Atlus deploys select PSP titles to PlayStation Network

Atlus U.S.A. has released a number of titles from its PSP UMD library on the via PlayStation Network this week including Crimson Gem Saga, Hammerin’ Hero, Yggdra Union, Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament, R-Type Command, and Riviera: The Promised Land. The game can be downloaded via PSP, PS3 and PC in the usual fashion. And now the comedic stylings of Atlus PR Manager Aram Jabbari:

“We’ve finally reached a point where, according to our physicians, any further laughing at our masterfully executed plan of never making enough copies of our games for everyone poses risks to our health,” admitted Aram Jabbari, Manager of PR and Sales at Atlus. “In order to prevent illness, and because, hey, sometimes you just want to change things up, we’re very pleased to offer PSP system classics via digital download. It may mean that we’ll have to shut down our numerous online auction accounts, as we won’t be able to hoard large quantities of our hard-to-find games and then slowly trickle them out at obscenely high prices anymore, but the end result will be better for everyone.”

Now if we could just get them to release some of their PS2 classics on PSN (Steambot Chronicles, anyone?), then the world would be a perfect place.

Shipping Out: June 29 - July 3, 2009

This week at retail you can expect to find a new adventure based on Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs for very platforms, Roogoo Twisted Towers, a brand new Harry Potter game, the return of Mega Man Star Force, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, BlazBlue and a whole lot more.

June 30:

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Limited Edition - Xbox 360, PS3

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood - Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Grand Theft Auto PC Trilogy - PC

Ice Age: Dawn of Dinosaurs - Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC

Infernal: Hell’s Vengeance - Xbox 360

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Wii, DS, Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC

Mega Man Star Force 3 Black Ace - DS

Mega Man Star Force 3 Red Joker - DS

Roogoo Attack - DS

Roogoo Twisted Towers - Wii

Splinter Cell: Conviction Official Strategy Guide - PC, Xbox 360

Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament - PSP

Street Fighter IV - PC

Treasure World - DS

Atlus reveals Trauma Team, E3 plans

Atlus U.S.A. has announced Trauma Team for Wii, an entirely new emergency room simulation game from the developers of the Trauma Center series. Atlus U.S.A. promises challenges cross six distinct fields of medicine: general surgeon, diagnostician, E.M.T., orthopedic surgeon, endoscope technician, and medical examiner. The game will feature dynamic story driven sequences inspired by Japanese animation and comics, with each chapter featuring a distinct style through hand-drawn art, animation, and voice acting.

Trauma Team is currently scheduled for release in spring 2010. We expect more details this week as Atlus U.S.A. rolls out its line-up at E3.

Speaking of E3, Atlus U.S.A. also revealed some of the games it plans to show this week in Los Angeles. Games on display include Devil Survivor for DS, Class of Heroes for PSP, Demon’s Souls for PS3, Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!, the new Persona game, Droplitz for XBLA/PSN/Windows, Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament, Knights in the Nightmare and its first MMO Neo Steam.

Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament: All About Action

If fans of the PS2 game Steambot Chronicles were hoping that Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament for PSP was a port or spiritual sequel, then we have some sad news for you: It’s not. The new PSP game developed by IREM and to be published by Atlus later this year focuses more on the combat and less on the extracurriculars. So what won’t be in the game? According to Atlus, you won’t be playing any instruments or hanging out in seedy bars playing pool. That’s fine because what the game does focus on is its strongest aspect: Trotmobile battles.

I sent a series of questions to Atus USA PR manager Aram Jabbari to try and figure out just what was in the PSP game - including whether or not the game was a port of the beloved PS2 title. Here’s what he had to say:

“It’s not a port of the PS2 game, its all-new for PSP. The game lets you choose missions as you like, with free-world exploration and whatnot. Story is new, you’ll be meeting all new characters, and the focus of the game is much more on the action-packed mech combat, the pool and harmonica stuff doesn’t fall within the battle-ized scope of Battle Tournament. Any fan of SBC will likely dig this game (providing they have a PSP of course).”

 While those extra activities really added some fun flavor to the game, it can do without all of that because the combat is so very good once you get used to the controls. Honestly that’s my biggest concern with this game on the PSP - will the controls work? We’ll have to wait and see..

Introducing Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament

Atlus U.S.A. has acquired the North American publishing rights for Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament for PSP, which I assume is based loosely on the groovy IREM action RPG Steambot Chronicles. In that game players took control of Trotmobiles, battling other mechanized monstrosities for fame, fortune and parts. Those parts can be used to customize your trotmobile or as a way to earn some extra cash to buy a variety of specialty parts.

The original game featured a number of mini-games including playing instruments and pool. There was also a system where you built relationships with characters by the tone of your responses, which in turn changed the story. We don’t quite know if this game will offer those features but I’m hoping it does to some extent.

Steambot Chronicles Battle Tournament tells the tale of a young Trotmobile driver that comes to Orion City with one dream in mind: to win the prestigious Orion City Trotmobile gladiator tournament. However, you’ll quickly learn that it takes more than the desire to win in the coliseum. With the help of a mechanic named Venus, you’ll have to take on a series of jobs to earn the money and fame required to make a name for yourself about town as a skilled Trotmobile operator. When you’re not working you’ll have to protect the city from a series of bandit attacks that put the town in serious jeopardy.

One of the more important features of the game for PSP players is the ability to play with up to four players with one UMD using game sharing. Multiplayer includes battle royale style, or tag team battles. Having multiple UMDs allows players to use their customized trotmobiles.

Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament has not yet been rated by the ESRB, but it does have a tentative release date: Summer.