All Articles: Tales of Vesperia

Kingdom Hearts III, Resident Evil 2, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe unsurprisingly lead NPD’s list of best-selling games from January 2019

Posted on February 21, 2019 by John Scalzo

Kingdom Hearts fans were kept waiting more than a decade for the third game in the franchise, but Square Enix finally rewarded their patience with the launch of Kingdom Hearts III last month. As you might have guessed, fans purchased the game in droves, pushing it all the way to the top of The NPD Group’s list of best-selling games from January 2019.

Two highly-anticipated re-releases, Resident Evil 2 (#2) and New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe (#3) were close behind, and Bandai Namco’s Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown (#7) and Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (#12) also cracked the top 20.

However, while several games had strong starts on the sales chart, the industry overall suffered a decline last month versus January 2018. All together, GamesIndustry.biz is reporting that total sales (hardware, software, and accessories) were down 19% to $893 million.

You can find a full list of best-selling games from January 2019 after the break. (more…)

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New Retail Releases: New Super Mario Bros. U, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story, Tales of Vesperia, More

Posted on January 7, 2019 by John Scalzo

2019 promises to be a big year for video games (and possibly the last hurrah for the PS4 and Xbox One), and it looks like we’re starting things off with a trio of major re-releases.

Nintendo leads things off with a Switch re-release of New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, which originally launched for the Wii U in 2012. This new version will include new playable characters (Toadette and Nabbit), as well as the New Super Luigi U expansion.

The 3DS will also receive a classic Nintendo re-release this week in the form of Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey. The RPG relaunches the 2009 game with Amiibo support and the brand new “Bowser Jr.’s Journey” adventure.

The last re-release of the week comes from Bandai Namco, who will bring Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition to the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One (the game will also be available to download for the PC). The Definitive Edition will include the original game, as well as “beautifully remastered HD graphics, new musitc tracks, exciting minigames, bosses, and a collection of previously unreleased costume DLC.”

Finally this week, you might have missed it, but Nintendo snuck Fitness Boxing onto the Switch last week. Fitness Boxing features a wide variety of boxing-based rhythmic exercises and personalized workout options for everyone interested in getting a jump on their New Year’s Resolutions.

That’s all for now, but we’ll be back later this week with a look at the new additions coming to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Games Store, and Nintendo eShop.

Posted in 3DS, News, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged , ,

Bandai Namco will release Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition on January 11, 2019

Posted on September 10, 2018 by John Scalzo

Bandai Namco has announced that Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition will be available in stores on January 11, 2019. The re-release is currently in development for the PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, and will include “upscaled screen resolution as well as characters, events, and additional content never released outside of Japan.”

The publisher also plans to release a special Anniversary Bundle of the game (packed with exclusive collectibles featuring Yuri Lowell, Patty Fleur, Flynn Scifo, and Repede) through the Bandai Namco Official Store for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

Tales of Vesperia was originally released exclusively for the Xbox 360 back in 2008, and the RPG will be celebrating its 11th anniversary next year.

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Vesperia Community Manager retracts statement that Microsoft “paid for exclusivity”

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

Despite having a PS3 version in Japan, many fans have wondered why Tales of Vesperia is still Xbox 360-only in Europe and North America. Namco Bandai Community Manager Charlotte Toci explained on her Facebook page back in April, “Microsoft paid for the exclusivity, the same way as Sony paid for having Heavy Rain only on PS3. It’s just one way the business works, sadly.” It would appear someone got upset about this, as Toci has issued the following apology:

A few months ago I replied to a fan who asked me why Tales of Vesperia wasn’t localized in Europe on my Facebook page. I replied that it was because of a Microsoft exclusivity, thinking that that was the reason why, even though I didn’t have any official information on that.

I was wrong to do so, and sadly my reply was relayed on many websites, thus sharing a false information to fans around the web.

I would like to send my sincere apologies to all the Tales Series fans I have wrongly informed, and Microsoft & Namco Bandai for any damage that might have been caused with this.

I know hindsight is 20/20, but it seems to me Namco Bandai could have saved a lot of trouble if they just released their games on the platforms they actually belong on in the first place.

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