It's Moving Day!

Well, that day has finally come.....it's moving day! Starting today we will be hosting all of our great news, previews, reviews, and gaming culture articles at our BRAND NEW blog, www.levelupvideogames.net! There you will find all the same great people, writing the same great articles, but with a new and even better look. Oh, and did we mention that www.levelupvideogames.com is now an online store, for all your gaming needs? So what are you waiting for!? Go to www.levelupvideogames.net or www.levelupvideogames.com today! Right now. Stop reading this and GO. NOW!

A weekend of Devastation

If you're a competitive gamer and someone asks you to name a big video game tournament, Evo, Final Round and Seasons Beatings probably come to mind. These competitions draw in throngs of competitors from across the globe to test their skills, witness heart pounding battles, crushing victories and disastrous defeats. Victors often disappear within a mob of deafening cheers, raised arms and pumping fists, while the defeated wrap the cords around their game controllers and saunter home. Now, Devastation has risen up to join the echelons of well-respected gaming tournaments.

If you stepped through the Phoenix Convention Center third floor ballroom doors between Oct. 7 – 9, 2011, a large white banner that read “DEVASTATION” splattered in black lettering hung high above the registration table, greeted you. Items up for raffle, including tournament edition arcade fighting sticks, gaming keyboards, and Gears of War-themed headsets, waited to be claimed. Swirling spotlights focused on the center stage that would hold cosplay and Rock Paper Scissors contests. Dozens of glowing LCD TVs sat on long tables and flickered with life and arcade cabinets lined the side walls, all warbling their own electronic languages. The rumblings steadily grew louder as more and more competitors arrived – Devastation '11 had begun.

Like many things, Devastation started small. In 2005, the emergence of the Seventh Generation of consoles and online gaming threatened to snuff out arcades, confine gamers to their parents' basements and extinguish video game tournaments in Arizona forever. Robb Chiarini decided that he'd brave the naysayers and revive the fun, love and social atmosphere that once surrounded competitive gaming and started to organize his own video game tournament. Thus, Devastation was born.

“That very first year, I ran it out of my house. I had a game room set up and I built these gianormous arcade sticks,” Chiarini said. “I thought 'hey, this is fun!' even though we played for 24 hours straight, people were tired, and I overextended myself for a single-day tournament. I had a blast and I see where I did some things wrong but I think it was great fun for everybody.”

About 70 people came from Arizona, New Mexico, California, Colorado, and Texas during the first event, and as the years passed, Devastation steadily grew larger. The 2009 competition at the Phoenix Convention Center drew in just less than 1,000 attendees, snatched more than 160,000 online viewers spanning 80 countries, and clawed its way to becoming one of the largest and most reputable events of its kind in the world.

“I want people to have fun [at Devastation], have a good time and make them feel like they are a part of the event,” Chiarini said. “I've gone to other events where they basically just say, 'hey Number 133, go ahead, you're up on Stage 2. Once you're dead, then go away'.”

Devastation '11 boasted tournaments in a large variety of different games, including: Gears of War 3, Dance Central, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Tekken 6 to name a few.

All was not well, however, and Devastation '11 had its share of problems. The most apparent was the confusion among the organizers that stemmed from the variety of video game tournaments. Some tournament pools started much later than scheduled, which caused some competitors to drop out due to time constraints. Audio and video problems with the online streamed matches also popped up and some TVs blacked out during gameplay.

Jeremy “Black Mamba” Florence started seriously competing in video game tournaments after he won fifth place on Dead or Alive 4 at Evo 2006. He entered Devastation beginning in 2009 and was disappointed with the organizational issues that plagued this year's event. Despite his misgivings, Florence still considers Devastation to be one of the better tournaments he's been to.

“The venue is definitely one of the best venues you're going to get in a gaming tournament. It's big and spacious. They have a ton of games to play, so you're not going to be bored the whole time you're here,” Florence said.

At the back of the ballroom, dozens of chairs sat, facing a movie theater-sized screen where spectators could observe web streamed matches. David “UltraDavid” Graham, along with several guest commentators, described every heart-stopping round and bone crunching strike. Some high-caliber gamers, including WCG Ultimate Gamer Season 2 champion, Kat “Mystik” Gunn, showed to compete at the event. Other big names in the competitive gaming scene, such as Alex Valle, Mike Ross, Justin Wong, Ricky Ortiz, Peter “ComboFiend” Rosas, Abdullatif "Latif" Alhmili, and Ryan "Filipino Champ" Ramirez, came to wage war on the digital battlefield.

So, you say that you can stomp all your friends at Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition, have the highest Gears of War 3 kill streak on Xbox Live, and dominate every opponent on Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, at all your local video game tournaments? Great job! Does this mean you're ready to take on and defeat professional gamers like Justin Wong at events such as Devastation? Pro gamers can sometimes spend up to 60 hours a week honing their combo execution, headshots and kill streaks.

Tons of practice and fast reflexes are only part of the equation, however. Competition's equally mental and physical. Do you think that your nerves will hold up to the pressure when the spotlight's on you, everyone's watching and tension saturates the air?

Gunn's no stranger to such challenges that come with the territory of being both a female and competitive gamer. Girl gamers often face animosity and hostility when playing online and video game tournaments are typically male-dominated events. Undeterred by these obstacles, however, Gunn began her competitive gaming career with in 2006, participating through Major League Gaming and emerged as one of the top dozen U.S. Halo players. She's also a national Dead or Alive 4 champion and went on to win the second season of the video game reality show, WCG Ultimate Gamer Season 2.

Since winning Ultimate Gamer, Gunn's been focusing more on creating and training pro gaming teams through her company, Antelope Valley Gamers. Regardless of your level of experience, she believes that when it comes to showing up in that moment and your tournament life's on the line, it's vital to not forget to enjoy yourself.

“I try to remember to have fun. I think that's the biggest problem is that when you get so serious about a game, it takes out a lot of the fun.” Gunn said. “If you lose, it's hard to get over it, because you lost, somebody was better than you. That's pretty devastating to your ego. I think you just got to remember, 'OK, remember what I did wrong, try to improve and just try to move on as hard as it is and focus on having fun.'”

Despite its hiccups, one thing Devastation '11 definitely didn't skimp on was fun. Whether you're just starting out competing, a tournament veteran, male, female or just wanted to get the highest score on Pac-man, Devastation had something for everyone. Well worth the lack of sleep and mounds of empty energy drink cans. Now, go crack open another bottle of Mountain Dew and get back to training!

This Week in Famitsu

WEEKLY FAMITSU #1191

Cover Story

I'm sure you recognize the costume Famitsu's mascot is wearing on the cover, which should give you a hint as to this week's cover story: Super Mario 3D Land! Mario's first appearance on the 3DS looks like it should be a blast when it arrives this November 13th in the States. Japan gets it just a touch early, on November 3^rd.

Unlike old-school Mario games, Super Mario 3D Land is forgoing the 2D route, with a game-play style that seems to resemble Super Mario Galaxy on the Wii more than anything. However, that does not mean that this new Mario is going to shun its roots. On the contrary, it seems to be paying more homage to it than many other recent titles by the inclusion of one very important, incredibly beloved, nostalgic power-up: the tanuki suit. That's right, the raccoon looking animal suit is back, albeit with some minor changes. The suit no longer seems to let you fly a ridiculously long time; instead, it appears to be more of a super-jump power-up than a flying ability. Also, you are not the only one who gets the benefits of the tanuki leaf: certain enemies can now receive the tanuki suit power-up as well. The goombas have tanuki tails now.... beware!

In addition to the tanuki suit, there are many stages that seem to be re-hashes of classic Mario levels, but don't let that concern you; there's plenty of new material too. New worlds, new enemies, and a new type of block called the 'propeller block' (which flies you up to new areas by means of the little propeller on its head) should keep this game exciting to even the most seasoned Mario aficionado. Beyond that, well, it's a new Super Mario Land game. We all know you're going to buy it, and it's going to be awesome. Now all we have to do is wait another month before we can rock our tanuki tails, and rock them we will.

Featured Game

Mario Kart 7 (3DS): With a planned release of December 1^st here in Japan, a scant month after Super Mario 3D Land, it's apparent that Nintendo is rolling out their big guns for this holiday season. While the basic premise of the Mario Kart series is bound to be the same (race against other Mario characters in crazy go-carts with crazy weapons), this iteration promises new courses, new carts, and new features to keep hardcore fans entertained. There's even a new character in the form of Metal Mario! Will there be others? Hmmm.... we can only wonder. Beyond the new character, however, the coolest thing about Mario Kart 7 is the ability to customize your cart. You can change the wheels, the body frame, and various other things. Speaking of your carts, did I mention they fly in this one? That's right, there's a pop-out propeller for underwater portions of the race, and a pop-out hang-glider for those super long jumps! Mario Kart 7 will also be playable online, much like Mario Kart DS. While Mario Kart is, and always will be, Mario Kart, that doesn't mean that this new version won't be just as fun as all the games that have come before it. Hopefully, with all the new additions, it'll even surpass its legacy.

Hardware Sales: Week of 9/12-9/18

• 3DS – 62,245 units
• PS3 – 37,477 units
• PSP – 24,106 units
• Wii – 15,146 units
• NDS – 3,187 units
• PS2 – 830 units
• 360 – 788 units

Top 5 Selling Games: Week of 9/12-9/18

• Dragon Quest 25^th Anniversary Collection: Nintendo and Super Nintendo Dragon Quest I, II, and III (Wii) – 264,760 units
• Tales of Xillia (PS3) – 55,323 units
• Resident Evil Revival Selection (PS3) – 24,238 units
• Wii Sports Resort (Wii) – 15,014 units
• Everyone's Rhythm Heaven (Wii) – 14,412 units

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games: Based on survey results from 9/15-9/21

• Final Fantasy: Type-O/Agito (PSP)
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
• Dragon Quest X Online (Wii)
• Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
• Monster Hunter 3/Tri G (3DS)

So, I have two things to apologize for. First, this week's Famitsu is unfortunately on the short side, as most of the articles were about stuff that we've covered before. The biggest chunk of the magazine was an in-depth wrap-up of this year's Tokyo Game Show, but as there was no new information, and many of the most promising games we've already featured in previous week's issues, we decided to leave it out. The second thing I have to apologize for is that I promised last week that this Famitsu would be released along with the new version of our website layout. I kinda lied. While this issue is late mostly due to hoping we could get the website up and running in time, it seems to not quite be ready yet. So, while I am also currently posting this on our new website as well, it's not quite ready for public consumption, so I'm posting this on this blog too, which will soon be the old blog.... hopefully. Good things come to those who wait, right? As soon as the new website is up, we'll be posting a notice here for it. We have lots of exciting content waiting for it, so look forward to it!

Submitted by: Sherrie Blackwell

Console Maintenance Tips from a Pro

Taking a break from our usual discussion about games, we thought we'd take a few moments to focus on the machines that play them. Here's a few helpful hints from a Gaming Expert on how to keep your consoles running at maximum efficiency!

Xbox 360- This one has quite a few idiosyncrasies to keep track of, first of which is to ALWAYS lay your console on its side. This allows for the hot air building up inside the system to escape the easiest. Since heat rises, if you have your console standing straight up the hard drive on top does not allow heat to escape, possibly leading to the system overheating and causing the 'Red Rings of Death'. Also, make sure you never put your system directly onto carpet, as that will also prevent proper ventilation from occurring. If you have something you can put under the system to elevate it a little ways off the floor, that's even better.

Second tip is to NEVER touch your console while it's playing, as this can lead to ringed discs. What happens is that when the console is moved or tilted while a game is being played, the disc gets knocked into the laser itself as it's reading the game. This is why these particular scratches are perfect circular rings, as well. While this type of scratch is repairable, it's difficult and there is not a 100% success rate, so it's best to take preventative measures!

Last tip for the 360: if you have an Intercooler or some other external cooling system on your Xbox, make sure that it has an external power source. Ones that draw power directly from the 360 itself have been known to possibly cause 'Red Rings' as well! Keep in mind that all of these tips are for the original 360's and Elites; it doesn't apply to the new slim models, as they are designed slightly differently. Although, it couldn't hurt to use these practices on the slim, just in case.

PS3- The PS3 is almost the exact polar opposite from the 360 in terms of proper maintenance. In order to get proper heat dispersion and ventilation, it should be standing up on its side, because the internal fans disperse most of the heat through the top of the system. Also, if you accidentally bump your system while it's playing, you don't have to scream in agony and prepare for a ringed disc; blu-ray discs are more resilient than DVDs, and are rather difficult to scratch. The internal drive of the PS3 is also set up differently, so the laser can't bump into the disc like it can in the 360.

While the PS3 doesn't ring discs, there is something important to keep in mind about the disc drive: when putting discs into the system, it's important not to force them in. Gently ease the disc in, and wait for the mechanism to grab it and pull it in on its own. Forcing the discs in and breaking the automatic feeding mechanism is the leading cause of disc drive failures, and the most common problem with the PS3.

It's also important to blow the dust out of the system on a regular basis, using an air compressor or canned air. You can also suck out dust with a hose vacuum gently placed on the side vents, if the dust bunnies have become dust elephants. Again, with the exception of the disc drive feeder, these practices are for the original models, and don't apply to the slim models, but again, it couldn't hurt.

While absolutely preventing all problems from ever happening is impossible with electronics, practicing these methods will greatly reduce the risk of a broken system. Remember though, that if for any reason you do end up having a problem with your system, whether it be a ringed disc or a broken feeding mechanism on a disc drive, we here at Level Up Video Games can fix it for you. However, while we are here for you, it's always better not to have to spend extra money. Hopefully, following these simple preventative measures will save you some cash!

Submitted by: Tom Ferko (Employee)

Get ready for some devastation

In less than one week, Devastation 2011, Arizona's largest gaming event, will take Phoenix by storm. From Oct. 7 - 9, the desert will rumble as competitors from all over will face off in various games such as Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Mortal Kombat, Soul Calibur 4, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Gears of War 3, Halo: Reach, FIFA Soccer 12, and Rock Band 3, to name a few.

Registration is still open and it's not too late if you wish to partake in the event. If you can't make it up to Phoenix this weekend, you can still check out the action via streamed broadcasts by Level Up Series, Beyond Gaming, and Team hAZmat at the following channels: TwitchTV/DEVEVENT, TwitchTV/DEVASTATIONEVENT, and TwitchTV/BeyondGaming. Keep an eye out for the broadcast schedules to be released soon.

Also, stay tuned after the event for a report on all of the action of the weekend.

This Week in Famitsu

WEEKLY FAMITSU #1190

Cover Story

The cover story this week, as you can obviously see, is Gears of War 3. That's great for Japan, as it just came out on the 22^nd of September here for them, a scant two days after the North American release. We hope that the general population of Japan enjoys the game as much as the reviewers of Famitsu seemed to have; Gears of War 3 scored a 39 out of 40, with three out of the four reviewers giving it a perfect 10. Perfect 40 scores from Famitsu are incredibly rare, with only a handful of games ever receiving such a high score, most of them classics of gaming; the original version of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is a good example of this. Being only one point off from a perfect score is less rare, but is still a worthy accomplishment, especially as Gears of War 3 is a 'Western' game, which traditionally aren't as well-received as the domestic ones here.

While this is great news for Japan, it's unfortunately not great news for us, or for you; Gears of War 3 is already out, and we assume that most of you are already furiously working on defeating the Locusts and Lambent. As such, that means that we don't really have much of a cover story this month, as you all already know all about it. Hopefully the shorter 'This Week in Famitsu' today will give you more time to play it.

Featured Game

Dragon Quest X Online (Wii): Dragon Quest is huge here in Japan, bigger than Final Fantasy even. In fact, Dragon Quest games are only allowed to be released on weekends here, by law, as the releases were affecting productivity at offices around the country. As such, it should be no surprise that news of the next installment of this beloved franchise has been eagerly awaited. The fans have finally gotten that news, but it's probably not anything like what they were expecting: Dragon Quest X is going to be an online only MMORPG, like World of Warcraft for those unfamiliar with the term. This could turn out to be either a huge hit for Square Enix, or a huge flop. After all, Final Fantasy XI was an MMORPG, and it was quite successful for them, with them still making money off of it to this day. Final Fantasy XIV, however, which was also released as an online only MMORPG to replace XI, was a huge flop. Huge, as in they haven't even been able to charge a monthly fee to play it yet because it's so messed up, huge. As such, there are some valid concerns the community has about Dragon Quest X. It being exclusive to the Wii, and having graphics only slightly better than the PS2 Dragon Quest VIII, are some of them. Still, with six races to choose from (Human, Ogre, Pukupo, Weddie, Elf, and Dwarf), and a huge world to explore, Dragon Quest X could overcome the odds and be wildly successful... if for no other reason than the fact that Japanese gamers can't live without their Dragon Quest.

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (3DS): Kingdom Hearts games are plentiful, as the games have truly become a series in their own right, almost rivaling Final Fantasy in popularity here in Japan. Unfortunately, this series tends to suffer from re-telling, re-releases, and ports, which is why we're happy to report that Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance is an entirely new game, with an all new story! Featuring both Sora and Riku as main, playable characters, this title promises not only a new story, but new worlds and new enemies as well! In addition to the normal Heartless, there are all new creatures called Dream Eaters. Well.... actually, the enemies are really called Nightmares, as Dream Eaters come in two varieties. The other kind, Spirits, are apparently good, and accompany and help Sora and Riku in their adventure. They are also kinda cute, which Square Enix seems to be aware of, as the game will have AR cards released with it that will allow you to play and interact with different types of Spirits, like some sort of fantasy Nintendog. Also hanging out in the game to help you out is an all-new character: Neku, from the World Ends With You, makes a cameo appearance in Kingdom Hearts 3D. With the game also supporting the 3DS Expansion Slide Pad, we're sure that this will be a big seller for the sometimes embattled 3DS. We know we're excited for it.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (3DS): There have been many debates on the internet recently over whether or not Japanese games are out of touch. Western developers are making bigger and better games, and Japan, which was once the undisputed leader of making any game worth anything, is now being questioned as to whether they can keep up with the times. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, there is no question that Japan once ruled supreme at making games, especially RPGs, and regardless of what's going on currently, there are still fans of those games. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy is for them. Famitsu's coverage on this brand new, original Square Enix RPG includes a short interview with the producer, who flat out admits that this game is for fans of Japanese RPGs. There's not a lot out about the game yet, beyond that you will play as a Warrior of Light trying to prevent the destruction of the world. Sounds.. incredibly stereotypical for a Square Enix game (old-school Final Fantasy games, anyone?), but there is something about this title that is catching everyone's attention: it will apparently use AR cards and the 'augmented reality' feature they utilize in the game. In fact, they used it already to promote it, by making an AR card that makes a girl appear in your room and plead with you to save her world. You can watch a video of the AR trailer below, and quite an interesting one it is. Famitsu included an AR card to be able to actually view the trailer in person, which I did. It was amazing how it actually was interacting in my room. Unfortunately, in order to watch the trailer, you also have to download a special app from the Japanese Virtual Console, otherwise we would've taken a picture of the AR card so all of you could have enjoyed it in person as well. Hopefully the video will suffice. Consider us intrigued at the possibilities AR cards could open up with the traditional Japanese RPG gameplay of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy.

Hardware Sales: Week of 9/5-9/11

• PS3 – 62,266 units
• 3DS – 49,191 units
• PSP – 23,352 units
• Wii – 9,130 units
• NDS – 2,748 units
• PS2 – 842 units
• 360 – 727 units

Top 5 Selling Games: Week of 9/5-9/11

• Tales of Xillia (PS3) – 512,544 units
• Resident Evil Revival Selection (PS3) – 76,638 units
• Grand Knights History (PSP) – 19,996 units
• Resistance 3 (PS3) – 19,255 units
• Monster Hunter Portable 3^rd HD Version (PS3) – 19,190 units

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games: Based on survey results from 9/8-9/14

• Final Fantasy: Type-O (PSP)
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
• Dragon Quest X Online (Wii)
• Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
• Dragon's Dogma (PS3)

And it looks like the PS2 outsold the 360 here in Japan for a month straight now. Does the mercy rule kick in anytime soon? We hope you enjoyed this week's Famitsu, and by the time we post next week's, the new website should be all rolled out....assuming all goes to plan. Look forward to the new website, with more new content, and as always, another 'This Week in Famitsu'!

Submitted by: Sherrie Blackwell

This Week in Famitsu

WEEKLY FAMITSU #1189

Cover Story

First of all, we hope the cover doesn't offend anyone. As this week is the Tokyo Game Show issue, they chose the most famous part of TGS to grace the cover: booth babes. If you are unfamiliar with booth babes, they are attractive models, usually found at game shows, that are hired to promote specific games and products. They sometimes dress in outfits from the game they are promoting, or even have demo portable game systems literally hooked to their bodies. They are also usually quite scantily dressed. Similar to E3 in recent years, which has cracked down on what booth babes are allowed to do, and how racy their outfits are allowed to be, Japan also has tried to regulate a dress code, but with mixed success. Regardless, TGS' booth babes are truly...ehem.....out there. For all to see.

TGS is, of course, already over, and the plethora of information released at that game show has already started its rotation around the internet. This particular issue of Famitsu came out the day before TGS started, so it's a preview of what the show would offer, as well as being a vicarious experience for those unlucky enough to have not been able to make it in person.

The theme of this year's show was 'GAME- Dancing Your Heart'. It's quite engrish-tastic. Famitsu helpfully provides not only the dates, location, times, and cost of the show (only about $15 bucks for a ticket day-of, if you were curious), but also a map of the easiest ways to get there by train, and a floor map of the event hall showing where each vendor's display booth was going to be located. It then goes on to list each of the major booths and what games they would be demoing. All the big names were there: Konami, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, Capcom, Bandai Namco, Koei Tecmo, Square Enix, and many others. It also has a highlight of the goods each booth sold, and the prices of each item, so you could plan out your purchases in advance. It even has a list of some of the freebies each booth gave out, and what you could win in various raffles at the show, so you could plan those out too. Sadly, they did not include a list of what the booth babes were wearing at the individual booths, so attendees had to find the hottest ones all on their own.

PSVita Games

Well, we've finally come to the end of Famitsu's weekly look at the new games coming out for the PSVita, leading up to its newly-announced release date of December 17^th here in Japan. They started out this last week by discussing a perennial favorite: a new Ridge Racer game. Ridge Racer is an insanely popular racing series here in Japan, and has quite the cult following in the States as well. There aren't too many details put out so far about this title, and the coverage Famitsu had was mostly just an interview with the creators. However, they did manage to show off some of the new courses, featuring resorts and night races through cities, as well as some more traditional outdoorsy courses. They also showed one of the new cars that will be available in it. All of this is rather irrelevant, however, since those who like Ridge Racer games will probably ecstatically buy this new iteration, even if there was nothing new in it whatsoever.

Also new for PSVita, but not a new series, is a new Katamari game! Katamari Stretched follows the same formula that made its brothers so successful: as the small, green, Prince of the Cosmos, you roll a ball around gathering up stuff, until it gets bigger and you can gather up bigger stuff, and then you just keep going. Let's just say it's more fun in person than what it sounds like. New to the PSVita version is the ability to stretch your katamari into different shapes, in order to allow for maximum rolling-up-crap capability. As the game is going to fully utilize the PSVita's unique features, such as the front and back touch panels, controlling the katamari should be easier and more fun than ever!

To satisfy your blood-craving, the uber-violent hack-and-slash action series Ninja Gaiden is coming to the Vita, with a port of Ninja Gaiden Sigma. It looks gorgeous on the system, from what we can tell from the screenshots; it doesn't seem to have lost any of the polish and shine it had in the original PS3 version. There is, of course, at least one new special feature to look forward to with this title, beyond the ability to take your ninja habit on the go: the port will utilize the PSVita's touch panels. Various things, from critical hits to Ninjitsu magic, will all utilize touch controls to add to the experience.

Also mentioned in this week's last Vita coverage is a new Ys, the long-running and respected RPG series. While there's not much information out about it yet, Famitsu believes that Ys: Woodland of Celceta is actually a remake of Ys IV, based on its subtitle. As this is the 25^th year since the series first released, it's likely that this will be a very special Ys, but it looks like we have a while to wait yet for its release, let alone any more information.

Famitsu also mentions other PSVita games coming out, in brief, such as a new Formula 1 Racing game, a new DJ Max rhythm game called DJ Max Technika Portable, a sudoku game, and a new bass fishing game called FISH ON. Exciting! The feature ends with what might be our most anticipated game for the Vita, however: Dragon's Crown. Made by Vanillaware (Odin Sphere, Muramasa, Grand Knights History), it's an action RPG you can play with up to 4 players of varying job classes and races. It's sort of like a side-scrolling, gorgeous Baldur's Gate. Famitsu has covered this game before in more depth, so the feature this time is short, but we always appreciate the ability to look at new screens for this gorgeous game.

With that, Famitsu's weekly feature on upcoming PSVita games is finished! We hope it made you hungry for the PSVita's release, December 17^th here in Japan, with an early 2012 release date expected in the States. We know we are excited!

Featured Games

Theaterhythm – Final Fantasy (3DS): Square Enix is releasing a new Final Fantasy game for the 3DS, but it's not quite what you'd expect from the RPG maker. This new Final Fantasy is actually a rhythm and music game, with RPG elements. The game allows you to select from anyone of the thirteen Final Fantasy games and its main character, and play through the games most memorable musical pieces. The game has field scenes set in dungeons and towns, and battle scenes that resemble the side-view battles of old-school Final Fantasy games. However, everything is played like a rhythm game, where you tap the screen in accordance with prompts. The game uses three kinds of musical notes/prompts: red notes you tap, yellow notes you swipe (up, down, left, right, and at diagonal angles), and green notes you hold. Where do the RPG elements come into this game, you ask? Characters attack when you hit notes and deal a critical hit if your timing is perfectly on beat. Miss notes and the HP meter in the top right drops a bit. As you progress through the game you will also gain experience points, allowing your chosen character to level up. So, there you have it, a Final Fantasy music game that's probably exactly like you imagined it would be. If you ever imagined an RPG rhythm game, that is...

Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright (3DS): This game takes place in a different universe from both the Professor Layton and Ace Attorney universes, otherwise our universe would explode if these two characters existed in the same place together. Both Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright, along with their respective assistants Luke and Maya, find themselves in a strange and mysterious medieval town known as Labyrinth City. The game has a combination of gameplay from both series, featuring the trademark puzzles of Professor Layton, as well as the trials from the Ace Attorney series. Layton has to solve the mysteries of the strange world, while Phoenix Wright has to defend a client in an actual witch trial. However, unlike the Ace Attorney games, Labyrinth City has an unorthodox legal system: "mob juries", which override the typical rules of court. The game will also feature fully-voiced anime-style cutscenes, a staple of the Professor Layton games but a first for the Ace Attorney series.

Weird Games Found Only In Japan 

Fab Style (DS/3DS): Fab Style mixes fashion store management with a dating sim. In Fab Style, you play as a young female student that has inherited her sister's fashion store. Since you are now in charge of the store, it is up to you to help the customers make clothing, makeup, and fashion choices. Customers will react to you based upon if they are satisfied by your service or not. Throughout the game you will also encounter a bevy of young, hot men, all of which want to date you, and you them. The big selling point of the dating sim part of the game, at least here in Japan, is that these guys are actually voiced by famous voice-actors. So, you too can live out your fantasy of dating a hot young Japanese voice-actor! Squeeee!

Hardware Sales: Week of 8/29-9/4

• 3DS – 55,264 units
• PS3 – 32,969 units
• PSP – 28,921 units
• Wii – 9,931 units
• NDS – 3,205 units
• PS2 – 964 units
• 360 – 830 units

Top 5 Selling Games: Week of 8/29-9/4

• Grand Knight's History (PSP) – 63,672 units
• Monster Hunter Portable 3^rd HD Version (PS3) – 55,346 units
• Sengoku Musou 3 Empires (PS3) – 23,186 units
• Everyone's Rhythm Heaven (Wii) – 21,044 units
• Devil Survivor: Overclocked (3DS) – 18,564 units

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games: Based on survey results from 9/1-9/7

• Final Fantasy: Type-O (PSP)
• Dragon Quest X Online (Wii)
• Persona 4: The Golden (Vita)
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
• Mario Kart 7 (3DS)

And it looks like the PS2 outsold the 360 here in Japan for the third week in a row. Someone at Microsoft Japan is probably going to have to commit ritual Japanese suicide over this. That's all for this week's Famitsu, we hope you enjoyed it! Make sure to check back next week!

Submitted by: Aaron McKeever & Sherrie Blackwell

Gamers decipher a years old AIDS mystery

It now seems that it's no longer a requirement to have a Ph.D in order to accomplish a major scientific breakthrough, you just need to be good at video games.

In an unprecedented feat, gamers used an online video game called Foldit to unravel the mystery of a key protein in the development of AIDS that's baffled scientists for more than a decade. The goal was to successfully create a 3D image of the structure of a retroviral protease, an enzyme from an AIDS-like virus that plays a key role in how it spreads.

Scientists fruitlessly wrestled with this problem for years, and in a Hail Mary play, gave groups of Foldit users three weeks to fashion an accurate model. After the allotted time, researchers compared the best submissions to the enzyme's crystallographic X-ray and found that one of the teams correctly created its structure in just 10 days.

Studying every angle of a protein via a 3D image is vital for Pharmacologists in understanding diseases and developing drugs to combat them. Constructing these representations is what Foldit's for.

Created in 2008 by University of Washington researchers, Foldit uses a video game-like setting and provides players with a set of online tools to compete with each other at decoding complex amino acid chains, which make up proteins. More stable structures are awarded higher points. The community has grown to more than 236,000 players since it started, and many of the gamers involved with the experiment had no background in biochemistry at all.

"People have spatial reasoning skills, something computers are not yet good at," Fold.it's lead designer and developer Seth Cooper said in a press release. "Games provide a framework for bringing together the strengths of computers and humans."

The weekly journal, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, published these findings in its Sept. 18 issue, lauding the players and researchers for their efforts.

The war on AIDS isn't over yet, but if gamers could crack an AIDS puzzle in less than three weeks, then give them about three months and we'll have warp drive and interstellar travel.

A Special Conversation: Fumita Ueda and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Part 4 (Final)

Finally, our journey together is at an end. With part 4 (links for parts 1, 2, and 3 are here, in case you need to catch up), the final installment, this special conversation between Fumita Ueda (Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian) and Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines, Space Channel 5, Child of Eden) is complete. We sincerely hope you enjoyed it, and that it gave you some things to mull over. At the very least, we hope it was interesting. Look forward to the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus collection coming out September 27th for PS3 (for those of you who missed it on the original PS2, shame on you), as well as Child of Eden coming out for PlayStation Move on the same day. Here's hoping that both Mizuguchi and Ueda have many long and prosperous years as game designers ahead of them.

“What was established with 'Genki Rockets' is continuing on in 'Child of Eden'.” 

~Tetsuya Mizuguchi

Ueda: When I tried playing Child of Eden recently, I really thought it was similar to what I've tried to do with my games, and my way of making them. Trying to make the game interface as simple and unobtrusive as possible, and making something that not only appeals to normal gamers, but broadens the audience to appeal to lots of different people, for example. On top of that, the balance you have between gameplay and visuals is amazingly good. It's not just interactive art, it's a very high-quality, complete game. I was once again impressed with the fact that more than being just an artist, you are a true game designer.

Mizuguchi: Thank you. I'm very flattered and honored that you think that.

Ueda: Did you personally make both the world view, the concept for the world in Child of Eden, and the plot for the game as well?

Mizuguchi: Yes, I made both the basis for the world view and the plot by myself, and put them down in writing. Then, as a producer, I had to sync the world view and the story with the actions of the music provided by Genki Rockets (ed. note: the music group responsible for most of the music in Lumines as well as Child of Eden). Of course, there were some things that weren't inspired by the music, but in general, I think I made the world and the story of Child of Eden with Genki Rocket's music in mind, so it fit together perfectly later.

Ueda: With something like Child of Eden, which is basically a shooting game with sound and images, there is of course a need for meaning, but not necessarily a huge necessity for an actual story. You must really like the story, if you were that particular about it, huh?

Mizuguchi: Heh, yeah I guess I was pretty particular about it, about all of Child of Eden actually. After all, when I made Rez 10 years ago, there were things that I wanted to express, to communicate, but due to various restrictions, specifications, and limitations, I couldn't. 10 years have passed since then, and I've realized that what I can do, regardless of anything else, is move people. I can stimulate their emotions, by making a game that connects them to music and conveys a little bit of a message while they're playing. It was something I tried to do in both Rez and in Space Channel 5, and I think I've finally learned how to do it. I feel that Child of Eden is continuing off of the things I learned and tried in those earlier games.

“I want young creators to have high aims.” ~Tetsuya Mizuguchi

Ueda: Mizuguchi-san, I think that game designers who can make games that appeal to everyone, not just game fans, are very few. In fact, you might be the only designer who accomplishes it at the level you do, so I really want you to continue making games with the same high level of motivation you've shown in all the work you've done so far.

Mizuguchi: Thank you very much. Personally, Ueda-san, I hope that you will surpass Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki; become a creator that gives dreams and touches people all over the world. I want you to become the best. I think that the works of art you make have the potential to change how games are viewed as entertainment.

Ueda: Oh....wow....I'm not sure if I deserve that, but thank you. It is true that the anime movies Miyazaki-san makes, while still being entertaining, also receive critical praise and are valued as examples of fine films. I do think it would be wonderful if games could achieve that sort of existence too, and be valued in the same way.

Mizuguchi: If we, the Japanese game industry, can find new ways of expressing and showing our culture, I'm sure our audience will spread, and gaming will become more accepted. I want that to happen, for our sake as well as for the future of gaming. So that happens, I especially hope that young creators, both existing now and coming soon, will have high aims and ambitions. Especially now, with the level of technology we have, there are really very few obstacles standing in the way of true expression anymore. In addition, when people around the world become more attentive of each other, we will be linked together more than ever before. Only if we have imagination, though, can we make this amazing world materialize.

Ueda: I agree, and I'm sure it will happen. For game designers, being able to use technology well is important, of course, but I feel that this generation is one that needs imagination more than anything else..... Speaking of imagination, Mizuguchi-san, you usually make 'arcade style' games, and I make games more for consoles, or 'consumer style' games, but I want to see some new people appear that can start making different types of games entirely, ones we can't even think of at this point. I think that will be interesting to see, if it happens.

Mizuguchi: Recently, with social gaming and such, many creators are making games and new forms of entertainment that tie people together, that have them form bonds over networks. I think that if there will be an entirely new type of game, it will happen in this sort of environment. I think now may be the chance for a whole new way of game development to be born, and I look forward to it.

Study shows that video game violence won't transform you into a murderer

The back and forth debate has raged on for years over whether or not violent video games can corrupt children's minds and transforms good kids into bad.

Recent research shows, however, that it's not the games that are mainly responsible for the negative effects experienced by some people from prolonged exposure, but rather the player's personality itself. These findings were presented to the American Psychological Association (via USA Today), in an effort to help bring clarity and answer questions that have troubled many parents concerning violence in video games.

“If you’re worried about a video game turning your son or daughter into a killer, don’t worry about that,” said psychologist Patrick Markey, co-author of the study published in the Review of General Psychology. “But is your kid moody, impulsive, or are they unfriendly? It’s probably not the best idea to have that child play violent video games.”

The study aimed to assess the hostility levels of 118 participants who played either a violent or a non-violent video game. Those who were highly neurotic or had low agreeableness and conscientiousness showed to be more adversely affected by playing violent video games. Individuals who didn't have these personality characteristics were virtually or completely unaffected.

A study published in Psychology of Violence, written by Paul Adachi of Brock University in St Catherines, Ontario, supports Markey's findings.

“It appears that competition in games is what may influence aggression, not the violent content,” Adachi said. “We found — irrespective of violent content — the two highly competitive games produced more aggressive behavior than the two less competitive games.”

Essentially, how someone responds to a video game is not determined by its level of violence but by the person's temperament.

This Week in Famitsu

WEEKLY FAMITSU #1188

Cover Story

By now, many of you have probably seen the new addition to Nintendo's 3DS: the so called slide-pad cradle expansion, with its extra analog thumbstick. Reportedly, the new addition will allow for more control with some of the new games coming out, as well as allowing third-party publishers to more easily port their games between the PSP Vita (which has dual-thumbsticks) and the 3DS. Unfortunately, as you can see from the image below.... it's pretty ugly. It's apparently more comfortable than it is pretty, but there's no denying that the jury is still out on whether or not the slide-pad is a good idea. Since there is such a controversy surrounding it, what better way to smooth things over with the nay-sayers than by releasing a new game for the 3DS that specifically uses it? Especially one of the most beloved game series in Japan?

That's where Monster Hunter Tri G comes in. One of the most popular games on the Wii is being ported over to the 3DS, with new features and additions in tow. According to the article, the new 3DS version will feature 12 weapon-wielding hunter classes, under-water battles, and a new huge monster to hunt. Exciting! There will also supposedly be online components, including local multiplayer. Of course, it is also supposed to utilize a control scheme that will take full advantage of the new nub attachment, and the 3DS' lower screen is ideal for displaying maps and other inventory control menus conveniently. 

Considering the popularity of the Monster Hunter series here in Japan, there's no doubt this will probably go a long way in pacifying Nintendo's Japanese fans. What they will do to pacify the rest of their fans world-wide, who are equally hesitant about the viability and visual appeal of the analog expansion cradle, remains to be seen.

PSVita Games

Famitsu continues on with its weekly in-depth look at the new games coming out for the PSVita, leading up to its newly-announced release date of December 17^th here in Japan.

One of the first things covered in week 3 of Famitsu's special feature is Ragnarok Odyssey, which appears to be an attempt to capitalize on the success of Monster Hunter and God Eater, as it's an open-world action game with online play support. Featuring six different character classes to choose from (Sword Warrior, Assassin, Hunter, Mage, Hammer Smith, and Cleric), it looks to be a fun enough game, if not wholly original in concept.

More exciting and original is Sumioni, literally ink demon. It's a 2D side-scrolling hack and slash game where you play as, surprise surprise, an ink demon! It's absolutely beautiful, with the art style made to resemble Japanese ink drawings. You can also draw new ink lines to help Sumioni in his journey, making new platforming paths for your little ink demon. It's very Okami-esque, what with the art style and the ability to draw new ink strokes. However, that is not a bad thing, by any means.

Shinobido 2, made by the developer of the Way of the Samurai and Tenchu series, Acquire, is another title coming to the PSVita. A single-player action game with ninjas seems like a sure bet for fun. Add in the fact that you will use the PSVita's touch screen capabilities for throwing ninja stars and various other ninja-esque activities, and we're sold.

Also mentioned in brief were Rayman Origins, a port of the new Rayman game coming out; Dark Quest Alliance, a Baldur's Gate style dungeon crawling game; and two music games, Lumines Electronic Symphony and Michael Jackson the Experience HD.

Featured Game

Beyond the Labyrinth (3DS): A joint effort between Tri-Ace and Konami, Beyond the Labyrinth is a new 'Dungeon RPG' coming out exclusively for the 3DS sometime in the future. It's visuals are gorgeous, and the environments seem to give off an almost ICO-like vibe. Also very ICO-like is the fact that you are journeying together with a young girl, but that's where the similarities end. You, as the player, are the one accompanying the young girl throughout her journey, and unlike Yorda in ICO, she isn't very quiet. In fact, she drags you along on the journey with her, sometimes physically changing your point of view to look at something she thinks is interesting. You do seem to have control over her actions in some fashion, and there are enemies to fight in true RPG style, but beyond that, well... we'll have to wait and see. Consider us intrigued by this new game, and if it really is anything like ICO, that'll just be icing on the already very beautiful cake that is Beyond the Labyrinth.

Weird Games Found Only In Japan

Moe Moe Daisensou Gendaiban Plus (PSVita): Moe Moe Daisensou Gendaiban was originally a PC game, that was then ported over to the original PSP, and is now getting an upgrade for the PSVita. It's a strategy simulation game, which doesn't seem all that worthy of making it 'Weird Game' worthy, until you look at what you play with: girls from around the world, who are all actually enhanced with weapons and jet parts. Yes, little jet-girls. You have a choice of girls from around the world, from Japan to America to Germany, and you can then upgrade and attach new weapons onto them to prepare for battle. The game boasts of having three distinctive parts to it, an adventure part, a simulation part, and a communication part. The 'adventure' comes from scenarios and story telling events you can participate in when you are not fighting battles. The 'simulation' is the actual main part of the game, the battles, and the 'communication' part supposedly covers getting to know the girls better.... and also gives you bonus points that you can use in customization. So...yes, we deemed that customizing little girls into fighter jets is 'Weird Game' worthy, and hopefully you agree with us.

Hardware Sales: Week of 8/22-8/28

• Nintendo 3DS – 57,927 units
• PlayStation 3 – 32,235 units
• PSP – 32,066 units
• Wii – 10,479 units
• Nintendo DS – 3,710 units
• PlayStation 2 – 1,028 units
• Xbox 360 – 938 units

Top 5 Selling Games: Week of 8/22-8/28

• Monster Hunger Portable 3^rd HD Version (PS3) – 282,960 units
• Black Rock Shooter THE GAME (PSP) – 108,716 units
• Mobile Suit Gundam: New Giren's Ambition (PSP) – 74943 units
• Sengoku Musou 3 Empires (PS3) – 70,488 units
• Shin Sangoku Musou 6 Special (PSP) – 28,598 units

Top 5 Most Anticipated Games: Based on survey results from 8/25-8/31

• Final Fantasy: Type-O/Agito (PSP)
• Dragon Quest X Online (Wii)
• Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
• Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
• Photo Kano (PSP)

And it looks like the PS2 outsold the 360 here in Japan for the second week in a row. That's really got to hurt bad, especially when they didn't even sell a 1,000 units in the entire country of Japan this last week. Poor Microsoft. In any case, that's all for this weeks Famitsu, we hope you enjoyed it! Make sure to check back next week!

Submitted by: Sherrie Blackwell