eXophase.com, the Gamer's PhaseNintendo DS

C.O.P. The Recruit Review: Open World Action Comes To DS In Full 3D

x3sphere — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:00:28 +0000

In many respects, Ubisoft’s C.O.P: The Recruit is a landmark title for the Nintendo DS. Delivering a fully realized open-world environment in 3D, developer VD Dev has crafted a one-of-a-kind experience that no other DS effort to date has managed. From a technical perspective, to pull off this level of visual acuity on a handheld that admittedly is not renowned for its 3D rendering capabilities is an impressive feat. Does C.O.P. set a new standard for the open-world genre on DS? Read on and find out.

Without question, the visuals in C.O.P. are spectacular considering the limitations of DS hardware, but a question no doubt looming on many minds is if the gameplay stacks up. While it’s fair to draw parallels between Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise and C.O.P. at first glance, the reality is that the two are quite different, at least in terms of pacing. Despite boasting a open-world environment, C.O.P. takes a linear approach, essentially forcing players to follow the main story line. While side missions are still present, they offer no real connection to the main story, appearing on the player’s CCD PDA device at random intervals. Opting to take on these predefined missions can net you more weapons and ammo upon successful completion, as well as achievements for bragging rights. This approach works well as the portable format is better suited towards pick up and play sessions. Having one clear path to the story keeps things moving at a steady pace.

As we’ve seen on the visual front, C.O.P. takes advantage of the DS hardware to its fullest. In certain respects, the same can also be said of controls. Using the stylus, players can aim freely with their weapon of choice while using the control pad to move around, making movement fluid and responsive. By default, the action of firing your weapon is tied to the left trigger, but this behavior can be changed via options to tapping the stylus twice in rapid succession. Although opinions are bound to differ, we actually preferred the stylus method of firing shots. Additionally, certain missions in C.O.P. employ use of the DS’ built-in microphone in a rather effective way, having players shout “Hey” to divert attention from surrounding guards and remain undetected.

While solid, the combat system in C.O.P. offers no real surprises. Firearm switching is seamless as players can simply choose their weapon of choice with the touch of the stylus. One nuance we encountered was that the hit detection system felt a bit touchy. There’s no real indication that an enemy is being hit when firing, making combat less satisfying than we would have liked. While it was obvious that Ubisoft did not want to include blood to keep this a teen-friendly game, adding a secondary life bar for the opposition would have been helpful.

Missions in C.O.P. are varied. While a bulk of the game involves running errands for local law enforcement across the city, as well as your falsely accused mentor Brad Winter in an effort to prove his innocence and uncover a terrorist plot, it’s the way these scenarios play out that mix up the gameplay and keep things fresh. There’s never a dull moment in C.O.P.

Pushing the DS hardware to its limits does have disadvantages, however. C.O.P. suffers from a slight degree of pop-in on screen, a visual artifact that often plagues this genre, making textures appear right before your eyes. In the case of C.O.P., this phenomenon is very minor, however, mostly limited to cars far out in the distance. Could it have been eliminated? Most likely, but at the cost of no longer maintaining a smooth 60 frames per second. There’s always a trade-off.

Regardless of minor faults, C.O.P. is a compelling action experience for DS. Impressive 3D visuals backed by a silky smooth rate make for a quality production. Although the gameplay could have used sprucing up in certain areas, VD Dev has created a technological achievement that is not only fun but rewarding to play. Any DS owner in the market for an enjoyable action title should give C.O.P. consideration. It’s a fun action romp that doesn’t let go until the end.

Liked
- Breaks new ground in terms of visuals for DS
- Use of secondary DS hardware features in non-gimmicky ways
- Story is engaging, keeps the player wanting to push forward

Disliked
- Not as ambitious on the gameplay front. Combat system is solid but feels somewhat antiquated

Review copy provided by Ubisoft. A Nintendo DS exclusive, C.O.P. The Recruit retails for $29.99 and was released on November 3.

C.O.P. The Recruit Review: Open World Action Comes To DS In Full 3D - [eXophase.com]

Iwata Believes Digital Distribution Not Overtaking Retail for At Least 20 Years

x3sphere — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:05:57 +0000

While many industry pioneers share the belief that digital distribution is the future, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata believes this method of selling product will not even come close to overtaking retail until 20 years at least. Here’s an excerpt from the latest Iwata Asks column:

Most radical people even dare to say that retailers will be replaced by digital distribution in no time. But personally, I think it will still require a significant amount of time. In other words, it will require many years and months for the majority of video game purchase to become digital. In short, in 20 years or so I might say it will have probably changed. But in 5 years or so, I do not totally agree with opinions that no one will purchase titles at retailers by then. Habits of life do not change such radically and quickly. Especially for the expanded audience of various people, to whom we are and will be trying to appeal, I believe their habits will change more slowly.

Iwata prefaced this statement by saying that only around 35 percent of the current Japanese Wii user base actively connects to the shop channel. That said, it seems Nintendo still has more of a conservative view of the online space. With all the strides Sony and Microsoft have made towards a digital future in such a short time span, it’s not unrealistic to think it could reign as the primary method of distribution in much sooner than 20 years. Ten years seems more realistic at the current pace. Of course, an opinion is just an opinion, so we’ll see.

Iwata Believes Digital Distribution Not Overtaking Retail for At Least 20 Years - [eXophase.com]

DSi XL Pegged for 2010 Release In North America, Europe

x3sphere — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:52:29 +0000

The DSi LL is heading to North American and Europe under a slightly more identifiable moniker — the DSi XL. XL, obviously standing for extra large. Official word from Nintendo is that the unit will offer a screen 93% larger than the current DS Lite, coupled with a better view angle, a jumbo-sized stylus, and unspecified preinstalled Nintendo DSiWare software.

It’s slated to hit “first quarter calendar year of 2010.” No word on pricing yet, but expect it to carry a premium like its Japanese counterpart, which will retail for approximately 1100 more yen over that of the standard DSi model.

DSi XL Pegged for 2010 Release In North America, Europe - [eXophase.com]

Nintendo DSi LL Officially Revealed

x3sphere — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:18:37 +0000

Nintendo of Japan has lifted the lid on its supersized, eyesight-friendly DSi, first mentioned in a Nikkei report earlier this week. Dubbed DSi LL, the unit is slated for a release in the region on November 21. Sporting the same internal specifications as the original DSi, it sports two considerably larger 4.2 inch screens and will set those interested back 20,000 yen ($220). Aside from the obvious size difference with this unit, cosmetically the only other change is a slight variation in the placement of speaker holes. The included stylus is also jumbo-sized, which we suppose is fitting.

No word on a North American or European release date as of yet. More shots of the unit can be viewed after the break.

Nintendo DSi LL Officially Revealed - [eXophase.com]

Revised DSi With Slightly Larger Screens To Hit Japan

x3sphere — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:33:26 +0000

According to a report from Japanese news outlet Nikkei, Nintendo is releasing a revised DSi unit in Japan later this year. Priced at 18,900 yen, same as the current model, it will feature a screen that is three-quarters of an inch larger and aimed at an older audience, specifically those with less than optimal eyesight.

There’s no word on if this “supersized” DSi will hit other regions, but according to the aforementioned report, it remains a distinct possibility. While this is a great initiative by Nintendo, we don’t feel there’s much value in switching over to this model if the internal resolution is staying the same, which it likely will. Assuming this is the case, the higher dot pixel pitch will effectively make titles rendered in 3D look less sharp, a caveat of running LCD technology below its native res.

Basically, if you’re content with the current DSi, we wouldn’t recommend rushing out to sell it in anticipation for this model.

任天堂がDSiの進化版を年内に販売！iPhone対抗か！液晶も大型化 [via NeoGAF]

Revised DSi With Slightly Larger Screens To Hit Japan - [eXophase.com]

DSi Exclusive Monster Finder Coming Stateside, Retailer Hints

x3sphere — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:28:09 +0000

If a listing on the product pages of online retailer GameFly are any indication, it appears that Konami has picked up Alpha Unit’s Monster Finder for a stateside release. Slated for a debut in Japan next month, the Pokemon Snap and Invizimals crossover features a neat concept, enabling players to utilize the DSi cameras to take pictures of real-world objects with which the game transforms into virtual monsters.

GameFly is pegging on a January 2010 release date on what would be the first DSi-exclusive title to reach North American shores.

DSi Exclusive Monster Finder Coming Stateside, Retailer Hints - [eXophase.com]

September NPD: PS3 Leads Console Hardware Sales

x3sphere — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:35:11 +0000

The NPD numbers for September are in and for the first time ever, PS3 is leading the pack in console hardware sales. This is no doubt thanks to the price cut and introduction of a slim model. While the Nintendo DS took reign as the top selling platform, this is still a significant victory for Sony, having outsold both the Xbox 360 and Wii by a fairly large margin.

See it all after the break.

Hardware Units

PlayStation 2 146.0K
PlayStation 3 491.8K
PSP 190.4K
Xbox 360 352.6K
Wii 462.8K
Nintendo DS 524.2K

Top 10 VG Console/Portable SKU’s September 2009
Title Platform Publisher Release Date Units Rank
HALO 3:ODST 360 MICROSOFT (CORP) Sep-09 1.52M 1
WII SPORTS RESORT W/ WII MOTION PLUS WII NINTENDO OF AMERICA Jul-09 442.9K 2
MADDEN NFL 10 360 ELECTRONIC ARTS Aug-09 289.6K 3
MARIO & LUIGI:BOWSER’S INSIDE STORY NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA Sep-09 258.1K 4
THE BEATLES:ROCK BAND* 360 MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS Sep-09 254.0K 5
MADDEN NFL 10 PS3 ELECTRONIC ARTS Aug-09 246.5K 6
MARVEL:ULTIMATE ALLIANCE 2 360 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD (CORP) Sep-09 236.0K 7
BATMAN:ARKHAM ASYLUM* PS3 SQUARE ENIX INC (CORP) Aug-09 212.5K 8
GUITAR HERO 5* 360 ACTIVISION BLIZZARD (CORP) Sep-09 210.8K 9
THE BEATLES:ROCK BAND* WII MTV GAMES/ELECTRONIC ARTS Sep-09 208.6K 10

September NPD: PS3 Leads Console Hardware Sales - [eXophase.com]

Mistwalker Boss Cryptically Hints At New Project

x3sphere — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:13:34 +0000

Mistwalker boss and creator of the Final Fantasy series Hironobu Sakaguchi has hinted at a new project on his blog. Judging from the cryptic note he left, all signs point to a project that is finished or at least nearing completion, meaning we should expect concrete details on it soon.

Am I an “idle man”, I wonder? (^^;
Well, I am just trying to pastime…
I am working hard on a new project.
Now we are being rushed into the “finishing” stage.
No matter what, I will make it really good….

Considering Mistwalker has made a name for itself that is synonymous with the JRPG genre, we’re placing our bets on another RPG.

mistwalker [Mistwalker]

Mistwalker Boss Cryptically Hints At New Project - [eXophase.com]

COP: The Recruit GameStop Pre-Orders Get Exclusive Missions

x3sphere — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:47:43 +0000

As part of a promotion Ubisoft is running with GameStop, those who pre-order COP: The Recruit for DS – either online or at retail locations across North America – will receive an unlock code to access exclusive bonus missions. There’s no word on what the missions will entail, but at no extra cost, that’s a sweet deal.

As the first of its kind on DS, COP: The Recruit is an open-world action game that features full 3D visuals. Players assume the role of Dan Miles, who is working closely with his mentor Dectective Brad Winter in investigating terrorist activities plaguing the streets of New York, leading to a life of fear for citizens. The investigation is hampered when Brad is falsely accused, leaving Dan to uncover the truth behind a menacing conspiracy.

COP: The Recruit is scheduled to hit Nintendo DS on November 3.

COP: The Recruit GameStop Pre-Orders Get Exclusive Missions - [eXophase.com]

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks On Track for December 7

x3sphere — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:51:05 +0000

In a press release detailing its holiday lineup, Nintendo revealed that DS title The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is on track for a December 7 release in North America.

While story details are still shrouded in mystery, the title features an cel-shaded art style fondly reminiscent of Phantom Hourglass. Apart from the added element of stylus driven controls, gameplay is largely akin to traditional Zelda efforts, this time with an added emphasis on exploration as Link guides a cannon-wielding steam engine.

See Nintendo’s mammoth release schedule from first-party and third-party publishers after the break.

Wii

Publisher
Game Available
2K Sports NHL® 2K10 Sept. 15
Baseball Blast! Sept. 28
NBA 2K10 Oct. 6
2K Play Dora the Explorer™: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom™ Fall
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Game Day Fall
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey™ Circus Fall
505 Games My Ballet Studio November
Baby and Me November
Activision Publishing, Inc. Animal Planet Vet Life Sept. 15
Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2™ Sept. 15
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter 2010 Sept. 22
Rapala We Fish Sept. 22
Bakugan® Battle Brawlers ™ Oct. 20
iCarly™ Oct. 20
Madagascar Kartz Oct. 20
Mountain Sports Oct. 20
Hidden Mysteries Titanic Oct. 27
Barbie™ and the Three Musketeers Oct. 27
Jurassic Hunter Oct. 27
DJ Hero™ Oct. 27
Chaotic™: Shadow Warriors Nov. 10
Hot Wheels™ Battle Force 5™ Nov. 10
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Reflex Nov. 10
Tony Hawk®: RIDE™ Nov. 17
Band Hero™ November
Guitar Hero® Van Halen® Dec. 22
Aspyr Media My Baby and Me Nov. 17
Atlus U.S.A., Inc. 101-in-1 Party Megamix™ Oct. 27
Trauma Team™ Spring
Shiren the Wanderer™ Spring
Capcom® Entertainment, Inc. Spyborgs™ Sept. 22
Resident Evil®: The Darkside Chronicles Nov. 17
City Interactive USA, Inc. Chicken Riot November
Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII January
Art of Murder March
D3Publisher Family Party: 30 Great Games™ Outdoor Fun Sept. 22
Astro Boy®: The Video Game Oct. 20
THE SECRET SATURDAYS™: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN Oct. 20
BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE™: Vilgax Attacks Oct. 27
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Winter
Destineer We Wish You A Merry Christmas Oct. 13
Buck Fever Oct. 20
Alien Monster Bowling League Oct. 27
Marines: Modern Urban Combat Nov. 3
Satisfashion Nov. 17
Rec Room Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios Disney Sing It: Pop Hits October
Princess and the Frog November
Electronic Arts MySims™ Agents Sept. 22
Dead Space™ Extraction Sept. 29
Spore™ Hero Oct. 6
CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ Pajama Party Oct. 20
SimAnimals™ Africa Oct. 26
LITTLEST PET SHOP™ FRIENDS October
NERF 2: “N-Strike”™ Elite October
HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 October
FIFA 10 October
Need for Speed™ Nitro Nov. 17
EA SPORTS Active™ More Workouts November
Knowledge Adventure JumpStart® Escape from Adventure Island Nov. 1
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Walk It Out! October
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories November
Storybook Workshop November
Karaoke Revolution November
Ultimate Party Challenge November
DanceDanceRevolution Hottest Party 3 November
pop’n music November
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 Q4
LucasArts Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™ Oct. 6
LEGO® Indiana Jones 2™: The Adventure Continues Fall
Majesco Entertainment Our House: Party! Sept. 22
A Boy and His Blob Oct. 13
Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 Oct. 20
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Dec. 1
The Daring Game for Girls Holiday
Mastiff Shimano Xtreme Fishing Sept. 29
Remington Great American Bird Hunt Oct. 27
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc Dragon Ball®: Revenge of King Piccolo October
Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked November
We Cheer™ 2 November
Nintendo Wii Fit Plus Oct. 4
New Super Mario Bros. Wii Holiday
Playlogic Sudoku Ball Detective Sept. 22
SEGA® Wacky World of Sports™ Sept. 22
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™ Oct. 13
Planet 51 Nov. 17
Jambo! Safari:™ Animal Rescue Q4
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing™ Feb. 10
Super Monkey Ball Step & Roll™ Early 2010
SouthPeak Games My Baby First Steps™ Holiday
Sushi Go Round™ Holiday
Square Enix FINAL FANTASY® CRYSTAL CHRONICLES®: THE CRYSTAL BEARERS® Dec. 26
Storm City Games The Island of Dr. Frankenstein Oct. 6
Vegas Party Oct. 27
Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral Nov. 9
Tecmo Family Fun Football™ Sept. 29
THQ The Biggest Loser Oct. 6
Cars Race O Rama Oct. 13
Marvel® Super Hero Squad™ Oct. 20
WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010 Oct. 20
SpongeBob Truth or Square Oct. 26
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time Oct. 26
World of Zoo™ Oct. 26
All Star Cheer Squad™ 2 Oct. 27
Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter Oct. 27
Daniel X Jan. 12
World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars Feb. 2
TOMY Corporation NARUTO™ Shippuden: Clash of Ninja® Revolution 3 Nov. 17
Ubisoft Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs™ Sept. 15
Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey Sept. 22
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles™: Smash-up Sept. 22
The Price is Right ® 2010 Edition Sept. 22
Family Feud® 2010 Edition Sept. 29
CSI™: Deadly Intent Oct. 20
Monster 4×4™ Stunt Racer Oct. 27
Rabbids Go Home™ Nov. 3
Academy of Champions™ Nov. 3
Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage Nov. 8
Just Dance™ Nov. 17
James Cameron’s Avatar™ The Game Nov. 24
Your Shape™ Featuring Jenny McCarthy Nov. 24
UFO Interactive Games, Inc. Army Rescue™ Sept. 29
Rock Blast ™ Oct. 20
Arcade Shooter: Ilvelo Oct. 27
Geon Cube Oct. 27
Smart Series Presents: JaJa’ Adventure Nov. 10
Vir2L® Studios Medieval Games™ Oct. 20
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scooby-Doo™! First Frights Sept. 22
Where the Wild Things Are Oct. 13
Game Party® 3 October
LEGO® Rock Band™ Holiday
SCENE IT?® BRIGHT LIGHTS! BIG SCREEN!™ Holiday
XSEED Games JU-ON: The Grudge Oct. 13
Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga Fall

WiiWare

Publisher Game Available
Aksys Games BIT.TRIP VOID Q3
BIT.TRIP series (3 additional titles) Q4, Q1
Broken Rules And Yet It Moves Q4
Frontier LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias Q4
Gameloft Ghost Mansion Party Q3
The Oregon Trail Q4
Ghostfire Games Rage of the Gladiator Q1
Incredible Technologies Carnival King Q3
Konami Castlevania: The Adventure Rebirth Q3
Frogger Returns Q4
Nabi Studios Toribash Q4
Natsume Moki Moki Q3
Harvest Moon: My Little Shop Q4
Nicalis Cave Story Q3
Night Game Q1
La Mulana Q1
NinjaBee The Amazing Brain Train Q4
Nintendo You, Me, and the Cubes™ Q3
Eco Shooter: Plant 530™ Q4
Nintendo/TPC Pokémon™ Rumble Q4
Press Play Max & the Magic Marker Q4
React Games Archon: Classic Q1
Taito Arkanoid Plus! Q3
Team Meat Super Meat Boy Q1
Telltale Games Tales of Monkey Island™: Lair of the Leviathan Q3
Tales of Monkey Island™: The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood Q4
Tales of Monkey Island™: Rise of the Pirate God Q4

Nintendo DS/Nintendo DSi

Publisher Game Available
2K Play Dora the Explorer: Dora Puppy Oct. 26
Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year’s Celebration Oct. 26
The Backyardigans Oct. 26
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus Fall
505 Games My Ballet Studio November
Discovery Kids SpiderQuest November
Dream Diary November
Picture Perfect Hair Salon November
505 Games IL2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey Sept. 15
Activision Publishing, Inc. Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2™ Sept. 15
Animal Planet Vet Life Sept. 15
Bakugan ® Battle Brawlers ™ Oct. 20
iCarly™ Oct. 20
Madagascar Kartz Oct. 20
Barbie™ and the Three Musketeers Oct. 27
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®: Mobilized Nov. 10
Chaotic™: Shadow Warriors Nov. 10
Hot Wheels™ Battle Force 5™ Nov. 10
Band Hero™ November
Aspyr Media Fighting Fantasy™: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain Oct. 26
City Interactive USA, Inc. Sushi Academy Oct. 13
Chronicles of Mystery: Curse of the Ancient Temple Oct. 27
Animal Country: Life on the Farm November
Party Designer November
Art of Murder February
Jewels of Sahara March
D3Publisher Astro Boy®: The Video Game Oct. 20
THE SECRET SATURDAYS™: BEASTS OF THE 5TH SUN Oct. 20
BEN 10 ALIEN FORCE™: Vilgax Attacks Oct. 27
Kamen Rider Dragon Knight Winter
Destineer Satisfashion Nov. 17
Disney Interactive Studios Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure October
Disney’s A Christmas Carol November
JONAS November
Princess and the Frog November
Electronic Arts MySims™ Agents Sept. 22
Spore™ Hero Arena Oct. 6
CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Fashion Show Oct. 20
CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Fashion Mall Oct. 20
CHARM GIRLS CLUB™ My Perfect Prom Oct. 20
SimAnimals™ Africa Oct. 26
LITTLEST PET SHOP™ CITY FRIENDS October
LITTLEST PET SHOP™ COUNTRY FRIENDS October
LITTLEST PET SHOP™ BEACH FRIENDS October
HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2 October
FIFA 10 October
Ignition Entertainment Nostalgia Oct. 20
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. WireWay November
LucasArts Star Wars® The Clone Wars™: Republic Heroes™ Oct. 6
Star Wars Battlefront™: Elite Squadron™ Nov. 3
LEGO® Indiana Jones 2™: The Adventure Continues Fall
Majesco Entertainment Our House Sept. 22
Sideswiped Sept. 29
Cake Mania® 3 Oct. 13
Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 Oct. 20
Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop Oct. 27
My Hero: Astronaut Nov. 3
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel Dec. 1
Dawn of Heroes Dec. 1
My Hero: Firefighter December
The Daring Game for Girls Holiday
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc Dragon Ball® Z: Attack of the Saiyans November
Nintendo Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky Oct. 12
Style Savvy Nov. 2
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Dec. 7
NIS America A Witch’s Tale Oct. 6
Atelier Annie: Alchemists of Sera Island Oct. 27
PopCap Games, Inc. Bookworm™ Dec. 1
SEGA® Bleach:™ The 3rd Phantom Sept. 15
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games™ Oct. 13
Phantasy Star™ Zero Nov. 10
Planet 51 Nov. 17
Jambo! Safari:™ Animal Rescue Q4
Sands of Destruction™ January
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing™ February
Infinite Space™ Spring
SouthPeak Games Montessori Music™ Oct. 20
My Baby First Steps™ Holiday
Sushi Go Round™ Holiday
Crime Scene™ Holiday
Square Enix KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 DAYS Sept. 29
SPACE INVADERS EXTREME™ 2 Oct. 20
Storm City Games Hands On! Tangrams Oct. 13
Jewel Master Egypt Oct. 20
Flaw Oct. 27
Foto Frenzy Nov. 2
Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral Nov. 9
THQ James Patterson Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion Sept. 15
Fabulous Finds Sept. 21
Just in Time Translations Sept. 21
The Biggest Loser Oct. 6
Cars Race O Rama Oct. 13
Marvel® Super Hero Squad™ Oct. 20
WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® 2010 Oct. 20
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader: Game Time Oct. 26
World of Zoo™ Oct. 26
SpongeBob Truth or Square Oct. 26
Drawn to Life: The Next Chapter Oct. 27
MX vs. ATV™ Reflex™ Holiday
TOMY Corporation NARUTO Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 Sept. 15

Ubisoft
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs™ Sept. 15
Where’s Waldo®: The Fantastic Journey Sept. 22
The Price is Right® 2010 Edition Sept. 22
Family Feud® 2010 Edition Sept. 29
Battle of Giants™: Dragons Sept. 29
Imagine® Salon Stylist Sept. 29
Imagine® Sweet 16 Oct. 4
Imagine® Zookeeper Oct. 6
PETZ® PONY BEAUTY PAGEANT™ Oct. 13
Imagine® Fashion Designer World Tour Oct. 20
CSI™: Deadly Intent – The Hidden Cases Oct. 20
Jam Sessions 2 Oct. 20
PETZ® DOLPHINZ ENCOUNTER Oct. 27
Might and Magic® Clash of Heroes® Oct. 27
Imagine® Artist Oct. 27
C.O.P. The Recruit™ Nov. 3
Rabbids Go Home™ Nov. 3
Imagine® Babyz Fashion Nov. 3
Fairyland Melody Magic™ Nov. 8
Style Lab™ Jewelry Design Nov. 10
Style Lab™ Makeover Nov. 10
PETZ® NURSERY Nov. 10
PETZ® DOGZ® TALENT SHOW Nov. 17
PETZ® HAMSTERZ® SUPERSTARZ Nov. 24
James Cameron’s Avatar™ The Game Nov. 24
Virtual Play Games Junior Brain Trainer Nov. 10
Junior Classic Games Nov. 10
UFO Interactive Games, Inc. Smart Boy’s Gameroom 2® Sept. 29
Smart Girl’s Playhouse 2® Sept. 29
Smart Kid’s Mega Game Mix™ Sept. 29
Reversal Challenge Oct. 13
Balloon Pop Nov. 12
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Scribblenauts™ Sept. 15
Scooby-Doo™! First Frights Sept. 22
LEGO® Rock Band™ Holiday
Where the Wild Things Are Oct. 13
TouchMaster® 3 Oct. 27
XSEED Games THE WIZARD OF OZ™: Beyond the Yellow Brick Road Sept. 29

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks On Track for December 7 - [eXophase.com]

Apple Takes Jab At PSP, DS Game Pricing At Conference

x3sphere — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 19:56:04 +0000

While the PSP and DS aren’t exactly direct competitors to the iPod Touch, Apple is touting the fact that games are cheaper on their platform as a selling point for iPod hardware. During its press conference earlier today, which highlighted the arrival of a third-generation iPod Touch, shown on-screen was a slide pinpointing the “expensive” price points of such titles.

Apple also took a casual jab at both platforms for “no multi-touch user interface” and a minuscule library of games. Not exactly a fair comparison, when considering the quality ratio is lacking on the App Store compared to efforts on PSP and DS. At any rate, it’s interesting to see that Apple is acknowledging portable devices other than their own for once. Perhaps the increased focused on digital distribution with the DSi and PSPgo has edged them towards taking precautionary measures.

Apple Takes Jab At PSP, DS Game Pricing At Conference - [eXophase.com]

Rumor: DSi Exclusive Titles Hit This Fall

x3sphere — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 04:43:58 +0000

Nintendo may have plans to position the DSi platform as more than a mere enhancement over previous DS hardware iterations with rumors cropping up that titles exclusive to DSi will hit retail channels later this fall. They’ve already done this to a certain extent with DSiWare, but the digital market is still small potatoes compared to retail.

Industry sources have told weblog Kotaku that DSi-specific software will be visually identifiable from that of legacy titles, packaged in an all white game casing brandished with an “only for DSi” label.

It’s a transition reminiscent of the Game Boy Color era. The original GB was still extremely popular during the introduction of the GBC and as such Nintendo eased the transition early on with software titles that were compatible with both platforms then later moved on to releasing GBC-only software.

It looks as if Nintendo will once again employ this strategy to lure folks over to the DSi platform, which in addition to featuring a camera component, sports beefed up hardware specifications: double the CPU clock speed and four times as much RAM as the original DS and DS Lite. Of course, this is still is a rumor, leaving only time to confirm Nintendo’s eventual plans.

Rumor: DSi Exclusive Titles Hit This Fall - [eXophase.com]

Capcom Confirms DS Okami Sequel

x3sphere — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:01:27 +0000

Capcom is working on a follow-up to Clover Studios’ (now defunct) hit watercolor-style RPG Okami, entitled Okamiden: Chiisaki Taiyo. Poised for release on Nintendo DS, Capcom is rounding up the talent on this one, with Motohide Eshiro of Ace Attorney fame and Kuniomi Matsushita serving as producer and director on the project, respectively.

Matsushita calls it Okami with a broader appeal. Gameplay-wise, he told Famitsu that players can use the stylus as a brush. The aim is to create a seamless pick up and play type experience.

Look for more details on this portable Okami follow-up to be revealed at TGS, likely alongside a trailer.

Capcom Confirms DS Okami Sequel - [eXophase.com]

Crytek: Current Gen To Last Until 2013

x3sphere — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:19:12 +0000

Speaking in a keynote at GDC Europe, Crytek co-founder Cevat Yerli said that he expects the next-generation of consoles to hit in 2013 at the latest. However, Yerli is not standing by his statement entirely, noting that “there’s a big debate about whether there will be a next generation at all.”

With both Sony and Microsoft taking bold initiatives towards introducing motion-sensing peripherals, it’s quite plausible that this generation could carry on for another three years. After all, there’s not much point in coming out with new tech if the current crop of consoles are soon to be phased out. It’s very possible we may see a “refresh” of this gen, similar to what Nintendo and Sony have done in the portable sector with the DSi and now PSPgo.

Crytek is working on CryEngine 3-powered Crysis 2, scheduled to hit PS3, Xbox 360, and PC at a yet-unspecified date.

GDC Europe: Crytek’s Yerli On The Future Of Gaming Graphics [Gamasutra]

Crytek: Current Gen To Last Until 2013 - [eXophase.com]

July NPD: Industry Sales Remain Sluggish, Wii Sports Resort Leads Software Sales

x3sphere — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:42:48 +0000

The NPD figures for July are in and for the fifth consecutive month, once again show a year-over-year decline in industry sales. The results are far from uplifting, as total dollars generated throughout last month missed the $1 billion mark, clocking at a $848,000, a 29 percent decline.

The PS3 barely edged pasted its last-generation counterpart in sales, with both platforms shifting 121,800 and 108,000 units respectively. It’s safe to say that Sony needs that price cut, pronto. Xbox 360 sales weren’t as bleak, but still took a dive compared to last month with 202,900 units sold.

Wii Sports Resort, perhaps unsurprisingly, took the crown for July’s best-selling title. Released near the tail end of the month, it sold 508,200 copies.

See the full breakdown of July figures past the break, courtesy of NPD.

Hardware Units

Jul-09
PlayStation 2 108K
PlayStation 3 121.8K
PSP 122.8K
Xbox 360 202.9K
Wii 252.5K
Nintendo DS 538.9K

Top 10 VG Console/Portable SKU’s July 2009

Title Platform Publisher Release Date Units Rank

Wii SPORTS RESORT W/ WII MOTION PLUS WII* NINTENDO OF AMERICA July-09 508.2K 1
NCAA FOOTBALL 10 360* ELECTRONIC ARTS July-09 376.5K 2
NCAA FOOTBALL 10 PS3* ELECTRONIC ARTS July-09 237.4K 3
WII FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD* WII* NINTENDO OF AMERICA May-08 164.3K 4
MARIO KART W/ WHEEL WII* NINTENDO OF AMERICA April-08 156.6K 5
MARIO KART DS NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA November-05 132.2K 6
POKEMON PLATINUM VERSION NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA March-09 116.4K 7
FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 4 360 ELECTRONIC ARTS June-09 116.4K 8
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS NDS NINTENDO OF AMERICA May-06 101.8K 9
EA SPORTS ACTIVE BUNDLE WII* ELECTRONIC ARTS May-09 96.8K 10

July NPD: Industry Sales Remain Sluggish, Wii Sports Resort Leads Software Sales - [eXophase.com]

Square Enix “Considering” To Bring Dragon Quest IX Stateside

x3sphere — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 17:16:54 +0000

After selling 3.5 million copies overseas, one would automatically assume Square Enix is gearing up to bring the latest installment in its Dragon Quest IX stateside, but it’s always nice to receive an official confirmation. In a recent Q&A, company CEO Yoichi Wada revealed that they are “considering” to bring DQ IX to other territories, but is not yet ready to make a full commitment regarding a release date.

The wait will be long for this one, as it won’t happen this year. Wada says a localization is planned for release next year, likely after April.

Square Enix “Considering” To Bring Dragon Quest IX Stateside - [eXophase.com]

Dragon Quest IX Sales Hit 3.5 Million

x3sphere — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 05:12:39 +0000

Dragon Quest IX sales are on the rise and the momentum shows no signs of slowing down. The latest batch of figures from industry outfit Famitsu have revealed that over 3.5 million copies have been sold in Japan since July 14, the title’s launch date. If Square Enix had decided to not drift from providing Sony with format exclusives, imagine what these numbers could have done for the PS3.

Still no word on a North American release date, but we’re waiting patiently for Square Enix to localize this gem.

Dragon Quest IX Sales Hit 3.5 Million - [eXophase.com]

Sega Taking Its Sweet Time With Fixing Sonic

x3sphere — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:06:00 +0000

While the many of the modern Sonic games aren’t bad per se, they certainly lack the charm and longevity of the original Genesis installments. Back in the day, Sonic titles went head to head with Mario. Now, there’s no comparison between the two in terms of quality. Relatively speaking, of course. There has been subpar Mario titles before, but nearly all the main entries are considered AAA-worthy.

Sega is looking to fix that and in turn hopefully win back core gamers who were previously fans of the franchise, but company VP of Marketing Sean Ratcliffe says doing so will take time. A significant amount of time, apparently:

Interestingly, I think Sonic Unleashed was very well received by the kids. There was some talk about the werehog aspect, the slower pacing and more combat-oriented gameplay, but when we go out and test this stuff and sit down with the consumers, kids actually like that. I think older, die-hard Sega fans who grew up with the franchise and the first Sonic the Hedgehog associate Sonic more with 2-D side-scrolling super fast, and they liked the daytime gameplay, but when it came to the slower paced gameplay they were fairly critical of that, and that’s fine – they have their opinions.

Gee, at least the kids like it. I actually skipped Unleashed, partially due to a lack of interest, but from what I saw through media trailers, it feels like Sega is headed in the right direction. Perhaps one day Sonic will return to his former glory.

Sega: Sonic Quality to Be ‘Fixed Over Time’ [IG]

Sega Taking Its Sweet Time With Fixing Sonic - [eXophase.com]

Dragon Quest IX Sales Climb To 3.2 Million

x3sphere — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:46:50 +0000

Dragon Quest IX is well on its way to earning the coveted title of the best-selling DS game in Japan. Honestly, who would have expected otherwise? Famitsu parent Enterbrain today reports that unit sales in the region have crossed the 3.2 million mark, a figure that represents sales from July 11 to July 26.

Bet it won’t be long before the 5 million mark is hit. Give it a month or two. On another note, here’s hoping Square Enix recovers from the euphoric shellshock of all this green flowing in and pins down a stateside release date for DQ IX.

Dragon Quest IX Sales Climb To 3.2 Million - [eXophase.com]

Final Fantasy Legend II Remake Gets DSi Bundle In Japan

x3sphere — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 22:09:33 +0000

To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the SaGa series and the release of SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu: Goddess of Destiny, Square Enix is releasing a hardware bundle that packs the game plus a special edition DSi.

Pictured above, the included DSi brandishes the trademark SaGa logo in silhouette-style. Part of it is covered by a large 20th anniversary emblem, which almost looks as if it was thrown on as an afterthought. Not sure about you, but this design decision completely ruins the minimalistic look for us. Despite this, it still looks decent, but could look so much better.

For those still interested, the bundle goes on sale later this September in Japan. It’ll carry a price tag of 24,880 yen. Just be prepared to pay a significant premium on top of that if importing, as usual.

Final Fantasy Legend II Remake Gets DSi Bundle In Japan - [eXophase.com]

Ace Attorney Investigation: Miles Edgeworth Hits DS In February

x3sphere — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:33:36 +0000

Capcom announced today that Ace Attorney Investigation: Miles Edgeworth will hit the DS in February. Taking a departure from the court-themed setting of previous entries, players assume the role of prosecutor Miles Edgeworth and investigate crime scenes.

Ace Attorney Investigation: Miles Edgeworth Hits DS In February - [eXophase.com]

Nintendo: Gaming Industry Still Has Ample Room for Growth, Up To 50 Percent

x3sphere — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:02:00 +0000

According to internal research conducted by Tom Prata, Nintendo of America’s senior director of product development, the gaming industry is still ripe for growth. With an estimated worldwide player count of 295 million, Prata believes the industry could grow by as much as 50 percent “if the right game came along,” dismissing previous claims by analysts that the Wii and DS market is saturated.

At face value, that sure sounds like a lofty goal to place on a single game. Then again, when you consider that Wii Sports alone brought millions upon millions of people to the Wii, many who have never picked up a game before their life, perhaps it’s not such an unrealistic prospect.

With more of a focus being placed on creative innovation in today’s market, the day when such a title comes to realization may not be far off, relatively speaking.

Nintendo: Gaming Industry Still Has Ample Room for Growth, Up To 50 Percent - [eXophase.com]

Rabbids Go Home On DS, DSi

x3sphere — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:11:00 +0000

The mischievous Rabbids are bringing their antics over to the DS and DSi in Rabbids Go Home, publisher Ubisoft announced today. Carrying the same title and premise as its Wii counterpart, the handheld version will feature a completely different gameplay experience tailored towards the strengths of the DS platform.

In an effort to guide the Rabbids to their homeland — the moon — players will find themselves solving a variety of puzzles and brain teasers across 15 diverse levels. For creative types, a built-in level editor will allow players to create their own puzzles and share them with friends. Additionally, the title will take advantage of the DSi’s camera component, giving players the ability to take pictures and customize them with funny Rabbid animations.

Look for Rabbids Go Home to hit the DS later this holiday season. Screenshots can be found after the break.

Rabbids Go Home Screenshots

Rabbids Go Home On DS, DSi - [eXophase.com]

June NPD: Yearly Sales Decline By 31 Percent, Economy Likely To Blame

x3sphere — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 00:37:12 +0000

NPD numbers for June are in, painting a somber picture. Although up from the always-sluggish month of May, sales were down 31 percent compared to last year’s figures.

On a year-over-year basis, all platforms incurred a hit in unit sales over last June with the exception of Xbox 360. Despite this, Nintendo still dominated the charts, shifting a combined total of 766,500 DS and DSi systems, in addition to a respectable 361,700 Wii units.

While sales took a considerable dive over the previous year, by and large the hardware landscape remained the same as previous months, with Nintendo leading and Sony still riding in the backseat at third place.

On the software side of the spectrum, Prototype on Xbox 360 shifted 419,000 units in June, pulling ahead of both UFC 2009 and EA Sports Active. Interestingly, the PS3 edition of Prototype fell short of making the top ten. See the full breakdown of numbers after the break.

Is the dismal economic climate to blame for a significant dip in industry sales? NPD analyst Anita Frazier believes so, noting that consumers may be holding off on big-ticket items, such as hardware purchases, until a must-have title launches.

“This is one of the first months where I think the impact of the economy is clearly reflected in the sales numbers. While the aggregate of content may not be as strong as what we saw in the first half of last year, and while the consumer base willing to spend dollars on hardware at the current price points may be thinning, the size of the decliine could also point to consumers deferring limited discretionary spending until a big event (must-have new title, hardware price cut) compels them to spend.”

Hardware Units

PlayStation 2 152.7K
PlayStation 3 164.7K
PSP 163.5K
Xbox 360 240.6K
Wii 361.7K
Nintendo DS 766.5K

Top 10 VG Console/Portable SKU’s June 2009

Title Platform Publisher Release Date Units Rank
PROTOTYPE 360* ACTIVISION BLIZZARD* June-09 419.9K 1
UFC 2009:UNDISPUTED 360* THQ* May-09 338.3K 2
EA SPORTS ACTIVE BUNDLE WII* ELECTRONIC ARTS May-09 289.1K 3
TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 10* WII* ELECTRONIC ARTS June-09 272.4K 4
WII FIT WII* NINTENDO OF AMERICA May-08 271.6K 5
FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 4 360* ELECTRONIC ARTS June-09 260.8K 6
FIGHT NIGHT ROUND 4 PS3* ELECTRONIC ARTS June-09 210.3K 7
MARIO KART W/WHEEL WII* NINTENDO OF AMERICA April-08 202.1K 8
RED FACTION:GUERRILLA 360* THQ* June-09 199.4K 9
INFAMOUS PS3* SONY* May-09 192.7K 10

June NPD: Yearly Sales Decline By 31 Percent, Economy Likely To Blame - [eXophase.com]

Team Twiizers Unofficially Unlock DSi Mode

x3sphere — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:50:56 +0000

The gang of hackers over at Team Twiizers, widely known for their homebrew efforts on Wii, have released a video clip of a custom intro sequence running on the DSi, featuring the team logo scrolling from right to left on screen. At first glance, it may look like a simple feat but we’re told this is a huge step forward towards running homebrew in DSi mode. Access to this operational mode would give hobbyist developers access to extra CPU and RAM resources found only in the DSi.

Technical details in regards to how the hack was performed aren’t available just yet, but we’re promised that more information is on the way. In the meantime, you may want to refrain from updating that DSi firmware.

Team Twiizers Unofficially Unlock DSi Mode - [eXophase.com]

Dragon Quest IX Storyline Was Cut, Reworked To Fit In Space Constraints

x3sphere — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:13:08 +0000

After two and a half years in development, Dragon Quest IX is finally completed and is scheduled to hit Japanese store shelves on July 11. In a recent interview, producer Ryutaro Ichimura said he personally felt the most challenge part of the development process was having to cut and rework parts of the story to fit within the space constraints imposed by the DS platform.

[The most difficult part of the development process] was when I had to cut and rework part of the story — not a large part compared to the rest of the plot, but one that had to be cut out anyway for space reasons.

With pre-order numbers having already topped 2 million, Dragon Quest IX is poised to become next week’s top-selling title in Japan. When DQ fever hits, it hits hard. The title will inevitability make its way stateside, but a question looming on many minds is when. Square Enix isn’t ready to say, but we’ll wager a guess at early 2010.

Dragon Quest IX Coming In Three Days [1UP]

Dragon Quest IX Storyline Was Cut, Reworked To Fit In Space Constraints - [eXophase.com]

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars First Z Rated DS Title In Japan

x3sphere — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:59:54 +0000

Traditionally, Grand Theft Auto titles are always released in Japan a few months after the domestic release and Chinatown Wars, due for a release over yonder this fall, is no exception. Like all GTA titles in Japan, it’s also rated Z, which is the equivalent of an ESRB AO-rating. So what exactly is the big deal here? Well, for starters, it’ll be the first DS title that carries a Z rating.

As we have witnessed in the past, such a severe content rating often translates into less sales. It doesn’t mean that a product rated Z will utterly fail, of course, but it does mean the market potential has lowered. And on a system like the DS, which attracts a younger userbase, this is a recipe for disaster.

As Siliconera points out, this could very well be why Cyberfront instead of Capcom is publishing this particular GTA entry. The folks over at Capcom handled publishing duties for every other title in the series thus far, but is turning its back on Chinatown Wars.

Will Chinatown Wars beat all odds and become a top-selling title in Japan? Time will tell.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars First Z Rated DS Title In Japan - [eXophase.com]

Ubisoft Opening Toronto Based Studio, Promises To Create 800 Jobs Over Next Decade

x3sphere — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:16:13 +0000

Publisher Ubisoft today announced plans to expand its internal development force with the creation of a fourth studio in Canada, this time based in the Toronto, Ontario area. With operations scheduled to kick off in late 2009, Ubi expects the move to generate 800 jobs over the next decade.

In a pledge towards support of the newly created studio, the government of Ontario is investing a generous $263 million in Canadian dollars. Ubisoft Montréal CEO Yannis Mallat will oversee operations at the Toronto-based studio, which is poised to focus on triple-A efforts.

Full release after the break.

UBISOFT® EXTENDS GLOBAL REACH, OPENING NEW STUDIO IN TORONTO

Province supports Ubisoft in development of first Ontario-based studio

London England, July 6 – Ubisoft announced plans today to open a full development studio in Toronto, Ontario – a first for the company in the province. This significant announcement is expected to result in the creation of 800 net new jobs within the province over the next decade. The government of Ontario is investing CA$263 million over ten years in the company and Ubisoft’s net investment will be over half a billion CAD in the new studio, which will begin operations in late 2009.
“Today’s announcement marks a strategic move for Ubisoft as we continue to expand our internal development force,” said Yves Guillemot, president and chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “We are in an excellent position to grow and after extensive analysis we are thrilled to have reached an agreement with the government of Ontario to found our new studio in Toronto. The city is one of North America’s economic and cultural epicenters and our expectations are high. We’re excited to be able to count on the exceptional local talent, who will contribute to our accelerated growth and will have a profound impact on the video game industry with the excellence of their creativity.”

Ubisoft Toronto will be overseen by Yannis Mallat, chief executive officer at Ubisoft Montréal, whose proven leadership and vision will be a major asset to the growth and success of the new studio. Ubisoft Toronto will work on Triple-A games and will emulate the proven business model and creative excellence for which Ubisoft is known. In addition, Ubisoft Toronto will bring its own flavour to the global Ubisoft brand, which will benefit from the deep pool of dynamic and quality talent trained in video game design and production in the province of Ontario.

The Toronto studio will also build on the city’s existing experience with the film production industry. Collaborating with local film industry veterans to enhance video game production and extend Ubisoft’s convergence strategy, Ubisoft Toronto will contribute to Ubisoft’s global plan of extending its brands to complementary platforms and mediums, including books, comics, short films and other products.
“We are incredibly excited to finally tap into the remarkable talent Ontario has been developing over the years,” said Yannis Mallat. “Toronto’s unique pool of experience video game industry and film industry talent will allow us to develop a team with exceptional ability to help us realize our goals for creating brands with universal appeal that extend beyond the world of video games.”

The studio in Toronto will be the fourth for Ubisoft in Canada, with other studios located in Montréal, Quebec City and Vancouver and employing more than 2,300 creative staff across the country.

Today’s announcement is made possible with the support of the Ontario provincial government and its dedication to invest in organizations that create jobs and provide long-term value for the provincial economy. Premier Dalton McGuinty was on hand today at the Ubisoft press conference in Toronto to help announce plans for the new studio and elaborate on the provincial government’s support for the endeavour, stating “Our world is one where you can borrow capital, you can copy technology and you can buy natural resources. But to build a high wage and a high standard of living you need talent. By investing in Ubisoft, we’re building Ontario’s economy now and for the future.”
Among its more than 17 multi-million selling franchises, Ubisoft is known for developing and producing such legendary game brands as Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell®, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six®, Assassin’s Creed®, Prince of Persia®, Red Steel®, Rayman®, Rayman Raving Rabbids®, and Far Cry®.

Ubisoft Opening Toronto Based Studio, Promises To Create 800 Jobs Over Next Decade - [eXophase.com]

Pokemon Heart Gold, Soul Silver Hits Japan September 12

x3sphere — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:17:11 +0000

Nintendo announced today that Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver will hit Japan on September 12.

Sporting redone visuals and WiFi connectivity, both titles are remakes of Pokemon Gold and Silver, which debuted on the Game Boy Color back in 1999. As any launch of a Pokemon title is classified as a big deal in Japan, it’s safe to say we’ll see these two sell by the bucketload. And that’s putting it lightly.

A North American release date has yet to be announced. Assuming Nintendo sticks to its usual timeline, it’d be reasonable to expect both titles to arrive stateside early next year.

Pokemon Heart Gold, Soul Silver Hits Japan September 12 - [eXophase.com]

C.O.P. The Recruit Website Launches

x3sphere — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 02:37:58 +0000

Publisher Ubisoft has launched the official website for its open-world action title C.O.P. The Recruit. Opening with a high-octane trailer complete with gameplay footage, the site provides a glimpse at the game’s varied, story-driven missions.

We tried it at E3 and walked away impressed from a technical perspective. In a platform first, Ubisoft has managed to fit a fully realized, 3D open-world on the DS. A highly commendable effort considering the limitations of the platform.

C.O.P. The Recruit is due out September 30. To keep tabs on future updates surrounding the title, hit up the Facebook fan page.

C.O.P. The Recruit Website Launches - [eXophase.com]

May NPD: Sluggish Month for Industry, Sales Dip Below $1 Billion

x3sphere — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:04:08 +0000

May was a sluggish month for the video game industry, with combined software and hardware sales figures dipping below the $1 billion mark for the first time since August 2007, according to the latest figures from NPD.

Sales were stagnant across the board and in some cases, unit sales of certain platforms took a significant dive when compared to last month. This decline was most evident with the Wii, which sold 289,500 units in May, compared to 340,000 in April. The Nintendo DS family remained on top, shifting a respectable 633,500 units.

See the full breakdown after the jump.

Hardware Units

PlayStation 2 117K
PlayStation 3 131K
PSP 100.4K
Xbox 360 175K
Wii 289.5K
Nintendo DS 633.5K

Top 10 SKU’s May 2009

Publisher Platform Rank # Units
UFC 2009 UNDISPUTED THQ Xbox 360 1 679.6K
Wii FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 2 352.8K
EA SPORTS ACTIVE BUNDLE ELECTRONIC ARTS Wii 3 345.8K
UFC 2009 UNDISPUTED THQ PS3 4 334.4K
INFAMOUS SONY PS3 5 175.9K
POKEMON PLATINUM VERSION NINTENDO OF AMERICA NDS 6 168.9K
MARIO KART W/ WHEEL NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 7 158.3K
PUNCH OUT!! NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 8 156.9K
X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE UNCAGED ED ACTIVISION BLIZZARD Xbox 360 9 120.7K
Wii PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 10 109.8K

May NPD: Sluggish Month for Industry, Sales Dip Below $1 Billion - [eXophase.com]

C.O.P. The Recruit Gameplay Impressions: Fully 3D Open-World Action Hits DS

x3sphere — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:29:19 +0000

Looking to make a splash in the largely untapped open-world genre on Nintendo DS, Ubisoft is releasing C.O.P. this coming fall.

Presented in a fully-realized, interactive 3D world, players assume the role of Dan Miles, a street detective under the guidance of his falsely accused mentor Brad Winter. Seeking to bring those behind the framing to justice, Miles quickly finds himself involved in an menacing conspiracy reaching far throughout the city.

From my time with a demo of the title at E3, I can say that no comprises are being made. Considering the limitations of the hardware, Ubisoft is doing an exceptional job at delivering a compelling open-world experience.

Not looking to simply follow the GTA formula carbon copy, Ubisoft has taken a more linear-based approach to C.O.P. While missions are broken up into segments, all of them fall back and relate to the main plot. From a chat I had with producer Nouredine Abboud, the aim is to create a structured experience, one in which players know their objectives and do not feel a sense of being lost, a common issue that has been known to plague open-world efforts on other platforms.

Judging from the 15 minutes hands-on I had with the title, missions are varied, with an equal amount of play time being given to car jacking and on-foot action sequences. To keep things fresh, mission objectives with a twist are thrown to the mix. One such objective links players up to a live video feed of a security camera in a casino, tasking players with the objective of pinning down the location of a shady character. Another has players armed with a fire extinguisher putting out hazardous flames in a burning building.

Between missions, a brief synopsis or recap of recent developments plot-wise are shown on-screen in a comic book like format, giving players an opportunity to always keep tabs on the unfolding story, even if they are not following it point by point in-game.

Like majority of DS titles, C.O.P. utilizes the touch screen for various in-game commands. Played from a third-person perspective, players can double tap the bottom screen to enter an aiming viewpoint, while moving the stylus across the screen will move the crosshair to allow precise targeting of foes. The demo featured a variety of weapon types, ranging from a point blank pistol to automatic machine guns and assault rifles.

Abboud noted that there are no plans to implement multiplayer, as a game of this scale is already pushing technical bounds on the single player front.

C.O.P. is shaping up to be quite the ambitious title for a handheld effort. This is definitely one to look out for when it hits in fall 2009.

C.O.P. The Recruit Gameplay Impressions: Fully 3D Open-World Action Hits DS - [eXophase.com]

Square Enix Announces Diverse E3 Lineup, Reveals NIER And Front Mission Evolved

x3sphere — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:19:19 +0000

Square Enix today lifted the lid on its E3 lineup, revealing two previously unannounced efforts, NIER and Front Mission Evolved.

With a renewed focus on Western development comes a more diverse product portfolio from the house that made Final Fantasy, crossing the genres of action, shooter, and real-time strategy.

Placing players in the role of a determined protagonist in a quest to his save his virus-stricken daughter, NIER is set in a crumbling world ridden with dark, demonic creatures of an unrecognizable type. Developed by cavia, the title is due out in 2010.

In a first for the series, Front Mission Evolved departs from the series’ stable of tactical, turn-based gameplay and thrusts players into an intense third-person shooter environment. Set in an immersive world, featured is a single player campaign and online multiplayer component. Double Helix is handling development duties on the title. A release date has yet to be announced.

Apart from those two titles, the remainder of the lineup is nothing new, but a sizable chunk of it will be playable for the first time at E3. See the full list after the break.

FRONT MISSION EVOLVED

Developer: Double Helix Games™

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platforms: PLAYSTATION 3/Xbox 360/Windows PC

Genre: Third-Person Shooter

ESRB: Not Yet Rated

Ship Date: TBA

From the creative minds of Square Enix and Double Helix Games, FRONT MISSION EVOLVED brings the classic FRONT MISSION® franchise into an action-packed third-person shooter that gives players full control of a massive humanoid war machine—the wanzer. Players will battle through intense combat situations as they explore an immersive world in both the single player campaign and online multiplayer.

The official website can be found at http://www.frontmissionevolved.com.

KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd./h.a.n.d.

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platform: Nintendo DS™

Genre: Action-RPG

ESRB: RP (Rating Pending)

Ship Date: Fall 2009

Uncover the events that took place during the year Sora was asleep regaining his lost memories. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days revolves around Roxas, the “other” hero from KINGDOM HEARTS II, and his days as a member of Organization XIII. Follow Roxas and the rest of Organization XIII across the various Disney Worlds, and discover the connection between him, Sora and the mysterious 14th member, and the reasons behind his eventual departure from the organization. KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days also features a multiplayer mode for the first time, allowing players to control their favorite Organization XIII members!

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/khdays/.

NIER

Developer: cavia, Inc.

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platforms: PLAYSTATION 3/ Xbox 360

Genre: Action-Adventure

ESRB: Not Yet Rated

Ship Date: 2010

Nothing is as it seems in Square Enix’s latest action adventure game, set in a crumbling world plagued by disease and dark, unrecognizable creatures. Players assume the role of the unyielding protagonist, NIER, resolute in his quest to discover a cure for his daughter, who is infected with the Black Scrawl virus. With powerful allies and a mysterious book, NIER encounters things that will confound even the mightiest of warriors.

Official website coming soon.

ORDER OF WAR
Developer: Wargaming.net™
Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
Platform: Windows PC
Genre: Real-Time Strategy

ESRB: Not Yet Rated

Ship Date: Fall 2009

Square Enix teams up with strategy game specialist Wargaming.net to present ORDER OF WAR, a brand-new IP set for a simultaneous release across multiple territories. Developed exclusively for Windows PC, the game features massive-scale battles brought to life with a cinematic intensity never seen before in a WWII strategy game. Players will take command of an entire army including ground troops, artillery, tank divisions and aircraft in all-out strategic assaults. The single-player mode can be played out in two campaigns – American versus German forces on the western front and German versus Russian on the eastern front. Missions will be based on key historic events and operations from 1944.

The official website can be found at http://www.orderofwar.com/.

SUPREME COMMANDER 2

Developer: Gas Powered Games®

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platforms: Xbox 360/Windows PC
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
ESRB: Not Yet Rated

Ship date: 2010

Experience brutal battles on a massive scale! In SUPREME COMMANDER 2, players will wage war by creating enormous customizable armies and experimental war machines that can change the balance of power at any given moment. Take the role of one of the three enigmatic commanders, each representing a unique faction with a rich story that brings a new level of emotional connection to the RTS genre, or fight the battle online. Where do your loyalties lie?

Official website coming soon.

FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS™

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platform: Wii

Genre: RPG

ESRB: E (Everyone)

Launch Date: June 1, 2009

A true sequel to the classic Super NES™ title, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is an episodic game coming exclusively to Nintendo’s WiiWare™ service June 1, 2009. With both single and multiplayer modes, Wii users will now be able to explore the world of FINAL FANTASY IV with up to three of their friends and coordinate commands into a single attack. Unravel a mystery told through the intertwining stories of a familiar cast of characters, and complete the FINAL FANTASY IV experience with this latest installment in the franchise.

The official website can be found at http://www.ff4theafteryears.com/.

FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord™

Developer: Square Enix Co., Ltd.

Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.

Platform: Wii

Genre: Real-Time Strategy

ESRB: E10+ (Everyone 10 and older)

Launch Date: 2009

The latest installment in the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES franchise for Nintendo’s WiiWare service, FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a Darklord turns the tables on players by challenging them to take on the role of the villain. As the newly appointed Darklord with a mission to take over the world, players must strategically place monsters and traps inside their tower to ward off invading adventurers. With this follow-up to the kingdom-building simulation FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES: My Life as a King®, Wii users can now enjoy the FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES world from an entirely new point of view!

The official website can be found at http://www.mylifeasadarklord.com/.

To experience the latest offerings from Square Enix first-hand, visit booth 1546 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Square Enix Announces Diverse E3 Lineup, Reveals NIER And Front Mission Evolved - [eXophase.com]

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron Heading To DS, PSP

x3sphere — Wed, 27 May 2009 00:02:54 +0000

LucasArts today announced that Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is headed to the PSP and Nintendo DS this fall.

The title pits players in “multi-level” intergalactic battlefronts, arenas that encompass both ground and space. Promising a “deep and engrossing single player campaign,” the title’s story spans the entire Star Wars Saga and beyond. Players assume the role of X2, a force-sensitive clone fraught with a blood stained past. Seeking to reedem himself, X2 joins the the chastise-seeking faction of Rebellion in a struggle against the Empire to bring his DNA-matching twin, otherwise known as X1, to justice.

Both versions will offer a level of character customization, with the Rebellion-developed PSP title offering the “deepest customization options ever seen in a Star Wars Battlefront title.” That includes everything from their species to gender appearance and physical attributes. Additionally, the PSP take will offer 16-way multiplayer matches while the DS iteration, which is being handled by n-Space, will sport 4-person skirmishes across a number of gameplay modes.

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron Heading To DS, PSP - [eXophase.com]

April NPD: DSi Fuels North American Hardware Sales

x3sphere — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:38:21 +0000

Nintendo’s camera touting DSi handheld is making quite the splash in North America, having accounted for a whopping 31 percent of total industry unit sales in April. Combined with DS Lite sales, the platform shifted 1.04 million units.

Elsewhere across the spectrum, retail performance took a dive – as is expected for April. Overall sales incurred a hefty hit compared to March as well as on a year-over-year basis. On the console front, Wii numbers totaled 340,000 while Xbox 360 came in at second place with 175,000 units sold, barely inching past the price-cut driven PS2 which managed 172,000 units.

Although it is a factor, the crippled economy cannot be blamed entirely for a decline in sales on most formats. According to NPD, a recently conducted Consumer Spending poll found that the category of video games is one consumers are least likely to stop spending disposable income on.

See the full listing of numbers for April past the break.

Hardware

PlayStation 2 172K
PlayStation 3 127K
PSP 116K
Xbox 360 175K
Wii 340K
Nintendo DS 1.04M

Software

FIT W/ BALANCE BOARD NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 1 471K
POKEMON PLATINUM VERSION NINTENDO OF AMERICA NDS 2 433K
MARIO KART W/ WHEEL NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 3 210K
PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA Wii 4 170K
THE GODFATHER II ELECTRONIC ARTS 360 5 155K
RESIDENT EVIL 5* CAPCOM USA 360 6 122K
NEW SUPER MARIO BROS NINTENDO OF AMERICA NDS 7 119K
MARIO KART DS NINTENDO OF AMERICA NDS 8 112K
GUITAR HERO AEROSMITH* ACTIVISION BLIZZARD (CORP) 360 9 110K
THE GODFATHER II ELECTRONIC ARTS PS3 10 91K

April NPD: DSi Fuels North American Hardware Sales - [eXophase.com]

EA Details Spore Hero, Spore Hero Arena

x3sphere — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:50:34 +0000

EA has released official details on the Wii and DS incarnations of Will Wright’s exuberant Spore universe.

Featuring rich and colorful 3D landscapes, Wii title Spore Hero is a story-driven action-adventure romp. Players create their own “Hero” and set off to rid the planet of a nefarious dark force threatening to destroy it. A bevy of lighthearted and humorous missions are promised, along with brain-taxing puzzles. Additionally, over 250 available parts for character customization will be up for grabs, which players can utilize in a Wii-specific version of Spore Creature Creator.

Spore Hero Arena for DS is the second handheld take on Spore, centering around arena-style combat played out on a distant 3D galaxy. The premise is simple: players set off with the aim of becoming the toughest creature around, battling legions of foes while striving to steal the title of the local champion in each area. Gameplay depth lies in the ability to create the ultimate fighter by combining special abilities and parts. The title will boast multiplayer support, paving the way for four player battles locally or one-on-one bouts over WiFi.

Spore Hero and Spore Hero Arena are due out on both platforms later this fall.

EA Details Spore Hero, Spore Hero Arena - [eXophase.com]

Ubisoft Details E3 Conference

x3sphere — Thu, 07 May 2009 18:37:27 +0000

Ubisoft announced today that its invite-only E3 conference, hosted by Joel McHale of “The Soup” fame, will kick off on June 1 at the Los Angeles Theatre.

Ubisoft is gearing up for quite the showing, promising exclusive reveals of the MotionPlus-supported Red Steel 2 and Assassins Creed 2, in addition to a gameplay demonstration of Wii title Rabbids Go Home. Other “unannounced titles” are poised to make an appearance as well, so expect a few surprises thrown into the mix.

For the vast majority of fans not able to attend, hit up Ubi.com the following morning for a broadcast stream of the event.

Ubisoft Details E3 Conference - [eXophase.com]

Ubisoft Already Preparing for New Hardware

x3sphere — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 17:48:31 +0000

Speaking in a recent interview with Gamasutra, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot went on record to state that the company has already taken the liberty of planning ahead for future console and handheld iterations. Guillemot acknowledges that maintaining a proactive outlook is essential to coping with this ever-changing landscape.

[We need to get ready for the future generation of consoles. In the next few years, there will be new home and handheld consoles, and if you don't invest... you will not be able to cope with both [the existing and new generation consoles].

This is just smart business: staying on your toes is smart, especially with the increased popularity of digital distribution for content delivery. However, at the moment Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have yet to lay out definitive plans regarding future hardware. It seems a given that we’ll see something within the next five years, though.

Ubisoft’s Guillemot: Prepare For New Hardware ‘In The Next Few Years’ [Gamasutra]

Ubisoft Already Preparing for New Hardware - [eXophase.com]

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth Heading Stateside

x3sphere — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:29:33 +0000

Capcom is bringing Gyakuten Kenji, an all-new Ace Attorney entry starring prosecutor Miles Edgeworth, over to the states.

Due out in Japan next month, the title takes a departure from traditional courtroom strife, shifting the focus over to investigating crimes with the objective of uncovering the real criminal responsible in each case. Gameplay is similar in scope to previous Ace Attorney entries, with the core change being that it is not played from a first-person perspective. Using the d-pad or stylus, you control Edgeworth and can physically walk up to objects resembling evidence and NPCs, rather than just point and click for clues in the surrounding environment.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth is due out “this winter” in North America. A year wasn’t specified, so that could potentially mean late 2009 or early 2010. Hopefully the former. Either way, we’re more than relieved to hear that the title is stateside bound.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth Heading Stateside - [eXophase.com]

Wada: Eidos Is A First Step, Calls Japanese Market “Xenophobic”

x3sphere — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:23:43 +0000

Even after the purchase of Tomb Raider creator Eidos, Square Enix has no plans to hop off the acquisition bandwagon anytime soon. According to company president Yoichi Wada, control of Eidos was “the first step” towards its ambitious Western expansion plans. That means if Wada sees fit, laying down the dollar for other companies isn’t out of the question.

Further to this, Wada labeled the Japanese video game market as “xenophobic,” alluding to Square’s plans to gain a more prominent foothold in the West as a result of this downturn.

In the last five to 10 years, the Japanese games industry has become a closed environment, with no new people coming in, no new ideas, almost xenophobic. It is now slightly behind western counterparts.

Interesting to see how things change so quickly. Japan was a key market for video games a few years ago. No one could have predicted that its leading position would begin to rust away like this. Clearly the economic climate is a factor here, but that cannot be the only reason Japan is experiencing a lack of innovation.

Wada: Eidos Is A First Step, Calls Japanese Market “Xenophobic” - [eXophase.com]