NewNews - Phoenix Wright 5 release in the West Fall 2013

Japanese Site: http://www.capcom.co.jp/gyakutensaiban/5/
Source: Youtube Channel GamesHQMedia

We finally get confirmation that Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney 5 - Dual Destinies is going to be released in the West this Fall, yay!  Unfortuantely, it's also been confirmed that it will be released digitally only, boo!  Phoenix Wright 5 will bring back our favorite protagonist back to the series once more with a new sidekick helping by reading the emotions of those on testimony.  Prepare for a brand new adventure with 3D graphics for the Nintendo 3DS.

As for my stance on a "digital only" release, I never really liked the idea when it was first conceived and has only changed my perspective a little throughout the years.  With most consoles (PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii) and now handhelds (PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS), games sold digitally are the same prices as retail and almost never gets a price drop; games rarely get a sale on digital distributions; games can't be borrowed or shared by friends because the games are locked onto the system or account; and they take up even more memory space than when just having the game that require an optional/require install which eventually leads to un-installing games if you run out of space and re-installing them if you want to play them.  Digital releases do have their conveniences for the customer such as not having to go to the game store to grab their game and not having to switch out discs/cartridges to play multiple games but it takes away other great aspects of retail sold games.  My opinion of digital distribution changed a little when Valve's Steam platform provided better services and great deals on a daily basis.  Games that I really like that I want to pay more money will generally lead me to buy a boxed version of the PC game (Diablo 3/Guild Wars 2), but having great deals of under $10 per game on Steam allowed me to play games I'm interested in without having to invest so much on them.  I'm not looking forward to an all digital market.

Source:
- Joystiq - Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 5 hits west as Dual Destinies this autumn

VGCulture - Ace Attorney 5 on its way?

For a while, announcements of Gyakuten Saiban 5's (Ace Attorney in the West) release has circulated throughout the internet with little to no detail of which character it will follow or when it will come out.  What has been found out is that the game will be brought to the West.  To be a bit more specific, there's an English version coming out, but a U.S. release isn't certain.  What also has been shown are some key mechanics to the next Phoenix Wright/Apollo Justice game.  The 3D capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS will possibly allow free-camera look, and investigating items in 3D.  This is quite a tease for the U.S. fans of the series as the last Ace Attorney game that released in the U.S. was 2 years ago with Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth as the 2nd game in that spin-off never came to the West.  It'll be even more exciting if it's an actual "Phoenix Wright" game and not "Apollo Justice" or "Miles Edgeworth" game as the last game that focused on the original protagonist was developed and launched back in 2004 with Trials and Tribulations for the GBA (which was released in the U.S. in 2007 for the DS).  Also, no confirmation has been made for bringing the crossover of Phoenix Wright vs. Professor Layton game either.  Capcom, why do you tease us so?

Source:
-Kotaku: First Look at the 3D Graphics of Ace Attorney 5

VGCulture - Phoenix Wright Musical

Not just any musical, an all female musical!
Source: Youtube Channel Rh0823a

Back in 2009, Brian Ashcraft from Kotaku mentioned this.  I'm not sure how I missed it back then, but Richard Eisenbeis from Kotaku makes mention of the musical today.  It sounds like an interesting idea and it'd be nice if I could understand it; however, it seems like the English translation versions were pulled down in possible violations of copyright materials on Youtube without the publisher's consent.  Still, there are quite a few clips of the raw footages that can be viewed.  There's also that Phoenix Wright movie that came out, but I'm not sure where to go about finding it to watch.  I wonder when we'll ever get to see another Phoenix Wright game again (what with the 2nd Miles Edgeworth game not making to the states and the Professor Layton crossover nowhere to be found).