In case you were wondering who was buying Nintendo’s consoles and games and who wasn’t then at GDC Nintendo just revealed a little bit of information regarding this. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata began the Nintendo GDC presentation today with some statistics about the US gaming growth the company has seen since November 2007 until October 2010.
According to their studies they have seen continuous growth over the years with people using their consoles with an increasing decline in “sleeping users” which means people who own their systems but don’t actually use them at all. He went on to describe this bar graph by saying that there are at least 201 million users in the latest version. His statistics also included the fact that the female market for gaming has exploded compared to the male market, and that gamers game less as they grow older. Or maybe they moved on to more elaborate consoles.
As we previously mentioned in this weeks podcast, the team here at Capsule Computers are all greatly disappointed in the banning of the latest title in the Mortal Kombat franchise down under. However some unexpected good has come out of the situation, bringing an age-old issue into the light all over the country, as well as all over the globe. The ratings system here in Australia is unfair and outdated, a relic of the ancient past. While Warner Brothers are seeking an appeal and doing their best to get the game down here, many have realised we shouldn’t have to miss out on great games like Postal 2 (2003), Manhunt(2003) and Mortal Kombat (2011) or settle for censored games such as Left 4 Dead 2(2009) and The Getaway(2002). We deserve the right to play the same game many other countries have worldwide and unfairly have to stick with censored content.
You see the problem is video games down here are still not respected as a form of art a such as paintings and film, but rather seen as children’s toys, games like Monopoly and Scrabble which should be fun for the whole family. The classification board needs to understand that there is a large mature audience for this material and we deserve the right to this content.
Founder/Director of Capsule Computers Phillp Federico aka: MasterAbbott on this weeks Capsule Computers Podcast spoke on the subject:
Hopefully we can get this R18+ thing happening, because in my opinion it is the most logical way of doing things…There’s a big sign when you walk into a bar that says ‘we’re not allowed to serve drinks to minors who are not over 18. If you are, or whatever, we would like to see ID first. If you don’t show us ID and we serve you a drink, we will cop a fine!’ Now how hard is it to do something like that? Just go into Gamestop, go into EB Games, go anywhere, big sign there that says ’18+, blah blah blah if you wanna buy this game, you gotta show us your ID, are you over 18? There you go. Buy the game walk away’….and that’s what I think we should be doing, and I think hopefully fingers crossed I would pray in the next year this will happen and everyone will live happily ever after.
All over the internet many gamers are expressing similar views as well. Even if Mortal Kombat does make it to Australian shores, how long will it be till the next game is threatened? Gamers, we must rally together and fight for this cause. There is the official Capsule Computers petition below for everyone worldwide to sign to fight for the respect mature video games deserve.
Sign the petition here and help us influence video game history. Tweet the link and post it as your facebook status, together we can help make a change for the future of video games down under.
PLEASE NOTE: When signing the petition, please DO NOT swear, it’ll only weaken our argument and damage it. In order for this to be effective, we need to PROVE that mature video gamers are in fact mature and are respectable and intelligent individuals, worthy and deserving of having this ban lifted. Thank you all, and please tell your friends to help us fight for this nobel cause!
Those people that love Wolverine and Anime, like me, are definitely in luck. Here is the wonderful and new Wolverine anime made by Madhouse! This amazing new anime follows the story line of Logan, aka Wolverine, falling in love with a Japanese woman called Mariko Yashida, who he later figures out is the daughter of the Japanese crime lord. This story was one that was popular within the comic series and I can’t wait to see how it turns out in its anime form.
Just by watching the trailer I’m already amused by the style and excited at the whole prospect of Wolverine in the modern Toyko. I hope this new anime will show just how awesome Wolverine can be in anime.
Strategic Command World War One 1914-1918, developed by Fury Software, was released earlier today and accompanying this release comes two demonstration versions of the game.
The first demonstration version includes three campaigns and is trial-able for a three-month period (only through August to October apparently), whereas the second demo is one mini campaign which also has a map editor included. There is a multiplayer version in the full game, but, is locked out in the demo version.
Hardware/Software Requirements
CPU: 1 GHz Processor or better
RAM: 512 MB or more
OS: Windows XP/Vista/7
DirectX: 7 or higher
Video Card: 128 MB with 32-Bit Color supporting at least 1024 pixels in height and 768 pixels in width, or better
Sound Card: 16-Bit DirectSound compatible
CD-ROM: 8x or better (not needed for download version)
HD: 1.2 GB free Hard Disk space
The game is available for purchase now at digital and physical versions for ~$45 and ~$55 USD.
Remember quite a while back when we brought you news on Panasonic’s new MMO handheld by the name of the Jungle? Well, since announcement we have literally heard nothing more from the company on the new device, and now in an extremely brief statement, it appears that MMO gamers will just be staying home.
Here is the only statement that has been released on this not so shocking cancellation:
“Panasonic decided to suspend further development due to changes in the market and in our own strategic direction,”
I really respect that Panasonic tried to to something different with The Jungle, but lets face it, there was no market audience for the system to start with. Getting a MMO gamer to use a handheld to play on would be like getting a baseball player to not use a glove to catch a ball with. It just wouldn’t feel or perform the same. If Panasonic want to return to the system market, I would welcome them if the idea was right, but for now the Jungle is yet another failed technology that the world was not ready for.
Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2 Produced by: Zexcs, Kadokawa Pictures Licensed by: NIS America Contents: 2 DVDs containing episodes 13-24, Bonus Feature DVD, Premium Edition Box and Art Book Language: Japanese with English subtitles Official Website:Our Home’s Fox Deity Price: $44.99-47.99 Available for purchase at:NIS America’s Online Store, Anime Castle, Right Stuf, and The Anime Corner Store
Overview:
It is hard enough to be a normal high school and middle school student in the world, but what if you have something different about you that cause different yōkai to attack you randomly? Plus the fact that you are being protected by an yōkai fox named Kūgen. Brought to you from overseas by the good folks at NIS America we have the conclusion to Our Home’s Fox Deity with Volume 2. Does Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2 provide a satisfying conclusion to this slice of life comedy/action?
Graphics:
Viewers are greeted with very vibrant and rich colors the moment the opening for the anime plays. This continues throughout the entirety of the anime and every episode contains this vibrant color palette which is certainly a nice touch for the fighting scenes. During these fighting scenes I also noticed that the quality of animation does suffer occasionally due to the amount of action that was occurring on the screen at some points in time.
The characters themselves, barring Kuu (Kūgen) herself, fall into your standard character design archetypes and you may find yourself thinking that you have seen these exact same characters before. Sure they all look great but they also fall into your stereotypical slice of life style. Thankfully Kuu and her antics help to break up the relatively standard character designs as she flips between her male and female form quite often depending on the situation.
The opening and ending for Our Home’s Fox Deity are quite nice to look at as well. The opening sequence does exactly what you would expect an opening sequence to do, show every character in the anime, but it does so with a very unique method of introduction which is hard to do considering many anime openings re-use the same sequences again and again. The first ending that you are shown is rather plain as it shows Kō standing in a field and seeing mirages of the Takagami brothers and Kuu in the sky, while the second ending takes an entirely different approach. At the beginning it uses a darker color palette and more serious looking art but quickly reverts back into a brightly colored chibi-character ending that is quite enjoyable to see.
Audio & Subtitles:
The voicework done by the voice actors in Our Home’s Fox Deity brings the characters to life and definitely helps make evident their personalities, whether it be Kuu’s gender swapping voice actors matching her/his reckless personality or Tōru’s gentle personality being further evidenced thanks to the great work done by his voice actor which is ironically a woman. I also found that the ease in which the voice actors blended the gender change from Kuu’s female form to male form and vice versa was extremely well done given the uniqueness of the situation.
The music that is played throughout the anime is some of the best that you can find. Or at least it is because of the way that it blends so well with the events happening on screen that it sounds as good as it does. There are a number of times that the background music helps draw out and emphasize the emotions occurring in a scene.
As for the subtitles they are your standard white text and will appear on the bottom of the screen in the black area on widescreen televisions. The coloration is unobtrusive and easy to read and I experienced no translation errors or spelling errors despite the large amount of dialogue that is spoken in the series. The opening and ending are also fully translated and subbed with the same care as the rest of the anime.
Story:
Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2 helps avoid a transitionary problem between Volume 1 and Volume 2 by having the first episode by having episode 13 feature mostly comedic moments at Noboru’s high school. At the end of this episode however we are introduced to an unknown woman who appears in a box that was shipped to Toru. The delivery “man” was very unusual which already means that strange things are in store for the Takagami brothers. Shiro, is wrapped head to toe in magical white bindings and it appears that a lesser demon clan of Oni have set their sights on the girl and her powers. Even if it means putting the Takagami brothers in life threatening danger. This story arc is a very serious introduction and can be very heart wrenching due to the fact that Shiro and Toru form a very strong bond with one another, only to have them separated by the Oni.
After the Shiro arc we are introduced to the story arc involving Werewolves. After Noboru stumbles upon what he believes to be a trail of clothes he is knocked unconscious by a large shining beat. Shortly afterwards rumors circulate around his school that there could be werewolves running around. While everyone may dismiss this as fantasy, Noboru and Kuu know otherwise and this is proven after Noboru is blatantly attacked by one. The werewolf arc itself is unfortunately quite short and only lasts for two episodes and feels rushed without as much action as one would expect in a fight against a fox yōkai and werewolves. On the other hand the ending to the arc does wrap everything up nicely and provide a happy ending for all involved, especially the shining beast in the beginning.
The rest cannot be said however with the overall ending to the anime. There are numerous plot threads that were left to fall by the wayside such as Gyokuyo and problems involving Noboru and his friend Misaki. On the other hand there are plenty of standalone episodes that don’t carry any continuing storyline other than the troubles of living in a household with a sentinel who only knows about combat and a mischievous ancient fox yōkai. Despite the lack of a continuing story, these standalone episodes provided the most laughs of the series and signified what Our Home’s Fox Deity is best at, slice of life comedy with some action and magic thrown in on the side.
Premium Edition:
Our Home’s Fox Deity comes in a hard oversized pink collector’s box that on one side shows Kuu and Gyokuyo in their female forms wearing a school uniform and a shrine outfit respectively while the other side features the majority of the cast. This includes both Takagami brothers, Kuu and Gyokuyo still in female form, Kō, Mubyou and a tiny fox kit. Unfortunately there was a printing issue according to NIS America and the pictures on the box are slightly blurred and pixelated which means that the quality of the picture is low. NIS America has recognized this issue and is willing to send out proper hardcover boxes with the clear crisp art they are known for which you can fill out for here.
Inside the collector’s box are two slim DVD cases and the hardcover art book that is the same size as the box itself. On the second disc contains four commercials for the anime that were aired on Japanese TV as well as a clean non-credit scrolling version of the second ending theme to the series. There is a third DVD included in the second case that contains all of the other bonus content that was included with Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2. This third disc contains twelve separate bits of live footage involving the voice actors and actresses from Japan. It is a very nice addition to the Premium Edition and will certainly keep you entertained once you’ve finished watching the end of the series.
Finally the coup de grâce of the Premium Edition, the hardcover art book. The book itself is titled the Takagami Family Album and this is for good reason considering the fact that the latter half of the book features nine or more different screenshots from every episode in the series and they are placed on the page as if someone took photos and pasted them into their own scrapbook which provides a unique touch. Other than that the art book also contains different pieces of artwork from various publications in Japan and introductions to new characters that will be appearing in this volume.
Overall:
Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2 provides all of the laughs and slice of life style that fans of those genres will love and even some action thrown in the middle. Despite a great set up, there are many different plot threads that are left unsolved but this can be somewhat remedied by the knowledge that the Light Novels that the story is based off of is still being written today. With a relatively affordable price tag and plenty of extra bonuses this can easily be a nice addition to your anime collection and help round out your Fox Deity series.
I give Our Home’s Fox Deity Volume 2 Premium Edition:
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If you have been following our Top Spin 4 coverage, you should know by now that this little tennis title is shaping up to be big. For those who are craving to get their tennis game fix, you are now in luck because as of today, Top Spin 4 and 2K’s other upcoming title, Major League Baseball 2K11 now have demos up on the Xbox Live Marketplace two weeks ahead of the March 18th release.
The Top Spin 4 demo includes four playable characters, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Ana Ivanovic and Serena Williams which can be used at the US or French Open in a tie-break match to seven points. The demo will also let players fully experience all the brand new features the game has to offer, with the new TV broadcast presentation which will bring matches to life with varied crowd reactions as well as more dynamic camera angles thrown in, to let the player get a full taste of what is to come.
As for Major League Baseball 2K11, players will get to experience the 2010 World Series by playing a 3-inning game as either the San Francisco Giants or Texas Rangers at AT&T Park in San Francisco in the demo which should also be a great preview for those wanting to know just how the game plays out.
Both demos are out now on the XBLA, ready for download and for PS3 users, Top Spin 4’s demo will be available March 3rd.
Six brand new screenshots have been revealed for the inbound LEGO title, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game. The new images are from Pelegosto and Dutchman Key, two levels that players will be able to interact with which re-create key moments from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. You will probably recognise some of the memorable scenes re-lived in LEGO from the screens, such as when Jack Sparrow – or should I say Captain Jack Sparrow – is covered in face paint.
You will also be able to play through levels from the new movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides too, as well as all the other levels onwards from the game’s multi-platform release on 12th May 2011. Take a look at the latest screens below:
Looks like videogames have enough pull now to pull in star actresses because Bethesda has just announced that Lucy Lawless will be voicing the character of Seraphine in their upcoming dungeon crawler Hunted: The Demon’s Forge. Fans of the Xena: Warrior Princess series and Spartacus: Gods of the Arena should instantly be able to recognize the name due to her playing a major role in both series.
Lucy Lawless’s character Seraphine will be playing an ex-adventurer who has become a temptress now. With the influence of the Demon Forge she becomes a spirit guide that brings Caddoc and E’lara deep into the dark and twisted depths of the world by promising them great riches. Hunted: The Demon’s Forge will be coming out on June 1st for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC so you will know just how and when you can enter the intense dungeons of The Demon’s Forge.
