Acclaimed video game designer Hideo Kojima has revealed that he is directing two new games, as well as restructuring his development team to be more competitive.
One of those two Kojima-directed titles will be geared towards overseas gamers, according to a 1UP translation of an interview in Japanese gaming publication Famitsu. As Kojima's past third-person games have fared well worldwide, many speculate that the title is a first-person shooter, as the genre is popular in the West. The overseas-targeted title will coincide with the restructuring of developer Kojima Productions, which the creator described as "a makeover from the ground up." Kojima hopes this will result in a studio that can compete with top developers around the world.
Along creating with the stealth-action Metal Gear series, Kojima has played a role in many other beloved titles, including the mech-combat franchise Zone of the Enders, the adventure-action game Snatcher, and the sun-utilizing vampire-slaying Boktai titles. Details on the other game were sparse, with the creator only noting that it will be formally unveiled first and will be developed in a more traditional Kojima Productions environment, instead of fully embracing the shifts that the reorganization will bring.
Get Unlimited Xbox 360 Downloads Here
Our Top 10 List - Sleeper Hits of 2009
by PlanetXbox360 StaffLast week we brought you our overall “Top 10 Xbox 360 Games of 2009” so we thought it’d be appropriate that we speak on a few more games that deserve to be mentioned. The main difference is that these titles aren’t as widely known or talked about so it’s only fitting we let the cat out of the bag and speak on them as we feel they’re going to make a huge impact in 2009. Without further ado, here are 10 more games that you need to keep an eye out since they may very well vie for awards when next December hits.
10. Champions Online - Release Date: Spring 2009
After the falling out between Microsoft and Cryptic Studios over the handling of Marvel Universe Online, Cryptic jumped straight into developing Champions Online for the Xbox 360 and PC. While the Champions license may not be as lucrative as the Marvel Comics one, Cryptic at least found a respectable RPG to adapt to the MMO genre. Offering cross-platform gameplay between the Xbox 360 and PC, Champions Online will look to offer 360 gamers their first chance to jump into a continuous online world since Final Fantasy XI. Already in its beta stage, Cryptic Studios has also received the approval from Microsoft to accept user-generation content for the MMO when the game releases.
Having a history developing MMOs in the past – City of Villains and City of Heroes – Cryptic Studios hopes to advance the MMO genre even further with their next step with the superhero theme. Allowing gamers to create their own arch-nemesis, Champions Online may end up being one of the best MMOs to release on the consoles; but then again, not too many MMOs ever make it out of the development stage on the consoles.
9. UFC 2009: Undisputed – Release Date: Spring 2009
The sport of mixed martial arts is steadily on the rise so it’s only appropriate that it receive it’s very first release on the next-generation consoles. Set for a release on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, UFC 2009: Undisputed is being handled by the same development team that delivered WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009. Players can rest assured that engine is entirely new as it was built from the ground up around the sport itself. Attempting to capture the true essence of the sport, gamers will finally be able to take full control of their favorite UFC fighters and duke it out with friends and family.
Get Unlimited Xbox 360 Downloads Here
In addition, gamers will also have the chance to jump online and compete with the best players across the globe in matches. According to recent news, Yukes, the developer, plan on including over 80 different fighters for gamers to play with. This should be a huge attraction as a majority of fighting games rests their laurels on the roster of characters/fighters they have; a selection of 80 fighters should definitely put gamers over the edge when it comes down to determining if the game is worth a purchase or not.
8. Ghostbusters: The Video Game – Release Date: June 2009
When something went strange in the neighborhood over at Atari, they decided call the Ghostbusters to fix it. That’s right; Atari had a horrible year in 2008 in terms of video game releases and are looking to 2009 to turn things around. Among their first crucial decisions was to pick up Ghostbusters: The Video Game after Activision Blizzard dropped it.
What essentially is turning out to be the third film in the franchise, Ghostbusters: The Video Game is takes place two years after Ghostbusters II. If you’re a fan of the films or television show, then you’ll be glad to hear that Dan Akyroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis, and many more are returning to provide their voices to their respective characters. While we still reserve some skepticism on how it’ll all eventually turn out – my reasoning being that majority of licensed video games are below average – we can’t think of too many other film franchises from the ‘80’s that deserve a proper video game adaptation than Ghostbusters.
7. I Am Alive – Late Spring 2009
For the little we know about I Am Alive, we still can’t stop ourselves from being excited. As a survival-action title, Ubisoft is hoping to give gamers a lot “life-changing decisions” to mull over throughout their journey through the game. The only hard information we have on I Am Alive is that the game takes place in Chicago after a natural disaster occurs and sets the world on a path of chaos. With it’s supposed release date approaching rather quickly, we can only cross our fingers that Ubisoft finally lets the cat out of the bag for I Am Alive or else this might end up slipping into 2010 before we know it.
6. The Godfather II – Release Date: February 12
Strictly based on The Godfather Part II, EA is out to prove that one of Hollywood’s best film franchises can still be a successful video game franchise. While the first title was an entertaining game in spurts, it surely didn’t set the gaming world on fire. This time around, they hope to put the ship back on course with even more violence and management of the Corleone family.
On the downside, Al Pacino still isn’t lending his voice for his likeness in the video game but a majority of the actors from the film will still be present to recreate the dangerous world of the late 1950’s. Taking over the family after the death of the first game’s protagonist, gamers can expect a world full of guns, explosions and betrayal.
