Brian Ashcraft, Author at Kotaku

Ar Tonelico 3 Goes Underwear Fan Service Silly

Upcoming role-playing-game Ar Tonelico has a new element to its game play system: the option of asking female characters to remove their clothes. Say hello to “undress”. Hello, undress! The newest issue of Famitsu shows that progression. Since Ar Tonelico is a Japanese PS3 game (and not a Japanese PC game), there isn’t any nudity,…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Silent Hill, The Stage Play

Konami’s scary franchise Silent Hill getting a Swedish stage send up. How frightening. Kidding! In the play’s official blog, there are images of the play’s unpainted cardboard props and painted props. Know what is scarier than any Silent Hill stage play? Series musician and producer Akira Yamaoka leaving Konami. Välkommen Till Silent Hill [Official Site…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Modern Warfare 2 Censored In Japan

The Japanese version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 features a discrepancy in the localization — and content, it seems. In the section “No Russian”, the player is told, “Remember, no Russian.” Here, this means “Do not speak Russian,” a plot point for this scene. However, in the Japanese version, this is localized as…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Yakuza 4 Dated For Japan

The latest entry in SEGA’s PS3 exclusive Japanese gangster franchise Ryu Ga Gotoku (Yakuza in the West) has gotten a release date. The underworld title features celebrities like former Morning Musume singer Mari Yaguchi (pictured). The game’s release is March 18, 2010, and it is priced at ¥7,980 — US$90. This past February, Ryu Ga…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

R4 Vending Machine Will Be Removed From Osaka’s Den-Den Town

Earlier this summer, a vending machine selling R4 devices appeared in Osaka’s electronics district, Den-Den Town. The vending machine will be removed from the area. The vending machine came in the wake of a crackdown on R4 cartridges which can be used to play pirated video games. As we posted previously, Nintendo announced that it…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

A Great Final Fantasy Artist Draws Final Fantasy XIII

Yoshitaka Amano, known for his Final Fantasy character and logo designs, did not do character designs for FFXII — but did design the game’s now iconic title. But if he did draw the characters of FFXIII? The characters in Final Fantasy XIII were designed by Tetsuya Nomura, but Amano offers his take on the cast…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Game Voice Actress Received Death Threats

Yurika Ochiai, a voice actress with credits in visual novel ToHeart2 and Konami’s Quiz Magic Academy, has announced on her blog that she is the victim of several death threats against her. She has been notified about threats on seven occasions, and police have even visited her house a number of times. Ochiai has taken…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

DSi Gets Release Date in China, Packed With Nintendogs

China’s iQue, which officially hands Nintendo releases in the territory, will be launching the DSi (iQue DSi) in China on December 15. The game will come pre-loaded with Nintendogs. There will be a line-up of DSiWare titles localized into Chinese, which should correspond with the DSiWare launch line-up in Japan. Players get a 1000 DSiWare…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

Yes, New Resident Evil Movie Is Delayed

Never mind what Milla Jovovich said! It has been confirmed that upcoming 3D Hollywood flick Resident Evil: Afterlife, originally slated for August 27, 2010, will be released on January 14, 2011. Jovovich, the film’s star, tweeted that the movie had not been officially been pushed back, writing, “RE Afterlife IS NOT officially pushed. There have…

By Brian Ashcraft Published December 9, 2009

How Sixth Graders See Video Games Like Metal Gear And Blazing Angels

Graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier asked the 6th graders in the Afterschool Comics Workshop she runs to create a short comic on their favorite video game. The results are amazing. Glad to see those ESRB ratings are working out. Click through the link below for a few more. lifemetercomics: 6th Grade Submissions! [Live Journal via GameSetWatch]