Official JP Site: http://www.arcsystemworks.jp/xblaze/
Source: Youtube Channel arcsystemworks
XBlaze Code: Embryo is an Adventure/Visual Novel game relating to Arc System Works' Fighting game BlazBlue series that's within the same universe, but not necessarily the same world. What exactly does this mean? To quote Toshi Nakamura from Kotaku, "...the game is "linked" to the BlazBlue game series world, though does not necessarily take place in the same world". Arc System Works is known for their convoluted stories within their fighting games such as Guilty Gear and BlazBlue where nothing is simple to explain. As one who has played the BlazBlue series, I can only theorize that XBlaze perhaps takes place in an alternate plane of existence because of a temporal warp caused by the continuum shift. Another fun idea that's much simpler is that explains everything that led up to the creation of the Black Beast, the 6 Heroes, and usage of Ars Magus. Despite all these ideas of what connection it has to the BlazBlue series, the developers are creating this game to be played and enjoyed without prior knowledge of the BlazBlue series. I was hoping to get an Action/Action-RPG out of this, but I suppose a Visual Novel is the best genre to focus on if they're main goal is to deliver a story. Sadly, the Western market may not get to see this game at all BECAUSE it's a Visual Novel. XBlaze Code: Embryo is set to launch on July 25th, 2013 this Summer in Japan for the Playstation 3 and PS Vita.
Source:
-Kotaku - XBlaze Isn't Just For BlazBlue Fans
Showing posts with label Visual Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visual Novel. Show all posts
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Monday, May 13, 2013
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
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
Thursday, November 8, 2012
NewNews - Cherry Tree High Comedy Club finally out on Steam!
Official site: http://cherrytreehigh.com/
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/214610/
Finally, Cherry Tree High Comedy Club is available on Steam after 7 months from its official release! I first mentioned this game back in April and have mentioned it again on several different posts relating to Nyu Media and the games they're translating. Cherry Tree High Comedy Club is a sort of Visual Novel/Adventure that requires reading and making decisions. It's meant to be light-hearted and have lasting appeal with an endless mode after you've complete the main part of the game (or so I hear). As excited as I am for this game, I'm going to wait just a little longer as a possible fall sale might be coming up as well as the annual winter sale considering I have a large back log to keep me busy anyways. Chery Tree High Comedy Club is out now for $7.99!
Steam Page: http://store.steampowered.com/app/214610/
Finally, Cherry Tree High Comedy Club is available on Steam after 7 months from its official release! I first mentioned this game back in April and have mentioned it again on several different posts relating to Nyu Media and the games they're translating. Cherry Tree High Comedy Club is a sort of Visual Novel/Adventure that requires reading and making decisions. It's meant to be light-hearted and have lasting appeal with an endless mode after you've complete the main part of the game (or so I hear). As excited as I am for this game, I'm going to wait just a little longer as a possible fall sale might be coming up as well as the annual winter sale considering I have a large back log to keep me busy anyways. Chery Tree High Comedy Club is out now for $7.99!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
GameLight - Cherry Tree High Comedy Club
Official Site: http://cherrytreehigh.com/
Source: Youtube Channel NyuMedia
Indie games have become a more prominent force in the market, but Japan has had indie games for the longest time created by "circles" or sometimes "individuals". A lot of great indie games have been created in Japan for the longest time and only those who know about them has a chance of trying some of them out. Certain indie games require a significant amount of reading but are still great games which leave non-speaking Japanese players out of the loop. Luckily, more translating groups such as Nyu Media are established to give us English speaking gamers a chance to play those awesome Japanese indie games.
Cherry Tree High Comedy Club, although not entirely clarified, is a sort of adventure/visual novel game where much of the gameplay revolves around talking and decision making. The main character is trying to create a comedy club within her school but is required to have at least 5 members to establish it (this should sound familiar to those who've watched Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu). So the player goes around earning money, recruiting members, and building up conversational skills to finally get the club up and going. The game is light hearted with humor, original animé-styled sprites and graphics, laid-back and catchy music, and all sorts of interesting characters. Talking as a main gameplay concept might sound boring, but if you've played any adventure game like the Sam & Max series, visual novel type games like the Phoenix Wright series (I know it's sort of like a mystery and adventure game too), or any of BioWare's RPGs and enjoyed the dialogue parts of the game, there's a good chance that Comedy Club will be a very enjoyable game to play. I've never heard of this game before (as I do try to keep up with some Japanese doujin/indie games), but I think it has made me that much more excited that Nyu Media/Capcom is surprising me with a game I've never seen. I'm very excited about Cherry Tree High Comedy Club and thank Nyu Media for bringing it over to the Western market to give us a chance to play it.
Cherry Tree High Comedy Club releases on April 27th, 2012 on Steam, GamersGate, GameTap, GameFly, Impulse and the Capcom Store as well as their own site up on the top link for $7.99.
Source: Youtube Channel NyuMedia
Indie games have become a more prominent force in the market, but Japan has had indie games for the longest time created by "circles" or sometimes "individuals". A lot of great indie games have been created in Japan for the longest time and only those who know about them has a chance of trying some of them out. Certain indie games require a significant amount of reading but are still great games which leave non-speaking Japanese players out of the loop. Luckily, more translating groups such as Nyu Media are established to give us English speaking gamers a chance to play those awesome Japanese indie games.
Cherry Tree High Comedy Club, although not entirely clarified, is a sort of adventure/visual novel game where much of the gameplay revolves around talking and decision making. The main character is trying to create a comedy club within her school but is required to have at least 5 members to establish it (this should sound familiar to those who've watched Suzumiya Haruhi no Yūutsu). So the player goes around earning money, recruiting members, and building up conversational skills to finally get the club up and going. The game is light hearted with humor, original animé-styled sprites and graphics, laid-back and catchy music, and all sorts of interesting characters. Talking as a main gameplay concept might sound boring, but if you've played any adventure game like the Sam & Max series, visual novel type games like the Phoenix Wright series (I know it's sort of like a mystery and adventure game too), or any of BioWare's RPGs and enjoyed the dialogue parts of the game, there's a good chance that Comedy Club will be a very enjoyable game to play. I've never heard of this game before (as I do try to keep up with some Japanese doujin/indie games), but I think it has made me that much more excited that Nyu Media/Capcom is surprising me with a game I've never seen. I'm very excited about Cherry Tree High Comedy Club and thank Nyu Media for bringing it over to the Western market to give us a chance to play it.
Cherry Tree High Comedy Club releases on April 27th, 2012 on Steam, GamersGate, GameTap, GameFly, Impulse and the Capcom Store as well as their own site up on the top link for $7.99.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
GameLight - Love Plus 3DS
Official Site: http://www.konami.jp/products/loveplus/index.html
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment
After a year of seeing videos and news reports of dating simulator/visual novel game "Love Plus 3DS", the game finally releases in Japan today on Valentines Day. This is one game that's more than likely not being brought over to the western market. Visual Novels based around love stories or love simulators where the player interacts with a virtual girl have been around in the Japanese market for over two decades and have become "sort of" normal there now (It's still weird to those who don't play it there I suppose). In the western market, it is looked down upon as a terrible product targeting the single male population (or something they take as a normal oddity from Japan's otaku culture).
Within the game, the player talks (from choosing multiple choices answers I suppose) to the characters in the game, goes out on dates, takes pictures, and simply interact with them as if they were real. Konami added an extra function where players can receive virtual e-mails from the characters within Love Plus by subscribing for $4 per month. I shouldn't judge, but Love Plus is after all still just a game and a player shouldn't get "that" involved. The gyroscope (motion sensor), 3D camera, and dual screens allow the player to interact with their virtual girlfriend within their own environment with Augmented Reality. You can see this happening at 2:05 in the video above. Now if this can be utilized within the development of other games, we can see a lot of interesting gameplay from action, fighting, and adventure genres.
I don't pay much attention to these types of games mainly because they're rarely brought over or translated. My interest in it lies within the story, though I can't really find any specific story for any of the characters for the game. One such game series that played like a visual novel that captivated me is the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney series, though that is quite a drastic difference between that and Love Plus. There could be a chance that the western market would be a bit more open to the game if it was more emphasized as a game heavily based on "story" rather than just interactivity with the female character; however, the latter seems to be what works in Japan's marketing. I hear the game has a manga series spin-off in the works, and so the focus on story would be interesting for the series.
In any case, Happy Valentines Day!
Source: Youtube Channel IGNentertainment
After a year of seeing videos and news reports of dating simulator/visual novel game "Love Plus 3DS", the game finally releases in Japan today on Valentines Day. This is one game that's more than likely not being brought over to the western market. Visual Novels based around love stories or love simulators where the player interacts with a virtual girl have been around in the Japanese market for over two decades and have become "sort of" normal there now (It's still weird to those who don't play it there I suppose). In the western market, it is looked down upon as a terrible product targeting the single male population (or something they take as a normal oddity from Japan's otaku culture).
Within the game, the player talks (from choosing multiple choices answers I suppose) to the characters in the game, goes out on dates, takes pictures, and simply interact with them as if they were real. Konami added an extra function where players can receive virtual e-mails from the characters within Love Plus by subscribing for $4 per month. I shouldn't judge, but Love Plus is after all still just a game and a player shouldn't get "that" involved. The gyroscope (motion sensor), 3D camera, and dual screens allow the player to interact with their virtual girlfriend within their own environment with Augmented Reality. You can see this happening at 2:05 in the video above. Now if this can be utilized within the development of other games, we can see a lot of interesting gameplay from action, fighting, and adventure genres.
I don't pay much attention to these types of games mainly because they're rarely brought over or translated. My interest in it lies within the story, though I can't really find any specific story for any of the characters for the game. One such game series that played like a visual novel that captivated me is the Gyakuten Saiban/Ace Attorney series, though that is quite a drastic difference between that and Love Plus. There could be a chance that the western market would be a bit more open to the game if it was more emphasized as a game heavily based on "story" rather than just interactivity with the female character; however, the latter seems to be what works in Japan's marketing. I hear the game has a manga series spin-off in the works, and so the focus on story would be interesting for the series.
In any case, Happy Valentines Day!
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