Brain Training coming to the Kinect

Posted by Chris Holmes at 2:04pm on September 8th, 2010

Microsoft has unveiled a new Brain Training game for Kinect that is being made with Dr. Kawashima. It’s currently called: “Lead: New Brain Training Where You Answer With Your Body”. Catchy. Regardless, the game will be a launch title for the Kinect in Japan when it’s released in the territory on 20th November and will be published by Namco Bandai.

Apparently, the game poses puzzles to players and they have to provide a physical answer. For example, an on-stage demonstration showed a woman translating a 24-hour time into a physical representation of a clock face with her arms (using them as the small and long arms on an analogue clock). Here’s a video to wrap your noggin around (there’s a rather snazzy Pac-Man one after the jump too):

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Japan | Microsoft | News | Xbox 360 | Xbox Kinect

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Final Fantasy XIII finally getting Japanese 360 release

Posted by Chris Holmes at 12:54pm on September 8th, 2010

Square Enix has confirmed that Japanese Xbox 360 owners will finally be able to play Final Fantasy XIII. The publisher will be releasing a special edition of the game in the territory at the end of this year. This version of the game will be officially called the “Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International Edition” and should be released on 16th December for 4980 Yen. Apparently, the special edition features an easy mode, a book that shows what happens to some of the game’s characters after the game and an art booklet.

Japan | News | Square Enix | Xbox 360

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Suda51/Mikami EA Project details getting unveiled at TGS

Posted by Chris Holmes at 12:43pm on September 8th, 2010

EA Japan has announced that Suda51 and Mikami’s new game is going to be unveiled at the EA Tokyo Showcase 2010. That event is held on September 15th, one day before the Tokyo Game Show begins. EA claims that more games will get announced at the event, so we’ll keep you posted.

EA | Industry News | Japan | News | Tokyo Game Show

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Tokyo Jungle announced for the PS3

Posted by Chris Holmes at 5:35pm on September 1st, 2010

Sony has announced Tokyo Jungle for the PS3. The game is set in post-apocalyptic Japan, with the human race on the brink of extinction and animals having reclaimed the planet. Apparently, you can control the animals and make them fight each other. It’s not known when the game will be released yet, let alone if it will be seeing the light of day outside of Japan.

Japan | News | PlayStation 3 | Sony

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Yakuza PSP demo available to everyone

Posted by Chris Holmes at 1:57pm on August 31st, 2010

A Japanese-language Yakuza: Black Panther PSP demo has been released, and the folks over at 4Gamer have put up the 192MB file for everyone to have a mess around with. The demo puts you in the shoes of protagonist Tatsuya as he goes about his business in Tokyo. Obligatory series staples like punching tramps and random side-quests have been confirmed. When you finish the demo, it will spit out a code that can unlock a bonus feature in the full game. Yakuza: Black Panther hasn’t been announced for the West yet.

Japan | News | PSP | SEGA

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Microsoft to keynote Tokyo Game Show

Posted by Chris Holmes at 1:27pm on August 26th, 2010

The organisers of the Tokyo Game Show have confirmed that Microsoft will be delivering the first of this year’s keynote addresses. Home & Entertainment Division head honcho Takashi Sensui and Microsoft Game Studios’ corporate vice president Phil Spencer will be on stage to talk about the “Xbox 360’s Vision and 2010’s Strategy”. They keynote will take place in the morning on 16th September. It will be followed by a second keynote. We’ll keep you up to date with whatever they talk about, if it’s juicy enough.

Japan | Microsoft | News | Tokyo Game Show | Xbox 360

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Kingdom Hearts Re:coded dated for Japan

Posted by Chris Holmes at 11:04am on July 20th, 2010

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts Re:coded will be hitting Japanese DS’ on 7th October. The game will be getting a western release somewhere along the line, but we’re not sure when yet. H.a.n.d. are handling development duties for this one, which is a remake of Kingdom Hearts: Coded, a mobile title. H.a.n.d. were responsible for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.

Japan | News | Nintendo DS | Square Enix

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White PS3 Slim coming to Japan

Posted by Chris Holmes at 2:18pm on July 6th, 2010

Sony has confirmed that they will release some PS3s with bigger hard drives in Japan on 29th July. There will be both 160GB (29,980 yen, roughly £225/€271) and 320GB (34,980 yen, roughly £262/€316) hard drive versions, with the 160GB model also available in white. The white one will come with a matching DualShock 3 and console stand. The 120GB model is being phased out, so Japanese retailers will be able to sell it for whatever they want. The new models and white console haven’t been confirmed for anywhere else yet.

Japan | News | PlayStation 3 | Sony

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Media Create sales for last week

Posted by Chris Holmes at 5:54pm on June 28th, 2010

Media Create has unveiled last week’s sales numbers. Here’s the hardware numbers:

DS (All varieties) – 53,523

PSP – 21,766

Wii – 19,045

PS3 – 17,175

360 – 2062

PS2 – 1568

Here’s the top 10 from the game chart:

1. Super Mario Galaxy

2. Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

3. Art Academy

4. Xenoblade

5. Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City

6. Tamagotchi no Pichi Pichi Omisecchi

7. PES: World Cup Edition

8. Friend Collection

9. PES 2010: Blue Samurai Edition

10. Hakouki: Junsouroku

Industry News | Japan | Media Create | News

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DSi prices cut in the UK and Japan

Posted by Chris Holmes at 3:38pm on June 2nd, 2010

Nintendo has dropped the price of the DSi to a RRP of £129.99 in the UK. It’s supposed to be effective from June 18th, but retailers such as HMV, Game and Amazon are already selling the handheld for £119.99, a full £10 cheaper than the new RRP. The company has dropped the DSi XL’s price in Japan from ¥20,000 (around £150) to ¥18,000 (£130). The DSi was also reduced from ¥18,900 (£140) to ¥15,000 (£110). To accompany the new price cuts, Nintendo is releasing three new DSi XL colours in Japan on 19th June: Blue, Yellow and Green. The colours haven’t been announced for any other regions yet, but expect them soon as the company is beginning to start the hype train for the Nintendo 3DS at this year’s E3.

Japan | News | Nintendo | Nintendo DSi

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PS3 sells 5 million units in Japan so far

Posted by Chris Holmes at 1:46pm on April 13th, 2010

Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has revealed that Sony has sold over 5 million PS3s in Japan. The top three selling games for the console in Japan are: Final Fantasy XIII with 1.8 million copies, Metal Gear Solid 4 with 706,461 copies and Yakuza 4 with 526,093 copies.

Japan | News | PlayStation 3 | Sony

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