nobuo uematsu

1UP Editor In Final Fantasy Nerd Engagement Extravaganza

6:00PM Luke Plunkett | If you’ve ever read a copy of EGM or popped over to 1UP, you’ll know the name James Mielke. Guy’s been with Ziff Davis for a while now, and is currently Editor-in-Chief over at 1UP.com. Anyway, he recently proposed to his girlfriend. But didn’t just do the bended-knee thing. He went all video game nerd, roping in a couple of “friends” to help him make things special. Those friends? None other than composer Nobuo Uematsu and designer Yoshitaka Amano, both most famous for their work on the Final Fantasy series. Amano designed the ring (pictured), Uematsu a melody that Mielke had playing when he proposed. Girlfriend said yes, mission accomplished, thousands of FInal Fantasy nerds the world over find themselves getting all misty-eyed. More »

Blue Dragon Soundtrack Released

3:20AM Mike Fahey | While Blue Dragon didn’t do too much for me as a game, the music was nothing short of wonderful – exactly the sort of thing I’ve come to expect from Final Fantasy legend Nobuo Uematsu. Now you can get all of the music with none of the boring blue gameplay as Sumthing Else Music announces the release of the Blue Dragon Original Soundtrack. Two-discs worth of Uematsu goodness should now be available at retailers nationwide, though knowing how well most shops stock these things you might be better off going for the digital download available from www.sumthingdigital.com for only $US 9.99, or wait for it to show up on iTunes. More »

Mario Theme Would Make a Fantastic Japanese Anthem

10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | “Kimigayo,” Japan’s national anthem, has its supporters and haters. Adopted in 1868, the song is really a 10th century poem that contains this controversial line: “May the Emperor’s reign last forever.” Well, since the Emperor is now a figurehead, some Japanese question whether “Kimigayo” should be the national anthem. Other don’t really give a hoot! While discussing Nintendo’s super composer Koji Kondo, colleague Nobuo Uematsu jokingly hit upon this solution: I think there are a lot of talented composers these days compared to when we started back in the day. But if I were to name just one person then it would be [Koji] Kondo-san and his beats and music in Super Mario, just his upbeat tempos. I’m sure everyone in the world — no borderlines or age limit — everyone in the world who’s come across Super Mario’s music will never forget that melody… I think that the Super Mario song should be the national anthem for Japan. [Hums the death refrain] So when someone wins a gold medal at the Olympics, a Japanese athlete, the flag should go up with the theme song. Shoop! …The world would have a different image of Japan if we use that. Before you pepper the comments with “lol” or “hahaha”, just keep in mind having to stand and take off your hat every time someone fired up a Mario game. ‘Kay? Now proceed with the hahaha-ing and lol-ing. A Day in the Life [1Up via Go Nintendo] More »