Monster Hunter comes to Vita

[Tasty]

Monster Hunter Frontier G, that is.

Frontier G is an enhanced port of the Japan-exclusive Xbox 360 MMO Monster Hunter Frontier. Frontier G will be available on PlayStation 3 and Wii U at the end of this year, and will release on PlayStation Vita in 2014.

The game is somewhat notorious for having a ridiculously overbearing "pay to win" system. A quote from NeoGAF from when Frontier G was announced:

Hey you can beef up your rare drop rates by only $10, for a generous 3 days.
Are you newbie? Then AI partner will join you for only $10 too, for 3 days.

Do you think each mission takes too long? Then beef up your strength for 25% AND added bonus of rare drop rate, for the bargain price of $30! Hey, and it lasts for 3 days also!.

(Those are just examples outside of monthly subscription fees).

But if Vita owners need a MonHan fix this could be just the thing, I suppose. I'm hoping they pare down the pay to win stuff significantly, but then again, it probably won't ever see a western release anyways. =/

spoiler (click to show/hide)

Meanwhile Monster Hunter 4 is apparently the best thing since sliced bread. And we have to wait at least a year for it.

[close]

[DCharlieJP]

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...............



........... noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

[Tasty]

yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...............



........... noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

I'd guess at this point Capcom's arrangement with Nintendo is basically "no numbered titles anywhere else." So basically all they have left to port around is Frontier.

On the plus side, more announced platforms means higher chance of localization... right? Well, being an MMO probably kills it...

[Purple Filth]

isn't this thing IP locked 

[Tasty]

Hundreds of bitter and broken Vitards whined about MH4 in the MH4 sales thread on gaf. Now Vita gets its own MH game and they still whine.

What gives

I would say that it's probably because of all the available options, this is the least favorable MH game to port.

Also, link me some of those tear posts. :3

[Purple Filth]

Hundreds of bitter and broken Vitards whined about MH4 in the MH4 sales thread on gaf. Now Vita gets its own MH game and they still whine.

What gives

Because its not MH4 

Also this is the MMO version that apparently jacks up the grinding and is full of microtransactions

[Purple Filth]

But it's still a MonHun game, correct? And with porting this they have the engine & tools ready for porting the other games, no? And if the sales are phenomenal on Vita then Capcom will take notice, no?

I never played MonHun so those are just guesses above...

i honestly don't know any monhan fans that like frontier.  not even one.

and nope, it doesn't even use the same engine as the more recent games.  if they wanted to port other games they'd have to build at least two different engines.

the thing is that capcom probably knows they could sell a bunch of MH on Vita.  they always knew that.  they chose not to, which means that something else was going on beyond worrying about raw sales on a potential MH Vita.  MHF somehow selling crazy numbers even though it's like seven years old and nobody likes it wouldn't change whatever kept capcom off the vita in the first place.  cuz if it were just about sales, they could have pooped mhp3rdG onto the vita no sweat and sold a million easy, and that's just until the hardware caught up.

So someone over Capcom is really salty then

[Tasty]

But it's still a MonHun game, correct? And with porting this they have the engine & tools ready for porting the other games, no? And if the sales are phenomenal on Vita then Capcom will take notice, no?

I never played MonHun so those are just guesses above...

i honestly don't know any monhan fans that like frontier.  not even one.

and nope, it doesn't even use the same engine as the more recent games.  if they wanted to port other games they'd have to build at least two different engines.

the thing is that capcom probably knows they could sell a bunch of MH on Vita.  they always knew that.  they chose not to, which means that something else was going on beyond worrying about raw sales on a potential MH Vita.  MHF somehow selling crazy numbers even though it's like seven years old and nobody likes it wouldn't change whatever kept capcom off the vita in the first place.  cuz if it were just about sales, they could have pooped mhp3rdG onto the vita no sweat and sold a million easy, and that's just until the hardware caught up.

So someone over Capcom is really salty then

More like someone at Capcom is getting paaaaiiid.

[DCharlieJP]

i honestly don't know any monhan fans that like frontier.  not even one.

I know a couple who like it - but they've sank 10's of thousands of hours into it and still say "it's not really Monster Hunter"

The issue is right there - it's not really MH. I played it for a bit but whilst it has a look of MH it's more a small MMO affair with all the grinding turned up to 11.

the thing is that capcom probably knows they could sell a bunch of MH on Vita.  they always knew that.  they chose not to, which means that something else was going on beyond worrying about raw sales on a potential MH Vita.  MHF somehow selling crazy numbers even though it's like seven years old and nobody likes it wouldn't change whatever kept capcom off the vita in the first place.  cuz if it were just about sales, they could have pooped mhp3rdG onto the vita no sweat and sold a million easy, and that's just until the hardware caught up.

there was -something- that has been rumoured and talked about but to be honest i don't particularly believe the story - i'd suggest that Nintendo simply provided the best incentives and are the holder of the most popular regular handheld machine. It's really a no brainer. They -could- have put it on the Vita and the Vita would have sold like crazy but... in the cold light of the facts with how sales have panned out the 3DS was and always will be the best choice for MH4 in terms of sales. Vita might get an entry in the series if Sony drop more cash on the next round of bidding but the damage is already done - Nintendo simply outplayed Sony on this one and have done untold damage to the Vita's prospects in the process.

[Tasty]

and the vitards are rustled because this is basically the equivalent of nintendo fans finally getting a final fantasy game on WiiU only to have it unveiled as a port of ff11.

Difference is, FF11 is... good. Or at least, not pay to win jank.

[magus]

oh don't get me wrong, dc, i get why if they were only going with one platform why the 3ds was the obvious choice

what i don't get is why they chose to only go with one platform.

eeeeeehhhh i'm pretty sure than in a year or less we'll have a MH4G on every platform under the sun of earth

[Tasty]

oh don't get me wrong, dc, i get why if they were only going with one platform why the 3ds was the obvious choice

what i don't get is why they chose to only go with one platform.

eeeeeehhhh i'm pretty sure than in a year or less we'll have a MH4G on every platform under the sun of earth

That's... a fairly bold assertion, to put it lightly.

[magus]

oh don't get me wrong, dc, i get why if they were only going with one platform why the 3ds was the obvious choice

what i don't get is why they chose to only go with one platform.

eeeeeehhhh i'm pretty sure than in a year or less we'll have a MH4G on every platform under the sun of earth

That's... a fairly bold assertion, to put it lightly.

they did that for MH3,there is no logical reason to think that MH4 will be different other than "BUT I WANT THE GAME TO REMAIN EXCLUSIVE TO 3DS SO I CAN MAKE FUNNY FACES AT THE VITA OWNER AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED A CONSOLE VERSION"

but i guess there is always a chance of the wii u getting discontinued before that

[Tasty]

oh don't get me wrong, dc, i get why if they were only going with one platform why the 3ds was the obvious choice

what i don't get is why they chose to only go with one platform.

do you really not get why or are you just playin'

oh don't get me wrong, dc, i get why if they were only going with one platform why the 3ds was the obvious choice

what i don't get is why they chose to only go with one platform.

eeeeeehhhh i'm pretty sure than in a year or less we'll have a MH4G on every platform under the sun of earth

That's... a fairly bold assertion, to put it lightly.

they did that for MH3,there is no logical reason to think that MH4 will be different other than "BUT I WANT THE GAME TO REMAIN EXCLUSIVE TO 3DS SO I CAN MAKE FUNNY FACES AT THE VITA OWNER AND THE PEOPLE THAT WANTED A CONSOLE VERSION"

but i guess there is always a chance of the wii u getting discontinued before that

True but that was when the Portable series was still a thing. I guess they could always bring it back but that would probably be more work than necessary. For reference, no new Portable games have been announced since Tri G, and the only one that's been released was the PS3/Japan-exclusive Portable 3rd HD in August 2011.

[Huff]

the splitting up the user base argument is dumber than ever

so please dont bring that up andy

[Tasty]

I'm not endorsing one argument or another. I just think magus is being a little overzealous in his estimation.

I would love for MH4 to go to Vita and have local/online cross-play with 3DS owners. If I cared about hardware sales and killer apps, the window for Vita to surpass 3DS was closed a long, long time ago. So even from a Ninthing perspective, there's no reason for Vita owners to be deprived anymore.

[DCharlieJP]

I would love for MH4 to go to Vita and have local/online cross-play with 3DS owners. If I cared about hardware sales and killer apps, the window for Vita to surpass 3DS was closed a long, long time ago. So even from a Ninthing perspective, there's no reason for Vita owners to be deprived anymore.

yeah, in terms of maximum inflictable damage MH4 has already done that - 2.x million first week sales and a rabid hunt by fans to find more copies / 3DSs

If a Vita MH does come, it'll be a branch with significant differences (apparently Sony still have claims on MH Portable) - not huge wholesale new stuff, but enough to make them different (like MH3G and MH3rd) - because that way rabid MH fans will buy it. Though as per MH3rd to MH3G, i'd pass simply because if it's just more of the same stuff then i'm not prepared to reinvest XXX hours repeating from scratch.

I am surprised that Capcom haven't started a "MoHan Cloud" service where you can upload your save data to so that they have the option of allowing version switching though i'd assume platform holders would be wise to that!

Also at this point i don't think Capcom would put that much effort into improving MH for Vita - they'd maybe outsource it to Xing again and they'd tidy it up a bit but.... yeah... that's about it. Maybe use some MH4U assets? It's not a big enough jump - at this point I want MH that looks like Deep Down and we aren't ever getting that

and basically now MH4 is here and it's hot hot hot then yeah... who cares? I was wrong and moaning about MH (again) - they knocked it out the park so far and i hear the game difficulty ramps up nicely post HR4.

[Tasty]

MH cloud would be so amazing (even it's constrained to one platform.). Stop putting dreams in my head dc.

At least Pokemon's finally getting it.

[Purple Filth]

and basically now MH4 is here and it's hot hot hot then yeah... who cares? I was wrong and moaning about MH (again) - they knocked it out the park so far and i hear the game difficulty ramps up nicely post HR4.

so they went back to the old school hunter ranks for MH4?

[DCharlieJP]

yeah - back to the old system

[Purple Filth]

yeah - back to the old system

nice

never understood why they went with that bloated number version in the 3rd gen games

[DCharlieJP]

well, only for Wii and 3DS - and that might be to do with wrangling with Sony as 3rdP had the previous low number HR

I wonder if it was a cack handed attempt to bring MH inline with MHO?

[Purple Filth]

well, only for Wii and 3DS - and that might be to do with wrangling with Sony as 3rdP had the previous low number HR

I wonder if it was a cack handed attempt to bring MH inline with MHO?

I honestly didn't bother adding 3rdP since it still felt kinda like 2nd Gen (new Monsters/Location not withstanding) 

Also never knew MHO had that bloated rank style also

[Tasty]

MHO is out?

[magus]

I'm not endorsing one argument or another. I just think magus is being a little overzealous in his estimation.

I would love for MH4 to go to Vita and have local/online cross-play with 3DS owners. If I cared about hardware sales and killer apps, the window for Vita to surpass 3DS was closed a long, long time ago. So even from a Ninthing perspective, there's no reason for Vita owners to be deprived anymore.

it's capcom,given the chance they would port your grandma to every system too let alone a million seller

[Tasty]

And yet Wii never got RE5. 

[Tasty]

(this is about MH4, lol)

https://www.facebook.com/monsterhunter/posts/635553283132660



but at the same time



Capcom, let's not beat around the bush here. We know it's coming. Just say you're waiting on Nintendo to make the announcement.

[Rman]

Is the Vita even moving software in Japan?

[Joe Molotov]

Is the Vita even moving software in Japan?

Moved into a landfill.

[DCharlieJP]

yeah, things that are on the system are selling .... okay? as per low expectations?

Therefore it's attracting a stack of stuff in a certain "band" - whether that gathers some sort of critical mass and helps drag in other bigger projects ? hmmm.

Seems that the VitaTV and remote play might give it some traction as a companion device and -possibly- if some devs target lower spec PS3 games so they can hit both platforms then.... man, i can't even muster the enthusiasm to finish the statement.

I like the Vita a lot - i like the coming games a lot - but from a sales perspective ? i think until absolutely everyone in Japan has bought a 3DS and finished Monster Hunter 4, Pokemon, and then MH4G then people gonna be busy.

Also - lot of places were having a "MONSTER HUNTER 4 BUY BACK CAMPAIGN!" which was paying more than usual for second hand Vitas. Poor Sony lol.

[DCharlieJP]

P.S. Next batch of MH copies arrives on the 27th.... places are taking a second round of preorders and most are sold out lol.

[Tasty]

Oscar did you end up getting 3U or were you just getting my hopes up?

[DCharlieJP]

whilst i agree with your appraisal Oscar the thing that it does have going for it is the price of entry if you have a controller and a hdmi cable.

So for those mildly curious the 9980 yen price is fairly easy to swallow - no idea on units but Aki and Shinj are both out of preorders (all 89 units sold! huzzah!)

but yeah - basically it's got one foot in the dumpster, one foot in the quicksand and Nintendo are underneath kanchou'ing away

(i have two preordered of course because YOU CANT HAVE ENOUGH VITA!*)













* - one, really, is enough

[DCharlieJP]

Oscar did you end up getting 3U or were you just getting my hopes up?

Ended up not getting it.  I figure I've got one more shot left in me for Monster Hunter, probably better to save it for the one I can play online with people rather than the region-locked one that needs someone in the physical vicinity with the same out-of-region version.

unless MH4 shats the bed unexpectedly it's easily the best game in the series. I really -really- gained from skipping 3U though, as it's on shelves at 1980 yen now, it's still great value and a very good game. But as you say MH4 has so so so much more

and good god -  the battles.... oh my word. Just ... wow. and i'm still low level because -new job-, but those moments when Gerious starts crawling up the walls, drops down and you vault over the small ledge and catch it around the neck and start wailing on it's back.... no TRIANGLE, SQUARE, SQUARE, CIRCLE to start the crazy - all organically happening in game , each fight different - as it's always been but taken to a new level. It's basically everything i wanted from it outside the huge graphics update - if the WiiU version looks the business i may soil myself.

[Tasty]

SHUT UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUPPPPPPPPPP

[Damian79]

if the WiiU version looks the business i may soil myself.

Do you honestly expect them to do any graphical changes for the Wii U Version if they are making a Wii U version?  It is a cash grab so they can fund Deep Down.

[DCharlieJP]

Do you honestly expect them to do any graphical changes for the Wii U Version if they are making a Wii U version?  It is a cash grab so they can fund Deep Down.

I'm not expecting them to go all in - i expect them to have farmed it out to Xing to tart up a bit but.... hey... that'll do for a start.

I suspect it'll be Capcom's Xmas offering