With the WiiWare service up and running, Nintendo today added two new original games to the service along with a lonely retro game to Wii’s Shop Channel.
Priced at 1000 Wii points, Konami’s Critter Round-up has players trying to herd farm animals and keep them from escaping (or whatever it is they are trying to do) from the player’s grasp. The second title is the latest entry in the popular top-down shooting series - Star Soldier R. Released by Hudson Soft, the game has players test their skills in 2 or 5 minute increments. It can be bought for 800 Wii points.
This week’s lonely retro release is Namco’s Skykid. Purchasable for 500 Wii points, the NES game has players enjoying the rivalry between Red Baron and Blue Max as they drop bombs on one another.
Namco and Bandai Games have jointly announced that MotoGP is being developed for the PSP for release in North America. Gamers can now experience the “excitement” of Moto Grand Prix racing on-the-go with new features including the new 2005 roster, unlockable rewards and a wireless multiplayer mode allowing for up to eight players race against one another.
Set for release this Fall, the game will also include a variety of new modes including head-to-head in time trial, arcade, one-on-one and more.
First shown off at E3 2005, Namco Bandai has announced that Mobile Suit Gundam will be released for the PS3 later this year.
The latest and most advanced installment in the series, the PS3 Gundam will set players in the latter stages of The One Year War. Players will have the opportunity to be a commander of their own Mobile Suit battalion for either the Federation or Zeon Mobile Suit Assault Force.
No exact release date was mentioned, but many are speculating that the game will be released either as a launch title for the console, or be released sometime later in December.
Although not currently implemented, Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada has gone on record to say that Tekken 6 may feature motion sensor functionality that was unveiled at Sony’s pre-E3 conference. He went on to give an example of how it might be used – for instance, players would have to shake their way free when they are in a stranglehold.
Speaking to Japanese publication IT Media, Harada also went on to say that the fighters shown in the trailer during this E3 were still at an experimental state, and that further changes will take place until the end of the game’s development.
Unfortunately, he wouldn’t comment on the game’s release date, or whether it would feature online multiplayer or not.
Namco and Dark Horse Comics have announced that they are producing a comic book based on Hellgate: London, the upcoming RPG-FPS from Flagship Studios.
The comic book will provide the background story behind the game, with Issue “0” beginning when MI5 agent Lyra Darius discovers a human charnel house in London while investigating the affairs of a recently resigned Minister. The story builds up with Lyra entangled in the Knights Templar conspiracy, following up to the “Battle of All Hallows’ Eve”.
Written by Ian Edginton, the critically acclaimed author of Scarlet Traces and the recent War of the Worlds web comic adaptation, who has teamed up with Superman and Preacher artist Steve Pugh to explore the demon-ravaged metropolis. Issue “0” will be given away for free at E3.
Namco will be showcasing 19 of its highly anticipated titles at this year’s E3. Set up at booth #824 in the South Hall, the company will be showing off new installments in notable franchises including Xenosaga Episode III, Tales of the Abyss, Ace Combat X, Tekken Dark Resurrection and The Legend of Heroes II. They will also be showing off Hellgate: London, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos, Naruto, One Piece, Ultimate Ninja and more. Below is the full lineup:
- Xenosaga EPISODE III: Also sprach Zarathustra
- Tales of the Abyss
- Pac-Man World Rally
- Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
- Tekken: Dark Resurrection
- The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch
- Mobile Ops™: The One Year War
- Mage Knight Apocalypse
- Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
- HELLGATE: LONDON
- The Fast and The Furious
- Snoopy vs. The Red Baron
- Charlie Brown’s All-Stars
- Naruto: Ultimate Ninja
- Zatchbell!: Mamodo Fury
- .hack//G.U. Vol.1: Rebirth
- One Piece Grand Adventure
- IGPX
- Eureka Seven Vol 1: The New Wave
(more…)
Bringing a graphically shoddy game to the Xbox 360 is Namco Bandai who announced Mobile Ops: The One Year War. A mech-shooter exclusive to the Microsoft console, Mobile Ops has players battling for independence from The Earth Federation.
The game will have players donning “metal suits,” aka mechs, to go up against other such metal suits in hand-to-hand combat or with weapons. There will be Xbox Live support for multiplayer, letting players modify suits with robust customization options, among other things.
Mobile Ops is scheduled to launch this Holiday season.
Namco Bandai has announced The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch for the PSP. Slated for release this Summer, the RPG will feature two young heroes who must save a magical world in peril.
Featuring the return of the “pet system” and “stunning” environments from the original, the game improves upon its predecessor with many new features and “easy-pick-up-and-play” game mechanics.
The game will include a total of 40 cars (including old and new designs), over 20 courses and support for 14-player multiplayer using Sony’s online network.
A site for the game has gone up, offering a sneak peek at the title. However, high-resolution versions of the images on the site have been posted below, shamelessly stolen from Playsyde.
Namco Bandai has announced Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception for the PSP, a portable version of its air combat action series. The game will feature wireless support for ad-hoc dogfights, letting players take to the skies with licensed aircraft such as the F-14D and Tornado F3, and a strategic AI system where the players’ actions directly affect the mission objectives.
The title will also be host to an all-new storyline set in a new universe apart from the series’ PS2 title. Players will take on the role of an ace pilot trying to liberate their home country of Aurelia from its neighbor, Leasath.
Look for the portable title this Fall.
If Pac-Man is your thing, then be sure to head on over to the PAC-MAN tournaments at E3 this year! Namco Networks will be hosting daily tournaments consisting of two rounds - a qualifying round and a final challenge - giving players the chance to go up against other similarly crazy Pac-Man fans for prizes and “bragging rights.”
During the daily qualifying rounds, contestants will compete on mobile phones to see who can earn the highest PAC-MAN score. There will be three qualifying rounds daily, which are open to all who want to enter. The day’s six highest scores (as displayed on the tournament’s leader board) will qualify contestants for the daily final challenge.Taking it back to the arcade-era, final challenge contestants will face a “sudden death” playoff on a classic PAC-MAN arcade machine. With just one life, challengers must score as many points as possible.
All of the final challenge contestants will receive prizes delivered by PAC-MAN himself. Along with a “PAC-MAN Champion” t-shirt, the daily winner will receive a gift basket of PAC-MAN toys, shirts, and other products available exclusively from ClubNamco.com, Namco Networks’ new retail site.
The tournaments will be run at Namco Networks’ booth (#600 in the South Hall). Qualifying rounds will begin at 11 am, 12 pm and 2 pm; the daily final challenge will be at 3 pm.
Namco Bandai has announced Eureka Seven Vol. 1: The New Wave, a mecha combat adventure title that is the prequel to the similarly named anime series from Bandai Entertainment. Due for release this Fall on the PS2, Eureka will offer “stunning aerial boarding” and “thrilling robot battles”.
Featuring transformable mechas called LFO (Light Finding Operation), “Eureka Seven Vol. 1: The New Wave” introduces Sumner Sturgeon, a budding LFO pilot trainee on a lush, futuristic planet whose primary energy source are “trapars” - invisible energy particles that provides lift for aerial travel. An aspiring elite military officer, Sumner can transform his LFO into its humanoid form to surf the skies on a ref board or remain in vehicle mode to participate in exhilarating high-speed chases. “Eureka Seven Vol. 1: The New Wave” offers a variety of gameplay modes as the gamer can switch from playing the character and controlling the LFO mechas in real time. With customizable mechas, this upcoming title guarantees an intriguing storyline and exciting combat in an unforgettable sci-fi world.
A look at Sony’s release schedule discloses that Tekken: Dark Resurrection, the portable fighter, will be released for the PSP this September, delayed from its initial Summer timeframe.
With the upcoming Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift movie coming up, Namco has announced a game based on the third movie in the popular racer franchise that will be hitting stores this Summer.
Being developed by Eutechnyx for the PS2 and PSP, the game will be set in a world
related to, yet separate from” the upcoming movie. It will, as the name implies, focus on the underground racing scene in Japan, letting gamers trick out their cars with over 500 body kits from authentic manufacturers, and more. The game will feature “boss races” as well as an “advanced rubber band” AI system; multiplayer modes will also be present, offering two-player split-screen and up to four players online.
Craving for an “over-the-top party game?” Namco Bandai has the answer for you: the company has announced One Piece: Pirates’ Carnival for the PS2. Set for release this Spring, the title will feature over 30 mini-games and up to four player gameplay. Some of the mini-games include pie-eating contests, teeth-gritting battles on stilts, pirate basketball and others. No other details were disclosed.
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