The hour is upon us! Or one of them, at least. The title of the game would suggest there are 8 others that will be upon us eventually. In actuality, there are more like 1,776 until— Well, I’m getting ahead of myself.

The hour that is upon us is the hour of the 999 web site. You may have heard of 999. We talked about it just yesterday! And now it has a website of its very own. What can you do on this site? Well, right now you can play a demo of the game, read some profiles of the characters, and look at a few screenshots. I should, however, add the important corollary that this is all you can do right now. We have plans, and they are plans that involve updating the content on the the 999 site as we edge ever-closer to release. What can you look forward to? I’ve made a list:

• A short introduction—a mere tease, to be honest—to the story of 9 Hours, 9 Persons, 9 Doors.
• A discussion of the puzzle systems at play in this game.
• A cornucopia of delights to stimulate your senses! Well, only two of them, but that’s still senses, plural. That’s right ladies and gentlemen! We will have photographs and some of those new-fangled moving pictures that are all the rage these days!

How soon will you be seeing this addition content? Perhaps sooner than you think.

Good heavens, that’s exciting! Now get yourself over there!

You know the date, now you should go pre-order it at your retailer of choice. We’re currently working on an English demo (Btw, that is the link for the Japanese demo, for those who can read the Nihongo) of the game, so watch this space to get your first taste of the game.

Gamesugar asks Aksys Games about their mysterious new visual novel…The answers you seek are right here, Check it out.

The Wheel of Cuteness is Turning…

Rock ‘n shock ‘em fun with your favorite BlazBlue chibi characters!

Torrance, CA (August 2nd, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly announces the BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale, available for download today on the DSi Shop for only 500 DSi points! The petit pugilists duke it out in a free for all 4 player fighting spree! Revisit the newly interactive stages in Kagutsuchi!

BlayzBloo Key Features

• Two Modes Featuring Single-player or Free Battle!

Take on the computer or up to 4 friends. Set the rules, and select the stage and match type!

• Engage in Combat with Three Match Modes!

The good ol’ beat-’em-up Life Match requires fighters to put the smackdown on each other until your life meter is drained! Collect soba noodle points in a Point Match by attacking other fighters, or play snatch the panda in a Flag Match—whoever has the panda when time runs out wins!

• Play as Five Adorable Brawlers from the 2D fighting game smash hit BlazBlue!

Battle as Ragna, Noel, Rachel, Taokaka or Jin! Create mini combos with their normal and drive attacks!

Each character can equip special items like bunny ears and masks to boost their abilities!

###

About Aksys Games

Located in Torrance, California and founded in 2006, Aksys Games is well known for being a visionary within the fighting game sector while expanding into other genres such as RPGs, fishing, and family-style games. Some of their more popular games include the BlazBlue, Battle Fantasia, Hooked: Real Motion Fishing, and BIT.TRIP series.

Blayzbloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale is rated E10+ by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

Time is ticking, the water is rising, and the doors won’t budge…

Torrance, CA (July 1, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, announces the visual horror novel, Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors, for the Nintendo DS^®.

Junpei, a normal college student, suddenly finds himself involved in a deadly conspiracy he could never have imagined.

He wakes aboard an old cruise liner. Dazed and confused, he stumbles around the room he finds himself in, trying desperately to remember how he got there. The first thing he notices is a number, scrawled across the door… A bright red number 5.

As Junpei’s memory returns, his mind is filled with the image of a mysterious figure in a gas mask, and their haunting words: “You are going to participate in a game. The Nonary Game. It is a game…where you will put your life on the line.”

“We’ve decided to call 999 an ‘Adventure’ game,” say Ben Bateman, Localization Editor, Aksys Games, “but I don’t really feel that’s entirely accurate. 999 is a game that simulates life, or at least it would if your life was about being trapped on a sinking ship and forced to complete a series of incomprehensible puzzles before your practically inevitable death. It is about relationships, and how they will ultimately kill you. There is also some blood, and an ax, so if you’ve always wanted some blood and an ax in your life, there you go. But what really brings 999 to life are the people who inhabit it. You will learn to care for them; to feel as though you are there and they are your friends, and then they will die because you made the wrong choices. Just like in real life.”

Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors Key Features

Nine Hours

You have only 9 hours before Junpei and his 8 fellow abductees drown. Numerology, music composition and logic puzzles are just a few of the 32+ obstacles that stand in the way of their freedom. You’ll have to use everything in your environment to get out!

Nine Persons

Solve the mysteries that cloud your companions’ pasts, and unveil a disturbing future. Help ever one escape, but beware! A wrong decision or a careless mistake might put their lives in jeopardy. Experience 6 endings that are determined by the way you play!

Nine Doors

Each hostage is cursed with a digital watch that displays their unique number. These numbers are keys to unlocking the 9 doors. Explore your surroundings for clues to unlock the next door by picking up and examining objects you find in each room. Create new tools by combining them to get out of dangerous situations and solve deadly puzzles.

(If you don’t see the age verification, just click the video to get it to play. It may take a few moments to load.)

In an interview with Nintendo EVP of sales & marketing Cammie Dunaway on Gamasutra… And of the Gaijin Games founder and Bit.Trip series developer Alex Neuse, Dunaway let drop that he told her “he is just over the moon on 3DS, and he can’t wait to do Bit.Trip.Runner ideas in 3D.”

Read the entire interview here.

That’s right, Kunio & Gang are back to kick butt in their new DS title, River City Soccer Hooligans and River City Super Sports Challenge! It’s out in stores now so get your GOOOOOAAAAALLLL on!

“There is only one word to describe River City Soccer Hooligans: GOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!”, states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “Soccer fused with crazy weather conditions and super-shot attacks aplenty create an amazing Kunio experience!”

Join Kunio and the gang in River City Soccer Hooligans as they go head to head with the world’s soccer elite to win the World Soccer Championship! Shoot, pass, and attack the competition!

River City Soccer Hooligans Key Features:

• The world can have only one champion! Join the River City League!

Challenge the world’s best soccer teams! Select your matches from 12 opposing teams from around the world. As Captain Kunio, you can strategize by changing your formations, checking weather forecasts, talking to your teammates, and giving them special items to boost their performance!

• Can’t become world’s best without practice!

Practice mode allows the player to improve their techniques by customizing the conditions. Select your stage, field, and weather conditions. Two-on-Two play lets the player focus on the striker of their choice. Perform special sets of moves like the Drill Attack, Tornado Kick, Explosive Attack, and Super Head Shot.

• On a mission to kick butt and take names!

Unlock 50 unique items for your teammates by fulfilling conditions during matches in Normal and Hard mode! Check out your collection and choose which teammate to give items to for stat boosts.

• Battle against up to 4 players through DS

Play either an Opponent Match (2 vs. 2) or a PK Match (Penalty Kick) with friends or against the CPU.

Looking through the DSi Shop, trying to find a game before you connection fails, look no further! Don’t Cross The Line is available on DSi on Tuesday June 8th!

Connect lines from one shape to the other. Sounds easy enough, but add in more shapes, barrier obstacles, a clicking clock and oh yeah, you can’t cross the lines, then you got yourself one mean puzzle game! 50 brain teasing levels to keep you entertained on your long commute, during boring school lectures, or that visit to the girlfriend’s house. Download the game for only 200 Wii points!

That’s right, Kunio & Gang are back to kick butt in their two new DS titles, River City Soccer Hooligans and River City Super Sports Challenge!

Torrance, CA (February 17, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, welcomes back Japan’s cute delinquent high-schoolers in two new games on Nintendo DS™: River City Soccer Hooligans and River City Super Sports Challenge. After-school sports will never be the same.

“There is only one word to describe River City Soccer Hooligans: GOOOOAAAAAAAAAL!”, states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “Soccer fused with crazy weather conditions and super-shot attacks aplenty create an amazing Kunio experience!”

Join Kunio and the gang in River City Soccer Hooligans as they go head to head with the world’s soccer elite to win the World Soccer Championship! Shoot, pass, and attack the competition!

River City Soccer Hooligans Key Features:

• The world can have only one champion! Join the River City League!

Challenge the world’s best soccer teams! Select your matches from 12 opposing teams from around the world. As Captain Kunio, you can strategize by changing your formations, checking weather forecasts, talking to your teammates, and giving them special items to boost their performance!

• Can’t become world’s best without practice!

Practice mode allows the player to improve their techniques by customizing the conditions. Select your stage, field, and weather conditions. Two-on-Two play lets the player focus on the striker of their choice. Perform special sets of moves like the Drill Attack, Tornado Kick, Explosive Attack, and Super Head Shot.

• On a mission to kick butt and take names!

Unlock 50 unique items for your teammates by fulfilling conditions during matches in Normal and Hard mode! Check out your collection and choose which teammate to give items to for stat boosts.

• Battle against up to 4 players through DS

Play either an Opponent Match (2 vs. 2) or a PK Match (Penalty Kick) with friends or against the CPU.

River City’s extracurricular activities just got EXTREME! High schools from far and wide assemble their hooligans to complete against the mysterious Tobioka Conglomerate in the Super Sports Challenge. Brawl your way through the toughest rival schools around and show’em who’s the boss!

”River City Super Sports Challenge combines the thrill of athletic competition with the fun of beat-em-up action!” states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “Fans of the Kunio series and newcomers alike won’t be able to put this down, even while working out!”

River City Super Sports Challenge Key Features:

• Fight to the finish!

Complete in races against the toughest hard-knock schools in River City. Six school teams to choose from, each with six unique teammates wielding crazy fighting moves like Human Bomb, Pizza Shot, and Mach Strike!

• Test your Skills in Challenge Mode

Complete missions and develop your martial skills. Collect customization options for your team, such as hairstyles, hair colors, face models, and complexion in Edit Character Mode. Edit your team’s stats by adjusting their stamina, punching, and kicking, and weapon skills.

• Throw Down!

Play any of the races in this Free Battle mode! Play against the CPU or up to 4 players through Download Battle. Choose your favorite team, stage, and race order.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BECOME A WORLD CHAMPION!

Play portable pool with over 60 world’s top player in World Cup of Pool for the Nintendo DS.

Torrance, CA (February 11, 2010) Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment products, is proud to announce that World Cup of Pool will be challenging everyone on the Nintendo DS today! When you want to be the best you have to beat the best. This means taking on and defeating Earl “the Pearl” Strickland, Efren Reyes, Francisco Bustamante, Ronnie O’Sullivan and current World Champion Daryll Peach – and that’s just what you can do in World Cup of Pool!

“World Cup of Pool for the Nintendo DS is the only billiards game on the Nintendo DS that represents the largest contingent of pro players from around the world,” said Frank “Bo” deWindt, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “At Aksys Games we’re continually growing and expanding our library of games and World Cup of Pool is one of the many games for 2010 that will help keep us breaking new ground.”

Featuring 60 of the world’s top players – with over 15 Pool and Snooker world titles between them – prove you’re a winner at 8-ball & 9-ball and claim the ultimate prize in any sport – the World Cup. If you fancy an alternative challenge, have a go at playing “Killer” against the champions or a multiplayer game against your friends. World Cup of Pool for the Nintendo DS distills this, the definitive pool experience, into a convenient, hand-held form.

World Cup of Pool Key Features:

• Fully licensed with over 60 of the best players from around the world.

• The top screen displays the whole table – use the touch screen for close action shots.

• Unique Hall of Fame trophy room to track your career.

Enjoy a game of billiards on the go!

Challenge intelligent computers or even your friends to a traditional game of 9-ball while enjoying mind-soothing music with Jazzy Billiards. Take advantage of the intuitive stylus mechanic to aim and hit the cue ball with varying strength to sink the other balls. Defeat your opponents by being the first to sink the 9-ball. Jazzy Billiards’ Stage Mode features 9 different stages, each with an opponent of ascending difficulty. Find out how many computers you can defeat in a row with Challenge Mode, or challenge your friends to a game of 9-ball in Versus Mode. Only 500 Nintendo DSi points! Click here for more info.

ACParadise is holding the easiest contest ever to win a copy Laevatein and Artbook.

Here are the rules:

1. This contest is open to both MALES and FEMALES, and you must be a registered member of ACP or ACE.
2. Entries must be from the series listed above
3. Entries will be accepted through our contest form only.
4. YOU MUST PROVIDE A REFERENCE PICTURE FROM OFFICIAL ARTWORK. Entries based off fanart aren’t allowed.
5. Entries will be accepted until the deadline listed above.
6. Group entries and pictures are allowed, but one person must be in charge of the group for contact information and prizes.
7. If you are a winner and are not in the US, you must have a US resident receive the prize.
8. Only one contest entry per user member account

http://www.acparadise.com/acp/contests.php?cid=39

Strategy RPG fans are a very unique group of individuals… We have those that love the Final Fantasy tic-tactics (Not the “A” series, what a garbage sequel),  we have those who loved Ogre Battle, and then we have those who loved the Fire Emblem series. Question is, what did we all like from those franchises? I personally loved Final Fantasy Tactics for being the first SRPG to give me a tragic story and countless characters to choose from. But I also loved Ogre Battle for its huge, up-close battles and its epic storytelling. However, that’s just me. What did you guys like about those titles, or any SRPG title for that matter?

While you ponder that, let’s take some of those elements I spoke of above, and mash them together—create a SRPG meatball of sorts. Now let’s add the marinara sauce—you know, kind of like graphics that give it that final touch. The end result? A wonderful, story-driven game that brings back the old days of SRPGs. It sorta gives you a taste of something familiar, like something your mom cooks at home, and that’s what we at Aksys Games have been cooking. We call it Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics, or Laevatein Tactics for short, and today it comes out on the Nintendo DS. I ask fans of this genre to give it a gander. Let us know how we did…tell us, did we hit the spot?

Want to know more?

Then hit the jump!

Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics Arrives At Retail!

Something familiar, something fun, comes home to the Nintendo DS…

Oct 15th, 2009 – Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, is proud to announce the arrival of Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics at retailers today! Made exclusively for Nintendo DS(TM), Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics reignites the hardcore strategy aspect of the strategy RPG genre. With countless hours of story-driven gameplay, over 120 playable characters, and twenty-three different character classes to choose from, players will soon find themselves immersed in the world of Yulamecca.

The Story So Far…

When a strange girl hands Ernesto, the young prince of Valencia, a mysterious sword and tells him to save his friends, he thinks nothing of using the magical blade to fight off an undead attack. Little does he know that such a small choice will spark a war that will rage across the continent of Yulamecca and beyond…

“Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics is a perfect blend of gameplay and story, interwoven to create a satisfying SRPG experience,” states Frank “Bo” deWindt II, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. “If you’re a tried-and-true SRPG fan, or even new to the genre, you’ll definitely find yourself falling for this game.”

Key Features:

· Once More Unto The Breach! – Command your forces into one of several formations, each with its own strengths and weaknesses.

· Harness The Power of The Einherjar! – Collect all the Vaettir Arms (180+ Arms to find!) scattered throughout the game, and strike fear into the hearts of your foes with the awesome power of the Valhalla Break!

· Ad-Hoc Goodness! — Using the power of ad-hoc wireless connectivity, you can trade items with your friends, rent out your heroes to aid friends in need, or battle them for fame and glory!

· Create An Unstoppable Army! – Equip different weapons to change the class, abilities, and appearance of your soldiers! Choose wisely, and unlock the legendary secret class!

Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics has been rated  “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information about Aksys Games and Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics, visit www.aksysgames.com.

Do you love artbooks about your games? We here at Aksys Games loves them as well and that’s why we paired our beloved upcoming Nintendo DS SRPG title Heroes Saga Laevatein Tactics with a awesome 48 page artbook as a preorder bonus! To get it, all you gotta do is preorder at GameStop! Wait, before you go rushing to your local GameStop store, you gotta get this puppy online at GameStop.com. That’s right folks, to get this artbook for FREE, you gotta do your preorder ONLINE with GameStop.com. So enough chitchat, get’er DONE!

The Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics (HSLT as we now like to call it in the office)  website has now gone live! It’s pretty much got everything you wanted to know about the game and then some. We’ll be updating it with more assets and info as we get closer to release. Click Here!

As you all may know, our latest addition to the music/rhythm game genre with awesomely cool characters and intuitive game mechanics is finally out. It was once called HAPPY STAR BAND but we here at Aksys Games don’t like to go out like that, so we named it Rockin’ -your mother is a classy lady- Pretty…Actually, its just Rockin’ Pretty for the Nintendo DS and its out right now! So for those of you that grows tired of Guitar Hero DS or Rock Band PSP and want some anime charm in their music games, then check out Rockin’ Pretty. You”ll have fun with it one or another.  Wanna read the whole release? Hit the jump for more…

Here’s the full release:

GET THE PARTY STARTED WITH ROCKIN’ PRETTY!

Multi-instrument Musical Mayhem on Nintendo DS™!

Torrance, CA (July 30th, 2009) – Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment software, is pleased to release Rockin’ Pretty, a music simulation game, exclusively for Nintendo DS™ today! Developed by Arc System Works, creators of Princess On Ice, players will once again test their music-rhythm prowess to the beats of hard rock! Choose between four hard rocking instruments such as the guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard and rock your way to stardom! Will you be able to take your lovely girls to fame!?

Rockin’ Pretty utilizes the stylus to tap or strum to the hard hitting music of Rockin Pretty. With intuitive game mechanics, players will take our lovely girls through various performance venues and gain star power. Using the stars collected from each level, players will be able to unlock new outfits, hairstyles, and instruments.

“Don’t let the glitz and glam fool you! Boys and girls will find themselves rockin’ out while playing Rockin’ Pretty.” says Frank deWindt II, Project Lead, Aksys Games. “If you love musical rhythm games, you’ll fall head over heels for Rockin’ Pretty!”

Key Features:

• A Tale of Music and Youth…
  A great family story of teenage proportions. Will our beloved girls have what it takes to become the champions of Rockin’ Pretty!?
• To Trade Or Not To Trade…
  Using Nintendo DS™ wireless connectivity, players will be able to trade items, outfits, and instruments they unlock with friends and family!
• Fame Is All You Need!

Earn your audience’s love and watch your girl’s appearance change!

• On The Road To Stardom!

Perform your heart out at eight tour events, ranging from basic open-mic nights to stardom arena venues!

Rockin’ Pretty has been rated “E” For Everyone by the ESRB. More information about Aksys Games and Rockin’ Pretty can be found at www.aksysgames.com.

Yesterday we had a nice visit from the friendly folks over at RPGamer, during which we gave them a chance to play around with Hero’s Saga Laevatein Tactics, our new SRPG title. They’ll have written impressions of the title going up on their site in the near future, but they were also kind enough to give some preliminary opinions in this little video. There’s some mumbling about stuff from other companies, but the good parts are at 0:14 and 1:18. Enjoy!

Its been awhile since we did one of these, but since we at Aksys Games love our fans so much, here’s some love for the weekend. If you haven’t heard, today we just announced the following three, that’s right, count ‘em, three, titles! And they are…

Family Pirate Party (WiiWare)
Yo ho, yo ho, Family Pirates, get ready to plunder some mighty booty in this outrageous board game Mario Party-style, but with add-on content (DLC)! Go download it when it’s out; it’s fun for the whole family!

Rockin’ Pretty (NDS)
Don’t let the title fool you–this music/rhythm game is a rockin’ good time for boys and girls. Choose the guitar, bass, drums, or keyboard and go to town with some hard-hitting rock music. Believe me when I say strumming in time with the music is a lot more challenging than you might think. This isn’t just some cutesty game for little girls. Even our Marketing Director loves this game, ain’t that right Kanedags? And for you anime fans out there, you’ll love the character design.

Jake Hunter Detective Story: Memories of the Past (NDS)
And finally, the hidden jewel of this week’s announcement. All I have to say is, we heard all the feedback from our fans about our first Jake Hunter outing. I promise you, we took your words to heart, and made all possible improvements to make this sequel worth your money! In fact, we even included the three cases from the original Jake Hunter release, but with a heavily re-edited script.

There you have it folks, check them out, let us know what you think. You know we love hearing from you–doesn’t matter if they are good or bad remarks, we take on all challengers… So until then, I’ll see you guys next week for more Aksys Games awesomeness!