The long time coming Dragon’s Crown has just been given it’s longest trailer yet and boy is it a treat. The video shows off the unique art style that the game will contain as well as a decent amount of actual gameplay footage from the four person brawler. Sort of helps that the art style means that the female character designs are packing some rather impressive assets.
It seems that Dragon’s Crown is set to be released in Japan on July 25th with some sort of limited edition artbook, but currently no Western release date has been set outside of sometime this year.
Earlier today the new commercials for Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S (A Certain Scientific Railgun S) which will be airing on AT-X were revealed. Once again these ads show off the opening theme that will be played by fripSide which is called “Sister’s Noise.”
You can check out the ads below and have a nice laugh over the terrible Engrish. As for the second season, Toaru Kagaku no Railgun S will be following the Sisters arc from the original Index series, though purportedly it will be much darker than what was presented then.
It is worth noting that FUNimation owns the license to the first season of Railgun and are planning on releasing the first season in English next month. As for Toaru Kagaku No Railgun S, fans can expect it to start airing on April 12th.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Kabam have joined forces to launch the free-to-play browser title The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age. Now available on Facebook as well as other web portals, Armies of the Third Age can unveil the experiences of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit film trilogy to millions of internet users for free. Players can expect face-paced tactical combat by controlling groups of elves, dwarves, or orcs in massive battles over Middle-Earth.
Sean Ryan, Director of Games Partnerships – Facebook, had the following to add:
The Hobbit: Armies of the Third Age from Kabam and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is a great example of the type of high quality games being built on Facebook. Kabam’s first strategy game Kingdoms of Camelot launched on Facebook in 2009 and became a major franchise, and we’re excited to see Kabam build their latest game on Facebook. As the Facebook games ecosystem grows, we look forward to seeing more highly engaging experiences from Kabam.
In addition to being available on Facebook, Kabam and the Google Chrome Store will also have the game available on their portals.
From Bedrooms to Billions is a film that tells the success story of the UK Video game industry. The film has surprised its creators by smashing through its Kickstarter goal in just five days and due to partnering with UKIE every school in the UK will be able to get a copy for free.
From Bedrooms to Billions is a two hour feature length documentary film which tells the story of the industry from 1979 to the present day and how the creativity of a small number of individuals allowed the UK to play a key role in shaping of the billion dollar video games industry which now dominates modern entertainment along with film, TV and music.
Film makers Anthony and Nicola Caulfield hope that the film could act as an inspirational tool for children of today and show that programming and game creation is an achievable and rewarding option, detailing how a collection of, mainly children, did it themselves 30 years ago using just their imaginations, and by today’s standards, very primitive equipment.
The project went live on Kickstarter on Monday 25th February and reached its funding goal of £18,000 by the 2nd March, less than 6 days later. The campaign ends on 26th April. The film makers have now decided to create a goal of £100,000 with a unique reward to every single backer of the campaign if they reach their target.
Nicola Caulfield speaks out about the films release into movie theatres later in the year by saying that “We want people to understand that this is a movie and the first place for it to be seen is at the movie theatre.”
The films official website can be found here. The trailer can be seen below on their Kickstarter page.
Going by the original Japanese launch date of October 1988, the Sega Mega Drive (Sega Genesis) turns 25 in 2013. It’s an occasion worth celebrating, and what’s pleasing is that the Mega Drive is a name that is still well known and relevant in the modern gaming scene. It certainly didn’t suffer the same fate as consoles like the 3DO, Jaguar, and TurboGrafix, where modern gamers have to look up Wikipedia just to see what they were. The Mega Drive is a brand that is still instantly recognizable and alive, just hop on to Xbox Live/PSN/Steam today and you will find a wide selection of beautifully ported classics, many with added network functionality even.
The Mega Drive will forever be a reminder and representation of the true glory days of Sega. Their most iconic franchises were born on that platform, many of which became pop culture sensations. Classics such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Phantasy Star, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Outrun, and so many others come to mind when we think about the Mega Drive.
In this special feature article the Capsule Computers crew gather together to discuss all things Mega Drive (Genesis). Each of us discuss what the console meant to us, what made it so special, and our fond memories of course. Following that is a special podcast where we of course rant about the Mega Drive.
So without further ado, let’s get this feature article going with some serious blast processing speed!
Star Trek Into Darkness’ international trailer has been released! Clocking in at 2 minutes and 15 seconds, it is by far the longest, most thrilling one yet!
Benedict Cumberbatch’s still as of yet unnamed villain is highlighted in what can only be referred to as committing terrorist acts. Screw the Wrath of Khan, feel the wrath of…THIS guy! You can watch this newest, most-revealing footage at the bottom of this article. Also check out this sweet cinemosaic (a composite of 12 different videos timed to form the poster of the film). Star Trek Into Darkness releases nation-wide in Australia on May 9th. Check out our recent first-hand impressions of approximately 30 minutes of the film.
On March 28th, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time will be available for the PS Vita and PlayStation 3, and in anticipation, Sony have released adozen new screenshots along with a Sly Cooper vignette, aimed at…psychics? Watch it and you’ll understand.
‘Thieves in Time’ promises to give players the familiar core gameplay that Sly fans know and love, whilst also introducing brand new stealth and combat moves, playable ancestors, collectible costumes with their own special abilities and even more epic boss battles. We will be reviewing both versions of the game, so stay tuned over the next week or so. For now, check out the aforementioned vignette below and the gallery of screenshots showcasing Arabian and English environments below that.
Alien 9 Studio: J.C. Staff Publisher: Hanabee Release Date: February 6, 2012 Price:$29.99 – Available Here
Overview: Alien 9 is an anime series that is definitely not for everyone. In fact this is a series that isn’t for many people at all. This is the type of anime that requires an open mind. It looks cute, but it is dark and filled with violence. It looks cheerful but it is deeply depressing. It is truly a case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”.
Misery is the what’s on the menu for Alien 9 and it finds some pretty inventive ways of conveying an abyss of despair. It does things that you probably will not see in any other anime series, which is probably a good thing for other anime to be completely honest.Despite all the creativity behind Alien 9 there is two things that it sorely lacks: purpose and focus.
Story: It must be said that Alien 9 is an inventive series, one with a rich source material behind it. Creativity and good source material can only get you so far though. With only four episodes to work with, Alien 9 needed drive and meaning, it had neither.
Set within a world where aliens frequently invade, Alien 9 tells the story of a high school’s ‘Alien Party’ (a group of students tasked with fighting alien invaders). It is a simple premise in all regards, yet somehow J.C. Staff manage to present it in the most confusing manner possible. The audience is given next to no background on this world and the main cast of Alien 9 and the series does little in the way of developing either over the course of the four episodes that comprise this series.
There is very little discernible plot outside of that initial premise as every episode simply features the three girls as they fight aliens and cry a lot. They cry so much that smiling seems out of the ordinary in Alien 9. That brings me to what is ultimately the biggest issue with Alien 9. It is so painfully depressing in every regard.
With very little sense of relief from the overwhelming angst and depression that enraptures this series, it is hard to draw any real enjoyment from this anime. There is a line between being sad and being depressed, Alien 9 has crossed the line into depressing and walked way too deep into that darkness. It wouldn’t be a problem if the depressing side of Alien 9 had any level of purpose, but it just doesn’t.
For what it is worth, Alien 9 does seem to try to convey a message of some sort but ultimately fails at making it mean anything. It is evident that Alien 9 was intended to be a commentary on the nature of loneliness. It is unfortunate that Alien 9 doesn’t stick the landing and instead comes off as far too on-the-nose and incoherent.
If I were to sum up Alien 9; incoherent would be a good way to describe it. There is so little actually happening in this series yet none of it really adds up in any meaningful way. To make matters worse the final episode amounts to something that GAINAX wouldn’t even touch. It includes an insinuated rape scene, an alien giving birth to a human and ends on a suicide cliffhanger to wrap it all up. Incoherent is what Alien 9 is. Disappointed and depressed is what it will leave you feeling.
Visuals and Audio: Aesthetically Alien 9 has not aged very well. It is well animated for the most part but its character designs and artwork leaves a lot to be desired. The series attempts to mix the ‘moe’ cute character designs with a dark and brutal setting, for the most part it works at setting the tone and atmosphere for the show. Despite that it is by and large simply repulsive and looks far older than 2001.
The soundtrack for this series is actually quite good and makes for what is one of the only highlights of an anime full of low points. With Haishima’s composition Alien 9 takes on a personality that the rest of its facets simply do not create. The opening theme for the series deserves a mention for capturing both sense of darkness beneath its cheerful surface.
This release happens to feature an English dub alongside the original Japanese audio. The English dub is average for the most part and comes off as relatively lazy overall.
Extras: Hanabee’s release of Alien 9 does come with a decent amount features that make this series well worth the price of admission if you are a fan of the series and all of its quirks. This particular release of Alien 9 not only features dual audio but includes an interview with Producer Taro Miki, a special dubbing diary video and trailers for other Hanabee releases. All of this makes for a solid release that is well worth the asking price.
Overall: Every now and then a series comes along that will undoubtedly divide people, Alien 9 is one of those series. It is something you will either love or hate, there is no in between for Alien 9. It is an incoherent depressing mess of an anime that does little in the way of developing its characters or plot beyond the general feeling of overwhelming misery. Those who are interested in dark anime series may find this misery to be a redeeming quality of Alien 9 but it lacks any purpose behind its sad state to really generate anything remotely equating to charm.
This is not a series that can really be recommended despite Hanabee’s admirable job at releasing it. If you are looking for well written characters and plot bundled with meaning and focus, Alien 9 is not the right series for you. There is something to be said for a beautiful mess, but there is even more that can be said for a terrible mess. In case it wasn’t clear by now, Alien 9 is the latter – sloppy, miserable soul-sucking anime without any sense of purpose or reason to exist. With its premise Alien 9 could have been great, it is quite a tragedy that its not.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
The Battlefield 4 website has launched, showing a teaser background and asking you to come back March 27th. As you move your mouse around the website, it is as if you are wiping your finger on a fogged up window. An image can be made out if you move your mouse fast enough but the fog comes back quickly.
However, the more people who sign up, the more EA/DICE will reveal. So far what can be made out behind the fogged glass is some sort of tank and maybe the outline of a city. With more fan participation maybe finer details can be picked up, like what city we might be seeing or if that is really a tank at all. Check out the website here.
The Spring 2013 anime season is fast approaching and like I did previously for Winter 2013, I will be detailing my top picks for Spring 2013. As has become a trend over the past few years Spring is quite a jam-packed anime season, so much in fact that I doubt I will have the time to watch all the series that I’d like to. This list will as such not include every series that has me interested, but instead my top picks of a season full of potentially brilliant anime. Without further adieu, these are the series that I will be watching this season of anime:
Attack on Titan:
I have been a fan of the Attack on Titan manga for quite some time. My greatest problem with the Attack on Titan manga however was its relatively weak artwork. After watching the trailer for Production I.G. and Wit Studios collaborative effort on this anime adaptation of the series, I am honestly blown away by what they have done with this series visually. Not only that it still seem to carry that dark tone of the manga but it makes it look appealing in a way, something I feel the manga fails to do.
The plot is of course without a doubt the strong point of Attack on Titan. I am looking forward to seeing this intricate and detailed world of Titans adapted into anime form. What really makes me feel good about this series was the sense that Production I.G. and Wit Studio really love the source material and want to do it justice. It was heavily evident from the trailer alone that the people working on this anime are passionate about this series and that is something I admire. I will definitely be watching Attack on Titan despite the inevitable fact that it won’t have a canon ending.
KARA The Animation:
As a fan of the K-Pop group KARA I feel in a way obligated to check out this series. With the girls of KARA each taking on a new career path this looks to be a light-hearted affair through and through and I could do with some simple fun. I do hope that the series features some of KARA’s music though, otherwise I feel this entire anime series would simply be besides the point. It does look quite promising though despite its short episode count and does speak greatly for the popularity of KARA and K-Pop in Japan.
Date A Live: This one caught my interest with its bizarre trailer which features largely comedic scenes backed by a serious orchestra track. It was an odd juxtaposition that garnered my interest on weirdness alone. The plot itself seems rather intriguing with a lot of potential for comedy and action. In order to protect the world the main character Shidou Itsuka is forced to date an evil spirit who has previously devastated the world 30 years ago. It’s enough for me to give it a look in.
Photo Kano: Now here is one that I am somewhat divided on. Photo Kano is an adaptation of a gal game for the PS Vita of the same name which revolves around a guy building a harem of girls that he photographs. I personally am not usually into something like this but the studio working on it is none other than Madhouse (my personal favourite studio) so I am willing to give it the benefit of the doubt and try it out for a couple episodes. Hopefully this incredible studio can make a gal game into anime worth watching.
Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san: Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-San just flat out looks hilarious. Again I am not the biggest fan of these kinds of series, but if the trailer alone can make me laugh then I feel that it deserves a look in. Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san follows the titular mermaid Muromi-san as she is caught by a Takurou Mukojima a member of the high school fishing club. It is a comedic premise for a series that clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously and it really looks like it will be a lot of fun.
DD Fist of the North Star: I should be said that I am a long time Fist of the North Star fan. Admittedly I thought it was a bizarre choice to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this legendary anime series with a super-deformed comedy but it seems to be a series for North Star fans by North Star fans. There looks to be a lot of references and humour based upon the series that fans will only pick up on. Based on that it may not be the easiest series to recommend to people not initiated with the Fist of the North Star franchise. Fans of Fist of the North Star should get a real kick out of it though. The series follows the cast of Fist of the North Star in 21st Century Japan with Kenshiro owning a Convenience Store and telling people ‘You have already been served’. Colour me a fanboy but I’m sold.
Honorable Mentions:Little Battlers Wars, Aku no Hana and Devil Survivor 2: The Animation
