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These iDOLM@STER Figures Cannot Sing
That’s okay. They can stand very, very still. They are figurines, you know. That’s what figurines do. Here 15-year-old Chihaya Kisaragi and 14-year-old Iori Minase find themselves immortalized in PVC. They’re from figure maker Mega House and priced at around US$75 each in Japan. Geek heroin is expensive! Originally an arcade game, THE iDOLM@STER is…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Want To Work In The Japanese Gaming Industry? Here’s How
It’s a regular occurrence. Open my email, and time after time, there the question is, staring me in the face: How do I work in Japanese gaming? Heck, I dunno. I don’t work in the game industry, but rather, cover the game industry. If you want to ask me about that, do it. Fire away!…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
This Meat Is So Raw, So Red And Oh So Meaty
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Death By Fire Alarm Best thing about living close to Kobe? Kobe beef. De-licious. What you missed last night Venezuelan Politicians Trying To Ban Violent Video Games Evony Devs Sound A Bit Iffy Tearing The PS3 Slim To Pieces, Just To See What Its Insides Look Like Sega: Yes, Bayonetta…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Ad: “Japanese Women Are Frightening”
Developer Tecmo has tongue planted firmly in cheek for this Ninja Gaiden Σ 2 spot that is a send off of a Japanese shampoo ad. Tecmo uses the tag line "The women of Japan are frightening" (日本の女性は、恐ろしい。) as it shows the lovely ladies of Σ: 2 slicing up bad dudes. The phrasing is a parody…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Square Enix Doesn’t See PS3 Price Cut Impact This Year
……but the company sees a big impact next year. When does Final Fantasy XIII come out again? Oh right, this winter. According to Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada, the cheaper US$299 PS3 will spur game sales, but not enough for the company to revise this year’s financial forecast. “In terms of the impact (the PS3…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Is Capcom Working On A New Okami?
In 2006, former Capcom subsidiary Clover Studios released the critically acclaimed PS2 title Okami, or 大神 in Japanese. The game’s title, Okami, is a Japanese pun: Written as 大神 in Japanese kanji, okami means “god”, but “okami” written as 狼 means “wolf”. The main character of the game is a manifestation of the god Amaterasu…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Square Enix Answer Final Fantasy VII Remake Question
Square Enix has remade numerous games in its back catalogue. One title that it hasn’t remade just yet is Final Fantasy VII. At the Gamescom convention in Germany, website VG247 asked Square Enix producers Yoshi Kitase and Motomu Toriyama about the possibility of a FFVII remake. The translator replied: There’s not official project that’s up…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Ryu Ga Gotoku 4 Bar Hostess Voting Has Ended
One more audition to go! SEGA has been running an online poll for upcoming PS3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 4, allowing folks to vote for their favorite candidate. There have been over 30,000 votes cast. The front runner has been adult video actress Rio. The 22 year-old thespian is known for her work in blue…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Japanese Store No Longer Buying Old Xbox 360 Consoles
This sign was spotted in front of a Japanese game shop and states that the store will no longer be buying back used Xbox 360s that went on sale before August 2007. The poster tells customers how they can check the serial number on their machine’s date. The store will buy Xbox 360s will the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
BlazBlue, iDOLM@STER Voice Actress Moonlights As Pin-Up Model
In Japan, voice actresses aren’t just voice actresses. They’re voice actress idols. Take Chiaki Takahashi — she’s in a candy-coated pop band and poses for pin-up pics. For many Japanese fans, it is important that voice actresses are as cute as the characters they portray. Takahashi has done loads of anime voice work as well…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Bungie Won’t Say If Halo: Reach Is The Studio’s Last Halo
Last month, Bungie senior designer Lars Bakken said that Halo: Reach would be the studio’s last Halo title. “In terms of Bungie-produced Halo games,” the designer stated, “ODST and then Reach is probably all you’re going to get.” Microsoft subsidiary 343 Industries is poised to take over the series after the release of first-person-shooter Halo:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Did Final Fantasy Artist Draw 2ch Bear Character?
There were four 2ch Japanese-style ASCII art characters that folks voted on. The most popular selection was drawn by Final Fantasy and Vampire Hunter D artist Yoshitaka Amano. The winning character? ASCII art character Yaruo. Below is Amano’s take on Yaruo. An exhibition of Amano’s art is being held in Tokyo’s Omotesando Hills until August…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
This Is What A Gundam Wedding Looks Like
Heres comes the bride. And the giant mecha. Earlier this week, Japanese wedding planner T&G planned wedding ceremony for one lucky couple, selected from 548 entries last month. The two were married previously and stated that the Gundam series had been a tremendous influence in their lives. They even named they’re new baby girl after…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 26, 2009 -
Comparing Gran Turismo 5 Locations With Real Locations
Realism is a keystone of the Gran Turismo franchise. Those in-game cars are so close to the actual machines that GT is more driving simulator, less driving game. But how do the real life locations stack up? The lighting and perspective don’t always stack up in the comparison screens, but the in-game shoots look accurate.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
Sony: Only One PS3 Wand Controller Necessary
At E3, Sony demoed its new wand controller. Actually, Sony demoed two of them. That doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have to buy two of them, though. “The ultimate goal or wish for us is if you have two controllers,” says Sony exec Shuhei Yoshida, “like we demoed at E3, we can do something really amazing.”…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
Look! The Sunflower Did Not Die.
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Back From Germany When summer vacation began, Mini-Bash was given a sunflower by his teacher. His homework: Don’t let the thing die. Well, summer vacation is about over, and the sunflower is not dead. Mini-Bash successfully got the flower to bloom. He watered it every morning and even talked to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
Wii Sports Resort Sells A Million in America, Ditto for Europe
Not only has Wii Sports Resort broken the million mark in Japan, but it’s also done the same in both the United States and Europe. People love their Wii Sports Resort. Not only has the game sold a million copies, but the Wii MotionPlus add-on has racked up a total of two million in sales…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
How’s That Dragon Ball Online MMORPG Coming Along?
Well, it’s got a soaring theme song, that’s for sure. Bulma in a bikini, too. Dragon Ball Online takes place 200 years after the manga’s end, when an organization has divided up the world, which players set out to reunite. What’s more, players start off as kids, grow into adults and can select any of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
See Bayonetta Played With One Hand
Action title Bayonetta can be played with two hands or one. Convenient! In the clip below, the game’s character designer Mari Shimazaki tests out the one-button automatic mode. “Automatic can be used on Easy and Very Easy difficulties,” explains Bayonetta designer Hideki Kamiya, “and leaves the most complex controls up to the CPU.” Use only…
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009 -
Tetris, The Haircut
As seen on Walyou.
By Brian Ashcraft Published August 25, 2009
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