My apologies for not getting this update done yesterday – had a lot of things to see to around the house after my long weekend away!

Plenty of news on the Shining front, and indeed another piece of news (which I find most exciting of all!) to be posted after this article. So, I’d best get cracking!

Sega Japan have totally revamped their Shining World site and with it the Neo and Tears site. New sections of Shining World include a brief history of the Shining series (good to know they’ve not forgotten any games, and not added any that don’t belong there), and a section about the forthcoming Game Parade Mobile Phone titles: Shining Road: To the Force and Shining Force Chronicle. The Shining Force Chronicle site is not yet available but apparently will be within a few days. Bearing in mind that the ‘Shining Next Project’ announcement’s ‘few days’ turned into a few weeks, let’s not hold our b breath 😉 For the time being, all we know is that it somehow relates to Shining Force (seemingly about their offspring, and a new power of darkness) and is a strategy RPG. So, Sega – the PS2 video games console isn’t a suitable console for strategy RPGs, but a mobile telecommunications device is worthy of two in a row?! Not that I mind them being mobile games, but I would at least like an opportunity to play them without having to live in Japan and subscribe (it’s a 315 yen monthly fee to pay – that’s around US$3, which isn’t bad IMHO).

Regarding Shining Road: To the Force we now have much more info as it seems the game is now available for players in Japan to subscribe to – since March 14th, I believe. I could spend ages translating every detail, but I think you’ll gather as much as I can by taking a look at the page via Babelfish, here. For those of you too lazy to take a looksie, here’s what I can make of it thus far. The game would seem to be a Shining Force/Shining Soul hybrid, merging (at a glance) the best features of both. We have at last some almost classic Force style battles, in an isometric 3D-style 2D view with graphics much like those of Shining Soul II. With distributable stats, monsters dropping chests of items when they die, a card collecting system and over 200 items of varying rarity, this game’s roots are quite apparent. Although it’s a turn based game, it seems that the characters will respond to one another’s moves, joining in the attack if positioned correctly. There are four characters in the force: Arfen the Human Swordsman, Ralzack the Claw-weilding Wolfling, Tiaris the Magic Bunnygirl (she looks very much like the bunnygirl in Shining Tears, it probably is, I just can’t recall her name!) and Steel Dragon Ogre a Dragonman who uses Halberds and the like. I think it looks really sweet, it’s a real shame we’re unlikely to be able to play it. Time for a holiday in Japan I guess 😉 I wonder whether Rei could buy me a phone, download/subscribe to the game and then send me the phone? *lol* There must be an easier way…

An update to the Shining Tears site echoes some of the other info on the Shining Road Site, though I don’t entirely follow it. The story seems to be set seven years before Shining Tears, and relates to the Kingdom of Bestia. Within the game one can collect cards, and depending on the card collected, the player may download artwork (some exclusive and quite rare) from the website. Presumably this artwork is for use on the mobile phone and isn’t downloadable on a PC. There are certainly some nice pics there, and I’m guessing the half-obscured Yog pic is one of the rare ones >.<;; Maybe they'll surface on the web sometime.

Last, but not least, an update to the Shining Force Neo site, detailing a launch-day promotional contest at Akihabara stores much like the one held for Shining Tears last November. Shoppers purchasing Neo in-store on its launch day will be allowed to draw a ticket to see whether they have won an exclusive item. The items range from hand drawn autographed illustrations, to clear plastic files and the like. I think more precise details on the nature of the prizes will be posted on the site nearer launch-day.

Just got back from my weekend away, no time to post much now 🙁

Sega Japan’s Shining Road Site is now up – looking good!

Enjoy 🙂

I’ll post more about it tomorrow!

Unfortunately, I have to keep this brief. In a couple of hours I’m going away for the weekend, and I need to get my stuff together 😉

Sega Japan have updated their SF Neo site today, in particular the System and Story pages. Sadly, I don’t have time to translate them, but I’m sure you can all go and babelfish them to get the gist, or some kind soul might translate them for us *hint hint* 😉

Just taking a quick glance, there’s a bit about Weapon Skills, and the icons shown read (1st column, 2nd column):
Taunt, Sacrifice, Knockdown, Haste, Meditation, Slow and Sneakshot
The skills seem to be MP based. There’s also a bit about ‘random dungeons‘ – oh dear.

In other news, Quiter recently reported (thanks Aspartate, for pointing this out) that Shining Road’s full title will be Shining Road: To the Force and is going to be a mobile game for FOMA phones in Japan. The information was apparently made available in the new Shining Tears Visual Material Collection artbook, so it would seem the game ties in to Shining Tears somehow. Is this the Shining Tears Mobile game Sega Japan announced at the end of last year?

Okay, must dash. More on Tuesday when I’m back, no doubt.

I guess I caught Sega during their update when I updated this morning, as another page has been added to the Shining World site today… with yet another Shining Music CD!

I’ve not yet added it to the collectables, as I’m not certain whether it is the same CD as Sega Direct has had listed for a while. It’s possible that this is the final info/design for the CD, and that Sega Direct will update… or perhaps it’s another CD altogether. They do appear to be of similar purpose (songs from the recent games), the same price of 2,200 yen and indeed the same release date of March 30th.

Aside from that, a couple of updates here that you might be interested in – thanks to a tip I picked up at GameFAQs, I’ve been able to download high-res versions of Sega Japan’s SF Neo videos – they’re certainly much clearer than the tiny ones from before. So, I’ve updated the Video Archive with the new versions (note the much larger filesizes). I’ve watched through them and I’ll try to withold my comments about this over the top graphics fest… oh sorry, did I type that ‘out loud’? 😉

Seriously though, I watched the vids and find myself quite enjoying the anime clips… but then the gameplay footage kicks in and suddenly I’m moved to tears by what might’ve been, and what they have actually made of this ‘Force’ game. Sorry folks, it might look to be a bit of a laugh to play but it’s unlikely to be anything spectacular IMHO… that being said, it’s worked its way back into the Sega Direct preorders chart, in at position 5.

I’ve also updated the Collectables area today for Tears and Neo… and made the mistake of asking Rei to order the Neo DX package for me. I figure I can sell it on to someone here who wants it, once I’ve scanned/photographed the various bits and pieces. Or, they could be contest prizes… what have I done? Fifty quid for all that… I guess it could be worse!

Well, I’m going to have to leave it at that for today. I’d hoped to get some SEE updates done and up some new fanart & desktops too… but I’m going away for the weekend from tomorrow morning, so I need to bake some cookies this afternoon for my sister & her hubby 😉 Neo? Bah. Cookies… mmmmm 😀

Sega Japan have updated their SF Neo site today, to announce the release of a Shining Force Neo Soundtrack, to be titled Shining Force Neo Music Collection.

The disc will apparently feature 42 pieces of background music from the game. It will be available from March 30th at the very reasonable price of 1,800 yen (which is around US$18).

It is being released under the Wavemaster label (product code WWCE-0501) and will be up for pre-order at Sega Direct in Japan.

When I babelfished the info, something came up which concerned me:
“In addition, this each time BGM of “Shining Force Neo” was recorded ‘The Shining Force Neo Music Collection’ came to the point of with with 1000 limitations selling with the Sega direct.”
I wonder if this means that there will only be 1000 copies available?

Looking at the Sega Direct site to get a better idea of what’s going on, I notice that the SF Neo DX package seems to have had another item added to it – a ‘Force Frame Necklace‘. The crazy collector in me is starting to give in, and thinking about asking Rei to order the package… I can always give the extras away as contest prizes, or sell ’em.

…and the Sega Direct site confirms the limited availability of the soundtrack:
“Furthermore, because it becomes 1000 limitation productions, as soon as to become without it becomes end. Please order ahead of time.”
I’d best email Rei now. I’m sure if I don’t like the music, someone here’ll want it!

Definately going to need to update the collectables page later 😉

Just a little update today on Sega Japan’s SF Neo site.

There’s a new video, previewing the SF Neo promo DVD (available with preorders) – you can find it here in the SFC video archive. It seems the DVD will be quite packed, with game footage, cast/staff interviews, TV spots, music videos and character data with artwork.

There will also be a set of 5 phonecards available for Neo in the same way as for Tears – a different one for each shop from which you might buy the game. Can’t say I want ’em, but then I’m not big on the Neo artwork. Click here to take a look at them.

Looks like I’ll need to update the collectables section soon!

Seems I missed this during my weekend offline – Gamefront have reported that Sega have patented two new Shining titles: Shining Wind & Shining Road.

No more info at this time, though they are believed to be planned as SRPGs.

Well, we’ve heard that one before!

If they are strategy, why no ‘Force’ in the name? 😉

More info as it becomes available.

Calm down, it seems the Shining Next Project is not really what we were all hoping for 🙁 It’s not a new set of games to be released, not even one if the info SoJ just posted on their Shining Tears site is all there is to it.

The Shining Next Project would in fact appear to be a series of items relating to Shining Tears, as detailed on the new “Goods” page of Sega Japan’s Shining Tears site. The page includes details of the Shining Tears Themesong CD single, Final Complete Guidebook, as well as the following forthcoming items:

The Shining Tears Collection of Visual Materials is an official artbook for the game, to be released on March 7th this year. Retailing at 1890 yen (a little under US$20), the book is said to include almost every existing Shining Tears illustrations (including those used on posters & phonecards), an interview and other related artworks. Expect lots of pics of Blanc Neige, as she’s Tony’s favourite character from the game.

Babelfish has spewed out a bit of an odd name for the next one, but apparently the name is only a temporary one anyway at the moment. Shining Tears: Horsemen of Pair Dragon will be published by Famitsu on April 20th, and will feature illustrations by Tony. It will retail at 672 yen (just over US$5) and seems it will be a novel based on the game.

The last book listed is one I’ve already seen for preorder on Amazon.jp, Shining Tears Comic Anthology a manga collection due for release on March 10th at 890 yen (around US$10).

Though these aren’t necessarily all there is to the Shining Next Project, the page with Shining Next info seems just to refer back to the Goods page, but mentions that new information about Shining commodities will be released steadily. It also comments on how the world of Shining Tears keeps spreading, with additions of novels, the mobile phone game announced last year, comics and other media. Interestingly, the project logo has been changed to read “Legend of Shining Tears”, the witch has been properly illustrated and the names Cupid, Cheiron and Ascley feature on it too – shame I can’t read the text in kanji with the names >.<;; Anyone? There's also a note about the witch illustration, let's enjoy what the Babelfish made of it: “The witch of the pure blood already this character is supplementation to only of knowing. When (to also visual setting data collection it is published) being longer than the elf, the relative of the witch who is passed. It is called the survivor of the ancient people who excel in all demon roads, and the alchemy which works the mystery of life, the form between the thing of several hundred years or more has not changed.”
Is this commentary about the character, or just witches in general? The latter I think, so nothing too helpful there.

I guess time will tell if there’s more to this project than currently meets the eye.

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The SF Neo site has also seen a sizeable update today, which as usual I couldn’t really be bothered with, but I guess I ought to…

First up, we have a new video – another Anime clip in fact. Not very long, not very interesting, but there you have it. Find it in the SFC Video Archive here.

Some info has been added which I can’t quite follow, but seems to be about a lecture of some kind taking place on March 21st and involving the producer of SF Neo. Read more here (if you can read Japanese).

A little info has been added to the System section, firstly about Magic Points, and seconly about the savegame loading screen. The Magic Points section has some screenshots of the five spells available from the start: Blaze, Spark, Freeze, Shine and Dark Arrow. These are available if Max is using a Staff as a weapon. As usual, MP is used to cast a spell and the higher the level the more magic the spell uses. MP can be increased as the character progresses, and restores itself gradually over time, ala Shining Soul & Tears’ SP. The section about the loading screen is minimal, but shows a screenshot to illustrate that the list of saves includes your play-time (that is, how long you’ve been playing up until that save) and a brief title of where in the game you are (ala SFIII).

The characters section has been updated to include a few pieces of artwork of monsters, specifically Skeleton King, Vampire, Wraith and Skeleton Archer. They also include a screenshot each. I can’t say I think they look especially Shiny, except maybe the Wraith.

Finally, the story section has had an update too – several new screenies, and some more info about how Max’s journey progresses. Given the unreliability of Babelfish thus far with the story translation, I think I’ll wait for some kind soul here to offer up a more accurate one!

For now, back to the crappy day I’ve had so far which wasn’t made any better by this news… I’d hoped when the Shining Next info came out I’d be leaping around for joy. Ah well, maybe there’s more news on the horizon.

With less than a month until SF Neo hits the shelves in Japan, Sega have added a new movie download to their SF Neo site.

The new TV spot is brief, but at least shows a little gameplay footage (mixed with anime clips) unlike many game ads!

I’ve uploaded it to the video archive here at SFC to save you having to stream it from the Sega site.

Neo still seems to be struggling to maintain interest, as it has dropped out of the Sega Direct preorder charts and has yet to be seen on the Famitsu ‘most wanted’ list.

I don’t know why I hadn’t found this before – perhaps because there are no obvious links to it on the Sega USA site. I’m not even sure anyone else here has found this yet, no-one’s mentioned it!

Anyhoo, while Googling today I found that Sega USA have their own Shining Tears mini site, with a story intro, some character details (watch out for the spoilers – silly SoA! …note also that Razalus has been translated as Lazarus and Blanc Neige is now just plain Neige), information about the shops and most surprising of all, lots of artwork to download! Yes indeedy, Sega USA are encouraging fans to make their own site and to this end are supplying two zip files containing colour artwork (in JPG and PSD format) and lineart – some very nice stuff indeed! They only ask that their legal disclaimer is included on the website.

I have uploaded the images to the Shining Tears artwork section, and added the disclaimer to SFC’s disclaimer page. There are also a bunch of new screenshots and several wallpapers featuring the ‘new’ logo for the game.

Well, what are you waiting for? Go check out the site!

Oh, and in other Shining news, the Shining Tears Official Strategy Guide from Bradygames has had its release delayed – previously it was planned for a February release (giving you all time to prepare for the game itself), but it will now be available from March 21st, just a day or so before the game itself hits the shelves.

I awoke this morning and hastily got to my PC, in the hopes that the Shining Next Project announcement had been made… much to my disappointment, I found that only the Neo site has been updated, with a new video.

It’s now uploaded to SFC to save you having to stream it, in it’s entire 5 minute glory. Longest five minutes in my life, and I’m never getting them back >.<;; The video includes footage of what appears to be a boss battle, I'd hoped this might make it more interesting but the game still looks pants IMHO. Still hoping for the best though... As for the magazine scans, I found them at Gamefront and thought I'd post a link to them here – hopefully I’ll be able to get their permission to upload them to SFC soon. You’ll need to scroll down the main Gamefront page somewhat to find them (or do a find on the page).

I’ve been keeping an eye on the Sega Direct preorder chart, and it seems Neo has struggled to stay in it, rapidly dropping from 2nd all the way down to 5th position. Shining Tears didn’t have that trouble!

Well, that’s it on the Shining news front thus far today – working on the S.E.E. a little more today methinks!

Well, well, well…

Another Shining day has dawned… it’s been almost a year since we last had a day with so much Shining news!

Before I get on to the SF Neo info I mentioned in the last news article, I need to point out something that various people have contacted me about today (SFCer Three of Nineteen being the first), but I’ve only been able to post about now as I was out this afternoon >.<;; Sega Japan have announced (via their Shining Tears site) that news about the next Shining game is imminent. Just like the news last April when ‘Shining Project’ was announced and Shining World came into existance, a new project has been launched today: “Shining Next Project“. The banner for the project features a logo much like the Shining Tears logo and has the rather promising (or perhaps ominous, if the series is to stray further from its roots) ‘beginning’ written at the bottom, indicating there’ll be more games to come. Various reliable sources have reported that it will be a strategy RPG, but I think another Tears game will come first given how well the game sold in Japan.

I guess we’ll know more in a few days 🙂

When reading this on the website, my eyes glanced down to an article that I’d not noticed before. Although it’s dated from November last year, I have no recollection of seeing it listed before. I suppose I just missed it. Anyway, it seems some kind of Shining Tears game is to be released for I-MODE mobile phones in Japan this Spring. I’m not sure if it’s a total port of the game (seems unlikely to me), or some mini-games, but it is currently titled “Shining Tears Mobile”. Since it’s almost Spring 2005 now, I expect we’ll hear more about this soon.

I wonder if this mobile game could be the first of “Shining Next Project”?

And finally, on to the bit which is of little interest to me I’m afraid. I almost didn’t bother to translate the info (not like it’s much hassle through Babelfish ;)) but I figured I ought to…

The Shining Force Neo site has been updated today with a new video and new info. The video is 5 minutes long and the usual low quality – to save you having to stream this down from Sega’s site, I’ve uploaded it to the SFC video archive. I can’t say I was too impressed with it – though it was nice to see a bit of the towns & menu system, the game itself looks very generic and the overall impression from the video is, in my opinion, nothing like as impressive as the Shining Tears videos. Maybe it’s the video quality… meh.

The first lot of new info is about the Force Frame, and how ‘Force Arts’ can be carved onto it at the ‘Force Art House’, and how the special attacks can be applied/removed from your equipment here too. There is also mention of melting down equipment here to remove the Force energy – presumably to apply to another piece of equipment? Some coloured dots beside the item names indicate what special powers and ‘secret principles’ have been applied to them.

Some more obvious stuff now, about shops in the game – as you’ve just read, there is the Force Art House – purpose already described; the ‘Arms House’ for buying weapons; the ‘Warehouse’ for storing up to 200 items; the ‘Instrument House’ where various items such as keys can be purchased; the ‘Judgement House’ for the appraisal of unidentified items and of course the good old faithful Smithy is around to forge & strengthen weapons (up to 9 strength-increases per weapon).

We’ve at last met the advisor for SF Neo’s HQ, who goes by the name of Rebecca. No new info here for anyone familiar with the series – characters wait at HQ when not in your active party, and if you want to swap them in or check their stats, you can do so here.

Finally, there’s a bit more of the story (along with some atmospheric screenshots – quite a nice one of Chiquitita too)… since there was quite a lot of text here, the Babelfish translation may have garbled it a bit…

When you start the game, Max and Meryl head off to meet Graham at the Rakail stronghold. As leader of the centaur group on the border, Graham has set up a patrol to prevent monsters invading. They pass through Shinisutoribare and journey on to the holy capitol of Fieldland, Kuinshinu.

The page goes on to explain about Shinisutoribare:
It is, apparently, a cave on the border of Fieldland which is very steep with complicated topography. The scenery around the area is said to be very picturesque, with a bridge known as “The Bridge of Determination”.

From here, Max goes on through the country of Fieldland to the Kyantol village. I’m not so clear on the next bit – it mentions monster attacks and a place called Cascade Castle, but I’m not sure whether Cascade Castle is harbouring the monsters that are attacking the Kyantol village, or whether the Castle is having a problem with monster attacks. I suspect it to be the former, given the information that follows about Cascade Castle. Anyway… while there, Max meets Chiquitita who joins the group. He also meets the village elder, Josef, who seems to know Graham from long ago (or is it that they both have knowledge of old times? It’s hard to tell from Babelfish’s mess!).

Then follows a little about Cascade Castle:
The Kyantol village has a very beautiful castle, which prior to the Great War 13 years ago, was the pride of the district. At that time, it was a busy place with lots of people coming and going from the castle and village, but now it is known as “The Castle of Rebellion” in places that hate it.

Well, that’s all the new info I have for today – expect a lot of updates next week when Lee goes back to work (he’s been poorly, but this has been quite good for Tatakai ;)). The SEE has been coming along quite nicely of late too, but there’s still a lot of coding to do.

Off for the night now – Domino’s pizza & a movie (thanks Grommy :D) for a change. Well, even Lee & I need a break from our Shining projects sometimes 😉