wins the ketchup painting mini-game

(tags game, Xbox 360, gal game)

w1nnar!

w1nnar?

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.

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.

Resume purchasing: Kimi Kiss, EDF, TCs

(tags game, PlayStation 2, gal game, Kimi Kiss, Xbox 360, action, Earth Defense Force, telephone card)

I couldn't stop purchasing a game before Idolm@ster Live For You. I'm sorry. :-/ :-)

Friday rolled around and I was like omg Kimi Kiss (キミキス), okay, yeah I want it but I'm not in a PS2 mood. But then I somehow went back to Sofmap Kobe again because I couldn't resist the telephone card. The set was only 4000 yen (3500 yen without TC), and I've been meaning to get it ever since it came out (2006?!). I didn't know it also came with a DVD-ROM which collects various radio shows and some software. On Friday there were 3 TC-sets, but on Saturday I nabbed the last TC-set. Bah.

I suppose I was enthralled by the currently running anime, which I give five star ratings on each episode. It's the only torrented anime I'm watching live now besides Hayate no Gotoku. I am apprehensive though because the game is a different thing, right? Also I've also been reading some of the manga in Champion Red Ichigo semi-monthly magazine, and the manga there ranges from meh to greatest. I skipped one of the stories because it was too close to the anime, though.

I hooked up my PlayStation 2 previously for Street Fighter 3 Third Strike, but I've got guys in FFTA to level up, so...

And today was the release of Burnout Paradise (with announcer Ryu, who is pretty entertaining actually) and Space Invaders Extreme, but I resisted! Yeah me! Except, Earth Defense Forces 3 was sitting there used at around 2000 yen with the original cover, um. One Xbox 360 pal recommended it, and I know he digs action, so this can't be a bad purchase. I do want him to sell me his copy of the English (Asia region?) Burnout Paradise. How can I pursuade him. Oh wait, I need to play Im@s L4U first.

Also every 21st of the month, the Gamers point exchange Di Gi Charat/Koge Donbo telephone card comes out, so I picked it up. Somehow zettai ryoiki doesn't work with Dijiko, but the red iris scheme is looking better and better because of the red wine fashion.