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Wii Fit U? Wii Sports U? Wii Music U? U Betcha!
Nintendo has trademarked a whole host of Wii U titles. Most are fairly obvious, such as “Wii Party U”, but with one glaring miss: Nintendo trademarked “Mii U” and not “Wii Mii U”. Oh no, quick Nintendo, quick! Here is the full list, courtesy of website Siliconera: Wii U + logo Mii U Wii Fit…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
This Is What a Zombie-Killing Cheerleader Looks Like
Yesterday, it was revealed that Goichi Suda of No More Heroes fame is working on a new game called Lollipop Chainsaw. It’s about an 18-year-old cheerleader who kills zombies, so it’s less rah-rah and more slice-slice. The first images of the game were blurry magazine shots. These images are much better! Lollipop Chainsaw looks to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
Former Mega Man Producer Is Sorry about That Cancellation
This week, Capcom shitcanned Mega Man Legends 3. The game was supposed to be produced by Mega Man producer Keiji Inafune, but he’s not at Capcom anymore. Hrm, that might have something to do with it? On his blog, Inafune wrote, “Today’s cancellation decision is out of my control, but there’s something I’d like to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
This Is the World Cup of Gundam Model Making
This December, Bandai Namco is holding the “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011”, the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building. Between now and September, preliminary rounds are being held with competitors from 13 different countries: Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, America, and Italy. There…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
Is This the World’s Oldest Gamer?
Old people play video games. By old, maybe that means sixty years old? Seventy? How about 99 years old. Meet Umeji Narisawa. She’s 99 years-old, and according to Japanese TV program Nani Kore Chin Hyakkei, she plays nothing but Bomberman for hours everyday. And has for nearly the past 26 years. Bomberman was originally released…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 21, 2011 -
Have Japan’s Xbox Mission Men Been Restructured?
In early 2010, Xbox Japan launched a new mascot, Sanrokumaru (literally, “360”), a businessman with an Xbox logo for a head. A year and a half later, he seems to have vanished. Poof! As part of a then new commercial campaign, Sanrokumaru was part of the fictional “Xbox Mission Department”. In each of the subsequent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Did You Know Charlie Murphy Helped Launch the PS3?
Chas | NEW YORK, NY: Back in 2006, Charlie Murphy appeared at the PS3 launch at the Sony Style Store. (Photo: Brad Barket | Getty) This Video Game Art Packs Twice the Infamy We featured the art of Bjorn Hurri (Total War, Steampunk Star Wars) only a few weeks ago here on Kotaku, but since…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Is a 3DS XL Incoming?
In spring 2010, Hitachi showed off a 3.1 inch screen that could reproduce 3D graphics without graphics, shortly after Sharp revealed a 3.4 inch one. At that time, rumors swirled that either Hitachi or Sharp would be providing the 3D top screen for the then unreleased 3DS. Since then, details have been scant about who…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Shadows of the Damned Director Leaves Studio
Massimo Guarini, who directed Shadows of the Damned, left developer Grasshopper Manufacture to start his own studio, Ovosonico. Previously, he directed Naruto: Rise of a Ninja. So far, Shadows of the Damned hasn’t sold well. [GameSpot]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Did Pokémon Beat Ghibli?
In its first weekend, anime Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie placed second at the Japanese box office, behind the new Harry Potter. Ghibli’s Kokurikozaka kara, co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by his son, placed third. [Eiga.com via ANN]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Watch the New Pokémon Airplane for Almost Six Whole Minutes
There’s a new Poké jet. This is it! On July 18, this All Nippon Airways Boeing 777-300 Peace Jet landed in Hokkaido. The plane then taxied to the arrival gate. This isn’t the first plane featuring Pocket Monsters, and this plane aims to promote the latest Pocket Monster animated feature film. However, the “Peace Jet”…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
With Lollipop Chainsaw, Highschool Life Is the Best!
Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind No More Heroes, is working on a new game. It’s called Lollipop Chainsaw According to the latest issue of Famitsu, the game stars a chainsaw-wielding cheerleader named Juliet from fictional San Romero High, slaying zombies. Since she’s a cheerleader, the game has acrobatic-style action. The style is poppy and colorful,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
New Final Fantasy PSP Gets a New Trailer
Final Fantasy Type-0 is a big game—so big that it’s coming on two UMDs. Big games need big trailers. And when they’re not big, they can at least be long. The latest FF Type-0 trailer clocks in at five minutes. The game, which features a theme song by Japanese rockers Bump of Chicken, will be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
Are Japanese Xbox 360 Fans Getting Screwed?
On October 27, The Idolmaster 2, a pop idol simulator, is being ported to the PS3. The game originally debuted on the Xbox 360 earlier this year. Like previous Idolmaster games, there’s been copious amounts of downloadable content available—for a price. PS3 owners will be getting a big discount on that price, namely to the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
It’s Like a Silent Hill Game You Can Actually Experience
It’s summer. In Japan, that means beaches and snow cones. It also means having the shit scared out of you. While fall is the time for ghosts and goblins in the West, summer is traditionally the season of frights in Japan. Ghost stories are told on summer evenings. One reason for this is scary stories…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 20, 2011 -
You’ve Got Modern Warfare 3 in My Turtle Beach Headsets
Just in time for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, peripheral maker Turtle Beach is releasing line of MW3 branded cans for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. There are four different MW3 Ear Force headsets that range in price and features. At the top end, there’s the Ear Force Delta. It’s a Bluetooth-enabled, programmable…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2011 -
Did You Love the Karaoke Revolution? (GEDDIT?)
Sing It | LOS ANGELES, CA: Back in 2003, Jennifer Love Hewitt pitched a Konami game. (Photo: Frazer Harrison | Getty) What’s with All the Cancelled 3DS Games? Maybe it’s bad timing or just bad luck. But there’s a growing list of cancelled 3DS games. That’s not good. The Video Game Art of Christian Lorenz…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2011 -
Pokémon Rumble Blast Scrambles to America
This fall, Pokémon Rumble Blast lets players take control of wind-up Pocket Monsters and battle it out. The game will be released this month in Japan as Super Pokémon Scramble, and it’s a sequel to a WiiWare title. In Pokémon Rumble Blast, players can collect over 600 Pocket Monsters (including monsters from Pokémon Black and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2011 -
You Can Devour This Monster Hunter Bread!
In Japan, Pokémon has its own bread, so why the heck doesn’t Monster Hunter? Yamazaki Baking is offering two different types of Monster Hunter curry bread. If you’ve ever had Yamazaki bread, you’ll know it’s pretty good for something you get in a convenience store! The curry bread is in the image of Monster Hunter,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 19, 2011
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