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    'WaSaBi': Game accessories with Japanese spice

    June 7, 2009 - 3:30pm

    Tons of companies were at E3 to show off their game accessory series, but nobody had a more eye-catching setup than Gametech's WaSaBi line. The accessory line, which features traditional Japanese patterns and ukiyo-e artwork, first launched in Japan in December of last year. Gametech has just opened sales to American customers, using this flashy booth both to attract their attention and to gauge their interest with surveys. The display worked on us -- we couldn't help but get pictures to share with you.The accessories on hand ranged from gorgeous (especially in the case of the PSP and DS pouches) to gaudy (the guitars), but all add a distinctly Japanese touch to your game systems.
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    Hands-on: Shiren the Wanderer (Wii)

    June 7, 2009 - 11:30am

    We read Atlus's late night press release announcing plans to localize Sega's Shiren the Wanderer 3 with utter shock. We had long since resigned ourselves to never seeing the console 3D version of Chunsoft's roguelike, and we were afraid that we had merely dreamed that Atlus had picked it up with plans to release it in 2010. But, sure enough, the game was available for play in Atlus's booth, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to check it out. Full disclosure: we didn't die in our play session, which should give fans of Shiren on the DS a rough idea of how long we were able to play.

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    Interview: XSEED on what happened with Muramasa and more [update]

    June 6, 2009 - 11:30pm

    [Update: we had attributed some of these remarks to the wrong person. Our apologies to Mr. Berry.]Last September, XSEED Games announced its intent to publish Vanillaware's Wii side-scroller Muramasa: The Demon Blade in North America, to the delight of hardcore action gamers and people who like to see pretty things. Then, in April, it announced that it wouldn't be publishing the title, a duty that then fell to Ignition Entertainment.At the time, we wondered why XSEED would decide not to publish such an eye-catching game. The short answer: it wouldn't decide to do that. XSEED's Jun Iwasaki and Ken Berry gave us details on the Muramasa situation, as well as the recent Fragile announcement, and the timing of Flower, Sun, and Rain. And, of course, they gamely accepted our pleas for Retro Game Challenge 2.

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    Seen@E3: TMNT pose for E3 photo op

    June 6, 2009 - 10:00pm

    Eager to promote their upcoming Wii title TMNT: Smash-Up, today, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo made a special appearance at Ubisoft's E3 booth. The reason? A photo op, of course. They probably figured they'd swing by the convention to help spread the way of the ninja, meet with their fans and try to get into as many tabloids as possible. Turtle power!Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    45 Second Booth Tour: EA

    June 6, 2009 - 8:30pm

    Continuing our 45 Second Booth Tour coverage, here's a quick looksy at EA's E3 2009 booth, which features plenty of game stations, a few helpful EA reps and hundreds of feet of wrap around video screen. Click and enjoy your 45 second booth tour.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Endless Ocean 2 trailer: More endless than ever

    June 6, 2009 - 5:30pm

    How is it possible to make an experience as truly expansive as 2007's Endless Ocean any more ... erm, endless? Crocodiles! It's the trailer for Endless Ocean 2, folks. No joke. So here's the thing -- we're not absolutely sure there weren't crocodiles in the first Endless Ocean, due to it's, ya know, endlessness, but we don't recall any swamps or bayous in the game. If you spent the requisite forever with former of the series, let us know what new stuff you spot in the trailer.Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Hands-on: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

    June 6, 2009 - 3:30pm

    The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was a solid game with a few disruptive flaws -- the most memorable of which being the oft-repeated Temple of the Ocean King that left many players frustrated enough to return the title to the GameStop from whence it came. It came close, but possessed no cigar. Now, Nintendo's hoping to get it right with the next DS iteration of the triforce-filled franchise, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.If you're familiar with Hourglass, transitioning into Tracks shouldn't be too difficult a task. It uses the same love-it-or-hate-it stylus control scheme, and features the same visuals that have been adapted over from the Gamecube seafaring sim Wind Waker. What is different is the game's introduction of a hulking dungeon delving partner and, of course, the locomotive method of transportation that rides upon the game's titular rails.

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    Four-player Pokemon fighting on Japanese WiiWare June 16

    June 6, 2009 - 2:30pm

    While we were off doing whatever, Nintendo announced a new Pokémon game for WiiWare in Japan. Melee! Pokémon Scramble is developed by the same company (Ambrella) as My Pokémon Ranch, but is combat-based instead of standing-around-based. In fact, it may be the most actiony Pokémon game yet!The player controls a remote-controlled robot Pokémon, building strength by fighting Pokémon in the wild, in anticipation of a big tournament. Gameplay is real-time, like a Zelda or Ys-type action RPG. And, of course, four players can face off in the game's Battle Royale arena mode. Melee! Pokémon Scramble will be out in Japan on June 16. No release dates have been announced outside of Japan, but Nintendo won't deprive the rest of the world of its biggest brand.[Via Nintendo Life]Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

    Interview: Nouredine Abboud: The Producer on C.O.P.: The Recruit

    June 6, 2009 - 12:30pm

    Just a few hours after Nintendo unveiled Ubisoft's sandbox DS game C.O.P.: The Recruit at its press conference, we found producer Nouredine Abboud at the Nintendo booth and spoke to him about the new game. A rather animated Abboud was only too happy to talk with us about cramming what amounts to a full 3D sandbox game into the DS, releasing said game on the system in a post-Chinatown Wars world, and the recent trend of DS cop games. He started by giving us some insight into the game's title.

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    Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is ... mom-friendly?

    June 6, 2009 - 3:00am


    Not even Silent Hill is afraid of the Wii's casual audience. Speaking to Joystiq during E3 2009, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories producer Tomm Hulett described the game as being very much a true franchise entry (and we can attest to that!), but one that would enjoy the benefits of a wider audience and an intuitive control system on the Wii."For the casual gamer, we say this like it's strange, but casual gamers go to horror movies," he explained. "There's a reason that we all started playing survival horror -- it was new and different and, 'Oh, it's like a scary movie that I play.'" According to Hulett the game's control system, which thrusts the Wiimote into the role of a flashlight, is intuitive enough to accommodate ... your mom. "I've had my mom try it out and she only plays Animal Crossing, but she can walk around as Harry Mason and run from creatures. It's really easy to pick up and play. If there's a casual gamer who enjoys going to the movies and seeing The Ring, they can go to the store afterward and buy Silent Hill and have a horror experience at home."Well, as long as they don't pick up The Room. That's a different kind of horror experience at home.

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