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Why Japanese Developers Should Have Played More PC Games
Gaming’s reached a turning point. Western games have more realistic graphics and physics than Japanese games. This isn’t good or bad. It’s true. There was a moment during the Tokyo Game Show, when I stood in line waiting to play the PS Vita. A trailer for Modern Warfare 3 rumbled across the big screen. It…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
Why Sony Is Launching the Vita Later
Originally, Sony planned to release the PlayStation Vita on Dec. 3. Instead, the company is pushing it out on Dec. 17. In the upcoming issue of Japanese game magazine Famitsu, Sony Computer Entertainment honcho Hiroshi Kawano revealed that Sony had planned to launch the Vita on Dec. 3, but moved it back in order to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
It’s Not Hard To Capture Japan’s Imagination with a Single Cosplay
Meet Sunny Lin. The Macau-born sexy pin-up cosplayed as One Piece‘s Boa Hancock—something that quickly drew the attention of the Japanese internet. That, in turn, got her on the evening news in Taiwan where she now resides. Online in Japan, new Sunny Lin fans are clamouring over the model, noting that if anyone looks like…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
If You’re Going To Sell a Game, Why Not Sell It with Schoolgirls
When Microsoft launched Kinect in Japan, it roped in schoolgirl idols from girl group SKE48 to sell the thing. Just Dance Wii is following suit. The commercial features schoolgirls dancing to SKE48 sister group, AKB48. That pop outfit is no stranger to gaming. There have been two AKB48 PSP games In Japan, schoolgirls are often…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
Wait, Isn’t Final Fantasy Versus XIII a PS3 Exclusive?
A Final Fantasy Versus XIII job wanted ad lists PS3 package title experience as necessary, “or otherwise an Xbox 360 package title”. But Versus is a PS3 exclusive! Just like FFXIII was. Well, at one point. [Square Enix]
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
Baby’s Anime Name Thrills Some. Baffles Others.
Names are important. You have them from the moment you are born until the day you die. That is, unless you change it to “Cary Grant” or “World B. Free” along the way. Yes, names are important—especially in Japan. Japanese fashion model Hikari Kamikawa recently gave birth to a happy and healthy baby boy. She…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 28, 2011 -
Stupid Ninjas Is Not Stupid (But Has Terrible Font)
There are lots of stupid smartphone games. Stupid Ninjas is not one of them. It’s loads of fun. The game’s font, however, is not. Stupid Ninjas is GameResorts’ follow up to Stupid Zombies. This time around, the zombies have been switched out with ninjas. It’s a puzzle game, and the goal here is to slice…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Sometimes PS3 Bundles Come with the Darndest Things
Heart | TOKYO, JAPAN – An Akihabara retailer has a special bundle for PS3 game ToHeart2: DX Plus. (Photo: AkibaOS) Kotobukiya and the Art of Kick-Ass Figure Making Lots of countries make statues and figurines. Lots of countries make excellent ones, too. Yet, there is something about Japanese sculpted figures of game and anime characters…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Ex-Katamari Damacy Dude Hopes Vita Version Is “Goooooooooood” (And Other Musings)
On Famitsu.com, former Katamari Damacy designer and current Glitch developer Keita Takahashi is blogging in English and Japanese about his life and Canada as well as his opinions about things like the Vita Katamari game. More in the link. [Famitsu]
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Final Fantasy XIV “Damaged” Final Fantasy
For a game with grand ambitious, Final Fantasy XIV has been a grand disappointment. Today in Tokyo, Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada once again addressed the game’s shortcomings. “The Final Fantasy brand was damaged,” Wada said, adding that the game was being “substantially reworked” so that the game can be revived as the FFXIV that…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
What Osama bin Laden and Metal Gear Solid Have in Common
On Sept. 11, 2001, the world changed forever. Al-Qaeda, the organization Osama bin Laden created, carried out attacks that left thousands dead. The impact was felt around the world. Either out of respect or fear of being insensitive, the second entry in the popular Japanese stealth series Metal Gear Solid was altered. According to Metal…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
A Street Fighter II Painting So Small, It Could Fit on a Fingernail
Hadouken! Self-styled retro game artist Maya Pixelskaya painted Ryu unleashing a “wave motion fist” and Chun-Li pulling off a spinning bird kick—on her fingernail. Not sure which is more impressive: Maya’s painting or her cuticles. For more retro gaming art, check out Maya’s website. It’s chock full of neckties, shoes, and guitars. Maya Pixelskaya [Official…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Ready for Some Mario Pole Dancing?
In Super Mario Bros., Mario and Luigi slide down poles. In the UK Amateur Pole Performer competition, they climbed up them and swung around. If these dancers look familiar (their names are Bex and Emy), it’s because you probably saw them pole dancing as Tomb Raider‘s Lara Croft. The duo were competing in a UK…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Will There Ever Be a New Dragon Quest Anime?
Dragon Quest, one of Japan’s most beloved role-playing games, spawned more than sequel after sequel. A manga version ran for around seven years, and there was an anime in the early 1990s. That doesn’t necessarily mean there’s going to be a Dragon Quest anime in the future. It also doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t. “The…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
The Wii Balance Board Is Back in Black
I have a Wii Balance Board. I have not used it for years. Maybe things would be different if there were more games for it. Maybe things would be different if it came in a different color—like black. According to website Eurogamer, Europe is getting a black Balance Board bundle that comes with Wii Fit…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Kotobukiya and the Art of Kick-Ass Figure Making
Lots of countries make statues and figurines. Lots of countries make excellent ones, too. Yet, there is something about Japanese sculpted figures of game and anime characters that’s so damn good. In particular, Kotobukiya’s figures are top notch. But why? Previously, Kotaku touched on Japan’s fascination with sculpted characters and the influence of traditional Japanese…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 27, 2011 -
Respawn Entertainment’s Post-Modern Warfare Game “Getting There”
The latest Modern Warfare game is coming out this fall. The game designers who spearheaded Call of Duty‘s move from World War II to modern combat left long ago to work on a new title at new studio. Back in spring 2010, Infinity Ward co-founders Vince Zampella and Jason West ran into a spat with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2011 -
These Are My Pokémons
Pocketed | OSAKA, JAPAN – A drawer of Pocket Monster toys. Found in Mini-Bash’s room. (Photo: Brian Ashcraft | Instagram) Japan Launched Gears of War 3 with Idols You Can… *Ahem* Ayaman Japan is a trio of girls who love to party. There’s Ayaman, the outfit’s leader and “Crotch Boss” (the group also has a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2011 -
Not All PS Vita Games Look Good
Take F1, for example. While Kotaku was wowed with WipeOut on the PS Vita, Codemaster’s racing effort leaves a lot to be desired. The game’s trailer showed jaggy F1 race cars. Today, it was revealed that the game will also be heading to the Nintendo 3DS on Dec. 22—days after its Vita launch. F1 looks…
By Brian Ashcraft Published September 26, 2011
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