Cyberfront posts(Subscribe to this feed)

GTA Chinatown Wars is the first Z-rated DS game in Japan

by JC Fletcher { Jul 6th 2009 at 3:00PM }

The Computer Entertainment Rating Organization (Japan's equivalent of the ESRB) reserves its most restrictive rating, Z, for games intended for ages 18 and up. There's a slightly less restrictive D rating for ages 17 and up, which gives Z-rated games a sort of stigma almost equivalent to the ESRB's AO rating -- Z-rated games require the buyer to provide proof of age, and often have little or no display presence in stores.

Which isn't exactly good news for the first CERO Z-rated DS game ... Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, whose North American sales suggest it doesn't need any more disadvantages. Like every other GTA, Chinatown Wars will carry the adults-only rating in Japan. Unlike every other GTA (except for IV on the PC), this one will be published by Cyberfront instead of Capcom when it comes out in the fall.

PS2 Evangelion visual novel ported over to PSP

by Majed Athab { Jan 16th 2009 at 10:02AM }

Fans of the anime Neon Genesis Evangelion will be getting a treat for their PSPs this coming April 9 in Japan. The PS2 visual novel Neon Genesis Evangelion: Koutetsu no Girlfriend will be going portable bringing the nearly three-year old software to the handheld. Like a lot of games released in Japan, this title is getting both a regular and limited edition release; they're both priced respectively at ¥3,990 ($44) and ¥6,090 ($67). Oh, by the way, this is CERO rated: B (12 yrs-old+) so there's nothing naughty here despite the image, sorry!

[Via Impress Watch]

Princess Maker 4: Implicitly erotic parenting sim coming to DS

by Eric Caoili { Jul 4th 2008 at 10:30PM }

Gainax's (Neon Genesis Evangelion) Princess Maker series seems harmless at first, a cute "life simulator" in which you raise an orphaned girl to womanhood. The dominant/submissive undertones in the games aren't obvious until you realize the absolute control you have over every aspect of your devoted ward's life.

You can train her in combat to have her fight at the Harvest Festival, put her on a diet so that she can wear fashionable outfits, or send her to work at a bar to raise her "Sinfulness" stat while lowering her "Morals."

Depending on your guidance, your daughter can grow up to be the queen, lead an army, or marry the butler. If you raise her wrong, however, as we assume many gamers will do intentionally, she could become the king's concubine, work as a sleazy barmaid, or even marry her adoptive father!

Originally released for PCs and the PSP in 2006, Princess Maker 4 is also coming to the DS with a Special Edition subtitle this September in Japan. Publisher Cyberfront has a few improvements and additions planned for the port -- three new endings, stat details moved to the bottom screen, and, of course, touchsceen support.

According to the official site, using your stylus, you can "pat your daughter's head, pinch her cheeks, and etc." Etc., indeed. Try out a very brief and somewhat NSFW demo after the post break!

See also: More Naughtiness on the Nintendo DS

Gallery: Princess Maker 4

Continued →

Ikatan: Guess the mystery squid

by Eric Caoili { Apr 24th 2008 at 12:45PM }

Japanese publisher Cyberfront (not to be confused with Cyber Connect) has posted a mystery page for an upcoming Nintendo DS game without revealing any information beyond the image you see above -- a possible title (Ika = squid?), a possible year of release, and a possible piece of surume, or dried squid. Oh, the possibilities!

A bit of background on Cyberfront -- you might recognize the company's name for its localizations of PC titles, like The Orange Box and Civilization IV, in Japan. Cyberfront's DS catalog includes Ryoukiki Exercise, New Zealand Story DS, and Inugaisha (Dog Company).

So, what could Ikatan be? A cooking game limited to squid recipes? An undersea SRPG dominated by armies of cephalopods? A Super Mario Bros. remake played from the perspective of a wandering Blooper? Give us your best guesses!