MonkeyPaw Inks Deal To Bring Alundra, Arc The Lad To PSN

Digital classic Japanese video game importer MonkeyPaw Games has been working with Victor Ireland's Gaijinworks to bring classic 1990s RPGs Alundra and Arc the Lad to the PlayStation Network in "Western markets" this month, the companies said Monday. The announcement makes public for the first time a partnership between MonkeyPaw, founded by former Hudson Entertainment CEO John Greiner, and Gaijinworks, founded by Ireland. The games will release tomorrow, October 12 on PlayStation Network's PSOne Classics store for $5.99 each. Ireland is perhaps best known as former president of Working Designs, a publisher that became known for English-language releases of Japanese video games, with extra attention placed on witty translations and eye-catching product packaging. Founded in 1986, the publisher closed officially in 2005. Greiner said in a statement, "We’re just as excited about reminding gamers how these games really stand the test of time. Alundra and Arc the Lad are just the beginning as MonkeyPaw plans to deliver many more classic PlayStation experiences." Earlier this year, MonkeyPaw revealed its first import re-releases for PSN, including the homoerotic shooter Cho Aniki, another shooter, Gaia Seed, fighting game Outlaws of the Lost Dynasty, the RPG Magical Drop F, and the Breakout-inspired Blockids. Working Designs published the Japanese action RPG Alundra in North America in 1998, garnering a strong critical reception. The Matrix Software-developed game was originally released a year earlier in Japan. Working Designs also published Arc the Lad in Western markets in 2002 as part of the Arc the Lad Collection. The original G-Craft-developed RPG has never been released in Western territories as a standalone game. Ireland added, "When John and I started talking about his new company, it quickly became obvious that a Gaijinworks collaboration with MonkeyPaw would be a natural fit. John's building a company to expand the awareness of Japanese games, much like Gaijinworks, and together we can really quench gamers' thirst for quality classic gaming on download services like PlayStation Network in the West." Last month, Sony Computer Entertainment America launched the new Imports service within the PlayStation Store, and debuted the PSN arrival of the non-translated versions of Cho Aniki and Gaia Seed.