Wolf Children Wins Animation Of The Year Award At Tokyo Anime Awards

Tokyo Anime Awards 9th Annual Awards Of Merit announced the winner of the Animation Of The Year award. The winner is the movie "Wolf Children" directed and written by Mamoru Hosoda. Those not familiar with Mamoru's work he's has brought you anime films like "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" and "Summer Wars." Wolf Children follows Hana a 19-year-old student who falls in a "fairy-tale like" love with a "wolf man". Over the course of the 13-year story Hana gives birth to two children—older sister Yuki, and younger brother Ame, or "Snow and Rain". At first the family quietly lives in city trying to hide their wolf heritage, but when the "wolf man" suddenly dies Hana makes the decision to move to a rural town, far from their previous city life. Check out the trailer below.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX Confirmed For North America.

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today announced that KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX will be available this fall in North America exclusively for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

Fully remastered in HD, KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5 ReMIX is a compilation of the critically acclaimed KINGDOM HEARTS FINAL MIX, previously exclusive to the Japanese market, and KINGDOM HEARTS Re:Chain of Memories. In addition, the two-in-one-disc package will feature HD cinematic story videos from KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days, enhanced gameplay mechanics and PlayStation®3 system trophies. Players can now relive the origins of the celebrated franchise with Sora, Riku and the colorful cast of Disney characters, including Mickey, Donald and Goofy.

Retro Game Look Back At WCW/NWO Thunder

It's time to go back into the videogame vault and look at yet another wrestling game. Today's retro game look back is WCW/NWO Thunder for the Playstation. This was one of the worst wrestling games I've ever played, from the horrible graphics, broken gameplay and lack of commentary. Don't believe me check it out below.

Lenni Reviews: Ayako by Osamu Tezuka

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Any otaku worth their salt knows Osamu Tezuka. He’s the godfather of manga, a master storyteller, and is known for some of the most influential manga and anime ever created. When presented with “Ayako”, I was very excited to read something of Tezuka’s I’d never read before.

In terms of sheer scope and power, “Ayako” does not disappoint. Ayako, the product of an incesuous relationship between the head of the Tenge clan and his son’s wife, sees too much of the family’s dark side and ends up imprisoned in a basement to keep the family sins quiet. Tezuka’s telling of this poor woman’s life from childhood to adulthood is unmercifully dark and cruel, almost beyond belief.

The backdrop is post war Japan when an occupied Japanese government is dividing up the properties of wealthy landowners like the Tenge family to give to tenant farmers. In the fight to keep what they can, the family is willing to do anything to save face, including kill, blackmail, and keep a little girl a prisoner for her entire life.

There are times where the machinations you see are just unreal. It difficult to believe anyone could be so cruel but there are rays of hope and snippets of humor that keep the book from being completely depressing. Tezuka’s art is in rare form, providing an eerily cartoonish display for such a dark story.

While it is a great book, Lenni advises reading it in spurts with a more upbeat book in the wings to break up the sadness. “Ayako” is a fantastically rendered trip through the darkest parts of humanity so I advise a literary flashlight, so to speak. You won’t regret reading it, though.

New VOCALOID3 Megpoid English Launch Event

NEW PEOPLE, Inc, a San Francisco-based entertainment company bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, celebrates the latest wave of the Vocaloid music phenomenon as it presents a special FREE Megpoid Launch Event featuring Vocalekt Visions on Sunday, March 3rd. 

 The all-day VOCALOID3 Megpoid English launch event commences at 12:00 noon, and will offer a variety of dance and Vocaloid performances, free VOCALOID3 Megpoid English software workshops, demos, and other activities that will run thru 6:00pm. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. Vocalekt Visions, a unique Bay Area-based Vocaloid performance troupe, will present two special Vocaloid holographic performances inside the NEW PEOPLE Cinema, at 2:00pm and 4:30pm, which will feature Megpoid songs performed by GUMI and complemented by live on-stage dancers. Tickets are free and will be available from the NEW PEOPLE Cinema box office on a first come/first served basis. 

Cinema box office will open at 12:30pm. All the attendees will receive a FREE trial version of VOCALOID3 Megpoid English while supplies last. Vocaloid music, which has swept Japan and is gaining popularity in North America, is characterized by a variety of pop-flavored animated avatars, or “virtual pop stars,” that sing and perform songs written using innovative software that enables users to synthesize the performer’s voice by inputting lyrics and a melody. VOCALOID3 Megpoid English notably features the virtual persona of GUMI, a character and avatar developed by manga artist Masami Yuuki. The new VOCALOID3 Megpoid English release is an English singing synthesizer application powered by Yamaha's Vocaloid3 software and published by INTERNET Co., Ltd. The voice of the GUMI character is based on that of Megumi Nakajima, a popular Japanese singer and voice actress. During the event, visitors can learn how to use the software in a series of hands-on workshops and software demonstrations to be held in the NEW PEOPLE lobby. Copies of the Megpoid software, along with other Vocaloid products and collectables, will also be for sale. More information on VOCALOID3 Megpoid English is available at www.ssw.co.jp/en/products/vocal3/megpoid/index.html. “NEW PEOPLE was the very first venue that brought Vocaloid music to the attention of North American audiences and we’ve continued to celebrate the genre’s colorful Japanese pop culture roots with a variety of unique events over the last few years,” says Seiji Horibuchi, the President/CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “The launch of the first English Vocaloid software is very significant and should inspire U.S. users to create an even bigger catalog of great vocaloid music. We’re very pleased to invite Vocaloid and J-Pop fans, music lovers, technophiles, and anyone that just digs good beats to attend this fun free event in Japantown!” More information on NEW PEOPLE is available at www.newpeopleworld.com.

Sony Conference Game Trailers for the PS4

Here are some of the game trailers from the Sony Press Conference:

Knack Trailer:





Infamous: Second Son Trailer


 




Watch Dogs Trailer:


 

Sony Press Conference Review

Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today was the Sony Press Conference to give everyone a first look at the PS4. Now although we didn't get to see what the console it self looked like, they did show us: The Console Specs, Online features, Gaming Features, New Games and Trailers, and the Dual Shock 4 controller. Now with that said let's review the conference.

Console Specs:

X86 CPU an advanced, x86-based personal computer, which means that it should be easy for developers to build. All of this is clearly an answer to a major complaint from studios about the previous generation, which was infamously tricky to master from a software perspective.

Enhanced PC GPU with almost 2 teraflops of performance. Which should give us some great looking graphics.

Local Storage HDD nothing was said about the amount of Storage space the PS4 would have.

8 GB Unified Memory 8 gigabytes of on board GDDR5 memory.

 Superchared PC Architecture

It was also confirmed a secondary chip that handles all downloading, so that downloads can be performed in the background. PS4 titles are also playable as they're being downloaded.Overall it looks like the PS4 will be great for Gamers and Developers.

Controller:

 
This was the only thing from the console that Sony reveiled. It's has a touchpad, motion control and a "light bar" for identification. There is a Share button so players can share game footage and other info with friends or social networks.

Speakers:

 Lead system architect Mark Cerny -- legendary game dev and, to us, creator of Marble Madness. He said that development of the PS4 started five years ago. Cerny said he's been exploring how to evolve "the PlayStation ecosystem," and he started by speaking to the limitations of PlayStation 3. Cerny said he's been aiming to make sure "nothing gets between the platform and the game." An image of an old-timey hunter shooting space invaders in the sky is used as an example -- here's hoping the PS4 doesn't mean we'll be taking plastic guns and shooting pixels in the sky. "We were able to create in PlayStation 4 a system by game creators, for game creators" A brief demo of Mark Cerny's PS4 game Knack was show.

 David Perry went next, and he talked about Sony's acquisition of Gaikai (he was the former head of Gaikai, but now he's working with Sony). His game streaming service is being employed to run demos on PS4, allowing people to try any game they want instantly. He also said that both Facebook and Ustream are being employed on PS4, using the DualShock 4's Share button. But how much? He didn't say. Beyond just sharing games you've already played, you can also livestream -- to the point that a friend of yours who is spectating can actually jump into your game, via streaming, and help you out. He also said that in time he's hoping the PS4 will have gamers playing their favorite games from the previous consoles ( PS1, PS2, and PS3 )

Games:
Sony also showed us a few games coming to the consle. They Look great, but I'll save my Judgement till game play.

                                           Knack

                                           
                                           Drive Club

                                          Infamous: second son

                                          KillZone: Shadow Fall                                           

                                          Watch Dogs





Social Networking:

 Sony also talked about some of the Gamer interaction and Social features. Sony has spent a lot of time this evening talking about social integration and how the system will be a fundamentally a social system. The PlayStation 4 is expected to include a new set of social features that will allow users to share their in-game achievements over Twitter and Facebook, features the PlayStation currently has one step further. 

 
 Overall the conference was good, I know gamers will have mixed opinions about what they saw. Some will be pleased that Sony is stepping up the console to be more developer friendly. Others will wonder why Sony is pushing Social Network Features instead of gaming experience. One of the things I wish Sony would have addressed is how the online servers will be handled. Will everything be on one network or will each game and feature be on it's own server like Microsoft. And if so, will we be paying more for it. Well we will just have to watch and see what the future this next Gen console will hold.

 Check out the Sony Conference articles from our partner at 8bit Drum:

 http://www.8bitdrum.com/2013/02/the-5-most-important-playstation-4.html

PS4 Controller Revealed

Sony recently revealed the DualShock 4, complete with front touch pad and built in move functions. The controller also features new concave sticks and more ergonomically designed grips. The most interesting addition is the ‘share’ button that will allow players to instantly upload both screenshots and video footage.

  The conference is still ongoing so we’ll have more as it happens.

KillZone: Shadow Fall annouced for PS4

 Kill Zone: Shadow Fall was just announced, Guerrilla Games developed title was announced alongside the PS4 and will most likely be a “launch window” title for the console. They're running through a demo of it right now, and it's pretty mind-Blowing.

 Featuring ultra-realistic imagery and a beautiful sense of fluidity and gloss, this one is bound to impress. It starts off tranquil and ends up brutal; we get a great look at both the environment and the gameplay.

More News as the conference continues. 

Knack is the first confirmed PS4 Game

Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, The Playstation conference is livestreaming now and has confirmed their first game.

Sony announced Knack, a third-person action game for the new system. The title features a Toy Story like visuals in a world with goblins and humans. The title character is a small morphing robot who can gain strength by absorbing objects. The game is directed by Mark Cerny who is also thelead designer.

More info as the conference goes on.

Playstation LiveStream conference for the PS4 Unveil

Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today at 6pm EST Sony will be having a conference to unveil the PS4.
Below I will give a link below to watch the conference or you can tune in to IGN.com for coverage.

RSVP to join us for a global livestream broadcast of PlayStation Meeting this February 20th, 2013 starting at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time at this link: https://us.playstation.com/meeting2013/

Also check Playstation web site for more details: http://us.playstation.com/http://us.playstation.com/

METALGEAR RISING 1ST 30 MIN OF GAMEPLAY AND TUTORIAL

Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today we are going to give you a look at Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. This is the first 30 min of game play ( Time may vary depending on personal play ). So you will get to see Game Play, Cut Scenes, and Tutorials.

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Later we will be doing a review of the game. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance out 2/ 19/12 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

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What We Would Like To See From 2K's WWE Game

If you haven't heard or been keeping up with recent news. Take Two the parent company of 2K Sports has recently acquired the gaming license from THQ for WWE games. This is a very exciting news personally for a guy who is a fan of 2K Sports games and WWE. There is rumors that Yukes the company that developed the game might still be hired to work on the game. This is good news as well, but I'm hoping for a whole new  team and a fresh take on the WWE franchise. I have complied a list of what we would like to see from WWE 2K (the title we gave it).

My Wrestler Mode - This is an obvious dream for WWE fans. This is something WWE Day Of Reckoning had concept wise in they create of wrestler story mode, when you took your create a wrestler guy and started from the bottom and rises to the top. However with the new technology and in depth style that 2K brings to My Player Mode for NBA 2K, imagine that for the WWE. My pitch for My Wrestler Mode will be something like this. First you create your wrestler, then like NBA 2K 11 you will go through five games in this case five matches and depending how you do in those five matches, you will either be signed with a deal to start off with dark matches or get sent to the WWE development OVW. When you have proven yourself in the ring you are promoted to T.V. where you're given an option to whether you want to be a singles type of wrestler or have a tag team. Feuds will be set for you in the beginning, but as you prove yourself and rise to superstar status, promo's will be cut by choices like the after game interviews in NBA 2K. You will then have access backstage to engage superstars, pitch championship deals with Vince and start your own stable if you want. The idea is to give you a feel of what it's like to be a WWE Superstar. One thing I would like to see is the attributes be earned by either the match or buy hitting the gym. If your a cruiserweight your focus should be focus on speed and agility, super heavyweights should be strength and power so they will hit the weights a little more. This will be a great addition for mini games and it will give a pure authentic feel of what it's like to be a wrestler. Depending on your contract when you sign you agree to re-sign with the WWE for more money or choose not to sign, which will end your contract and you will be able to start a new wrestler. The My Wrestler Mode would have so many possibilities and I just scratch the surface of what can be done. One more thing endorsements will happen like staring in WWE film movies.

Proper Movesets - I can't tell you how annoying it is to go into a non created wrestler and change some moves around because the wrestler never did those moves. Not every wrestler does a submission hold, not ever wrestler is a high flyer. I shouldn't have edit the regular rosters moveset and make it accurate as possible. Each wrestler has their own style and it's time that the game reflects that. Big Show barely goes on the top ropes, so why give him any top rope moves? The moves should be decided to what the wrestler does in the ring.

Free Roster Updates - I can't tell you how much I hate buying roster updates for WWE games. Especially when the wrestler was already on the disc. I think that is a cheap move and it should be stop. Hopefully if Take Two/ 2K decides to update the roster that it will be free of charge.

Better Commentary and Presentation - One thing 2K does very well is making sure the commentary and presentation is phenomenal. The past WWE games commentary have been the same lines over and over and sometimes doesn't even relate to action. We want commentary to stay on topic, to describe what's going on in the ring and in the storyline. The graphics will need a update as well as the look now is getting stale and old.

GM Mode/ Universe Mode - I love the GM mode in Smackdown vs Raw and I like the concept of Universe mode in WWE 13. I would like to see these elements improved and expanded upon to give us a taste of the business side of what it's like to be Vince McMahon or one of the people behind the scenes of WWE. GM Mode you can be behind the scenes and Universe mode you control the wrestlers.

These are some of the things we like to see, what ideas do you have for the next WWE game. Leave a comment below.

Mark of the Ninja, more like mark of awesome-sauce

Mark Of the Ninja.
I hate stealth game.

I just want to put that out right from the start because it is something I think I should let everyone know who reads this. I don’t get Metal Gear Solid. I really don’t. How come snake can carry a remote controlled missile and a bazooka but not got shit crazy using it? I mean really if you’re a guard and you see a guy running at you with a bazooka screaming bloody murder, you would get the holy hell out of there, SCREW THAT JOB!. I will say this; when I played games like Metal gear and sometimes Splinter Cell(older ones not conviction), I just can’t wrap my head around how I am such a massive bad ass with all these sweet weapons but am crawling on my belly and hiding in the shadows or a box that is rarely out of place even if its the only box in the room(I will touch on this again later.).

Then comes Mark of the Ninja from Klei Entertainment. In case you remember this name, it is because Klei Entertainment is the same developer who created the awesome side scroller SHANK and SHANK 2. This game follows their tradition of amazing art style with solid 2D gameplay.


This game made me feel like stealth wasn’t a gimmick but truly apart of the gameplay and is necessary, more importantly I felt like a ninja, a real ninja. Now I know I am saying a 2D side scroller is a better stealth game then Metal Gear Solid but there is a reason. The ninja is unable to carry powerful weapons like a bazooka or a sniper rifle. The ninja is limited to just his blade and small armor on him, depending on the outfit you put on him he can only one attack item and one distraction item, each one has a limited amount he can carry. The tools they give you is more than enough, this is because the game want you to play smart. All stealth games want you to play smart but when they give a BFG halfway though to fight a boss but then lets you keep it. In doing that, it makes me want to play the game differently.

I know what you’re thinking now, “but its a 2D game, how can you compare it to those 3D games?”. Easy, while Mark Of the Ninja is a 2D game sneaking when compared to those game is the same. MADNESS! you say, hear me out. When you sneak in Mark Of The Ninja you will be able to hide in the foreground or the background. The AI will check behind and into those things if they see you moving into them. One could say that it is not the same but how is hiding in a doorway in the background any different from hiding inside a locker. the enemy can and will inspect both if they have a reason to. This was something that really stuck out to me and made me think about how this was stealth game that didn’t feel like you could forget the stealth part. In all this game is something else and what I would look at as a true stealth game.

As of right now it is out on Xbox Live Market place and on Stream both for around 15 dollars.

Ghost in the Shell Arise Design Cast and Trailer

Ghost in the Shell Arise’s new trailer joins news that not only will the OVA be getting entirely new character designs, but also an entirely new voice cast, in what is proving an exceptionally controversial new direction for the series.

The preview:


As or more controversial than the new character designs is the fact that Motoko will now be voiced by Maaya Sakamoto, who perhaps not coincidentally also voiced child Makoto in SAC and Deunan in Appleseed XIII, rather than Atsuko Tanaka, who voiced her all the other Ghost in the Shell anime.
Along with Motoko, Aramaki (now voiced by Ikyu Juku), Togusa (Tarusuke Shingaki), Batou (Kenichiro Matsuda) and every other member of the cast also sees a new voice actor, for what is clearly intended to be a clean break with the previous incarnations of the franchise.
A new 2027 setting and storyline (yet again involving viruses) round out what has been described as a Motoko “origins” style story with her still with army intelligence prior to her Section 9 career.
Aside from the new character designs and seiyuu changes, plenty of other information about the new project has just emerged – it will be comprised of 4 50 minute parts, with the first – “Ghost Pain” – to see limited theatrical release and then an OVA BD/DVD release in June and July.
A manga edition of the new production is also due to begin serialisation in March, in the pages of Monthly Young Magazine.

Masamune Shirow himself has acknowledged the new iteration of the series takes things in a new direction:

2029AD. Togusa would be 29, so in the world of Ghost in the Shell, today in 2013 he would be in middle school. What would he be doing now, and would he already have resolved to become a detective?
[In the 24 years since the original manga's debut] the world has changed a lot – especially computers and networks, with many people now carrying and using high powered mobile terminals at all times.
The original manga is now quite old, and I think it must be quite challenging to adapt, but I’m really looking forward to seeing viewers enjoy whatever new Ghost in the Shell Kise and the new staff produce.
And please, afterwards don’t start saying “this was all a fake memory and none of the anime adaptations were real,” OK?
Shirow Masamune

His concern over what fans will make of all this is perhaps understandable – the fan response so far has been distinctly negative.

Source: Sankaku Complex   Author: Artefact



The preview:

Lenni Reviews: Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms by Fumiyo Kouno

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Towards the tail end of WWII, the US made the decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As you can imagine, it changed the course of history for the entire world. Any history class will teach you the political and military implications of such an event but what about the day to day lives of the survivors? There are many tales, including the groundbreaking Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa. Unlike the gritty realism in Nakazawa’s work, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms takes us ten years later to the lives of ordinary citizens and how the end of the war affected them.

First we meet a young woman named Minami Hirano, a young woman living in Hiroshima. She goes about her everyday life not wanting to think about the bomb, why she survived, and how it has changed her. Then we meet Nanami Ishikawa and follow her has she visits her friends in the hospital as a young girl, then go back to visit Hiroshima when she’s grown to deal with not only her father's memories, but her own.

I did enjoy this book. The dichotomy between the light and breezy art style and the very serious subject matter (warning: you may tear up) tugs at your heartstrings. Despite the melancholy, the book ends with a feeling of hope that will make you smile. The book is a poignant sigh you can hold in your hands; calm, painful, but beautiful and I highly recommend picking this book up.

HighSchool Of The Dead Manga Set To Return Spring 2013

Hey Otakus and Geeks Fans, Well we finally get a step closer to Season 2 of High School Of The Dead. The March issue of Dragon Ace magazine has just announced that Daisuke Satou and Shoji Sato's popular Highschool of the Dead manga will return this Spring 2013! The last volume of the manga, Volume 07, containing Acts 26 to 29, was released last April/May 2011. The manga has been on hiatus since March 2011.

 With the Manga coming back, it's only a matter of time be for the Anime series will resume. So fans let's keep our fingers crossed and hope. Until then check out volumes 1-7 of the manga and the new upcoming volumes.

Lenni Reviews: Girl Friends The Complete Collection 1 & 2

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Any manga fan knows about yaoi and possibly knows about yuri as well. Alas, finding yuri as good as some of the yaoi out there is hard. Many yuri titles have the main female characters in a sister type relationship, where any romance is implied or strongly hinted at. It never gets as hot and heavy as yaoi, where the boys are boning so fast, they may or may not know each others names. Not to say this is a bad thing but it hardly seems fair, right?

"Girl Friends" by Milk Morinaga was a very pleasant surprise. In the two volumes, we see the shy Mariko Kamakura become fast friends with the outgoing Akiko Ohashi. As their friendship develops, Mariko finds her feelings deepening to much more than friendship and in classic manga style, they both fumble around each other till it’s all worked out.

Unlike anime like "Maria Watches Over Us" or manga like "Strawberry Panic," there is no question as to what sort of relationship these girls are in. They are in love and attracted to one another and the manga doesn't hesitate to show it (hence the 16+ rating). The art is classic manga, complete with super deformed cuteness that is sure to melt your teeth with sweetness. Half the time I was rooting for the couple, the other half I wanted to just squish all the characters for being too damned adorable.

If you are looking for a cute yuri manga where the characters are explicitly romantically involved and you want a cute, light-hearted story, I think "Girl Friends" is worth the pick up. Watch out for some intense lovin' in volume 2.

Yamada's First Time Review

What happens when a high school girl number one goal is to have sex with 100 guys? Well that's is the main plot in the anime comedy "Yamada's First Time" Is this anime sex comedy a knockout? Or should we pass on intimacy with Yamada?