Namco-Bandai posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Tales of Vesperia voice actor says game is coming to Wii
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Nov 7th 2009 at 5:30PM }
While this may deeply excite RPG-loving Wii owners, keep in mind that it's entirely possible Koyama meant to say Tales of Graces, the franchise's next installment which is, in fact, coming to the Wii. Just think about that before you start snapping the pieces of your already-snapped 360 Vesperia disc in protest. Those edges can get pretty sharp.
[Via Kotaku]
Namco Bandai posts $66.7 million loss for first half of year
by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2009 at 12:40PM }
Namco Bandai has reported a net loss of ¥6.04 billion ($66.7 million) for the first half of its fiscal year, which began in April. During the same period last year, the company posted a net income of ¥1.28 billion ($14.14 million). Despite this year's first-half hiccup, the publisher still expects to earn ¥8.5 billion ($93.6 million) in net income by the end of its fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010). After all, there are those 2.5 million copies of Tekken 6 waiting to be sold.
Namco Bandai's software sales for the period were led by the Ben 10 franchise, as Alien Force and Protector of the Earth combined to sell approximately 810,000 units (not exactly Guitar Hero numbers, eh?). Even with Tekken 6 in its second-half roster, Namco must be pulling for a miracle. But then, the holidays are a magical time.
Source – Financial Highlights [PDF]
Source – Consolidated Financial Report [PDF]
Namco Bandai's software sales for the period were led by the Ben 10 franchise, as Alien Force and Protector of the Earth combined to sell approximately 810,000 units (not exactly Guitar Hero numbers, eh?). Even with Tekken 6 in its second-half roster, Namco must be pulling for a miracle. But then, the holidays are a magical time.
Source – Financial Highlights [PDF]
Source – Consolidated Financial Report [PDF]
Fragile Dreams: Hello to a new title and screens
by JC Fletcher { Nov 5th 2009 at 5:15PM }
click for moon-size
However, the game, as seen in new screenshots below, still looks lovely. And that's the part that matters, regardless of our petty complaints. The new title does have the bonus of making us think of Johnny Hates Jazz's "Shattered Dreams." Totally great song.
Japan getting God Eater sampling platter November 26
by Griffin McElroy { Nov 5th 2009 at 2:44PM }
We like to consider ourselves open-minded when it comes to new culinary experiences, but we confess that we've never had the occasion to dine upon a god. We've heard that it's a delicious (and sizable!) meal -- in fact, on the latest episode of No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain described god-meat as being "light and airy, like aged pork, but with divine properties." Japanese gamers (or PSP owners with a loose comprehension of the Japanese language) will be able to find out for themselves when a demo for God Eater launches on November 26.
The demo for the Namco Bandai-developed action-RPG will be fairly substantial, offering 10 missions, character customization and a small sliver of the game's opening story sequence. It will also support four player co-op in the demo's non-tutorial missions. The demo will be added to the Japanese PSN on Thanksgiving and will also be available on the game's official site. Between those two options, we're sure you'll find some way to snack on a few celestial entities later this month.
The demo for the Namco Bandai-developed action-RPG will be fairly substantial, offering 10 missions, character customization and a small sliver of the game's opening story sequence. It will also support four player co-op in the demo's non-tutorial missions. The demo will be added to the Japanese PSN on Thanksgiving and will also be available on the game's official site. Between those two options, we're sure you'll find some way to snack on a few celestial entities later this month.
Tekken 6 online patch in the works, says Namco
by Ben Gilbert { Nov 4th 2009 at 6:20PM }
Unfortunately, no date for the patch has been given, though the publisher does add, "This is separate from the online co-op Scenario Campaign mode update." We've pestered Namco for more details on exactly what the patch will aim to fix and when we might hear more about it but, until that time, know this: something is being fixed at some point.
Namco announces 2.5 million shipped copies of Tekken 6
by JC Fletcher { Oct 31st 2009 at 12:00AM }
The portion of those 2.5 million earmarked for Europe, for example, just got there today, and it's only been in stores for around two days in North America. All we know based on this is that Namco expects to sell a ton of copies, not that it is selling a ton. Although we're sure it will.
Maybe that's the idea -- to build excitement about Tekken 6 by showing how confident the publisher is. To print up 2.5 million of the things (some of which come in totally huge boxes), Namco must really believe it's on to something!
Gallery: Tekken 6 (GamesCom 2009)
Keita Takahashi 'not completely satisfied' with Noby Noby Boy, blames budget
by Andrew Yoon { Oct 29th 2009 at 10:30PM }
Takahashi, famous for his work on the original Katamari Damacy, has been surprisingly forthcoming on Noby's budget (or lack thereof). Had Takahashi been given additional resources he believes the game would have reached a much larger audience. "I won't go in to what I wanted to add to the game, because that's a really long list of things, but as an overall assessment, I think the game could have been much more detailed and easier for everyone to understand."
It appears Noby's shortcomings won't stop Takahashi from working on an even crazier design. Already, he's thinking of a new project, one that "is even harder to explain than Noby Noby Boy." Fans of Takahashi's works wouldn't want it any other way -- but we wonder if publisher Namco Bandai will embrace an even more experimental game.
This Tekken 6 merchandise is pants
by JC Fletcher { Oct 29th 2009 at 5:45PM }
Other, somewhat more sensible Tekken 6 merch includes a line of t-shirts (¥3,150, or $34), Jin and Lass rings (¥10,500, or $115), and Devil Jin lighters (¥13,650, or $149). It's no Sega console lighter, but it'll still light your Yankee Candles for just the right ambience for a King of Iron Fist tournament.
Gallery: Tekken 6 merchandise
[Via Andriasang]
Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary is loaded with dog fighting
by Griffin McElroy { Oct 24th 2009 at 8:30PM }
Don't let the headline throw you -- we don't mean the bad kind of dog fighting. We're talking about the kind of dog fighting where well-treated, justice-loving canines attack gun-toting criminals who pose a threat to their master, whom they love and remain eternally loyal to. When cast in that light, attack dogs aren't menacing or controversial -- they're just heartwarming companions (with enormous, razor-sharp teeth).
Check out the dev diary above to see Dead to Rights: Retribution's man-eating puppy in action. Oh, also, there's a human hero who uses guns and other traditional methods of justice-serving, but that's not really as noteworthy, now is it?
Check out the dev diary above to see Dead to Rights: Retribution's man-eating puppy in action. Oh, also, there's a human hero who uses guns and other traditional methods of justice-serving, but that's not really as noteworthy, now is it?
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast demo now on Xbox Live
by Justin McElroy { Oct 22nd 2009 at 1:45PM }
So we're just going to tell you, without judgment, that Dragon Ball: Raging Blast has a demo that's now available on Xbox Live, and that it's a perfect way to kill time until the babysitter finishes heating up your Pizza Rolls.
... Shit.
Tekken 6 launch tournament promises to 'be hype'
by Griffin McElroy { Oct 22nd 2009 at 1:30AM }
You can be sure that we'll be in attendance -- we're going with the hopes of being able to shake the hand of the person responsible for the panda-booting screenshot above. That thing has brought so much joy into our lives, and we'd like to personally thank its progenitor.
Gallery: Tekken 6 (6/22/09)
USK predicts a Muscle March to Germany
by JC Fletcher { Oct 21st 2009 at 5:30PM }
To be sure, such an awful decision on Banamco's part will result in a similar awful decision on our part: you can't make a game as weird as this (it's about racing a line of bodybuilders through posing-man-shaped holes in walls) and not expect us to throw our money at it. Even if we know it's terrible.
[Via GamerBytes]
Hands-on: .hack//Link
by Andrew Yoon { Oct 20th 2009 at 8:00PM }
Perhaps the only thing more surprising than the fact that the franchise's finale will appear exclusively on PSP is that .hack//Link has the potential to be the best game ever created in the long-running RPG series. Although not formerly announced for a US release, we find little reason for Namco Bandai Games America to skimp on a localized version: The demo at Tokyo Game Show had a fresh, "fun" attitude that's evident in both the game's new art style and its combat system.
We didn't have a chance to see much of the game's story in our demo. However, Link takes a page from the other compilation games so popular in Japan right now (Dissidia: Final Fantasy, Tales of VS), by populating the game with many faces from the various .hack games, manga and anime series. Playable partners in the TGS demo included Haseo (from .hack//GU) and Tsukasa (from .hack//SIGN).
Gallery: .hack//Link
Namco Bandai introduces gravity-flipping shooter Inversion
by JC Fletcher { Oct 20th 2009 at 3:30PM }
click to fall up into our gallery
The third-person shooter takes place during an invasion by the alien
The player, as cop Davis Russel or, uh, cop's neighbor Leo Delgado, is armed with a Grappler weapon that allows the manipulation of gravity to move giant objects around. This permits the player to move enemies' cover or make their own out of items in the environment. Or to just throw stuff.
Inversion will ship sometime in 2010 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Gallery: Inversion
Namco Bandai considering Tales of Vesperia sequel
by Xav de Matos { Oct 18th 2009 at 2:00PM }
According to the panel, Vesperia's story is far from over as Namco Bandai is already brainstorming ideas if the opportunity for a new film in the series arises. "I don't know when it will happen, but we'd like to show [these things] in video form," Namco Bandai's general manager told those in attendance. Hopefully Namco Bandai will release a potential sequel for all platforms simultaneously, otherwise we may have a repeat situation of angry Japanese gamers on our hands.
