| New Shining Force PS2 Details |
[01 Oct 2004|11:31pm] |
 New Shining Force PS2 Details
Sega has updated the official website for the newest addition to its Shining Force series of strategy RPGs. In addition to the three previously revealed characters, the website of the PlayStation 2 title now features more character illustrations by character designer Yuri Nishiyama. Graham and Mariel are centaurs, while Paron is a wolfman. They are joined by the tiny Chikiteeta, the grey-heard titan Rainos, the white dragon Doryu, the guardian Adam and the two partlings Krain and Fleia. The game will take players to Euclitos. Land of Thunder. Euclitos happens to be home country of the game's protagonist Max, who is staying in Rakyle, when monsters attack the fortress. During the ensuing battle a holy power named Force awakens within him. Since he has to be confirmed as a warrior possessing the power of the force, he returns to his hometown. Everybody is happy, except his mother Gaia. Max however opposes her strict attitude and heads for the Holy Land, to prove himself as a Knight of the Force. On his way a suspicious masked man appears in front of the protagonist, and Max ends up getting dragged into an epic struggle, a battle illustrating the world's crisis and the true power of the Force. The game's composer will be Shirou Sagisu, best known for his work on Gainax's Neon Genesis Evangelion. Sagisu will not only compose Shining Force's soundtrack, but also Shining Tears'.
The new Shining Force for PlayStation 2 will be available in Japan in spring 2005.
[Visit Shining Force official website]
Source from [RPG Fan]
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| SOE Launches EverQuest Expansion |
[17 Sep 2004|09:57pm] |
 SOE Launches EverQuest Expansion
Something says this is a good omen for one of the most popular MMOs on God's green earth.
Sony Online Entertainment today announced that EverQuest: Omens of War, a new expansion for the incredibly popular PC Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG), EverQuest, is now available. This expansion takes advantage of a new, next-generation graphics engine that allows players to experience the new areas of the game in unprecedented graphical splendor. EverQuest: Omens of War is available at retail and for digital download from Sony Online Entertainment for $29.99.
"Our subscribers will be very impressed with the new look and feel that this expansion brings to the world of EverQuest," said Michael Lustenberger, vice president of marketing, Sony Online Entertainment. "The EQ team has done an exceptional job with Omens by taking advantage of new technology to make our game look better than ever before while the new gameplay elements add fun for both new and long-time players."
EverQuest: Omens of War offers fantastic adventures set in the battle-torn lands of Discord. Players will face overwhelming danger in the Bloodfields, explore the war-torn levels of The Nobles' Causeway, and discover ancient mysteries as they venture deep into the heart of the Muramite empire. Omens of War will allow players to adventure solo, in groups, and in multiple player raids to complete "Epic Quests" and earn powerful new Epic weapons to assist them in their battles. All-new character levels, items, spells, and quests will challenge the most veteran of players, while a new task system will offer players faster-paced gameplay options and an easier way to gain experience and in-game currency.
Omens of War takes full advantage of the all-new graphics engine, showcasing new zones in extraordinary detail and brilliance. The new graphics engine will allow players to view new non-player characters and zones in superior detail, as well as providing further effects such as enhanced weather, water, sky and particle effects, and a higher-quality lighting system. While this new engine is already available to current EverQuest players, Omens of War will be the first expansion to take advantage of the new features, giving a whole new look to the game.
About EverQuest: Omens of War
Omens of War directs players to venture into another realm under the dark influence of Discord -- a world torn apart and ravaged by conflict. The tyrannical Muramites, led by the evil Mata Muram, are preparing for war, building the ultimate invasion army to dominate the entire world. It's up to the citizens of Norrath to uncover the secrets of this new realm and save the lands from impending darkness. Omens of War includes the following features:
1. Rich new zones with detailed environments featuring expanded graphical elements, improved spell effects and all-new, graphically-improved monsters to fight.
2. The ability to develop characters beyond level 65, unlocking new innovative items, powerful spells, and thrilling quests.
3. All-new specialized and incredibly powerful Epic Weapons that come from the completion of the 16 class-specific Epic Quests. New Epic Quests will challenge even the toughest and most experienced Norrathians, as they journey alone and in groups to win these valuable items.
4. An enhanced guild tribute system that allows players to turn loot into favor points for their entire guild to use.
5. A new task system that allows characters to advance at their own pace by completing exciting adventures.
6. All-new Custom Player Character Titles to be earned for each character's name. New Alternate Advancement abilities that can add a new spell slot. For the first time in more than 5 years, casters will be able to ready more than 8 spells at a time.
7. Additional buff slots, available through the purchase of new AA's, which will open up more room for beneficial spells.
8. New voice macro system will allow a player to send voice messages to his group letting them know vital information about his character's status.
9. New disciplines, AA's, items spells, quests and tradeskills, which continue to make EverQuest the most compelling and persistent online world ever created!
The new expansion will be downloadable via the EverQuest launch pad for $29.99. Additionally, retailers will be offering a boxed version that will carry a suggested retail price of $29.99 and includes both a special in-box item and in-game item.
[Visit Omens of War official site]
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| Square Enix Opens Fantasy Earth Website |
[17 Sep 2004|06:36am] |
 Square Enix Opens Fantasy Earth Website
Square Enix has opened the official website for its newest PlayOnline title Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion. The PC-based title, which is being described as a mix between MMO, action RPG and real-time strategy game, tells the story of a continent torn apart by the war between five kingdoms. In this hostile land the player has to find the reason for his or her own fight.
Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion will be released in Japan sometime next year.
[Visit Fantasy Earth official website]
Source from [RPG Fan]
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| Dragon Quest VIII shipping this Winter in Japan |
[12 Sep 2004|10:44pm] |
 Dragon Quest VIII shipping this Winter in Japan
TOKYO--Square Enix today announced it will be releasing Dragon Quest VIII on the PlayStation 2 in winter 2004. No retail price has been set for the game yet, which is called Dragon Warrior VIII in North America.
Dragon Quest VIII will be animated with cel-shaded graphics, a first for the series. Staffers from previous Dragon Quests are currently working on DQVIII's development, with Yuji Horii writing the script, Kouichi Sugiyama composing the music, and Dragon Ball Z artist Akira Toriyama handling the character designs. The game is being developed by Level 5, the studio behind the recently cancelled True Fantasy Live Online for the Xbox.
While the Dragon Quest series hasn't been a big seller in America, it has always been a major hit in Japan. Since the first game was released in 1986 for the Famicom (NES) system, long lines have formed in front of stores whenever a new title is launched. The latest release in the series was a PS2 remake of Dragon Quest V (Super Famicom/NES, 1992), which shipped 1.3 million in the first two days after its launch in March.
[Visit Dragon Quest VIII official site]
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| Producer Talks Suikoden IV |
[12 Sep 2004|10:30pm] |
 Producer Talks Suikoden IV
In a recent interview with GameWatch, Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo producer Junko Kawano talked about her current project, Suikoden IV for PlayStation 2. Since the interview touched on a lot of issues which have already been addressed, Kawano only revealed a couple of new details. Since the production line was different, little know-how could be transferred from Suikoden III to its sequel, despite to the two games sharing the same hardware platform. However, as part of the Suikoden series, the new game features the same basic setting and rules as its prequels. As a first step, the development team had to decide which features of the world as a whole it wanted to implement into the game and which ones would be cut.
Since the game will be the fourth main series entry, it was equally important for the producer to cater to a new audience as well as series veterans. To achieve this goal, a balance had to be found between bringing back important aspects from previous installments and implementing new features. The decision to change the characters' size and place a lot of importance on the game's tempo was a direct result of the experience with the prequel. The change in visual style will be reflected by characters who resemble their original illustrations more closely.
Furthermore, with the appearance of comparatively old characters, there will be few deformed character designs. The return to a one-protagonist system results in a closer look at the hero and the two themes surrounding the Rune of Punishment, curse and power. With Suikoden IV telling the oldest storyline in the series' timeline, newcomers will have little trouble getting into the game, whereas veterans will be surprised by connections between various characters. Due to issues related to story progression and presentation, the development team, after making tests with six-member active parties, eventually decided to go with an active party of four members. Regarding the selection of Japanese artist Coba, Kawano remarked that while the game's setting created an image of South East Asia, there was also an image of Europe there, hence the need for someone capable of creating passionate songs.
Suikoden IV will be available in Japan on August 19th for 6,980 yen ($62.95 US). The US version will hit retail store shelves on November 1st.
Source from [GameWatch]
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| Kessen III Announcement |
[12 Sep 2004|10:02pm] |
 Kessen III Announcement
Koei announced Kessen III for PlayStation 2, the 3rd installment of the popular historical battle simulation game. This time the story will take place in medieval Japan, you play as Ota Nobunaga in his youth, to battle and conquer the land.
The genre of the game is changed to action strategy, with more focus on action and strategy than historical simulation. You can give tactical commands to the troops in real time, and player can intervene the battle scene directly, by fighting directly in the battlefield. There is a growth element, you can freely promote the generals and purchase armors and reinforcements. There are over 450 kinds of commodities in the game.
An evolved crowd control engine is used in the game, you can see over 500 fully animated characters on screen simultaneously. Kessen III also features orchestra music from famous composers in Japan.
The game is aiming for a global release, the Japanese version is scheduled for a winter 2004 release, and the US / Europe version is scheduled for 2005 release.
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| Final Fantasy XII Interview |
[12 Sep 2004|09:20pm] |
 Final Fantasy XII Interview
Famitsu recently conducted an interview with Final Fantasy mogul Hironobu Sakaguchi and Final Fantasy XII mastermind Yasumi Matsuno. Familiar elements and weapons return: fire, wind, ice, lightning, earth, water, holy and shadow, along with swords, spears, daggers, bows, gloves and short swords. A weapon levelling system is present, perhaps a nod to Final Fantasy II in which using a weapon type often improved its accuracy and power.
In battle, you only control the lead character (which can be switched at any time). Others are controlled by Gambits, general instructions that define their behaviour (for instance, "Attack all!", "Follow lead", "Cure self", "Use Fire magic" etc). Matsuno explains that this system was added to ease the transition from Final Fantasy X, and also notes that the return of ATB bars (which need to be filled before a character can perform the seleected action) ought to make older players feel at home.
Sakaguchi rounds off commenting that Final Fantasy XII will be the most visually appealing title to appear on the PlayStation 2, and wonders if he and Kitase can ever improve upon the game in the future. Mitsuno claims to work his team of over 100 to their full potential, even to the extent that they question whether they are going too far. Sakaguchi explains the game was delayed to ensure the highest quality possible was acheived. Mitsuno also sees the game as the start of a "new generation" of Final Fantasy titles, with Final Fantasy X marking the transition from the old generation.
[Visit the FFXII official site]
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