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Kotaku East
This Gaming Mouse Has a Fan. A Spinning Fan. Really.
Taiwanese peripheral maker Thermaltake created this: a gaming mouse with a fan that, and I quote, “blows away your gaming tension and sweat.” Better than just saying “it blows”. Thermaltake’s Element Gaming Mouse Cyclone Edition’s cooling fan is detachable, because, c’mon. The Cyclone Edition is the world’s first pro-gaming mouse with a fan—and probably the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Raw Liver Rush Ends in Stomachaches
Raw liver has long been a delicacy in Japan, but after food poisoning worries, the country’s health ministry decided to ban the raw food. This week, liver lovers have been rushing to restaurants to get their last taste. Four of them ended up ended up ill. According The Mainichi Daily News, four women in Fukuoka…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Nintendo Says More 3DS Models Would “Perplex” Gamers
Right now, there’s one type of 3DS handheld you can buy. This summer, a larger 3DS, called the 3DS XL, will be released. So, you’ll have two options. What about a third option? You know, with the add-on extra circle pad already on board? At a Nintendo meeting today, honcho Satoru Iwata (above, blowing crap…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2012 -
Kotaku East
The Feel Good Fighting Game Story of the Summer
The fighting game community gets a bum rap. Sometimes it’s deserved. Often it’s not. There are good people in the fighting game community. People like Daigo Umehara. People like Osamu Ichikawa. And people like the folks at Shoryuken. Osamu has cerebral palsy, a condition he was diagnosed with when he was one. For his whole…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 28, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Korea’s Silly “Shutdown Law” Might Be Unconstitutional
While the U.S. Supreme Court susses out the constitutionality of health care legislation, South Korea is navigating the legality of its Shutdown Law. As previously mentioned, the Shutdown Law was created to prevent gamers under sixteen from gaming during a six hour block at night so apparently they would sleep (or study?). The law has…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Fifty Bucks? For This Final Fantasy Food? Really?
At the recent Decade of Final Fantasy XI Vana★Fest 2012, Square Enix and gamers celebrated ten years of FFXI. Ten years! That’s quite a milestone and definitely worthy of celebration. This meal, however, isn’t. The above lunch box cost ¥4,000 (US$50), which is shocking to people in pricey Japan. The meal looks like something you…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Attack Civilians, And Sleeping Dogs Will Penalize You in Japan
The Japanese version of Sleeping Dogs has a few country specific edits, such as penalizing players who harm civilians in the game and cutting a scene that shows a person’s exposed organs. [Siliconera via VG247]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This Guy Doesn’t Need Paper to Draw Cute Characters. Sand Will Do.
Manga creator Mine Yoshizaki, best known for Sgt. Frog, recently went to the shore, where he left a sand drawing for all to see. This is it. Yoshizaki first got his start making manga based on video games, before establishing himself as a manga artist. Besides Sgt. Frog, he’s also known for creating characters and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
John Travolta Sure Looks Like a Japanese Manga Character
People age. They get old. Some retain their youthful looks. Others gracefully slide into their golden years. John Travolta? The 58 year-old now resembles a Japanese manga character. Last night, Travolta appeared at the Savages premiere, making out with his wife and seemingly groomed as professional assassin Golgo 13. It’s not just the clothes, it’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Hindu Leader Says Controlling Goddess in Online Game Is “Denigration”
Upcoming free-to-play online game Smite features three Hindu gods: Kali, Vamana and Agni. According to religious leader Rajan Zed, the manner that they are depicted in the game is insensitive to Hindu worshippers. The game, Zed contends, trivializes these highly revered Hindu deities, who are worshipped in temples and home shrines and not simply reduced…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Sony Boss Steps Down from Sony Computer Entertainment
Kaz Hirai, Sony’s CEO, is stepping down as chairman and executive director at SCE. He’ll still be involved in a part-time capacity, however. The decision seems to be so Hirai can focus on running Sony Corp. [Inside Games]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Luigi Has a Bra on His Face
Cannot. Unsee. Reddit user SexyPenguin‘s seven year-old daughter pointed out that Luigi’s mustache looked like a bra. That it does. That it really, really does. No wonder Luigi’s so frightened—you would be too if you had underwear permanently affixed to your face. My friend’s 7 year old daughter told me… [Reddit]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Meet Dead or Alive 5‘s Newest Fighter
This is Rig, the latest fighter to enter the Dead or Alive 5 fray. Not much is known about the new character: He’s from Canada and his fighting style is taekwondo. Voice actor Hiroki Tochi, who has done lots of work with game studio Tri-Ace, will bring Rig to life. The first images of Rig…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Dangerous Game of Real-Life Frogger Almost Ends in Tragedy
Growing up, my parents taught me two things: be polite and don’t play in the street. These two kids in Changde, China might know their Ps and Qs, but it looks like they didn’t get the memo about playing in traffic. Out of what appears to be sheer boredom, the two young children sprint across…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 27, 2012 -
Kotaku EastFour Games, One Cartridge. See Guild01 in Action
Level-5’s newest title, Guild01, is four games in one. Each of the four was made by a famous game creator (or in one case a comedian) and are completely unrelated in every way. The first is Liberation Girl (Kaiho Shojou), a 3D shooter designed by Suda51 that falls along the same lines of Kid Icarus…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published June 26, 2012 -
Kotaku East
How Apple Is More Japanese Than Japan
Apple and its late co-founder Steve Jobs are American success stories. Yet, there isn’t much that’s baseball and apple pie about them. Instead, there is something very Japanese about both. At times, Apple is more Japanese than Japan. Here’s why. When I say Apple is more Japanese than Japan, I’m not talking about the company’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 26, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Report: How Nintendo Might Block Used Dragon Quest X Sales
According to a Japanese game retailer, DQX‘s packaging contains a registration code, which made the retailer speculate that it would be impossible to resale the game. This isn’t confirmation, so stay tuned. [Game Shop 1983]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 26, 2012