03.25.09
Posted in Culture/Language, Japanese, News at 3:20 pm by yuka
Appliya’s Evangelion vol.5 is out now for $1.99 from the iTunes app store. Follow the link to check out the screenshots and details.
NINJA GAIDEN Σ2 will be released this autumn on PS3, it’s been announced. To enter the site, click はい(one on left). It may take some time to load (I gave up after entering – 5mins is a long time!).
DSi sales have surpassed the 2million mark within Japan, as of 22nd March (5months since launch). There are a wide range of games available over there, and not all are meant for children and non-gamers, like in this country…which probably help to keep Nintendo’s popularity afloat, even amongst hard-core gamers.
空気読み｡DS will be released this spring for 500DSi points. It was so popular as a mobile game that it’s going to be ported to the DS. 空気を読む literally translates to ‘Read the air’ – as in understanding the undercurrents of a situation and act accordingly. In the screenshots, you’re the red guy. Answer 100questions to see how well you can act in social situations. Of course, this is based on Japanese cultural and social situations, but it’s an interesting experiment of sorts, I think. It’s based on a concept that’s very Japanese, and probably would not work elsewhere.
For those of you who are Japanophiles, check out BBCFour on Monday night to get to grips with what Japanese life is about. Mind, the journalist following the ‘Japanese obsession with fish’ (aired a few nights ago) had preconceptions which he did not get rid of. I found him a very condescending sceptic of my culture – very offensive. If only Bruce Parry or Ray Mears can go around Japan – that would make better watching.
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03.17.09
Posted in Japanese, News, Online gaming at 12:40 am by yuka
Appliya has announced it’s upgraded its features for their sound camera series. Now those constantly moving pets might just be photoed without blurs. Perfect for these.
In other news, Ys Online ～The Call of Solum～ is to be released as a MMORPG sometime this spring, due to its popularity on other platforms.
The most colours sold on the DS series has been confirmed as Crystal White(DSL), with Ice Blue(DSL) and Platinum Silver (DS) following. My Ice Blue, through much use has become quite worn and when ’shut’ can sometimes switch itself off… time to upgrade soon I think.
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03.14.09
Posted in News at 2:56 pm by yuka
Evangelion vol.4 and 5 are out now – calendar and puzzle, respectively. Check their site for details.
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03.13.09
Posted in Culture/Language, Japanese, News at 5:01 pm by yuka
Reishi Matsumoto is known for classics such as Galaxy Express 999 and his collaboration with Daft Punk. His latest series, Out of Galaxy: Koshika will be available on WiiWare as of 14th next month, for 500points (200points for other instalments). And surprisingly, they’ve done some ‘localization’ apparently for English speakers, so will be available in two languages.
The Professor Layton series came to an end last November, or so it seemed. The series is to get another lease of life in another trilogy, starting autumn this year. A bit like Star Wars, this set of three is to be a prequel, so the story begins with the meeting of Layton and Luke. Here’s some screenshots, courtesy of famitsu. And some screenshots from Oboro Muramasa too (out 9th April in Japan).
DS (original through to the new DSi) worldwide numbers are now past the 100million mark – it took 4years and 3months, apparently. Even the GB series took 11years 2months to reach that (currently at 180million worldwide), of which GBA is 81million.
For the Gundam geek, this news has got to be pretty cool: 18m high Gundam (RX-78-2) to be built (by Bandai Namco) at Odaiba in Tokyo, to be seen for 2months from early July. This year’s the popular series’ 30th anniversary, so other events are being planned. Now let’s hope for their sake that it’s going to be fairly secure and that there are no big earthquakes – Odaiba is built on reclaimed land.
Just to round up, check these out. From 16th this month, Uniqlo will be selling T-shirts that embody Japanese classics (games, of course). Over 20 titles are to be released between April and June. Wonder if Uniqlo branches here will be selling them too.
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03.09.09
Posted in Culture/Language, Japanese, News at 12:48 pm by yuka
Check out the screenshots for FF VII Advent Children Complete. Coming out 16th April for varying prices. One set has “Cloud Black”HDD 160GB PS3 and FF XIII Trial version too… of course costing approx. £365, as opposed to £36 normally. Kingdom Hearts 358/2Days will be out 30th May on the DS, and scroll to the bottom of this page, you’ll see a lovely limited edition DSi (£182).
Space Invader piggy bank. Fully playable, apparently, weighing in at 330g (including 3 AA batteries). Approx. £42, out 26th March. A nice idea and all, but think about the strain on your eyes!
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03.03.09
Posted in Japanese, News at 6:12 pm by yuka
Just got this through from the kind folks at Appliya: Evangelion vol.1. For only $1.99 you can frame photos of you and your friends into scenes from the movie.
So… there was a vol.1 after all!
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