Grave Gamer News & Views — rumor

Is The Commonwealth to Be Fallout 4’s New Wasteland?

Bethesda’s open-world RPG formula has had the good fortune of going from popular in Fallout 3 to insanely fucking popular with the release of Skyrim.  While a return to the Fallout franchise has not been made official by the company, it’s probably a safe bet that Bethesda is already pouring resources and development time into a successor considering their upward acclaim from title to title.

With that in mind, we can sink our teeth into this irradiated slice of a rumor.  Speaking through the information laden avenues of Reddit, an anonymous user that “may or may not” be affiliated with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology claims Bethesda is scouting the Boston region, researching the locale with the intention of using the city as a backdrop for Fallout 4.

The proverbial Pip-Boy fits given that The Commonwealth – Fallout’s apocalyptic version of the greater Massachusetts area – has already been referenced in series lore.  Specifically in Fallout 3, a Blade Runner-esque subplot involving androids escaped from a place called “The Institute” (need I mention MIT?) serves as one of the more prominent mentions of The Commonwealth.

What’s the most important information we can glean from this rumor?  That there are even rumors circulating in the first place, which equates to the first shaky steps in seeing this franchise continue.  If this rumor be fact, that means pre-production has commenced…unfortunately that also probably means we won’t see Fallout 4 until the next console cycle.  That’s the industry, kids.  It never changes.

Has The Last Guardian Been Abandoned?

As of August 6th of this year, Sony has apparently let Team Ico’s The Last Guardian trademark fall into disuse with Trademarkia and a few other outlets stating the title is listed as “ABANDONED - NO STATEMENT OF USE FILED.”

Supposed to be the spiritual successor to the studio’s previous two critically acclaimed games, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, Team Ico’s Last Guardian was announced back in 2009, briefly appearing before the public and having spent more time gestating in the dark (it’s missed both last year’s Tokyo Game Show and this year’s E3 despite Sony’s assurance the game was chugging along).  Production suffered its biggest blow when the loosely linked trilogy’s creator, Fumito Ueda, departed the studio, slowing the game’s progress.

Now, just because the trademark’s filing status has changed (negatively, in this case), that doesn’t necessarily mean the title is officially cancelled.  Sony’s only willing to comment to the point that they “don’t comment on speculation."  The Last Guardian’s status is definitely up in the air, no doubt, but we’ll keep you posted if this one goes from "critical” to “feet up.”

UPDATE: Sony reached out to Game Informer’s own Jim Reilly with these silky, comforting words: “The project is still in development. Nothing new to report at this time."  Okay, I lied about the comforting part.  I guess that’s a more satisfying status update than "stick a fork in her."  But not by much.

Sony Revising the PS3 Again to Create the ‘Super Slim’?

Have you ever looked at your Slim line PS3 – which, by the way, was reduced 32% in size from the original models – and thought to yourself, “Look at how much room this bastard takes up.  I can’t fucking live like this”?  Well, your obscene prayers may soon be answered.

Documents recently filed with the FCC strongly hint at the console manufacturer’s plans to release an even teensier model of the PlayStation 3 dubbed by the media the “Super Slim”.  Throughout the documents the remodeled system is simply referred to by its model number, CECH-4001x (the last run of PS3’s, the 160GB and 320GB, are apart of the 3000 series).  It’s suggested the 'x’ in '4001x’ is in place of how big the Super Slim’s hard drive will end up being, possibly hinting at larger storage sizes to come.

For as long as we’ve been hearing murmurs of a slimmer Slim, I’d be surprised to not see this one come into fruition.  According to Eurogamer, just as the first Slim was introduced at 2010’s German show Gamescom, it’s believed we’ll see this extraordinarily slim Slim introduced at next month’s 2012 expo.

Personally, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with the size of my Slim.  But now that I know there’s something smaller, I understand how wrong I’ve been to own something so huge and gaudy.  I’ll get on fixing that right after I get that bigger 3DS.

Is Final Fantasy Versus XIII Our New XV?

Originally a part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis family tree of Final Fantasy games, Versus XIII has been in development longer than our President has been in office.  Sporadic trailers and screen have appeared over the last six years but every new detail comes with huge intervals of complete silence.  Versus XIII has become the white whale of JRPG’s, fans all but giving up hope they’d see the mythical beast break the water’s surface and arise from the depths of development hell.

With E3 a weekend’s hurdle away, strung-along Versus XIII fans may be in for a surprise announcement next week if this leaked video is anything to be believed.  Supposedly captured during Square Enix’s pre-E3 conference held behind closed doors on May 30th, the footage depicts a trailer for Versus XIII spotted with familiar imagery including the game’s broody main, Noctis.

Apparently the trailer’s nothing new – it being comprised of an older trailer – but what’s sure to grab fans’ attention is the fact that Square Enix branded the demo reel with a Final Fantasy XV logo followed by PS3 and Wii U icons, confirming which consoles the game’s coming to.  Let me reformulate that for you: Versus XIII is alive and well, and it’s now our new Final Fantasy XV.

Gauge your feelings and center yourself; we’re not sure this is real until Square Enix is sure we’re sure.  Still, a lot of the rumors whizzing around these days and smacking forums, blogs, and press outlets are either being outright confirmed by companies or have enough evidence to support them where we don’t need no stinkin’ confirmations.  But I especially hope this one’s legitimate.  Versus XIII, XV, Chocobo Chronicles – it matters little what they call it, I just want this very unique and long-in-the-making RPG to finally happen already.

Oh, and also have it blow my mind hard enough to fragment my skull.  Simple request.

Will We Really See Kingdom Hearts HD Remix Revealed Next Week?

Online gaming rag Dual Pixels has caught wind that Square Enix intends on showing off more than the 3DS’ Dream Drop Distance at E3.  Count this as a code teal rumor (I don’t know about you but ‘teal’ has always meant 'severe’ in my book), but the site claims the publisher is compiling a remastered collection featuring Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II, 358/2 Days, Chain of Memories, and Birth by Sleep.

This colossal gathering of the times Disney collided with Final Fantasy will either be called Kingdom Hearts HD Remix or – the much classier – Kingdom Hearts: Remembrance.  Dual Pixel’s source indicates that the title will release for the PlayStation 3, PS Vita, and, interestingly enough, the Nintendo Wii U.  The HD treated collection is said to have extra side quests that clean up messy plot threads between the games.  Specifically, the Wii U version of the set is reported to have exclusive story elements that connect it directly to Kingdom Hearts 3D – connections apparently missing from the Sony versions.

I don’t know, folks.  Swallow the salt shaker on this one.  From the sheer amount of titles included and additional assets mentioned…it all seems too good to be true.  And yet, the fact that Kingdom Hearts III hasn’t even begun production makes it all the more likely that Square Enix would be keen on keeping the property fresh in gamers minds while also appeasing longtime fans with the prospect of something “new” to call their own.

[Note: image from Dream Drop Distance.]