Brian Ashcraft

Eikando Temple Kyoto, Japan. By CHoyos. 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: Stutter | Artist: Elastica | Album: Elastica Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

A Gaming Mouse Designed Just for MMORPG Players

Over the years, Kotaku has seen its share of gaming mouses (mice?). But if buttons alone are anything to go by, this latest one from Elecom sure looks impressive. And button-y! According to 4Gamer, this mouse is part of Elecom’s “Dux” line. It’s designed specifically with MMORGPs in mind and outfitted with 19 buttons that…

Why Movie Posters Are Sometimes… Different

Have you ever noticed that movie posters often look totally different when released in other countries? I have! Sometimes they’re good, but sometimes they’re not. This might be why. Even online in Japan, people will comment how the localized movie posters look “dorky.” They’re often covered in text and are very busy. A fairly recent…

Five Things You Might Not Know about Pikachu

You might know tons about Pikachu. How the character used to look slightly different or how Pikachu adores ketchup. But maybe you don’t know these tidbits. In a recent interview with How to Draw Manga, voice actor Ikue Otani talked about bringing the character to life. The whole interview is definitely worth a read (check…

Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories, which was canned back in 2011 as a PS3 game, is back in development and headed for the PS4 in Japan. Its new title is Disaster Report 4 Plus: Summer Memories.

Moss Garden at Gio-ji Temple. Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan. By Gerry Tanusetiawan 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: The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough | Artist: Cyndi Lauper | Album: The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough (Single) Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.

Watch Out America, McDonald’s Japan Is Releasing a 48-Piece McNugget Meal

In case you’re counting, and even if you’re not, this bucket of 48 nuggets clocks in at well over two thousand calories total. But who’s counting? Seriously, don’t count. While in the U.S., you can order a 40-piece Chicken McNugget meal, which is kind of amazing in itself, in Japan, the most you can get…

Extreme Minimal Living in Japan

Could you live like these Japanese minimalists? Then again, maybe you already do. In Japan, a recent buzz word is “minimalist” (ミニマリスト or “minimarisuto”). The word has a long history and various associations with art, design, and literature, but here, the idea is to simplify one’s life with a bare minimum of possessions. [Photo via…

It’s Street Fighter Plus Horse Racing

Oh, plus sumo wrestling. But since E. Honda is already a Street Fighter character, that’s not as unusual as hadokening from a moving horse. To promote the upcoming Japan Cup, the Japan Racing Association has teamed up with Capcom for a horse racing game with SF characters and real sumo wrestlers. It’s a rhythm game…

Starting November 24, Nintendo will sell Wii U GamePads as stand-alones. Only one GamePad can be used per console, so that hasn’t changed, but if you need a spare, you can get one for 12,800 yen (US$104). No word yet about similar offers outside Japan.

Wires and Signs. Tokyo, Japan. By Diogo Louro. 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!

Time To Eat Fried Leaves in Japan

Yep, it’s fall! The leaves are starting to turn in Osaka. Thank the maples for some of fall’s most beautiful colors—and yummy snacks. The Japanese maple is called “momiji” (もみじ), and Minoo City is famous for its momiji tempura. Minoo is known for its Japanese maples. Check out the city’s manhole cover. [Photo: churateada] So…

The Side of Anime Life You Never See

When you watch anime, you are used to seeing anime characters living and breathing in animated worlds. Let’s change that. According to Japanese Twitter user Kibaichi, All Nationz, and My Game News Flash, folks over on 4chan have been Photoshopping anime characters in, as one anonymous forum member wrote, “places they are not usually seen.”…

Why There Will Be No Mother 4

For years now, fans have wanted Shigesato Itoi to make a new Mother game. It doesn’t sound like it will happen. There’s a reason for that. In an interview with Game Watch Impress, Itoi said, “When I made 3, I thought I could do it, so I did it,” before adding that 4 was “totally…

No Bikinis for You, Yo-kai Watch Anime

Ditto for macho dudes in tiny pants, working out. The Yo-kai Watch anime has been changed for its English release. As you can see here, via Twitter user WolfyMatt, the original Japanese version (top image, with subs) is different from the English localized version (bottom image, no subs). [via WolfyMatt] [via WolfyMatt] [via WolfyMatt] In…

The Subtle Ways Anime Changes

We notice the big changes. When characters look quite different or the animation isn’t up to snuff. What about the more subtle ones? We notice those less, but they offer an interesting peek at how animators bring their own style to a work. Over on 2ch, a recent thread featured a series of comparison images…

On the Street. Hong Kong. By Willis Lai. 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: Moonlight Mile | Artist: The Rolling Stones | Album: Sticky Fingers Kotaku Soundtrack is a selection of the stuff we’re listening to – and gaming to – at the moment.