Brian Ashcraft

Tokyo’s Secret, Members-Only Nintendo-Themed Bar

To get into the private Nintendo-themed bar “84,” you gotta either be a member or know someone. Its address isn’t listed, and the establishment is strictly card-carrying members only. No wonder the door makes a Zelda secret sound when opened. Website Tofugu recently profiled 84, which is read as “Hashi.” The name is a wordplay…

A Wild Pikachu Appeared. Seoul, South Korea. By Lexi Santos JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line!   

Track: Gigantic (Live) | Artist: Pixies | Album: Surfer Rosa Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Drink Up This “Soda Pup” Meme

How about a nice bottle of soda pup? This internet meme shows how dogs can look like carbonated beverages. All you need is a drink label and a bottle cap! (Be careful that your four legged friend doesn’t chew on or eat the damn cap.)  Photos of “dog cola” started appearing on social media sites…

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting a mobile version in China. Tencent, the game’s Chinese operator, is working with Bluehole on the mobile port. No word if Battlegrounds will be released on smart devices outside China.

The First Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon Global Mission Was A Failure

Just as the first global mission for Pokémon Sun and Moon was a failure, the first mission for Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon was also, well, a bust. From November 16 to 11:59pm on November 27, players had to catch a total of 10 million Pocket Monsters. They came up way short, and the…

How To Make Tokyo Look Cooler? Akira Murals

Tokyo shopping complex Parco is being rebuilt. Instead of boring white barriers around the construction site, the temporary walls are covered in Akira murals. The first part of the mural was unveiled this past May, and in the months that followed, other sections have been added added. The “A.D. 2019″ refers to when Parco will…

Here Is Excellent Dragon Ball Cosplay

With their green skin and antennae, Nameks are not easy characters to bring to life. Cosplayer Takatsuki, however, makes doing so look effortless. Her Dende cosplay is on point. Wonderful! Takatsuki also posted a few making-of photos on Twitter, including a green make up test. If you like Dragon Ball, you can follow Takatsuki on…

Approaching Storm. Near Moscow Idaho, USA. By Russell Eck.  JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: Minority | Artist: Green Day | Album: Warning Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Why Japanese Actors Star In The Live-Action Fullmetal Alchemist Movie

The Fullmetal Alchemist movie was filmed in Italy. It stars two brothers named Edward and Alphonse. Yet, the cast is Japanese, and the characters speak Japanese. Director Fumihiko Sori recently explained why he thought the actors needed to be Japanese. On Twitter, Sori writes that while the location and the names were Western, the characters’…

It’s Late 2017 And Pokémon Go Can Still Draw Massive Crowds In Japan 

When Pokémon Go launched in Japan (and, well, everywhere), hordes of folks were playing it. The numbers of active players have dropped, but the game still has a dedicated following. Of course, Japan isn’t alone. The game is still played and enjoyed by people all around the globe. From November 24 to November 26, there…

The online service for Demon’s Souls is ending on February 28, 2018 in Japan. The official release doesn’t state whether this impacted the game’s online service worldwide. Demon’s Souls was originally released in 2009. 

Chrissy Teigen Reviews Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Supermodel Chrissy Teigen, who is excellent at Twitter, is playing Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and has some thoughts about it. They are: And this has been Chrissy Teigen’s review of Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp

Yudanaka Onsen. Yamanouchi, Japan. By Thomas Rizza.  JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: Dead In The Water (Live at RTÉ 2FM Studios, Dublin) | Artist: Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds | Album: Who Built The Moon?  Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Ghost In The Shell Goes VR Multiplayer In Tokyo 

VR Zone Shinjuku, Namco Bandai’s virtual reality arcade in Tokyo, is getting a four-on-four Ghost in the Shell team-based multiplayer shooter. Dubbed Ghost in the Shell Arise: Stealth Hounds, the game straps a PC on players’ backs and outfits them with VR markers, VR googles and an arcade gun. Battles go down in a dedicated…

Ash From Pokémon Sets A New Strength Record 

Earlier in the new Pokémon TV anime series, Pokémon: Sun Moon, Ash was shown as a wimp. He’s always been superhuman strong, so this depiction was a break from tradition. Good news! The most recent episode is a return to form. Herculean Ash is back and stronger than ever. Over the years, the Pokémon anime…

Cabugao Sunset. Ilocos Sur, Philippines. By Martin Tan. JPGs is a photo peek into wherever gamers might find interesting. If you’re a photographer and have images you want to share, drop us a line! 

Track: You’re The Best Thing About Me | Artist: U2 | Album: Songs of Experience Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.