Headline RePLAY – 5.29.12

Today on Headline RePLAY: The rumored Castlevania: Mirror of Fate is revealed to be a Lords of Shadow title, Hideo Kojima’s role in the next Zone of the Enders game and more on the Star Wars: The Old Republic layoffs.

New details by Go Nintendo today confirm rumors of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate as an actual title for the 3DS in addition to being made from MercurySteam, the studio responsible for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow.

Mirror of Fate was rumored to be revealed at this year’s E3, but was instead exposed by the June 2012 edition of Nintendo Power.

According to details gathered by Go Nintendo, Mirror of Fate involves iconic vampire-slayer Trevor Belmont who fights with the Lords of Shadow introduced “combat cross” weapon. The combat is also reminiscent of the action-based Lords of Shadow gameplay with the use of light and shadow magic, secondary weapons and combos.

No word on an alleged second character or the use of the 3DS’ cameras as a gameplay mechanic, however.

|Source: Go Nintendo

Hideo Kojima may have unveiled a new Zone of the Enders project to the fanfare of fans last week, but Twitter reveals that he will be making little contribution to the game.

According to Kotaku, while Kojima is the producer of the project, he won’t be writing, designing or directing it—those duties will be handled by Kojima Productions staff.

Kojima is instead hard at work on “Project Ogre” and consequently is only be able to offer his support for the next Z.O.E title.

|Source: Kotaku

Following layoffs that hit the Star Wars: The Old Republic, associate lead designer Emmanuel Lushinchi brands MMOs as the “toughest part of the industry” and insists his team is still one of the “biggest in the industry.”

“The MMO is the toughest part of the game industry without a doubt and we live in tough economic times in general,” Lushinchi told PC Gamer. “On a personal level it’s quite difficult to have people that you’ve been working with for a long time that you know personally, you go to their barbecue and you meet their families and it’s never easy. I doubt it’d be easy in any industry for anyone, but it happens.”

“We have a very large development team still, definitely one of the biggest in the industry,” he maintains, “and we have a very complete and detailed plan for the rest of the year.”

|Source: GamesIndustry International

Headline RePLAY – 5.25.12

Today on Headline RePLAY: A patent to interrupt gameplay with ads, a Zone of the Enders reveal and evil never dies in Demon’s Souls.

While Microsoft is adding TV-spots to Xbox LIVE, according to a patent filed in July 2011, Sony is planning to take a more direct approach by interrupting video games with commercials.

Aptly titled as “Advertisement Scheme for use with Interactive Content,” the patent describes the use of a computer program or system to warn users of an impending ad, slows down and suspends the game, plays the ad and resumes the game.  

Thankfully, a patent being filed does not guarantee its implementation. The fact that it is being discussed at all is a troubling, however.  

|Source: NeoGAF

Zone of the Enders HD Edition’s release date of October 25th in Japan is supposed to be the big news from today’s Zone of the Enders HD ReBOOT Preview Event, however, Hideo Kojima had one more reveal up his sleeve: a long-awaited Zone of the Enders sequel.

Called the “Enders Project,” Kojima explained that the game is currently in an early prototyping phase and testing what can be done with the Fox Engine. Producer Ryosuke Toriyama added that he and the Zone of the Enders team are currently making models to convert as Fox Engine assets.   

|Source: Famitsu via Andriasang

Atlus is doing a complete 360 by announcing an extension to the North American Demon’s Souls online servers.

“While it originally seemed as though it would be unfeasible for us to continue to sustain the servers,” said Tim Pivnicny, Atlus’ vice president of marketing and sales, “a number of developments have made it possible for us to continue to invest in  and support our fans as they have continued to invest and support us and Demon’s Souls.”

The servers will continue to operate for the “foreseeable future” as long as user activity and interest “remain constant.”

Headline RePLAY – 12.13.11

Today on Headline RePLAY: Hideo Kojima doubles the headlines, Iran responds to Battlefield 3, and Obsidian Entertainment expresses its hatred for used games.

Kojima hits the headlines again, this time striking the Twitter feeds and confirming an “authentic stealth MGS” in the works and asks fans to “patiently wait for the sequel coming in the future.”    

And if that is not enough for fans, Kojima reaffirmed his desire in making a Zone of the Enders 3. “We would want to make that game as well,” he told GameFitNation.

More interestingly, Kojima said the game could be built on the Fox Engine, but noted there was a lack of staff available to devote to the project.

*Source: Kojima’sTwitter & GameFitNation

Banning Battlefield 3 was not enough of a response for Iran. To counter EA’s blockbuster shooter, Iran announced it will produce the computer game “Attack on Tel Aviv.”

Iran’s National Foundation for Computer Games (NFCG) said the game is an answer to Battlefield 3’s missions where an American soldier is fighting on Tehran’s streets in search of missing nuclear warheads.

“The United States is governed by a Zionist Regime so Attack on Tel Aviv would make Americans angrier than a game about an attack on Washington,” said Behruz Minaii, the head of NFCG.

Arguably, what makes gamers angrier like no other are the Battlefield vs. Call of Duty troll wars.

*Source: Tehran Times via Kotaku

 

Saying used games are a thorny issue for publishers and developers is an understatement. Obsidian Entertainment decided it was not stated clearly enough and wanted their stance on the record when they discussed digital distribution with IndustryGamers yesterday.

“Of course, one of the greatest things about digital distribution is what it does to reduce the used game market. I hope digital distribution stabs the used game market in the heart,” said Obsidian Entertainment’s Chief Creative Officer Chris Avellone.

And this is why we cannot have good things and why things like Online Passes exist.

*Source: IndustryGamers