Space Invaders Extreme 2 dated for Oct. 20

TAITO, now a Square Enix subsidiary, is preparing for an Oct. 20 launch of Space Invaders Extreme 2 on DS. Now with 45 percent more fiber! Like the last game players need to fend off those filthy aliens, beat those bosses and shoot anything that moves to save the planet and avoid that GAME OVER screen.

The latest game promises single player modes like Score Attack and Time Attack, multiplayer via Nintendo Wi-Fi connection , leaderboards, and crazy mini-games like Fever Time, Super Fever Time and Bingo.

Look for the game in stores next week.

BUST-A-MOVE now on your iPhone

TAITO has released its classic puzzle action game BUST-A-MOVE (known as PUZZLE BOBBLE outside of North America) to the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPod touch. This edition of BUST-A-MOVE includes two different control options: Tap Shot, in which a bubble is launched in the direction tapped, and the pull and release Sling Shot method. New to the BUST-A-MOVE series, this Sling Shot mode is works well with the iPhone’s controls scheme - at least according to its developers.

This release also offers a number of features created especially for the iPhone, including a VS. Mode - which takes advantage of the new iPhone OS 3.0 Bluetooth capabilities and a new Story Mode that chronicles Bub’s quest to rescue best friend Chack’n’s captured family from a series of Magic Domes.

Taito releases Waterways on iPhone

TAITO today announced that, with the cooperation of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan, it will bring the action-puzzler Waterways, to the iPhone App Store. The game will be available worldwide for the iPhone and iPod touch on June 11. Waterways, developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie, was the winning concept of the Netherlands-Japan GameJam 2008 contest, held as part of the “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009″ celebration.

Last year was the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Japan and the Netherlands, and this year, 2009, marks 400 years of trade between the two nations. Sponsored by the Dutch game organizations NLGD Foundation and the Dutch Game Garden, and also backed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Japan GameJam 2008 contest was held by Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Japan as part of the continuing “Netherlands in Japan 2008-2009″ celebration.

Waterways is an action puzzle game designed and developed by Dutch studio Rough Cookie. Players assume the role of a heroic cow named Patch. When the Netherlands’ water management system “Caretaker 3000″ goes haywire, leading to widespread flooding, it’s up to Patch to navigate a series of water-filled mazes and drawbridges in an effort to reach and repair the leaking valves. Waterways makes full use of the iPhone/iPod Touch’s motion sensors as well.

Find out more about the game at www.taito.com.

Square Enix Revises Forecast, Delays Dragon Quest IX

After a slight delay that didn’t help its stock prices very much, Square Enix has released its forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2009 and revealed that it has delayed Dragon Quest IX in Japan. The revised net sales forecast for the fiscal year is 16.9 percent lower than previous guesstimates and net income is expected to be down 62.5 percent.

The weakness in numbers is tied to Taito’s amusements business and “offline games.” Sega and other companies still doing business in that sector have suffered similar declines, so no great shock there.. The delayed forecast, according to previous reports, was due to some accounting errors.

Square Enix also announced that the next big Dragon Quest title to hit Japan - Dragon Quest IX for DS, has been delayed. The game, which was slated for release in March of this year, will now be published on July 11. The delay is due, apparently, to some pesky bugs that need to be taken care of. Amongst all the bad news, European gamers will be happy to hear that the company will distribute Nippon Ichi Software’s Disgaea for DS in the region April 3. Australia will get the game shortly thereafter.

Space Invaders Coming to WiiWare

Square Enix will “invade” the WiiWare “space” with Taito’s upcoming game Space Invaders: Get Even. Based on the original, classic arcade hit, this WiiWare Space Invaders game will be released on WiiWare Dec. 1.

In the game, players fight alongside the Invaders, navigating their space craft and battling against earthling technology in a colorful 3D world. Get ready to discover a new addition to the SPACE INVADERS universe, launching exclusively for Wii next month, that gives you the option of being the bad guys.

Square Enix also plans three mission packs to be made available as add-on content for 500 Wii Points each, offering a total of seven unique missions when added to the main product. You can learn more at na.square-enix.com.

Square Enix Rolls Out E3 Line-Up

Square Enix will be pulling out all the stops next week at E3 with a line-up that includes such popular franchises as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger and Star Ocean; along with new blood like The Last Remnant, Song Summoner and Infinite Undiscovery; and Taito’s line-up of DS offerings.

Five of those games will be playable on the show floor: Chrono Trigger, Dragon Quest: The Chapters of the Chosen, Final Fantasy IV, Infinite Undiscovery and Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes. More after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »