This Week’s Videogame Releases

March continues to come in like a lion with a number of strong videogame releases. THQ has high hopes for Homefront and is dropping a ton of marketing dollars on this action game. Yakuza 4 will appeal to gamers that want to spend some time in the world of Japanese organized crime. Top Spin 4 adds motion controls to 2K’s long running tennis series. Warriors: Legends of Troy is like Samurai Warriors, but with men in leather skirts and sandals. Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel adds another installment to this quirky Japanese RPG series. Gods Eater Burst is one of my favorite videogame names in a long, long time — it’s just awesomely weird.

I’m still kicking around Kirkwall in Dragon Age 2, so I’m good for a bit. How about you? Any of you picking up new games this week?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

So many great games out this week!!! Leading the way are Pokemon Black/White and Dragon Age II. But wait! There’s more!!! Baseball fans have Major League Baseball 2K11 and MLB 11 The Show to keep them happy until opening day. Whether it’s catching imaginary animals and giving them the Michael Vick treatment, swords and sorcery, or America’s pastime, there’s a hot game for you.

Any of you guys and gals picking up new games this week?

Junichi Masuda Reveals How New Pokemon Are Born

Eurogamer posted an excellent interview with Game Freak director Junichi Masuda, who has been working on the Pokemon series since the very beginning. Masuda covers many topics, including how new Pokemon are created. Here’s an excerpt:

At first I think of ideas about what kind of play I can include. I consider playing content at first, and then what kinds of new elements I can bring in, and the world and communication aspects.

I bring up all the ideas at first. Then I start to think about what the world will be like. Which region? What town should we have? What type of gym should we have? I start to map the world next.

Once those are fixed I can start to think, so, this gym should have this type of trainer, so we should have this type of Pokemon. Then we start to think about the Pokemon characters.

You might think we always start to think from the Pokemon first, but actually we don’t. We do it in this order.

Now you know how new Pokemon are “born”! Seriously though, Masuda is a very cool guy and I highly recommend checking out this interview.

Source

Nintendo Reveals American 3DS Launch Lineup

Getting more specific than its generously broad “launch window”, Nintendo of America has announced the day-one launch-lineup for the American release of the Nintendo 3DS. The games include…

Getting more specific than its generously broad “launch window”, Nintendo of America has announced the day-one launch-lineup for the American release of the Nintendo 3DS. The games include:

For those of you that were planning to by the system, which of these games are on your 3DS wish list? For those that are on the fence, do you see any of these games pushing you to buy a 3DS? Those of you not interested in the 3DS, please tell me why you’re reading this story.

What’s Your Favorite Zelda Moment?

25 years ago yesterday, The Legend of Zelda was released in Japan. The game was an instant classic and spawned numerous sequels that have sold millions of copies. It’s arguably the most popular and influential series in adventure games. Similar to how we all discussed our favorite Mario moments for his 25th anniversary, I’d love to hear about your favorite Zelda moments.

As for me, I’m going to go with The Wind Waker knocking it out of the park. So many jaded videogame journalists hated the game’s graphics and unfairly dismissed it based off of its art style. I thought that the art was charming and had no doubt that The Wind Waker would contain classic Zelda gameplay. It also gave me one of my favorite videogame tracks ever (embedded below). I enjoyed watching several of my peers eat crow on this game.

Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite Zelda moment?

Pokemon Black/White Mall Tour Photos

RPadholic bsukenyan was kind enough to send over some photos from the Indianapolis leg of the Pokemon Black/White mall tour. There’s some fun stuff here. Check ’em out, enjoy, and give props to bsukenyan (please)!

RPadholic bsukenyan was kind enough to send over some photos from the Indianapolis leg of the Pokemon Black/White mall tour. There’s some fun stuff here. Check ’em out, enjoy, and give props to bsukenyan (please)!

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

February getting to chilly for you? Then let these hot games warm you up! Bulletstorm has been getting a ton of buzz for its unapologetic action and this Mike “Busta” Capps interview (*snicker*). Killzone 3 is sure to dazzle PS3 action fans. If those action games aren’t for you then perhaps Knights Contract is just what the doctor ordered. I’m personally hoping De Blob 2 does well; the first game was refreshingly original and I hear that the second one is even better. Last but not least is a pair of excellent RPG re-releases for the PSP: Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness and Ys I and II.

Anyone picking up new games this week?

EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich Talks Nintendo 3DS vs. Sony NGP

EEDAR vice president Jesse Divnich was kind enough to chat with me about the upcoming console war between the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony NGP. As the #1 analyst in the videogame business, IMHO, Jesse’s opinion is meaningful and powerful. He also answered one of RPadholic bsukenyan’s excellent questions. Naturally, I threw a playful jab a Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter…but it was all in jest. Check it out (please)!

Perrin Kaplan Talks Nintendo 3DS, Mario, and More

It was excellent catching up with Perrin Kaplan at DICE 2011. Currently the principal at Zebra Partners, Kaplan is the former vice president of Nintendo of America. She gave her thoughts on how Nintendo is doing these days, as well as the Nintendo 3DS. She also shared her favorite Mario moment and told a precious story about Shigeru Miyamoto’s first time at GDC. I also wanted to spotlight some of the cool charity work she does with Saving Great Animals. Check it out (please)!

P.S. It was actually Perrin’s birthday yesterday. I’m sure she’d appreciate any warm wishes you’d like to send her.

This Week’s Videogame Releases

After a dull start, February roars back with several interesting releases. One surprise that a lot of my journalist friends are enjoying is You Don’t Know Jack; it’s just amusing that hardcore gamers are using their powerful consoles to indulge in a trivia game. A storied Atari (via Infogrames via Accolade) driving series makes its return in Test Drive Unlimited 2. Gamers looking for some action-RPG excitement should give Trinity: Souls Of Zill O’ll a look. Lastly, Mario and pals return to get their athletic groove on in Mario Sports Mix.

Any of you picking up new games this week?