Over on IGN, Erik Brudvig and Hilary Goldstein, wrote an editorial titled The Gameplay Mechanic: Fixing Square’s RPG Machine, regarding some issues they have found with Square-Enix’s latest RPGs The Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery. In this piece, they also mention ways in which they think that Square Enix can improve upon their staple game format by getting with the times and create more of a western role-playing game (WRPG) instead of continually churning out the same ole hat every time.

The writers take a few missteps right off the bat–one of which is blasting Square for not knowing how to use the Unreal Engine 3 and suggesting that they either “learn to use it or ditch it”. This caught me off guard a bit because while The Last Remnant does indeed use the UR3, Infinite Undiscovery does not. Instead, it uses one developed in-house by the developer of the game Tri-Ace. Anyone, especially a game blogger/journalist would have known this, so it was either an oversight on their part, or they just have no idea what the hell they are talking about. I choose the latter.

Regardless, when I read that part yesterday, it convinced me to just stop reading where I was and dismiss the whole article out of my mind. I had no reason to continue reading it because in my opinion, complaining about something that had no basis in fact was just not worth my time. However, today the folks over at MonsterVine gave me a reason to read the rest of the offending piece over on IGN thanks to their well thought out rebuttal.

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Microsoft has actually managed to accumulate some semblance of success in Japan recently with the Xbox 360, thanks to titles like Tales of Vesperia. Early in September, Microsoft held a media briefing in Tokyo where they outlined goals for the 360 in Japan, announcing price cuts and showing off a number of games. From what we’re piecing together, however, it seems like Gears of War 2 won’t be one of those games releasing in Japan — which is utterly bizarre considering that even Madden NFL 09 was released over there.

A recent entry on a user blog at unofficial Gears of War website Gearheads of War by Michael “3Suns” Guenter claims that a local retailer in Japan didn’t have the game listed in its computer and an employee managed to only find the game on Xbox.com with no announced release date. But that’s not all:

“The story isn’t over. As I am walking out of the store, I notice the Xbox 360 2008 Autumn Catalog (Take Me I’m Free). So, I thought, this is great! At least maybe I can get some info out of the promotional literature. Guess what? Gears of War 2 is not listed ANYWHERE in the book. NOWHERE! Not even in the back index. They have games ranging from Too Human (old), Infinite Undiscovery (released a couple of weeks ago), to Star Ocean (2009). Even Gears of War the original is listed in there, but no Gears of War 2.”

It’s a peculiar omission, regardless of the location we’re talking about. We contacted Microsoft regarding this issue, but they didn’t have much to say: “We have no announcements to make about Gears of War 2 releasing in Japan at this time.” Depending on how you look at that, you could simply get the impression of your typical ‘no comment,’ or or you could read it as a suggestion that there are no plans to release Gears of War 2 in Japan.

You’re free to draw your own conclusion, but based upon what we currently know, Guenter probably summed it up best: “I guess Japan is just SOL.”

Square Enix announced today that Infinite Undiscovery for the Xbox 360 has shipped to retailers across North America.

The first full-scale, new generation RPG is a collaborative effort with tri-Ace and promises to draw players into a real-time world, woven of countless threads, where their choices will spin untold discoveries. Real-time battles are intertwined with the world map, and players can use the environment to customize gameplay and enjoy a number of play styles.

Infinite Undiscovery is the first of three major RPGs launching simultaneously around the world for Xbox 360 in the coming months. With The Last Remnant and Star Ocean: The Last Hope following on November 20, and in spring 2009 respectively, this is just the beginning of the RPG triple-whammy from Square Enix.

STORY: Deep in a forest, in one of the Order’s prisons, a young boy named Capell was being held captive. His captors called him the “Liberator,” though he had no clue as to what they meant. On the third day of his imprisonment, he was rescued by a spirited young woman named Aya. She was a member of a small band of brave warriors who had gathered under the banner of Sigmund the Liberator to free the world from the iron grip of the Order.  Upon meeting Sigmund, he was surprised to find a man who shared his very face and appearance. This meeting would change Capell’s life forever and shake the foundation of the world itself.

FEATURES:

• Discovery & Impact: The actions you choose to take based upon new discoveries will have a real-time impact on the world
• Situational Battles: Players will be confronted with a variety of dramatic situational battles such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit, or waging battle amidst towering tsunamis. The dynamic environments change and respond in real time, creating an entirely new experience never before seen in the genre
• A Seamless World and Real-time Action: Combat, exploration and other actions all take place within the same environment, seamlessly shifting between each game facet. Battles are carried out in real-time, bringing the vibrant fighting sequences of the STAR OCEAN series out of the traditional battle screen into a beautiful and lush environment
• Connect Ability System: 17 characters join the hero, Capell, with unique Connect Ability actions that allow the player to tap into their abilities and take direct control

Finally, after loads of screens and information about Infinite Undiscovery coming out of E3, Square Enix has finally given us the trailer for it. As expected, it is lovely, and will probably get fans of this type of RPG very excited for it.

Infinite Undiscovery is expected to hit retail exclusively for the Xbox 360 on September 2nd.

Infinite Undiscovery is the newest fantasy RPG developed by tri-Ace exclusively for Xbox 360. A collaborative project with the development studio which created Star Ocean and and Valkyrie Profile, Infinite Undiscovery contains a real-time world woven of countless threads where their choices will spin many different discoveries.

Deep in a forest, in one of the Order’s prisons, a young boy named Capell was being held captive. His captors called him the “Liberator,” though he had no clue as to what they meant. On the third day of his imprisonment, he was rescued by a spirited young woman named Aya. She was a member of a small band of brave warriors who had gathered under the banner of Sigmund the Liberator to free the world from the iron grip of the Order. Upon meeting Sigmund, he was surprised to find a man who shared his very face and appearance. This meeting would change Capell’s life forever and shake the foundation of the world itself.

FEATURES

• Discovery & Impact: The actions you choose to take upon new discoveries will have a real-time impact on the world
• Situational Battles: Players will be confronted with a variety of dramatic situational battles such as executing a daring escape while a gigantic ogre follows in hot pursuit, or waging battle amidst towering tidal waves. The dynamic environments change and respond in real time, creating an entirely new experience never before seen in the genre
• A Seamless World and Real-time Action: Combat, exploration, and other actions all take place within the same environment, seamlessly shifting between each game facet. Battles are carried out in real-time, bringing the vibrant fighting sequences of the STAR OCEAN series out of the traditional battle screen into a beautiful and lush environment
• Connect Ability System:17 characters join the hero, Capell, with unique Connect Ability actions that allow the player to tap into their abilities and take direct control

Infinite Undiscovery will be released worldwide on September 2nd. You can view more E3 screens here.

The Last Remnant is expected to be released sometime this Winter for the Xbox 360 and like other RPGS Star Ocean: The Last Hope and Infinite Undiscovery, it is also being developed by tri Ace for Square Enix.

Long ago, the world was filled with Remnants – mysterious artifacts from an ancient civilization. But as time passed, the powers of the Remnants began to shift the world’s balance. As the rift widened between those who ruled and those who were ruled over, a new era dawned: one of countless frays brought upon the world by those enslaved by their own lust for power. A thousand years later, the journey of one young man begins…

Imagine a vast, war-torn battlefield, scarred by years of conflict where countless enemies surround the player, who is backed up by his own army. Threatened by numerous foes and saved in the nick of time by allies, players will feel the true tension of a soldier on the battlefield. The Last Remnant features a battle system has been carefully crafted to deliver a brand-new experience for gamers, as they control forces in massive battles between up to seventy different units at once.

PS3 owners will also be able to get in on this upcoming RPG, but a tentative release schedule has yet to be announced. For more E3 screens hit this link.

With a strong boot to the opening, Microsoft kicked off E3 with the first press conference out of the gate. There was a lot of speculation before the show.. Microsoft would announce a price cut, a motion controller, avatars, the cure for cancer.. the list goes on. While we didn’t get the cure for cancer or a motion controller it definitely felt like Microsoft was aiming at a pretty wide audience with some of its announced new titles and a number of not-quite innovations aimed at broadening the reach of the console in the media and casual markets.

The focus of the entire conference this year seemed to be on the multi-player experience. Not the static gamer matches, but co-operative experiences, media and experience sharing. Many of the titles shown reflect this philosophy and Microsoft’s internal announcements definitely reflect it.

So lets get the hysterics out of the way… Gears of War 2 does LOOK good. Fallout 3 does have VATS. Resident Evil 5 has co-op online play. There.. now to my impressions of the event, for another take, be sure to check out Johnathan’s impressions of exactly the same event, now with less sarcasm…
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Microsoft kicked off E3 with a press conference not unlike a firecracker that has been dipped in water: it starts off exciting, but then the fuse runs out and all you get a a little “pop” if you’re lucky. Similarly, they brought out the big guns for an opener, leaving everything but the last few minutes pretty unsurprising. Read on for a play-by-play of Microsoft’s big E3 announcements. Read the full article

Square Enix is preparing it’s E3 line up which includes a wide array of titles from CHRONO TRIGGER to the first full-scale role-playing Game created for the iPod, SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes.

Titles for next-gen gaming consoles include INFINITE UNDISCOVERY, THE LAST REMNANT and STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE. Square Enix is also introducing STAR OCEAN: First Departure, STAR OCEAN: Second Evolution for the PSP. TAITO Corporation will also be represented by EXIT and The Legend of Kage 2 for the DS and SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes.

“With simultaneous global releases for several platforms on their way, gamers around the world will be able to experience the full grandeur of our games as never before,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. and Square Enix, Ltd. “Additionally, Square Enix has offerings at this year’s E3 for every gamer, from fan favorites newly available on portable platforms to casual games accessible to a wide range of users.”

CHRONO TRIGGER, DRAGON QUEST IV: Chapters of the Chosen, FINAL FANTASY IV, INFINITE UNDISCOVERY and SONG SUMMONER: The Unsung Heroes will all be available for play in kiosks at the convention.

Further details on games and platforms follow the break.
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Square Enix is bombarding us with assets for their three new RPGs coming to the Xbox 360. The Last Remnant will be hitting the PS3 supposedly, but a release date has not been given. The screens posted are for the 360 version.

The latest screens for Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean: The Last Hope are posted after the jump.

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