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Square Enix summons Earnings Report; Final Fantasy XIII Sales Projections evade attacks

by David Hinkle { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:30PM }

Square Enix recently chose to attack with its annual earnings report, and among the 12-page PDF file's barrage of numbers, things look pretty good for the company. Net sales for the six months ending September 30, 2009 were up 33 percent over the same period last year to 91 billion yen ($1 billion), while operating income was also up by 39 percent to 13 billion yen ($144.5 million) over the same period last year. It's not all roses and Dragon Quest IX sales, however -- net income was down almost 58 percent to 2.7 billion yen ($30 million).

The statement also talks about the acquisition and assimilation of Eidos in direct proportion to Square Enix's games group division -- which includes video games across all platforms and online games for personal computers. Through the aid of titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and the aforementioned Dragon Quest IX, the games division rose its net sales and operating income by 117 percent and 63 percent to 4.8 billion yen ($53 million) and 1.0 billion yen ($11 million), respectively.

As for the company's upcoming darling, Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix prez Yoichi Wada spoke about concern regarding the title's projected domestic sales. Basically, he's not concerned at all! "PS3 sales continue to increase. We're bundling PS3 and FFXIII, and can expect even further sales increases. Orders for FFXIII are definitely not bad," he said. While he didn't reiterate anything as bold as six million, Wada did claim that the game is expected to sell in the millions.

Source - Square Enix earnings (PDF) [Via andriasang]
Source - Wada comments on FFXIII sales

Rumor: Kane & Lynch 2 teaser has duo dodging dogs

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:35AM }

MTV Germany has posted a video that could be construed as a viral teaser for Kane & Lynch 2. The clip is mock "surveillance video" of two naked men desperately barging into a Chinese restaurant. The streakers are apparently on the run -- there's some gun fire aimed in their direction -- until one (possibly Lynch by the looks of his hairstyle) trips and falls over a table, only to be attacked a few seconds later by a dog. The other gentleman, perhaps Kane, successfully beats the dog off of his partner with what appears to be a tray, and then the two presumably escape.

Could this be be a viral ad for Kane and Lynch in "Dog Days?" Your call.

[Via Kotaku]

Spector talks initial Disney pitches, hints at spiritual successor to Deus Ex

by Xav de Matos { Nov 3rd 2009 at 10:00PM }

During a London event to showcase Disney Epic Mickey, developer Warren Spector revealed that his initial pitches to Disney were for two very different titles; hinting one -- in many ways -- may have been a spiritual successor to Deus Ex. The other title, according to The Cut Scene blog, was a "big fantasy" story the developer and his wife unsuccessfully pitched to DC Comics.

Prior to the announcement of a new game in the series, Spector said he had previously attempted to acquire the Deus Ex license from publisher Eidos, but was unsuccessful. Since then, Spector's Junction Point Studios has been acquired by Disney Interactive, revealed his latest title and hinted at more from the Epic universe.

While Spector says there are still stories in the Deus Ex universe he would like to tell, the upcoming prequel, Deus Ex 3 -- helmed by developer Eidos Montreal -- will be the first title in the franchise without the original creator's watchful eye. "That story is not done for me," Spector said. "Deus Ex was very much a game of the millennium." Sadly -- with another team on the project -- it appears Spector's dream of continuing the Deus Ex conspiracy personally have indeed come to an end, for the time being.

[Via GamePro]

OK, Japan, you can have Batman: Arkham Asylum Jan. 14

by Randy Nelson { Nov 2nd 2009 at 7:30PM }

Hey Japan. Remember all those games you made for, oh, decades that we couldn't wait to get our hands on in the West? Well, we thought for once we'd give something back. We know you like Batman. And Batman: Arkham Asylum is really wonderful. So of course you've wanted it. Ever since it came out here in August.

So, Eidos is going ahead bringing you the game on January 14, 2010. Unfortunately, it's up in the air whether you'll get the cool extras we did, like a replica Batarang and really big packaging. Seems you will be getting the DLC though, according to Andriasang. So yeah, please enjoy this gift from us to you. We'll be watching the sales numbers closely.

(P.S. If you want, you can return the favor by sending over the Final Fantasy XIII edition PS3.)

Just Cause 2 trailer has fun with the grappling hook

by David Hinkle { Oct 30th 2009 at 4:00PM }

In this new trailer for Just Cause 2, you can see a helicopter tow a speed boat into a factory. How badass is that? You can also see protagonist Rico Rodriguez attach an unsuspecting individual to an airbound plane as it's taking off. It's this kind of inventive grappling that really gives the game a flavor all its own and makes this latest trailer necessary viewing for any self-respecting Joystiq reader.

Gallery: Just Cause 2 (10.30.09)

Square Enix's expected FY09 earnings hit for $55M damage

by Randy Nelson { Oct 29th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Square Enix predicts ¥7.5 billion ($82 million) net earnings for April 1 through September 30, 2009
MISS!
Eidos Buyout attacks Square Enix!
Taito Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix Retirement Program attacks Square Enix!
Square Enix net earnings for April 1 through September 30, 2009 hit for ¥4.9 billion ($54 million)!
Square Enix predicts ¥15 billion ($164 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
MISS!
Square Enix predicts ¥10 billion ($109 million) net earnings for fiscal year 2009
SUCCESS!
Square Enix earned 100 XP!
Square Enix found the following items!
HUMBLE PIE x1

Hitman 2 may recast lead, Kane and Lynch still coming

by Justin McElroy { Oct 20th 2009 at 7:00PM }

Though it was sniped by critics, Hitman was a smash at the box office, raking in $100 million in theaters plus another $80M on DVD. Emboldened, producer Adrian Askarieh has a full slate of Eidos films in the works, projects that he recently discussed with GameDaily.

His main focus right now is a Just Cause film, which he's producing independently, so don't be surprised if it doesn't quite hit that same level of Hitman polish. Look for that to start shooting next year. Also next year, Kane and Lynch is finally set to start filming in March -- after plenty of false starts -- with Bruce Willis in the Kane role. Finally, there's the Hitman sequel, which Askarieh said may need a new lead, as star Timothy Olyphant is filming a new show for FX. Though Askarieh said he'd like to get Olyphant back, we can't imagine why when Richard Moll is right there.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, more PSone Classics rated by the ESRB

by Randy Nelson { Oct 9th 2009 at 4:22PM }

The ESRB has exposed a new round of PSone Classics for PS3 and PSP on its ratings site, including Naughty Dog creative director -- and Uncharted creator -- Amy Hennig's 32-bit opus, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver. Other titles recently rated for re-release via PlayStation network include Bomberman Party Edition, Fighting Force, Dirt Jockey and International Track & Field.

After last week's deluge of classic PlayStation games gone downloadable on PSN, we were befuddled by the utter lack of any new additions with yesterday's update. We could very likely be looking at the next round in the list -- the only question is when Sony will push them out the digital distribution door.

[Thanks, Dylan!]

Square Enix looking to develop more best-selling IPs

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 29th 2009 at 5:30PM }

RPG juggernaut Square Enix already has a handful of reliable ~~internet protocols~~ intellectual properties in Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts -- however, the company is looking to expand its portfolio of best-selling franchises. In a recent interview with Reuters, Squeenix's Yoichi Wada explained that the developer is hoping to have eight flagship IPs, each installment in which will be capable of selling two million units. He added that with the company's average development time of two years, one of these flagship games could be released every quarter.

So, where are these other five franchises going to come from? According to the interview, Square Enix is cooking up two or three potential blockbusters which should drop by late 2010 or early 2011. For the other IPs, the company may not need to look further than its recent Eidos acquisitions -- a haul which includes the recently successful Batman: Arkham Asylum. We certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of Bruce Wayne on a biennial basis.

[Via Siliconera]

Free Batman 'Prey in Darkness' DLC detailed, arrives tomorrow on PS3 in NA [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 23rd 2009 at 2:01PM }

Late summer blockbuster Batman: Arkham Asylum receives another dose of free DLC with the "Prey in the Darkness" map pack tomorrow on ~~Xbox 360 and~~ PS3. The "Heart of Darkness" map will have Bats battling baddies at the Arkham Pumping Station, while "Hothouse Prey" has the detective using his predator skills to silently dispose of henchmen in the conservatory (i.e., the Abandoned Glasshouse).

Remember to check out the free "Insane Night" map pack if you somehow missed it last week ... oh yeah, and don't forget to check out the game if you've somehow missed out on that, too.

Update: Seems worth mentioning that the UK allegedly (and accidentally) has this up on the Xbox Marketplace already.

Update 2: It appears that Europe will receive the DLC on both consoles, while North America will only have it on PS3. There is no word about when the pack will arrive on the North American Xbox Marketplace. Yeah ... we don't understand it either.

Gallery: Batman: Arkham Asylum

WTF: Fable characters in Sonic Racing and other oddities from alleged Sega leak

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 22nd 2009 at 1:28PM }

Among the truckloads of possibly legit megatons included in the alleged leaked minutes from a meeting between Sega of America and Sony Computer Entertainment America, a number of notable gaffes and oddities can be found. Besides wondering if "characters from [the] Rare or Fable universes" should be included in Sonic Racing, it appears that Sega may be interested in assigning all of its properties a PlayStation Home-room. Oh, and a product evaluator thought Alpha Protocol felt "barely RPG" -- final analysis: make it even more Mass Effect-y.

Additionally, the mention of PS2 games as downloadable content on PSN makes us reminisce all the way back to mid-2006 when the idea first popped up on our radar --- surely, this isn't why Sony removed built-in backwards compatibility? And either the person taking minutes was daydreaming or knows something we don't, as reference is made to "Eidos' Batman" featuring "PS3/PSP interoperability" support -- a Batman or related DC Comics PSP game then? Juicer still, that little mention comes right after talk of a project named "Vanquish" and a possible PSP iteration of the currently shelved Aliens: Colonial Marines that Gearbox Software is working on. Also, Sony is eager to check out that hopefully not-so-crappy Thor game soon (suggestion: make it less Iron Man 2-y).

The cherry on top comes in the form of what we've been calling around the Joystiq water cooler: "Sonic and the Inverted Castle." Found under the "Sonic Anniversary" subhead, the note taker jots down, "SCEA would love PSN exclusive power ups/different game modes (like Castlevania's flip it over/backwards)." Actually, we believe that's Missy Elliott who puts the thing down, flips it and reverses it, thank you very much.

Custom Arkham Asylum skins unmask Batman's identity issues

by David Hinkle { Sep 16th 2009 at 12:00AM }

One of the incentives to play Batman: Arkham Asylum on PC (outside of a lower price and PhysX graffix) is the ability to create custom skins. The community has quickly gotten to work and flooded the official forums with screen grabs of the various outfits modders have designed. Aside from the obvious The Dark Knight and classic Bats skins, there's a neat Green Lantern variation and, pictured above, a recession-conscious Batman opting for Old Navy–esque cargos instead of the usual rubbery expensive stuff. Hey, they breathe better, right?

Hit up the thread to check 'em all out.

Toby Gard off again with Lara, Crystal Dynamics

by Justin McElroy { Sep 15th 2009 at 1:30PM }

Toby Gard has had a hot-and-cold relationship with Lara Croft from the beginning. After helping to create the character at Core, he returned to help relaunch the series with Legend, before directing the cutscenes for Underworld. In June, his LinkedIn profile revealed that he'd been working on a a secret, unannounced project since January; one that we speculated was his latest engagement with the gun-toting adventurer.

It seems it's not to be, though. As Develop discovered, Gard's LinkedIn profile again tells the tale: He left the company this month to open his own consultancy business. At this point, we don't know if the project dies with his career at Crystal Dynamics, as both Gard and the development team have refrained from elaborating on recent events.

[Image credit]

Batman: Arkham Asylum's 'Insane Night' DLC detailed

by Justin McElroy { Sep 14th 2009 at 2:03PM }

Though the name still sounds like an utterly abysmal gallery on a frat boy's Facebook page, we thought you'd like to know a bit more about the upcoming Batman: Arkham Asylum DLC pack, "Insane Night."

On September 17th (on PS3, PC and 360), you'll be able to download the "Totally Insane" combat challenge, which pits the Dark Knight against escaped lunatics in Arkham's records facility, as well as the "Nocturnal Hunter" predator challenge, where you and Bats will rely on the shadows of the Arkham watchtowers to remain hidden.

Best of all, they'll both be available for the bargain price of nothing.

Guitar Hero 5 goes straight to the top of the UK charts

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 14th 2009 at 9:00AM }

Guitar Hero 5, which is like the tenth (give or take a couple) installment in the series, has resonated with UK consumers and hit a high note atop the Chart Track all-formats chart. The Dark Knight of Arkham Asylum -- who was perched above the charts for two weeks -- slipped off the top to the number three spot, with Colin McRae: Dirt 2 taking the silver.

The Beatles: Rock Band premiered at the number four spot, which some are sure to find disappointing. Both Guitar Hero and Rock Band have previously debuted at the fourth and sixth spot, respectively, with previous iterations. Music games may be on a sales decline, but they apparently still know how to make an entrance.

Source -- Guitar Hero 5 hits the right notes (Chart Track)
Source -- All formats chart (Chart Track)