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In Week Two of the Vita vs. 3DS Showdown, Guess Who Lost?
On Dec. 17, Sony released the PS Vita, its PSP successor. The PS Vita is a fine machine (read Kotaku‘s review). In its first week, Sony sold over 360,000 Vitas. But during the machine’s second week, sales plunged to approximately 72,000 machines sold. That’s fewer than the PSP, which came in second in hardware sales…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
A Year in NSFW
2011 is coming to an end. Best of lists and worst of lists, it’s time to look back at the year that was. Not all of 2011 was something you could enjoy with polite company—and especially not at work. As Kotaku did in 2009 and 2010, here’s a look back at 2011 NSFW-style. These aren’t…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
I Agree with This Little Girl about Pink Things
In the above video, little Riley goes off on the way toys are marketed to kids: blue and superheroes for boys, while girls get pink and princesses. While she’s specifically talking about toys (she is in a toy store), I agree with so much of what she says. And so much of what she says…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
Hope You Like Final Fantasy XIII-2! There Will Be DLC.
Back in late 2009, Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama wrote on his blog: “The world of Final Fantasy XIII is starting from here on out.” It hinted that FFXIII DLC was on the horizon. It wasn’t. And Toriyama apparently apologized later for the lack of FFXIII downloadable content. Now that the game’s sequel, Final…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
Here’s a Man Using a 3DS To Look Up a Virtual Skirt
In Konami’s love sim New Love Plus, you can once again talk with virtual girls. Since the 3DS features a gyro-sensor, you can also move the handheld around and see things. Hello fan service? Japanese news site Rocket News tested online claims that you can use the motion tech to see things you shouldn’t in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
In Star Wars: The Old Republic, Press Binoculars to Your Forehead
Binoculars? Aliens don’t need no stinking binoculars—especially when they have red eyes. As reader Peter pointed out, Star Wars: The Old Republic, like any game these days, has its fair share of bugs, but nothing that he’s found yet to be game-breaking. Some, such as this, aren’t glitches. They’re features Developed by BioWare, Star Wars:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
You Cannot Eat this Nintendo 3DS. Sorry.
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater is coming to the Nintendo 3DS as Snake Eater 3D. To mark the occasion, the game is getting a very special Nintendo 3DS. Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima provided a first sneak peek. According to Kojima, this is the first snakeskin embossed Nintendo 3DS. Of course, it’s not covered with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
Salute Comiket’s Cosplay Insanity: Day One
In Tokyo, Comiket, aka Comic Market, kicked off on Dec. 28. It’s not only the biggest self-published comic book convention in Japan, it’s the biggest in the world And where are comic books, there are nerds. And where there are nerds, there are cosplayers. First held in 1975, Comiket is now a biannual event, drawing…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 29, 2011 -
College Student Bought an Xbox 360 with Fake Money. He Got Arrested.
Twenty-one year-old Christopher Moore swung by his local Game Stop in Norfolk, Virginia. He paid cash for an Xbox 360. The store manager, however, thought something was odd about the hundred dollar bills. They looked funny. According to The Virginian-Pilot, the manager turned the bills over to the police, who then gave them to the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
This Chinese Hotel Is an Odd Homage to Japan and Anime
Spend any time in Japan, and you’ll see them: Chinese tourists. While tensions do flare between the two countries, there are Chinese who are infatuated with Japanese popular culture. Thus, the Chinese province of Anhui has this: a newly opened “anime” themed hotel. Japan, alert your lawyers. According to an ANN News report (via Japan…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Persona Studio Returns to Cute Sticker Pictures
You probably know Japanese game company Atlus best for its Persona role-playing titles. But in the mid-1990s, Atlus was known for something else entirely: sticker pictures. A female employee at Atlus actually invented sticker pictures, which went on to become a national craze in Japan. Even today, Japanese teens get sticker pictures with friends. Atlus,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Oh Mai, This Figure Could Be Better
There are literally a gazillion Mai Shiranui figures. The King of Fighters character is a figurine favorite. Some of the figures are great. Some are good. Then, some are so-so, or bad, even. This one is so-so. Granted, it’s not terrible. As commenters on website Neko Magic pointed out, there’s discoloration in her hair and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Don’t Be Puzzled by the Dragon Quest Diorama
To mark 25 years of Dragon Quest, Square Enix is releasing this Dragon Quest “Map Diorama Collection Box”. The map of game world Alefgard is made up of 11 parts, which fit together like puzzle pieces, and features monsters and terrain. Yes, terrain The map goes on sale Mar. 23 for ¥6,615 or US$85. 『ドラクエI』のマップ「アレフガルド」が立体化！…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
The Five 3DS Game Demos Aren’t Unlimited. Some Are Nice, Though.
As first revealed during last night’s Nintendo Direct, the 3DS is getting five game demos in Japan: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Theater, New Love Plus and Resident Evil: Revelations In this video, I showed off some of the game demos and talked a bit about…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
PC Gamers, Never Get Cold Hands Again with this Silly Cat
It’s winter. That is, unless you leave below the equator. For those using computers and shivering, the wizards at Japanese peripheral company Thanko have a ridiculous mouse pad for you. WITH VOLTRON EYES. It’s a cat mouse pad that has a USB powered heater in it, which should keep your mitts nice and toasty throughout…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
This PS Vita Game Has Panty Photography Blocking? [Update]
When you think of virtual bar hostess game Dream Club, you think of girls in micro outfits. You think of underpants galore. The PS Vita Dream Club game, Dream Club Zero, isn’t short on skivvies, but according to sister site Kotaku Japan, it apparently won’t allow Vita owners to take screenshots of underpants. It will…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Konami Staffer Sues for Maternity Leave Discrimination. Wins.
In 2009, then 36-year-old Konami Digital Entertainment employee Yoko Sekiguchi sued her company after being demoted following maternity leave. Sekiguchi negotiated soccer team and foreign player licensing rights for Konami’s Pro Evolution soccer games. In Oct. 2008, Sekiguchi took maternity leave, returning the following spring. Upon returning, she was not only demoted due to a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Fire Emblem To Set Japan Ablaze Next Spring
Last night, Nintendo held the second of its Nintendo Direct online press conferences. In it, the Kyoto-based game creator confirmed several Japanese release dates. One of them was new—the one for Fire Emblem While Nintendo did confirm Japanese release dates for titles like Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D (Mar. 8, which we knew), it…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011 -
Japan Gets a Store Specializing in…the Xbox 360 (Huh?)
Microsoft’s lack of Xbox success in Japan is notorious. Microsoft only sells between two and three thousand Xbox 360s a week in Japan. The system doesn’t exactly scream retail hit in Japan. That hasn’t stopped one shop in Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture from creating a store with one thing in mind: the Xbox 360. Japanese blogger…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 27, 2011
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