Author Archives: InTheSky

Sony Assisted with Shining Resonance’s Chinese Localization

We know that Sony, through their relatively recently-formed Third Party Productions division is assisting with the localization process of Yakuza 5. However, Siliconera wrote recently that Sony also assisted with the Chinese localization of Shining Resonance. The Chinese localization of Shining Resonance was first announced in August of last year, and now the game can be purchased through PSN for accounts registered in Taiwan. The product page (in English) on the PS Store for the Asia region can be seen here.

There aren’t any publicly released accounts talking about how Sony contributed to Shining Resonance’s localization into Traditional Chinese. Regardless, it is interesting to see that Sony is assisting Sega with localization of a product for a second time. Hong Kong and Taiwan are countries with many who speak Chinese, so perhaps this localization is designed to see if Sega can consistently localize their mid to big budget titles for this region and see satisfactory returns.

Siliconera linked to a playlist of YouTube videos from a player demoing the Chinese localization. The first of the set of 18 videos can be seen here. Be warned that they contain a significant amount of footage and show off lots of the game.

Celebrating the New Year with Phantasy Star Online 2 in Japan

Happy New Year, Segalization readers!

Sega is ringing in the new year for the next two weeks in Phantasy Star Online 2. From January 1st to January 14th, the ARKS Lobby will receive Japanese New Year-themed decorative touches, according to this PSUBlog entry. The featured image shows off a red Shinto shrine gate featuring a pair of Rappies at the lobby’s center.

PSO2NewYearNyauAlso, a special Nyau called the Neujahr Nyau will appear during this two-week period. Players can either receive a kumade-looking Bullet Bow or a harisen-inspired Sword upon defeating it. The kumade (meaning hand of a bear, which inspires the tool’s shape) is meant to rake in good luck. The harisen is a paper fan: a popular and enduring Japanese cultural icon .

Here’s to another year of Sega games, and hopefully more localizations. Let’s ride the momentum of Yakuza 5’s localization and Valkyria Chronicles coming to the PC as we move forward! Be sure to tell us what you want out of Sega in 2015!

Credit goes to the above-linked PSUBlog entry for the images and information.

Shining Resonance Videos: Skits, Costumes, and DLC Characters

BeastNote continues to diligently track news on Shining Resonance on their blog. During the beginning of December, BeastNote wrote about a couple of new videos uploaded by Sega showing off costumes and some slice-of-life interaction skits. On Christmas Day, BeastNote wrote about the announcement of two characters as DLC extras: Princess Excella, the leader of Lombardia and the Drag Machina, and Jenius, the solitary warrior with a grudge. Excella and Jenius will be released on January 8th, 2015 and are priced at ¥925 each.

Continue reading to check out the videos! Please note that these videos are not subtitled, but I’ll provide some comments underneath each video, based off of a combination of BeastNote’s descriptions and my own watching of the video.

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Yakuza Zero Video Series: “Women” Chapter, New Screenshots

Gematsu reports that the weekly Yakuza Zero video series continues with a video on various aspects of the game featuring women. Kazuhiro Nakaya returns, and the video opens with a Merry Christmas from the speakers. (I hope all of our readers are enjoying the holiday season!)

The video is focused on women in Yakuza Zero, whom you’ll be able to interact with in various ways. There is a minigame where the player chooses their responses to calling a woman over the phone, and there is another minigame where players can bet on the winner between women wrestling in swimsuits. At around 8:30, Kiryu has a chance encounter and chat with a woman in front of Club Sega, but you’ll have to watch to see how it unfolds. Towards the end of the demo, one of the gravure videos are briefly shown off. Do note that this demo video is NSFW and take care in deciding where to watch it. The video for this week can be seen if you continue reading.

Also, fellow Segalization staffer Draikin has alerted me to the fact that Dualshockers has published an article with a gallery of new screenshots. The images are all new and showcase interesting content, whether it be new characters or some still images of Majima and his baseball bat. Be sure to check it out.

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Sony Producing Limited Edition Yakuza Zero Playstation 4’s for Japan

Sony is producing limited edition variants of the Playstation 4 console themed after the upcoming Yakuza Zero game. Fans can choose between a Jet Black or Glacier White version, with each featuring a stylized Eastern dragon design etched by laser, meant to evoke series lead Kazuma Kiryu’s iconic dragon tattoo. Both versions run for ¥41,980 apiece.

A preorder page with preview images can be seen at this Japanese Sony online store link. When preordering a Limited Edition Playstation 4 here, customers have the option of bundling a copy of Yakuza Zero with their order for another ¥6,480. The page also offers other service options such as warranty packages for different lengths of time. These special Playstation 4’s are set to release on the same date as Yakuza Zero itself will hit shelves: March 12, 2015.

It’s an interesting move. Personally, it seems that almost by coincidence Sony has been offering a couple of assists to Sega as of late, what with the localization assistance being provided to Yakuza 5 and the production of limited edition Phantasy Star Nova-themed Vita hardware.

Credit for the featured image and information go to this SegmentNext article.

Etrian Mystery Dungeon: North American Trailer, Early Purchase Bonus

Gematsu recently published a post announcing a new promotional trailer alongside a first-print and preorder bonus for Etrian Mystery Dungeon’s North American release, tentatively scheduled for Spring 2015. Both preordered copies and first-print copies will come with a CD containing Etrian Mystery Dungeon’s soundtrack. We’ve also been provided with a look at the boxart for the game, pictured above.

Continue reading to check out the trailer. There are some details that can be gleaned from it: for example, the world of Etrian Mystery Dungeon is being localized as Aslarga. All in all, the trailer is a great opportunity to see the game in motion, so be sure to check it out!

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Etrian Mystery Dungeon Trailers: Second Promo Trailer, Three Class Demos

Gematsu recently compiled a new batch of Etrian Mystery Dungeon trailers. I’ve included them here in this writeup for your viewing, along with a couple of my comments for each video. Please note that the trailers are in Japanese, and there are currently no subtitles for them.

With that said, check them out below! The second promotional trailer is about three minutes long, and the other three videos range from about half of a minute to a minute.

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Etrian Mystery Dungeon Infodump: JPN Boxart, Wanderer Class, “DOE” Enemies, NPC’s

This week’s Famitsu is out and with it comes a hefty release of information. Gematsu compiles this new information in a writeup that can be seen here. To begin: above is the boxart for the Japanese version of the game.

EOMDWandererReveal

Next, we have the reveal of a new class type: the Wanderer. Fans of the Shiren the Wanderer franchise may notice some similarities in character design. Coincidentally, Chunsoft developed Shiren the Wanderer for the Wii, and Sega published the game in Japan while Atlus handled publishing in North America. Fellow Segalization writer Kuronoa adds that Sega localized and published the DS title Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer for North America, and published a spinoff Shiren the Wanderer game for the Dreamcast in Japan. Anyway, there aren’t any details yet on this class’s battle functions, but those details may perhaps be revealed in a class demo video in the future.

ShirentheWandererFamitsu also introduced two NPC’s this week, though currently unnamed. There is man with a large frame and dark hair who leads the Adventurer’s Guild. You’ll speak to him to edit your party and create new characters. There is also a slender man who can be found at Magan’s House, where players will choose missions and report to after completing them. Gematsu reports that Famitsu says players can also speak to the orange-haired man for “Town Development”, though what that means is currently not fleshed out.

Lastly, Etrian Mystery Dungeon introduces a spin on the notorious DOE enemies with this game’s FOE’s. More info is sure to come in the future.

Credit goes to Gematsu for the translated information and the images. Credit goes to this Wikipedia article for the Shiren the Wanderer boxart.

Yakuza Zero Video Series Week Two: “Battle System”

The Yakuza Zero video series continues this week with the “Battle System” video. Gematsu posted the second of the weekly Yakuza Zero video series here. The article explains that each character will have three battle styles. Kazuhiro Nakaya, voice of Akira Nishikiyama, returns for this video and even plays the game for a bit. He checks out the game at around 10:45, after being “gifted” with a controller. When Nakaya starts to play, he gives both characters a try (starting with Majima) and I thought it was fun to watch a voice actor play a game.

Kiryu’s styles can be seen a little before 2:30, and are as follows:

  • Chinpira/Yakuza-in-training is defined as a standard battle style. Fight pose and movement should feel familiar.
  • Rush seems to place more emphasis on dashes (they are longer-distanced) and techniques with more hits.
  • “Damage Shop” seems to be an unusual style that focuses on using items to attack and sacrificing a bit of mobility or defense. While Kiryu has access to regular physical attacks, they tend to be short and powerful.

Majima’s styles can be seen at around 6:45, and are as follows:

  • “Fight Master” is as conventional a style as can be expected from Majima, as his techniques are almost all flashy and unorthodox. It’s worth noting that Majima is able to dash twice in succession; this could be helpful since his combos in this style seem short, and dashing can help him get out of danger.
  • Dancer channels Majima’s inner breakdancer. The attacks are flashy and elaborate, hit all over the place, and can last for a long time. This is the style often shown off in promotional videos in the past.
  • Slugger makes use of Majima’s iconic baseball bat. He attacks much faster than you might expect, and the baseball bat gives him a lot of range.

You can check out the video below! It is worth noting that the end of the video features promotional content that can be considered NSFW, so watch wisely. Be warned also for the HEAT finisher at 19:00, which is perhaps the most elaborate and crazy finisher that I’ve ever seen. In a good way.

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Etrian Mystery Dungeon Character Class Video Set

Siliconera recently authored an article compiling a set of videos featuring four of character classes for the upcoming Atlus-Spike Chunsoft crossover Etrian Mystery Dungeon. Do note that while the game is going to be localized, the videos themselves are in Japanese. Each demo video is also about half a minute long. Continue reading to check them out!

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