hirokazu-hamamura
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MGS: Peace Walker's 'Hamaru Gear Solid' ads sure are helpful
Well, they're helpful if you speak Japanese, that is. The latest round of ads for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker out of Japan centers on the escapades of Tom and Dick, two cartoon dudes who really, really like living everyday life as if they were Solid Snake. The duo demonstrate everything from the "heart massage" technique (reviving a downed teammate) to the game's four player co-op functionality, with plenty of goofy animation to boot. Andriasang noticed the ads over at the "Hamaru Gear Solid" website -- "Hamaru Gear Solid" is the marketing campaign for Peace Walker, based on Hirokazu Hamamura, CEO of Enterbrain (the company that owns and publishes Japanese gaming mag Famitsu), and a pun relating his name to the word "Hamaru" (meaning "to get in"). We've embedded all five for you after the break, should you choose to entertain their sheer madness. [Via Andriasang]
Enterbrain's absurd prediction: Final Fantasy XIII will help sell PS3 in Japan
Don't mind the well-dressed Japanese gentleman in that tree. It's just Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, going out on a limb to predict that Final Fantasy XIII's arrival on December 17 in Japan will help sell a whole bunch of PS3s. He's talking 500,000 more of Sony's system sold during FFXIII's launch period alone. Crazy talk!Unless, that is, you consider the fact that Final Fantasy is a franchise that's popular enough in Japan (and around the world) to prompt the purchase of a console. Oh, and that there was this kind of significant "new PS3, hardware price cut" thing that just happened. Okay, so Hanamura isn't nuts ... he just makes a lot of sense. We like this guy! [Via Andriasang]
Famitsu chief says: Wii on top, PS3 second... then on top
The most believable "he said, she said" article yet! Why? Because initially, PS3 isn't voted "on top". In fact, the 360 will dominate until 2007's end (which will probably be when they announce the XBox 720 or whatever they want to call it). This comes from Famitsu's chief and more prominantly, president of Enterbrain, Hirokazu Hamamura: "The PS3 will have a tough time globally at the initial stage. Its launch titles in Japan and exclusive software titles overseas are quite limited...But its overwhelmingly realistic graphics will give it a long life span. It will stay competitive even when a game console battle breaks out among a newer generation of machines in 2010. Sales should grow every time Sony cuts prices."As production yields improve, costs in manufacturing will decrease over time, so there's some semblance of thought to this prediction instead of the arbitrary number-snatching. Speaking of number-snatching, let's go over that part of this prediction. 4.13 million PS3 units sold by the end of the fiscal year in March 2007. Sony intends to ship 6 million units by this same time (hmm...). As for the Wii... there's an expected 5.47 million units sold by the same time. No mention of the 360 for some odd reason. Over time, though, the PS3 will dethrone its competitors and reach the top of the mountain, selling an estimated 34 million units by 2009. Sweet. Numbers. Since it's coming from a Famitsu head, it's a little easier to listen since, well, they're highly respected among game enthusiasts in Japan and otherwise.
Famitsu head says 360 is dead in Japan
Hirokazu Hamamura, president of Famitsu publisher, Enterbrain, isn't making any bets on 360 winning in Japan. His reasoning: thus far the 360 has sold a paltry 150,000 consoles in Japan. He does concede that Blue Dragon -- Microsoft's would be white knight -- might add another 100,000 by the end of 2006, but that's about it. He goes on to guess that by the end of 2007, the number will only inflate to 560,000 units. Definitely not good. Granted, Hammamura-san is no analyst -- and analysts are always right -- but he does publish Japan's biggest gaming magazine after all. Is his prognosis right? Is Japan a hopeless cause for Microsoft? In the end, does it really even matter? What do you think?
