Joystiq

Lollipop Chainsaw heads to US on June 12

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST

At the Lollipop Chainsaw event this evening it was announced the game will cut into North American retail on June 12. We're sure to have more details from the event as the night goes on.

Gallery: Lollipop Chainsaw (3/5/12)

Lollipop Chainsaw heads to US on June 12 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Shadows of the Damned

Ludwig Kietzmann — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST

This sojourn in hell inspires the most intense evangelism, and that makes me think nobody in EA's marketing department bothered to play Shadows of the Damned.

Even those who acted as envoys for the game's off-kilter charms, those people who were unpaid but still rewarded, might have gotten stuck on the easy marquee description: "It's the unfathomable oddness of Suda 51, paired with Shinji Mikami sensibility and an Akira Yamaoka soundtrack!"

The summation is accurate (if a bit unfair to the major input from design lead Massimo Guarini, who left Grasshopper Manufacture in 2011), but hardly a detailed message for those unfamiliar with star Japanese designers. At least Shadows of the Damned had no troubles conveying its obvious qualities: a surprising and properly grotesque vision of post-life limbo, a protagonist passionate to a fault and a hilarious skull-on-a-stick to guide him.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Shadows of the Damned

Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Shadows of the Damned originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 wants Grasshopper Manufacture to be like real grasshoppers

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:45:00 EST

Grasshopper Manufacture revealed a major change in its development strategy during the Tokyo Game Show this year. Of the eight different games on display, the majority were downloadable titles, including high-profile titles like Sine Mora, Black Knight Sword and Diabolical Pitch. During the show, we managed to snag some time with Grasshopper's CEO, Goichi Suda, more commonly known as Suda 51.

During our chat, we discussed Grasshopper's new direction, Sdatcher and even the possibility of a collaboration between Grasshopper and Kojima Productions. Suda's ultimate goal? For Grasshopper Manufacture to become more like actual grasshoppers.

Continue reading Suda 51 wants Grasshopper Manufacture to be like real grasshoppers

Suda 51 wants Grasshopper Manufacture to be like real grasshoppers originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Watch' Sdatcher in English right here

JC Fletcher — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST

A group of heroic fans has begun the work of making Suda 51's Sdatcher, the Snatcher-inspired radio drama, available to Anglophone fans. A fan-subtitled version of the first installment has been posted to YouTube -- in English and Spanish -- allowing us to check in with Jean Jack Gibson, a "JUNKER" agent tasked with finding and destroying humanoid robots (Snatchers) who have infiltrated human society.

This first episode is a sort of futuristic police procedural, with Gibson and his robotic partner "Little John" (played by Hideo Kojima) chatting amiably and going for lunch in Neo Kobe's Chinatown as they conduct an investigation.

We can't help but wish we were seeing what was going on as we listen to this ... and that we were playing it. Thankfully, Akira Yamaoka's music does an admirable job of dropping us into the kind of cyberpunk future-'80s dreamed up in the original game.

'Watch' Sdatcher in English right here originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seen@TGS: Shoe-da 51

JC Fletcher — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST

When we went to Grasshopper Manufacture's meeting room to interview Suda 51, our attention immediately went to his feet.

Continue reading Seen@TGS: Shoe-da 51

Seen@TGS: Shoe-da 51 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST

It takes a lot of people a lot of time to license a track for a video game. Among other things, that's what The Damned drummer Andrew "Pinch" Pinching learned in the fall of 2010 when he worked with Grasshopper Manufacture composer Akira Yamaoka on the title track from this year's grindhouse-inspired third-person shooter, Shadows of the Damned. According to Pinch, it took "about a hundred emails" before an agreement was even reached regarding the collaboration.

"I kid you not, they are VERY thorough," Pinch explained to me via email earlier this summer. He was speaking to the GhM side of the partnership, which he described as "treading a different path in the games industry" from other dev studios. "I did a bit of research and found out about Suda51 and No More Heroes," Pinch added. "[He] was regarded as a bit of an edgy rebel, which appealed to me immensely. It didn't hurt that his games looked great as well."

The end product of the collaboration was, as we now know, the excellent (and if I may say so myself, rockin') final track from Shadows of the Damned. But that wasn't always the plan, as Pinch told me. "Initially, they [GhM] wanted what everyone wants -- an old Damned track. In this instance, a track called 'Love Song,' which in hindsight would have fitted the theme of the game rather nicely." But "Love Song" wasn't meant to be, and The Damned pushed to create an original track for the game.

Continue reading The Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act

The Damned collaboration: How Shadows of the Damned found its closing act originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sdatcher radio drama begins, swag for sale at TGS

JC Fletcher — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST

For those of you who can understand Japanese, or just like the way it sounds, the first act of Kojima Productions and Suda 51's "Sdatcher" radio drama has been posted. You can access it from the Snatcher-inspired website set up for the series.

And if you're the type of person who has been waiting for years for new Snatcher merchandise, and plans on attending Tokyo Game Show -- we're mostly referring to ourselves here -- Konami will be selling some exclusive Sdatcher stuff, including a postcard set and a clear file folder. We'll make sure to look and sound as American as we can, to send a clear message to Konami staff that there are Anglophones who are way into this stuff.

Sdatcher radio drama begins, swag for sale at TGS originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST

Buffy the No More Heroes Zombie Slayer. That's the best way to sum up Lollipop Chainsaw at first glance. Featuring a Lichtenstein-inspired pop art HUD and over-the-top humor drawn from the Suda 51 vein, the game revels in the expected brutality of a zombie outbreak, but adds a dash of the unexpected with rainbows and sparkles following finishing moves and combos.

Developed by Suda 51's Grasshopper Manufacture, the cult name-dropping doesn't stop there. Writer and director James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Tromeo and Juliet, Slither) created the script, while Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill, Shadows of the Damned) is handling music -- but none of his work is featured in the current demo.

Yamaoka said during our Gamescom presentation, "This game will be crazier than it is now." A terrifying thought, since the game already has the crazy dialed to 11.

Gallery: Lollipop Chainsaw (Gamescom 2011)

Continue reading Lollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this

Lollipop Chainsaw preview: Suck on this originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Aug 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lollipop Chainsaw gets a debut trailer at Gamescom

Mike Schramm — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:53:00 EST

Germany's Gamescom show has brought us this debut trailer for Lollipop Chainsaw, a new title in the works from developer Goichi "Suda51" Suda's Grasshopper Manufacture. As you can tell from the (scandalous!) footage above, the game's about a cheerleader named Juliet -- who also happens to be a zombie slayer with a chainsaw.

The official site lists the location as "San Romero High School," and since American horror/comedy director James Gunn is also along for the ride, you can probably expect plenty of sly references like that one in the game. Lollipop Chainsaw is targeting a 2012 release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Lollipop Chainsaw gets a debut trailer at Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Sdatcher' radio drama will be distributed for free, sold on CD later

JC Fletcher — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:55:00 EST

In a tweet, Hideo Kojima announced that the Snatcher-universe radio drama, "Suda 51's Sdatcher," will be released as a free download. A CD will be sold later to pay the voice actors, including many Metal Gear series cast members. There's still no official release date for the drama, but it was planned to be concurrent with Hideradio podcast number 300 -- they're on 298 right now. Kojima subsequently tweeted the character art of Jean Jack Gibson above.

Kojima also said that he's heard the music Akira Yamaoka is making for the drama, which was to be '70s progressive rock and '80s electro pop. Per Andriasang's translation, Kojima likes it but questioned its reception by the masses. And when you bring in Suda 51 to make a podcast radio drama based on an adventure game from 1988, you don't want anything to get in the way of that built-in mass appeal.

'Sdatcher' radio drama will be distributed for free, sold on CD later originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Aug 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warner Bros. picks up Lollipop Chainsaw for Western release

JC Fletcher — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:49:00 EST

Grasshopper Manufacture's cheerleader-versus-zombie action game, Lollipop Chainsaw, will be released outside of Japan in 2012, thanks to Warner Bros. Interactive. The publisher announced a new partnership with Lollipop's Japanese publisher, Kadokawa Games. That seems like a good match -- both companies are media conglomerates who have only recently expanded into games.

Warner is using those media connections to bring in some Hollywood talent: writer/director James Gunn (Slither, Dawn of the Dead) will "bring his cult humor and edgy storytelling to Lollipop Chainsaw." Considering that the Suda 51 game already appears to be 100% cult humor ... that's a lot of cult humor.

If WB is putting this much effort and cash into the writing, it seems possible that the company could go so far as to market the game, something that didn't fully happen with Grasshopper's last game.

[Image: Famitsu]

Continue reading Warner Bros. picks up Lollipop Chainsaw for Western release

Warner Bros. picks up Lollipop Chainsaw for Western release originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Aug 2011 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No More Heroes social game will be appropriately bloody

JC Fletcher — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST

Suda 51's contribution to DeNA's "Super Creators Initiative" is a social No More Heroes game. And, being a No More Heroes game, it'll be about people assassinating one another. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise, then, that Suda 51 told attendees at a press conference, "We're aiming to make it the social game with the most blood."

We suppose it could be a surprise, given that the original Japanese and European releases of No More Heroes were bloodless, subsituting a shower of coins. So by being even a little bloody, the new social game is bloodier than the real game in Japan.

Suda also expressed a desire to give this game enough "power" and "impact" to make it outside of Japan, a lofty goal for a Japanese mobile game. That was a goal that the three previous mobile NMH games, released by Marvelous in 2008, couldn't achieve.

No More Heroes social game will be appropriately bloody originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grasshopper Manufacturing 'Lollipop Chainsaw' for PS3 and 360 [update]

JC Fletcher — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST

Being a secondhand report of data out of an early leak of Japanese mag Famitsu, it's only right to approach the news of Grasshopper Manufacture's Lollipop Chainsaw for PS3 and Xbox 360 with skepticism.

The reports also describe it as a game about a cheerleader raised by zombie hunters, who uses her acrobatic training and a chainsaw to destroy zombies ... which certainly sounds like a Suda game. Additionally, the zombies will spray pink blood on the screen when destroyed, something that Siliconera says is meant to convey a "pop" feel.

According to Andriasang, Suda 51 is serving as creative director, with the very busy Akira Yamaoka working on sound. It's reportedly 70% complete, and will be published by Kadokawa Games.

Update: Famitsu has posted the first artwork and screenshots of the game, including the above screen.

Grasshopper Manufacturing 'Lollipop Chainsaw' for PS3 and 360 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kojima announces Snatcher-inspired radio drama, for real this time

JC Fletcher — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST

This week, Hideo Kojima teased a surprise announcement coming on the latest edition of his Hideradio podcast. The real surprise is that it's something he already announced in 2007: a radio drama inspired by his 1988 cyberpunk adventure game Snatcher, scripted by Suda 51. It's called "Sdatcher" as a pun on Suda's name. This is the long-awaited Kojima/Suda "Project S."

The drama will include music by Akira Yamaoka, and will be released to coincide with the 300th episode of Hideradio -- this one is #296, and they are released biweekly, on Fridays. So ... two months or so? Of course, we'll then have to wait for some kind of translation, official or otherwise.

We take back what we said earlier. The real real surprise with this announcement is that Kojima actually announced something that isn't Metal Gear.

Kojima announces Snatcher-inspired radio drama, for real this time originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary

Randy Nelson — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST

Watch as famous game designers Goichi Suda and Shinji Mikami pretend to strangle each another, act like zombies and generally goof off. The point? They're promoting Shadows of the Damned, the new survival-horror title they're co-developing for EA. Oh, there's plenty of gameplay footage in here, too.

Continue reading Suda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary

Suda and Mikami get silly in Shadows of the Damned dev diary originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shadows of the Damned preview: Hardly Hell

David Hinkle — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:20:00 EST

As the tall, blood-covered Frankenstein doppleganger leapt from a gigantic flame in the middle of a courtyard, I thought to myself, "Man, this guy could really use a bath." The shock set in when the demon reached into his own chest and ripped out its heart, then ate it, causing him to transform into a gigantic beast-man with a grotesque wolf's head. Howling at the moon, he summoned forth a mouthless steed covered in blood and rotting skin. Mounting his hell ride, he then conjured a trident and spear from the ether and set his sights on me.

If there's one thing I can say about the brief 15-minute Shadows of the Damned demo I played this week, it's that the game isn't short on crazy. Also, I wish I got to kill that demon and the disfigured horse he rode in on.

Gallery: Shadows of the Damned (4/21/11)

Continue reading Shadows of the Damned preview: Hardly Hell

Shadows of the Damned preview: Hardly Hell originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shadows of the Damned launching on June 21, 2011

David Hinkle — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST

At a recent event in San Francisco, Suda 51 from Grasshopper Manufacture announced the new launch date for Shadows of the Damned: June 21. That gives it two weeks to get out of E3's way (the game was originally scheduled for June 7).

Shadows of the Damned is a bizarre, horror-themed third-person shooter coming from EA Partners and a trio of well-known Japanese developers. If the names Shinji Mikami (Resident Evil), Suda 51 (No More Heroes) and Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill composer) don't ring any bells, then you really have no idea just how weird this game is going to be.

Shadows of the Damned launching on June 21, 2011 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 would like to do No More Heroes 3, it just won't happen anytime soon

David Hinkle — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST

It appears that Suda 51 thinks the odds of another No More Heroes game happening in the near future are about nil. During Grasshopper Manufacture's recent streaming event, Suda said (translation via Andriasang) he'd "like to" do another entry "at some point," but it isn't something that would happen anytime "soon." Oh, now you've got JC crying, Mr. Suda. Wonderful.

Character designer Yusuke Kozaki also offered an interesting proposition: a new game where Shinobu, the high school student by day, assassin by night who appeared in both No More Heroes and No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle is the main character. Kozaki also revealed that Grasshopper had come up with so many characters, it had enough for two more No More Heroes games. Okay, guys, now you're just being cruel!

The remainder of the event then shifted to Frog Minutes, the studio's charity iOS game. We spent some time with it, which you can read all about here.

Suda 51 would like to do No More Heroes 3, it just won't happen anytime soon originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grasshopper releases free songs in memory of Japan's quake victims

Randy Nelson — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST

Grasshopper Manufacture has released a trio of songs produced by its audio team in remembrance of those affected by its native Japan's devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Two of the songs, "Otomodachi, as you wake" and "Otomodachi, before you sleep," were created by Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka. A third, "Otomodachi, in the afternoon," is by his GhM co-worker Tak Hiraoka.

The tracks are available for free via the dev's Facebook page. Although they don't cost a cent, consider contributing to the relief efforts of the Red Cross (redcross.org) if you like them -- or even if you don't. It's nice to be, well ... nice.

Grasshopper releases free songs in memory of Japan's quake victims originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Voice of the Damned: Suda 51 on being an EA Partner and surviving the Japanese market

JC Fletcher — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST

At a preview event alongside GDC, EA offered the first playable demo of Grasshopper Manufacture's From Dusk Till Dawn-esque third-person shooter, Shadows of the Damned. Immediately after experiencing its floating skull sidekicks, baby-head gates, and demons in seductive-woman suits, we spoke to Grasshopper's CEO, Suda 51, and asked the first thing that came to mind: how did he convince EA to back such a strange game?

Suda, of course, understood the intention, saying that "strange equals compliment for us." And besides, "Actually, EA has always respected our punk rock style. It was really easy, and we had a lot of freedom. EA is not just a giant corporation, but they're very accepting." He said that Grasshopper pitched the game to EA -- though later in the same interview, he told us that it was at EA's request that the game became a shooter. "We wanted to do well with the Western market," Suda said, "and we wanted to have that challenge of creating shooters," and so the studio agreed.

Continue reading Voice of the Damned: Suda 51 on being an EA Partner and surviving the Japanese market

Voice of the Damned: Suda 51 on being an EA Partner and surviving the Japanese market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Grasshopper announcing new title next month

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:30:00 EST

Suda51's Japanese dev studio, Grasshopper Manufacture, is working on a ton of stuff. Between Shadows of the Damned, Sine Mora, codename D and an uannounced NGP project, we have to imagine the folks at Grasshopper don't have much free time. Regardless, the studio will take a timeout on March 30 to host a Ustream event, during which Grasshopper will announce a new game -- perhaps that NGP title?

Dubbed "Grasstream 2: Travis vs. Garcia" (named for the main characters of No More Heroes and Shadows of the Damned), the event will feature frank discussion from Suda51 on Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, an acoustic performance of music from No More Heroes, the aforementioned "new game announce," and "hands-on impressions" of said game from "Vanilla Beans and model/gamer Kayo Sato." Yes, really.

Continue reading Grasshopper announcing new title next month

Grasshopper announcing new title next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shadows of the Damned blood boss pours its heart out in new screenshots

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST

Maybe you didn't notice, but this guy is made of blood. He's a "blood monster," if you will, and he's just one of many bosses players will face in Grasshopper Manufacture's Shadows of the Damned. More horrific V-Day screens can be found after the break.

Continue reading Shadows of the Damned blood boss pours its heart out in new screenshots

Shadows of the Damned blood boss pours its heart out in new screenshots originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marvelous's Wada and Kimura join Grasshopper Manufacture

JC Fletcher — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Grasshopper Manufacture has added even more talent to its roster, according to a report from the latest Famitsu. Yasuhiro Wada, former president of Marvelous Interactive (and creator of Harvest Moon), and Little King's Story director Yoshiro Kimura, have joined Suda 51's team as chief operating officer and chief creative officer, respectively.

"We haven't released a single [original] title in the past year, which is something that caused a lot of regret in my mind," Suda told Famitsu (according to 1UP's translation). "Having these two people join Grasshopper will make us a more sturdily-organized company, and it'll improve our development, technical, and release skills." Both have previously worked as producers for Grasshopper games, including both No More Heroes. Suda suggested that the new hires could help Grasshopper expand into new genres, including games for all ages.

Marvelous's Wada and Kimura join Grasshopper Manufacture originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect comes to XBLA, Microsoft Game Studios reveals five Japanese titles

Ludwig Kietzmann — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Microsoft Game Studios unveiled five new Japanese partnerships during its Tokyo Game Show 2010 keynote today, each intended to "provide fun for users throughout the world." Takashi Sensui, general manager of Xbox in Japan, claimed the projects would "define the future of Xbox 360 and Kinect" -- a future that now promises Kinect-enabled Xbox Live Arcade games.

Out of the five new XBLA-exclusive games announced today, three will use Kinect: Haunt, a spooky adventure from Parappa the Rappa's Masaya Matsuura; ~~Project~~ Codename D, a stylish new endeavor from Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51; and Project Draco, a Panzer Dragoon-esque flight game from Phantom Dust creator Yukio Futatsugi. These will join third-party Kinect games Child of Eden, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor and Rise of Nightmares in 2011.

Microsoft also revealed Fire-Pro Wrestling from Spike, and a new version of Radiant Silvergun from Treasure (much to the chagrin of eBay profiteers). Both are coming to XBLA in 2011.

Kinect comes to XBLA, Microsoft Game Studios reveals five Japanese titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Codename D revealed as Suda 51 Kinect game

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:13:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

No More Heroes and Killer 7 auteur Suda 51 is a busy, busy boy this TGS. During the Microsoft Press Conference the Grasshopper Manufacture head announced the studio is working on a Kinect game entitled Codename D. Mr. 51 stated that the game will not feature guns or swords but will be a core action game. The brief trailer showed a lot of things exploding and a Suda dose of weirdness. The game is scheduled for 2011.

Gallery: Codename D (Kinect)

Codename D revealed as Suda 51 Kinect game originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 23:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shadows of the Damned announcement trailer enters the light

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:18:00 EST

Shadows of the Damned, a new "psychological action thriller" from EA Partners, Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51 and Platinum's Shinji Mikami was just announced at TGS -- and now it has a spiffy trailer. Check out the footage featuring the "hunter of demons," whose "wrath is your hell," after the break.

Gallery: Shadows of the Damned

Continue reading Shadows of the Damned announcement trailer enters the light

Shadows of the Damned announcement trailer enters the light originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 07:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Shadows of the Damned' is the long-awaited Suda/Mikami/EA Partners collaboration

JC Fletcher — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

"We've had you waiting for a long time." Grasshopper Manufacture's Suda 51 and Platinum's Shinji Mikami took the stage at EA's TGS showcase to reveal Shadows of the Damned, a new "psychological action thriller" from EA's Partners division. According to Suda, he and Mikami wanted to make this game for a long time, and searched for the right publisher to bring it to a global audience. "Finally, today, we can reveal our game that we've been working on together with EA," he said. The game is expected to release in 2011.

EA Partners announced this new horror franchise in August 2008, under the direction of game "auteurs" Suda and Shinji Mikami. Since then, Grasshopper has increased its roster of stars with musician Akira Yamaoka and designer Kazutoshi Iida, released No More Heroes 2, and announced the downloadable Sine Mora.

in this game, a character named Garcia travels to Hell to rescue his love. Hopefully, this will be a bit classier than Dante's Inferno...

Update: Trailer now available.

'Shadows of the Damned' is the long-awaited Suda/Mikami/EA Partners collaboration originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Electronic Arts TGS 2010 liveblog

Christopher Grant — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 03:30:00 EST

We're at the Keio Plaza Hotel in lovely Shinjuku, Tokyo for Electronic Arts' 2010 TGS press conference. Things are getting underway, we've taken our seats in a small, but well attended ballroom. Join us just past the break for all the news, live from Tokyo.

Continue reading Electronic Arts TGS 2010 liveblog

Electronic Arts TGS 2010 liveblog originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Sep 2010 03:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA's Suda51, Mikami horror collaboration will be at TGS; no mention of Wii, PC anymore

Christopher Grant — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:04:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Last Friday, EA announced a "Tokyo Showcase" event to be held the night before the annual Tokyo Game Show kicks off. We speculated that it was a prime opportunity to share EA Partners' highest-profile project: the Shinji Mikami-produced, Suda51-directed, Akira Yamaoka-scored, Q Entertainment co-developed horror title first announced in 2008. David DeMartini told Eurogamer that the title would be revealed at TGS (we're guessing at EA's aforementioned showcase) and explained the unusual pairing.

"The key thing is not for us to tone down Suda or try and Westernise Suda, but to try and make sure the game gets broad enough exposure that more people appreciate it," DeMartini said. "Obviously with EA's publishing and sales team [...] people are going to get an opportunity to finally listen to what you guys have been writing about Suda for a long time."

DeMartini also confirmed that the game would, unsurprisingly, be released on Xbox 360 and PS3. What is surprising, however, is the omission of the Wii. The announcement press release stated that the title was in development for all three console platforms as well as PC: "The title is being developed for the PC, Xbox 360 video game system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii." We've asked EA to comment on the title's intended platforms, but more than likely we'll be waiting until the September 15th event.

EA's Suda51, Mikami horror collaboration will be at TGS; no mention of Wii, PC anymore originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 announces 'Sine Mora' for XBLA, PSN

Alexander Sliwinski — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:33:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Suda 51 just announced Sine Mora for PSN and Xbox Live Arcade this evening at Gamescom. The horizontal space shmup is being co-developed through a new partnership between Suda's Grasshopper Manufacture and Digital Reality. Grasshopper will provide art direction, music and sound. Digital Reality, perhaps best known as the developer of the Imperium Galactica games, will be publishing the title. The partnership between the two companies will also include "a range of [other] titles," though no information about further releases was forthcoming.

Sine Mora is scheduled for a worldwide Q3 2011 release and will support 3D in the PSN version. The lack of major announcements at this year's convention prompted Suda to joke that "this is going to be the biggest announcement of this Gamescom."

Suda 51 announces 'Sine Mora' for XBLA, PSN originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 14:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No More Heroes 2 finally coming to Japan with deluxe edition

JC Fletcher — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:01:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Marvelous has finally gotten around to announcing a Japanese release date for No More Heroes: Desperate Struggle. Suda 51's revenge-themed action sequel will be released in Japan on October 21 -- nine months after the game's North American release.

Marvelous is compensating for the delay somewhat by offering a lovely "HOPPER's Edition" that contains the game, a soundtrack CD, a DVD recapping the events of the first game, and a new "No More Heroes 1.5" movie written by Suda 51, detailing what happened between the two games -- which means, we guess, that Travis didn't spend the whole time watching wrestling in his motel room. We hope. Those interested in this version will have to provide some compensation of their own, to the tune of ¥8,980 ($102). A regular edition will also be released for ¥7,140 ($81). Early purchases of either version will come with an "erotica comic" featuring character artwork and a recap of the previous game.

No More Heroes 2 finally coming to Japan with deluxe edition originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51: 'no plan' for No More Heroes 3

JC Fletcher — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:00:00 EST

Suda 51 has said in the past (using typically scatological terms) that Grasshopper Manufacture has thought about making a No More Heroes 3. However, according to a Cubed3 interview with the designer, the studio has yet to start any kind of work on a new sequel.

"Unfortunately, the story for Travis alone is completed in No More Heroes 2. I am very curious about his life after this," Suda told Cubed3, "however, we have no plan for No More Heroes 3."

Later in the interview, Suda expressed his enthusiasm for the Killer 7 franchise, saying that it was "a very very important game for me" and "part of my soul." As for the long lost DS port The Silver Case, Suda revealed that development on the port of Grasshopper's first game was finished, and now Suda is considering "what would be the best way to debut this game on a worldwide basis. "

Suda 51: 'no plan' for No More Heroes 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 has 'many ideas' for 3DS

JC Fletcher — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:30:00 EST

No More Heroes and Killer 7 creator Suda 51 is thinking about what he'd like to do with Nintendo's 3DS -- and, naturally, the designer's first idea manages to be both movie-inspired and kind of insane. Speaking to Official Nintendo Magazine, Suda offered one of his "many ideas" for the 3D handheld: "I hope for the realization of a training remote like Luke Skywalker used for force training in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope."

"I would love to try to develop a game for 3DS if I have a chance," Suda added. Perhaps he'll get his chance after completing the mysterious project he's making for EA with Shinji Mikami. By then, he'll probably have changed his mind about making a DS game about being shot with lasers while blindfolded.

Suda 51 has 'many ideas' for 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 19 May 2010 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No More Heroes remakes outsold the original by a little

JC Fletcher — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:15:00 EST

We're not going to say that No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise is a hit, but those of us in constant fear of Marvelous running out of money can breathe a sigh of relief, as the remake has brought a little cash in (more considering that the game is a port and therefore probably less expensive to produce).

In fact, both versions managed to make it into the Media Create top ten, with the PS3 version's 16,000 copies securing a #7 position and the Xbox 360 version's 15,000 copies at #8. Both of these actually outperformed the Wii original, which sold 11,700 copies in its debut week back in 2007.

Now that we think about it, however, the real story might be that 15,000 people in Japan bought an Xbox 360 game in a single week.

Gallery: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise (PS3/Xbox 360)

No More Heroes remakes outsold the original by a little originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer'

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST

After cyber spy Superannuation shed light on a U.S. copyright document, filed by Grasshopper Manufacture in August 2008, internet speculation concluded that the idiosyncratic developer's next game would be called "Closer." However, Grasshopper's international representative has told Joystiq that the name is no longer being used for any projects currently in development.

"As for 'Closer,' we currently don't have any projects under that name in development. Closer was one of the names considered for a project, but that name has since been abandoned." Grasshopper's most mysterious project -- announced in August 2008 -- is an action horror game empowered by the mind-boggling collaboration of Suda 51, Shinji Mikami, Akira Yamaoka and EA Partners. And Unreal Engine 3.

Sadly, the quelling of this rumor also brings the demise of hopes that "Closer" was to be the name of Suda 51's edgy re-imagining of Kyra Sedgwick's television drama, "The Closer." It would have all of the show's intense confrontation, but Kyra's face would be an 8-bit parody of commercialism and she'd save the game by clipping her nails over an empty wastebasket. Oh well.

New Grasshopper Manufacture project not called 'Closer' originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Beam saber savings: No More Heroes 2 for $35

JC Fletcher — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST

If you couldn't find room in your budget for No More Heroes 2 amid the first quarter's overloaded lineup, perhaps Amazon's latest deal will encourage you to spend a little of that tax refund on the temporarily discounted sequel. Earth's Biggest Bookstore (remember when Amazon called itself a bookstore?) has marked down Travis Touchdown's revenge story to $35. It's the Deal of the Day, so when supplies run out or the clock strikes midnight Pacific Time, there will be no more cheap No More Heroes 2.

If you have yet to experience the delightfully bizarre original, the Xbox 360 and PS3 ports were released in Japan this week.

Beam saber savings: No More Heroes 2 for $35 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 hoping for a 'diarrhea'-like No More Heroes 3

JC Fletcher — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST

[Famitsu]

Not only has Suda 51 been thinking about a third No More Heroes game, he's been working on his scatological simile for its development -- so you know he's serious. To recap: No More Heroes was like taking a dump, and No More Heroes 2 was the result of lingering on the toilet afterwards. Yes, this is how the man sells his games.

"What we are hoping to do now with No More Heroes 3," the Grasshopper Manufacture leader told The Guardian in a video interview, "is probably to digest everything we eat and then purge absolutely everything in our guts, just like diarrhea!" In no way is this ... vivid ... description a confirmation that the game is definitely being released, but it is further indication that Suda wants to make such a game.

Speaking about the troubled state of the Japanese game market (without the use of poop metaphors), Suda said, "I am aware of the importance of the Japanese game industry, but we need to try not to think about how the market is behaving. Instead, we should concentrate on polishing our creativity, and taking our creativity to a higher level."

[Via Siliconera]

Suda 51 hoping for a 'diarrhea'-like No More Heroes 3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Interview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump

Ludwig Kietzmann — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST

Having composed Silent Hill's unmistakable audio ever since the series began, Akira Yamaoka is best known for unsettling even the soundest of minds with an unpredictable mixture of industrial noise, haunting melodies and straight-up rock. He left his position as producer and fan-made custodian of the survival-horror franchise earlier this year to join Grasshopper Manufacture and Goichi "Suda 51" Suda's "video game band."

Although Grasshopper isn't ready to talk specifically about its upcoming collaboration with EA, we did get an opportunity at GDC to ask Akira Yamaoka a few general questions about his move and his relationship with Silent Hill.

Joystiq: What have you seen at GDC this year that interested you?

Akira Yamaoka: [laughs] I'm actually really busy with having interviews and I did a session, so I was busy with preparation for that. So, I didn't have much chance to look at a lot of sessions yet because of that, but the image around GDC has been changing. It seems like a lot of seminars are more like -- they don't really talk about new technology but they talk more about concepts and stuff like that. That's what I feel about GDC now.

Continue reading Interview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump

Interview: Akira Yamaoka explains Grasshopper jump originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suda 51 wants to make new IP for Natal and PlayStation Motion Controller

JC Fletcher — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST

Grasshopper Manufacture studio head Suda 51 is "very interested" in working on games for both Microsoft's Project Natal and the PlayStation Motion Controller, he told GameSpot UK. However, his interest doesn't lie in adapting No More Heroes or other Grasshopper games to the new control scheme.

"I will make some original IP to fit that control system," he said. No More Heroes was the result of experimentation with the Wii Remote, and the same will be required for the other systems. Suda said that the new IP would be designed in response to the control scheme.

Suda also spoke about Heavy Rain, saying that he approved of "designs and anything that gives new experiences to the players." Given his history with mindbending adventure games, his interest in the title comes as little surprise.

Suda 51 wants to make new IP for Natal and PlayStation Motion Controller originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New trailer for No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise adds to our frustration

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST

Other than providing a more specific April release date of the 15th (in Japan at least), the latest trailer for No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise which we've dropped after the break does little but fill us with frustration. First and foremost, we don't have any idea what it says because the whole thing's in Japanese. Second, the quick cuts don't give us enough of a chance to ogle the newly HDified graphics in the Xbox 360 and PS3 port. Third, we wanna see pure madness produced by that light ... sword (not a saber, that's for sure) if the game's gonna be in HD.

We might normally say something at this point about hoping for the best when the game arrives at retail, but this one's a Japan-only release, folks. Time to bust out that extra milk money (and Japanese dictionary) for the import copy, eh?

Gallery: No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise (PS3/Xbox 360)

Continue reading New trailer for No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise adds to our frustration

New trailer for No More Heroes: Heroes' Paradise adds to our frustration originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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