Sanrio
Latest
Netflix's latest batch of games includes a Hello Kitty rhythm title
Netflix has added three more games, including a Hello Kitty rhythm 'parade' and a Three Kingdoms card battler.
'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' Sanrio collab brings Hello Kitty items to your town
Nintendo shows off its Sanrio-Animal Crossing collaboration items.
Database error publishes info of 3 million Hello Kitty fans
Online researcher Chris Vickery uncovered a database this weekend containing the personal information of 3.3 million accounts associated with Hello Kitty Online and official Hello Kitty websites, including SanrioTown.com, HelloKitty.com and MyMelody.com. The information included users' first and last names, birthdays, genders, countries of origin, email addresses, password hashes, password hint questions and answers, and other data, CSO Online reports. Some of the information was encrypted, but "easily reversible," according to the site. The breach was the result of a misconfigured database installation and all of the servers are now secure, CSO says.
Mad Catz sale includes FightSticks, Rock Band gear and more
If you've been in the market for an arcade stick, cheap wired controller or guitar with hundreds and hundreds of buttons on it, now may be the time to slap down some digitally represented dollar bills.Mad Catz has applied 37 to 69-percent discounts on a wide range of its peripheral offerings, dropping its branded SoulCalibur 5 and Street Fighter X Tekken FightSticks down to $100 a pop, its SFXT FightPads down to $20 and various Rock Band 3 instrument bundles to over half off. You can also snag a PS3 version of the limited edition EVO 2012 FightStick for $100, in addition to discounted WWE All Stars sticks/pads and Damage Inc. Pacific Squadron WWII flight stick packs.Sadly, the sale does not include the Sanrio FightStick, which is still both $160 and the cutest ever.
Cute quotient overload: eyes-on with the Street Fighter x Sanrio Fightstick for Xbox 360
Thought the holidays were over? So did we. Imagine our surprise, then, when we returned to the office to find one last, special package lying in wait: Mad Catz Street Fighter x Sanrio Arcade Fightstick Pro. As ridiculous explosions of cute go, this one takes the sugoku kawaii cake -- even the box is a Hello Kitty collector's wet dream. Obvious overall otaku appeal aside, Xbox 360 gamers interested in the Fightstick Pro will find an eight button "authentic Japanese-style Sanwa Denshi" layout, switches for button lock / unlock and three joystick configuration settings (d-pad, left or right analog stick), turbo functionality, as well as a headphone jack upfront and a storage compartment housing the 13-foot long USB cable around back. Really though, no amount of English words will do this kitsch item justice. So check out the gallery below for a photo tour of this adorable collision of anime worlds.
Street Fighter x Sanrio: a merchandising mash-up made in otaku heaven
A Kitty-chan hadouken? Surely that's the stuff of fan fiction dreams, except it's not. In a move that's certain to confound core gamers, Mad Catz has commissioned a (somewhat unholy) merchandising mash-up of two beloved Japanese franchises, Street Fighter x Sanrio, to be splashed across its Arcade Fightstick Pro (for Xbox 360 and PS3) and iPhone 5 case covers -- sold for $160 and $35, respectively. And the results? Well, they're adorably alarming. Cramming the totemo kawaii pantheon of critters from Sanrio's line into the personas from Capcom's fighter, gamers with special interests can soak in the send-ups that see Badtz-Maru outfitted as the infamous Ryu, Hello Kitty sporting Chun-Li's buns and Pochacco as the blonde-maned Ken, just to name a few. No doubt, it takes a special kind of person to appreciate a crossover of the most intrusive childhood memory kind. But we're willing to bet there are plenty of you somewhere out there.
Hello Kitty X Street Fighter plushies, figurines, coin purses for pre-order
The Hello Kitty versions of your favorite Street Fighter characters (or the Street Fighter versions of your favorite Japanese spokescat) are up for pre-order on at least one site, with more coming soon, Capcom says.Big Bad Toy Store has Hello Kitty Chun Li, Ryu and M. Bison as plushies, coin purses and figurines, though the figurines are sold as a pack that includes Cammy, Zangief and E. Honda for $40. The 10-inch Chun Li plushie from San Diego Comic Con 2012, which runs $63, is already sold out on Big Bad Toy Store.Capcom specifically called out Hot Topic, Toys 'R' Us and and Sanrio as places to buy Street Fighter X Hello Kitty products, so keep an eye out at your retailer of choice. If you don't see the Street Fighter character you want right now, don't fret – this is only Series 1 in a line of toys from Sanrio and Capcom.
Hello Kitty X Street Fighter plushies heading to a Hot Topic near you
The Chun Li Hello Kitty plushies available at Comic-Con last weekend were sold out by Saturday morning, but there is still hope for the thousands of remaining fans clamoring to get their hands on one. The Hello Kitty Ryu, M. Bison and Chun Li plushies pictured in their Comic-Con display above are soon coming to "as many stores as we can get them into," a Capcom booth employee told us. He mentioned specifically Hot Topic, Sanrio stores and Toys 'R' Us as possiblities for the plushies, which are "Series 1" in a planned line of Hello Kitty X Street Fighter toys.
Hello Kitty Sonic is first character collaboration from Sanrio and Sega
This is a picture of Hello Kitty as Sonic the Hedgehog. Please, take a minute from your hectic, stressful day and really let the majesty of that concept sink in. Enjoy the contrast of bright blue against fluffy white and red; pay attention to the detail of the gloves, the golden buckles and traction lines decorating her shoes, the adorable button nose.Disregard all thoughts of how exactly Hello Kitty got a hold of Sonic the Hedgehog's skin. Don't question the amount of fanatical cutting and sewing it would have taken to make a hedgehog pelt fit over a cat's ears. Pay no attention to the determination in those black eyes. We're sure Sega made sure Sonic was treated with all the respect owed him.Sega and Sanrio are joining forces to create a series of character collaborations, the first of which is the adorable Hello Kitty Sonic we've dissected (too soon?) above. The Sonic x Hello Kitty Jumbo Plushy will be available at Sega amusement parks in Japan starting in late July, made to commemorate the re-opening of Sega's Tokyo Joyopolis on June 14.The Sega/Sanrio crossover project will strike worldwide in summer 2013. Until then, enjoy the Hello Kitty Chun Li plush that will be available at Capcom's booth at San Diego Comic-Con for $40. Enjoy it, lest we end up with a line of Hello Kitty "You" toys in the immediate future.
Mouse Computer's LuvBook S heals emotional scars, one Hello Kitty at a time
What the world needs now is just one thing, and that thing is a bejeweled Hello Kitty laptop. Fortunately, Japan's Mouse Computer is well aware of this, which is why it's unleashed the LuvBook S, pictured above. Designed in collaboration with Sanrio and Swarovski, this masterpiece is powered by a 2.2 GHz Intel Core i3-2330M processor and boasts an 11.6-inch, 1,366 x 768 display. It also packs a 500GB HDD and a 1.3 megapixel camera, but all that really matters is the swaggy centerpiece -- a heart-ensconced Hello Kitty mug made out of about 1,100 Swarovski stones and untold buckets of cuddles. The LuvBook is available now for ¥69,930 (about $900), at the source link below.
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.
Hello Kitty Online meets Manhattan
New York City is, like, totally bummed out. Intrepid explorers in Hello Kitty Online recently found the city to be deserted due to an unknown cause -- Cloverfield monster? Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man? Sex and the City 3 filming downtown? Nobody knows! With its upcoming update, "Mysteries of New York," HKO players will dig deeper into this investigation while cheering up the emerging inhabitants. Yup, that's right: Cheering them up. After all, this is Hello Kitty Online, a game that practically exudes pastel cheer from every pore. With the free January 24th update, players will engage in the return of the "Cheer System" which uses a variety of sparklers to lift the spirit of grouchy residents. Because nothing empowers one's attitude like a face-full of sizzling fireworks! Mysteries of New York will contain a hefty assortment of other goodies as well, including costume sets, a sizable invasion of penguins, new pets and bosses, and a capsule machine that gives you the chance to win groovy prizes. You can check out all of the details of this update at Hello Kitty Online.
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%
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.
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 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 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]
