News

The title says it all. In a press release issued yesterday, Capcom announced that Clover Studios, makers of Okami, God Hand, and the Viewtiful Joe series of games, will no longer be operational as of March of next year. In their statement, Capcom praises Clover Studios for achieving their goal of creating original and entertaining video games, but also states that it will serve Capcom better to use Clover Studio's funding and resources as part of the greater Capcom group and not as an independently-operating subsidiary. In a nutshell, Capcom loves Clover's games, but would rather absorb them back into Capcom and not have them spend so much money. It should be noted that the official dissolution of the development studio isn't official until March of next year, giving Clover time to still release any current unannounced projects that are under wraps.

Personally, this news saddens me. Viewtiful Joe and Okami are two of the most fun, original, and beautiful action games of this generation, and I have high hopes for God Hand. Hopefully, Capcom can still make good use of the enormous talent within Clover Studios after its disbanding, and we can see more great games in the tradition of Okami and Viewtiful Joe in the future.

Source: Capcom's Official Press release, found via digg.com

Square-Enix recently revealed their new DS title: It's a Wonderful World. It's being designed by Tetsuya Nomura, the mastermind of Kingdom Hearts and the chief designer of FF XIII: Versus of the Fabula Nova Crystalis project. It's a Wonderful World is set in modern Tokyo and stars two unassuming teenagers who are forced into a game run by demons threatening to permanently erase the duo if they don't succeed in the game.

On top of that, players can use the DS's two screens to simultaneously control both characters, who both possess psychic powers. In fact, the duo must read the minds of NPCs in order to obtain hints and clues as to what to do next in their deadly game.

Right now we know that It's a Wonderful World is scheduled for a 2007 release in Japan, with no word on a North American or European release at this time. Thanks to RPGamer for the news.

source: rpgamer.com

It would seem that Cryptic Studios and Marvel Comics have crossed sort of tension they had between them after the whole City of Heroes copyright infringement lawsuits. A strange twist indeed after you consider the speculations of people that the only reason Marvel was doing such a thing was to make City of Heroes look bad, before they launched their very own MMORPG.

It seems fairly evident that the game is still more of an idea than that of something definitive, it has been tentatively titled "Marvel Universe Online" and they hope the game will achieve more than the City of Heroes games could. The main focus of CoH being that the game is fun to play, the companies seem to be contemplating some sort of economy reminiscent to that of World of Warcraf for MUOt.

Slated for launch on the Xbox 360 and PC only, one has to wonder though, how different will this game be from the Heroes universe? Since the game IS going to be set in the Marvel universe, there will be more boundaries to their creativity, but at the same time there will be far more ideas to access from. But I suppose that means no generic, mindless Spider-man and Wolverine clones everywhere, since its likely the two will be NPCs. Or will that still have absolutely no bearing on anything at all? Nothing is set in stone at this point I believe, but personally I hope that if the game does go through, you can choose from the very start whether you want to be good or evil, or even better yet you have to somehow earn the title of good evil. Something along the lines of everyone starts off neutral, and then different reactions to events can help dictate your characters alignment.

Basically what i'm saying is something to the extent of, little old lady is in the street, semi truck is fast enclosing on her, if you don't do something she'll be hit. Push her down ++++++ evil, ignore +evil, help her +good.

Source: 1up

Through chat and the process of shoddily translating moonspeak, we've discovered some things about the game, and the rest we can leave ourselves to speculate about.

New confirmed espers: Gilgamesh and Leviathan.

Extra dungeon: Supposedly you'll navigate it with a three party setup similar to Kefka's tower.

Bestiary and Music player: Confirmed, but who didn't see that coming?

Enchanced Graphics: Confirmed, but again, who didn't see that coming.

Now this is just speculation, but, we think they've also indicated there will be a new element, but there's no actual statement of what it is. It's probable that the element is Water, to go with Leviathan, and it seems likely to me that Bismark will gain Water, Maduin will gain Water 2 or Watera, and Leviathan with teach Water, Water 2, and Water 3. As for Gilgamesh, I really can't even guess. There also seem to be indications of a Monster or Boss Rush mode.

So let's make like schoolgirls and gush and gush and gush about our favorite game.

Source: Jap Site

Lately Namco has been digging far into its latest Tales game, the very first handheld edition (of a nonspinoff) slated for a Nintendo DS launch, and has successfully managed to uncover some new "dirt" - details, that is. Granted there have been only two or three relevant blurbs in regards to new information since Namco's original announcement of the title back in December, but with its October 26th launch date inching toward Japan ever closer, and in a hurry, any news is good news.

The formerly divulged story of Tales of the Tempest begins with fifteen-year-old Caius and his childhood pal Rudia (previously known as "Lupia") setting out together on a perilous quest to locate Caius' biological parents after narrowly escaping a murderous attack on their hometown. The culprit, a monster with the unfortunate name of Spot, ravages the village of Alleula one day while in seach of a mysterious crystal. When the startling truth involving Caius' adoptive father - a respected man who's discovered to be a highly-feared werewolf - gets thrown into the mix, a chain of disasterous events unfolds.

Just like in past entries to Namco's flagship RPG, the battles in Tempest will be based upon a real-time system that relies on quick, action-packed single and unlockable combo attacks executed via a number of unique button combinations. Although the game's combat aspects are said to be greatly influenced by those of the GameCube's Tales of Symphonia, the enemy encounters in Tempest, like in the former Tales sagas, will remain entirely random.

No word has been given on whether or not Tempest will utilize the DS's Wi-Fi Connection for Internet play, but Namco has reported that the system's Wireless Play mode will present multiplayer missions for either two or up to four players to take on. In this mode, each player will gain experience, items and money as they level up, battle and destroy the many vicious creatures lying in wait. Money and items collected therein will then be graciously carried over to the main game.

For the time being, there continues to be no word on a domestic Tales of the Tempest release for North America or Europe.

Opening and gameplay screens demonstrating Wireless Play mode

Tales of the Tempest official Japanese site

The title pretty much explains it. Square-Enix announced a December 21st, 2006 release date for Seiken Densetsu 4: Dawn of Mana for the PS2 at the recent Tokyo Game Show. Dawn of Mana and its recent DS companion Children of Mana mark the first new entries to this legendary series since Legend of Mana for the PS1, released in 2000 (this is not counting Sword of Mana, which is a recent a remake of the first game in the series).

Of course, we don't know when Dawn of Mana will see an NTSC or European release. Final Fantasy XII is being released in the US seven months after its Japanese counterpart, but it took Square-Enix close to a year to release the English version Dragon Quest VIII after its Japanese predecessor. We can only wait and pray.

Source: RPGFan