advertisement

Namco Bandai updates 2006 release calendar

By Tim Surette, GameSpotPosted Jan 17, 2006 4:11 pm PT

New Warhammer drops this fall; Stargate, DS Curious George curiously missing; Cowboy Bebop still a no-show.

Namco Bandai Games America today unveiled an updated release calendar for 2006, and with the exception of a few notable titles missing, there were few surprises.

The PlayStation 2 is the publisher's favorite platform with 11 titles hitting shelves this year, followed by the PC and PSP, with seven and five games, respectively. According to the calendar there won't be much for next-generation systems from the new company, aside from the Xbox 360's Frame City Killer, due out in the second half of 2006. The calendar did not mention anything about either of Namco Bandai's two PlayStation 3 games, Gundam World and a next-gen Tekken.

There was a bit of shuffling for games on Nintendo's new handheld. DS owners will be able to get their Tamagotchi on a few weeks earlier, as Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop DS will now be released on January 31, two weeks before its previous date of February 14. Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier, a turn-based strategy role-playing game, moved from a nebulous 2006 shipping date to spring 2006. The DS version of Curious George, based on the upcoming film hitting theaters February 10, did not make the release calendar. Though Namco did not outright say the game has been canceled, it's unclear whether George will be monkeying around on the DS.

On the PC side, Warhammer: Mark of Chaos is now scheduled for a fall 2006 release, and Mage Knight: Apocalypse has been pushed back to spring 2006. Stargate SG-1: The Alliance, plagued with legal troubles after issues between developer Perception and European publisher JoWood sprang up, was noticeably MIA.

Fans of the anime Cowboy Bebop may have to play with their action figures a bit longer. The game, which made its debut at 2004's E3, was delayed to 2005 but never made it into stores. Online retailer EBGames.com shows the game as having a March release date and the game's Web site says "coming soon," but its absence on Namco's official release calendar may mean its future is in doubt.

Namco's announced 2006 lineup is as follows:

PlayStation 2
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Tales of Legendia -- February 7, 2006 -- RPG
MS Saga -- February 2006 -- RPG
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War -- Spring 2006 -- Air Combat
MotoGP4 -- Spring 2006 -- Racing Simulation
Naruto: Narutimate Hero (working title) -- Summer 2006 -- Action
Samurai Champloo: Sidetracked -- Spring 2006 -- Action
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure
.hack//GU Part 1 -- 2006 -- RPG

PSP
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Me and My Katamari -- March 2006 -- Action
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Bounty Hounds -- Spring 2006 -- Action
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure

Xbox
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure

Xbox 360
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Frame City Killer -- 2006 -- Action

GameCube
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing

Nintendo DS
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop DS -- January 31, 2006 -- Simulation
Mage Knight: Destiny's Solider -- Spring 2006 -- Turn-based Strategy

Game Boy Advance
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure

PC
Title -- Release Date -- Genre
Curious George -- February 1, 2006 -- Action Adventure
Payout Poker and Casino -- Q1 2006 -- Arcade Gambling
Mage Knight: Apocalypse -- Spring 2006 -- Action RPG
Pac-Man World Rally -- Summer 2006 -- Kart Racing
Snoopy vs. The Red Baron -- Fall 2006 -- Aerial Adventure
Warhammer: Mark of Chaos -- Fall 2006 -- Real-Time Strategy
Hellgate: London -- TBD -- RPG

42 Comments

  • SirSmokeal0t

    Posted Nov 9, 2006 11:07 pm PT

    Needs more Breakdown.

  • lilweightlifter

    Posted Jan 19, 2006 7:37 am PT

    Hopefully some of these games will be interesting.

  • Donkeljohn

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 11:46 am PT

    We require Cowboy BeBop, and we demand it be quality! We don't want any of those tired, broken anime adaptations! . . . but if it doesn't come, we will content ourselves with "What if?"

  • MasterKaito

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 10:53 am PT

    I doubt Xenosaga Episode III would be out this year. It took a while after Episode I for II to be released. I expect it to be the same for III.

  • MasterKaito

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 10:50 am PT

    I can't wait until .hack//GU is released.

  • coldfyre_99

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 10:01 am PT

    1 game for the 360 hmmmm....

  • LordAndrew

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 9:08 am PT

    Oh wow. A total of five games for Nintendo's systems. Goody.

  • Mothman

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 8:22 am PT

    never mind anything else, no Xenosaga Episode III? What's up with that?

  • Paul_TheGreat

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 8:18 am PT

    I wish Sony announce the PS3 release date already.

  • redxwarriorxxx

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 8:14 am PT

    Naruto!

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 6:52 am PT

    I wish they would have pushed up the release of Tales of Legendia. Oh well, good things come to those who wait.

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 3:12 am PT

    nothing really stands out for me

  • automaticsnake

    Posted Jan 18, 2006 1:26 am PT

    Some good games coming out form them.

  • forever_blank

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 11:54 pm PT

    I Am Like So... Mildy Excited Right Now!

  • robert032

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 8:05 pm PT

    Comon Namco i want Breakdown 2!

    but back to reality, i want to try out Hellgate: London

  • Imavnas

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 7:59 pm PT

    wow some good questions and observations here by posters: no PS3 games; no Xeno 3, No PS (looks like PS support is finally dead). Somehow i get the feeling this list will get updated secretly a few times throughout the year though. Too many things "apparently" missing.

  • TaronAroyan

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 7:53 pm PT

    What happened to Xenosaga Episode III?

  • _sean_05

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 6:52 pm PT

    w00t narutimate hero! >_> too bad im playin NH3 on my jap ps2 already. Tales of Legendia should be good tho

  • NeoJedi

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 6:51 pm PT

    Some of them look pretty good... can't wait.

  • dengl

    Posted Jan 17, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    Tales of Phantasia is being released by Nintendo not Namco, and Isn't the Cowboy Bebop game supposed to be absolute garbage?

Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Images | Videos | Answers | Forum | Check Prices

Check Prices

Amazon.com $15 SHOP ›
advertisement
advertisement
Click Here
Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Mage Knight: Destiny's Soldier

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    4,504 of 79,297
    (down by 134)
    DS Rank:
    325 of 3,179
    Tracking:
    116 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    70 Wish It»
  • Player Reviews:
    8
    Player Ratings:
    76
    Users Now Playing:
    6
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. mage knight
    2. ds
    3. good
    4. mk
    5. rpg
  • Everyone 10+ Rating Description

    Titles rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) have content that may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language and/or minimal suggestive themes. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement