New Monolithsoft game for Wii U

^ Quickly googling that lead me to a discussion thread on NeoGAF. The "source" seems to be a person on GameFAQs. There was a link to the GameFAQs thread; oddly, it has been deleted.

The NeoGAF thread also had this little tidbit posted;

*click*
(Note that the GameFAQs source claimed to be a Best Buy website admin)

Just the title seems rather fake to me. Doesn't the whole similarity to Xenosaga's title format seem a bit too convenient? But even though I suspect this is fake, I've been more convinced about "leaked game info" being fake in the past than I am in this case. Not sure what to think about this...

I'll believe it when I see it on the box. That's pretty much my thoughts on the subject.

I never interested in Monado (I hate calling that game Xenoblade because I respect the Xeno prefix), but I believe in the Wii U project. I hope that this time we will see worthy characters and story. Oh, and that Xenoform rumour is a fake.

I thought that was a fake. And I respect people calling Monado Monado, because that was its name for the longest time until Nintendo decided to affix that prefix to sell it.

There's going to be some sort of announcement made today or tomorrow at E3 about this new game. Dunno the specifics because work has me frazzled as crap, but for those watching the feeds and whatnot, I know something is going to be said about it soon.

Soraya Saga posted this on Twitter earlier today:

Good morning, dudes and dudettes. Are you ready?

So, I'm a bit excited for today!

EDIT:  New trailer!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=APWTJMyM4qg

The music was awesome!  And the game appears to be more sci-fi than Xenoblade was.  Still a mystery what the plot is about or what the actual title is, though.

Man, that was really exciting! :D My coworkers knew to alert me when it came up! I was so excited! The music sounds amazing! :3 Now to save up for a Wii U.

WOW O_O holy chaos, I first watched new versus trailer and decide to give it chance, but after see X I was like OMG, amazing music, gameplay and world. I said to myself that I won't buy any of new consoles but if it won't be total online game I will need to buy Wii U.

I didn't see the trailer yesterday, I couldn't keep myself awake long enough and went to bed before they got to showing it. First thing I did today was checking this topic. xD

It does look awesome. The first bit with the guy walking between the mechs really reminded me of the Yggdrasil gears docking area from Xenogears. And the world looks stunningly beautiful.
(But as for the song, not my kind of thing, aha)

While I'm already planning to get a Wii U to play Xenoblade, this only further convinced me, as I'll definitely want to play this game as well!

PS: Shame they still didn't reveal the game's actual name, though.

People seem to be a little divided on the soundtrack. Since the musical style is similar to my favorite Blade composer, I'm all about it, though.

I don't think the industry is ready for an all-online-all-the-time console-only game, and I'm glad of it. I know a lot of people play Halo and Borderlands and Left4Dead for the multiplayer, but even they have singular storylines. This title seems to support multiplayer just a little better than other Nintendo games.

I am SO glad it looks more Gearsy. The more I think about it, the story for Blade was wrapped up rather tightly by the end and a direct sequel to it would seem a little shoehorned in. We'll see, though. Despite all the reasons to lack optimism, I'm optimistic.

Both trailers left me meh, to be honest (minus the giant robots). I also fear it's going to have even less (interesting) story because of the online stuff. Actually, if the game is announced to rely mainly on the online element, I might skip the game. And the use of Xenogears' X annoys me to no end (stop torturing me, it's not going to be related to it or probably come close storywise).
I want to be wrong so I'm waiting for more trailers and info. At least, I expect the gameplay part to be improved (better sidequests, bestiary, more original situations during the exploration *Xenoblade had rare glorious moments like this and I want more* etc...).

Also, I worry about how successful this game might be. The WiiU isn't a big success so far and "X"'s trailer at E3 was rather ignored by the gaming press. Takahashi seems to want Monolith to get really popular and financially successful with his new games (like Belthesda is) but it seems a difficult goal right now. I kinda feel bad for him. Xenogears didn't get the money and publicity it deserved and couldn't sell enough for Square to greenlight a second game. Xenosaga was mistreated by Namco and sold poorly in the end. Xenoblade almost didn't come out in America and sold limited amount of copies (they did market it well in Europe though, it was weird seeing a Takahashi game ads on TV). And now, the WiiU is failing and FF15 gets all the hype on PS3.
Is this bad luck or poor marketing skills, I don't know... Maybe both.

Well, Miss Soraya said that it's just teaster of what they work on and there will be still time for REAL trailer as she said, with story and all. For now they show only world and graphic.

kare_reiko wrote:Well, Miss Soraya said that it's just teaster of what they work on and there will be still time for REAL trailer as she said, with story and all. For now they show only world and graphic.

Yeah, I know. But I'm still worried. Wait and see.

Like I said in the other thread, I gave Xenoblade a pass on the light story because they were just getting back on their feet. This new title LOOKS cool, and it might play cool, but I really hope that I can care just a little bit more about the story this time.

Hmmm, I was hope for some interesting information, well new trailer for project "X" on this year TGS but as for now I didn't see or hear anything about it :/, I'm sad...

I heard that there was a new trailer out today for this, but I can't seem to find it. Anyone able to link it?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDgtBlzJ0wE

Nothing really new, we can see that gameplay is almost the same as xenoblade one (with mechs).

I myself think more and more that it will be online game only.

^I reeeeaaaally hope that isn't the case, or at least just an online component. The fact that each character was named either player or the main character named Tester kind of made me feel the same way you did, but I hope it is just an option and not mandatory. Besides all that, it looks like a flashier Xenoblade, which is not bad whatsoever. I'm loving the smooth transition to mechs. I just wish they would just give us a little bit more information, such as the online component or just about anything besides a short gameplay video.

I'm having a laugh at Neogaf over the people who says they're disappointed that Xenoblade's dull gameplay is back. Didn't you watch the previous trailers ? This new trailer barely reveals anything new and you decide to complain about the gameplay NOW ? It's because of the lack of information that I'm disappointed myself (don't care about the gameplay, aside the AI, it didn't bother me in Xenoblade... the thing that bothered me were dull sidequests and the trailer doesn't show if it was improved or not). Where is the story/characters trailer ? Does that mean this game is really going to be a MMORPG ?

Some people keep saying "It's Takahashi, of course there will be a fantastic story/it's going to be full of cutscenes". Problem is, those people seem to judge Takahashi as if he didn't change his mind about stories in games between Xenosaga and Xenoblade. Just like how some people would like western developers to be more like Monolith (some people also praise Monolith for being the only jRPG developper that didn't sold his soul to the west...errr... I see no difference between Monolith and Square Enix on this part, sorry) when Monolith is currently trying to be freaking Bethesda, a WESTERN developer (good luck with that, being chained to Nintendo/the WIIU and all now...).

HIDDEN FOR BETHESDA CRITICISM

Spoiler:

Heck, the only hint Takahashi gave us about X's "story" is that it will be accessible to anyone in the world. Which means : "can't be too japanese anymore"... which I can't help finding homogenous and kinda racist (and I guess the only reason mechas get a pass is because of the genre's recent popularity into mainstream media). I'm talking about the japanese side of the gaming industry (and westerners responses to them now) as a whole here. I mean, like many, I also find the otaku culture unimaginative and slightly offensive but the japanese looks down on it too (Miyazaki the first). But it doesn't mean they should erase their culture from their works, for crying out loud ! And what do people mean by the "WEST" exactly ? America ?
That or it could mean that the story will be easy to understand and not very heavy. If the game turns to be a MMORPG, it would make sense.

Anyway, short story : I'm disappointed about this "new" trailer too.

Well, with first traier, Soraya write on her blog that "real/story" trailer is yet to see, but it's been so long and all sceens/vids are only from gameplay. And that player option, I know Wii and Gamecube had option to play with 4 people, like Tales of games that everyone can play with one character while battles... But still it worry me.

I don't think it would be good for "X" to be online game only... Big game like that to exist need popularity, FF and KH can let themselfs to make online game since fanbase is really big. Maybe Xenoblade was nice welcomed by players, but Xenosaga died because of low sales...

Fun/sad facts about X:
- the game was announced and shown more than a year ago
- we have three gameplay trailers
- we have zero story information
- we have zero gameplay information
- the game will be available in 2014 in Japan

I feel sorry for Monolith Soft.

Speaking as someone with a tiny bit of experience with the MMO scene, if X were to be an MMO, it doesn't seem like it's getting hyped enough to support a big player base, which doesn't seem like it could afford any infrastructure support, which is a really, really, REALLY important part of keeping an MMO running. I think this looks a little bit closer to a MOBA if anything. All these characters are voice-acted and seem to be saying the same things over and over like they did in Xenoblade, which makes me think that they're prefabricated and not player-made. There's a lot more care and polish that goes into prefabricated canon characters. They can have one voice actor and have a solid silhouette and be an active part in a narrative story instead of a character that you design yourself and make your own choices with and guide the story (in a limited capacity at least) down the path you choose it to go.

I am really hoping for a late or pushed back release. Or at least more story information.

I think the western/eastern RPG tags probably aren't as descriptive as they need to be anymore. I think that narrative rpg and self-directed rpg might be more fitting by now, but then again, I am absolutely no authority. I just run a website for a game company that I've adored since I was 16.

Fun/sad facts about X:
- the game was announced and shown more than a year ago
- we have three gameplay trailers
- we have zero story information
- we have zero gameplay information
- the game will be available in 2014 in Japan
- it's on the WIIU

I feel sorry for Monolith Soft.

Fixed.

Yeah, I feel kinda sorry for them too. But then again, it never seemed to me like they were competent at advertizing their games. And Nintendo is no better, unfortunately (they're a mess at the moment). They really need to work on that if they really aim at Bethesda level of popularity (and Nintendo as a console gaming company).

Speaking as someone with a tiny bit of experience with the MMO scene, if X were to be an MMO, it doesn't seem like it's getting hyped enough to support a big player base, which doesn't seem like it could afford any infrastructure support, which is a really, really, REALLY important part of keeping an MMO running. I think this looks a little bit closer to a MOBA if anything. All these characters are voice-acted and seem to be saying the same things over and over like they did in Xenoblade, which makes me think that they're prefabricated and not player-made. There's a lot more care and polish that goes into prefabricated canon characters. They can have one voice actor and have a solid silhouette and be an active part in a narrative story instead of a character that you design yourself and make your own choices with and guide the story (in a limited capacity at least) down the path you choose it to go.

I respect your knowledge about MMORPGs, but it goes back to what I said above : Monolith Soft AND Nintendo are bad at advertizing. So I'm still a bit doubtful about what kind of jRPG X will be.

I want to share those thoughts/speculations I had about X's unknown plot (mostly copy pasted and edited from my blog) :

I once read Takahashi said he wanted the story to be “for everyone in the world”. I had/still kinda have this impression that Monolith was being like lots of jRPG companies nowadays who want to sell : give up their japanese identity and catter to westerners/americanâ€s taste.

I now begin to think how cool it would be if you could play with characters of different countries from Earth (characters with clear personalities I hope, not characters to create). Iâ€m thinking this because the last trailer gave us a few hints :

- the “United State” thing written on a ship, with what seems half of a flag with stripes.

- one character commenting on how they could make this planet their home (so theyâ€re colons?).

What do you think ?

Also, talking about speculations, some people are making my head spin when they talk about X being Xenogears 1 and that the game is still unnamed after all this time because Monolith is working on trying to get the rights back or just trying to have a deal with Square-Enix.

I refuse to entertain this (otherwise exciting) thought because that's the best way to get crushingly disappointed. And I know better (though I admit I'm a bit weak and the thought sits in a little corner of my head lol). Gears and Saga are just dead franchises and not the kind of jRPGs Takahashi and Soraya Saga want to do anymore (unless they went back on their idea that video games aren't good to tell stories, though it's not like the majority of Xenoblade wasn't told with just cutscenes instead of using sidequests and the huge world to develop the lore/characters more *they did that a tiny bit, but barely enough for me to say they used the medium to their advantage, and it's a shame knowing how they are storytellers at heart who are now searching to develop more the GAME part of their games*... maybe they got interesting feedbacks from Xenoblade that made them change their thoughts again).

it's on the WIIU

I don't mind that. The WiiU is way better than the 3DS.

it never seemed to me like they were competent at advertizing their games

I don't think that the problem is in advertizing. It's more like that they hesitate to talk about X for some reason. And that reason may be connected to Xenogears, yes. By the way, the sound in this moment is very similar to the sound of saving progress in Xenogears...

I actually just picked up a Wii U last week in anticipation of this game (so far I've only played/purchased Wind Waker HD). The thing is, had I not been reading some retro gaming websites, I would have never even known about X. So when people say there is a lack of marketing, I almost feel like there is no marketing. I really wish Nintendo would step up to the plate and try to buy the rights to Xenogears back from Square so that they can properly promote the Xeno games and give RPG fans a compelling reason to come back to Nintendo, I would have to think that after releasing it on PSN SqareEnix have milked the original game for all it was worth already anyway, and it's not unheard of for properties to be sold like this. Fat chance I know, given that Nintendo didn't even bother bringing over Mother 3 and we almost didn't get Xenoblade, but I can tell you that I have several friends who will probably buy a Wii U for this game alone and wouldn't have known about it had I not told them in person.