Idolm@ster SP inbound

(tags game, PlayStation Portable, Idolmaster, pre-order)

It was news to me, but the Sofmap-only special 3 card telephone card set omake for the upcoming Idolm@ster SP for the PSP will come with its own backing picture frame and one more telephone card. (link is one month old)

Excellent. When I saw that my Sofmap Kobe printed out the actual picture, I grabbed the pre-order ticket without any hesitation.

I'm out 1_5000 yen. ;-)

More work than fun: Chrono Trigger DS

(tags game, Dual Screen, Chrono Trigger)

Chrono Trigger DS is my daily affair.

However, I don't like how small the text is in CT, or how the visual interface when applying items like potions sucks (characters are lined up vertically, but you have to press left or right to select them), or how the two screens are really detrimental in the DS mode because enemy positions and enemy names don't match. I don't use the touch pen for anything, and the classic mode text is tiny (crispy, but tiny). I dunno how they can improve the touch-pen positioning interface, but I have a lot to say on using the D-pad and buttons.

I'm not sure if I'm having fun yet. I played the game to its conclusion back in the day, so it's not exacly spanking brand new to me. My guys are leveling up but I feel like I'm in the old FF-style menu grind. I'm glad I forgot the tiny plot twists though, my forgetfulness makes it feel new again. 

Don't get me wrong, there are some parts that I enjoy. I especially like Marle's winning pose (jump for joy).

Perhaps when the story is over, I can embark on collecting all the endings and the new dungeons.

Re-exploring the DS: Nintendo first party titles

(tags game, Dual Screen, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, Super Mario)

So I bought Chrono Trigger recently and I've only been through a couple of time slips.

This DS gaming has gotten me interested in the other software I have so I pulled out Super Mario 64 DS, a week or two ago. I keep thinking about making a seperate blog post titled "Crackdown before Super Mario 64", but then again, I've already played Super Mario Sunshine (still not cleared though), and I suppose that's similar. I can't believe how basic it feels. I rather be playing Spyro from the PlayStation 1.

And then, the whole advertisement wave going on with the Wii version of Animal Crossing (どうぶつの森) made me pull out my old copy of Animal Crossing: Wild World DS. I thought there would be the granddaddy of weeds, but I just have lots of the easy weeds. Anyway I spent some time cleaning up the place, picking fruit and generally checking out the game again. It crashed on me twice while I was trying to get online (I was hoping Nintendo would send me some status messages or something). All in all it's just as fun as I remembered it. Well, fun as making up some boring tasks like "pick all the fruit" and doing them. I checked out the Wii version's and it seems as if you can import your DS stuff into your Wii. It's only one way, though, and it's really limited. You gain your name, face, and catalog, but that's it. Of course you don't lose anything on your DS though. Also, you can't push anything from your Wii to your DS. 

Finally, I started unlocking Mario Kart DS courses. I've had this game for ages but I still haven't unlocked them, even the easiest 50cc ones. I hate Mario Kart's game system, though. Get ahead too much, feel the power of the blue Koopa shell, over and over again. Ugh. Sometimes I just look at overhead map instead of the pursuit view because its easier to see.

Anyways, I'll keep these games along side my daily dose of Kumatanchi (yes I'm still caring and feeding this littl' Tamagochi twice a day) and Chrono Trigger.

Swift and sure: Mirror's Edge

(tags game, Mirror's Edge, Xbox 360, action)

I bought Mirror's Edge from A-Too on Friday night, and beat the story mode on Normal on Saturday night. :-( I even got the No-Shot Fired Achievement, though I died a lot, of course. Swift, for sure.

I need to go back and find all the bags and try out the time trial part. I still can't get through a stage without dying, though. One thing that is amazing is that it feels like a movie when I do all the right moves and chain them together. The flow, live it.

Pink hair on the Xbox, again

(tags Xbox 360)

This post demostrates not only the new Xbox 360 Dashboard and interface, but my new avatar.

According to a recent find, you can select "anime" color hair like this lavender pink. It's nice.

Also, this post illustrate the bad part of the new Xbox 360 Dashboard: my background (and Sugar!) is obscured to the point where it's pointless to have a background. This is what the Xbox Dashboard looked like before 2008-11. EPIC FAIL.

Cute cheap figures: Doki Majo 2 Maho, Kimorebi Sakura

(tags game, figure, Doki-Majo, gal game, figure, PlayStation 2, Dual Screen)

Recently Sofmap dumped a full truckload of Doki Doki Majo Shinpan 2 (どきどき魔女神判2) at a price of 2980 yen instead of 9980 yen. The only thing I wanted was the included "Maho" figure, so:

Actually, I got mine at 2480 yen in Sofmap Kobe, woot. I've been looking to picking up this figure ever since Gamers Nipponbashi was selling it for 3980 yen, which was still too steep. I don't intend on playing the game though.

On the left is "Sakura" from the gal-game turned PlayStation 2 Kimorebi no Namiki-michi: Utsuri kawaru kisetu no naka de (木漏れ日の並木道～移り変わる季節の中で～). I haven't played it yet. "Sakura" is the main character's daughter. Also the main character is a widower, which makes the scenario seem quite sad.

Chrono Trigger in English

(tags RPG, Chrono Trigger, Dual Screen, English, Japanese)

I was totally surprised that Chrono Trigger for the DS is also in English as well as Japanese. W00t!

Pikachu labeling: Tepra PRO Tape Cartridges

(tags Tepra, label, Pikachu, Pokemon, sticker)

Tepra PRO tape cartridge is an office supply that has Japanese national recognition, like Swingline Staplers in the States. At work, if we want to label something like a file folder or a cable automatically, we bring out the labeling machine and the Tepra.

I actually bought a labeling machine for my own personal use, but it was right before the models that support USB. I'm still kicking myself even now.

Today, after the Dream Party 2008-11 Osaka convention, I made my way through Nipponbashi and back to Osaka (station). There was no Mirror's Edge anywhere to be found, arrgh! The Pokemon Center was still open though at 6:10 PM, so I cruised on in. I spied this Tetra tape:

Such a happy little fellow. I'm a happy fellow for just looking at Pikachu. 和みますって！I suppose I have a bad case of Pikachu moe.

So I better start labeling, since each tape cost me about 1200 yen. 5 meters should last me a couple of years, ha.

This totally reminds me that I have another Pikachu post theme. I took a whole gang of pictures but I am too lazy to write the accompanying text. Perhaps in another month? Gotta space the Pikachu dosage out.

Pour it on: Basil

(tags food)

I bought this ready-to-pour basil sauce recently. Now I'm pouring it on my toast and on my salads, even on my meat. Everything taste better with this basil sauce. Really. Now I need to find some cheese to eat this stuff with. Yum.

Dream Party 2008-11: Osaka, a mere shadow of Tokyo

(tags gal game, over 18, Osaka, Tokyo, failure, Dream Party, telephone card, goods)

Before arriving to Dream Party 2008-11 "Akiba-kei" adult gal game and cosplay convention at Intex-Osaka, I was already disappointed. I bought the 1000 yen ticket without consulting the attending list. I assumed that the same booths at the Tokyo show would be here as well, but I thought wrong. Particularly, I was hoping for a reprise of "Doki Doki! Tama-tan". I already have the pink Tama-tan figure and the CDs (which were not very good actually), but they had some exclusive telephone cards back in 2008-10, and I missed it. I also missed the auction snipering but then again I have limits (and others don't... boo).

So, I really didn't feel like going on this rainy day. But what the hey, I need to check the game shops in Osaka anyway for Mirror's Edge, so why not.

The pre-paid ticket was available at Sofmaps across the land. They are one of the sponsors for the event. Intex Osaka is where they had that Wii introduction event back in 2006 and of course, I previously went to a Dream Party in 2004 or 2005. It's probably about 30 minutes from Nipponbashi through convenient trains. At the door they were checking ID for age verification, and I successfully got this limited-ages pamphlet which I have to show to enter the event. Because the event is mainly over-18 content with 30 or more booths, while the all ages content is a slim 3 booths. Ha.

So, knowing that the only reason to be at this convention was gone, I just stumbled around looking at the sights. Actually, it was a perfect opportunity to grab some other telephone card designs. That is, if I could beat out the other wanton otaks. They are pretty strong, actually.

I scoped out some the Little Busters goods. There was a special Kuda-tan mini pencil card set for 2000 yen at ToyPla. I've seen all the illustrations over and over again in telephone cards and other goods, but still I wanted it. Unfortunately ToyPla ran out at only 12:30. The guy at the counter told me in plain english "Sold Out", even though I waited in the unruly line and the sign wasn't updated to reflect it. I wasn't pissed though. Some other good stuff to get.

Age, makers of my favorite gal game Kimi ga Nozomu Eien (君が望む永遠), had a bunch of concert DVDs and radio CDs for sale. It would have been my chance to get some "Tomoko Ishibashi"/ Chiaki Takahashi stuff, but I haven't finished the related radio CDs so I passed. I can probably get them next time at the Spring 2009 Dream Party or even Comic Market if I go.

And actually, I was reading famed "rubber stamp" (and recent rice bag and strawberry) illustrator Aoi Nishimata's blog and she said she would attend Dream Party in Osaka. I didn't get to see her, but there was a lot of her stuff there. Booths and even ita-shas (cars with moe stickers). Nice. Lines were long and everything pretty much sold out, proving that people still like her illustrations.

So here I am with some telephone cards. From the top left, it's Chuable Soft's Sugar + Spice which went from gal game to the all-consumer PlayStation 2 version in 2008-09. I like the illustrator Gintaro (ぎん太) because of the simple design and the nice eyes.

On the right is "Marie Ludel" telephone card and pencil card from Paletto's Sakura Strasse (さくらシュトラッセ), which was an over-18 game released in 2008-01. This particular illustration was probably released earlier, for the accompanying radio show. Again the appeal for me is the illustrator Kusu Kusu's style (くすくす).

Finally, the bottom is a Halloween-themed telephone card and daishi from Windmill's upcoming gal game, La Campanella Della Benedizione (祝福のカンパネラ). I don't intend to buy this game, but I already have some telephone cards from previous magazine illustrations (which I didn't bother to post, oops). I even have some of the character CDs, which are pretty fun to listen to. Windmill was also responsible for (the now 3 year old!) gal-game turned anime Happiness.

Ah well, I wrote down most of the things I want to remember about today. I am disappointed with the no-show Tama-tan, but I can only blame myself for not doing the homework.

Should I be watching anime?

(tags anime, video, failure)

According to my records, I haven't watched any anime for like 6 weeks. Previously I used to watch 1 to 2 hours a week. I think my gaming and computer putzing has taken the forefront right now. Or perhaps I am tired of downloading stuff, even though I finally automated it through RSS and some custom RSS filtering.

I support this Ichigo-chan

(tags food, illustrator, Aoi Nishimata, Japan, mail-order)

Yes I bought the rice, and now I'm planning to buy the strawberries.

Very nice indeed. "Ugono Ichigo-chan". It'll be winter soon, though.

Fun gaming (or maybe not)

(tags game, Unreal Tournament, Ketsui, Kumatan, Xbox 360, Dual Screen)

I am just having a blast playing the Unreal Tournament 3 on the Xbox 360. Sure I miss the keyboard and mouse controls, but the analog joystick controller is way fun all the same. I'm still an offline gamer playing bots in Team Deathmatch. I discovered the Kill Slow Time mutator, which slows time down Matrix style after you get a kill. I am surprised how fun it makes the game.

And I'm still playing Ketsui. Even on the bus, but I get mad at the bus driver for actually moving the bus while I'm trying to squeeze through a danmaku gap. The game says 7 hours in, and I've uncovered probably a little more than 70 panels out of 110. I still die readily on the Very Hard difficulty, but I suprise myself sometimes by going through a boss battle or two without a scratch. I guess I'm figuring out the boss patterns subliminally.

One guy at the new forum I'm frequenting, Gaijin Gamers, told me that Breakdown had the first person gimmick down way before Mirror's Edge, so I nabbed a copy of this Xbox 1 game. After half an hour I didn't feel much of pull towards this game. The environment feels so static and the gameplay feels a little too formulaic. Not very fun.

Kumatan still makes me smile. But I noticed I need to at least play this game two times a day to maintain my "totemo suki" love level.

Welcome to before Mirror's Edge

(tags game, Kumatanchi, Ketsui, Unreal Tournament, Tiger Woods, golf, Mirror's Edge, Dual Screen, Xbox 360)

Portable gaming and Xbox gaming, and even PC gaming. Can he stop?!?

Ketsui DS rewarded me for playing 5 recorded hours. All of the videos for the "Welcome to Special Round" second loop clear for the second ship have been uncovered, but I have at least 40 panels out of 110 to uncover. This game is winding down for me, but I still love the feel of trying to avoid all the bullets. It's just impossible for me.

I'm still playing Kumatanchi. About a week ago I thought I was done, but there was one more furniture set revealed called "Future" (未来). And the prices were from the future, fully inflated. :-/ This game is getting long in the tooth, but I love how Kumatan smiles. Plus I don't think I uncovered all of the drama bits. One good thing is that Sumomo is now inviting me to her place, ha ha. Words only.

Xbox 360 is getting some love. According to my records, I've picked up at least 5 games for it in the last month! The latest conquest is Unreal Tournament 3 for cheep. It was fun to play it on the controller actually at a Sofmap demo unit. Of course, I was only playing Team DM with Experienced bots in Deck 16. Sweet Deck 16.

And my trend to getting the Tiger Woods continues. I got the 2006 version, thinking I was done, but then the game I was playing was the 2009 version. I found the 2008 version and I bought that one cheep as well. 2008 is graphically improved, but it's so hard to improve my career stats. Argh!

And yes I did try the Mirror's Edge demo game. I want more! But, I was let down. You know that first part where you jump off the billboard onto the crane in demo movie mode? That was my first let down. Tell me that you have to actually do in game some time, instead of watching her do it automatically. That would be pretty wicked sick.

Time Crisis 3 is painful

(tags game, light-gun, arcade, failure)

I'm a pretty weak, dude. I played Time Crisis 3 at the game center above the Kobe Sofmap just for old time's sake. By the end of Stage 1 my arms were hurting bad. I needed the full rest time during the cut scene. I couldn't get past Stage 2 because I kept dropping my arms.

After that went to the bathroom. I accidently breathed my own saliva or something (does this happen often when one gets older?) and involuntarily I started coughing. When coughing I must have pulled an ab muscle because my chest and stomach hurt pretty bad. Down for the count. :-(

I gotta exercise more than playing Time Crisis 3. w00t!