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Close Up With Kinect’s Purple Boxes
Did you know that Microsoft’s controller-free Kinect games come in purple cases instead of the green Xbox 360 ones? Would you like to see the cases up close? Better yet, would you like to see an entire wall of them? Here you go! A wall of purple Kinect cases. On your computer screen. Amazing. Kinect…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
Why Are Consoles Banned In China?
Video game consoles are illegal in China. Ironically, the Wii, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 are Chinese made. And there is a flourishing PC gaming culture. There has to be a reason for this ban. Turns out, there is. “Consoles have been banned in China since the year 2000,” Lisa Hanson from market researcher…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
Would You Buy This Arcade Cabinet?
Chrome-plated dash. Aluminum and rubber wheels. Painted racing strips. This isn’t a sports car, but a luxury arcade cabinet. French luggage and leather-goods maker Pinel & Pinel has created this “Arcade 80’s Trunk”. There are 51 colors of calfskin to choose from, and even the option of either crocodile and shagreen skins. Sporting a 1080p…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
Fighting Real Street Fighters
As seen at EVO 2010 by slash5150’s SmugMug.
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 15, 2010 -
This Photo Brought Memories Flooding Back
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Monkeys I can clearly remember 1989, getting excited to see Batman, buying Upper Deck baseball cards and playing lots of Nintendo games. The 1980s were a great time to grow up. What you missed last night To Build A Nintendo, You Needed Cigarettes, Robots And Nice Japanese Ladies Joe Danger…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
These Are Not The Colorful Slime Drinks You Think They Are
You’d think that a Slime drink in a blue bottle would be blue. Or one in an orange-red bottle would be orange-red. You are wrong. The drinks come in two flavors: blue Hoimi Cider and orange Mera Tropical. Priced at ¥284 ($3.25), the drinks went on sale earlier this month in Japan and come with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
Defense: King of Fighters Voice Actress’s Stalker Wasn’t Stalking!
In summer 2009, an unemployed 27-year-old man was arrested back for apparently stalking and defaming voice actress Haruna Ikezawa. As previously posted, the defendant, Hiroshi Sasaki, wrote defamatory comments on the voice actress’s homepage and repeatedly send messages asking for a personal meeting, telling the voice actress to “come by herself” to Morioka City, where…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
Large Kinect Kiosk Sets Up Shop In Mall
This month, Microsoft is rolling out Kinect demo booths at malls across the country. Malls like Minnesota’s Mall of America. And a bunch of Macy’s. The demo booth at the Mall of America kind of like a Winnebago! Which would not look entirely out of place at the Mall of America. This kiosk opens this…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
What Do Japanese Developers Think Of The Nintendo 3DS?
And not *just* Japanese developers, but some of the biggest names in the business. The upcoming issue of Japanese game Famitsu has collected the thoughts of various game illuminates as they discuss Nintendo’s upcoming 3d-glasses-free Nintendo 3DS. Via games sites 1Up and Andria Sang, have a look: Atsushi Inaba (Bayonetta, MadWorld) “I’m being struck with…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
Report: So Far, The Top Twenty Selling Games Of 2010 In Japan Are…
This year isn’t over. I checked the calendar, and it still said “2010”. Right now, we are at the half-way point. This could not be a better time to look at the top twenty selling games of 2010! Game magazine Famitsu has drawn up a list of the top twenty sellers for the first part…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
To Build A Nintendo, You Needed Cigarettes, Robots And Nice Japanese Ladies
Once upon a time, Nintendo made its home consoles in Japan, and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto was not a millionaire. Here is a look back on that time. A then 37-year-old Shigeru Miyamoto and his yellow socks sit at desk, adorned with comic books, a remote-controlled car and a Princess Peach doll he purchased in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
This Okami Statue Would Be At Home On Your Mantle
Don’t like cute, hate to cuddle? Then this Amaterasu from Okami as a collectible polystone statue. Classy! Retailing ¥15,540 (US$175), the statue will be shown off at the 2010 Tokyo Toy Show. The work does seem to echo the vibe from the game’s original box art. Look, but don’t touch. Okami was developed by Capcom’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
Xbox 360 Hostess Game Coming To PSP
Raise your glasses, because that boozing-and-bar girl game Dream Club is making the leap from the Xbox 360 to the PSP. According to the upcoming issue of Japanese magazine Famitsu, Dream Club on the PSP is a port and will have downloadable content. It will also be possible to hold the PSP vertically while playing…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 14, 2010 -
Falling Down
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Fat Lip From Fat Head Fat lip? Man, I tumbled down the stairs this morning while taking out the trash, skinning my knee BAD. I saw blood! Some guy asked me if I was okay, and I said, “I’m fine.” (Do not worry, it is now covered by Ultra-man band-aids!)…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
Which Version Of Deus Ex: Human Revolution Should You Buy?
Sci-fi game Deus Ex: Human Revolution will be released on the Xbox 360, the PS3 and the PC. There choices, so choose wisely, right? Nope! Relax Human Revolution producer David Anfossi told website VG247, “For Deus Ex, we decided to work on all platforms in parallel to give players the same experience.” Anfossi told the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
A Bullet Hell Shooter Character To Cuddle
Who wants a hug? Who? You? Aya Shameimaru from doujin bullet shooter Touhou Project is getting immortalized as a plush toy. Priced at ¥3,500 ($39), the 250mm tall toy will be available later this month at the Wonder Festival figure event. Anime & Figures: Touhou Project Shameimaru Aya plush by Gift [Neko Magic]
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
Another Chanbara Movie Ditches Cowboy Hat (And Clothes)
Those hack-and-slash Onechanbara video games have been made into motion pictures that, like the games, mix violence and titillation. A spin-off Chanbara movie goes straight to the titillation. Out on home video this month in the West, Chanbara Striptease is what you’d expect from a movie called Chanbara Striptease. Though, the original Japanese title “Oppai…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010 -
A Nerdy Wedding Ring (Full Of Memories)
Ray Arifianto, who works on the Xbox Platform team at Microsoft, is getting married. He’s got the nerdiest wedding ring to prove it. While his blushing bride is not a gamer or a nerd for that matter, she is totally cool with the idea of getting hitched with one. “So cool,” Ray writes, “that she…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 13, 2010
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