Posted by Tim Sheehy on Mar 17, 2011 in Videogames
Both Capcom and Sega have announced plans to donate a portion of their profits to disaster relief efforts in Japan. For the rest of the week through Monday, Capcom has discounted the iOS version of Street Fighter 4 to just $0.99, and will donate all sales — this is in addition to the 100 million yen they’ve already contributed. Sega has also discounted all theirSonic the Hedgehog iOS titles, along with their Football Manager 2011 app, and are likewise offering all proceeds to disaster relief through Tuesday. For their part, Sega has already contributed 200 million yen to the Red Cross.
A remake of the arcade classic, Double Dragon, hit the app store last week. Brizo Interactive teamed up with Aksys Games to revive the license from the grave with fresh graphics, revamped gameplay and a remastered soundtrack. I had a chance to sit down and give it try and while the touch controls can be difficult to master, especially with the newly added move-sets, but otherwise it plays well. Unfortunately, I still find myself asking why they couldn’t just post the title to Xbox Live!, Playstation Network, or Wiiware for that matter. It’s a fantastic remake, but it’d be nice to have an actual controller. The app’s current price of $3.99 is a limited time offer. I can’t imagine them pricing it much higher, though. Still, if you loved the original, you’ll definitely want this app.
A while back I came across an interesting iPhone app called Bijin Tokei. I had no idea what it was at first, but I knew enough Japanese to figure out it had something to do with beautiful girls. That said, I didn’t know what to expect, especially considering Apple keeps their app store relatively clean. Turns out it’s simply a clock app that simply displays pictures of beautiful Japanese girls holding up the time. I can’t say my mind was blown, but I have to admit it’s entertaing enough to keep me coming back and tame enough to not feel creepy. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 31, 2011 in Comic Books, Tech
Kondansha’s Morning 2 Manga magazine will be released in a digital version for both the iPhone/iPad and Android devices. What’s shown in the illustration is just a mock up, but what’s interesting to me is that this looks to be a larger part of the book industry flocking to mobile. Of course my hopes are that Kondansha will start to directly sell translated manga to the American market directly in this way, but that may take some time. In the meantime you can download the app here (which is in Japanese).
I’m kidding, actually. I use my iPad all the time — I just wish it was more than a glorified ebook reader. Sure, I have a few apps that I use all the time, but aside from watching videos on services like Hulu, Netflix, or streamed over my Air Video server, reading books and playing a few games pretty much covers it. I’m not sure Apple will ever add functionality for the device – at least, not this generation – so I’ll take my added functionality wherever I can get it. In this case, it comes in the form of an HDMI adapter.
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Dec 21, 2010 in Videogames
Okay, so I’m not really sure it ever was a secret to begin with, but it sure seemed that way. Back in June, Square Enix showed off a small set of upcoming titles for Apple’s iOS devices and for whatever reason, almost nobody took note. It could be because, at the time, Apple had yet to make a signifigant impact in the portable gaming market. Regardless, that didn’t stop Square Enix from pushing forward with some notable classics. The first of which, Secret of Mana, finally hit the App store last week. The port largely stays true to the original, while featuring slightly updated graphics and new artwork. It’s currently priced at $8.99. The soundtrack is also available on iTunes for 25% off until January 5th. No word on when to expect any of the other titles they showed off at E3, but personally I’m still looking forward to their upcoming port of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions.Read more…
Those of you with an iDevice may have noticed the recently released update for your iBooks app. Apple pushed their 1.2 update on the 15th, allowing users to view fully-illustrated children’s books, cook books, reference guides, and more. Personally, I can’t wait to download some photography books, though I imagine they’ll probably take up signifigantly more space on my hard drive — a small price to pay, or is it? Read more…
I know all the “cool kids” these days watch Naruto and Bleach, but there are still some of you out there who really appreciate Dragon Ball and Akira Toriyama’s legacy. It seems like it’s been forever, but I can remember a time when obtaining your favorite anime required you to order your fan subs on VHS, and prior to being properly licensed, Dragon Ball was one of those series I scoured the net for. When FUNimation decided to bring over the recently released Dragon Ball Kai, the remastered, filler-free version of the hit series Dragon Ball Z, I was pretty stoked. Read more…
Posted by Tim Sheehy on Nov 10, 2010 in Tech, Videogames
Hasbro is reportedly developing an accessory that allows users to experience immersive 3D using Apple’s iDevices. The product, known as My3D, requires what the use of binoculars which attach to your iPhone or iPod, allowing you to simulate 3D. Under normal circumstances I’d post the image of the My3D accessory that’s been floating around the net, but seeing as it belongs to AP, who have been more litigious than normal as of late, you’ll have to settle for this lovely image of Nintendo’s Virtual Boy.
I imagine the first thought that’s probably running through most people’s heads would be “what’s wrong with that NES controller?” Well, good call. This slick little iPhone 4 case is actually modeled after a Japanese Famicom controller, hence the red and gold color scheme. Personally, I liked it but I wouldn’t dare question Nintendo’s decision-making process to rebrand their product stateside — it was only the best selling console of that era. Still, this design should speak to you, and if the classic d-pad or button layout aren’t enough, the fact that it’s an import might sweeten the pot in terms of nerd-cred. You can order them through geekstuff4u.com, but you’ll want to note that these are imported and will probably cost you a bit.
