-
Kotaku East
We Weren’t Fighting, Claims Kid, We Were Copying a Video Game
Recently, a 14 year-old junior high school student in Hyogo, Japan was arrested after a one-minute YouTube video, showing him punch and kick a 12 year-old grade school student, appeared online. The 12 year-old, however, said he was a willing participant in the video—though, he did add that he was hurt during the spat. The…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku EastDebut Trailer for One Piece Role-Playing Game
Have a look at the first trailer for One Piece: Romance Dawn ~The Daybreak of Adventure~, the upcoming One Piece role-playing game. The game will be out on the PSP this December in Japan. Have a look.
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku East
The MMORPG that Won’t Kill You or Eat Up Your Time (Hopefully!)
Not everyone in Japan likes massively multiplayer online role-playing games. Generally speaking, most people like Dragon Quest. So what happens when you turn Dragon Quest into a MMORPG? Square Enix has made Dragon Quest X into an online game that you don’t need to play everyday—this is, an MMORPG that will fit into the rhythm…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Beijing Flooding is Surreal and Awful
The images are unreal, and the devastation is tragic. China’s capital Beijing was hit with the heaviest rain in sixty years. According to official reports, sixty thousand people were evacuated from their homes. Sadly, 37 people lost their lives. The photos taken during the flooding reveal a city underwater: cars and restaurants underwater; commuters on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku EastWhen a PC Game Gets Confused with a Military Aircraft Controversy
Today, the 12 MV-22 Osprey aircraft arrived in the Japanese city of Iwakuni, where it was met with protests. People in Japan believe that the aircraft is not safe, pointing to recent Osprey crashes in both Florida and Morocco. As AP points out, the U.S. military contends that the aircraft has solid safety records and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Is the Nintendo 3DS XL I Want: The Transparent One.
There are various 3DS XL colors to choose from. There are even more colors for the smaller, original 3DS model. None of them are the color I want. I want the Nintendo 3DS with no color. I want the clear one. Above is a transparent 3DS XL Nintendo recently showed off in a Q&A on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku EastStudio Ghibli’s Next Film is about Japan’s Most Famous Fighter Plane (and the Guy who Designed It)
Wonder what legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli are up to? According to animator director and illustrator Osamu Kobayashi, Miyazaki is working on a feature on the World War II dogfighter, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, and its designer, Dr. Jiro Hirokoshi. As far as iconic Japanese fighter planes, they don’t come more iconic…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 23, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Summer in Shinjuku Is Hot and Bothered
Thought Akihabara was the only, forgive the pun, hotspot in Tokyo? Nope! Shinjuku heats up in summertime, too. Website DannyChoo.com recently checked out Shinjuku and snapped some pics of the area. If you’ve played Sega’s Yakuza games, Shinjuku should look familiar as the area inspired the in-game locale. Keep your eyes out for a Robot…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Kotaku East
The Art of Beat Takeshi Will Disturb and Delight
Beat Takeshi isn’t just a comedian. Or an actor. Or a writer. Or a filmmaker. Or a variety show host. Or a video game designer. He’s also an artist. Until September 2, Takeshi is exhibiting a showcase of his art. The collection was first shown in 2010 at a gallery in Paris. Takeshi first started…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Mass Shooting at Dark Knight Rises Premiere
Early Friday, 12 people were killed and dozens more were injured after a suspect opened fire at a midnight Dark Knight Rises screening outside Denver. Colorado NBC affiliate 9 News is reporting that 12 were killed—ten of which died in the movie theater. Over seventy people were shot in total. The shooting happened in a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Sixty Feet of All Woman. Inflatable Woman.
It’s the summer of enormous ladies in Japan! As previously mentioned, iconic anime heroine Rei Ayanami of Neon Genesis Evangelion is being turned into a large slide attraction. This is it. The huge, 61-foot Rei appears to be an inflatable balloon. Since this attraction will only be up until August 26, that makes sense. It’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Nintendo Is Selling New Super Mario 2 Via Digital Download
Welcome to the future, er present, Nintendo! On July 28, the game maker will be offering both New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Demon Training via the eShop for ¥4,800 (US$61) and ¥3,800 ($48). [任天堂]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Kotaku EastRumor: Final Fantasy Versus XIII Is Dead [Update]
It’s been six years since Square Enix first showed Final Fantasy Versus XIII’s debut trailer. Six long years. When that trailer premiered, George W. Bush was president, Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden were alive, and the global financial crisis had not yet hit. 2006 was a different world, a long, long time ago. Now…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Unboxing the Nasne, Sony’s New Media Hub
Yesterday, the day before Nasne’s release, Sony suddenly postponed the media hub because units were damaged during shipment. The Nasne that sister site Kotaku Japan ordered online, however, arrived today—fit as a fiddle and undamaged. Hello unboxing time! The Nasne is a networked recorder that offers 500GB of storage as well as the ability to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
These Pokémon Cards Are Slightly Different. Can You Tell?
One card is Japanese. One is English-language. But that’s not it. And sure, the Pocket Monster is “Grimer” in the West and “Betobetaa” (ベトベター) in Japan and the HP order and font were changed. Those aren’t it, either. Those are big differences. There’s a slight difference between these two Pokémon cards. Can you spot it?…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Kiki’s Delivery Service Cosplay Delivers a Big Bow and a Little Black Cat
Big red bow? Check. Simple dress? Check? Jiji, the cat? Check. All that’s missing is a broomstick and a little Yumi Matsutoya Somewhere between the skimpy midriffs and hot pants at a recent Japanese cosplay event, there was this lovely Kiki from the Ghibli classic Kiki’s Delivery Service. That’s cosplayer Kuroneko as Kiki. Click on…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku EastGiant Video Game Monsters Invade Universal Studios Japan
Most of the West might not give two farts about Monster Hunter, but Japan adores it. Capcom’s monster hunting series is appearing at Osaka’s Universal Studios Japan this summer in giant statue form as part of “Monster Hunter Real 2012”. By “real”, I’m assuming they mean “herky-jerky”? Last year, Universal Studios Japan held “Monster Hunter…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
No, This Isn’t a Star Wars Set. It’s a Japanese Game Studio.
The vast, vast majority of Japanese game studios are bland, boring office affairs. Even the entryway for Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters is nothing to write home about. This, however, is. So start writing. Level-5, the folks behind those Professor Layton games, have a truly spectacular corporate digs. Internal design and architect company Noa did Level-5’s HQ…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Ninety-Nine Nights Online Is No More as of This Fall
Q Entertainment’s MMORPG Ninety-Nine Nights Online, the MMORPG version of Ninety-Nine Nights, is shutting off the lights on September 27 and going offline. Goodnight, N3 Online! [Game Watch Impress]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Official Kirby Playing Cards Shuffle Out This Summer
Longtime card maker turned video game company Nintendo is readying two sets of Kirby playing cards. Starting this August, a blue set (above) and a green set (same, but green) will go on sale in Japan for ¥1,050 (US$13) each. 星のカービィトランプ [任天堂]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2012
Brian Ashcraft
Brian Ashcraft's posts