The Idolm@ster series is well renowned for its cute virtual idols and ability to suck money out of fans’ wallets with pricy DLC and slot machine-like tactics. Next up, snack wafers that let you make literal phone calls to your favorite virtual idols. The Idolm@aster Wafers 2 are small, plain, rectangular chocolate sandwich wafer snacks,…
The Gundam VS series has been headlining Japanese arcades for almost a decade now with its fast-paced Virtual-On-style robot-on-robot gameplay. The upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam VS Full Boost is the latest iteration in the series. It sports a roster of over 50 mobile suits, with at least one suit from every single Gundam series—it even…
Last year turned out to be a tough one for most Japanese game companies. With natural and nuclear disasters and economic downturns, it’s been a rough year all around. In Weekly Famitsu, several game companies have announced their year-end performance and plans for 2012. So let’s have a look at what’s in store. Major players…
You’ve already seen the best Gundam models made by Japanese fans. Now, you get to see some of the best Gundam models in the world. Lucky you! These are the world finalists for the “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011”, the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building with finalists from the following…
Toriko is a Japanese manga that follows a “Gourmet Hunter” named Toriko who is on the hunt for rare food. This is an ad for a “Toriko Snack Pulverizer”. You put snacks in it, pulverize them, and then sprinkles them on food. It’s totally awesome. This summer, Bandai Namco released a new Toriko game, which…
Or maybe it’s a game within a movie? Or maybe it’s just a movie—enough! Okay, .hack, the video game within a video game video game, is getting a movie version. .hack debuted as a video game with 2002’s .hack//Infection, and are part of a multimedia franchise that encompasses television anime, manga, and even music. The…
Namco Bandai established a start-up with Japanese mobile gaming giant DeNA to make social games. Dubbed BDNA, the company’s funded by Namco Bandai (75 percent) and DeNA (25 percent). DeNA makes the popular “Mobage” titles in Japan. [IT Media]
Armored Core V is not the fifth game in the Armored Core series. Funny that. If you count cell phone games, there have been over 20 or so AC, but Armored Core V is the fourteenth entry in the series. The title is being developed by From Software, of Dark Souls fame. The game will…
Super Sentai is aimed at young boys, who dream of becoming super heroes. Namco Bandai churns out toys and video games to help fulfill that fantasy. But the kids aren’t the only ones fantasizing. Their moms are, too. Possible NSFW Photo ahead. The Super Sentai series, known as Power Rangers in the West, is an…
Dark Souls, the spiritual sequel to the challenging Demon’s Soul, will not be a cake walk. No, it will be difficult. It will be hard. Good thing the title’s Gamescom trailer is a piece of cake to watch. Dark Souls will be out this September in Japan and this October in the US and Europe.…
As gamers from around the globe descend on Cologne for Gamescom, Namco Bandai is releasing the latest trailer for upcoming weapon-based combat title Soulcalibur V The game is the seventh entry in Namco’s “Soul” games, and is set 17 years after Soulcalibur IV. Which means that Ivy is middle-aged and should look old. But she…
Arcade superplay footage of Taiko no Tatsujin is dime a dozen—amazing players beating out perfect drum routines, even incorporating their own dance moves and flourishes. But Taiko no Tatsujin isn’t only an arcade game. YouTube user silversilver0823 uploaded a video of him owning the PSP version of Taiko no Tatsujin. Just wait until his starts…
Bandai Namco is releasing a Gundam themed navigational app for the iPhone. Users can selected Earth Federation or Republic of Zeon interface choices and voice guidance. You or your car is represented by a Mobile Suit or battle suit. The more you use the app, the more Mobile Suits you can acquire. While using the…
Japan has a long, proud history of making toys. The Bandai Museum in the rice fields of Tochigi Prefecture catalogues the amazing playthings the country has produced over the years. Can’t make it out to sleepy town of Mibu to check out the museum? No worries, Kotaku‘s got you covered. Kotaku reader Bakagaijin visited the…
Christie Monteiro is one of Tekken’s flashier characters. Maybe it’s her swivel kicks, the glitter, or the long hair. But with this new figure, it’s definitely the ass chaps. From famed figure maker Kotobukiya comes this new 1/7 scale Christie figure. It’s priced at ¥6,510 (US$84), and the figure is set to go on sale…
This December, Bandai Namco is holding the “Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011”, the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building. Between now and September, preliminary rounds are being held with competitors from 13 different countries: Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, America, and Italy. There…
To promote the latest Tales role-playing game Tales of Xillia, Namco is rolling out a Tales cafe, first in Tokyo and later in Tokushima. It’s pretty much trendy cafe Ufotable sprinkled with Tales memorabilia and merchandise. Though, those placemats showing the Xillia characters eating curry in Ufotable are cool indeed. That cutout by the window?…
If playing Tales of Vesperia wasn’t enough for you, then there’s this: a Yuri Lowell bracelet. It seems at least one cosplayer wanted this bracelet commissioned! Good news, because it’s now officially available for purchase at Namco Bandai’s online shop for ¥5,040 (US$64). テイルズ オブ ヴェスペリア | ララビットマーケット（バンダイナムコゲームス公式通販サイト） [lalabitmarket]
Gundam. Draonball. Kamen Rider. Great Mazinger, even. Namco Bandai’s 2011 Tamashii Nation toy show proves just how wonderful (and awesome) Japanese figures can be. Don’t believe me? Have a look at the pics in the gallery, courtesy of website Gigazine. There are some old favorites in there as well as new characters like the pirate-infused…
This year isn’t over. It’s more than half over. Time to look back and see which game maker is doing the best in Japan. So far. According to Famitsu, here is a list of which game companies made the most profit in the period through game sales. The period is from December 27, 2010 to…
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