Since I've gotten back, I've been talking to Mrs. Bashcraft's pregnant belly. Amazing stuff! If Micro-Bash is awake, he'll start moving like crazy when I begin blabbering on about this and that, kicking and whatnot. Tonight we talked about Buster Keaton, and he seemed to like that.

Wonder if he recognizes my voice or if it's just the mindless droning that he's responding to...

Yep, it's the droning. Still, amazing stuff, this.

What you missed last night
Here's The Documented Evidence Itagaki Submitted Against Tecmo
Jumpgate Evolution Demands Your Attention
Jim Lee Dishes On DC Universe Online
Want To See The Max Payne Movie Posters?
Kaz Hirai Isn't Sure How Long The Xbox 360 Cycle Is...
Don Mattrick Says Nintendo And Sony Have Been "On Vacation"
Sony Holding Resistance 2 Beta Keys Hostage In Next Qore Episode
No More Nintendo Surprises This Year

Whew. And like that, I'm back.

Had a good flight back to Japan. While going through security at LAX, one of the TSA dudes noticed the 1942 shirt I was wearing and said, "1942? Didn't something happened in 1942? Wasn't there a war or something?"

Spent the afternoon today trying to teach my kid how to bicycle without training wheels. Kinda tricky! He kept falling off, of course. I tried to remember how I learned to ride my bicycle. Think it had something to do with me riding a He-Man bike with plastic tires. The tires weren't even filled with air. Ah, youth.

The goal is to get the kid training wheel-less by the end of summer vacation. Fingers crossed.

What you missed last night
Dead Rising Wii Is Official, Brilliantly Renamed
Cammie Says "I'm Not Fake!"
Rumor: PSP 3000 Features Built-In Mic, Already In Production
Go To Comic-Con, Meet Mega Man (And Kristin Kreuk)
Kaz Hirai Wonders Where The GameCube, Xbox Are...
There Are Finally Clueless, Mean Girls & Pretty In Pink Games In Development

And so. It begins.

While you were sleeping off hangovers, you missed the following:

More On That Master Chief-Free Halo Game
Sony Boss Sees Wii As "Expensive Niche"
Old Snake Blows Cover, Spotted At Aussie Wedding

Whada week! I am exhausted. By Friday, my brain turns to mush. Watching Mad Max 3 with the fam. Love, love, love Mad Max. But, I really, really hope that old Mel Gibson doesn't make Mad Max 4 — though, I know that director George Miller is interested...

What you missed last night
Activision First Tried To Buy Blizzard
Sony's Plan Is Not To Reduce The PS3's Price
Rock Band 2's Drums Sorta New, Definitely Improved
Konami Suing Harmonix Over Rock Band
Mega Man 9 IS Coming To 360, PS3

Sunday, it seems! Direct flight, too which is all kinds of awesome.

Big news: I got a haircut and killed the mullet that had grown back and sat atop my head. Or rather, had the mullet killed. I guess you could call it a mullet assassination. Serious stuff. I've been having the urge to watch Mel Gibson movies all day.....

What you missed last night
Mirror's Edge Impressions, New Screens and Trailer
The First Max Payne Hollywood Film Trailer
Activision Left The ESA Because, Well, They're Just Too Damn Big
Here's Why Fallout 3 Was "Banned" In Australia
LocoRoco 2 Revealed In New Famitsu

Tonight's Night Note is kinda long, so I put it after the jump.

What you missed last night
What Are The Top Selling Games Of 2008 So Far?
Fallout 3 Refused Classification In Australia
Patapon 2 Announced, Let's Look At It
Mega Man 9: Cheap As $10 Chips
Cliff Bleszinski Wants Fewer Buttons
This Wii Hard Drive Is So Damn Phony (And Funny)
Does This Banjo Kazooie Video Confirm An Xbox 360 Motion Controller?

This morning was spent in a police station. An old, dirty Osaka police station where everyone smokes — even, no especially the cops. Late last week, white paint was splattered all over my car. No clue who did it, so I called the police, who was very helpful and said I need to get the car fixed or repainted or whatever before they can start investigation. Turns out that the paint thankfully came off in the carwash, so I was only out like ten bucks. Still I told the officer that I'd bring my receipt to finish my paperwork, I headed over to the station earlier today.

And so I was talking to an officer, and of course cops kept bringing in dudes that had been tethered and cuffed into the station to talk to them about who-knows-what. There was a guy behind me, not a copy, just some guy in workman's clothes, speaking really rough Japanese to another officer. And that officer was speaking rough Japanese back at him. This guy looked late 30s and tough — though, he was also there just to file a complaint about something, I didn't catch what. The guy would break into scary Japanese, telling the cop he was wasting his time or to hurry up or whatever. Seemed like a real asshole.

I was told to wait and sit on a bench in the hallway while they finished up the paperwork. That tough guy sat down next to me and started cussing to himself and cursing the police and whatnot. Then he turned to me and asked in broken English:

"What's your name?"
"Brian."
"Plain?"
"Brian."
(Points to himself, proud) "Kenji."

Kinda left the conversation at that, and the guy smiled at me. He had no teeth. Then the guy went off and started screaming at the cops again, and I went over to the counter and finished signing the paperwork and just as I was leaving, I passed tough guy Kenji, who turned and said to me:

"Bye bye Kenji. See you!"

Dude even waved.

After days of digging through name books and websites, we think we *might* have found a name for Micro-Bash. Man, it's been hard! I seriously have spent like an hour or more every morning searching for a good name.

The tricky part is that my family has last name, and "Ashcraft" in Japanese is a little kooky. So as I mentioned earlier, we hafta find a name that not only works in English and Japanese, but a name with two kanji characters or less — and "good" Kanji characters to boot. Plus, we didn't want to find a super common name, but not some totally strange made-up Engrish-Japanese name.

But! We think we sound something that works well in both Japanese and English and with really nice kanji. Naming kids in English is way easier — not having to worrying about things like kanji and freely picking names you like. But, it's done. Whew.

Now we hafta think of a middle name for his US passport.

What you missed last night
Square Enix Announces, Releases Song Summoner For iPod
Soulcalibur IV Adds One More Female Fighter
New Bungie Game Announcement Next Monday?
Nintendo, SEGA, Ubisoft, EA All Back PEGI Over BBFC
2.40 Problems Fixed, 2.41 Firmware Goes Live
2.41 Firmware Brings New PS3 Platinum Trophy
Morrigan, Onimusha's Soki Joining New Capcom Brawler

Man, it's Monday! And a pretty quiet Monday, post holiday. Went to my kid's soccer practice, where another little kid crapped in his pants and had to be taken off the field by the coach. Ah, yes, youth.

Been listening to a lot of Bowie recently, a lot — well, up to Scary Monsters, after which he seemed to lose the plot for a while (warm fuzzy Labyrinth soundtrack memories aside). Heroes just might be in my top five albums of all time...

I always seem to go in phases where I begin listening to one artist or genre, listen to that to death and then move on..........

What's on your playlist? Gonna need some Tunes to listen to on the plane.

What you missed last night
2.40 Fix Coming "Midweek"
David Hayter Begged Konami To Change MGS4 Stuff
Let's Watch The First Mega Man 9 Footage
New Prince Of Persia Screens
Japan Presents Foreign Dignitaries With...A DS Lite

Actually, kinda miss the 4th. Well, the way it's done in America. People pretty much set off fireworks all summer here — like you can buy them at your local 7-11. So, they're more of a summer thing, which is nice. Not sure about the laws regarding them, but people tend to go down by a river and shoot 'em off at all hours of the night with no problems from the police.

We planned on shooting off fireworks tonight, but ran out of him. The afternoon was spent at the doctors. Going into this, Mini-Bash wanted a girl, but after a ding-dong popped up on the ultrasound, it looks like we'll be adding yet another young lad to the Ashcraft clan. Afterwards, he remarked: When the baby boy is a baby, it'll be cute. But when it grows up, it won't be cute anymore. Valid point.

Now, we just have to think of a name....... And a name that "works" in both English and Japanese and has Japanese kanji. Tricky!

What you missed last night:
Five Games That Matter In Kojima's Life
New Halo Game For E3 (Master Chief Not Included)
Dyack vs. NeoGAF, Part II
360 Rock Band Guitars Work With GH: Aerosmith [Update]
DualShock 3 And Xbox 360 Frankencontrollers
64 Percent of Those Polled Gave Up Wii Fit
Led Zeppelin Uncomfortable With Licensing Songs To Rock Band, Guitar Hero

Ooooooooooooh, party. Sounds fun!

Man, my MacBook Pro is really buckling under the head and getting pretty damn hot here. Summers in Japan (well, Osaka) are pretty rough. I just sweat at the thought at typing on that hot machine. Was wondering if you had any fixes? (Well, besides turning on the A/C — which doesn't really work, because my office doesn't have an air condition, but it does have two balconies overlooking a river!) I've got some sort of fan contraption thingy underneath it to cool it down, but it's still quick hot. Any idea?

What you missed last night
New Gears Of War 2 Singleplayer Shots
Capcom Knows Importance of Foreign Business, Opens New French Subsidiary
Even With MGS4, PS3 Sales Flattened By The Wii
Brawl Once "Had A Lot More Characters"
Too Human Online Co-op Hands On
Is This An Animal Crossing Wii Hint?
Rock Band Music Creation To Be "Radically Different" Says CEO

Sounds like you had a nice vacation! And I dig the cufflinks. (And the brilliant reader Photoshops in the comments.)

Earlier this evening we went up to Mini Bash's school for the Star Festival. Next week is the Tanabata, which you can read about it here if yer interested. Anyhoo, Mini Bash and all the other kids in his class told the teacher want they wanted to be when they grew up. The teacher then wrote these wishes on slips on paper which we attached to bamboo leaves. Mini-Bash's read:

When I grow up, I want to be Squirtle from Pokémon.

Yep, we're pretty proud. o_0

What you missed last night

Yakuza 3 Announced (No, Not Again, A New Yakuza 3)

Is This Official Chrono Trigger DS Confirmation?

Is Chrono Trigger DS Coming To America?

Minority Report Designer Behind New, Motion-Controlled 360 GUI?

An Elegant Stylus For A More Civilized Age

Namco Bandai Says Soulcalibur IV Install Size "Significantly Overblown"

Rock Band 2 Preview Shows Journey, Foo Fighters, Motorhead And More

So, yeah, everyday I've been playing soccer when the kid. When I was younger, I played soccer for a few years, but later, got more interested in baseball. The kid really likes soccer, and man, I'm quite enjoying it! Don't remember liking soccer this much. It's really a great game — love the passing, love it.

What you missed last night
Two New Tatsunoko vs. Capcom Characters Revealed!
Sony Files Multi-Touch Portable Patent
Microsoft: If We Launch A Game On 360 & PC Simultaneously, We Shoot Ourselves In The Foot
Too Human: "This Has To Be The Worst Game I've Played In The Last 5 Years"
Let's Dress Up Chun-Li
Rock Band 2's Guitar Is Easy On The Eye"
Too Human Hands-On: Six Hours In And Half-Way Home

Ahoy! Welcome back from you boating adventure.

Today, I went to the immigration office to see if I got permanent residence. The way it works here (and other countries, too, I guess) is that you typically get a one-year or a three-year visa from your employer, who sponsors your visa. If you are married, then your spouse is your sponsor. That's kinda worrying if you've got a family — like, what if you don't get your visa renewed? (It happens!)

What's more, for me, I can't qualify for a home loan with a spouse visa. Banks just won't lend money! They got burned lending easy money during the Bubble Economy are are extra cautious. Want to buy a house? Most foreigners need that governmental Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval that is permanent residency. To apply, I had to fill out a bunch forms, stating why I wanted residency, divulge personal info. like how I met Mrs. Bashcraft and include pictures of us together over the years. She was my sponsors for my application, and her parents, my in-laws, were like the back-up sponsors. The government checked my tax record, blah, blah, blah, to see if I was being a good foreigner. We've been on pins and needles, 'cause we are too ready to buy a house, sick of paying rent, whatever. And today, we went to the immigration office and learned that, yes, I am officially a permanent resident of Japan. Yay!

What does that mean? Pretty much that I don't have to renew my visa and can stay here as long as I want, but do have to get re-entry permits for my passport when I leave the country (which is something every foreigner has to do — maybe except for Korean-Japanese, not sure). Can't vote with permanent residency, though, you gotta be a citizen for that. In the past, it's been somewhat challenging to get permanent residency, though it probably was much easier for me as I am married and do my part in increasing the shrinking Japanese population.

What you missed last night
Rock Band 2 announced
2.40's In-Game XMB Walkthrough
"Major Retailer" Confirms 360 Price-Cut
DualShock 3 Finally Dated for Europe
Metal Gear Online Stand Alone Confirm, Access Numbers Announced

Ah yes.

Haven't been playing portables much of late as I'm at home all the time, so if I can squeeze in a game, it'll be GTAIV, CoD4 or MGS4 (yes, I started it, and yes, it's quite good!) Hrm, Mrs. Bashcraft plays Mario Kart DS like every damn day, so.................. She still seems to be in the thick of it. (If the thick of it is the year 2005.)

It's your last day at Kotaku Tower! We had a delightful time and appreciate you filling in while Crecente rides around in a boat. I'm sure next week will seem way more relaxing as you helm one site and not two. Also, while I can't speak for everyone, I forgive you for Hogan Knows Best. Maybe.

Thank Luke for the Photoshop. It's brilliant.

What you missed last night
New Adventure Island Coming, Maybe Star Soldier As Well
Amazon's Gold Box Kick Off With Super Cheap SSBB
Blizzard Splashwatch Day Five - Death Knights, Protoss, And Purple Penguins
Arise, Sirs Dan And Sam Houser?
Soul Calibur IV Features Hot Tag-Team Action
Ubisoft + Prince Of Persia + DS Is What You'd Expect
Big Exclusive White Knight Chronicles Coming Financial Year 2008
Did A Boy Really Kill Himself After His Wii Was Taken Away?
MGS 4 Moved Eight Times More PS3s In Release Week
Wii Castlevania Revealed! It's A Fighting Game?

Ha! Nice comic.

So, a friend of mine who shall remain nameless (Hi Jim!) has passed along some promotional clips he made for a TV I have never seen. (Think the show is called The Middleman from the writer-producer who did Lost — so it's a real show and everything.) Anyway! The clips are pretty darn good, I think, and my nameless friend Jim would really like to know what you, Average Kotaku Reader Person, thinks of them. Hit the jump for a couple of the clips. And be gentle! Happily ban anyone who dips into douchebagsville.

What you missed last night
Metal gear Solid 4 loses top sales spot
Just How Many PLAYSTATION Network Registrants Are There?
How Sony Plans For 2008 Financial Profit
First Shots Of PS3 Video Download Service, Due In "Summer 2008"
Blizzard Splashwatch Day Four - Lost Edition
Another Akihabara Stabbing Today
Gears Of War 2 Screenshot Bonanza
Otomedius Gorgeous Trailer Loaded With Shooting, Boobs
Connecticut Senator Searching For "Rape Scene" In GTA IV
Denis Dyack Tells Too Human Trolls "Put Up Or Shut Up"

This morning wife and mother-in-law took the train to a Buddhist temple to ask for a healthy birth. As you may or may not know, this pregnancy has been rather tough on her. It was like that for Mini-Bash's, but this time seems to have more teeth that dig in and bite. The baby, says the doctor, is healthy and strong. Wife still has bad days. Today, for instance, her mother said the moment Mrs. Bashcraft got off the train, she threw up. When she got to the temple, she threw up. After lunch, ditto. When she got back on the train, and so on. (She seems fine right now as she watches TV! Just going out of the house seems to take a lot out of her.)

At the temple, she bought two talisman or amulets — what the Japanese call "mamori". The orange colored one in the picture is for the unborn baby, to protect it. When Mrs. Bashcraft went to the temple today, she took the one she kept for Mini-Bash while he was in her belly, returned it and said thank you for a healthy birth. (Yeah, I know, she was five years late, but whatever.) The other amulet, the yellow one, is to protect Mini-Bash. At the temple, she also bought a white cloth called "haraobi" which pregnant women wrap around their stomachs to keep them warm. It's basically an old fashioned maternity girdle. She won't be able to start wearing it until the 27th of this month, because according to the Buddhist calendar that the "Day of the Dog". Since dogs give birth easily, it's advised to start wearing the haraobi starting from that date. (Note: This "Day of the Dog" changes every month, so I think it's the 4th of next month, but I'm not sure.) Fingers crossed this stuff works.

In case you are curious, hit the jump for look at the back of the envelope from the Temple that the haraobi came in.

What you missed last night
"Hot Coffee" Class Action Suit Claims Show Very Few Were Offended
Microsoft To Let Other Companies Build, Release 360 Consoles?
New Duke Nukem Screen Is Small
A Terrifying Glimpse Into The Future Of The Halo Franchise?
"Everyone Will Be Really Excited" About Blizzard Announcement

Nothing says sacred like Babies R Us!

Tricky quiz!

Got sent a copy of Metal Gear Solid 4 today from Kojima Productions. I've been playing through Grand Theft Auto IV, which I still haven't finished, because I've been dealing with a gajillion different things — more than one human should have to at one time! Getting towards the homestretch of that game, and I really like it. But MGS4 just popped up. Usually, I'm finish-one-game-start-another kinda guy, but kinda interested in checking out MGS4.

So............. Whaddaya think? Should I finish GTAIV first and then start MGS4 or just go ahead and start MGS4?

What you missed last night
MGS4 ships a million in Europe
Premium DS Lites for Japan
Simpsons meet... Quake III
Limbo of The Lost devs protest
Crave ditches ESA
PS3 trophies?

To: SECRET GUEST EDITOR PERSON
From: Ashcraft

Today, five years ago, Mini-Bash came kicking and screaming into this world. Just ate chocolate cake! Which was quite nice. Presents include a fuckton of Indiana Jones toys, some Transformers, Totoro on DVD, a Totoro book, one small Totoro and a GIANORMOUS Totoro that no-way-no-how-forget-it will accidentally fall into a gutter. It's like almost the same size as Mini-Bash. If he wants to take it to Texas, we'd hafta buy that thing its own seat.

Anyway, SECRET GUEST EDITOR PERSON, I am going to collapse. Too much cake, too much transforming and I'm sick of being the Soviets. Kid should let me be Indy every once in a while. Nite!

What you missed last night
Why Rick Moranis wont be in Ghostbusters game
CoD 5 screens, details
PSN cards finally hitting stores
Hands on with Ultimate Band
Pro Evo announced

Oh nice! Good to get use out of the things you purchase.

Bright and early tomorrow, Indy IV is *finally* opening in Japan, and as I mentioned earlier, Mini-Bash and I are going to see it. Bracing myself for the worst! (Hoping for the best.) The one thing I really, really, really hate about Japan is that movies take donkey's yonks to get here. Like man, I'd kinda like to see Iron Man or The Hulk.

At least they subtitle the movies here... Hate dubbing!

What you missed last night
Standalone MGO?
Real Niko Bellic
Alone in the Dark review legal mess
Game reviewers seven deadly sins
BioShock PC's DRM gone
More Max Payne movie
The Cliffster fixing up Gears of War 2

HELLO FAHEY.

So! Today, I got a postcard in the mail from immigration. A while back I applied for permanent residence here in Japan. Permanent residence would mean that I would never have to renew my visa and could stay here as long as I like. Sounds good! (However, it would not entitle me to the right to vote in national or local, which is reserved for Japanese citizens only.) Basically, it would help ease worries that a refused visa could, you know, split up the family — a very scary thought. Granted, this hasn't been approved. I have to go to immigration, and then they will tell me yay or nay. According to the post card, must go there in the next few weeks. Kinda nervous! Hope I got the permanent resident visa...

Was talking to fellow Japan resident and buddy CheapyD today from CheapAssGamer about the game drive for troops. CheapyD's a good dude — still need to take the guy out for sammiches or something at E3. Last year at TGS, he treated Crecente and I to a sumo match in Tokyo and then bought us all booze later. For a guy named Cheapy, he's surprisingly not cheap.

Wait, maybe he is cheap and generous. I imagine you can be both, no? Well, Cheapy is!

What you missed last night
Hard proof that Tecmo Japan is lying?
One of these special incentive DoA4 contracts is fake
Tecmo Says Team Ninja Exodus Rumors False, Calls Out U.S. Media
Sporepedia and Spore Xbox 360 controller
EA monitoring naughty Spore creators
MGS4 database
AMD Graphics Chip More Powerful Than Every Game Console Combined, Says AMD

Hi Fahey!

I've been up since 4AM doing stuff. I AM VERY TIRED.

Good news! Today, the little baby in Mrs. Bashcraft's stomach started kicking or punching with enough gumption that we could feel it. Really, really amazing stuff. There is a small person in her stomach. And it moves. Think about it! Heavy stuff, man. Still months off from the birth and happy that Baby Bash is "genki" as the folks here say. Now, I just need to figure out what to call it...

Oh, and here's a totally non-gaming magazine article I wrote about a design office in Tokyo. There are pictures. You look at them.

What you missed last night
Square Enix has the bestest parties
Tecmo slaps Itagaki with gag-order
New FF Versus XIII scans
PSP, WiiWare, XB Originals masking online cracks
Sonic Unleashed looks good
Lost Planet movie?
MGS4 had "minimal impact" on PS3 sales
McWhertor's MGS4 review

WOOT. Back from a four day weekend! Very, very relaxing. Good to be back. Hello, all! I missed you.

No, really. :)

What you missed last night
MGS4 Japan sales numbers
Kojima appears on Korean national English test
Wii update kills Freeloader
Tecmo employees sue Tecmo
New Nvidia
Gears new movie director
Boom Blox a dud

So! Lots of stuff happening on a Sunday night. Which is very unusual. Friday nights, you sometimes get news, as companies try and sneak bad press out after everyone's gone home, but Sunday nights? That's new. What's surprised me most about the whole thing however wasn't the timing, but the sheer volume of stuff that came out of it. Can't remember anything off the top of my head that compares. Sure, some of it sounds a bit patchy, and some of it sounds like complete baloney, but on the whole, a lot of the stuff checks out. I really feel for the guys at market research company Intellisponse - ie the source of the leaks - about now. I've a feeling this will be a Monday morning they will not enjoy.

For all the Microsoft/Activision news that leaked overight:
Please, consult this handy round-up.

Here's everything else you missed:
Valkyria Chronicles Statue: Alicia
This Might Just Be The PlayStation Phone
Afrika: Sixaxis Camera Controls, You Can't Drive
Resistance 2 Gameplay Vids

His first PS3 game is Metal Gear Solid 4? Yeah. Good luck with that.

So I finished GTA IV today! Was really, really disappointed with it. "It" being the last 1/3 of the game, in particular the last mission. Whole thing just kinda petered out, fell flat, couldn't find anything else interesting to do or say with the characters, missions or the story.

It's something I'm noticing more and more often in games - they wow you in the opening act, but by the end have run out of steam (see BioShock for reference), and you wind things up on a downer, thinking less of the game at the conclusion than you did at the beginning.

So developers! If you can, try not to blow your whole load on the first 1/3 of a game. Some of us like to actually finish a game, and like to finish it on a high (see Call of Duty 4 for reference)!

Here's what you missed:
Nyko's Wireless Nunchuk Attracts Nintendo Lawsuit
Do We Have Our First Rock Band II Artist?
Gunmetal PS3: The Unboxing
Robbie Bach: PSP Is A "Cautionary Tale"
Next Rock Band Album: The Pixies
Shane Kim: Japan's A "Long-Term", "Challenging" Market

To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
RE: Sporelebrity

So! It finally happened. Metal Gear Solid 4 launched. I went out and checked the launch here in Osaka. Seems like the US launch was more successful with bigger crowds, bigger hype. For a AAA game (and hardware bundle), the Tokyo lines were surprisingly short. Like compared to how, say, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G moved games and software in Japan with hundreds of people turning out at multiple locations across Tokyo in droves, the MGS4 launch here was way low-key. No doubt Sony is hoping MGS4 will do the same in Japan. Guess we'll find out when the official sales numbers come in.

As I mentioned in the comment section: Granted, it was raining in Tokyo (sunny in Osaka!) and there was that recent Akihabara tragedy, but from what I saw MGS4 doesn't look like it's doing gangbusters here. Maybe the actual sales figures will be different or maybe the game has legs or maybe everyone will be picking it up on the way home from work. Who knows?

Tomorrow I have the day off! I shall spend it reading a very cool looking Japanese monster book Yokai Attack! and drinking pricey Japanese beer. Tomorrow will be awesome. I can feel it.

(Oh, and creepy spider, dude.)

What you missed last night
Metal Gear Solid 4 launch delayed in Spain
Nintendo says only "geeks" want more Wii memory
Metal Gear Solid 4 San Fran launch
Sixaxis bundle clearance
Kojima NYC madness
Metal Gear Solid 4 Osaka launch
Metal Gear Solid 4 Tokyo launch

I have been up since 4 this morning and am TOTALLY BLOTTO. But! Good new, I have steak tonight, Japanese beef. Big, fat steak. We all had steaks, and they were something like $30 a steak. The in-laws came by today and had lunch. They brought meat. Delicious meat.

What you missed last night
FFXIII still PS3 only
UT3 box talks Gears 2 exclusive stuff
Rose and Camellia are back
JT transcript
Konami cancels Akihabara MGS4 event
Microsoft 360 RPG screenshoot blowout

Meat after the jump.

Pheeeeeeeeew! What a day. Lots of news. Lots of stuff. Go, go, go.

Today, I advanced purchased two tickets to the new Indiana Jones movie, which is opening in Japan later this month. You see it? I've gotten an earful from both Luke and McWhertor who hated the flick. I'll be going in with low expectations. Very low. The kid, though, man, he's thrilled!

What you missed last night
Star Ocean 4, Infinite Undiscovery Trailers
Tales of Vesperia bundle
English presser of Microsoft's Japan RPG presser
Last Remnant on Xbox 360 first
Star Ocean 4 coming to Xbox 360 in 2009
RIP Soul Calibur
Afrika priced, dated
Portal 2 casting call reveals details?

Over the weekend, I was playing soccer with the kid, I set down my cell phone. And when I came back, it was gooooooooooooooone. Maybe I've been in Japan, too long, cause I didn't think anything of setting my phone down. (I mean, people leave their bags on tables at fast food restaurants while they go order!) So this latest loss means that this is the third cell phone I've gone through in the last three years. Here's where it get unsettling: When I got home, my wife asked why I kept calling her and hanging up. Dialed my phone, hoping to get the asshole who stole my phone on the line, but fucker wouldn't answer. After that, I quickly had the phone's service cut.

Luke had an Aussie holiday, so it was just me all night!

What you missed last night
MGS4 DVD humor spoiler
Robbie Bach on Blu-ray Xbox 360 rumor
Konami on MGS4 early release
More details about the Akihabara killer
SFIV cabinet dated for Japan?

To: Crecente
From: Ashcraft
RE: Bioshock 3! Delayed GTA DLC?? First Glimpse of DNF WTF!? Ice Cream Sandwiches!!!!!????

BioShock 3? Yay! More underwater corridors!!

Today is Friday. This you probably know. If not, yes, today is Friday. Took the wife to the doctor's in the afternoon for an ultrasound. Baby seems very healthy, very active. Probably won't know if it's a boy or girl until next month or the following. Asked Mini-Bash which he wanted. His reply? "If I say a girl, it will turn into a boy."

Bought a mask, too today! Probably remember seeing people wearing them here — maybe not! People usually wear them when they're sick (and don't want to get others sick) or when people have bad allergies (and don't want to get sick). Most folks here wear masks out in public here of course. But! I'm modeling this fetching mask around the house so Mrs. Bashcraft doesn't get sick. Nothing quite like breathing in your own sick breath! YUMMY.

What you missed last night
New RE5 screens
Afrika trailer answers questions
Ex-Lucas Staffer Talks
Massive LucasArts layoffs
Darth's apprentice in SC4
Saints Row 2 GTAIV parody
Deadly Creatures impressions!

[Pic]

As you may or may not have heard, the iPhone is *finally* announced for Japan. There's no price and no release date, but it has a carrier: Softbank. You can read about it here. I think it's gonna do pretty well in Japan, seeing how popular Apple is here. My question: Should I get one? Like... Is it worth it? Keep in mind that I accidently put my last cell phone in the washing machine (and my iPod Shuffle after that) and I honestly don't leave the house very much. At all. For days on end. Weeks, even. (Though today I went to McDonald's to purchase a soft serve ice cream cone because pregnant lady had to have one right now. The woman at the drive through warned me that they couldn't put it in a cup or a holder or something. Try driving with a soft serve ice cream cone. Not easy!)

What you missed last night
Kojima Productions says no 90 minute cutscenes (possible spoiler)
How much time do Americans spend with 360s, PS3s, Wiis?
Fishy copies of MGS4 in UK hands
After Itagaki announcement, Tecmo stock price drops
Is your GameStop having midnight MGS4 launch?
MK vs DC Batman
Microsoft not happy with overcrowded live

Ungh, sorry to hear yer dealing with that kinda crap.

Had robo sushi for lunch — which is typically cheap here. It's kinda like, I dunno, going to Denny's? (Even though we do have Denny's here and there are NO GRANDSLAM MEALS WHATSOEVER WTF DENNY'S JAPAN?!?!?!?) Took a quick inventory of the 9 plates of sushi I had, and realized that I didn't really eat any raw fish. Maybe, it was cause I wasn't eating at a very good chain or just felt like ingesting crap, because if I go to a slightly better place than I did today, I do eat lotsa raw fish. Anyway! For the interested, here's what I had: Corn, Meat Balls, Ham, Tuna Mayo, Grilled Beef, Eel, Hamburger Patty, Salmon and Pudding. Mmmmmmm... Pudding!

What You Missed Last Night
Sony in game ad deal
Hannah Montana going bonkers
Tecmo reponds to Itagaki
Famitsu says MGS4 is prefect
Bruno in Kane & Lynch
Meet your new RE5 partner
Afrika dated?
Captivate wrap up

Crazy busy night, oodles of news broke. Plus, wife started to relapse today and was pretty ill. Tomorrow hopefully she'll be feeling better as there's an open house at the kid's school.

Very embarrassing thing recently! Yesterday was the first school day in June, and Mini Bash's school switched from its spring uniforms to its summer uniforms (complete with a straw hat!). Totally forgot he was supposed to wear the summer outfit, took him to school in his spring one, and all the other kids were in their straw hats and whatnot. Only Mini Bash was still in long sleeves. Not only did the principal come over to my car to explain that summer uniforms started in June (which at that point I could fully gather by myself thankyou), but his teacher even called later that day.

What you missed last night
Itagaki leaving Tecmo, suing Tecmo
Sony's introducing pay for demo program
Street Fighter IV moves list
Red PS2 for Japan
Japan getting blue PSP
Meeting Kojima

Dunno about you, but man, I dig the Mondays. Great day of the week! Not sure why there's all the hate. Mondays are g-r-e-a-t.

What you missed last night
New MGS4 footage
Ubisoft ready to blend movie and game business
New SFIV trailer
EGM won't review MGS4
MTV's exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 trailers

Tonight is pizza and Mr. Bean. That's about it. (Have you see that recent Mr. Bean movie? Is it any good? We're just watching the old TV shows.)

What you missed last night
Kaz didn't know Phil was leaving
Samus in Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Clone Wars DS, Wii
SFIV online
Kojima is ready for new things

After a gajillion years of feeling like bird shit and barfing like it was a recreation sport, Mrs. Bashcraft was in a little better spirits today. She was up and about — even decided she wanted to cook beef stew! (FYI: Her beef stew is way better than the dinner meals at 7-11.) After that, she passed out on the sofa for an eternity, woke up and played NSMB on the DS and then went back to sleep.

Literally, like in the last two days, she has really started to show. There is a definite pregnant belly going on. She still isn't up to walking the kid to the bus stop and waking up early. But just seeing her back to her old self (somewhat) has been great.

Oh, so the hamster that powers the site went bananas a few hours back. Good times.

What you missed last night
Mass Effect PC ships without DLC
Yahtzee on TWEWY
PSP upskirt crime
Saints Row 2 Delayed
New Gears 2 characters
360 soccer team

Today I spent most of the day on the phone. I had an interview with an American famous music person. And since he's super famous (and super busy), it was a matter of trying to squeeze an interview in his schedule before he went on vacation today and before my deadline for the article I'm doing on him. Was able to schedule a slot while he was at the airport, waiting for his plane. But catching him on his cell phone while he was getting ready for international was kinda tricky, but his people was super helpful in coordinating. Anyway! The interview was pretty great and the American famous music person was super humble, super sharp and a great interview — especially under the conditions. Seemed like a normal enough dude. Super!

What you missed last night
New SFIV boss character
More freaky GTA hands!
TGS 2008 official poster
Fatal Frame IV
New Rhythm Heaven, new Wario
Vadar SCIV footage
Bionic Commando Rearmed delayed
SFIV officially multi-plat
Resident Evil 5 screens

WOAH. So. Very. Tired. Hope you had a nice three day weekend!

Yeah, well, lunch meat. Be glad you live in a country where they have it! I spent at least ten minutes in my super market very angry. Your typical Japanese super market has typically ham and roast ham and *maybe* salami. If you are lucky! Some of the fancier ones have sliced chicken. But that's about it.

Will have to search for some choice deli cuts. Really want to make/eat some proper sammiches.

What you missed last night
How many GTAIV fingers?
Age of Conan somewhat popular
Korea getting limited MGS4 bundle, too
Afrika might be real
Starcraft 2 Screens

Yah man, seems like you've had a hectic month.

Yep! Here it is, truly amazing toilet paper. I found this Crayon Shin-chan toilet paper at the local supermarket. I just did a quick Google of Shin-chan, and I guess there's an English version? Here's the opening credits for the Japanese version with Akihabara girl troop AKB48. Anyway, the kid and the wife both love Shin-chan, so yeah. All the rolls of toilet paper (well, most of them) seem like they have different drawings. The one above has step-by-step instructions on how to take a dump. It starts with "Pull down you pants" and ends with "Wash your hands." Above is the pooping part. "Butt wiping" is after the jump. No, really.

What you missed last night
Nintendo says "No thank you" to GC
MGS4 box says 4.6GB installation
MGS4 has 90 minute cutscenes
Wii not setting Korea on fire
RE5 to have cover system, 2player co-op
More PS3 BioShock details

This morning: Went to the gas station. Another customer, a man on a motorcycle pulled up. He was wearing S.S. Nazi garb — shit thee not. His jacket had an eagle on it with the S.S. insignia and a swastika. An inscription read "In Hitler Solidarity." Maybe he doesn't know, maybe he can't read German! :/

This afternoon: Went to Kyoto to interview a bikini lady. Ten minutes into the interview, she points out that I am wearing a wedding ring. I proceed to talk incessantly about my wife's morning sickness and my son's TOMY car collection and my excitement for the new baby — which we've so far named after a character in a Miyazaki film. Bikini lady looks annoyed.

This evening: Went to the supermarket. Bought the most amazing toilet paper. Well, it's not the *most* amazing toilet paper, but it's pretty great. Perhaps, I'll take a snap of it for time. OH, THE SUSPENSE.

What you missed last night
Even Final Fantasy Can't Save Xbox in Japan
Kojima Is "Thinking" About MGS5
Damn This Samba Trailer Is Fun
This PC Is Awesome
Top 20 Women In Gaming
New MGS4 Screens
Better Gun Metal PS3

Kid had a field trip today. So, it wasn't a regular day, but even on regular days, Mini-Bash is lugging a buncha stuff with him. Here's what I was told he needed to bring by his teacher: Two hats (one school hat, one outside hat), a thermos of tea, two pairs of shoes (one outside, the other inside), a hankerchief, a mat to sit on while outside, a towel, a packet of tissues, a towel to dry his hands while, a cup, a toothbrush, a bag for the cup and toothbrush, a lunchbox with packed lunch and his school name badge.

When I picked him up at school, the teacher told me I didn't need to pack his school attendance book because teachers don't check it when the kids go on field trips. :(

What you missed last night
Metal Gear Solid 4 Gun Metal Gray market
New PSP Color
Europe's new DS colors
Capcom vs. Anime
DQIV coming!
Dr. Richard Gaywood is banned