Ninja Gaiden 3 Revealed…With a Piece of Concept Art

At a private Tecmo-Koei dinner in Japan, Team Ninja’s Yosuke Hayashi unveiled Ninja Gaiden 3 with a piece of concept art. I love it! It reminds me of E3 meetings in the late ’90s when European developers would show me sketches of their game on a flip-book and bore me to tears about heady concepts that would never see the light of day. For some reason, when Team Ninja shows off concept art, I take it a bit more seriously.

Here’s what GamePro’s AJ Glasser had to say about the brief introduction to Ninja Gaiden 3:

The game is so early in development, the developer only showed journalists a piece of concept art. The image, however, defines both the new game’s direction and the new identity of Team Ninja.

Glasser also spills details on the upcoming Dead or Alive game for Nintendo 3DS. Kindly check out her article if you have a chance. Also, let me know if you’re interested in Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden games that aren’t created by Tomonobu Itagaki.

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Asura’s Wrath = Japanese God of War?

Journalists are already calling Capcom’s Asura’s Wrath the Japanese God of War. Certainly there are similarities. Okay, there are a ton of similarities, but will the developers at CyberConnect2 be able to successfully create a game that blends Western blood-and-guts with Japanese gameplay sensibilities? Check out the trailer above and cast your vote (please)!

Ninja Theory Developing New Devil May Cry Game

At a pre-Tokyo Game Show press event, Capcom announced that Ninja Theory (Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West) is developing the new Devil May Cry game. Check out the trailer above, let me know what you think about it, and — perhaps more importantly — let me know if you even still care about Devil May Cry.

HTC Unveils the Desire Z and Desire HD

At a press event in England, HTC unveiled a pair of Google Android phones for the Asian and European markets — the Desire HD and the Desire Z. Both phones run Google Android 2.2 (FroYo) with the latest version of HTC Sense. Both phones will also take advantage of the upcoming HTCSense.com for over-the-air backup, remote location, and remote wipes. Here’s a snippet from the press release:

HTC Desire HD
HTC Desire HD showcases outstanding multimedia content with its bright 4.3″ LCD display and Dolby Mobile and SRS virtual sound and is the first to be powered by the new 1GHz Qualcomm 8255 Snapdragon processor. The HTC Desire HD enables 720p HD video recording and includes an 8-megapixel camera with dual-flash. Building on the unibody heritage of the HTC Legend, the HTC Desire HD is sculpted from a block of solid aluminum and exudes the air of quality and strength that HTC has come to be known for. It also includes the new HTC Fast Boot that enables people to quickly make a call or check emails by shortening the time taken to complete the power-up sequence.

HTC Desire Z
For people constantly on the go, HTC Desire Z makes it quick and easy to stay connected with friends on Facebook and Twitter or with colleagues and customers at work. HTC Desire Z features a unique ‘pop hinge’ that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard for fast, convenient typing. HTC Desire Z’s keyboard also includes a variety of keyboard shortcuts and two customizable keys for providing instant access to common functions without the need to open menus. HTC Desire Z also includes 720p HD video recording and a 5-megapixel camera with automatic flash. It is the first phone to utilize the new 800MHz Qualcomm 7230 processor for improved performance and battery life and also includes HTC Fast Boot.

The Desire Z is essentially a global version of the T-Mobile G2, but uses HTC Sense instead of vanilla Android. While Sense offers many niceties, some users prefer the openness and speed of stock Android.

The Desire HD is a GSM version of Sprint’s Evo 4G, but with a sexy aluminum body and an HSPA+ radio instead of WiMax. I am extremely jealous that our Asian and European friends will be getting this phone soon. If it’s compatible with T-Mobile’s HSPA+ frequencies (I’m not certain of this yet) then it’s pretty much perfect for me (until I want a new phone in February 2011). I loved using the Evo 4G, but I’m attracted to the Desire HD’s aluminum body. Being an international traveler, an unlocked GSM phone would be extremely useful.

Both phones will be available in October 2010.

Let me know what you think of HTC’s new phones when you get a chance. Any of you interested in importing one of them? I might accidentally buy one next time I’m in Asia.

Coffee Talk #214: Five Things I Can’t Wait to See at TGS 2010

I’m so bummed that I’m missing Tokyo Game Show. Part of it is that it’s always incredibly fun hanging out with writer, developer, and PR friends in Tokyo. Part of it is that the karaoke is simply the best (I’ve never seen so many Pixies songs available anywhere else in the world). Lastly, part of it is that my tastes lean towards Japanese games and the announcements are usually super exciting for gamers like me. Here are five things I’m looking forward to hearing more about during TGS 2010.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, if Nokia’s new Symbian^3 phones will matter, Ricky Hatton’s cocaine use, or the impending demise of WWE NXT, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’m so bummed that I’m missing Tokyo Game Show. Part of it is that it’s always incredibly fun hanging out with writer, developer, and PR friends in Tokyo. Part of it is that the karaoke is simply the best (I’ve never seen so many Pixies songs available anywhere else in the world). Lastly, part of it is that my tastes lean towards Japanese games and the announcements are usually super exciting for gamers like me. Here are five things I’m looking forward to hearing more about during TGS 2010.

  1. The Last Guardian — I’ve been high on this game since E3 2009 and was totally bummed that it wasn’t at E3 2010. TGS does seem more appropriate for Team Ico’s next unique adventure.
  2. The 3rd Birthday — I’ve been trying to get you guys and dolls to pay attention to this Parasite Eve (not a) sequel, but it doesn’t appear to be working. It’s going to be cool! I really believe that.
  3. Nintendo 3DS — Obviously I have a professional interest in the 3DS, but after playing with it at E3 2010, I want it now! Honestly, it’s more “magical” than the Apple iPad. On a side note, Satoru Iwata and Steve Jobs need to fight over the “magic” in a steel cage.
  4. Shadows of the Damned — It’s Grasshopper’s Suda 51 and Platinum Games’ Shinji Mikami working together. That’s just sheer awesomeness.
  5. More Square Enix — Yeah, in addition to The 3rd Birthday, I’m starving for more on Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Ogre Battle, FF Tactics for iPhone, next-gen engine — anything really. I love Square Enix games (especially the ones with Reona Rewis).

I’m sure there will be plenty of awesome news coming out of TGS 2010. What do you think of my list? What are you looking forward to hearing more about? Man, I’d love to hang out with some of you in Tokyo. If you haven’t been, I’m sure you’d totally dig it. Now get to shouting (not literally, Big Blak) in the comments section (please)!

Samsung Fascinate (Verizon) Unboxing Photos

Here are a bunch of photos of the Samsung Fascinate for Verizon, a Google Android phone in Samsung’s Galaxy S series. It’s a very impressive piece of hardware with some curious — some say controversial — software choices by Verizon. In addition to a gorgeous Super AMOLED screen, the Fascinate packs a powerful CPU/GPU combo. I’ll write my initial impressions of the phone later this evening. For now, check out these pics (costarring the Motorola Droid 2 for size comparison) and let me know if you have any questions about the phone.

Disclaimer: A few of the pics are off center. It’s tough taking pictures indoors while you’re wearing prescription sunglasses.

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Today’s Poll: Are You Buying Halo Reach This Week?

My friend Ted has been bugging me to add more polls, so take this! Obviously Halo Reach is the big game this week (certainly this month and possibly this year). What I really want to know is…are you gonna go my way? are you buying it this week? Kindly vote and discuss.

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Coffee Talk #213: My Biggest Gaming Disappointment of 2010

I’ve been meaning to write my (not a) review for the “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins since last Thursday. I’ve played it a bunch of times and I’m certainly familiar with it, but for various reasons I haven’t pulled the trigger on my (not a) review. Part of it is that I don’t have much to say about the game. Here’s the short version: it’s incredibly disappointing. Here’s the long version: the gameplay, graphics, and voice acting are what you’d expect from Dragon Age, but the story — which was purported to be a grand finale that dramatically reveals the fate of Morrigan — is a total letdown. There’s nothing grand about “Witch Hunt”; it’s just another piece of good Dragon Age DLC.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Chad Ochocinco’s hosting job on WWE Raw, George Michael getting two months in the slammer for driving while high, or Oprah giving away the new Motorola Android phone, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been meaning to write my (not a) review for the “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins since last Thursday. I’ve played it a bunch of times and I’m certainly familiar with it, but for various reasons I haven’t pulled the trigger on my (not a) review. Part of it is that I don’t have much to say about the game. Here’s the short version: it’s incredibly disappointing. Here’s the long version: the gameplay, graphics, and voice acting are what you’d expect from Dragon Age, but the story — which was purported to be a grand finale that dramatically reveals the fate of Morrigan — is a total letdown. There’s nothing grand about “Witch Hunt”; it’s just another piece of good Dragon Age DLC.

The other part is that I’m…uncomfortable being disappointed in BioWare. I adore the company’s games. Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk are fantastic people that I’ve been lucky enough to spend time with. Thankfully, I’m not working for a proper editorial site at the moment, so I don’t have to lie to you and pretend that these factors aren’t creeping around my brain. I just hold BioWare to incredibly high standards (perhaps unfairly so), so when the company releases a decent product that should have been more, it’s disappointing.

Anyway, I’m officially going to blame the whole not-writing-a-(not a)-review thing on jet lag. As for you, I want to hear about your gaming disappointments of 2010 (thus far). Shout it out (please)!

The First PlayStation Move Game I’ll Play Is…

…Heavy Rain, of course. Yeah, I’ve already played a bunch of the PlayStation Move launch titles, but this is the first game I’ll dive into. Sony Computer Entertainment America product marketing manager Jefferson “The Donger” Dong announced that PlayStation Move support for Heavy Rain arrives on September 22. I’m all over that!

Are any of you going to give Heavy Rain another go with PlayStation Move? Are there any Move games you’re interested in?

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