The Ultimate JRPG Cross-Over

NIS America announced a new game from IDEA Factory, Namco Bandai, Capcom and GUST that features enough cross-overs to choke a horse. NIS America is collaberating with these companies to create Cross Edge, a PS3 exclysive coming to North America in May. This RPG features infamous characters from each of the company’s popular games. Some characters featured in the game include Etna from Disgaea, Aurica from Ar Tonelico, Marie from Atlier Marie, Meu from Spectral Souls, and Morgan from Darkstalkers.

The game features an Action Battle System, a Costume Change system (changes status and appearence), side scrolling action dungeons, and a whole lot more. Expect to hear more about this interesting RPG in the days ahead.

Namco Buyout of D3 a Done Deal

Last month, we reported the news that Namco Bandai had plans to acquire D3 Publisher, and now it’s all but a done deal. Early this morning, D3 and Namco Bandai announced that the two companies have reached agreements which will give Namco Bandai a 95 percent stake in D3, with plans in place for the remaining 5 percent to be picked up in the immediate future. The total cost so far to Namco Bandai for the acquisition of the Puzzle Quest: Galactrix publisher? Just over $12.5 million.

Aside from the obvious benefits of picking up more than a handful of unique titles, such as Puzzle Quest, Dead Head Fred, and Onechanbara, Namco Bandai will also benefit from the acquisition of a bigger piece of the Naruto franchise’s pie in the states. Something just as important to Namco Bandai, though, might be the included acquisition of Vicious Cycle and its cross-platform Vicious Engine technology, which can be used in game development on nearly every platform under the sun, from the PS3 and 360 to the DS and PSP.

While there are still a few i’s left to dot and t’s left to cross, it looks like everything will continue to move forward with all companies involved in the acquisition, and no changes are expected in the development cycles of any games currently in the works from either D3 or Namco Bandai.

New York Comic Con: Now With 50 Percent More Games

With the demise of expos like E for All and the pending rebirth of the E3 of days of old, video game companies have had to find new venues to show off their wares. Where better to appeal to video game fans than a comic book show? Last year the industry saw a pretty hefty presence at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Now they’re movin’ on the city so nice, they named it twice.

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National Geographic Gets Into Gaming

Well, if a company is going to make educational games, who better to do it than National Geographic? Earlier today, Ted Prince, chief operating officer of National Geographic Ventures and executive vice president of operations for National Geographic Global Media officially announced the formation of a new division, National Geographic Games, which will publish and develop games across major gaming console, handheld, online and mobile platforms.

National Geographic Games is led by a team of industry vets. Paul Levine, senior VP at National Geographic Ventures, will lead the new division. Chris Mate, formerly an executive at Take Two Interactive and Bethesda Softworks, has joined as vice president and general manager for NGG and will oversee and manage the group’s daily global operations.

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The Force is Strong in Soulcalibur IV DLC

Namco Bandai is bringing balance to the Force, courtesy of new downloadable content for Soulcalibur IV. Due to overwhelming fan response, Namco Bandai revealed this morning that Darth Vader and Yoda will be available as downloadable characters for the game beginning on Thursday, October 23rd via the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network.

When the game was first released, each sysem had characters which were console exclusive, with the Dark Lord of the Sith relegated to the PS3, while the Jedi Master was exiled to the 360. Now, PS3 owners will be able to pick up Yoda for $4.99, while 360 owners will be able to join the Dark Side for 400 Microsoft points, letting players decide once and for all which side of the Force is best.

Namco Buys Into Infogrames

Don’t call it a hand-out, call it a hand up. In a deal announced today, Namco Bandai Games Europe is buying a 34 percent stake in Infogrames, with Infogrames retaining 66 percent of its shares. With this buy-in, Namco’s European arm will gain some advantages in certain territories.

Namco Bandai will acquire 34 percent of Infogrames’ European and Asian distribution operations, which will be reorganized into a standalone entity. This new division will distribute both Namco’s and Infogrames’ products in those regions.

The deal is still subject to approval by regulatory powers in the appropriate terrritoies and shareholders of both companies.

Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 Announced

If you hated the first game where the Gundam universe collided with KOEI’s popular Dynasty Warriors series, then you will be very displeased to learn that another one is on the way. KOEI’s Omega Force team will develop the new game, Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2, and Namco Bandai Games will publish it in North America.
Dynasty Warriors Gundam 2 managed to move 800, 000 units on the PS3 and Xbox 360, so KOEI’s working on an upgraded version of the fighting powered armor action game with new Gundams, upgraded graphics and better game mechanics.

I hope that they fix the problems the first game suffered from. Look for the game sometime in 2009 on Xbox 360 and PS3.