Way back at TGS 2006, Irem announced the sequel to their sandboxy PS2 RPG, Steambot Chronicles(known as Bumpy Trot in Japan).  Since then, Irem has been deceptively quiet about the game, except for a small website update that we reported about a year ago.  Irem confirmed earlier today, though, that the game is still in development, and the Japanese publisher will be pushing the game out as quickly as possible.

"We are still developing Bumpy Trot 2,” an Irem rep told ScrawlFX. “We are now trying to release it in Japan as soon as we can.”

Unfortunately, for the handful of Westerners that picked up this tragically overlooked title, Irem isn't promising a localization at the moment.  The other three Steambot games did make it to Western shores, though, so I wouldn't be too concerned.