What's next for From Software's Armored Core series? Armored Core 4A: For Answer is coming to the Sony PlayStation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360 with new features that should make fans drool, and allow newcomers to enter the intense world of fighting mechs. Find out more by heading over to the full article.

It won't have any SIXAXIS special moves, but at least you can fight with a lot of other people. Toshifuma Nabeshima, Armored Core 4's producer, divulged some details regarding the online capabilities that From Software has set up for their upcoming mech game.

According to Nabeshima, Armored Core 4 players will able to play networked battles of up to eight people. Of course, you also get to choose what kind of fight you want to get into, so he's also mentioned that there will be a battle royale mode, as well as a team-based combat mode. It doesn't seem like a lot, but we're expecting the launch to show off more details as to how online play is implemented for this game. Not only that, but it will also probably take some time before a good core group shows up to play, so there's probably not going to be a rush to get to hardcore online play yet, or at least until after they finish the game.

In the meantime, keep watching QJ for more details on Armored Core 4 as the release date for the PlayStation 3 moves closer and closer, and not far behind it is this title which is due to be released in the first quarter of 2007.

If there's anybody who knows Chromehounds, the upcoming Xbox 360 mech shooter, better than anyone else on the planet it's Toshifumi Nabeshima. Nabeshima was there from the planning of the very first Armored Core game and produced all the titles that came after. So what does the ultimate authority on Chromehounds have to say about it?

He says its primarily a network squad-versus-squad action game rather than one-on-one battles. They went with the  squad-based approach to increase the importance of the different roles players could take in the game. "With player-versus-player battles, each player would simply build the strongest Hound possible, but that's not what Chromehounds is about. Rather, we want players to focus on constructing Hounds that will let them carry out their assigned tasks according to their [squad's] strategy."

The squad-based gameplay also allowed developers to come up with powerful weaponry. "In games that emphasized battles between individual players, creating weapons that can decimate opponents with a single shot risks destroying the game's balance. Since Chromehounds is squad based, we can have more extreme weaponry. Players may even feel some of the weapons are too powerful." With the right strategy and teamwork, its posible to defeat the opponent without firing a single weapon.

Even getting around in Chromehounds requires strategy. "Players who emphasize speed will have to keep their mechs light, which means low durability and firepower. On the other hand, players who overemphasize carrying capacity could find themselves victims of close-range attacks or be destroyed by snipers before they're able to flee."

On why the Chromehounds Team chose the Xbox 360, Nabeshima cited the console's Live Voice-Chat feature as an essential part of the gameplay. In fact players will have to use the Chat feature the moment they enter the squad lobby, It will also play an important role during mech-customization phase. Nabeshima says he wants players to talk about about strategy, who will take on what roles, and how the Hounds should be built. With the communication feature and the game's system that lets teammates help each other building the Hounds, Nabeshima says the game shouldn't scare off newcomers.

Nabeshima's last thoughts on Chromehounds? He hopes players (that means you, your teammamtes and your opponents) will have a hell of a great time playing. Chromehounds is set to be released in Japan real soon (June 29) and later in the US (July).

As the Chromehounds release date inches closer (July 11), anticipation is starting to build up like a pressure cooker. Chromehounds is set up in the 1980s - after the Cold War ended in a totally different fashion. The fictional world is rocked by frequent conflicts. The war among the three nations in the Neroiumus region is heating up. The winner takes it all. The prize: world domination!

According to Toshifumi Nabeshima, Chief Producer of Chromehounds, the engine they used for the game is a combination of their original engine and another one of the engines From Software used in another RPG title. Chromehounds was also designed using the latest graphic technology including High Dynamic Range expression and Normal mapping to name a few. "You’ll be able to see this in such environments such as the sun light reflecting in the water. We’re having a lot of fun creating these effects."

We can't hurry the game but we can do something about letting some of that steam out with the latest gameplay trailers.

Download: [Chromehounds Gameplay Movies 18,19 and 20]