• Kotaku East

  Report: Why Aren’t Young Japanese Dudes into Booze? Porn and Video Games.

  If video games aren’t being blamed for young men not joining biker gangs (um?), it seems they’re being blamed for a flagging interest in booze. During the 1990s, the amount of alcohol in Japan peaked. Since then, it’s been on the slide. Today, popular alcohol drinks are mixed with soda or soft drinks to make…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  Kotaku East

  PS3 Hack Makes Japanese Role-Playing Game Speak English

  During the course of my recent interview with Colin Noga and Aaron Lindsay about their experience creating an English patch for Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse, I learned about another fan translation in the works. While the pair was working on a translation patch for Tales of Graces (which was sadly canceled…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  The Best-Looking Characters Walk the Streets of Japan

  Ever feel like game character design has become, I dunno, bland? Shame because there’s so much inspiration, walking around in the hip parts of Japan. Please note that “regular” Japanese people do not dress this funky or outrageous. There’s a reason why these folks are popping up in these “street snap” photos, and that’s because…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  The 2D and 3D Ladies of the Tokyo International Anime Fair

  This weekend, the Tokyo International Anime Fair rolls through Tokyo Big Sight. The annual event showcases new anime, as well as artists and voice actors. There are goodies to purchases and reveals of upcoming products—plus sticker covered “itasha” automobiles and cosplaying booth companions. Sister site Kotaku Japanattended TAF’s business days, snapping a slew of pictures.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  How Fans Brought a Japan-Only Wii Game to the West

  When Fatal Frame 4: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse was first announced at the Tokyo Game Show 2007, horror fans rejoiced. When the E3 gaming expo came the following year with Fatal Frame 4 conspicuously absent, they got worried. And when Nintendo finally announced that the title would not be leaving Japanese shores, they despaired.…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Is This the Full Dead or Alive 5 Roster? [Update]

  Fighting game Dead or Alive 5 won’t be out until this September, but the game’s full roster is apparently making its way online. NeoGAF forum member Sectus supposedly discovered would could be the full roster in the Dead or Alive 5 demo included with Ninja Gaiden III. In the demo, there is alternative costume data…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Hello Kitty Says “Hello” to Lingerie

  Sanrio, maker of all things Kitty, is joining forces with underwear maker Hanky Panky for a line of Hello Kitty intimates. Lingerie featuring the iconic Japanese character (who is really British!) will cost anywhere between US$27 and US$98, depending on the piece. According to Sanrio’s David Marchi, “A lot of people think this is jut…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  What Is This New Square Enix Game?

  Square Enix is launching a “secret title” this summer. It features illustrations by Yusuke Naora and Maski Hirooka. According to 2ch sleuths, the name of the game is apparently Crystal Conquest based on this domain name page. The tagline in the teaser trailer is “‘C’ is coming.” In that teaser trailer, there are helmets, armor,…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  Watch Bayonetta Kick You in the Face

  As previously revealed, Bayonetta from…Bayonetta is coming to online combat game Anarchy Reigns. Check out Bayonetta mulitplayer action in the above clip—pistol heels, hair bodysuit, and all. 『MAX ANARCHY』キャラクター紹介映像 ベヨネッタ篇 [YouTube]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Is Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition a Tactical Success?

  We’ve already taken a look at the tactics-style gameplay and use of historical figures in our coverage of Pokémon + Nobunaga’s Ambition on the Nintendo DS. But when it comes down to it, was Poké-fying the world of feudal Japan a bold new step for the future of Pokémon, or would Nintendo have been better…

  By Richard Eisenbeis Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Chinese Schoolgirl Caught Smuggling a Whole Buttload of iPhones

  This month, a Chinese schoolgirl was nabbed, smuggling not one iPhone, not two iPhone, but twenty-five. Chinese custom authorities discovered the high school senior was moonlighting as a smuggling mule. According to a recently released report, the girl was picked up on March 13. She arose suspicions, because apparently, unlike other Chinese schoolgirls, she wasn’t…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
• Kotaku East

  Kotaku East Starts Now!

  Kotaku East runs from 4am to 8am Eastern. For more info about Kotaku East click here

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  You May Sign Up For the Hybrid Beta Now, Shoot It Out In April

  When game developer Jeremiah Slaczka isn’t answering your questions right here on Kotaku, he’s making a multiplayer shooter called Hybrid with his team at development studio 5TH Cell. He’d love for you to join the beta of his game and try it out before its summer release on Xbox Live Arcade. But, hey, disclosure people!…

  By Stephen Totilo Published March 23, 2012
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  Uncategorized

  Ghost Recon: Future Soldier‘s Online Co-op Requires Synchronicity, Stealth, and Shooting People in the Head

  Ubisoft IP director Adrian Lacy makes the coordination, concentration, and carnage of Ghost Recon: Future Soldier‘s ‘Valiant Hammer’ online cooperative campaign mission seem so natural in his narration of this walkthrough video that you almost forget it’s a group of people that know the game inside-and-out are playing. I’m hip to picking up Future Soldier…

  By Mike Fahey Published March 23, 2012
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  Want To Make a Mario Piranha Pipe? Like To Sit On?

  Lounge Geeks have a neat how-to for those wanting to create their own Piranha Plant ottoman to easy squatting. More in the link. [LoungeGeeks]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  Zangief Looks a Little Meaner With his Shirt on

  Serbian artist Filip Acovic decides to redesign Soviet brawler Zangief, beating him up a little and covering up that glorious thatch of welcome mat all over his chest. Street Fighter II Redesign – Zangief [DeviantArt, via XombieDIRGE]

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 23, 2012
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  They’re Making an Adventure Time Game for Nintendo 3DS? Hooray!

  Pendleton Ward, creator of Adventure Time, tweeted earlier tonight that his computer crashed while he was making an animated GIF to announce an Adventure Time 3DS game. Wait, what? From his Twitter: “Dang.. Compy crashed while I was drawin a gif of this 3DS wavin it’s arms around announcin the Adventure Time 3DS game.” This…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  ‘Dawnguard’ Trademark Filed, May Point to Skyrim Expansion

  No plans for a downloadable expansion for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim have been announced yet, but a trademark filing spied at the end of February is believed to tip off its name or part of it anyway: Dawnguard. ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Games, filed the trademark; “downloadable software” is listed in…

  By Owen Good Published March 23, 2012
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  What If Final Fantasy VII‘s Villain Were a Lady?

  Don’t let that long hair and fine features fool you; Final Fantasy VII‘s Sephiroth is definitely a dude. Crystal Graziano is definitely not. The cosplayer recently tried her hand (sword?) at Sephiroth. The result, above, is Lady Sephiroth. And it so works. OnPaperWings [DeviantArt] (Top photo: BigWhiteBazooka)

  By Brian Ashcraft Published March 23, 2012
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  Draw Something & Kate Winslet’s Chest Won an Academy Award in 1998, You Know

  In this little-known, deleted sequence from James Cameron’s boat-sinking classic, Leonardo DiCaprio tries out a large, prototype version of iPhone hit Draw Something. “Draw Something like one of your French women”, she’s purring. Titanic Draw Something [College Humor]

  By Luke Plunkett Published March 23, 2012