Tales-of-Vesperia posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Famitsu unveils Tales of Vesperia PS3 bonus content

by Jem Alexander { Jun 23rd 2009 at 8:30PM }

That guy in the picture? He's saying "damn, I wish I'd waited and bought the PS3 version of Tales of Vesperi a, instead of the 360 version." That's because he's just read the latest Famitsu and found out about all the cool extras that will be included with the game when it hits the PS3 later this year. This includes new Giganto Monsters and new areas of the world for them to inhabit, such as additional dungeon and desert environments.

Those who pre-order in Japan will also receive a redemption code for downloadable costumes from another game in the series, Tales of the Abyss. Not only that, but people who buy both Vesperia and the upcoming PSP Tales of VS will get even more goodies, as each game will include a password which will activate new content in the other.

[Via Andriasang.com]

Tales trailers: Vesperia on PS3, VS on PSP

by Majed Athab { Apr 10th 2009 at 2:30PM }

As long as you promise not to break or burn anything, we'll allow you to view these video clips of Tales of Vesperia PS3 and the PSP-exclusive Tales of VS. Above, you'll find a Japanese trailer for Vesperia. It features the all-new pirate character, Patty.

After the break is a trailer for Tales of VS, which is very much like Dissidia: Final Fantasy in the sense that both are cameo-based fighters. VS gathers 35 characters from across the Tales series. Popular personalities such as Yuri, Luke, Richter and Shing are all confirmed. Also, you may have noticed that the trailer was entirely done in English. What could that mean, if anything? Tales of Vesperia and Tales of VS are scheduled for Japanese releases in autumn and summer 2009, respectively.

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Japanese gamer breaks disc, burns magazine article over Vesperia PS3 port

by Majed Athab { Apr 8th 2009 at 1:00PM }

Perhaps "Tales of Rage" is a more suitable title for Tales of Vesperia on PS3, as fan reaction to the enhanced port hasn't gone over well. Fans of the series in Japan are livid at the announcement, seeing as many of these gamers bought systems just to play the formerly 360-exclusive game. In one case, a fan was so angry he snapped his game disc in half (... subconsciously telling himself he has a reason to pick it up again) and burned the PS3 announcement article.

While we feel sorry for such angered gamers, we do believe they should have known better. After all, the game was previously teased to appear on PS3 by Namco Bandai itself. Just couldn't wait, huh? No wonder they say patience is a virtue.

[Via Kotaku]

Tales of Vesperia movie confirmed, prequel to the game

by Ben Gilbert { Apr 7th 2009 at 2:03PM }

Oh, Namco Bandai, you sneaky sneaky publisher. You hold an entire press conference in Tokyo and wait all the way until the very end to sneak in an official confirmation of the Tales of Vesperia movie, titled "Tales of Vesperia: First Strike." Oh, and what's that? It's a prequel to the game featuring "Yuri and Flynn's days together among the Zaphian Knights?"

We're sorry, you're just going to have to do better than that. Oooh, you say it's being developed by I.G. Productions, the company that worked on previous film adaptations of various Tales games in the past? Keep talking. Seasoned animator Kanta Kamei, known not only for his work on Tales of Legendia but also as the visual supervisor for the animated segment in "Kill Bill Vol. 1" is directing it, eh? Well that certainly helps.

When "First Strike" releases in Japan "sometime later this year," it'd better be good! We'll let you off the hook this time -- but only this time.

[Via 1UP]

Tales of Vesperia coming to PS3, Tales of VS for PSP

by Andrew Yoon { Apr 1st 2009 at 3:05PM }

Like you didn't see this one coming. Namco Bandai has finally announced a PS3 version of Tales of Vesperia. The game's exclusivity to Xbox 360 was always questioned, especially after a few noteworthy slip-ups on Namco Bandai's part. Like Eternal Sonata before it, the upcoming PS3 version of Vesperia will be enhanced over the original. Details are scarce for now, but the game will feature at least one new character. Japan will receive the enhanced port later this year.

In addition to Vesperia, the Japanese magazine debuted another Tales game for the PlayStation systems. Tales of VS, a PSP-exclusive that looks to be Namco Bandai's attempt at a Dissidia clone. The screens showcase characters from a number of Tales games brawling in a 3D environment, and indicate that VS looks to outdo Square Enix's fighter by offering support for up to four characters. As long as games like VS continue to be announced, it looks as though PSP is going to have another monster year in Japan.

[Thanks to everyone that sent this in!]

Tales of Vesperia heads to Europe this June

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 25th 2009 at 4:15PM }

Gamers in PAL territories will finally be able to play Tales of Vesperia when it releases this June. The Namco Bandai RPG is the best-selling Xbox 360 game of 2008 ... in Japan. Nearly a year since its original release in Japan and America, our friends across the Atlantic can finally join in.

Regarded as the best Tales game ever by many, Vesperia transports players into the world of Terca Lumireis, a world where the people are no longer comfortable with the powerful imperial regime. The main character, Yuri, may look like a chick, but those that bear with the game will find him to be one of the most likable RPG characters in recent memory.

Gallery: Tales of Vesperia

Xbox 360 outsells PS3 in Japan for fourth time, Four Horsemen draw closer

by Ben Gilbert { Feb 26th 2009 at 12:20PM }

The Xbox 360 has only outsold the PlayStation 3 several times before, so we're reticent to bring the Four Horsemen out of their winter hibernation. However, if Japanese hardware sales tracker Media Create is to be believed, the 360 not only outsold the PS3 in Japan last week, it handily trounced all competition, with sales just over 25,000 units (compared to nearly 17,000 units for Wii and just over 16,000 for PS3).

Considering Star Ocean: The Last Hope was released this past week and is outselling every game on the chart by a margin of at least 3:1 (162,232 units, folks -- in one week!), we're taking a stab in the dark here and saying 360 sales had something to do with that. After all, the last few times we put out a call to the horsemen, two other JRPG titles were to blame: Infinite Undiscovery and Tales of Vesperia.

Can you remember the other game that put 360 on top in Japan for a week? Hint: It involves fire and liberation and ... fighter jets. Give up? Too bad! We're still not telling!

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Tales of Vesperia to become anime movie

by Alexander Sliwinski { Feb 10th 2009 at 6:57PM }

1UP took note of a tiny blurb in Japanese magazine Kinema Jumpo, which indicates that Namco Bandai is preparing a Tales of Vesperia movie. The animated film will allegedly be the first in the series to hit the the big screen. Tales of Phantasia, Eternia, Symphonia and Aneurismia (not real) have all received linear animated media releases, but not in theaters.

The Japanese version will feature voice talent from the game, but there's no word if the same is planned for an international version. 1UP speculates that the film could be used to cross-promote a PS3 version of Vesperia. We don't know about that, but Namco Bandai did eventually take its Xbox 360 exclusive, Eternal Sonata, to the PS3.

Famitsu: Only one Xbox 360 game made Japan's Top 100 in sales

by Xav de Matos { Jan 21st 2009 at 7:00PM }

According to a Japan sales chart compiled by Famitsu, only one Xbox 360 game carried enough weight to be named a top seller in 2008, out of 100 titles. Capturing the 82nd slot was Namco Bandai's Tales of Vesperia, a real-time role-playing game and latest entry from the famed fourteen-year-old franchise, apparently only selling 161,070 units since it released in early August. As expected, Nintendo topped the list with 47 DS titles and 15 Wii titles in the region. One out of 100? We guess that is what you'd call progress. Right? Then again, no. No, it isn't.

[via Kotaku]

Microsoft pushing for 1 million 360s in Japan

by Richard Mitchell { Sep 23rd 2008 at 4:30PM }

With Japanese Xbox 360 sales recently reinvigorated, even outselling the Wii -- or coming damned close, depending on who you believe -- Microsoft is keen to keep up the momentum. Speaking to Edge, Xbox Japan head Takashi Sensui noted the sales boost, saying "[Microsoft needs] to make the strengthening of our RPG lineup a priority." In addition Sensui said that Microsoft is working to keep 360 supplies up in the region, no doubt referring to Japan's retailers exhausting the country's entire supply of 360 consoles following the debut of Tales of Vesperia. The next goal for Microsoft is to break the 1 million unit mark, a goal it's close to reaching with recent sales estimates hovering at nearly 720,000. Sensui is hopeful about the 360's prospects, saying "we believe that Japanese consumers will see what we have to offer and agree that is is the best option available."

With some big name RPGs on the way -- such as Star Ocean: The Last Hope (above) -- and the Tokyo Game Show taking place next month, we're sure we'll be getting an earful of Microsoft's strategy for Japan in the coming weeks.

Infinite Undiscovery, price cut help Xbox 360 outsell Wii in Japan

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 17th 2008 at 11:45AM }

It wasn't so frightening when the Xbox 360 outsold the PS3 for a week back when Tales of Vesperia came out, but now that it's sold more than the Wii during the week ending Sept. 14 ... well, now we're stricken with panic. According to Enterbrain, the Xbox 360 sold 28,861 units during the week, while the Wii sold 27,057 (the PS3 managed 8,050).

Xbox 360 sales were more than likely spurred by the one-two punch of a Japanese price cut and the release of console-exclusive Infinite Undiscovery, which sold 86,708 units in its first week. MCV points out that the 360 has now sold 717,275 units in Japan -- the very foundations of our world would be shaken if it actually went on to sell a million units.

Gallery: Infinite Undiscovery

Shipping This Week: Crashing edition

by Richard Mitchell { Aug 25th 2008 at 2:30PM }

There are two really notable things about the games releasing this week. One, you may recall that Tales of Vesperia was the game that single-handedly caused the Xbox 360 to sell out completely in Japan. Somehow, we doubt the game will have quite the same impact in North America (regardless of its quality). Two, after over two frakking years, Castle Crashers is finally landing on Xbox Live Arcade. Our anticipation around here is palpable. Perhaps you've noticed. Also releasing this week is Tiger Woods 09. We're not sure exactly what's notable aboout that unless, of course, the Jesus shot makes a return.

[Via Joystiq]

New games this week: Tales of Vesperia edition

by Justin McElroy { Aug 25th 2008 at 8:00AM }

We had a little trouble picking our favorite release this week. Though Mario Super Sluggers made a compelling case, in the end, we had to go with the little game that helped the 360 rise, phoenix-like from the ashes in Japan (before, you know, it dug right back in to those comfy ashes the following week): Tales of Vesperia.

Portable players get some good news this week too with the handheld release of N+. Check the full list right after the break.

Gallery: Tales of Vesperia

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Japanese Xbox 360 sales fall back to Earth

by Kyle Orland { Aug 22nd 2008 at 10:30AM }

Well that was fast. It seems like just last week we were reporting the bizarre news that the Xbox 360 had suddenly leapfrogged the PS3 in weekly Japanese sales, selling nearly 25,000 units on the strength of Tales of Vesperia's release. Things are back to normal this week, though, with Microsoft's system once again sitting comfortably in last place with 7,258 units sold. Don't get us wrong, this is still a relatively strong number considering the system's historically low sales and reportedly widespread supply problems in Japan. But anyone hoping that last week's numbers were a sign of a permanent realignment in the Japanese console market might want to return to reality's cold embrace.

Xbox 360 sold out in Japan

by James Ransom-Wiley { Aug 20th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Go ahead, rub your eyes and read the headline again. The Japanese are so gaga over Tales of Vesperia that they've gone and bought up every last Xbox 360, Engadget Japanese's Ittousai reports to Joystiq. Sold out!

Granted, Microsoft isn't exactly pumping units into Japan, but even this sudden surge in demand has knocked the console manufacturer square off its feet. A statement on the Japanese Xbox.com (clumsy translation) explains that new shipments of the standard model won't arrive at retail until September, followed by shipments of the Elite and Arcade SKUs sometime later. But by then, pigs may have landed and Hell could be all thawed out.

[Via Engadget Japanese; Thanks Ittousai!]