ESRB Reveals Spectral Force Genesis
According to a listing on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board’s web site, Ignition Entertainment will be publishing IDEA Factory’s Spectral Force Genesis for the DS. The DS tactical RPG was released in Japan in June 2008. What’s more telling than the fact that it is coming to North America is how is publishing it. NIS America publishes most of IDEA Factory’s other RPGs in North America. Perhaps the Japanese development studio responsible for 75 percent of NIS America’s non-Disgaea titles is experimenting a little.
Not too much info on if there will be any stark differences between the North American and Japanese versions beyond localization - all we know is that it is coming and that’s it will be rated “T” for “TEEN” by the ESRB.
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Shane Bettenhausen Fires Up Ignition
Ever since the fallout from the UGO takeover of 1Up, people have wondered just where the former staffers from EGM and 1Up would wind up. Today, they got the answer for one of the former 1Up big guns.
Ignition Entertainment announced today that Shane Bettenhausen has been tapped to take on a new role as the company’s Director of Business Development. According to Ignition, Shane’s work as the former Senior Executive Editor for Electronic Gaming Monthly and 1Up gave him the background and knowledge to “spearhead the company’s development initiatives moving forward well into the ‘next gen’.”
“I’ve spent the past nine years dissecting and evaluating games as a journalist, and I’m incredibly eager and humbled to finally get the chance to learn the other side of the business,” said Bettenhausen of his new job. “I’m tremendously excited to help shape the direction of Ignition’s future products, and I feel that together, we’ll be able to craft experiences that entertain, challenge, and emotionally impact gamers.”
“We couldn’t be more pleased to have found Shane for this key role within our Company,” said Ajay Chadha, President of Ignition Entertainment. “He is smart, versatile, passionate, energetic and crazy - a perfect fit for Ignition!”
Blue Dragon Plus Announced
Ignition Entertainment and AQ Interactive announced that they will bring Blue Dragon Plus for Nintendo DS to North America and Europe in March 2009. The DS game is based on the popular animated series Blue Dragon, and is directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi, features character designs by Akira Toriyama, and a soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu. The story of Blue Dragon follows a young boy named Shu and several of his friends who possess the ability to control phantom shadows that mirror the actions of their masters.
In Blue Dragon Plus, one year has passed since Shu and his companions defeated the tyrannical remnant of the Ancients, Nene. In the midst of that final battle, the world split in two and now consists of a myriad of “cubes” that exploded from its depths. King Jibral notices a mysterious cube in the distance suddenly start to move violently, and from it he sees the Shadow of a Balaur, a three-headed dragon, emerge. The enormous and sinister Shadow is just the beginning of the new turmoil and devastation to come.
Blue Dragon Plus will offer a single player campaign with over 30 hours of play, Legion vs. Legion play, the ability to control up to 16 humans and Mecha Robos, real-time battles, dual screen full motion video sequences, and plenty of RPG elements such as item collection, character progression and robot customizations.
Look for the game in early 2009.
Ignition Licenses Unreal Engine 3
Ignition Entertainment has licensed Unreal Engine 3 for an upcoming first-person shooter currently under development at its Florida studio. Ignition Florida is developing an original IP for release in late 2009. The company says that it is confident that its game will “bring something fresh and exciting to one of the industry’s core genres.” Further details about this property are to be announced.
Metal Slug 7 Coming Stateside
Ignition Entertainment and SNK Playmore heave teamed up to bring Metal Slug 7 for Nintendo DS this fall. Developed by SNK Playmore and to be published by Ignition Entertainment, Metal Slug 7 brings more fast-paced 2-D shooting action with big guns, vehicles and huge explosions.
Players join Marco, Tarma, Eri, Fiolina, Clark and Ralph as they prepare to take on Modern’s Forces across 7 new missions that spans Garbage Island to the Fortress of Ruins and beyond. Aside from featuring 7 new missions and six playable characters, Metal Slug 7 will also feature new weapons, colossal new bosses, new Slugs to pilot and new gameplay modes.
