19.09.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
'Hardware Girls' launch party
A photographer and journalist, gravure idol and musician, it is tough to pin down Julie Watai, aka Amano Ai, aka Eye Taso. She is as unpredictable as she is vibrant. Saturday, September 18, marked the launch of her new photo album, "Hardware Girls." A party was held at Super Potato in Akihabara, with free beer and retro gaming. An awesome follow up to a long day at Tokyo Game Show!
"Hardware Girls" comes some four years after where Julie turned her camera on "spirituality and technology for the moe consciousness." It was a cool slice of Akihabara kitsch, and a chance to peek into the mind of an unnervingly self-aware otaku. Some of the images from "Samurai Girl" reappear in "Hardware Girls," but the hardware and the girls snap into sharp focus. Here are some sample images.
My take on the theme is the technological condition, specifically a free relation to technology opened through and grounded by the young girl. Anyway, worth checking out. Congrats, Julie!
PS - Vid is of Julie (as Eye Taso) performing with Cutie Pai (far right).
17.04.2010 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Ragnarok signs are the best ever!
Though I love RPGs, I am not a really big online gamer. Still, these new adverts for Ragnarok are just awesome enough to make me want to give it a try. The first one with the salaryman reads:
"Whatever I do is wrong. On Ragnarok Online, I can instantly clear any task!"
Then in smaller letters:
"I want to show my seniors at the office this bravery."
The second one with the old man reads:
"This stubborn old me is popular with the gals on Ragnarok Online."
Then in smaller letters:
"My bad, old lady!"
These signs are there in the Tokyo subway, big as you please. I can't believe they are so bold in implicating everyone in this online gaming culture! Salarymen and old men in traditional dress are usually considered outside the stereotype of gamers.
ちょっと、営業マンと頑固オヤジもオンラインゲームやっているよ！なんか、嬉しいなあ。
Tags: Games CM 0 Comments
19.10.2009 · by Mikami Ryo
Nintendo is still number one
"Business Week" elected Nintendo as World's Best Company over Google and Apple. I thought of the company as "Hiroshi Yamauchi Co., Ltd, with Shigeru Miyamoto," so thought it would lose power following the retirement of Yamauchi in 2005. In fact, Nintendo stock plummeted when he declared his retirement in 2002.
He is such a weenie, but also a genius and pioneer of the videogame industry. Nolan Bushnell, CEO of Atari, made the first step, but it was Yamauchi who made gaming a global culture. This began with the success of the NES in 1983. Satoru Iwata from HAL followed him. Nevertheless the son of Yamauchi was working at Nintendo. In addition, Hiroshi Arakawa, CEO of NOA (Nintendo Of America), known as the person who made "Donkey Kong" a success in America, retired in 2002. He married Yamauchi's daughter.
Nintendo was established in the nineteenth century (Nintendo Co., Ltd was established after the World War 2) and Yamauchi was its third CEO. In half a century he took one small toy shop in Kyoto and made it into the "World's Best Company."
The following are some saying attributed to him:
"Nintendo will only sell games for the Disk System."
"I shall retire if such a shit device [Playstation] will sell over a million."
[On making a copy of Space Invader] "There is no patent in the way of play."
Yamauchi retired, but Nintendo had not ended. What will this amazing company bring us in the next half century?
Tags: Games 0 Comments
26.09.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Akiba Game Fair
I missed Tokyo Game Show due to business, but was able to catch this smaller gathering in Akihabara. Lots of moe moe contents! It was my first time, but won't be the last.
Tags: Games Akihabara 0 Comments
15.08.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Square Showroom hours
I stopped by Shinjuku to pick up something for my brother, in the process missing most of Comike.... But I did discover that the operating hours have changed at the Square Enix Showroom. The store is now open from 11:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. everyday, except for Thursdays. At least it will be easy to coordinate a visit now, but it is still a long hike!
Tags: Videogames Square Enix Shopping 0 Comments
14.06.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Game Bar A-Button has anniversary
The game bar we all have come to know and love had its anniversary party on June 7. I neglected to visit until today after the weekly Akiba Tour, but offer my belated congratulations!
Tags: Games Bar Akihabara Otaku 0 Comments
03.03.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Tokyo Game Show press release
Tokyo Game Show has released details for the 2009 event to be held at Makuhari Messe September 24-27 (Thursday to Sunday). The first two days will be business days. The theme is “Game, it’s so energetic!”
The 2008 show featured 1,768 booths exhibiting 879 titles, both record highs, and this year is projected to be even bigger.
"Despite the sagging global economy, it is not only games market that is thriving today, but also the entire computer entertainment market," says a statement from organizers. "Filled with free thoughts and ideas, revolutionary stories, innovative expressions and creativity, games energize people."
This year’s show will also focus on these three objectives:
1. To act as a hub for up-to-the-minute information
2. To enhance the business side of the event and further internationalize it in terms of media appeal, visitors and exhibitors
3. To cater more to new and light game users.
As part of this, the 2009 show will include a new Advanced Mobile & PC Area, in addition to the usual areas: General, Game School, Kids', Sales and Business Solutions.
Tags: Games Event 0 Comments
27.02.2009 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Best game in the world is...?
"Super Mario Kart," or so say the publishers of "Guinness Book of World Records: Gamer's Edition." Crazy stuff, and you can see more over at "Wired." This has become something of a topic in Japanese circles, as six of the top 10 games on the list were made in Japan.
Tags: Games 0 Comments
20.10.2008 · by Patrick W. Galbraith
Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft puts out a book on Japanese arcades
Brian Ashcraft, an editor at Kotaku, has a new book out on Japanese game centers.
is pretty awesome stuff, with insider tips for gamers and general interest background info for everyone else.
Even better, there is a huge extract from the book available for free in Metropolis. It is a good survey of the book, so check it out if you are at all interested in the topic.
Tags: Games 0 Comments
13.09.2008 · by Eva
Jubeat for You
In promotion of the newest title in Konami's Bemani series, 50 select game centers around Japan will be having public demonstration events for Jubeat (pronounced you-beat).
Released July 24 of this year, Jubeat joins the ranks of Dance Dance Revolution, Pop n' Music, Beatmania, and other titles in the Bemani series. The series focuses on a musically integrated game experience, incorporating elements of dance and music creation. Jubeat features a series of 16 small LCD display screens arranged in 4x4 fashion. These screens dual as buttons which the player presses during game play in rhythm with the music as they illuminate. Unlike other Bemani titles, in which the player reads a screen and interprets musical notation through a peripheral instrument, the screen is essentially the instrument itself, prompting some players to compare game play to arcade classic "whack-a-mole."
Public demonstrations in promotion of the game began August 16, and will last until mid October. Though no demonstration is planned for Akihabara, the closest event will be held near Shinkoiwa Station, about 15 min from Akihabara on the JR Sobu line, at Adores Game Center. The event will be held during operation hours September 20 and 21.
For more information please visit Adores Shinkoiwa, and the Official Jubeat Site.
For an online trial-play of Jubeat follow this link and click on the green button in the lower right corner.
Tags: games 0 Comments
04.09.2008 · by Eva
Game Music Event EXTRA
Game music event "EXTRA," a special musical event gathering a wide range of video game and video game inspired musical composers, was first held in July of last year. Headlining with the Black Mages (a rock-style outfit led by Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu) and featuring everything from DJs to big-bands, the event was considered a dream come true for many fans. The organizers realized they were on the right track, and nearly a year later have announced the second EXTRA-HYPER game music event to take place October 13.
One of the main acts featured at this year's event goes by the name "Trio the DS." Composed of Nobuyoshi Sano, Yasunori Mitsuda, Michio Okamiya of the Black Mages, instead of traditional instruments the group will be using only the KORG-10 software for the DS. KORG-10 is a synthesizer simulation program, made for the DS by one of the world's top musical instrument producers. Essentially turning the DS into a virtual MS-10 synthesizer, it also allows for multiple units to connect via wireless link for unified composition.
Though more artists may be added to the line up, currently confirmed are : Trio the DS; Asami Imai, Mayako Nigo, Hiromi Hirata, and Akiko Hasegawa (all of idolm@ster fame); Motoaki Furukawa with Voyager (Gradius / Namco); Hip Tanaka (Metroid, Dr. Mario, Earth Bound); Betta Flash (Ghouls'n Ghosts); H, composed of Hiro and Takenobu Mitsuyoshi from Sega (Fantasy Zone, Virtual Fighter), KPLECRAFT (modern 8-bit musicians); and Uraken (Metal Gear Solid series).
Tickets go on sale September 13 for 5,800 yen. EXTRA will be held at Studio Coast in Shinkiba, Tokyo.
For more information, please visit the event site at : http://ex-project.com/.
Tags: music video games 0 Comments
01.09.2008 · by Eva
Chrono Trigger DS Release Date Announced
With Akira Toriyama's character design and over 2 million copies sold, Square Enix finally announced that the Nintendo DS version of legendary masterpiece RPG Chrono Trigger is scheduled for release November 22 of this year.
Despite the thirteen years which have passed since its initial release, Chrono Trigger still boasts a robust following. As screen shots have been made available to the public, even in this day of rich 3D graphics fans have rejoiced in Square's decision to maintain the original 2D interface.
Though it's uncertain how this latest release will make use of the DS's dual screen feature, expectations in it providing a fuller, richer action adventure experience are high.
Source: Otasuke
Tags: Square Enix Games DS Chrono Trigger 0 Comments
14.08.2008 · by Eva
1UP Mushroom Burger
This is the "first draft" mushroom burger. The bread for the bun was baked in an automatic rice cooker, and painted green using food coloring. The patty is predominantly made of Japanese mushrooms, including maitake, shiitake, funashimeiji, shimeiji, and enoki. Other ingredients include mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, and basil pesto.
It gave me the strength to defeat Bowser, but Princess broke up with me in the end. Something about "not being big enough"...
Tags: Games Mario Nintendo 0 Comments
31.07.2008 · by Eva
Doki Doki 2 Release... Today!
If you feel your heart fluttering, there is probably good reason.
Unveiled at last year's Tokyo Game Show, today the sequel to internationally controversial SNK Playmore title Doki Doki Majou Shinpan, playfully referred to as the "witch touching game" in internet circles, will hit Japanese shelves. The DS title was ranked as the best pre-order seller by Amazon.com, and the sequel was offered in two different pre-order package varieties.
The story revolves around teenage protagonist Akuji, who is chosen by the angels to rid his high school of witches. Though the witches themselves might be oblivious to their plight, they can be identified by a rune that appears on their bodies though a series of "investigative" measures, which include touching them via the DS stylus. The sequel, entitled Doki Doki Majou Shinpan Duo, employs a similar game mechanic and will also feature some of the same characters, including the protagonist. For a preview of the doki-doki (a Japanese onomatopoeia for pounding of one's heart) action, features a promotional video of the game; one of the first utilizations its new flash media player.
Though the game received quite a bit of criticism from international gamers and gaming magazines, the release of the first Doki Doki title did not spark much controversy at home. There is even speculation that the original title was planned for international release, due to the English, Chinese, and Korean versions of the game's homepage. These ideas were perhaps scrapped due to negative international reception, mainly founded upon speculation, but the release of this second title once again verifies its strong national fan base.
Tags: Doki Doki Games 0 Comments
