Latest Posts

Phantasy Star Online:Blue Burst Ends in Japan. However…

by

After 6 years, the Japanese Phantasy Star Online: Blue Burst servers are going down for the last time. This isn’t just the end of PSO:BB this marks the end of a decade of Phantasy Star Online. The Japanese PSO:BB server was the last, official running server in the legacy of Phantasy Star Online, truly the end of an era.

Here is how the last few months of PSO:BB will play out;
-November 29: Hunters License sales and usage of all special access codes halted.
-November 30 – December 27: Free access to the game servers. December 14
-December 27: Special bonuses applied (rare drops x10, rare enemies x5, EXP x2).
-December 27: Servers go offline at 4:00p.m. JST.

Sad news indeed, but every cloud has a silver lining! In this case, Phantasy Star Online 2!

Posted by EspioKaos of PSOWorld, their resident translator of Japanese,
But fear not, you enduring Hunters of Ragol! In that same announcement, SonicTeam mentions that they are in discussions to grant access to a Phantasy Star Online 2 “user participation test” (among other things) to Japanese PSOBB subscribers at a later time. No further details are known at the moment, but stay tuned. We’ll be posting more information as it surfaces!

So if you want to beta test Phantasy Star Online 2, I suggest signing up to the Japanese PSO:BB for its final swan song.

No Comments

Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity features Evangelion and Gurren Lagann cross overs

by

More Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity tie-ins have been announced. I know you are excited. Just like Phantasy Star Portable 2, this new remix edition will have the Evangelion tie-in and they are adding a tie-in with Gurren Lagann. They are adding the Gainax mecha from Gurren Lagann, as playable. Pretty cool.

The “Gurren Lagann Set” comes with a drill and Gurren Boomerang for male avatars. You can see the drill and boomerang if you check out the gallery after the jump.

Continue Reading ➜

No Comments

Review: Shenmue – 10 years later, there’s still been nothing else like it

by


[Even 10 years later, Shenmue’s still a fanbase favorite]

All throughout the life of the Dreamcast, we were teased with images and trailers for what promised to be the most amazing and cinematic game to ever grace a home console. There were certainly high expectations for Shenmue to deliver, and, well, it may not have been the game everyone was expecting. For those of us who “got” Shenmue, though, it ended up being one of the most incredible gaming experiences of our lives, and to date, surpassed only by its sequel. This is a series that every gamer should play and playing it when it was released in 2000, 10 years ago, was a journey that, like much on Sega’s awesome white console, forever changed the way I looked at video games.

Continue Reading ➜

12 Comments

Japanese charts: Vanquish still charting, at least on PS3

by

SEGA had three titles appear in this weeks Japanese charts. It was the top 50 and the highest charting game was the PS3 version of Vanquish, which dropped ten spots and is now 14th place, selling 14,042 units. Adding last weeks and this week, gives the game a total of 62,360 units. Not counting the 360 version, which dropped off the top 50 chart this week.

As for the other two titles, Black Panther: New Yakuza chapter  came in 30th place, with K-On! After School Live!! just below it, placing 31.

full chart, hit the jump.

Continue Reading ➜

2 Comments

Shenmue 10th Anniversary!

by

Yes! It is 10 whole years to the day… Erm, yesterday. But close enough right?

Shenmue was one of the most ambitious games ever made, it cost a whopping 70 million dollars in total, is the best series I’ve ever played and… Still isn’t bloody finished.

If you have yet to play Shenmue, well you may be a ‘gamer’ but you’ve still got your training wheels on, that’s for sure. Get your act together, go buy a cheap Dreamcast and enjoy a true classic.

If you have, fantastic you are a real man. Here’s to more Shenmue, sometime in the next 10 years! Come on Sega…

Until then, Shenmue City anyone?

4 Comments

Shogun 2 – Story Trailer

by

This game is simply beautiful, if you have yet to check out the Total War series, you are a fool! Do yourself a favour, jump in now.

Shogun 2: Total War boasts a possible 52 thousand units on screen at once. All fighting it out under your command, or that of your enemy. This would be an impressive feet alone, but look at these graphics, particle effects and motion capture battles. You’ll see why Total War has just no competition when it comes to historical RTS games.

Now if only they would make new IPs with fantasy and even sci-fi settings using the Total War engine, they could mop the floor with the competition there too.

1 Comment

Football Manager 2011 – Demo and Trailer

by

Above is the official trailer for Football Manager 2011. I can’t say it is my favorite trailer I’ve seen for this series. But I think it is a good idea to go with trailers that are less about the game itself and more about the passion behind the sport. That said I have no passion for football at all.

If FM2011 is relevant to your interests, then you can now download and play the demo:

The Football Manager 2011 Demo is available to download today, free and exclusively in association with Mirror Football. Click the link below to download from Steam and follow the onscreen instructions to install. You will need a Steam account to download, but signing up is free.

Click Here to Download the Football Manager 2011 Demo!

No Comments

Sonic Colors – US Commercial

by

The release date for Sonic Colors isn’t far off now and Sega is pushing Sonic Colors like… Well, like a Sonic game. Check out this brand new Sonic Colors commercial to be aired in the USA.

Note; I’ve dropped the ‘u’ in ‘Colours’ for this update as it’s an American commercial. Now excuse me while I go scrub myself in the shower with bleach and a wire brush.

2 Comments

First gameplay details for Shenmue City arise

by

Of course everyone on here is waiting to get more information on Shenmue City, especially gameplay footage. Well, sadly we don’t have that just yet, but we did get a little update on what you will be able to do when the social game goes live to play.

  • Search: You will help Ryo Hazuki search Yokosuka for the man that killed his father. You will do this by completing events and interacting with over 200 in game characters.
  • Collection: Capsule toys are back. Isn’t that exciting? You will be able to collect over 100 of these suckers.
  • Game: You will help Ryo by strengthening your dojo and challenge other people’s dojos as well.

Yes, details aren’t 100% yet, so we are all still waiting for the gameplay footage. Come on Sunsoft & YS NET, give us what we want.

[Source: AndriaSang]

2 Comments

Teen caught trying to steal a Hatsune Miku doll

by

[Wonder what he was going to do with the figure?]

Shoplifting is no good and being caught is embarrassing. A 15-year-old tried to steal a Hatsune Miku figure, just outside of Tokyo in the Chiba Prefecture. The figure he tried to take was worth $87. The teen was caught by a part-time clerk (29 years old) and a security guard (32).

What will you do when you are 15, getting caught stealing a anime doll by two adults? Do you call it quits? You don’t know Japan. He decided to attack both of them. As expected, the clerk and security only suffered minor injuries.

Obviously there is some odd craze for this franchise, that is why it was the best selling SEGA game for Q2 in Japan. Keep being crazy Japan, we love it.

[via: Kotaku]

2 Comments

Sonic Adventure Vanquish Remix

by

Earlier this week I picked up Vanquish in Kmart’s awesome sale, and I am totally in love with the game. The opening cinematic is crazy, brutal, epic and reminded me of another great SEGA game. So, using the powers of YouTube and iMovie I’ve mashed up two intros into one. Take note that this may be a tiny spoiler to those who haven’t seen the first few minutes of Vanquish and the game is rated M for Muthaf*ckin’ Mayhem. Enjoy!

If you haven’t picked up this modern day classic yet, do so now! The sale is still going on, though the game is out of stock online. So run to your local Kmart and get the game.

4 Comments

The Conduit 2 – Gameplay Videos

by

Check out these two new game play videos of the up coming Wii FPS, The Conduit 2. The original Conduit game boasted an impressive engine for the Wii, some very cool featured HUD customization features and control schemes but ultimately didn’t live up to the hype.

The Conduit 2 actually looks a lot better then the original, fixing many of the complaints and has a brand new art style.

Hit the jump to watch the second, multiplayer video.

Continue Reading ➜

1 Comment

Valkyria Chronicles 3 demo dated, devs talk PS3

by

The Japanese demo for Valkyria Chronicles 3 is coming out on November 9th on PSN and then you can download it via the official site on November 11th. Reserve 160 mbs for the demo. The demo will be 2 missions, including a tutorial and be fully voiced. If you beat the demo, you will get a special wepeon when you buy the full game come Janurary 27th.

For the demo, SEGA held a Q&A for the developers to answer questions. One of the questions that came up was if the developers ever plan on developing on the Playstation 3 again.

Continue Reading ➜

1 Comment