Tag: Japan - Page 13
News How Much Fun Can You Have Squeezing Mayonnaise Bottles on PS3?
Remember to tip the container upside down
Every meal tastes better with a hearty dollop of mayonnaise on the side, but as much as we love the taste of the egg-based condiment, we’re not sure whether we could stomach a full game about the rich, creamy sauce. Vividred Operation: Akane and the Mayo Operation, a brand new PlayStation Network title...
News Who Wants to Play Air Hockey with an Augmented Reality Hatsune Miku?
PlayStation Vita makes it possible
We’re not sure that we understand the fascination surrounding programmed personality Hatsune Miku, but the computer generated pop star is known for sending some folks more gaga than, er, Lady Gaga. If you fit into that category, then you may want to hot step your way over to the Niconico Chōkaigi 2 event...
News Corpse Party: Blood Drive Leaves Crimson Trails on PlayStation Vita
You've, er, got red on you
Corpse Party: Blood Drive, the third entry in 5pb’s horrific interactive novel series, is set to spook the PlayStation Vita later this year. Announced in Famitsu magazine – and translated by Siliconera – the title will further the fearsome narrative of the haunted Heavenly Host Elementary School. The sequel will pick...
News Japanese Sales Charts: Vita Steady, Muramasa Starts Strong
Sales remain relatively rosy for Sony's various systems
It’s been over a month since the PlayStation Vita’s price was slashed in Japan, but the system’s still hanging on pretty well. While this week’s Media Create update shows a 10k decline for the console, it still managed to shift a respectable 31,795 units. Let hope that it can continue...
News My Little Sister Can't Be This Cute Is Raising Eyebrows on PS3
No, that's the actual name
Believe it or not, My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute is the name of a light novel turned anime series in Japan. Having already spawned several wildly popular outings on the PlayStation Portable, the franchise is now making the jump to the PlayStation 3, prompting plenty of throats to be cleared all over the world...
News Why Is PlayStation More Popular Than Xbox in Japan?
Keiji Inafune puts it down to brand loyalty
While the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 are more or less equals in most parts of the world, Microsoft’s machine struggles in Japan. It’s not uncommon to see the green-tinged device sell less than 1,000 units a week in the land of the rising sun, while Sony’s counterpart tends to teeter around the 15,000...
News Ragnarok Odyssey Ace Is Venturing onto PS3 and Vita
We hope that you liked the original
A complete remake of last year’s likeable PlayStation Vita demon slayer Ragnarok Odyssey is heading to Japan this summer. Ragnarok Odyssey Ace promises a comprehensive reworking of the original title for the PlayStation 3 and Vita, with a brand new episode and a compilation of all of the downloadable quests from...
News GameStop: PlayStation 4 Will Launch Globally in 2013
Cross your fingers
Video game retailer GameStop has got a lot to say about the PlayStation 4. Hot on the heels of gaffer Tony Bartel’s comments regarding stock shortages yesterday, company executive Michael Hogan has hinted that Sony’s next generation platform is set to launch globally this year. Presumably, that includes Europe. “We know...
News Japanese Sales Charts: One Piece Propels PlayStation Vita
Sony's system is sailing away
Strong sales for One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 boosted the PlayStation Vita back up the Japanese hardware charts this week. While the system was still handily outsold by the Nintendo 3DS, the portable’s tally surged from 36,028 units to 41,073 units. The aforementioned Namco Bandai brawler sold 60,315 units on the...
News Dragon's Crown Trailer Punches Your Eyeballs with Pretty Graphics
Tastier than nacho cheese and bacon on crispy fries
If hotly anticipated PlayStation 3 and Vita brawler Dragon’s Crown was an animal, it would probably be a kitten wearing a big pink bow. Vanillaware has released a brand new trailer for the co-operative beat ‘em up, which introduces you to the cast of the game and also shows off a euphoric mouse...
News SEGA Counting Down to New PlayStation 3 and Vita Announcement
Guesses on the back of a postcard, please
SEGA has launched a new Japanese teaser website for an impending PlayStation 3 and Vita project, but additional details are being kept under wraps. The page – which features some kind of dust effect – hints that all will be revealed on 28th March. Why do we have to wait so long? Unsurprisingly,...
News Yes, Final Fantasy X-2 HD Is Strutting onto PS3 and Vita
PlayStation 2 favourites will be bundled on one Blu-ray
As speculated yesterday, Final Fantasy X-2 is conjuring its collection of enchanted clothing onto the PlayStation 3 and Vita. The latest issue of Japanese publication Jump magazine has confirmed that the title will ship alongside its predecessor Final Fantasy X on a single Blu-ray named Final...
News Japanese Sales Charts: PlayStation Vita Sinks Back into Second
Sword Art Online steals top spot from Kingdom Hearts
Sony’s first foray into the handheld market may have been replaced over a year ago, but that’s not stopped the PlayStation Portable from proving that it’s still a force to be reckoned with in this week’s Japanese sales charts. Namco Bandai’s anime adaptation Sword Art Online: Infinity...
Rumour Final Fantasy X-2 HD Is Also Coming to PlayStation 3 and Vita
You'll have to buy them separately on the handheld, though
Those of you that like to indulge in a little dress up may be delighted to learn that Final Fantasy X-2 could be coming to the PlayStation 3 and Vita. Gematsu reports that alongside the oft delayed HD port of Final Fantasy X, a re-mastered version of its sequel may also be strutting onto the...
News You Should Really Consider Signing This Yakuza 5 Petition
We'll cry if you don't
Petitions are almost always futile, but when they revolve around a franchise that’s dear to our heart, we suppose they’re at least worth a shot. A group of Yakuza 5 fans have started up an online campaign to get the latest entry in the gangster series localised. Over the past few years, publisher SEGA has stealthily...
News Phantasy Star Online 2's Download Numbers Rocket on Vita
MAGnificent news
The impressive PlayStation Vita port of Phantasy Star Online 2 has already proved a massive hit in Japan, having been purchased or downloaded over 350,000 times in the region since its release at the end of last month. While a retail version of the MMO did hit store shelves on 28th February, it’s the free download from the...
News Japanese Sales Charts: Soul Sacrifice Pushes Vita Above 3DS
Sony's system finally knocks its counterpart off the summit
Savour the moment: the PlayStation Vita has finally toppled the Nintendo 3DS in Japan. Sales for Sony’s handheld stayed strong following last week’s price drop, with Soul Sacrifice pushing the system’s tally up to a colossal 63,581 units – a small improvement over last week’s...
News Hyperdimension Idol Neptunia PP Brings the Console War to Vita
Deploying this summer in Japan
The ongoing battle for Gamindustri and its inhabitants will make the transition to PlayStation Vita, an article in Dengeki PlayStation magazine has revealed. Siliconera reports that Hyperdimension Idol Neptunia PP will launch on 20th June in Japan, though additional details are scarce. Previous instalments in the...
News Japanese Soul Sacrifice Commercial Shakes Its Maracas
Sony forgoes sanity for latest spot
Sony is pushing PlayStation Vita exclusive Soul Sacrifice extremely hard in Japan. We’ve already seen a couple of the platform holder’s more conventional commercials for the Monster Hunter-esque title, but this one steps headfirst into nonsense territory. It shows a group of Japanese office workers going nuts...
News PlayStation Vita Sales Surpass 62,000 Units in Japan Post Price Cut
Onwards and upwards
PlayStation Vita sales surged to 62,543 units in Japan following last week’s price cut. The system – which saw its cost slashed to ¥19,980 on 28th February – sold out in some stores, prompting SCEJ executive Hiroshi Kawano to hint that sales had quadrupled. However,
News PlayStation Vita Sales Quadruple in Japan Post Price Cut
System primed for positive week overseas
We already know that the PlayStation Vita’s commercial performance has improved dramatically since the console’s recent price drop, but just how much has remained a bit of a mystery. Fortunately, speaking at a One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 presentation earlier today, SCEJ president Hiroshi Kawano has...
News Price Cut Prompts PlayStation Vita Sell Outs in Japan
Celebrate good times
See that red text at the bottom of those PlayStation Vita promotional posters? That's the sign of victory. After having its price slashed to just ¥19,980 yesterday, Sony’s struggling handheld has finally started flying off the shelves, with the above Akihabara retailer only having two models left in stock. The image won’t...
News This Is How Soul Sacrifice Is Being Advertised in Japan
Is that dude on fire?
Soul Sacrifice is easily the PlayStation Vita’s biggest piece of software since the system's launch in Japan, so it’s little surprise that Sony’s making a big song and dance about the release. This hyperactive fifteen second commercial uses actors to demonstrate the title’s magic-based action and co-operative gameplay...
News Sony: PlayStation Vita's Going on the Offensive in 2013
Platform holder has big plans for the handheld
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan president Hiroshi Kawano has admitted that the PlayStation Vita has failed to meet expectations in its home territory – but has promised that the platform holder will be on the offensive in 2013. The comments come days after Sony announced a significant price-drop for...
News Sony Announces Surprise PlayStation Vita Price-Cut in Japan
Shows off God Eater 2, Soul Sacrifice, and Final Fantasy X HD
In a surprise press conference overnight, Sony has announced that it is set to slash the price of the PlayStation Vita in Japan. The company confirmed that from 28th February, you’ll be able to pick up either a Wi-Fi or 3G console for around ¥19,980 ($215), down from ¥24,980 ($269)...
News Japanese Sales Charts: New Vita Titles Fail to Drive Hardware
Demon malaise
In the past, it’s been pretty easy to attribute the PlayStation Vita’s commercial woes in Japan to the platform's worrying lack of software. After all, whenever a new title has arrived, the system’s sales have almost always spiked. Worryingly, that wasn’t the case this week. Despite netting two major new releases in dungeon...
News Resident Evil: Revelations' Collector's Edition Tells the Time
Also breaks the bank
If you’re in need of a suitable timepiece to accompany your overpriced Leon S. Kennedy themed jacket, then look no further than Resident Evil: Revelations’ Japanese collector’s edition. The premium bundle includes a US Agency watch sporting the BSAA logo. It’s based on the same design worn by protagoni
News Japan's Most Desired Console Is the PlayStation Vita
Moral victory
The system may be locked in a constant conflict with the bottom half of the Japanese hardware charts, but it turns out that local consumers want to love the PlayStation Vita after all. A recent Famitsu magazine survey discovered that more than 64 per cent of readers are eager to snap up the struggling hardware, a sample greater than...
News New PS3 Super Slim Colours Strut Their Stuff in Japan
And maybe overseas, too
A couple of custom PlayStation 3 Super Slim colours will hit the console catwalk in Japan next month, platform holder Sony has announced. The newly unveiled 250GB Garnet Red and Azurite Blue systems will launch on 28th February in the land of the rising sun, and will set you back ¥24,980 ($279). Interestingly, the consoles...
News Capcom Arcade Cabinet Turning Back Time in Japan
Acceptable in the 80s
We’ve never quite understood the fascination with using modern hardware to emulate ancient experiences, but it’s big business – and now Capcom is looking to get into the lucrative market. Chatting in the latest issue of Famitsu magazine, the publisher has revealed Capcom Arcade Cabinet, a free application for the...
News The Box Art for the PlayStation 2's Last Ever Game Is a Bit Plain
Scribble time
It looks like an infant armed with a tub of crayons designed the cover for Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin. The title – which could well be the last PlayStation 2 game ever released – is due out on 27th March in Japan. It’s the fifth expansion for Square Enix’s popular online adventure, and marks the MMO’s tenth...
News Sony Ceases PlayStation 2 Shipments in Japan
End of an era
It’s the beginning of the end – but not in the way that the Mayans predicted. After almost 13 years on the market, the iconic PlayStation 2 is finally starting its transition into the console retirement home. Reports coming out of Famitsu magazine suggest that Sony has ceased shipping the system to Japanese retailers today, meaning...
News Japanese Sales Charts: PSP Topples Newer Sony Systems
You can’t keep a good platform down
The aging PlayStation Portable has reaffirmed its relevance by outselling the PlayStation 3 and Vita in the Japanese sales charts this week. Sony’s classic handheld sold 65,859 units during the tracked timeframe, and had two titles in the top five. Both One Piece: Romance Dawn and AKB1/149: Love Election sold...
News PlayStation Vita Celebrates Its First Birthday in Japan
Reports claim D:ream performed at the party
Somewhere in the corner of Sony’s main Tokyo office are a gaggle of glum looking executives sat around a sombre looking PlayStation Vita cake. Exactly twelve months ago, the handheld released in the organisation’s home territory amidst much expectation. But despite a huge turnout at launch, sales have...
News Japanese Sales Charts: Yakuza 5 Conquers the Competition
Like a dragon
Yakuza 5 landed a devastating blow on all of the other new releases in Japan this week. The latest title in SEGA’s seedy series registered 356,757 sales, which was enough to score it a spot at the summit of the region's charts. The hotly anticipated sequel sold more than the combined total of the top three Wii U launch games – but...
News Famitsu Teases Surprising Metal Gear Solid Reveal
Phantom pain
Famous Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu is teasing that there will be “something surprising for Metal Gear Solid fans” in its next issue. The timing is obviously intriguing, considering the much discussed Phantom Pain trailer was released last week. Online sleuths managed to uncover a slew o
News Phantasy Star Online 2 Will Render Fewer Foes on Vita
Shape shifter
Phantasy Star Online 2 is coming to both the PC and PlayStation Vita – but publisher SEGA has had to make some concessions in order to get the MMO running on Sony’s handheld. First and foremost, the portable version will render fewer enemies on screen than its static counterpart. In addition, map sizes will be reduced to...
News Special Metal Gear Rising PS3 Adds a Splash of Blue
Cut and take it
We think it’s safe to say that custom console redesigns just don’t work as well with the PlayStation 3 Super Slim. Previous hardware bundles for Yakuza 3 and Ni No Kuni have prompted stunning new styles – making this Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance tie-in look bland by comparison. The console – due out on 21st February in...
News Sony Celebrates Soul Sacrifice Release Date with Vita Bundle
Worth an arm and a leg
Soul Sacrifice is by far the PlayStation Vita’s most important exclusive in Japan. As such, it’s not especially surprising to see the platform holder lavish the title with its own hardware bundle. Announced alongside the title’s controversial release date, the special edition will include a gorgeous crimson console, a...
News Soul Sacrifice Sets Up Major Clash with Monster Hunter 4
Fighting for the heavyweight title
Sony Computer Entertainment Japan is either really brave or very stupid. The publisher has announced the Japanese release date for PlayStation Vita exclusive Soul Sacrifice – and it just so happens to fall in the same month as its main competitor Monster Hunter 4. The title's set to release on 7th March...
News Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Shoots Down Japanese Sales Charts
Hottin' up
Japan may be quite introverted with its video game tastes, but it does enjoy the odd first-person shooter. That’s evidenced this week by the surprising sales numbers for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, which managed to shift a whopping 197,350 units on PlayStation 3 alone. In fact, it was a good week for Sony’s home console in general,...
News Rub Pretty Ladies with Compile Heart's Latest Vita Game
Subtle as a brick
You might not want to play Compile Heart’s latest PlayStation Vita title on the train. The so-called card game – entitled Monster Monpiece – sees you rubbing the system’s front and rear touch panels like... Well, we’ll leave that to your imagination. The full title will feature 40 different virtual girls to grope, each...
News Phantasy Star Online 2 Travels to Vita on 28th February in Japan
MAGnificent
SEGA’s ambitious free-to-play MMO Phantasy Star Online 2 will spread its wings to the PlayStation Vita on 28th February in Japan. The game will be available as a complimentary download from the PlayStation Store, and will share online servers with the PC version. A closed beta for the handheld release will begin in January, with...
News Sony Promotes Western Titles at Japanese Gaming Event
Around the world in 20 games
When it comes to gaming tastes, Japan can be quite introverted. While it laps up franchises such as Dragon Quest and Monster Hunter, it tends to let the most popular Western brands languish on store shelves. That’s something that Sony’s aiming to change with its annual ‘World Game Project’, a consumer event which...
News Assassin's Creed III: Liberation Drags Vita Out of the Danger Zone in Japan
Kiss from a rose
It’s been a recurring theme that whenever software actually launches for the PlayStation Vita in Japan, the system gets a huge boost. That’s remained true this week, with Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation pulling the platform out of the danger zone. The handheld adventure was accompanied by a couple of new colours, which...
News Sonic the Fighters Sours the Japanese PSN This Month
Hedgehog haymaker
SEGA’s atrocious anthropomorphic fighting game Sonic the Fighters will invade the Japanese PlayStation Network on 28th November, the company has announced. It’ll be joined by fellow Model 2 brawlers Virtua Fighter 2 and Fighting Vipers on the same date. The publisher has yet to announce a Western release date, but all three...
News PlayStation Vita Slumps to Its Saddest Defeat Yet in Japan
Hide behind the sofa
The PlayStation Vita is a stunning system with some great games, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to overlook the platform’s commercial problems – especially overseas. While we still believe that it’s too early to pull the plug on the handheld, the situation in Japan is not looking good. In fact, it’s gone...
News Katamari Damacy Is Rolling onto the Japanese PSN Soon
The King of All Cosmos
Namco Bandai’s oddball PlayStation 2 title Katamari Damacy is rolling onto the Japanese PlayStation Network next week, the publisher has announced. The game – which sees you collecting objects by piloting an ever-expanding ball across a slew of different environments – will be available from 21st November in the land of...
News Check Out Metal Gear Rising's Slick Special Edition
Style guide
You’ll be able to purchase Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance in a variety of guises in Japan next year. Konami has announced that the title – which will launch as a PS3 exclusive in the region – will be available in vanilla, Premium Package, and Premium Package Konami Style editions overseas. The Premium Package will set you back...
News Japanese Sales Charts: PlayStation 3 Sales Surge
Like a disease
A cavalcade of anticipated software – combined with the release of the new Super Slim hardware model – pushed the PlayStation 3's sales over 42k units in Japan this week. The bump still wasn’t enough to topple the unstoppable Nintendo 3DS, but it came within striking distance. Resident Evil 6 was the platform’s biggest new...
