Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
Yakuza: Stars of Japanese Pop Culture?
March 22nd, 2010 | 
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The term Yakuza comes from a losing hand in gambling (893 or Ya-Ku-Za). However, in Japan, this once self-deprecating term has lost much of its original meaning. The term now widely resonates in Japanese pop culture in film, books, comics, and games. The Yakuza are anything but losers, it seems.
For example, SEGA director Toshihiro Nagoshi is already hinting that sales of the latest Yakuza title (part 4) are set to eclipse the earlier sales pace record set by Yakuza 3 in the east. Yakuza 3 launched with 350,000 copies sold on the opening day and according to a translation of Nagoshi’s blog, he states:
“Yakuza 4 was released on 3/18. It’s selling well. First day sales are number one for the series.”
Yakuza 4 is poised to become one of the top selling games in Japan this generation but have you ever wondered how the Yakuza got to be so popular and have so much cultural currency in modern Japan? Read the rest of this entry »
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Huge Sonic 4 Site Update!!
A Huuuuge update to the Sonic 4 site was just made, and I managed to capture the last second! Anyway a massive update has been made to the Sonic 4 update providing lots of cool things to see and download. Read the rest of this entry »
Versus: Shenmue VS. Nomad Soul
Yet another new feature, Awesome right? This new feature is an all out brawl in which two oddly similar games will fight for a theoretical award named the “Superior Champion.” So, let’s buckle up and get all hyped up for the first ever edition of Versus! (note: the totally awesome, non-generic title).
Today’s edition involves a character named Ryo Hazuki and musician by the name of David Bowie. In more simplistic terms, the two games chosen to be compared are Shenmue and The Nomad Soul.
Loading ...Tales from the Frontline: Pokemon HeartGold Features a VMU-like Device
Why does this exist?
This is a bit of a different from previous Frontline posts as I have yet to go to the store today for work – I just wanted to share some random thoughts. The DSi XL and Pokemon HeatGold and SoulSilver are launching very soon and I will be promoting them for Nintendo.
I’m excited to try out the DSi XL, as I hope the bigger screens will make doing DS reviews easier. I’ve been toying around with the Pokeman HeartGold (when I’m not playing Yakuza, it is for work) and I’ve given all my Pokemon SEGA names to make the title more enjoyable.
The latest Pokemon does have one very interesting feature that reminds me of the VMU: Read the rest of this entry »
Games of Color (DICE): Ethnic Misrepresentation in Games
I just watched this video on Joystiq and I gotta say that as a gamer this has been an issue that has always interested me. This is a great presentation from DICE. If you are interested in the scope of gaming and all aspects of the industry – this is highly recommended viewing.
After watching, I started to think about the games that I’ve played that featured characters of color aside from Japanese and Caucasian ones.
Now, in terms of ethnic heroes or playable characters off the top my head that I think that are actually cool in terms of narrative the game provides, the list is criminally short: Prince of Persia, Dom, Tommy (Prey), Sgt. Johnson, and Turok. But there was one recent SEGA title that might surprise you: Read the rest of this entry »
Sonic Jam: Text Review
Imagine yourself, a young child, a fan of Sonic but never quite got all of the Mega Drive releases of Sonic. After the sheer amount of entertainment you have derived from your console you decide that buying the next Sega console the ‘Sega Saturn’ would be a relatively intelligent idea. Alongside your amazing Sega Saturn you have a game entitled “Sonic Jam”.
From a previous visit at your friends house you have seen the astonishing 3 dimensional capabilities, and conclude that Sonic, being amazing would be included in a game being 3-D. You also conclude that it’s probably the Saturn game “Sonic Jam” that includes such a brilliant offer! You being young and only slightly adorable hype up the occasion to the extent that it is rather ridiculous.
You then turn the Sega Saturn on with the Sonic Jam disc inserted, you are ready for the time of your life! Read the rest of this entry »
Sega Rummage: Sonic Robo Blast 2
[I am using the un-patched version of Sonic Robo Blast meaning that the version used in this is outdated and not as good as the patched version, Thanks for Sonict for pointing this out]
Welcome to my first edition of Sega Rummage in which I analyse some more obscure official/unofficial Sega content. Today I am going to be exploring a fan made Sonic game named Sonic Robo Blast. Is it one of those crappy pirated Sonic games you find on various other consoles? We’ll find out!
Tales from the Frontline: Mature SEGA fans!
I’ve been wanting to write this Tales from the Frontline for a while but I needed a second story to truly make it worth a post. If you are a regular reader or video review watcher, you know that I’ve been working as a SEGA Nintendo representative out there in the GTA.
Now, I’ve chatted to a ton of gaming fans from the casual spectrum to the ultra hardcore but nothing beats an unexpected SEGA fan – especially when they are old enough to be my parents.