Burgers? No Pictures

To: Fahey
From: Bashcraft
RE: Happy Stan Bush Monday

Fahey! How are you? I, I am fine. Yesterday we ate delicious burgers in Shibuya. Man, I love hamburgers. Though, no photos. And no photos, so it didn't happen. Bummer.

What you missed last night
A 'Left 4 Dead' LEGO Zombie Apocalypse In Pictures
MadWorld Still Not Playable (in the US, at least)
The Conduit – Still Going Strong
Silicon Knights Lays Off 25 to 30
Boingz: The Game Where You Play As A Condom
EA's Grasshopper Manufacture Game Is Totally Using UE3
LittleBigPlanet Can Do Your Math Homework
Second Expansion Pack Coming To Metal Gear Online
Let's Namco Bandai Headquarters Visit!
See The God Of War/LittleBigPlanet Level, Costumes
DSi Games Are Region Locked

I Am Not Good At Putting Clothes In A Suitcase

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: Broken TV Rises From the Dead

Shame about the tv........

Man, I've got to pack for TGS! Hate packing. I always wait until the last minute and bring too much shit. (Emphasis on shit.) Stink at packing for trips. Well, at least I won't be all jetlagged. Bwahahahahahahahahaha.

What you missed last night
No More Typewriter Saves For Resident Evil
Japan Gets Xbox 360 Last Remnant Bundle
Xbox 360 Beat PS3 In September... In Japan
Nintendo Are Still Doing A NEW Pikmin
Punch-Out Wii Trailer, Screens
Japanese Stock Market Not Impressed With DSi

British Bands And Japan

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: Tokyo! In Coming!

One thing that always surprises me about Japan is how accepted English music is here. Like, for example, today I went to the record store and bought the new Oasis album. (It's pretty good!) The album won't even be released until like next week in the States. And the CD has tons of extra tracks and whatnot. Always thought that was kind of amazing that bands singing in a language that most people don't have a good grasp of were so popular. I mean shucks, I've seen Ian Brown in concert twice here. Don't even think he tours in the US!

What you missed last night (Non-Nintendo Stuff)
Insiders Spill The Beans On EA's Tiberium Clusterfuck
Gears Of War 2 Gameplay Montage
Live Action Dragon Ball Trailer Successfully Fails
First Half of 2008 Hardware/Software Sales Data
First Bayonetta Footage Is Sexy
Best Buy Ad Featuring Gears 2 RC Tank

Ah, Sore Throat Time

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: Devil's Head

Arrrrrrrrrgh. Getting a sore throat.
Don't wanna get sick before TGS so gonna gargle with salt water, take come vitamin C and try to get some rest.

What you missed last night
Dragon Quest IX Officially Dated For Japan
Resident Evil 5 Will Have Realistic Guns, "Breathing" Clothes
Gears Of War 2: The Zune
David Jaffe Talks God of War, Brett Ratner, Kotaku Commenters
American Site: It's Time To Talk New Wii (Out In 2011)
Japanese Site: It's Time To Talk PS4
AC/DC Rock Band: No Online Play, Other "Fine Print" Details
Star Wars Galaxies Designer Jeff Freeman Dies
Katamari Damacy Creator's Next Game Rolling To TGS 08

Poop Soccer Round 2

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: Packing, Packing, Packing

Went to watch my kid's soccer practice. One of the other little kids crapped in his pants (again!) and a large turd was spotted on the gymnasium floor. After the soccer coach removed the turd with tissues, everyone made sure there weren't any more undiscovered poop — parents, too. Shoes were checked as well, and yes, one poor girl unfortunately made a misstep.

What you missed last night
New Campaign, Characters Coming to The Force Unleashed
Metallica Drummer On Sound Quality Stink, Blames Internet
Is 'Piktura' The New Pikmin For The New Nintendo DS?
Meet Nintendo's Newest Piece Of Hardware
Gears Isn't A Game. It's A Platform. OK?
Rock Band AC/DC Confirmed, But For Wal-Mart Only
Sony Booth Will Have 14 Unannounced Titles Playable At TGS
Here, Your Bionic Commando Box Art

Thank You Very Much Nice Human People

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft

Whew! Back from the Arcade Mania book launch in Tokyo. Had a great party in Ikebukuro and really appreciate Jean Snow's arranging all that.

Also, many thanks to everyone who showed up. Really had a great time chatting with everyone and wish that the time didn't fly by so quickly. And big thanks to those who were kind enough to chit-chat with my wife and kid — I was worried that they'd get bored! But they were far from it. Kudos to Kotaku readers for being such welcoming, classy and good people. We all have great memories of the evening.

On Sunday, we visited Tokyo Tower, and man, I don't know about you, but I get major vertigo looking out my seven story apartment. Thought I was going to pass out while taking the elevator to the Tokyo Tower observation deck.

Took the train back late Sunday, wife made it through the Tokyo trip in fairly good shape, but brought her health insurance card just in case, you know, she went into labor on the bullet train or something. As you might have gathered, she did not. Thank gawd.

What you missed last night
Nintendo On That New DS Rumor...
Rock Band 1 To Be Manufactured "Indefinitely", Songs Won't Ever Be Offered As DLC
Soulja Boy Keen On Making Video Games
"300" Director Signs With EA

Don't Forget About Arcade Mania This Saturday Night!

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: Day Note Filmed In Front Of A Live Studio Audience

Don't forget! For those who are planning on attending the Arcade Mania event in Tokyo, just a reminder that it's tomorrow night (that's Saturday!) in Ikebukuro. There will drinks and snacks as well as copies of the book for purchase. More info here.

Hope to see you there!

What you missed last night
Bungie May Need To Rethink Part Of That Teaser Trailer (Update)
Holy Crap! Spore Created StarCraft Amazes Us
SFIV Producer On Marvel v Capcom, Mortal Kombat v Capcom
Mirror's Edge: Expensive Collector's Edition
Xbox 360 Outsells PS3 In Japan. Again.
Call Of Duty: Expensive Collector's Edition (With Bonus PC System Specs)
Here Are Your Left 4 Dead System Requirements
Kojima: Don't You Dare Use My Ideas For MGS5
Tetris Remade In LittleBigPlanet

Here, Wear Your Brother's

To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
RE: My Brush With Mary Jane

Talk about bursting at the steams, had to run to the baby store to start buying baby stuff this afternoon. Bought a new diaper trash can and another baby seat. Man, baby seats are pricey! In Japan, kids have to sit in them until they're like six years old or something. Also, bought some new clothes to go with the Mini-Bash handmedowns. Never grew up with siblings so handmedowns didn't factor into the equation. Hope he doesn't care — doubt he will, the baby is after all a baby. Wonder if he'll care when he gets older....

What you missed last night
Miyamoto: "It Would Be Great If Music Education Started With Wii Music"
Here's Why There Are Fewer PSP Games Today
GTA DS Lets You Buy And Sell Weed...And Heroin...And...
The People's Arcade! Inside A North Korean Game Center
Capcom Gently Remind You That Importing Street Fighter IV Is Illegal
LittleBigPlanet Isn't Just A Game (It Can Get You A Job)
Bungie Countdown Re-Appears, Ends Thursday Morning
Dead Space: The $150 Version
Microsoft Kicks Off Creepy Xbox 360 Ad Blitz
Street Fighter IV Adds Unlockable Gouken
More Halo MMO Concepts: Revenge of Mistress Chief

Thank Nissan For the Canned Bread

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: On Brick Ceilings and Private Views

Oh, nice. Gawker's new office sounds swish. I prefer working from home though. Things like dressing and shaving and bathing can be a real drag some days.

Back from a day off! Spent it at the Nissan dealership. Ah, yes, the Nissan dealership. If you ever want free stuff in Japan, please visit one of two places: A car dealership or an apartment showroom for a new apartment building. (I'm sure there are others!) At the Nissan dealership, we got: free soft drinks, 1 towel, a bar of "Skyline" branded soap (I know), a remote controlled toy car and a small loaf of bread stuffed in a metal can. Stuff they give away at apartment showrooms isn't nearly as neato, but you're guaranteed to get free soft drinks at the very least.

What you missed last night
Valve: Team Fortress 2 Updates Not Coming To PS3 Orange Box
LEGO Super Mario Cheats With 3D Scanner
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Selling By The Bantha-load
Today, Halo 3 Got A Bunch Of New Stuff
Phoenix Wright, As Cross-Dressing All Female Musical
Watch Someone Else Play LittleBigPlanet For 14 Minutes
Capcom Cannot Quit Resident Evil Wii-makes
Warhammer Online Does Not Heart Gold Farmers

Know How To Get Rid of Headaches?

To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft

Usually never get headaches, but really have been recently. Like right now, my brain is pounding. I've heard (not sure if this is true!) that taking aspirin or headache medicine is actually bad for headaches and makes them more common. Meaning, I guess, that the best thing to do is to simply let the headache pass. But man, I've been getting some doozies...

What you missed last night
Which "Tales" Is The Best? You Decide!
Ban Monday Begins!
Let's Be Internet Friends With Ice-T!
Sonic Developer Launches New Game Website
Peter Moore, Still Talking
Rockstar: Wii "Didn't Feel Natural" For GTA