Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Nab Ni No Kuni for $40]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/nab-ni-no-kuni-for-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/nab-ni-no-kuni-for-40/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/04/08/nab-ni-no-kuni-for-40/#comments A couple of retailers are offering Ni No Kuni at a hefty discount. Amazon has the wonderful RPG down to a mere $40. If you like your shopping a bit more up close and personal, Target has it available for the same price in-store. That's like ... 80 cents an hour.

JoystiqNab Ni No Kuni for $40 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliMon, 08 Apr 2013 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco brings more Ni no Kuni stock to the UK following sellouts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/namco-brings-more-ni-no-kuni-stock-to-the-uk-following-sellouts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/namco-brings-more-ni-no-kuni-stock-to-the-uk-following-sellouts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/06/namco-brings-more-ni-no-kuni-stock-to-the-uk-following-sellouts/#comments Namco Bandai assured us it's making available more, limited stock of Ni no Kuni to the UK's leading retailers this week following widespread reports of it selling out across the country.

The Level-5 and Studio Ghibli PS3 game was the surprise leader of this week's UK charts, becoming the first JRPG outside of Final Fantasy or Pokémon entries to grab top spot in the last ten years.

JoystiqNamco brings more Ni no Kuni stock to the UK following sellouts originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 06 Feb 2013 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliukWed, 06 Feb 2013 07:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni casts a spell on the UK charts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ni-no-kuni-casts-an-historic-spell-on-the-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ni-no-kuni-casts-an-historic-spell-on-the-uk-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/04/ni-no-kuni-casts-an-historic-spell-on-the-uk-charts/#comments

Hang on, is that a Japanese role-playing game at the top of the UK charts that doesn't have the words 'Final,' 'Fantasy,' or 'Pokémon' in its name? No, that doesn't sound right...

Well, pierce me a lantern and call me Mr Drippy, because the PS3-exclusive Ni no Kuni is indeed this week's best-selling game in the UK. To give you an idea of just how surprising this is, you have to go back almost exactly a year for the last JRPG to take top spot in Her Majesty's kingdom, and that was Final Fantasy 13-2. And here's an even more staggering stat for you: by Chart-Track's data there isn't another clear-cut example of a chart-topping JRPG that's not a Final Fantasy or Pokémon game in the last decade. Bam! Have a new trailer to commemorate the feat.

Ni no Kuni's impressive ascent pushed Black Ops 2 down to third, while DmC: Devil May Cry fell out of the top ten altogether after just two weeks, down now in 11th. The other new entry in the top ten is the Hitman: HD Trilogy, which debuted at fifth.

Continue reading Ni no Kuni casts a spell on the UK charts

JoystiqNi no Kuni casts a spell on the UK charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 04 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chart-trackchart-track-weeklychartshitman-hd-trilogymicrosoftni-no-kuninintendopcplaystationps3ukwii-uxboxMon, 04 Feb 2013 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Ni No Kuni familiar Draggle makes eyes at North America Feb. 12]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/free-ni-no-kuni-familiar-draggle-makes-eyes-at-north-america-feb/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/free-ni-no-kuni-familiar-draggle-makes-eyes-at-north-america-feb/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/02/free-ni-no-kuni-familiar-draggle-makes-eyes-at-north-america-feb/#comments Free Ni No Kuni familiar Draggle makes eyes at North America Feb 12In Europe, a free Ni No Kuni familiar - they're essentially monsters you defeat, recruit and then train to fight for you - has been available for download. On February 12, Namco Bandai will extend the gesture to North America and offer the same critter, named Draggle, as a free download.

Draggle is a plump little domesticated dragon said to have "downright adorable eyes" that families looking for a pet seem to favor - at least, so says the little guy's PSN page. In Europe, Draggle was offered gratis alongside Golden Hurly, though it would appear Namco Bandai has no intention of giving us the latter.

Continue reading Free Ni No Kuni familiar Draggle makes eyes at North America Feb. 12

JoystiqFree Ni No Kuni familiar Draggle makes eyes at North America Feb. 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dlcdragglelevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3Sat, 02 Feb 2013 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni PSN EU download not working, being republished]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/ni-no-kuni-psn-eu-download-not-working-being-republished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/ni-no-kuni-psn-eu-download-not-working-being-republished/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/02/01/ni-no-kuni-psn-eu-download-not-working-being-republished/#comments Ni No Kuni PSN EU downloads not working, preorders unfulfilled European PS3 owners who pre-ordered Ni no Kuni on PSN are still waiting for the game following download issues. Although the game, out today in Europe and Australasia, can be downloaded, when you try to play it a message appears saying it isn't installed properly. PlayStation Europe says it's republishing the game onto PSN now, and hopes to complete the process by afternoon time over there.

The PSN issues in Europe follow the debacle on the US side with pre-orders of the Wizard's Edition, which left many customers with cancellations. The issues threaten to overshadow what's generally been a very well received game, one which we doled out four and a half stars to in our review. We felt the Studio Ghilbi and Level-5 collaboration is what made the game tick, saying that "one without the other might have been good, but together they've created a superb role-playing game for this generation to savor."

JoystiqNi no Kuni PSN EU download not working, being republished originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>downloadeuropeissueslevel-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3PSNstudio-ghibliFri, 01 Feb 2013 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai denies collusion with eBay reseller amid Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition shortage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/namco-bandai-denies-collusion-with-ebay-reseller-amid-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/namco-bandai-denies-collusion-with-ebay-reseller-amid-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/26/namco-bandai-denies-collusion-with-ebay-reseller-amid-ni-no-kuni/#comments After some orders for the Wizard's Edition of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch started being mysteriously cancelled, Namco Bandai stepped forward to clarify that the special edition had been oversold, that the issue was caused by an error in its e-commerce provider's software and that said provider would be in touch to work things out.

Shortly thereafter, Wizard's Editions were found on PlayCanada's eBay store, marked up to an astronomical $400 each. The Internet, being the Internet, quickly jumped to the conclusion that Namco Bandai and/or Digital River had entered into a clandestine agreement with PlayCanada, removing inventory from its official site in order to maximize profits through an eBay scalper.

"NAMCO BANDAI Games America is not, nor has it ever, worked with or in conjunction with the EBay seller known as 'PlayCanada' to sell units of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - Wizard's Edition at a price premium on EBay," Namco Bandai has told us.

"According to our records, this individual or group of individuals purchased Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - Wizard's Edition during the NinoStarter promotion period (August 2012); at which time, no limits were placed on how many units an individual could order. PlayCanada's claims that they officially worked with NAMCO BANDAI Games America to obtain their stock is entirely false."

Namco Bandai is still attempting to make it up to fans who pre-ordered the Wizard's Edition and aren't going to receive one; every affected person will receive a 400-page hardbound strategy guide that includes a code for an in-game "Gold Hurly Familiar," as well as a $20 clubNamco voucher.

JoystiqNamco Bandai denies collusion with eBay reseller amid Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition shortage originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>collectors-editionDigital-riverDLCebayLevel-5Namco-Bandaini-no-kunininostarterout-of-stockoversoldplaycanadaplaystationps3strategy-guidewizards-editionSat, 26 Jan 2013 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni Wizard's Edition oversold, some orders being canceled]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-oversold-some-orders-being-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-oversold-some-orders-being-canceled/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-oversold-some-orders-being-canceled/#comments The special "Wizard's Edition" of Level 5's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, available exclusively through Namco Bandai's online shop, has been oversold, resulting in a multitude of issues for those that placed orders while the package was supposedly still in stock.

Digital River, the e-commerce middleware provider that powers Namco Bandai's shop, experienced an error in its ordering system that resulted in the Wizard's Edition's erroneous post-sellout availability. As a result, some orders have simply seen shipping delays, while others have seemingly failed to process at all or have been cancelled entirely. The number of non-existent packages sold is unknown.

"If your order(s) has been cancelled, we will be reaching out to you by email with additional information as soon as possible," an official update reads. Affected customers that feel proactive about resolving their issue can also contact Digital River directly by emailing namcobandai.en.cs@digitalriver.com, or by calling 952-392-2057.

It's also worth mentioning that while Digital River says it will be addressing the issues of everyone affected, the update does not go into detail about what that resolution may look like. To be on the safe side, we recommend tempering your expectations towards a refund and an apology.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

JoystiqNi no Kuni Wizard's Edition oversold, some orders being canceled originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cancellationcancelled-ordersdelayDigital-rivererrorLevel-5Namco-Bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3Studio-Ghibliwizards-editionThu, 24 Jan 2013 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Ni no Kuni]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/metareview-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/metareview-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/24/metareview-ni-no-kuni/#comments
Level-5's Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch delivers that Studio Ghibli (Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) animation charm like it's tapped into a fascination factory. Reviewers were pulled into the game by its engrossing world, but the gameplay they found there is where things begin to vary.
  • IGN (94/100): "I wanted it to keep going. That's because Ni No Kuni is just that special, and every RPG fan owes it to him or herself to pick it up and see why."
  • Gamespot (90/100): "Ni no Kuni proudly joins that elite group of games providing such an enticing world that you can't imagine never having visited it. The only problem, of course, is that you may never want to leave."
  • Eurogamer (90/100): "Ni no Kuni is rich yet breezy, classic yet modern, exquisitely made and completely sure of itself. Best of all, Level-5 and Ghibli's artists have worked together to create a gorgeous adventure that feels like it belongs to both of them."
  • Game Informer (70/100): "Despite the adrenaline-pumping intensity, the battle system has its frustrations. Sometimes the window to defend passes far too quickly. Not only must you select defend for your character, you must also order the sub-par AI companions to protect themselves as well."
  • Polygon (65/100): "I was charmed, but always by stuff surrounding the gameplay - never by the gameplay itself. Level-5 hasn't created a bad game but an inconsistent one that doesn't seem to understand its own strengths and weaknesses. The flashy look and cheerful tone will pull some people through, but at its core, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is missing a chunk of its heart that's hard to ignore. "

JoystiqMetareview: Ni no Kuni originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Level-5Metareviewmetareviewsni-no-kuniplaystationps3Studio-GhibliThu, 24 Jan 2013 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni No Kuni review: Fairy tale wedding]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/ni-no-kuni-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/ni-no-kuni-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/23/ni-no-kuni-review/#comments Ni No Kuni reviewYou know the phrase "You should never judge a JRPG by its authentic adaptation of a cherished animation studio's art style?" Well, that happens to apply to Level-5 and Studio Ghibli's Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, in a good way. It's like a computer made entirely out of triple chocolate; the sweet Ghibli coating is as inviting as it is generous, but it distracts from the magnitude of something that works when it probably shouldn't.

Ni No Kuni's combat, its all-important core, is an ambitious fusion of elements from many different walks of Japanese role-playing games, and in particular Pokémon. On paper it's a muddle of methods, but on screen it is the game's enduring component, and frankly a bit of a triumph. It is also what best exemplifies Ni No Kuni: a marriage of styles with a very happy ending.

Gallery: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (1/21/13)

Continue reading Ni No Kuni review: Fairy tale wedding

JoystiqNi No Kuni review: Fairy tale wedding originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ni-no-kuniplaystationps3Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Tuesday: Ni No Kuni, The Cave, Dust 514 open beta]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/psn-tuesday-ni-no-kuni-the-cave-dust-514-open-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/psn-tuesday-ni-no-kuni-the-cave-dust-514-open-beta/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/22/psn-tuesday-ni-no-kuni-the-cave-dust-514-open-beta/#comments This week's PSN content dump is live, headlined by Studio Ghibli and Level-5's joint JRPG, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. The other big new game is Double Fine Production's The Cave, the adventure game helmed by none other than iconic video game designer Ron Gilbert.

Today also kicks off the open beta for Dust 514, the massively-multiplayer online shooter from CCP Games. PS Plus subscribers have a slew of discounts to consider, like NiGHTS into Dreams, The Unfinished Swan, Psychonauts and more. The full list of this week's content can be found over on the PlayStation Blog.

JoystiqPSN Tuesday: Ni No Kuni, The Cave, Dust 514 open beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Jan 2013 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dust-514dust-514-betani-no-kuniplaystationplaystation-vitaps3psn-tuesdaypspsonythe-cavevitaTue, 22 Jan 2013 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the Music: Ni no Kuni]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/behind-the-music-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/behind-the-music-ni-no-kuni/http://www.joystiq.com/2013/01/09/behind-the-music-ni-no-kuni/#comments
Ni no Kuni doesn't just have genuine Studio Ghibli visuals. With an original score by composer Joe Hisaishi, it also has genuine Studio Ghibli music. Here, Hisaishi discusses the "elegance" he tried to bring to its music, and goes into surprising depth about his process.

JoystiqBehind the Music: Ni no Kuni originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>joe-hisaishini-no-kuniplaystationps3Wed, 09 Jan 2013 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes of Ni No Kuni's art style]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-art-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-art-style/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/29/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-art-style/#comments
This latest development diary for Ni No Kuni focuses on the game's art style, pioneered by world renowned Japanese animation company Studio Ghibli. As you might expect, literally every single thing about Ghibli's creative process is completely adorable, even the old dudes. Especially the old dudes.

JoystiqBehind the scenes of Ni No Kuni's art style originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Dec 2012 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesdev-diaryLevel-5Namco-Bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3Studio-GhibliSat, 29 Dec 2012 22:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Heartbreaking beauty of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/heartbreaking-beauty-of-ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/heartbreaking-beauty-of-ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/12/heartbreaking-beauty-of-ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch/#comments Ni No Kuni preview More than just a Ghibli faceThe visual quality of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is so impressive, the upcoming PlayStation 3 role-playing game often resembles an interactive Studio Ghibli movie. No matter your angle, Ni No Kuni is bright, beguiling, and beautiful - even in the face of disparities between its animated cutscenes and in-game action.

Given the storytelling pedigree of co-developers Studio Ghibli and Level-5 - and the latter's prowess in the role-playing game genre - my hope was Ni No Kuni can be as enchanting as Spirited Away, yet underlined by the kind of design that makes Dark Cloud 2 so deep.

Based on my brief experience with the final build, there's legitimate cause for optimism; however, concerns remain. There are, at the very least, the seeds of curiosity in Ni No Kuni.

Continue reading Heartbreaking beauty of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

JoystiqHeartbreaking beauty of Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationpreviewps3studio-ghibliWed, 12 Dec 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Behind the scenes of Ni no Kuni's development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/05/behind-the-scenes-of-ni-no-kunis-development/#comments
In this video, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino guides you through the company's Fukuoka headquarters, to show where and how Ni no Kuni acquired its beautiful look. At least part of that look comes from the motion capture studio, with the help of a fake book and wand.

JoystiqBehind the scenes of Ni no Kuni's development originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3Wed, 05 Dec 2012 18:15:00 EST<![CDATA[PSN Tuesday: Mass Effect, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, Ni no Kuni demo]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/psn-tuesday-mass-effect-uncharted-fight-for-fortune-ni-no-ku/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/psn-tuesday-mass-effect-uncharted-fight-for-fortune-ni-no-ku/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/04/psn-tuesday-mass-effect-uncharted-fight-for-fortune-ni-no-ku/#comments This week marks the debut of the original Mass Effect on the PS3, available as either a standalone purchase of $15 through PSN or as part of the Mass Effect Trilogy package. If free is more your speed, you can grab demos for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, Guardians of Middle Earth and LBP Karting.

On the PS Vita, treasure hunting transitions to trading cards in Uncharted: Fight for Fortune. PS Plus members can snag a free copy of BioShock 2 and enjoy discounts on Puddle, Rockstar Games Collection 1 and more. For the full list of this week's content, hit up the PlayStation Blog through the source link below.

JoystiqPSN Tuesday: Mass Effect, Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, Ni no Kuni demo originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Dec 2012 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaremass-effectmass-effect-trilogyni-no-kuniplaystationplaystation-networkplaystation-plusplaystation-vitaps-plusps3psnpsn-tuesdaypspsonyuncharted-fight-for-fortunevitaTue, 04 Dec 2012 20:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni demo on PSN tomorrow]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/ni-no-kuni-demo-on-psn-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/ni-no-kuni-demo-on-psn-tomorrow/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/12/03/ni-no-kuni-demo-on-psn-tomorrow/#comments You'll be able to take your first tentative steps into a new, animated world tomorrow. A demo for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will be released on PSN in North America tomorrow, along with the Mass Effect Trilogy, the PS2 classic Chulip and a lot of other assorted stuff. The demo arrives in Europe on Wednesday.

Ni no Kuni will be released in full on January 22.

JoystiqNi no Kuni demo on PSN tomorrow originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>demoni-no-kuniplaystationps3psnMon, 03 Dec 2012 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Level-5's Hino wants to adapt Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5s-hino-wants-to-adapt-studio-ghiblis-castle-in-the-sky/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5s-hino-wants-to-adapt-studio-ghiblis-castle-in-the-sky/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5s-hino-wants-to-adapt-studio-ghiblis-castle-in-the-sky/#comments Level 5's Hino wants to work with Studio Ghibli again, would like to adapt Castle in the SkyNi No Kuni is the first collaboration between Level-5 and Japan's famous Studio Ghibli, and Level 5 CEO Akihiro Hino hopes it won't be the last. Speaking during a group interview session at a pre-TGS event at Namco's headquarters in Tokyo, Hino noted that he'd like to work with Studio Ghibli again. "If there is a potential opportunity to work with them again," he said, through an interpreter, "yes, we'd like to work on some joint projects with them in the future - if there is, of course, a possibility."

Concerning exactly what sort of project he'd like to pursue, we asked if Level 5 has had any discussions about adapting existing Studio Ghibli properties into video games. Hino said that he would love to but, naturally, Ghibli would have to approve any such projects. Corporate approvals aren't a very entertaining topic of conversation though, so we just went ahead and asked which Studio Ghibli film he would like to adapt. Given the opportunity, he said, he would adapt Castle in the Sky.

That strange rustling you just heard was the sound of millions of fingers being crossed.

JoystiqLevel-5's Hino wants to adapt Studio Ghibli's Castle in the Sky originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akihiro-hinolevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghiblitgs-2012Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Level-5 International America would like to develop games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5-international-america-would-like-to-develop-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5-international-america-would-like-to-develop-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/20/level-5-international-america-would-like-to-develop-games/#comments Level5Level-5's mysterious "International America" branch is working on the localization for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, CEO Akihiro Hino tells Siliconera. That kind of thing is the office's responsibility for the time being. "Our US office mainly works to efficiently release the Japanese titles that Level-5 has created overseas and they are involved in production and distribution in the overseas territories," Hino said.

However, there's more in mind than localization for Level-5 IA. "In the future, we would potentially like to develop title overseas where Level-5 International America is taking the lead on developing for the overseas market," he says. Of course, with games like the Layton series, Level-5 already seems to have a decent handle on the overseas market.

JoystiqLevel-5 International America would like to develop games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Akihiro-Hinolevel-5Level-5-International-Americani-no-kuniplaystationps3Thu, 20 Sep 2012 05:00:00 EST<![CDATA[15 minutes of Ni no Kuni footage straight from Gamescom (bonus: British hosts!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/heres-15-minutes-of-ni-no-kuni-footage-straight-from-gamescom/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/heres-15-minutes-of-ni-no-kuni-footage-straight-from-gamescom/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/22/heres-15-minutes-of-ni-no-kuni-footage-straight-from-gamescom/#comments
The Gamescom demo of Ni no Kuni was hands-on and, as expected, full of adorable moments. GameSpot UK's editor supreme Guy Cocker narrates the proceedings alongside Namco's Hollie Bennett, which can be seen above.

Joystiq15 minutes of Ni no Kuni footage straight from Gamescom (bonus: British hosts!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameplaygamescom-2012namconamco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliWed, 22 Aug 2012 12:40:00 EST<![CDATA[New Ni no Kuni screens, and a Ninostarter update]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/new-ni-no-kuni-screens-and-a-ninostarter-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/new-ni-no-kuni-screens-and-a-ninostarter-update/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/18/new-ni-no-kuni-screens-and-a-ninostarter-update/#comments
A set of new Gamescom screens for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch provides the perfect reason to check in on the "Ninostarter" pre-order campaign.

With 12 days left, enough fans have pre-ordered the special "Wizard's Edition" to unlock one bonus item, a set of five prints. The second item is a gold "Wizard's Coin," which has 24% of its allotted pre-order numbers. You have until August 31 to throw your pre-order in and get the game, the book, the prints, and possibly that coin.

Gallery: Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Gamescom 2012)

JoystiqNew Ni no Kuni screens, and a Ninostarter update originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gamescom-2012ni-no-kuniplaystationps3Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Pre-order Ni no Kuni to meet the Griffy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/pre-order-ni-no-kuni-to-meet-the-griffy/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/pre-order-ni-no-kuni-to-meet-the-griffy/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/03/pre-order-ni-no-kuni-to-meet-the-griffy/#comments Preorder Ni no Kuni to meet the GriffyIf you're not buying the lavish Wizard's Edition of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, you still have the option to get some extra stuff with your purchase. Namco Bandai revealed two pre-order incentives today for different stores, one physical and one digital.

If you reserve Ni no Kuni at GameStop or (in Canada) EB Games, you can get a SteelBook case for the Level-5/Studio Ghibli RPG. If you opt for Amazon, you'll get a "griffy" familiar, exclusive to the Western release. We're just going to leave this sentence here: "With its fearsome Phantom Fangs and its potent Petrifying Puff, this creature is not to be trifled with, especially when it evolves into its most lethal forms, the griffurnace or the griffrigerator."

You can see the steelbook - and the griffy - in our gallery.

Gallery: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (8/3/12)

Continue reading Pre-order Ni no Kuni to meet the Griffy

JoystiqPre-order Ni no Kuni to meet the Griffy originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazongamestopgriffrigeratorNamco-Bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3Fri, 03 Aug 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni pre-order program plays on Kickstarter concept to hand out more stuff]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/ni-no-kuni-pre-order-program-plays-on-kickstarter-concept-to-han/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/ni-no-kuni-pre-order-program-plays-on-kickstarter-concept-to-han/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/07/19/ni-no-kuni-pre-order-program-plays-on-kickstarter-concept-to-han/#comments Ni No Kuni special edition gets even specialer as more people preorderThe "Wizard's Edition" of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is already pretty tempting for those already interested in the game, with its inclusion of a translated, physical "Wizard's Companion" spellbook, but Namco is hoping to tempt fans further with additional incentives that increase in number with additional Wizard's Edition preorders.

It's an adorable take on (part of) the Kickstarter concept called "Ninostarter," in which Namco will add more items to the Wizard's Edition as more people pre-order it from Club Namco. You can track the progress of each "goal" at the Ninostarter website. The promotion (and Wizard's Edition pre-orders) will end August 31.

Continue reading Ni no Kuni pre-order program plays on Kickstarter concept to hand out more stuff

JoystiqNi no Kuni pre-order program plays on Kickstarter concept to hand out more stuff originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ni-no-kunininostarterplaystationpre-orderps3Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai conjures a Ni no Kuni 'Wizard's Edition' [update: America too]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/namco-bandai-conjures-a-ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-for-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/namco-bandai-conjures-a-ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-for-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/29/namco-bandai-conjures-a-ni-no-kuni-wizards-edition-for-europe/#comments Ni no Kuni's fancy European collector's editionIf your European copy of Ni no Kuni is bigger and more expensive than normal ... a wizard did it. Namco Bandai has announced a "Wizard's Edition" of the Level-5 RPG that includes a copy of The Wizard's Companion, the in-game spellbook. It also comes with a plus doll of "Drippy," the lamp-nosed sidekick, and some DLC familiars for use in the game.

The Wizard's Edition will be out in EMEA and Australian regions concurrent with the game, on January 25. Now, with the book translated, there's nothing holding back a localization of Ni no Kuni for DS ... right?

Update: The Wizard's Edition is available in North America, exclusively from Namco's online shop for $99.99. [Thanks, Sepehr!]

Continue reading Namco Bandai conjures a Ni no Kuni 'Wizard's Edition' [update: America too]

JoystiqNamco Bandai conjures a Ni no Kuni 'Wizard's Edition' [update: America too] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europelevel-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3wizards-editionFri, 29 Jun 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni goes from another world to ours on January 22]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/ni-no-kuni-goes-from-another-world-to-ours-january-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/ni-no-kuni-goes-from-another-world-to-ours-january-22/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/06/01/ni-no-kuni-goes-from-another-world-to-ours-january-22/#comments
The latest trailer for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, posted by IGN, ends on the news that it'll be released in North America on January 22, 2012. Namco told Eurogamer that the UK date for the Level-5/Studio Ghibli PS3 game is January 25.

The trailer also provides additional exposure to the English voice acting, which we declare "not bad." Should you disagree, however, take comfort in the knowledge that the Japanese track will also be on the disc.

JoystiqNi no Kuni goes from another world to ours on January 22 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>namconamco-bandainamco-bandai-europeni-no-kuniplaystationps3q1-2013release-dateFri, 01 Jun 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Good morning! Here's a bunch of gorgeous Ni no Kuni screens]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/good-morning-heres-a-bunch-of-gorgeous-ni-no-kuni-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/good-morning-heres-a-bunch-of-gorgeous-ni-no-kuni-screens/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/19/good-morning-heres-a-bunch-of-gorgeous-ni-no-kuni-screens/#comments ImageIt's still pretty early, and perhaps you've yet to drink that first cup of life-bringing java - believe us, we understand. Why not treat your eyes to these beautiful, vibrant screens of Level 5's Studio Ghibli RPG, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch.

Continue reading Good morning! Here's a bunch of gorgeous Ni no Kuni screens

JoystiqGood morning! Here's a bunch of gorgeous Ni no Kuni screens originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gameplaylevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliThu, 19 Apr 2012 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni trailer bums us out, but not because of the English voices]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ni-no-kuni-trailer-bums-us-out-but-not-because-of-the-english-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ni-no-kuni-trailer-bums-us-out-but-not-because-of-the-english-v/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/12/ni-no-kuni-trailer-bums-us-out-but-not-because-of-the-english-v/#comments Image
Not even a really goofy accent can diminish the spectacular beauty of Ni no Kuni. That's good news! The bad news is that this first English-language trailer for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is all about a little boy being sad because his mother dies.

There's other stuff, like a magical companion and a potentially imaginary fantasy world opening up before his eyes, but you are going to see a little anime boy crying, and it's going to be kind of devastating. Be prepared.

JoystiqNi no Kuni trailer bums us out, but not because of the English voices originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3Thu, 12 Apr 2012 21:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni delayed until Q1 2013]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/ni-no-kuni-delayed-until-q1-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/ni-no-kuni-delayed-until-q1-2013/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/04/11/ni-no-kuni-delayed-until-q1-2013/#comments Good news: Namco Bandai is still planning to localize Level-5 and Studio Ghibli's beautiful PS3 RPG, Ni no Kuni. The bad news: the release date is already slipping. Originally announced for winter of 2012, Namco announced a new "Q1 2013" release date for both North America and Europe at a press event today.

Namco also reportedly showed off its localization progress, in the form of a trailer with English dialogue. Protagonist Oliver speaks with an American accent, while everyone else is British for some reason.

JoystiqNi no Kuni delayed until Q1 2013 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>delayslevel-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch launches Winter 2012]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-launches-winter-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-launches-winter-2012/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/15/ni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witch-launches-winter-2012/#comments You know how back in September Level-5 said Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch would launch in early 2012? Yeah, throw that out the window -- the developer must have meant to say it'll launch in the other winter of 2012.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, a collaboration between Level-5 and legendary animation outfit Studio Ghibli, will launch later this year in the unspecified Winter 2012 time frame. It'll be released exclusively on the PS3 with both English and Japanese voiceovers.

Continue reading Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch launches Winter 2012

JoystiqNi No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch launches Winter 2012 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5namco-bandaini-no-kunini-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witchplaystationps3release-datestudio-ghibliWed, 15 Feb 2012 14:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni commercials offer a more realistic look at another world]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ni-no-kuni-commercials-offer-a-more-realistic-look-at-another-wo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ni-no-kuni-commercials-offer-a-more-realistic-look-at-another-wo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/17/ni-no-kuni-commercials-offer-a-more-realistic-look-at-another-wo/#comments
Ever thought "Ni no Kuni looks nice, but I wonder what it would look like without all that Studio Ghibli art?" Neither have we, but you should watch these Japanese live-action ads for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch anyway.

In the brief clip above, and one more after the break, voice actress Mana Ashida explores realistic CG interpretations of locations from the game. She's almost certainly looking at green screens, but she looks suitably impressed! We're also impressed, but we have the benefit of actually seeing the impressive vistas.

Continue reading Ni no Kuni commercials offer a more realistic look at another world

JoystiqNi no Kuni commercials offer a more realistic look at another world originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>commercialjapanlevel-5ni-no-kunini-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witchplaystationps3studio-ghibliThu, 17 Nov 2011 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Have brunch with a bunch of Ni No Kuni cutscenes]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/have-brunch-with-a-bunch-of-ni-no-kuni-cutscenes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/have-brunch-with-a-bunch-of-ni-no-kuni-cutscenes/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/11/07/have-brunch-with-a-bunch-of-ni-no-kuni-cutscenes/#comments
Red capes, regal cats and illuminating rhinoplasty. Good luck with that Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch localization, Namco Bandai. (Seriously, don't screw this up!)

Continue reading Have brunch with a bunch of Ni No Kuni cutscenes

JoystiqHave brunch with a bunch of Ni No Kuni cutscenes originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5namco-bandaini-no-kunini-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witchplaystationps3studio-ghibliMon, 07 Nov 2011 13:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Namco Bandai to publish Ni no Kuni in the US and EU]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/namco-bandai-to-publish-ni-no-kuni-in-the-us-and-eu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/namco-bandai-to-publish-ni-no-kuni-in-the-us-and-eu/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/namco-bandai-to-publish-ni-no-kuni-in-the-us-and-eu/#comments During TGS, Level-5 sneaked out the news that Ni no Kuni would bring its magical, imaginary (imagical?) world to North American PS3s in early 2012. Now, in a post rounding up the Level-5 World events, the company's international office has revealed a European release as well, along with a publisher: Namco Bandai.

Namco Bandai also issued its own press release today, in which VP of Marketing Carlson Choi called Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch "one of our premier titles for 2012." Hopefully that means Namco will treat it better than its own Tales series.

Continue reading Namco Bandai to publish Ni no Kuni in the US and EU

JoystiqNamco Bandai to publish Ni no Kuni in the US and EU originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2012level-5namco-bandaini-no-kuniplaystationps3release-dateMon, 17 Oct 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Level-5's 'Vision' event, in trailers]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/level-5s-vision-event-in-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/level-5s-vision-event-in-trailers/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/level-5s-vision-event-in-trailers/#comments
We'll forgive you if you weren't up late this past Friday evening watching the livestream of Level-5's "Vision" event with us -- it was kind of in the middle of the night. The Japanese publisher showed off several of its upcoming titles, and revealed a few neat surprises (Ghost Watch, anyone?). Luckily for you, Level-5 has now released all the trailers from Vision and we've compiled them below the break for your viewing pleasure.

Continue reading Level-5's 'Vision' event, in trailers

JoystiqLevel-5's 'Vision' event, in trailers originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsghost-watchinazuma-elevenlevel-5level-5-visionlevel-5-vision-2011microsoftni-no-kunini-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witchnintendoplaystationplaystation-vitaprofessor-layton-vs-phoenix-wrightps3pspsonyvitaxboxyokai-watchMon, 17 Oct 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni's 'Magic Master' goes digital on PlayStation 3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ni-no-kunis-magic-master-goes-digital-on-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ni-no-kunis-magic-master-goes-digital-on-playstation-3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/05/ni-no-kunis-magic-master-goes-digital-on-playstation-3/#comments
Level-5 must have come under the impression that some people might not want an enormous book to accompany the upcoming PlayStation 3 version of Ni no Kuni. A new trailer reveals that the game's "Magic Master" will go digital on Sony's home console. You'll likely recall that when Ni no Kuni: The Jet Black Sorcerer launched for the Nintendo DS in Japan, it came packed with the 358-page behemoth to accompany your journey.

Instead, the "Magic Master" will be reproduced digitally for Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch, giving players access to its data at the touch of a button.

Oh, you'd rather have two ridiculously cute characters from the upcoming game explain all of this to you? That option is also available to you, albeit in Japanese, just above.

JoystiqNi no Kuni's 'Magic Master' goes digital on PlayStation 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5magic-masterni-no-kunini-no-kuni-the-jet-black-sorcererni-no-kuni-wrath-of-the-white-witchplaystationps3studio-ghibliWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Trademark suggests Ni no Kuni PS3 to be called 'Wrath of the White Witch']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/trademark-suggests-ni-no-kuni-ps3-to-be-called-wrath-of-the-whi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/trademark-suggests-ni-no-kuni-ps3-to-be-called-wrath-of-the-whi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/trademark-suggests-ni-no-kuni-ps3-to-be-called-wrath-of-the-whi/#comments We don't necessarily need more evidence than an official announcement, but we feel reassured to see steps being taken toward a localization of Ni no Kuni on PS3. And now any plans to extort Level-5 by sniping the trademark of its game have been foiled.

Last week, Level-5 filed a US trademark for "Ni no Kuni Wrath of the White Witch." The Japanese title of the PS3 game translates to "The Queen of Sacred White Ash." The trademark more closely resembles the PS3 game than the DS game, "The Jet-Black Mage."

Ni no Kuni is due for release in North America in "early 2012."

JoystiqTrademark suggests Ni no Kuni PS3 to be called 'Wrath of the White Witch' originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 10:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3trademarkMon, 03 Oct 2011 10:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni (PS3) preview: In the Pig City]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/ni-no-kuni-ps3-preview-in-the-pig-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/ni-no-kuni-ps3-preview-in-the-pig-city/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/ni-no-kuni-ps3-preview-in-the-pig-city/#comments
Not that I expected it to, but a year after my first demo, I'm delighted to report that Ni no Kuni still looks completely gorgeous. The graphics don't seem incredibly impressive from a technical perspective -- they're actually pretty simple -- but effective use of cel-shading and good old-fashioned art design have combined to convincingly deliver the experience of wandering around in a Studio Ghibli world.

Continue reading Ni no Kuni (PS3) preview: In the Pig City

JoystiqNi no Kuni (PS3) preview: In the Pig City originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3tgs-2011Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:01:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3's Ni no Kuni coming to North America early next year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/ni-no-kuni-coming-to-north-america-early-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/ni-no-kuni-coming-to-north-america-early-next-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/16/ni-no-kuni-coming-to-north-america-early-next-year/#comments During a Sony Computer Entertainment Asia press conference adjacent to TGS, Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino announced some very welcome news: the beautiful Studio Ghibli and Level-5 crossover for PS3, Ni no Kuni, will be released in North America.

And now we know what Level-5 International America has been up to. The game is due in early 2012, so that studio must have been busy translating the adventures of Oliver and the lantern-nosed Shizuku in the magical, probably imaginary world of Ni no Kuni.

JoystiqPS3's Ni no Kuni coming to North America early next year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3release-datestudio-ghiblitgs-2011Fri, 16 Sep 2011 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Tour the 'Another World' of Ni no Kuni in a new trailer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/tour-the-another-world-of-ni-no-kuni-in-a-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/tour-the-another-world-of-ni-no-kuni-in-a-new-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/05/tour-the-another-world-of-ni-no-kuni-in-a-new-trailer/#comments Not to be outdone by another series it previously worked on, Level-5 released a new trailer for the PS3 Ni no Kuni game, showing off a variety of locations in the Studio Ghibli-designed world. There's an old-world castle town, a dark graveyard, a ... volcano, an open sea, and some kind of sea creature village in a forest.

Even if most of the locations sound like RPG standards, the trailer is worth watching. It's our best look at the game since it was announced, and the Ghibli-ized takes on those common locales are predictably lovely. Ni no Kuni comes out November 17 in Japan, and still hasn't been announced for release elsewhere.

JoystiqTour the 'Another World' of Ni no Kuni in a new trailer originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>level-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliMon, 05 Sep 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Here's the 'Magical Gold' Ni no Kuni PS3]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/heres-the-magical-gold-ni-no-kuni-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/heres-the-magical-gold-ni-no-kuni-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/01/heres-the-magical-gold-ni-no-kuni-ps3/#comments We expected the Japan-exclusive Ni no Kuni PS3 to be white with some gold art on it. But it turns out that it is gold with gold art, featuring the lamp-nosed sidekick character Shizuku. If that fits your idea of "magical", you'll be able to import the 160GB system starting November 17.

JoystiqHere's the 'Magical Gold' Ni no Kuni PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanlevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3studio-ghibliThu, 01 Sep 2011 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni no Kuni bundled with 'magical' PS3 in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/ni-no-kuni-bundled-with-magical-ps3-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/ni-no-kuni-bundled-with-magical-ps3-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/31/ni-no-kuni-bundled-with-magical-ps3-in-japan/#comments Level-5/Studio Ghibli tie-up RPG Ni no Kuni ("The Another World") comes with a deluxe spellbook on DS. Its PS3 counterpart one-ups the DS version when it hits Japan on November 17, by optionally bundling a whole PS3.

The Ni no Kuni "Magical Edition" bundle will include the game and a special white and gold PS3, according to leaks from this week's Famitsu. It'll sell for ¥33,780 ($440). PS3 games are region free, so if you decide to import this from The Another World of Japan, you'll at least be able to play your local PS3 games on it. There's still no word on a localization for either Ni no Kuni game.

[Image: Andriasang]

JoystiqNi no Kuni bundled with 'magical' PS3 in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanlevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3special-editionstudio-ghibliWed, 31 Aug 2011 06:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ni No Kuni PS3 finally dated in Japan, still not announced anywhere else]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/ni-no-kuni-ps3-finally-dated-in-japan-still-not-announced-anywh/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/ni-no-kuni-ps3-finally-dated-in-japan-still-not-announced-anywh/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/08/24/ni-no-kuni-ps3-finally-dated-in-japan-still-not-announced-anywh/#comments Ni no Kuni, the RPG made through a collaboration between Level-5 and Studio Ghibli, came out on DS in Japan late last year. The PS3 version was shown at TGS, but still has yet to be released. Andriasang reports that the latest issue of Famitsu features a date for the Japanese PS3 release: November 17.

Even if you've imported the DS game and its giant book, this one will be of interest. In addition to fancy HD graphics, the PS3 game has a new story about young boy Oliver in the magical "Another World," and a completely different battle system that is closer to real-time than turn-based. If you're just waiting on details of a western release ... well, there's still no word from Level-5.

JoystiqNi No Kuni PS3 finally dated in Japan, still not announced anywhere else originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanlevel-5ni-no-kuniplaystationps3release-datestudio-ghibliWed, 24 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST