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Kotaku East
Video Games Killing Off Violent Japanese Biker Gangs?
In the past, the mainstream media’s M.O. has been: If there’s a shooting, blame video games; if kids are having problems, blame video games; if someone farts, blame video games. Like heavy metal and rap music before it, video games are an easy—and often, misunderstood—target. Yet, a recent report fingers video games (among other things)…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 19, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Mr. Honda. The Comic Book.
So my eldest son, who is 8, loves reading biographies. But most of the biographies he checks out from the library are in manga form. He’s read about John F. Kennedy, Babe Ruth, and Honda founder Soichiro Honda—all in manga form. Since he loves cars, he really, really liked reading about Soichiro Honda. The manga…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Why You Don’t Want Realistic Anime Characters. Ever.
Cosplayers are often criticized for using too much Photoshop for studio pics. Eyes are made slightly bigger, waistlines are made smaller, and the end result doesn’t reflect reality. Yet, they do—just an idealized human reality. Then, there’s cosplayer Hiiro, who’s been going bananas with Photoshop and mixing human features with anime ones. In the photos,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku EastFourteen Minutes in a Terrifying Mental Ward
Written and directed by No More Heroes mastermind Goichi Suda and part of a popular horror series, it’s still a mystery why Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was never released outside of Japan. Maybe it’s because it didn’t fit the Wii’s family friendly image, or maybe Fatal Frame III didn’t sell as…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku EastDoes this Sony Game Look Better or Worse?
Sony’s Gravity Rush is one of the PS Vita’s most interesting titles. But like most games, it wasn’t made overnight. These things take time! Above is a 2008 concept trailer from when the game was called Gravité I love looking at concept trailers to see how the final product stacks up. Sometimes the games end…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Does this RPG Carry Its Own Weight?
When one great RPG was released only in Japan, people were annoyed. When two great RPGs were released only in Japan, they became legitimately upset. But when three great RPGs were denied to them, they got organized. This was the birth of Operation Rainfall, a public—and as it turns out completely successful—petition to get these…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Foreigners Come for the Giant Wooden Dick
This past weekend, there was another Shinto fertility festival in Japan. This one, the Honen Matsuri (Harvest Festival), was just north of Nagoya at the Tagata Shrine. These festivals do have religious connotations, and recently, more and more foreigners are showing up. According to Chukyo TV, the Honen Matsuri has been getting more coverage abroad,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Japan’s Craziest Religious Game to Ascend Again
In El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron you are guided by a pre-fall Lucifer who carries a cell phone with God on his speed dial. Inspired by the Old Testament’s Book of Enoch, you star as Enoch himself, a human called to heaven in order to help God round up seven fallen angels in order…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
When NBA 2K Online Isn’t About Basketball, But Girls
China loves basketball. Fans stay up all night to watch NBA games. They adore the sport. So you’d think NBA 2K Online, the online version of NBA 2K, would be an easy sell. So why the ladies? The game’s Chinese operator, Tencent, aggressively promoting the game with girls in the bikinis, thigh-high socks, and hats.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku EastPretty Girl Eats “Disgusting Meat”
The Wii has a family friendly image to the point where you almost expect every Wii game to be appropriate for all ages. Sure there are games like House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld, but they are rarities. Who would expect any kind of questionable content in a Zelda-esque adventure game? And then Pandora’s…
By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
When a Normal Lady Chases After Nerds
There are single male geeks. There are female geeks. They’d probably make good couples. But what about when a non-nerd chases after geeks? A recent news program on TV Asahi’s Super J Channel detailed just that. In it, Kayo Tanaka, 31, said she was keen to get married. All her friends have been getting married,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 16, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This English Text Book Is Cruel
Often, you see incorrect English in Japan. It doesn’t look natural. This might be due to a mistranslation or incorrect word choice. Sometimes you see stuff that’s totally correct—perfect. And then there’s this: correct, but oh so cruel. The English corresponds exactly with the Japanese—much to the amusement of many online in Japan. This excerpt…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
You Could Kill That Dragon Easily, If You Just Paid For A Decent Weapon
Samurai & Dragons is an online fantasy game for the PS Vita from Sega. The game system is divided into 3 parts: dungeon exploring, territory development, and territory expansion. A somewhat standard game system with, er, unique art, what makes Samurai & Dragons different is that it will be completely free to play. Weekly Famitsu…
By Toshi Nakamura Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Lupin the Third, The Hell Are You Doing with That Car?
Lupin from Japanese anime Lupin the Third drives a Fiat 500 in the classic flick Lupin the Third: Castle of Cagliostro. The car is very much part of the character’s lore. No wonder Fiat launched a special limited edition Lupin Fiat 500 in 2008. That’s easy to get your head around! This? Less so. Suzuki…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
The Beautiful (and Bloody) Cosplay of Saki Hanamura
Her work is idyllic at times. At other times, it’s risqué and racy. And then it can be downright gory. Say hello to Saki Hanamura. Hanamura is one of Japan’s most well known cosplayers and has appeared in photo discs with a variety of different cosplayers. Her work is equally as varied. “I like mysterious…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
Is Konami Going To Recall Your Girlfriend?
Konami’s New Love Plus is a remake/upgrade of the virtual girlfriend dating game Love Plus, and was released to much fanfare this past Valentine’s Day. As a remake, the game allowed players of the original to import their save data to continue their virtual relationships, and as an upgrade, the game incorporated the 3DS’s capabilities…
By Toshi Nakamura Published March 15, 2012 -
Kotaku East
This $400 Steel Battalion Bundle Doesn’t Include a Tank
It does include a jacket, helmet cap, and bag like Steel Battalion character W. Powers sports in the game. There’s also the game’s soundtrack and a book, too. All yours for ¥35,000 or US$420 via Capcom’s online shop for a limited time. イーカプコン限定で [4Gamer]
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 15, 2012