Brian Ashcraft

Today I Am 31

To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Public Daze Just like Baskin Robbins. You know that they’ve got Baskin Robbins in Japan, but nobody calls it Baskin Robbins, but rather, 31? Probably because the sign has “Baskin Robbins” in English and “31” written in katakana. Fascinating! Anyway, off to eat my birthday cake. Yum, yum, gimme some.…

You’re Confused About Metal Gear? Hideo Kojima Is Confused, Too

Let’s be honest here, the Metal Gear Solid saga is hard to follow. Fascinating and intricate, sure, but like a daytime soap with clones, nanomachines and mechas. Don’t worry if you are baffled at times. Series creator Hideo Kojima gets baffled, too, scratching his noggin while figuring out plot points. “I personally get confused too…

Hong Kong Hosting PS3 Slim Launch Party

That’s right, the steaming metropolis will having be a big bash for the new Sony console. Look, shirtless man! Sony HK is having a launch party in Causeway Bay, which is one of Hong Kong‘s major shopping areas. The event is on August 31 and starts at 6pm and will run past midnight on September…

How Much Does The PS3 Slim Really Cost? (In Japan, That Is…)

Well, it is cheaper, but is it cheaper? Sony shaved off more than the price for its new PlayStation 3, the PS3 Slim. Japanese news site Get News did some number crunching — your mileage may very. Let’s dive in: • PS3 Slim = ¥29,980 (US$318) • PS3 Slim + Game = ¥36,980 ($394) •…

Thanks For the Mammaries, Queen’s Blade

This December, Namco Bandai is releasing Queen’s Blade Spiral Chaos and bringing a handful of gaming to the PlayStation Portable. Two more fighters have been announced for the title: Curvy Cattleya and mountainous Melpha. Queen’s Blade is originally a Lost Worlds style “combat picture book game” and has been published in Japan for the last…

Iranian Gaming Makes Gamescom Appearance

Trade body Iran National Foundation of Computer Games has a booth at the Gamescom event in Cologne, Germany, showcasing the latest games developed domestically in Iran. “We are using this event to promote what is happening in the Iranian games industry,” Amir Tarbyatjoui, who is managing the booth at Gamescom, told the BBC. “We believe…

Paul McCartney And… Pilotwings

Beatle Paul McCartney has done extraordinary things like writing classic tunes, making gobs of cash and being knighted by the Queen. He’s also done regular things, too. He’s a regular dude, too, you know. “I have a son who’s 30, so he’s a big gamer, he gamed through a lot of the early stuff,” McCartney…

Independent Xbox LIVE Game Banned For “Visual Sexual Assault Reminders”

And Yet, I Love You, an indie game developed for Xbox LIVE Indie Games Marketplace, has been pulled for being “too erotic”. The text heavy visual novel was developed by Japanese independent dev Naoki Sagawa and contains no actual sex scenes. It is not an adult game. Sagawa was contacted by Microsoft Europe who stated…

PS3 Getting 2D Hero In 3D Game

Imagine 2D graphics in a 3D game. Japanese developer Silicon Studio has done that with upcoming PS3 action role-playing-game exclusive 3D Dot Games Heroes. The game uses voxel volume element to depict the game world in three dimensions. As game site Insert Credit points out, this isn’t a console first: SEGA Saturn shooter Amok did…

Your Pokemon Card Game Championship Winners Are…

As seen on Famitsu.

The Xbox 360 Bar Girl Maid Mobile

Bar girl maid karaoke drinking game Dream C Club has been released on the Xbox 360 in Japan. It’s getting so-so reviews. Whatever! Check out this Dream C Club car with cosplaying maids. Review this, Famitsu. GAMESマーヤがピュア色に！ ホストガールも登場した『ドリクラ』体験会!! [Dengeki]

Resident Evil: Afterlife Movie Gets New Release Date

Even since the Resident Evil: Afterlife flick was announced, the release of the movie has been pegged as September. Star Milla Jovovich has said that countless times. According to Jovovich, Anderson has been busying himself by boning up on every 3D film that’s ever been made. “Especially for a movie like this,” the actress adds,…

No Dreaming For Me Sleepy Head!

To: Totilo From: Bashcraft RE: Do You Dream Of Kotaku? Hrm. I don’t think I dream at all. Like nothing. Blackness. Empty, empty blackness. What you missed last night Photographer: PS3 Slim Campaign “Happily Ripped Me Off” PS3 Slim Ad Copies Photographs, Features Rumored Drug Users GRIN Were Working On A Final Fantasy Game Transformers…

Photographer: PS3 Slim Campaign “Happily Ripped Me Off”

Back in 2002, artist Phil Toledano did a photo series of the different faces gamers make while playing. Now in 2009, Sony is doing the same. About his original photos, Toledano said this, “I wanted to take portraits of people that would reveal a hidden part of their character. So I had them play video…

And This Is The Guild Wars 2 Trailer

Guild Wars 2, upcoming MMORPG from developer ArenaNet, has a trailer. You should watch it. Back in February, ArenaNet’s Mike O’Brien pointed out in an open letter that Guild Wars 2 never had a firm release date attached to it, so there really was no delay regarding the title’s fluid release date, as many gaming…

Final Fantasy XIV Clip Smorgasbord

Square Enix is bringing MMO Final Fantasy XIV to the PC and the PS3 in 2010. At Gamescom, the company showed off footage of the title. Besides tech demos, there are clips of the game in action on the show floor. Check ’em out. Video Games | Final Fantasy XIV Online | GC 09: Character…

World of Warcraft: The Magazine

The title is self-explanatory. But here are the details: Publisher Future has teamed up with WoW developer Blizzard Entertainment for quarterly title World of Warcraft: The Magazine. Available in English, French, German and Spanish, the publication is sold via subscription only through World of Warcraft Account Management or from the mag’s official site. The magazine…

Want To Know This Lady’s Name? [Update]

Remember that long-haired lady? The one in recent Final Fantasy XIII trailers with eye-catching glasses? She has a name, you know. Her name is Jill Nabato, and she’s not only a Lieutenant Colonel, but a “cruel-hearted” baddie. But, hey, nice glasses! Update: The official English spelling has been released: Jihl Nabaat. Another Final Fantasy XIII…

If The PS3 Is A Formula 1 Racer, What Is Xbox 360? The Wii?

According to this Japanese news show, the Xbox 360 is an expensive foreign car. The Wii? It’s a go-kart. Look at that kid! He’s gonna have a blast. Courtesy of Japanese television. Thank you, Japanese television.

Does Uncharted 2’s Kathmandu Look Like Kathmandu?

Comparison time! Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is set in numerous locations including Nepal’s Kathmandu. So let’s see how Uncharted 2‘s Kathmandu stacks up with, I dunno, Kathmandu! チラシの裏でゲーム鈍報:『アンチャーテッド２』 VS カトマンズの実写風景 [チラシの裏でゲーム鈍報]