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Nintendo: “Millions” Waiting For Nintendo Wii
Wii sales have been relatively sluggish this year. That’s changing as the Wii with its new price-cut heads into the holiday season. Nintendo dropped the price in North America from US$250 to $200 — similar price-cuts were announced for Japan and Europe. “There are literally millions of consumers out there who want a Wii and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nintendo Is The Best Company… IN THE WORLD
So says a ranking in business publication BusinessWeek. The top forty companies were rated on 2008 sales and international sales percentage. Consulting firm A.T. Kearney picked the best of the best from 2,500 companies worldwide. According to BusinessWeek, “Kearney then only considers those companies with 2008 sales greater than $10 billion, with at least 25%…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
PSP Music Game Getting Arcade Sequel
Project DIVA, SEGA’s PSP title featuring virtual idol Hatsune Miku, is getting a sequel with the tentative title Project DIVA Arcade. To kick things off, a competition for original unreleased Miku tunes for the game will kick off October 15 and wrap up on October 31. A location test for the arcade game is expected…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Otaku Cars Galore!
Over the weekend, the second annual ItaG Festival was held in Tokyo’s Odaiba. Something like 800 itasha were on display, sporting anime, manga and game characters. More in the links below. その痛さは世界に羽ばたく 『第２回 痛Gふぇすた in お台場』 [常時リソース不足 via Danny Choo]
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Living World of Dragon Age: Origins
Bioware’s designers and writers wax earnestly about Ferelden and Orlais as though they comprise a familiar history – and for them, they do. They also inform the set and level design of Dragon Age: Origins. But this is, and always will be, Dragon Age: Origins. And so shall this post be tagged “Demon Tits,” as…
By Owen Good Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Think You Can Negotiate With This Lady?
That’s Ryoko Yonekura, big-time Japanese celebrity and actress. Later this month, she’s starring as an elite detective in TV drama The Negotiator 2. And that show is being made into a Nintendo DS game. Unlike American TV programs, Japanese TV dramas typically tend to run only a season. Obviously, since this is The Negotiator 2,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Guy Sues Sony, Saying Firmware Update Bricked His PS3
You read enough of these and you begin to understand why giant corporations have huge legal divisions. A Florida man filed a class-action suit on Friday saying his PS3, purchased Jan. 3, 2009, was bricked by September’s firmware 3.0 update. John Kennedy filed his complaint against Sony Computer Entertainment America on Oct. 3 in, where…
By Owen Good Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
Ni no Kuni Opening Cinematic
Video Games | Ni no Kuni | TGS 09: Japanese Opening Path Cinematic XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii In case you haven’t seen it, here it is, the opening cinematic for the Level-5 and Studio Ghibli Nintendo DS collaboration Ni no Kuni. Previously, we posted game play clips from the title. Otaku…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 6, 2009 - Uncategorized
FTC Ruling Might Affect Video Game Reviews
A unanimous ruling by the Federal Trade Commission today would update truth-in-advertising language to require the disclosure of “material connections” – hint, hint “cash or an in-kind payment to review a product” – by the recipient of such considerations. Bloggers, as reported earlier, are specifically mentioned by the recommendation, which has obvious implications for the…
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
An Ironic Japanese Post Office Sticker
One Japanese gamer sent his busted Xbox 360 off to get fixed. When got it back, Japan Post had slapped a red label reading “kowaremono” — “breakable”, “broken item” or better yet “fragile”. As seen on Hatena Entry List.
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Taiko no Tatsujin You Can Eat, Yum, Yum
Namco’s drumming game Taiko no Tatsujin is an arcade classic. It’s also a lunch time treat. De-licious. Starting October 10, this Taiko no Tatsujin lunch box will go on sale at Narita Airport, outside Tokyo. It will be flown in from Ishikawa Prefecture just so airport travelers can enjoy woofing it down. The bento will…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Just A Dollar’s Difference?
As seen at a Wal-Mart in Puerto Rico [Thanks reader Marco L.!]
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
How Do You Want Your RE5? Tell Capcom
Recap: a “Resident Evil 5 Alternative Edition,” was announced two weeks ago at TGS. But that’s a Japanese version. The North American edition is not finalized. And so Capcom is asking: Should it be digital or physical? “Here’s where we’re at,” says Chris Kramer: In Japan, Alternative Edition will be released as a new physical…
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
360’s Next-Gen Wireless Out Nov. 3?
GameStop is taking preorders for the Xbox 360 Wireless N adapter, whose existence was recently confirmed, but for which no launch date was given. It ships Nov. 3, says GameStop. For those not in the know, the 802.11n standard is a step up from the plebeian 802.11g. The other piece of news, this new product…
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 - Reviews
Gran Turismo PSP Review: Steady As A Pace Car
The long promised PlayStation Portable entry in Polyphony Digital’s Gran Turismo series has finally arrived, putting the essence of the “Real Driving Simulator” in your pocket. With some 800 licensed cars and over 35 tracks on which to race them, Gran Turismo for the PSP offers a broad driving simulation experience that focuses more on…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Modern Warfare 2 Delayed Two Weeks for PC?
Citing unnamed sources, the site Electronic Theatre reports that the PC version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be delayed two weeks past its general Nov. 10 release date to Nov. 24. Electronic Theatre says it has no official reasons for the delay, and speculates that “manufacturing constraints” may be to blame, perhaps…
By Owen Good Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
GTA IV, Left 4 Dead, Street Fighter IV Become ‘Platinum Hits’
Microsoft has decided that a fresh batch of Xbox 360 titles have earned the necessary amount of greatness to become “Platinum Hits,” garnering them a cheaper asking price and not so horrible, slightly modified box art. The new Xbox 360 Platinum Hits inductees are Grand Theft Auto IV, Street Fighter IV, Left 4 Dead, Saints…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Is A Call Of Duty Movie Really Happening?
Would a big screen adaptation of the Call of Duty franchise even remotely surprise you? Didn’t think so. But if you want inconclusive evidence that a Call of Duty film might be happening, here are a few scraps. Take this message from Infinity Ward “creative strategist” Robert Bowling, posted to his well-followed Twitter account earlier…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 5, 2009 - Uncategorized
Frankenleg
To: Ash From: Crecente Re: Me With A Newspaper On My Face, Running Puppies are cute. Puppies with giant Frankenstein’s monster stitches running nearly the length of one leg, not so much. Littlefoot has been hopping around like a tiny little peg-legged pirate all weekend. We finally took him off the pain killers because he…
By Brian Crecente Published October 5, 2009