Wednesday, October 10, 2007
How to Create an Identity Crisis
11:40PM Brian Ashcraft | To: Crecente From: Ashcraft RE: Redesign There is a segment of the foreign population here in Japan who never pick up the language. That is totally possible in Japan as there’s always someone who can speak English or at least someone who can try. Granted, there are some foreigners who are dying to speak Japanese and learn the language, but for one reason or another, they don’t have the opportunity. When I first came here, I didn’t speak Japanese for about a year. There was no reason to! Everyone I met was so keen to speak English with me. That is… until I met Mrs. Bashcraft who wasn’t really interested in learning English. There is a man I know. A large American man who’s been here more than a seven years or more. He has three kids and runs his own company, a successful company, has a large disposable income and spends a great deal of free time with his family. He seems like a wonderful parent. Even though he’s been here for a while now, he doesn’t speak Japanese. He probably knows simple greetings, a few phrases and that’s it! Guess there’s no need for him to speak the lingo as his wife is fairly fluent, and they speak English at home. Hey, that’s fine, whatever. Here’s the pickle, though: His small children all speak English and barely know Japanese. See the mother, who is Japanese, only speaks English with her children. She doesn’t speak Japanese with them. At all! Her English is good, but it’s not pitch perfect by any stretch. So now the oldest child is starting school and literally cannot communicate with the teacher. What’s more, the child doesn’t like the Japanese language and is reluctant to speak. Very quiet, sullen kid. Lives in Japan, has a Japanese name and can’t understand what the other children are rattling away about. Can you imagine? What you missed last night Tallying exclusives Perfect score’s meaning Dynasty Warriors 40GB PS3 bundle More »
New Wii SKU Isn’t A New Hardware Configuration
11:20PM Luke Plunkett | Been a little cross-chatter on a new Wii bundle. Or SKU. Or new hardware configuration. Nobody really knew what it was, exactly, all they knew was that a new variation on the Wii was on its way. Well we still don’t know what it is, but we now know what it’s not - Nintendo have told 1UP that it definitely isn’t a new hardware configuration. Anyone with a fiver on it being hardware configuration, sorry, you’re out of the running. Nintendo: Wii Play ‘n Learn Not New SKU [1UP] More »
Nintendo’s Fall Conference Round-Up
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | In case you missed it, here’s our round up of Nintendo’s Fall Conference. Lots of info was announced, but here goes: Smash Bros. Brawl delayed, features Sonic WiiFit priced and dated for Japan Mario Kart bikes! Slips Monster Hunter 3 on Wii New Wii FF game New Pokemon game Wii online call centre Super Mario Stadium Baseball Fire Emblem DS DS demos Our own Mike “Michael” McWhertor is on the ground in Seattle and is attending a Nintendo event there today. We imagine it’ll be news similar to this, but we imagine with some surprises (and North American release dates). Check back for that! More »
Hudson Shoehorns CD Sound into Virtual Console
10:40PM Brian Ashcraft | Sure, Hudson is bringing TurboGrafx-CD to the Wii’s Virtual Console with apparently CD-quality tunes. How are they going to do that?! Hudson spokesperson John Lee points out that music will be compressed, but claims that most won’t notice. Lee explains: We have worked hard to make sure that a CD based game will fit on Wii’s built-in memory. Yes, we are using some compression technology since CDs can hold several hundred megs of memory, far bigger than the traditional Hucards could hold. For instance, the sound has been compressed, however gamers should not really notice any audible difference. This should reduce load times as well since the games will be played from the Wii’s internal memory and not a CD. Sounds good — we hope. John Lee Interview [Nintendo World Report via Aeropause] More »
Gods & Heroes Sleeping With The Celestial Fishes
10:20PM Luke Plunkett | Maggie let you kind souls know a few weeks back that Gods & Heroes had been delayed. Well I don’t do kindness. I deal in ill tidings and despair. So it’s my duty to let you know the game’s actually been canned. Seems Perpetual have got themselves some new investors, and while their Star Trek Online project survived the sale, Gods & Heroes didn’t. Rest in Peace, brother. Breaking News: Gods and Heroes Cancelled [WarCry] More »
Make Your Own 3D Square Enix Computer Avatar
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Starting today, Square Enix’s community/fan site Square Enix Members is now offering the creation of free 3D avatars. Combining characters with items, folks can create over 600 avatars. These avatars can be used in the Square Enix Members community web page. Think of them as online Miis, but with better hair and funny clothes. 3D Avatars [IT Media] More »
Chocobo, Moogle Cross-Bred In Name Of Art
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | While her breeding practices are reckless, Virtualgirl’s craft skills are less questionable. This is her Choco-mog, a construction that takes two popular Final Fantasy species and turns them into a single, yellow piece of sculpture. Cobbled together for a school project, it took 25+ hours to make, is constructed entirely of sheet metal and rods and looks lovely. Never had to bend a piece of sheet metal to my will before, but I imagine it’s a little difficult. My choco-mog! It is done!!! Check it out!!! Exclamation mark!!! [Dtoid] More »
Second Life, IBM Want Open Source Avatars
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Avatars are important, but confining. One avatar in one game won’t necessary be usable in another. IBM and Second Life developer Linden Labs have joined forces to figure out a way to make avatars interoperable. An open avatar would allow individuals to keep their same basic appearance and data. Says IBM vice president of digital convergence, Colin Parris: It is going to happen anyway. If you think you are walled and secure, somebody will create something that’s open and then people will drain themselves away as fast as possible. Hrm. Not sure how this will work with consoles — the very essence of which are being “walled”. Hey, it could happen! It would be great if Fahey could take his SL avatar (above) and play Wii Sports. I am skeptical at the moment, however. IBM, Linden Join Up [Reuters] More »Lucky Star’s Take on Final Fantasy
8:00PM Brian Ashcraft | More game Lucky Star mash-ups! They’re endless!! This time the popular anime is crossed with Final Fantasy VI Advance. This combination actually works in a very kooky way. FF Meets Lucky Star [Destructoid] More »
