Osaka

mgs4

MGS4 Japan Tour Dates

For those who missed meeting Hideo Kojima in the States and Europe and for those living in Japan, listen up. Konami has announced dates and places for the Metal Gear Solid 4 autographing spectacular. Kojima, illustrator Yoji Shinkawa and actress Yumi Kikuchi are slated to appear with signing pen. The dates and places and times are:

June 28th, Saturday
•Yodobashi Camera Shinjuku 10:00AM - 11:00AM
•Sofmap Omiya 2:30PM - 3:30PM
•Yodobashi Camera Yokohama 5:30PM - 7:00

June 29th, Sunday
•Nagoya Station Bic Camera 10:30AM - NOON
•Osaka Yamada Denki Labi1 4:00PM - 5:30PM

Seems like signatures are mostly being limited to game packaging (Premium Pack is okay!), so that means no Kojima signed cigarette boxes. Bummer.

GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS　ワールドツアー　in JAPAN [IT Media] [Pic]

9:00 PM on Wed Jun 25 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
2,254 views, 36 comments

Latest by n/a: AHHH! I went to the event in Osaka, it was a blast to get to meet Kojima-san ( Christ I feel like such a Weeaboo typing "-san"). Man, I don't even have a PS3, let alone one that will play more »

platinum games

Okami Producer Says Exclusives "Make No Sense"

Choices, choices, choices. We've got three home console platforms: PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii. (Don't forget the PC!) And that's just current gen! The PS2 is still going strong. Add to that, portable platforms the PSP and the DS. Game developers do have a wide range of choices. Yet some choose to stick their games on a single platform. Not Okami producer and current Platinum Games exec Atsushi Inaba, who states:

While the level of what’s missing has reduced, I still feel that none of the platforms totally satisfy my needs. That’s why different games on different platforms is the way to approach the situation. Also, from a business point of view, it doesn’t make sense to develop for a single platform at this point.

True, but don't count on third party exclusives to vanish anytime soon.

Platinum Games [Next Gen via Go Nintendo] [Pic]

6:00 AM on Thu Jun 5 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
2,542 views, 51 comments

maximum risky

Lucky Star Used For Prostitution Advert

Manga Lucky Star is pretty popular in Japan! The manga's characters play video games, and Lucky Star itself has already gotten a couple of DS games as well as a PlayStation 2 visual novel. Nerds love Lucky Star. Probably why the owner of this Osaka "delivery health" shop (think outcall call girl business) decided to use characters Kagami and Miyuki. Also, Kagami is a fan of shooting games — as in video game shooting games. Ah, nevermind.

俺の嫁がデリヘルwwwwww [Izakaya Ichiban]

6:00 AM on Wed May 21 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
11,254 views, 49 comments

Latest by DeeBG: There is something like this in NYC (and other places I'm sure). What you do is call up a place to get a massage, and you really do get a non-sexual massage. But afterwards, if both parties agree, more »

maids

Osaka's Otaku On Parade

Late last week was the annual "Nipponbashi Street Festa" in Osaka's nerd village "Den-Den Town." The main street Sakaisuji was shut down for foot traffic only and the event featured cosplaying, maids and general geekery. I've been several times in the past. Good fun!
Street Festa Pics Here [Iza via Danny Choo]

1:00 PM on Sun Mar 23 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
9,305 views, 88 comments

Latest by Kincyr: it's stuff like this why I'd like to visit Japan. This, and ride the bullet trains. more »

business

Don't Worry, Capcom Is Doing Well

Capcom is on a roll, a money making roll. The Osaka-based publisher posted its third quarter financial results, which show a 4.8 percent rise over the previous year. The cause? Capcom says its games are doing quite well, especially Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles — which we mentioned earlier. The publisher took over US $484 million in the three month period that ended last December. Sales are up 4.8 percent! In summary: People are buying Capcom's stuff, and Capcom is rich.

11:00 PM on Wed Feb 6 2008
By Brian Ashcraft
1,392 views, 45 comments

Latest by Gigith: Make a Megeman Legends 3 and I'll buy 10 copies.Come on Capcom! more »

crime

Osaka Cops Protect, Serve, Tamagotchi

Yes, Tamagotchi has a couple video games under its belt. There's merchandising, too! You'd think with all that, Bandai Namco wouldn't have to resort to things like, I dunno, enlisting Osaka cops to promote its upcoming anime Appearing on Film: Tamagotchi — Lost in Space. The Osaka police will offer movie ticket discounts to individuals who subscribe to a crime info email list. There is one word for this and that word is "kooky."
Bandai Police [Variety via AnimeNewsNetwork] [Image]

4:00 AM on Thu Nov 15 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
1,370 views, 18 comments

Latest by n/a: As it turns out, Tamagotchi is getting an anime too. And not just a movie. O_o The "Appearing on Film: Tamagotchi - Lost in Space" thing is actually a movie, not an anime (like it says it is, up on top). more »

games festa

Make Reservations to Play Wii Fit, So Classy

What was the biggest draw at the Games Festa over the weekend? Wii Fit. There wasn't a line, but rather, reservations. If you wanted to try out Nintendo's exer-game, you had to make a reservation at a specific time. (You were given a piece of paper with that time on it.) My impressions of Wii Fit: It's less a game and more a piece of exercise equipment. As far as exercise equipment go, it's fun. As far as games go, well. In Japan, though, it's going to make Nintendo exactly one gajillion dollars. Anyone picking this up? More »

9:00 PM on Mon Nov 12 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
3,205 views, 73 comments

Latest by Foxstar Sixtail: If Nintendo gives it the support and games it needs, then it will indeed rock. And for all the haters, Wii Fit is going to most likely come close to making Nintendo as much money as Halo does Microsoft. more »

another con

Osaka Game Festa Coming

Missed TGS? Live in Kansai? Next month, the Games Japan Festa kicks off at Osaka's ATC Hall. The two day event, sponsored by the Video Game Commercial Association of Japan, will feature 80 titles on display from 25 companies that include Capcom, Konami, Square Enix, SEGA, Bandai Namco and Nintendo. The festival will move to the Makuhari Messe, where TGS is held, at the end of November. No clue what they'll be showing at the Festa — whether it'll be TGS builds or new stuff. Nintendo, who usually sit TGS out, will be there, possibly showing stuff like Wii Fit to the Japanese public for the first time. Not sure, though! Nintendo should draw a fair crowd, no?
Osaka Festa [Famitsu]

11:00 PM on Wed Oct 3 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
388 views, 9 comments

Latest by Witzbold: @francoamerica: Oh wait 4 man is how much it costs to get to my relatives place in Iwakuni. Nevermind lol. Yeah I think you might be right, it should be somewhere around the 2man range. Actually my stupid ass should just more »

osaka

Osaka Logs onto Final Fantasy XI Event

Osaka-based Kotakuites, heads up! On the evening of November 3rd, Square Enix is holding a Final Fantasy XI: Online event in Umeda. Called "Final Fantasy Arutana Matsuri in Osaka," there will be a developer talk session that will hopefully answer all your burning FF XI questions. Before the show, it costs ¥2,500 (US $21) to enter, but the entrance fee jumps to ¥3,000 ($25) the day of. Limited edition "special game items" will be given to attendees. Something tells me that the item will somehow involve FF XI. Call it a hunch — a shot in the dark, if you will.
FF XI Event in Osaka [PlayOnline]

5:00 AM on Tue Aug 14 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
1,318 views, 9 comments

Latest by TC: Went to the first fan fest last year and ordered my tickets/plane/hotel for the next one this Nov. It was very fun and a nice way to meet some JP developers from SE without all the big crowds you see more »

handful

Jubblies, Truth In Advertising

Obviously the above display is for a sex game. Spotted in Osaka's Den-Den Town, this display goes the extra mile: there's aren't just rubber jubblies, but rubber jubblies in a brassiere and behind plastic. What's more, the plastic case is locked! That way people don't, you know, try to touch the faux mammaries. The name of this game? Oppai Baka, or as I like to say, "Boob Fool." There are two words for that plastic display case: absolutely necessary. Brian Ashcraft More »

2:00 AM on Thu Jun 7 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
5,663 views, 33 comments

Latest by KicktheCAN: Look at the ones on the horizontal shelf, they're at least four times the size. Now that's just impractical. more »

listen up

Arcade Too Loud? Try These

Japanese game centers are noisy. If you can't hear yourself think, how can you hear yourself game? Club Sega in Osaka's Umeda has the solution: Head phones. This Initial D racing cabinet has a set of cans that players are free to use during play — Pioneer ones at that. So thoughtful! Brian Ashcraft More »

5:00 AM on Thu May 24 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
427 views, 28 comments

finally!

Japan Now Swimming In DS Lites?

When the DS Lite first went on sale in Japan, it sold out. And then it sold out again. And again. As soon as the product showed up in stores, it was cleaned right out. From late 2005 until April 2007, getting a DS Lite was hard. You had to be lucky. But, is the supply-and-demand problem slowing? Blog Ota-Road points to a flood of Lites that have hit stores in Den-Den Town. While I was in Tokyo over the weekend, I noticed that it's much easier to get a Lite there as well. And people I was talking to kept bringing up the same thing: The DS drought is over. Well, until Dragon Quest IX hits, and people start buying Lites in four packs. Get 'em while you can, Japan. Brian Ashcraft More »

8:00 AM on Mon May 14 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,201 views, 20 comments

Latest by LeGuru: Maybe it's because they just sold over 500,000 in two weeks; I think they probably still have some left over. more »

picture this

Gallery: Monster Hunter Art

More »

nintendo

Nintendo Museum: The Clip

Remember this guy? His name is "Governor Watts," and he broke into Nintendo's old HQ. He's back with a video tour of the Nintendo Museum that features a couple very special guests and adds: More »

10:00 PM on Thu Apr 5 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,043 views, 22 comments

gizmodo

PS2 Controllers Make the Best Robot Controllers

Osaka, Japan is the robot capital of Japan — The world, even. Over the weekend in Hankyu department store, there was a display in which soccer playing robots duked it out. Here's the cool bit: They were controlled by third party PS2 wireless controllers from Japanese peripheral maker, Hori. I'd never thought about it, but using a game pad for robots makes perfect sense. Still! I do have a soft spot for retro RC controllers and always will. Brian Ashcraft More »

7:40 AM on Mon Apr 2 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
1,963 views, 16 comments

Latest by bluerondo: Look carefully on the left side of the first photo: That's the Nintendo Museum in the background. more »

top

Nintendo Museum: Stuff to Buy

The Nintendo Museum had games, capsule toys, stuffed Marios and clothes for purchase. Way better than 99 percent of most museum gift shops. Like, who actually wears Van Gogh ties? Brian Ashcraft More »

7:00 AM on Mon Apr 2 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
2,708 views, 6 comments

top

Nintendo Museum: Before There Were Video Games

Back before Nintendo made video games, it made hana fuda cards. But hana fuda is boring, so after that, it did cool stuff. Stuff like Lego-thingies, releasing Twister in Japan, creating fake whiskey bottles you could shoot and guns, lots of plastic guns. Old school Nintendo, big gun freak. Brian Ashcraft More »

4:00 AM on Mon Apr 2 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
3,893 views, 6 comments

duke

DS Teaching Japanese Women To Walk Beautifully

Duke Saraie's Healthy Walking Navi: Let's Become Beautiful doesn't teach DS users just how to walk correctly. Oh, no. It teaches them how to walk beautifully and get in shape in the process. Duke Saraie is 50-something former model who has built an empire on teaching Japanese people (women, namely) how to walk. He hails from Western Japan and appears on TV here in Osaka and Tokyo, instructing those in the way of what he calls "Dukeswalk." He is so successful that he actually resides in Monaco. What's more, his DS game is coming out in May. Hey, why not? More »

7:40 AM on Thu Mar 29 2007
By Brian Ashcraft
3,158 views, 25 comments

Latest by ray-ray: :P It seems odd..... why are most guys in love with Japanese girls any way? more »

Kotaku

Green Lantern, Joker Join MK Vs. DC Universe Line Up

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