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  Okami Creator Says Western Developers Are Superior

  Capcom’s Jun Takeuchi spoke today about the “rise” of Western gaming. But former Capcom man Atsushi Inaba, well, he goes a little further, saying that, overall, “Western developers are superior to those in Japan”. Chatting with Develop, Inaba says: To be honest, I think that western developers are superior to those in Japan overall. So…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2009
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  Suggestive Star Ocean 4 Screenshots

  Star Ocean producer Yoshinori Yamagishi really wants to make erotic games. Square Enix has already nixed that idea, but that doesn’t seem to have stopped Yamagishi from spicing up Star Ocean. Below is a batch of Star Ocean: The Last Hope screenshots. Granted, they are taken out of context, and the game has been given…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  Noby Noby Boy T-Shirts: Classy

  You may remember Panic from their line of Katamari Damacy t-shirts. They were great. Now that Katamari creator Keita Takahashi has a new game out, Panic are doing shirts for it too. There are 8 shirts available, and Panic tell us they’ll be ready to ship in around three weeks (though you can order them…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2009
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  LittleBigPlanet Dominates Interactive Achievement Awards

  The 12th annual Interactive Achievement Awards wrapped up late Thursday night in Las Vegas. Hosted by comedian Jay Mohr, the awards recognized the best of the game industry in 2008. The winners were selected by 300 members of the industry by secret ballot. This year, PS3 exclusive LittleBigPlanet dominated, snagging eight awards. Here they are…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  Japan Gets Cute Little Resistance 2, DualShock 3 Bundle

  We’ve a soft spot for Resistance 2 and Japan. Why? Because the game’s marketing there was vastly superior, and also because it’s led Sony Japan to come up with adorable little bundles like this. To be released on March 12 for ¥8980 (USD$95), the little box will include a copy of Resistance 2 along with…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2009
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  PSN Accounts Top Two Million In Japan

  As of February 20, Sony Computer Entertainment have announced that the number of PlayStation Network accounts has surpassed 2 million. The PSN was launched in Japan in November 2006 when the PS3 launched. Every month, 700,000 accounts access the PSN domestically and 35 million pieces of content are downloaded in The Land of the Rising…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  Microsoft Would Like You To Believe This Model Is A Halo Fan

  Well done, Microsoft UK. Here we were, thinking that, come 2009, gaming – yes, even 360 gaming – was for everyone, when you go and shove a set of Halo Wars-covered tits in our face. It’s not that we’re complaining. After all, yes, Microsoft, they are a lovely pair. But, just like the Gears of…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2009
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  Want Beyond Good & Evil For Free? Buy Some Cheese

  True story. If Canadians pick up select packets of Cheese Heads brand mozzarella cheese, they’ll not only get a bag of delicious cheese, they’ll also get a copy of Beyond Good & Evil. Really. What’s more, it’s not a download key, not a mail-away deal. The disc – for the PC version – is right…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 20, 2009
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  Thanks To Erotic Game Design, Rapper Kanye West Got Into Hip Hop

  Kanye West. Rapper, producer, fashion designer, former erotic game designer. When 31-year-old rapper Kanye West was in 7th grade, he created his first hip-hop beat. It was made for a video game he was designing — a game populated with a giant penis hero and vagina ghosts. West explains to DETAILS: First beat I did,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  EA Calls Gaming Recessing A “Blessing”

  Like many companies, Electronic Arts is having a rough time. Earlier this month, EA exec John Riccitiello called the lower than expected earnings “a clear disappointment,” announcing additional, extended layoffs. The impact of the cratering global economy on the game industry is not a bad thing necessarily says Riccitiello. It is a “blessing.” Hard times…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  Former Nintendo President Not As Rich (Still Filthy Rich, Though)

  Hiroshi Yamauchi, who ran Nintendo from 1949 to 2002, was the richest man in Japan last year with a net worth of approximately US$7.8 billion. What about this year? With even Nintendo hit by the global financial crisis, the 81-year-old Yamauchi’s net worth plunged by $3.3 billion to $4.5 billion. He is now ranked third…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 20, 2009
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  Grand Theft Auto IV Censorship Was Accidental, Will Be Fixed

  It’s OK, Europeans. Yes, your versions of Grand Theft Auto IV have been censored. That’s the bad news. The good news? It’s all a mistake, and Rockstar are working on a fix. “We are aware of an error with the latest GTA IV title update and are confident the issue will be fixed within the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009
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  Three Masks With Bonus Shirtless Man

  Scary Tim Curry face! Nice watch though. Kotakuite Neo Deus writes: “I have a recurring nightmare in which a shirtless Tim Curry is stalking me at a masquerade ball, dressed as the scariest thing he knows of (consequently, also Tim Curry), and suspiciously proffering an apple to me. This is my attempt to share this…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 19, 2009
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  Street Fighter Movie Won’t Be Screened For Critics

  Do you still hold high hopes for the Street Fighter movie? Really? This might dash them a touch. Turns out the movie won’t be screened for film critics. Which is rarely a good thing. Rather than open the film up for a potential savaging from reviewers, Fox have decided that critics can get in line…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009
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  The Nintendo DSi’s Launch Video

  As previously announced, the Nintendo DSi is launching in the U.S. on April 5 for US$169.99. Nintendo has released this slick, glossy video to help explain the hardware. Watch it. Alrighty, quick show of hands: Who’s buying? Thanks, Supa_S for the tip!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published February 19, 2009
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  Harmonix, MTV Games Give $50,000 plus 650 Rock Band Bundles to Sick Kids

  The Starlight Foundation has been using gaming as part of their charity operation for years — but it looks like they’ve struck it big with a Harmonix/MTV Games partnership and a hefty donation. Fifty-thousand dollars is described as a “generous minimum donation” by Starlight, but they’ve got to be thrilled about the 650 Rock Band…

  By AJ Glasser Published February 19, 2009
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  PlayStation Store Update: Noby Noby Noby

  “Spring Fever” continues this week with two new downloadable titles for the PlayStation Network, Zuma and Noby Noby Boy, the latest from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi. Those two will serve as most people’s highlights, though the Mirror’s Edge DLC is probably also worth a serious look (though the emphasis on floating islands, and not…

  By Luke Plunkett Published February 19, 2009
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  See a Slew of Persona PSP Vids

  Boy, St. Hermelin High is a lot more lightning-y now than it was back in 1996 — I guess that’s the power of the redrawn cinema in action. Siliconera dug up these four vids from YouTube for your viewing pleasure. The first contains the aforementioned lightning and a glowing child. The rest are long, drawn-out…

  By AJ Glasser Published February 19, 2009
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  New Resident Evil 5 Trailer Builds Character

  The latest trailer for Capcom’s Resident Evil 5 goes much deeper into the story and characters in the game then ever before, ending on a note of mysterious mystery. This is more exposition on the story of Resident Evil 5 than I’ve received in a year of watching trailers, playing demos, or writing about the…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009
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  Bonfire Rises From The Ashes Of Ensemble

  Robot Entertainment isn’t the only development house rising from the ruins of Halo Wars developer Ensemble Studios, as 35 ex-Ensemble employees join together as Bonfire Studios, already hard at work on an original title. Days after Ensemble co-founder Tony Goodman announced the formation of Robot Entertainment, former management team members of Ensemble announce Bonfire Studios,…

  By Mike Fahey Published February 19, 2009