Kotaku: Bandai

Bandai Namco Games Making "Bandai Namco Studio"

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:10:00 EST

Today, Bandai Namco, known as Namco Bandai in the West, revealed it's created a new studio called Bandai Namco Studio. It will be responsible for Tekken, SoulCalibur, Taiko no Tatsujin, the Tales games, and the Gundam games. [BNG] More »

Gundam Is Getting a Japanese Theme Park

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:30:00 EST

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On April 19, a new theme park dedicated to Mobile Suit Gundam is opening in Japan called "Gundam Front". More »

SoulCalibur V Preps a Trio of Launch Month Downloadable Content Packs

Mike Fahey — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:30:00 EST

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While we prepare to beat our opponents into submission using a series of punches and kicks, Namco Bandai prepares to hit your wallet where it hurts with three sets of premium DLC scheduled in the first month of SoulCalibur V's release. Who wants to play dress up? More »

The PS3's Next Big Japanese Role-Playing Game Is...

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 06:30:00 EST

Revealed today, the unannounced role-playing game Namco Bandai teased in Famitsu is Tokitowa. More »

These Are the Best Gundam Statues in the World

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

Gundam Statues in the World" alt="Click here to read These Are the Best Gundam Statues in the World" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/12/small_3664e4808992ace7835e481baae4eb98.jpg"/>

The Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011 is the world cup of Gunpla, or Gundam plastic model building. With entries from countries all over the world, spanning two divisions (one for over-fifteen years-old and there other for under-fourteen), it showcases the most stunning Gunpla in the world. More »

Watch People Build a Giant Mecha Before Your Very Eyes

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST

They are building the life-sized Gundam—again! They being these folks in hardhats and overalls. More »

She's Only Eight Years Old!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST

The stereotype is that Gundam is for males. That it's only men in their forties and thirties who build Gundam models. The stereotype is wrong. Don't believe me? More »

Some of the World's Best Young Gundam Model Makers

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST

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You've already seen the best Gundam models made by Japanese fans. Now, you get to see some of the best Gundam models in the world. Lucky you! More »

French Court Declares Namco Bandai the European Distributor of Xbox Witcher 2

Mike Fahey — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 18:20:00 EST

Witcher 2" alt="Click here to read French Court Declares Namco Bandai the European Distributor of Xbox Witcher 2" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/12/small_e45853f1b8355b8060656fd797623196.jpg"/>

Earlier this year Polish developer CD Projekt Red got into a legal scuffle with Namco Bandai over the distribution rights to the Xbox 360 port of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Now a French court has made it quite clear: THQ is out, and Namco Bandai is in. More »

Assassin's Creed Makes SoulCalibur V's Box Art Better

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:20:00 EST

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If Yoda and Darth Vader were happy enough to appear on SoulCalibur IV's box art , you can bet SoulCalibur V would not shy away from its Assassin's Creed guest star. More »

Ridge Racer DLC Sucks. Namco Ready To Rip You Off.

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:00:00 EST

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Thought it was stupid and awful that Namco Bandai was releasing Ridge Racer with only three tracks? Wait until you hear what the DLC is. More »

The Best Gundam Models in Japan. Made by Fans

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:30:00 EST

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The world cup of Gundam plastic model making has been streamrolling Japan, impressing all "Gunpla", or "Gundam model", fans with impressive diorama and stand-alones. Because, really, who doesn't love models of giant mechs? More »

Japan's Most Iconic Heroes. Crawling Through Dungeons.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EDT

Ultraman. Kamen Rider. Gundam. These three heroes are going forces in the upcoming role-playing game Lost Heroes for the 3DS. It's a dungeon crawler—with badasses. More »

Akira Gets a Biker Jacket. It Costs $900.

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 08:50:00 EDT

Akira Gets a Biker Jacket. It Costs $900." alt="Click here to read Akira Gets a Biker Jacket. It Costs $900." src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/10/small_akirajacket.jpg"/>

To celebrate Akira's 30th anniversary, Bandai Namco is releasing a replica of the cow-hide leather jacket worn by Akira protagonist Kaneda. More »

Remembering Apple's One Serious Attempt at a Video Games Console

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EDT

Today is a day a lot of folks will be remembering the good, the bad and the downright inspirational from the company Steve Jobs helped found all the way back in 1976. More »

I Can See Myself Playing Ridge Racer on the PS Vita

Brian Ashcraft — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:00:00 EDT

Ridge Racer on the PS Vita" alt="Click here to read I Can See Myself Playing Ridge Racer on the PS Vita" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_4b0rk41suy8.jpg"/>

Back in December 2004, I bought two things. One was a PSP. The other was Ridge Racer. More »

How About Some Plane Porn? Helicopter Porn?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:30:00 EDT

Whenever a racing game like Forza or Gran Turismo is released, the internet is flooded with car porn. Ace Combat isn't a car game. It's got jets and helicopters. Bring on the flying vehicle screens! More »

Why Big, Badass Robots (and Mecha) Rule Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT

The heat was unbearable. A group of kids scurried to find shade, but they did't find it under trees. More »

Namco Bandai Ready To Go After Mobile Games

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:20:00 EDT

Namco Bandai established a start-up with Japanese mobile gaming giant DeNA to make social games. Dubbed BDNA, the company's funded by Namco Bandai (75 percent) and DeNA (25 percent). DeNA makes the popular "Mobage" titles in Japan. [IT Media] More »

Do You Have Few Friends? This Trailer Is for You

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:20:00 EDT

Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai Portable is the portable version of Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai. It's a PSP game. More »

A Giant Gundam Hand Fit for Your Ass?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:00:00 EDT

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From August 13 to August 21 (my birthday!), the life-sized Gundam statue will be on display in Tokyo's Odaiba. But it won't be looming tall. It will be in pieces, strewn on the ground. More »

Let a Giant Mecha Show You Around

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Bandai Namco is releasing a Gundam themed navigational app for the iPhone. More »

When Sega Wanted to Take Over the World (and Failed Miserably)

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EDT

The year was 1997. And Sega, the Dreamcast still a twinkle in Segata Sanshiro's eye, was in a bullish mood. While its rivals were focusing their efforts on winning the video game war, Sega was looking beyond. More »

A Tour of Retro Japanese Toy Porn

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EDT

Japan has a long, proud history of making toys. The Bandai Museum in the rice fields of Tochigi Prefecture catalogues the amazing playthings the country has produced over the years. Can't make it out to sleepy town of Mibu to check out the museum? No worries, Kotaku's got you covered. More »

Giant Gundam Wants You to Boil

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:20:00 EDT

Ah, cup noodles. You love 'em, I love 'em, Gundam loves them. More »

This Tekken 4 Statue Sure Is Cheeky

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:00:00 EDT

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Christie Monteiro is one of Tekken's flashier characters. Maybe it's her swivel kicks, the glitter, or the long hair. But with this new figure, it's definitely the ass chaps. More »

Iconic Gun Controller Now...a Free App

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:20:00 EDT

As far as game peripherals go, Namco's GunCon is legendary. It's a great, great light gun controller. It would be a shame if Namco somehow cheapened that controller's good name by making an iOS app. More »

This Is the World Cup of Gundam Model Making

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Gundam Model Making" alt="Click here to read This Is the World Cup of Gundam Model Making" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_gundam.jpg"/>

This December, Bandai Namco is holding the "Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011", the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building. More »

Tales of Pricey Merchandise

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 05:00:00 EDT

If playing Tales of Vesperia wasn't enough for you, then there's this: a Yuri Lowell bracelet. More »

Don't Just Sit There, Let These Toys Blow Your Mind

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Gundam. Draonball. Kamen Rider. Great Mazinger, even. Namco Bandai's 2011 Tamashii Nation toy show proves just how wonderful (and awesome) Japanese figures can be. Don't believe me? More »

Japan's Pop Princess Wants to Give You Tales Loot

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:00:00 EDT

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On August 31, Ayumi Hamasaki is releasing a new EP called Five. Since Hamasaki is singing the theme for upcoming role-playing game Tales of Xillia, a limited edition version of her new mini-album will come with a redeemable download code. More »

This is a Super Robot Trailer in Three Parts

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EDT

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2nd Super Robot Taisen OG is coming to the PS3. This is the game's trailer. It's as if the trailer is chopped up into three distinct parts. I like the first part best. The others? As much as that style is part of the series, less so. More »

The iPhone, Not the 3DS, Brings These Kiddy Cards to Life

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EDT

Bandai's Carddas series of kiddy card games is going AR. Its newest One Piece and Kamen Rider cards are AR enabled and can be played with an iPhone. More »

Dark Souls Might Be Dark, But It Looks Fantastic

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:30:00 EDT

Dark Souls Might Be Dark, But It Looks Fantastic" alt="Click here to read Dark Souls Might Be Dark, But It Looks Fantastic" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_dslede.jpg"/>

For all the bitching and moaning about Japanese games being creatively bankrupt, lame, or simply crappy-looking, there's this, Dark Souls. More »

There's Another Ace Combat Making a Fly-by

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:30:00 EDT

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Ace Combat: Assault Horizon is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360. But it's not alone. There's another Ace Combat game. More »

Dark Souls Is Hard. Dark Souls Screens Are Easy (on the Eyes).

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:12:00 EDT

Dark Souls Is Hard. Dark Souls Screens Are Easy (on the Eyes)." alt="Click here to read Dark Souls Is Hard. Dark Souls Screens Are Easy (on the Eyes)." src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_soulslede.jpg"/>

Dark Souls, the upcoming title from Demon's Souls developer From Software is going to be a hard game. That bittersweet pill is made easier to swallow by the game's beautiful look. More »

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Looks Familiar, but Who Cares?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:18:00 EDT

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Looks Familiar, but Who Cares?" alt="Click here to read Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Looks Familiar, but Who Cares?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_8-i0fcz4p2w.jpg"/>

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon isn't your typical Ace Combat game. "For us, this is a rebirth of the Ace Combat series, and a chance for us to take the series in a completely new direction," said Kazutoki Kono, Producer at Project Aces, said last year. More »

Ridge Racer Coming to PS Vita

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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Cue the Riiiiiidge Raaaaacer jokes! Namco's racing series is bound for the upcoming PS Vita. Details are scant, but Namco did release a single image in an official statement. More »

Inversion's E3 Trailer Is Mostly Right-Side-Up

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:43:00 EDT

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Inversion might look like other cover-based shooter, but it's attempting to turn the subgenre on its ear. Literally. The game is Gears of War meets gravity. More »

3DS Update Might Screw Up Ridge Racer 3D

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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On June 6 (in the US, June 7 elsewhere), the Nintendo 3DS is getting a system update to stabilize the system and add the 3DS Shop. According to Nintendo, Ridge Racer 3D owners "may experience a disruption in their gameplay experience under certain conditions". More »