Operation Backlog Completion 2025

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Trailer Shows New Content

 Video games  4 Responses »  Tagged with: , ,
Jan 102025
 

Yesterday, Nintendo shared a new trailer for the upcoming Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition.

I’m still in shock that we’re finally getting a Xenoblade Chronicles X remaster, and the new trailer made me even more excited.

It shows some UI improvements (including the text being bigger now), an on-screen Overdrive guide, and similar adjustments, but the best part for me is the greater look at the new content.

We knew from the announcement trailer that the Definitive Edition would expand on the original game’s final scene, which showed a mysterious figure known as the “Black Knight” in the art book. The new trailer expands on that… and more.

The final part of the trailer shows a new area, with floating islands that the player is exploring. This will most likely be the area we explore in the new story content. It looks beautiful, and I can’t wait to see what secrets it holds.

But that’s not all.

Besides the Black Knight (now with a few hints as to his identity), we also see a new character in strange armor who appears to be an ally, as well as a new Qlurian character.

The especially interesting thing about the Qlurian is that she was also in the art book.

Named Neilnail, she never appears in the original game, but now it seems she’ll have a role to play in the remaster.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a game I wanted for a long time just because a port or remaster would increase our chances of getting a sequel. Now, it looks like it will not only expand the epilogue with new story content, but also include content that was originally planned but didn’t make it into the final game. The only disappointing thing for me is that they still haven’t revealed any sort of special edition.

Are you planning to get Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition when it launches on March 20?

2025 Writing Goals

 Writing  2 Responses »
Jan 082025
 

Last year, I went with a different format for 2024’s writing goals. Instead of very specific goals related to specific stories, I simply said I would resume querying, revise a novel, and write more short stories.

I also mentioned that if short story writing continued to work better for my motivation than novel writing, I would stick with it.

Well, that part came true. I sent out two query letters early in the year, but that’s it, and I didn’t even start revising a novel.

On the other hand, I wrote more short stories than ever before! I’m drowning short story drafts! With that in mind, I’m once again taking a different approach to this year’s goals.

By 2026, I will:

  • Finish my in-progress short story project.
  • Write and submit at least two more pulp fiction stories.
  • Continue writing short stories in general.

That feels simple enough and in line with my current writing motivations. It does feel like I’ve pivoted slightly in my approach to writing, but that’s fine. I love writing, and I’m glad that I’m finding new motivation to write even more.

If you’re a writer, do you have any goals in mind for 2025?

Capcom is “Making Preparations” for The Great Ace Attorney’s Anniversary

 Video games  2 Responses »  Tagged with: , , ,
Jan 062025
 

Since we had all of our end-of-year / start-of-year posts to go through, I held off on discussing this until now, but it’s been on my mind ever since I saw it.

Each December, many video game developers and publishers make a short statement about what they have planned for the next year. These are often vague, but sometimes they offer intriguing hints about upcoming announcements.

From this year’s messages, translated here by Gematsu, there was one in particular that caught my eye.

You see, 2025 is the 10th anniversary of The Great Ace Attorney.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a whole 10 years since The Great Ace Attorney: Adventures first came out in Japan on the 3DS. We had to wait all the way until 2021 to finally get an official localization! Now the second game in particular has become one of my all-time favorites, and there’s nothing I’d like to see more than more Great Ace Attorney games.

Anyway, Kei Hashimoto, a programmer with Capcom, said that they’re “making preparations to ensure everyone can enjoy the 10th anniversary” of The Great Ace Attorney.

That statement doesn’t necessarily mean they’re making a new game. It could be anything. It could just be merchandise, or even a special event in Japan. It’s too early to get excited.

On the other hand, we still don’t have a satisfactory explanation for the mysterious Van Zieks captions, and I still hope they were misplaced dialogue from a Great Ace Attorney Investigations game. Between the captions, the 10th anniversary, and this statement about celebrating, I can’t help but feel a little more optimistic.

Click for major The Great Ace Attorney 2 spoilers
Also, 2025 is the Year of the Snake, and Kazuma’s prosecutor design has snake inspirations/motifs, so basically this would be the perfect year for a game with him as a central character.

I remain hopeful that a new Ace Attorney game will be announced this year. I’d assumed it would be Ace Attorney 7, but if we get a new Great Ace Attorney game instead, I certainly won’t complain.

How do you think Capcom intends to celebrate the 10th anniversary?

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