It has already one week after Catherine officially released for US Region and 200.000 retail copy has already been sold (We are talking about the PS3 Version here). That's a nice one actually. With dark, full of lust theme like that, it is surprised that the game is so successful outside of Japan market and even more that Americans love Catherine.
Atlus gloats over Catherine’s success in North America:
“Catherine has exceeded our highest expectations.
It released last week to tremendous critical acclaim and fan response, bolstered by the release of a demo a couple weeks prior, and continues to generate discussion among fans for its mature themes, engrossing subject matter, and frantic, challenging gameplay.
It is fitting, then, that Catherine can boast the largest launch in the 20-year history of Atlus, and continues to see strong sales at retail.”
For those of you unlucky one who doesn't know what Catherine is all about. The story follows as Vincent, a man recently succumbed to the irresistible beauty of the game's titular diversion, players find themselves swept into a treacherous love triangle. Catherine's core themes those of free will, of the delicate nature of relationships and the choices we make within them, marry perfectly with the intense, terrorfilled gameplay that serves to accurately reflect Vincent's growing sense of anxiety. It is an experience wholly unlike any to come before it, and is certain to leave gamers talking and thinking about Vincent's tribulations long after the credits have rolled.
Catherine receive a positive reception as shown on any Major game reviewer give above average score.
IGN 9/10
Gamespot 8.5/10
Famitsu 35/40
EuroGamer 9/10
Definitely a quench your thirst of good game for one who feel bored cause of only shooter game offered by company for the last months. And with that much success, Atlus has confirmed that Catherine will be one of their Franchise. Not bad eh, maybe Jenniffer or Stephanie for the next game.
Sony, the former king of Home Console Game, maybe for now at least, the crown of Home Console Sony in the past own has been snatched by Microsoft. But nonetheless, Sony is still one of the main power in gaming industry, maybe they could regain their Crown Once again.
Why?
There is something that Sony is superior than other game company. What is that?
Their sheer number of game studio. Sony own a lot of first party developer, something Nintendo or Microsoft could compete. Not too say other developer they acting as their exclusive partner.
Here are the list of studio fully owned by Sony,Headed up by Shuhei Yoshida, the global development group is responsible for dozens of the most acclaimed and lucrative games in the business.
Japan
SCE Japan Studio (includes Team Ico and Team Siren) – Ape Escape, Siren, LocoRoco, Patapon, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian
Polyphony Digital – Gran Turismo series, Motor Toon Grand Prix 2, Tourist Trophy, Omega Boost
United States
Naughty Dog – Crash Bandicoot series, Jak and Daxter series, Uncharted series
SCE Santa Monica Studio – Kinetica, God of War series, Warhawk with Incognito Entertainment
SCE San Diego Studio – NBA: The Inside, MLB: The Show, ModNation Racers
SCE Bend Studio – Syphon Filter, Resistance: Retribution, Uncharted: Golden Abyss
SCE Foster City Studio
Zipper Interactive – SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs series, MAG
Sucker Punch Productions[3] - inFamous, inFamous 2, Sly Cooper series
Europe
SCE London Studio (includes Team Soho) – SingStar, EyeToy, PlayStation Home with SCE Studio Cambridge
SCE Cambridge Studio – MediEvil, PlayTV, Killzone PS Vita, PlayStation Home with SCE London Studio
SCE Studio Liverpool – Wipeout, F1
Evolution Studios – MotorStorm series, World Rally Championship
Bigbig Studios – Pursuit Force, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, Little Deviants
Guerrilla Games – Killzone series
Media Molecule – LittleBigPlanet series
Novarama – Invizimals, Reality Fighters
Tarsier Studios – Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic, LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
Double Eleven Limited - LittleBigPlanet PS Vita
There is one other studio Sony used to own. That is Incognito studio famous for its Twisted Metal series. Unfortunately, they disbanded the company in 2009.
Well, that's much I think enough to give you the picture how formidable Sony is with its Playstation brand.
With how they now trying to reach Cellphone and Tablet market with its Playstation Certified brand, sure Sony has prepare something in their sleeve. That's why buying slightly overpriced Sony Tablet is wiser than buying superior-overpowered-ipad-clone when Android isn't even on the graphic level of iOS, not to say Playstation Vita.
Gust and Idea Factory are teaming up for a dream collaboration, an Atelier series otome game. Yep, it is OTOME or something like for GIRLS.
As the owner of PSP and a heavy fan of JRPG (JRPG is my most favorite genre too), when I heard that the new Atelier series is to be released for PSP, words cannot describe how happy I am (a bit of hyperbola). Well, that's not a surprise, since the release of Atelier Rorona in PS3, Atelier is one of the traditional JRPG series that you can't be underestimate anymore, ultimately because the ultra-Moe (If you don't know what Moe means, juts think of it as cute) appearance of the girl, so I thought this one too will provide me with new imagination material (no Pervert stuff okay).
The title is Atelier Elkrone, and the main character is a girl named Mary. One day she meets a fairy at her grandmothers atelier studio and the text adventure begins. Well, abit different since usually the main character of the game is the same as the title like how Rorona bacome the main character of Atelier Rorona and how Meruru become main heroine of Atelier Meruru. It is almost unusual for a main character to be a female, but it kinds of usual thing for Atelier series so I guess I can keep up with this one too until I read the plot summary. And guess what, the story is about how Mary and her six suitors to date.
Well if you a girl, this game might be perfectly fine for you. A solid gameplay and handsome boy all at your service. But it seems wrong for a healthy male like me to play this game. So I guess I must let this one off the hook. Anyway, you will still find the essence of Alchemy. Player will gather and mix materials (it is still unclear whether an item called "love potion" is available to create). But this game will set in different world than usual Atelier series, so finding Rorona, Totori, and Meruru is impossible this time.
At the very least, Square Enix announced fixed date for release of Final fantasy Type-0 Japan Retail Version. To Keep you happy, Square Enix launch another Trailer too.
Enjoy it
Unfortunately for people like me who are blind enough not to understand what Japanese text is, there are still no clear date for US version.
But hi, at least Square Enix won't dissapoint their fan, not like some company.
Not so long after Nintendo decide not to make US version for several game. Many plead them to change their decision, among other things, a letter-writing campaign hoping to bring Japanese Wii games like The Last Story, Pandora's Tower, and Xenoblade to the U.S. Nintendo already politely declined on its Facebook page. That's not the only nice way it's saying no.
What Nintendo write in their letter is pretty much the same as their response in their Facebook page.
Still, for my myself it is rather depressing for not seeing this game in US Version. I really like JRPG but unfortunately i can't read Japanese. Therefore it would a shame to miss every single one of that game.
What a mystery is why Nintendo didn't decide to make that game available in US market, what they need is just several translator (or 1 is enough, just working them to the bone. giggle!) and Hi, they earn extra dollar. Not so much of hassle for me.
Hopefully those people will still continue their pressure. With enough pressure, "No" can become "maybe".
