Microsoft has been keeping gamers in the dark on its Tokyo Game Show plans for the Xbox 360, but following the end of its pre-show press conference today, it was at last willing to speak. It turns out that the Microsoft booth will be full of titles, with everything from Riot Act to Blue Dragon appearing in playable form.
» Read More 

If the Xbox 360 Media Briefing, held in the Cerulean Tokyu Hotel in Shibuya earlier today and covered in detail elsewhere, could be termed anything, it would be 'hopeful'. The 90 minute briefing, helmed both by Takashi Sensui, General Manager of Xbox Japan, and in parts by an ever-ebullient Peter Moore, was intended to show that it was business as usual in terms of Microsoft's Japanese strategy.

And, in many ways, the company's admirable intent is still in place - but the results are starting to show, and it simply hasn't worked so far. Peter Moore made a point to stress, more than once, the 10 million Xbox 360 owners that the company expects to be in place by the end of this holiday season. But the unspoken elephant in the room is that only perhaps 250,000 of those (if Microsoft's value for money Core price point and Blue Dragon bundle deals start seeing fruit) will be purchased in Japan.
» Read More 

Microsoft's Japanese boss Takashi Sensui has been outlining the company's plans for Xbox 360 at a pre-TGS conference, offering the core system with Blue Dragon as a pack-in.
» Read More 

Microsoft plans its short briefing before the official opening of TGS. Many things are expected to be announced, especially strategies to stay competitive in Japan where the 360 struggles, also with details on Blue Dragon...
» Read More 

A lack of media and info has caused some to speculate that Blue Dragon, Microsoft's big Xbox 360 Japanese RPG, would be hit with a delay past its target Japanese release of 2006. That won't be the case, according to Microsoft's big man in Japan, Takashi Sensui. Speaking with Famitsu Xbox 360, Sensui said, "Blue Dragon will without question be released this year."
» Read More 

1. Final Fantasy III (NDS, Square Enix)
2. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3, Square Enix)
3. Resident Evil 5 (PS3, Capcom)
4. Metal Gear Solid 4 : Guns of the Patriots (PS3, Konami)
5. Summon Night 4 (PS2, Banpresto)
6. Pokémon Diamond & Pearl (NDS, Nintendo)
7. Super Robot Taisen: Original Generations (PS2, Banpresto)
8. Blue Dragon (Xbox 360, Microsoft)
9. Seiken Densetsu 4 (PS2, Square Enix)
10. Utaware Rumono (PS2, Aquaplus)
» Read More 

Famitsu has recently published its list of most wanted games in Japan. Unsurprisingly, the Final Fantasy franchise is still going strong, with Final Fantasy III edging out Final Fantasy XIII for the top spot. Here's the top ten list:

1. Final Fantasy III (Nintendo DS/Enix Public garden) (-)
2. Final Fantasy XIII (Playstation 3/Enix Public garden) (-)
3. Biohazard 5 (Playstation 3/Capcom) (-)
4. Metal Gear Solid 4 (Playstation 3/Konami) (-)
5. Kamaitachi No Yoru 3 (Playstation 2/Sega) (-)
6. Blue Dragon (Xbox 360/Microsoft) (+ 2)
7. Seiken Densetsu 4 (Playstation 2/Enix Public garden) (-)
8. Sengoku Basara 2 (Playstation 2/Capcom) (+ 2)
9. Summon Night 4 (Playstation 2/Banpresto) (-4)
10. Gyakuten Saiban 4 (Nintendo DS/Capcom) (+3)
» Read More 

Telling your friends you just bought an Xbox 360 wouldn't exactly indicate you'd just bought a machine with an RPG rich catalogue. As of right now, there's only one RPG available on the system, Bethesda's excellent The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and one MMORPG, Square's Final Fantasy XI. However, over the next few years the perception of the Xbox 360 is certain to change. Though not all are high-profile titles such as Final Fantasy, Valkyrie Profile, or Dragon Quest, there are a surprising number of role-playing titles in development for Microsoft's sleek white machine.
RPGs can arguably be described as the most vital genre for a console. Years after release, it's generally the RPGs that are remembered the fondest. After all, they've got detailed characters, intricate storylines, generally 20 or more hours of gameplay, and generally involve much more player emotional involvement and investment than other genres. One thing we're seeing on the Xbox 360 that wasn't evident on the Xbox is the support of Japanese RPGs. Microsoft and Mistwalker are teaming up to bring Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey to Japan, a territory where Xbox 360 sales are as impressive as a slice of bread. Thankfully, Blue Dragon is also being brought West next year, giving American Xbox 360 gamers a chance to experience a big-budget JRPG on their next generation console.

Moving past Blue Dragon, BioWare is bringing its next big title to Xbox 360 as well. Mass Effect has been nothing but impressive so far. Since the franchise is planned as a trilogy across the Xbox 360's lifespan, we're hoping for great things. RPG fans will also get BioShock, a title from Irrational Games that looks so good it won our Overall Game of the Show award for E3 2006. A number of online multiplayer games are being developed for Microsoft's console as well, including EA's Project Gray Company, Sega's Phantasy Star Universe, an upcoming Marvel MMO, and Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Other games such as Elveo...
» Read More