Yes! Irem has officially stated that the sequel to Bumpy Trot (known as Steambot Chronicles to western gamers) is in development for the PS3!
Well, still in development, at any rate. Y'see, Bumpy Trot 2 was first announced at the Tokyo Game Show...in 2006. After another quick trailer shown at TGS the following year (you can see it below), Irem went dark regarding the game until a magazine scan showed up in 2009 (also visible below).
Now, after some fevered prodding from ScrawlFX, Irem representative confirmed that Bumpy Trot 2 was still in development, and that they were working hard to get the game out in Japan ASAP.
They gave no word as to any western release plans, but given that Atlus USA has published both the original and Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament on the PSP, I'd wager that begging and pleading with talking to them once more details surface would be the way to go.
I think the chances of a release coming are good enough. Both other games made it over and met with decent reviews (all of which acknowledged its gee-whiz charm), and Irem seems to be on good terms with Sony, since an Irem-themed space in PlayStation Home went up recently, complete with Trotmobile statues and outfits for purchase.
If you're looking for more information about the original, why not check out Anthony's profile of the game? Strange though, that he noted Steambot's release in 2006 came "at the end of the PS2's lifespan." Oh Anthony! You so crazy!
Steambot is hands down my favourite game of all time. I love it so much that I wrote a Memory Card Style blog about it. (/shameless plug) If you can find it, people who haven't played it yet, pick it the fuck up. It's the best sandbox RPG in the history of forever.
THANK GOD. I was so worried this project was dead. No brainer purchase when Atlus brings it out here. Hopefully all those absurd loading times from the PS2 version will be gone.
Steambot Chronicles was always something I had some interest in, but never enough to actually commit to buying. I'm kind of getting anti-sandbox in my old age, but Steambot Chronicles kind of had a great "modern-gaming-be-damned" sort of old school charm about it from what I saw. "Gee-whiz" as Josh put it sums it up nicely.
Something about that trailer for the sequel just warmed my heart, though. I put it off but now I know I need to play the first one.
My only issues with this game after you got over the learning curve was a bit of poor quest direction and the fact that if you chose evil the game kind of cheaped out and you *lose*.
I was looking forward to this...4 years ago...and I still am.
The first one is easily in my Top 5 games of all time. It was like a Studio Ghibli film that never was! Glad to know they're still making the sequel after so long too.
I didn't mind the first one for a budget title. The story was pretty neat but a lot of the mechanics felt a little tacked on. The steambots were great, but I hope they make some upgraded versions in the sequel that can fly/swim/go faster than a turtle.
Atlus has their work cut out for them, they've still got Irem's R-Type Command II to bring over here!
Honestly it's sad that so many awesome PSP/PS3 games are coming over through a 3rd party localizing them. Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Heroes are both <3 from Atlus too.
Atlus has their work cut out for them, they've still got Irem's R-Type Command II to bring over here!
Honestly it's sad that so many awesome PSP/PS3 games are coming over through a 3rd party localizing them. Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Heroes are both <3 from Atlus too.
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Contest:
10:00 PM on 03.09.2010
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Haha...Ha....Ha...*sob*
Steambot is hands down my favourite game of all time. I love it so much that I wrote a Memory Card Style blog about it. (/shameless plug) If you can find it, people who haven't played it yet, pick it the fuck up. It's the best sandbox RPG in the history of forever.
Something about that trailer for the sequel just warmed my heart, though. I put it off but now I know I need to play the first one.
I was looking forward to this...4 years ago...and I still am.
But seriously, I just bought Steambot Chronicles a few days ago. I need to give it a try.
Honestly it's sad that so many awesome PSP/PS3 games are coming over through a 3rd party localizing them. Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Heroes are both <3 from Atlus too.
Honestly it's sad that so many awesome PSP/PS3 games are coming over through a 3rd party localizing them. Demon's Souls and 3D Dot Heroes are both <3 from Atlus too.