Hello Kitty
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Hello Kitty X Street Fighter merch in 2012
The Guile theme goes with everything -- including adorable cartoon cats. Capcom and Sanrio have announced a partnership that will result in "Hello Kitty X Street Fighter" merchandise next year. No images or details about specific items have been revealed, but they will all feature "Hello Kitty dressed in the distinct costumes from the Street Fighter series of video games." This is just part of the torrent of Street Fighter news that has come out during Comic-Con, including news about Street Fighter X Tekken, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike Online Edition, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Is it possible for this collaboration to turn into a game? Considering that the result would be another Street Fighter game, we're guessing yes.
The Game Archaeologist and the dragon of the deep dungeon
The Game Archaeologist is a lazy adventurer-slash-professor who dons his trademark cap for a weekly expedition through some of the most famous MMOs of the past few decades. Each month, he chooses a different title in order to examine its highlights, talk with its developers, and invite its fans to share their experiences. Part of the holy mission of the Game Archaeologist is to ferret out the roots of history that ultimately led to MMORPGs as we know them today. Another part of the mission is to root out ferrets, as my claw-scarred arms can attest. Some of that history is fairly recent, but today we're going to travel back -- way back -- to a time before many of you were born. Including me, as a matter of fact. The year is 1974. The world is hip-deep in the throes of shag carpeting, driftwood furniture and the strains of Grand Funk Railroad. It truly seemed like nothing would ever be cool or non-earth-toned again. At this, the lowest moment in all of history, game designers Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson took the concept of miniature wargaming, merged it with a fantasy motif, and sold it under the name Dungeons & Dragons. Geeks everywhere had a reason to rejoice, and through this roleplaying game the foundations for MMOs were laid. Let's take a brief survey through D&D, giving special emphasis to how this great-granddaddy of RPGs passed down a legacy that we enjoy in our modern online titles. Also, there will be popcorn.
Celebrate Hello Kitty's birthday in Hello Kitty Online
Hello Kitty is 36 years old, which should be the sort of thing that makes everyone blink once or twice in surprise. With that sort of pedigree, you'd be surprised not to see a celebration going on -- especially in Hello Kitty Online. Sure enough, there's a huge birthday bash going on right now for players of the game, and participation in the event will have some positive effects in the real world. Sanrio is giving money to charity, based in part upon how many people take part in the birthday festivities. Players taking part will be sent around the world with sparklers to help cheer up monsters, so that everyone can enjoy the birthday celebration. There's also a small line for upgrading and improving sparklers for maximum effectiveness, with upgrades available in the item shop as a shortcut for participants. A full event guide has been posted, and it promises a special in-game event on November 15th -- which should be an excellent motivator for Hello Kitty Online players to log in and ring in another cat-filled year. %Gallery-106551%
TUAW Poll: What's the name of OS X 10.7?
Here at TUAW, we love possibilities. Yeah, we all know that Apple's new OS will be named something prosaic and big cat like OS X 10.7 Lion but until Apple actually makes its announcement, the waveform doesn't collapse. Possibilities still abound. TUAW spent this morning brainstorming alternatives to OS X Lion and puts them forth for your general consensus. Here's your opportunity to sound out with regard to OS naming. Whether there's anyone out there listening is another question; one that we will studiously avoid answering.[1] Vote for your favorite OS X name in our handy TUAW poll -- or add your own suggestions in the comments that follow. Sound out! It's your last chance before quantum happens. %Poll-54182% [1]TUAW is an unofficial weblog and has no association whatsoever with Apple. Your vote is for entertainment purposes only. Contact a professional to determine if public polling is right for you. In case of inadvertent product naming, discontinue polling immediately. Seek help in the event that this poll produces irritation, rashes, or irrational blog commenting syndrome.
MMO Family: A parent's look at Hello Kitty Online
MMO Family is your resource for leveling a gaming-specced family, from tips on balancing gaming with family life to finding age-appropriate online games for everyone in the family. Hello Kitty Online is the first of our Parents Guide selections that's aimed squarely at teens and young adults rather than the kiddie set. Say what? We were surprised, too -- but given the mind-bogglingly persistent popularity of Hello Kitty among grownups with more discerning taste (and expansive wallets), it stands to reason that developer Sanrio would want HKO to reach as broad an audience as possible. What HKO brings to the keyboard, then, is less a kiddie game than a crafting-oriented, sunshiny, Hello-Kitty-themed version of an MMO. Sure, it's 2-D. Sure, it's free-to-play. But despite the precious proliferation of pink, you'll find gameplay that's more in line with traditional, fully developed MMOs -- a purrfectly friendly MMO choice for your teen daughter.
Mimoco bumps out yet another Hello Kitty flash drive to celebrate Sanrio's 50th anniversary
It's no secret that we're very fond of Hello Kitty gadgets -- just like pretty much everyone else on the planet. And Sanrio's lucrative partnership with Mimoco has spun the famous cat's rep into... more awesome flash drives. It seems like Sanrio is always celebrating some kind of birthday, and for the company's 50th anniversary they've busted out more than their fair share of gear. This time, it's a "classic" Hello Kitty flash drive that comes in 2GB, 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB capacities. We're kind of in love with Kitty's elongated face on this model, so if you so choose, you can grab one of these up for a starting price of $34.95.
Hello Kitty Online launches, opens fourth seal of the Apocalypse
And lo, from the throne of four and twenty seats, with four and twenty elders sitting and clothed in white rainments and crowns of gold, lightnings and thunderings and voices proceeded. Seven lamps of fire burned, and four beings full of eyes appeared in front and behind. And the first being was like a frog, and the second being like a nymph, and the third being had the face of a man, and the fourth being was like a yawning penguin. And from the mouth of the third being, like a cat, came these words: "Hello Kitty Online has officially launched in North America and Europe. Fans both young and old can share their love of Hello Kitty, either through the free downloadable client or the Premium Edition retail version, which is available at retailers for $19.99 and contains $15 in Sanrio Cash Points, a game DVD and manual, and one of four exclusive and cute virtual pets." And I looked, and beheld the pale cat, and the name that sat on her was Hello Kitty. And Hell followed with them.
HK-Day arrives: Hello Kitty Online launches in NA and Europe
You've felt it -- the tingle of anticipation, the twitch of desire, the color of pink. And now, after years of waiting, it's finally here: Hello Kitty Online has officially launched across North American and Europe. While the game's been widely available for some time now, Sanrio Digital considers today to be the first of many glorious days of cats and their peppy greetings. It's a double celebration of sorts, considering that this is Sanrio's 50th anniversary. While you and your family can download Hello Kitty Online for free, Sanrio hopes that you'll go the extra distance and head out to a retailer to pick up the premium edition of this kid-friendly MMO. Hello Kitty Online Premium Edition includes a grab-bag of treats, such as $15 in Sanrio points for item shop purchases, an exclusive pet, the game manual, and postcards. The MMO is tied in with SanrioTown, the company's official Hello Kitty social network, which provides fans with tools to share their love of this world. Obviously, Sanrio is hoping that the worldwide Hello Kitty phenomenon will propel this F2P title to success. You can check out HKO for yourself at the official site.
Rise and Shiny recap: Hello Kitty Online
Each week Rise and Shiny asks you to download and try a different free-to-play game, chosen by me, Beau Hindman. Some of the games will be far out of your gaming comfort zone, and some will pleasantly surprise you. We will meet each Tuesday and Friday night at 8 PM Central time, followed by this column the Saturday after. I welcome any suggestions for games, either in the comments or at beau at massively dot com. This week I asked my readers to man (or woman) up and download Hello Kitty Online by Sanrio Digital. I'm a firm believer in the old saying "Looks can be deceiving" and have tried to keep that in mind as I look for games. After all, what is the difference between fluffy pink and white bunnies and giant robots that throw hissy fits? In fact, if I were to ask my readers what makes up the difference between a game like Hello Kitty Online and a game like Lord of the Rings Online, they might only shrug and say "C'mon, Beau, you can see the difference." Remember, though, that we can still pull emotions out of cartoon characters just like we can out of more realistic ones, and it has been shown that many moviegoers actually feel more connected to stylized characters over super-realistic representations. I wonder if Hello Kitty Online can inspire the same strong emotions that a hardcore raider feels?
Hello Kitty engine oil: because not everyone can drive electric cars
If you're going to emit noxious fumes into the air each time you step on the pedal, at least have the decency to emit cute noxious fumes.
Goth Hello Kitty PMP gets a splash of Swarovski, says she hasn't sold out
Look, if there was one thing that the all black, tiny little Hello Kitty PMP was missing, it was some bling. Fear not, enticed consumers: she gets what she wants. iRiver's just unleashed a few updated versions -- basically identical to the last ones, but HK's now sporting a little more glitter. The Hello Kitty Music Player Premium DX has two versions -- one where Miss K's got a bow in her hair, and another where she's donned a flower. The 4GB PMP runs ¥9,980 (around $111) and is available in Japan now. Meow. [Thanks, Brad]
Hello Kitty Online's Food for Friends 2 event provides Haiti disaster relief
One of the things that's different about Hello Kitty Online, beyond the pink hearts and stars motif, is that the game ties in with some great charitable causes. Now Sanrio Digital has announced the "Food for Friends 2" guild competition, an event that lets guilds compete for Loyalty Point prizes for use in the Hello Kitty Online item mall while helping people in the real world. Players from select regions (North America, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia) who participate in Food for Friends 2 will generate real money donations (from event sponsors) through their gameplay that will help disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Food for Friends 2 runs from January 21-30 and getting involved is very simple. Players can log in and head on over to Hello Kitty Online's version of London to speak with an NPC named Cinnamaroll. He's collecting crafted consumable items for the needy. The more people from your guild who donate these items, the higher your guild's point standings increase.
Hello Kitty gets another 12.1 meowgapixel camera to celebrate her 35th anniversary
Can you believe that Hello Kitty's turning 35? She sure does look great for her age! Surprisingly this is not the first 12.1 megapixeled Casio digicam we've seen outed to commemorate this most special of occasions -- but it certainly comes in some of the hottest pinks we've seen thus far. This limited edition, Korea-only Casio EX-Z90 boasts all the same features as the regular one -- 3X optical zoom, auto-detect and "Intelligent" autofocus -- plus those megapixels we already mentioned. Really, the biggest selling point here is the blinged up branding, and we'd assume that makes it worth the KRW 350,000 (around $300) price tag.
Hello Kitty Online joins the Toys for Tots charity drive
Hello Kitty and Toys for Tots, two names that are pretty recognizable at first glance. Well, the two are teaming up for the holiday season, as Aeria Games is using Hello Kitty Online as a platform to drive charitable contributions in a pretty unique way. Instead of offering a buyable pet and giving the proceeds to Toys for Tots, HKO players will get to search the grand virtual lands of Sanrio for Short Sticks, Webley Webs, Shells, and Bramble's Comfort. Each set of items collected will go to creating a special in-game Crab Plush Toy for you and will add one more donation to Aeria's real life toy drive. That's right: An in-game quest with a real life reward of helping get toys to children for the holidays. That's one quest that you can't drop from your log. GMs will be picking up item sets on December 14th, 15th, and 16th. For the full information on what needs to be collected to make a set, check out the event page on HKO's main website. Don't miss out on this great chance to help children in need!
Hello Kitty 13.3-inch LCD TV inspires animal cruelty
Look, we don't enjoy being angry all the time. But dammit, just look at this TV will you? Now imagine staring at that bow and whisker adorned 13.3-inch LCD TV for hours on end just like the neglected child who'll receive it on Christmas Eve. Not that the specs matter but this ¥49,800 (about $565) set bungs a 1,280x800 pixel, LED-backlit panel into that mass of plastic sporting a weak 55-degree vertical viewing angle and 100-degree left-to-right. Brightness is measured at 275nits with a contrast ratio of just 500:1. Hey, at least the remote control features a "kitty button" that brings up the mouthless-puss' staid visage when pressed. Check it with the display turned off after the break. Or is that the backside? Unfortunately, after you've seen an internet goat, you can't stop seeing 'em. Hello Kitty, indeed.
iriver takes the leash off new black Hello Kitty PMP
iriver's newest dedicated PMP is something to behold. A shiny black (with gold accents!) version of its no doubt beloved Hello Kitty player, this newest addition is all about its looks. The little player comes in 2GB and 4GB storage varieties, comes with a USB cable, ear buds, and a cute little lanyard for attaching it to things like your beltloop. The cases they make for the Hello Kitty PMP -- such as the red devil horns -- essentially sell themselves. They're going on sale just in time for the holidays and the new year -- but this one's a Japan-only release for the time being. It'll run you ¥7,980 (about $90) to grab one. There's one more shot of this glorious product after the break!
Hello Kitty officially middle-aged, celebrates in Hello Kitty Online
She may have thrown out her back last week raking up hearts and stars in her back yard, but that's not going to stop Hello Kitty from celebrating her 35th birthday in Hello Kitty Online. Masters of all things cute and cuddly Sanrio Digital announced details of the virtual birthday party commemorating Hello Kitty's middle age milestone. Although Hello Kitty was born on the first of November, the festivities are already underway in Hello Kitty Online and will continue through the cultural icon's actual birthday. HKO players can earn tokens by completing birthday quests and playing mini-games. Those tokens can be exchanged for limited edition birthday items in-game. Any players who unlock at least four of the limited edition items gain access to a November 1st birthday bash held in (HKO virtual) London. Those festivities aren't just for the players who rack up the most virtual swag, as birthday celebrations will also be held in game locales like Florapolis and Paris.
Moneual's MiNEW A10 nettop gets preciously attacked by Hello Kitty
You remember Moneual, right? You know -- the guys and gals playing a torrented movie on their demo unit at a trade show. Now that we're on the same page, have a look at the show-stopper above. That's the Hello Kitty-embellished MiNEW A10, or in other words, the most outrageous nettop to ever see the light of day. The wildest part is that existing A10 owners can even make their relatively sane looking machine morph into cuteness overload for the tidy sum of ₩150,000 ($123). Or you can just get a whole new rig that no one else has to know about for ₩540,000 ($443) -- totally your call there. One more frightening look is after the break.[Via Akihabara News]
Sanrio and MIMOBOT team up to unleash some cute for Hello Kitty's 35th
Get ready -- Hello Kitty's about to blow out the candles for her 35th anniversary -- so Sanrio's gone on an especially wild licensing tear. We see all kinds of insane HK gear around these parts, but we are, admittedly, fans of MIMOBOTS adorable storage. Now, there are not a lot of details to go on here, nothing specific, with regards to pricing or capacities -- but the Hello Kitty MIMOBOT flash drives are expected on or about the 1st of November. Similar 'bots (we checked out Darth Vader) run $19.95 for a 1GB model, and up to $49.95 for a 30GB. Meow!! Now, we're not sure -- but we're laying our bets that we can expect other fruit-inspired costumes for our feline friend above... or maybe we're just hoping to see her dressed up as a peach!
Hello Kitty limited edition Casio Exilim EX-Z2 with 12.1 meowgapixels up for pre-order
You didn't expect Hello Kitty's 35th anniversary to pass without a flurry of new products did you? Now, this is not the first Casio digital camera we've seen carrying the HK moniker, but the Exilim EX- Z2 is the first 12.1-megapixel affair we've ever seen with the meow meow on it. Bedazzled with Swarovskis and all pinked up, this Casio boasts a 2.7-inch LCD, and a 3 x optical zoom, plus the package seems to come with some other items of interest -- a camera case, lanyard, and giant poofy pink thing! All this can be yours (available for pre-order now) for $500. [Via Chip Chick]
