Random events will play a significant role in determining the outcome of a rousing game of Atlus USA’s upcoming board game party RPG Dokapon Kingdom. While working your way around the game board, you’ll occasionally land on plain yellow spaces. These yellow spaces are the common location for player-versus-player battles to go down, but every so often they’ll also trigger various random events. Some helpful, some not so much. To get an idea of the vast array of random events you and your board game buddies will be facing when the game ships for PS2 and Wii on October 14th, hit the jump for an overview of 10 of the events with accompanying screenshots, courtesy of Atlus.

• Weber the Trickster likes to mess with contestants, usually tricks he finds fun but you likely won’t.

• Risque the Bandit offers players a chance to steal something from an opponent, but very often his fingers are not quite fast enough to get the job done (although he’ll have a firm grip on your payment).

• Robo-agent will offer players with the chance to “take out” one of their foes (and we’re not talking about eating out). Upon payment, he’ll transform into Robo-Sassin, and from that point it will be nail-biting suspense for your enemy as they hope to avoid encountering the obscenely overpowered automaton. Of course, very often Robo-Sassin is willing to consider taking double his original payment from his intended target, which will turn him back on his original client…

• The Beggar will ask you for money, simple as that. Pay him or don’t, there may be consequences either way…

• Kira the Merchant offers exceptional wares at hard to beat prices, but very often players will encounter her with empty pockets, which can only frustrate as she takes her rare wares elsewhere.

At the start of each week (and weeks are comprised of 7 rounds, in which each player has to have one turn), there is the possibility of random global events, which vary in scope and often can completely change the focus of the game:

• The Coliseum, for example, may pull all players to its great arena for a little bit of player-versus-player action, all for the enjoyment of its rather hedonistic owner.

• A “Wabbit Explosion” indicates to all contestants that there will be an inordinate number of Wabbits on the loose, something to consider when landing on an empty yellow space…

• The “Hairstyle contest” allows players who’ve taken the time to collect and use rare or fancy hairstyles to put their glam to the test. Who will be voted the fairest of all?

• The “Epidemic” will hit you where it hurts the most: your wallet! Your citizens are ill and need your help… Expect to pay a sizeable amount in aid based on the number and size of the towns you own.

• The “Abnormous Disaster” can really set folks back, knocking all of the towns on a single, random continent down a level and robbing them of all of their currently accumulated taxes. All those investments you poured lovingly into your little hamlets? Oh my, misplaced, so sorry!

Dokapon Kingdom:

Luminous Arc 2:

Yggdra Union:

Zoids Assault:

10AM PST has come and gone today, so you know what that means. Atlus USA’s mystery game announcement, hinted at via a recent newsletter, has been officially unveiled! Common predication was for DS title Dokapon Journey, but it’s actually not that. However, the predications did peg the correct series, just not the correct platform. While Dokapon Journey may still wind up coming stateside, today’s game reveal is for Dokapon Kingdom, a unique board game-RPG crossover title for PS2 and Wii. Basically, it’s like Mario Party crossed with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. At least that’s the impression I get.

Check after the break for the debut trailer, gallery and official press release.

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Have Friendships? Let Atlus Ruin Them With Party RPG Dokapon Kingdom

The Friendship-Destroying Game for Wii and PlayStation 2

Irvine, Calif. – June 03, 2008

Atlus U.S.A., Inc., triumphantly friendless, today announced Dokapon Kingdom, an addictive new multiplayer RPG for Wii and PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The King of Dokapon has offered you his throne; all he asks for in return is that you dispose of an invading horde of thieving monsters. Trouble is – you’re not the only one he asked. Contend with up to three friends as you navigate playfields littered with challenges, monsters to defeat, and rare secrets to unlock. Warning: Relationship counseling not included.

Dokapon Kingdom is currently scheduled for release on October 14th, 2008.

Key Features:
• Innovative board game-RPG crossover – Tired of shallow gameplay in party games? The genre gets retooled in this exuberant mix of role playing and board games! Encounter zany characters, collect rare items, and explore a fascinating kingdom on your quest to vanquish monsters, gather treasure, and level up!
• The friendship-destroying game – Turn the heat up on your rivalries! Take on up to three other soon-to-be-ex-friends in the race for Princess Penny and the crown. Battle, steal, deface – playing dirty is the name of the game – through a variety of locales and challenges. After your friendships are broken, the game is just as much fun to play alone.
• Never the same game twice – Tons of battles, magic spells, mini-games, and multiple play modes add up to endless replayability!
• Easy, intuitive, and effective combat system – This is no boring game of hack-and-slash. Players covertly choose their actions in an intuitive battle interface that guarantees every fight will surprise.

Dokapon Kingdom has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

About Dokapon Kingdom:

The Kingdom of Dokapon is a land of wealth and riches ruled by a gold-loving King and his daughter Princess Penny. One day, monsters begin appearing all over the realm, assaulting the towns and stealing all of the empire’s wealth. The King, unable to collect taxes from his impoverished citizens, calls for heroes from across the land to come and rid his monarchy of these monsters. The prize for the hero who is able to free the land: The hand of Princess Penny and rule of the Kingdom itself!

About Atlus U.S.A., Inc.

Located in Irvine, California and founded in 1991, Atlus U.S.A., Inc. is renowned for its proud tradition of publishing exceptional role-playing games with strong niche appeal. The Atlus library of critically acclaimed video games includes Odin Sphere, Trauma Center series, and the award-winning Shin Megami Tensei series. For more information, visit http://www.atlus.com.

©2008 STING. Licensed to and published by Atlus U.S.A., Inc.