Namco Bandai

10.17.11

When it comes to enjoying Ridge Racer, there are two types of people.  There are those who get drift-happy with the racing game and love every minute of it, and there are those who think it's a little too arcade-y for its own good.  No matter which side you're on, though, you have to admit that when Ridge Racer 7 debuted on the PS3 years ago, it was a technically proficient game, and more challenging than most entries in the series.  Now the game gets a major push with tomorrow's PlayStation Network update, with not only a free 3D upgrade, but also a digital release.  Is it too late to improve on the game now, though?

09.12.11

There's a flood of great games coming out over the next few weeks, and one title you should definitely consider to be near the top of your list is Namco Bandai's Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.  This new entry in the series will introduce a higher range of intensity than ever before, especially when it comes to dogfights and the new helicopter missions.  But don't just take our word for it -- you'll be able to go hands-on for yourself when the demo goes live tomorrow.

09.07.11

From Software is one hot studio right now. The game developer is working on the role-playing game (RPG) sequel, Dark Souls, as well as Armored Core 5. Eiichi Nakajima, Senior Managing Director at From Software, introduces some of the top talent behind these big games in this studio walkthrough video below.

08.25.11

Atmosphere was one of the defining elements of Demon's Souls. The game itself was so dedicated to creating an immersive and overpowering sense of atmosphere that at times it hurt the gameplay. I need not remind Demon's Souls fans of the treachorous pits that lie in wait in the game's many dark corridors. A part of that atmosphere is the world itself. As Dark Souls, the successor to Demon's Souls, approaches release, Namco Bandai has seen fit to release a prologue trailer, giving players a taste of the world's history. To watch this trailer, merely read on.

08.16.11

Gamescom, Germany's biggest gaming event and one that the world will certainly be keeping an eye on, will be unfolding in a matter of hours, and Namco Bandai has already gotten a jump start on the event by introducing a new trailer for its latest weapons-based fighting game, SoulCalibur V.  And yes, the soul still burns for this one...

07.27.11

Hollywood director Dwight Little got his start working on hit action movies like Steven Seagal’s Marked for Death and Rapid Fire with Brandon Lee. These days, he’s behind the lens of some of TV’s most popular shows, including “Bones” and “Castle.” The director worked with Namco Bandai to bring the live action Tekken movie to Blu-ray and DVD from Anchor Bay Home Entertainment. Little talks about the new movie and what’s in store for the franchise in this exclusive interview.

07.25.11

The upcoming Tekken Hybrid package for PlayStation 3, due this November, is looking pretty sweet.  Along with the new animated Tekken: Blood Vengeance movie (in 3-D, no less) and a high-definition version of the classic Tekken Tag Tournament HD, the game will also include a nifty little extra -- a playable taste of the upcoming Tekken Tag Tournament 2.

07.23.11

Fighting games are perhaps the best genre for introducing bonus characters from other franchises. Soul Calibur is especially known for this, including everyone from Yoda to Link in the various releases of their games. Without further ado, let's dream up the top five guest characters we want in Soul Calibur V.

 

07.21.11

The Indomina Group, a U.S. and Dominican Republic-based producer and distributor of film, TV and transmedia content, is teaming with Samuel L. Jackson and Gonzo Studios to produce a new live action film based on the popular “Afro Samurai” animated series that has spawned an impressive franchise, including video games, and a global following. This deal paves the way for new video games, as Namco Bandai released games based on the animates series in the past. The Indomina Group’s transmedia rights should include video games based on the live action film, so new games should be coming home with the movie’s release.

07.15.11

Namco Banda is the latest video game company to take advantage of the 126,000 Comic-Con fans that flock to San Diego each year. At this year’s Comic-Con the Japanese game maker will have Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Arcade, Early hands-on of Tekken Tag Tournament HD, Tekken 6 and titles like NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM Generations at the Con.

07.11.11
At some point in our lives, we all learn about the force of gravity at school and how it affects objects that are pulled by its forces. In general, smaller bodies of mass are attracted to larger bodies of mass, i.e. us being held by Earth's gravity. But what would happen if we were able to manipulate gravity in various ways that we see fit? Inversion, Saber Interactive's latets title, takes that idea to create a shooter that goes against everything we've been taught in school to deliver quite an interesting experience. After having spent time playing it, I can say that Inversion certainly lays down a solid foundation to build upon in a franchise.
07.11.11

With big movies like Breaking Dawn, The Amazing Spider-Man and Conan scheduled to bring Hollywood stars to the annual convention, fanboys and girls won’t have to seek refuge in another city next year for Comic-Con 2012. The Con is staying in San Diego through 2015. “Firefly’s” Nathan Fillion, who’s promoting “Castle” at Comic-Con 2011, talks about TRON and video games in this exclusive interview from last year’s convention.

07.10.11
Two years ago, a little game by the name of Demon's Souls took many people by surprise. One of the things that started buzzing around the gaming community was the game's difficulty. Leaving everything up to trial and error and keeping many hazards secret, many gamers died on numerous occasions figuring out just what to do in Demon's Souls. All of that will return in the highly-anticipated Dark Souls, but will prove to be a much bigger challenge than the last time.
07.10.11
Since the series's inception in the arcades, Ace Combat has been the premier aerial combat game for the last 19 years, although it used to be called Air Combat back in those days. From popping quarters into arcade machines to making its way onto home consoles, the franchise has seen numerous iterations and received critical acclaim along the way. Although it's been known very well for sending players into the danger zone with some of the most popular jet fighters, Ace Combat looks to change the pace a bit by introducing gamers to Black Hawks and other vehicles in the latest title, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon.