eternal-sonata posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Rumor: Microsoft exclusivity deals funding PS3 development in Japan

by Ben Gilbert { Sep 16th 2009 at 6:00PM }

What do Vampire Rain, Tales of Vesperia, Lost Planet, Eternal Sonata and Enchanted Arms all have in common? Aside from being developed in Japan, every one of them landed on the Xbox 360 "exclusively" first, only getting ported (sometimes with additional content) to the PlayStation 3 a year or so later. One Japanese developer claims the exclusivity agreements are being used in lieu of financial help from Sony for game development -- essentially saying that Japanese developers are using Microsoft's capital to develop temporarily exclusive 360 games with the intention of inexpensively porting the games to PS3 later on.

"It was easier developing for the Xbox 360 ... if you sign an exclusive contract with Microsoft (you won't release it on other hardware for a year or similar), they will give you a lot of cash for development," read a Japanese developer's post (the original post has since been removed), translated by Sankaku Complex (site NSFW). "As a result, first you develop for the Xbox, reducing development costs. But the Xbox version won't sell [in Japan]. So they port it to the PS3 ... it's cheaper as you already have the game done."

Though they didn't work on it, the developer claims to have seen this policy in practice with Tales of Vesperia. As Kotaku points out, it's quite possible that the dev did see such a practice on Vampire Rain, a game the mystery developer says they worked on.

Eternal Sonata gets European release date

by Andrew Yoon { Jan 13th 2009 at 10:00AM }

Arriving five months later than the US counterpart (and 17 months after the Xbox 360 version), Eternal Sonata will finally make its appearance on PS3 in Europe this February. This cel-shaded JRPG tells a unique story about Chopin. The PS3 version includes content not found in the original Xbox 360 release.

We're not sure why it took so long, but it's finally coming out. Check for Eternal Sonata on store shelves February 13th.

Worldwide PS3 releases for the week of October 19th

by Jem Alexander { Oct 19th 2008 at 10:00AM }

Even though the release list for this week is painfully long (for our wallets, at least), we can't help but feel that something is missing ... Nevermind. When you see this week's releases you'll have no trouble putting the week-long delay of LittleBigPlanet at the back of your mind. There are literally too many to choose from -- and this is just one week's worth of games. Here's the full release list:

US Games

EU Games

Far Cry 2 (Collector's Edition available at GAME)
Dead Space
MotoGP 08
Midnight Club: Los Angeles
Spider Man: Web of Shadows
Monopoly
Blitz The League II

Asian Games

NBA Live 09

Release dates are constantly subject to change, so be sure to check with your local store if you're uncertain. Also, feel free to import your games from other regions -- your PS3 loves exotic food. But keep in mind that DLC always needs to be purchased from the corresponding region. So if you have a US copy of Rock Band 2 you're going to be buying your tracks from the US PSN Store.

TGS 08: Eternal Sonata trailer

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 10th 2008 at 6:30PM }

It isn't too long until PS3 owners can get their hands on ~~Trusty Bell~~ Eternal Sonata. We're hoping that the PS3 version, which includes a significant number of extras over the 360 original, will do exactly one thing: explain what the heck a Trusty Bell is. The original game had absolutely no bells at all -- that's pretty untrustworthy to us.

Eternal Sonata confirmed for Europe in February 2009

by Alan Tsang { Oct 6th 2008 at 2:00PM }

Looks like Eternal Sonata is finally headed Europe's way this upcoming February, one year and four months after the release of the Xbox 360 version of the title. No exact date was announced, but we'll let you know as soon as that information becomes available.

Namco Bandai promises more than just a straight port of the game: players who are willing give this title a chance will be treated to exclusive quests, multiple endings, new playable characters Crescendo and Serenade, new costumes and additional tunes from famed Polish composer Frederic Chopin. Still on the fence about this JRPG? Check out our hands-on impressions with the demo here. Are these new extras enticing enough for you to purchase a port of a game that's more than a year old?

[Via press release]

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

PSN Thursday: The Rapture of demos

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 2nd 2008 at 6:30PM }

This week's PSN update brings some nice demos for those PlayStation owners who truly shun all things Xbox 360. The BioShock and Eternal Sonata test drives are now available, along with snippets of NBA 2k9 and Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. In addition, The PixelJunk Eden soundtrack can be purchased for $3, and there's an NBA Live 365 add-on for NBA LIVE 09. The full list of this week's update is after the break.

Would you kindly head over to PS3 Fanboy to find out what's in this week's European PSN update?

Continued →

25 brand new Eternal Sonata screenshots

by Majed Athab { Oct 2nd 2008 at 4:30PM }

Click for high-res image

We've got 25 brand new screenshots of the English, PS3 version of Eternal Sonata. Most of the new images in our gallery below are pics of the pseudo real-time battle system in action. If you're interest in hearing more about that, check out our short hands-on with the Japanese demo; otherwise, hit up our gallery. The game will be out on October 21.

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

PS3 Fanboy hands-on: Eternal Sonata

by Majed Athab { Sep 29th 2008 at 5:00PM }

Eternal Sonata will be out in North America in a little over three weeks from now. Those of you who've held out getting the original title on the 360 are probably looking forward to that Oct. 21 date, but how does playing the game right now on your PS3 sound? Sounds good, doesn't it? Well you can download a newly released demo off the Japanese PS Store if you wish and see how things look on the PS3. While you wait for your 600MB download to finish, why not have a short read of our demo impressions to help get you through it?

Anyway, if you've been interested in this title, you might have played it on a friend's 360 or perhaps tried out the XBL demo previously. If you've played it before, you'll notice right away that the game on PS3 looks exactly the same as the original. In other words, it still looks incredibly beautiful with its rich colors and crisp, sharp graphics. Also, if you've already tried out the 360 demo, you'll notice that this new Japanese one is practically a carbon copy -- it follows Allegretto, Polka and Beat on a trip through Tenuto Village and the Heaven's Mirror Forest. So if you've tried it out before, then there's nothing new here for you -- unless you want to make comparisons between versions. For those who've never played Eternal Sonata, you should definitely make some time to try this demo out and continue reading after the break.

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

Continued →

Eternal Sonata coming to stateside PS3s Oct. 21

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 13th 2008 at 11:30AM }

Namco-Bandai recently slapped an official U.S. release date on the PS3 version of Eternal Sonata, the former Xbox 360 exclusive RPG that conducted its way into our hearts nearly a year ago. While you're attempting to choose between The Joker or Jack Sparrow for your Halloween costume (very, very original, by the way), your attention may be diverted by the Chopin-tastic adventure, which will be landing on stateside pee-ess-threes on October 21. Considering the title will have been out for 13 months by then, we're not sure what fresh insight we could possibly add to the conversation, so we'll settle for an endorsement -- Eternal Sonata is the best musician-centric title since 50 Cent: Bulletproof.

Eternal Sonata hits US on Oct. 21

by Majed Athab { Sep 12th 2008 at 9:30PM }

Eternal Sonata brought the charming sound of Chopin onto the Xbox 360 late last year; meanwhile on the other side of the console pond, PS3 owners waited with the utmost patience, just waiting for the title to cross over -- which it did. Then came the waiting for an official date, which will officially be over once you finish reading the next sentence ... or the headline.

The game will be out this October 21. That's four days shy of being exactly 13 months apart from the original release on 360. We're seeing shades of 2K's BioShock here, given the whole year difference. In any case, PS3 owners who so dearly wish to muck up the deceased composer's life can do so next month.

Eternal Sonata PS3 US-bound by Fall

by Majed Athab { Jul 15th 2008 at 3:15PM }

After a long bout of denial, Namco finally confesses to an English language version of Eternal Sonata for the PS3. Formerly an Xbox 360 exclusive, the PS3 version will include brand-new content such as new cut scenes and characters.

Playable characters include Serenade and Crescendo, and players can now customize the look of members of their party with a variety of new outfits. New dungeons and different endings should add some flair to a tried-and-tested J-RPG. Eternal Sonata is set for a Fall release for North America.

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

Eternal Sonata coming to PS3 this Fall

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 15th 2008 at 1:10PM }

Namco Bandai finally fessed up to the existence of an English language version of Eternal Sonata at E3 this year. The upcoming PS3 version will add tons of new features over the Xbox 360 original, such as new cutscenes and characters. Playable characters include Serenade and Crescendo, and players can now customize the look of members of their party with a variety of new outfits. There are also new dungeons and different endings.

Players can expect Eternal Sonata on their PS3s this Fall.

Gallery: Eternal Sonata

Eternal Sonata added to UK DS3 compatibility list

by Jem Alexander { Jul 11th 2008 at 10:30PM }

It was a sad day indeed when the rumor that Eternal Sonata might not see the light of day outside of Japan. Thankfully, that rumor may be just another one to stick on the "Not Gonna Happen" pile, as the game has been spotted on the official UK DualShock 3 compatibility list. The list itself was updated on July 8th, only two days ago, along with a whole host of games including some which are due to come out in the next year or so, such as Edge Of Twilight and Brutal Legend.

Does this mean it's headed West at some point in the future? Our guess is yes, which really makes our day (as if the iPhone launch wasn't enough). Hopefully an official announcement will be made by Namco Bandai soon. Wait, what's that just around the corner? E3? Fingers crossed.

[Via PS3Forums]

Eternal Sonata hits Japan in September, features tons of new content

by Andrew Yoon { Jun 26th 2008 at 5:30PM }

The PS3 version of Trusty Bell (also known as Eternal Sonata in the States) is hitting Japan on September 18th, more than a year after its original release on Xbox 360. Sales of the 360 original were respectable, but it's clear that the PS3 version will attract a largest audience, especially in the RPG-hungry Japanese territory.

To make up for the long delay, new content will be exclusive to the PS3 release. New event scenes, which flesh out the story, will be thrown on the Blu-ray disc. A new quest will be added, and unlike the original release of the game, there will be multiple endings. This new "director's cut" should alleviate some of the biggest complaints about the original. Joystiq's Alexander Sliwinski had this to say about the ending of the original Eternal Sonata: "It was like the team gave up, knew they still had to pack in a 40 hour experience and just rushed through the rest. And unless you're a pretentious philosophy major, the ending makes no kinds of sense."

While the PS3 version of Eternal Sonata is confirmed for release this year, the fate of a potential US release has been undetermined.

Rumor: PS3 Eternal Sonata for Japan only

by Majed Athab { Jun 2nd 2008 at 8:00PM }

Speaking with Videogaming247, the US branch of Namco Bandai said that the PS3 version of Eternal Sonata will most likely not be released outside Japan. "I can't speak for any other territories, but I believe Eternal Sonata is only announced for the PS3 in Japan right now," said the Namco rep. "We have no plans to release the game on the PS3 in the US at this moment."

We haven't heard much about the RPG and Xbox 360 timed exclusive since the announcement of a PS3 port last year. We guess this explains why.