June 10, 2008

Microsoft Showcases RPGs at Premiere 2008

While most of you readers were sleeping, Microsoft, Square Enix, and Namco Bandai unveiled their lineup of RPGs in Japan. The games were unveiled by Takashi Sensui, general manager of the home and entertainment division at Microsoft. Among the games discussed were Infinite Undiscovery, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, The Last Remnant, Tales of Vesperia, Fable 2, and Mass Effect in Japan. Will this be the year the Xbox takes off in Japan? Only time will tell.

The highlights of the event were the announcement that Square Enix's Last Remnant will be releasing on the Xbox 360 first this winter, with the PS3 to follow some time later. Also Enix's Infinite Undiscovery got a lunch date, United States on September 2, 2008, in Europe on September 5, 2008, and in Japan and Asia on September 11, 2008. A system bundle for Tales of Vesperia was announced for ¥37,800 (US $356) in Japan only. The game and bundle is set to release August 7th with a demo coming sometime this month, no word on whether the demo will be Japan only or not. Finally, Star Ocean: The Last Hope was officially announced for 2009. Hit the jump for the full press release along with a few screens and a video of Star Ocean.


Star Ocean: The Last Hope


Tales of Vesperia Bundle (Japan Only)



Stellar RPG Title Lineup Announced at Xbox 360 RPG Premiere 2008

Microsoft Co. Ltd., NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. and SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. announce shelf dates for Xbox 360 RPG franchises

Microsoft Co. Ltd., SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. and NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. announced details about their epic RPG titles coming to Xbox 360® at the Xbox 360 RPG Premiere 2008 event which took place in Shibuya, Tokyo on June 10, 2008. Takashi Sensui, general manager of the Home and Entertainment Division at Microsoft Co. Ltd., took the stage to introduce the title lineup of upcoming role playing games (RPG) for Xbox 360.

SQUARE ENIX announced “INFINITE UNDISCOVERY™” which is an exclusive Xbox 360 title and will be launched in the United States on September 2, 2008, in Europe on September 5, 2008, and in Japan and Asia on September 11, 2008. In addition “STAR OCEAN® : THE LAST HOPE™,” the latest popular RPG title for Xbox 360, will be coming in 2009. “THE LAST REMNANT™,” will be launched worldwide this winter, with the Xbox 360 version hitting the shelves before other platforms.

Microsoft announced that “Fable® 2,“ the highly-anticipated action RPG title from Microsoft Game Studios, is coming to Japan by the end of 2008. “Mass Effect™” will also be coming to Japan.

NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. announced that “Tales of Vesperia,” the latest addition to the renowned “Tales” RPG series will be released exclusively on Xbox 360 in Japan on August 7, 2008, in the United States August 2008, in Europe in 2009, and in Asia in Summer 2008. Additionally, only in Japan, a bundle, “Xbox 360 Tales of Vesperia Premium Pack" will go on sale on August 7.
NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. also announced that the free trial game demo of this title will be distributed through Xbox LIVE® Marketplace by the end of June, 2008.

RPG games are by far the most popular game genre in Japan, and with these title announcements, Xbox 360 demonstrates it has an unparalleled lineup of RPGs for any current-generation gaming console in Japan as well as worldwide.

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