We already heard that before last year at Tokyo Game Show, and this prediction is becoming quite common from Japanese developers. According to Keiji Inafune, creator of many successful titles like the Mega Man series and the upcoming Dead Rising new sequel, “ Every year that I come to E3, year in and year out, the one thing I’ve noticed is that it seems like the Japanese game developer share seems to be getting smaller and smaller “. For Capcom’s Head of Global R&D, “ I think to myself sometimes, if we keep on this course, the Japanese gaming market will disappear totally. That is one of the valid concerns that I have, which is why as a Japanese publisher, as Capcom, we really want to fight the good fight, and try and make our games work within this more primarily Western market “. I personally think that the key to a successful gaming industry is collaboration. We already saw that in the past and it worked. It will be a pitty seeing great companies like Konami, Capcom or even Namco ruined because of that. Inafume himself is working closely with Blue Castle, a Canadian studio, to create Dead Rising 2. Fact is that Japanese industries are insisting in RPGs and inovation is becoming scarse. But hey, how can we imagine gaming industry without Japanese creations like Mario, Sonic, or Pac-man? Source

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Inafune: “It’s a dark time for Japanese Games Industry…”

 Since it was revealed that the 360 version of Lost Planet 2 would feature skins from Epic’s Gears of War series and the Japanese version of the game for the PS3 comes with a special Monster Hunter skin, North American PS3 owners may have been wondering what exclusive content Capcom has in store for them.   If you guessed a Killzone tie-in then you were right. The PS3 version of Capcom’s Lost Planet 2 will be getting 2 exclusive skins from Killzone for North American territories. Watch them in action in their debut trailer: The Helghast scout skins won’t become available before the end of June but they will be free of charge.

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Helghast Invading Lost Planet 2

Highlights First off, a heads up. US and EU territories have been fixed for Thursdays for some time now. Starting next week, though, that will change as the US (and probably Canada) will get their Store updates on Tuesdays and the EU will now be getting their updates on Wednesdays (I’m not sure if the video store update changed as well, though). In the Asian territories, updates took place throughout the week, but I’m not sure if it changes for them, too. If not, that means I will have to do this differently, as it throws off the ’same day’ deal. I will post the update on Tuesdays instead now (at least, I hope so, and if personal life allows for it), and update it throughout the week when the EU and Asian territories get theirs. Anyway, as far as content goes, Record of Agarest War is available for download at $45. It’s a strategy RPG if you’re interested. You can also pick up the Kick-Ass game for $14, which is an overhead-style beat-em-up that ties into the movie of the same name. Sales-wise, the EU and US both have a few sales this week, and in the US, we see a big PixelJunk sale as well (they’re all $4.99 until Monday). As far as DLC goes, both US and EU have sales going on for the Street Fighter costumes in LBP for the launch of SSFIV this week. You can also pick up the Wakeboarding HD demo, which is the demo for the PSN game that released a couple weeks ago. A bunch of new minis are available as well. The US sees episodes 4-6 come for Blue Toad Murder Files, which were released a few weeks ago in the EU. Mega Man 10 also has two new Special Stages and the Endless Attack DLC (the final batch of DLC for the title). There aren’t too many videos, but there is a decent collection of themes available for both the PS3 and PSP. US Store United States Sales ► Spring Fever o PixelJunk 3-in-1 Pack (Bundle) ($9.99) o PixelJunk Racers ($4.99) o PixelJunk Monsters ($4.99) o PixelJunk Eden ($4.99) o PixelJunk Shooter ($4.99) ► Game Sales o LittleBigPlanet: Street Fighter Costume Pack ($2.99 or $0.99 each) o Fortix (minis) ($3.99) Demos ► Wakeboarding HD o 119 MB PS3 Games ► Kick-Ass o $14.99 ► Record of Agarest War o $44.99 Game Archives ► PSone o Star Wars Dark Forces ($5.99) minis ► Car Jack Streets o $4.99 ► Music Quiz (PSP Only) o $1.99 ► Normaltanks o $4.99 ► Pile Up! Bakery (PSP Only) o $1.99 ► Pinball Duel (PSP Only) o $1.99 ► Reef Aquarium o $4.99 PSP Games ► 2010 FIFA World Cup (English or French) o $39.99 each Add-ons ► Blue Toad Murder Files o Episodes 4-6 Bundle ($14.99 or $7.49 each) ► Guitar Hero 5 o Black Sabbath Track Pack ($5.49 or $1.99 each) ♪ After Forever ♪ Into the Void ♪ Sweet Leag ► Just Cause 2 o Black Market Aerial Pack ($1.99) ► MAG o Fast Attack Gear Pack ► Mega Man 10 o Endless Attack ($2.99) o Special Stage 2 ($0.99) o Special Stage 3 ($0.99) ► Record Of Agarest War o Add-On Dungeon 1: Generation 1 Holy Island Of Erin o Add-On Dungeon 2: Generation 2 Trum Coast o Item Pack 1: Recovery Kit o Item Pack 2: Skill Set o Points Pack 1: Trial Point Pack ► Rock Band o Singles ($1.99 each) ♪ “Again” – Flyleaf ♪ “Thunderbirds Are Go!” – Busted ♪ “Tomorrow” – Silverchair o Rock Band Network Tracks ($1.99 each) ♪ “Burn It Down” by Five Finger Death Punch ♪ “Business Time” by Flight of the Conchords ♪ “Lady in a Blue Dress” by Senses Fail ♪ “Push Push (Lady Lightning)” by Bang Camaro ♪ “Stick Stickly” – by Attack! Attack! ► Super Street Fighter IV o Super Challengers Costume Pack 1 ($3.99) Videos ► 3D Dot Game Heroes o “Dot-Mart” Trailer ► ModNation Racers o Artist Spotlight – David Jaffe o Artist Spotlight – Sucker Punch o Artist Spotlight – Ted Price ► Skate 3 o Demo Trailer ► Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions o Reveal Trailer ► Topatoi o Bundle Trailer ► UNCHARTED 2 o Siege Expansion Pack – “The Highrise” Flythrough Trailer o Siege Expansion Pack – “The Museum” Flythrough Trailer Avatars Themes Wallpapers ► PS3 Dynamic Themes o Mega Man 10 Dynamic Theme 3 ($2.99) o Shatter Dynamic Theme ($2.99) o White Knight Chronicles International Edition – Travelers Dynamic Theme ($2.99) ► PS3 Premium Themes o Black Oil Crud ($1.99) o Dragunov ($1.99) o Frisco Sunset ($1.99) o NBA Premium Theme (x14) ($1.99) o Winter Wonderland ($1.99) ► PS3 Wallpapers o Tecmo Bowl Throwback Wallpaper ► PSP Premium Themes o Bare Elements – Data PSP Theme ($1.49) o Bare Elements – Fire PSP Theme ($1.49) o Black Oil Crud – Dab PSP Theme ($1.49) o Black Oil Crud – Glop PSP Theme ($1.49) o Sushi PSP Theme 1 ($1.49) o Sushi PSP Theme 2 ($1.49) o NBA teams (x14 – $1.49 each) European Store Europe Sales ► PS3 (Until May 12th) o LittleBigPlanet – Street Fighter Costume (Chun-Li) (£0.79/€0.99) o LittleBigPlanet – Street Fighter Costume (Guile) (£0.79/€0.99) o LittleBigPlanet – Street Fighter Costume (Ryu) (£0.79/€0.99) o LittleBigPlanet – Street Fighter Costume (Zangief) (£0.79/€0.99) o Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X – European Assault Pack (£2.39/€2.99) ► Game Archives (Until May 12th) o Guilty Gear (PSone) (£3.19/€3.99) ► minis (Until May 12th) o Vempire (£1.24/€1.49) ► PSP (Until May 12th) o Assassin’s Creed Bloodlines (£15.99/€19.99) o Gottlieb Pinball Classics (£4.79/€5.99) o Petz My Puppy Family (£11.99/€14.99) o Petz My Baby Hamster (£11.99/€14.99) Price Drops ► PS3 o WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009 – Roster Update 2 (£1.59/€1.99) FirstPlay ► Episode 004 o (£8.99 for 3mo. or £0.99 each) Demos ► Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 o MB ► Wakeboarding HD o MB PS3 Games ► Puzzle Chronicles o £6.29/€7.99 minis ► Championship Manager 2010 Express o £3.99/€4.99 PSP Games ► 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa o £29.99/€39.99 ► Gensan o £23.99/€29.99 Add-ons ► Buzz! Quiz World (PSP) o National Geographic Kids Quiz (£3.19/€3.99) ► Dante’s Inferno o Trials of St. Lucia (£7.99/€9.99) ► Guitar Hero 5 o Black Sabbath Track Pack (£4.39/€5.49 or £1.59/€1.99 each) ♪ After Forever ♪ Into The Void ♪ Sweetleaf ► Just Cause 2 o Black Market Aerial Pack (£1.59/€1.99) ► Karaoke Revolution o Singles (£0.79 | €0.99 each) ♪ (I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life ♪ Fame ► MAG o Fast Attack Gear Pack ► Mega Man 10 o Endless Attack Mode (£2.39/€2.99) o Special Stage 2 (£1.19/€1.49) o Special Stage 3 (£1.19/€1.49) ► Rock Band o Singles (£0.99 | €1.49 each) ♪ Again by Flyleaf ♪ Thunderbirds Are Go by Busted ♪ Tomorrow by Silverchair ► Super Street Fighter IV o Super Challengers Pack 1 (£3.19/€3.99) ► LittleBigPlanet (PSP) o The Wilderness Theme Level Kit (£2.39/€2.99) o The Wilderness Theme Costume Kit Videos ► Hustle Kings o 9-Ball Clearance Competition Trailer ► Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 o Behind the Scenes 1 Trailer Avatars Themes Wallpapers ► PS3 Dynamic Themes o Mega Man 10 Dynamic Customised Theme 3 (£1.59/€1.99) o White Knight Chronicles Travellers Dynamic Theme (£1.59/€1.99) o Wakeboarding HD Dynamic Theme ► PS3 Premium Themes o The Nightmare Before Christmas Theme (£1.19/€1.49) Japan Store Japan Game Archives ► PSone (¥600 each) o Ground Stroke o Mega Man 3 o Neorude 2 o Shinobi no Roku o Simple 1500 Series Vol. 36 (¥300) o Simple 1500 Series Vol. 41 (¥300) o Simple 1500 Series Vol. 44 (¥300) o Simple 1500 Series Vol. 45 (¥300) PSP Games ► Bomberman: Panic Bomber o ¥800 ► Half-Minute Hero PSP the Best o ¥2800 ► Ikki Tousen: Xross Impact o ¥4200 ► Lunar -Harmony of Silver Star- o ¥3400 ► Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker o ¥4700 Add-ons ► God Eater (PSP) o Download Mission Pack Ver 1.4 ► Heavy Rain o The Taxidermist (¥500) ► Idolmaster SP (PSP) o New Catalogs ► Kentoushi: Gladiator Begins (PSP) o Add-on Event ► Kin’iro no Corda 3 (PSP) o Add-on Event ► LittleBigPlanet o White Knight Chronicles Costume Pack (¥600 or ¥200 each) – White Knight Costume – Leonard Costume – Black Knight Costume – Dragon Knight Costume ► LittleBigPlanet (PSP) o Snow Land Theme Pack (¥300) o Snow Land Costume ► Mega Man 10 o Special Stage 2 (¥100) o Special Stage 3 (¥100) o Endless Attack (¥300) ► Nanoha A’s Portable – The Battle of Aces (PSP) o Digital Nanoha #3 (¥800) ► PachiPara 15: Super Umi Monogatari in Okinawa 2 o Add-on (¥1800) ► Phantasy Star Portable 2 (PSP) o Free Add-on Weapons (x2) o Premium Add-on Weapons (x2 – ¥200 each) ► Super Street Fighter 4 o Super Challengers Pack 1 (¥400) Videos ► God of War III o Monster Hunter Producer’s Experience ► Trash Panic o Eco-Clear Video ► Uncharted 2: Among Theives o Promotional Video Avatars Themes Wallpapers ► PS3 Dynamic Themes o Mega Man 10 Dynamic Theme 3 (¥200) o White Knight Chronicles Dynamic Theme 2 (¥200) ► PS3 Wallpapers o Moeru Mahjong – Moejang Wallpaper 7 o Moeru Mahjong – Moejang Wallpaper 8 ► PSP Wallpapers o Moeru Mahjong – Moejang Wallpaper 7 o Moeru Mahjong – Moejang Wallpaper 8 The Japanese PlayStation Store updates throughout the week at 8:15 pm PST Hong Kong Store Hong Kong Demos ► Skate 3 (English Ver.) o 920 MB PS3 Games ► Wizardry The Labyrinth of Lost Souls (Japanese Ver.) o Full Pack – HK$ 252.00 PSP Games ► 2010 FIFA World Cup (English Ver.) o HK$ 330.00 ► Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker (Japanese Ver.) o HK$ 298.00 Add-ons ► Aliens Vs. Predator (English Ver.) o Swamp Map Pack (HK$ 52.00) ► God Eater (PSP – Japanese Ver.) o Download Mission Pack Ver 1.4 ► High Stakes Poker (English Ver.) o Connelly Card Club (HK$ 32.00) ► Idolmaster SP (PSP – Japanese Ver.) o New Catalogs ► Mega Man 10 (English Ver.) o Endless Attack (HK$ 25.00) o Special Stage 2 (HK$ 8.00) o Special Stage 3 (HK$ 8.00) ► Super Street Fighter IV (English | Japanese Ver.) o Super Challengers Pack 1 (HK$ 31.00) ► Wizardry The Labyrinth of Lost Souls (Japanese Ver.) o Additional Scenario (HK$ 67.00) Avatars Themes Wallpapers ► PS3 Dynamic Themes o Mega Man 10 Dynamic Theme #3 (HK$ 17.00) The Hong Kong PlayStation Store updates throughout the week. Video Store Updates on Fridays Video Store Update (US) The video store update will be made available on Fridays Store Update Source

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PlayStation Store Global Update for 04/29/10

Translated from Hideo Kojima’s Japanese  twitter account: “My next project will challenge a certain industry taboo.”  ”If I mess up, maybe I’ll have to leave the industry. But there’s no escaping it – I can’t pass otherwise.” Personally I think the gaming industry currently has few taboos left to break. What controversial game could be brewing in the Metal Gear Solid creator’s head and will it end up being his last?  Time will tell.

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Hideo Kojima Set to“Challenge a Certain Industry Taboo” With Next Project

Another Dev Diary from Codemasters detailing their attention to detail in respect to handling in the upcoming F1 2010 due in September. I’m a little sceptical of how they can claim it handles realistically when it runs at 30fps, especially when you consider Studio Liverpool managed to make a decent F1 game back in 2006 run at 60fps… I’ve added the video after the jump along with some new screenshots, unfortunately they are still of 2009 season cars but the video does show some crashes and car damage in action. Be sure to click on the thumbnails to see full resolution images;

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F1 2010 Handling Video and Screenshots

The Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has given MGS: Peace Walker a 40/40. The game was praised for “consistently thrilling & totally absorbing” single player and it’s “strong sense of togetherness” during co-op. It’ll also feature 30-40 hours of game play. MGS:PW is releasing this week in Japan. The rest of the world will have to wait until June.  Source

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MGS:PW Gets a Perfect Score