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Perfect World Entertainment offers Japanese disaster relief across multiple games
MMO industry efforts to rebuild Japan continue, as free-to-play titan Perfect World Entertainment is lending its considerable weight to the cause. The firm is donating 50% of the proceeds from special cash shop items to the ongoing Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief drive. Players of PWE's games can pick up a little something extra for their characters while simultaneously making a donation to the Red Cross. The promotion runs through April 13th and features a variety of items in games including Battle of the Immortals (bag expansions), Ether Saga Online (ancestral crystals), Forsaken World (star of hope), Jade Dynasty (meditation orbs), and Perfect World International (super inventory stone).
Softbank to offer free phones to earthquake orphans, free replacement for lost iPhones
Following the catastrophic earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, surviving victims from the affected region are going to face a tough time over the coming months, if not years. Many of those who are more fortunate have been actively contributing in one way or another, regardless of distance, to help put Japan on its road to recovery. Back in the country, one such generous person is non other than Softbank founder and CEO Masayoshi Son, who's recently visited Tamura, one of the cities most affected by the Fukushima nuclear disaster. During that trip, Son announced that Softbank will cover a year's worth of living costs (commute and food) and provide job positions for the 1,200 people to be relocated to Takeo in Saga, the prefecture where Son originated. Additionally, Son is using Softbank's "Let's Do It" campaign site -- a tracker for his "Let's Do It" tasks posted on Twitter, each accompanied by a completion status indicator -- to crowdsource requests for supporting earthquake victims. So far, these requests are mainly about ways to increase efficiency for donation efforts (like publishing a live list of item shortages for each shelter, and setting up new mobile networks at the shelters), but there were two that caught our attention. Last week, one of Son's followers suggested that Softbank should provide orphaned children free phone credit for a limited time, so that they could contact their friends and other family members. Son then retweeted this idea and announced that all earthquake orphans will receive free phones, along with call costs waived until they reach the age of 18. Another gadget-related initiative came in earlier today with Son promising free replacement for all lost or damaged iPhones due to the earthquake, with details to follow later. Obviously, anyone providing aid to Japan in any way, shape, or form deserves just as much credit, but Softbank's extra mileage and cunning use of social networking is certainly praiseworthy in its own right. Here's hoping that Son's actions will inspire others for even greater causes. [Thanks, Tres] Update: It's worth pointing out that Son said he's also happy to help pay phone bills for earthquake orphans who are already on other networks, including DoCoMo. Good on ya, sir!
Fujifilm resumes production on X100 cameras, new-age vintage is rolling again
Fujifilm has a hit on its hands with the retrotastic X100 camera, selling for a whopping $1,200 but still flying off shelves. That popularity resulted in some shortages, and a stoppage of production due to the disaster in Japan made that situation worse. Now the company is announcing a resumption of production, so the 12.3 megapixel compact with a 23mm fixed lens should be hitting store shelves again in the next week or so. Place your orders now, if you haven't already, and get that sepia filter warmed up so that your pictures can look as vintage as what you're shooting them with.
Lady Gaga donates $1.5 million to Zynga for Japan disaster relief
Being enormous fame monsters ourselves, we really appreciate it when others like us -- say, Lady Gaga -- use their monstrous fame for good. Which is exactly why we were so glad to see Ms. Gaga's massive $1.5 million contribution to Zynga's continued Japan relief efforts, half of which joined Zynga's donation, adding to the $2.5 million already raised in the past two weeks by the company's Facebook games. That brings Zynga's grand total in donation to just over $3 million. "I'm inspired that my little monsters banded together to help those affected by the terrible tragedy," Gaga colorfully noted. The money she raised came from the sale of $5 "We Pray for Japan" bracelets that her fans bought, with all proceeds going to charity. "What Zynga's players have done for the cause is equally inspiring, and I'm thrilled to partner with them to raise money that will go to Save the Children and the American Red Cross," she added. You can donate directly by heading to SaveTheChildren.org or RedCross.org.
The Mog Log: Back in the high life again
The good news is that both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV should be back online as of Friday. (I'm writing this on Thursday, so watch some last-minute wrench get tossed into the works.) The bad news is... well, really, that's all the news over the past couple of weeks. While the team has been working, it seems like improving a video game hasn't been at the top of anyone's priority list in the wake of the earthquake and subsequent devastation. If I hadn't made this clear enough last week, that's pretty much the only reasonable response to what's been happening. It's astonishing that anyone has even been going on and working on the games, much less actively keeping players up to date about the status of the servers. There's the distinct chance that you weren't able to log in as soon as the servers went live again yesterday, and even if you did, it was mostly a matter of checking back in and lounging for a few moments. So let's take a look at some of the ways to re-acquaint yourself with the games.
Monirobo measures radiation following nuclear crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant
According to a report by a Japanese news agency, a radiation monitoring robot, aptly named Monirobo, is the first non-human responder to go on-site following the partial meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The machine, which was developed by Japan's Nuclear Safety Technology Centre to operate at lethal radiation levels, reportedly began work Friday, enlisting a 3D camera, radiation detector, and heat and humidity sensors to monitor the extent of the damage. A second Monirobo, used to collect samples and detect flammable gases, is expected to join its red counterpart soon -- both robots are operated by remote control from distances up to one kilometer away. They join the US Air Force's Global Hawk drone in unmanned surveillance of the crisis.
Square-Enix restoring Final Fantasy XI and XIV game services on March 25th
It looks like the lights are coming back on in both Vana'diel and Eorzea in a few days, as Square-Enix has published a press release on its website updating fans and customers on its power conservation initiative. Final Fantasy XI and XIV game servers were shut down on March 13th in an effort to curtail non-essential power usage in the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake. According to Square, services for both MMORPGs, as well as its PlayOnline portal, will be back online this Friday, March 25th. The FFXIV website also details Square's efforts to reduce its energy footprint, which includes reductions in both lighting and air conditioning usage in addition to the server shutdowns. The company also states that services may be interrupted again if recovery efforts warrant it, and that monthly fees for the April billing cycle will be waived.
The Mog Log: Blackout
It's really hard to find the heart to talk about anything related to Final Fantasy this week. Last week, things went intensely cross-eyed for Japan. If you've somehow missed it, the short version is that a massive earthquake struck, killing a huge number of people and sending Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plants into a crisis that's still escalating as of this writing. There's the very real possibility of the plant's suffering a meltdown, resulting in a disaster some people are likening to the explosion at Chernobyl. And yet the Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV teams are working. We've seen communication out of the teams, and while Tokyo wasn't directly hit by the quake, it's hard to believe none of the employees has family in the region. The country faces rolling blackouts and a nuclear threat, and yet the teams keep working at making the games better for everyone. There comes a point when dedication doesn't adequately explain what keeps someone working through a crisis.
NCsoft makes multi-million dollar Japanese relief donation
Earlier we told you about Hi-Rez Studios and its efforts to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. NCsoft is also throwing a considerable contribution into the relief drive in the form of 500 million Yen (or 4.5 million Euros/6.3 million USD, for those of you counting along at home). NCsoft's Sung Joon Park explained that the sum equals a month's worth of sales, adding that the South Korean gaming giant would not be shutting off game services. "We'll maintain the service with minimal electricity and personnel. Maintaining daily life is also important, therefore we plan to uphold the service." Kotaku puts NCsoft's gift into perspective, noting that the South Korean MMO maker is a big deal in Asia, where its contributions to the Japanese recovery outstrip notables including Nintendo, Sony, and Hyundai. [Thanks to cic for the tip!]
iPad 2 supply line affected by Japan disaster
As Japan suffers under the weight of a major tsunami and a continuing crisis with the Fukushima nuclear power plants, it's becoming clear that the ripple effects from the combined tragedies are impacting Japan's consumer electronics industry, and of course the iPad 2. Asia Times is reporting today that the iPad 2's battery and memory are made in Japan, and with electrical shutdowns, disrupted transportation system and employees understandably staying home, supplies of these parts just aren't available. AppleInsider quotes iSuppli as saying Apple will also have difficulty getting the iPad 2 internal compass provided by AKM Semiconductor and touchscreen components likely sourced from Asahi Glass Company. At present, Apple appears to be able to build the iPad 2 for 2-3 weeks before the parts shortages impact the company. The iPad 2 went on sale in the US on the day the tsumami struck Japan, and Apple has recently announced that initial sales of the iPad 2 in Japan will be delayed. It may be frustrating to not have the latest and greatest piece of Apple tech, but those frustrations are small compared to the very real crises unfolding in Japan. Our hearts (and funds) go out to the people of Japan who are struggling with the many challenges they face. [via AppleInsider]
Toshiba and Hitachi LCD plants damaged, will shut down for a month
You can't have a 9.0 magnitude earthquake without breaking a few factories, particularly ones that produce fragile liquid crystal screens, and this week Toshiba, Hitachi and Panasonic are each reporting damages that have forced them to close LCD production facilities affected by the tsunami and quake. Panasonic isn't sure when its plant in Chiba prefecture might resume carving up the glass sandwiches, telling Bloomberg that "there has been some damage, though not a fire or a collapse," but both Hitachi and Toshiba will reportedly halt some assembly lines for around a month to deal with damages. It's probably still too soon to talk about panel shortages -- though they seem likely soon -- but we'll let you know how things progress.
Earthquake interruption delays Final Fantasy updates
With the massive earthquake that shut down both Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV, players of both games are awaiting news on when service is expected to resume while the nation of Japan struggles to recover. But there have been other repercussions for Square-Enix, and in wake of the disaster, coming patches for both games have been pushed back. Final Fantasy XI's next major update, previously scheduled for mid-April, has been pushed back to a provisional date in May depending on further developments. Naoki Yoshida has put together a producer's letter explaining some of the situation in the country now, noting that while the Tokyo-based employees were unharmed, many of the staff members had family in the affected regions, not to mention power outages rendering several team members unable to get to work. The next two patches have subsequently been delayed until April, with a promise that Final Fantasy XIV players will learn more about the upcoming Grand Companies (formerly called public companies) before too long. As always, we hope that the staff and families of Square-Enix remain safe through this unforeseen crisis.
DOA Dimensions, Warriors: Legends of Troy postponed indefinitely in Japan
Two more games have been moved out of their original Japanese release dates following the recent earthquakes. Tecmo Koei announced today that Dead or Alive Dimensions for 3DS and Warriors: Legends of Troy for Xbox 360 and PS3 won't make their scheduled March 24 and March 31 releases. The publisher did not offer a new date for either release. There's little chance of Warriors' North American date being affected by this shift, since it's out -- but we're checking with Tecmo about the Western release dates for DOA Dimensions. The game was never dated in North America anyway, so the question of whether it's been delayed might be complicated.
Motorstorm: Apocalypse launch postponed in UK
Despite the fact that MotorStorm: Apocalypse has already begun shipping to brick-and-mortar stores in the UK, Sony says it will "postpone the launch" for the time being, missing the March 18 launch date. SCE issued a statement (via CVG) that specifically cites "the impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan" and "the parallels between these events and the underlying theme in MotorStorm" as reasons for the delayed launch. The game's March 17 Japanese launch has also been delayed to a "TBA" date, alongside several other titles. "Although the game itself is already in distribution, we are ceasing any further shipments and removing as much of the marketing materials as possible," SCE's statement continues. "Our thoughts are with all those affected, including our colleagues within the Sony family, living and working throughout Japan." SCEA confirmed with Joystiq that MotorStorm: Apocalypse will still ship in the US on April 12 -- perhaps signaling when the game will be made available across the Atlantic as well.
iPhone Street Fighter IV on sale for $0.99, sales go to earthquake relief
If you've ever been even slightly curious about the iPhone version of Street Fighter IV, we encourage you to check it out today, for two reasons: It's 99 cents All proceeds from its sale for the next week are going to earthquake relief So by buying it, you do a good deed and you get a cheap game. Capcom is also dropping the Monster Hunter Frontier Online fee for people in the affected Tohoku region of Japan, which should make from a nice distraction. In addition, the company is donating ¥100 million ($1.23 million) to the relief effort, and reducing electricity usage at its arcades and other businesses in the area. [Thanks, Joe]
Apple's retail arm aids Japanese employees after earthquake
Earlier today, Kevin Rose published a set of emails he's received that really shine a light on how far Apple has gone to help out those in need during the aftermath of the Tohoku earthquake. The account is that of an Apple Store manager somewhere in Tokyo who has been overseeing his store through the disaster. Just after the earthquake, hundreds of people crowded around Apple Stores to use the internet connections (Rose's correspondent suggests that there's a lack of free Wi-Fi in Japan, making the Apple Stores natural gathering places). Using Skype and FaceTime, victims were able to contact family members and even regroup at the stores. According to the letters, Apple retail stores in Japan have become a sort of safe haven for lots of Apple employees (both retail and corporate) and their families since the quake hit. Apple Japan has been footing the bill for food, water, supplies and even hotel rooms for those in need, stating that their "safety is most important." As public transportation systems have been mostly down, Apple has offered to pay for any and all expenses that may occur should an employee attempt to travel back home through alternate means. This is why I love this company: Apple gets it. Money isn't everything -- people are. That's what's important, and it's good to see them following through on that belief.
Donate EVE ISK to help disaster relief efforts in Japan
When it comes to collecting aid for disaster relief, EVE Online developer CCP Games has a unique way of helping players donate. While many MMOs ask for donations or release limited-edition cash shop items, CCP has managed to devise a way for players to donate in-game currency to help people in the real world. During the relief effort for last year's earthquake in Haiti, CCP began accepting donations of 30-day Pilot's License EXtensions (PLEX) for their full monetary value in game time. With the recent devestation in Japan, CCP has once again asked for the EVE community's help to raise money for relief aid. Each PLEX bought on the in-game market and donated to charity represents 30 days of game time that someone in the world originally paid for with cash but that won't be redeemed into game time. Because of this, CCP can donate the full cash value of that game time to a registered relief charity without taking a big loss. CCP absorbs all management and tax fees to ensure that 100% of the donated game time's value is passed on to registered charities (in this case, the Red Cross). To donate to the relief effort in Japan, EVE players are encouraged to buy PLEX on the open market and contract them to the character "CCP PLEX For Good" before March 31st. As usual, EVE Online's normally permissive rules on scamming have been suspended in relation to the charity drive. Anyone attempting to scam players out of ISK or PLEX using this charity drive will be dealt with harshly. With notable rich players and corporations able to potentially donate thousands of dollars' worth of PLEX, this charity drive is sure to raise a substantial amount of money for disaster-stricken Japan.
Yakuza: Of the End, Motorstorm: Apocalypse delayed in Japan; Disaster Report 4 canceled
Citing "various circumstances," both Sega and Sony have announced delays of major game releases, reports Andriasang, while Irem has outright canceled Disaster Report 4. Sega announced that Yakuza: Of the End has been pushed back to a "TBA" release date in Japan, while Sony has altered the MotorStorm: Apocalypse launch to "TBA," as well. both titles were scheduled to be released in Japan this Thursday, March 17. While neither company directly cited the massive earthquake and devastating tsunami that struck Japan on March 11 as the cause of the delays, it's evident that the disaster prompted the moves; though it's unknown if the reasons extend beyond the two games' disaster-themed premises. Andriasang also reports that Sony has temporarily closed its PlayStation repair and information center, located in one of the worst hit areas of Japan, the Miyagi Prefecture. Just yesterday, Square Enix temporarily shut down the Final Fantasy XI and XIV servers to conserve power in the country. Meanwhile, Irem has canceled Disaster Report 4 without citing a specific reason, according to Andriasang. As the title suggests, DR4 centers around players escaping a city that has just suffered a devastating earthquake. Both DR4 and Yakuza: Of the End were only announced for release in Japan. It's unclear at this point whether MotorStorm: Apocalypse is still on track to launch across Europe this week, as SCEE told GameSpot UK, "[The game's release is] under discussion at the moment. We'll get back to you when we know more." (The game's release in New Zealand was previously delayed following the severe earthquake that struck Christchurch last month.) The North American launch was set for April 12 two months ago. To find out more about how you can help those affected in Japan by the past week's events, head over to RedCross.org.
Japanese quake will likely affect the global supply of gadgets
Devastating. There are no words to effectively convey the human catastrophe suffered in Japan. Engadget would like to express our sincere condolences to those readers personally affected by recent events. As a tech publication, we're obviously focused on the impact these events will have on Japan's vast consumer electronics industry -- an industry that has responded with millions of dollars in cash, equipment and services to help with the relief effort. Thus far, Canon, Panasonic, and Sony have each pledged ¥300 million ($3.67 million) in donations. Sony is also matching employee contributions as will Mitsubishi who's donating a whopping ¥500 million ($6.1 million) in aid. On the equipment side, Sony is donating some 30,000 radios to relief efforts while Panasonic is providing 10,000 radios, 10,000 flashlights, and 500,000 batteries. NEC, Kyocera, and Epson are each donating ¥100 million in funds, computers, and telecoms and IT equipment. While it's still too early to quantify the exact impact the earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing nuclear troubles will have on the global tech industry, the scope of the issues is becoming clearer now that the initial chaos has passed. Click through to see how everything from laptop batteries to iPads are at risk.
Contact Japan for free via AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and more (update)
We imagine that many of you, like us, have been making frantic calls to friends and family in Japan over the last few days without regard to the costs. Now, in the face of otherwise devastating news, we have some good news to share courtesy of AT&T. Ma Bell is offering wired and wireless billing relief for calls made on AT&T between March 11th and March 31st. Under the plan, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for international long distance or text messages to Japan from the US and Puerto Rico. Likewise, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dialing to Japan. Sure it's a shameless publicity grab but this one seems genuinely helpful. Update: Sprint and Verizon have both now elected to waive call and text message fees (in Verizon's case, the move applies both to landline and wireless numbers). Update 2: Dish Networks is also getting in on helping people stay up to date. Boris wrote in to let us know you can now watch TV Japan for free as well. Update 3: Comcast is also in the game, providing free calls for Xfinity Voice and Business Class Voice customers. Update 4: And that ain't all! Cox Communications has announced that calls and texts placed to Japan with Cox Digital Telephone and Cox Wireless will be free of charge through March 31. Update 5: Kelly let us know that Verizon has added Japan TV for free for FIOS subscribers too. Update 6: Don't worry, pay-as-you-go customers: Cricket has been kind enough to inform us that their customers will be able to make phone calls effective immediately, until March 29.
