Brian Ashcraft

Devil May Cry 4 The Comic Book Now On Sale

Devil May Cry 4 has been novelized! Starting today, Devil May Cry 4 -Deadly Fortune-1, the first of two volumes, goes on sale in Japan for ¥600 (US$6). The second volume hits retailers this summer on July 1. THORES Shibamoto is handling the book’s illustration. Devil May Cry -Deadly Fortune-1 is available at book retailers…

Greenpeace Once Again Gives Nintendo Low Marks

Every year that Greenpeace releases its “Guide to Greener Electronics”, one company is always at the bottom. That company is Nintendo. According to Greenpeace, “Nintendo remains in last place with a pitiful 0.8 points out of 10, scoring zero on all e-waste criteria.” Why did Nintendo score so low? Not providing information on things like…

So, Yeah, I Did It, I Bought A Piece Of Japan

To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: April Fools + Internet = Crap After months and months of effort, I’m happy to report, I’m finally buying a home. It hasn’t been easy. It’s certainly not that difficult for foreigners to buy homes here. Working for a Japanese company helps. Having a “normal” job does as well. Since…

Microsoft Announces Alpine Legend For Xbox 360

Just in time for April 1! If only more games were played in lederhosen. If only this was real. If only. Ditto for the goat add-on pack. Alpine Legend [Xbox.com Thanks Matt!]

Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Book Getting Revision

Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete isn’t the only FFVII product that is getting a revised release. Book Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega is, too. The new edition is dubbed Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Revised Edition. It includes new FFVII related info from Square Enix, a new interview with Cloud voice actor Takahiro…

First Star Trek: DAC Screens

Top-down, space combat arcade title Star Trek: DAC is coming to Xbox LIVE this May to correspond with JJ Abram’s upcoming Star Trek reboot. It’ll be hitting the PlayStation Network sometime after the May LIVE release. To hopefully hold you over until the game’s out, Paramount has released a couple DAC screens. Well… whaddaya think?

Nothing Says Cute 2D Fighter Like Maid Cafe Food

Two dimensional PlayStation 2 fighter Suggoi! Arcana Heart 2 was released this month in Japan. What better what to mark the occasion than with a maid cafe? Starting April 3, Akihabara’s Cure Maid Cafe will be hosting the “Arcana Heart Cafe @ Cure Maid Cafe”. It’ll feature food with hearts squirted on them or heart-shaped…

The Cruelest April Fool’s Joke In Japan

This is going to be hard to top. Japanese website Akiba Blog has run a post saying that Dragon Quest IX went on sale last night. According to Akiba Blog, over two-thousand people lined up at midnight today for DQIX. Midnight. Today. Today is April 1, and Dragon Quest IX is slated for release this…

Koei Tecmo Reveals Its New Company Logo (Looks Familiar)

Back in January, Tecmo and Koei officially merged. The merger created a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1, when the new financial year starts. In Japan, it’s April 1, and Koei Tecmo Holdings has unveiled its new corporate logo. The logo not only combines the aesthetics of standard Koei logo…

Is tri-Ace Announcing A New, Multi-Plaform RPG?

Japanese developer tri-Ace (Star Ocean, Infinite Undiscovery) has launched a website with a countdown clock for a “new RPG project”. The only catch? Tri-Ace launched it today on April 1 in Japan — you know, the day when the internet turns to crapola. The countdown website features logos for the PS3 and Xbox 360 —…

Katamari Damacy Designer Still Not Involved With New Katamari

Namco Bandai‘s Keita Takahashi (pictured) worked on the first Katamari Damacy game and its sequel We Love Katamari. Those games were great. However, Takahashi did not work on Me & My Katamari, Beautiful Katamari, I Love Katamari. Those games were less great, but whaddayagonnado. What about the forthcoming Katamari Damacy Tribute? Is Takahashi involved in…

Man Stabs Mother of His Children “Hooked” On PlayStation

Malcolm Palmer stabbed the mother of his three children and partner of 30 years after having to sleep on the sofa so she could play Grand Theft Auto on a plasma TV in their bedroom. That, and the 62-year-old Palmer, who is a retired Heathrow airport employee, had become convinced his 46-year-old partner Carol Cannom…

The Hundred Dollar Resident Evil Zippo

Starting today, Capcom’s selling a BSAA North America zippo lighter. BSAA stands for Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance and was formed by the United States, the United Nations and the Global Pharmaceutical Consortium to deal with severe biohazard threats. This light is yours for ¥12,390 (US$127). Smoke if you got ’em. リリース [4Gamer]

Baby Is Allergic To…

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Embargo! …no, not me, but eggs. We got the allergy test back from the doctor today. What does this mean? Hrm, well, I guess Mrs. Bashcraft won’t be eating eggs until Micro-Bash switches to formula. Last time, she ate an egg with her udon soup, and low-and-behold, today Micro had…

Sony Makes Its Announcement, PS2 Priced Under $100

As we posted earlier, Sony told us it was planning an announcement for Tuesday. Today is Tuesday, and Sony has made its announcement. (Hint, this Target ad already announced it.) And as we also told you earlier, we didn’t think this announcement was a PS3 price cut. From our original post: “We’re leaning towards a…

Capcom Terminates Retirement Benefit System for Execs

Japanese game company Capcom has announced that it has repeal the company’s retirement benefit system for corporate directors and corporate auditors. This was decided at a Board of Directors meeting today. On June 17, the abolishment of the executive retirement benefits is scheduled to go into effect. The Capcom announcement did not clarify whether or…

Xbox 360 Has Sold A Million In Japan, PS3 Sold Three Million

Last we, we broke word that Microsoft would soon reach one million Xbox 360s sold in Japan. By soon, we meant this week, because that’s what has been announced today. According to sales figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, lifetime sales for the Xbox 360 have crossed the million sold watermark in Japan with 1,001,191 units…

“Final Fantasy XIII Uses Nearly 100 Percent of PS3 Power”

Final Fantasy XIII is a multi-platform title. In the West, it’s being released on the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360. In Japan, it’s not. The game has only been announced for the PS3 in Japan. Last year, the Final Fantasy XIII demo was finished. “The game’s development is currently going well,” said FFXIII producer Yoshinori…

Arc Rise Fantasia Covers Up Itself

Screenshots for upcoming role-playing-game Arc Rise Fantasia featured a female character Lesley with the lower part of her breasts exposed. That is, before the Wii game’s website was relaunched. The new screenshots feature an ample Lesley now with ample coverage — and more importantly, ample support. Are Rise Fantasia is rated CERO A, the Japanese…

Japanese Plug’n’Play Game Has ONE HUNDRED MILLION Workouts

Exercise games are the big trend. Japanese toy maker is ready to hop on with band wagon — and hop on it a 100 million times— with its new plug’n’play Minutes Gym. The exercise “game” features over 100,000,000 guided three minute workouts, an integrated body-fat sensor and displays up to three months of your workout…