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Girl After Girl Throwing Themselves at You
Wonder what the new AKB48 game will be like? From the looks of it, it’ll be idols saying they like you, and then getting pissed when you turn down their advances. AKB48 is the most popular idol group in Japan at the moment. As previously posted, the sequel will feature the AKB girls in bikinis,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
Hold Me. Is Your Body Ready?
It’s called Sense-Roid. It’s a hug simulator. Hugging the mannequin creates corresponding pressure in the Sense-Roid vest. Here’s how it works: on the mannequin there are force sensors that release corresponding pressure via air pressure valves in a vest worn in the video by brilliant, but possibly lonely scientists. “When people frist try out Sense-Roid,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
Plastic Gun Roleplay Leads to Call for Video Game Ban. Wait, What?
Donned in camo fatigues and bulletproof vests, four masked men were on a villa rooftop near a government building in Abu Dhabi. Special forces arrived and arrested the four men. The men were carrying fake guns as well as plastic and metal clubs. They were videotaping themselves roleplaying. According to daily newspaper The National, Col.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
Alice in Makielab Land
If you are a long, long time Kotaku reader, you’ll know that Wonderland‘s Alice Taylor once graced us with her writing talents, turning out witty and charming posts. Taylor’s also known for her work at Channel 4, where she commissioned award-winning games for the broadcaster. Her next venture is Makielab, a toy and game company.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
Hey Japan, There Are Some PSP Value Packs!
For summer 2011, Sony is offering a trio of PSP value packs, each priced at ¥17,800 (US$220). They come in Piano Black, Vibrant Blue, and Blossom Pink. Colors we’ve seen before, but they go on sale July 28 in Japan. “PSP®「プレイステーション・ポータブル」（PSP-3000）バリューパック” 希望小売価格：17,800円（税込） 2011年7月28日（木）発売 [Sony]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
These Ladies Know the Sweet Smell of Success
Every story’s gotta start somewhere. This one starts in Hiroshima, with three girls who had the same kanji character in their names, 香. The character means “fragrance”, and the group was Perfume. Formed in 2000, Perfume was Ayaka Nishiwaki, Yuka Kashino, and Yuka Kawashima, who soon left the group and was replaced by Ayano Omoto.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2011 -
Diablo III Looks to be a Gamescom No-Show
Blizzard listed the titles it will be showing at the upcoming Gamescom gaming expo. Diablo III doesn’t appear as though it will be there. Kotaku.com will be there, though! Diablo III is currently slated for who-knows-when. [via VideoGamer]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Wow, This Kind of Stuff Is Okay on the PSP?
Shirogane no Cal to Suokuu no Jyoou is an adult adventure game that originally hit the PC. Now, it’s getting a PSP release. Lots of adult games get PSP ports, but even hardened Japanese netizens on web forum 2channel are surprised at how explicit the event scenes for the PSP version appear. The game does…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
The Time I Saw a Car Explode
Explosion | HYOGO, JAPAN: Thankfully, nobody was hurt. Account of what happened below. (Photo: Brian Ashcraft) I’m So, So Sorry, Okami Fans I normally try and keep this cosplay roundup free of furries. Because, well, I’m slightly afraid of them. But there were two instances this week that were simply too good to pass up…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
The Michael Jackson Money Train Lives On
Two years ago, Michael Jackson unexpectedly passed away. According to NME, Jackson’s once debt-ridden estate is now making hundreds of millions ($300 million plus!) thanks to posthumous output like This Is It! and the game Michael Jackson: The Experience. [NME]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Armored Core V Closed Beta Delay. Guess Why?
Well, because the PSN Store is still offline in Japan. Thus, the Armored Core V closed PS3 beta is now being delayed. It was originally slated for July 1, but is now dependent on when the PSN Store goes back online in Japan. The Xbox 360 closed beta is schedule to start on July 19…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Ready to Turn Down Idols Once More? But Now in Bikinis?
Last December, Namco Bandai released a PSP game with the goal of turning down the advances of over forty young Japanese idols. Dating simulator? Not quite, it was a dumping simulator, and you were supposed to settle on one of those girls. Now you can do that again! AKB48 1/48 returns with AKB48 1/48: When…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Getting to the Bottom of an Ass Man’s Latest Handiwork
You may like feet. I might like the necks. But Kenichiro Yoshimura likes asses. No, he loves them. Back in 2009, Yoshimura, who worked on Bayonetta, said this about the character’s bottom: “I really wanted to get Bayonetta’s backside perfect. I guess I am into that sort of thing…” Is he ever! Yoshimura recently showed…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
When Game Console Gifts Were Yanked Out of Kids’ Hands
Following March 11’s earthquake and tsunami, kids left parentless and homeless piled into make-shift refuge shelters. As a much needed diversion, kids began asking for video games. “I want a PSP and Monster Hunter,” wrote one little girl whose grandmother and grandfather died during the quake. Japanese singer Masahiro Nakai from Smap visited Fukushima, passing…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Gran Turismo Creator Races at Famed 24 Hour Race
Kazunori Yamauchi doesn’t just make racing games, he races cars. Yamauchi and his GT-R team placed thirty-sixth at the grueling 24 hour Nurburgring race. It was the first time Nissan’s GT-R competed at Nurburgring. [DualShockers]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Japan’s Nintendo Online Shop Carries the AWOL Bits You Need
Nintendo catches heat for being clueless about the internet. That’s not exactly fair, because Nintendo is doing cool stuff online—selling instruction booklets, for example. Joining Nintendo of America, Nintendo just launched its own online shop in Japan. While other game companies might try to sell you things you do not need, Nintendo is selling things…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
Popularity as Judged Through Edgy Porn and Fake Goods
Earlier this year, anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica took Japan’s otakudom by storm. Now that the series has finished, it’s time for the vultures to swoop in and make a profit. Besides the knock-off products, there’s already the inevitable porn parody, which is anything but vanilla. Premiering in January, Puella Magi Madoka Magica is a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2011 -
The Word “Otaku” Was Banned by NHK until 2008
In a piece on the Lolita Complex, punks, and otaku, game translator and author Matt Alt points out that the word “otaku” (“geek”) was a dirty word of sorts, banned by NHK until 2008. More in the link. [Neojaponisme]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011 -
Well, the PSN Still Isn’t Online In Japan
Enjoying the PlayStation Network and the Qriocity service? Japan…isn’t. The Japanese PSN is still down, which is pretty shitty if you have a PS3 and use the Japanese PSN. If not, well. In Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment was supposed to go live late last month. It never quite happened, and now Sony is saying it…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 24, 2011
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