Smilebit to develop game based on manga/anime series

Sega has announced today at their GameJam event in Tokyo that Yasuhiro Naito's (the artist prefers his surname to be "Nightow", though) popular manga/anime series "TRIGUN" will be realized in video game form from developer Smilebit. Smilebit has been responsible for titles like the Jet Set/Grind Radio series, and Gunvalkyrie.

The title will be coming about as a result of RED Company, producer of the Sakura Taisen series, becoming a part of Sega Group. This turn of events was also announced today at GameJam. RED will produce three games for Sega, including TRIGUN. TRIGUN is set to take advantage of Sega's network technology, and will feature a presentation technique called "Manga Dimension". Unfortunately, no platform for the game has been announced.

The other titles to be produced by RED and announced at the event included GunGrave, a shooting game for the PlayStation 2, and "Magun Keppuuroku", a fighting game featuring the use of weapons. Like TRIGUN, GunGrave will also be developed by Smilebit, and will feature character designs by Nightow-san, and mechanical designs by Sakura Taisen/"Ah My Goddess" artist, Kousuke Fujishima. So you know the art direction in the game will awesome. Very little information is known about Magun Keppuuroku, other than the fact that a "surprise artist" is set to be part of its development.

We'll have more GameJam announcements as they happen, but for now let me relish the warm and tingly feelings that are still lingering in my body after hearing about a TRIGUN game becoming reality.