- Kotaku East
For the PS Vita, It’s a Long Hard Road Back to China
The Playstation Vita was released last week in the US and while Sony hasn’t released sales numbers for any region other than Japan, it is evident that China’s “gray market” dealers are stocking up on Vita systems, games and accessories. One vendor Kotaku spoke with in Beijing recommended the Vita over the 3DS and suggested…
By Eric Jou Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
This Fruit Costs Twelve Bucks. Just This.
In Japan, “omimai” (お見舞い) is when you visit folks in the hospital. My mother-in-law broke her back, so we’ve been several times. But it’s not only family members—like elsewhere, friends and extended family visit, too. My brother-in-law’s company sent a huge dekopon fruit basket, as well as cookies and cakes. My mother-in-law then divided up…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Uncategorized
Meet the Chinese Company Who’s Fighting Apple
There’s a legal brouhaha going down. Proview Shenzhen is trying to stop Apple from selling the iPad in China, where it’s made. It’s even filing suit in California, where the iPad is designed. Previously, Kotaku reported that Proview, which developed an “iPad” desktop computer years ago, felt deceived by Apple’s agreement and is trying to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
Now You Can Get Lost in the Sky
On Feb. 27th, Atlas opened its official site for the upcoming 3DS game, Etrian Odyssey IV Denshou no Kyosin (Collosus of Tradition). The website currently has an introductory page, character page, and a systems page—all of which will be further updated soon. Along with the series’ original system of mapping your own route to explore…
By Toshitaka Tachibana Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
Xbox Booth Babes Bundled Up with Scarfs and Sweaters
Say what you want about Xbox Japan—how it struggles and has a rough time—but one thing it does better than any other Japanese operation is dress its event companions. It’s not that Xbox event companions wear super revealing outfits, but rather, that they wear sensible outfits they feel comfortable in. That, as Xbox Japan told…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
The Three Biggest Gaming Companies You’ve Never Heard Of!
The Big Three, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are names that almost every gamer recognizes. However, in China there are three companies that are just as big as those, and you probably have never heard of them before. Tencent, NetEase, and Shanda, three major Chinese companies that are expanding their reach beyond China. Combined, they capture…
By Eric Jou Published February 27, 2012 -
Kotaku EastUnboxing Nerdy Stuff. In the Bathtub.
In my day, I’ve seen loads of unboxing videos—you know, those clips in which people remove products from, well, their boxes. I thought the strangest one I’d ever see depicted shirtless fat men unboxing Skyrim. I was wrong. This is YouTube user Nervli (aka Melonpan). He unboxes otaku stuff in this bathtub. However, I worry…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
An Elevator TO SPACE
If you thought you were going to have to wait until 2307 for Gundam 00 style space elevators, good news! You might only have to wait until 2050. That is, if a Tokyo-based company gets its way. Obayashi Corp. hopes to construct an operational elevator, able to whisk passengers 36,000km above Earth. According to the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
How One Photographer Conquered Chinese Cosplay
A few weeks ago Kotaku showed you some cosplay photos from photographer Mengjie Luan. Meng, a 29 year-old web editor, has been snapping off pictures of Chinese cosplayers over the last 5 years. Meng sat down with me last week to show off some of his photos and to talk about the Chinese cosplay community.…
By Eric Jou Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
Mass Effect Explained with Cute Schoolgirls
As far as space operas go, Mass Effect‘s storyline isn’t *that* hard to follow. But if you are a latecomer to the series, you might need a primer. So what better way than with Asari schoolgirls wearing sailor uniforms? Japan’s Dengeki Online is serializing the manga, which is titled “Teach me! Professor Mordin!”. Drawn by…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
Unusual Anime Promises Unusual PSP Game
Bakemonogatari, the famous anime series based on novels by Nishio Ishin, will have its own PSP game, Bakemonogatari Portable, released in Japan this August. There’s a limited edition version with its own PSP case, a DVD and CD with bonus content, and a special booklet with gaming info. Aiming to keep the anime series’ unique…
By Toshitaka Tachibana Published February 27, 2012 - Kotaku East
Fake iPhone Gas Stoves Seized in China
Apple makes a lot of different things, such as laptops, displays, and phones. It does not make gas stoves—regardless if the Apple logo and iPhone brand seem to indicate otherwise. I know better, you know better, and the Chinese government knows better. On Feb. 23 in Wuhan, authorities raided a warehouse with stacks of green…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 -
UncategorizedBrazilians Shake Their Asses to Mario
Brazil’s Carnival parades are some of the biggest, and certainly the danciest shindigs on Earth. Especially when they draft the Mushroom Kingdom in to help out. Reader Marcelo sends us these clips taken over the weekend in the Rio suburb of Santa Teresa, as a Mario-themed posse shakes their way down the streets. I’ve seen…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 27, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Very Best In Cosplay: Beethy
Our running focus on the very best in cosplay is not, as some may have noticed, just looking at models/costume builders. We’ve also been looking at the people behind the camera, like LJinto and Eric Ng Or, in today’s case, Australian photographer Benjamin “Beethy” Koelewijn. Beethy has most recently been taking snaps of the new,…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 27, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Dog from the Oscars Also Works for Nintendo
This month is Responsible Pet Owners Month. And to mark it, Nintendo hired Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier from The Artist, as its official spokesdog. This month is also the Academy Awards. During last night’s Oscar presentation, Uggie was on stage as The Artist won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He donned a bowtie…
By Brian Ashcraft Published February 27, 2012 -
UncategorizedMinecraft, now With 100% Added Salt
Bashir Sultani, who in all seriousness I am about to label a salt artist, likes to draw things using salt. Like Minecraft creepers. We saw him last year going all Modern Warfare on us, but I think I like this better. It’s quainter. Which fits, since the dude is drawing pictures with salt. Which is…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 27, 2012 - Uncategorized
The Anatomy of Amazing LEGO Pokémon
LEGO builder Mike Nieves has put together these two awesome Pokémon models, one showing Gyarados ready to bite someone’s face off, the other a Magikarp stripped bare to the bones. Literally. So if you’ve ever fancied yourself as a Pokémon osteologist, a rare but dignified branch of Pokémonology, take notes. retinence’s photostream [Flickr, via Brothers…
By Luke Plunkett Published February 27, 2012 -
UncategorizedThe Perfect Moves of an Asshole Video Game Bad Guy
I want to talk about the medusa head, an enemy that has appeared in at least as many games as the goomba in Super Mario, but which moves in a more complex way. The pattern it follows is called a sine wave, and it was inevitable that a memorable entity in one of the most…
Hamish Todd Published February 27, 2012