Star Ocean 5 announced for PS4, PS3

[zenith16]

—Nether Strike

Strikes the ground to call up a pillar of fire from purgatory that burns the enemy.




■ Signeturgy

Fiore’s Signeturgy

—Thunder Flare

Forms an electric shock cage that completely covers the enemy, and temporarily reduces the ATK of the enemies involved.




—Dark Eater

Summons and releases a monster of darkness, who drags around the target enemy while devouring them.

—Extinction

Confines the enemy in an antimatter dome, then explodes, also damaging the dome target’s surroundings.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 in Japan on March 31, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.
View the screenshots at the gallery.



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PlayStation 4, RPG, Screenshots, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Kaito Ishikawa plays Star Ocean 5
Published 16 hours ago. 11 comments.

A Fidel Camuze voice actor special interview.

Square Enix has released a Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness 10-minute special interview video featuring Kaito Ishikawa, who plays main character Fidel Camuze.




The video features almost six minutes of Ishikawa playing the game, starting at the 3:30 mark and ending at 9:00.




Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.




Watch the footage below.
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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Clips, Gameplay, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace
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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 battle system introduction videos
Published 6 mins ago. 0 comments.

Learn the basics and how to put what you learned to use.

Square Enix has released a pair of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness videos introducing the action RPG’s battle system.


Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016.


In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.




Watch the footage below.
The Basics

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Put it to Use

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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Clips, Gameplay, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 ‘Private Actions’ and ‘Welch’ system introduction videos
Published 3 hours ago. 16 comments.

Create items and interact with your party.

Square Enix has released a pair of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness videos introducing the action RPG’s item creation via Welch Vineyard and Private Actions.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.
Watch the footage below.
Private Actions

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Welch

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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Clips, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 first English live stream set for March 21
Published 38 mins ago. 1 comment.

The very first "Star Log" live stream.



Square Enix will host the first Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness English live stream on March 21 at 4:00 p.m. PT / 7:00 p.m. ET, the company announced.


The “Star Log” live stream will broadcast via YouTube and Twitch.




Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016.

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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

two articles from the same place




PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 details and screenshots: Pavine, cathedral dungeon, and quests
Published 8 hours ago. 80 comments.

Take on quests at the Quest Bulletin Board.
Square Enix has released new Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness information and screenshots introducing enemy character Pavine, as well as a new dungeon and the quests system.
Get the information below.

■ Characters



Pavine

• CV: Setsuji Sato
• Gender: Male
• Age: 29
• Origin: Chronos Star System

• 

An officer in Chronos, a power that opposes the Galactic Federation. He has a short temper, and is a “muscle brain” type unable to work out a strategy before solving any problem with violence.

He often stands before Fidel and company in attempts to kidnap Relia. What is his true motive for targeting her…?



■ Dungeons

Ikyaku Cathedral

By touching a jet black gate that suddenly appears on the field, you’ll jump to a mysterious cathedral dungeon. You’ll take on several battles and find a number of treasure chests before you get to the dungeon’s boss. There are also rare weapons and items you can obtain only once.

Once you move forward into the dungeon, you cannot escape until you complete it, but you can leave the dungeon by touching the starting point gate.

Compared to the dungeons you visit in the second half of the story, the frequency of battles and difficulty in the cathedral are naturally going to increase. You’ll obtain items by defeating the boss, and perhaps even more rare things…?



■ Quests

Players can take on quests from clients to earn rewards by examining “Quest Bulletin Boards” located throughout the game’s various towns. There are various types of quests, including finding people, collecting materials, and defeating enemies. Potential rewards include Skill Books and other rare items.

When you visit Welch’s house in Myiddok, a quest request will begin. When you complete Welch’s request, one part of item creation and your party skills will be unlocked.

Quest Bulletin Boards are present all over, each with different requests.

When you take on an enemy subjugation quest, enemies that don’t usually appear on the field will appear in the place outlined in the request.



■ Battle Skills

Emerson’s Battle Skills



—Amagake

Emmerson jumps high to the sky and fires a flash towards the ground. The fired flash explodes upon impact.

​

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[zenith16]

—Aratsubame

Emmerson fires an arrow of furious fighting spirit. The bird-like arrows follow the target anywhere.




—Gravity Bullet

Emmerson fires a slow gravity bullet. The gravity goes straight forward while pulling in surrounding enemies.




Anne’s Battle Skills



—Electric Fists

A full power, tripartite fist attack. The first attack strikes at an opportune moment, then the second and third finish it off.




—Infinity Kick

Anne unleashes a number of consecutive kicks. Her sharp kicks can even damage the enemy through armor.




—Acrobat Locus

Anne kicks the opponent into the sky and hits them with various consecutive techniques. The finishing crush becomes the fallen enemy’s pursuit.




■ Private Actions

Both in towns and on the field, players can enjoy a variety of interactions with characters through Private Actions.

Miki is a mother figure to Relia. Relia also seems to have a lot of love for Miki. They make a cake and even seem to bathe together. Through Private Events, you’ll get a glimpse at some joyful situations.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.




View the screenshots at the gallery.



visit gallery »

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PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 launches this summer in the west
Published 3 hours ago. 112 comments.

New set of trailers and screenshots released.

During its first “Star Log” live stream today, Square Enix announced it will launch Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness for PlayStation 4 this summer in North America and Europe.




The western release will feature dual audio in English and Japanese.
In Japan, the game is planned for release on March 31 for PlayStation 4, and on April 28 for PlayStation 3.




The live stream, the game’s first English broadcast, introduced Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness‘ story and characters. If you missed it, we’ve already detailed all of that aplenty in the past.
Watch a new set of trailers below. View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.
Story Trailer



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Fidel Spotlight

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Miki Spotlight

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PlayStation 4, Clips, Release Dates, RPG, Screenshots, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 Japanese TV spots
Published 1 min ago. 0 comments.

"Story" and "Battle" commercials.

Square Enix has released a pair of Japanese TV spots for Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, which is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan next Thursday, March 31.


A PlayStation 3 release is also planned for launch on April 28 in Japan.
In North America, the game will launch exclusively for PlayStation 4 this summer.


The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu awarded Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness a 34 out of 40 review score.
Watch the TV spots below.
Story TV Spot



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Battle TV Spot

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PlayStation 4, Clips, Japan, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace, TV Spots

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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 details and screenshots: General Alma, Aaron, and Taurus
Published 10 hours ago. 37 comments.

From the opposing power Chronos.




Square Enix has released new Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness information and screenshots introducing the characters of Chronos, a power that opposes the Pangalactic Federation.




Get the information below.

■ Chronos
Chronos is a modern nation in Space Domain Sector K that possesses state-of-the-art technology. It seems to have been carrying out activities in secret for some reason.
General Alma

• CV: Taiten Kusunoki
• Gender: Male
• Age: 38
• Orgin: Chronos Star System
• 

The General of Chronos who stands before Fidel and company. He always tries to solve things by force. What is his reason for relentlessly pursuing Relia…?
Aaron

• CV: Ryotaro Okiayu
• Gender: Male
• Age: 46
• Orgin: Chronos Star System

General Alma’s subordinate and captain of the Chronos-owned Chronos Warship. He stands before Fidel and company in order to carry out a certain mission. He speaks only sarcastically with hypocritical courtesy.
Taurus

• CV: Anri Katsu
• Gender: Male
• Age: 45
• Orgin: Chronos Star System

A man who works as his own boss doing certain research at the Chronos-owned research facility and receives assistance from General Alma. He is heartless and considers living things as only a means of experimentation.
​

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in Japan on March 31 and PlayStation 3 on April 28, and for PlayStation 4 in North America and Europe in 2016. In Japan, the game will also be available in an “Ultimate Box” edition.
View the screenshots at the gallery

.

visit gallery »
​

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PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, RPG, Screenshots, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 launches June 28 in North America
Published 12 hours ago. 204 comments.

"Day One Edition" includes in-game items, Valkyrie Profile BGMs.



Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness will launch for PlayStation 4 on June 28 in North America, the Square Enix Online Store has revealed.
A “Day One Edition” of the game will include the following exclusive in-game downloadable content:

• “Ring of the Valkyries” – Increases ATK, INT, and Critical
• “Gold Bunny Statue” – Increases EXP and FOL
• “Bushybrume Cincture” – Reduces amount of MP used
• “Wristlet of the Stars” – Reduces Damage taken
• “Secret Stahlian Tome” – Increases HP healed
• Valkyrie Profile and Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria BGM – Customize the battle BGM within the game to battle music from the Valkyrie Profile series.

As previously announced, the game will feature dual audio in English and Japanese.




We’ve e-mailed Square Enix about the European release date and will update this story when we receive a response.




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PlayStation 4, Release Dates, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 launches June 28 in North America, July 1 in Europe
Published 6 hours ago. 369 comments.

Collector's Edition and Day One Edition announced.



Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness will launch for PlayStation 4 on June 28 in North America and July 1 in Europe, publisher Square Enix announced.




In North America, the game will be available in the following editions:

Collector’s Edition ($109.99, Square Enix Store-exclusive)

• Collector’s Edition steelbook case containing the game and “The Sounds of Star Ocean”: a CD sampler soundtrack featuring 16 tracks from famed composer Motoi Sakuraba (Tales of series, Valkyrie Profile series, Dark Souls series)
• “The Art of Star Ocean”: 80-page hardcover art book featuring art from the Star Ocean series
• Eight exclusive art cards featuring illustrations from character designer “akiman” (Street Fighter series)
• Pangalactic Federation ID card
• Six background battle music themes from Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and previous Star Ocean titles that fans can play during battle
• Download code for in-game items that will aid Fidel and the crew on their journey
  • “Ring of the Valkyries” – Increases ATK, INT, and Critical
  • “Gold Bunny Statue” – Increases EXP and FOL
  • “Bushybrume Cincture” – Reduces amount of MP used
  • “Wristlet of the Stars” – Reduces Damage taken
  • “Secret Stahlian Tome” – Increases HP healed

Day One Edition ($59.99)

• Six background battle music themes from Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and previous Star Ocean titles that fans can play during battle
• Download code for in-game items that will aid Fidel and the crew on their journey
  • “Ring of the Valkyries” – Increases ATK, INT, and Critical
  • “Gold Bunny Statue” – Increases EXP and FOL
  • “Bushybrume Cincture” – Reduces amount of MP used
  • “Wristlet of the Stars” – Reduces Damage taken
  • “Secret Stahlian Tome” – Increases HP healed

Europe will have the following editions:

Collector’s Edition (£84.99 / €99.99, Square Enix Store-exclusive)

• A beautifully designed Collector’s Edition box
• A copy of the game in a collector’s edition Steelbook case
• An 80-page “The Art of Star Ocean” art book
• 16-track “The Sounds of Star Ocean” soundtrack CD
• 8 exclusive Art Cards showcasing some of the characters from Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness as created by acclaimed character designer akiman (Street Fighter series)
• A Pangalactic Federation ID card
• Six background battle music themes from Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and previous Star Ocean titles that fans can play during battle
• Download code for in-game items that will aid Fidel and the crew on their journey
  • “Ring of the Valkyries” – Increases ATK, INT, and Critical
  • “Gold Bunny Statue” – Increases EXP and FOL
  • “Bushybrume Cincture” – Reduces amount of MP used
  • “Wristlet of the Stars” – Reduces Damage taken
  • “Secret Stahlian Tome” – Increases HP healed

Limited Edition (£49.99 / €59.99)

• A copy of the game in a collector’s edition Steelbook case
• Six background battle music themes from Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and previous Star Ocean titles that fans can play during battle
• Download code for in-game items that will aid Fidel and the crew on their journey
  • “Ring of the Valkyries” – Increases ATK, INT, and Critical
  • “Gold Bunny Statue” – Increases EXP and FOL
  • “Bushybrume Cincture” – Reduces amount of MP used
  • “Wristlet of the Stars” – Reduces Damage taken
  • “Secret Stahlian Tome” – Increases HP healed

As previously announced, the game will feature dual audio in English and Japanese.
(Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on March 30 at 10:17 a.m. via a leak on the Square Enix Store containing the Day One Edition image. It was updated on April 4 following an official announcement from the publisher.)




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PlayStation 4, Release Dates, RPG, Special Editions, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace​

source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
70 minutes of English Star Ocean 5 gameplay
Published 3 hours ago. 58 comments.

PlayStation 4 action RPG due out in late July.

Polygon has shared 70 minutes of footage from the English version of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness.




The footage begins from the start of the game, progressing through the early plot points and first few areas. It then skips about 10 hours in to an sci-fi-esque area with a heavier focus on combat.




Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 on July 28 in North America and July 1 in Europe. It is now available for PlayStation 4 in Japan and will launch for PlayStation 3 in the country on April 28.




Watch the footage below.


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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

• 
  
  Star Ocean 5 Producer Speaks Up About Localization
  
  Posted on April 10, 2016 | 35 Comments
  Changes are made between cultures.Continue Reading...
  

In an interview with GameSpot, Star Ocean 5 producer Shuichi Kobayashi was asked a few questions about the development changes the game has gone through and the reaction these changes received.

When asked about the visual changes happening to the game, more specifically, the bigger underwear a character received. Kaboayashi replied:

It’s fundamentally just a ratings issue. But as for Star Ocean, it’s not that different–it’s unfortunate that a lot of people took the change in a bigger way than intended and interpreted things in a way that haven’t actually happened. But the game hasn’t changed, and the size [of the character’s underwear] hasn’t really changed, it’s really not that different than what was originally created. The essence of the game is not that part, and I really want players to not focus on that, but the rest of the gameplay. The Japanese rating system is different from that in the West and that is why these changes have to happen. Rating checks and submissions happen after most of the game is finished, so it’s inevitable that changes occur after some things are done. That’s why we had to make that kind of change this time, but it’s not that different, as much as people want to make it sound that way.
​

GameSpot followed up with a question on why these changes have become such a big deal to gamers:

I think that at least for Star Ocean, it was because of what we were depicting. What players were picking up [the larger underwear] was a lot easier to make fun of. At least for Star Ocean, that’s why they blew it up the way they did.
It’s not that different. The users actually wouldn’t know what the original size is [from the game], so they picked it up and made fun of it. Normal users wouldn’t even worry about it, or look at it even, so…
Going off the difference in ratings, even gestures and hand signs are really different from culture to culture. For instance, in Star Ocean 5, when you first meet Relia, Miki pats her head to reassure her. In Japan that a reassuring motion, like what you do to little kids. But in some countries it was not taken that way, so that’s been changed in the game to fit the different cultures. It was picked up during QA, and we changed it.
​

It’s good to mention that Kaboayashi doesn’t mention whether this change has been made to one version of Star Ocean 5 or both.

The interview ended with a question about whether or not Kaboayashi would be interested in doing another Valkyrie Profile, Kaboayashi responded:

I really want to. I really like Valkyrie Profile too. It’s just that it’s a bit difficult to do because a lot of the players like Valkyrie Profile 1 the most. The difference between players for the first game and its sequels is so different that it’s difficult to think about what makes the series good.
​

Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness is coming to the PlayStation 4 on July 28 in NA and July 1 in EU. The game is available now for the PlayStation 4 in Japan and will be releasing on the PlayStation 3 on April 28.

source: Operation Rainfall

 

[zenith16]

Industry
Square Enix announces PAX East 2016 lineup, events
Published 12 hours ago. 71 comments.

Star Ocean 5, I Am Setsuna, and more playable.

Square Enix has announced its lineup of titles and events coming to the Penny Arcade Expo in Boston from April 22 to 24.
The company’s playable lineup includes Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, I Am Setsuna, a virtual reality edition of Hitman GO, and more.
Get the full list of titles and activities below.
Lineup

• Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward – Face off against one of the new bosses in Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, “Sephirot,” in the Primal Battle Challenge and win an exclusive “I Beat Sephirot” T-shirt. Attendees will also be able to get a free Dragoon hat at the booth. With over five million registered accounts globally, Heavensward expands the critically-acclaimed MMO Final Fantasy XIV with a an all-new storyline surrounding the city of Ishgard and the Dragonsong War, a brand new race, new jobs and more.
• Hitman – Hitman is the sixth game in the blockbuster series and is the culmination of a journey started by Io-Interactive more than 17 years ago. It builds on the critically acclaimed and commercially successful foundation of games like Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, Hitman: Blood Money, and the recent Hitman: Absolution.
• Hitman GO: VR Edition – Hitman GO is a turn-based strategy game where you will strategically navigate fixed spaces on a grid to avoid enemies, infiltrate well-guarded locations and take out your target on beautifully rendered diorama-style set pieces. You really have to think about each move and all the Hitman tools of the trade you would expect are included; disguises distractions, sniper rifles and even 47’s iconic Silverballers. Developed by Square Enix Montreal, Hitman GO is set to arrive soon on Gear VR and Oculus Rift. This new adaptation offers a completely new take on the award-winning title, allowing for immersive interaction, while leveraging the attention to detail and craftsmanship of Hitman GO’s gorgeous dioramas.
• Hitman: Sniper ‘Death Valley Challenge Mode’ – Hitman: Sniper is a competitive sniper game for iOS and Android with numerous missions full of creative opportunities to manipulate guards, the environment, and targets to complete the hit. Take on the role of Agent 47 and scope in on your marks using skill, subtlety, smarts and subterfuge to complete your contracts. Spend your hard earned blood money on a wealth of powerful rifles and authentic, game-changing upgrades. Engage your friends in leaderboard driven challenges and prove you have what it takes to be the deadliest marksman around. The Death Valley Challenge Mode will push players to master a completely new environment with a fast-paced, nerve-wracking, wave-based, zombie survival game mode that will challenge their mechanical skills and reactivity.
• I Am Setsuna – the story of Setsuna and her sorrowful story portrayed through beautiful art design. This title is also the debut title from Tokyo RPG Factory, which aims to develop RPG’s by taking inspiration from the masterpieces of yesteryear with the latest technology.
• Just Cause 3 ‘Sky Fortress’ DLC – The Mediterranean republic of Medici is suffering under the brutal control of General Di Ravello, a dictator with an insatiable appetite for power. Enter Rico Rodriguez, a man on a mission to destroy the General’s hold on power by any means necessary. With over 400 square miles of complete freedom from sky to seabed and a huge arsenal of weaponry, gadgets and vehicles, prepare to unleash chaos in the most creative and explosive ways you can imagine. ‘Sky Fortress’ contains a brand new set of missions that introduce a new threat – a huge and terrifying Sky Fortress and an army of deadly robotic drones.
• Kingdom Hearts: Unchained χ (read as Unchained “Key”) – the first game in the series to come to iOS and Android devices that unlocks a new story connected to Kingdom Hearts III.
• MXGP 2 – MXGP 2 is the evolution of the previous Milestone Motocross title MXGP – The official motocross videogame. The game is based on 2015 FIM Motocross World Championship license. Built with motocross authenticity from licensed motorcycles, real riders and tracks, MXGP 2 brings the excitement of challenging other riders while embracing a fast, powerful motorcycle on mud-forged hills. Players take on circuits in a quest to grab hold of the world title at the Netherlands MXGP. The game includes both online and offline modes, vehicle and rider customization and indoor arena events.
• Platinum Demo – Final Fantasy XV – a demo that offers a glimpse into the final game as it whisks players away to a fragmented dreamscape of Noctis as a child. This storyline is unique to the demo and will not be available in the final version of the main game. Players who complete the demo will unlock the ability to name the Carbuncle summon and have it appear in the full game at launch.
• Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO – Sébastien Loeb Rally EVO is a realistic off-road racing game that features more than 180 miles of accurately reproduced tracks, including the exclusive Pike Peak International Hill Climb, across eight different Rallies, five Rallycross circuits and 64 special stages. Players can drive over 58 cars from 16 different manufacturers, from the past until present, and customize and create the perfect match of aesthetics and racing performance.
• Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness – the sci-fi fantasy space saga set to launch on June 28.

Panels

Meet the Cast of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
April 22 – Albatross Theater from 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
Greg Miller hosts Elias Toufexis, Victoria Sanchez and Chimwemwe Miller, the actors who respectively play Adam Jensen, Alex Vega and Elias Chikane in Deus Ex: Mankind Divided. They will share insight into their characters’ personalities and relationships, as well as their experience working on a game with a rich story and setting such as Deus Ex. You will also have the opportunity to ask them your questions about their work on the game and their careers as actors!
Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Elias Toufexis (Actor – Adam Jensen), Victoria Sanchez (Actress – Alejandra Vega), Chimwemwe Miller (Actor – Elias Chikane)
Lara Croft: The Undisputed Queen of Gaming
April 22 – Albatross Theater from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Tomb Raider embodies the spirit of discovery, the thrill of the unknown, and the promise of adventure. At its heart is Lara Croft, a force within the gaming industry who has made an indelible mark on virtually every facet of entertainment, and reaches millions of people around the world. In short, Lara Croft has been a cultural icon for 20 years. Join Crystal Dynamics and special guests to explore Lara’s impact on gaming, and how she continues to break down barriers within the industry.
Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Alexa Ray Corriea (Gamespot), Meagan Marie (Crystal Dynamics), Nathan McCree (Core Design), Kam Yu (Crystal Dynamics), Jason Botta (Crystal Dynamics)
Following the panel, Crystal Dynamics will be hosting a cosplay gathering. The gathering will take place from 4:30 – 5:30 PM, and those who attend in costume will receive special #TombRaider20 swag and professional photos. All Lara iterations – classic or current – as well as other characters from the franchise history are welcome to attend. More information can be found here.
Looking Heavensward
April 23 – Albatross Theater from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Live Stream: Twitch
Join Final Fantasy XIV producer/director Naoki Yoshida and lore team representative Michael-Christopher Koji Fox as they answer questions live about the game’s first expansion pack – Heavensward. Perhaps some of your intriguing questions may lead to Yoshida letting something slip before the PR team has a chance to stop him! Panelists will include Naoki Yoshida, Michael-Christopher Koji Fox and Square Enix Assistant Director of Community, Matt Hilton.
Hitman: You Know His Number
April 23 – Albatross Theater from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Io Interactive will take you on a grand tour through the now live world of assassination. What happens in between episodes? What is the idea behind ‘Elusive Targets’ and many other online components? How to craft an enticing story arc over several seasons? Rest assured fellow agents, all those questions will be answered. You can also expect many little surprises, like a live visit to Episode 2’s sunny coastal town Sapienza and other sneak peeks.
Panelists: Greg Miller (Moderator), Torben Ellert, Michael Voigt, Sven Liebold
Additionally, Greg Miller and Kinda Funny will have a community meetup sponsored by Hitman from 8:00 p.m. – 1:30 a.m., April 23 at Coppersmith (40 W. 3rd, Boston, MA).
​

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Industry, PAX East 2016, Square Enix
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 battle trailer, Victor and Fiore English spotlight videos
Published 2 hours ago. 25 comments.

Square Enix releases new set of videos.

Square Enix has released a new set of English Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness trailers, introducing the game’s battle system, and characters Victor Oakville and Fiore Brunelli.




The battle system for Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness lets players fight with up to seven characters simultaneously in massive, real-time battles.




Here’s an overview of each character:

• Victor Oakville – Victor is a member of an elite group of soldiers in the Central Resulian Army called the King’s Chosen. All Victor’s subordinates hold him in high esteem, and he has the strongest sense of duty of anyone in the land. Although he never hesitates to fulfill orders, Victor is conflicted about how his job requires him to end the lives of others.

• Fiore Brunelli – One of the most adept signeturges, even when compared to her fellow researchers at the Royal Institute of Signetary Studies in Langdauq. The complex signets she has imbued allow her to inundate her foes with a torrential downpour of destructive spells.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 on July 28 in North America and July 1 in Europe. It is now available for PlayStation 4 in Japan and will launch for PlayStation 3 in the country on April 28.




Watch the trailers below.
Battle Trailer

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Victor Oakville Spotlight Trailer

[YT]vvq4ckbbFDE[/YT]
Fiore Brunelli Spotlight Trailer



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PlayStation 4, Clips, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

two articles from the same place.







Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness : In Case You Missed Star Log #2...

Posted Apr 13, 2016 by Suzie Ford


In case you missed yesterday's Star Log #2, Square Enix has posted it to YouTube for fans of Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness.

The discussion centered around the game's battle system and even included a new trailer to show it off.

Footage of the Kingdom of Langdauq and two new character spotlight videos of the powerful magician Fiore and gruff Special Forces veteran Victor were also featured. Square Enix revealed that North America players will have the first hands-on opportunity with STAR OCEAN: Integrity and Faithlessness at PAX East in Boston, April 22-24.
​

Source: Email press release

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Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness : Hands On Preview - Celebrating 20 Years of the Series

Posted Apr 13, 2016

This year, the Star Ocean series celebrates its twentieth anniversary with the release of its fifth game, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness. This week, publisher Square Enix invited members of the press to preview the game's less cutscene-heavy approach to storytelling and combat, an approach that thus far, appears to be working.
Read more of Neilie Johnson's Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness - Hands On Preview - Celebrating 20 Years of the Series.

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[/FONT]JRPG players are accustomed to (perhaps addicted to) the alternation between action and cutscene; the grandiose stories woven by games in the genre more or less demand it. Developer tri-Ace is taking a risk in abandoning that formula in favor of one that blends interactive and non-interactive sequences. Not only does that mean there are no pre-rendered, eye-poppingly gorgeous story breaks; it means a plethora of new technical difficulties for the development team.
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The player is nearly always in control, and while this isn't as complicated to handle as an open-world situation, it still multiples the number of things that could go wrong during storytelling intervals. During my hands-on time, it seemed to be working pretty well, with only a couple of wooden moments. The game restrains you to some extent, forcing you to walk at times instead of run, and artificially stopping you when important information's being conveyed. Still, it's definitely less jarring to walk into a room and have a conversation start organically than to see a black screen and then start the scene from an entirely new camera angle.
The streamlining extends beyond storytelling to include combat and party mechanics and that's where things could really become controversial. Expanding upon the previous Star Ocean games' four-character control, Integrity and Faithlessness now lets you control up to seven characters at once. You can set characters' skills and roles, and decide how micro-managey you want to be by toggling auto-AI on or off. You can also swap among characters (but only during battle).
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Lacking the pre-battle prep screen found in other JRPGs, you can't choose your best characters and bench the rest. There's no strategic exclusion here, which is certainly more immersive (would your friends really just stand there and watch you be killed by giant slugs?) but makes for a lot more activity to manage and a lot more on screen chaos. Also, when the battle's done, the game auto-swaps you back to the main hero Fidel—something that does get sort of annoying.
Anyway, aside from how you're eased into and out of battles and story sequences, Integrity and Faithlessness feels very familiar, even if you have no experience with the Star Ocean series. Though perhaps more sci-fi in places than other JRPGs, it still exhibits a distinct fantasy vibe that romantic JRPG fans are likely to enjoy. The characters (designed by Akira “akiman” Yasuda of Darkstalkers 3 and Streetfighter fame) are appealing and distinct, easy to tell from one another and designed to help you know at a glance what their individual skills are.
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Movement, camera controls and combat moves are also easy to grasp, but for new players there's an extensive tutorial. An on screen map makes it easy to get around and though the atmosphere would benefit from more random interactivity, it's easy to recognize and find your objectives. Of course, like any JRPG, the main item, skills and crafting menus are extensive and could prove overwhelming for players new to those things.
Having only spent an hour or so with the game, the new streamlined systems seem to be fairly effective. It's hard to say exactly how they'll work with all the heroes gathered and lots of enemies on screen, but finding out will be interesting. It'll also be interesting, to see how many alternate endings tri-Ace supports since they've kept the relationship mechanic (where you can befriend or even becoming romantically involved with different characters) and have added three additional heroes to the mix. What I can say thus far, is that the game looks beautiful and more or less delivers on its promise of interactive fluidity.
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Star Ocean is set for a June 28 release and will be available as a Standard Edition ($59.99) and a Collector's Edition ($109.99). The latter comes with an art book, a Pangalactic Federation ID card, six a download code for in-game items, a steelbook case, and “The Sounds of Star Ocean”: a CD sampler soundtrack featuring 16 tracks from famed composer Motoi Sakuraba (Tales of series, Valkyrie Profile series, Dark Souls series).
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Neilie Johnson / Neilie Johnson is a freelance contributor to MMORPG.com. She's been writing about games since 2005, developing games since 2002, and playing them since the dawn of time. OK not really, but she's pretty sure she's got controllers older than you. Witness her game-related OCD on Twitter @bmunchausen.
Article By: Neilie Johnson
Created On: April 13, 2016

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source: MMORPG.com
​

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 ‘Kingdom of Resulia’ and ‘Kingdom of Langdauq’ trailers
Published 42 mins ago. 0 comments.

A vibrant kingdom and a signeturgical society.

Square Enix has released a new set of trailers for Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness introducing the Kingdoms of Resulia and Langdauq on Planet Faykreed.




Here’s an overview of each kingdom:

Kingdom of Resulia
Resulia is a vibrant kingdom that represents everything great about the Vestielian continent. Recently, however, it has been wracked by threats, including cursed beasts and a fiendish group of bandits named Eitalon. This upheaval plaguing Resulia is one reason Fidel and his companions embark on their journey; they wish to restore balance to this once productive and safe nation.


Kingdom of Langdauq
Langdauq has prospered under the rule of its matriarchs, or Venerable Mothers, the current of which is Malvenaec. Not only is she a fair leader, but she also knows how to sling a spell or two, and as a member of the ruling family, she has access to exclusive signets that are passed down from generation to generation via a sacred rite of passage. Thanks in part to this system, the nation has developed into a signeturgical power. Though Langdauq could easily abuse its proficiency in the signeturgical arts for political gain, it instead has forged an alliance with Resulia to provide it with military aid.
​

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 on July 28 in North America and July 1 in Europe. It is now available for PlayStation 4 in Japan and will launch for PlayStation 3 in the country on April 28.




Watch the trailers below.
Kingdom of Resulia

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Kingdom of Langdauq

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PlayStation 4, Clips, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers, tri-Ace​

source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

Spoilerwarning



Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness Hands-On: A Harried Commander And Combatant. April 27, 2016 . 6:00pm

Guiding seven characters in combat is an intricate affair, yet makes for exciting battles in the PAX East demo of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness.

13 comments Read >

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While the game eases players into the burden of command over time, the PAX East demo of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessnessdemonstrated just how hectic and intricate it can be to have seven characters all fighting at once, using commands you’ve previously issued to them, in the game’s live battles.


Things started off calmly in the city of Sthal, where Fidel works as leader of the training hall, a roe passed down by his famous father. Fidel had a friendly sparring match with childhood friend Ted, one where players were introduced to the basics of the game’s rock-paper-scissors style of active combat (weak attacks interrupt strong ones but can be guarded, strong attacks break guard but can be interrupted by weak attacks, and guard can block weak attacks, as well as open the opponent to counterattacks if done just right, but will be broken by strong attacks).

This light battle also introduced the concepts of short and long range attacks, and players could also get a feel for Fidel’s starting Special Arts, the game’s physical abilities.

After this little introduction to combat, players could wander Sthal for a short while, interacting with the townsfolk. Many of them would say whatever they had on their mind should Fidel walk close to them, making it easier to go through town and pick up on all the NPC’s had to say without actively talking to them. Fidel could also walk right through people, which would jostle them and made them complain (“Hey mister! Waaaah!&#8221 even though he would pass right through them.


This short introduction to the town would end as players met Miki, another childhood friend of Fidel. She’s caught sight of members of Eitalon, a dangerous group who appear to be planning an attack on the city. The mayor, Aragogh, takes some convincing before he’s willing to set up defenses against the group, who soon comes to strike the city in the middle of the night.

This introduces combat against multiple enemies using multiple characters. Players can switch to whichever character they feel the need to control by hitting left or right on the d-pad, and can do this at any time to assume direct command. This means that players only take direct control of one character at a time, leaving several more characters to fend for themselves.

To work with this, players can assign up to four different battle roles to each character. These can tell the character to prioritize defense, focus on quick or strong attacks, attack insects first, and execute many other specific tactics. A given role can only be equipped on one character, though, so players will have to plan who does what very specifically.


Players are also given their first glimpse of Signeturgy, the game’s sorcerous arts, which require ideographs that are “imbued on the caster’s body.” They are equipped in the same manner as Special Arts, though, where players have attacks mapped to tapping or holding O or X, giving each character access to up to four attacks at a time.

Combat against the Eitalon could be harried, given that the game does not restore your HP, cure status ailments, or bring characters back to life once you finish a battle. Players will need to use items and healing magic to keep the party going, as the game has no intention of holding the player’s hand. Status isn’t restored on level up or at save points, either, as some games have done.

Players could lock onto a given enemy during a fight, switching through them and characters based on the player’s priorities. This would help keep certain foes in sight, especially bosses, but the player could also spin the camera to help keep their eyes on the fight as well.


Victory against the Eitolon makes Fidel realize he needs to find them, a quest Miki demands to join him on. This leads through the Passage on the Cliffs and to the Coast of Minoz, a series of areas outside of Sthal. Out here, players can continue to refine their combat abilities against the hostile wildlife out there, joining battles as soon as they approach an enemy.

Players can get the drop on those foes by running up and attacking them before they can react. This didn’t involve an attack animation in the demo, and only required that the player hit the attack button within the right range before the enemy had initiated combat. This would give players the chance to strike first before the enemy could get their offense together.

Outside of combat, players could also gather items from chests, or find hidden herbs and berries using one of the player’s possible Specialties. Specialties would give the characters powers outside of combat, although the herbal gathering one was the only such power available in this build, which let players find berries and useful herbs in the field.


Specialties could be unlocked and strengthened using SP that are gained from successful battles. That same SP is used to unlock new battle roles and to improve existing battle roles, so players will need to think about which is more important for them to strengthen with their limited pool of points.

It isn’t long before players meet Victor, a warrior who trained under Fidel’s father who shows up during the area’s boss fight. Here, it will help if the player has paid attention to the lesson on how enemies glow blue when about to launch a counter-able attack. Should they guard at the right time, it will stun the enemy and open them up for multiple hits.

Players will also notice here that they cannot spam items in battle. Using an item will cause a temporary timer to show up, and until it is gone, they cannot use a another item to heal or revive. Players can also only stock very specific amounts of most items, so even in the field, players cannot hope to just pound through potions to stay alive.


Upon victory, the demo changed to an area much later in the game. Here, players had access to all seven characters in battle at once, as well as more complicated battle roes. Here, it became abundantly important to know which roles to equip, which was much more challenging given the amount of foes in combat and characters to keep an eye on.

Keeping track of your own character while also keeping an eye on the health of six others is a daunting task, one that can go horribly wrong if players are inattentive or equip battle roles poorly. At the same time, it makes combat a thrilling affair as players whip through characters, issuing specific commands for a few moments before rushing to the next spot that needs their direct guidance.

The Rush Bar can be a welcome relief, here, The Rush Bar fills up as the player lands successful hits, and when it fills up with enough of a charge, players can launch extremely powerful character-specific abilities. These involve intense visual displays of beams, light, and energy as well, making them exciting to see as well as ways to turn the tide in combat.


Despite access to so many characters, there are times when players won’t be able to use them. At one point, Anne had to work a console while the other character defended her against waves of enemies. This brawl against dozens of opponents showcased just how hectic combat could get, requiring players watch Anne’s health and small pockets of enemies and player characters all at once.

Should players survive that, they would soon meet up with a mechanical boss that would test their skills with its high damage output. Again, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness has no intention of holding the player’s hand, and would stomp careless players flat, sending them back to an old save. There is no restarting in battle, as will happen in some modern RPGs. If players do not learn how to use the systems well, they will fail.

Even while being mercilessly beaten, the music from Motoi Sakuraba is motivating and invigorating. It’s equally pleasant when outside exploring the cliffsides or meandering through Sthal, able to create a soothing sense of calm or an intense feeling of danger and excitement in battle.


Demonstrating frantic combat, gameplay that will appeal to series fans and newcomers, striking music from Sakuraba, dual audio depending on which language players would like to listen to, and unique character designs from Street Fighter artist Akiman, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness’s demo shows that the game will have a lot to offer players on its June 28th release date.

Read more stories about Videos & PlayStation 4 & Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness on Siliconera.
​

source: Siliconera

 

[zenith16]

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Star Ocean 5 Collector’s Edition Contents Revealed

Posted on May 11, 2016 | 1 Comment
This collector's edition doesn't cost $300.Continue Reading...
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Square Enix has released information for the collector’s edition of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness. The collector’s edition comes with many extra goodies including an 80-page hardcover art book, steelbook case and a soundtrack CD.
A full list of what you can expect from the collector’s edition can be found below:

• Collector’s Edition steelbook case containing the game and “The Sounds of Star Ocean”: a CD sampler soundtrack featuring 16 tracks from famed composer Motoi Sakuraba (Tales of series, Valkyrie Profile series, Dark Souls series)
• “The Art of Star Ocean”: 80-page hardcover art book featuring art from the Star Ocean series
• Eight exclusive art cards featuring illustrations from character designer “akiman” (Street Fighter series)
• Pangalactic Federation ID card
• Six background battle music themes from Valkyrie Profile, Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria and previous Star Ocean titles that fans can play during battle
• Download code for in-game items that will aid Fidel and the crew on their journey: The Ring of the Valkyries, Gold Bunny Statue, Bushybrume Cincture, Wristlet of the Stars and Secret Sthalian Tome

The Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness collector’s edition is currently available for pre-order from the Square Enix online store and costs about $110. You can pre-order the collector’s edition HERE.
Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix. The game is set between Star Ocean: The Second Story and Till the End of Time. It is set to release in the West on June 28, 2016 on PlayStation 4.
SOURCE

source: Operation Rainfall

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
Star Ocean 5 ‘Kingdom of Trei’kur’ and ‘Depth of Gameplay’ trailers, Anne and Emmerson English spotlight videos
Published 3 hours ago. 12 comments.

PlayStation 4 action RPG due out on June 28.

Square Enix has released a new set of English Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness trailers.




Here’s an overview of what you’ll see:

Kingdom of Trei’kur
Not even the most biased of historians would endeavor to call this parched land a paradise. Most of the country is a desert, and the little soil that departs from that description has too few nutrients to sustain the raising of crops. Its lack of natural resources is the primary reason this country is currently at war with neighboring Resulia.
Depth of Gameplay
From item crafting to side quests and dungeon crawling, adventure is limitless on the undeveloped planet Faykreed IV.
Anne
With looks that could kill and nerves of steel, one would assume Anne has ice in her veins to go with all that, but she is actually one of the kindest people there is. As an example of this, her love of cats burns brighter than multiple systems’ stars.
Emmerson
This rascally companion of Anne’s is always on the lookout for exquisite liquors and eligible women. Though it may be easy to mistake him for a flippant playboy on first glance, he can quickly change into a man of action when the moment calls for one.
​

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 on June 28 in North America and July 1 in Europe. It is now available for PlayStation 4 in Japan and will launch for PlayStation 3 in the country on April 28.




Watch the videos below.



View a new set of screenshots at the gallery.
Kingdom of Trei’kur Trailer

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Gameplay Trailer

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Anne Spotlight

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Emmerson Spotlight

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PlayStation 4, Clips, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers, tri-Ace
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source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PlayStation 4
[FONT=&quot]Star Ocean 5 English launch trailer, PS4 dynamic theme pre-order bonus[/FONT]
Published 1 hour ago. 35 comments.

PlayStation 4 action RPG due out later this month.

Square Enix revealed the launch trailer for Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, alongside three other trailers, during the final Star Log broadcast this evening.


Additionally, the publisher revealed that fans who pre-order the Digital Day One Edition of the game from the PlayStation Store starting today will receive an exclusive dynamic PlayStation 4 theme, featuring the main characters (Fidel in the city of Central Resulia, Miki in her hometwon of Stahl, and Relia in the team’s spaceship) with music from composer Motoi Sakuraba.




Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in North America on June 28 and in Europe on July 1.






Watch the trailers below. View screenshots of the dynamic theme at the gallery.
Launch Trailer

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Relia Spotlight

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Charles D. Goale F Gameplay

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Meet the Voices Trailer

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visit gallery »









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PlayStation 4, Clips, E3 2016, Pre-Orders, RPG, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, Trailers, tri-Ace
​

source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

PC
[FONT=&quot]Square Enix considering Star Ocean 5 PC port[/FONT]
Published 5 hours ago. 141 comments.

But Square Enix needs to figure out the controls first.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness could come to PC following its PlayStation 4 release next week, according to producer Shuichi Kobayashi.


FFDream interviewed Kobayashi last month, who discussed the potential of a PC version. Here is the

FFDream: Are there any plans to port Star Ocean 5 to PC?
Kobayashi: “Since the game is full of action, I wonder the ideal commands for PC might be… What’s the best way to play it, in your opinion?”


FFWorld: “With a game pad?”


Kobayashi: “Are people used to playing on PC with a game pad in Europe?”


FFWorld and FFDream: “Yes.”


Kobayashi: “I see. So if you have a game pad, you can play it without problems, but I wonder how those who don’t have one would play.



That’s our main concern and why we’ve pushed to release a PC version later on, so that we could reflect on the controls for players without a game pad. The ASKA engine, which tri-Ace used to develop Star Ocean 5, allows us to easily bring the game to PC, so if we can find a solution to our problem with the controls on PC, porting it should be easy enough for us, although I can’t promise that it would be fast.”
​

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is due out for PlayStation 4 in North America next Tuesday, June 28, and in Europe next Friday, July 1.
Thanks, NeoGAF.






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PC, RPG, Shuichi Kobayashi, Square Enix, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, tri-Ace​

source: Gematsu

 

[zenith16]

Square Enix Has No Plans To Bring Star Ocean: Second Evolution For PS4 And Vita To The West. July 5, 2016 . 12:00am

Siliconera recently spoke with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness producer Shuichi Kobayashi,
and asked if Square Enix is looking into releasing Star Ocean: Second Evolution to the West for PS4/PS Vita.

92 comments Read >

Siliconera recently spoke with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness producer Shuichi Kobayashi, and asked if Square Enix is looking into releasing Star Ocean: Second Evolution to the West.

Star Ocean: Second Evolution, the enhanced port of Star Ocean: The Second Story, originally released for PSP in 2008 in Japan and the following year in the West. The game was more recently ported with additional features to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in Japan on October 2015 and it even got a PS3 port in December, but we’ve yet to hear anything about it for the West.

During our interview with Star Ocean Integrity and Faithlessness producer Shuichi Kobayashi, we asked if Square Enix is looking into releasing the PS4 and PS Vita versions of the game for the West.

“Yamagishi-san he was the producer that created the PSP remake and released the PS4 and Vita version in Japan. After he released the remake he hasn’t really done anything for the West. At this moment, there are no plans to release that title in the West,” Kobayashi told Siliconera.

He continued, “However, these are my personal thoughts and nothing has been decided yet, but since I am kind of rebooting the [Star Ocean] series I know that I can’t leave it alone. I would love to release it somehow. Maybe create a back catalog or have some way to purchase it because I know a lot of people and maybe even people who play this new title would want to play the older [Star Ocean] titles too.”

“I know we should probably do this. I don’t know if it will be me or Yamagishi-san again, but there should be a way to do this. There are no plans this moment, but I am thinking about it.“

We’ll have more from Kobayashi-san soon.

Read more stories about Interviews & PlayStation Vita & PlayStation 4 on Siliconera.​

Also with




Is Star Ocean: Till the End of Time Really The End Of The Series’ Timeline?. July 8, 2016 . 6:00pm

Siliconera caught up with tri-Ace director Hiroshi Ogawa who talked about Star Ocean’s timeline
and why it hasn’t been continuing after Star Ocean: Till the End of Time.

40 comments Read >

With the release of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, we learned more about what happens in the timeline of tri-Ace’s sci-fi RPG series. However, since Star Ocean: Till the End of Time fans have wondered if that was the end of everything or if it’s possible that one day we’ll learn more beyond the events of the third installment. Siliconera recently got to talk about Star Ocean’s timeline in an interview with tri-Ace director Hiroshi Ogawa.

It goes without saying that the following will have some major spoilers on Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, so here’s a warning to those of you who wish to play it without being spoiled.




In Star Ocean: Till the End of Time we learn the characters are in a computer simulation. That was a big revelation, but the two proceeding Star Ocean games go back in the timeline instead of continuing from the reveal from Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. Why haven’t future Star Ocean games continued from this point?
Hiroshi Ogawa, Director at tri-Ace: In Japan, we had a 20th anniversary interview with Gotanda-san, the creator of the Star Ocean series. He mentioned that wasn’t the correct way to interpret the story. The game does say the world is a simulation, but Gotanda-san has in mind that this world, the world we live in, is probably a simulation too and that is where the idea comes from. God is allowed to create this kind of world, so why can’t humans create a simulated world? Since Star Ocean: Till the End of Time is a game it has a lot of different interpretations and misinterpretations. I wanted to make this clear first.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope went back in the timeline and now there is Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness. The natural progression would be to come after the storyline from Till the End of Time, but since it has been seven years we are trying to get new users to try the series. If we did something after Till the End of Time it would alienate new players. They wouldn’t understand. Gotanda-san actually selected this part we have in Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness so new users can come in. He actually has the storyline thought up after Star Ocean: Till the End of Time, but these haven’t been realized yet.

For long time fans of the Star Ocean series, can you give us any hints about Gotanda-san’s ideas for what happens after Star Ocean: Till the End of Time?
HO: Actually, I don’t know either. [Laughs] It’s all in Gotanda-san’s mind. I guess he gets that question asked a lot, but we don’t know ourselves.

Shuichi Kobayashi, Producer at Square Enix: When I asked Gotanda-san what you are thinking about after Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness he elaborated on what he would like to do, but it wasn’t the storyline after Star Ocean: Till the End of Time. [Laughs]

Read more stories about Playstation 2 & Interviews & star ocean: till the end of time on Siliconera.
​

source: Siliconera

 

[zenith16]

How Square Enix Changed the Way Games Get Approved Since Yosuke Matsuda Became CEO. July 11, 2016 . 6:00pm

Siliconera recently caught up with Square Enix producer Shuichi Kobayashi, who talked about some of the changes the company saw in the approval process of games after Yosuke Matsuda became CEO.

15 comments Read >

Siliconera recently caught up with Square Enix producer Shuichi Kobayashi, who talked about some of the changes the company saw in the approval process of games after Yosuke Matsuda became CEO.

Kobayashi-san, it seems like you’ve been quite passionate about bringing back forgotten Square Enix IPs. What has changed in Square Enix as a company from when Wada-san was the president to now when Matsuda-san is the president to allow you to do this?
Shuichi Kobayashi, Producer at Square Enix: When the president changed from Wada-san to Matsuda-san, the approval process for creating new projects has changed too. When Wada-san was the president, everyone in the executive committee needed to agree to start a new project. When we changed to Matsuda-san, we created the business divisions and all of the approval processes will go from division to division so it’s become a lot speedier.

The approval process you have to go through became shorter too. It’s not that everything gets approved now, but because it’s faster it shortens the time to get approval. The idea behind this kind of process is at Square Enix as a company we want to push out more titles at a faster speed. That is why it has become easier to do this.

Even with this new process it doesn’t mean everything will get approved what came with this change in the approval process is a lot of responsibility. Whether you succeed or not, you have so much more responsibility now than before. We have to create something fun and something that will sell. That’s where each producer decides if they want to create a new IP (intellectual property) or if they want to use a previous IP to create something new.

But, we all have to think about creating something fun. If we succeed with Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness then I will think about what I can do with Star Ocean next, but if I fail then I might have to think about what other titles I might be able to do. Each of the producers at our company are now thinking about what is fun to play with and what would be a good seller. When I was looking at the titles I could do, Star Ocean was the one I really wanted to work on and that is why I did Star Ocean this time.

We’ll have more from our interview with Kobayashi-san and on Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness soon.

Read more stories about PlayStation 3 & Interviews & Square Enix & PlayStation 4 & Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness on Siliconera.

source: Siliconera

 

[zenith16]

this was just put up now





Star Ocean 5 Creators On Making Its Battle System And Characters For The Sci-Fi Series. July 15, 2016 . 8:00pm

Siliconera got to speak with the makers of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness from tri-Ace and Square Enix. We talked battle system, the making of characters, and also asked about a new Valkyrie Profile.

No Comments » Read >

Siliconera got to speak with the makers of Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness from tri-Ace and Square Enix. We talked battle, the making of characters, and also asked about a new Valkyrie Profile.


​

From left to right: Hiroshi Ogawa, Akira “Akiman” Yasuda, Shuichi Kobayashi.​

You mentioned bringing new users into the Star Ocean series, but tri-Ace is known for having intricate battle systems designed for core users to dissect. It’s almost divergent since games designed to attract new users have simplified systems while tri-Ace developed titles have systems with a lot of depth to them. Why is it important to attract new users and what do you think Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness does to bring them in aside from the new storyline?
Hiroshi Ogawa, Director at tri-Ace: In Star Ocean games, especially Till the End of Time you really had to do item creation from the start. It was so difficult at times you couldn’t even get through the main scenario if you didn’t do item creation. The game balance was more difficult and skewed towards people who have played Star Ocean and know how to use that mechanic. This time we made it so you don’t need to know [about item creation]. We have heard voices from fans saying that it’s a little bit too easy or they wanted more difficulty, but we made it so you didn’t need to know that kind of system. You didn’t need to use that system to get through the game. With just a couple of simple buttons you could play a flashy battle on screen with seven characters. That is the game balance we aimed for this time.

Shuichi Kobayashi, Producer at Square Enix: I’m going to candidly say this, but Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness is very simple especially compared to the Star Ocean series until now. Compared to the previous Star Ocean games there wasn’t that much time between games. Players who played the first Star Ocean or another game would know how to use these complex mechanics and we were able to add more complex systems in each proceeding game because we knew users would know how to use them to get through the game. But, this time since has been seven years we prioritized more on how the game plays, the controls, the simplicity so new players that are not acquainted with our previous titles will be able to play.

I haven’t asked Gotanda-san if it was OK to say this and I don’t know if he thought this way, but when we created this title we tried to make it a Star Ocean title that everyone could jump into and play. Like Ogawa-san said we have been getting feedback from a lot of players who wanted it to be more difficult, but we focused to make it as simple as possible. When you start it feels simple, but when you dive into it there is a lot you can do.

Akiman-san, you’ve worked on character design for many fighting games. Can you tell us how you designed characters to telegraph what attacks they might have or to hint to players what they should watch out for when fighting them?
Akira Yasuda (Akiman), Character Designer: Because this game and graphic technology has been upgraded to better show what characters can do it’s become more detailed and refined these days. I don’t think games need to be as character oriented as before where you see a character and you know what they do. However, I always strive that make sure you will be able to tell what kind of character they are by the silhouette. I’m not really trying to make anything new. Instead, I use symbolic items. For example if there is a witch then she will have a big hat that way you can tell she will use magic or he will use magic. I use those kinds of symbols on purpose to create characters and like I was saying earlier I’m not trying to make something new. As long as these symbolic elements are in a character I think that is enough. Especially with games now and how characters move you can tell what kind of character they are, I think I don’t need to create characters where you can tell what they are just by the design. I am thinking of changing my design now.

What would you want to do differently with the characters you make since you don’t need to rely on character design to communicate gameplay mechanics to players?
AY: Just as movies and theater performances, I do not feel that character design should be complete or perfect. For instance, if you see a regular old man and he looks like an old man who is a karate master. I think that is fine in movies. But, for games until now we didn’t have that kind of technology to be able to create that. If you’re about 5’6” and then you meet someone who is 6’ tall in real life there is only a little difference, but in a video game you have to design the character so players can clearly see that character is larger because if you get hit by him you might die. [Laughs] We needed a way to show this, not exactly exaggeration, but a way to show this kind of detail. But, because graphics and movements have improved so much we can design characters that are not perfect. To create more ways to develop characters through the storyline or through the entire game. If I need to add symbols I will, but that will depend on what kind of orders I’m given.

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How do you design sci-fi characters? What in your opinion makes a character “sci-fi” for the Star Ocean series?
When I researched the Star Ocean series to create characters for this title, I felt what is cool about this series is when they discovered planets there were all of these fantasy world settings. The other Star Ocean games had human protagonists going to underdeveloped planets, but this game is more like Star Ocean 1 where you start on an underdeveloped planet and then you go out into space. Because of this there isn’t any science fiction element to the characters from the start because you don’t need it. You don’t have those kinds of characters.

I referenced Star Ocean: The Last Hope to create characters for Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness. To have that kind of fantasy element, I thought I had to make all of these characters and their clothes complicated like The Last Hope and that is why I did all of these complicated details. I actually wanted to make Anne and Emmerson have computers around them, but I started thinking I wanted to make Emmerson when he shows up this weird old guy who came out of nowhere. I wanted to make Anne someone who travels with him and you have no idea where they came from. I thought having those kinds of characters would raise a red flag with players that they are too weird or mysterious. Unfortunately, I didn’t do anything sci-fi with these character designs. I actually designed details about what they are wearing inside too. There are all of these details and back settings with these character designs that you can’t see in their models.

One of the big changes with the Star Ocean: Integrity & Faithlessness is the dynamic cut scene system, but a player could be standing away from the event and miss seeing the scene.
HO: When Gotanda-san came up with the first concept for the game he was focused on this dynamic cut scene system. It may sound a little bit weird to say this for a game, but what he wanted to accomplish was to be as natural as possible. It’s not really natural if two characters are conversing and all of the other party members aren’t doing anything. It’s natural if someone else is doing their own thing. For instance, if we were walking together there will be groups of two and three with each group conversing on their own. It is natural to have that. That is what we wanted to achieve with this game and the dynamic cut scenes. Especially because the game has real time events there are some events you have to watch as a player, but we wanted players to also see the changes that happen around as well. We hope it will add more to the experience. You can’t freely roam around the world, but we hoped it would add to the free feeling.

SK: To be frank, Ogawa-san and Gotanda-san are not that satisfied with it. What we did this time was not what they wanted to do or a full realization of it. We have scenes where there are characters talking there and other characters talking over here, but more was supposed to happen around them. For example, if there was an area with a flower bed we wanted Relia to rush over there and start picking flowers to have that kind of realness to it. Because we wanted to leave one traditional element in the game to have that kind of complexity, the game itself would be more complicated and we would have too much on our hands at this moment. So we are not satisfied with this at all, but this time we were able to create the basis for that technology and if we have a chance to create another game after this we really want to elaborate that even more to create something even more natural. We actually all regret that we weren’t able to do it with this title.

In another interview, there was a proposal about a new Valkyrie Profile game.
SK: That was something I mentioned on NicoNico Live. After that I did restate it was just my idea and my proposal. tri-Ace is not involved in it at all right now. I haven’t even brought it to tri-Ace yet. It is all my creation and it spread through the Internet.

It’s only in Japan, but we released Valkyrie Anatomia and Yamagishi-san is the producer for it. I read the plot and storyline for it and I thought I need to see the user reaction first before I could create something new for Valkyrie Profile. Even if something moves, I would have to see how that game does.

Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is currently available on PlayStation 4. You can check out our earlier reports for more from the creators who talked about Star Ocean’s timeline and about how Square Enix changed the way games get approved since Yosuke Matsuda became CEO.

Read more stories about Interviews & PlayStation 4 & Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness on Siliconera.​

source: Siliconera
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