04.28.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 10:04 am by yuka
Well, that’s what Nintendo Revolution is going to be called from now on. Wii. Click here for the little ad (and click the box above the big Tetris box). It tells us that they envisioned the English word ‘we’ for the fact it’s playable by anyone in the household, and the ‘ii’ is for the unique controller and the image of people gathering to play games. And so Sega has announced that Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz for Wii is in production.
Square Enix, meanwhile, has announced that amongst their Ultimate Hits series will be popular titles from DQ and FF series, counting 16 in all. They will all come out on 20th July and will cost approx. between £7.90 and £14.70. The titles are as follows:
Star Ocean Till the End of Time Director’s Cut, DQ V, DQ VIII, Valkyrie Profile, Chrono Cross, Chrono Trigger, Saga Frontier, Saga Frontier 2, DQ IV, DQ VII, FF VII, FF VIII, FF IX, FF Tactics, Bay Grant Story (anyone heard of this?), and Legend of Mana. The first 3 titles are on PS2 and the rest are on PS. (screenshots and pics)
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04.24.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 1:52 pm by yuka
For the DSLite, out comes these paraphernalia for Golden Week (1st – 5th May, if I remember right). The Touch! pen that can elongate for easier use, comes in three colours from approx. £2.10, out 2nd May (the blue and pink version will be out from mid-May). A Cleaning Cloth that can be washed and re-used for £2.60, and a little case in which your DSLite can fit snugly and carry a few cartridges etc., will be out for £6.72. They’re all apparently coming out throughout May.
As for Square Enix’s E3 titles, here’s the list.
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04.21.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 12:10 pm by yuka
Square Enix site has announced FF III site is up, with release due for sometime this year. No other info is available at present. Also DQ VIII Yangus has new wallpapers out (top one being the newest). To get them, go click on the Download button (second from bottom once entering the site).
According to one article, this site will be offering American buyers a chance to purchase the New Super Mario Bros. DS with a DSLite (three colours). Haven’t seen any other confirmations elsewhere though.
Meanwhile, the two key people behind the highly acclaimed game Okami has spoken in an interview (with +DGames) that ‘the game isn’t art. It’s a high quality action adventure’, and is earnest to correct people’s views that the game is too hard to play. (If anyone’s interested in a full translation of the interview, please contact me.)
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04.18.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 2:01 pm by yuka
6 TV ads for Tetris DS is out now, though the game itself will be coming out 27th April in Japan for approx. £14.
Play! A Video Game Symphony will be playing worldwide soon. Starting off with Chicago, and through the US, Canada and Sweden so far. They will be playing music from Zelda, Mario, FF, Warcraft etc. See their site for details.
Okami’s press release footage is available here. Click on the link to view, though you will need a Windows Media Player.
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04.11.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 1:22 pm by yuka
Kingdom Hearts II has sold over 8.5 million in Japan and the US, it was reported yesterday. Still no mention of when it’ll be out in Europe however.
TV tuner for the NDS/GBA is out in Japan from 29th. Keep the kids in the back seat happy with a portable TV/game player? Expect some severe tantrums however, if the reception’s bad. Costs approx. £46.20, and it’ll take 6 AA batteries (4hours on average… ouch).
And here are some lovely screenshots from the New Super Mario Bros. DS.
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04.07.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 5:25 pm by yuka
According to this Japanese article, Miyamoto has let slip that the new Zelda game may be coming out at the same time as the Revolution… that is according to this interview(in Swedish). What with the difficulties of translation all round, you never know… it might just come out at the same time, or else within a few months of each other.
In other news… Okami TV ads will be aired as of today in Japan. To catch it, flick to … if my memory serves, channel 8 if you’re in the Kanto area (images can be seen here). The game itself is out on PS2 from 20th this month (approx. £35.70).
Talking of which…
PS2: 20th April – DQ Boy Yangus £35.70, FF XI Ahturgan Expansion Disc £21
GBA/micro: 20th April – Mother 3 £24, Mother 3 Deluxe Box £90; 27th – Konami the Best: Goemon £13.15
PSP: 20th – Everyone’s Map (sorry, that’s what it translates as… interactive map software) £4.95; 27th – Evangelion 2 £25.20, Evangelion 2 10-year Anniversary Memorial Box £52.50
DS: 13th – Legend of Starfy 4 £24; 20th – Zoo Tycoon DS £25.20; 27th – Tetris DS £19
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04.03.06
Posted in Japanese, News at 1:50 pm by yuka
Revolution is coming out November (for Europe). Erm… think this is just a rumour, as no official confirmation can be found. We’ll just have to sit tight and wait for E3, I’m afraid.
Wario Ware Twisted is now known to be causing a delay (in Europe only) due to a technicality – namely, the game uses a ‘mercury switch’ … which just happens to be forbidden under EU law. Might take a bit longer then.
Among the titles set for re-release on the DS from Konami, are such favourites as Goemon and Yu-Gi-Oh Duel Monsters, costing approx. £13.23, and due out from 29th June.
Hudson, meanwhile has apologised that their Crossword game (vol.2 of puzzle series) has a bit of a problem – 13×13 puzzles, nos. 9 and 20, apparently won’t tell you you’ve completed the puzzle without errors, even if you have. They are in the process of making a fault-free cartridge at the moment, and will be happy to exchange it for the dud once it’s available.
Finally but not least, Mario stamps. Available between 3rd April and 31st May only, and only by pre-order. Set of ten 80yen stamps (postcard, if you can bear to separate yourself from this collector’s gem). Comes in a special folder, and costing approx. £15.75.
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