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New Splatterhouse screens -- now with more blood!
by Ben Gilbert 
{ Nov 29th 2009 at 5:30PM }
Gallery: Splatterhouse (11/29/09)
Namco prepares a Raging Blast of Dragon Ball DLC
by Richard Mitchell { Nov 25th 2009 at 5:47PM }
Check out the full DLC schedule after the break. Unless otherwise noted, the DLC will release simultaneously on XBLM and PSN.
Tekken 6 update launches Nov. 26, addresses online issues
by David Hinkle { Nov 25th 2009 at 11:30AM }
Namco also aims to improve the responsiveness of button input and will add a cancel option for the first few seconds of a match should you disapprove of your opponent's signal strength. Or, in our case, should you find they're using a super cheap character like Devil Jin. Stop it!
Swag Saturday: Tekken 6 (360)
by Ben Gilbert { Nov 21st 2009 at 6:00PM }
- Leave a comment telling us which fictitious holiday character (Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc.) you'd like to beat up most, and with which Tekken 6 character they'd like to do so with.
- You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec, mostly due to the gravitational quotient of poutine)
- Limit 1 entry per person per day
- This entry period ends at 6:01PM ET on Sunday, November 22
- At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive one copy of Tekken 6 for Xbox 360 ($60 ARV).
- For a list of complete rules, click here
What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. For more info on our policy, click here.
Joyswag: Super Saiyan prize pack [update]
by David Hinkle { Nov 18th 2009 at 10:30AM } 
Namco's just unleashed its first two Dragon Ball games after wrestling the license back away from Atari and we're looking to gift one of you Super Saiyan wannabes with the above prize pack. The gotta-have-it item is obviously the Instant Anime Character Costume, which features an orange t-shirt, blue wristbands, hair gel and completely ridiculous Namco employee pose cover art. Oh, if only our legal department would let us keep it!
- Leave a comment telling us who your favorite character from the Dragon Ball series is (full list here)
- You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
- Limit 1 entry per person per day
- This entry period ends at 11:59AM ET on Tuesday, November 24
- At that time, we'll randomly select one winner to receive Dragon Ball: Revenge of King Piccolo for Wii ($50 ARV), Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans for DS ($30 ARV) and an Instant Anime Character Costume ($20 ARV)
- For a list of complete rules, click here
Namco Bandai posts $66.7 million loss for first half of year
by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2009 at 12:40PM }
Namco Bandai has reported a net loss of ¥6.04 billion ($66.7 million) for the first half of its fiscal year, which began in April. During the same period last year, the company posted a net income of ¥1.28 billion ($14.14 million). Despite this year's first-half hiccup, the publisher still expects to earn ¥8.5 billion ($93.6 million) in net income by the end of its fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010). After all, there are those 2.5 million copies of Tekken 6 waiting to be sold.
Namco Bandai's software sales for the period were led by the Ben 10 franchise, as Alien Force and Protector of the Earth combined to sell approximately 810,000 units (not exactly Guitar Hero numbers, eh?). Even with Tekken 6 in its second-half roster, Namco must be pulling for a miracle. But then, the holidays are a magical time.
Source – Financial Highlights [PDF]
Source – Consolidated Financial Report [PDF]
Namco Bandai's software sales for the period were led by the Ben 10 franchise, as Alien Force and Protector of the Earth combined to sell approximately 810,000 units (not exactly Guitar Hero numbers, eh?). Even with Tekken 6 in its second-half roster, Namco must be pulling for a miracle. But then, the holidays are a magical time.
Source – Financial Highlights [PDF]
Source – Consolidated Financial Report [PDF]
Japan getting God Eater sampling platter November 26
by Griffin McElroy { Nov 5th 2009 at 2:44PM }
We like to consider ourselves open-minded when it comes to new culinary experiences, but we confess that we've never had the occasion to dine upon a god. We've heard that it's a delicious (and sizable!) meal -- in fact, on the latest episode of No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain described god-meat as being "light and airy, like aged pork, but with divine properties." Japanese gamers (or PSP owners with a loose comprehension of the Japanese language) will be able to find out for themselves when a demo for God Eater launches on November 26.
The demo for the Namco Bandai-developed action-RPG will be fairly substantial, offering 10 missions, character customization and a small sliver of the game's opening story sequence. It will also support four player co-op in the demo's non-tutorial missions. The demo will be added to the Japanese PSN on Thanksgiving and will also be available on the game's official site. Between those two options, we're sure you'll find some way to snack on a few celestial entities later this month.
The demo for the Namco Bandai-developed action-RPG will be fairly substantial, offering 10 missions, character customization and a small sliver of the game's opening story sequence. It will also support four player co-op in the demo's non-tutorial missions. The demo will be added to the Japanese PSN on Thanksgiving and will also be available on the game's official site. Between those two options, we're sure you'll find some way to snack on a few celestial entities later this month.
Tekken 6 online patch in the works, says Namco
by Ben Gilbert { Nov 4th 2009 at 6:20PM }
Unfortunately, no date for the patch has been given, though the publisher does add, "This is separate from the online co-op Scenario Campaign mode update." We've pestered Namco for more details on exactly what the patch will aim to fix and when we might hear more about it but, until that time, know this: something is being fixed at some point.
Rumor: Tekken 6 PSP adds Story modes for Lars and Alisa
by David Hinkle { Nov 4th 2009 at 12:45PM }
Many of you may have noticed the game failed to meet its October 27 release date, just as we thought it would -- several retailers now peg down the US release for November 29, while it looks like Japan will have to wait until January 14, 2010.
Dead to Rights: Retribution dev diary is loaded with dog fighting
by Griffin McElroy { Oct 24th 2009 at 8:30PM }
Don't let the headline throw you -- we don't mean the bad kind of dog fighting. We're talking about the kind of dog fighting where well-treated, justice-loving canines attack gun-toting criminals who pose a threat to their master, whom they love and remain eternally loyal to. When cast in that light, attack dogs aren't menacing or controversial -- they're just heartwarming companions (with enormous, razor-sharp teeth).
Check out the dev diary above to see Dead to Rights: Retribution's man-eating puppy in action. Oh, also, there's a human hero who uses guns and other traditional methods of justice-serving, but that's not really as noteworthy, now is it?
Check out the dev diary above to see Dead to Rights: Retribution's man-eating puppy in action. Oh, also, there's a human hero who uses guns and other traditional methods of justice-serving, but that's not really as noteworthy, now is it?
Namco Bandai considering Tales of Vesperia sequel
by Xav de Matos { Oct 18th 2009 at 2:00PM }
According to the panel, Vesperia's story is far from over as Namco Bandai is already brainstorming ideas if the opportunity for a new film in the series arises. "I don't know when it will happen, but we'd like to show [these things] in video form," Namco Bandai's general manager told those in attendance. Hopefully Namco Bandai will release a potential sequel for all platforms simultaneously, otherwise we may have a repeat situation of angry Japanese gamers on our hands.
Japanese Nintendo Downloads: Galaxian heads to the Tecmo Bowl
by David Hinkle { Sep 29th 2009 at 3:45PM }
- Bahamut Lagoon (Super Famicom, 1 player, 800 Wii Points)
- Galaxian (VC Arcade, 1 - 2 players, 800 Wii Points)
- Tecmo Bowl (VC Arcade, 1 - 2 players, 800 Wii Points) [VC in Brief]
- Märchen Maze (VC Arcade, 1 - 2 players, 800 Wii Points)
As advertised: Dead to Rights targets 17-and-ups
by David Hinkle { Sep 28th 2009 at 2:30PM }
[Dramatic pause.]
... Nothing's gonna make Grant City come alive more than billboards for $5 footlongs and "Are you gellin'?" We repeat: Nothing.
TGS 2009: Japanese developers love on Project Natal
by Ben Gilbert { Sep 25th 2009 at 7:44PM }
Above, we've dropped Capcom's Keiji Inafune. He sees Natal as an "enhancement" rather than a replacement, saying the current controllers prevent game developers from creating "games without limits." This of course begs the question: What happens when you combine Garry's Mod and Project Natal? Our guess: Madness.
Peep developers from Tecmo, Namco, Kojima Productions, Konami, From Software and Sega extolling Natal's many virtues after the break.
Rumor: Microsoft exclusivity deals funding PS3 development in Japan
by Ben Gilbert { Sep 16th 2009 at 6:00PM }
"It was easier developing for the Xbox 360 ... if you sign an exclusive contract with Microsoft (you won't release it on other hardware for a year or similar), they will give you a lot of cash for development," read a Japanese developer's post (the original post has since been removed), translated by Sankaku Complex (site NSFW). "As a result, first you develop for the Xbox, reducing development costs. But the Xbox version won't sell [in Japan]. So they port it to the PS3 ... it's cheaper as you already have the game done."
Though they didn't work on it, the developer claims to have seen this policy in practice with Tales of Vesperia. As Kotaku points out, it's quite possible that the dev did see such a practice on Vampire Rain, a game the mystery developer says they worked on.
