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MSX returns to Virtual Console in Japan with ... Metal Gear!?
by JC Fletcher 
{ Oct 30th 2009 at 3:00PM } 
There hasn't been an MSX game released on Virtual Console in Japan since July 2008. Konami has decided to start releasing its MSX library on Virtual Console, and as a result (should these games actually come out), the MSX selection will more than triple in November. Which just means it'll go from a whole two games to seven.One of the MSX classics planned for November? The original Metal Gear! Only available in America as a bonus with Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence, the debut of Hideo Kojima's verbose series will be on Japan's Virtual Console for 800 points sometime next month.
The full list of planned releases, which doesn't include whatever arcade games Bandai Namco will overcharge for, is after the break.
Fire Emblem: Savings Day
by JC Fletcher { Jul 2nd 2009 at 11:40AM } 
Have you thought about purchasing Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, but decided to wait until the price dropped to exactly $14.98? If so, today is the day you've been waiting for. Amazon, for its Deal of the Day, has marked down the tactical role-playing remake by 50%. It's a very cheap way to occupy like a million hours. A warning, though: if you buy it now and one of your friends challenges you to a multiplayer match, that person has probably been playing the game since February or so. You can expect a few seconds of humiliating punishment, is what we're saying. Have fun!
Joyswag: Strategic double pack [update]
by David Hinkle { May 19th 2009 at 9:16AM } 
For our DS fans, we've got two strategy games up for grabs in our latest Joyswag giveaway: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (ARV $30) and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (ARV $30). It's a pretty sweet combo, if we may say so ourselves, and should provide you with hours upon hours of distraction. So, check out the rules below to enter and best of luck to you!
- Leave a comment telling us what your favorite tactic is (examples: stealth, guns blazing, hang in the back and hope your team doesn't die, etc)
- You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
- Limit 1 entry per person per calendar day
- This entry period ends at 11:59 am ET on Monday, May 25
- At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon ($30) and Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift ($30)
- For a list of complete rules, click here
Fire Emblem staff talk Shadow Dragon in conference call [update]
by JC Fletcher { Feb 6th 2009 at 10:30AM }
Last night, we had the rare opportunity to take part in a conference call hosted by Nintendo, featuring members of the Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon team including producer Tohru Narihiro and directors Masaki Tawara and Masayuki Horikawa. The developers discussed the changes found in the new version of the ancient Famicom game and the motivations behind them, and answered questions from press about the new game and future plans. We've done our best to summarize the discussion without leaving anything out!
The discussion began with an outline of the new features in Shadow Dragon: an enhanced tutorial system that "gets the player so they're ready to play" and get into the main game more quickly; a battle forecasting system, brought in from the second game, that allows players to predict the outcome of battles given the units involved; six difficulty settings; and mid-map save points. As the developers mention later, these changes are intended to increase the accessibility of the game.
DS Daily: First Emblem
by JC Fletcher { Jan 24th 2009 at 10:30AM }
Fire Emblem's Western debut on the GBA was actually kind of a big deal, becoming one of the emblematic series of the platform. Since the series had never come out outside Japan, the GBA games were many people's introduction to Intelligent Systems' strategy series. The DS is an even more popular system with a more diverse install base, so the imminent Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon could end up being the first Fire Emblem for many more gamers. Will Shadow Dragon be your first foray into the non-Smashing life of Marth? Or, if you're in Europe, was it? If you're planning to jump into the series now, what attracted your interest?
Fire Emblem: Stopwatch Deal
by JC Fletcher { Jan 22nd 2009 at 4:30PM }
If you can't be bothered to go to a store to pick up Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (and we're not implying that you should have to), GameStop has a pretty attractive deal for you -- for the next day or so. As their Stopwatch Deal, they're offering free two-day shipping on orders of the strategy remake. Just enter the promotional code MARTH when you check out!In addition, preorders for Fire Emblem will receive a "Limited Edition, matted, 5 x 7, Fire Emblem art cell." Free shipping and free stuff? We love being incentivized to do things we were going to do anyway.
DS Daily: 2009: The year of the DS (again)?
by JC Fletcher { Jan 19th 2009 at 9:00AM }
The DS will have a killer software lineup in 2009, with awesome third-party games and Nintendo releases like Fire Emblem, Rhythm Heaven, and Pokémon Platinum, and will even see the launch of a new hardware configuration, which should boost sales. Do you think the DS's fifth year will turn out to be as successful as its fourth? And will anything outsell Mario Kart this year?
DS Daily: Holiday rush, continued
by JC Fletcher { Jan 5th 2009 at 9:00AM }
Elebits. Moon. Big Bang Mini. Retro Game Challenge. Personal Trainer: Math (like it or not, it's a first-party release, and thus high-profile-ish!). The Chase: Felix Meets Felicity. Legacy of Ys. My World, My Way. Magician's Quest. Fire Emblem. Dragon Quest V. Puzzle Quest: Galactrix. Avalon Code. Blue Dragon Plus. We just went through Gamestop.com and culled genuinely interesting games coming out in January or February in North America. The list above represents a hasty gathering of quality games coming out in just these two months. Isn't the schedule supposed to slow down after the holidays?
We kind of don't have a real direction for today's discussion topic, only general marveling about the next two months on DS. Even if some of this stuff gets delayed, the DS still has a lineup in January or February to rival or beat most fall/holiday lineups. Who plans to buy more in these two months than they did in late 2008? Who else is really, really overwhelmed?
Pokemon Platinum, Fire Emblem, tons more Q1 releases officially dated!
by JC Fletcher { Dec 17th 2008 at 10:30AM }
In third-party news, we're thrilled to see a January 6 release date for Retro Game Challenge -- except that according to the list, it'll be competing with Big Bang Mini. Atlus's My World, My Way is on its way February 3, with Legacy of Ys following on the 10th, and Trackmania on March 17.
GTA Chinatown Wars has yet to be dated in this release, but we know it's March 17. And Monster Band from DreamCatcher: could it be Music Monstars? Is that just for us?
Check the post break for the full list!
Gallery: Pokemon Platinum
Another Circuit City rumor: Fire Emblem dated
by Chris Greenhough { Dec 9th 2008 at 5:30PM }
We've no idea why Circuit City has suddenly started posting up previously secret release dates en masse, but hey, here's another Circuit City-related rumor to brighten up your Tuesday: the stricken store says that Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will launch in North America on February 23.Previously, Nintendo has suggested a wishy-washy "first half of 2009" for the SRPG, so that makes sense (though 180-odd other dates would be just as believable). If you flatly refuse to wait another two months, you can always import from Europe; it came out here last week.
[Via Siliconera]
Europe getting Fire Emblem this December
by Chris Greenhough { Oct 9th 2008 at 1:00PM }
Yes, indeed. Not sure what's going on here, but Nintendo's European site has updated with the surreal news that Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will be released in Europe this December 5th -- also known as before North America. This is one of those incredibly rare examples of Europe getting thrown a bone first. Our gobs? Smacked!We're still no closer to a specific release date in North America, with "first half of 2009" about as accurate as it gets. Maybe the rapidly weakening pound will soon make importing from Europe an attractive investment again! Stranger things have happened. This news, for instance.
[Update: Corrected typo. Thanks, Mr Kahn!]
Joystiq impressions: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
by Randy Nelson { Oct 6th 2008 at 6:45PM }
What we found was expected: pure and simple strategy-RPG combat. We were most intrigued by things that we couldn't try out, namely the Wi-Fi play – a first for the series – and the online shop. Nevertheless, we ventured through the game's prologue and found an appreciation for the characterization and development of individual units.
Gallery: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
DS Daily: Rhythmblem
by JC Fletcher { Oct 4th 2008 at 10:30AM }
We have a pretty simple topic today. Two big first-party games are coming out for the DS in early 2009: Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and Rhythm Heaven. Well, there's also Mario & Luigi 3, but we've barely seen anything about that yet. Of the two that we know stuff about, which excites you more? Which, in your estimation, has better sales potential: a new entry in the beloved series, starring that one guy from Super Smash Bros., or a musical microgame set that's been explosively successful in Japan? Games aren't worth talking about unless they can be forced into unnecessary comparisons.
Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon coming to DS in '09
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Oct 2nd 2008 at 1:30PM }
At last, some good news for those gentlemen and noble women who believe battles are best waged in a polite, turn-based fashion. Nintendo has revealed that its cherished Fire Emblem series will see a new installment arrive on the DS, sometime during the first half of 2009. Well, a new-ish installment.Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is a remake of the original NES / Famicom game, albeit one packed with extra DS content. Nintendo has promised two new scenarios, six difficulty levels, and one-on-one Wi-Fi play, along with full voice chat when playing online (and yes, online play is a series first) or via local wireless. You'll also be able loan out your units to other players via Wi-Fi -- when you get them back, they'll retain all of the EXP, etc. gained while your friends have been using them.
Would you try not to get our dudes killed, okay, hypothetical friend?
Fire Emblem dated for U.S, fantastic WiFi mode detailed
by Chris Greenhough { Oct 2nd 2008 at 1:19PM }
Nintendo just confirmed that Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon, a remake of the original NES / Famicom game, would be winging its way to the U.S. in the first half of next year, and while that happy news alone would have been enough for us, it's also going to receive a bunch of brilliant, extensive features for its WiFi mode.Like another much-loved Intelligent Systems-developed strategy title, Fire Emblem's online mode will feature full voice chat, as well as the ability to lend units to friends and have them returned after battles with improved stats, news that is +10 win. On top of this, there'll also be a Wi-Fi store with a constantly changing inventory.
