The Digital Pugilist

A week in links (The road to EVO version)

Evo 2010

Just got the confirmation email today -- I've been accepted as a judge at the 2010 Evolution Fighting Game Championships!

I didn't think I would be accepted honestly, but I guess I wrote something positive in my application email.  I found out that they've assigned me to the 5pm ~ Midnight shift for Super Street Fighter IV.  While I'm glad to be an official judge now, I'm a little worried since the Melty Blood tournament will be happening at the same time.  Hopefully that'll get fixed later.

It's going to be June real soon here.  I've been grinding away in practice mode for nearly three hours daily in an effort to discover (and rediscover) new techs and combos for Melty Blood.  So far it's been paying off; I've mastered a few new characters outside of Ryougi Shiki.  That'll help me out just in case I run into any people who play those characters.

Very good week in terms of news.  A big thank you goes out to all of you who've submitted questions on formspring!  It's given me a new outlook on what people look for in the topics I write, so I'm a bit more confident in myself now. Enjoy the week's links!

*****

YouTube - Kung Fu Bear (BEST FOOTAGE!)
That is just insane!  Who taught that bear how to do that?

Koe de Oshigoto! Manga Gets Anime Adaptation - Anime News Network
This is a really great manga, so news of an anime adaptation is welcome news.  Everyone should check it out!

Rumor: DLC characters coming for Super Street Fighter 4
Is R. Mika, Rolento, and Hugo coming? 

Ok reddit lets make it...The List of Real Life Cheat Codes!!!! : AskReddit
I don't know about that "waving to the cop if you get a speeding ticket" cheat, but if anyone out there ever gets pulled over, do tell us if this really worked (lol).

武器傘-劇場版『Fate - stay night - UNLIMITED BLADE WORKS』-エクスカリバー
The Excalibur umbrella -- only $100 dollars ($100 freaking dollars!?).

Alan Wake: The Worst Product-Placement In Gaming History? - G4tv.com
Watch the video.  I can't believe something like this is actually in a video game...

Fogonazos: Maniobras alucinantes de cuadricópteros autónomos
Too cool!

日々是遊戯：iPadが懐かしのアーケードゲーム筐体になる？　ゲームパッドへの対応を願う - ITmedia Gamez
Okay, have to admit this was a pretty darned clever use for the iPad.  Might have to re-reconsider getting one now just to do this.

Introducing the "iCade"

Got a question? Get an answer!

! !

I have a lot of free time today, so I thought I'd try this formspring stuff that people have been doing lately.  I'll be sitting by my computer working on a few images and posts with the window open, so if you want to ask a question on just about anything, I'd be more than happy to respond.

Just keep it SFW-ish, and all will be okay.

In other news, production on Tekken 7 got announced recently, and Arcana Heart 3 has a new expansion / update called Arcana Heart 3 Heartmatic Expansion (lol).  Skullgirls is the coolest little indie fighting game from Mike Z (of BlazBlue fame), and King of Fighters XIII is looking as sweet as ever!

Wacky Engrish on Rakuten

No, I am completely not making this up

More amusing findings over at Rakuten.  As much as I enjoy browsing goods on their online shop, I can't help but notice the rampant Engrish that goes on over there.  And to think that Rakuten wants to expand more into the western market...it kinda makes me worried.

A long time ago Andy once said to me, "We ought to get jobs in the Japanese translation market.  We'd make a killing translating all the goofy English that goes on over there."  Boy was he spot on.  I understand the fact that Japan loves to use English to sound sauve and foreign and all, but it boggles my mind at how they just mash words together and come up with new sentences not even us foreigners are able to come up with.

Someone really ought to start a business out there that fixes sentences -- like a PR firm or something for copy writers.  Anybody up for it?

Sangatsu no Lion: A Review

His background is ever so curious and ever so elusive

If you remember Umino Chica, then you're probably a fan of Honey and Clover, her first work.  Everything that made Honey and Clover so memorable -- the comedy; the colorful, wacky expressions; the sweet, unspoken subtleties -- all of it is still present here in Sangatsu no Lion (in English: March Comes in Like a Lion).  As a newcomer to her work, I didn't expect much from the seemingly passive storytelling that goes on here but like all great stories it didn't take long until I became drawn in to the world that unfolded before me.

17 year-old Kiriyama Rei is a professional shogi player.  His family passed away while he was in middle school, and the only thing that kept him going on through life has now become his only passion in life.  He doesn't have any friends, outside of a few rival shogi players, but one day he meets Kawamoto Akari and her two younger sisters.  His life quickly becomes merged with the small family, marking the beginning of a charming new tale.

The plot summary seeed a bit awkward and straightforward, at first glance.

Look! A Yotsubato reference!

But Umino Chica herself said that a lot of her fellow peers and close friends also wondered why she chose such a strange theme for her newest work. 

In one of the chapters, she explains that it was a sudden spark of interest that drew her into the world of shogi.  She tried her hand at it for a little, and suddenly a revelation befell upon her, prompting her to create a story around not only just shogi, but the players behind the scenes as well.  Or something like that.

There's only four volumes out as of this post, so there's still a lot of time to flesh out more of the plot (which in my opinion is the only lacking part of the series).  The artwork is actually very beautiful -- there's a quiet charm in the whimsical, cartoonish art that's easy to take in.  It certainly helps out the humorous scenes in a way that most typical seinen stories can't quite grasp. 

March Comes in Like a Lion has an anime adaptation sometime this year or later.  No word on it's release, but hopefully it gets a good studio translating it over to the flipside.  I for one will be on the lookout for it.

"It's my turn. Get chance and luck!"

"It's my turn. Get chance and good luck!"

Haven't watched Angel Beats at all, but this scene alone has unanimously changed my opinion for the better. Gag anime ftw!

Crazy Kirby Remix of Epic Beep Boom Bap

Crazy Kirby Remix of Epic Beep Boom Bap

Just a stunningly amazing video edit using a variety of sound effects from Kirby (I'm assuming the gameboy version). There's parodies galore in the video too; see if you can spot them all (a jubeat parody appears near the end!).

A week in links (movin' on up version)

The pre-handshake device

Good times feel like they're coming around, finally.  I got a few job offers online, with one being an overseas position in Japan and another being a more secure government position here locally.  It's a nice refreshing pace, considering that all the jobs I've had up to now have been fleeting.  I'd like to get a stable income and start saving up for more important things.

However the case, a lot of friends around here have been making a lot of great strides.  We don't play games together as much as we used to, but that's probably due to the fact that we've all been growing up, more or less.  But I spose that's just inevitable, eh?

At any rate, I'll continue to post as much fighting game-related content as much as I can.  Enjoy the week's links!

*****

Following yesterday’s analysis of Super Mario... - Mimeo in the Tumbleverse

Never really thought about the level design in Super Mario, but this guy does a really bang-up job of explaining stage elements in the classic game.  Interresting and nformative too!

My Art Shame: The Made-Up Movie They Tried To BAN!
This movie is crazy! lol

外国人制作の全ヒロイン障害者のギャルゲ 『かたわ少女』 、　日本語に対応し新たにリリース:【2ch】ニュー速VIPブログ(`･ω･´)
Japanese 2ch netizens react to katawa shoujo, the eroge dougin novel created by 4chan

YouTube - Justice League Task Force Review
I had no idea the SNES game was THIS bad...wow.

Open Letter to the Game Publishers: Stop Raping Gamers’ Wallets! | Techi.com
Great article about the rising costs of games and how it's detrimental to the industry and the economy at large.

Ninjas rescue student from muggers | Herald Sun
Oh shit son!!

The Truth Behind Ronald McDonald | Top Cultured
Wooooow lolol too crazy!

YouTube - Kung Fu Bear (BEST FOOTAGE!)
Title says it all folks!  You gotta check this out!!

Mushibugyo: A Review

Ancient Japan meets Bug Exterminators in Mushibugyo

There's not a whole lot of chapters available for this series, but from the three chapters I've read it looks really, really good.  And promising too.  There's no anime in the works for this manga, but I can easily foresee one down the road in maybe one or two years. 

The story is basically thus: a young samurai has been enlisted by the feudal government in an attempt to exterminate large, murderous bugs plaguing Edo.  Tsukushima Jinbee is the young, plucky samurai who lives by the sword.  He unwittingly joins the Mushibugyo squad, and quickly has to adapt or die.  Each time he encounters a new bug, he grows in experience and simultaneously unravels a little bit more about the mysterious Mukai.

The action scenes in Mushibugyo are really breathtaking to watch.  You can feel the sheer amount of movement in every frame -- almost to a vertigo-inducing point.  The artwork is typical, considering it's aimed toward young males (e.g. occasional bra and panty shots), but what shounen manga doesn't have that? 

I hope more of Fukuda Hiroshi's work gets released.  I really enjoyed the story, and the artwork is a plus, too.  It kind of gives off this Gurren Lagann / 1990's Gainax vibe that's just wacky and easy to ingest.  Highly recommended!

Gundam phone on the way in September!

Softbank introduces the 945SHG

Anime phones are on the rise!

Softbank is introducing a limited edition HD phone bundle that includes a mini plastic model of the first ever Gundam, the RX-78-2.  The new promo is to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the first plastic model kit, and includes a slew of phone accessories, like a plastic shield cover that goes over the phone.  There's also custom phone ringtones and menu screens, a la the Evangelion phone.

I love how the keitai industry gets behind the anime industry to produce these really cool and nifty products.  The only thing we have going for us in the States are phones that are made by the TelCo companies, not the other way around.

Like for example Celty's phone, from Durarara!!:

The Motorola Droid

Still though, it makes me wonder what the next keitai will be, once the next season of anime shows start. 

Source: Anime News Network

This, my friends, is the future of fighting games...mark my words.

Warriors of Elysia - Full Video Trailer

You want 3D on 2D battles?�

You got it.

FMV style super attacks?�

You got it.

Hot goddesses from a time long gone in bikinis using a variety of martial arts like brazilian capoeira (!?), classic kung fu, and bare-knuckle brawling to beat their brains (and bodies) to a bloody, sweaty, senseless pulp?�

You got it.

Game of the year, folks.� Believe it.�