Shin Megami Tensei MMOG coming to America

[schild]

Aeria Games Announces Acquisition of Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online for North American and European Release

Santa Clara, Calif. (Sept. 9, 2008) – Aeria Games’ newest acquisition from Cave Co., Ltd., Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online, also called “MegaTen,” will soon be released in the European and North American online PC gaming markets in four languages: English, French, German and Spanish.

Shin Megami Tensei is a major intellectual property of the well-known Japanese developer and publisher, Atlus Co., Ltd. The first of many titles in the franchise was released by Atlus in 1992 for the Japanese Super NES and has grown a large and loyal following around the world with additional game titles for consumer consoles and handheld systems. The latest installment brings the brand online.

Originally released in Japan in Q1 2007, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online was Cave’s first massive multiplayer online (MMO) title for PC. MegaTen has become a huge success with a large fan following. Aeria Games plans on bringing that success to the European and North American markets as it has done with its titles Last Chaos and Shaiya.

Set in a fictional post-apocalyptic Tokyo, survivors attempt to restore the city by defeating demons and solving puzzles. Each player acts as a “Devil Buster.” Success relies on forming an alliance with demons or slaying them.

MegaTen offers numerous unique features:

* Strategic Real-time Fighting System - Choose between attacking, parrying and defending in real time.
* Diverse Weaponry – Use a wide array of weapons from medieval swords to modern-day rifles and handguns.
* Devil Partnership – Players negotiate with devils to assist in battle and missions.
* Devil Fusing – Players can combine multiple devils to create new breeds.
* Private Dungeons – In addition to the public battle areas, players can access private dungeons to hunt and collect items with their friends.

More information is available at http://www.aeriagames.com.

But not by Atlus. Rather, Aeria, which means RMT galore. Whatever, I'll take the comprimize I just WANT to play it a bit.

[Mrbloodworth]

Screenshots?

[schild]

GIS is your friend.

It looks like Shin Megami Tensei with hotbars. And really, really crisp graphics.

[tmp]

Screenshots?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PiJQ_9jVcA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CEzWpmw6Yo

frankly, Progress Quest seems to have better paced and more engaging gameplay.

[Trippy]

Is this playable on the PS2? Cause that's about the quality of the graphics.

[Shrike]

Whoa.

[schild]

Beta Signups

[Falconeer]

WTT kidney for SMTO beta account.

[Zira]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PiJQ_9jVcA

Wow.... thats a lot of running.... but with hats....

[Xurtan]

I'm sorry, but my first thought upon watching the video was 'Cheer up, Emo kid!'; seriously, they all look like they have down syndrome or something. Especially that one kid with the long bangs.

[UnSub]

I'm sorry, but my first thought upon watching the video was 'Cheer up, Emo kid!'; seriously, they all look like they have down syndrome or something. Especially that one kid with the long bangs.

It really was Pokemon: Emo Edition, wasn't it?

[Falconeer]

Yeah!
What's not to like?

[schild]

wat

did someone just insult kaneko art? wtf?

[Signe]

WTT kidney for SMTO beta account.

I don't know what this means. 

[Pennilenko]

wat

did someone just insult kaneko art? wtf?

Smack em around Mister Schild

[kildorn]

This is supposed to be a parody of the horrors of MMOs, right? Because that youtube video pretty much was nothing but walking and bad casting graphics on stationary targets that looked completely uninterested in combat.

[schild]

This is supposed to be a parody of the horrors of MMOs, right? Because that youtube video pretty much was nothing but walking and bad casting graphics on stationary targets that looked completely uninterested in combat.

I see you're new to Shin Megami Tensei.

I suggest stepping out of your shell and playing Digital Devil Saga or, if you want to be harmed by difficulty, Nocturne.

[Ard]

I suggest stepping out of your shell and playing Digital Devil Saga or, if you want to be harmed by difficulty, Nocturne.

Harmed is putting it lightly.  That game will touch you in bad spots

[Hayduke]

It does look like it's going for a PS2/PC release.  The graphics look pretty bad, but hard to tell from a Youtube video.  Kind of strange it's using click movement though.  That first video had me cracking up honestly.

[schild]

It's kinda old. And japan loves click to move.

[kildorn]

This is supposed to be a parody of the horrors of MMOs, right? Because that youtube video pretty much was nothing but walking and bad casting graphics on stationary targets that looked completely uninterested in combat.

I see you're new to Shin Megami Tensei.

I suggest stepping out of your shell and playing Digital Devil Saga or, if you want to be harmed by difficulty, Nocturne.

I've played them. That video is just people running around and occasionally casting spells on completely stationary targets.

Maybe I need to replay them, were they that bad? Because I had fond memories. That youtube vid? Not the right memories.

[Riggswolfe]

MegaTen offers numerous unique features:

* Strategic Real-time Fighting System - Choose between attacking, parrying and defending in real time.
* Diverse Weaponry – Use a wide array of weapons from medieval swords to modern-day rifles and handguns.
* Devil Partnership – Players negotiate with devils to assist in battle and missions.
* Devil Fusing – Players can combine multiple devils to create new breeds.
* Private Dungeons – In addition to the public battle areas, players can access private dungeons to hunt and collect items with their friends.

Let's break down these "unique" features:

1) Strategic real-time fighting. Didn't FFXI do this?
2) Diverse Weaponry. This is unique? Really? I didn't know all MMOs made you have one kind of weapon.
3) Devil Partnership. Pet classes with the WOW hunter mechanic.
4) Devil fusing. SWG Bioengineer.
5) Private dungeons. Pretty much every game since AO (if not before) have had this. We call it instancing here in the States.

I love SMT but this game? Looks like epic fail to me.

[schild]

Riggs, I'm not going to defend it. I've said it's probably crap, but I still want to play it. Fuck, it's from Cave & Atlus.

Also, it came out in 2006 in Japan, was playable in 2005, probably went into development back in 2001-2002. If not earlier.

It's just now making it here.

[PalmTrees]

I played persona fes 3 and loved it enough to sign up for the beta even though there was nothing impressive about those youtube vids.

[schild]

Just so you know, Shin Megami Tensei and Persona are only related because Atlus US branded them under the Megaten title. Honestly, short of some artwork and monsters, it's just best not to compare them.

[tmp]

I see you're new to Shin Megami Tensei.

I suggest stepping out of your shell and playing Digital Devil Saga or, if you want to be harmed by difficulty, Nocturne.

Isn't it kind of like replying to critique of SWG with "i see you're new to Star Wars, you should play some KotOR"..?

[schild]

I see you're new to Shin Megami Tensei.

I suggest stepping out of your shell and playing Digital Devil Saga or, if you want to be harmed by difficulty, Nocturne.

Isn't it kind of like replying to critique of SWG with "i see you're new to Star Wars, you should play some KotOR"..?

Uh, no, not at all. The Megaten series and Imagine share a good deal of things (and I'm not talking about art style) whereas KOTORO and SWG don't.

In fact, I don't understand the point you were trying to make/

[Ard]

Just so you know, Shin Megami Tensei and Persona are only related because Atlus US branded them under the Megaten title. Honestly, short of some artwork and monsters, it's just best not to compare them.

Actually, that's not really true.  They're more or less comparable because (at least starting with Nocturne and P3), they all use the press turn combat system, they all more or less use the same roster of monsters, and they all use the same set of spells.  There are some variations between games, and the character building mechanics are different between games, but the core combat mechanics are mostly the same.

The primary difference between the megaten, persona, and DDS  games is mostly setting, tone, and difficulty.

[schild]

Just so you know, Shin Megami Tensei and Persona are only related because Atlus US branded them under the Megaten title. Honestly, short of some artwork and monsters, it's just best not to compare them.

Actually, that's not really true.  They're more or less comparable because (at least starting with Nocturne and P3), they all use the press turn combat system, they all more or less use the same roster of monsters, and they all use the same set of spells.  There are some variations between games, and the character building mechanics are different between games, but the core combat mechanics are mostly the same.

I didn't say they weren't JRPGs

Atlus Japan does a decent enough job seperating them in notable ways, mostly yes, setting, tone and difficulty. That said, Megaten mainline games are megaten mainline games because of the setting, tone, and difficulty. Particularly the latter, they're a world apart. Also, the world design itself is radically different, imo, changing the flow rather completely in each game, particularly with Persona 3.

[Hindenburg]

It's kinda old. And japan loves click to move.

Kinda old? that thing is a recycled SMT Nine.

[tmp]

Uh, no, not at all. The Megaten series and Imagine share a good deal of things (and I'm not talking about art style) whereas KOTORO and SWG don't.

In fact, I don't understand the point you were trying to make/

Yeah it's not really v.good analogy, i'm bit meh about SW so couldn't think of single player RPG in 'regular' SW settings... the point was like, if the game in question appears to be typical sucky MMO, warts, foozles, shitty combat and all, then pointing out to another game that's single player, without the MMO baggage and using different mechanics... well, it doesn't make the MMO rendition any less sucky? Sure, the naked tits settings/art style can help things to some extent, but just doubtful the effect can be strong enough to offset the basic suck..?

[Falconeer]

WTT kidney for SMTO beta account.

I don't know what this means. 

Want To Trade (a) kidney for a Shin Megami Tensei Online beta account.

That was easy! You are out of the MMORPG eleet. Hand in your badge and keyboard, please.

[Falconeer]

About the Nocturne's difficulty, I tackled it by grinding my chars to ridiculous levels before the tough parts. Not a hard task for someone used to MMORPGs. But yeah, horrible. Sometimes I have weird nightmares about SMT:N. Which still manages to be one of my favourite games ever.

[schild]

Nocturne was a strange game. It's also one of those titles that I will simply not beat. It's need for grind exceeds my patience. Even Nippon Ichi is kind enough to let you finish your games without forcing you to grind That Much. Not only that, but Nocturne was just all over the fucking place. I felt Avatar Tuner was far more balanced in that respect even if the story was insane (Avatar Tuner being Digital Devil Saga). Don't even get me started on Raidou, it was a mess.

Like I said, this MMOG will be trash, but Cave and Atlus and the Megaten License? How can you not want to play. It's so easy to join.

[Hindenburg]

That's odd, only needed to grind for the Amala Dungeon, but that place was optional and crafted to be all kinds of fucked up if you went there without a faq, so all was well.

For the main story, though, everything seemed good. Matador went down on the third try, that fucking healing skull monk died on the second, and the riders were easy. Lucifer was easy even without Pierce and level cap.

Dying at least once to a boss to learn which member from your party is giving them free press turns sucked, though.
--

Oh yeah. Hama and Mudo, fuck you.