Byoushinn Plays

Famitsu have released a new batch of direct feed shots for Final Fantasy XIII which was previously featured in the magazine. If you look closely you can notice a number of changes in these shots from the recent trailer we saw (which revealed Nora and the battle system for the first time) The lighting has vastly improved, the detail is greater, and previous complaints such as squared off fingers/guns have all but disappeared, so it seems these shots are from a later build of the game than that of the trailer.

These are the four (of five) Nora members, rescuing Vanille and the other captives

Snow

 Nora members, again

Gadot, of Nora. His element is fire, which despite opposing Snow's Ice element, he's just as hot-headed personality wise

Lebreau, of Nora. She's the motherly figure within the group, which contrasts her butterfly and beach scenery inspired skant clothing 

Maqui, of Nora. The youngest of the group, he's pretty self conscious of his slim body, and so wears many layers. He respects Snow greatly, who saved him from his Otaku-like shut in lifestyle - and so his clothing design takes many elements from Snow's own clothing.

Vanille - this particular scene shown in the trailer now appears to have many visual improvements, in particular her fingers are much more defined (and face shape too!)

More FFXIII news in the next 24 hours!

商願2008-100028　テイルズオブフローリア [TALES OF FLOWERIA]
商願2008-100029　テイルズオブグレイシア [TALES OF GRACIA]
商願2008-100030　テイルズオブユナイティア [TALES OF UNITIA]
商願2009-000951 テイルズ　オブ　フローリア [TALES OF FLORIA]
商願2009-000952 テイルズ　オブ　スターティア [TALES OF STARTEAR]
商願2009-000953 テイルズ　オブ　ブレシア [TALES OF BLESSIA]

I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing more than one 'Tales of' game this year, no? Perhaps the ever rumored PS3 Tales game will make it's appearance this year
too bad these names are all dreadful -_-

First Day Sales (02/26)

[PS3] Ryu ga Gotoku 3 (Sega) - 232,000 (60%)
[PSP] Shin Sangoku Musou: Multi Raid (Koei) - 152,000 (60%)
[WII] One Piece Unlimited Cruise: Episode 2 - Mezameru Yuusha (Bandai Namco) - 32,000 (45%)
[NDS] Game Center CX: Arino no Chousenjou 2 (Bandai Namco) - LE 18,500 (50%) / SE 8,000 (20%)
[PS2] The King of Fighters 2002 Unlimited Match (SNK Playmore) - 13,000 (70%)
[360] Halo Wars (Microsoft) - LE 10,000 (30%) / SE 1,000 (20%)
[NDS] Sunday x Magazine Nettou! Dream Nine (Konami) - 9,500 (20%)
[360] Way of the Samurai 3 (Spike) - 7,000 (40%)
[360] Chaos; Head Noah (5pb.) - LE 6,500 (60%) / SE 4,000 (60%)

Very impressive first day sales for Yakuza 3!

Sega must be happy with this performance. Official numbers will surface soon.

A rumor surfaced yesterday about a remake of the revolutionary horror PSX title 'Silent Hill' for the PSP/Wii - given Konami's history with each of these platforms, we can assume PSP would be the lead platform. The rumor states that developer CLIMAX is working on this one, and given that these are the guys that worked on the PSP Silent Hill:Origins - the rumor has some weight to it.

VG247 understands that UK developer Climax is working on a PSP/Wii remake of an[sic] the first Silent Hill.

http://www.vg247.com/2009/02/26/rumour-climax-working-on-silent-hill-remake-for-wii/  
 
Following the Persona 1 remake for the PSP, i'd be very happy to see a Silent Hill 1 remake.
Sony have also teased a flock of as-yet unrevealed AAA PSP titles for the second half of this year, following the chain of announcements earlier this week for big PSP titles (LittleBigPlanet etc) Sony promise more announcements in the coming months and at E3.
I'm very happy Sony is finally supporting the PSP, Japan has taken to the PSP since it's hardware revision (and we're seeing the fruits of this in the next couple of years) so it's good to see the west finally following in those footsteps.

More good PSP news!

IRVINE, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 24, 2009 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc, today announced that Shin Megami Tensei: Persona for PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, a remake of the first entry in the critically-acclaimed RPG series, will be released in North America within the calendar year. SMT: Persona stands as a proud relaunch for the award-winning series, featuring a completely redone localization and content never before seen in North America. Combined with gameplay enhancements and additions new to the remake, fans will have the chance to experience the first Persona game released in North America in a whole new way. Those looking to see the original epic in a whole new light, those who missed out the first time around, and even those PSP system owners who crave a marquee RPG: that which you seek is approaching.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona is currently scheduled to release this fall.

After a good couple of years of almost no blockbuster western developed games released for the PSP (aside from a couple of notable exceptions) Sony has finally brought attention back to the PSP - whether it's a result of booming Japanese interest (both sales and development wise) or not is anyones guess, but i think it is.

LittleBigPlanet PSP is confirmed for release
Motorstorm Artic Edge is confirmed for release
Assassins Creed PSP is confirmed for release
Rockband PSP is confirmed for release

Couple these PSP versions of major Playstation titles with the brand new Japanese developed IPs (such as Final Fantasy Agito XIII and Ushiro) and you can see that the PSP line up is stronger than it's been for a long time!

Today Famitsu revealed that cult JRPG series Persona (spin off of the famed Shin Megami Tensei series) is heading to the PSP!
This enhanced port of the original PSX game comes with a handful of differences that make this releases too hard to resist, some of the differences include;

-Completely revamped UI (probably to be in style with later Persona games)
-Brand new animated cutscenes (of which previously there were none)
- Directed by Shoji Meguro (Persona 3/4)
- 3 different difficulty levels/ extra story content

The game is set to release on April the 29th in Japan, currently there is no western release, but i have faith in Atlus!

See for yourself;

http://www.imagebam.com/image/83762425642661
http://www.imagebam.com/image/24990c25642665
http://www.imagebam.com/image/fad36425642666
http://www.imagebam.com/image/d60b9325642670

Famitsu also revealed today that another Atlus title, Growlanser - is also getting a PSP enhanced port! PSP gamers rejoice!~ 
<br/

V-Jump magazine writes that Square Enix intend to release a 'Final Fantasy VII related' trailer tomororw to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the games release in Japan.
What the trailer is, i have no idea, but i'm sure it'll be full of nostalgia for fans of the game, so look out for it!

Information this morning from Famitsu/Famitsu 360, as follows;

-Atlus are developing a game on the 360 (and PS3 - though the article was taken from Famitsu360 so PS3 was omitted)
- (Capcom) Sequels to Dead Rising and Lost Planet are in the works, both will be multiplatform
-  Microsoft dodge the question of a Slim 360 being released, but it seems something is in the works
- Namco Bandai plan to continue whoring themselves and will release 5-6 big titles on the 360 this year (most of which we know) They also mention a new IP
- Bethesda will hijack another firms IP (again) and will release it as a big multiplatform title this year
- From Software are reluctant to develop another exclusive game for the 360, they will wait and see how Ninja Blade performs first
- Koei planning a new IP (does anyone care?)
-  Sega are planning a big multiplatform title which will make 360 owners happy

And the scores for both of these mags;

Famitsu 360

Reviews

Ninja Blade 8997
Midnight Club 8888
Street Fighter IV 9988
Skate 2 7887
Shooting Love 7767
Star Ocean 4 9988
Sonic 8889
Chaos Head Noah 8879

Regular Famitsu scores

Chibimarukochan 8777
Destiny Links 9889
Tantei Conan and Kaneda Shounen no Jikenhaku 7876
Midnight Club PSP 7888
Enkakusousa 9888
Shaun White Snowboarding PSP 6777
Demon's Souls 7967
Shaun White Snowboarding PS3 6866
Midnight Club PS3 8988
Midnight Club 360 8988

New Japanese trademarks have also surfaced, some, interesting, titles in there (i'll translate the interesting ones);

 BANDAI NAMCO (The hell? Too much Tales of)
商願2008-095371 テイルズオブフェスティバル\TALESOFFESTIVAL
商願2008-095452 テイルズオブシンフォニア\TALESOFSYMPHONIA
商願2008-095453 テイルズオブヴェスペリア\TalesofVesperia
商願2008-095454 テイルズオブハーツ\TALESOFHEARTS
商願2008-096816 出撃!アクロナイツ (see below)
商願2008-096817 Acroknights
商願2008-097208 タッチでわくわくトレーニング
商願2008-097288 BrainExercise
商願2008-097289 MoreBrainExercise
商願2008-097290 TimeCrisisStrike
商願2008-098300 DearyStars\ディアリースターズ
商願2008-098301 DressingSweet\ドレッシングスイート
商願2008-098302 DreamSymphony\ドリームシンフォニー
商願2008-099019 テイルズオブシンフォニア\TALESOFSYMPHONIA
商願2008-099020 テイルズオブハーツ\TALESOFHEARTS

KONAMI
商願2008-096387 ナイトメアパラダイス (Nightmare Paradise)
商願2008-096568 PASELI
商願2008-096995 ANCIENTPROPHECY
商願2008-098296 デスティニーデイズ (Destiny Days)
商願2008-099097 §実況\パワフルプロ野球\NEXT∞じっきょうパワフルプロやきゅうネクスト

SQUARE ENIX
商願2008-097582 Phantom&Ghost\ファントムアンドゴースト
商願2008-098051 戦慄!モグ祭りの夜
商願2008-098052 シャントット帝国の陰謀 (it's a Shantotto FFXI mini expansion, as are the game above, and game below)
商願2008-098053 石の見る夢

SCE
商願2008-097631 Numblas\ナンブラス

SEGA
商願2008-096916 リルぷりっ
商願2008-097922 MEDALLOUNGE
商願2008-098859 SFC.NET
商願2008-098860 SHININGFORCECROSS.NET
商願2008-098922 UFOKEYCOUNTER
商願2008-099313 §ShiningForce\CROSS\[シャイニング・フォースクロス]

KOEI
商願2008-093790 ホイホイ

ENTERBRAIN
商願2008-095301 アマガミ (amagami)

Majesco Entertainment Company
商願2008-099519 メジャマジ・マーチ

Will probably update with more news soon, so check back. Also remember, FFXIII trailer goes up later today!

Screenshots taken from the previous couple of Famitsu/Jump magazines.