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Dead or Alive Paradise demo on Japanese PSN this week

We're now on the edge of our seats to find out which girls we'll get to interact with in the demo. Will it be the supposed martial artist with the ridiculous proportions, or the other one?
North Star Musou video introduces game's cast
[Thanks, Peter]
'Valhalla Game Studios' headed up by Tomonobu Itagaki

The studio is staffed by about 50 people, a number Itagaki told Famitsu was intentional. "That may expand a bit, but it's not going to be a 100-person company," he said. "50 people working for two years can produce something better than 100 people working for one year. 100 times 1 and 50 times 2 may produce the same number, but not in creative businesses like this one." Larger, public companies, he said, "have to prove their worth to the stock market on a year-by-year basis, and that means they can't focus all-out on quality."
Whatever Itagaki's new game is, it won't be a fighter. For one thing, "I already made Dead or Alive, the best fighting game in the world, in my last company." Besides, he said, "Fighting games are kind of at another dead end right now" without another DOA-type disruption.
Tecmo Bowl Throwback official, coming to XBLA & PSN
Tecmo Bowl Throwback was first revealed through a trusted Joystiq source back in January (and then subsequently popped up in an ESRB rating), so we weren't exactly thrown into a tizzy when Tecmo released the official announcement today. Throwback will be released on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network this spring. As previously understood, the game will be a remake of the SNES's Tecmo Super Bowl and will feature an option to "switch to the classic 2D style."
Developed by seasoned remake studio Southend Interactive (Lode Runner, R-Type), the game's main new feature (aside from "all new 3D graphics," of course) is online play. Today's announcement additionally revealed Throwback will feature 32 teams and online leaderboards and customizable options for teams and rosters, and ... and ... whoa, whoa, it's almost like we're talking about a simulation football game here! Relax -- sorry about that. Try to cool down with the screenshots below.
Developed by seasoned remake studio Southend Interactive (Lode Runner, R-Type), the game's main new feature (aside from "all new 3D graphics," of course) is online play. Today's announcement additionally revealed Throwback will feature 32 teams and online leaderboards and customizable options for teams and rosters, and ... and ... whoa, whoa, it's almost like we're talking about a simulation football game here! Relax -- sorry about that. Try to cool down with the screenshots below.
Gallery: Tecmo Bowl Throwback
Ueda: Dead or Alive Paradise not intended to degrade women
Tecmo's Yoshinori Ueda says the upcoming PSP exclusive Dead or Alive: Paradise is not meant to be softcore porn, despite the game's not-so-subtle marketing line: "Paradise in the palm of your hand." DoA: Paradise director Ueda told Eurogamer that the game only intends to showcase beautiful women and the "beauty of their bodies," but was firm (stiff, even) that the game isn't meant to be degrading toward women.
Featuring bikini-clad mini-games and the ability to photograph the virtual "beauties" without fear of a restraining order, Dead or Alive: Paradise isn't a traditional game; however, Ueda says the game features a number of different activities toengorge entertain gamers. The goal, it seems, is to allow players to escape to some kind of magical world: "we hope that people playing the game will be able to come away with the feeling that they've visited paradise," Ueda said.
Sounds titillating, and in no way creepy or disgusting.
Featuring bikini-clad mini-games and the ability to photograph the virtual "beauties" without fear of a restraining order, Dead or Alive: Paradise isn't a traditional game; however, Ueda says the game features a number of different activities to
Sounds titillating, and in no way creepy or disgusting.
Itagaki's suit against Tecmo ends in settlement
Finally, Tomonobu Itagaki can have a restful night of sleep in his sunglasses. The ongoing legal dispute between the Dead or Alive creator and former employer Tecmo, over unpaid salary and bonuses, has ended in a settlement. Itagaki announced the resolution of the dispute in a public statement. Itagaki didn't specify the terms, but we can only imagine a copy of Dead or Alive Paradise was involved. "How could I resist?" we imagine him saying, "It's my own private paradise, in the palm of my hand!"
As for things Itagaki actually said, the statement (per Andriasang's translation) revealed that he's working on something new: "I cannot wait for the day when I can announce to everyone the new title that I'm currently conceiving." Itagaki's aiming for "world class entertainment" with "a greater depth of play than before."
Play Again for the first time on March 30
In addition to the date, Tecmo provided some more evidence of Again's gameplay in the form of a trailer. Fans of Rorschach tests, full-motion video and, particularly, totally intense headache pantomime would do well to have a look. Seriously, this trailer contains the most intense fake headache we've seen in the game.
Gallery: Again (DS) (11/10/09)
X3F TV -- XBLA in Brief: Greed Corp, Lazy Raiders, Fret Nice
/ $10), the reverse platforming of Lazy Raiders (800
/ $10) and the ... guitar-controlled platforming of Fret Nice (1200
/ $15). Okay, so both Lazy Raiders and Fret Nice are basically platformers, but they're definitely different. Watch all the games in action in today's XBLA in Brief.Shortcut: Download the trial version of Greed Corp [via Xbox.com]
Shortcut: Download the trial version of Lazy Raiders [via Xbox.com]
Shortcut: Download the trial version of Fret Nice [via Xbox.com]
[iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.
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[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[M4V] Download the M4V directly.
This Wednesday: Fret Nice, Greed Corp, and Lazy Raiders strike a chord on XBLA

($15).Fret Nice uses both the buttons and the tilt function of guitar controllers to move members of the Vibrant Chordblasters, as they fight against Hair Bängers by jumping into the air and playing riffs corresponding to the number of eyes on the enemies.
Major Nelson also confirmed to Joystiq that both Greed Corp and Lazy Raiders will be out this week, despite not appearing in the official announcement. You'll be able to get lazy and greedy this week, in addition to nice!
ESRB rates 'Tecmo Bowl Throwback' for PSN and XBLA
It seems that, once again, our anonymous tipster was right on the money. The ESRB recently rated Tecmo Bowl Throwback for the PSN and XBLA platforms, describing it as a "top-down arcade-style football game in which players compete against teams around the country to become the 'Tecmo Bowl Champion.'" Though the game earned an "E" rating, the listing mentions "cheerleaders wearing low-cut tops" and "a 2D swimsuit model with some exposed cleavage." How positively scandalous!
Surprisingly, the ESRB listing doesn't mention a twelve-foot-tall, cybernetic Bo Jackson who causes every player who thinks about tackling him to explode in a fountain of gore. So, we're guessing that feature isn't getting ported over from the original game.
Surprisingly, the ESRB listing doesn't mention a twelve-foot-tall, cybernetic Bo Jackson who causes every player who thinks about tackling him to explode in a fountain of gore. So, we're guessing that feature isn't getting ported over from the original game.
Happy Valentine's Day from the game industry!
This past week may have been filled with investor calls and press events, but that doesn't mean that some members of the game industry weren't thinking about this weekend's day of love. Over the course of the past seven days, we were either sent these cards (by email) or found them on the various official sites of said developers/publishers -- and now we've compiled them into a love-filled gallery just for you. We might suggest you print out one (on high quality paper, of course) and give it to your dearest, but hey, let's be honest -- you should probably buy an actual card. And a copy of Flower. Hitomi demands digital gifts!
Even the ESRB is disgusted with Dead or Alive Paradise [update]

"This is a video game in which users watch grown women dressed in G-string bikinis jiggle their breasts while on a two-week vacation," the ESRB description reads. "Women's breasts and butts will sway while playing volleyball, while hopping across cushions, while pole dancing, while posing on the ground, by the pool, on the beach, in front of the camera."
We could quote this whole thing (and we will, after the break), but we really wanted to call your attention to this part: "Parents and consumers should know that the game contains a fair amount of "cheesy," and at times, creepy voyeurism," the ESRB notes with the most open disapproval we've ever seen in one of these things. It continues, "but the game also contains bizarre, misguided notions of what women really want (if given two weeks, paid vacation, island resort)-Paradise cannot mean straddling felled tree trunks in dental-floss thongs." This is the most entertaining ESRB rating ever. Why isn't whoever writes these things ever this upset about graphic violence?
[Update: The ESRB has informed us that a new version, without the "subjective language," has been uploaded to the ratings board's site.]
Gallery: Dead or Alive Paradise
Tecmo Koei lowers profit forecast after Q3 losses

This comes after the announcement of disappointing third-quarter losses (PDF link) totaling 1.842 billion yen ($20.4 million), and after the announcement that two high-profile games, Quantum Theory and Trinity: Zill O'll Zero, have been delayed, thus eliminating whatever they would have contributed to the current fiscal year. Now it's all up to Dead or Alive: Paradise and the Western releases of Monster Rancher DS and Again.
Source [PDF]
DOA Paradise special edition is predictably naughty
Let's be honest: You're not thinking about getting Dead or Alive Paradise for the intuitive volleyball mechanics or the scenic, beach-front battles -- this game lacks both. You're buying this game because you want to ogle fake women with comically large and bouncy breasts. Or, according to Tecmo, you're buying this because you're a woman who has never purchased a Tecmo title before and this is something relevant to your interests. Either way, the company's hoping you'll want to pay extra for a special edition bundle of the "game."
Game Watch points out the extra busty package set to release in Japan -- complete with inappropriate Kasumi statue add-on and several other items, including a "Secret Picture Collection" and soundtrack CD. It's like a one-man pity party start-up kit. Are you guys getting it yet? Wanting this makes you a pervert.
There's no word on whether this'll make its way over to the States when the game releases in March, but we'll be sure to let you know.
Game Watch points out the extra busty package set to release in Japan -- complete with inappropriate Kasumi statue add-on and several other items, including a "Secret Picture Collection" and soundtrack CD. It's like a one-man pity party start-up kit. Are you guys getting it yet? Wanting this makes you a pervert.
There's no word on whether this'll make its way over to the States when the game releases in March, but we'll be sure to let you know.
Japanese Nintendo downloads: Excitebike, Reversal Shooting

- Quarth (MSX, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
- Contra (MSX, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points)
- Excitebike World Race (WiiWare, 1-4 players, 1,000 Wii Points)
- Are? DS ga Sakasa Desu Kedo: Gyaku Shooting (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points)
- Are? DS ga Sakasa Desu Kedo: Sakasa Drops (DSiWare, 1 player, 200 DSi Points)
- Artist ni Narou! Minna no Nurikai Museum Hen (DSiWare, 1-2 players, 500 DSi Points)
- Hobonichi Rosenzu 2010 (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)
- Renjuku Kanji: Shougaku Sannensei (DSiWare, 1 player, 500 DSi Points)














