Blog 16: The Devil

Name: Atelier Meruru Artwork
Type: Upcoming video game
Artist: Mel Kishida
Studio: Gust

I came across this artwork from a friend of mine who is a big fan of the AT series. ATM is the newest entry in the series, to be released sometime this year.

I have yet to play a game in the Atelier series, but from what I have seen, Ive been very impressed with the art style and the quality of the work. Just looking at it, you can tell it will provide a mesmerizing fantasy experience. Meruru is a bit more lighthearted, leaning towards a more magical-girl themed game. Using vibrant colours with a more Classical/Victorian art style provides a very interesting combination

 This "storybook" like setting is unlike anything Ive seen before in a game. Its also a bit of a cut-and-paste type of world, the environments look like paintings out of a storybook.

 

 The Atelier series is a series Ive always wanted to play for its music and its art direction, it seems that it will provide a very different fantasy experience from other JRPG's including "anime-style" ones.

Ill be looking to get into the series as soon as I can, this is one experience I don't want to miss.

Blog 15: The Temperance

Project Diva 2.5 Article


Name:Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2.5
Type:Video Game
System:PSP
Developer:SEGA

A new installment in the popular Project Diva rhythm game series. Project Diva takes the virtual idol Hatsune Miku and the other Vocaloids and puts them into their own game.

Despite the mass popularity of Vocaloid, the amount of official media is small, possibly due to complications with the "Free license" The Project Diva series, by SEGA gives fans their favourite Vocaloids whilst providing entertainment in the form of a rhythm game. Since it is developed for the PSP, portability and accessibility has contributed to the series success, being able to play to your favourite songs on the go is very appealing to fans.

This new entry into the series, can be considered as a side-expansion of sorts, in preperation for the next full game. The games sell very well, and have fans overseas (United States, Canada etc) as well. The appeal of being able to play a game involving your favourite "idol, or musician" even if it is virtual is what the fans want. And a game like Project Diva provides that. Its a good way to provide a gaming experience to the player, whilst satisfying their Vocaloid craving. Overall it results in a very satisfying experience.

2.5 will add new songs, costumes and modules, essentially the finished version of Project Diva 2, fans are glad to hear SEGA will continue to provide them with games staring their own virtual idol.

Blog 14: The Death

Name: ISML-International SaiMoe League
Type: Online Event

http://www.internationalsaimoe.com/

The ISML is a fully organized and popular internet popularity contest...for anime characters.

What makes ISML so interesting are the use of rules, and the complexity and organization that goes into such a tournament. In fact, ISML is so popular participants worldwide vote in order to see their favourite character win.

Set up in brackets, scheduled events, tournament days and more, ISML is well structured and its clear its taken more seriously than people may think. The community has alot of fun voting for their favourite characters in frequent matchups in order to see who is the greatest one of all.

ISML is a creative way of getting the community involved as one, voting for their favourite character they can find people to relate to and just have a good time during the events.

Blog 13: The Hanged Man

Name: Hyperdimension Neptunia
Type: Video game
Developer: NIS, GUST/IF

Last year, NIS creators of the Disgaea series announced a new title, tentaively called "Neptune" this new game would create persona's of the major consoles all in one game. NIS would transform the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii into anime girls. The premise of the game is that you play as the Persona of a console, each girl has a goddess form and a human form, you play as "Purple Heart" aka Neptune and you recruit the goddesses in order to combat a mystery enemy. (A personification of R4's, DS emulator chips)

Its certainly like nothing ever done before. Taking the "console war" and heated debates of fans and making a parody out of them using anime characters.

The game is full of video game references and has achieved considerable commercial success.

Its parody in its greatest sense, personfiying the consoles and transforming them into anime girls that bicker and argue, its comical, and enjoyable to watch, a new spin on console wars.

With Neptune mk-II announced, and the involvement of other Japanese developers Neptune keeps getting better and better. Combining cutsey anime characters with the flame wars of consoles.

Blog 12: The Strength

Name: E3 2010, Konami Press Conference
Type: Annual Gaming Convention

WIth E3 2011 fast approaching, I thought it'd be best to reflect on one of the more "interesting" conferences from last years Conference.

Konami Press Conference

A notorious example of a "poor" conference at E3. Companies seem to have a habit of imploding during their conferences, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are all guilty of this one way or the other.

But Tak Fujii provides us with one of the most comical conferences people will ever see.

Its not just the fact that he may not have perfect english, its his enthusiasm combined with the language barrier that made this conference so famous. The video speaks for itself. Although, gamers still enjoyed watching it, no matter how bad it may have seemed, thanks to Mr. Fujii.

The rest of Konami's press conference was similarly comical, a dance game demonstration and a gag of a developer losing his head.

Naoki Maeda's...dance performance, is just as entertaining.

Its an attempt to become closer to the press and to be more friendly and open, but the conference itself seemed poorly planned and it backfired on them.

Material like this, makes up for as Kevin Butler calls it "Circus of French Acrobats" Microsoft had to promote Kinect. Events like these summed up a very poor E3. E3 2011 however, looks to be a major improvement. With Nintendo announcing their new console, and promoting the 3DS, Sony with details on NGP, and a plethora of new games and announcements, gamers around the world are eagerly anticipating the conference in May.

Blog 11: The Fortune

Name: Final Fantasy XIII
Type: Video Game
System: Xbox 360/PS3
Developer: Square Enix

Final Fantasy XIII is another installment in the world famous RPG series, Final Fantasy.

One of the most debated and argued games of the year, Square-Enix's entry onto "next-gen" platforms has resulted in their current decline.

The debate surrounding Final Fantasy XIII was not just to do with the game itself, but the direction that Square-Enix is pushing the series in. Striving to make the series more "Western" SE have angered and stirred up fans all over the world. The debacle that was the online game Final Fantasy XIV (that did so poorly, Square Enix were forced to make the game free to play) has further contributed to their "downfall"

Now this trend does not just apply to SE, Capcom are another example (the new Devil May Cry) that raises the issue of Japanese developers striving to become "Western." Western meaning, appealing and aiming their game towards the average American gamer.

Does making a game western equal to success? clearly not, but its the thought of being able to access a much larger market that drives major japanese publishers such as Square Enix and Capcom to become more Western. This thought process is not wrong, but its also possible to innovate and reach out to audiences without changing your development practices/styles.Catherine is one example of a different type of game that generates interest in all markets.

Its this divide that has displeased the western community. If they wished to play more Western games, they would simply buy games developed in or near their respective countries. Its the fact that the fans like the types of games Japanese developers make that have created such large fanbases for them. (Nintendo is a special case, Nintendo has evolved to become something much more in gaming culture) Nintendo and Konami (Metal Gear Solid) have successfully integrated their games to become part of mainstream gaming. Something Final Fantasy will be hard pressed to do.

The confusion surrounding the direction, supposed "decline" and uncertaintity around JRPG's is what impacts the niche community.However, 2011 looks to be an excellent year for JRPG's, so even with the future of the genre in doubt, it remains very much alive and well.

Blog 10: The Hermit

Name: Today is a Beautiful Day
Type: Music Album
Artist: supercell (feat. nagi)
Label: Sony Music Records
Release Date:

Today is a Beautiful Day is the first full album from music group supercell.

supercell is an 11-piece doujin group, made up of one main composer (ryo) artists (Huke, redjuice) and support staff. ryo has already gained noteriety for his compositions with Hatsune Miku  (the popular: Melt and World is Mine). Huke is the creator of Black Rock Shooter, and artist for several visual novels. So supercell isn't lacking in niconico (the japanese youtube) starpower. It all comes together with the services of nagi(gazelle) who is supercell's primary singer.

Notable works from supercell include: Kimi no Shiranai Monogatari (ending for Bakemonogatari) LOVE & ROLL and BGM (for Cencoroll) and Black Rock Shooter

Still relatively unknown in the international community (even among Vocaloid enthusiasts) supercell began to make a name for themselves by getting opportunities to showcase their work in anime and popular media. Fans eagerly anticipated their first full album: Today is a Beautiful Day.

4.   Perfect Day (Official PV)

Interpretation:
ryo himself said that he feels very melancholy during spring, the time of graduation for japanese high school students, and time for a new beginning. Fittingly enough, the album released only days after the terrible earthquake that devistated Japan. A compilation of all his previous works, plus several new tracks. Today is a beautiful day is strangely appropriate for Japan's current circumstances.

If you analyze the popularity of supercell you realize, the leader, ryo is notorious and known in Japan as "The Master Composer" For Vocaloid, Nagi also has her fans on NicoNico, along with artists Huke and Redjuice. These artists have all made a name for themselves and have a "cult following" indirectly this also shows the powers and possibilities of such communities. They are an "Indie" group but not exactly in the way you may think. Supercell is a result of pop culture in Japan, they are another example of a "rag-tag" group gaining noteriety and becoming internet stars.

Their involvement in this facet of culture in Japan represents one of the possibilities and powers of such groups. (ZUN, the creator of Touhou being another example). Supercell's youth can only benefit this industry and they can open the door for other artists to contribute to the indsutry that they know and love.

Blog 9: The Justice

Sport: eSports (Starcraft: Brood War)
Location: South Korea
Matchup:
Link:

Starcraft: Brood War Part II: Dream on,an analysis on the cultural impact of Brood War on the world. (Modern Examples)

Part 2 will dicuss the impact Starcraft has had on Korean culture and its people.


Starcraft Documentary

An excellent, short 2007 documentary done by CBC about the nature of Starcraft in South Korea.

The video follows KTF Magic'N's (now KT Rolster) and their (former) ace Kang Min (Nal_Ra)

Its clear how deeply ingrained Starcraft has become in South Korean culture. Back in its golden age (the mid 2000's) they were akin to movie stars. SlayerS'Boxer (Lim Yo-Hwan) the most famous progamer was at one point, one of the most popular people in South Korea (moreso than celebrities).

With the fastest internet in the world, and PC cafe's on every corner, the infrastructure of S.Korea was perfect for Brood War, and its exploded. Academies, schools, courses are offered, and clans and amateur leagues flourish in this digital country.

Korean Air OSL Commercial

(turn on CC)

Exagerated? yes, but not as far from the truth as you may think. The most recent example being "Baby" a player who debuted at 13 years of age, and was inspired by watching his heroes play Starcraft as a kid (well, he still is)

Did anyone expect Starcraft to do this well? not at all, back in 1995 (The original Starcraft) when the game launched it was a stroke of luck that caused this global phenomenom that is the envy of eSports everywhere. Blizzard, attempting to emulate Starcraft's success in Korea, based their recent hit, Starcraft 2 of the original 1998 game. (The expansion, known as Brood War, the game hereafter)

Starcraft is unique in the way it has become a part of mainstream culure. Other games like Counter-Strike and World of Warcraft, have large followings but not quite the same success as Starcraft has had. Every eSport game dreams of establishing a similar structure in their own respective countries. Can it be done? The Starcraft phenomenom is truly unique, and to emulate this in another country would be very difficult, particularly with "The West's" perception of video games and culture. The people who work to change these views are optimistic, and dream of being able to accept video games as not just a hobby, but a true "sport"

While eSports is very much a work in progress, Starcraft has proven that video games, and the geeky teenagers that play them, can be something more than just a hobby.