Osaka-based co-author Brian Ashcraft is the editor of Kotaku, one of the biggest gaming blogs on the net (one of the top 20 most popular blogs in the world, according to the website Technorati.
Arcade Mania: The Turbo-charged World of Japan's Game Centers. Home of Sega, Nintendo, and Sony, Japan has a unique and powerful presence in the world of video games. Another thing that makes Japan unique in the gaming world is the prevalence of game arcades. While the game arcade scene has died in the U.S., there are 9,500 "game centers" in Japan with more than 445,000 game machines. Arcade Mania introduces overseas readers to the fascinating world of the Japanese gemu senta. Organized as a guided tour of a typical game center, the book is divided into nine chapters, each of which deals with a different kind of game, starting with the UFO catchers and print club machines at the entrance and continuing through rhythm games, fighting games, shooting games, retro games, gambling games, card-based games, and only-in-Japan games.
Covering classic games from Space Invaders to Street Fighter, games that are familiar to Americans in their home console versions (Rock Band, Guitar Hero and Dance, Dance Revolution), as well as the unique, quirky games found only in Japan, Arcade Mania is crammed full of interviews with game makers and star players, and packed with facts about the history, background and characteristics of each game, all lavishly illustrated with photographs and game graphics. via: Amazon
Brain Ashcraft from Kotaku: Arcade Mania Book
Konami loses battle with Upper Deck over Yu-Gi-Oh! playing cards
A Court decision in California and Europe denied Konami’s efforts to stop The Upper Deck Co. from continuing to distribute Japanese manga Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game. Upper Deck will continue to distribute market and sell Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG products in territories outside of Asia. Upper Deck has been producing Yu-Gi-Oh! cards for the last 8 years. Konami Digital Entertainment announced it was taking back all operational and business aspects of Upper Deck’s 8-year-old trading card game immediately. via playthings
University Games makes game based on PBS show "Super Why"
University Games has new toys including some based on the PBS kids' series "Super Why!" an ABC reading skills board game coming out in 2009. Other toys releases from University Games include Splatter Mat, an activity mat that changes color with heat; glow-in-the-dark planet stick-on's, Coloring Roll: Under the Sea, a 10-foot long piece of paper with printed images to color and Fancy Nancy Tea Party game with Hungary Catepillar Colorforms. via: University Games
Capcom Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition
Capcom Street Fighter IV Collectors Edition valued at $79.99. will feature A limited figurine Ryu for PS3 or a Viper for xbox-360 flavor. Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind: a 65 minute anime movie by Studio 4C in BluRay for PS3 box and Xbox version is a 360 game disc that outputs the movie at 720P, not a DVD.
A mini-strategy guide from Prima, written by the same people doing the full-on guide and illustrated by Udon Comics. CD game soundtrack. Plus additional downloadable extras, no set date on release. via: Capcom's blog.
WiiWare weekly family games Tiki Tower and Fun! Fun! Mini Golf
This weeks WiiWare Games added to Wii Shop Channel:
Tiki Towers™ (RealArcade, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone—Comic Mischief, 500 Wii Points): Tiki Towers is a game of construction, destruction, problem-solving and monkeys. Reclaim the islands of your tribe by defeating a series of evil enemy chiefs. Work with your monkey friends to build towers out of bamboo poles, coconuts and vines. Navigate levels filled with crazy building challenges, and deal with unfriendly wildlife and other environmental obstacles. Get your monkeys to chant for the BananaMana necessary to counter enemy attacks.
Fun! Fun! Minigolf (Shin’en Multimedia, 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 900 Wii Points): Play minigolf with your friends in beautiful environments. Choose a character and turn your Wii Remote™ controller into a golf club. With its easy-to-use controls, all you need to do is aim, swing and see who’s the best putter. Play 27 holes spread across America, Asia and Europe. Enjoy exotic locations all over the world. Go for gold in single-player mode, or invite your friends. Fun! Fun! Minigolf supports up to four players. You can use one to four Wii Remote controllers.
Phantasy Star™ IV (SEGA GENESIS, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone—Fantasy Violence, Mild Sexual Themes, 800 Wii Points): Phantasy Star IV is the fourth released game from SEGA’s epic Phantasy Star series. In the year AW 2284, planet Motavia is once again plagued by strange biocreatures, and it’s up to the brave men and women of the Hunters Guild to exterminate them. You are Chaz Ashley, a rookie Hunter straight out of training who is supported by Alys Brangwin—a crafty veteran whose good looks and prowess with the blade have earned her an awesome reputation. These two Hunters, along with a cast of supporting characters, will go beyond Motavia to unwittingly save their entire solar system.
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points™ to download the games. via: Nintendo
Batman: Arkham Asylum 2009
Batman: Arkham Asylum developed by Rocksteady Studios, is an original script penned by Emmy Award-winning Batman writer Paul Dini. Game characters Batman and Bruce Wayne will be voiced by Kevin Conroy, who has done over fifteen years as the voice for Batman for other animated Batman projects. About the game: Batman delivers The Joker to Arkham Asylum there, he is met by the super-villains of his past, He quickly falls into Arkham's trap, Now Batman has to uses combat for survival. Co-publish by Interactive Entertainment and Eidos Interactive, scheduled for 2009. via: WorthPlaying
Adult Swim New Game Candy Mountain Massacre 2
A game for those who love shooting at cute colorful things. Inspired by the board game CandyLand with a mashup of everything else . Via: Adult Swim
Nintendo and Nyko Settle Patent and Trademark Infringement Lawsuit over Nunchuks
Nintendo of America Inc. and Nyko Technologies, Inc. today announced they have settled a lawsuit its popular Nunchuk® controller. Under the agreement, Nyko will continue to sell a redesigned version of its Kama wireless controller.
Company statements about the decision:
“We are pleased to have resolved this dispute,” said Nintendo of America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime. “The Nunchuk and Wii brands are familiar to consumers worldwide, and Nintendo is dedicated to vigorous defense of those brands.”
“Nyko Technologies is proud to be an industry leader in gaming accessories,” said Herschel Naghi, CEO of Nyko, “and we will continue to develop exciting products for the benefit of the gaming community.”
About Nyko Technologies, Inc.: Nyko Technologies® develops, manufactures and markets innovative peripherals to enhance the digital lifestyle. Founded in 1995, Nyko is headquartered in Los Angeles.
Via: Nintendo
Pokémon Platinum and other diverse games for frist quarter Nintendo 2009 line up
New Releases for Nintedo's first quarter of 2009. The list includes Pokémon™ Platinum for Nintendo DS™ for 3/22/09 North America release. Other notable titles that will be released in the first quarter include the enhanced New Play Control! Mario Power Tennis™ and New Play Control! Pikmin™ for Wii™, and Fire Emblem™: Shadow Dragon, Personal Trainer™: Math and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for Nintendo DS. Via: Nintendo
Club Nintendo Offers Special Membership for Fans
Starting today Nintendo welcomes its North American fans to Club Nintendo. Club Nintendo is a special club that rewards members for registering Nintendo products and completing Nintendo surveys. Sign up by at Club.Nintendo.com. After joining and creating a profile fans can register select Nintendo hardware and Nintendo-published games in exchange for Nintendo Coins. Nintendo Coins can then be redeemed for limited-edition Nintendo rewards available only to Club Nintendo members. offering unique items as a way to say thanks to all the loyal Nintendo fans. Some of the exclusive rewards include the Game & Watch™ Collection for the Nintendo DS™ and a set of traditional Hanafuda cards printed with Nintendo characters.
WiiWare update new games added to Wii Shop Channel
WiiWare update new games added to Wii Shop Channel. This week’s games are:
Strong Bad Episode 5: 8-Bit Is Enough (Telltale Games, 1 player, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Mild Cartoon Violence, Comic Mischief, Mild Suggestive Themes, 1,000 Wii Points): Trogdor, the beefy-armed dragon of legend, has shaken free from his video game and is running through the countryside, “burninating” everything in sight. With a dragon on the loose and 8-bit classics leaking into the real world, it’s all fun and games until the proud land of Strong Badia falls to Trogdor’s fiery wrath. Now Strong Bad must take back the night by sending this scorching menace back into his arcade cabinet once and for all.
Big Kahuna Party (Reflexive Entertainment Inc., 1-4 players, Rated E for Everyone, 700 Wii Points): Embark on a tropical adventure with the explosively charged Big Kahuna Party. Looking to make the ultimate party game, we started with a concept that’s accessible to the whole family—the popular match-three game. On top of that, we crafted a unique multiplayer experience in which you can choose to work together to complete the challenging levels before the timer runs out, or go head-to-head and compete in a frenzy of fun. To top it off, we added 99 uniquely free-flowing levels, the challenging Tiki Pole, 20 hidden tropical sea creatures to unlock, the strategic Fish Net and more. The result is a family party game like no other, easy to pick up but impossible to put down. Play alone or with friends, and unleash the Tiki spirit within.
Enduro Racer™ (SEGA Master System, 1 player, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points): Based on the popular SEGA arcade game and redesigned for the SEGA Master System, Enduro Racer takes you on an intense set of adrenaline-designed courses containing diverse and rough terrain that will test your skills and reaction time. Ride as fast as you can to pass as many cars and bikes as possible while also avoiding obstacles and pitfalls such as debris on the road. Take jumps off ramps and try to keep your speed up, but make sure to keep an eye on your bike so it doesn’t blow up in your face.
Nintendo adds new and classic games to the Wii Shop Channel at 9 a.m. Pacific time every Monday.
Halo Trilogy soundtrack
Microsoft teamed up w/ Sumthing Else Music Works to release a five-disc set of the full Halo Trilogy original soundtrack. The set includes one disc for Halo: Combat Evolved, one for Halo 2, two discs devoted to Halo 3, and a bonus disc featuring Halo Wars. The Halo Wars disc contains four preview tracks from the upcoming game! Set to be released tomorrow, the soundtrack can be download at Sumthing Digital.
Kellogg's™ Guitar Hero™ Cereal T-Shirt Offer
Guitar HeroTM Exclusive T-Shirt. Available FREE by mail with 6 Guitar Hero tokens or $6.99 with 1 token and Official order form Offer expires 12/31/09 or while supplies last. Via: Kellogg's
Super Obama World
Latest rendering of Nintendo classic video game featuring every bodies favorite multi ethnic president OBAMA! site also has tee-shirts for sale that are perfect for the inauguration.
Fallout 3 ads Washington DC
Tonight Fallout 3 is set to be released. Washington DC metro riders are confused about the current ads for the video game, depicting images of a decomposing Capitol.
Mercenaries 2 World in Flames
Star Wars -The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels
Star Wars -The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels, by Krome Studios is in development exclusively for the Wii. Release date is not set as of yet the price is gonna run about 50.$
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe
Ed Boon hopes to one day bring us MK vs. Street Fighter, but that may not be happing anytime soon but fortunately Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is close to its launch date. Characters such as Scorpion, Sub-Zero, Sonya from MK & Superman, Batman, Catwoman and The Flash from DC comics to name a few. Mortal Kombat characters will have all of the original signature moves that we love. Developers of the game are trying to incorporate moves, like Superman's Heat Vision along with his Freeze Breath & Batman's Batarang throw along with other DC characters' iconic moves. This game is a must have for any real gamer thats into fighting games.
The Dark Night
The latest Batman installation "The Dark Night" Is still getting play almost a month after its release date. U.S company Stern Pinball Inc. is currently the only coin manufacture supposedly on the planet! Along with Warner Bros. Consumer products on behalf of DC Comics. Pinball Artist Kevin O'Connor & Margaret Hudson created the machines artwork, sound is by: Ken Hale. This pinball machine is worthy of any serious Batman fan or arcade junky more details @ SternBall
Via: Tom Toys
Max Payne
Hell’s Kitchen N.Y.P.D. detective Max Payne Debuted seven years ago as the plot of a videogame and spawned two interactive sequels before making it to movie theaters. The movie will be released in 2009, courtesy of 20th Century Fox, with Mark Wahlberg in the starring role.
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