Brian Ashcraft

Terminator Salvation Getting Arcade Game

This May, flick Terminator Salvation hits movie theaters. Sources tell arcade site Arcade Heroes that a Terminator Salvation light gun arcade game is getting released. The insider tells Arcade Heroes that the already-in-development game currently looks “astounding.” With the recent Rambo movie getting an arcade game, this rumor does make sense. It wouldn’t be the…

More Jillian Michaels Fitness

Wii Balance Board game Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 is a big hit, selling 500,000 copies. That means one thing: a no brain sequel. According to the game’s developer 3G Studios, “I’m sure we’ll be co-announcing a full-blown sequel in the future. For now we’re working with Jillian’s team to increase the target audience for…

Raiden Fighters Aces Flying To North American Shops

As rumored previously, Japanese Xbox 360 scrolling shooter Raiden Fighters Aces is getting a North American release The game, released last March in Japan, is a compilation of all three Raiden Fighters titles (Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2: Operation Hell drive and Raiden Fighters Jet), and the title features both Training and Arcade modes. While…

Xbox 360 Exclusive Ninja Gaiden II Coming To PS3

This fall, Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 is coming to Sony’s PLAYSTATION 3. The game is a PS3 remake of the “Only on Xbox 360” title Ninja Gaiden II. The game will have PSN support as well as new content. Like the original title, Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 is being developed by Tecmo’s Team Ninja. However,…

Dragon Quest IX Pre-Order Start (Again)

Eagerly-awaited, twice-delayed DS title Dragon Quest IX is finally going on sale July 11, 2008 in Japan. Those hoping to secure the game can pre-order. Starting today, Japanese retailer TSUTAYA is opening up pre-orders for the game. Other Japanese retailers also are starting to take pre-orders. The game is slated for late 2009 in North…

In Akihabara, R4 Retailers Take To The Streets

Nintendo has been fighting the R4 piracy device and fighting it hard. There’s a court injunction against the Chinese R4 makers for “violation under Japan’s laws”. Yahoo! Auctions is prohibiting the device’s sale. Earlier this month, retailers in Tokyo’s geek mecca Akihabara were still carrying the device. However, stores are apparently trying to liquidate their…

Iroha In Living Color

A sample, unpainted figurine of Samurai Shodown character Iroha was shown earlier this month at a Japanese hobby show. Let’s have a look at the finished product. The 1/6 scale Iroha was sculpted by modeler Dzou. Iroha does not yet have pricing, a release date or proper coverage for her tush. やまと「SIF EX サムライスピリッツ天下一剣客伝 いろは」サンプルレビュー…

A Clawful Of Boobs

As Jason Chen at sister site Gizmodo aptly points out, those are not onions. He should know! Dude loves onions. Spotted at a Japanese arcade, this very retro looking crane game is packed with boobs. These palm-sized tension-reliever novelty items that have been available in Japan (and elsewhere) for some time. They’re quite squishy and…

First Images Of 12-Years-Old-And-Up Rated PS3 Tentacle Game Anime

As we previously announced, PS3 role-playing-game Tears to Tiara — which features rope play, suggestive udder spray and touching tentacles [links NSFW] — is getting an inevitable anime version. The Tears to Tiara anime is Premiering in Japan on April 2 and being produced by WHITE FOX animation studio. Besides an animated version, Tears to…

Japanese Space Opera Manga In Japanese *And* English

Leiji Matsumoto, famed creator of space opera Space Battleship Yamato, is debuting his new manga on the Wii’s online Shopping Channel. Best of all, it will have English. Matsumoto’s Out of Galaxy Koshika will go on sale April 14, and like Wii-Shopping-Channel manga Princess Ai before it, Koshika will have Japanese and English language text…

Shopping For Furniture, With Added Cosplayers

To: Crecente From: Ashcraft Went down to Osaka Port over the weekend to look at furniture. (Furniture can be expensive!) The store we went to is in the Asia Trade Center, which is dead as dead. Oddly, on the Sunday we went down, it was crawling with women that were cosplaying outside the store by…

Wii MotionPlus Missing From Nintendo’s European Spring Schedule

Last month, Nintendo announced its Spring titles for the Nintendo DS and the Wii. This month, Nintendo is doing the same for Europe. While Nintendo’s German language release confirms stuff we know (DSi and Rhythm Heaven release dates), it has these highlights: Pokémon Platinum May 22 Pikmin 2 (Wii Re-release) April 24 Punch Out! May…

Final Fantasy XI Getting Three More Expansion Scenarios

Just in time for MMO Final Fantasy XI‘s security token comes three expansion scenarios. The first, A Crystalline Prophecy – Ode of Life Blessing, will be able this month. Plot-wise, Square Enix explains, “One day, a giant crystal appeared in the skies above Jeuno, triggering a series of unexplained happenings across the land. Now, adventurers…

Sing Wii Karaoke Quietly. Like A Goober.

Paper thin walls? No worries, microphone peripheral “Urusakunai Kara OK!” (Not Noisy Kara OK!) lets Wii owners sing their hearts out in Hudson’s Karaoke JOYSOUND Wii. The Wii title, released last December in Japan, comes packaged with a mic and is a collaboration with karaoke chain JOYSOUND. Thin apartment walls and concern for disturbing the…

New Pokemon Anime Special For Japan

Starting this April, Japan is getting a new, original Pokémon anime special. Based on role-playing game Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky, the new anime will air this April before the game ships. Showing on kiddy morning show Pokémon Sunday, it will recreate scenes from the DS game. The game’s plot follows a boy…

Metal Gear Solid 4 Voice Actor Makes Hollywood Production Company

David Hayter, voice of character Snake Metal Gear Solid and Hollywood screenwriter, has formed a production company with Tekken movie producer Benedict Carver. Dubbed Dark Hero Studios, the company will focus on sci-fi genre film, TV, internet and video games projects. According to Carver, “David will create, write and direct movies and TV series for…

New PSP-3000 Colors Go Vroom-Vroom

Four new PSP colors are coming out this month. Here’s the Japanese TV ad for them. It’s a smart ad and looks more like a car commercial. Very slick.

Stranglehold Movie Apparently Won’t Star Chow Yun-Fat

It’s already been announced that the Stranglehold movie won’t be directed by Hong Kong filmmaker John Woo. Instead, the still-in-production-film will be helmed by Stephen Fung and isn’t a Hard-Boiled sequel. The game follows “Tequilla”, the character played by actor Chow Yun-Fat in 1992 film Hard Boiled. Terence Chang, John Woo’s long time producing partner,…

Soccer JRPG Anime Moving Into Prime Time TV

The upcoming Professor Layton film isn’t the only anime from Japanese developer Level 5. An animated version of Level 5’s soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven is slated for prime time special in Japan this April. Until now, the cartoon series has been shown on Sunday morning at 9am. The original DS game was released last August…

Bashcraft Penned Arcade Book Getting French Edition

Arcade Mania, the book on Japanese arcades I wrote, will be translated for an upcoming French version. French game book publisher Pix n’Love Editions will be bringing the book to wider audience. Pix n’Love is best known for its books on the PC Engine and the history of Nintendo (Pix n’Love’s Florent Gorges has a…