Author Archives: InTheSky

E3 2016 Featured Image

E3 2016: Featuring Atlus and Sega Europe

The Entertainment Software Association, the U.S.-based organization that owns E3 2016 and represents game publishing companies, announced earlier today the current exhibitor list for E3 2016. The full list was published to the official E3 2016 website; from the main site, you can browse the full list of participants by attempting a search. Most relevant to us, as Sega and Atlus fans, are these two attendees:

  • ATLUS
  • SEGA Europe

Atlus? No surprise there, we’ve been expecting them. Hopefully we may see something related to Persona 5. Sega Europe, by name, is an interesting listing, though. It’s hard to speculate on an explanation for why Sega is listed as such and why it would be Sega Europe specifically, but it was deliberate.

Want to see something interesting? If you go to the bottom of the E3 website while browsing, eventually a scrolling banner of participating companies’ logos will show up at the bottom. You can accelerate the scrolling of logos by moving your mouse on to the right arrow. Go click on Sega’s logo. Once you click on a company’s logo, it links to a site that represents the company. This one just so happens to take you to Atlus USA’s main website. I wonder how that happened?

E3 2016 is set for June 14-16 of this year.

Etrian Odyssey V

New Atlus Survey Offers Notes on Future Titles

Recently, Atlus conducted a survey on their titles that reflect the direction of future titles. First, Etrian Odyssey V was listed as a Nintendo 3DS title. With a strong existing userbase and a long history of producing various Atlus titles (even outside of Etrian Odyssey), it’s understandable to see Etrian Odyssey return to the 3DS. An image of the particular survey question was published in a Gematsu article – view it below.

EOV 3DS Survey 2016While it has been some time since the announcement of the fifth Etrian Odyssey title, it was never likely that the game would show up on a successor Nintendo handheld, which the gaming public have yet to see.

Additionally, Atlus was also soliciting thoughts on future platforms for the next mainline Shin Megami Tensei game. The choices included Nintendo 3DS, Mobile, Playstation Vita, and Playstation 4. Dualshockers has an image capture of the survey in question in this article, with the image reproduced below:

SMTVI Survey 2016If the Nintendo “NX” is rumored to be in development, and with Nintendo 3DS having had a five-year run since the release of its first model, it makes sense that Atlus is weighing their options here. But would also be a significant change if Atlus seriously decided to move forward on developing a mainline SMT title for mobile. The first and second games did receive ports to mobile, and as some of you may know Capcom’s Breath of Fire series was revived when Breath of Fire 6 was announced for mobile platforms (though the resulting reception was markedly negative.) As for the Vita, while the Vita does have a dedicated userbase in Japan the Western base is comparatively smaller. The Playstation 4 represents the opposite situation with regards to Japanese and Western consumers – high Western ownership, comparatively smaller Japanese ownership. More Japanese developers are beginning to develop bigger budget titles for the PS4, and it would suggest a more hospitable environment for the console gaming sphere (which has traditionally struggled against the strength of mobile gaming in Japan) but it’s not obvious that SMT’s fanbase would mostly flock to mobile or move to PS4.

Atlus’ survey has since concluded. However, we’d like to hear from our readers – which platform would you choose for the next Shin Megami Tensei title?

A Week of High Level Puyo Puyo Competition

At Segalization, unfortunately our opportunities to write about the Puyo Puyo series aren’t in abundance. So we feel happy to see a week of competitive Puyo Puyo events ahead of us, alongside a Niconico broadcast from Sega to celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary in Japan. We may not hear much about Puyo Puyo in the West, but Puyo Puyo is indeed a long-standing Sega franchise.

Puyo Puyo, as most any other game series, can be played according to the player’s wishes. But Puyo Puyo in a competitive setting operates under the assumption that certain strategies are more desirable than others. You don’t always want to focus simply on connecting four like-colored Puyos that are on an upper row together, as an example, as you’ll find it harder to inundate your opponent with garbage. It is a setting that converges towards rewarding players that can think quickly and creatively, keep an eye on themselves and their opponents, and react and attack in order to keep oneself at an advantageous position as much as it makes sense. Stakes can often be higher in competitive Puyo Puyo, where the rewards might include money, other prizes, or even pride itself.

Check out this image below for a schedule of competitive Puyo Puyo events, with stream URLs (Niconico or Twitch, depending on the event) accompanying each event. For our Western-based readers, please do keep in mind that events taking place in Japan (S-Rank League, 25th Anniversary Stream) are ahead of you. For example, the first day of S-Rank League is already underway. Segalization does not take credit for the creation of the image below.

Puyo Puyo 25th Anniversary Tournament seriesKudos to competitive Puyo Puyo players around the world who keep their games alive through their dedication to the game’s strategic combat, and the desire to make their opponents lose. All in the name of fun!

Interested in learning more about the fundamentals of high-level Puyo Puyo? This NeoGAF thread not only covers some basic history of the franchise and offers some suggestions on Puyo Puyo titles to buy, but it also gives a good rundown on vocabulary that defines competitive interactions and fleshes them out. With visuals! Don’t be intimidated by the density of the information – read items one step at a time, and don’t be afraid to come back to the reading another time if you don’t understand it immediately.

One place for Puyo Puyo discussion is Puyo Nexus, a forum and fansite for the Puyo Puyo franchise. They cover news on Japanese Puyo Puyo tournaments on and also run tournaments of their own.

You may also consider the r/puyopop subreddit for discussion, fun, and assistance, which also hosts a Discord chatroom of its own.

Dressing Room Paris 6 Sakura Wars

Upcoming Sakura Wars Live Performances

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Sakura Wars franchise. It is an achievement to be proud of, as Sakura Wars is one of Sega’s most influential properties in Japan and was once an extremely strong seller.

Be sure to stop by the Sakura Taisen Twitter account sometime (and follow it, too!) It’s been outfitted with some new 20th anniversary-themed art.

Two live performances featuring Sakura Wars cast members as part of this year’s celebration of the franchise were recently announced. First, on March 31st, Anison History Japan has invited Chisa Yokoyama (Sakura Shinguji’s seiyuu) for a Sakura Wars-themed performance during the 1:00 live event bloc. Anison History Japan will be a two day event featuring wide variety of performers of anime songs. Check out this event page for additional information!

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Kaito Birthday - Project DIVA Arcade Wallpaper

New Project DIVA X Songs From Famitsu, Plus KAITO Birthday Video

The newest issue of Weekly Famitsu introduced some more songs and modules for Project DIVA X. They are as follows:

Songs:

  • Satisfaction, by livetune
  • LOL -lots of laugh-, by mikumix
  • Glossy Mixture (Beauty Medley), by TREOW {ELECTROCUTICA}
    • Dependence Intention, by TREOW {ELECTROCUTICA}
    • Sweet Devil, by HachioujiP
    • Nebula, by Tripshots

Modules:

  • De-Monster for Hatsune Miku (Satsifaction), by TNSK
  • Lollipop for Hatsune Miku (LOL -lots of laugh-), by Honyalala
  • Brilliant Butterfly for Hatsune Miku, Pure Butterfly for Kagamine Rin, Brave Butterfly for Kagamine Len, Elegant Butterfly for Megurine Luka, Mysterious Butterfly for KAITO, and Glamorous Butterfly for MEIKO (Glossy Mixture).

Credits to Gematsu for the media translations.

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ankorock shirt gloves SMT IV FINAL

Shin Megami Tensei IV Final Post-Release Promotional Merchandise

Shin Megami Tensei IV Final released in Japan last week. To further promote the game, special themed merchandise is being released in exclusive collaborations with certain Japanese outlets.

ankorock SMT IV FINALFirst, here is the products page for a FINAL collaboration with the Japanese fashion brand ankoROCK. From parkas to T-shirts to pants to fingerless gloves and even masks, there’s a lot on display. Clicking on an individual item will take you to an order page. These are indeed fashionable – anyone can see it and I myself like the designs on display. Go and take coordinated ensembles like these to Milan or Paris and show everyone what’s up.

red ensemble ankorock SMT IV FINALTo my friend in the picture, the red shoes are so problematic that they are giving demons power. The red is too bright and looks plastic-y, and the soles on the shoes are a little too strong. (But fashion is partially about personal taste, in the end…)

*the note at the bottom of the image suggests that the shoes are not part of the collaboration, anyway 😉

ankorock SMT IV FINAL green ensembleI love how the inside of the sleeves are white. It adds more color, and makes the fabric look appealing to the touch.

But just so you know, as with plenty of especially fashionable items, these skew towards the pricey side. Orders are being taken until the end of March.

PPARCO SMT IV FINALNext, check out this collaboration announced with P’PARCO on the FINAL website. P’PARCO is a multi-floor shopping center for food, fashion, and pop culture items, located in Ikebukuro. this is a limited time promotion that ends on February 21. Items being offered include SMT map symbol-inspired phone jacks, three different T-shirt designs, acrylic keychains, a wall scroll, pens and a smartphone case. In addition, check out these bromides:

bromide SMT IV FINALThey come in sets of three, packaged randomly, and feature many of the important figures of Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL, human or deity. But of course, check out the above links to see the many other items on offer.

TBI SMT IV FINALLastly, restaurant company TBI Group is hosting its own collaboration with SMT IV FINAL. Locations in Osaka and Tokyo will host a menu of character-themed items. The Tokyo locations will operate until March 13th, and the Osaka location will operate until March 20th. What makes this promotion interesting is that each of the several locations offer specific menu arrangements of food and drink items; there aren’t any dishes that are store-specific, but no one place is the same!

Also, BEEHOUSE is participating in this promotion by offering cocktails you can create by mixing different drinks (and the bases are named after different SMT demons.)

If you happen to be in Japan, the links I posted above will actually direct you to each of the participating restaurant’s locations. A helpful tool, to be sure!

It’s nice to see the love for Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL continuing in Japan. Such promotions are not outside of the norm, but still fun to see. No localization has been announced for regions outside of Japan as of yet.

Yakuza Kiwami Valentine

Yakuza Kiwami Valentine’s Day Promotion Brings Love to the Street

Sega and Sony recently ran an interesting surprise Valentine’s Day promotional activity for Yakuza Kiwami. Here’s the setup: actors dressed as yakuza thugs menacingly approach an unsuspecting traveler going about on some business at Shinjuku Station and direct them to a carpet walkway. Or maybe they are real yakuza…? Anyway, the bewildered citizen then traverses the carpet, congratulated with shouts of “thanks for your work!” and a reverential bow, as he or she ultimately makes it forward to a woman at the top who hands them a mysterious gift.

There’s love for everybody – young men weren’t the only recipients of the gift, but women (and an older woman) and a young boy, too. That particular poor young yakuza-in-training might’ve had a rough go of it, it seems. I’m just happy to see the bewildered expressions of the people who were approached, but it’s equally fun to see the approached people who really got into the whole stunt too.

These antics were also covered by 4Gamer and Famitsu.

Check out the videos that were uploaded to PlayStation Japan’s YouTube account below. Doesn’t this make your heart flutter? And want to play Yakuza games?

『龍が如く 極』「コワモテの花道」バレンタインイベントレポート

 

「コワモテの花道」

Yakuza Kiwami is already out in Japan; the current major Yakuza project for Asia in development is Yakuza 6.

SMTIV Final

Shin Megami Tensei IV Final New Gameplay Demo Footage

If you’re reading this, it is now February 10th in Japan: the day Shin Megami Tensei IV Final will be released (alongside Valkyria Chronicles Remastered!) Though it’s not long after midnight there…

Anyway, 4Gamer posted an extended preview video of Shin Megami Tensei IV Final to their YouTube account. The first half or so of the video feature some dialogue scenes that set up the game’s story. The latter half of the video features gameplay – the battle system, various menu navigations, the map system.

As of now, there’s no word on the localization status of this game. Atlus tends to be rather consistent about localizations, certainly so for major Shin Megami Tensei-related games, but we’ll have to wait and see what’s in store this game in the West.

「真・女神転生IV FINAL」プレイムービー。“人外ハンター”の新たなストーリーが展開する完全新作

Valkyria Chronicles Remaster: System Trailer

Sega of Japan recently published a new Valkyria Chronicles trailer called the System trailer.

The trailer looks over the BLiTZ battle system. Players transition between Command Mode and Action Mode so long as they have Command Points available left to manipulate any of their units (or so long as a Defeat condition has not yet been fulfilled.)

Command Mode serves as a map overview where you select which unit you would like to control for a set amount of Action Points (the distance that you can travel per Command Point,) and Action Mode is the on-the-ground movement mode where units interact with enemies and their environment in hopes of achieving the mission objective.

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