New Blue Dragon Content

Microsoft has announced new content for Mistwalker's RPG, Blue Dragon.

This new package of content is available for download through Xbox Live for 200 Points. It is called 6 Treasures and features six exciting new items. These items include:

1) “Whimsical Mind” – growth item that enhances a few randomly-picked categories by 0-4 levels
2) “Way of Thieves” – in-battle item that can steal rare items possessed by enemy creatures
3) “Devee Phonograph” – allows you to listen to the “Devee-tribe dance”
4) “Nothing Glasses” – visualizes all “nothing” points by means of a star-looking symbol (oftentimes you’ll find a lot of items that contain “nothing”, followed by an English-speaking narrator saying “nothing”).
5) “Shuffled Helmet” – item that adjusts magical and speed parameters (Magic +40 / Speed -40). Detrimental when used by itself because the speed parameter goes down by 50 points, but when equipped along with “Shuffled Breastplate” and “Shuffled Splint”, this item can quadruplicate the Magic parameters and reverse the Speed parameters. So it becomes the strongest equipment in the game. (Magic +160 / Speed +40)
6) Spring-wind Scarf”” – adjusts characters’ HP and Speed parameters by 20%

A previous package of content was released in late September, titled Hard Mod, features new game modes. As gamers are wrapping up the Blue Dragon storyline, they may be interested in expanding their adventure through these downloads!

Big Bucks for Microsoft

Microsoft has announced their impressive Q1 earnings.

Fueled by Halo 3 and higher than expected Xbox 360 sales, the Entertainment and Devices Division of Microsoft had revenue grow more than 90 percent up to $1.9 billion. Xbox 360 console units also saw an increase of more than 90 percent driven by the August console price cut, the record-setting launch of Halo 3.

Microsoft is still touting their "greatest lineup of games in history", but at this point it's starting to become a little bit more believeable. Of interest to RPG fans, the Xbox 360 has a fall/winter lineup of games including Eternal Sonata, BioShock, Blue Dragon, Mass Effect, and Two Worlds. The hit action RPG Marvel: Ultimate Alliance is also now included with Xbox 360's along with Forza Motorsport 2.

To date 13.4 million Xbox 360 units have been sold.

10/01/07 Links

Happy first of October. As the new month starts I've got a few links from the end of last month to share!

RPGDot/Jolt Reviews Blue Dragon - They rate the game a positive 8.7, which is a bit higher than the norm.

GameSpy Previews Hellgate: London - They like what they see, but also encountered a lot of technical glitches.

1UP Reviews Two Worlds - They rate the PC version a 6.0.

AllRPG Reviews GrimGrimoire - A solid 7.5 is the resulting score from NIS America's PS2 title.

AllRPG Reviews BioShock - A bit different that AllRPG reviews something on the PC or Xbox 360. Either way, they award it an impressive 9.0.

Lost Odyssey North American Delay

Fans of the upcoming RPG Lost Odyssey will have to wait just a bit longer.

The game, which was initially supposed to be released worldwide by the end of 2007, is now slated for an early 2008 release in North America. Japanese gamers will fortunately still be able to pick up Lost Odyssey in December 2007. Lost Odyssey is a Xbox 360 exclusive RPG from Mistwalker, developer of the recent RPG Blue Dragon.

Blue Dragon received rave reviews in Japan but has been highly criticized since its North American release. One can't help but wonder if Mistwalker has decided to delay the North American release of their second game in hopes of avoiding those same problems...

Blue Dragon Released!

The highly anticipated Xbox 360 RPG from Mistwalker, Blue Dragon, is now shipping nationwide.

Blue Dragon comes from some of the most acclaimed developers in the industry, including Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Toriyama of Dragon Ball Z fame, and musical talents of the one and only Nobuo Uematsu.

Blue Dragon promises an epic tale with innovative gameplay features, including customizable shadows abilities and charge attacks. It will be the first North American title from Mistwalker and one of the few Japanese RPGs on the Xbox 360.

8/27/07 Links

I've dug up a few random articles for today. Blue Dragon, which seems to be a bit of a disappointment, is a hot review right now, along with Jeanne D'Arc for the PSP, which is pulling in higher scores.

Strategy Informer Rates Blue Dragon - A disappointing 6.8 score from our strategy-loving friends. Once again, a score much lower than Xbox 360 fans were hoping for. The reviewer claims Blue Dragon is "average in the extreme".

1Up Reviews Jeanne D'Arc - Level-5's latest RPG for the PSP gets a positive 8.0 rating.

Blue Dragon Reviewed at 1Up - Another disappointing grade of 6.5 for Blue Dragon.

GameSpot Reviews Jeanne D'Arc - A second review of the PSP RPG awards the game the same grade.

Heavenly Sword Graded by IGN - This action title is among the most highly anticipated on the PS3. IGN gives is a solid, but un-impressed, 7.0.

8/24/07 Issue at Just-RPG

We've got an issue packed full of goodies this week, including a preview of the highly anticipated Blue Dragon for the Xbox 360. We also have new screens and trailers from games like Fallout 3, Requital, Nethergate: Resurrection, and more!

http://www.just-rpg.com

• Blue Dragon Preview
• Fallout 3 Screens
• Nethergate: Resurrection Screens
• Just-RPG looking for staff
• Dragoneer's Aria Trailer
• New Black Prophecy Screenshots
• Galactic Civilizations II: Twilight of the Arnor Screenshots
• Requital Trailer
• Soul Nomad & the World Eaters Trailers
• And More!!!

08/19/07 Links

A whole bunch of BioShock reviews are starting to roll in, and they're making the game look really nice. I can't wait to get my hands on it!!! Oh, and I found some other interesting stuff too...

IGN's BioShock Review - The first of many reviews of the game. This one has a very impressed 9.7 grade.

GameSpy's BioShock Review - A perfect 5 out of 5. A lot of great things to say about the game, and few complaints. They feel the game is a tad on the short side, which seems to be a common complaint.

1Up's BioShock Review - Not suprisingly, another perfect score. They give it an excellent 10!

Fallout 3 Preview on CVG - Computer and Video Games take a look at the upcoming RPG sequel from Bethesda. Fallout fans will want to read this one because there's a good deal of info here.

Rune Factory: A fantasy Harvest Moon Review at IGN - Harvest Moon makes its way to the DS in a game that IGN is calling one of the best of the series!

Blue Dragon Reviewed at GameSpy - A final grade of 8.0, similar to what IGN gave the game a few days ago. I had higher expectations, although 8 is still solid.

Blue Dragon & Lost Odyssey Releases

Two of the most highly anticipated RPGs headed for the Xbox 360 have received release dates, Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, both from Mistwalker.

Microsoft made the announcement at GDC 2007 that Blue Dragon will arrive on U.S. shores in August of 2007 and Lost Odyssey will be here sometime this fall.

While the Xbox 360 hasn't exactly been an RPG powerhouse, these two RPGs from Japan will surely help to improve the lineup. Blue Dragon has already been released in Japan with excellent sales.

Thanks to IGN for the info.