Monster Hunter 3

Monster Hunter 3 is the third installment in the Monster Hunter series and is the direct sequel to Monster Hunter 2. It was first announced for the Playstation 3, but was canceled. Capcom, specifically Capcom managing corporate officer Katsuhiko Ichii, announced on October 10, 2007 that Monster Hunter 3 will be a completely Wii-exclusive title. 

Changes/Improvements

 * New MH3 Monsters


 * A new village that is a sea port Named Moga Village.


 * The game retains the concept of a "city," which acts as a lobby for chatting and meeting with other players.


 * When playing solo, this city becomes a village that slowly expands with new facilities and access routes for the island.


 * New environments, including an unexplored tropical island filled with caves, forests, and even underwater sections where you'll hunt sharks and enormous sea serpents.


 * In addition to the water environments, you'll be able to explore dark areas, like caves. To light up your surroundings, you make use of torches. Without torch light, these areas would be too dark for hunting.


 * Battles will now take place on land or underwater.


 * There is an air gauge while swimming.


 * Most of your land-based abilities available to you while underwater.


 * New moves for all weapons new or old.


 * New variation of weapon: Slasher Axe and Medium Bowgun


 * Total of 7 weapons: Hammer, GS, LS, Lance, bowgun, SNS, Slash Axe


 * Removal of various weapon types: Bow, Hunting Horn, and Dual Blades.


 * New branching for all weapons/armors.


 * New movements for Hunters.


 * New movements for old monsters.


 * 3 Control Variations: PS2-styled, PSP-styled &amp; Wii Remote/Nunchuck style.


 * New statuses for monsters.


 * New Wyverns, Bird Wyverns, Leviathans and Neopterons.


 * Different items get different reactions from monsters.


 * Hunt fish underwater which can later be used as ingredients.


 * Able to cook more than 1 meat at the same time.


 * Offline two-player mode with split-screen.


 * Old monsters get remodeled. (Revamped Rathian seen in MH3 Demo vids and V-Jump scans.)


 * The ablility to decorate your house.


 * Able to leave the village and hunt/gather in the nearby forest area without having to accept a machili/mission.
 * Time throughout the game is evident. (Day and night)

Online Play

 * Wii point monthly fee (NOTE: This has not been proven for countries outside Japan.)


 * Online play will consist of 4-player groups. The "lobby" areas will be in the form of a city, much like the city area of the PS2 Monster Hunter.


 * The city (lobby) area can be developed/expanded over time by the player in offline play.


 * Online chat will consist of Pre-made messages, controller-chat or usb-keyboard support, a wii speak has been released and might be used in MH3.

Why Wii?
1.Many People are asking why Capcom went for the Wii, this is what Capcom had to say:


 * "It was a strategic decision set by the team and our Japanese management to address an emerging market on the Wii. At the time the decision was made, it was in reference to the Wii market in general, no particular sub-segement thereof."
 * — Christian Svensson, Capcom’s Sr.Director of Strategic Planning &amp; Research

On August 23rd, 2008 Capcom had to a bit more about why they went Wii:
 * "I can’t discuss the localization issues at this time. As for the decision to bring it to the Wii, I think there were many. I think it’s fair to say that CJ wanted to bring one of its premier franchises (possibly THE premier franchise when you look at the Japanese market) to the broader audience that the Wii represents. At least, that’s one of many variables that pushed it in that direction."
 * — Christian Svensson

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Plans For North America
Capcom knows very well MH does not do nearly as well as it does in Japan and this is what they plan to do about it:


 * "It’s no secret that, in Japan, Monster Hunter is a phenomenon along the same lines as Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh; One in five PSP owners in Japan has a copy of one of the Monster Hunter games! You can see people playing it everywhere; on street corners in Akihabara, on the train, waiting in line to get into the Capcom store at TGS, on school campuses (not during class, mind) and on and on. The publishing company that puts out Famitsu released a Monster Hunter strategy guide that was over 1000 pages! Outside of Japan, the series hasn’t really caught on in the same way. We’ve done respectable business with the games we’ve released so far on PS2 and PSP. We certainly haven’t posted numbers in North America as they have done in Japan – Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for the PSP has sold in excess of 2 million units there – but the games have done well. That being said, Capcom is going to be making a major commitment to the Monster Hunter brand over the next two years in the west. Expect to see a significant marketing program dedicated to educating and enthralling gamers of both casual and hardcore natures. We’re not going to let up until there are as many people playing here in North America as there are in Japan! While we have not made specific announcements regarding Monster Hunter 3 in North America (or Europe, for that matter) to date, you can bet we’ll be talking more about it in the future."
 * — Capcom PR

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Confirmation For North America
There has been confirmation that MH3 is coming to North America and PAL regions. This chat with a mod on Capcom forums confirms that MH3 is most likely coming to NA/PAL. This has excited many non-Japanese MH players. Capcom has announced that MH3 could be released in NA/PAL early next year.