Updated! Now with screenshots!

That’s right folks! Record of Agarest War is now coming to your Xbox 360 as a full retail product alongside the PlayStation Network verison in the Spring of 2010. But, if you want to know what the reasons for this decision our Editor, Ben Bateman said it best…

“In truth, we had Record of Agarest War ready to go up on the PlayStation Network months ago,” [Ed.'s note: That’s a lie.] says Ben Bateman, Editor, Aksys Games, “But when a haggard man emerged from a ball of crackling energy that materialized outside our office with dire warnings from a dark future, we decided to reconsider. As it turns out, a PlayStation Network-exclusive release of Agarest was—or rather, would have been—the catalyst for World War III. The gaming community was torn apart—literally—by this apparent favoritism, and from that schism poured the infinite minions of Satan himself, the Lord of Lies. The man told us, his eyes blank with the 1000-yard stare, of the horrors of this future war. He had been sent back in time, the last hope of a desperate human resistance, to prevent what the people of this desolate future Earth called, simply, ‘The Breaking.’ As the last spark of life passed from his body, broken and battered by his journey through the time vortex, we swore to honor his final wish.”

“This is why Record of Agarest War has been delayed,” Ben continues, his eyes wet with tears, “So that we may release it on both consoles, and in doing so, save the world.”

Also, one of the best reasons you want to get the North American version is that we’ve included Trophy and Achievement support!

Full press release after the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MASSIVE WARS, BOUNTIFUL WOMEN, AND A CORNUCOPIA OF DEBAUCHERY, NOW ON TWO CONSOLES!

Record of Agarest War receives a simultaneous release on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system AND
Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Spring 2010!

Torrance, CA (Friday 13th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, announces its first epic SRPG, with Record of Agarest War for the Xbox 360 to coincide with the previously announced PlayStation Network version. In this game developed by Compiled Heart, RED Entertainment, and Idea Factory, SRPG fanatics will finally be able to play a game worthy of the genre. Sporting over one hundred hours of gameplay, Record of Agarest War invites players into a gorgeous, expansive world of hope and despair. Players will wage war against the evil forces of darkness, take a bride—actually, several brides—and extend their lineage across five generations!

“In truth, we had Record of Agarest War ready to go up on the PlayStation Network months ago,” [Ed.'s note: That’s a lie.] says Ben Bateman, Editor, Aksys Games, “But when a haggard man emerged from a ball of crackling energy that materialized outside our office with dire warnings from a dark future, we decided to reconsider. As it turns out, a PlayStation Network-exclusive release of Agarest was—or rather, would have been—the catalyst for World War III. The gaming community was torn apart—literally—by this apparent favoritism, and from that schism poured the infinite minions of Satan himself, the Lord of Lies. The man told us, his eyes blank with the 1000-yard stare, of the horrors of this future war. He had been sent back in time, the last hope of a desperate human resistance, to prevent what the people of this desolate future Earth called, simply, ‘The Breaking.’ As the last spark of life passed from his body, broken and battered by his journey through the time vortex, we swore to honor his final wish.”

“This is why Record of Agarest War has been delayed,” Ben continues, his eyes wet with tears, “So that we may release it on both consoles, and in doing so, save the world.”

Record of Agarest War Prologue

War darkened the skies of Agarest. Not a simple war between mortals, easily ended by divine intervention, but a war that split the gods themselves. Armies such as the world had never seen before, and would never see again, clashed in the skies of Agarest, across its surface, and even in the caverns that wound their way through its interior.

As is the way in war, many died on both sides, gods and mortals alike, and the war left Agarest broken, blackened, and dead. The gods wept for their paradise, and in a final act of creation, sacrificed themselves to bring life back to its charred and twisted surface.

Although the gods are long dead, the withering darkness that began and fueled their war is not. Imprisoned for millennia, its bonds have begun to weaken, and as they do, a shadow once again spreads across the surface of the world.

Born into this world perched unknowingly on the brink of the apocalypse, a young man by the name of Leonhardt and his descendants are the last, best hope for Agarest. Their journey will span generations and continents as they strive to once again bring peace to their beleaguered world, even as the cost of their own souls.

Record of Agarest War Key Features:

• Soul Breeding!

  Tired of just living through one lifetime in typical RPG titles? Then witness the Soul Breed system! Choose a bride at the end of your adventure and give birth to the hero of the next generation!

• Collaborative Attacks!

  Position your forces on the battlefield and wait for the right moment to string together massive combo attacks using multiple party members—both in melee and at range!

• Affection Rating

  Curious how one of Agarest’s lovely ladies feels about you? Look no further than the Affection Gauge, which gives you a quick and easy visual representation of her opinions! Is she smiling? You must be doing something right! Frowning? Uh oh… If only real relationships were this easy!

• Newly Engorged with Content!

  Enjoy an enhanced version of the game based on the Japanese release of Record of Agarest War: Reappearance! Hot pix included!

• Exclusive Trophy and Achievement Support!

  The North American version of Record of Agarest War is the only version in the universe, and all the other places too, to have trophies and achievements! [Ed.’s note: I think you’ll find that the universe pretty much covers everything.] [PR’s response: Shut up, woman, get on my horse!]

Record of Agarest War has not yet been rated by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and Record of Agarest War can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

Void, the next game in the Bit.Trip series gets an official street date: 11.23.09

In the meantime, check out the first review from our friends at Destructoid.

Bit.Trip Void has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB and will be available on WiiWare for 600 points.

www.explorethevoid.com

Hey all you BlazBlue fans, we just wanted to let you know that we’re one of the featured tournament games at Activegamersla.com’s TRIPLE THREAT at the Hawthorne Athletic Exchange aka HAX in Hawthorne on Saturday, November 14th at 10:00 AM to however long it takes to get through the tournaments. If you think you have what it takes to win some cash from the best BB players in So. Cal, registration is $16 + $20 Venue Fee if you pre-register online. (It’ll be $30 at the door if yo don’t) If you just like to watch, it’ll be $10 at the door. Go here to register. We’ll be giving away free schwag at the event, so you’ll probably leave the event with something other than your bruised ego. Hope to see you guys there!

Family Card Games is now available on Nintendo’s WiiWare service for 500 Wii points.

Family Card Games offers appealing cel-shaded graphics and endearing music, on top of the friendly competitive match-ups. You can play Speed, Memory, or Daifugo! Play against up to three other random players in an online match! You can also view your ranking and see how you match up with players around the world!

- Pick between 3 fun-filled card games, Daifugo, Speed, and Memory!
- Play Daifugo online against 3 other players to test your skills!
- Download additional card packs to play with a card set that matches you!
- Play Speed or Memory with a friend to see who has the fastest hands and the quicker brain!

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly brings you this announcement, in exaltation of all that is manly: in spring 2010, Cho Aniki Zero will be oiled up and ready to thrust its way onto your PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system! Sold exclusively as a digital download through the PlayStation®Store, Cho Aniki Zero gives players the chance to take part in an epic struggle alongside heroes Idaten and Benten as they blast through the muscle-bounded forces of Emperor Balzac II.

Full press release and screenshots after the jump.

Torrance, CA (October 13th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly brings you this announcement, in exaltation of all that is manly: in spring 2010, Cho Aniki Zero will be oiled up and ready to thrust its way onto your PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system! Sold exclusively as a digital download through the PlayStation®Store, Cho Aniki Zero gives players the chance to take part in an epic struggle alongside heroes Idaten and Benten as they blast through the muscle-bounded forces of Emperor Balzac II.

Cho Aniki Zero brings manliness back to the old-school shoot-em-up genre and, warps it to another dimension of sights and sounds. In Cho Aniki Zero, players will be introduced to brand-new characters and newly heightened experiences of rhythmic action, intertwined with the famous BGM of Kouji Hayama. Battle through five man-rageous levels of brotherly love and muscle-on-muscle madness!

The Story So Far…

Since the death of Balzac, the Builder Planet has celebrated a long period of peace.

However, as time goes by, protein becomes scarce, and protein deficiency is soon a serious problem for the Builder Planet. As people struggle for control over what protein is left, Balzac II begins his subtle rise to power…

Learning of his return, Idaten and Benten take up arms and begin their man-tastic voyage…

“Cho Aniki Zero is a real trip,” said Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “It’s wacky, hilarious, and just plain fun. Be it the crazy characters, the challenging gameplay, or even the out-of-this-world enemies, you’ll find yourself chugging down protein shakes between levels before you know it!”

Key Features:

• MUSCLE REIGNS SUPREME

Choose between Idaten and Benten, then select your “Option” (sidekick) such as Samson, Adon, or Micha & El. Defeat Emperor Balzac before he claims the universe’s protein for himself!

• MEN’S BEEEEEEEAM!
Too much man-action on the screen? Collect enough Man Protein to unleash the devastating attack of the Men’s Beam!

• IT’S RAINING MEN!
Blaze through five man-mazing levels of love, and bear witness to the birth and rebirth of some of the greatest bromances of all time!

• CHOOSE WISELY…
Cho Aniki Zero offers multiple paths that leads to various endings for our muscle-bound heroes!

Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly announces Mimana Iyar Chronicles, coming Spring 2010!  This magical PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system title will be available on UMD® and as a digital download on the PlayStation®Store. With a story written by the same minds behind the Lunar series & Tales of Destiny 2, and gameplay developed by veteran RPG-makers Kogado Studios and Premium Agency, RPG fans in the US will finally get the game they’ve been waiting for—one previously available only in the land of the rising sun.

Full press release and screenshots after the jump.

Torrance, CA (October 13th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly announces Mimana Iyar Chronicles, coming Spring 2010!  This magical PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system title will be available on UMD® and as a digital download on the PlayStation®Store. With a story written by the same minds behind the Lunar series & Tales of Destiny 2, and gameplay developed by veteran RPG-makers Kogado Studios and Premium Agency, RPG fans in the US will finally get the game they’ve been waiting for—one previously available only in the land of the rising sun.

Mimana Iyar Chronicles blends the traditional RPG elements of vast map exploration and treacherous dungeon spelunking. Engage in fast-paced battles in a quasi-3D environment where you control the character’s movement and actions, and strategically command your party to turn the tide of battle. Your actions dictate how the story unfolds, through numerous fully-voiced event sequences.

“Mimana Iyar Chronicles is a great mix of fast-paced, real-time action battles combined with a slew of girls to accompany you along the way,” states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “With your ladies by your side on your epic quest to save the world, no one can stand in your way!”
Mimana Iyar Chronicles Key Features:

• MIMANA COMES TO LIFE
Experience the story of Mimana through beautiful, hand-drawn anime sequences!

• REAL-TIME BATTLES!
Action-based battles between your party members and enemies explode with spells, skills, and excitement. Take advantage of the depth of the battlefield to strategically place your party members and claim victory.

• CRUSH YOUR ENEMIES!
Time your attacks just right to deal massive damage to your enemies!

The week long Gaijin Games feature continues on at Destructoid.com with a look at the Future of Gaijin Games and what they have planned for Commander Video. Check it out here!

Strategy RPG fans are a very unique group of individuals… We have those that love the Final Fantasy tic-tactics (Not the “A” series, what a garbage sequel),  we have those who loved Ogre Battle, and then we have those who loved the Fire Emblem series. Question is, what did we all like from those franchises? I personally loved Final Fantasy Tactics for being the first SRPG to give me a tragic story and countless characters to choose from. But I also loved Ogre Battle for its huge, up-close battles and its epic storytelling. However, that’s just me. What did you guys like about those titles, or any SRPG title for that matter?

While you ponder that, let’s take some of those elements I spoke of above, and mash them together—create a SRPG meatball of sorts. Now let’s add the marinara sauce—you know, kind of like graphics that give it that final touch. The end result? A wonderful, story-driven game that brings back the old days of SRPGs. It sorta gives you a taste of something familiar, like something your mom cooks at home, and that’s what we at Aksys Games have been cooking. We call it Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics, or Laevatein Tactics for short, and today it comes out on the Nintendo DS. I ask fans of this genre to give it a gander. Let us know how we did…tell us, did we hit the spot?

Want to know more?

Then hit the jump!

Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics Arrives At Retail!

Something familiar, something fun, comes home to the Nintendo DS…

Oct 15th, 2009 – Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, is proud to announce the arrival of Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics at retailers today! Made exclusively for Nintendo DS(TM), Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics reignites the hardcore strategy aspect of the strategy RPG genre. With countless hours of story-driven gameplay, over 120 playable characters, and twenty-three different character classes to choose from, players will soon find themselves immersed in the world of Yulamecca.

The Story So Far…

When a strange girl hands Ernesto, the young prince of Valencia, a mysterious sword and tells him to save his friends, he thinks nothing of using the magical blade to fight off an undead attack. Little does he know that such a small choice will spark a war that will rage across the continent of Yulamecca and beyond…

“Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics is a perfect blend of gameplay and story, interwoven to create a satisfying SRPG experience,” states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “If you’re a tried-and-true SRPG fan, or even new to the genre, you’ll definitely find yourself falling for this game.”

Key Features:

· Once More Unto The Breach! – Command your forces into one of several formations, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

· Harness The Power of The Einherjar! – Collect all the Vaettir Arms (180+ Arms to find!) scattered throughout the game, and strike fear into the hearts of your foes with the awesome power of the Valhalla Break!

· Ad-Hoc Goodness! — Using the power of ad-hoc wireless connectivity, you can trade items with your friends, rent out your heroes to aid friends in need, or battle them for fame and glory!

· Create An Unstoppable Army! – Equip different weapons to change the class, abilities, and appearance of your soldiers! Choose wisely, and unlock the legendary secret class!

Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics has been rated  “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about Aksys Games and Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics, visit www.aksysgames.com.

Bit.Trip fans Unite! The third installment of our beloved CommanderVideo’s journey is upon us! If you’ve played the previous titles, then you’re in for a real treat! The most I can say about VOID is, its a cross between Ikaruga and Bit.Trip Beat. Don’t believe? Check out the video up above and see for yourself. The game is due out this Fall and contains four player co-op madness and Gaijin Games brought in a special guest chiptune mixer, “nullsleep” to create some ‘drop it like its hot’ tunes for all of you to groove with while battling the VOID. If you wanna read the whole PR, hit the jump for more. Meantime, if you guys can’t wait to try this bad boy out, Bit.Trip VOID will be PLAYABLE for the first time ever at PAX this weekend!

Get Hyped!

EXPLORE THE VOID WITH COMMANDER VIDEO

Come along and embark on another fantastic voyage!

Torrance, CA (September 2th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment software, is proud to announce the next evolution in CommanderVideo’s journey, BIT.TRIP VOID! Developed exclusively for WiiWare™ by the crazy brains at Gaijin Games, BIT.TRIP VOID is the next entry in the critically acclaimed retro-arcade BIT.TRIP series which follows CommanderVideo on his epic journey from the ethereal to the corporeal, and beyond…

THE VOID AWAITS…

BIT.TRIP VOID is a synesthetic exploration of rhythm and music as they pertain to our everyday lives and moods.  In a control scheme brand new to the series, yet wholly familiar to gamers, the player is given complete freedom to move about the screen wherever they desire, interacting with the music in brand new ways.  The classic gameplay aesthetic remains, as color—and the absence of color—are explored to the fullest.

Trip out in up to 4-player co-op and get lost in the beat with your friends!  See if you can survive the onslaught of Beats and further your own BIT.TRIP.

“BIT.TRIP VOID completes the first chapter in CommanderVideo’s journey with a synesthetic exploration of mind/beat interaction.  But as one chapter ends, another begins…” states Alex Neuse, Designer, Gaijin Games. “We hope that you find this game as beautiful as we do, and we can’t wait to make another one for you.  Keep rockin’!”

Key Features:

• You Are Not Alone…
  Trip out in up to 4-player co-op and get lost in the beat with your friends!
• Keeping It Real!

BIT.TRIP VOID expands on the retro style with the blending of Synesthetic Music & Art and hyper-realistic retro cutscenes!

• Dance To These Killer Grooves!

Aficionados of chiptunes will definitely want to grooves to the beats of chiptunes master, “nullsleep”!

• Get Hyped!
  Nunchuk™ & Classic Controller™ support, mid-level checkpoints, epic boss battles…what else can you ask for?!

BIT.TRIP VOID has not been rated by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games, please visit www.aksysgames.com or www.explorethevoid.com for BIT.TRIP VOID. Nintendo trademarks used under license. WiiWare is available through the Wii console.

Do you love artbooks about your games? We here at Aksys Games loves them as well and that’s why we paired our beloved upcoming Nintendo DS SRPG title Heroes Saga Laevatein Tactics with a awesome 48 page artbook as a preorder bonus! To get it, all you gotta do is preorder at GameStop! Wait, before you go rushing to your local GameStop store, you gotta get this puppy online at GameStop.com. That’s right folks, to get this artbook for FREE, you gotta do your preorder ONLINE with GameStop.com. So enough chitchat, get’er DONE!

If you haven’t already heard, Aksys Games announced Record of Agarest War today for the mighty Playstation Network. So what is Record of Agarest War? In a nutshell, it’s a unique strategy RPG that spans over 100 hours of epic gameplay. Not only do you get to grind and do the usual SRPG routine, you actually get to marry some hot anime girls, make babies with them and eventually your heir will continue your saga in another generation. Yeah, talk about Epic Soap Opera but with RPG badass-ness. So anyways, hit the jump if you wanna read more about the game!

oh…did I mention it comes out this Fall 2009?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MASSIVE WARS, BOUNTIFUL WOMEN, AND A CORNUCOPIA OF DEBAUCHARY!

Record of Agarest War Arrives on PlayStation®Network, Fall 2009!

Torrance, CA (August 25th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, announces the first epic SRPG for PlayStation®Network, Record of Agarest War. In this game developed by Compiled Heart, RED Entertainment, and Idea Factory, SRPG fanatics will finally be able to play a game worthy of the genre. Sporting over one hundred hours of gameplay, Record of Agarest War invites players into a gorgeous, expansive world of hope and despair. Players will wage war against the evil forces of darkness, take a bride – actually, several brides – and extend their lineage through five generations!

“This is one of those titles where morbid curiosity really hits you once see some screenshots,” states Michael Manzanares, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “Instead of being nothing but cheesecake, Record of Agarest War turns out to have some length and girth to it. Color us surprised.”

Record of Agarest War Prologue

In the void before time flowed and space existed, the twelve gods were. Gods of light and darkness, they came together to create the world of Agarest, a perfect and divine paradise. The gods created life, bringing forth animals and plants by the thousands—among them the intelligent races, such as elves and humans.

But even paradise cannot last forever, and in time, war darkened the skies of Agarest. Not a simple war between mortals, easily ended by divine intervention, but a war that split the gods themselves. Armies such as the world had never seen before, and would never see again, clashed in the skies of Agarest, across its surface, and even in the caverns that wound their way through its interior.

As is the way in war, many died on both sides, gods and mortals alike, and the war left Agarest broken, blackened, and dead. The gods wept for their paradise, and in a final act of creation, sacrificed themselves to bring life back to its charred and twisted surface.

That was many thousands of years ago, and although the gods are long dead, the withering darkness that began and fueled their war is not. Imprisoned for millennia, its bonds have begun to weaken, and as they do, a shadow once again spreads across the surface of the world.

Born into this world perched unknowingly on the brink of the apocalypse, a young man by the name of Leonhardt and his descendants are the last, best hope for Agarest. Their journey will span generations and continents as they strive to once again bring peace to their beleaguered world, even as the cost of their own souls.

Record of Agarest War Key Features:

• Soul Breed System

Tired of just living through one lifetime in typical RPG titles? Then witness the Soul Breed system! Choose a bride at the end of your adventure and give birth to the hero of the next generation!

• Collaborative Attacks!

Position your forces on the battlefield and wait for the right moment to string together massive combo attacks using multiple party members—both in melee and at range!

• Epic SRPG with Ginormous Game Time!

Record of Agarest War spans over 100 hours of gameplay, not including side/bonus missions!

• Link Gauge System

The fate of Agarest is in your hands as the Link Gauge tracks your actions and alters the future world based on how you play! Will you get the blonde girl or the red-head?! YOU JUST DON’T KNOW!

Record of Agarest War has not yet been rated by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and Record Of Agarest War can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

The BlazBlue DLC is now available for the PS3! What are you still doing here? Start downloading!

The Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics (HSLT as we now like to call it in the office)  website has now gone live! It’s pretty much got everything you wanted to know about the game and then some. We’ll be updating it with more assets and info as we get closer to release. Click Here!

If you’re a podcast listener then you probably heard of the win a 6B t-shirt by battling the Aksys Crew. Here are the details:

• We’ll be taking 10 entries on XBL and PSN
• Email us at podcast (at) aksysgames (dot) com with the subject heading of BB Tshirt Contest (XBL or PSN) along with your Gamertag or PSN ID
• We’ll choose the entries at random.
• You’ll be battling Mikey, Mike, Harry and Gail. If you can take 2 matches from us, you win a shirt.
• It gets real on Wednesday, August 19th at 7PM

Do you have the nuts to win a shirt from the scrubby Aksys Crew?

For those of you that missed out on BlazBlue Limited Edition, here’s your chance to pick up the standard edition. Though it may not have the soundtrack or dvd tutorial, the game is still bad ass and I’m sure you can find either items on the internets or just borrow it from a friend who was fortunate enough to buy the Limited Edition. OR you can bug our very own Kanedags, I heard if you bribe him with harley quinn stuff you might get a DVD out of it. Who knows!! Either way, BlazBlue SE is out NOW! Go get it if you been on the fence about it. If you got friends that are on the fence, push them over and tell them to pick up the #1 fighting game of this summer. Yeah, I said it, #1 fools! Anyways, enough of me rambling, check out video up on top and let the BlazBlue good times continue!

Wanna see the full press release? Hit the Jump…

Here’s the PR:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE SECOND BLAZBLUE STORM IS UPON US!

Look For It, Buy It, Love it Edition!
Torrance, CA (July 2nd, 2009) – Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment products, has shipped Blazblue: Calamity Trigger SE for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Arc System Works, creators of the widely popular Guilty Gear franchise, BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger has been voted unanimously by fans and critics alike as one of the best new fighting games this summer! So stop moping around and get in the action! BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger SE is now available!

Featuring twelve extraordinarily detailed, hand-drawn characters in true high-definition glory! BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger offers truly individualized characters that express their personality through unique “Drive” attacks. As stated by a famed pro player Mike Z., “Every fighter is incredibly unique. You don’t play BlazBlue; you play the game as seen through the lens of your character.” Fans of the Guilty Gear series will also be pleased hear the hard-hitting rock soundtrack, composed by famed Guilty Gear creator Daisuke Ishiwatari!

“We are very proud to be releasing the ‘I-don’t-need-a-tutorial-disc-edition’ of BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger,” says Gail Salamanca, Director of Marketing, Aksys Games. “This no-frills edition let’s you get right to the game without that extra box and clutter getting in the way of what really matters—the awesome that is BlazBlue.”

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Features

•    The First HD 2D Fighter from the Creators of the Guilty Gear Series!
Be prepared to be blinded by the awesomeness that is BlazBlue, with its stunning characters–each one animated with over 1800 frames of hand-drawn, high-definition sprites!

•    Console-Exclusive Content!
Brand new music, animations, glorious rendered backgrounds, score attack mode, and a fully fleshed-out story mode have been made exclusively for the console release!

•    Dual Language Support!
Experience the fully realized BlazBlue saga with fully-voiced dialogue in English or Japanese!

•    Online Battle
Train your skills online through ranked and player battles. Create online lobbies where players can battle each other or spectate from the sidelines to gauge their opponents!

•    A Plethora of Defensive and Offensive Options at Your Disposal!
Take advantage of Barriers, Counter Assaults, Rapid Cancels, Barrier Bursts, ukemi tactics, Distortion Drives, and console-exclusive Astral Heats for all characters!

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger has been rated “T” For Teens by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

As you all may know, our latest addition to the music/rhythm game genre with awesomely cool characters and intuitive game mechanics is finally out. It was once called HAPPY STAR BAND but we here at Aksys Games don’t like to go out like that, so we named it Rockin’ -your mother is a classy lady- Pretty…Actually, its just Rockin’ Pretty for the Nintendo DS and its out right now! So for those of you that grows tired of Guitar Hero DS or Rock Band PSP and want some anime charm in their music games, then check out Rockin’ Pretty. You”ll have fun with it one or another.  Wanna read the whole release? Hit the jump for more…

Here’s the full release:

GET THE PARTY STARTED WITH ROCKIN’ PRETTY!

Multi-instrument Musical Mayhem on Nintendo DS™!

Torrance, CA (July 30th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, is pleased to release Rockin’ Pretty, a music simulation game, exclusively for Nintendo DS™ today! Developed by Arc System Works, creators of Princess On Ice, players will once again test their music-rhythm prowess to the beats of hard rock! Choose between four hard rocking instruments such as the guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard and rock your way to stardom! Will you be able to take your lovely girls to fame!?

Rockin’ Pretty utilizes the stylus to tap or strum to the hard hitting music of Rockin Pretty. With intuitive game mechanics, players will take our lovely girls through various performance venues and gain star power. Using the stars collected from each level, players will be able to unlock new outfits, hairstyles, and instruments.

“Don’t let the glitz and glam fool you! Boys and girls will find themselves rockin’ out while playing Rockin’ Pretty.” says Frank deWindt II, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “If you love musical rhythm games, you’ll fall head over heels for Rockin’ Pretty!”

Key Features:

• A Tale of Music and Youth…
  A great family story of teenage proportions. Will our beloved girls have what it takes to become the champions of Rockin’ Pretty!?
• To Trade Or Not To Trade…
  Using Nintendo DS™ wireless connectivity, players will be able to trade items, outfits, and instruments they unlock with friends and family!
• Fame Is All You Need!

Earn your audience’s love and watch your girl’s appearance change!

• On The Road To Stardom!

Perform your heart out at eight tour events, ranging from basic open-mic nights to stardom arena venues!

Rockin’ Pretty has been rated “E” For Everyone by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and Rockin’ Pretty can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

For those that haven’t been in the know, BIT.TRIP CORE continues the BIT.TRIP saga in this retro-arcade-style game. It was launched .7.06.09 on Nintendo’s WiiWare service and now we’ve launched the official site 07.15.09… Do you see the connection? Yeah, we didn’t think so.

More info on the latest and greatest game from Gaijin Games after the jump.

BIT.TRIP CORE continues the BIT.TRIP saga in this retro-arcade-style game. BIT.TRIP CORE adds up to an exciting action/rhythm game that’s best played while zoning out on the tunes and letting the visuals swallow you whole. The experience is inspired by games from the ‘80s, only with a modern twist. The game play is entirely new to the series, leaving the single-axis controls of BIT.TRIP BEAT behind in favor of the ability to control two axes. If the difficulty gets you down, grab a friend and play cooperatively with two-player multiplayer. Make it to the end and you’ll have journeyed one step further to completing your BIT.TRIP.

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If you guys haven’t heard, BlazB…Battle Fantasia is finally coming to Playstation Network! When? This coming Fall 2009! And to celebrate this announcement, we’re gonna run a little contest.  The contest is simple. We added additional trophies for the PSN version of Battle Fantasia and we honestly don’t know what the hell to name them. So instead of us bonking heads and 300 kicking girls in the back for idle ideas. We’re gonna let our loyal fans do the creative work for us. So for those of you that wanna go down in gaming history again, (those that missed out of the Drive contest) check out the contest after the jump:

To commemorate this special release, Aksys Games have added additional trophies to be named by the fans of the series! Below are the trophies that are up to be named:

1. Outside of training mode, dish out a total of over 1,000,000 damage.

2. In single-player arcade mode, seduce every character with Ashley’s taunt.

3. In single-player arcade mode, get 25+ hits with Coyori’s Cat Storm.

4. Outside of training mode, as Death Bringer, defeat an opponent with a single move.

5. Outside of training mode, win a match with only 1 HP left.

To enter the contest, head on over to http://aksysgames.com/bfonpsn/! The best name of each trophy will be included in the game!

6B for the Win Folks!

It is with great honor that we announce our next awesome collaboration: the EVO Championships Series + Aksys Games Team-Up! Aksys Games will be there holding it down with their illest 2D fighter, BlazBlue! We’re gonna be running the official EVO/Aksys Games Exhibition Tournament,  one-on-one style, 3-vs-3 style, and a bad-ass 5-vs-5 invitational teams tournament! We’re gonna be giving away some mad prizes and spreading the wonder that is BlazBlue. Wanna know more? Wanna man-up or girl-up and see how you hold up against the world’s best? Then hit the jump!

For uninitiated, EVO Championships Series is basically the granddaddy of all fighting game tournaments in the USA! The only other event that’s close to it is Japan’s Super Battle Opera (Tougeki) Tournament. But other than SBO, if you’re a die hard fighting game fanatic, you owe to yourself to be at this event! If you wanna know more, check out www.evo2k.com.  Here’s what’s happening at EVO!

Tournament Info:

This is an official tournament that will be held and sponsored by Aksys Games in conjunction with Evolution 2009 at the Rio Casino and Resort. There will be a total of 3 different tournaments being held during the weekend of Evolution. They are listed below:

Setups:
PS3 Consoles
You must bring your own sticks as we will not provide them for you.

Rules: No Unlimited Chars, Game set to Console Version. Button mapping is allowed before the match begins. If one of the players interrupts the the game during the round by pausing the game or guide button the round will be forfeited by that person to the opponent.

Type: Singles
When: Friday, July 17th
Signups: Start at 9:00am; End at 10:30am SO BE PROMPT!
Tourney: Starts at 11am SHARP
Entry: $5/ per person
Format: 2/3 Matches, Double Elimination
Pot: 70/20/10

Type: Teams
When: Saturday, July 18th
Signups: Signups at 9:00am; End at 10:30am SO BE PROMPT!
Tourney: Starts at 11am SHARP
Entry: $15 per team
Format: 3 man teams Pokemon Style (Winner stays Loser switches out). You must keep the character you started the tournament with. NO SAME CHAR TEAMS ALLOWED!
Pot: 80/20

Type: Invitational Exhibition Match
When: Saturday, July 18th
Tourney: Starts after Teams Tourney
Format: 5v5 Region Invitational Pokemon Style.

This is an invite-only exhibition match between different Regions: SoCal, NorCal, Texas, Midwest, (more coming soon).