On the horizon

post from The Brainy Gamer on 20 November 2009 02:00:00 PM. © The Brainy Gamer

In an astonishingly short period of time, Japanese developer Level-5 has transformed itself from a small developer operating under Sony's wing to one of the premier independent game companies in the world. They've set the bar high, releasing a series of highly polished, well-crafted RPGs, including the under-appreciated Dark Chronicle, Dragon Quest VIII, Rogue Galaxy, and Jeanne d'Arc.

In 2007 Level-5 released Professor Layton and the Curious Village, a departure from its RPG-exclusive focus, and a flag planted firmly in the soil of Nintendo's portable juggernaut. Between now and the end of 2010, Level-5 will release 15 more games for the DS, including Dragon Quest IX and two more Professor Layton titles. Time will tell if the developer can sustain its standard of excellence across so many releases.

Tucked in among those forthcoming releases are two games that have captured my attention, despite precious little information available about them: Fantasy Life and The Another World. I know the gap between pre-release excitement and post-release reality is often wide and sobering, but a few things about these games make me think we have good reasons to be hopeful. Level-5's involvement is one of them, but there's more.

Fantasy LIfe is a collaboration between Level-5 and Brownie Brown. For some of you, that may be all you need to know. Brownie Brown (along with HAL Laboratory) developed Mother 3, a game I consider one of the finest RPGs ever made. It also features a soundtrack by the renowned Nobuo Uematsu, composer for the Final Fantasy series.

That's an impressive pedigree, but what really excites me about Fantasy Life (and it sure ain't the generic name) is Level-5 president and lead designer Ahihiro Hino's description of the game as a "slow-life RPG." The game presents a persistent world ala Animal Crossing in which the player creates a character and then selects one of 20 lives tolead - such as guard, merchant or miner - and then goes about daily life accomplishing tasks associated with that chosen life, slowly attaining happiness.[1]

The player can live in two fantasy kingdoms; one populated by NPCs, and the other by other players living their own lives via wi-fi connection. Fantasy Life won't appeal to everyone. But to a player like me, for whom games like Animal Crossing, Harvest Moon, and The Sims hold a strange allure, the concept of a "slow-life" experience in an evolving virtual world that I carry in my pocket? Bring me that game.

The other forthcoming Level-5 game is potentially even more exciting than the first, and again pedigree is a factor. The Another World is a collaboration between Level-5 and the legendary animation house Studio Ghibli.

This game represents Studio Ghibli's first foray into games, and while details on the game are sketchy, we know the game will include a magic book containing various spells activated usingdrawings with the stylus. The game will also include an actual booklet that is meant to represent themagic book from the game and is required to play the game.[2] Early screenshots and artwork suggest Studio Ghibli's loving touch.

The November issue of Nintendo Power revealed that Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke) is composing a fully orchestrated soundtrack, which will require the game to be released on a 4-gigabit cartridge, the largest ever used for a DS game. Once again, I say bring me this game.

FYI, Gamasutra recently ran an interview with Level-5's Hino in which he discusses the keys to his company's success. It's well worth your time, if only for Hino's explanation of what he calls "boom triggers."

Here's hoping at least one of these games delivers on its promises. But, hey, why not both?

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Fanboy Friday: Xcoxucka Edition

post from Destructoid on 20 November 2009 02:00:00 PM. © Destructoid

Fanboy Friday: Xcoxucka Edition screenshot

In case you didn't hear, the Spike VGAs are coming up, featuring the fabulous Nick Chester as a judge. If you haven't voted yet, you can head right on over here and vote. While you're voting, take a look at the nominees. Do you notice anything odd? Something missing, perhaps?

I know! I couldn't believe it either!

The fact that Killzone 2 is not up for GOTY is nothing short of a travesty. While I just wept quietly to myself in outrage, other more proactive gamers took to the internet to rage about it.

Hit the jump.

As soon as this story is posted, the very first comment is from an 'Xbot' who just wants to rub salt in everyone's wounds.

Well Duhh. Its been nominated sh!tty game of the year though.

Since this was the very first comment, this means that any hope at rational, calm discussion is utterly destroyed. Here comes the rebuttal argument:

HOW STUPID DO YOU SOUND..SINCE WHEN DO SH1TTY GAMES AVG A 9.2??S
ITS FUNNY HOW A GAME THAT HAS 2ND TO NONE GRAPHICS AND AN AVG OF 9.2 AND ADDICTING ONLINE DOES NOT GET NOMINATED BUT L4D1.2 GETS SQUEEZED IN..BY THE TIME THE AWARDS SHOW AIRS WE PROBALY WONT EVEN KNOW WHAT L4D1.2 AVG...PROBALY AN 8

We also get some conspiracy theorists. Since there's obviously no rational reason for Killzone's exclusion, there must be something nefarious at work. I also learned that conspiracy theorists have special non-standard calendars. FIGHT THE MAN -- AUGUST IS AN INVENTION OF THE ILLUMINATI.

BOTS are too scared, they left it out on purpose.
People should RIP OUT 360 2009 from they're calendars.
Just say it didn't exist ;)
ONLY EXPANSIONS WERE RELEASED AT FULL PRICE.

This man speaks the truth: all shooting games suck if you can't hold a gun in each hand.

must just be a generic shooter like everyone said .... it brought NOTHING new to the table ... it was just pretty that's all ... Shame poor droids didn't even get to dual wield .... lame

Hey, let's fight about online play!

maybe it'll win the most forgotten game of the year
you can't find anybody online in that game
they all went to play MW 2 even with broken online

This response wins because it calls the guy above a "Bot Hole"

Your full of it bot hole killzone 2 is always loaded with mp players and I can play a match in time of the day or night.
Killzone 2 is 1 of the best fps games ive ever played and i recently am appreciating it a lot more. I still cant believe the experience it provides.
+ so many peeps who played mw2 came straight back to the king of fps here on helghan.
My 2 GOTYS are Kizzy 2 and uncharted 2 ftw

Now that the 360 people have slandered the PS3's multiplayer, it's time for the Sony fanboys to fight back.

Any 360 game online is broken by default, who wants to deal with all that lag?
How much money does it take to get MW2 online for the 360?
$50 more than the PS3, enjoy paying for less.

Remember "Flopza"? During the discussion, someone pointed out that "Flopza" wasn't nominated for GOTY either. This set off a HUGE storm of bickering back and forth, starting with this massive wall of text.

flopza. Flopza. Flopza. WE GET IT.
Flopza didn't do Halo-type numbers. WE GET IT.
Nor did we expect it. Reasonable XBOX360 Fans understood that 2009 was a wash as far as exclusives are concerned. Microsoft tossed a bone with ODST, Left 4 Dead 2, and Forza 3, but we all knew that 2010 was the bombshell year.
So Sony acted desperately as Microsoft expected. Releasing the Slim and these so-called "great exclusives", Sony thought that they could make an impact.
But do you hear that? Listen closely...
(That's the sound of your so-called "great exclusives" ALL flopping.)

You had your chance.
Now stand your ground.
And prepare for the onslaught.
2010 is coming.

Splinter Cell.
Alan Wake.
Halo Reach.
Fable III.
Mass Effect 2.
Crackdown 2.
Possibly a rumored Gears of War 3.
Project Natal.

It won't be pretty. :-)

Seems reasonable, until you realize that this guy has been posting all over the place criticizing Uncharted 2's numbers.

oh my god. You ARE A HYPOCRITE. I can't believe just how stupid you are.

That's what we say about EVERY game. If you don't want forza (I'll admit, it's a good game), then DON'T DO THE SAME TO EVERY PS3 GAME. You damn moron. NOTHING on the 360 other than Halo does those type of numbers. You are PATHETIC.

And guess what, I'm looking forward to most of the games you listed. The only reason most of us insult 360 games is becuase you retards do the same thing. Forza was the MOST HYPED racer this year and did not even sell that much.

This, of course, turns in to a "I KNOW YOU ARE BUT WHAT AM I" fight.

Funny, I thought PS3 fanboys were the mature ones. So by your logic, if someone is making fun of PS3 games, u stoop down to their level???
I can see with all those caps that uve clearly been angered. Try an calm down Saaking. Repeating Flopza over and over again must be quite tiring. BTW: If u admit Forza is a good game, why do you degrade it by calling it Flopza????

I will give this one particular poster (extremely limited) credit, he actually talks about Killzone instead of going off on a tangent about other games or what's coming in 2010.

KZ2 LOOKS BETTER THAN ANY GAME ON ANY CONSOLE RIGHT NOW AND ITS ONLINE IS 2ND TO NONE..YOU ARE MAD CAUSE THEY SNUCK L4D1.2 IN THERE JUST TO MAKE 360 LOOK GOOD..LOOK AT THE BEST 360 GAME CATEGORY IT HAS 2 MULTIPLATS LMAO YA SO FVKING SAD I SWEAR PS3 #1 BEECHEZ

ZOMG CONTROLLER LAG!

I lol everytime a droid refers to controller lag in KZ2 as an added reality feature for gun weight.
It was completely denied for 2 weeks, then the "realism effect" becamse the official line ... then they patched it ...
Stupid retards will believe anything.
It was broken. Controller lag is not reality ... it's a defect !!!

Here we get a well thought out argument, followed by an equally well-spoken rebuttal. Point:

I'm not surprised.
Sluggish gameplay, no variety(you just fight the same red eyed soldiers), the story is boring, the voice-acting is hilarious bad... the list goes on and on and on and on.

Counterpoint!

its better fighting red eyed soldiers than g@y aliens

This man is living in an elaborate fantasy world.

man I can't wait for M$ to OWN you and discontinue the 360 next year, so games are not being gimped all the time.

And finally, I want to end with two comments that introduce new slurs for the 360. This one I at least understand...

There is no excuse for KillZone 2 not to be part of the G.O.T.Y nomination. And for anyone playing that TRASHBOX 3SHITY that are on this thread talking smack are simply jealous becuase MS does not have a game superior to it on there system. GET OVER IT XBOTS.......

But I have NO idea what "xcoxuckas" is supposed to mean.

xcoxuckas can't face reality:
PS3 exclusives poop all over the competition.
uncharted2 is the only game in the same league as killzone2.
real gamers know, the others keep sucking

Oh well.

There will not be a Fanboy Friday next week as I can't bring myself to read through this crap on my favorite holiday. Sorry. Next Thursday while you're eating your turkey or ham (Yeah, my family does ham instead of turkey. It rules.), make sure you give thanks to your parents for giving you the genes that prevented you from being as stupid as the people featured above.

And if you live outside of the US and won't be celebrating Thanksgiving next week, my condolences. BEST. HOLIDAY. EVER.

I don't wanna hear anything from any of you Christmasbots in the comments either. More like ChristmASS, if you ask me.

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Tom Petty and Girls in Rock Band DLC Next Week

post from PWN or DIE on 20 November 2009 01:59:32 PM. © PWN or DIE

MTV Games and Harmonix finish the week by looking into the next and detailing the next track pack for Rock Band.

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http://www.pwnordie.com/2009/11/20/tom-petty-and-girls-in-rock-band-dlc-next-week
/

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Sonic costumes coming to LittleBigPlanet

post from Destructoid on 20 November 2009 01:40:00 PM. © Destructoid

Sonic costumes coming to LittleBigPlanet screenshot

Media Molecule has heard your cries, and have delivered -- Sonic the Hedgehog costumes are coming to LittleBigPlanet in December.

That's the good news. Bad news, it's based on Sonic Unleashed, which is probably not how you'd like to remember Sonic's speedy little hero. Regardless, that's the only way you'll get costumes for Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Dr. Robotnik, and -- gasp -- Sonic the Werehog.

Admit it, you want these... right?

[via Siliconera]

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Direct2Drive Deals of the Week

by: Chad Smith
NEWS - Direct2Drive has released the specials going on this week. One of the most noteworthy items they put in the alert was that you can get $5 off of Torchlight (making it $15) just by following them on Twitter this week. The specials and releases are as follows:

Special Deals and Price Drop
Three Different bundles from LucasArts (we posted earlier this week)
1. LucasArts “There’s Action, Adventure & Puzzles” Bundle – 50% off retail
2. Star Wars™ Classics Pack – 50% off retail
3. Can’t decide? Get all of the above in the LucasArts Premiere Pack – 60% off retail

Crayon Physics Deluxe – just $9.95 (50% off)

Price drop on Grand Theft Auto IV – now $29.95 (was $49.95)

New Games Now Available on D2D
Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack (click here)

Command & Conquer 4 – pre-order now and get into the Closed Beta!

James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game – pre-order and get great bonus items!

Elven Legacy Siege Expansion Pack (click here)

Read The Full Article:
http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/Direct2Drive-Deals-of-the-Week/Item15090.aspx

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Law Firm Considers Class Action Suit Over Xbox
Live Bans

A law firm in the U.S. is looking for Xbox Live users interested in joining a class action lawsuit against Microsoft in response to the company's decision to ban as many as a million users from the service for having modified consoles.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96264-Law-Firm-Considers-Class-Action-S
uit-Over-Xbox-Live-Bans

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KISS becomes a Hero

by: Tina Amini
NEWS - Or rather, you get to play KISS as a Guitar/Band Hero with the DLC that we mentioned was promised for November. The three-track song pack comes with a song from their newest album - "Modern Day Delilah" - as well as "Lick It Up" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You".

As a promotional event, KISS will also be streaming a live concert on Facebook on Wednesday, November 25th at 9pm PST that takes place in LA.

Read The Full Article:
http://www.gamingnexus.com/FullNews/KISS-becomes-a-Hero/Item15089.aspx

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