Rez HD, there is more I hope?

(tags Xbox 360, game, Rez, shmup)

Um, there's more to Rez HD, right? I beat this Xbox Live Arcade port the first time I played it, but of course, not without losing all my forms (i.e. down to my last life). I've never played Rez before, either.

800 Microsoft Live Points quickly gone. I opened my second controller (that Todd McFarlane Halo illustration and figure) but I couldn't figure out how to sync it to the console... Oh two red buttons to press, I got it. I actually bought another Sync and Play cable and battery (white does not match, dumb dumb) set used for 1280 yen so that I could get the Trance Vibration feeling. I put the second controller on my lap, fap fap. :-) Oh come on, where else do I put it? My shoulder? My chest or neck? Oh, my feet, that would work.

On my first go around the music didn't seem to sync with the sound effects. I must not know what to fire. I didn't feel any Rez "rhythm". Maybe next time I should turn it up. I wonder if I could turn up the Trance Vibration, because it felt like it was fading away in the higher levels. The cable was still securely connected, so I don't think it was a power draw problem.

Definately I'm keeping HD mode on. Original mode has black borders on all sides of my screen. Graphics are... well at least they don't make my eyes water. :-)

Suffice it to say I was not blown away, probably because I didn't die before seeing the credits. This requires more time and experimentation, I hope. There seems to be new stuff to explore and lots of other stuff unlocked. I already got 100 out of 200 Achievement points. I hope the fun starts soon.

Enduring with a slow libretto

(tags hardware, Windows)

I'm not yet into getting a new PC or laptop yet. (Those Lenovo B5 size notebooks look tempting though.) So I played around with my Libretto L1. I was updating the Windows patches on it yesterday. The 27 patches (!) took all night to apply. Is this computer really slow or did my speed expectations change or am I running heavier software or what else? Now I know why I don't have Firefox on this machine, heh.

Room to grow: Project Slypheed

(tags game, Xbox 360, Project Slypheed)

After playing the tutorial and one stage of Project Slphyeed, I am encouraged.

It's pretty. I like the HUD and "vapor" trails.

Full 3D space combat is pretty tough for me but this game makes it seem easy. Uh, stage one there buddy, you wanna try the rest of the game? I thought the game's controls would be crippled or anemic but there are some advanced techniques and aids. It's overwhelming for right now.

Nose movement set to Reverse Up/Down, but Look set to Normal Up/Down. (somewhat Halo-ish)
Auto tracking: B + A.
Auto-focus: press down on RS.
Pursuit speed/release: LT + RT.

I will be adjusting my controller finger grip for this game: pointing fingers on LB and RB, middle fingers on LT and RT. This game sure is more active on the fingers.

I kept thinking about Sinistar: Unleashed (the PC game from 1999) and how I'd like that game to play like PSy. Hey, there's a game I'd like to try on the Asus Eee PC. Heck, I'd like to try that game on my PC right now... Too lazy.

I am surprised to learn that Square Enix published PSy. The (promised) amount of cut scenes remind me of Square RPG stuff. I thought Slypheed on the PS2 was a Konami/Treasure work? I am probably wrong.

PSy is heavy on words not in my Japanese vocabulary, though I suspect Gundam otaku would feel right at home. Thank gosh there's an option to show subtitles. Um yeah they're talking about a big ship right now, yeah right.

Enough of this, let's level up some guys and gals in FFTA.

Cold reminder, Idolmaster point cards

(tags character goods, Idolmaster, game, PlayStation 2, Street Fighter, Xbox 360, Yuiko Tokumi)

I did another out and about session in Nipponbashi Den Den Town this weekend. I hate it when I am reminded that I spend too much money on character goods. Too much money. TOO MUCH MONEY. (echo echo echo...) Uh oh this is starting to sound like a whiny post. :-/

I am now considering not going to Den Den Town for the month of February. I would save on travel money that way. But sometimes Den Den Town has the cheap stuff. Also the shop prices adjust my expectations when doing online auctions. Ugh online auctions.

(picture thanks Inside Games JP)

Let's see, the only entertainment thing I planned to buy in February was Idolm@ster Live For You but that's coming in the mail. Today I saw the pre-order for the two Idolm@ster branded Xbox Live Point cards, shown above. I've never seen any XBL Point cards with a design before. You know I'm a card collector, e.g. a telephone card collector. I'm used to 1000 yen prices. But 5000 yen retail is steep. Then there's the question of whether to use the code on the card or not. My feeling says yes, idiot, use the stuff you buy. I'll see if they have a pre-order at my local shop.

Actually today I wanted so much to pick up Burnout: Paradise at Den Den Town but my go-to store doesn't have it yet. I could have instead bought the new Wipeout PSP or the new Contra DS or Bioshock or whatever games not yet in my region... Then I reminded myself, I have Jak Combat Racing for the PS2-US. Break that out now.

Okay today was somewhat thrifty, I think. I got Street Fighter III Third Strike for the PS2 for 1580 yen and Project Sylpheed for the Xbox 360 for 1480 yen. Original covers on both of those too, great. Unfortunately they are dented (ケースイタミ) but even though I don't see where. And I got (another) Yuiko Tokumi illustration 2008 calendar. (I haven't posted about my Yuiko Tokumi purchasing, have I?)

Finally I bought (not pictured) Yuu Kobayashi's new music single (based on j1m0ne's recommendation) and Miyuki Hashimoto's single for a 2008-01 season anime. Ouch 1200 yen for singles. The disconnect on my purchasing is pretty stupid, huh.

Okay now to enjoy space.

I need a special dialing wand: Asus Eee PC

(tags computer, hardware, Windows)

I had a chance to try out the Asus Eee PC in person this week. It's the "Eee PC 4G-X", which I think corresponds to the Eee PC 4G. As I said before, I am disappointed that the Japanese version comes with Windows XP Home SP2 for the OS. I did want to try Linux on this machine, but it's a minor gripe because I actually like tolerate Windows XP, huh. I think the reason for the Windows XP is that Linux distributions don't have comfortable Japanese input methods for free, and the much heralded ATOK for Linux would add 1_0000 yen to the price (20%!).

However, the most important part, the keyboard, is unusable with my hands. Maybe my fingers are too fat. :-( I've always wanted a small computer to just type with, like a Tandy Model 102, or an AlphaSmart. For a time I had the Palm with the foldable keyboard but it was tacky. Also I have a Libretto L1 which is pretty much what I want, but too bad its slow (too slow for even AJAX Gmail ugh) and obsolete (short battery life, noisy fan, low memory, no on-board wireless or ethernet!). Coming back to the Asus Eee PC, I like the keyboard layout itself. The FN key coupled with the arrow keys are the Home, End, PgUp, PgDw combination that makes so much sense. I don't really like the tilde key (Kanji key) being in the same row as the Esc and F1, but I can deal. I'm an Emacs Caps-Lock-Is-Control-Key and AutoHotKey user, so any other niggling bits I can fix up quick.

Other than that, I found that it gets hot on the bottom, which is disconcerting. XP Home, but with no games installed (sol.exe is not there!) and Windows-F1 has no contents installed! The disk reports 1.3 GB free out of 4GB. I am wondering if I can keep an SD card in the slot for my essential apps like Firefox, Emacs, Ruby, Git, Subversion, Cygwin, etc. I wish I could have tried out Parsec47 on it. I didn't bother figuring out how to install more RAM. And there was no camera application for the camera, that I could find (nothing in the Start Menu or Desktop). Strange. notepad.exe, winver.exe, dxdiag.exe, calc.exe, and mstsc.exe I checked and they are all there.

The screen itself is readable, but just barely. I wonder what the DPI is. Let's see, is it 133 DPI? (/ (sqrt (+ (* 800 800) (* 480 480 ))) 7.0) Oh yeah. Oh this is interesting, set the Windows DPI setting to 80 DPI for mo' better viewing. Probably Japanese is unviewable though.

Now I am viewing the various user threads and wikis about gaming on this machine and I figured out Unreal Tournament 99 and StarCraft are playable. Wow. Oh wait, it's 2008 already. Where's my flying car, hurk hurk.

I gotta wait for Eee PC version 2.0, but at least now I can rest easy knowing that Asus will target the Japan market.

Hello Xbox 360, jealous of my Game Boy Micro?

(tags Idolmaster, purchase, Xbox 360, demo, Burnout, racing, RPG, Final Fantasy)

Well I have to turn on my Xbox 360 today, because I have to buy this month's sale DLC in Idolm@ster. Bye bye 2800 points. Yeah, "Japan Downloads Idolm@ster Content Big Time" (thanks Kotaku). It doesn't seem like there's any announcement for the next catalog or sale. It's time to concentrate on Live 4 U.

Yesterday, I finally checked out the Burnout Paradise demo. I want this game. It looks pretty cool and I can really dig into the stunts. With a city this big and seamless, it would be a shame to not have any taxi mini game. But no Burnout to date has any images of people, so it doesn't make sense. Some parts of it remind me of driving around Los Angeles, like the big white Paradise sign and the beach area. Oh yeah, the announcer is in Japanese, except for the part where he says "right here, on Crash FM". It sounds okay, but wierd. Japanese radio announcers are so cool, they speak perfect intonation (American) English while shredding it up in Japanese. I wanna be like that.

I bet you Xbox 360 owners have downloaded your Undertow for free right? It's an apology gift. (Game Watch: マイクロソフト、Xbox LIVE アーケードで「Undertow」を期間限定で無償提供 )

And I am still playing Final Fantasy Tactics Advance. It's not hard, it's just a easy treadmill of leveling up and acquiring spells/skills through combat points (AP?). 43 hours, probably most of it in bed before I go to sleep.

On the edge: Rubik's Cube measured times

(tags telephone card, kawaii, Rubik's Cube, times)

This week I was able to pick up the Gamers point exchange card for 2008/01. It's a Christmas theme, and Dejiko and Puchiko look good with their new eye colors. I forgot the exchange day was on Monday, so I raced to the shop on Tuesday evening. They don't publish the availability but they do show that they have it in the glass cabinets. "Only 2 to a customer". Yes, please enforce that rule.

This evening on the way back home I was feeling pretty good with my Cube. I was walking around from my train to my bus through the anime and manga shops, twisting my Cube two-handed. I can't stop twisting it, it's so fun. I even did a one-handed solve, but the time is nothing interesting, probably more than 4 minutes. On the bus too, I was really burning up (subjectively). So I decided to measure again.

----- JNetCube Best Average for Thu Jan 24 21:09:13 GMT+09:00 2008 -----

Average: 59.14 (1:06.13 -6.99 last time)

Fastest Time: 0:50.12 (0:42.03 8.09 last time)
Slowest Time: 1:18.70 (1:29.61)
Standard Deviation: 05.26 (11.15)

Individual Times:
1:18.70 L' R' F R2 D L' U F2 U' B D2 R L2 D' R2 D F D' F2 B U' B' U2 D B
0:57.39 B F2 L2 U2 B2 L2 F U L2 U' L F' U2 D2 R' L' D U2 L B2 F' L U' L' B2
0:57.73 R' B R' L2 B' U' B' U' F2 D2 F D L' F D R F L' D R' B2 D B' F' U2
0:50.61 L D B2 F U' D B2 R' U2 L' U2 B D' U' L U R U' L R' F2 B R U F
0:55.17 F2 B L' B2 F2 U2 F' R2 B2 L2 B' L2 D' R D2 L2 R' D R D B' F' D' U R
0:57.78 U2 F' R2 F B D' U' F2 B R L' U2 L U B2 L2 B2 R2 U2 D R' U' F' U R
1:05.47 L D' R U2 R2 U' R2 F' R' B' R F' U2 B L D2 B' U F D' R D2 B' D U
1:03.48 F2 L B R2 B2 R U D B L' F2 B' U F U2 L R D' B F D2 U' B2 U2 B2
1:08.54 D' B' R' D2 R2 B' F2 D B L' R' F' L2 B' L' D L2 R' B L D2 U2 R' L2 F'
0:56.79 F2 U2 D L' U2 D' L' U' B' R L' U2 B U' D F U B2 D2 B2 F' D L' D R
0:58.42 F D L' F2 L U2 D' B' R2 B' U D F' D' B2 F R2 L2 F' U2 B D2 L' U' L2
0:50.12 U2 B' R2 U D B' R B2 F2 L F L2 R' D2 R2 U' L' B' D B2 R2 U F R B

I barely squeaked by my goal of a 60 second average solve. I suppose I can say I can solve the Cube in a minute (on a good day). My cube feels really light, but on the last solves I feared that it would POP. It feels kinda loose and fragile now.

What should be my new goal? Sub 55 on two measurements? Change the orientation while doing F2L? I'm going to just keep on walking around with my Cube in hand. It's just too fun.

Fast and loose: Rubik's Cube measured times

(tags Rubik's Cube, times)

I haven't cleaned the inside of my Rubik's Cube in a long time. I was surprised to see some fine grit inside. So I took it apart and wiped away the grit. I should have lubricated it while it was all in pieces, but I wanted to get back into the revolving action. I also loosened the green side screw, but maybe just a little bit too much.

----- JNetCube Best Average for Tue Jan 22 20:27:23 GMT+09:00 2008 -----

Average: 1:06.13 (1:08.95 -2.82 last time)

Fastest Time: 42.03 (57.94 -13.91 last time)
Slowest Time: 1:29.61 (1:28.25)
Standard Deviation: 11.15 (05.91 hmm)

Individual Times:
1:29.61 U' B' L' R B D2 U2 F' U' F' B' R' B' U' L D R' D' B' R' D' F2 L' R2 U
1:16.09 B2 R D2 U' B' U D B U' R L2 U' D' B' D U L F D2 U L' F2 D2 B2 D
1:21.11 R2 D2 F' D2 L' D2 B' D U2 F2 R' B L' B R U' L B' U2 D L' F2 D L' U
0:56.34 D U' F2 B D' U' B2 F2 D L2 U D' F' U' F2 R D R L2 F2 U F U B' U2
1:00.20 R U2 B U2 L R2 D' F2 L2 U' L2 D2 L2 U R' B2 R2 D R2 D2 U' B U2 F' U2
0:51.03 B2 L U2 F' B' R' B L' F' R F U2 L2 U L' F L B2 F' D R' D F R2 L
0:42.03 L R2 U' R2 L U' F' D U2 B2 D' R2 L2 U' R D' B2 L R F D' B F' L D
0:58.34 L D F' L' R' B D R' B2 U2 L' D' U2 F' R F' D' B2 D R U2 B D' L' D'
1:03.75 L' B2 L2 U' R2 U B' U' F L R B' U2 L2 F' L' D2 F D2 F2 R B2 U D' R
0:58.47 B' R L2 B' D' L2 F2 R2 B' D2 U F2 D' U' R2 D' L' D2 L2 D L2 R2 F' U' F2
1:21.81 F U' B' L' R B' L F' L' D' B' L U R2 U2 B D U L2 F L2 U' B U' D2
1:14.18 U' L B L2 U2 R2 B D2 B2 R' B F' R' B2 L F' U' D' F' U2 L B F D' R2

I was totally all over the place. The cube felt really light after the cleaning but unfortunately I wasn't used to it. I was getting into it in the middle with some sub 60 seconds times, but on the eleventh try I POP'd my cube. Ugh, that's a first. I couldn't get over the shock, which explains the tardy finish. I think I need to re-tighten the green side. I would hate to POP on the bus or train.

Ugh, I POP'd again while taking a break from writing this blog post. :-(

One thing is during the F2L, instead of making a 3x2x2 and then putting the remaining F2L side on top (F2L using Blue on L), I was doing the "steeplechase" (R U' R' U' F' U F) to finish off the edge cubies on all 4 sides. Doing the "steeplechase" forces me to do Blue on D, but I lose seconds consciously thinking about it. I need to practice that.

I can do now some more basic PLL moves like "slant" (R B' R' B - F R' F - B' R' B R F2 U; PLL position: 143/248/769) and "cross" (R L U2 R' L' - F' B' U2 B F; PLL position: 183/654/729) somewhat automatically now. This brings up the total of mastered PLL moves to 4 out of 21. :-) But I don't think I'm that slow at the PLL. I think I need to improve my F2L.

New darlings? Ruby 1.9.0, Scala, Git

(tags programming, Ruby, Scala, version control, Git)

Here's some software related things bumping around in my mind.

Well the programming language Ruby 1.9.0 was released last month to much back-slapping. I've been sitting on this topic for the last few weeks, and not evidently learning very much, even though there was an native language interview between the two important developers on this release, Yukihiro Matsumoto, the original Ruby designer and Koichi Sasada, the sole person responsible for the 1.9 virtual machine. I originally referenced the Ruby Inside article "Ruby 1.9 Is Released", which had a link to a great side-by-side version testing post by Dave Thomas, but the InfoQ article "Ruby 1.9 - When Will It be Production Ready" gives a great overview after a few weeks of reaction. In short, it's not production ready now. :-( Yes I know that wasn't the point of the release.

I understand that the new virtual machine in Ruby 1.9.0 gives some better performance, but it sounds like NIH syndrome. What about Java's JVM, which has better multiprocessor and multithread support? Not that I know how to use it, but when I do, I'm sure glad that JRuby will be around to support it. Then again I haven't needed those things but I'm not writing those big trusty (web) apps. Okay okay, JVM is a whole other can of worms, and Matsumoto et al is good to stick to the platforms that he knows the best.

The part of programming blogosphere that fawned on Ruby on Rails and alternative programming languages is now casting a bright light on Scala, a programming language built on top of the JVM. I don't know anything about it and I haven't read anything yet that makes me want to use it. There is the theory that the programming bloggers making money and recognition off of books and teaching seminars continually look for the next language, decrying that you are missing the silver bullet (of the moment) if you don't pay attention. Personally I'm all for the invention of new tools, but I hate learning syntax all over again. DWIM, now. At least there are reviewers with loud blogs to read... yeah, I know I should evaluate it for myself.

Lately, I've been researching Git, the distributed source control management software invented by Linus Torvalds who is also the person who created the kernel Linux. (Does he really need my introduction?) It's been out for more than two years and is very stable because tens of thousands of users have been pounding on it every day. However only recently the Windows port that I want to use, git on msys, has been coming along really nice. Wow, the graphical explorer apps gitk and git gui now just works. I am still a Subversion and TortoiseSVN junkie, even introducing it at my work for the past 3 years because anything is better than zip files with dates on them. Ugh. Although one part of me cheers that many open source projects now are using Subversion instead of archaic CVS, another part wants them to skip to Git. Come on, everybody's doing it. Well it's not a black and white issue though, you can combine CVS with git, or Subversion with git, for example Git for SBCL Hackers (usually using CVS) by my Common Lisp source, Bill Clementson.

I don't think I can foist Git onto work at the moment. The Windows platform is really a second-class citizen from the Git developers perspective, and it shows when core operations break or refuse to function. Well it doesn't lose data, just that checkouts don't work, etc. I also test on a Linux OS-based VM, so I know true for various values of true. I've figured out how to expose a git repository via the web using Apache and WebDAV on Windows, which is my perferred way of publishing. I'm making a short checklist and questions that I want answered, and so far the evaluation is not very satisfactory. But I enjoy the concept of distributed, offline version control.

In fact git is just another straw on my camel-fied back that makes me question my Windows dependence. If I continue to play my game consoles, my primary reason for maintaining my home Windows machines is reduced. Recently I was disappointed that the version of Asus Eee notebook PC coming to Japan will have Windows XP Home installed, instead of a Debian-like Linux distribution. And my drool for the Macbook Air reminds me about how OSX is turning into a great programming development environment. Why should I continue to deal with Windows idiosyncracies? Oh okay, work is forcing me to use it and I like PC gaming (on occasion).

All this cursory exploration is putting me off of my goal of learning Common Lisp. Ugh.

edit: added some pictures, some links

Missed the window: PlayStation 3 Console

(tags hardware, PlayStation 3)

On 2008-01-09, Sony announced the last shipment of PlayStation 3 with PlayStation 2 backward compatiblity for the Japan market. My default go-to store, seems to have none in stock over the last week I have checked. I don't really want to buy it from another store, because of the store points. Tight leash, huh.

But what would I use it for... Only Linux on a PS3 is interesting to me now. I guess I could get Everyday Shooter.

Nostalgia at Rainbows End

(tags book, San Diego, award, science fiction)

Vernor Vinge is one writer that is close to home, both literally and figuratively. He's a San Diegan like myself, and in fact is a retired math and computer science professor of San Diego State University. He's also one of the innovative science fiction writers with multiple Hugo Award under his belt. I (claim that) am a fan, but I have not read all of his works. In fact, the only one book I have of his is a tattered hardcover of Across Realtime, which I still hold in high esteem.

I only just now accidently bumped into his latest work online through the Free Speculative Fiction Online, because I was tired of not reading the RSS feed. I saw a listing of the 2007 Hugo Award Nominees (more than 8 month old, bleh), and Vinge's Rainbows End, available for free in HTML! What sci-fi fan could turn down that? It went on to win the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Novel, whoa.

I recommend this book! It has the realistic sci-fi treatment of the near future (2025?) of our Internet, government big brother vs anonymous little brother, wearable computing and the standard for books, while at the same time delivering fast-paced action. Though there is lots of high-tech pizazz, Vinge delivers the human element. He weaves strained family ties and deceits among conspirators and allies.

What I like, other than the coherent plot and believable action, is that the UCSD's (University of California at San Diego) architecturally distinct Geisel Library, takes center stage. I have spent years in this building, studying for classes, meeting friends, poaching study table openings, lounging around while reading novels and trying to absorb campus life despite living off. I have danced on the "third floor". When Vinge describes sitting on the south-east end of the sixth floor, I can personally recall the fantastic view looking out the windows over the inner campus and over parts of San Diego. I know the Snake Path he mentions. Vinge was SDSU faculty, but he gave UCSD some great advertising. Despite all the nostagia, Vinge laid down some real surprises.

I do feel sorry for the readers who won't understand all the geographical references. Also the novel didn't feel too US centric because of all the international backdrops and characters. Perhaps that's just me expending more imagination on the areas familiar to me.

Before I end with my spoiler'd review section, I just want to say that I'm going to recommend this book to my old school buddies in an private email. I bet they'll get a kick out of it, if they haven't read it already. And yeah, I'll try to get A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky, which I still haven't read!

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

Jung vf hc jvgu gur anzvat, Nyvpr Th naq Obo Th? Pelcgbtencul?

Eboreg Th ybfvat uvf cbrgel tvsg vf ernyyl Ivetr'f zrqvbper tenfc bs cbrgvp Ratyvfu. Vafgrnq bs fubjvat hf Eboreg'f cbrgvp tvsg, ur gryyf hf gung gur jbeqf sver hc gur vzntvangvba bs gur vafgnag-ba nhtzragrq cnenyvgrengrf. Bu jryy, ernqvat nyy gurfr fpv-sv abiryf unfa'g tvira zr gur gbbyf gb rawbl cbrgvp Ratyvfu.

Nf jvgu gur orfg bs abiryf, V'ir orra yrsg jvgu dhrfgvbaf. Jung unccrarq gb gur Enoovg!?! Nyserq Inm? Nyvpr'f genvavat? Eboreg naq Ynan?

END SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

A fairy weekend: Fairial Garden, Bottle Fairy

(tags manga, kawaii, moe, Fairial Garden, anime, Bottle Fairy)

On Friday evening returning home, I spotted this kawaii manga called Fairial Garden by Minene Sakurano (桜野みねね). I wasn't expecting it at all. The images at the back sold me even though I couldn't tachiyomi. I even bought it at a place where I never buy manga. Strangely impulsive, this one.

When I got home I read it from cover to cover. On Saturday I read it again cover to cover. And Sunday morning I read it again one more time. I must really like the drawing style here. It reminds me of A Little Snow Fairy Sugar but with more moeness. I would like to call it kenzen but one of the male sub characters has a cosplay fetish, and Sakurano does not disappoint (muhaha) "Dance with the one you came with" I suppose. Otaroad Senaka Blog post 桜野みねねさん作 フェアリアルガーデン1巻発売 「妖精の女の子とドキドキ共同生活！？」 covers this release as well with some reviews and images. When Otaroad covers a manga you know its for the otaku set.

Okay, the story kinda bites, though. The fairy, Claire, can't talk a lot except for a few emotionally loaded phrases like okaeri, iya, and arigatou, having just been born. She can transform into three different size (no explanation). Noa, who brought home the flower which sprouted Claire, has some grief and coping issues with losing a rare pet to his parents' scientific whims. So the story is about how he returns to being an emotional and trusting person, I suppose. However, the character development shines, because I am rooting for him to get back to feeling again. The whole sequence about teaching Claire to say "arigatou" was endearing. I can't wait until the next volume comes out, in what 6 months? :-(

I don't recall who manga artist Minene Sakurano is, but the ever convenient Wikipedia mentions she was responsible for long running manga and anime まもって守護月天! (Guardian Angel Getten). Not that I know of it, huh. Wait a minute. After reading the description of GAG, I see that this FG has many similar elements such as "strange girl", "lost mother", and "science parent". Maybe I should look into GAG as well? Then again I'm thinking that Sakurano may not be good at storytelling.

And the other fairy thing this weekend was my purchase of the U.S. English version of Bottle Fairy (瓶詰妖精) the DVD series. Puki puki payo. I'm now reviewing this series in voiced English, which is pretty decent. I forgot the entire content and even the names of the fairies but I love watching it again this time. I acutally LOL, jeez. I want to remember the Japanese holidays through memory association with Bottle Fairy, but despite the absurdity of the plot, it just does not stick in my mind.

Other shiny; Are you going to compete?

(tags purchase, Den Den Town, telephone card, Rubik's Cube)

After World Hobby Fair, I made my way to the Toys 'R Us in Namba Parks, which is a new (to me) upscale mall between Nanba and Den Den Town. In fact, I didn't think TRU belonged there until I stepped inside. Unlike regular TRU stores, this one is called TRU Select and it had a mahogany color theme and pricey store displays. This was not the kind of TRU where you leave you kids unattended. Still the store sells the same things, and if ever I need to replace my Rubik's Cubes, I have my walk-in fallback.

I skipped the rest of Namba Parks but I strolled through Yamada Denki. If I didn't know better I would think I was in a big Yodobashi Camera.

I made my way to Den Den Town but to make a long story short, I only bought two things. The Comic Market Winter (73) fallout is over. There was a Noboru Kannatsuki telephone card set that caught my eye but one of the designs is already one of the background images I own, so it wasn't worth the 3500 yen. I didn't find a Xbox 360 joystick for sale anywhere. There were no other collectable telephone cards I needed "right now" but some Pitaten ones caught my fancy. I ended up getting volume 4 of Comic Yell manga magazine, which is kenzen I think but romance stories aimed at guys.

The other thing I got was the Gameboy Advance version of Yoshi's Adventure, I think. It's Super Mario Advance 3, right? Well I already have this game on Super Famicom, previously being swayed by the hype of "ultimate 2D run-and-jump adventure". (How about finishing Super Mario Bros. 2 JP there, goldfish?) I am lazy though because my SF is not hooked up and I've been giving my GB Micro some lovin' so... Well I went cheapskate and bought just the naked cartridge for 800 yen, even though it's now priced to move at 2000 yen at various shops. Ugh I feel guilty.

Finally while riding the train home, a guy tapped my idle Rubik's Cube sitting in my bag (WTF are you reaching for my bag, a$$'()e?!?!?), to start a clipped conversation with me. "So are you going to compete?" he smiled. This gentleman is the type of man to wear a suit on a Sunday evening. I'm thinking university professor. He was pretty knowledgable about "thinking about the next move" and "contestants are mostly young people", though I didn't know if he cubed himself. I embarassingly answered that I am slow and I would only consider attending a contest if I can get my average time to around 30 seconds. Oh well, starting conversations is great but maybe cubing on the train like an obsessed madman is giving off the wrong impression? I love it when people stare at my cube, but I hate it when I can't solve it before they look away, ha. Hey I'm only playing it in place of video gaming. Call it an 80's regression.

Pikachu in World Hobby Fair 2008

(tags convention, Japan, Osaka, game, Pikachu, character goods, Wii, Dual Screen, PlayStation Portable)

Today was the World Hobby Fair 2008 in Osaka. To me it's a mainstream electronic game and toy hobby fair for kids ages 12 and under. These days one must bring a DS and PSP for the special goodies and opportunities, but I didn't bother. I went because I was planning to go to Den Den Town anyway. Plus there were video game demos from top-tier companies major like Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, etc. I know its ultimately a waste of time which is why I didn't go last year, even though I did go two years ago.

OMG hypocritical thoughts: There were far too many kids games about collecting or battling. It's horrifying to think about all this free time wasted on games, especially the fad games. I saw kids with hundreds of cards from those card battle games, toy cars on race tracks, kids/tweens walking around while playing whatever RPG on their DS lite or PSP, etc. Decadently vulgar mass consumerism. I wanted to shout, "Read a m!%'%'-f%)%(% book! And not a manga!" I kept on thinking to myself, man if ever become a father... yeah right. But this is what people will pay for, so the companies will provide. So essentially I was ignoring 95% of the wares being hocked.

Ahem, back to sparkle gazing. :-)

I saw the Star Soldier R download game for the Wii which was great because of my recent shmup mood (thanks Shikigami no Shiro 3 and Omega Five). It seems like it has a slightly tweaked power-up system, but it's definately Star Soldier, for better or worse. It makes me want to play my Gamecube or PSP version. I didn't bother entering the 2 minute high score contest because I already saw a contestant get one million and first place with excellent technique (eg shoot both targets at the same time). If I ever buy a Wii I'll probably get this. Are there any other shmups besides Shikigami no Shiki 3?

Super Smash Bros. for the Wii was up and playable in groups of four, though the demo movies were the same ones from E3 2006. I was surprised to see that it is in a widescreen format, because I always thought the Wii was only 4:3. And I've never played this franchise though, so the details are lost on me. I mean come on, Pikachu had 105% health but 30 seconds later it became 0%? Wut?!? I still want to get the SSB for the Gamecube because it was said to have a interesting collection mode. But I haven't wanted to buy it in the 6 years it has been out, so I don't think I'll ever get it.

Sony had their booth with the newest Ape Escape game. I wanted to play the Patapon demo, but I wasn't in the mood to wait in line. I also saw the refresh of the Taiko no Tatsujin for the DS, "7" something or other, but only in passing. Um what else? Nothing else I can remember, so the rest is not important.

On the non-video game front, I was surprised to see Speed Stacks there. I don't hold it in high regard, sorry to say, but it is indirectly useful for my Rubik's Cube hobby. They were selling the mat and timer for 5040 yen, ouch. I am kicking myself for not asking if the timer hooks up to the 2_0000 yen competition display. Show some courage, big guy. Well, I still don't need it yet.

Regarding anime and manga goods, the only thing that I found interesting was Hayate no Gotoku goods, but I resisted buying even a pencil card. The big A2 non-sale poster/tapestry at the back was a desirable Nagi design, ooh white dress. Okay that's enough.

The Pocket Monsters franchise had a big booth as always. I just had to take this picture of the inflatable playroom and big movie poster. I adore Pikachu but I have no idea about the stories or TV. Pikachu occupies the same area as Hello Kitty in my mind. It's enough just to sit around looking cute and kawaii.

Lastly I took a stroll through the exclusive goods area. I braced myself for the sell out signs because I arrived in the afternoon but all the Pikachu goods I wanted were available. Huh, lucky me. Unlucky wallet. Of course I want to show my haul:

I usually don't buy 3D representations of Pikachu (eg plushie dolls, figurines) but this coin purse was pretty much spot on. The silicone case for the DS lite was new to me, but its not an event exclusive, rather a regular Pokemon Center sale item. Lastly I never say no to pencil cards because they are relatively cheap and light to keep and store. Whoa, I have come to the conclusion that my favorite color must be yellow. :-)

The event was held at the Kyosera Dome Osaka, which I believe is an indoor baseball stadium. After leaving the event, I visted the baseball hobby shop on the first floor. I was surprised to see U.S. merchandise like official Major League Baseball shirts and hats. Even my home town team the San Diego Padres had some decent stuff there. Of course, there were a lot of fan goods of the Japanese dudes who made it big in the U.S. like Ichiro.

WHF has come and gone. At least Pikachu was there for me to keep me interested. :-)

Sayonara Toys 'R Us Kobe: Rubik's Cube measured times

(tags Rubik's Cube, times, failure)

I didn't know this until the beginning of this month, but the Toys 'R Us in Kobe where I got my Wii pre-order (2006) and Rubik's Cubes (2007), closed for good on Friday (2008-01-10). What a shock. That building, now called Bee's Kiss, used to house the Kobe Sofmap that I always frequent. Now the only reason for me to go to that building is to check out the 100 yen store. There are some other Toys 'R Us in my area but nothing of interest around them. I guess it's up to Osaka, especially Nanba (Den Den Town frolicking).

So last week I checked out the bargains if any. The discount video game bins were already pilfered but I got some Xbox 360 games like Burnout Revenge (again? with Achivements!) and Kameo. And I took this opportunity to get a Rubik's 2x2 Cube, Rubik's Professor (5x5) and a Rubik's Earth, though only the Earth was discounted.There wasn't much else though I did see a Suzumiya Haruhi jigsaw puzzle going for 300 yen (originally 1500 yen). Oh yeah and I also bought a discounted Pikachu bath towel. :-)

I can solve the 2x2. I cannot solve the 5x5. :-/ Since this is a Rubik's Cube post I'll just show the Rubik's Cube pictures:

And here are my times. Jeez, I don't measure my times enough. And protip: don't attempt to learn new moves one day before measuring times.

----- JNetCube Best Average for Sat Jan 12 20:24:25 GMT+09:00 2008 -----

Average: 1:08.95 (1:09.33 -0.38 last month)

Fastest Time: 57.94 (53.08 +4.86 last month)
Slowest Time: 1:28.25 (1:28.25 hmm)
Standard Deviation: 05.91 (07.14)

Individual Times:
1:05.26 R B2 D B2 L' B U2 B2 L D L D2 F U F' U' B' D' L' U2 D' L' B F L2
1:01.67 B2 R L2 F U R2 L2 D2 L2 D' R F' D U2 L R B' F' L F' L' B2 R' U' B
1:28.25 R' D' F R F' R' B2 R2 U' F' U F2 U R' L2 D' R D2 R F2 B R' U2 F2 L'
1:09.20 B L2 U F' U' R2 L' D2 F' R D L2 F2 U F2 B' U' B R2 B' F' L' F R F'
1:11.67 D2 F' D2 L' F' B R L D B' L2 D L B2 U2 R2 B U D F R D2 F' D2 U'
1:08.09 R D2 R2 U' R' L' D2 B' F R F R U R U2 B2 L2 R F2 R' U' F U B2 D2
0:57.94 D' U' F2 L' F L' D2 L' U' D' B' U' R' D2 U2 B2 D L B2 D L' U2 L2 B2 R'
1:00.65 D' F U L2 B F2 L2 D' B' U' F2 L D2 L2 B F' R U' F2 D2 L B' R' D' R2
1:06.00 B L' R' U2 L2 R2 F2 U' F' B' D' U2 F L2 D2 R' D' F2 R F' L D B D' L2
1:11.98 U' B' F' U' L2 D L' D2 U2 L2 B2 U' L2 B2 D R' F2 D' F U2 R L' B F' R'
1:15.54 L' D L' F L2 U2 R' B' D' U' B R' L F' B' D2 R' D2 B D' R2 D' B' F' L
1:19.42 F' U2 R' U' D B D2 R2 L' F2 L2 R' F D' R U' R2 F D2 B' U2 L' R2 D' F2

I am 25 months away from attaining my one minute goal! :-( I have no idea why, but my hands were slick with sweat, which is not normal.

Wuh? I won? Omega Five

(tags game, shmup, Xbox 360, Omega Five)

I was annoyed that people on my Friends list in Xbox Live were beating in total points in Omega Five. I felt meh on this game but played it again anyway. But today I amazed myself by beating the game on one credit. The 1CC with Ruby earns me a "Ruby Master" Achievement. Big woop. I guess that sentence there doesn't deserve a exclaimation point because if I can beat this game (I can't claim 1CC on anything), it must be pretty damn easy. :-/

So this is how it feels to memorize a game. Maybe with this feeling of "can-do" I can do 1CC on Gradius V, Ikaruga, or other shmups I feel are worthy to waste my time on. Yeah, don't push my luck. And yes, I'm at the top of my Friends list... for now, anyways. :-)

There are four different player models but I haven't yet unlocked the last one. I think I have to play Tempest (the player) in order to use it. The first unlocked player doesn't feel different from Ruby, so I'm confused. Oh I get it, if I get hit by a bullet I take more damage. Ouchie.

Okay, so I'm back to levelling up my guys and gals in FFTA.

telephone card ordering follies: Megami Magazine, Geemaga

(tags telephone card, failure, magazine, mail order)

I wrote this around 2008-01-02. :-)

I ordered the 2008-01 issue telephone cards from Megami Magazine via the usual mail order fixed price money order (定額小為替) but I put the envelopes in the nengajyou only (年賀状, New Year's Postcards) postal box. It needed to be stamped with that day's date, too, but will it be done? I made the mistake because the same box is usually used for domestic mail. :-(

Also I paid for those 2008-01 Geemaga Noboru Kannatsuki telephone cards through the self-service post office ATM (ゆうちょ銀行振り込み) but I forgot to mark which telephone cards I wanted on the sheet. Stupid stupid. Because I marked the wrong places on the paper (I was in a rush, not grasping at straws!), the ATM machine couldn't read it, and verifying with human help I figured out I need better aiming skills. :-/ How am I going to follow this up? I'll give them a call on Friday or next week.

Update (?): I gave them a call today and they got my name, address, phone and money transfer number. "Wait until March" Hm. All I can do is believe them, right?

Since that mail in thing is two month offer, I bought the 2008-02 issue (available end of 2007-12) to get just one more telephone card. Very nice cover. There was even a poster of the cover, which is currently hanging on my refrigerator. Happy new year, indeed.

Shooting this wall for multiplier

(tags game, shmup, Xbox 360, Omega Five)

Woops I credit feeded Omega Five today and its already "unlocked". The end boss was ridiculous but I finally got to see my Xbox 360 slow down.

I've figured out some of the scoring technique, which was pretty fun. Chaining enemy shots before times runs out is not very original, but it works. I was checking the scoreboards and there are people in the 6 million range. Whoa. Plus there's this "replay" thing, how does that work and why doesn't it work for me?

I have no idea how to use the two types of bombs, though. Is it necessary?

I am kinda satisfied with Omega Five, but I was expecting one more stage. Jeez. And I still haven't figured out why its called Omega Five. :-)

Now I'm going to bed at 22:15 to play some FFTA. I need to level up my guys and gals.

Meh on an orb: Omega Five

(tags shmup, Xbox 360, Omega Five)

Earlier today I was thinking, if Omega Five, the shmup Xbox Live game, was not released on Wednedsay night, I would either do some Rubik's Cube times or learn how to Git. Luckily it came out. :-)

The game demo wasn't finished auto-downloading, so I forced the downloaded. Insert screaming UT german boy here. I played the demo about 5 times or more. My first impression was that it was meh, eg it didn't feel very shmuppy. The announcer voice is horrendous. Please, get that Vic Viper pilot voice (also Ace Combat 5?), that would be pretty cool.

Actually I was pretty reluctant to purchase it because of the Robotron-like controls and the weird hit box, but I bought it anyway. Achievements FTW. The weapons were interesting enough, with a flamethrower and water (?) gun, R-Type like orb, and a bullet-slowing shield. It feels derivative, but I can't pick on any single influence. And even if it meshes stuff from Gradius or R-Type, it doesn't feel very new. :-(

Still OMG pretty graphics. I can't see the bullets hitting me. :-) A memorize-fest, do not fear the right hand side of your screen. :-) 60 minutes in I have unlocked 2 more credits for continuing. Big w00p.

This is not enough to tide over till Rez HD. I feel like I'm going to play this till the weekend, beat it by credit feeding it, then go back to playing FFTA on GBMicro.

Oh yeah, Rez using alternate controllers for vibration. That is inspired. Lucky I have another controller, that Halo 3 version with figure. I need to go buy another XBLA 3500 card. Hot diggity.

2008 is already here! Animedia Nanoha Calendar

(tags poster, anime, Nanoha, 2008, sexy)

Well my Winter vacation has come and gone and I haven't achieved what I wanted to achieve. I did go crazy on Friday and Sunday (eg purchases) so there's that to document. I haven't yet talked about my own version of "best and rest of 2008", like last year.

But 2008 is already here and so that means a new calendar. But this one is not very functional, rawr.

I am so behind on reading Moeyo Akibajin blog. I read the news about this interesting calendar just last week even though it was posted on 2007-12-11 (「なのは9歳？、15歳？、19歳勢ぞろいカレンダー付属のアニメディア発売他」). Luckily Animedia is a monthly magazine, though I never regularly buy it. This particular calendar comes with Animedia issue 2008-01. I bought two of the same issue at only 500 yen each. Unfortunately the poster's paper is flimsy so I put both of them up in that plastic sheet.

Also this reminds me of that special poster when you buy that Nanoha StrikerS DVD 1 which features a young (9) and mature (19) Nanoha. I like that one better than this one. :-/ It was also illustrated in a one-of-a-kind POP back in 2007-07. I found a copy of the poster version at Books Lashinbang, and it could be mine for only 4000 yen! No thanks.

Also as a special addition to the 2008-01 issue, there was a data book about all the televised anime since 1962 till 2007. Whoa 45 years of anime. No pictures, just director, seiyuu, etc. It's surprisingly small at 130 pages, with a big chunk of it devoted to seiyuu data as well. Of course with Japanese kanji you can squeeze a lot in, plus it's normal to read a book really close to your face. It would be so cool to have this data digitized, though.

You need blood: Metal Slug 3, Uncharted

(tags game, grotesque, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

destroy tokyo gave me more insight to Xbox Live Arcade newly ported game Metal Slug 3, with a micro review (summary: thumbs down). I don't know the Metal Slug franchise other than some tentative forays, though that six-in-one compilation on various platforms looks interesting. (Oh wait, I have some Metal Slug games on my Xbox 1, but not yet sampled, grr)

Okay, I've read that you can get "red blood" sprites if you change your console's Language to Japanese, three times already, as Insert Credit, Joystiq and Kotaku all jump on some guy's post in some Internet forum.

So let me get this straight:

In 1995 Japan, you enjoy red blood in Metal Slug 3.

In 2007 Japan, blood is censored on your Uncharted: Drake's Fortune game. According to some random Internet guy, blood is important (but admittedly not essential) for figuring out what direction the bullets are coming from.

Can I say that Uncharted seems to be the first PS3 game I'm interested in? Naughty Dog devs, right? (Jak!) Well, that and Unreal Tournament 3 and Linux, ha. And what with the latest PS3 firmware upgrade that allows you to play any PS1 games on your PSP, I've been simmering the idea of picking up a 60GB model. Very low heat, back burner, though.

Shikigami no Shiro 3 seiyuu guessing

(tags game, shmup, seiyuu)

First off, in my last post about the seiyuu in Shikigami no Shiro 3, I was three for three. See, when you make a "guess", you make an "ess" out of "u" and "g". Uh huh. :-/

The game devs seem to replace the seiyuu every iteration. Stage 4 boss Yukari in SoS2 is voiced by Yuki Kaida (甲斐田ゆき) but I don't know her. Stage 1 boss Yukari in SoS3 is (as I guessed correctly) voiced by Ryoko Shintani (新谷良子), and all for the better.

==?

But I don't understand the story or why Yukari came back. All I know is that Shintani is lively and playful with the lines. Yes, sir, I like it. And I really like the character design of SoS3. Flowery, purple hair twin tails, I am in love. :-)

Running down the list of people I (should) know:

Megumi Toyoguchi (豊口めぐみ) voices Reika Kirishima. I can't seem to remember her but she has graced many of the recent animes I've watched, such as Claymore, Kareido Star and Ichigo 100%. I've probably seen her in one of those Ichigo 100% interviews. Reika is ditzy, so unfortunately that colors my perception of Toyoguchi.

Daisuke Kishio (岸尾 だいすけ) voices Koutarou Kuga, the character I usually select. I can't remember him either, but he's the ever crafty Suginami in D.C. Da Capo. I like his voice. I cannot make the connection between the Kuga voice and the Suginami voice, though.

Mamiko Noto (能登麻美子) voices the final boss Tsukiko Joshima. I had no trouble remembering this person, ha. (Ana in Ichigo Mashimaro, Ai Enma in Jikoku Shoujo) I only like her lines where she's not serious, e.g. the slapstick lines. Her regular lines just make me remember her Jikoku Shoujo line "ippen shinde miru?" ("Taste death, now" ugh I suck at trans). If that's what scary women are supposed to sound like in Japanese, lend me some more clues because I don't really get it.

And let me not forget Romi Park (朴璐美), voicing Mihee Kim. I know her from Princess Princess as the male lead Yuujirou Shihoutani and from Claymore as Teresa. I can remember her kanji name. I would like to hear more of her deep voice roles. Also she's one example of zainichi Korean that I can remember.

Playing SoS3 reminds me that I still haven't unboxed my Fumiko O.V. figurines (the game pack-in and the seperate one). I really like this long purple dress and matching hat motif.

Rather than regret not buying something, regret it after you buy it

(tags purchase, failure, game, Xbox 360, shmup)

Well, after writing that long whiny post about not buying stuff two days ago, I, in fact, stayed at home. I should proclaim stuff like that to Get Things Done. "I'm not going to Maui". :-)

I was playing and credit feeding Shikigami no Shiro 3 for the easy-peasy Achievement Points. And I caught up on my j1m0ne blog reading habit and caught this gem among all the other excellent posts:

23. "Rather than regret not buying something, regret it after you buy it"
(買わないで後悔するより、買ってから後悔しろ。)
-Does that not sound like the thoughts of many of us otaku after unwrapping figures that look retarded?

Yes it does. Indeed. Improving my personal finances against my otaku lifestyle is definately impedence mismatch.

Shh... My wallet doesn't know what this here credit card has been doing. Especially online. Especially auctions. :-)

Day 3 of Den Den Town co-habiting

(tags telephone card, game, collectable, Yuiko Tokumi, Osaka, Nipponbashi)

I have already gone to Den Den Town three days in a row but so far nothing big has caught my eye or my wallet. I mean I'm lining my ducks in a row, because right now I'm just glancing at stuff and I'm waiting for the Yuiko Tokumi goods to come into view. Unfortunately I've only seen the new doujinshi (新刊) and none of the other desirables such as the 2008 calendar. Will I ever see it? I suppose I'm waiting for the otaku drops. Saturday only, 2x rate? ;-)

Ol' dependable K-books is reselling one of her new doujinshi for 2100 yen, while another shop called Vanilla is reselling the identical thing for 900. I also saw it at Books Lashinbang but I did not remember the price. It's not Bottle Fairy, and my resistance to buying doujinshi or even setting foot into no-resell doujin shops like Melon Books has been strong recently. I have to focus on going into resell shops, though, because I always do the same varied route of console games, telephone cards, Sofmap, no-resell doujin shop, resell shops. I have succumbed to visiting shops twice in one day. :-/

Also my alternate goal is to find a Xbox 360 joystick. I have not yet found (another) one for sale. The last time I saw one was a month back. Even the auctions online have dried up (for the Dead or Alive model). Why doesn't Hori make another run of these joysticks, plain ones even. I know they make regular controllers, but even if I buy it my thumb will still be at the same angle. I have to say, playing Shikigami no Shiro 2 at demo kiosk at A-Too recently feels totally natural with the Dreamcast regular controller. The Xbox 360 controller in comparison is alien.

For this "2008 A Happy New Year Di Gi Charat" Gamers retail telephone card, I tried visiting Gamers Sannomiya but they didn't offer it. The fukubukuro offers at 3000 yen (available) and 5000 yen (sold out) had another exclusive telephone card of Dijiko but I passed. I also tried to visit Gamers Osaka but I forgot that it is closed today, despite checking the schedule. Note to self: It's closed tomorrow too. It's in a "remote" area so instead of backtracking to Umeda I followed the Midosuji subway line on foot to the next station, Yodobashi, because Den Den Town is another 3 stops south. I passed the U.S. Consulate and I got some winter sun, yeah. I finally picked it up at Gamers Otaroad.

(I have also revived my purple Game Boy Micro for FFTA. I forgot where the USB charging cable went. Sofmap doesn't sell any Game Boy Micro charge cables no more, so I gotta stock up.)

So far this week I have only gotten that Pikachu 50 pose sticker seal sheet and that Gamers telephone card. Total "New Years otaku" costs are, to date, 2000 yen. Transportation has been around 1000 yen per day though. I'm going to have to buy another 3000 yen Lagare card for the travelling.

Other things of interest that I rated a "want" but not "need":

• Lumines for PSP with original cover, used at 6800 yen. It probably is the downgrade-capable version. But it's gone now as of today. I haven't played Lumines before but the demo is just an XBLA away.

• A K-books exclusive micro fiber towel with illustration by Noboru Kannatsuki. But it's not related to red-headed Corti so I will pass.
• Street Fighter III 3rd Strike premium box for the PS2 going for 1_2000 yen. I don't grok Parrying and I don't really need a big box or a jigsaw puzzle!
• Suzumiya Haruhi no Yakusoku for PSP premium set (8900 to 12800 to 17000 yen, with or without figure) and the various telephone cards. I can wait.
• Kodomo no Jikan telephone card (Animate point exchange 2007-12) with daishi going for 4000 yen. I really shouldn't be getting into this "skeleton" anymore.
• Final Fantasy XII International Job System for the PS2 going for 2800 yen used and new. But I'm playing FFTA right now.
• Manabi Straight visual booklet for 1500 yen. I'll get it eventually.
• Contra 4 for the DS, US version at 5000 yen. I can wait till 2008-03 for the JP release.
• Various Gamers or Broccoli or Di Gi Charat telephone cards at around 800 to 1500 yen each at some resell shops. I'll probably pick some up when the wallet is loose.
• Shikigami no Shiro 3 Appreciate DVD (replay video). Have you checked Youtube?
• (I didn't see this at Den Den Town but its on-topic) Border Down for Dreamcast resell (thanks Insert Credit) and soundtrack. Come on, I haven't played Border Down in 3 years! Why do I need another copy? Oh wait, it's already pre-order'd out. :-]

Maybe if I spent less time trying to find something to buy I wouldn't have to say "No" all the time.

And yes, I'm going again tomorrow. :-) :-/ :-(

How bad do you want it? "Hakkaya 73" goods (Yuiko Tokumi 2007-12 stuff, part 2)

(tags collectable, Comic Market, Yuiko Tokumi, illustrator, auction)

So I've been following the bidding on the complete Yuiko Tokumi goodies available at Comic Market 73 (2007-12-30, keywords: 「薄荷屋 73」) It's horridly crazy. I was about to put my bid down but now the bids have skyrocketed beyond my tolerance. The goods looks like this:

We are looking at a paper bag, a canvas-like tote bag, a pencil card, a calendar and two doujinshis. Ugh, it's that "Miku Hatsune" craze. But who knows, some of the bidders have a history of being Hakkaya fans. In fact there was one person that maintained the highest bid, even when they were outbid (I kept refreshing the page, you see). They really had to have it, huh.

Yes I gotta have that calendar since it's a tradition (I have 2006 and 2007 calendars) plus it's Bottle Fairy! (瓶詰妖精) I would die for Bottle Fairy. But! I wouldn't put up 2_0000+ yen just for a 1000 yen calendar.

There are some backups online as well as off. I do have Nipponbashi to explore, but the past two days indicate that its too early to check. I am going tomorrow as well, because I haven't picked up the Gamers "New Year's" Dejiko Telephone card in lovely wine red.

Gah, what a waste of time. :-(

He's just discovered the Start button: Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

(tags game, GameBoy Advance, Final Fantasy)

It's rather strange that this unautomated menu fighter RPG Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (FFTA) has gotten a hold of me. The in-game clock says I've put almost 20 hours on it, but I haven't even got past the sixth default mission yet. There are 300 total missions, and I suspect that only a fraction of that is the story mode.

I figured out in the Equip items menu that on the currently selected item, the Start button shows the improvement (blue) or regression (red) in the stats. Before discovering this I was annoyed with jumping back and forth between menus. Now I can equip with confidence. :-) But then again I also figured out that I shouldn't be reequipping so much. "Abilities" anyone?

Still the game hasn't thrown me any real strategy difficulties at me, yet. I recall that I played most (?) of GameBoy Advance Wars 1 and 2 without finishing the story mode because it started playing out like Chess. Ugh, I suck at Chess.

I also took a peek at a GameFaq guide but I shouldn't have done that. I was wondering what good were those Judgement Points, since most of my characters now have "10". I still didn't figure it out. FFTA has been fun for me partly because of the exploration of the game system. I am not going to glance at another guide until it gets hard.

And yes I've been stealing glances at FFTA-A2 for the Dual Screen. But I rather play a game like this in English.

Pikachu "Hatsumode" (2008)

(tags food, Pikachu, kawaii, promotion, collectable, 200801, Japan)

Greetz and howdy to your 2008. Hope you are having fun.

So, I did it. I went to McDonalds on New Year's Day and asked for the "Happy 2008 Pikachu ga ippai 50 pose sticker sheet", which meant I had to jump through the hoop of buying a Happy Set which I know as a Happy Meal but no fancy cardboard box. I did not bother to choose to recieve the default Happy Set toys, though. Gotta set the limit somewhere. :o

What is the phrase in Unreal Tournament? "It's been decades since I've seen one of these". :-)

Every time I think of McDonalds now I think of that picture of that Michelin tire fat kid sitting with the McDonalds bib. Going to McDonalds on New Year's Day just breaks all sorts of Resolutions, imagined or not. I'm not making any resolutions for this year but I'm going for goals. One goal is to make one Pikachu related post every month. :-)