-
Catherine’s Sexy Doesn’t Stop At The Game’s Cover
Upcoming adult adventure game Catherine features two spicy covers: one for the PS3 and one for the Xbox 360. Those who pre-order the game will get a special “Sound Disc & Art Book”. The disc features classical arrangements by composer Shoji Meguro, a specially-designed booklet jacket and other illustrations. The Sound Disc & Art Book…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
Orange You Glad China Has A Giant Mecha?
In summer 2009, Bandai Namco constructed an enormous, life-sized 59-foot-tall Gundam statue in Tokyo, following with an updated version earlier this year. China is working on one of it’s own, but don’t tell Namco Bandai. Apparently, a theme park in China’s Szechwan is constructing a slightly smaller Gundam-type statue of its own, in glorious orange.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
Xbox Live Screw-Up Soils Clothes Trading Surprise
Dream Club is a bar girl simulator that allows players to patron a virtual watering hole and chat up chicks. But It’s not only about that for fans, it’s also about the outfits and dressing up their favorite characters. A Xbox Live snafu has mucked up a long-awaited clothes trading surprise. See, it isn’t possible…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
Studio Ghibli Game Will Animate Japanese Sales
Today, the Nintendo DS game from Professor Layton developer Level-5 and My Neighbor Totoro creator Studio Ghibli goes on sale in Japan. How’s it going to do? Well, how do you think it’s gonna do? Level-5 is responsible for several of Japan’s favorite new franchises (like Layton and the soccer role-playing game Inazuma Eleven), while…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
Japanese Net Cafes Are A Wretched Hive Of Scum And Villainy
Internet cafes dot the Japanese urban landscape and offer a moment of pause for regular folks. Ditto for criminals. Sure, internet cafes in Japan have game consoles and DVD players, but they also have showers and private rooms with big reclining chairs for customers to crash on. One chain called “Manboo” even has a nail…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2010 -
The Greatness Of The “Worst” Video Game Movie Maker
He’s one of the most hated men in movies. Critics pan his flicks. Audiences aren’t having it. Gamers loathe him. Heck, a chewing gum maker even wanted him to retire. But is it possible that we’ve all been wrong? This year, Prince of Persia was supposed to be the big Hollywood film that got gaming…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
I Don’t Eat Much Meat These Days
To: Crecente From: Bash Not sure why. I like beef just fine! But I’m only eating it maybe twice a month. Domestic beef is on the pricy side in Japan. People do buy Australian and U.S. beef, but Japanese beef is more popular, I guess. These Japanese steaks are about US$33 for both. Meat can…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
Toast This Zelda Wine Glass Cover
When YouTube user Sp0ntanius covered the tune “Song of Healing” from The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, he didn’t do it with traditional instruments. He did it with wine glasses and water. And he did it with himself. Several Sp0ntaniuses play the tune in a one-man-band and even help each other out by filling their…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
Monster Hunter Juice Is Yellow
Japan’s biggest PSP franchise Monster Hunter Portable is getting a beverage for players to drink and think about hunting monsters. It is yellow. Starting December 17, a Monster Hunter version of Japanese drink Dodekamin is being released in The Land of the Rising Sun. It is laced with honey in a special “hunter blend” and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
The Resident Evil Game With No Story
Horror series Resident Evil is coming to the upcoming Nintendo 3DS with Resident Evil: Revelations and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D. Revelations is only 20 percent done, but The Mercenaries is 70 percent finished. Why is that? Well, probably because The Mercenaries 3D is a Nintendo 3DS port of “The Mercenaries” modes from the past…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
Sex Club Game Has Japanese Players By The Balls
Japanese entertainment company DMM.com offers a whole host of services, like PS3-based movie rental. But what it’s mostly known for is pornography, whether it’s selling adult movie downloads for the PSP or just selling straight-up adult movie downloads. It’s not surprising that DMM.com’s venture into hardcore online gaming is just that, hardcore. Dubbed “Virtual Sex…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
Shenmue Operator In Trouble With The Law
While Facebook might be all the rage in the West, in Japan, it’s all Mobage-Town. The service is attracting big titles like Shenmue and is a hit with players. It’s not a hit with investigators. The site’s operator DeNA is under investigation for unfair competitive practices, Reuters reports. According to Sankei News, this past summer,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
With These Cards, Show Your Po-Po-Po-Pokémon Face
There are Pokémon cards that are used to play the Pocket Monsters card game, and then there are these. And these are magnificent. Nintendo is releasing a set of Pokémon playing cards. There are, of course, a Pokémon Black set and a Pokémon White set, with two Zekrom cards as the Joker for the White…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
GT5’s Toy Car Logos Are “Embarrassing” (And Gone)
Real driving simulator Gran Turismo 5 features an Easter Egg for lovers of model cars. The undercarriage of a GT5 auto sports the logo of die-cast collectible maker AUTOArt. Enjoy it while you can, because that logo will soon be erased. According to Gran Turismo 5 designer Kazunori Yamauchi, the developers collaborated with AUTOArt, receiving…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
For Idols, Even Twitter Following Is Scandalous
Yu Darvish, the half-Japanese half-Iranian pitcher for the Nippon-Ham Fighters, is a popular guy. He’s tall, handsome and a brilliant pitcher. And he’s being followed by Japan’s biggest voice actress. Aya Hirano hit it big with anime otaku in 2006 when she voiced the title character in The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, as well as…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 8, 2010 -
Imagine Men In Tights
To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: In A Big Room With a Lot of TVs There’s aren’t just tights, these are MEN’S TIGHTS. Spotted in the sock aisle this morning. Not just the sock aisle, the MEN’S SOCK AISLE. What you missed last night World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm Is Go Is This The Man To “Clean…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2010 -
Who Is The Mother Of Video Games?
People say Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Mario and more, is the Father of Video Games. If he’s the father, then who’s the mother? Yu Suzuki, creator of titles like Virtua Fighter and Out Run, reckons it’s him. “If Miyamoto was the father of gaming, I suppose that makes me the mother,” Suzuki tells website 1Up.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2010 -
NSFW: Are Lara Croft Models Worth The Trouble?
There is a new Tomb Raider game. It’s an origin game, a chance to reboot not only the series, but the way it’s promoted. According to previously posted reports, no more spokesmodels will be hired to promote the upcoming Tomb Raider, which stars a 21-year-old Croft. This marks a break in how the 15-year-old series…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2010 -
New Samurai Warriors Not Quite Ready For Battle
The upcoming Samurai Warriors 3Z won’t make its intended Japan January release. According to Koei Tecmo, the game was pushed back for added improvements. The delay is one month. The game will be released on February 10 in Japan. Samurai Warriors 3Z is a PS3 version of Wii exclusive Samurai Warriors 3 There is also…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2010 -
Bikini Hug Pillows Make The Best T-Shirts
Japanese magazines are big on the “street snap” — pictures of fashion plates. Many of the street snaps are of regular people with “regular” being a relative term. Here’s a snap of a 21-year-old college student in super-swish Harajuku. As Kotaku Japan is quick to point out, the fellow isn’t wearing a Love Plus t-shirt.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published December 7, 2010
Brian Ashcraft
Brian Ashcraft's posts