12.21.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 4:23 pm by yuka
Glad it’s a slow news day. My wireless connection was intermittent at best, and it’s only this late in the afternoon I manage to properly check the news without being thrown offline. As with everything driving me up the wall the last week, I blame the builders across the road (as usual, making such a racket as to wake the dead).
So to business… Welcome news for PSP owners: it has a new hard transparent cover (looks like this) to prevent unnecessary scratches, and of course, to keep the screen pristine. On sale in Japan from 24th Dec., costs around £9.50. Meanwhile… All the sites are yelling about the fifth anniversary of Phantasy Star Online – sorry, don’t know enough or care enough to comment much. And another game for the Xbox360 in development called Cry On…yes, how depressing. A girl -3D anime style- and her Giant companion, by the name of Boggle (who can incidentally shrink, only enlarging for fighting purposes), have a tear-jerking adventure.. or so they’re saying. Yes, another RPG, hoping to capture the minds of the Japanese youth, I’d imagine.
Last but not least, Jack Thompson-esque announcement from the ruling party (for the last 50 odd years with a year’s break), LDP… something about tightening laws on child porn and extreme violence in media (for those of you who can read Japanese, feel free to check out the statement). Apparently they’ve come to the conclusion that not only are the mental health of the youth at risk, but also the adults who partake in certain violent games. To my knowledge though, child porn was made illegal quite a while back… and the nerve of those politicians to cite porn in the same sentence as games… tut tut.
I realise I did say I’d translate the Shin Onimusha site, but please spare me the effort of reading through all that – suffice to say it’s one detailed website! Categories, from left: Story, Summary, Character, Movie, News, Radio, Extras and Promotion. The game’s set in 1598, around the time of Hideyoshi Toyotomi’s fragile reign (he was an ‘apprentice’ to Nobunaga Oda before him)… so it’s historically pretty accurate. If you’re interested but can’t decipher the jist of the site, feel free to contact me. Otherwise, enjoy a nice history lesson via Wikipedia :)
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12.19.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 11:35 am by yuka
My, my… fancy that! Actually, I’m glad I’m not alone in condemning Capcom’s choice of advertising as regards their game Shin Onimusha Dawn of Dreams. It’s set to cost around £37, and is due out 26th Jan. ‘06 but whether even fans of the game can bear to buy it… it’s sadly been announced that Ayumi Hamazaki (a pop tart from back when who I remember vividly as nasally emitting sounds in a spectacularly off-key fashion) will be ’singing’ the theme tunes (this news courtsey of +D games). I will endeavour a site translation at a later date though, as disturbing as this news has been…
In other less frightening news, Legend of Mana 4 has been announced as coming out sometime in ‘06 on PS2. Any updates concerning this will be posted as of when. For screenshots, check out Famitsu site.)
Also coming out sometime in ‘06 and on PS2, Square Enix has announced a Dragon Quest game by the name of Yangus and the Mysterious Dungeon (Mysterious or Wonderful or just plain Strange, the translation go whichever way for 不思議). RPG, set in the time of when Yangus was young… Yangus, from the DQ VIII game, apparently. Not much else is known as of this moment though.
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12.16.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 1:01 pm by yuka
Few updates on the Animal Crossing DS site:
1) It’s now possible to get a little special prezzie (that you can’t get anywhere else) from your village chief – furniture from the ‘Mario series’. Aside from the participating stores, you can download at seven JR stations: Tokyo Station south tunnel, Yurakucho Station Kyobashi Exit, Ikebukuro Station Orange Road, Shibuya Station South Exit, Kichijoji Station 1F Tunnel, Yokohama Station Central North Exit, and Chiba Station 1F Tunnel. Once the bottle is delivered to your shore, transaction is complete.
2) Also, a message board feature at the top left corner of the site. Click on the page, and there’s a form to fill out…. perfect for kids.
Nintendogs has received an award from the Ministry of Culture today in the Entertainment Category (other categories include Art, Animation, Manga) – the only game to win in the category. All winner’s art etc., will be on display at Tokyo Photography Museum.
Namco’s ‘Tales of …’ series is back for a ‘06 release. Titled Tales of the Tempest and for the DS, the main character has been revealed (here). The main illustrator is the one responsible for Tales of Destiny and Tales of Eternia. Wireless play with other players are anticipated, as well as a unique DS-only RPG experience.
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12.12.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News, Online gaming at 1:20 pm by yuka
Just been announced there’s an update on Legend of Mana DS site in the character section. Two new additions: Nikita (that familiar bunny-type merchant from the previous game) and Tiss, a 16yr-old (orphan, again) girl. Check the site out for images.
Square has also announced over the weekend that Taito will now be part of their company, so expect Taito games to have a Square branding from now on.
And now as promised, FF IV Advance site translation :)
7 sections: Story, Character, Check Point, New Feature, Special, TV ads and Downloads.
Story’s as ever familiar enough, so I’ll skip. Plus it scrolls too damn fast for any translator to get all that…
Character: Cecil and Rydia now have the ‘class change’ function – just press that orange button. The rest is self-explanatory.
Check Point: 1) System: The usual RPG style with it’s original graphic with revamp; messages will have the icon of the person and an option to select how the dialogue will come up on screen (kanji and hiragana options for the Japanese version). 2) Event: Each character will now have their own fate, not to mention several other surprises in store (I do not want to be labelled a spoiler, so let me gloss over the details). 3) Battle: Each character’s moves have become more easier to identify, and revamped graphics add to the drama.
New Feature: 1) New dungeon and new subplot (that wasn’t in the original). 2) New events as detailed here. 3) Music can be selected and new encyclopaedia of monsters and bosses.
Special: ie. specs – GBA, £25, 15th Dec. (special edition with specially designed GBMicro, approx. £82)
TV ads: both versions are a bit lame… the ones on the right uses a popular model, apparently, in Japan.
Download: two wallpapers.
And then there’s the Phantasy Star Universe site to translate…
Product Info: RPG, PS2 and Windows, 16th Feb. ‘06, both versions costs approx. £34, online only.
Story: “The story is set in Graal Galaxy, made of three planets. The various races had fought constantly, but a century ago, there was the Last Battle… and since then, a united front was made and peace was established. The main character (Ethan) and his little sis was enjoying the centenary celebrations, when a mysterious alien body known as SEED attacked the ceremony, and darkness falls. Lumia (
Ethan’s sis) is left in the ruins of the attack, and so it is that Ethan must rescue her.”
World: too much info here, so please take a look at the pics and be content. If people wish it, I will provide the translation however.
Characters: again, too much info. Click on characters and see their images.
System: shows you what kind of action/weapons/transport there are in the game. (the graphics look pretty cool)
Network: Create characters; Lobby – large community area; Party – up to 6players; My room – yep, you guessed right… you get your own room (one per player); and Cut-in chat – you can use your character’s facial emotions aside from normal chat.
And then the categories, Screenshots, Movies and Downloads (selection of wallpapers). Topics shows you where the game has been featured to date.
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12.08.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 10:40 am by yuka
Before we get to the main site translation, two ickle bits of info for you all.
In the Square Enix music download page, a new addition: Chocobo’s Happy Christmas for approx. £o.75, available from iTunes. Down the page, there’re loads of other FF series music available too. However, if you’re looking for Legend of Mana series compilations/soundtracks (or other Square Enix series), you will have to check out this page for availability.
Phantasy Star Universe due out 16th Feb. ‘06 in Japan has started a pre-order campaign. If pre-ordered, you get a Visual Book (background/character info) and a mini Soundtrack CD. The game itself is formatted for PS2 or Windows and costs around £36. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and there are four links: Campaign site, PS2 site, PC site, and the official homepage. (As regards the official site, I will translate at a later date.)
Now for Mario & Luigi RPG 2. Yellow button: Prologue; Purple: What’s new?. (Sadly, at the time of writing, green and blue buttons are riddled with question marks.)
Prologue then… One day that mad professor makes the ‘Cobaltstar’ – a time machine. Princess Peach goes into the past… and out comes a very worn out machine and several mysterious aliens. According to the Prof, Peach is still stuck somewhere in the Past. So Mario and Luigi with their Past counterparts go back in time to the rescue!
What’s new?: using Mario, Luigi, and their Past selves in different combinations to combat enemies and solve puzzles; Most of the game is set in the famed Mushroom Kingdom, but in the Past (click the yellow square button to activate the Past Kingdom).
The game is set to come out in Japan on 29th Dec. ‘05 on the DS for approx. £24, and is playable by one only.
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12.02.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 5:46 am by yuka
Before we get to the main topic, just a note about some Nintendo stuff.
1) Donkey Kong Country 3 related sites can be found at: Where is Donkey Kong? and DKC
2) For the launch of Super Smash Bros. for the Revolution, they’re looking to hire a few game makers. Applicants need to have a full grasp of the language, so anyone’s interested apply here.
Just for good measure, here’s some future Square Enix releases (in Japan that is!):
22nd Dec. ‘05 – Kingdom Hearts II on PS2; 26th Jan. ‘06 – Dirge of Cerberus – FF VII- on Online/PS2 (for online play, look here); 23rd Feb. – Legend of Mana DS – Children of Mana - on DS; 16th Mar. – Final Fantasy XII on PS2; sometime in ‘06 – Crisis Core – FF VII - on PSP; and sometime in the future – The Secret Treasure of Ahturhgan – FF XI - on Online only via PS2 and PC (an add-on to the already-existing FF XI Online game).
By the way, this is where you get your mobile tones from Square Enix products. Unless you live in Japan with a working mobile though, don’t expect it to work. Lucky buggers.
Finally, let’s get on with the translation of FF XII…
Needless to say, click ‘Enter’ and another window will automatically open for you. The categories are: Story, Characters, About Ivalice, System, Trailers/Music, Downloads, Collaboration and Staff.
1) Story: “A story of when magic flowed aplenty and giant flying machines roamed the skies. The huge Arcadia Empire was laying waste its neighbouring countries, in preparation for the oncoming war. It was the same for the little country this story takes place – Darmasca. To the capital of Darmasca, Rapanasta, came a new governor from the Empire. To Vaan, a youth of downtown Rapanasta, this man was his foe who brutally took the life of his only bloodkin (his brother). After a while, Vaan set out to the governor’s residence in the hope of getting some sort of revenge and to steal some worthy treasure while he was at it. However, on his way there, he was to happen upon the rightful queen Ashe, who has previously been thought to have been dead in the war. Vaan saw, without a doubt, the queen amongst those gathered for the resistance. Ashe (who had lost everything), Vaan’s friend Penelo, Sky Pirate Balflear and his best mate Fran. And Basch, despite being the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Army of Darmasca, assassinated the King. With many adventures and meetings, the secret behind the invasion by the Arcadian Empire will be revealed in Ivalice.”
2) Characters (I’ll explain the ones not introduced above): Vayne – third of four sons of the Emperor of Arcadia, and Crown Prince, due to his elder two brothers having been killed in the wars (under mysterious and highly controversial conditions). Larsa – Vayne’s younger brother.
3)About Ivalice: Landscape in slideshow format, and the various races (excuse me if I don’t translate all that – if you do insist on knowing, contact me please).
4) System… is under construction.
5) 2005 E3 Trailers… apparently. Can’t seem to see it for some reason.
6) Downloadable wallpapers.
7) Collaborations with Suntory, as I reported yesterday, will come about sometime next year. The other two are music-related.
8) Staff – pretty much self-explanatory methinks.
OK, specs. PS2 , RPG (playable by one), approx. £45, 16th March ‘06 release date.
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11.29.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 4:03 am by yuka
Another translation coming up for the above game in a min. Just checked the Nintendo periphery site, and Mario Kart and Animal Crossing Scratch-guards are out for approx. £2.50 for each set, from 1st Dec. No doubt some online stores will soon stock these… or alternatively ask a mate in Japan :D
Right, translation time for SuperMonkeyBall site. Will be out from 1st Dec. in Japan, for roughly £25, and is playable by up to 4 people. As you can see, four buttons (from left): Game Intro, Characters, Movie and Download. Currently, the download page isn’t working though, so I’ll stick to the three.
Game Intro: Two modes – Main game and Party game. The stages are partly from the previous GC version, but some has been added for DS exclusivity (and playability). Oh, and you get exclusive stickers when you buy the cartridge. Main game is divided into Challenge mode (clear through stage by stage), Practice mode (play the stages already cleared in Challenge), and Replay (replay saved games or delete saved games). Party games so far to be seen on site are: Race, Air Hockey, Fight, Mini-golf, Bowling and Monkey Wars.
Characters: the good ol’ same characters – Aiai, Meemee, Baby and Gongon. The movie should be self-explanatory (plus, it’s taking forever!).
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11.24.05
Posted in Japanese, Links at 1:25 pm by yuka
Official site translation again, but with damn good reason – this is genius! You will need Flash though, to enter the site and view its contents.
In this watery world within your DS, 10 unique ’species’ of plankton reacts in their own various ways to your touch, voice and other noise…. so says the introduction. At the top of the window, there are six little bubbles (categories) – left to right: What kind of software?; Plankton; When played; Who made it?; Exhibition; and Extras. Trust me, this is one site that is worthy of much exploration.
In the sub-category Plankton, it introduces us to the ten types (left to right again): Tracy, Hanenbow, Luminaria, Sun Larva (ok, the site says Sun-Animalcule, but that’s what it can be translated into), Rec-Rec, Nanocarp, Light-Ring (site calls it Lumiloop), MarineSnow, Wirebug (acc. to site Beatnes), and Volvoice. Click on the bottom right hand box that has セツメイ written over it, to receive an illustrated description of what it does (it’s fairly self-explanatory). The different sounds/reactions of these plankton can be heard from the next section where people have tried it out.
The guy who made this is called Toshio Iwai, a media artist in his mid-30s. Seems as if he’s done a few collaborations with Miyazaki (of Spirited Away fame) too. In the movie at the bottom of the page, he says that although this ‘game’ doesn’t have a goal as such, it’s one way of getting people familiarised with creativity, in a fun way. His inspiration it seems was the joy he initially felt at playing the old Mario games.
In the Extras section, you are treated to four types of wallpaper you can have (click to download), and TV adverts of each of the planktons. The site also gives you tips: a) you can jam by linking 2 DS’s together and b) use rulers and other implements to draw better lines/curves.
As Iwai says, enjoy it. You don’t have to be an expert in the Japanese language to understand.
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11.22.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 4:21 am by yuka
Found the updated site so you get treated to my translation attempt yet again. Main page starts off with the topics: What kind of game?; New stuff; ‘Fifty’ ways in which you can enjoy the game; using connections; and game introduction film (75secs, 8.2MB). Let’s start with the first topic…
1) What kind of game? – you can fish, or make money to get a better bigger house… it’s up to you. And you can talk to those cute weird animals, and decorate your very own room. It’s in real-time, and the seasons change accordingly bringing new events in which you can participate in.
2) New stuff – a) Up to a max. of 4players can communicate in one village (with one cartridge that is, as before). And with the connection, you don’t have to be in close proximity; b) With a certain button on, you can even exchange info with random passersby; c) New goodies available via those cute weird animals mentioned earlier; d) New events, including haircut, naming constellations and drinking coffee at the museum; e) and don’t forget to look up into the starlit night sky when out walking (top screen) – unexpected things may happen.
3) ‘Fifty’ ways – the site needs to be updated I’d imagine, as not all data’s there. You can apparently click each one to be shown each way, but the loading time’s kind of annoying, so excuse me if I skip that part of the translations.
4) Connections – a) If you’re in the same place, wireless connection will automatically work; b) Using the wi-fi connection, you can play with anyone (within Japan at the moment); c) And it doesn’t matter what connection you use – the content is pretty much the same.
There you go, site translation done. I’d imagine that this’ll be a great hit with the kids back in Japan. Unlike most kids over here, due to the lack of living space (esp. in Tokyo), kids aren’t allowed to have pets or have their own rooms, and so to have such a luxury within the game would make them want to play all the more. Remember the success of the Tamagotchi? Plus, all generations seem keen on things that are brand new and pristine (in case you haven’t noticed already, I’m an anomaly), so this game should do well over there.
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11.19.05
Posted in Japanese, Links, News at 5:48 pm by yuka
First on the menu is Shin Onimusha Dawn of Dreams at roughly £31 on the PS2, and Kingdom Hearts II at roughly £33, also on the PS2. Both are now available on the Japanese Amazon site – which would mean sooner or later, if not now, other import outlets would stock them, although seeing they both use the Japanese language to some extent, foreign players would be well advised to wait until the English versions comes out (god knows when!).
Second, the multitude of DS games that are out in the next couple of weeks include: Animal Crossing (with its Wi-fi compatibility) on the 23rd of this month; Super Monkey Ball DS (approx. £25) and Zoid Saga – Legend of Arcadia on the 1st Dec.; and Mario Kart DS on the 8th. On the GBA/sp/micro: Super Donkey Kong 3 on the 1st; and on the 15th, Final Fantasy IV Advance (approx. £25) and FF IV Advance + GBmicro special design FF model (approx. £86). If you are lucky enough to have a kind mate in Japan, get them to send you this as a gift – no customs tax… after all, Christmas is nearly here.
As for Mario Party 7, they’ve made some updates on their official site, so here goes translation exercise:
Features: 1-8 players, uses 6block of memory card, use of GC microphone, approx. £29
1) 12 characters, 88 brand new mini-games
2) The yellow blob indicates the World: Story, how it can be played (pink square), the types of game available (yellow) and intro of 12 characters (blue).
3) The next blob down indicates Game modes: Party Tour, Duel Tour, 8-person Tour and Mini-game Tour.
4) The green blob show the new mini-games.
5) The yellow button at bottom right will show you a TV advert.
If you’re looking for Xbox (and 360) items, please look elsewhere as I’m in no way interested in that console. (Rareware, why did you take Conker with you to Microsoft?!)
Good news everyone! Well, Legend of Mana fans that is… Remember the familiar ‘ring’ command from the last game? The new game, it has been revealed, has that, making it easier for us all to fight those monsters and make our way through obstacles. All you have to do is touch it, and it shall be selected. Just make sure you’re not on a packed commuter train, and you won’t be responsible for the death of your darling character.
OK, spoilers ahead for FF IV, so avert your eyes now if you insist on not knowing these secrets…
1) In one of the stages, given you and your party are there at a certain time, a unique event will take place. (The place name is 試練の山 which roughly means the Mountains of Trial, though you never know how their translators will work that one out.)
2) Due to the above event, you have unlocked a ‘member change’ command – ie. you will now be able to change your members from amongst all the characters just before the final boss.
3) 試練の洞窟 (the Cave of Trials) is a new level added specifically to this game where you may get a legendary weapon.
4)The extras include the ability to listen to all music available in-game, and of course, have a bestiary of all monsters encountered… oh, and the rather good ability of being able to check up on certain bosses.
5) 4 new sub-characters: Gilbert (bard), Yan (monk), Tera (wizard) and Sid (the main character’s dad). Want to see their pics? Go here, scroll to the bottom (in order of top left, top right, bottom left and bottom right).
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