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JU-ON: The Grudge game announced for the Wii

by: Nathan -
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A late entry movie tie-in game JU-ON: The Grudge is under development for the Nintendo Wii by Feelplus and being published by XSEED Games for release in North America this October. Now the JU-ON series is actually very long and complicated especially when considering both the American and Japanese films so I expect that JU-ON: The Grudge will be a little more complex than the "Haunted House Simulator" description provided in the press release. From what I gathered the game will be on rails with the player traversing sections of different creepy locations by pressing a button to move forward and aiming the wiimote at the screen to aim the characters flash light in the enviroment. For fans of the american movies get ready for a different type of experience since the game's story will revolve around the fates of a japanese family the Yamada's while one of it's members goes to look for a lost dog and encounters the cursed house and not the fate of some random american who just happens to be in Japan. With the original creator of the series Takashi Shimizu as a creative supervisor the story and enviroment could be really creepy but unless they get the pacing right it could be a total snooze feast. Here's the japanese debut trailer for those who dare to watch (turn down your volume a bit because the audio at the end is very loud).

XSEED Games Announces JU-ON: The Grudge for Wii

New “Haunted House Simulator” To Offer Quick and Plentiful Scares

 

Torrance, Calif., (May 22, 2009) –XSEED Games today announced that JU-ON: The Grudge is in development for Wii and scheduled for release in North America in October, 2009. The title is inspired by the Japanese classic horror movie, “JU-ON”, on which the American release of the hit horror film “The Grudge” was based upon. JU-ON: The Grudge for Wii is a “Haunted House Simulator” where accessibility and instant scares are given priority over all other game aspects, with the original creator of the movie, Takashi Shimizu, serving as a creative consultant to game development.

 

It is said that when a person dies with a deep and burning grudge, a curse is born. When an average housewife in Nerima, Japan, was murdered in a grisly fashion, it gave rise to a curse so powerful that it threatens to kill at a pace thought unimaginable before.

 

The curse manifests on those who encounter the curse by any means, such as entering the house or being in contact with somebody who was already cursed. Once Erika Yamada is exposed to the curse while searching for her dog in an abandoned warehouse, the entire Yamada family is put in grave danger as soon as she reunites with them at home. They must now face their individual challenges alone, and only by overcoming the curse together will their family truly be free again.

 

”Ever since I first heard about this unique concept, this is a game that I’ve been looking forward to,” said Jun Iwasaki, President of XSEED Games.  “JU-ON: The Grudge makes quick scares accessible to anyone with a Wii, players can even hand the Wii Remote to their mother and enjoy watching her play and get scared.”

 

Using the Wii Remote as a flashlight, JU-ON: The Grudge has players move forward with the touch of a button and explore haunted areas such as an abandoned warehouse, a dimly-lit hospital, and a mannequin factory. Much like a haunted house, the player must proceed forward even after being frightened and running away from the initial threat. As much fun as it is to get scared, sometimes it’s even more fun to watch others play to observe their reactions. For instant gratification, grab a second Wii Remote and push buttons to make in-game events happen immediately to make the player jump and hate you forever.

 

XSEED Games partnered with AQ Interactive to secure the North American rights to publish and distribute JU-ON: The Grudge. The title is being developed by Feelplus and will be available October 2009 exclusively for Wii.  

 

About XSEED Games:

XSEED Games was formed in November 2004 by a small group of industry veterans by president Jun Iwasaki with a common vision: to cross pollinate the avid gaming cultures of Japan and North America. Delivering unique, innovative titles across multiple platforms and genres, XSEED Games is dedicated to publishing products that appeal and enrich the North American market. More information on XSEED Games can be found at http://www.xseedgames.com

 
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(c)Toei Video / JU-ON Film Partners / JU-ON 2 Film Partners
(c)2009 AQ INTERACTIVE INC.