Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today.
video games (Page 132)
From baked goods to blue hedgehogs, there’s nothing international superstar Hello Kitty won’t do to make a quick buck.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, our beloved “Kitty of All Trades,” the face of untainted feline innocence herself, has gone full-frontal.
This year’s Tokyo Game Show was the first major gaming event I’ve ever been to, and honestly, I don’t even consider myself a “gamer.”
Sure games a formative part of my childhood, but the last home console I owned was a GameCube and now my gaming activity is limited to quick bouts of Team Fortress 2. And since Valve wasn’t at the show, there weren’t really any titles I was interested in checking out from the beginning.
So I spent most of the show wandering from booth to booth with very little to no knowledge of what each game was about, eventually deciding to allocate my precious time among the numerous titles in the only way that seemed fair: visiting the booths with the cutest girls.
Interestingly enough, this strategy led me to one of the two games that gave me my most enjoyable Tokyo Game Show experiences: EX Troopers.
Over 200 companies from 19 countries are said to be operating booths at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, but visitors to the four-day long event may notice that one major world power turned out to be a no-show.
Social and mobile games are enjoying a strong presence at this year’s Tokyo Game Show, with social game giants GREE and gloops occupying some of the largest exhibit spaces in the venue.
But it’s not just Japanese companies throwing their weight around on the mobile floorspace: Korean online game developer WeMade Entertainment, known in Asia for their popular MMO series The Legend of Mir, is showing six new Japanese-language titles for iOS and Android devices to build anticipation for their full-scale entrance into the Japanese mobile game market later this year.
Bored of the repetitive tap-based social card games, I decided to spend some time with WeMade to see if the Korean developer was bringing anything new to the table.
If you haven’t gotten the memo, RocketNews24 is at Tokyo Game Show this year and we’ve been busy taking lots of photos of pretty girls in colorful outfits.
With the first day over, we’ve decided to unload a batch of our favorite cosplay and babe booth photos for your viewing pleasure. We’ll be back tomorrow and Saturday with camera in hand, and who knows, we may even write about games at some point too!
Check the photos after the jump!
Now don’t get me wrong. I love my wife and wouldn’t trade her for anyone in the world. But my brain is telling me that I just met the girl of my dreams at today’s Tokyo Game Show, and how can you argue with your own brain?
She’s a booth girl at Brain Kiss, a “neuro-diagnosis” app for iOS that tests the compatibility of two people by analyzing their brainwaves.
All you need to do is put on a special brainwave-reading headset developed by NeuroSky and stare deep into the eyes of the person in front of you for 15 seconds. Brain Wave then presents you with your results, divided into five different “levels of affection.”
It sounds like a fun little app, but be careful who you use it with: if you’re like me, love may be staring your straight in the face.
One fun way to see what anime or game series are currently popular with kids and otaku in Japan is to visit an arcade and take a look at the prizes up for grabs in the crane machines, or UFO catchers, as they’re often called in Japanese.
Unlike North America, arcade culture is still going strong in Japan and UFO catchers are one of the main attractions. Always found on the first floor of arcades, these machines are stocked with the latest limited-edition figurines and plushies of popular characters, many of which can only be acquired as UFO catcher prizes (or on Amazon at obscene prices).
Japanese toy company Banpresto has announced their newest lineup of CRANEKING arcade-exclusive prizes, available this October. Check what toys are hot on the Japanese arcade scene below!
There’s a lot of cool stuff going on for Resident Evil fans recently. You’ve got the S.T.A.R.S. restaurant in Tokyo, the Resident Evil attraction at Universal Studios Japan, Resident Evil: Retribution movie coming to the big screen this September and of course the OH MY GOD ZOMBIE RIGHT BEHIND YOU!!!!
…sorry, what we were saying is: and of course, the October 2 release of Resident Evil 6, which will undoubtedly be less scary than the zombie attack text adventure above, if more recent titles are anything to judge by.
But hey, Capcom hasn’t lost it yet! Just check out their new teaser webpage, titled “Biohazard Hisotry.”
But be sure to turn the volume down and scroll down slowly, otherwise you might GAHHH HEADCRAB RIGHT ABOVE YOU!!!
A lot of people were holding out for some exciting news during Final Fantasy’s 25 Anniversary event in Japan yesterday; perhaps some information on Final Fantasy Versus XIII or a Final Fantasy VII remake.
What they got instead was an elaborate 12-minute demonstration of Tokimeki Final Fantasy: Suzaku Magic Institution Peristylium ~ Oh no! I’m in Love With the Crystal’s Divine Guardian ~, an otome dating game set in the world of Final Fantasy Type-0.
A few weeks ago the Pokemon Company revealed the 3DS LL Pikachu Yellow, a limited edition version of the handheld console purchasable by preorder at Pokemon Center stores from August 25 to September 14.
To the surprise of no one, Japanese customers lined up outside and waited for over 4 hours to purchase the device, clearing out stocks at Pokemon Centers in Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka on the first day.
Many foreigners view Japan as some marvelous dreamland of technology and culture; a place where crazy is the norm and embracing fantasy in everyday life is acceptable.
But to Japanese people, Japan is just that place you were born. Everyone and everything is routine, and it’s often difficult to see why the rest of the world get’s so worked up about “Japanese culture.”
Earlier this month, we sent one of our Japanese reporters to Comic Market (or “Comiket“), the world’s largest self-published comic book fair and otaku mecca, to interview real live foreigners and ask them what it is they really think about this country.
While North America and Australia are still have a week to wait before they can get their hands on the Nintendo 3DS XL, Japan is already getting its first limited edition version of the little giant: Nintendo 3DS LL Pikachu Yellow.
Famitsu has revealed three new songs for the upcoming Playstation Vita game Hatsune Miku Project DIVA f and it looks like one of the internet’s favorite memes, the Nyan Cat song, made the list.
We haven’t been this excited for a rhythm game since Trogdor made it into Guitar Hero II.
Collecting is one of the predominate themes of the Pokémon franchise and Nintendo never seems to run out of new things for fans to spend their Pokédollars on.
For example, on August 3, The Pokémon Company reveled, “Pokemomo,” their newest lineup of adorable Pokémon merchandise featuring the artwork of Japanese illustrator Momo Okada.
Ghibli Park raises ticket prices, announces Howl area opening date, carousel with ridable Yakul
Celebrate Japanese New Year traditions with Studio Ghibli decorations
There’s a Tokyo bar with Japanese whisky inside bookstore inside Japan’s tallest building
The story behind the giant Japanese woman in kimono on the 3-D billboard at Shinjuku
Suntory announces massive price spike for Japanese whisky, some types more than double in price
Pokémon merch Mister Donut Lucky Bag, Japan’s sweetest can’t-miss fukubukuro deal, is coming back
There’s a real-world Pokémon Sandshrew Park in Japan, and it’s adorable!【Photos】
Tokyo shop employee fights off three robbers with man catcher polearm in Ueno【Video】
New Studio Ghibli gloves will warm your heart and hands this winter
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in JapanSuntory announces massive price spike for Japanese whisky, some types more than double in price
Studio Ghibli releases New Year’s stamps for 2024
Studio Ghibli adds magic to your matcha with new tea ceremony whisk and bowl
Luffy’s near death at Macy’s Thanksgiving parade is entirely appropriate for the One Piece hero
One-of-a-kind Osaka-themed Uniqlo Shinsaibashi opens
Shibuya McDonald’s closes its doors after 39 years in business
Japan’s tallest Ferris wheel adds kotatsu and hot sake service for a warm way to chill in the sky
New Japanese KitKat flavour, Sugar Butter Tree, is like cracking a chocolate tree branch
Our search for Kyoto Station’s cheapest souvenir reveals a surprisingly sweet find
Visiting Ueno Zoo for the first time as an adult shows our reporter the true appeal of the place
Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
Chaos at unstaffed Japanese bento shop shows pitfalls of technologySuntory announces massive price spike for Japanese whisky, some types more than double in priceNew Studio Ghibli gloves will warm your heart and hands this winterStudio Ghibli releases New Year’s stamps for 2024
New Pokémon blankets are part plushie cushion, part fluffy wrap, and all adorable【Photos】
Giant Clodsire Pokémon plushie comes with up to 32 Woopers in super size, super cute set【Pics】
Converse All-Stars team up with two all-stars of Japanese art for Wave, Skull ukiyo-e shoes【Pics】Studio Ghibli adds magic to your matcha with new tea ceremony whisk and bowl
Japan’s oldest monorail is permanently closing next month
Manga artist wants Japanese teachers to feel, for two seconds, how dumb their girls’ dress code is
Sales of Japan’s most convenient train ticket/shopping payment cards suspended indefinitely
Pokémon Center apologizes for writing model Nicole Fujita’s name as Nicole Fujita
One Piece characters’ nationalities revealed, but fans have mixed opinions
New Studio Ghibli humidifiers breathe anime magic into your home
Message to foreigners at Japanese convenience store sparks controversy online
Sold-out Studio Ghibli desktop humidifiers are back so Totoro can help you through the dry season
Doraemon found buried at sea as scene from 1993 anime becomes real life【Photos】Tokyo’s most famous Starbucks is closed
How do you split two apples for three people using one knife? Japanese Twitter’s violent ideas
Pokémon merch Mister Donut Lucky Bag, Japan’s sweetest can’t-miss fukubukuro deal, is coming back
There’s a real-world Pokémon Sandshrew Park in Japan, and it’s adorable!【Photos】
Tokyo shop employee fights off three robbers with man catcher polearm in Ueno【Video】
New Studio Ghibli gloves will warm your heart and hands this winter
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
The time P.K. flatly refused a request from his deceased best friend’s mom at their first meeting
Budget sukiyaki showdown! Yoshinoya, Sukiya, or Yayoiken, who gives the most beef for your yen?
Studio Ghibli releases New Year’s stamps for 2024
Conan O’Brien turns into a goldfish for a surprise Korean drama cameo
Come on, Costco! Sell your Japan-exclusive kabayaki marinade salmon in the U.S. too!
“Why, Japanese people!?” American dude has us rolling on the floor laughing with his comedic sketch
Cardcaptor Sakura Chinese Cafe opens in Tokyo, coming to other cities with special merch【Pics】
The many twists, turns and trapdoors of Kanazawa’s incredible Ninja Temple