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This new freeware RPG, made in the ubiquitous RPG Maker XP, has been causing quite the buzz around my corner of the internets, so I thought I’d give it a whirl. I don’t feel like it’s really worth giving a full review to (and I didn’t have the willpower to finish the damn thing), but it’s still worth checking out.

The best part about the game is the presentation: the art by veritable e-celebrity Paul Robertson (the guy who did Pirate Baby’s Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006) is charming, and the dialogue is fiercely funny, full of pithy bile culled from the underbelly of the American imageboard subculture. Also included are plenty of references to other RPGs like Earthbound and Lunar, and of course the whole affair is heavily inspired by Welcome to the NHK.

As for the gameplay, well, it’s a dungeon-crawl in the worst sense of the word. It’s a bit appropriate given the grim nature of the subject matter and the general feeling of hopelessness throughout, but it isn’t fun. Be prepared to grind, grind, grind, if you want to get ahead in the game.

That said, if you’re looking to kill a few hours, like old-school RPGs, and want to see what all the fuss is about, then try out Hikkikomori Quest.

Microsoft has announced that it plans to release their game developing platform XNA to the public. The software, named XNA Game Studio Express, will be first released as a free download for any PC running Windows XP, with the first open beta coming on August 30. A second version, one that can design games for the Xbox 360, would be released afterward to the tune of $90 USD.

This move will, in the long run, not only bring fresh ideas into the Xbox Live Arcade but severely lower the entry levels to the industry both financially and technically. This is a great move by Microsoft! The next great game from John Doe might actually have a chance. And it doesn’t stop there, apparently Microsoft envisions a system, much like YouTube where you can share and sell your creations with the world.

Not much more to say, its a smart move, a really smart move.

[Joystiq]