online Multiplayer: What happened to the online multiplayer mode present in the Xbox 360 version? There's still plenty to do here, but to have this option taken away stings. Fortunately, the PlayStation Network version at least feel less like a nickel and dime cash grab.

While Lumines superfans may not find much in Supernova to warrant yet another fifteen dollar purchase, for those of us who skipped an entry or two, there's still plenty to like about the PlayStation 3 version. If you've never had the opportunity to try the game out on any platform, it's absolutely worth your time.

Lumines Supernova was developed and published by Q Entertainment, released on Dec. 23 for PlayStation Network. Retails for $14.99 USD. Tested all modes.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

In fact, Meteos Wars doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the 2005 game it's based upon. The color-matching block puzzle mechanics are the same as they ever were, with little beyond a new, higher resolution graphical upgrade and new "Planet Impact" special attacks helping Meteos Wars stand out. Thankfully, there was little need for a change to the game's frenetic style, so we can't fault Q Entertainment for its rather rote remake.

Is Meteos worth revisiting on the Xbox 360? See what we loved and hated about the game in our micro-review.

Loved
Works Without The Touchscreen: The touchscreen controls of the Nintendo DS original obviously aren't going to work on the Xbox 360 and, fortunately, the transition to a standard control pad works just shy of splendidly. Navigate your pile of brightly colored blocks with the left stick, rearrange them vertically with the right stick (or X and A buttons). While it's not as quick or simple as using a stylus, it's serviceable — and you can adjust your cursor and block movement speeds to suit your tastes.

Great Presentation: Catchy, funky music on par with Q Entertainment's other soundtracks meets beautifully clean graphics and intuitive menus. Meteos Wars greatly benefits from more powerful hardware, giving the wee aliens from each planet a lovable style. A full suite of modes adds plenty of variety and the new accessories finally give players a chance to put a piece of meat on your character's head. Yeah, meat! On the head!

Hated
Multiplayer: Playing Meteos Wars against the CPU is a gas, but trying to find a competitor online is a struggle, let alone one who will provide a lag-free match. While it might be unfair to knock the game for its lack of an online community, be aware that you're not going to find much in the way of competition on Xbox Live. Local multiplayer works just fine, but it's limited to two players, down from the four supported by the Nintendo DS version. The new Planet Impact techniques used in head-to-head games, while they add a new layer of strategy, annoyingly interrupt your gaming flow in order to show off a superfluous animation.

Meteos Wars does right by the original, making a mostly smooth transition to the Xbox 360, keeping the original solid gameplay intact. Where it fails is in its disappointing Xbox Live multiplayer support, largely due to its barren online community and lag-prone matchmaking. If single-player and local multiplayer Meteos is all you're after, Wars does that just fine.

Meteos Wars was developed and published by Q Entertainment, released on Dec. 10 for Xbox Live Arcade. Retails for 800 Microsoft Points ($10 USD). Played all modes, online and offline.

Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ.

Tuesday, December 23rd sees the release of Lumines Supernova in North America, finally bringing the game that launched Sony's PSP to the PlayStation 3. It features a couple of new modes and some new skins to keep things fresh, including the LittleBigPlanet skin, which you can see in motion below.

Launching alongside Supernova will be a Free Holiday Pack, containing 20 seasonal skins so you can convince your loved ones that you're still in the spirit of things despite being glued to the television for hours on end, making little colored squares.

The XBLA port of Meteos adds online multiplayer for two, a sharp 720p resolution and new accessories for your little alien buddies. Price to you is just 800 Microsoft Points.

Joining Meteos Wars this week is PowerUp Forever, spacey a top down shooter from Namco Bandai. It too will set you back 800 Microsoft Points.

Word broke last night that the PlayStation 3 version of Lumines was getting some cross-promotional help from Media Molecule's LittleBigPlanet. Today Q Entertainment released video of the LittleBigPlanet-themed skin in action.

While Q Entertainment still won't date the game more accurately than "Winter 2008/2009," the press release says we can expect to play it "this month." It also confirms that Lumines Supernova will support Trophies — a different story from what we heard at Tokyo Game Show. The addition is more than welcome.

Yes, Q, the creators of the original, have teamed up with Media Molecule and Sony to launch an official version of Lumines within LittleBigPlanet. It's due sometime this "winter".

UPDATE - Lost! In! Translation! Turns out this is just a LittleBigPlanet skin for the upcoming Lumines Supernova. Still cool, just not as cool. Sorry for the confusion!

今冬配信の『ルミネス スーパーノヴァ』が『LBP』とコラボ [Dengeki Online]

That's all Atari was willing to announce about QJ, according to a report from CVG. It showed a logo and flew in Mizuguchi himself, but it kept the actual game under wraps — probably until the Spike TV VGAs, we assume, since it seems to be hoarding all the exclusives.

Atari will also be publishing a Q Entertainment compilation disc featuring Rez HD, Lumines Live and Every Extend Extra Extreme, packed with downloadable content. Smart.

Mizuguchi reveals new game [CVG]

No access to the new "Dig Down" mode, no access to the enhanced Synthesizer features, and too little time to survey new skins make for a very 2005 experience. The fact sheet notes that Lumines Supernova has offline only play and no Trophy support, so we're thinking what we've played at TGS will be what we'll have played forever.

Yes, I'm working on a new IP.

We've heard from sources that it may be an Xbox 360 title. Wonder what it is...

The press release, which does not provide a date for the game, notes that Q Entertainment, responsible for Lumines and Rez HD, helped broker the publishing gig and will be working with Grasshopper on the project. Insert fanboy squeal here, hit the jump for more details.

EA SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH GRASSHOPPER MANUFACTURE
Legendary Producer Shinji Mikami and Innovative Designer Suda51 Working with EA Partners on an All-New Action Horror Title

Redwood City, Calif – August 14, 2008 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced a publishing agreement with iconic Japanese development studio Grasshopper Manufacture. Under the terms of the deal, EA Partners will publish an all-new action horror game produced by Shinji Mikami and directed by innovative game designer Suda51.

The title is being developed for the PC, Xbox 360® video game system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

“Grasshopper Manufacture is excited to work with EA Partners to bring our new title to gamers around the world,” said Goichi Suda, CEO of Grasshopper Manufacture. “They are a great partner who shares our commitment to quality and innovation while respecting our independence as a studio, which is very empowering.”

“It is an honor for EA to sign Grasshopper Manufacture and help bring their new franchise to gamers worldwide,” said Frank Gibeau, President of the EA Games Label. “The roster of partners at EA is growing and the caliber of talent is outstanding. Grasshopper Manufacture is a world-class studio and, within the EA partner program, they stand alongside some of the world’s most revered independent studios.”

“Grasshopper Manufacture is one of the most daring and innovative independent studios in the world, and EA Partners is honored to be working with Mikami-san and Suda-san on this new project,” said David DeMartini, senior vice president and general manager, EA Partners. “EA Partners is a truly global resource for the world’s best independent developers, whether they’re in North America, Europe or Asia.”

The deal was brokered by CAA, in conjunction with Q Entertainment who will be working with Grasshopper Manufacture and EAP on the project.

For more information about Grasshopper Manufacture, please visit www.grasshoppermanufacture.com

For more information about EA, please visit our press Web site at http://info.ea.com

About Grasshopper Manufacture Inc
Grasshopper Manufacture Inc. is an independent interactive entertainment studio based in Suginami-ku, Tokyo. The studio was founded in 1998 by CEO Goichi Suda, who is known around the world for his distinctive style and innovative work as a game designer and scenario writer. To date, Grasshopper Manufacture has shipped 11 titles, including 2007’s breakout hit, “No More Heroes.” More information about GhM can be found on the internet at http://www.grasshopper.co.jp/

About Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is the world's leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, cellular handsets and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTSTM, EATM, EA SPORTS Freestyle TM and POGOTM. In fiscal 2008, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS Freestyle and POGO are trademarks or registered trademark in the U.S. and/or other countries. Xbox 360 is a trademark of the Microsoft group of companies and is used under license from Microsoft. “PLAYSTATION” is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Peggle DS will be hitting shelves in North America in Winter 2008 for $29.95, and Q Entertainment will be adding new features that aren't in the PC, Mac or iPod versions of the game. No details yet on what those features will be, but the announcement promises more levels than in any other version of the game, remastered input controls and "surprise additions."

Full announcement follows the jump:

PopCap’s Mega-Hit Peggle™ Coming to Nintendo DS® This Winter

Q Entertainment Tapped to Adapt Top Casual Game of 2007for Nintendo’s Market-Leading Handheld

SEATTLE, Washington – July 25, 2008 — PopCap Games Inc., the leading developer and publisher of casual video games, today announced that later this year the company’s mega-hit game Peggle™ will be available for Nintendo DS®. During his keynote presentation at CGA Seattle yesterday, PopCap CEO David Roberts provided an early glimpse of the DS version of Peggle, which is expected to hit North American retail shelves in Winter 2008 and carry an MSRP of US$29.95. In bringing Peggle to the world’s most popular handheld gaming device, PopCap has partnered with Q Entertainment, the acclaimed Japanese development studio. Q Entertainment is already underway with the adaptation of Peggle, and will be adding features unique to the DS version that are not available in the existing PC, Mac or iPod versions of the game.

“I have a great deal of respect for Q Entertainment as one of the industry’s preeminent game developers, with a proven reputation for creativity and innovation,” stated Greg Canessa, PopCap’s vice president of video game platforms. “Q is a great choice to partner with us – they share many of PopCap’s design and creative philosophies and are equally big believers in quality and attention to detail. These factors, combined with Q’s impressive track record of success on DS and PSP, make this a natural fit. I’m confident that Q will create an experience with Peggle for DS that will both satisfy existing fans of the game and attract a new audience of on-the-go gamers who appreciate the DS for its one-of-a-kind display format and other unique capabilities.”

Q Entertainment’s best-selling franchises include Lumines (for PSP, PS2, XBLA, PC, mobile), Meteos (Nintendo DS), and Rez HD (XBLA). “We at Q Entertainment are honored to be working with PopCap and view this as a fun, exciting challenge – taking a very popular casual game and bringing it to a more hardcore audience on the DS,” stated Shuji Utsumi, Q’s co-founder and chief executive officer. “PopCap’s games are simple but addictive, and Peggle demonstrates that even a simple game can be extremely deep. We’ve always incorporated casual game elements into our console and handheld games, and now we have an opportunity to bring our gaming sensibilities and expertise to the DS version of Peggle, and make a very novel ‘cross-over’ game for all ages.”

Precise details of the forthcoming DS version of Peggle are not yet available, but the game is expected to feature more levels than any existing version of the game – including DS-exclusive levels – and will also offer re-mastered input controls and a wealth of surprise additions sure to please die-hard fans and novice players alike.

About Q Entertainment, Inc.

Formed in 2003, Tokyo-based Q Entertainment, Inc. creates, produces, and consults in

digital entertainment content across multiple game consoles, PC broadband and mobile units. The company is best known for its critically acclaimed music and luminary action puzzle game series Lumines, which was released worldwide for PSP in 2004/2005 and has since become a hit on mobile, Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation 2. Q Entertainment’s impressive line-up also includes the action puzzle title Meteos and the fantasy action title Ninety-Nine Nights. Founded by principal game creator and Chief Creative Officer Tetsuya Mizuguchi and industry veteran and Chief Executive Officer Shuji Utsumi (Sony Computer Entertainment America, Sega, Disney), Q Entertainment is composed of experienced designers, programmers, and producers. Q Entertainment collaborates with other creators, artists and development studios in Japan and overseas. More information can be found on the Internet at www.qentertainment.com.

About PopCap

PopCap Games (www.popcap.com) is the leading multi-platform provider of “casual games” — fun, easy-to-learn, captivating computer games that appeal to everyone from age 6 to 106. Based in Seattle, Washington, PopCap was founded in 2000 and has a worldwide staff of over 200 people in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Vancouver, B.C., Dublin and Shanghai. Its games have been downloaded more than 1 billion times by consumers worldwide, and its flagship title, Bejeweled®, has sold more than 10 million units across all platforms. Constantly acclaimed by consumers and critics, PopCap’s games are played on the Web, desktop computers, myriad mobile devices (cell phones, smartphones, PDAs, Pocket PCs, iPod and more), popular game consoles (including Xbox 360, PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS), and in-flight entertainment systems. PopCap is the only casual games developer with leading market share across all major sales channels, including Web portals, retail stores, mobile operators and developers, and game device manufacturers.

Tetsuya Mizuguchi Interview [Eurogamer] [Pic]

And what better company than Q Entertainment to handle the localization? I'm hoping this alliance between Harmonix and Q is only the beginning of what could be a very fruitful relationship for the developers and gamers alike. Hit the jump to read the full press release while I queue up my J-pop Winamp playlist and get incomprehensible for a bit.

Rock Band Goes to Japan

Harmonix and MTV to Partner with Q Entertainment for Rock Band: Japan

CAMBRIDGE, Mass - June 2, 2008 – Harmonix Music Systems, the leading developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), announced today that they will team up with Q Entertainment, a leading Japanese music game designer, to bring the best-selling music videogame Rock Band to Japan. The two studios will work together to develop the title, marking the first US-originated rock music game to be heavily localized for the Japanese market. The game will feature Japanese musical acts as well as other localized assets.

Rock Band’s return to the birthplace of rhythm games will
benefit from Q Entertainment’s experience designing progressive and engaging games many of which have a heavy focus on integrating music elements into gameplay. Since its founding in 2003, Tokyo based Q Entertainment has become a leader in rhythm oriented titles, including the critically acclaimed music and luminary action puzzle game series Lumines,and the recently released Extend Every Extra Extreme (E4) and Rez HD for Xbox Live.

Today’s announcement was also featured Saturday at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards - Japan, where a Rock Band trailer was presented.

The US-version of Rock Band was also prominently featured backstage and at the afterparty, giving Japanese attendees a taste of what’s to come in the newly announced title.

Rock Band, which has sold over 3 million units in North America and Europe, is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact with music. The game challenges players to put together a band and tour for fame and fortune, mastering lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals.With more master recordings than any other music game, Rock Band features some of the world’s biggest rock artists and spans every genre of rock ranging from alternative and classic
rock to heavy metal and punk.

Rock Band is a true music platform, with over 12 million songs sold as downloadable content since its initial release. There are currently over 140 songs available for download in the Rock Band Music Store and Harmonix continues to release new music every week.

Since its North American release in 2007, Rock Band has garnered over 40 awards including Game Critics Award: Best of Show E3 2007and three awards at The 11th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards including Outstanding Innovation in Gaming, Family Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com .