If you are starving to farm, date girls, save the world, and turn into a weresheep, then want no more, for Marvelous has officially dated the Japanese version of Rune Factory 3, a DS farming RPG that will allow you to do all of the above mentioned. Weresheep. Still not old.In addition, if you happen to be planning on reserving a copy from your local Japanese video game retailer (of course you are), then Marvelous has announced that you will also be receiving a bundle including an artbook, drama CD, and comic of the game.Seriously, I don't see how anyone could pass up a comic about a farming kid who wears a hairband and can turn into a sheep.Rune Factory 3 will be available for Nintendo DS on October 22, 2009 in Japan.
[Famitsu]
BioWare and EA's upcoming "adult-oriented" WRPG, Dragon Age: Origins may be a new property, but EA is convinced it will be a winner. In an effort to make sure fans get something they can proudly display, EA has announced that the game will be getting a limited premium edition alongside the regular package.The newly announced box will contain the following (in addition to the game and game manual):-Tin Game Case- A Bonus DVD Containing Making of Documentary, Soundtrack, Trailers, Wallpaper, Concept Art Video, and Strategies for the Game-A Cloth Map -3 Bonus In-Game Extras: Bergens Honor, Grimoire of the Frozen Wastes, and Final Reason -Additional In-Game Quest: The Stone Prisoner-Additional In-Game Recruitable Character: Shale -An Bonus Item for Mass Effect 2*That's quite a bit of stuff, I must say.I am personally sort of on the fence with this game. I have no doubt that the story will be compelling, but the "intense gore and sex" attitude with the game's direction sort of puts this out of the realm of my interests. Especially since they seems to be there just to sell more copies. :/Dragon Age: Origins will be available for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on October 20, 2009 in North America, and on October 23, 2009 in Europe.*From what I understand, the Mass Effect 2 content will also be available on the PS3 version of the game, but will work for your 360/PC version of ME2. Not exactly sure how that works, but I just report 'em as I hear 'em.
[Destructoid]
Sony and FromSoftware's Japanese WRPG, Demon's Souls, has been available for the PlayStation 3 since early this year in Japan, and has even been available in English in other Asian regions. But a version that North Americans can finally call their own will be available this Fall from Atlus.That's a long time to wait, you say. I mean, wasn't the Asian version in English? Why don't I just import it? you ask. Well, Atlus understands your dilemma, and in order to try and make the decision easier for you has offered to include a bunch of extra stuff with the game.Demon's Souls deluxe edition will be available on the same day as the regular edition, and will include an art slipcase as well as a strategy guide. Many places are also offering a limited art book for customers who pre-order on top of that.Demon's Souls will be available for PlayStation 3 on October 6, 2009 in North America. It is already available in Japan and Asia.I suppose these are nice additions, but I have to wonder why it took so long to localize a game that already had full English included. Was it really that bad?
Most JRPGs get an Xbox 360 bundle in Japan. Makes sense, right? Most Japanese gamers 
don't own a 360, and if they want to pick one up when an RPG comes out, may as well get them together, right?Well, in keeping with tradition, Microsoft dropped word today that they will be offering a bundle deal with Namco Bandai and Softmax's upcoming Xbox 360 RPG, Magna Carta II. Typically, the bundles include a 360 unit, a copy of the game, and a limited faceplate, all in a themed box. Magna Carta II, however, will be forgoing the themed box, and offering the faceplate as a gift to buyers who pick up the console and a copy of the game at the same time.Why Microsoft and Namdai chose to pass on the actual bundle remains open to speculation, but my highly educated guessing powers conclude that Magna Carta II, though awesome-looking, probably isn't going to win enough new fans to justify a whole new package.On the upside, this allows anyone who was planning on getting a 360 bundle to pick which console SKU they prefer and still snag the faceplate. No themed box though. You win some, you lose some, I guess.Oh, and in case you forgot, Japanese pre-orders for the game come with an artbook. So there's that too.Magna Carta II will be available for Xbox 360 on August 6, 2009 in Japan, and sometime this year during Q3 here in North America.[
Xbox Japan]
In ultra shocking news, Atlus has just announced that they will be localizing the latest MegaTen Devil Summoner PS2 title, Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon. We had no idea this was coming!Each launch copy of the game will come in a special bundle pack that will include a special Raidou-themed Jack Frost plushie, however, it should be noted that Atlus has announced that the game will be printed in limited quantities and available only for a short time.Basically, if you don't pre-order it, you aren't getting it. (Usually a good rule of thumb with Atlus titles anyway, but what can you do.)Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon will be available for PlayStation 2 in North America on May 15, 2009. It is already available in Japan.
If you are preordering the Japanese version of the upcoming Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope, you should be receiving a limited 'Best Selection' soundtrack from the Star Ocean series. The soundtrack is to be made up of 10 tracks selected by both the games' creators and fans.Well, the results of the votes are in, and the soundtrack has been decided. Here is what is going to be on it:Selected by Motoi Sakuraba01 - Cutting Edge of Notion (Star Ocean 3)02 - Night of the Chase (Star Ocean 4)Selected by Yoshiharu Gotanda03 - Highbrow (Star Ocean 3)Selected by Yoshinori Yamagishi04 - Wild Fight, No End in Sight (Star Ocean 4)Selected by Fans05 - TENSE ATMOSPHERE (Star Ocean 1)06 - FOR ACHIEVE (Star Ocean 1)07 - The incarnation of devil (Star Ocean 2)08 - Stab the sword of justice (Star Ocean 2)09 - Influence of Truth Appearance (Star Ocean 3)10 - The Divine Spirit of Language (Star Ocean 3)Er... really? Seems more like "Star Ocean Battle Theme Compilation" to me. I don't think I would have chosen any of those tracks for a "Best of" compilation...
tri-Ace and Square Enix's upcoming Xbox 360 title, Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope, has been given a special soundtrack as a pre-order bonus for customers who order the game in Japan. The soundtrack in question will reportedly contain the 10 best tracks of the entire Star Ocean series as decided by both series composer Motoi Sakuraba and through votes from series fans.The survey is unfortunately only open to Square Enix Members (the official fanclub in Japan), and voting can be submitted through Square Enix Japan's music site.Oh, and the boxart was also revealed. At first I thought "booooring," but then I remembered that all the Star Ocean games have boring space boxart, so I guess I can deal with it.Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope will be available on Xbox 360 on February 18, 2009 in Japan, and on March 03, 2009 in North America. There is no European date confirmed at the moment.
The Mother 3 fan translation patch came out on Friday, as I'm sure you are aware.Hey, maybe you're playing it right now.Well, if you stop to think, "Man, I love this game, but it's too bad there's not an instruction book/artbook/strategy guide to go with it," then your prayers have just been answered.The Mother/Earthbound fanatics at Starmen.net and Fangamer have diligently put together a 'Mother 3 Fanbook,' chock full of introductions to the world of Mother 3, walkthroughs and FAQs, and painstakingly crafted artwork, right down to the classic clay models reminscent of Earthbound (Mother 2).The book is looking to finish development by the end of the year, and Fangamer estimates that the book will ship out in early January. They will be releasing the book online for free sometime after that, but if you want yourself a professionally printed copy, you ought to consider pre-ordering.Likely a no-brainer for Earthbound diehards.
You've heard of Valkyria Chronicles? Y'know, that shooter-strategy-RPG hybrid that has bee-uu-tiful cell-shaded graphics? Well if you were planning on picking it up because you really love the art style (and I certainly can't blame you for that), you may be pleased to learn that GameStop/EB Games and GameCrazy are offering a free 32-page artbook with the pre-order of the game.Art books are my favorite pre-order bonus. Just thought I'd throw that in there.Valkyria Chronicles is on sale November 04, 2008 in North America.
Natsume has announced that as a gift to those fans who pre-order a copy of their upcoming action-RPG / farming-RPG hybrid, Rune Factory 2, they will be giving away plush squirrels.I have no idea why they are giving away plush squirrels, or why a gamer would or would not want one, or why the squirrel looks suspiciously like a rabbit, but that's the low-down.This "rare, collectable" squirrel is only available to those who pre-order their game from Amazon.com, so yeah. Go pre-order it, I guess?Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon will be available November 18, 2008 in North America.
While North America may not be getting the Xbox 360 Pro Bundle that Japan is, there are a few interesting pre-order bonuses for those eager to put their money down for the title.GameStop/EB Games and GameCrazy are offering the standard "get rare in-game stuff" download code with the pre-order (seemingly a standard on 360 RPGs), but BestBuy is offering a limited poster for those who are interested in the game's art.No faceplate or soundtrack, but I guess we'll have to make do with what we can get.
If you are starving to farm, date girls, save the world, and turn into a weresheep, then want no more, for Marvelous has officially dated the Japanese version of Rune Factory 3, a DS farming RPG that will allow you to do all of the above mentioned. Weresheep. Still not old.
