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Japan's VC announcements for April: Boxers, ninjas, and punkic cyborgs
We're jealous of the Japanese Virtual Console selection already. It's even worse now that we've seen the newly-announced games for April. There is some really great stuff coming out next month-- at least it means there's a chance we'll get it at some point. The new games include awesome selections like Final Fight (SNES), Puyo Puyo Tsuu (Genesis), Punch-Out!! (NES), and Star Fox 64 (N64). Really, the whole list is packed with awesomeness. Of special interest to us: Ninja Gaiden (NES), which we pretty much don't need to say anything about, because who hasn't played Ninja Gaiden, and Air Zonk, the futuristic Bonk spinoff that exemplifies the term "cute-'em-up".
Gyakuten Saiban 4 wallpaper
In addition to Capcom's official Gyakuten Saiban 4 page, retailer Tsutaya has their own, with the same screenshots, character art, and story information as that on the Capcom page. We saw on Dengeki Online that the Tsutaya page had a new GS4 Flash game up, and we got excited. Turns out it's a personality quiz that tells you which character you're most similar to, which is neat, but it's also totally in Japanese and not really something we can recommend.Poking around the site a little more, we found this sharp wallpaper featuring new hero Odoroki Housuke, and figured that you would enjoy it! Put it on your desktop and start memorizing the title kanji. It's a good first step toward learning enough Japanese to play the game! Gyakuten Saiban 4 wallpaper800x600 1280x1024 [Via Dengeki]
Import game releases for the week of 03/25/07
Your PSP can play import games and to serve that function, every week we list the import games for the week. There's only one game of note this week, but it's a big one! DJ Max Portable 2 We've covered DJ Max Portable quite a bit, so if you don't know what the game is, than you must not be reading PSP Fanboy too much. Still, for those not aware of the game, it is a rhythm/music game similar to Beatmania that has you hitting buttons timed to the music. It's popular not only for its music selection but also the amazing visuals that accompany it. Since the game has plenty of English in it, if you like music games this is a must import for you. Unless you want to wait and see if it comes out in the US.
Import game releases for the week of 03/11/07
Since the PSP is able to play games from any region, every week we feature the import releases for that week. March is a fairly lame month for import games. Last week was just greatest hits re-releases and this week there is nothing. With this off week, I would like to ask our readers, what import games have you gotten that are a worthy import? I'd like to import some more games and since there isn't anything new, maybe I'll go back and fill in my library with older titles. I'm looking for games that aren't reliant on knowing Japanese to play since despite all the anime I watch, I have yet to have learned Japanese from the practice.
Import game releases for the week of 03/04/07
It's a new week and another chance for me to let our readers know about the tasty import game releases of the week (tastes like ramen noodles). Every week we showcase new import games for you to play in your PSP (PSP plays imports without any modding). Let me start by saying that honestly it's a pretty light release list this week, but after last week, any game releases is a feat. No real in depth previews to do on the games this week, as it's a week of budget re-releases. If you haven't bought these games yet and are interested, this week sees "Best" versions of Princess Crown, AI Go, AI Mah-Jong, AI Shogi and Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner. Princess Crown is made by the same company that's making the much talked about upcoming PS2 RPG Odin Sphere, so there may be more people interested in importing it now. That's it for this week! Next week we have some actual new import games to showcase, so we'll see you then.
Wii Warm Up: Imports
Recently, a technique was discovered to allow Wii owners to play import Gamecube games. However, a method of playing imported Wii games still eludes us, outside of buying a Wii from another region. We're sure someone will come up with something, but for right now, we're stuck in our own territory. We want to know-- how important is this to you? Are you ready to open up your system as soon as a solution comes along, just so you can play the new Naruto? Will you be the first to place an order for a swap disc, if one comes along? Or are you completely uninterested in, for example, pachinko?(Image is of the train simulator Densha de GO!, specifically the Beginning Densha de GO! Set, which includes a special controller.)
Panel de Pon coming to DS
We have great news for puzzle fans! Panel de Pon, aka Tetris Attack, aka Pokémon Puzzle League, aka Puzzle League is going to get a DS release in Japan in April, according to some rumor-hounds at NeoGAF. This marks the first time we can think of that the same game has appeared on both the Game Boy Advance and the DS.We can think of one thing in particular that could elevate this new version over its predecessors: delicious online multiplayer. We're dreaming of future Game Nights already.
New DS Lite stand is bendy
We thought we didn't like DS Lite stands that much. We were so, so wrong. It turns out we were just waiting for this one to come along and make our DS look more like an IKEA lamp. Where those other stands use ridiculous hinges and rectangular bases to sit on your table*, or magnets to stick to surfaces, the Game Stand Lite uses two real, proven scientific principles which naturally increase awesomeness: a big bendy arm, and a suction cup We don't think it comes with that transparent base, which is too bad. We like transparent things almost as much as we like bendy things. We do hope that suction cup is strong enough to stand up to the force of a few songs' worth of rhythm-action.*Okay, so there's a hinged stand in the linked GAME Watch accessory roundup that's actually really nice, if significantly less bendy.
Import game releases for the week 02/11/07
Another week, another week of import games to feature. For those not in the know, every week we profile the coming import games for that week. It's an interesting list this week, we have the Japanese version of Lumines 2 and multiple RPGs and an anime visual novel. Will you import any of these games? Check the list and let us know. Continued after the jump ...
Import game releases for the week 02/04/07
We're back with our weekly import release list, After the lack of import games last week, we strike back this week with a slightly less anemic import game release week. Since your PSP plays import games, you might want to pay attention! Onto the week's releases .... Continued after the jump ...
Import game releases for the week of 01/28/07
By now you may be used to getting your weekly import PSP game releases. Perhaps the weekly list is like a soothing comfort that drowns out the voices in your head. Get prepared for those voices to get louder this week though, as I have the unfortunate task of informing you there are no import releases this week. If it's any consolation, you can always look through the archive and pretend some of those games are being released this week. Join us again next Sunday when there actually will be some import games to report on.
Import game releases for the week of 01/21/07
Your PSP plays import games and every week we let you know what's coming out from Japan. This week's game amount is huge, so without further delay, here's this week's list: Continued after the jump ...
Import game releases for the week of 01/14/07
Always wanted to play import games, but never wanted to mod your system? Well lucky for you, the PSP allows you to play import games right out of the box. But now you may wonder what the newest import games are. Well, that's why every Sunday I'm here to keep you updated. M.A.C.H. (Modified Air Combat Heroes) We talked about this one a few weeks back since it's coming to the US next month. If you can't wait that long though and don't mind if your games aren't localized than you can buy M.A.C.H. this week. If it's not obvious from the game's title (and really it should be), the gameplay revolves around air combat. Initial D Street Stage (PSP the Best) Based on the popular manga, this game is all about not just racing, but drifting. In between races you upgrade your car so you can more easily take down rivals. This game isn't new, but this is the "best" release which means you can buy it cheaper than ever. Wizardry Empire III: Haoh no Keifu Oddly enough this series has had more popularity and sequels in Japan than in its native country. The newest installment still plays like the PC RPGs of old. You move in first person while exploring dungeons and killing monsters. Visit towns, get new weapons and defeat evil. Unless you know Japanese though, it isn't usually a good idea to import an RPG. Talkman Shiki: Shabe Lingual Eikaiwa Talkman is voice-activated translation software It translates words into your language or vice-versa. This release centers around teaching English and key phrases one would need to get by in the US or an English speaking country. The Talkman releases have been somewhat popular where they've been released, so I still wonder why this useful software has never gotten a version in the US. That's it for now , see you back here next week for even more import games! [Update 1: Fixed tagging.]
Lik-Sang busted for grey market imports, European fanboys weep
In a move that could have serious repercussions for gamers worldwide, the UK High Court has ruled that noted Hong Kong-based electronics exporter Lik-Sang is in violation of Sony's intellectual property rights when it sells the company's hardware inside the European Economic Area. As many of you know, Lik-Sang has been a primary source for hard-to-find foreign gadgets, exporting such products as Nintendo's DS Lite weeks or months before they launch in the rest of the world. Sony claims that it will continue to pursue grey market importers under the guise of "protecting consumers" from gear that doesn't conform to local safety standards, electrical voltages, and software encoding, even though it would seem that most people purchasing these goods are fully aware of what they're getting into. This development should be especially troubling to European gamers, who may have been hoping to snatch up a PS3 several months before the scheduled rollout there; now, exporters will likely be more wary of shipping consoles to Europe in light of this legal precedent. On a completely separate note, Engadget has recently secured 1,000 PS3 units and a small plane to smuggle them overseas, where we'll be selling them out of the back of a Land Rover on a first come, first served basis for €10,000 apiece (component and HDMI cables not included).[Via Gamesindustry.biz]
Deal of the day: Gitaroo Man Live import for $20
I realize there haven't been a whole lot of PSP deals the last week, but I have a real doozy for you today. The Asian import version of Gitaroo Man Lives, a rythm-based game, is available for a measly $20 from Play-Asia. And to make it even sweeter, the it's only $3.10 for world-wide shipping. If you've never heard of the game, it received an 8.8 from IGN, and they said it's "one of the finest games the genre has ever produced." Ya hear that? The game is awesome, folks, so hurry and pick it up before they're all gone!(Via Cheapassgamer.com - Registration required)
The top handheld imports
DS Fanboy discovered a great list of the top 10 handheld imports from Modojo. While the list features many DS and GBA games, the PSP also shows up a surprising number of times.10. Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With YouPart of the huge dating game sim genre in Japan, this game has you trying to improve your sex appeal. If you're good enough, you might get lucky. Don't expect any naughty bits in this game though. That's for some other games.7. Taiko no Tatsujin PortableTaiko Drum Master was released on the PS2 to some fanfare, and the PSP version is essentially a remake... without the drums. While it seems like a lot of the appeal disappears without Drumcon, the soundtrack's happy J-Pop and Katamari Damacy tunes make this a hit for importers.2. DJ Max PortableCalled "the single best game on the PSP" by the folks at Modojo, and for good reason too. Essentially Beatmania squeezed into handheld form, the game has you furiously mashing the PSP's buttons to the beat of the music. Harder difficulties apparently make you seem "less of a man." Wow.Of course, these kind of lists require some kind of fanfare. See a video of DJ Max Portable after the cut.
Meizu Mini Player coming to America
Ask, and ye shall receive. When we mentioned that we'd like to spend some time with Meizu's M6 Mini Player a few months back, we were pretty sure that like most foreign gadgets we feature, this one would always remain just out of reach -- so imagine our surprise when we learned that pre-ordering has already begun to bring the M6 stateside. You'll probably recall that this model, which has the nano squarely in its sights (promotional materials even warn the iPod to "step aside"), comes in either 1GB ($139), 2GB ($159), or 4GB ($220) capacities, and besides supporting the usual assortment of MP3, WMA, WAV, and OGG audio files, does the AVI playback thing on its 2.4-inch QVGA screen as well. Also included are an FM tuner, voice recorder, calendar, stopwatch, USB On The Go support, and a couple of games, which is a lot more features than the nano offers, so it looks like Apple has reason to be mighty worried come July or early August when the first shipments of these arrive. Keep reading for a few more comparison shots that show just how mini this Mini really is...
