Square Enix is bringing a second game to a largely unused gaming medium: the iPod.  This time it’s the iPod Touch and iPhone.  The game, Crystal Defenders, is planned for a winter release this year.  I have been a bit busy at work so I asked Foxes to do the translation work for me:

Square Enix is releasing the Defense Simulation Game, “Crystal Defenders,” for iPhone 3G and iPod Touch. It will be released this winter in the App Store. The priced is yet to be determined.

“Crystal Defenders” is the company’s first game to be released for the iPhone 3G/iPod Touch. The maps’ arrangements and enemy system is similar to that of Final Fantasy Tactics.

At the start of the game, you encounter various monsters that steal crystals at the entrance and make their way to the exit. Using soldiers and mages, etc., you defeat the monsters and defend the crystals. The maps are arranged so that each stage demands high level of tactics for fighting.

Also, the game takes advantage of the touch screen interface from the iPhone 3G/iPod Touch.

This original title is the primary W1 game, where as combined with W2 and W3 (versions of the game that you can get by obtaining a power crystal and high level characters, respectively) totals to up to more than 300 levels that can be played.

It seems that the game will use the same system as the iMode/EZWeb/Yahoo! cellphone game Crystal Guardians. It will also take advantage of the technology used in iPod 3G/iPod Touch.

This game appears to be a port of an existing title that is available for keitai (cellphones) in Japan.  I always saw it and was super jealous.  I think the odds are pretty good that Square (or someone else) will translate it for us English speaking folk.  After all, we did get Song Summoner, Square’s first iPod title.

I wish more developers would make games for the iPod.  It seems like a really cool medium for games and Square really incorporates some creative elements into the gameplay.  Hopefully other companies will take the hint.

On an unrelated note, maintenance person Foxes, as of today, is officially unemployed.  Although I enjoy the free labor, I would be happier to see her employed.  If anyone out there knows someone who needs a web/graphic designer, please e-mail me or her with some details.  Thanks!

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Square Enix Releases Song Summoner for the iPod

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The growing frenzy that is Dissidia: Final Fantasy has spawned its own line of Trading Arts figures, and volume 1 has been revealed which includes 5 total figures on the side of light or Cosmos.

Damn it Square Enix, are you trying to cripple the American economy further by releasing even MORE figures I feel compelled to purchase?  While I am disgusted by your underhanded tactics, I have no choice but continue to mindlessly consume.

	Dissidia: Final Fantasy Trading Arts Cloud Strife Price = $10.39 Cloud’s outfit hasn’t changed much from the original Final Fantasy VII.  If any changes have been made, it’s that his outfit is a bit more realistic looking, especially in the pants department.
	Dissidia: Final Fantasy Trading Arts Squall Leonheart Price = $10.39 Squall looks a little more mature in Dissidia. The changes are subtle, but I almost didn’t recognize him in the recent trailer when dueling with Sephiroth.
	Dissidia: Final Fantasy Trading Arts Tidus Price = $10.39 Tidus’s outift has a few new details: a longer collar, tattered pantlegs, and whatever those reddish-orange things are.
	Dissidia: Final Fantasy Trading Arts Zidane Tribal Price = $10.39 Zidane’s original character design was very cartoony, and Square Enix has done what they can to make him fit in with the more realistic characters.  I think they did the best they can without completely overhauling him.
	Dissidia: Final Fantasy Trading Arts The Warrior of Light Price = $XX.XX One of the Warriors of Light from the original Final Fantasy.  It should be noted that this figure is not on sale individually at Kidnemo.  I think you can only get him if you purchase the box of 6 random figures for $52.79.

Square Enix merchandise is seriously getting out of hand.  Soon they may even surpass Disney, their partner in crime.  I think Squall may be my favorite figure of the group, but I am still not positive if I am going to order him.

I have made a page where I compile links to all OMG Toys entires which you can find here, or in the related entries section.

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All OMG Toys posts can be found here

Roy figure, merchandise, square enix 2 comments

The Nintendo DSi’s Japanese release is getting close.  Today the results of a Japanese group survey were released which breaks down how consumers feel about the DSi.  The focus group consisted of 81% men and 16% women with an average age of 26.28 years old.  I am surprised there wasn’t a more even divide among the sexes.  During my time in Japan, I think I saw more women playing their DSs than men.  It could have to do with the PSP release of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G which the emperor himself insisted that everyone purchase.  Anyway, here are the results:

• 40.7% Say they will not purchase the DSi
• 29.4% Say they will wait and see before buying
• 26.2% Say they are undecided
• 3.6% Say they will buy it right away

When asked which of the DSi’s new features the individuals found most desirable, the following was the group’s findings:

• 30.8% The larger screen
• 29.5% Nintendo DS Ware
• 15.1% The built in camera feature
• 11.6% DSi sound
• 3.4% SD memory card slot

When it comes to the color, there was little to choose from with only black and white.  Some members of the study group express their disappointment with such a lack in color selections, although they prefer the matte finish which eliminates those nasty fingerprints.

• 53.4% Black
• 45.9% White

I think these results are a pretty accurate reflection of my feelings on the DSi as well.  I am not in any hurry to buy it, but I am intrigued.  I am a bit shocked that the larger screen beat out Nintendo DS Ware.  I think that the DS Ware has the greatest potential when it comes to the system’s attraction over the old DS.  A .25″ screen size increase may just be a bit tough for me to really imagine…

The DSi is set to hit shelves in Japan on November 1st, and already they are popping up on sites like eBay.  The great thing about the DSi (and its games) is region freedom, meaning if you buy a Japanese DSi, it’ll be pretty much exactly the same as the ones that will go on sale in the US who-knows-when.  The only difference really is about $100 you have to pay the middle-men getting it to you.  The going price is around $300 in contrast to the DSi’s official price of 18,900 yen, which is closer to $200.

If you are interested in purchasing one, they are also available at Play-Asia at the standard gouging price of $299.99.  They have both black and white.

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Violence in video games is an issue of furious debate here in America.  The general argument is that assuming the role of anyone who performs acts of violence can cause blurring between reality and entertainment.  This belief causes some obvious taboos and restrictions for companies which publish games in America.

In Japan however, just about anything goes (ANYTHING), as long as it will sell.  When I first saw Higurashi Daybreak Portable, I found the idea of school children dukeing it out with lethal (and sometimes non-lethal) weaponry hilarious.  But there was no doubt in my mind that it would never see a Western release – and for once it was not because of any complex cultural undertones.

My guess is the game would be seen as a liability to any publisher who brought it to the West.  It only takes one person to cleave their friend in the face and spit out the game’s name for a one-way ticket to Lawsuit City (population too damn high).

Japan gives people more credit for their actions: if you murder someone, you are a murderer, and in some instances even minors are tried as adults.  This is surprising considering Japan is probably the bizarre-murder capital of the world.  One would think the more bizarre the murder, the more likely some external stimuli had an effect.  My research has shown that while the affects of video games are suggested in Japan, often deeper psychological disorders are found to be the cause of extreme violence towards others.

Higurashi Daybreak was released for PC back in 2006, and is now making its way to the PSP this November.  The game is a 2 vs. 2 brawler which purposely mimics a popular series of Gundam arcade games.  If you’re interested in purchasing the game, it’s available for pre-order at Play-Asia for $58.90.  There is also a special edition which includes 3 figures and a drama CD.  The special edition is available for $89.90.

Higurashi Daybreak was based off of a line of mystery solving computer games and a manga series which has been licensed for release in America.  Both have nothing to do with children battling each other.

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Roy japan, psp, videos 0 comments

Me and Sackboy gonna get tore up.  My cat disapproves, or maybe he’s just jealous.

Roy ps3 2 comments