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Hatsune Miku in Crypt of the Necrodancer feels like the perfect crossover
Crypt of the Necrodancer just won’t die — and that’s a good thing. The nearly decade-old game received new content on Thursday, bringing anime pop star Hatsune Miku into the fold as a playable character.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd review - Pretty punisher
PS3, Vita We had the chance to stop her, but now it's too late. Hatsune Miku has taken over. At this point, Miku is a global phenomenon. The virtual pop idol recently infiltrated American culture in a guest appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman and as an opening act for Lady Gaga, but her worldwide success comes as a result of a fascinating mixture of official licensing and fan-made mythos. Miku herself may be rooted in sterile voice synthesis software, but it's the work of fans that gave her a vibrantly marketable identity. This unique melding of fandom and Japanese idol culture defines Sega's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva series, which showcases fan-made art and music alongside slickly produced rhythm-driven gameplay. The latest series entry, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd, introduces game-changing features and streamlines its predecessor's weaker elements while crafting a surprisingly diverse challenge for rhythm game veterans.
PSA: Hatsune Miku wants to kill all humans
I noticed something strange while playing through Sega's recently released PlayStation 3 and Vita rhythm game, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd. During one of the included songs, "This is the Happiness and Peace of Mind Committee," Miku's friendly autotuned warble suddenly took on an unsettling, sinister tone. Switching to English-language lyrics confirmed my suspicions: Hatsune Miku wants us all dead. The gallery below spells out how she plans to exterminate humankind. The virtual pop idol revolution is here, and it's doomed us all. [Image: Sega]
Watch this: J-pop hologram singer performs on David Letterman
Hatsune Miku, also known to some people as Miku Hatsune, is already a sensation in her native Japan. But now she's taking her vocal talents to other parts of the world, including none other than the US. The virtual pop start appeared last night on the Late Show with David Letterman, where she performed her single "Sharing the World" in full hologram form. While the J-pop singer is well known in The Land of the Rising Sun, it's interesting that Hatsune's character, created by software developer Cryptone Future Media, is now showing up in mainstream media programs Stateside -- especially one as big as Letterman's late-night show. You can check out the performance in the video after the break.
Hatsune Miku stars in Nomura collaboration, Letterman show
In take-stock-of-reality news, vocaloid virtual star Hatsune Miku starred in a double-whammy of surprising reveals this week. For starters, Square Enix designer Tetsuya Nomura provided his own Final Fantasy-esque take on the aqua-haired diva in a New York art exhibition devoted to her, which opens to the public starting today and runs through to October 19. You can check out more details on the exhibition's site, while Famitsu's report of the opening event has more images to peruse if you're intrigued by Nomura's latest design - not forgetting his recent, similarly inimitable take on Batman. As for the other surprising reveal, it's perhaps even more of an eye-opener. As you can see in the video below the break, Miss Miku strutted onto primetime US TV by performing her song "Sharing the World" on last night's Late Show with David Letterman. As the bemused host put it at the end of the surreal performance, "It's like being on Willie Nelson's bus."
Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai Deluxe is Japan's Remix
Hatsune Miku is all about music and love, and she wouldn't want anyone – or any country – to feel left out. Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai Remix is due out on 3DS in western territories in 2015, but it's also heading to Japan as Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai Deluxe, scheduled to launch in spring 2015. The new Project Mirai is a "complete" version of Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2, which launched in Japan in 2013. Project Mirai Remix is the first time Hatsune Miku will appear on 3DS in the western world, following recent series launches on Vita and PS3 with the Project Diva games. Project Diva F 2nd is due out on western PS3s and Vitas this fall. [Image: Sega]
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd confirmed for Western release
Japanese Hatsune Miku fans (of which there are a few) are no doubt picking up Project Diva F 2nd later this week, but they're not the only ones who'll see the virtual popstar make a return to gaming systems this year. Sega announced today it's bringing the rhythm game sequel West this fall, and this time it's releasing packaged versions on both platforms. The synthesized idol's sequel follows the formula of the first game, with players ensuring Hatsune Miku doesn't short circuit any of her notes by tapping buttons in time to match those zipping across the screen. Project Diva F 2nd features 40 songs in total (or at least we presume the base game does) including some only previously found in Japanese releases. We can expect more specific details, perhaps including release dates, as we get closer to this year's E3 conference at the beginning of June. [Image: Sega]
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f debuts on Vita in March
Virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku will hit the PlayStation Vita in North America next month in Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f, a portable adaptation of Sega's chipper rhythm-action arcade game. Project Diva f will premiere digitally via the PlayStation Network, boasting a separate trophy set from the PlayStation 3 version of Project Diva that debuted in North America last year. Sega plans to expand the game's 37-song tracklist with a collection of DLC packs previously released in Japan, including the Snow Miku 2013 DLC, the Extra Character Modules Pack, and the Extra Songs pack. All DLC will launch alongside the core game in March. [Image: Sega]
Synthetic singer goes portable in Vita's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F
The cute-as-a-button rhythm game action found in the PlayStation 3's Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F is now making its way to the Vita handheld. For those unaware, Hatsune Miku is the name attached to a popular synthesizer program designed to resemble and replicate Japan's young, female pop idols. Hatsune Miku is not now, nor has ever been a real person, but this hasn't stopped the electronic being from being featured in video games, anime series and albums bearing her faux-human likeness. While all of this is quite novel in a Gibsonian futurist sort of way, the gameplay in Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F is not. Our review of the PlayStation 3 version of the game said it was "about as basic as a music game can get" and that in lieu of any major flaws, "it simply fails to do anything particularly interesting." The Vita incarnation of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F is slated to debut in North America during the early part of 2014.
Seen@TGS 2013: Domino's (feat. Hatsune Miku)
While there was literally no indication of this whatsoever, we're holding out that this cross-promotion between Domino's and Sega is secretly paving the way for Hatsune Miku: Pizza Diva F.
Hatsune Miku takes the stage in Project Diva F's launch trailer
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F launches for the PlayStation 3 in North America today, marking the first time the popular rhythm series has seen an official release outside of Japan. Sega commemorates the occasion with this new trailer, giving a quick look at some of the game's quirkier features. Vocaloid fans will recognize many of Project Diva F's featured tracks, including ryo's "Black*Rock Shooter," kz & Hachioji's "Weekender Girl," and...yes, that infernal Nyan Cat song. After tapping along to Miku's live performances, players can cool off backstage in the Diva Room customization mode, giving the starring Vocaloids a chance to kick back and enjoy sugary desserts in between rounds of rock-paper-scissors.
Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F synthesizing North America this August
Sega has announced that its rhythm game/simulated-girl simulator Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F will be released for "both PlayStation 3 and Playstation Network" sometime this August, with a demo available June 11, according to the PlayStation Blog. Originally released for the Vita last August, Project Diva F includes 38 jams by Miku and her Vocaloid friends, as well as "over 90 different costumes and accessories" with which to customize her look, in addition to an Edit Mode that allows players to create their own Miku music videos. The North American version of the game will be equal to the most-recent Japanese releases in terms of graphical updates and feature parity, according to the announcement. For those of you outside of the thriving digital-girl loop, Hatsune Miku is a Japanese pop star that doesn't actually exist. She was created as a mascot by Crypton Future Media, and her voice is fabricated entirely by Yamaha's Vocaloid 2/3 software. During her live shows – yes, live shows – she appears as a holographic projection, much to the chagrin of her enthusiastic, die-hard fans. If that sounds at all familiar, don't get it backwards: Tupac got the idea from Miku, not the other way around.
Sega polls fans about Western release of Hatsune Miku Project Diva F
At E3, Sega showed off Hatsune Miku Project Diva F in its booth, tricking me into thinking it was being localized, when instead it was there just because. It felt like a cruel tease.Sega is now teasing fans more directly, asking them to "like & share" on Facebook to register their interest in a western release of the PS3 version of the music game, which stars the implausibly popular mascot character of musical voice synthesis software.As of writing, 3,969 people have "liked" it on Facebook, although many of them, in the way of all Internet fanbases, used their comments to ask for other games. While the fate of this game is in question, you can interact with the character via the Japanese Domino's Pizza app, which is inexplicably Miku-themed, and inexplicably available in the US.
Rappies, figures and cosplay: a look at the TGS 2012 shopping area
You say you need a new Hatsune Miku costume? A wind-up Rappy? The soundtrack to every single Mega Man game? The shopping area at the 2012 Tokyo Game Show is the place for you. Come have a look at its wares. Just be sure to bring plenty of Yen.
SCEJ president Hiroshi Kawano on the Vita, social games and the power of Hatsune Miku
At the Tokyo Game Show this year, we stopped to chat with Hiroshi Kawano, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Japan, about his company's future. In part one (above), we ask about how Sony plans to push the PlayStation Vita, which was a big focus of the company's press conference this year (both at TGS and E3). We also take a second to ask about the latest Hatsune Miku game, which boosted Vita sales by over 300 percent when it launched earlier this month.In the second part of the interview, Kawano discusses social games. Social games are huge in Japan right now, so where does Sony – a company busy trying to sell dedicated gaming hardware – fit into a market steadily shifting toward mobile phones and tables? Find out after the break.
Hatsune Miku not planned for North America, at E3 as 'sneak peek'
Yesterday, when I found Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F for Vita in Sony's E3 booth, I interpreted that as evidence of a North American release. After all, it was a game being shown at E3. However, that isn't actually the case.Today, I went back to the booth and spotted a Sega rep next to the demo. He informed me that the game wasn't actually planned for North America; it was just being shown off at E3 as a demo. A brief image on a big screen inside the booth called it a "sneak peek" of a game coming to Japan. In short, it was at E3, but isn't actually intended for North American release. That's quite unusual.
'Hatsune Miku' bringing synthesized vocal music gaming to North American Vita [update: not announced for North America]
In Japan, Hatsune Miku Project Diva F is a big enough game to command its own Vita hardware bundle, featuring a special-edition console and everything. In North America, it's something I randomly happened upon in Sony's E3 2012 booth, completely unheralded and unexplained. This difference in status makes sense, given that it's a music game about, starring, and featuring music by a virtual anime idol with a synthesized voice. In Japanese.Called simply "Hatsune Miku" in its demo station, the game has you hit X and O in response to on-screen prompts (X and O icons flying into them), along with timed touchscreen swipes and directional presses, while Miku dances around on the screen. You're graded on the timing of each hit, and if you miss, it pops up as "WORST" which hurts pretty bad, guys.The song I played was called "Catfood." Did I mention that I was surprised to see this in North America? There was no release info, or really anything. Just a demo unit sitting there.Update: Sega reps told Joystiq that it's not actually planned for North America.
Crystal White PS Vita coming to Japan, along with Hatsune Miku version
The first, and second, Vita color variants are on their way to Japan. This morning, Sony Computer Entertainment revealed the Crystal White PlayStation Vita (in an uncontroversial manner), shipping June 28 in both wi-fi and 3G models. It's like the normal "Crystal Black" Vita, but white.Sony also revealed the Hatsune Miku Limited Edition, a Crystal White Vita with an exclusive rear touchpad design depicting the virtual idol and singer. This version will ship in Japan August 30 as part of a bundle with the still-unnamed next Hatsune Miku Project DIVA rhythm game. Don't look for that one anywhere outside of Japan; none of the previous Hatsune Miku games on PSP and 3DS have been localized.
Sony unveils Crystal White PlayStation Vita, limited digital diva edition
Remember that line-up of colorful consoles we eyed back at TGS? One of eight of those mock-ups is about to become a reality, at least in Japan. On June 28th, color conscious gamers will be able to pick up a WiFi or 3G Crystal White PlayStation Vita for ¥24,980 and ¥29,980, respectively (that's about $312 and $375 if you're counting in greenbacks). If the absence of color is a bit too bland for you, a limited edition Hatsune Miku handheld will hit shelves two months later, commanding a ¥10,000 ($125) premium for the privilege of plastering Sega's digital diva on your Vita's rear touch panel. On the plus side, Vocoloid's poster girl packs a 4GB memory card and a copy of Next Hatsune Miku: Project Diva to offset the limited edition's larger sticker price. No word yet when or if these Vita variants will hit the western world, but we'll let you now if we hear anything. Until then? Try to satiate yourself with the video after the break.
Kenwood's still making Media Kegs, announces bilingual MG-G608 for the Japanese market
We've been covering Kenwood's Media Kegs since the dawn of Engadget, and though we haven't seen one in awhile, there's no question this line of MP3 players is still alive and kicking. The company just debuted the MG-G608 for the Japanese market with a bilingual UI, stereo Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, and one neon chassis. Otherwise, you might find its specs -- namely, a small 2-inch display, lack of video playback, and a modest 8GB of storage -- a bit ho-hum. To be fair, it does support microSD cards as large as 16GB, though even then, you might prefer 32GB, depending on how expansive your Hatsune Miku collection is. Japanese and English speakers alike can pick one up in Japan next month for ¥15,000 ($183).
