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[krypt0nian]

From Teamxbox -

Microsoft announced today that it will distribute the next saga of the epic action-strategy game Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes exclusively for Xbox in late summer 2005. A continuation of the highly acclaimed Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders, KUF: Heroes raises the intensity of the fast-paced action-strategy game with improved epic battles; new characters, environments, units; and new multiplayer options for waging war over Xbox Live. An improved user interface with simplified game menus and adjusted difficulty levels will make it easy for even new players to crush their foes.

Woot!

 

[PhatSaqs]

Is this the last MS pubbed game (XB) now?

 

[jarrod]

Wow, seems MGS isn't totally abandoning Xbox after the 2nd quarter. KUF Heroes and Fable TLC both coming still.

edit-I harped on MGS abandoning Xbox this year quite a bit, but their 1st party Xbox lineup for 2005 isn't half bad really...

-Conker: Live & Reloaded
-Fable: The Lost Champters
-Forza Motosport
-Jade Empire
-Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes

...had they bothered with Phantom Dust themselves, it would've been an excellent year. Nintendo and SCEA are both still much better off for the year 1st party wise though I'd say.

-Ape Escape 3 (???)
-EyeToy: Chat
-EyeToy: Kinetic
-EyeToy: Play 2
-Genji: Dawn of the Samurai
-God of War
-Gran Turismo 4
-Gran Turismo for Boys (???)
-Jak X: Combat Racing
-Killzone 2
-MLB 2006
-NBA 2006
-Ratchet: Deadlocked
-Rise of the Kasai
-Road to Sunday
-Shadow of the Colossus
-Siren II (???)
-Sly 3: Honor Among Thieves
-SOCOM 3: U.S. Navy SEALs
-The Getaway: Black Monday
-World Tour Soccer 2006

-Advance Wars: Under Fire
-Dance Dance Revolution with Mario
-Donkey Konga 2
-Donkey Konga 3 (???)
-Donkey Kong: Jungle Beat
-Fire Emblem
-Geist
-Giftpia (???)
-Kirby Adventure
-Mario Baseball
-Nintendo Pennant Chase Baseball
-Odama
-Pokémon XD
-Star Fox Assault
-The Legend of Zelda

 

[Mrbob]

Cool.

The first one is a little rough around the edges, but still good fun! I'm looking forward to see the improvements in the sequel!

 

[Ghost]

I really hope they improve the hack & slash sections. COMBOS PHANTOGRAM COMBOS!

They have to do something to make it so that your army can win without you killing all the other enemy units yourself too.

 

[bitwise]

wow very nice.. wasnt expecting this one

 

[sol5377]

but microsoft was abandoning the xbox like next week and was gonna dump all their xbox inventory off a cliff...OR SO WE THOUGHT!

 

[jarrod]

but microsoft was abandoning the xbox like next week and was gonna dump all their xbox inventory off a cliff...OR SO WE THOUGHT!

What inventory? I can't find one anywhere since they've slowed production.

 

[ChrisReid]

They announced this game back in February (the announcement today is that Microsoft is publishing it) along with tentative plans for an XBox 360 KUF game as well. Anxious to see how big this one will be with another one in production. If it's just an expansion-type game, I might wait for the next one.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

What inventory? I can't find one anywhere since they've slowed production.

Well, I don't know about a significant slowing in their production. In the latest conference call, they confirm that they've increased production this quarter to offset the lack of product on the shelves. And, IMO, coupling the amount of high caliber titles from third parties with MS' own title output, XBOX will have a better ending than the GC will...with it looking like there will be a long dry spell ending the GC's lifetime before Revolution hits.

And good news about this title! Hopefully, they fix the broken online play of the first.

 

[Chi-Town]

They announced this game back in February (the announcement today is that Microsoft is publishing it) along with tentative plans for an XBox 360 KUF game as well. Anxious to see how big this one will be with another one in production. If it's just an expansion-type game, I might wait for the next one.

Sounds like more than an expansion...

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/04/29/news_6123261.html

KUF: Heroes is set in the familiar fantasy-themed realm of the series, and it takes place five years before The Crusaders. Gamers will be in charge of a medieval army, leading infantry, catapults, and dragons into medieval military madness. The epic battles will unfold over 50 campaign missions that feature seven playable heroes, each with his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

Gamers looking to get "medieval" on their buddies can do so over Xbox Live. Up to six knights-in-training can compete in various modes, such as troop battle and hero battle, and those willing to unite the kingdom can play cooperative missions that differ from those in the single-player campaign.

 

[sol5377]

MS to be published Xbox games:

Forza Motorsport
Conker
Half-life 2
KUF: Heroes
Fable: Lost Chapters

If MS had published Psychonauts, Phantom Dust, and Stranger like they were supposed to, that'd have been quite a nice stable of games they put out (despite how poorly some sell).

edit: thx Jarrod. Yeah, someone said it was gonna be at Microsoft's booth this year so that probably means they're publishing it as well (like Counter-Strike).

 

[jarrod]

Well, I don't know about a significant slowing in their production. In the latest conference call, they confirm that they've increased production this quarter to offset the lack of product on the shelves.

It was a joke. Hence the tongue.

And, IMO, coupling the amount of high caliber of titles from third parties with MS' own title output, XBOX will have a better ending than the GC will...with it looking like there will be a long dry spell ending the GC's lifetime before Revolution hits.

Xbox is getting plenty of publisher support but little in terms of unique content. Their biggest games this year are PS2/PC hand me downs from 2004, that's not exactly something to crow about. I'd say both GC and Xbox are doing a fine enough job of winding down to their specific bases, Nintendo clearly making more of an effort than Microsoft though. I wouldn't be so quick to peg a dry spell before Revolution either, Nintendo's actively pushing backwards compatibility to smooth crossover and we literally know nothing about the first half of 2006 for any console... you're a bit premature on your pronounements here. E3 will probably give a better idea how the GameCube to Revolution shift will happen.

 

[jarrod]

MS to be published Xbox games:

Forza Motorsport
Conker
Half-life 2
KUF: Heroes

What about Fable 1.5? Is it PC only then?

And has HL2 been confirmed yet? I thought MS was only giving Valve space at E3 to show it while they shop a new publisher?

 

[joshschw]

Is this the last MS pubbed game (XB) now?

you forget the inevitable delay of Conker I think...?

 

[Rhindle]

I find it difficult to understand how games that sell about 15 copies get sequels greenlighted.


I'm not complaining, I just find some of these sequel decisions a bit odd.

 

[MightyHedgehog]

Probably because the development cost on this title wasn't all that much and that MS sees this as a good way to nurture their relations with Korean developers.

 

[FiRez]

I find it difficult to understand how games that sell about 15 copies get sequels greenlighted.


I'm not complaining, I just find some of these sequel decisions a bit odd.

I think it did more than 100,000.

 

[Mrbob]

What about Fable 1.5? Is it PC only then?

And has HL2 been confirmed yet? I thought MS was only giving Valve space at E3 to show it while they shop a new publisher?

Fable: The Lost Chapters is PC only for now.

Half Life 2 is coming out in August for XBox.

 

[Chi-Town]

I find it difficult to understand how games that sell about 15 copies get sequels greenlighted.

XBX KINGDOM FIRE:CRUSADER 152,454

 

[sol5377]

XBX KINGDOM FIRE:CRUSADER 152,454

Plus Europe and (to a much smaller degree) Asia... Not too shabby.