Xseed Bringing Grand Knights History To North America (Go Vanillaware!)

Even if you're not into gaming, it's hard not to look at a Vanillaware game and see the love and care that goes into them. While the company has only a handful of titles under their belts, each has been a truly memorable experience well worth playing. From the absolutely beautiful 2D character art and richly colored backgrounds to the gameplay that's simple, yet intensely challenging and rewarding, George Kamitani and his dedicated team of artists and programmers always bring their best work to whatever platform they touch. Based on these screenshots, it looks as if Grand Knights History is no exception. Xseed has grabbed the publishing rights to Marvelous Entertainment's PSP game and is targeting a Winter release for this fantastic-looking RPG. Expect a deep character customization system, lengthy quest set in a colorful medieval fantasy setting, online play and more. By the way, "Winter" could mean anywhere from Holiday 2011 to early 2012, but that's what updates are for, right? We'll keep you posted once an actual date surfaces...

TGS 2011: Namco Bandai Trailer Blowout: TOO Many Good Games + Some Surprises

Yikes. I don't have time to write up separate posts for all of these, so I'll let the assortment of trailers above and below (and below the the jump) show you some of what's cooking at TGS from Namco Bandai. Between the nice support for PS Vita and 3DS plus the other key console titles coming, it's clear that the publisher is really intent on bringing it where it counts. There's definitely something for just about every taste in this lineup. I'll try and get some screens up this weekend or next week, as I'm swamped with a few reviews and such to get done. I will say that Katamari looks like it will be an absolute dream on Vita, especially with the double touchscreen deal...

Review: God of War Origins Collection

Platform: PlayStation 3

Developer: Ready At Dawn/Sony Santa Monica Studios

# of Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: A

Even if you already own both games on the PSP, God of War Origins Collection is a stellar must-purchase PS3 title that's also one of the most polished ports of a portable game to a home console ever. Ready At Dawn along with Sony Santa Monica Studios have gone above and beyond here beefing up the two games with high resolution visuals (in great optional stereoscopic 3D), refined controls, Trophy support and even a bit of additional content. Both games are brutal, brilliant chapters that flesh out lead character Kratos' story and make for a great pair of games that should please any fan of the franchise as well as anyone new to his violent world. As a longtime GOW fan, I'll absolutely say that the man certainly knows how to make an entrance, no matter what platform he's on.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin Trailer

Sometimes, abbreviating a game name just doesn't work well. Case in point: SMTP2IS looks and sounds like a license plate number to me. Anyway, Atlus is set to knock it out of the park again with yet ANOTHER great RPG to devour all your free time. September 20, 2011 is the date and yes, it's yet another PSP exclusive. Color me giddy that publishers such as Atlus, Xseed Sony and others are making this the best year for the portable.

PSP E-1000 Specs: Cheaper, But Still A Hot Ticket For Some...

While the uber-techies are grumping over this new model's lack of certain features, personally, I think the E-1000 is a pretty great entry level handheld for new users looking to get into the PSP and its rather huge games library. I still have my original 1000, 1001 and Slim 3000 models here at the home office, so I'm not sure I'll import this one yet.

Import as in there's been no North American release announced, which in my opinion, is a bit strange. Is SCEA afraid that the system will be blasted on message boards for being "cheap" and lacking features found on past and current models or are they implying (or is it inferring) that European gamers aren't all that sophisticated and this budget model will find a niche amongst those who don't have high-speed connections and want to get some handheld gaming in. I can see a modestly to moderately successful market for the E-1000 here provided it's packed in with a few PSP Greatest Hits (or a compilation UMD with assorted PSN titles and minis), but we'll see what SCEA decides down the road.

Specs below the jump, by the way...

Sony Announces PS3 Price Cuts Now, Nintendo To Release Lower Priced Wii This Xmas

Yup, the ongoing economy issues worldwide have made these price cuts necessary, but it's also the beginning of the build up to new consoles (which should more than likely be announced at next year's E3 for a 2013-2014 launch by my calculations). At its Gamescom 2011 press conference, Sony announced that effective immediately, the core 160GB PlayStation 3 model will now retail at $249.00 and the core 320GB console for $299 in the US.

Sony also announced a new value model PSP without Wi-Fi support at the event, but as far as I can tell, this model is only set for an European release at a price point of 99 Euros. I'd hope that this model makes it to US shores, as there are literally TONS of UMD games out there that will sell if bundled with the new lower-priced unit.

Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Trailer Is A Hoot & A Half...

Nippon Ichi's upcoming PSP super-enhanced "remake" of the classic PS2 strategy RPG is looking sweet and hilarious as ever in this trailer. I'll need to go see if pre-orders have started on this one at the NISA online store, as I want my UMDs coming this way for as long as they still being made, grrrr!

Ys I & II Chronicles Official Site Launches

February 22, 2011 is going to be a RIDICULOUS day for new game releases, but there's only ONE Ys I & II Chronicles on the way, "Hair Metal" edition and all. The game's gone gold and the official site is up and running, looks cool (as usual) and yes, you can go watch that hilarious trailer all over again and save me the trouble of re-posting it once more.

Ys I & II Chronicles Gameplay Footage Kicks It Old School

Here's a peek at gameplay from Xseed Games' upcoming PSP title, set for a February release. According to the latest info, players will be able to choose between three different soundtracks during gameplay - the newly arranged version (by Falcom's in-house band done on actual instruments), the synth version from the 2001 Japan-only PC version of the game or the original chiptune versions of each track as recorded in 1987 and 1988. Excellent!

Ys I & II Chronicles Gets Extra GameStop Pre-Order Extras (Thanks, Xseed!)

Xseed Games wants YOU to jump feet first onto the Ys I & II Chronicles bandwagon, so they've gone and done a great bit of pre-order coolness with GamrStop locations across the US. Slap down a deposit on the upcoming PSP game, follow the instructions below the jump and BOOM! Your choice of one of three excellent items will wing itself your way courtesy of Xseed! And yup, I get to post that hilarious Hair Metal trailer again, to boot!

Get that wallet out NOW and support Xseed!

Ys I & II Chronicles "Hair Metal" Trailer + Soundtrack Bonus Prove A Point...

Ys I & II Chronicles is coming on February 15, 2011, but Xseed Games wants you to start the party NOW. Dig the rockin' trailer above and pre-order the limited edition "Hair Metal Pack" and get your head-bangin' on while those classic game tunes (you may or may not remember depending on your age) are wailing away. Awe-some! Yup, Xseed is adding a CD soundtrack packed full of classic Ys tunes to the RETAIL version of the game ONLY. Oh, SNAP. Take that, digital downloads! Go Xseed!! (and nope, I'm not being sarcastic... some things are just better in a big ol' box and CD case).

Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Coming to PSP

I still have ringing in my ears and a mild headache from all that Hyperdimension Neptunia(aaa*cough!*) stuff yesterday, so I missed running this nice cover art and screens from NISA's upcoming PSP strategy RPG. According to Amazon's listing, the game will feature "new story chapters, characters, items, better graphics, and a revamped user interface". In addition, the game is now "more user-friendly and packs more content for over 100 hours of game play". March 18, 2011 is the release date (unless something changes). With UMD games looking as if they're on the way out after next year, folks like me will be grabbing what great games we can, that's for sure.

While the official website for the game is still in the works, the cover art and four screens are here for your approval. There are a bunch more shots from the game over at Amazon (in case you didn't click that link above already), so go peek at those if this one's up your alley... Back in a bit - the post office is calling me...

Etna Needs Your Help Getting In the Holiday Spirit!

Yup, that means yet another wacky yet cool Nippon Ichi Software America contest is afoot, folks. Click on that pic above and enter to win some cool prizes! Also, go reserve a copy of Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! while you're at it. As I've said before, ANY game with a name like that can't be passed up!

Sony Sure Knows How To Throw A Holiday Party...

There was a lot of stuff to cover at the event, but some of the nicer surprises are embargoed for a few days. Nope, there wasn't a PSP2 or PSPhone to be seen (or heard about) at the event, but throw a stone and you'd hit a great game surprise or someone playing something pretty damn cool. Media Molecule, Guerrilla Games and Evolution Studios folks are great to chat with and make me think of setting up forums on the site just to get their input. For now, my creatively constructive to creatively cranky comments on the industry show up on a few industry news sites where other developers and journalists post so as not to have too many rabid debates here.

Like the sweet Killzone 3 book? Sony was laser-burning whatever text attendees wanted into nice leather journals featuring some key 2011 titles and I chose Guerrilla's upcoming shooter as my pick for the DAF branding. Wish I had a dozen of each to give away on the site, but you'll have to do with ogling that photo for now.

Below the jump is a quick rundown* on what I can talk about images to come in a gallery update this weekend (*well, part one of a quick rundown, as I'm dead tired from a long day and am about to keel the hell over):

Nippon Ichi's Having a Little Holiday Sale...

HEY! Want some very, very cool Nippon Ichi, Gust, and other sweet NISA stuff from games to anime DVD's, soundtracks and more? Well, just bust out that credit card or PayPal account and click that pic above. Plushies, Prinnies, Glicees and more wallet exploding goodness galore!

Some of the prices are flat out BARGAINS (Disgaea DS or My Lord, What Have I Done to Deserve This 2 PSP for $10? BOOM, I'm there!), which means you'll go crazy with the deals here, dood! They've got my money already (What, you thought I get ALL my games for free?)!

Split/Second Skids Onto PSP

I didn't even realize this was coming out until I got the trailer in my inbox, so here you go - now you're as surprised as I am! I'll see about snagging a review copy and get back to you with some impressions. It certainly looks amazing, though!

Commentary: PSP2 - Does it REALLY Need To Do EVERYTHING?

Love Letter From A Low-Tech Hard-Head

As much as I love Sony and the PlayStation lineup), the news cycling 'round about the company's upcoming PSP2 (and possible, on and off PSPhone device) irks me to no end. Well, maybe not that much (this isn't an "angry" rant at all, folks), but still... Not that's I'm complaining (but I'm complaining anyway), but SOME of us just want a pure GAMES PLATFORM, not another touchscreen tablet, laz-e-reader, movie playin', memory eatin' overheatin' shiny new tech toy. If the PSPgo has taught us (and hopefully, Sony) anything it's that getting away from the core consumer or adding too much functionality to a gadget only turns away those who just want to PLAY GAMES (pirates be damned).

Nippon Ichi America Wants YOU To Replace Etna's Panties...

Normally, I'd say that header would be a "No wait, that didn't come out right..." statement, but yes indeedy-do, it's true. Nippon Ichi Software America is holding a contest where you design a pair of panties for Etna, everyone's favorite evil (but cute) demoness from the Disgaea and Prinny series.

The panties in question are part of a genius promotion for Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! (a game I absolutely WANT based on the title alone). I'd guess I'm ineligible, being a member of the gaming press and all, but I'd definitely love to be a fly on the wall with a pair of binoculars at NISA's offices when those entries start rolling in. My spider-sense says that the rejection pile is going to be fairly large (but fun to judge, that's for sure), given the imagination of certain types of anime/manga/game fans.

Anyway, go poke around on the official contest site, enter if you've got the skills and hope you win BIG. The main prizes for the three big winners are a copy of Prinny 2 and a pair of the winning panties. 50 other lucky entrants who can or can't draw a lick (er, no pun intended!) can enter the contest and end up will their own pair of those panties (but no game). Yeah, this could be one of the more interesting game-related contests in recent memory, that's for damn sure...

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Hands-On

If any developer has truly mastered crafting games for the PSP, it's Santa Ana-based Ready at Dawn. Their upcoming game for the handheld, God of War: Ghost of Sparta is not only one of the (if not the) best-looking game on the system, it's one with gameplay that more than equals the stunning visuals. I got the great opportunity to play through the introduction and part of a later level from the soon to be released game and can safely report that this could possibly be the best PSP action game of 2010, hands-down.

Win A PS3 w/Move in LOTR: Aragorn's Quest Sweepstakes!

Warner Bros. interactive Entertainment wants YOU to win a PS3/Move bundle, Nintendo Wii or a few other great prizes. Or at least try to win, if you're willing to be a little creative in a very short amount of time.

By visiting the LOTR: AQ contest site, fans of the epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy can create their own augmented reality video and summon a number of spells, including fireballs, ice crystals and sparks. Everyone who posts a video is automatically entered into The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest augmented reality sweepstakes for a chance to win loads of great prizes, including copies of the game, a Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 3 with Move hardware.

The sweepstakes ends on September 30, 2010 (yikes!), so get a Move on! Wii really want you to win! (ha ha).