[Takao]

Trailer

Sequel to the first LBX/Danball Senki/Cardboard Wars/whatever for PSP. Two separate SKUs, one for PSP, and one for Vita set for release in Japan on September 27. Both versions will be released at retail for ¥4,980, and as a download for ¥4,480. For the first time in the franchise's (1 game) history there will be combining robots, as well as the ability to play as both lead characters Ban and Hiro.

[Phife Dawg]

*crickets*

Will they bring over the franchise (anime, manga and toys I guess) to the west? Inazuma 11 was quite successful. But then again PSP is dead in the west and PSV is not at an attractive price point for the kid demographic (yet?).

[Takao]

*crickets* Will they bring over the franchise (anime, manga and toys I guess) to the west? Inazuma 11 was quite successful. But then again PSP is dead in the west and PSV is not at an attractive price point for the kid demographic (yet?).

Yes, the anime is coming. There's a dub airing in Asia right now, but that's solely for the Asian market. There's a separate dub in production in Canada that'll be distributed internationally sometime next year. Bandai has signed up to be the toy licensee as well.

As for the games, the first PSP game was ported to the 3DS. However, W is on Vita and PSP. Who knows what exactly Level-5 is doing with this franchise. The 3DS port shouldn't be released in Japan (because that'll be the third release of the first game in a year), and W should be PSP/3DS instead of Vita.

[Jinfash]

It looks really nice. I wonder if they can somehow offer cross-play MP (are there any Vita/PSP cross-play titles on the market to begin with? is it even possible?)

However it's hard to muster excitement for titles that may never be released in the West.

[Takao]

It looks really nice. I wonder if they can somehow offer cross-play MP (are there any Vita/PSP cross-play titles on the market to begin with? is it even possible?) However it's hard to muster excitement for titles that may never be released in the West.

I'm not sure if Level-5 has confirmed cross platform multiplayer, but I believe that is possible. I think Lord of Apocalypse supported PSP <-> Vita multiplayer, not 100% sure though.

[Jinfash]

I think Lord of Apocalypse supported PSP <-> Vita multiplayer, not 100% sure though.

If I'm not mistaken it didn't, at least according to Keiichan. But if it's possible it should be leveraged. SE was stupid to overlook that possibility, then again they were rushing LoA for launch.

[Takao]

If I'm not mistaken it didn't, at least according to Keiichan. But if it's possible it should be leveraged. SE was stupid to overlook that possibility, then again they were rushing LoA for launch.

Ah yeah you're right. I just got confused on the fact that if you downloaded the PSP version of Lord of Apocalypse on Vita instead of the Vita version you could play with PSP players, lol.

I'm not certain how important multiplayer is to this series. The 3DS port has made it a point to show off improved multiplayer capabilities, but that's largely because that's the only difference between it and the PSP versions.

[Green Slime]

Wasn't the 3DS port done so they could bring it to the West? I thought that was the reason.

[Takao]

Wasn't the 3DS port done so they could bring it to the West? I thought that was the reason.

It certainly should have been the reason. I'm just of the opinion that releasing the port in Japan will probably do more harm than good. It's also sending mixed messages when the sequel is on PSP, and Vita but not 3DS.

[Phife Dawg]

Yes, the anime is coming. There's a dub airing in Asia right now, but that's solely for the Asian market. There's a separate dub in production in Canada that'll be distributed internationally sometime next year. Bandai has signed up to be the toy licensee as well. As for the games, the first PSP game was ported to the 3DS. However, W is on Vita and PSP. Who knows what exactly Level-5 is doing with this franchise. The 3DS port shouldn't be released in Japan (because that'll be the third release of the first game in a year), and W should be PSP/3DS instead of Vita.

Ah it could become pretty successful I'd wager (at least I would've been all over it as a kid).

Franchise handling really sounds odd, either stay exclusive (no port of old games) or go multi-plat completely (PSP/3DS/PSV) imo.

[Aru]

Tri-Ace "doomed" to be an outsourcing contractor confirmed ?

[Li Kao]

Man, these last few years have really been heartbreaking for jrpg fans in the west. Oh so many unlocalized things, it feels as if we took a step back of several years, when the only option consisted of fantasizing about an import review...
Well, in this case there is still a chance to see this game I presume. A tiny chance, but it is still bigger than dozens of other titles.

What do you think of the game fellow Japanese Gaffers ? Is it good ?

[Kuro Madoushi]

blech
robots
miniaturized
mamoru

fuck it

[batbeg]

Tri-Ace "doomed" to be an outsourcing contractor confirmed ?

tri-Ace doomed to developing Japan-only games confirmed :(

[Takao]

Tri-Ace "doomed" to be an outsourcing contractor confirmed ?

Better off being an outsourcing contractor than a studio who does absolutely nothing.

[Parallax]

Stop fucking with me takao. I speed read the title and thought it was a western release.

[Aru]

Better off being an outsourcing contractor than a studio who does absolutely nothing.

Well, sure, but Tri-Ace made some of the best action based RPG battle systems since the last generation. Some of their games were hated by a lot of people, but few would say the battle systems of these games were bad:
- Valkyrie Profile 2 Silmeria
- Star Ocean Till The End of Time
- Star Ocean: The Last Hope
- Resonance of Fate

[Takao]

This is an action RPG.

I was mostly referring to them needing work. Their games with Konami bombed, and it doesn't seem Square Enix is in a hurry to make SO5.

[yurinka]

I think both TriAce and Level 5 deserve a respect, the game will be good.
Looks great for Japanese kids, but I'm too old for this.

[lunchwithyuzo]

Did tri-Ace develop LBX1 as well? I've noticed Level 5 has started outsourcing more, h.a.n.d. developed GirlsRPG and Shade develops the Inazuma Eleven Strikers games.

[lunchwithyuzo]

This is an action RPG. I was mostly referring to them needing work. Their games with Konami bombed, and it doesn't seem Square Enix is in a hurry to make SO5.

SE used them for FFXIII-2, so no doubt they're back on board for FFXIII-3.

[Mpl90]

SE used them for FFXIII-2, so no doubt they're back on board for FFXIII-3.

Don't make me remember Square is really trying to kill in the worst way possible such a big brand like FF.

[Takao]

Did tri-Ace develop LBX1 as well? I've noticed Level 5 has started outsourcing more, h.a.n.d. developed GirlsRPG and Shade develops the Inazuma Eleven Strikers games.

As far as I can tell the first was developed internally at Level-5. Probably why it took 3 years to make a PSP game.

I wouldn't be shocked to find out that the LBX team went directly to work on Gundam AGE while Level-5 sent off W to Tri-Ace.

[Boogdud]

Sweet another cool robot game that we'll never see.

If I had the choice between only a jaggy downgraded 3ds port and no version at all (I'd want it on vita), I'll take the latter.

[GhostTrick]

Sweet another cool robot game that we'll never see. If I had the choice between only a jaggy downgraded 3ds port and no version at all (I'd want it on vita), I'll take the latter.

Lol. Downgraded port ? This is wrong + how can you prefer have nothing ?

[Mpl90]

Lol. Downgraded port ? This is wrong + how can you prefer have nothing ?

The eyes! No one cares for the poor eyes!!!

[lunchwithyuzo]

As far as I can tell the first was developed internally at Level-5. Probably why it took 3 years to make a PSP game. I wouldn't be shocked to find out that the LBX team went directly to work on Gundam AGE while Level-5 sent off W to Tri-Ace.

Makes sense, though it's still a little odd for L5 to hand off their #4 franchise like this. And Gundam Age is going to bomb so hard, lol.

Sweet another cool robot game that we'll never see. If I had the choice between only a jaggy downgraded 3ds port and no version at all (I'd want it on vita), I'll take the latter.

My guess is Bandai publishes (only) the 3DS LBX1 in 2013 to coincide with the show's release, so you really will have to decide between 3DS or nothing.

[Takao]

It's not downgraded, but the 3DS port certainly isn't upgraded in the visuals. It looks identical to the PSP releases, and outside of some new robots, and expanded multiplayer it is just LBX Boost.

[Boogdud]

Sorry, yeah, I realize it's not a 'downgrade', just a poor choice of words. I'd rather have the better version, than trying to play it on the 3ds personally.

[Takao]

Sorry, yeah, I realize it's not a 'downgrade', just a poor choice of words. I'd rather have the better version, than trying to play it on the 3ds personally.

The 3DS game is a port of the first game in the series. LBX W is the sequel to that game. The series release history so far:

- Little Battlers eXperience (PSP -2011)
- Little Battlers eXperience Boost (PSP -2011)
- Little Battlers eXperience Explosive Boost (3DS -2012)

- Little Battlers eXperience W (PSP/Vita -2012)

There's also been a 2D cellphone game, an arcade game, and there's a smartphone game in development.

[The Mana Legend]

Jesus, I really hope this is a big hit for tri-Ace. After how unbelievably Konami screwed them over with Beyond the Labyrinth, I'm really hoping Level-5 does not do the same.