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A while back, we posted that Japan was going to clamp down on handheld gaming in the skies. The Hollywood Reporter reported that Japan was banning WiFi game portables. But how strict are the airlines? When flying back to the States before Christmas, we spotted these Nintendo DS signs at Osaka's Itami Airport. Theses Nintendo signs greeted travelers showing two new rules for flying: 1). Turn off the DS's power during take-off and landing. 2). Don't use WiFi capabilities during the flight. We didn't have any problems using a DS on both domestic and international Japan Airline flights. Seems like more of a ban on WiFi use and not on the actual handhelds. That seems to be the extent of Japan's crackdown! More »
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Portable owners, Japan isn't exactly flying the friendly skies. The country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has been discussing banning gaming devices with wireless (like the DS and PSP) since last March as it believes the emitted electromagnetic waves interfere with the aircraft's navigational devices. Starting this week, a revised Japanese law went into effect that bans handheld gaming consoles with WiFi on Japanese planes. The ban also encompasses wireless computer mouses and headphones not provided by the airlines. Using portables without integrated wireless (such as the GBA) is fine. Paranoid or cautious? YOU DECIDE. More »
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Doesn't matter if your Japanese airplane looks like this or not, you won't be able to get your wireless gaming on. The country's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is aiming to ban using wireless functions on portable game devices like the DS and the PSP on the basis that it can interfere with the aircraft's instruments. Passengers are still able to play their portables on the planes. That is, with the wireless function off and when the seatbelt sign is turned on. Thought that was pretty much standard everywhere and has been for a while now. Does this mean before it was perfectly alright to play wireless games on Japanese airplanes?! Brian Ashcraft More »
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While Japan Airlines is dishing out DS Lites to executive passengers, Japan Rail and Sony decided they do 'em one better and, uh, loan passengers PSPs. The campaign runs from this October to the end of next March and is only applicable for riders in the first class "Green Car" on the Tohoku Bullet Train. A redeemable coupon is given, which is then traded for the PSP unit and software. Available games have yet been mentioned. Green Car tickets are significantly more expensive, costing 50% more for a little more leg room. Usually, whenever I take the Bullet Train from Osaka to Tokyo, there are like three old men sitting in the Green Car. The vast majority of passengers opt for the cheaper, regular seats, which are perfectly comfortable. Talk about telling. Brian Ashcraft More »
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