News

A preliminary song list for Guitar Hero: On Tour, the DS adaptation for the franchise due out in the United States on June 22, has been released. In addition, over the last several weeks, more details have been released about how the guitar mechanism will function. An adapter plugs into the GBA slot of the DS and it is held vertically like a book, with the GBA slot to the right side. Strumming the guitar will be performed via the touchscreen. Additionally, there will be microphone functionality, including activating your star power and blowing flames out on the guitar during battle mode.

The functionality of the game sounds extremely fun, with the buttons on the side of the system and strumming with the touchscreen. The songlist, however, leaves me with a little to be desired. Of the 15 songs announced, I am prematurely excited for just three of them. Fortunately, there will be at least ten more songs yet to come, and as another bonus, nearly all of the tracks will be master tracks so we don't have to deal with terrible covers, as we did in GH2. There has been local wireless play announced, but I would be much more interested in seeing some DS Wifi play as well. All-in-all, they're discovering new ways to bring out more function in the already-amazing DS.

Also it's going to retail at $50. Yoaaurgh.

Those links again:
GH DS preliminary song list
GH DS Details

Following the announcement of the North American release date of Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, Square-Enix has released the box art for the game on their Members Blog. The blog entry doesn't have any new information regarding the game, but promises more content "soon" and the writer of the entry has spent over 110 hours playing the game. The release is still scheduled for June 24.

I am very excited for the release of this game, even having not played the original Tactics Advance. As Final Fantasy Tactics remains one of my favorite games of all time, I'm fired up over what has been reviewed as an excellent game on a portable console. Stay tuned for the information about the game promised by the blog.

Those links again:
FFTA2 North American release date
FFTA2 North American box art
Square-Enix Members Blog

Square-Enix has opened their North American Final Fantasy 4 DS website, setting the stage for information regarding the much-anticipated remake. The site opens with a beautiful splash screen featuring many characters from the game, but unfortunately there isn't anything at the site yet. However, the actual opening of the site is a good sign for information being translated and updated regularly as the release of the game approaches. In the meantime, you can check out the Japanese site for Final Fantasy 4: The After, Square-Enix's Japanese-only mobile game, to make yourself jealous over what you aren't getting.

I have played FF4 way too many times, on different platforms and translations, and I am still very excited for the game to be released in July. I'll almost certainly be getting it on release day, if I'm not still playing Squenix's current gem, The World Ends With You. The site launch is good news for those of us waiting for another one of the company's trademark gorgeous sites, and The After is fun to look at, even if I can't read it, we're not getting it, and Luca looks like some sort of ridiculous 80's teen idol.

Those links again:
FF4DS NA
Final Fantasy 4: The After

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Image 2
Famitsu information

As far as I can tell, this information must be taken with a grain of salt, given that no writing that this newsposter can read is visible in either screen. Given the translation or further information at the info link, it appears that we will be getting a new attorney game in the Phoenix Wright world, but this time it's through the (third-person!) eyes of Miles Edgeworth, "Perfect Prosecutor." The game appears to be similar to the Phoenix Wright and Apollo Justice series, except you're on the other side of the courtroom. Returning characters thus far are Edgeworth and detective Dick Gumshoe.

As a HUGE fan of the series, I can't begin to write how excited I am to see a game from the prosecution's side. Since Edgeworth captured my heart and became one of my favorite characters in the first few games of the series, I always hoped for a game where we would be able to play as the ruthless prosecutor. It looks like this wish will finally be granted. Though they could very well be a new sort of cutscene, it appears that the action outside of the courtroom will be third person, allowing you to move Edgey around and search for "overlooked" clues.

I can't wait.

From DS Fanboy

Strategy RPG Disgaea was a hit on the PS2 console, though not many gamers got a chance to play it, as it was in very short stock. Now, PR coordinator Nao Zook hinted towards a new Disgaea title that would be available on the DS. Though nothing concrete was announced, and it wasn't said whether it would be a remake or a new title, Ms. Zook did say, "Let me just say this... you can look forward to it!"

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I haven't played a Disgaea title, but many of my friends ranted and raved about it for months. I am a fan of the Strategy RPG genre, and would very much like to have a game like that for DS. I would expect that the game will likely be announced soon, as you wouldn't expect a PR coordinator to just run her mouth about something that isn't going to happen - that's exactly what she's there to prevent. Ms. Zook also works for Nippon-Ich America, so I would guess that the game will also be available in English. Nothing concrete here, but potential exciting news to come!

From CVG

The recently-released expansion to World of Warcraft, "The Burning Crusade," has earned the title of the fastest-selling video game of all time. In just the first day of sales, almost 2.4 million copies of the game were snatched off of the shelves, not even given a chance to cool down off the retailers' hands.

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The title was released in both North America and Europe, which may have helped the sales but in no way lessens the incredible victory Blizzard has gotten from this. Approaching 2.4 million copies in 24 hours means they were selling, on average, nearly 100,000 copies an hour in the two continents, which is an unbelievable pace. World of Warcraft already had the reputation of being addicting the point of stealing friends and family away, and I can only imagine how many people who may have grown stagnant in the realm of Azeroth will re-enter the world now that they have lots of new content to enjoy.