Bandai Namco's new PSP game Heroes Phantasia

For years Bandai Namco has been releasing mega crossovers of giant robot anime—ranging from Gundam to Evangelion toVoltron—in the Super Robot Wars series. But having made many other types of anime tie-in games in the past, giant robot anime aren't the only anime Bandai Namco holds the licenses for. So earlier this year they collected a large group of fantasy and modern-day sci-fi anime and combined them into a turn-based RPG for the PSP called Heroes Phantasia.

Heroes Phantasia is the story of two parallel worlds facing an evil that could destroy them both. One world is a traditional fantasy world with magic, knights, and maidens in distress. The other world is much more like our own but with monsters, mutants, and vampires lurking in every dark alley. Each world is populated with anime of similar settings, but which ones exactly? Let's take a look.

The World of the Real

Blood+
Blood+ is the story of Saya, a teenage school girl… who is also an amnesic immortal vampire. As a plague of monstrous-looking vampires spreads across Japan, it falls upon Saya to kill them with the only substance they are weak against: her own blood.

Read or Die
Read or Die follows part-time substitute teacher/part-time secret agent Yomiko Readman as she battles resurrected historical figures with her paper-based superpowers.

My-HiME
My-HiME is a modernized "magic-girl" anime where a group of young girls discover they can summon monsters—which they must use to battle against another set of monsters in order to protect the ones they love.

Darker than Black
Darker than Black is a future noir story that follows Hei, a superpowered agent of a secret organization who fights rival superpowered agents in a secret war across the streets of Tokyo.

s-CRY-ed
s-CRY-ed is the story of an island where one percent of children are born with the power to summon or merge with monsters. The plot revolves around two groups, one trying to control the superpowered population and rebuild the island and the other wishing to live completely free of government ties.

The World of Adloaz

Slayers Revolution
Slayers is the comedic tale of Lina Inverse, a young black mage who destroys bandits, gods, and cities full of innocent civilians for fun and profit. Incidentally, she also saves the world.

Sorcerous Stabber Orphen
Sorcerous Stabber Orphen is the story of two best friends, Azalie and Krylancelo, taken in and raised by a magic school. But when Azalie is turned into a dragon, the school decides to hunt her down and kill her—leaving Krylancelo as her only protection from them.

Rune Soldier Louie
When an all-girl group of adventurers needs a mage in a hurry, they are forced to take on Louie, a giant burly man who looks and acts more like a fighter than a mage.

Sgt. Frog
Sgt. Frog is the story of a group of frog-like aliens sent to invade Earth who are abandoned there after their mission is called off. While determined to continue their mission, they are constantly distracted by what earth has to offer—namely Gundam model kits and the internet.

...And when you mix them all together you get Heroes Phantasia.

Check out some Gameplay here.

Source: Kotaku

Skull Girls Release Date Finally Announced!

           We now have confirmation that the long awaited fighting game Skullgirls will finally be released  on April 10th on the PSN and April 11th on XBLA. The confirmation came from Peter Bartholow A.K.A. Ravidrath on the SRK forums. There were worries that the game may have been delayed once more after last week’s announcement was removed, but luckily this additional confirmation puts those fears to rest.


Look forward to seeing Codenamed: Epic cover this game once its out!


Source : SRK
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EA "Wins" Worst Company in America

Whether it's on a console, a PC, a smartphone or tablet, hundreds of millions of people play video games every day. Yet most mainstream media covers the industry the same way it treats adult dodge ball leagues and cat fashion shows (both noble ventures, but neither of them multi-billion dollar industries). And the only time you hear legislators discuss video games is when some politician decries them as the death knell for all things righteous in the world (hint: they're not). Now, after years of being ignored and relegated to steerage, game-players have voted to send a message to Electronic Arts and the gaming business as a whole: Stop treating your loyal customers like crap.

After more than 250,000 votes, Consumerist readers ultimately decided that the type of greed exhibited by EA, which is supposed to be making the world a more fun place, is worse than Bank of America's avarice, which some would argue is the entire point of operating a bank.

To those who might sneer at something as "non-essential" as a video game company winning the Worst Company In America vote: It's that exact kind of attitude that allows people to ignore the complaints as companies like EA to nickel and dime consumers to death.

For years, while movies and music became more affordable and publishers piled on bonus content — or multiple modes of delivery — as added value to entice customers to buy, video games have continued to be priced like premium goods.

There have even been numerous accusations that EA and its ilk deliberately hold back game content with the sole intent of charging a fee for it at a later date. It's one thing to support a game with new content that is worth the price. It's another to put out an inferior — and occasionally broken — product with the mindset of "ah, we'll fix it later and make some money for doing so."

New, independent game companies do pop up all the time, but the cost of entering the market has historically been too expensive, making these indie innovators prime targets for acquisition by mega-publishers like EA. Our hope is that the growth of app-based gaming and downloadable games will continue to make it easier for developers to get their products out without the backing of companies that don't care a lick about the people who fork over their cash.

Oh well, Worst Company In America 2012 is officially in the books. All that's left to do is send off the Golden Poo to EA.

Source: Consumerist    Click here for more video game news

Final Fantasy XIII-2 Characters Model for Prada

     Prada and Square Enix have teamed up to show off the new 2012 men's spring & summer collection on the backs of Final Fantasy XIII-2 characters. 

     Announced by Square Enix this morning, the "CGI shoot" will appear in the new issue of Arena Homme+ magazine, set to go on sale on April 12th. The issue will include a twelve-page feature, in which Square Enix's Visual Works studio adorns Noel, Sazh, Hope and more with "silk shirts and sharp modern suiting."
"The Final Fantasy series is known for its creativity and innovation; so working with Prada, a renowned fashion house with such beautiful clothing, was a very exciting opportunity. The images we have been able to create together are vibrant and unique," said XIII-2 producer Yoshinori Kitase. This marks one of several recent collaborations between Square Enix and other companies, including a crossover with Mass Effect and one with Assassin's Creed. 

The rest of the images from Arena Homme+'s shoot can be seen below: 
Source: IGN

Teachers Say Little Kids are Acting Out Game Violence

     A school conference in the UK has formed in order to discuss the issue of school children being violently affected by video game violence. Yes they are trying this...again. 

     Delegates at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers annual conference discussed a motion calling for "stringent" legislation against the "negative effects some computer games are having on the very young."      One teacher of small children said her students "throw themselves out of the window of the play car in slow motion" play-acting the motion of "blood spurting from their bodies."  Alison Sherratt, a teacher at a primary (elementary) school in West Yorkshire, added, "We all expect to see rough and tumble, but I have seen little ones acting out quite graphic scenes in the playground and there is a lot more hitting, hurting and thumping in the classroom for no particular reason."           Alison Sherratt is quoted as saying that there is a "notable correlation between the children who admit to playing games and those who come to school really tired." The ATL's general secretary Mary Bousted called on parents to honor game ratings and TV watersheds. "It's about reminding parents and carers that they have a very real responsibility for their children and that schools can't do it alone." 

Source: http://games.ign.com/articles/122/1222209p1.html

Calling all Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations Players!

Hey guys we at Codenamed: Epic are starting a Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations Tournament Community! If you live in the LA Area or just feel like making a drive, feel free to come on out! It's all still in the works so keep checking back here to find out the latest updates on The Great Storm!

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations Tournament at Wondercon 2012!

By Kerbykidd

This weekend at Wondercon CC2 and Namco Bandai Games will be holding a Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations celebration because of the record breaking 10 million sales worldwide making it the highest selling anime video game of all time! There will also be a tournament at the convention and I, Kerbykidd, will be taking part in it. Check back here to get an update on the celebration and of course how I do in the game!