There are these people, called 3d animators, they should look into hiring some.

@ mighty_marcos

Maybe you can look into hiring some for them. Also, old game.

Awesome. The Atelier-Series is not a high-end series, but I like them and I am happy that this game will make it to USA/Europe this fall.

Its really sad, that the JRPG list on the PS3 is so short.

Trailer does not impress. But I'll keep an eye on it.

I can't wait. While not nearly as graphically impressive as Totori, no one plays Atelier games for their graphics.

Don't know how I missed the preview, time to do some of that fabled reading,

Mm, looks lovely. I'd love to try it out.

I hope it has a Japanese language/ English subtitle option. I'm still miffed that the overseas version of FF XIII had this option, but the North American version didn't. I guess that's probably one of the reasons it's just been sitting there while I play other games. I know some people like the English dubbed stuff, but it just feels wrong to my poor little ears.

@Cyril: I'm not familiar with the series, why do ppl play Atelier games for? Personally I really like the artwork but the 3d models in Rorona are too childish for my taste, then I watched Totori's and thought that those I could put up with...then I heard the characters speak...

I'm all for japanese voice overs, and may even play cutesy games like these, but I feel silly and a little embarrassed playing a game with such a forced moe appeal, it's downright cheesy, I don't know why japanese devs keep going there...

@LifeCarrier

People play the Atlier series because it is a RPG series that isn't revolving around battling or saving the world. In fact, you don't even have to fight much at all. The games are "about" various things, but the real meat of the game is that they are completely non-linear other than the fact that there are required events every once in a while. You're free to go through the game however you please, be it making items only, doing quests, fighting monsters, making friends (or ignoring them), the like. If you so choose, you can even ignore the main goal of the game if you so choose to.

It's something like a WRPG in that regard, but that's about as far as I'd compare the two Atelier is just a very different flavor of JRPG. But it's the freedom of how to proceed, the large amount of character development in even the simplest shopkeeper, and the fact the it revolves around item Synthesis instead of fighting is why I play. There have been a few other Atelier titles released in the US but they're actually a bit different from Rorona. Atelier Annie would be the closest.

If I would compare it to anything, it's somewhat Harvest Moon. . .ish, but not really, since the games primarily revolve around Alchemy and the creation of items. I would say the games fit into a heavy niche, though, and I wouldn't expect everyone to enjoy them. A lot of people have problems because the games are so open and you're not really given a direction as to where to go.

And yes, Tortori has some horrible voice acting. I can't stand it. I dislike when companies use such high acting for young women. It's one reason why I don't listen to Japanese voice acting most of the time.

Thanks for the reply Cyril, you've managed to interest me in the game. I appreciate freedom to proceed and character development in a RPG, I also haven't played a JRPG in a long time and yearn to relive some of the good times I had with the genre. I might give this one a chance in the future.

Here's a Totori battle gameplay vid for anyone interested, I have no complains about the battle system, I dig the character designs and graphics, love the music, and dislike how the girls sound like 5 year olds...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48a5wNNO2lk&feature=related