Kotaku East

Here’s the trailer for Gero Blaster, the upcoming iOS game from Cave Story‘s creator.

Confessions of a Female Cosplayer’s Secret Boyfriend

I have a confession to make: I am dating a cosplayer. You’ll never know exactly which one, because I am a secret boyfriend. And because I am a secret boyfriend, I can’t tell you my name or hers. This is probably an issue that most of you know nothing about because—like me—it’s a secret. Yet…

Phantasy Star Online 2 for the Vita is as Good as the PC Version

Back before the release of Phantasy Star Online 2 on the PC, one of its main selling points was that it would eventually be released on the PlayStation Vita as well. Now, nearly a year after the game’s PC launch, this has finally come to pass. And while the Vita version of the game remains…

This Isn’t Just a Plastic Model, It’s Also a Sex Toy

When you think of plastic models, you probably think about cutting out parts from those leftover frames (called “sprues”). Painting said parts. Then, putting the kit together to make a robot, a car, or an airplane. You probably do not think of sex toys. As Kotaku Japan points out, this plastic model kit isn’t your…

In South Korea, There’s Already a Line for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

A short line, mind you. Just three dudes. But a very heroic line. It’s no secret that StarCraft is very much a thing in South Korea—and has been for some time. So it should not be surprising to see some of the country’s StarCraft diehards already in line for the game’s upcoming expansion These three…

Nearly 20 Years After its Release, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie is Still the Best Fighting Game Movie I Have Ever Seen

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about the connection between games and anime and how as a young gamer I would eagerly watch any game adaptation I could get my hands on. Sometimes (many times) I wound up entering a world of disappointment. However, other times I would come across a…

If Studio Ghibli Made Pixar Films, They’d Look Like This

Studio Ghibli still uses traditional animation techniques. You know, hand-drawn. And while it did loan out Totoro—well, a plush toy version—from My Neighbor Totoro to Pixar’s computer boffins for Toy Story 3, don’t look to Studio Ghibli to go all digital anytime soon. But if Studio Ghibli does, its characters would probably look something like…

Hacking the Japanese Voices Back into the Games

Let’s face it, over the years there have been some pretty terrible English dubs of Japanese games. Moreover, these horrible dubs often replace an excellent Japanese voice cast. Now while there is nothing wrong with liking your Japanese games in English with English voices, have you ever wished you could just play some of your…

Why South Korean Gamers Are So Pissed about SimCity

Upset about the rocky SimCity rollout? Take heart. You are not alone. Gamers in South Korea are also not happy campers. But it’s not just due to the inability to play. Here’s what happened: When South Korean gamers couldn’t connect to servers, the official SimCity Korean Facebook page called out the country for piracy. You…

Oh My, How the Pokémon Anime Has Changed

The Pokémon anime debuted on Japanese television what seems like ages ago. The year 1996 is a distant memory. But last night, it came flooding back. As previously mentioned, Ash’s Charizard is returning to the Pokémon animated series as a regular character, er, Pocket Monster. What last night’s episode illustrated was just how different the…

After Over 13 Years, Ash’s Charizard Returns to the Pokémon Anime

Ash’s Charizard is back. That’s right, because tonight on Pokémon: Best Wishes!, Pocket Monster trainer Ash once again got his Charizard. Fans of the anime will know that this Charizard is the fifth Pokémon Ash nabbed, and tonight’s episode, told partly in flashbacks, gave the Pocket Monster’s backstory. The Charizard became Ash’s most powerful, but…

Here’s What Japanese People Are Saying About The PS4

Sony announced the PlayStation 4 last month to much fanfare and a complete lack of an actual console. The stone has been cast and now we get to see the ripples. Japanese gaming magazine, Weekly Famitsu conducted a questionnaire between February 22nd and February 26th, where they asked Japanese game fans for their thoughts and…

Square Enix Producer Says It’s Time To Say Goodbye to “Social Games”

There’s nothing wrong with social games, m’kay? Social games are fine. But maybe it’s time to ditch that moniker. According to Takehiro Ando, a mobile game producer at Square Enix, recently did a post on Famitsu titled “Sayonara Social Games”, that might not be a bad idea. Social games are suffering from some bad PR.…

Unexpected Wii U Error Is Preventing Access to Online Beta and Firmware Updates In Japan

Error Code 105-3102. That’s apparently what some Japanese users have been running into when trying to access Nintendo’s e-shop on their Wii U. Not just the e-shop, but as prolific youtube video poster MEGUMIbernadette (who previously posted a video on the long load times of the Wii U) demonstrates in her video, attempting to update…

This Isn’t Bad Fashion Photoshop, But Damn, It’s Close

In Japan, it’s become a rite of passage. For years now, the country’s youth have piled into sticker picture machines at their local arcades and snapped photos with friends. But times change, and so do trends. As the years go by, sticker picture companies must keep pace. That’s led to some unflattering photos. Almost a…

Sixty year-old Shigeru Miyamoto tells GameSpot it’s “strange” not to think about retirement. It is if you are Miyamoto!

A Truly Bizarre Domino’s Pizza Commercial

Hello, everyone! This is Scott. Scott Oellkers. He’s the president of Domino’s Pizza Japan, and he’s here to totally weird you out. If you don’t know who Hatsune Miku is, Scott will tell you all about the virtual idol—and tell you about how Domino’s Pizza is teaming up with Miku for a new iTunes app…

This is like Paperboy, but better (and with magnets!) [via IT Media]

Rumor: Sony Aiming for 16 Million PlayStation 4 Consoles for This Year

According to Taiwan’s Digitimes, sources at the PS4’s component makers are saying the plan is to begin shipping the PS4 this August, so it can arrive in stores by the end of the year. Foxconn and Pegatron Technology will apparently assemble the console for Sony, and the goal is to have an annual shipment of…

Meet Some of Japan’s Stupidest Twitter Users

Twitter sure is fun. It’s a great way to get information and communicate with others. It’s also a platform for people to be really, really stupid. Sometimes people forget that their tweets aren’t being broadcast to just their friends, but the whole world. Japan isn’t unique in having stupid folks online. Wherever there are people…