Brian Ashcraft

Shinjuku Streets. Tokyo, Japan. By Dodong Dela Cruz. 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: Run Away | Artist: Alexandros | Album: Run Away / Oblivion Single

Buy Official Final Fantasy XV Clothing for Thousands of Dollars

Final Fantasy XV might be a fantasy based on reality, but making that fantasy real sure is expensive. Japanese fashion designer Roen created in-game outfits for the game and even was working on the title back when it was Final Fantasy Versus XIII. As Fashion Press reports, the official site went up yesterday, March 31.…

And Now, Godzilla Versus Evangelion

I’m rather reluctant to call this an April Fools joke. Usually, Japanese companies are super incredibly clear about labeling stuff as an April 1st gag. This hit earlier today, appearing on the official Evangelion site as the “most maximum collaboration of 2016.” So, that’s what it is, really. A tie-up between two different properties, which…

Japan’s Best April Fools Jokes of 2016

Today is April 1st. Know what that means? Internet hijinks everywhere online, including in Japan. For the past few years, the country has done a solid job with April Fools (you can see previous coverage here and here), and this year is no exception. Here’s a roundup of some of this year’s standout gags. Drone…

Liking Miitomo? Good! Nintendo just announced that the app has reached three million downloads worldwide.

Night View. Bangkok, Thailand. By Pierre Aden 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!

The Back to the Future Ride Is Officially Dead

The last remaining Back to the Future ride in the world is closing this spring. Back to the Future: The Ride will be no more. According to Cinema Today, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka will shutter the attraction on May 31. The ride opened at Universal Studios Florida in 1991 and Universal Studios Hollywood two…

All This Week’s Big Final Fantasy XV News

Last night, Square Enix held its Uncovered: Final Fantasy XV event in Los Angeles. The big news was the game’s release date. Which leaked early. Heh. But that wasn’t all. Here’s a round-up of Kotaku’s coverage. Final Fantasy XV’s Release Date Final Fantasy Movie Coming This Year With Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad Actors Final…

Miitomo gets its first commercial in Japan, which features schoolgirls (of course!). In the ad, one teen finds out that, unbeknownst to others, her friend is a professional wrestler. The commercial’s tagline then asks if you really know your friends.

The Final Fantasy XV Anime Compared with the Game

We’re talking looks here. Square Enix just began streaming a Final Fantasy XV anime, so let’s see how the anime stacks up to previously released game footage. A-1 Pictures is handling the animation, and while it obviously doesn’t look exactly the same (which, honestly, isn’t necessary because these are different mediums!), there are some interesting…

In the Cemetery. Kyoto, Japan. By GiantBoyDetective 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 Platinum Demo is now available to download for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One.

Think Grand Theft Auto Meets Syndicate, But Set in Tokyo

This is Tokyo 42. It’s an isometric action game that is inspired by the first Grand Theft Auto and Syndicate. And damn, it looks glorious. In Tokyo 42, you are a gun for hire, and the game features a rotating camera mechanic, stealth, cats, shoot-outs, and many nice colors. Below is the game’s debut trailer.…

Artists Showing How They’ve Improved

We’ve seen (here and here) how artists develop over the years. But now on Twitter, many artists, some of whom are Japanese and some of whom are not, are sharing images to show just how their skills have progressed. It’s fascinating to see artists find their style, hone their talents, and improve at what they…

When Pokémon Get Too Much Training

Dugtrio really needs to cut back on those gym hours. Singaporean game developer Lai Sen recently did this human muscle anatomy study, using the ground-type Pokémon for the character models’ heads. Now we know what’s underground. Pink nipples! Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan,…

Pokémon Snap is coming to the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan. Priced at 1,028 yen (US$9.17), it’ll be out in the region on April 4. No word yet about an international release.

Säntis. The Alps, Switzerland. By Alex Naef. 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!

Miitomo Hits the U.S. This Thursday 

Nintendo’s first social app for smart devices, Miitomo, will be released in North America on March 31. Users need to sign up for a Nintendo Account at Miitomo.com before March 31 to get an email letting them know the Miitomo app is available for download. Those who preregister also receive Platinum Points for the My…

Japan’s Problem with Tattoos

Last year, 15 million people visited Japan, setting a new record. Millions more are expected. Many foreigners, eager to see the sights and spend cash, are tattooed. Most Japanese are not. This is where things get problematic. Japan has a long, varied history with tattoos. It’s complex, and I go into much greater detail in…