Brian Ashcraft

“Now The Hell Will Start”

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft With my schedule, it seems like the only time I’m able to read for the fun of it is during vacations. There were a couple books I squeezed in last year (Yokai Attack! was great), but my favorite of 2008? Now The Hell Will Start. It’s a terrific yarn, a nonfiction…

Japanese People Swarm Star Ocean 4 Kiosks, Kiosks Show New Faceplate

This past Sunday from noon to 5pm, eight Xbox 360 demo kiosks playing Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope were rolled out at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera. Before the event began, numbered tickets were passed out to those lining up, and only 100 posters were handed out. Players experienced a 15 minute demo session. According…

Dreamcast Mourning Time… Again!

It’s been ten years, and the Dreamcast is dead. I know it, you know it and damn skippy SEGA knows it. That didn’t stop game site Eurogamer from doing a forensic catalogue on the console’s demise. The piece does a nice job of laying everything out and even correcting a few misconceptions. There are also…

A Closer Look At Ryu Ga Gotoku 3’s Hostesses

Sure, in upcoming PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 3, players can mold their own bar hostesses. But they can also do other things with them. Things like get liquored up, trade business cards, play darts, shoot pool, sing karaoke and go bowling. Remember, you’re doing this with a high-priced bar hostess after she gets off…

The Chances Of A DISSIDIA Sequel…

Want a DISSIDIA sequel? Square Enix game designer Tetsuya Nomura says there are “no plans” currently. But, hey, plans can change. According to game site 1Up, Nomura states at the end of a 704-page DISSIDIA strategy guide: “There are no current plans for a sequel. To be honest, I wanted to do one up until…

Suspect Arrested For Threatening To Blow Up Hudson

Metropolitan Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for threatening to blow up Japanese game maker Hudson. The suspect, Takao Ike of Kanagawa Prefecture, was apparently dissatisfied with the quality of Hudson’s games. From October 2008 to January 16 of this year, the suspect threatened Hudson 11 times, sending emails that said things like he was…

What Games Sold In Japan Last Month

Enterbrain, the Japanese publisher of game magazine Famitsu has released its most recent monthly sales data, ranking the top ten titles. The data is for the period beginning December 29 and ending January 25 as well as Enterbrain’s estimated life-to-date. 1. DISSIDIA: Final Fantasy 186,352 units/846,614 units 2. Rhythm Heaven Gold 169,567 units/152,238 units 3.…

What’s Your Comfort Game?

Time for…drum roll please…Tell Us Dammit — no, make that TELL US DAMMIT. Here’s who it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn’t some marketing survey or whatever. It’s an emotional investment in you. Yes, we’re interested in knowing you, Kotaku reader person. You probably know fucktons…

A Week In Comments

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Has Mandatory Install Comment by: phinehas Well, it was either the mandatory install or they cut off a finger. Midway Finds New Chairman In Booty Comment by: Modus_Operandi Nominated by: Spoony Bard So now Booty is synomous with Midway. People are going to have their hands full with Booty. But dont…

Kyoto Prefecture Still Using DS For English Instruction

Back in 2006, we brought word that middle and high school students in Kyoto Prefecture’s Yawata City were using the DS to study vocab. Now, in 2009, the front page of today’s Yomiuri Shimbun says… Elementary school students in Kyoto Prefecture’s Yawata City are using the Nintendo DS to study English starting this April. The…

But Can You Spot The X-Blades Boxart Discrepancy?

Apparently the Xbox 360 and PS3 X-Blades box art are different? NSFW, even, someone somewhere said. We can’t tell, there’s got to be something. Please, please help us get to the bottom of this. We’d like to crack this case. Cheeky of us to ask, I know. X-Blades PS3 and X-Blades Xbox 360 [Ubisoft via…

Tonight, I Went On A Date

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Reviewing Flawed Code For the first time since Mrs. Bashcraft delivered the new squirt, we went out to eat…with the two kids, Mini and Micro-Bash. It was at a kid-friendly buffet that had all you can eat (and drink, hey, hey) — and incidentally was near we Mrs. Bashcraft’s father…

DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label EXTRA Dated

Finally! After being delayed from its original Christmas Day delay, the Xbox 360 port of Cave’s arcade shooter DoDonPachi Dai Ou Jou Black Label EXTRA has a release date. According to 5pb, the game will be out in Japan on February 19 for ¥7,140 (US$79).

Any New Info About Those Philip K Dick Games?

Swedish developer Grin might be working with media company Halcyon, who own the rights to the Terminator franchise, on games based on Philip K Dick‘s works. We don’t know though — Grin’s tight lipped. When asked about the Philip K Dick Halcyon games, Grin co-founder Ulf Andersson diplomatically replied, “I really don’t have a comment…

Xbox 360 Lolita Arcade Shmup Gets Release Date

Xbox 360 port of Cave’s Lolita arcade shooter has finally gotten a release date. It is April 23. Hooray! As we previously posted, there’s also a limited edition of the game (priced at ¥9,240 — US$103) besides the regular edition. The limited edition version also includes a soundtrack CD as well. Amazon Japan is offering…

Microsoft Talks Future of Halo Wars And Ensemble Studios

Just because Ensemble Studios is dead that does not mean the studios’ Halo Wars are gone. The game will live on! As Jason Pace, Halo Wars lead producer and MGS Halo franchise overseer, points out, Ensemble is forming a new company and will help support the game with bug patches and whatnot. When asked about…

PlatinumGames Launches Website, Promises To “Get It”

MadWorld developer PlatinumGames sends its new English language website into orbit today. The site’s first post lays out the site’s M.O. Japanese game companies are notorious for not “getting it”. They are thought of as slow moving, orthodox, and out of touch. One of the places where Japanese companies seem to not “get it” is…

Nintendo’s 2009 Launch Schedule Includes Punch Out

Nintendo announced its “Launch Schedule of Primary NINTENDO Products by Region (Jan. 2009～)” for Japan, The United States and Europe. There’s hardware, there’s software, there’s Nintendo, and there’s Giant Reggie Face. Japan • Nintendo DS DS Uranai Seikatsu 2009/1/15 Mario and Luigi RPG 3!!! 2009/2/11 Rittai Picross 2009/3/12 Tomodachi Collection(Temp.) 2009 Famicom Wars DS2(Temp.) 2009…

Let’s Break Down Nintendo’s Biggest Selling DS Games (Let’s!)

Nintendo has released the financial findings for its Nintendo DS games sold last year. Included are the numbers for the April 1 – December 31, 2008 financial period as well as the breakdown for Japan and overseas. What’s more, there are new life-to-date totals for the games. Here’s the breakdown: Brain Age: Train Your Brain…

Bruce Shelly And Ensemble Studios Say “Goodbye and Thanks”

Ensemble Studios is being shuttered. The studio’s Bruce Shelly leaves us with one last (and bittersweet) blog post. He writes: “My expectation is that this is the final ES blog that I will write. I have enjoyed pulling it together for the past several years and sharing with you what I could about the inside…