All right, Monster Hunter 3. You got us. We are officially enchanted.This Claymation-style trailer, introducing the new "Chacha" creature, is one of the cutest things we've seen in some time, and definitely the cutest thing we've seen in a long time about hunting and killing large animals.

Apparently, just like in the video, the Chacha will follow you underwater, and has a special "dance" attack. In the video, the "dance" appeared to summon a large monster, but we aren't sure if that's what it really does in-game.

As much as we enjoy looking at this Monster Hunter stuff, we must still note that the game hasn't been officially dated for North America yet. Please, Capcom? And if it wouldn't be too much trouble, we'd like it in bundle form as well. Thanks!

Not only will a new black Wii be out in Japan this summer, prospective owners will have the option of buying it in a bundle with what will undoubtedly be 2009's biggest game for that region: Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 (Tri).

The Monster Hunter 3 bundle will be released on August 1, concurrent with the standalone version of the game, and will include the game, a black system, and a black Classic Controller Pro for 33,000 yen ($342). In addition, a black version of the MH3/Classic Controller Pro bundle will be sold for 8,490 yen ($88).

Despite the fact that the red DSi is coming out on the same day as Dragon Quest IX, no bundle has been announced for that yet.

[Via GAME Watch]

With Monster Hunter 3 (tri) now officially dated for Japan, it's time for Capcom to step up the hype even more than it already has. Will Monster Hunter be able to turn the Wii's slowdown around? Only if enough people see this new trailer. The trailer looks really good, is what we're saying.

It's not too much of a departure from previous Monster Hunters, but a new, nice-looking series entry, with new controls, new monsters, and new locations, is more than enough for obsessed fans. Check GAME Watch for some pictures of the limited-edition bundle (the one with the DVD, not the one with the Classic Controller Pro), to facilitate your coveting of the rather fancy box it comes in.

This week's Famitsu magazine reveals the Japanese release date for Monster Hunter 3 (tri-): August 1. Capcom is graciously offering fans three different ways to blow a bunch of money on the game -- in addition to the standalone game, two separate limited-edition bundles will be released.

A Classic Controller Pro package, containing the game and Nintendo's new controller, will be available for ¥8,490 ($88), and a Limited Edition pack, containing the game, a "making-of DVD" and other unspecified extras will retail for ¥9,440 ($98). The Famitsu article also shows the silhouette of a "Monster Head Figure" to be handed out as a bonus with early copies of the game.

[Image via Wii Everyday]

Those who took the time to dig through Capcom's most recent statistic-filled investor briefing for the upcoming fiscal year could find two interesting nuggets therein. The first, and most savory of these nuggets was a release date chart which revealed Capcom's plans to bring its upcoming pelt collecting action-RPG Monster Hunter 3 (Tri-) to the U.S. and Europe some time during this fiscal year. For those who slept through Econ 101, that means it should be in your hot little hands before next April Fools' Day.

The second interesting bit was the revelation that Capcom is currently working on nine Wii titles to release in the current fiscal year. We know about six of them: Monster Hunter G (which dropped last month), Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Resident Evil Archives, Resident Evil Zero Archives, Spyborgs, and now, Monster Hunter 3. What could the other three titles be? Further reboots of old series? Another Archived Resident Evil? Brand new franchises? We may never know. No, wait -- yes, we will. Sorry about that.

If one were to draw an analogy between the North American announcement of Monster Hunter 3 (tri-) and the birth of a baby, one would say the game's been crowning for months now. In February, it was mentioned in the same breath as the North American market by Capcom, and now it's shown up on the company's press page alongside other TBA titles like Dark Void and Dead Rising 2.

Now, Capcom, would you please just announce the thing already so we can decide what color we're painting the nursery?

[Via Siliconera]

YouTube user laucc001 somehow got an early copy of the Japanese Wii port of Monster Hunter G, which happens to include a demo for the upcoming Monster Hunter 3. He set to work immediately recording over ten minutes of gameplay! Thanks to his work, we can now at least see the Monster Hunter 3 demo, which is after the break.

It's a bit lacking in visual quality due to the off-screen recording. It's also a bit lacking in player proficiency -- the title of the video features the explanation "Yes, I'm Sucks :P" and laucc001 offers a similar sentiment in the video description in English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese. Despite the slight awkwardness, the video is worth watching if only for the giant sword. Seriously, it's like he's swinging an airplane wing around.

Capcom isn't content with the five gazillion dollars of money it's made with the Monster Hunter series in Japan so far. No, the company is looking to make American gamers follow suit by turning the multiplayer RPG to the gaming equivalent of crack cocaine. Speaking to MCV, Capcom's Ryozo Tsujimoto admitted there has been a serious lack of marketing for the Monster Hunter games. This will be rectified for the upcoming PSP release, dubbed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite. "This time we're taking things far more seriously in terms of the promotion," Tsujimoto said. "The first step is to actually get the game noticed. No one here knows what the game is so we just need to spread the name of Monster Hunter."

A lengthy new trailer (seen after the break) may be the first step in a long campaign to raise awareness with the English speaking community. If Capcom can get the buzz flowing around Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, we may see an even bigger push for the Wii-exclusive Monster Hunter 3.

Capcom's Japan-only Wii port of the PS2 Monster Hunter G adds two significant features: online multiplayer and a fee for online multiplayer. The company announced the fee structure today at an event celebrating the fifth anniversary of the Monster Hunter series.

For 800 Wii Points, players will get a 30 day subscription. 1,500 Wii Points provides access to Network Mode for 60 days, and a 90 day subscription costs 2,000 Wii Points. Each game comes with a 14-day free trial.

Why are the fees for a Japanese game that isn't being localized significant to us? Because this is most likely a preview of the pricing scheme for online play in Monster Hunter 3, which is being released worldwide.
Update: commenters are pointing out that Monster Hunter games have always been fee-based in Japan, but not the US. That puts the situation regarding Monster Hunter 3 right back up in the air. It doesn't change anything for G, of course, which is not leaving Japan.

[Via Siliconera]

Monster Hunter 3 is coming to North America and Europe, according to a statement from Capcom in its 3rd quarter financial results conference call Q&A (PDF link).

"One of our leading titles is "Monster Hunter 3 (tri-)," Capcom said, addressing a question about its region-specific plans. "If we can gain recognition of this product in the European and North American markets, our market strategy will see a noticeable change."

Of course, if Capcom is hoping to gain recognition in those markets, then it plans to release the game in those markets. We had always kind of assumed it was coming, just because it's achieved such massive buzz in Japan, and because Capcom is starting to show an interest in localizing Monster Hunter games again with Freedom Unite on PSP. But it's nice to have an official statement!

Capcom announced a release window for Monster Hunter 3 yesterday at the Capcom/Pasela "Hunter's Banquet G" event in Tokyo. The multiplayer action RPG, which drew epic lines at the Tokyo Game Show, will be released this summer. Famitsu promises a full report of the event upcoming, but this is likely to be the biggest news out of it!

We assumed that MH3 wouldn't be released until some time after April, because Capcom is including a demo with Monster Hunter G, which comes out April 23. We're surprised that Capcom isn't holding this back until the fall, since this is likely to be the company's (or anybody's) biggest release of the year.

[Via IGN]

We've been looking at screens of the ported Monster Hunter G lately, so to return to Monster Hunter 3, which is already one of the best-looking Wii games, is dramatic. Capcom's use of all kinds of crazy lighting in the sequel is effective, giving the action RPG a "next gen" feel. Really, they could make the whole thing in the ugly old Monster Hunter G engine and still sell millions of copies.

The latest screens introduce a weird locale that appears to be somehow part desert and part swamp, full of nests of giant, monstrous insects, and home to this guy. This dragon, called "Boruboros" (probably "Volvolos" or something in English) comes out of a big mud pit and attacks with his giant, hard head.

[Update: for those of you lusting after the game or (more likely) the controller, Capcom's Christian Svensson has announced that there will be no US release for either. "Sorry. :(" Thanks to Samfish for pointing this out!]

For such a lazily-developed game, Capcom is putting significant resources into the Wii port of Monster Hunter G. In order to get around the Classic Controller requirement (and promote sales, of course), they've announced a Monster Hunter G Starter Pack bundle featuring this awesome blue, dragon-adorned (but not Blue Dragon-adorned) Classic Controller. This is, as far as we know, just the second special-edition (Nintendo brand) Wii controller -- the first was also a Classic Controller, specifically the Club Nintendo Super Famicom Classic Controller. This is also the first official Wii controller to be released in a color other than white. In other words: a big deal. And it's so cool-looking!

The Starter Pack will retail for 5,240 yen ($59) when it is released in Japan on April 23. Both this release and the game-only release of Monster Hunter G (3,990 yen, or $45) will include a demo of Monster Hunter 3. And just like that, Monster Hunter G has become a guaranteed bestseller.

No, this is not a hyperviolent sequel to Endless Ocean (though that might be kind of awesome, until PETA got wind of it and freaked out), but rather a little underwater adventuring -- or hunting, if you will -- in Monster Hunter 3 (tri-).

In these latest screens, our dear Hunter is faced with an underwater beast of epic proportions that might just be a very large, distant, and pissed-off cousin to the electric eel. There's lightning, anyway. And teeth. Big, sharp, point teeth.

Just how lazy is Capcom's port of Monster Hunter G? Pretty dang lazy, according to the official website, which just opened. While the new Monster Hunter 3 tri- offers multiple control schemes that allow use of Wiimote/Nunchuk motion controls or a traditional-style Classic Controller layout (as well as multiple variations on "three" in the title), the newly-announced Wii version of the PS2/PSP Monster Hunter G only works with Classic Controllers. At least it also has four-player online play. Chances are, most people won't miss the waggle. Or they could get Monster Hunter 3 and not really miss out on anything.

Speaking of Monster Hunter 3, do check out that game's website for new monster renders.



[Via NeoGAF]