Source: Joystiq

Microsoft’s second Japanese RPG, Lost Odyssey, officially received a launch date here in North America and that date is February 12th. Even better news is that when you pre-order the game from participating retailers you’ll receive an Xbox Live download code that gives you access to a downloadable level and unlockable weapon. That’s right, you’ll be able to download content for a game that you won’t even be able to play for two months.

Even more interesting than the premature DLC is the choice of release date. As most gamers know, Q1 (also known as January-March in the video game world) is typically a slow period for game releases because all of the companies blew their big-titles-wad before Christmas. Microsoft must not have gotten that memo though because they have decided to launch Lost Odyssey on the same day as Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which is also only one week after Devil May Cry 4’s launch.

This just makes me wonder of all the possible dates that they could have chosen in the beginning of the year, why did they choose to release one of their biggest titles of ‘08 on the same day as the Wii’s biggest title and only one week after another highly anticipated title?

Didn’t you learn anything from the jam-packed Fall lineup we just went through, Microsoft? Spread out the lovin’…pretty please.