Japan Earthquake
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Visualized: Shopping bag crash helmet protects your head, not your image (video)
The Grappa is a tote-style shopping bag that you can wear on your head (once it's empty) during a natural disaster. It's less insane than it sounds, because the base of the bag is made from the same EPS foam found in hard-hats, and is rated to cope with falling debris at least as well as similar emergency hoods already on the market. Constructed with the cheapest materials possible, each unit costs around 1,000 Yen ($12) with the hope that companies will buy them, slap a logo on the side and hand them out as a promotional tool that could save plenty of lives. Bet you feel guilty for laughing at the picture now, don't you? [Thanks, Don]
Sony Ericsson posts surprising Q2 loss, blames Japanese earthquake
Many analysts and market watchers were expecting a strong Q2 earnings report from Sony Ericsson today, but the company took them by surprise, posting a net loss of some €50 million (about $70.5 million), compared with a net gain of €12 million (around $17 million) at the same time last year. The manufacturer also sold only 7.6 million phones during the quarter, marking a 31 percent year-on-year decrease, while overall revenue fell from €1.76 billion (about $2.5 billion) last year to €1.19 billion (almost $1.7 billion) during Q2 2011. CEO Bert Nordberg attributed much of the decline to the Japanese earthquake, which disrupted the venture's supply chain, resulting in the loss of around 1.5 million devices. The report comes after Sony Ericsson launched a widespread cost-cutting campaign and re-focused its efforts on smartphone production, which comprised more than 70 percent of all sales during Q2, compared with just 40 percent at the end of last year. For a more thorough breakdown, head past the break for the full press release.
Play For Japan: The Album helps rebuild Japan, available now
Announced last May and originally slated for a June release, Play For Japan: The Album is finally available for your listening pleasure. The album features original tracks by 18 of gaming history's greatest composers, including Silent Hill's Akira Yamaoka, Metal Gear Solid 4's Nobuko Toda, and if you buy the album from iTunes, Super Mario Bros.'s Koji Kondo. The album is already available via iTunes in the US, Canada, and UK, and will be available everywhere else (from iTunes and Amazon) starting July 15. It costs $9.99 USD, one hundred percent of which benefits the Japanese Red Cross' efforts in rebuilding Japan's infrastructure. It also benefits your eardrums. The full track listing is after the jump.
Topcon's IP-S2 Lite creates panoramic maps in 3D, spots every bump in the road (video)
You'd need only a smartphone app to pinpoint every pothole on your block, but to map out more severe structural damage, you'd probably need more sophisticated equipment -- which is where Topcon's IP-S2 Lite comes in. Unveiled at last week's 3D & Virtual Reality Expo in Tokyo, this road condition evaluation system is comprised of a 360-degree camera, GPS and an inclinometer. After using its camera to capture images at 16 frames per second, the IP-S2 analyzes the properties of every shot and uses this information to create 3D video footage. The contraption can also measure the height, distance and surface area of any given frame, allowing engineers to insert computer-generated images into the video (as pictured above) and to construct more accurate maps of disaster-stricken regions. In the wake of this year's devastating earthquake, for example, Japan's Geospatial Information Authority used this technology to map coastal areas of the Miyagi Prefecture, giving officials and rescue workers a better idea of the damage inflicted upon the region. You can find out more about the IP-S2 in the video after the break. [Thanks, Don]
The Lawbringer: A good cause
Pop law abounds in The Lawbringer, your weekly dose of WoW, the law, video games and the MMO genre. Running parallel to the games we love and enjoy is a world full of rules, regulations, pitfalls and traps. How about you hang out with us as we discuss some of the more esoteric aspects of the games we love to play? On Monday, Blizzard announced that it would begin selling a new companion pet in the pet store and that for a limited time (until July 31), 100% of the cost of the pet would go to the American Red Cross to aid victims of the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Blizzard used its art and time assets for a great cause, using a previously successful tactic to raise money for people in dire need. While Blizzard is not donating the money directly, it is facilitating donation collection and incentive by putting the pet up for sale. What interests me is the level of fervor and the community outcry for this type of relief effort by Blizzard. Why are people so eager to push a corporation like Blizzard, which has a costly back end to monitor and maintain, into what amounts to a large-scale companion pet release for charity that people would have donated to anyway based on the generally accepted understanding that people are charitable? First, we need to learn a tiny bit about corporate donations and charity and explore why people like Blizzard in the first place. Second, we can ask why we want Blizzard to do the right thing.
Enterbrain CEO: Earthquake cost the Japanese game industry 7.3 billion yen
If you've kept up with the game delays and cancellations that happened as a result of the catastrophic earthquake which struck Japan last month, you probably understand the extent of its effect on the gaming industry. Enterbrain CEO Hirokazu Hamamura recently put a number on the devastation: At a recent seminar, Hamamura revealed that according to Enterbrain's calculations, the quake caused the domestic games industry to lose ¥7,330 million ($90 million) in potential sales. That number was divided into ¥4,470 million in lost software sales -- attributed to the delay of Steel Diver, Dead or Alive Dimensions and 29 other titles that were either pushed back or canceled wholesale -- and ¥2,860 million in lost hardware sales. Hamamura ended the seminar with a hopeful message, though, explaining that most of the delayed titles had been pushed back to the first quarter of the new fiscal year, which could prove to be a boon for Japan's gaming industry. We certainly hope that's the case as well.
TALON robot gets declawed, helps Japan sniff out radiation (video)
Robotics experts at the Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory just taught an old war machine some new tricks, namely radiation detection -- a timely acquisition of knowledge, for sure. Swapping out rocket launchers and machine guns for a suite of radiological sensors, digital cameras, and a GPS device, this modified TALON will be used to map the radiation levels (and create a visual output) surrounding the Fukushima nuclear power plant. The newly modified TALON landed in Japan just last week, joining an existing team of robot helpers already in use in the disaster area, including two additional TALONs equipped with sensors that can identify more than 7500 environmental hazards. Guns for Geiger counters seems like a good trade to us; check the video up top to watch the 'bot try out its treads. [Thanks, John]
iRobot, QinetiQ machines to assist in Japan relief effort
A few weeks ago, it looked like robots would play a relatively small role in recovery efforts following the earthquake and subsequent nuclear crisis in Japan, but as concern grows over radiation leaks, robotics companies are positioning their mechanical offspring to do jobs deemed unsafe for humans. We've already heard of Aldebaran's plans for a fleet of rescue bots, and now QinetiQ and iRobot are lending automated assistance to the cause. QinetiQ plans to send in a set of Robotic Applique Kits -- used to convert Bobcat loaders into unmanned vehicles -- along with sensor machines like the TALON and Dragon. Meanwhile, iRobot's enlisted two each of its PackBots and Warriors to help aid in recovery -- the former is used by the US military for bomb disposal. Both companies have already deployed teams to Japan for training.
SoftBank to replace iPhones lost in Japan's earthquake, tsunami
In the midst of an overwhelming catastrophe, Japan's wireless carrier SoftBank is stepping up to the plate to help many of those affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son recently traveled to Tamura, a city that is serving as a refuge for those devastated by the tsunami and Fukishima nuclear disaster. Son was moved by what he experienced and offered to buy food, pay for commuting costs and provide jobs for 1,200 people to relocate to Takeo, Saga. Son also reached out to his Twitter audience and asked for suggestions on how SoftBank could help additional earthquake victims. One follower suggested SoftBank offer free phone service to those children orphaned by this disaster. Son embraced this idea and announced on Twitter that SoftBank will provide orphaned children with a free phone and free cellular service until they turn 18. SoftBank also offered to replace iPhones for customers whose handset was lost or damaged in the earthquake. It is refreshing to see a company put aside financial considerations and use its resources to help fellow countrymen. Let's hope this move by SoftBank will inspire other companies to follow suit. [Via Engadget]
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.
Microtransaction items for Japanese aid in gPotato's stores
The earthquake that hit Japan on March 11th may no longer be at the forefront of gamers' minds, but the country is still reeling from the impact. NCsoft and CCP Games have both announced efforts to help aid the Japanese people with charitable donations, and it looks like gPotato has decided to encourage players to donate as well. The company has added new merchandise into the microtransaction stores for several games that, items that will grant players a unique look as well as donating all profits to the Red Cross. Rappelz, Flyff, and Luna Plus are all offering capes for players, while Tales Runner offers a shirt and Iris Online offers a kitten hat. (Sadly, the cat in question is not Maru.) One hundred percent of profits will be donated to the Red Cross to aid in relief efforts, and the items cannot be purchased with "free" currency. The items will be available until March 31st, so if you play the games and haven't yet donated, now would be the time.
Tragedy in Japan hasn't "meaningfully impacted iPad 2 supply"
The Japanese earthquake had a devastating effect on the people of Japan and temporarily shut down many manufacturing facilites. Analysts speculated this disaster might have produced a shortage of key components used in the electronics manufacturing process, but according to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, this shortage will have minimal effect on the future supply of the iPad 2. Munster expects the current shortage of the iPad 2 to continue into the June 2011 quarter, but this shortage is the result of excessive demand, not component production issues. Both the iPad and the iPhone 4 could see, at most, a one to two week delay as a result of earthquake-related shutdowns. This is good news for Apple customers looking to score an iPad 2, especially those international fans who waited in long lines today, only to walk away empty-handed. Of course, there are many problems Japan faces these days that are much more important than producing computers, but it's good to hear that this isn't another issue to deal with. A resumption of Japanese manufacturing will also help to stimulate the economy in Japan and help rebuild the devastated country.
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.
The Tattered Notebook: Game improvements and a fundraiser for Japan
With the past week filled with PAX East and then an avalanche of PAX write-ups, I felt myself playing a bit of catch-up in EverQuest II. The playerbase is well into Velious content, so we're starting to hear lots of feedback and see lots of fine-tuning. With two updates this past week and Game Update 60 right around the corner, it's time to do a little spot check on what's going on in EverQuest II. Read on for a closer look at changes to public quests, primal velium shards, and a new daily shard quest. Also, find out how you can help with Japan disaster relief through a new in-game fundraiser.
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.
Roundup of developers and apps to help Japan
The developer community is stepping up its offers of help to disaster-struck Japan with increasing ways to send money to those in need. This is a roundup of offers we've heard about -- let us know in comments of any others. Simplest of all is the offer from Japanese startup Lunascape: download the free iPhone or iPad version of its tabbed web browser app, and the company will donate ¥50 (about US$0.63) up to a total of ¥5 million (about US$65,000 -- in addition to the ¥1 million it's already given) for the Japanese Red Cross and other similar relief organisations. Marketcircle is going to give 100% of all proceeds made from its professional time billing programs Billings 3 and Billings Touch to the Red Cross starting on Monday, March 21, until the end of Wednesday, March 23. Capcom has reduced the price of Street fighter IV to US$0.99 and is giving 100% of iPhone sales to relief efforts until Monday, March 21. Real Software of Austin, Texas, is giving 5% of all sales of its web development tools next week to the American Red Cross's Japan fund. The Square Enix Group -- maker of Final Fantasy, Tomb Raider and Space Invaders -- is donating ¥100 million (about US$1.25 million) to recovery efforts. Ohanaware, maker of Mac photo software, such as HDRtist Pro and Funtastic Photos, is selling all of its software at half-price until Friday, March 25, with all profits going to the Red Cross for Japan relief. Users of SmartRoam's VoIP app for iPhone ChatTime can make free calls to Japan until the end of March, which usually costs $15 a month. Users who have already called Japan since the earthquake began will have charges for those calls waived. Devon Technologies, makers of data-management Mac software Devon Think and Devon Agent, will donate 20% of its March proceeds to Japanese relief efforts, such as Doctors Without Borders. Interval Studios, producers of the Thicket and Snowdrift apps for iOS, is donating 100% of its proceeds from March 11 to March 31 to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund. Tesla Software is also donating proceeds from the weekend to the Japan Relief fund and will post results on the company's site.
Square Enix outlines support for Japan disaster relief
Being a big gaming site, we can kinda lose sight of what's going on outside of the gaming world. The situation in Japan right now is terrible, and rather than use the disaster to its advantage for some kind of publicity stunt or whatever, Square Enix is just flat-out donating money. The Square Enix Group is giving 100 million yen to the relief effort. Additionally, it will collect donations from its employees the world over, and will also solicit donations through "select Square Enix online services and the amusement facilities that TAITO operates across Japan." Our heart goes out to those affected.
Steve Jobs reaches out to Apple Japan team
Photo of the Apple Store Sendai Ichibancho, Japan In the wake of the continuing tragedy in Japan as the result of the recent earthquakes and tsunami, Apple CEO Steve Jobs sent a message to company employees who work in the disaster-wracked country. In an email that was also sent to all other Apple employees, Jobs said: To Our Team in Japan, We have all been following the unfolding disaster in Japan. Our hearts go out to you and your families, as well as all of your countrymen who have been touched by this tragedy. If you need time or resources to visit or care for your families, please see HR and we will help you. If you are aware of any supplies that are needed, please also tell HR and we will do what we can to arrange delivery. Again, our hearts go out to you during this unimaginable crisis. Please stay safe. Steve and the entire Executive Team Apple has also set up a way for customers to donate to the Red Cross to assist disaster relief efforts through iTunes, and Digg founder Kevin Rose earlier published an email correspondence with a Japan-based Apple employee on the company's outpouring of support. One more Japan-related note: Alan from Breaking Art (developer of Flickr HD and Beer In Japan) has emailed to let us know that he's been displaced from home by the situation in Japan, and as a result, his responses to support requests for his apps will be delayed somewhat. We wish him and his family all the best. [via MacRumors]
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.
Zynga, Ngmoco donating to Japan through iOS games
Giant gaming company Zynga has joined the Japanese relief effort by enabling in-game donations in FrontierVille, FarmVille, CityVille and other games. A full 100 percent of the virtual goods' purchase prices will be donated to Tsunami relief, and Zynga is partnering with the Save the Children to raise money for its Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund. Charity-minded players can donate by buying specific virtual goods, like a sweet potato crop in CityVille, a Kobe cow in FrontierVille, radishes in FarmVille and a royal flush for Zynga Poker. Ambitiously, Zynga is aiming to raise US$2 million. Zynga representative Dani Dudeck says the campaign was created in under 24 hours and is their largest charitable campaign to date. This will be the first Zynga.org CityVille initiative. "The recent earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Japan brought unimaginable devastation and loss to the country and its citizens," says Zynga. "Our collective hearts at Zynga go out to the hundreds of thousands of people affected by this tragedy. Immediately following the earthquake, Save the Children, an organization that Zynga has worked closely with in the past, quickly sprang into action and created the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund. We at Zynga are grateful that we can offer some assistance to Save the Children by mobilizing our technology, people and amazing community of players to support this organization in providing aid to the children of Japan."
