Kotaku: drink up

Your Enemy? Robot Ice Cream Truck

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 22:00:53 MDT

There are some really whacked out ideas in games. You know, crazy characters, insane levels. Ever wonder where they come from? Drunk people, apparently. Don't believe me? Game translator Matt Alt recalls when he was working on a difficult-to-localize PlayStation game:

During a late-night meeting with the game's director at the local izakaya pub, I half in jest suggested that we re-envision one of the enemy characters as a giant transforming ice cream truck. In robot form it'd have ice cream scoop hands, an ice cream cone head, an ice cream parlor awning "skirt," the works.
Little did I realize he had taken me seriously. When we showed up at the office several days later he showed us a short loop his animator had created based on the idea. In the end it never did make it into the finished product, but seeing my clumsy-looking, beer-drenched robot concept come to life on a Japanese animator's computer screen was an amazing experience for this American-born mecha-maniac. I wish I still had the cocktail napkin with my original sketch, if only to highlight the difference between my drawing abilities (which are on par with a third grader) and those of a professional mecha artist.

Shame it never made it in the game, because I would so play this. And the company's name? That, dear reader, is a secret. But it's probably not who you'd think!
I Scream Robo [AltJapan]

New Final Fantasy Potion Dated

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 03:00:01 MDT

The Final Fantasy potion is back! This time it's bringing a supremely phallic bottle with it. Last March, game maker Square Enix and beverage company Suntory joined forces to release Final Fantasy potion, which was nothing more than a repackaged version of Suntory's health drinks in a blue bottle. This time around, a "Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Potion" will get a September 13th release. Priced at ¥3,980 (US $33), the elixir is limited to 77,777 sets and includes a booklet and a oh-so penetrating bottle. Believe it or not, but the drink actually contains dolomite! The eye-opening ~~dildo~~ bottle was first revealed at the Final Fantasy Party. And what's a party without the Final Fantasy potion? Hit the jump for a pic of the box.

FF Potion [Game Watch]

Neon Genesis Evangelion In Coffee Form

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:00:03 MDT

How popular is anime/manga Neon Genesis Evangelion? It's not only gotten a string of video game adaptations, a pachinko machine, but also a coffee branding. And the coffee branding wasn't once, but twice. Back in 1997, Japanese beverage company UCC released an Evangelion branded coffee. Once again, the company has slapped Evangelion on its popular milk coffee to help promote the upcoming anime out this summer. It doesn't taste different from regular UCC milk coffee (quite delicious in its own right!), but don't tell that to the folks who are snatching up cans. It's been regularly selling out since hitting vending machines. Brian Ashcraft

Evangelion Coffee [Akiba Blog]

Wii Tennis Tourney

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 05:00:33 MDT

Live in New York? Like to game? Into drinking? The first organized Wii Tennis tourney I've heard of, Wiimbledon, will be held June 23rd at Barcade in Brooklyn. Entering is totally free. From the event's official site:

Wiimbledon is a Wii Tennis tournament being held Saturday, June 23 from noon until 5pm at Barcade in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. There will be singles and doubles tournaments, prizes and, yes, beer. Maybe even some strawberries and cream. Oh, and cucumber sandwiches.

Beer and Wii Tennis. Sounds fun! Brian Ashcraft

Wiimbledon [Official Site]