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[SapientWolf]

Anyone who is really interested in Reginleiv should check out Sandlot's other games. In the US, the only title available would be Earth Defense Force 2017 (Earth Defense Force 3) for Xbox 360.

With Sandlot, you're going to get:
- Low framerate visually simple and ugly action
- Loot farming to be able to tackle the insane higher difficulties
- Tons and tons of bad guys to kill
- Satisfying push button to destroy bad guy combat.

The game is less than ten dollars at any store that carries it.

In Europe, you can check out Global Defence Force, which is for PS2 and is a localization of Earth Defence Force 2. (Pre-EDF Sandlot made RAD Robot Alchemic Drive which you might still be able to find in the US if you look hard)

They make great games but their engines leave something to be desired. A Sandlot game in the Frostbite (Bad Company) or Geomod 2.0 engine (Red Faction: Guerilla) would melt faces.

Barring jaw dropping visuals, I would settle for average graphics and a 60fps framerate.

 

[Neon_Icarus]

I read through the interview.

Here are some things I picked up.


Setting:

- At first a variety of setting were considered. For example: medieval Japan
(with a samurai main character) and modern day (starring a high school boy)

- Scandinavian mythology was eventually chosen over Greek mythology because
it was felt that the audience didn't have as much of a set image of what
the gods and creatures are supposed to look like.

- However this very fact led to a very long period of trial and error concerning
the character designs. Sometimes motion capture had to be done for a character
even before the character design was done.

- Especially the giants took long, because you fight them so much during the game.

- Because Sandlots previous games were set in cities, they found creating
a natural landscape very difficult. Scandinavian nature was researched
to create an authentic atmosphere.

- When piled up, the script for the game is more than 10 centimeters thick.

- There is more than an hour of cut-scenes.


Gameplay

- The giants will keep on coming after you even if they lose limbs. If they
lose both legs, they will crawl.

- Increasing the difficulty doesn't only affect the strength of the enemies
but also their AI.

- The NPCs (like the serfs and other warriors) also adapt to situations.
For example, they will shout different things according to how far away
the enemies are.

- Because Sandlot didn't want the NPCs to shout the same things all the time,
more and more lines were added in. In the end, the voice recording for the
game lasted more than three months.

- It was Nintendo who asked Sandlot to add in Wifi-play, and Classic Controller
and Motion Plus support. Iwata personally phoned Sandlot regarding Motion Plus.

- In the beginning of development about a 100 weapons were planned. But
as the developers kept on trying different things with the Wii-remote,
the number of weapons ballooned up to over 300.


The age rating

- A lot of anxiety was felt over the high age rating. Sandlot tried decreasing
the gore and removing some of the dismemberment. But they felt that
making it less realistic would actually hinder the gameplay.

(Note: It is not implied that it was Nintendo who would have wanted a lower
age rating)

- In the end the graphic violence was kept. In order to not glorify violence,
the players role as the protector of the people was emphasized instead.
This also fit the spirit of the original Scandinavian mythology.

 

[-WindYoshi-]

details

This game sounds awesome... I just hope among other things, that the three months of voice overs doesn't keep this in Japan.

 

[Luckydude23]

Sounds badass. Ive heard that in terms of action Sandlot makes some have action games. From impressions in other thread, It sounds awesome.

 

[ivysaur12]

That's sounds so awesome.

Pleaaaase release this in the west. I need most Sandlot lovin'.

 

[bdouble]

That does sound awesome. Plus from the weapon tutorial having 300 weapons is so so so awesome.

 

[onipex]

Release in the west or I will burn down all the Nintendo stores. You have been warned.

 

[Kobun Heat]

For all the people asking for this to be released in the West, let's wait and see if it's actually, you know, good. Let's pick our battles here. 8/7/7/6 from Famitsu usually means it's a 6. But we'll know for sure in a few days.

 

[wRATH2x]

• New Nintendo imprint a la Miramax/Touchstone
• Bring over the black cases for Teen/Mature titles
• Nintendo distribution and marketing muscle
• Success?

Thats a great idea!

Why won't Nintendo do this?

 

[Grampa Simpson]

• New Nintendo imprint a la Miramax/Touchstone
• Bring over the black cases for Teen/Mature titles
• Nintendo distribution and marketing muscle
• Success?

I like this idea. I also like the idea of them publishing titles for more smaller developers. Too bad that I don't think it will ever happen.

 

[Vagabundo]

The game sounds brill....

It is certainly impossible swing (laughs)

It certainly is..

 

[Luigiv]

I read through the interview.

Here are some things I picked up.


Setting:

- At first a variety of setting were considered. For example: medieval Japan
(with a samurai main character) and modern day (starring a high school boy)

- Scandinavian mythology was eventually chosen over Greek mythology because
it was felt that the audience didn't have as much of a set image of what
the gods and creatures are supposed to look like.

- However this very fact led to a very long period of trial and error concerning
the character designs. Sometimes motion capture had to be done for a character
even before the character design was done.

- Especially the giants took long, because you fight them so much during the game.

- Because Sandlots previous games were set in cities, they found creating
a natural landscape very difficult. Scandinavian nature was researched
to create an authentic atmosphere.

- When piled up, the script for the game is more than 10 centimeters thick.

- There is more than an hour of cut-scenes.


Gameplay

- The giants will keep on coming after you even if they lose limbs. If they
lose both legs, they will crawl.

- Increasing the difficulty doesn't only affect the strength of the enemies
but also their AI.

- The NPCs (like the serfs and other warriors) also adapt to situations.
For example, they will shout different things according to how far away
the enemies are.

- Because Sandlot didn't want the NPCs to shout the same things all the time,
more and more lines were added in. In the end, the voice recording for the
game lasted more than three months.

- It was Nintendo who asked Sandlot to add in Wifi-play, and Classic Controller
and Motion Plus support. Iwata personally phoned Sandlot regarding Motion Plus.

- In the beginning of development about a 100 weapons were planned. But
as the developers kept on trying different things with the Wii-remote,
the number of weapons ballooned up to over 300.


The age rating

- A lot of anxiety was felt over the high age rating. Sandlot tried decreasing
the gore and removing some of the dismemberment. But they felt that
making it less realistic would actually hinder the gameplay.

(Note: It is not implied that it was Nintendo who would have wanted a lower
age rating)

- In the end the graphic violence was kept. In order to not glorify violence,
the players role as the protector of the people was emphasized instead.
This also fit the spirit of the original Scandinavian mythology.

Sounds great

 

[Kilrogg]

Thanks for the summary, Neon_Icarus, much appreciated. I'll read the whole thing anyway to get all the details and improve my reading skills.

- When piled up, the script for the game is more than 10 centimeters thick.

- There is more than an hour of cut-scenes.

I don't know that it was necessary, to be honest. I'm not against production values, but does "hero-kills-giant-monsters"-type games really need that?

- It was Nintendo who asked Sandlot to add in Wifi-play, and Classic Controller
and Motion Plus support. Iwata personally phoned Sandlot regarding Motion Plus.

Way to go, Iwata. MotionPlus needs more love, even from Nintendo, so that's a step in the right direction.

 

[TunaLover]

This game is perfect to put more M+ in more households I think, this was the Nintendo's plan all this time, doesn't it?

 

[sinxtanx]

Ruling the world that way, but you can prototype
I will develop it into a full-fledged nuclear weapons also made fun of this game.

HMMMMMMMM

 

[Stumpokapow]

This game is perfect to put more M+ in more households I think, this was the Nintendo's plan all this time, doesn't it?

Sandlot's best-selling game ever sold 195k. Let's assume this game sells two M+ per copy and sells 200k; two assumptions that I think are enormously more generous than is reasonable.

So that adds 400k new M+... which is less lifetime than Nintendo will sell in a few weeks from Wii Sports Resort.

I'm not entirely sure Sandlot makes for a great trojan horse for a peripheral

 

[TunaLover]

Sandlot's best-selling game ever sold 195k. Let's assume this game sells two M+ per copy and sells 200k; two assumptions that I think are enormously more generous than is reasonable.

So that adds 400k new M+... which is less lifetime than Nintendo will sell in a few weeks from Wii Sports Resort.

I'm not entirely sure Sandlot makes for a great trojan horse for a peripheral

True, I was thinking more in try to build a library around the peripheral, right now there few titles that require it, so why left pass this one? Worst nothing =P

 

[tpfkanep]

Scandinavian mythology was eventually chosen

To not clash with the Greek mythology of the (hopefully) soon to be revealed Kid Icarus.

"Thor, I am here for Mjolnir!".

 

[cacildo]

Well, here´s a new Motion+ game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xGRI0nqDs

Looks like its just WSR swordfighting, but with ghosts.

And to be fair, for me that´s alright. Ill probably buy this.

 

[Glass Soldier]

Sandlot's best-selling game ever sold 195k. Let's assume this game sells two M+ per copy and sells 200k; two assumptions that I think are enormously more generous than is reasonable.

This isn't only generous, this is practically impossible with the game only having online co-op.

 

[Agnates]

Well, here´s a new Motion+ game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6xGRI0nqDs

Looks like its just WSR swordfighting, but with ghosts.

And to be fair, for me that´s alright. Ill probably buy this.

It's a shame they weren't more ambitious with it (please, after this game and Rage of the Gladiator, someone make a first person sword fighting game where you have full control of your character, not just his sword or Punch-Out!! style), but it could be fun, if the controls feel right. It seems they don't even require you to press B to block as in WSR, just position the sword right. Of course it could suck if the tracking is off or if the ghost AI is bad/predictable etc but otherwise, for the right price, that's a buy for me.

 

[Cow Mengde]

Awesome! Thanks for the details!

 

[Mejilan]

Just wanted to mention that I just ordered EDF 2017 for the 360 due to some comments in this thread. Looking forward to my first Sandlot game (and hopefully, my second, if Reginleiv gets localized.)

 

[krea]

ehm guys... raginlev have a famitsu 8 / 7 / 7 / 6 - (28/40) rating. iit would be a success for nintendo, if it sales more than 100k.

and the last earth defence force games (with EU releases) was bad till averange.

 

[cooljeanius]

I don't know that it was necessary, to be honest. I'm not against production values, but does "hero-kills-giant-monsters"-type games really need that?

They need it to take that long so they can torture us with an extremely long localization process.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

I really don't know what to think about this game... Iwata Asks could clarify some things.

EDIT: Oops! Thanks Neon, seems like a detailed game.

Ironically, the second guy from the left has done porn acting. He was particularly common in roles involving high school boys having sex with their shy but sexy female teachers.

:lol

JK POST?

 

[jay]

and the last earth defence force games (with EU releases) was bad till averange.

I'm not exactly sure what this means, but EDF 2012 is an awesome game.

 

[Vinci]

:lol

JK POST?

...

No?

And Cosmonaut, your idea about a mature imprint is bitchin'. They should really do that.

 

[Kilrogg]

It's a shame they weren't more ambitious with it (please, after this game and Rage of the Gladiator, someone make a first person sword fighting game where you have full control of your character, not just his sword or Punch-Out!! style), but it could be fun, if the controls feel right. It seems they don't even require you to press B to block as in WSR, just position the sword right. Of course it could suck if the tracking is off or if the ghost AI is bad/predictable etc but otherwise, for the right price, that's a buy for me.

It looks like it does, actually. At some points the sword moves freely, and at others, it seems like it rotates around the centre of the screen. Coincidentally, that's when the player blocks the attacks. I think it re-uses WSR's control schemes to a T. Which is smart to do when you're a small developer. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, just put your own twist to what the big boys pioneered.

Anyway, the design seems meh, but it could be fun at a fair price. Hadn't heard about that game.

 

[ShockingAlberto]

For all the people asking for this to be released in the West, let's wait and see if it's actually, you know, good. Let's pick our battles here. 8/7/7/6 from Famitsu usually means it's a 6. But we'll know for sure in a few days.

I could see people throwing the same ratings out to EDF, which has been considered a "bad" game. However, it's still one of my favorite titles this gen, so Sandlot's heavily flawed games are still better off letting everyone play them rather than be relegated to the stupid region exclusivity they usually are.

 

[Vinci]

I could see people throwing the same ratings out to EDF, which has been considered a "bad" game. However, it's still one of my favorite titles this gen, so Sandlot's heavily flawed games are still better off letting everyone play them rather than be relegated to the stupid region exclusivity they usually are.

And I'm not sure why the #1 market in the world for the Wii is having to 'pick [its] battles' at all. Virtually everything should come here.

 

[Agnates]

It looks like it does, actually.

I guess you're right. Oh well.

 

[Version 3.0]

Just wanted to mention that I just ordered EDF 2017 for the 360 due to some comments in this thread. Looking forward to my first Sandlot game (and hopefully, my second, if Reginleiv gets localized.)

That's cool. I love EDF 2017, it's my favorite 360 game. You're in for a goofy, hilarious treat.

Reginleiv will probably be my first Wii import, as I'm not holding my breath for a US release. Please prove me wrong, Nintendo!

 

[Mayor Haggar]

Wasn't it shown in Nintendo's US briefing a year ago? And it was called Dynamic Slash?

 

[Kevtones]

Dear god PLEASE RELEASE THIS IN THE US.

 

[cacildo]

Reginleiv will probably be my first Wii import, as I'm not holding my breath for a US release. Please prove me wrong, Nintendo!

You know, its kind of a mean type of maketing this "lets pretend the Internet dosent exists and nobody knows what happens in japan" thing.

Everybody knows that there´s a game out there called Zangeki no Reginleiv. Its so much of a hassle for Nintendo of America to be straight and tell if the game´s gonna be released on US or not? And why?

But no. They keep up us on our toes. If we never hear about it again, then yeah, its not coming.

But if after somehow the game does get a localization process, we´ll have to wait 6 months for nintendo to make an "announcement". The "announcement" is a website with a counter. When the counter finally reaches zero, Nintendo will say they´re have a NEW GAME!!!!! which is the same game we know about for 1 year already, we´re tired of seeing videos about it, a lot of people already imported the damn thing, etc etc... AND this NEW GAME!!!´s getting a release date... 6 months from now!!!

There´s stuff in this industry that is almost unbeliaveble. When you go to college you read whole bibles about management and makerting just to watch huge brands taking stupid decisions.

 

[jay]

And I'm not sure why the #1 market in the world for the Wii is having to 'pick [its] battles' at all. Virtually everything should come here.

This and the fact that a lot of us aren't well known journalists. I can pick whatever battles I want, including all of them because I'm just some guy on the internet.

 

[ElFly]

I doubt Reginleiv is coming out here unless it does well in japan.

Doing Well = 250K or more units.

 

[Vinci]

I doubt Reginleiv is coming out here unless it does well in japan.

Doing Well = 250K or more units.

So yeah, import.

 

[Kiriku]

It seems like they spent more resources on cut-scenes, voices and story this time around. Not convinced that's a good decision. I guess they're trying to reach a wider audience, but as a big EDF fan all I care about is the action. Unless the story and cutscenes are really good (doubtful), they will only be in the way. I hope they're not losing focus on what they do best, but 300+ weapons sounds promising. And as a Swede, I'm curious to see their interpretation of Scandinavian nature.

 

[Neon_Icarus]

It seems like they spent more resources on cut-scenes, voices and story this time around. Not convinced that's a good decision. I guess they're trying to reach a wider audience, but as a big EDF fan all I care about is the action. Unless the story and cutscenes are really good (doubtful), they will only be in the way. I hope they're not losing focus on what they do best, but 300+ weapons sounds promising. And as a Swede, I'm curious to see their interpretation of Scandinavian nature.

I wouldn't be worried if I were you. They were working on the basic gameplay mechanics for a long time before they even decided on what kind of scenario they would use.
Apparently their goal was to make a game which would be fun even if you forgot
about completing the stages and just played around. (like a Mario game)

The impression I got from the interview was that because they were partnered with Nintendo
their budget was a lot bigger than usual. This is why they chose to develop the game with a
"more of everything" approach.

 

[Version 3.0]

Wasn't it shown in Nintendo's US briefing a year ago? And it was called Dynamic Slash?

I'm fairly certain it's not ever been shown by NoA, despite its former English title.

 

[Shiv47]

As a huge EDF fan, one way or another I will play this.

 

[Neon_Icarus]

I'm fairly certain it's not ever been shown by NoA, despite its former English title.

Yes. It only appeared in the Japanese October 2008 conference. As far as I remember, the only new games that were shown in the American conference after that were Punch Out and Sin and Punishment 2.

 

[MidnightScott]

Once again, if I don't see it at E3 I might import, and would hope for someone to release a translation patch like they did for Fatal Frame 4.

I've imported:

Captain Rainbow (JPN)
Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Cross Generation of Heroes (JPN)
Let's Tap (JPN)
Disaster: Day of Crisis (PAL)
Another Code R: A Journey into Lost Memories (PAL - well I bought it from someone on GAF)
Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse (JPN)

I guess we won't be getting Tact of Magic either since that came out in Japan last year. I mean we don't even have a Sin & Punishment 2 date. I have a feeling it'll be announced at GDC though.

I'm starting to get tired of having to import games. Nintendo has enough money to localize everything without taking a hit. They are just as bad as third parties who don't want to take a chance on the Wii, except Nintendo makes games for it's system and then doesn't bother releasing them outside of Japan. Let's hope they let this one get released.

Also since MotionPlus seems to be the next step for the Wii, I think this game has a chance of actually getting released. Also, I wonder if we'll see Line Attack Heroes & Span Smasher get released...they were both at E3 last year.

 

[SapientWolf]

So yeah, import.

How import friendly is it? Is everything in Japanese?

 

[wrowa]

For all the people asking for this to be released in the West, let's wait and see if it's actually, you know, good. Let's pick our battles here. 8/7/7/6 from Famitsu usually means it's a 6. But we'll know for sure in a few days.

The people who are demanding a US release seem to be largely fans of EDF, so I don't think that they care about review scores

 

[Vinci]

How import friendly is it? Is everything in Japanese?

I don't know. Just wondering if I'm desperate enough to find out since NoA has the most worthless localization team of all time.

 

[HyperZone<3]

this isn't exactly a confirmation, not of anything. But Gamespy is apparently providing the online play and infrastructure for a Nintendo published/Sandlot developed game called Dyanamic Zan sometime in this year 2010.

If it were for a Japanese release, it would be under a different title, no? If you look through Gamespy's info for previous years you'll see lots of games they provided services for that never came out here, so this is not even a little solid, but still a somewhat positive indication.

its a crumb of information, but hey, it keeps hope alive, eh?

 

[AceBandage]

this isn't exactly a confirmation, not of anything. But Gamespy is apparently providing the online play and infrastructure for a Nintendo published/Sandlot developed game called Dyanamic Zan sometime in this year 2010.

If it were for a Japanese release, it would be under a different title, no? If you look through Gamespy's info for previous years you'll see lots of games they provided services for that never came out here, so this is not even a little solid, but still a somewhat positive indication.

its a crumb of information, but hey, it keeps hope alive, eh?

Dynamic Zan was the original name for the game (Dynamic Slash).