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The Story Of Doodle Jump: Brotherly Love And Digital Snacks Boy, the Japanese game industry is smart. Feed them games to fatten them up and then feed them games to slim them down. In Japan, the DS has already seen it’s fair share of exercise titles with walking and yoga games. Now, Japanese kids and parents can exercise together with Hiromichi Oniichan no Oyako Taisou Navi. The title is fronted by kiddie exercise guru Hiromichi Sato. He’s quite famous and popular in Japan. In the “game,” Hiromichi show various exercises to keep fit, and kids can collect various in-game items. Though, call me old fashioned, but shouldn’t kids go run around outside, get in fights and stuff?
Hiromich’s Game [Famitsu]
Not that any of you actually use the feature, but starting next month the Wii won’t be supporting MP3 playback. Announced as part of some changes due for the Photo Channel, in future the console will only support AAC playback. This will affect current Wii owners during either the next system update, or if you choose to download the new Photo Channel 1.1, which will be available in December. Updates to the Photo Channel seem minor (all it says is you can replace the Channel icon with a pic of your choosing), so this sounds more like a move prompted by whatever copyright/legal reason has Nintendo worried this week.
The Photo Channel Will Change [Nintendo, thanks Leo!]
It’s coming. Yes, it is. Next Monday is everyone’s favourite Kotakuday, Ban Monday! Our recent contest brought hoards of new commenters. While we do welcome the new folks, we also want to warn them. We ban here at Kotaku. Ban like crazy. So please do not confuse our comment sections with your run-of-the-mill forum, boards, blah blah. We are always open to ban submissions, but next Monday the ban sensitivity on the Hammer will be turned up max. Keep a watchful eye and get those submissions ready to send out next Monday. Stop, Ban Hammer time!
The premise is simple. You play this game, called FreeRice. You get asked a bunch of questions aimed at testing your vocabulary. For every one you get right, ten grains of rice are donated to the The United Nations World Food Program by the game’s sponsors (Apple, Time|Life, American Express, etc). Doesn’t sound like much, but the more you play, and the more people play, the more free food gets sent to the world’s hungry. No jokes, no catch.
Whether you’re into Haruhi Suzumiya or not, this is a fine PSP bundle. Bandai Namco has gone all out, and the pack includes things like a cell phone strap, a stand, a UMD case, headphones, a pouch, a poster set, an artbook, blah, blah. It goes way beyond just hardware with a logo painted on — something that too many companies do. I like this. Even the box. The box is nice.
Haruhi Premium Box [Akiba Blog]
Portal: It’s the game sensation that’s sweeping the nation! Or something. That’s actually a Japanese sign detailing safety evacuation proceedures — which totally should involve the Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device. So yes, this sign is a lie.
CheapyD’s Photo [Flickr via CheapAssGamer]
Starting at midnight EST time, we ceased accepting entries for our BlackSite: Area 51 contest. Check back in the morning for info on how this is going to play out. Until then, check out what we’re giving away. Specs after the jump!
And with this, the music industry finds another way to sell us stuff. Roadrunner Records, obviously chuffed with the fact something is selling their tired roster’s albums, have announced that DragonForce and Slipknot CD sales have both increased in the wake of Guitar Hero III’s release. DragonForce’s “Inhuman Rampage” sales are up 126%, while Slipknot’s figures weren’t disclosed. I had no idea they were even still around. Good news for RoadRunner, not so good news for the rest of us. The sooner labels catch wind of the money to be made in these games, the sooner we’re looking at more watered down tracklists and higher prices. Huzzah!
Guitar Hero III boosts US record sales [GI.biz][Image]
Games are creative. Heck, just ask Disney CEO Bob Iger. He’ll tell ya! He says games are “another promising creative engine for Disney.” Continuing, Iger adds:
We intend to use [a multi-platform approach]to do exactly what we did in the music business to our video games business, but on a much larger scale…
Disney is increasing game spending, rarin’ to shell out $US 350 million in the next five years. Hoping for those mad “creative” profits, it seems!
Video Games Serious Disney Business [NY Post via GamesIndustry]
And handicapped animated characters feature prominently. Of the 13 bonus tracks being offered in Rock Band, one’s a strange choice. Stranger still considering the recent South Park/Guitar Hero love-in. Track in question is “Timmy & the Lords of the Underworld”. By…oh, you got that part. Other artists include Bang Camaro and…no idea who the rest are, but they’re listed after the jump anyways.
