Koei Canada Making 2 Launch Titles

[Kb-smoker]

Koei, known in the U.S. primarily for heavily historically Asian games like Kessen and Dynasty Warriors, but they are branching out. Today they announced the opening of a new studio in Toronto, Canada, which will be the North American base of operations. The studio is currently staffed with a team focused on Canadian talent, including developers, artists, programmers and designers. Koei expects to grow the staff to about 150-200 members in the next year. The studio is currently working on PS3 launch title Fatal Intertia, a futuristic racing game, as well as another unannounced project, also intended for PS3 launch.
"Toronto is a vibrant city with a rich cultural mosaic that provides us with the necessary talent to develop games for a global marketplace," said KOEI's Founder and Chief Advisor Yoichi Erikawa in a statement released by Koei. "As a game creator, I am excited to be here and to work firsthand on the 'Fatal Inertia' project. I feel that it will be a top launch title for the PlayStation 3."

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3145084

Can't wait to hear what the second game is and that's awesome they are making 2 launch games.

Maybe the ps3 will launch with some awesome games.

[raVen]

Fatal Inertia seems like a pretty good launch title to me.

[Z]

okay, but this isn't exactly new news.
anywhoo, Koie announced three games for next gen: Fatal Inertia, Ni-Oh and Bloodstorm.
since Ni-Oh wasn't hinted as a launch title, I think Bloodstorm will be the other launch game.

in any case, it is good to see Koie trying new things and expanding like this.

[raVen]

but is bloodstorm in development by Koei Canada? because if it isnt that could me 3 launch titles from Koei, 2 from Koei Canada and 1 (bloodstorm) from another house

[Illmatic]

but is bloodstorm in development by Koei Canada? because if it isnt that could me 3 launch titles from Koei, 2 from Koei Canada and 1 (bloodstorm) from another house


The games called 'Bladestorm: the 100 year war', and it's being developed by Omega Force, the same developer as the Dynasty Warriors series. KOEI is the publisher.

[Z]

ah, yes, it is Bladestorm. thanks for the currection Vejita.
Koie said they had 3 PS3 games in the works and two of them will be launch titles. they didn't specifiy by studio, so I take that as a general statement. since all three titles are now known, it is safe to presume that only Ni-Oh will be the one not releasing at launch - since it was said it won't.

[raVen]

Bladestorm... yea... Yeah Ni-Oh is going to the come up along side the movie which is around summer 06 in japan i think

[Illmatic]

So, we have 2 launch titles from KOEI in the works.

What other games do we know of at present that are aiming for a PS3 launch.

BladeStorm: The 100 year war (KOEI)
Fatal Interia (KOEI)
Medal of Honor: Airborne (EA)
John Woo's Stranglehold (Midway)
Bandai title (Gundam?)

any others?

[Z]

I guess all X2 games that will be released from its launch up to PS3's launch are strong candidates to being PS3 launch titles. if they games aren't considered late (like sport titles) or obviously exclusives, the chances are high for them to be on PS3 in time for launch.

EA will obviously be the big player at launch with around 4-6 titles.
Take-Two and Sega Sports may have a go at it as well. Namco will most likely have at least one title up (Ridge Racer).
also, who knows, there are things like the new Sonic that shouldn't have a problem making it at launch.