Demon Souls PS3 video game to get Europe release

Namco Bandai announce an agreement with renowned Japanese publisher Sony Computer Entertainment for the distribution of RPG title Demon’s Souls. Following its release in Japan and North America where it garnered high praise from media and a loyal audience of fans, the PlayStation 3 (PS3) game will be launched on June 25, 2010 as an exclusive European limited edition retail pack containing the soundtrack CD, a new artbook and brand new strategy guide.

Neves Plus: Pantheon of Tangrams addicting puzzle craze to come out of Japan! soon on Nintendo WiiWare

Abylight is pleased to announce the upcoming release of “NEVES Plus: Pantheon of Tangrams”, the very acclaimed tangram-style puzzle. The game, also know as “Neves Plus” in America and “Lucky Puzzle” in Japan, is expected to be soon released on the European Nintendo's WiiWare service.

Deathsmiles the bullet-hell smash hit video game comes to the U.S on Xbox 360

Japan's gothic-lolita shmup hit, Deathsmiles Limited Edition, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Get your shmup on with these amazing inbox special items!

Nintendo announce New Super Mario Bros Wii tournament

Nintendo announce a new Super Mario Bros. Nintendo Wii tournament will take place in seven Japanese cities. It will involve both single and pair contests with the winner being judged on coin total.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep TV commercial from Japan

Square Enix release a new trailer for Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep video game.
The game will be released in January 2010 in Japan.

Seventh Dragon Free Japanese browser-based game has Dragons, Devils, and a Rebel Army for fun gameplay for PC and Netbooks release date

ベクター第7回ドラゴン、永続的な世界のシミュレーション峨山の大陸世界の混乱に巻き込まに設定アクションを発表する。 選手英雄、都市の構築は、戦闘の敵は、征服悪魔から世界を救うとなる。このゲームは2009年12月1日にPCやMacでは、とネットをローンチすると予想されるiPhoneを介してプレイすることができます。
Vector announce The Seventh Dragon, a persistent world simulation RPG set in the continent of Asan embroiled in global turmoil. Players become Heroes, build cities, battle foes, and save the world from the conquering Devils. The game is expected to launch on December 1, 2009 for PCs, Macs, and netbooks, and can be played via iPhone.

'Age of Japan' video game!

“Age of Japan” combines exotic Oriental elements with classic arcade puzzle gameplay. It contains dozens of levels of increasing difficulty that will provide a stern test for your logic and quick wits. All the levels are designed in a Japanese style.

The task of the game is to delete all the golden and silver cells from the game field. Match 3 or more identical traditional Japanese items to make them disappear. If one of these items was inside a special cell - it disappears. There are various obstacles on the game field which will try to prevent you from accomplishing your task, but also there are plenty of bonuses and by utilizing them well you will successfully make it through all the levels.

Babel Continues Asian Video Game Expansion

Babel is pleased to announce it has continued to expand its profile, partnerships and client base in Japan and Korea, as part of its strategy to be a truly global games services company.

Following a very successful presence at the Tokyo game show, organised by Babel’s Tokyo office staff, where Babel signed 5 new projects, Babel is pleased to announce it has formed a partnership with the leading market intelligence company Enterbrain.

United Nations urge Japan to ban pornographic video games and cartoons featuring rape, gang rape, stalking and the sexual molestation of and girls

The United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Against Women issued a lengthy list of its observations on Japan’s sixth periodic report on sexual discrimination on August 7. In section 35 of the report on the status of 1979’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, the committee welcomed the increased prison times under Japan’s Act Banning Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

However, it expressed concern “at the normalization of sexual violence in the State party as reflected by the prevalence of pornographic video games and cartoons featuring rape, gang rape, stalking and the sexual molestation of and girls.” It also noted that the current child pornography laws do not cover virtual child pornography — material such as some manga, anime, and software that explicitly depict fictional children.

The committee then strongly urged Japan “to ban the sale of video games or cartoons involving rape and sexual violence against women which normalize and promote sexual violence against women and girls.” It further recommends that this issue be covered in the revised act.

While the bill on the act’s revision was introduced in the Japanese parliament last year, the government decided to study the issue of virtual child pornography for three years.

Three years?? That’s a lot of ’studying’…

Earlier this year, it was discovered that Amazon was selling a Japanese game called Rape Lay. Cara Kulwicki describes the game this way on The Curvature:

The entire objective of the game is to rape women with varying levels of violence — sometimes stalking them first, sometimes using gang rape scenarios, and sometimes forcing them into abortions afterward.

Kulwicki sums up the insidious harms of making a game of rape:

The premise of the game reinforces the idea of rape as okay and not a big deal. It reinforces the idea that women exist for the sexual pleasure and abuse of men.


Source: Feminist Peace Network

Pedometer based games - Personal Trainer Walking, My Weight Loss Coach Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver and Pokewalker

New pedometer-based games have arrived with Nintendo DS releases like Nintendo's Personal Trainer - Walking and Ubisoft's My Weight Loss Coach both bundling pedometer accessories.

Even Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, destined to be two of the highest-selling titles in Japan this year they come with a PokeWalker that encourages players to walk with the accessory so they can gain XP for their creatures or earn currency in-game.

Bandai and SSD Company have their own standalone pedometer-based game coming out this July, Yuuhokei: Tenkatouitsu ~ Aruite Sengoku no Hasha to Nare, which loosely translates as Walking Meter: Unification ~ Become the Ruler of the Warring States by Walking.



As the title suggests, you can play as three different warlords from Japan's Warring States period (15th to 17th century) -- Oda Nobunaga, Takeda Shingen, and Uesugi Kenshin. The game will also feature over 70 other warlords, such as Date Masumane and Akechi Mitsuhide. Though you might not recognize some of these names, these characters have experienced a surge of popularity recently in Japan with the Sengoku Basara games/anime.

The way the pedometer works, you keep the accessory in a pocket and amass troops by walking, increasing your army's ranks as you go about their day. According to Bandai, "you can dominate the enemy with your large army if you walk a lot." Your soldiers can attack with spears, guns, bows and arrows, and more.

There will also be a corresponding website where you can record your weight and how much you've walked. As you progress through your warlord's campaign/storyline, you'll also receive codes that you can put into the website to see details of local warlords and a map of Japan showing the areas you've unified.

Bandai's target audience for Walking Meter: Unification is men and women in their 30s who have an appreciation of history. The company has high hopes for this product, too, expecting to sell over 10 million units by the end of 2010.

And if conquering rival warlords and unifying Japan isn't your thing, apparently there are three other similar pedometer-based titles that've been released in Japan -- Space Battleship Yamato (Star Blazers), Haha wo Tazunete Sanzenri (a.k.a. Marco), and Kacho Kosaku Shima - all of which are based on manga/anime properties.

Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon top japanese video game chart

Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon top japanese video game
In third place was Mario & Luigi RPG 3, with Monster Hunter Portable 2G (PSP the Best) in fourth and Hitman Reborn in fifth.
Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable took sixth place followed by Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 and Musou Orochi Z in seventh and eighth respectively.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable was ninth, followed by the aforementioned Deca Sports 2.

In total the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable platforms boasted four titles apiece, with the Wii and PlayStation 3 taking one each. Just 276,000 units of software were sold by the top ten games in total.

The full top ten is as follows:

1. Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon (DS): 142,000
2. BASARA Battle Heroes (PSP): 28,000
3. Mario & Luigi RPG (DS): 19,000
4. Monster Hunter Portable 2G (PSP the Best) (PSP): 18,000
5. Hitman Reborn (DS): 17,000
6. Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable (PSP): 13,000
7. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (DS): 11,000
8. Musou Orochi Z (PS3): 10,000
9. Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (PSP): 9000
10. Deca Sports 2 (Wii): 9000

Mini Skirt - Japanese girls golf screenshots video exclusive

TOMY announce that it will publish PANGYA - Fantasy Golf exclusively for the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system. Featuring beautifully rendered fantasy golf courses, thousands of character and equipment customization options and 18 playable characters, PANGYA: Fantasy Golf thrusts players into a world of golf gameplay filled with beauty and unlimited imagination.

“We are thrilled to introduce gamers to PANGYA: Fantasy Golf, the first PSP title in our growing portfolio of interactive games,” said Mark Shinohara, chief operating officer of TOMY Corporation. “PANGYA offers a unique fantasy golf experience that gamers will truly appreciate. With a compelling storyline and extraordinary visuals, players can easily immerse themselves in PANGYA’s mythology.”

In PANGYA: Fantasy Golf, players practice and perfect their swing on the nine fantasy fairways of Pangya Island. Combining golf gameplay, endless customization options and a slew of sassy female characters set in beautiful environments, PANGYA: Fantasy Golf is based on the global PC MMO PANGYA game developed by Ntreev Soft, and boasts an original storyline with new, exclusive features for the PSP system. Players can utilize the in-game Pangya Shop to customize as many as 18 playable characters and their golf equipment with thousands of unlockable accessories, outfits, gear and power items to improve their golfer’s stats and land that hole-in-one. Multiple gameplay modes including Story, Free Round, License, Tournament and Network Mode offer an engaging and varied golf experience. Additionally, Network Mode allows the ultimate golf gaming fan to connect with up to eight players and compete against one another in either single or team-based tournaments.

PANGYA: Fantasy Golf is developed by Ntreev Soft and is slated for release on the PSP system in Summer 2009.

No 1 Arcade game - BlazBlue - Calamity Trigger PlayStation 3 video game arrives Summer 2009

 Aksys Games, a leading publisher of interactive entertainment products, is very proud to announce today that BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger will arrive on PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Developed by Arc System Works, creators of the widely popular Guilty Gear franchise, BlazBlue will give fighting game fans across the globe the chance to enjoy the title that has been hailed as “the true renaissance of 2D fighting games” when it is released in Summer of 2009!

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger features twelve, extraordinarily detailed, hand-drawn characters in true high-definition glory. Each character has been finely crafted to express their personality traits through unique “Drive” attacks that can turn the tide of battle instantly. Fans of the Guilty Gear series will also be pleased hear the hard-hitting rock soundtrack, composed by famed Guilty Gear creator, Daisuke Ishiwatari!

"As the spiritual successor to the Guilty Gear series, BlazBlue pushes the 2D fighting game genre by introducing intuitive system mechanics with beautiful 2D animation and gorgeous 3D backgrounds," states Michael Manzanares, Associate Producer, Aksys Games. "Once you play BB, you'll find it hard to go back to anything less."

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Features

• The First HD 2D Fighter from the Creators of the Guilty Gear Series!
The number one arcade game in japan - now on Playstation 3Be prepared to be blinded by the awesomeness that is BlazBlue, with its stunning characters-each one animated with over 1800 frames of hand-drawn, high-definition sprites!

• Console-Exclusive Content!
Brand new music, animations, backgrounds, and a fully fleshed-out story mode have been made exclusively for the console release!

• Dual Language Support!
Experience the fully realized BlazBlue saga with fully-voiced dialogue in English or Japanese!

• Online Battle
Train your skills online through ranked and player battles. Create online lobbies where up to six players can battle each other or spectate from the sidelines to gauge their opponents!

• A Plethora of Defensive and Offensive Options at Your Disposal!
Take advantage of Barriers, Counter Assaults, Rapid Cancels, Barrier Bursts, Ukemi Tactics, Distortion Drives, and console-exclusive Astral Heat for all characters!

Last year half the games sold in Japan were for Nintendo DS...

Famitsu has released data on the top 100 best-selling games in Japan for 2008, with DS sales making up 51 per cent of the region's market.

The home console race was unsurprisingly won by Nintendo's Wii. The console saw 15 titles in the top 100, the star performer being Wii Fit at number three, with 2,149,131 units sold in the year and lifetime sales just below 3 million.
This represents a market share of 15.4 per cent, down by 5.5 per cent year-on-year.

Sony's PlayStation 2 was close behind with 12 titles in the chart, although its best performer, Super Robot Taisen Z, peaked much further down at number 20. However, the platform's market share increased 6.7 per cent from last year to make up 17.5 per cent, according to figures re-published by PS3 Hyper.

PlayStation 3 titles took ten spots, with Metal Gear Solid 4 securing 11th place at 686,254 units, and Grand Theft Auto IV making an appearance at number 66, at 195,779 units. Sony's latest console saw its share of the market drop by 50 per cent to take up 3.9 per cent.

Comparatively, Microsoft's Xbox 360 performed poorly with only one title making it into the top 100. Taking its place at number 82, Tales of Vesperia sold 161,070 units. The console saw its share of the market drop 0.7 per cent to just 2 per cent.

Home console sales paled in comparison to those of the Nintendo DS, which saw 47 titles occupy the chart, accounting for 51.6 per cent of the market - an increase of 8.8 per cent from 2007. The platform's top title, Pokemon Platinum, took second place overall at 2,187,337 units.

Sony's PlayStation Portable had 15 titles in the top 100, with Capcom's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, securing the top spot in the chart with 2,452,111 units. However, PSP market share declined to 8.8 per cent, compared to 14.8 per cent the previous year.

Nintendo was the most successful publisher for the second year running, with sales growing from 19 million to 23.5 million units. Namco Bandai was the next most successful, with 8.5 million units sold.

Source: GamesIndustry

Britain buys more games than Japan

In the world of sales figures, America and Japan have commonly been seen to dominate the market - which is why so many games nowadays seem to cater to those markets. There's nothing but big muscles and spiky hair - not a Brogue-wearing businessman in sight.

Or, at least, that used to be the case. Japan it seems is no longer the market leader it once was, with the UK growing it's gaming market to become the nation with the second-biggest gaming market ever.

According to GfK ChartTrack, a sales-tracking firm that monitors retail games sales across the world, the UK's games sales have risen by more than 37 percent compared to January 2008, with total software sales rising by 26 percent. What recession, eh?

That said, it's important to consider the number of factors here - such as the fact that a lot of games and platforms are released early in Japan, so customers over their will have already got over the sales spurt bought on by the release of the DSi. Thus, while the UK is still steadily improving, Japan is actually in decline according to a ChartTrack spokesperson.

“Japan is certainly in decline at the moment, mainly down to the fact that everyone seems to have already bought a DS or PSP, so hardware sales aren’t driving software sales – although DSi is flying off the shelves," a spokesperson said to MCV.

"The very sudden decline of PS2 is also a factor. The Japanese market is about twice the size of ours, so there is room for manoeuvre in terms of people who had a DS four years ago and want a new handheld.”

Source: bit-tech

Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 on PlayStation 3 MUST be installed to play... 5 gig...

Word has it that up coming PlayStation 3 exclusive Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 requires, like a lot of PlayStation 3 games do these days, a mandatory install. Sign of the times!

Apparently, the install will be 5120 MB (5GB ). So those living in Japan who plan on buying the game next month, make sure you’ve got the extra space or be very, very sad. Just like these children.

PS3 game White Knight Chronicles sells over 130,000 in first week

One of the most anticipated PlayStation 3 'exclusive' games White Knight Chronicles, even though the relatively low Famitsu review score knocked the hype level down a couple of levels.

Now, the latest rumor is that White Knight Chronicles has sold over 130,000 copies in its first week.

According to Kotaku, WKC did manage to sell this decent number after it first hit store shelves in Japan on December 25. This isn't quite the splash Sony and Level 5 were hoping it'd make, but considering that Famitsu analysis, they should probably be happy that a sub-30-scoring game didn't drive away most potential consumers.

In comparison, the biggest PS3 seller in Japan so far has been Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots with 476,000 copies sold, followed by Devil May Cry 4 with 212,000. However, those games came out in the first half of 2008 and WKC just released last week, so...if the number is indeed correct, 130,000 isn't bad. At some point, we do expect to hear a North American and European release date for this promising RPG, but we now have our reservations about its quality. Famitsu isn't the only source to issue some "meh" feedback for the game, so we may have to turn our focus to other titles in 2009 that absolutely guarantee greatness. It's a dog-eat-dog world in next-gen software land, and if you don't deliver...

For our part, we're hoping the game doesn't entirely flop in the other two major regions, just because it may discourage Level 5 from making another RPG. We know they're capable, and a little slip on WKC doesn't mean they should throw in the towel as far as we're concerned.

Source: PS Extreme

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DSi Ware games release Moving Notebook, Paper Airplane, Master of Illusion, Art Style, Dr Mario, Wari Ware, Simple Trumps, Brain Age...

With the Nintendo DSi only available in Japan ds.ign had to download these Japanese only games just to try.

The DSi has an SD card slot and 256megabites of built-in flash memory.

Allowing Nintendo to release WiiWare style games games to download.

Nintedno released 13 titles for download on Christmas Eve excluse to the new DSi.

Expected out in the rest of the world next year - here's a rundown of what may be on offer...

Read the full post on uk.ds.ign here...

Nintendo Wii to offer free movies in 2009

On Wednesday Nintendo announced they will offer cartoons and other entertainment movies on the Wii platform in 2009.

This service will be offered by Dentsu - one of Japan's largest advertising agencies.

Both free (ad sponsored) and paid for content will be offered.

Initially the service will only be available in Japan.

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The Tuttuki Bako box - use your finger to play games (in Japan)

Bandai plan to release a palm size cube in Japan called Tuttuki Bako.

Just stick your finger in to interact with characters and items inside the box. The Tuttuki Bako shows a digital replica of your finger that moves when you do...

Users can play with animals, figures, lakes and even a girl's face.

Battery powered boxes also function as a clock and will sell for $30 £18 but it may never see the light of day outside Japan.

Watch the videos here...

More videos...