Brian Ashcraft

Trying To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan: A Story In Four Photos

Platinum Games developer Hideki Kamiya recently tried to get a Nintendo Switch. He documented the experience in four photos. As Kotaku previously reported, it’s not easy getting a Switch in Japan! Things have been so difficult that Nintendo apologized. We have no idea if Kamiya has another Switch (or if there’s one at Platinum’s office),…

Hancock Center (Shot with Hasselblad 500C and an 80mm lens on ilford HP5 film). Chicago, Illinois. By Matthew Magruder. 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! 

Final Fantasy XV’s Off-Roading Looks Ridiculous 

The Final Fantasy XV 1.2 update is live, bringing an off-road upgrade to the Regalia. Called Regalia Type-D, it lets you drive all over the place and make some sweet jumps.  The 8.65GB update fixes bugs, adds Episode Prompto compatibility, and includes Episode Prompto music. It also makes off-roading possible. The Type-D option is available…

Nintendo Switch Versus PS4: An Updated Japanese Sales Comparison

The Nintendo Switch has only been out since March. It’s now June, and the console is clearly having one helluva run in Japan. Let’s see how the Switch’s Japanese sales numbers compare to another blockbuster console, the PS4. This story was originally published on April 20, 2017. It has since been updated. As Kotaku previously…

Nintendo 3DS game The Snack World has been delayed Originally scheduled for a July 13 release in Japan, it has been moved to August 10. The reason developer Level-5 gives is to “further improve quality” and to make playing enjoyable for all.

Glover Garden at Night. Nagasaki, Japan. By Henry M. Solórzano. 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! 

Historic Japanese Starbucks Doesn’t Even Look Like A Starbucks

One of the best-preserved streets in Kyoto is Ninen-zaka. A Starbucks just opened in the area, but you could walk by and not even know it. It looks like the only way you’d know it was a Starbucks is by the noren, or the curtain hanging out front, with the chain’s logo. Opening on June…

The Largest Hello Kitty Goods Collection In The World

This is Masao Gunji. For the past 35 years, he has been collecting Hello Kitty stuff. He has amused the largest collection of its kind. Recently, Gunji was on Japanese television talking about his collection, saying that if he goes to the same shop, he ends up buying Hello Kitty that’s still on the shelf.…

Pikachu Marriage Forms Help You Choose Your Spouse 

Japanese wedding magazine Zexy is including a Pikachu-themed marriage form for people to fill out. They can then take it to City Hall and get hitched. As Anime News Network (via AnimeAnime) points out, this isn’t the first of its kind: Japan has already seen Sailor Moon, One Piece, and Detective Conan. Kotaku East is…

Green. Providence, Rhode Island. By Keven Lopez. 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! 

Gainax Loses Lawsuit, Must Pay Hideaki Anno’s Studio $900,000

Last year, Hideaki Anno’s Studio Khara sued Gainax of Evangelion fame for unpaid royalities. A Tokyo District court has ruled in Anno’s favor, with a judge ordering Gainax to pay the full 100 million yen (around US$900,000). Anno co-founded Gainax in 1984 with fellow students he met at Osaka University of Arts, including current Gainax…

Track: Big River (Live) | Artists: Johnny Cash | Album: Sings the Songs That Made Him Famous Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

This September, there will be two Dragon Ball “fan runs,” which appear to be folks in Dragon Ball shirts participating in runs. The Tokyo area Dragon Ball run will be held September 10, while the Aichi Prefecture area one is September 23. 

Japan’s Fighting Robots Are The Future Of Sumo

Tiny battle robots facing off in a small ring, knocking the crap out of each other. The future of sumo is now. Since 1990, this yearly robot sumo competition has been held in Japan. The Japan Times, where I am a columnist, reports that starting in 2014, international teams have been invited to battle. Via…

An Insider’s Look At Working In The Anime Business

So you dream of moving to Japan and making anime. But what’s it really like? Just ask Thomas Romain. Born in France, the 39-year-old Romain moved to Tokyo in 2003 to work as co-director and art director on a French-Japanese anime series called Oban Star-racers. “This was a show originally created by a friend, Savin…

Nintendo apologized for Switch shortages in Japan, saying it will ship more units in July and August for the Splatoon 2 launch. Nintendo also said it’s ramping up Switch production for later this year. 

The Journey Begins. Christchurch, England. By Jeremy Hosking 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: Speaking | Artist: Mrs. Green Apple | Album: Speaking (Single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to at the moment.

Ride A Dragon Ball Flying Nimbus, See Things In 3D

Indoor amusement park J-World Tokyo is rolling out a new Dragon Ball themed “virtual roller coaster” called “Zenkai Flying Nimbus.” As Famitsu notes, the Flying Nimbus attraction holds two riders. It doesn’t move, but it lets riders experience the thrill of flying through the air Dragon Ball style by projecting 3D images on a screen.…

Berserk Manga Is Taking A Break. Again. 

Manga artist Kentaro Miura is best known for two things: his Berserk manga and taking breaks from said Berserk manga. Earlier this year, Miura returned from hiatus in March. This break began last September. That was after Berserk had returnedthat June from yet another hiatus. Recently, it was announced that Berserk will go on hiatus…