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Kanji Ken continues to confuse
The latest screenshots for Kanji Ken give us a better idea of what to expect from the game -- players translate hiragana characters, writing their kanji equivalent on the touchscreen. Scribbling out the correct Chinese symbols assists the kung-fu hero brawling on the top screen. That part of the mystery is solved!What has us befuddled, however, is the new trailer that Success Corp. is using to promote the game. The minute-long video plays out an epic, live-action duel between Kanji Ken's martial arts mascot and... a folding chair? The two opponents exchange a barrage of punches and high-flying kicks, neither of them revealing the motives behind their battle.Head past the post break for the movie clip and screenshots.
A few Touch Detective Season 2 1/2 screens, and one creepy wallpaper
More news from Success today! Famitsu posted a few screens of Touch Detective Season 2 1/2 (Osawari Tantei Ozawa Rina Season 2/12). It turns out that the "Season" appelation is not just being clever; the game looks identical to its predecessor, meaning that the new content is limited to story, rather than graphics or gameplay. This is fine! We can appreciate restraint.Also, over at the Japanese home page, a "download" section has popped up with a weird, weird March calendar wallpaper. Feel free to browse around the home page and read the developer blog if you can. Just in case you don't feel like messing around with kanji or Flash, we've provided the wallpaper, and the Famitsu screens, after the break.
PlayStation 2: thriving or failing?
With all the brouhaha over the new generation of game systems, what's to become of the 100-million-unit-selling lord of the last generation -- the PlayStation 2? Well, it depends on who you ask.On the one side is this Reuters report, which is positively bubbly about the system's enduring sales and impact in light of more powerful competitors. Indeed, the $130 system outsold the Xbox 360 and PS3 in January, and had two of the top ten selling games that month.On the other side, you have this post on Dubious Quality which notes that the big-five publishers only have ten combined games announced for the system from June onward this year. Electronic Arts alone has ten games listed for the PlayStation 3 in the same period, despite the newer system's much smaller installed base.So is the PS2's future rosy or ruinous? The determination really hinges on how many of those 100 million PS2 owners worldwide are still actively using their systems and how many have traded them in or boxed them up in the closet. The sales of God of War II, due to be released next week, will give a good indication of just how much oomph this aging system has left.Read - ThrivingRead - Failing
Touch Detective toys, because touching is good
Really, these Touch Detective figures speak for themselves. In fact, they even serve as a great review for the game: cute, yet more than a little creepy, and weirdly enigmatic. They repel us, and yet we want them. We're willing to bet that Mackenzie's gaze follows you wherever you go ....
DS Fanboy Review: Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja
If, in your secret heart of hearts, you really enjoy being kicked in the face, then we can heartily recommend Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja. It will satisfy your special needs in a way that is beyond compare.However, if you're like the rest of us and don't have a genetic need to sweat and swear your way through games, we'll tell you to approach this one with caution. Izuna has a lot going for it, but prepare yourself for an unforgiving gaming experience.
Unemployed ninja seeks job, finds web site
The official site for Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja is up and running today, showcasing everything from sketches to screens to the game's twisted sense of humor. What's that, you say? Deviant humor in a game from Atlus? Yeah, it's good to see Atlus branching out like that with the games they publish. Not that we're complaining here; someone needs to localize silly Japanese action RPGs so that we can enjoy them as well, and it looks like there's going to be a lot to enjoy in Izuna. We've tucked a few screens away after the jump, but there's loads more content at the site.
Touch Detective 2 on the way?
We can't decide if this is surprising or not, but from the new page at the Success site, it looks like Mackenzie will be back (with her funny-shaped pal) for another round of quirky mysteries. Considering the mixed reviews, we can't say we expected another Touch Detective game immediately, but hey! What fun would it be if the industry didn't offer up a few surprises here and there, amirite?For now, we'll hope that they focus on the things they got right with the first installment -- like the humor, art style, and characters -- and work a little on the opaque mysteries that were, at times, somewhat like pounding one's face with a sledgehammer. [Via 4cr]
Unemployment can turn a good ninja into a drama queen
It seems like just yesterday that we were first talking about Izuna: Legend of the Unemployed Ninja, a roflcoptery title if ever there was one, and now it's mere weeks away from a February release. It's crazy how time flies, especially when we're busy being fanatical for our favorite handheld. Just to get you into the campy ninja spirit, there's a video of poor Izuna after the jump. Please, for the love, give this girl a job. Everyone deserves to feel like they have a purpose in life, and we have a soft spot for funny-colored hair. Not to mention we do love a game that doesn't employ the stylus unnecessarily, and apparently, Izuna is stylus-free. We're in! Now go watch the video.
The Rise of Blizzard
The Escapist Magazine outlines the history of Blizzard Entertainment and ponders the secret of their success. They ask, "how does a maker of B-quality DOS and console games go on to become the single most successful videogame company in the history of the world?" As I don't clearly recollect the world of games pre-Blizzard, the story of the company's start is new and interesting to me. However, I'm sure we all have our own opinions on this - what do you think has made Blizzard the huge success it is today?
Blizzard on WoW's success
Greg over at the Guardian Gamesblog has been chatting with Itzik Ben Bassat, VP of Business Development for Blizzard, about WoW's success in Europe and worldwide. He hints at possible console versions:Consoles will become increasingly important to the online world and obviously as a leading company in the online world we would like to use the great tools that the 360 and PS3 offer to bring Blizzard quality to console owners. There is nothing confirmed yet though.Also, more hints on future development:At the moment we are not announcing anything but we have several projects concerning the three worlds (Starcraft, Diablo and Warcraft) that we will announce when we feel comfortable that they match the quality of our previous games.Intriguing stuff.[Fanart by Ralf van der Hoeven of Holland.]
Daring Fireball on "The iPod Juggernaut"
John Gruber has published a glaringly well-written piece that dissects the iPod's unstoppable success, why things are going so well and why analysts should simply remove the term "iPod-killer" from their vocabulary. While it might be a bit lengthier than your typical "iPods are great, Dell sucks" blog post, it is a wholly educational and darn solid argument worth every word. So head on over to Daring Fireball (click the Read link below) to find out why Apple can't make the same mistakes they made in the 80's, how Apple is out-innovating everyone despite their monopoly, and to hear an actually compelling case for why the iPod's competitors should just close shop - especially since one already has.
Funny post about Apple and Slashdot
Ian Betteridge has a funny (and insightful) post up on his blog, Technovia, called Why I rarely read Slashdot anymore. He points to this old Slashdot thread about the announcement of the first iPod and asks us to gaze at the typically pessimistic Slashdot comments on the post. One comment that he singles out and that was rated 4 for being Insightful notes "I don't see many sales in the future of iPod." Betteridge follows up the comment by noting: "As of March, Apple had sold over 15 million iPods." So much for /. insight. ;-)
