Commentary: Why We ALL Need Wizardry Back!

Sometimes, I just hate Japan, but in a decidedly more “grrrr… how come they get THAT game?” manner (and not anything more overly dramatic than that, mind you). While the Wizardry franchise hasn’t seen a new Western-developed PC game in the states since the ill-fated, (but mostly well-rated) Wizardry 8 (back in 2001!), since the late 80’s, Japanese gamers have had nearly 40 ports or completely original Wizardry games and side-stories created by an assortment of developers for a number of consoles, portables and even cellphones.

More recently (as in a big, fat “what the what?!”), the Nintendo DS in Japan has gotten their own original Wizardry games in the form of three titles that will probably never, ever see the light of day in English unless they get fan-patched translations (*grrrr!*). You can keep your Angry Birds, and other “casual” games, folks – I’d rather play something with real meat on its bones.

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Nintendo 3DS Pre-Order Madness Starts With Nary A Price Point In Sight (AND Your Kids WIll Go BLIND… Er, Maybe)…


I’m gathering that reports that the upcoming 3DS will carry a warning about use of its innovative 3D functionality being not recommended (or good, for that matter) for the eyesight of kids under six years old isn’t going to stop anyone from putting down a fat deposit at Gamestop and posting copies their receipts online. Of course, those pre-ordering folk aren’t six years old (and hopefully don’t have kids coming up on that age they want to introduce to that sort of eye/brain strain) and heck, trying to stop early adopters from throwing packs of money around is sort of bad for the economy (which someone should tell those AGAINST alternative fuel sources).

Still, Nintendo really needs to play offense as well as defense here as they address this potential sales-killing (or class action lawsuit bringing) issue as more of the dopier media outlets (you know, the ones that ALWAYS take the “Video games will turn your kids into mass murdering sex fiends in three seconds!” approach to this sort of news) take this negative angle and run wild with it. I say, as long as parents can read the damn box (or have a clerk point this age limit out to them) BEFORE they buy it, it’s all good. Now, about that price point… Guess we’ll see by CES (my prediction: $249.99, but perhaps with a pack-in and maybe loaded with some cool stuff)

My REAL question is this: Why the hell do we keep seeing kid’s movies arriving in theaters (then later on DVD or Blu-Ray) in 3D if kids under six shouldn’t be able to watch them at all? Granted, you can sit around playing “normal” games for hours on end with only a few issues. 3D gaming has been headache-inducing since the 90’s when there were something like two to four minute experiences along with a few other applications. I guess we’ll see what happens after the 3DS ships and more folks can afford 3D televisions and those expensive glasses.

Still, I’m crazy that way. I can see myself playing a 3D game ’til I fall off the couch from dizziness, but I just can’t imagine myself or someone else watching more than two 3D movies in a row before their butt tries to bite them for making them sit so long doing nothing…

Tecmo Koei’s Q1 2011 Lineup: A Cast of Thousands In Three Games (Plus Two 3DS Titles)


Tecmo Koei is getting an early start on 2011 by announcing three upcoming console games for the first quarter of next year as well as two 3DS exclusives with release dates and more info on the portable games to be announced shortly – (at or around CES, I’m guessing). Here’s what’s on the way:

Trinity: Souls of Zill ‘Oll (PS3 Exclusive) – February 8, 2011
Warriors: Legends of Troy (PS3/Xbox 360) – March 8, 2011
Dynasty Warriors 7 (PS3 and Xbox 360) – March 22, 2011
Dead or Alive Dimensions (3DS)
Samurai Warriors Chronicles
(3DS)

I’ll run updated galleries for each game as new media comes in.

Capcom Announces Mega Man Legends 3 Project, New Resident Evil For 3DS

In one of the best “IT'S ABOUT FREAKIN” TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIME!” sequel announcements this year, Capcom has made me and a whole bunch of gamers pretty happy clams (well, mostly). A new Mega Man Legends game is on the way (yay!) for the 3DS (er, Yay?). While a new cross-platform game would have been even more fantastic (especially with HD remakes of the previous MML/Tron Bonne games), it looks as if Nintendo's upcoming must-have bank-breaking handheld wonder will be the lucky recipient of this latest installment.

Anyway, press release, logos and RE 3D screens below the jump. I'm going to go dance around the room a bit before crying as I check my bank account (and cry some more afterward).

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3DS Dated for Japan (2010), US (2011), Specs Listed (Just Bring On The GAMES!)

Yeah, yeah. Here’s a nifty Gamasutra article with the 3DS specs as well as another with Japanese launch info, but if you ask me, I could care less about the specs. I just want to see the darn thing and a bunch of games I can sit down play with at a Nintendo event before getting my grubby paws on one I can take home. Yes, I’m shameless, but hell, I don’t spit out good reviews based on freebies and I’m certainly no celebrity who’s going to pose and shill in public and not give a crap about the 3DS once the cameras shut off. As long as developers get to make the best games they can for the handheld, I’m a supporter. Once the crap shovelware hits (and it will – some folks will buy anything in 3D!), I’ll stick around, but I’ll be a meanie when I need to be.

Gallery: Resident Evil Revelations

My first thought (given the Capcom press page has this listed as a regular DS game) was: Wait…. these are Nintendo DS screens? Of course, you'd be a bit confused too, especially if you also saw those similarly eye-popping screens for the upcoming 3DS RE Mercenaries title. Then I realized that it's going to be one of those 3DS titles that you don't need the “3D” effect on to enjoy. Still, for a handheld with FAR lower resolution than any current TV or monitor, what's here is pretty amazing stuff. Go Capcom!

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