Tales of the Heroes: big head, Schwartz screenshots

Standard-sized heads are so last year.

Gematsu

Gamers were understandably outraged to discover that Vita title ModNation Racers: Road Trip would have no online multiplayer, something that was exacerbated by the bizarre excuse given that made the lack of an critical feature sound like a bold, evolutionary step. Now, SCE San Diego’s Director of Product Development, Erich Waas, has clarified why on the web wasn’t included, and has given some hope towards inclusion in the future.

Waas took to the PS Weblog comments section to reply to the deluge of angry and confused comments that mainly focused on the baffling excuse, and how they wouldn’t buy the game with out online multiplayer. Waas mentioned (emphasis added):

I appreciate the feedback on the weblog. It’s great to see people passionate about ModNation Racers: Road Trip. As a gamer, if I saw a game I was looking forward to playing didn’t have a feature I wanted, I’d be bummed too. I didn’t expect every person to read the blog and agree with me or for the blog to smooth over powerful feelings on the matter. My intent was to clarify the position the development team took when designing the feat

ure set. A couple of you have mentioned that MNR PSP had on-line play and this is of course correct. But element of the choice to not incorporate MNR:RT at launch was that the percentage of MNR PSP gamers who played on the web. The percentage was in the single digits. I picture if we said MNR PSP didn’t have on the web head-to-head prior to its launch, the reaction would be the same. But in the finish, not numerous actually played on-line head-to-head. All this mentioned, the development team is searching at on the web head-to-head in a patch. This wouldn’t be obtainable day-1 of the PlayStation Vita launch but it is indeed something becoming researched as I kind this.

Later saying:

We utilized a quantity of metrics to form our selection for our launch feature set. From an independent study to much less classic on the web game usage data from AT&ampT to little concentrate groups. I get that you don’t agree with this decision and I do not anticipate to change your mind. I’m just providing some back story to show that we created decisions thoughtfully and didn’t throw darts at a wall. Head-to-head is some thing we’re extremely keen on patching for ModNation Racers: Road Trip–even a lot more so thanks to feedback right here. We’ll be certain to communicate a lot more when the plans are much more concrete.

But readers were nonetheless not satisfied by the the excuse that the PSP version had no online players, contemplating the Vita is far much more on the web focused, causing Waas to reply (emphasis added):

I agree with the PlayStation Vita getting the ultimate connected handheld device. Our selection for the launch was a lot more about what capabilities the team could implement within the improvement schedule and what online usage patterns we’d observed with our own MNR PSP title as properly as other games to date. It is not that we do not feel head-to-head is a excellent feature–we do! We felt that the asynchronous capabilities would be utilised by a bigger portion of the game’s demographic. But again, we’re searching at what (and when) we can patch on the web head-to-head play in as one more on the internet offering.

Continuing:

In between the blog and my commenting on the weblog, my messaging is most likely a small fragmented. It is not that we have an doubts about no matter whether or not head-to-head on the internet play is relevant. I know it is. It was a matter of prioritizing which on the web capabilities tell the finest story for the game and the new PlayStation Vita. We also try to look at how a lot of gamers will utilized each feature we put into a game to see where it tends to make the most time to spend our development effort. As is usually the case, we have a laundry list of functions we want to put into the game that far exceeds the budget or company case. So we have to prioritize features to create the greatest providing. Your points are valid and they had been element of the discussion. But since the game is coming out subsequent month, I think what you really want to hear is whether or not or not MNR:RT will be patched with on-line head-to-head play (with parties). We must have far more info on this topic in the close to future.

Sadly, it looks like to keep up with the improvement schedule – that is, to make certain it is a launch title – one of the most critical functions for a racing game (especially a Play.Develop.Share. title) has been left out.

Will you also refuse to acquire the game till head-to-head online is guaranteed? Share your thoughts in the comments beneath.

I appreciate the feedback on the blog. It’s wonderful to see individuals passionate about ModNation Racers: Road Trip. As a gamer, if I saw a game I was looking forward to playing didn’t have a feature I wanted, I’d be bummed too. I didn’t anticipate everyone to read the weblog and agree with me or for the weblog to smooth over powerful feelings on the matter. My intent was to clarify the position the improvement team took when designing the feature set. A couple of you have mentioned that MNR PSP had on-line play and this is of course accurate. But component of the selection to not incorporate MNR:RT at launch was that the percentage of MNR PSP gamers who played on the web. The percentage was in the single digits. I think about if we said MNR PSP didn’t have on the internet head-to-head prior to its launch, the reaction would be the exact same. But in the finish, not several really played on the internet head-to-head. All this said, the development team is seeking at on the web head-to-head in a patch. This wouldn’t be available day-1 of the PlayStation Vita launch but it is indeed one thing being researched as I kind this.

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PlayStation Life style

Imageepoch holding JRPG press conference next week

Technique outline, Toki to Towa footage.

Gematsu

The holiday boom is now behind us. With it goes the monstrous sales and stock movement that become so commonplace for videogames. Unfortunately, the PlayStation Vita — despite a productive opening week — has seen its sales decline week right after week since launch in Japan. The trend has nevertheless not abated.

Andriasang, citing a report from Media Produce, revealed that the PS Vita dropped to 18,361 units in sales. This is the fourth straight week that sales have dipped, down from 42,648 units the previous week. Andriasang also pointed out how the sales decline has looked over the past four weeks:

Vita’s sales progression because launch looks like this:

324,859 -&gt 72,479 -&gt 42,648 -&gt 18,361

It is a worrying trend for the Vita, but at least it wasn’t alone this time. Nearly each piece of hardware on the sales list suffered a (give or take a little) 50% drop from the prior week. Even the 3DS, whose record-setting weeks we’ve discussed before, saw its sales fall a quite large quantity 100,668 units, down from 197,952. The full list is as follows:

Here’s the complete hardware chart for 1/9 to 1/15, with last week’s sales in parentheses.

• 1. 3DS: 100,668 (197,952)
• 2. PS3: 30,332 (67,199)
• 3. PSP: 22,538 (62,746)
• four. PSV: 18,361 (42,648)
• five. Wii: 14,179 (33,208)
• 6. DSi LL: 1,515 (3,356)
• 7. X360: 1,519 (two,453)
• 8. DSi: 1,206 (2,418)
• 9. PS2: 766 (1,659)

Sales trackers may possibly have observed that Media Develop appears to have stopped tracking DS Lite. The technique was reported last week with just 28 unit sales.

This is frequent in Japan for software launches. This 1 was for Monster Hunter the 3rd.

Even with the costs of numerous other systems falling, it’s still disconcerting to see Vita sales slide even further. It’s tough to point outright at the Vita becoming a failure even though as it is only out in Japan and actually does not have a Japanese killer app in terms of software package. Japan differs from the US in that, more frequently than not, software moves hardware. We’re really utilized to the reverse right here, but across the Pacific it’s common to see spikes in hardware sales corresponding to game releases like Monster Hunter or Pokemon. And regrettably, even with the solid launch lineup that it has, the Vita does not have a game with significant Japanese appeal.

We’re slightly more than a month away from the PS Vita launching on North American shores, and then the true test for Vita begins. Can it attract gamers and get them to open their wallets, when a lot of a talking head loves to say smartphones have surpassed the dedicated handheld? We shall see. I would think about by E3 in June we’ll have a real image of how the Vita is fairing. I would not be surprised if a $ 50 price tag drop was in the Vita’s close to future although, to put it underneath the cost point of the PS3.

[source: Andriasang]

[Monster Hunter line image source: Famitsu]

Mash Those Buttons

SteinsGate, 5pb’s sci-fi visual novel series, is coming to PlayStation 3, Famitsu.com revealed today.

The original SteinsGate, which initial released on Xbox 360 in Japan in October 2009, on Computer in August 2010, and on PSP and iOS in summer 2011, will come to PlayStation three on Could 24, 2012 for 7,140 yen.

SteinsGate: Hiyoku Renri no Darling, a sequel released on Xbox 360 and PSP in June 2011, will also come to PlayStation 3 on the identical date as the original for 6,090 yen.

5pb will make accessible a “SteinsGate Double Pack,” which includes each games, although it’s not but been priced.

Thanks, My Game News Flash.

Gematsu

The latest trailer for Square Enix’s PSP and…

Gematsu

43 new screenshots of PSP action Tales.

Gematsu

The Final Fantasy Type-0 Ultimania was released in Japan today. In it: confirmation of the PSP RPG’s overseas release and small new details on Tetsuya Nomura’s Final Fantasy Versus XIII.

Square Enix is currently working on an overseas version of Final Fantasy Type-0. Asked about the future of the Type-0 series, it said it will decide where to go next after the game is released in the west.

Additionally, Nomura confirms a small tidbit about Versus XIII: it will have moogles, designed in a similar fashion to Type-0‘s.

You’re still craving for information, aren’t you? We hear you. I mean, it’s not too shocking a Final Fantasy game has moogles. But this is all we’ve got for now.

Thanks, bKvEBVAvUq (via Hachimaki).

Gematsu

Namco Bandai released a large batch of screenshots for their upcoming tri-Crescendo developed Digimon PSP role-playing game, Digimon World Re: Digitize.

The batch includes shots of the player character, designed by Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor character designer Suzuhito Yasuda, and various Digimon and digivolutions, including Agumon, Greymon, MetalGreymon, and WarGreymon.

Digimon World Re: Digitize is due for PSP in Japan next year.

View the screenshots at the gallery.

Gematsu

Sony will release a PlayStation 3 firmware update enabling PlayStation Vita Remote Play across all games, according to a Eurogamer source.

The games will be playabe at PSP’s 480×272 resolution, upscaled to fit Vita’s 960×544 resolution.

Future games will allow developers to include a Vita specific 480p mode, said the site.

At the Tokyo Game Show in September, Sony showcased Killzone 3, streamed from PlayStation 3 to PlayStation Vita via Remote Play. The missing DualShock buttons were mapped to the touch screen.

When contacted, Sony declined to comment.

Gematsu