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Will Nintendo Release Its Games On, Say, Apple Hardware?
During a Q&A session during a recent investors meeting, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata was asked whether or not Nintendo will be releasing its games on hardware produced by other companies. “Nintendo’s software and hardware are the same thing,” he replied. “Other companies don’t share Nintendo’s values or traditions when it comes to creating devices. We…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
Let’s Guess Mario Creator’s New Game!
Shigeru Miyamoto has created a plethora of game characters and games. Many of his ideas come from his hobbies. He has expressed his desire in making an all-new character. That could mean an all new game. But what? Miyamoto’s game design M.O. is often based on his hobbies. He takes up gardening and makes Pikmin.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
You Should Know One of These Boy Band Members
If you like Clint Eastwood movies, that is. Nintendo has repeatedly roped in Japanese boy band Arashi, which means “storm” in Japanese, to promote its games. The band appeared in television ads for Super Mario Kart Wii, Super Mario Bros. Wii, Super Mario Galaxy 2 and more recently Wii Party Wii Party is Nintendo’s forthcoming…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
Roger Ebert Admits His Mistake
“I was a fool for mentioning video games in the first place,” writes the famed movie critic. “I would never express an opinion on a movie I hadn’t seen.” This past April, Ebert wrote a post titled “Video games can never be art” that carried dogmatic statements like this: “Let me just say that no…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
Will Rampage Jackson Ever Get His Own Video Game?
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson has gone from mixed martial arts to Hollywood, recently playing B.A. Baracus in the A-Team movie. Next up? How about his own video game. Jackson is a gamer and once told ESPN that he had hooked up two original Xboxes in his personal limo just so he could play Halo. “You can’t…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
Now Square Enix Has A Monster Hunter Type Game
In Japan, Capcom’s self-descriptive Monster Hunter series (above, pictured) is enormously popular, selling millions. Namco Bandai has created its own Monster Hunteresque game, the popular God Eater. Now it’s Square Enix’s turn. Dubbed Lord of Arcana, this forthcoming PSP title from Square Enix lets players create customizable warriors that slay large beasts. There are quests,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published July 1, 2010 -
So, I’m Reading Pippi Longstocking
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Snakes in a Yard! Yikes. Snakes, I hate snakes. You asked a few days back if we have limits on Mini-Bash’s tv watching/game playing. We only have one TV in chez Ashcraft, and it’s in the living room. My office is right next to the living room — there is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Are You Good Enough To Write Dragon Quest?
Like Dragon Quest? Want to, perhaps, write Dragon Quest games? Okay, read on. Square Enix is taking job applications for those interested in writing future Dragon Quest games. That could be you! Well, if you live in Japan and are fluent in Japanese. Hopefuls need to submit two writing samples. One is an essay about…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
There Is An Evangelion Motorbike…. VROOM!
You’ve seen the Neon Genesis Evangelion racing car. You’ve seen the Evangelion race queens. And now, you will see the Eva road racing motorcycle. Or part of it. More pictures here According to the Anime News Network, the Evangelion racing team has decorated a Kawasaki ZX-10R superbike to look like the franchise’s EVA-01 unit. Next…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
White Knight Chronicles Ready To Slay PSPs
PS3 role-playing game White Knight Chronicles is coming to the PSP. It currently has the temporary title of “White Knight Chronicles: New Project” (clever!). The game’s concept is being created by Level-5, the studio behind the console games. The game development itself will apparently be handled by Sony Computer Entertainment Japan. From the teaser in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
There Is Another New Yakuza Game (Endless!)
Ack! That’s Goro Majima, a character in Sega’s Yakuza game. He will be the protagonist of Sega’s new Yakuza title. But isn’t the Tokyo-based game company already working on a new Yakuza game? Yes, yes it is. But that game, Yakuza: New Chapter Black Panther is for the PSP. Like previous entries in the series,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Square Enix Honcho Calls World Cup Interview “Deplorable”
Last night, Japan played valiantly against Paraguay. The game was 0-0 after extra time causing the victor to be settled by penalty kicks. Paraguay made all its shots. Japan, however, did not. The player who missed his shot was defender Yuichi Komano. He was the third player to shoot on the Japanese side, and his…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Mafia Wars Getting A Hollywood Movie? Not So Fast…
Casual game Mafia Wars might make movie fodder. Twenty-five million people play it! That doesn’t mean it will in fact be made into a movie. Yet. A report stated that Mafia Wars was being developed into a movie with studio Radar Pictures, which would mean Mafia Wars is the first casual Facebook game to be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Mario Creator Doesn’t Need Your Stinking Money [Update]
Do not fret, Shigeru Miyamoto is rich. How rich? Yesterday, Kotaku sourced a report from Asahi.com that mentioned that the six Representative Directors at Nintendo (Miyamoto included) received a million dollars. The original wording was somewhat unclear as to whether that was for all of them or each. According to Nintendo, it was each. Nintendo…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Report: Foxconn Looking To Open New Plant
In the wake of suicides and international scrutiny, Foxconn Technology is preparing to build…another enormous factory. This year, there have been 12 attempted suicides and ten deaths at Foxconn’s Shenzhen complex. Foxconn manufactures the Xbox 360, the PS3, the Wii, the iPhone and the iPad, among many other devices. USA Today reports that a website…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 30, 2010 -
Look What Appeared On The Wall!
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: A Summer Of Limited Screens About a year ago, we moved out of Osaka City into the mountains. There are lots of strange bugs here! Like this. Mrs. Bashcraft found a kuwagata mushi on the wall in Mini-Bash’s room. Then we had him try to pick up the bug. Look…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2010 -
Smash Bros. Creator On Japan’s Strengths
What is Japan good at? Let’s hear what Super Smash Bros. Brawl creator Masahiro Sakurai has to say. “There’s really a lot of opinions on this and this is just one of those opinions,” Sakurai recently told website Techland. “But, I feel that Japanese game design and game development really isn’t a good match for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2010 -
The PS3’s New Video Editing Tool Is Neato
The new PlayStation 3 firmware has gone live. The big thing might be the addition of Sony’s paid online service PlayStation Plus. The cool thing is the totally free video editing software. A Japanese PS3 owner uploaded a 24MB trailer in 1080p of anime Evangelion to the PS3 in three minutes. Using the video editing…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2010 -
Wii Games Included In Sex Toy, Lingerie Spending Spree
Go ahead, make Wii dick jokes. Cynthia Low, 44, has resigned from her position as a financial assistant at the Oklahoma State University’s chemistry department after using a university, tax-payer-funded credit card to purchase lingerie, sex toys and a Nintendo Wii. According to records, she spent tens of thousands of dollars on these items. An…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2010
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