SGcafe Anime News For Otaku Jun 2013 Issue by VR Media Pte. Ltd.

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Shoko Nakagawa to perform in large-scale Hong Kong anime event ‘ACG 2013′ in July Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/shoko-nakagawa-perform-largescale-hong-kong-anime-event-acg-2013-july/ By Az on June 1st, 2013

Nakagawa in ACG 2009 Shokotan will be going to Hong Kong on July. She will be performing in large-scale anime event ACG Hong Kong 2013. ACG stands for Anime-Comic-Game.

ACG 2009 It has been four years since Shokotan last performed in ACG and a year since she performed in Hong Kong as part of her successful Asia tour. ACG 2013 is an event that spans five days – from July 26 to 31. Shokotan’s performance is scheduled for the first day, July 26. But that’s not all, as she will be in the live house KITEC Music Zone on July 28 for the live event “Shoko Nakagawa GIZA☆HONKONG☆ 1

June 1st, 2013

Looking forward to meeting you☆”. There are no details on the ticketing for both events yet, so stay tuned for updates. Shokotan will also be releasing her latest single, “Zoku Konton” on July 5. With the guitarist ROLLY as her guest, she talked about the single in her regular Nico Nico Live show, “Shokotan no wo” and the happenings behind the making of its jacket, including being a black ribbon mummy.

source: natalie

Gintama the Movie: Final Chapter ~Be Forever, Yorozuya~ full trailer is up! Featuring a cool Shinpachi and Kagura

Published by: VR-Zone

The full trailer for Gintama the Movie: Final Chapter ~Be Forever, Yoruzuya~, with an original story penned by Sorachi Hideaki himself, has been revealed to the public just a few hours ago today, June 1. The trailer features a very different Shinpachi and Kagura. The visual for future Shinpachi and Kagura has already been revealed in the visual release, but the trailer shows that not only their looks, but also their attitude has changed – much to the shock of Gintoki. Shinpachi charges and mows down a group of thugs, donning Gintoki’s famous Lake Touya sword. “Saying you’re on par with the Yoruzuya… Being this weak, aren’t you a hundred years too early for that?”says Kagura, now all grown up and beautiful, wearing a China dress – this time with a Gintoki-design. Backing them up is an aggressive looking Sadaharu. It seems that by a strange power, Gintoki has been thrown to a futuristic Edo – one where he does not exist anymore. Gintoki is shocked at the sight of a once thriving city now crumbling and could not believe how his companions have become: a badass Shinpachi and Kagura succeeding the Yorozuya, their old home now empty with the signboard fallen off, a uniformless Shinsengumi, and many more. You could also hear the theme song, SPYAIR’s “Genjou DESTRUCTION”, in the background. “The only one who could finish me off… Is me, and me alone.” says Gintoki in the final seconds of the trailer.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gintama-movie-final-chapter-beyoruzuya-full-trailer-up-featuring-cool-shinpachi-kagura/ By Az on June 1st, 2013

As said in the previous article, this will be the finisher to all Gintama anime and movies, and will be on theaters starting July 6. Sure, Gintama has trolled all of us about ending a couple of times before, but this time, it looks like it’s ending for real. Live on forever, Yorozuya! Source: natalie

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Preview of Asami Imai’s music video ‘Hoshikuzu no Ring’ now live Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/preview-asami-imais-music-videohoshikuzu-ring-live/ By SunSoftware on June 1st, 2013

As you can tell by the title, the OVA is quite heavy. Accordingly, Imai’s music video is deep and mournful, with dramatic opera vocals and piano parts. See for yourself with the preview below. The single will be available in a DVD edition that includes the full music video and a making-of video, so if you were impressed by the preview, you should get this edition for 2,310 yen. The normal edition without the DVD costs 1,680 yen. Along with Hoshikuzu no Ring, the single will include Tender is the Night, the ending theme of 5pb.’s upcoming PS3 and Xbox 360 game Disorder 6. The full tracklist of the single is as follows: 1. Hoshikuzu no Ring 2. Tender is the Night 3. Rojiura no Planetarium 4. Hoshikuzu no Ring (off vocal) 5. Tender is the Night (off vocal) 6. Rojiura no Planetarium (off vocal) The voice actress of Chihaya Kisaragi and Noire is releasing her next single this month, and you can hear a 3-minute preview of her dramatic ballad right here. Video game fans should recognize Asami Imai for her role as the idol Chihaya from The Idolm@ster, followed by Kurisu from Steins;Gate and Noire from Hyperdimension Neptunia. Recently, she also held her birthday concerts in Shinjuku on May 25 and 26. Asami Imai’s eleventh single, Hoshikuzu no Ring, will be released on June 26. The song will be used as the opening theme of the anime Corpse Party: Tortured Souls — The Cursed Screams of the Tyrannized Souls, which will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on July 24.

For more of Imai coming this summer, check out the anime adaptation of Hyperdimension Neptunia and the PS Vita game Hyperdimension Idol Neptunia PP. Source: Famitsu

1/8 Takanashi Rikka by Kyoto Animation and Bandai Armor Girls Project Tobiichi Origami announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/18-takanashi-rikka-kyoto-animationbandai-armor-girls-project-tobiichi-origami-announced/ By spartanchef on June 1st, 2013

Kyoto Animation announced in their website that they will be releasing a 1/8 scale figure of the very cute “Evil Eye” Takanashi Rikka! The 1/8 PVC figure is produced by Kojima Shou and because she is kneeling, the figure only stands about 12 cm. The Rikka figure is in a kneeling pose with her 3

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

signature eyepatch and holding a pistol and her umbrella strapped in a holster in her left thigh. A perfect must-have for all them “Chuuni” fans

Meanwhile, Bandai has announced that the latest addition to their Armor Girls Project (AGP) line will be Date-A-Live’s Tobiichi Origami!

This figure is made of PVC and ABC and stands about 140 mm. Like all figures under the AGP line, this figure is completely posable. She comes with her own flight pack as well as an array of spirit-fighting weaponry. All weaponry are removable. This figure is set for release September 2013 and costs about 7140 Yen. 4

June 1st, 2013

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Eevee and Friends Happy Party Time adds merchandise to Pokemon Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 15th anniversary Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/eevee-friends-happy-party-timeadds-merchandise-pokemon-centers-15th-anniversary/

June 1st, 2013 By Zenko on May 31st, 2013

With a month of school holidays and their fifteenth anniversary in full swing, the Pokemon Center has new Eevee merchandise to offer. Fifteen years of the Pokemon Center means fifteen years of Eevee merchandise as well, and to help celebrate Sylveon (Ninfia) has come along for the ride. Previously, the only goods available as part of the fifteenth anniversary were those you could win through lottery. One chance at this meant having to spend 3500 yen or more, with the lowest prize being a sticker sheet.

Published by: VR-Zone

Keychains and pins with the English translation of the event (Eevee and Friends: Happy Party Time!):

And of course any stationary you can imagine putting these happy Pokemon on to return to school in style:

Mobile accessories will also be available so you can take Eevee and his friends anywhere you are.

Starting June 1, though, customers will be able to pick up their own Eevee merchandise to celebrate. Merchandise includes canvas carrying bags for bottles and make-up (or even pencils)…

If your meal needs a little Eevee love as well, there are tumblers, coasters and bowls available too.

T-shirts…

Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the Pokemon Center in person as the Amazon branch will have the merchandise starting June 7. Source: Famitsu

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Yukari Tamura takes on donut-cats in ‘Donyatsu’! Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yukari-tamura-takes-donut-catsdonyatsu/ By KaleNagasaki on May 31st, 2013

In the crazy and fantastical story about a post-apocalyptic Tokyo, donut-cats have even taken over beloved voice actor Yukari Tamura. In the short series Donyatsu, Yukari Tamura will play the main character, or should I say cat (or maybe donut-cat), Donyatsu. Yukari Tamura is best known for her roles in Muromi-san (Muromi-san), Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (Nanoha Takamachi), Gintama (Saki Hanano), and Kuroshitsuji (Elizabeth Midford). This year in particular seems to be a busy one for Yukari Tamura. Not only will she be the voice of Donyatsu, but she is also lending her voice to Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai (Kanako Kurusu) and Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru (Masuzu Natsukawa).

Yukari Tamura’s beautiful voice has been capturing audiences since 1997. If you are unfamiliar with her songs, a great place to start would be her singles that were featured as the ending themes to the Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha series. These include “Little Wish ~lyrical step~”, “Spiritual Garden”, “Hoshizora no Spica”, and “Beautiful Amulet”. Other cast members for Donyatsu include Keiji Fujiwara (Blue Exorcist‘s Shiro), who will play the bagel-cat Begaru, Junji Majima (Ore no Imōto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga Nai‘s Kohei Akagi, and Hunter x Hunter‘s Leorio), who will voice the cougar-like cat Baumcougar, and Saori Hayami (Zettai Bōei Leviathan‘s Leviathan), who will voice the bearlike cat Kumacaron. Donyatsu was originally a manga illustrated by Yusuke Kozaki that was featured in Square Enix’s Young Gangan in 2011. The approximately two minute anime shorts will be directed by Mankyu, the lovely genius that brought us Tono to Issho. Starting on June 1st, Donyatsu will run before feature films in T-Joy theaters, with a new short released every month.

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Were you surprised when a game based on the anime and light novel series OreImo was announced for the PS3? Well, this isn’t a visual novel like the PSP games — this is the OreImo version of the Idolm@ster.

Check out the newly released ending below, sung by Hikari Shinna.

Previously, we discovered in Dengeki PlayStation that Ore no Imouto ga Konnani Kawaii Wake ga Nai Happy End will feature five girls who, for some reason, decide to take over the idol world (isn’t there another idol game coming out?). Those five girls are the little sister Kirino, goth loli cosplayer Kuroneko, deceptively refined yandere Ayase, small and arrogant Kanako, and the normal Minami.

Source: Crunchyroll

‘OreImo Happy End’ turns your little sisters into idols Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/oreimo-happy-lets-manage-idols/ By SunSoftware on May 31st, 2013

As the hero of the anime, Kyousuke, you work as the budding idols’ lucky manager. Why they want him to manage, we have no clue.

Ore ga maneejaa ni naru wake ga nai! (I can’t become a manager!) One of your jobs is to man the camera in photo sessions. This mode takes advantage of the PS3′s graphics engine to make the girls look better than ever before in 3D. You get to decide their costumes and environments, so you can make them 8

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

look as charming as possible. However, if you try to take any weird photos, the girls will get mad — and as OreImo fans know, it’s not good to make them mad.

Each girl will also have her own website, where you can read her blog entries, write replies, give them life counseling, and upload pictures from your photo sessions. By coordinating the content on the site, you’ll strive to get as much page views as possible.

We don’t have any details on other parts of the game, but Bandai Namco has listed some information on the limited edition HD Complete Box. The info they’ve given isn’t very specific, but along with the game, the package will include: • A box with a specially illustrated cover • An booklet containing 2D scenes from the game • An audio CD • A movie Blu-ray Disc • Other unrevealed content

The limited edition will cost 10,980 yen, and the normal edition will cost 7,480 yen. Both editions will be released on September 26. Are you excited to turn your little sisters into idols this fall? Source: Dengeki

Of course, in between jobs, you’ll get to talk to the idols through cutscenes. In the scenes below, Kirino is in a bad mood and Ayase is threatening to kill you, but those shots would get a lot of page views.

Swimming anime ‘Free!’ has new trailer, Haruka version Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/swimming-anime-free-trailerharuka-version/

June 1st, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

By SunSoftware on May 31st, 2013

By Az on May 31st, 2013

Animation Do’s sexy swimming anime is coming this summer, but to whet our appetites, they’ve given out a trailer featuring the cool-headed hero and even a glimpse of his muscular chest.Free! is the next anime coming from Animation Do, the division of Kyoto Animation responsible for hits like K-ON! and Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai. The anime was first teased in March in a commercial featuring a lot of manly pectorals, earning it the nickname “that sexy swimming commercial”.

AKB48 continues to set and break records in the Oricon charts for the number of copies sold with their latest single, “Sayonara Crawl”.

The story begins with a boy named Haruka Nanase who leads an uneventful high school life until his old friend Rin challenges him to a swimming match and utterly creams him. Ignited by a renewed passion, Haruka and Rin gather their childhood friends, who won a swimming tournament together in elementary school, and form their high school’s swimming club. In this new 60-second trailer, we get to hear some lines by Haruka, voiced by Nobunaga Shimazaki (Itsuka from Date A Live, Taichi from Tari Tari). Also, those of you who are lucky enough to live in Japan have a chance to watch the first episode of Free! at an advance screening and talk session with the cast on June 26 in Chiyoda’s Marunouchi Piccadilly 3. For more information, check the anime’s official website. The rest of us will have to wait until July to see more of Haruka’s chest. KyoAni will probably reveal four more trailers for the rest of the main cast. Who do you want to see? Source: Yaraon

AKB48: Sayonara Crawl sells 1.763 million copies + Senbatsu Elections live broadcast details Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/05/akb48-sayonara-crawl-sells-1-763million-copies-senbatsu-elections-live-broadcast-details/

Sayonara Crawl has already sold approximately 1.763 million copies since its release on May 22 and will appear on the June 3 weekly ranking as the top-selling single for the week. This is AKB48′s thirteenth million seller since 2011′s “Sakura no Ki ni Narou”, putting them on par with rock 10

June 1st, 2013

duo B’z. AKB48 is also now the top female seller of all time in Japan, overtaking Ayumi Hamasaki’s 21.41 million total copies sold with their 21.85 million copies, spear-headed by “Manatsu no Sounds good!”, another election single, which sold 1.82 million. What we can draw from this is that once again, the elections are fierce. Sayonara Crawl is an election single, meaning a copy of it allows for one vote. More than a million votes have yet to be revealed, since the first day counting has only around 350,000 votes, so anything can happen. The reveal of the vote counts and rankings will be on June 8 in Nissan Stadium, Yokohama.

Published by: VR-Zone

Nintendo Direct Japan May 31: Monster Hunter 4 set for September 14 release w/ 3DS bundle Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/05/nintendo-direct-japan-31-monsterhunter-4/ By KarbyP on May 31st, 2013

Which brings us to the viewing of the event itself. For those who have access to Japanese TV, you can tune in to Fuji Television on the night of the event as they have monopolized the TV broadcast of the event again this year. The show will be four hours and forty minutes long, one with the atmosphere of a real election – one that is sure to be tense. There will also be a backstage coverage after the reveal of the top member (and after the weather forecast), giving us a glimpse of the heavy emotions that result from this heavy pressure AKB48 tradition. There is no word yet if Google+ or YouTube will livestream the event, but if the same broadcast system continues from last year, they probably will – and with live translators too, so watch out for that.

Capcom has announced a new confirmed release date for its highly-anticipated 3DS multiplayer action title in Japan, Monster Hunter 4 for the 3DS. Members to look out for: (from left) Yuko Oshima, Mayu Watanabe, Rino Sashihara A total of 246 members have filed their candidacy for the elections, more than half of which are members of the sister groups SKE, NMB, HKT, JKT, and SNH. Aces from all of the groups are looking for a spot in the senbatsu, making 16 members seem a little too small for all the favorites. Fuji TV’s AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo coverage is on June 8 (Saturday), starting 6:00 PM and ends 10:40 PM (JST). Will AKB48′s reigning queen Yuko be the first to claim the top twice? Or will CG idol Mayuyu usher in a new generation as she claims rank 1? Maybe first day counting top one Sashiko will stay on top?

The game will retail for 5,990 yen when it hits video game stores in Japan on September 14, which is a Saturday (and quite rare for Japanese video game releases). This date also happens to be just one week before Tokyo Game Show kicks off in Japan. For gamers who do not yet have a 3DS, or Monster Hunter fans who must have everything, Nintendo and Capcom are also collaborating on two special limited edition 3DS bundles: “Goa Magara Black” and “Airu White” designs. No price was announced for either limited edition SKU, but both were said to be available only in short supply.

No one knows. So for the love of your oshi, don’t miss it. source: Oricon (1)(2)

A new trailer for Monster Hunter 4 was also shown today. We’ve embedded the full Nintendo Direct Japan broadcast 11

June 1st, 2013

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below; the Monster Hunter 4 trailer runs from 14:04 till the end of the video. That said, some of you might want to watch from the 07:50 mark onwards. That’s when the Monster Hunter 4 bit in the broadcast comes on. The game’s producer, Ryozo Tsujimoto, briefly summarises some of the new additions that the developer has made to the highly-anticipated 3DS title – two new weapons, a bevy of new monsters to hunt, and more.

June 3rd, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Gintama the Movie: Final Chapter ~Be Forever, Yorozuya~ visuals for the Shinsengumi and Katsura released Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gintama-movie-final-chapter-beforever-yorozuya-visuals-shinsengumi-katsura-released/ By Az on June 3rd, 2013

The previous visuals showed us an adult Shinpachi and Kagura, donning Gintoki’s mementos and the full trailer showed us how badass they have become. The once idollover is now a skilled warrior, shown in his fearless charging towards a group of thugs. Sukonbu-musume is now a beautiful lady, now with a fouler mouth and still in constant quarrel with Shinpachi. But what of the others? As we all know, Gintama is not only about the Yorozuya trio, but each and every one. We were only given glimpses of the other characters in the full trailer, but fret not as full visuals for them have been released.

New visuals for “Gintama the Movie: Final Chapter ~Be Forever, Yorozuya~” has just been released. This time, it’s for the Shinsengumi and Katsura.

June 3rd, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Sougo Okita. Shinsengumi’s most popular member and one with intentions to overthrow his superior officer, Hijikata. A powerful swordsman and Gintama’s strongest sadist. He completely does away with his uniform (don’t know about the bazooka though, could be hidden somewhere) and looks as if he stepped out from another samurai manga with his wanderer style.

Toshirou Hijikata. The infamous demonic vice-chief and natural mayonnaise glutton. Seen most of the time leading the Shinsengumi in the absence of Kondo and spearheading the movement against the Jouishishi. Future Hijikata completely does away with the Shinsengumi’s trademark coat and instead puts on a more stylish trench coat. He also looks like he means business this time. Isao Kondou. The captain of the armed police force Shinsengumi. A stalker to the woman he fancies, a gorilla to others. He may be a failure of society, but his nature is one that brings the rowdy Shinsengumi together. In the movie, he is a prisoner for some reason, as exemplified by his ragged look.

Kotarou Katsura. The so-called “Mad Noble” of Edo. Leader of the now underground terrorist group planning to overthrow the shogunate. Daily life includes evading the Shinsengumi. For some reason, future Zura’s style is that of the Kiheitai’s leader, Shunsuke Takasugi. 2

June 3rd, 2013

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Feeling excited yet? “Gintama the Movie: Final Chapter ~Be Forever, Yorozuya~” starts showing in theaters in Japan on July 8. As the title states, this is the final Gintama animation that will be made.

and wakes up in the company of an organization of tarot users called Sefio Fiore. From then on, Akari joins a group of new cadets who train to use their tarots and fight forces of darkness day after day.

source: natalie

Along with the story details, the studio have also revealed some of the supporting characters and their cast members.

More characters revealed for moe fantasy ‘Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou’

Etia Visconti

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/characters-revealed-moe-fantasygenei-wo-kakeru-taiyou/ By SunSoftware on June 3rd, 2013

The commander of the Sefio Fiore’s Nagataki branch. She looks gentle on the outside while hiding a dark secret. She uses the World Tarot and is voiced by Aya Endou (Sheryl from Macross Frontier, Miyuki from Lucky Star).

Ariel Valtiel Westcott The strict and merciless vice commander of Sefio Fiore’s Nagataki branch. She uses the Judgement Tarot and is voiced by Kikuko Inoue (Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess!, Cecile from Code Geass).

Priscilla Twilight A cheerful older sister figure who serves as an upperclassmen for the new cadets. She uses the Fool Tarot and is voiced by Ruriko Aoki (Riina Tada from The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls).

The studio AIC has revealed more information on their upcoming fantasy action anime, including a lot of the curious characters and cast members.Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou (The Sun Penetrates the Illusion) is centered around a girl named Akari who becomes obsessed with tarot cards after her mother, a fortune teller, passes away. One night, Akari is attacked by a monster and awakens a magic power by holding the Sun Tarot. Soon after, Akari falls unconscious 3

June 3rd, 2013

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Meltina Melvis

Hinata Taiyou

A mature and intelligent upperclassman. She uses the Magician Tarot and is voiced by Nao Touyama (Chiho from Hataraku! Maou-sama, Yui from Love Come wa Machigatteiru).

Akariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late mother who was a tarot fortune teller. She is voiced by Aya Hisakawa (Ami from Sailor Moon, Cerberus from Cardcaptor Sakura).

Itsuki/Mutsumi/Nanase Tendo A homunculi trio. They work to detect Daemonia and analyze information. They use the Wheel of Fortune Tarot and are voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki (Natsume from Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun).

Fuyuna Shinzaki Akariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cousin and an honor student who likes to read. She is voiced by Ayane Sakura (Akane from Vividred Operation, Merry from Yumekui Merry).

Laplace/Schrodinger A mysterious crow and cat who understand human speech and serve as watchmen for Sefio Fiore. Laplace is voiced by Chado Horii (movie and TV drama actor), and Schrodinger is voiced by Shiori Izawa (Sodoko from Girls und Panzer).

Mama Nagataki/Lymro/Hanayume Some creepy fortune tellers in Nagataki. Mama Nagataki is voiced by Mao Uchino, Lymro by Minami Takahashi, and Hanayume by Hironori Kondou.

June 3rd, 2013

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Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou will begin airing on July 6. If you’re curious about this bishoujo fantasy, you can see the main heroines, trailer and more information in our previous article. Source: Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou homepage

EA announced a new version of Scrabble and new content for Real Racing 3 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ea-announced-version-scrabble-

An ad-free version of the new SCRABBLE will also be available as a paid download on the App Store SM at S$2.58 (iPhone). The new, localized versions of the SCRABBLE game are now live on the App Store SM, Google Play™ and Facebook worldwide.

content-real-racing-3/ By bj0rN on June 3rd, 2013

Real Racing 3, the biggest racing game for mobile devices, has launched a new content update that features one of the world’s most challenging tracks, brand new cars from Lexus and Dodge, and 50+ new events.

For the first time ever, the SCRABBLE game will be available for Android devices outside of the U.S. and Canada under license from Mattel, and will be rolling out in six languages, including English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese. SCRABBLE fans outside of the U.S and Canada can also look forward to a free-to-download version for Apple devices, as well as a localized Facebook version of the game, which will also be offered in the same six languages. This new version of the game will also add authenticity with the addition of the Collins and Larousse Official word lists. Utilizing the Origin cross-platform functionality in the Apple and Android versions, fans can also now play against their friends and like-minded opponents in the SCRABBLE game across multiple platforms.

Players can now race on the all-new Dubai Autodrome with six different track layouts, challenging players to navigate technically tight corners and heart-pumping straights. Race during the day or experience twilight, while mastering one of the world’s most difficult tracks Four new cars join the extensive lineup, including the prestigious Lexus IS--‐F and Lexus LFA, along with the powerful Dodge Charger SRT8 and Dodge Charger RT. With more than 800 million races completed to date and 16 million races completed each day, players are sure to enjoy 50+ new events added across two series. Including this update, there are now more than 50 cars and 1000+ events available for players in Real Racing 3. The second content update for Real Racing 3 is available now on the App Store and Google Play. To download Real Racing 3 for free, please visit here

Sailor Moon live-action musical all-female cast decided! Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/sailor-moon-live-action-musical-allfemale-cast-decided/

June 3rd, 2013

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By spartanchef on June 3rd, 2013

More than 20 years after the debut of the classic, Sailor Moon, an all-female cast for its stage musical has been announced. The stage musical will run from September 13, 2013 until September 23, 2013 with a break day on September 17. The musical will be held at the AiiA Theater in Tokyo. The play is written and directed by Takuya Hiramitsu with music by Toshihiko Sahashi. The cast is full of new faces as well as a veteran stage actress in Yuga Yamato. Playing the role of Usagi or Sailor Moon will be Satomi Okubo. This will be her debut role.

The role of Rei or Sailor Mars will be played by Kanon Nanaki. She is a magazine model.

The role of Ami or Sailor Mercury will be played by Miyabi Matsura. She was a Junon Girl Grand Prix winner. 6

June 3rd, 2013

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The role of Makoto or Sailor Jupiter will be played by Yu Takahashi. She had a role in Kamen Rider Kiva as Yuri Aso. She also modeled for several magazines.

The role of Minako or Sailor Venus will be played by Shiori Sakata. She appeared in the NHK show “Goldfish club” with the role of Aya. Sailor Moon is one of the most loved Magical Girl (Mahou Shoujo) series of all time. It started its run as a manga in 1991 and was published by Nakayoshi Magazine. Its anime adaptation went on to becoming one of the most popular anime of all time with a total of five seasons. The original manga is written by Naoko Takeuchi and has her work translated into multiple languages and the manga sold millions of copies worldwide. The manga won the Kodansha manga award in 1993. It follows a girl named Usagi who finds a talking cat named Luna. Luna reveals that Usagi’s real identity is Sailor Moon, a magical warrior destined to save the world. Along the way, she meets other “Sailor Senshi” like Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, Chibi-usa and many more. The live-action musical is part of the 20th anniversary celebration.

and finally, the dashing Tuxedo Mask will be portrayed by Yuga Yamato. She is a veteran stage actress having starred in the broadway musical, “Curtains”.

June 3rd, 2013

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The free PSN version will come with only four characters to play with – Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate, and Ryu Hayabusa – and will not come with the contents of the game’s story mode. But otherwise, most of the modes in the full game (all online modes, and all offline modes except Story mode) will be fully accessible. Users on this free version will even be able to play online with gamers who bought the retail version. Although initially only four characters are playable in this freemium version, users will be able to purchase additional fighters at 400 yen per character to play with. The game’s story mode will also be accessible in this freemium version, for the price of 1,500 yen. That’s compared to the 6,090 yen price for the retail version, that will come with access to the story mode and all characters.

Source: Animate

Save files from the original Dead or Alive 5, as well as all DLC purchased for that version, can be carried over to both the full-priced and freemium versions of DOA5U. Of course, you won’t be able to access DLC costumes for characters that are locked in the free version.

Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate to dabble in freemium/free-toplay business model on the PlayStation Network Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/dead-alive-5-ultimate-fre-to-play/ By KarbyP on June 3rd, 2013

This is incredibly generous of Tecmo Koei Games and Team Ninja. It is also, I believe, the first time any fighting games publisher have tried this model, which makes a lot of sense not just for casual fighting game fans, but also for hardcore fighting game enthusiasts like myself who may not be able to commit as much time to playing DOA5U to justify buying a full-priced retail game. If, like me, you only plan to play one or two characters in Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate to begin with, then this essentially means that you can have most of the game’s functionality for the low fee of 400 or 800 yen (US$4 or US$8 respectively). But will the strategy play out well for Tecmo Koei Games? Every customer who downloads the free version of the game is one who did not buy the full-priced retail version, after all. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 comes out September 3, 2013 in the US, September 5 in Japan, and September 6 in Europe.

When Tecmo Koei Games’ Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate hits the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles later this year, several editions for the 3D fighter will be available.

Currently, the freemium version of the game (exclusively on PlayStation Store) has only been announced for the Japanese market. We’ll have to wait and see if Tecmo Koei Games decides to roll out a similar deal for other territories. Source: Famitsu

There’s the standard edition. The limited edition. And, announced today via a Famitsu interview, a freemium/freeto-play edition that will come out on the PlayStation Store day one. 8

June 3rd, 2013

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Genki Rockets vocalist, Rei Yasuda, makes her solo debut with Yamato 2199 ending theme Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/genki-rockets-vocalist-solo-debutyamato-2199-theme/ By Zenko on June 3rd, 2013

Because she fit these qualifications, Rei Yasuda took on the role, but now, at twenty, she is launching her solo career. She will be doing this with her original song Best of My Love for the recent continuation of Yamato 2199.

Rei Yasuda, famous vocalist for Genki Rockets, is kicking off her solo career with the new ending theme for Yamato 2199 this June. Genki Rockets was a big name on the Japanese pop scene in 2006 when their first song Heavenly Star hit YouTube. The song has since appeared in numerous mash-ups on Nico Nico Douga, but not much was known about their lead singer. This is because she was promoted as a future idol and the first human born in outer space, Lumi. However, now that Rei Yasuda is pursuing a solo artiste career, more is being revealed about the voice and face behind the Rockets’ lead singer.

Born in North Carolina, USA, Rei Yasuda moved to Japan when she was only three years old. When she was 13, she passed the test to join the Genki Rockets and entered as a vocalist. When the first single debuted via music video, however, her identity was not revealed. When asked what it was they were looking for in recruiting the key member of their group, Kenji Tamai and Tetsuya Mizuguchi, the brains behind Genki Rockets, responded that they had looked throughout several countries for a lone girl to take the part. They also wanted a voice that would appeal worldwide, and decided the voice of a 13 year old girl would suit their needs better than an adult. They also wanted someone who would not be looking for a solo debut during the course the Genki Rockets were active, so that their entire focus could be on their work in it.

The debut is being handled by Sony Music Entertainment (SME Records) and will be handled in two key ways. Starting June 2, her song will premiere as the ending theme of the 9th episode. Then, starting July 27 and running for two months, she will make plans for fan events. She has said that she will make the best use of her English skills, even in Japan, so that she might reach a global audience. Source: AnimeAnime

Check out cast, character designs, and PV for ‘Makai Oji: Devils and Realists’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/check-cast-character-designs-pvmakai-oji-devils-realists/ By KaleNagasaki on June 2nd, 2013

According to the Makai Oji: Devils and Realists official website, we now know the voice actors and designs for all of the major characters. Takuya Eguchi, who voiced Inu x Boku SS‘s Banri Watanuki and My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU‘s Hachiman Hikigaya, will play the main protagonist, William Twining. The son of a famous aristocrat who lost his money to an investment failure, William does not believe in demons. His name probably comes from the famous literary figure.

June 3rd, 2013

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is a prodigy of sorts at the academy. As you can already tell, there is some fierce competition for the position of substitute king, and William has a tough decision to make.

Takuma Terashima, who was the voice of Agamase Touma in The IDOLM@STER and Yoshifumi Aoki in Kokoro Connect, will play William’s close friend Dantalion. Although he appears as William’s classmate at the academy, Dantalion is actually a demon summoned by William. Dantalion’s job is to stay by William’s side until the young aristocrat chooses a substitute king. This is easier said than done though, since William’s lack of faith in demons proves quite the obstacle.

Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, whose lengthy and impressive resume includes Sword Art Online’s Kirito, will voice Sitori. Despite the feminine appearance, Sitori is a rival of Dantalion as candidate for substitute king. Within academy walls, Sitori becomes seen as a princess-like figure.

Tetsuya Kakihara (Ao no Exorcist‘s Amaimon and Fairy Tail‘s Natsu Dragneel) will voice Camio, another candidate for substitute king. He is half-demon and half-human, and

Getting away from all this talk of demons, Jun Fukuyama (Valrave the Liberator‘s A-drei) will voice the butler of the Twining household, Kevin. Although Kevin had been trying to catch William’s uncle, the reason for the business failure, Kevin now works as a teacher for the academy. He is a fan of gambling, and has some secrets locked away behind his demure smile.

Last but not least, Motoki Takagi (Kamanosuke Yuri in Brave 10) will voice Isaac Morton. Although he is a friend of William’s at school, unlike William, Isaac believes in and knows much about demons. Consequently, he often gets pulled into the battles between the demons over William.

Other voice actors include Kousuke Toriumi as Gilles de Rais, Mitsuki Saiga as Solomon, Yuuki Ono as 10

June 3rd, 2013

Mycroft Swallow, Hiroki Yasumoto as Baphomet, Kazutomi Yamamoto as Amon, and Yuuto Suzuki as Mamon.

Published by: VR-Zone By KarbyP on June 2nd, 2013

Now that you know all of the main characters, check out the promotional video below. I guarantee it will make fangirls squeal! Makai Oji: Devils and Realists was originally a manga by Utako Yukihiro and Madoka Takadono. Chiaki Kon (Junjo Romantica, When They Cry – Higurashi) will direct the anime adaptation. Michiko Yokote, who also worked on Junjo Romantica, will be in charge of series composition. Kikuko Sadakata (Muromi-san, Corpse Princess) will be the chief animation director and character designer. Makai Oji will premier July 7, so stay tuned! Don’t forget to also keep a look out for the opening and ending singles to be released on July 24. Both the opening and ending theme songs, “Believe my Dice” and “A Shadow’s Love Song” respectively, are performed by Takuya Eguchi (William), Takuma Terashima (Dantalion), Yoshitsugu Matsuoka (Sitori), and Tetsuya Kakihara (Camio).

Namco Bandai Games’s general producer for The Idolm@ster series, Yozo Sakagami, appeared as a special guest on Sega’s Samurai & Dragons Fan Meeting 2013 Summer event in Akihabara held earlier today. He was there mostly to talk about the Im@s collaboration card pack that Sega announced today for Samurai & Dragons, which is a pretty big deal if you’re a fan of both The Idolm@ster and Samurai & Dragons. But, you know, Samurai & Dragons isn’t exactly released worldwide (only in Asia and Japan). Plus the two franchises couldn’t be more different from one another. If you’re an Idolm@ster fan, I wouldn’t blame you at all if the collaboration card pack announcement might as well be moot to you. But fortunately, that’s not all Sakagami talked about at Sega’s event. At the tail end of The Idolm@ster X Samurai & Dragons segment, Sakagami once again teased a little about what Im@s fans might be able to look forward to further down the line: a full-fledged Idolm@ster console game release. “This year The Idolm@ster series is reaching its eighth anniversary. We’re working hard to bring the fans more and more things, so for instance we’re doing a [concert] tour in July – well, we’ve done a live tour every year – and this time we’re be starting the tour in July,” Sakagami said. Source: makai-ouji.com, Crunchyroll

The Idolm@ster series general producer: “Look forward to info on a console game release” Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/idolmster-series-general-producerlook-info-console-game-release/

“With The Idolm@ster series, we started service on these social games [which have attracted a lot of attention]… But, like many what many would probably think, we’d also like to to put out the franchise’s next console game release. “We’re currently looking into some ideas on that front, working hard on something that we hope to announce in the near future, so please look forward to that.” Do you think we’ll see The Idolm@ster 3 announced this year? Which platform would you want to see the next Idolm@ster game be on?

June 3rd, 2013

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Samurai & Dragons to launch Idolm@ster, God Eater 2, DOA5U collaboration card packs Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/samurai-dragons-launch-idolmstergod-eater-2-doa5u-collaboration-card-packs/ By KarbyP on June 2nd, 2013

At a “Samurai & Dragons Fan Meeting 2013 Summer” event held today at Akihabara’s UDX Theatre, Sega announced a number of collaborative card packs – featuring game franchises owned by Namco Bandai, Tecmo Koei, and Nihon Falcom Corporation – that would be released at some point during the upcoming “fourth season” service of the PS Vita free-to-play simulation/action/trading card MMO game.

The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki

Note that the collaborative card packs announced today are meant for the Japanese version of the game, and may not necessarily make it into the English and Chinese versions currently playable in Asia (you’ll need an Asian PSN account to access the game). That said, past collaborations with franchises such as Fate/ Stay Night have indeed made it into the Asian version of Samurai & Dragons, albeit on a service date different from the Japanese version. Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate First-print editions of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate in Japan will code with a special Samurai & Dragons contents key that will give players access to an Ayane card.

June 3rd, 2013

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Rather than a specific game, the collaboration here features characters from across the entire The Idolm@ster franchise â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which includes the social game Idolm@ster Million Live.

God Eater 2

The Idolm@ster series

June 3rd, 2013

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performed by Asa-chang and Junrei, Hana -a last flower(yes, it’s the deranged song above). The full tracklist of the CD is as follows: 1. Hana -a last flowerSource: Dengeki

Aku no Hana’s concept CD ‘Aku no Kafu’ includes creepy ending theme Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/aku-hanas-concept-cd-aku-kafuincludes-creepy-theme/ By SunSoftware on June 2nd, 2013

2. Aku no Hana -Sawa Nakamura- (vocals by Mariko Gotou) 3. Aku no Hana -Takao Kasuga- (vocals by Noko from Shinsei Kamattechan) 4. Aku no Hana -Nanako Saeki- (vocals by Shiho Nanba) 5. Aku no Hana -Gunma Prefecture Kiryuu City6. Hana -a last flower- (off vocals) 7. Aku no Hana -Sawa Nakamura- (vocals by Mariko Gotou) (off vocals) 8. Aku no Hana -Takao Kasuga- (vocals by Noko) (off vocals) 9. Aku no Hana -Nanako Saeki- (vocals by Shiho Nanba) (off vocals) 10. Aku no Hana -Gunma Prefecture Kiryuu City- (off vocals) 11. Hikarigoke On a side note, the band Uchuujin have released their second single featuring the original version of the opening theme, which is different from the versions in the anime, so if you’re curious, you can pick up that single now. Did you expect all of those weird songs to be released?

Source: Natalie Have you seen that anime airing this season called Aku no Hana? Do you know that ending song with the terrifying, inhuman voice? Well, that song is coming in a CD. Aku no Hana (The Flowers of Evil) is an unusual anime. For one thing, it doesn’t try to seem enjoyable. The animation looks dreary at first, the background music is low-key, the story is smothered with a gloomy atmosphere, and it has one of the most haunting ending themes you will ever hear: Despite all that, the anime has gained a lot of fans who like its controversial and realistic story, which is about a boy who steals the gym clothes of the girl he likes, causing wild rumors of a pervert in his school. Now, Aku no Hana is getting its own concept CD featuring all four versions of the opening theme composed by Uchuujin, Aku no Hana, along with the full version of the ending theme

June 4th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Be as pretty as Sailor Moon with new Miracle Romance compact Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/pretty-sailor-moon-miracleromance-compact/ By Zenko on June 4th, 2013

Like Sailor Moon’s Crystal Star Brooch it will feature a mirror, styled to look like the silver crystal, and an outer casing designed to match the one seen in the show. It will be packaged with a pink colored “sparkling powder” blush and “Adults are cute (Otona kawaii)” insert to help you feel like a princess too. To add to the appeal, a Luna themed concealer will also be bundled in the package.

For those who have ever wanted to be as pretty as a Sailor Scout, your chance is coming with the new release of a Miracle Romance Shining Moon Power compact. Bandai Premium goods is getting ready to release a special item aimed at adult fans of Sailor Moon, specifically Sailor Moon R on June 4. Retailing for 3980 yen, the compact will based on the one Serena (Usagi) uses to transform throughout the Sailor Moon R series.

Preorders for the compact will open June 4 at Bandai’s good website and at Animate stores in Japan. It will ship sometime in October. Source: Famitsu

Get ready to die a lot againDark Souls 2 has a release date Bandai Premium had previously released a themed compact for Precure, and felt it would not be too difficult to recreate a similar item for adults. They decided to base it on the popular Sailor Moon series because it is celebrating it’s twentieth anniversary this year, and has another upcoming series later this year. The compact will be joining their Creer Beaute line, which features other anime themed make-up, such as Rose of Versailles mascara and Yatsura themed lip balm.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ready-die-lot-again-dark-souls-2release-date/ By hikarucon on June 4th, 2013

June 4th, 2013

Namco Bandai has officially confirmed that in March of 2014, Dark Souls II will be released. The announcement came soon after a picture of a banner of Dark Souls II from this year’s E3 event was taken, revealing the date of release.

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last December, the manga had sold 10 million copies — that’s only half as much! Of course, the reason the total sales doubled in half a year is because of the anime adaptation. Since the anime started airing just two months ago, the manga has sold a whopping 8.7 million copies. On average, manga series from the publisher Kodansha sell about 2 million copies, and officials from the company describe Attack on Titan as the type of masterpiece that appears once every ten years.

Initially announced last December, Dark Souls II has been welcomed by the fans at arms lengths after the director of the game revealed that this game would be more “straightforward” and “approachable” as compared to the last two iterations of the game which were designed to challenge the player to the point of masochism. Fears of that were mostly dispelled as we got to see the game in action. Dark Souls II comes out March 2014. Hopefully more details to follow at E3.

‘Attack on Titan’ manga breaks through 20 million copies Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/attack-titan-manga-breaks-20million-copies/ By SunSoftware on June 4th, 2013

In case you have read this far and don’t know about Attack on Titan, the story is set in a world where human civilization has built three gigantic, circular walls to protect itself from maneating Titans. One day, a colossal Titan breaks the outermost wall, causing a swarm of Titans to kill one third of the human population. The hero is a boy named Eren Jaegar who vows to have his revenge against the Titans after he witnesses his mother being devoured. The manga series first broke through 1 million sales in December 2009, when there were only two volumes, and it has also been translated into English by Kodansha Comics USA. The first Blu-ray volume will be released on July 17. How many copies do you think that will sell? Source: Yaraon

Prepare your battle lawns for ‘Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/prepare-battle-lawns-plantszombies-2-time/ By KaleNagasaki on June 4th, 2013

Are you enjoying the anime Attack on Titan? Have you read the manga yet? Well, a whole lot of people have.As of today, the manga Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) by Hajime Isayama has been released in 10 volumes and printed into 20 million copies since it began serialization in September of 2009 in Bessatsu Shounen Magazine. In comparison, by

June 4th, 2013

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According to the PopCap official website, Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time will be released worldwide for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch on July 18. When the first Plants vs. Zombies came out, I remember staying on my phone for days straight – the game was just so addicting! If you’ve had a similar experience, then it surely is about time that It’s About Time is coming! As a plus, you don’t have to anticipate any fees or hits to your wallet. PopCap assures us that players can face every zombie and access every level in every world at no cost. There will be upgrades and items available for purchase, but they will not be necessary to experiencing the awesomeness of the game. The same concept we fell in love with before is still there: defend your house (and your brains) from the onslaught of zombies by building a bastion of plants. However, PopCap promises that Plants vs. Zombies 2 will bring tons of new levels, multiple-themed worlds, new types of plants and zombies, and even a way for players to directly take on the zombies. Some of the themed-worlds include Ancient Egypt, Pirate Seas, and the Wild West. How cool do these levels look?

Senior producer Allen Murray says: We’re confident that players will see the love and attention we’ve put into this game. We’ve created wild new ways to experience the plants and zombies you know and love as well as packing the game with tons of completely new content, and we’re still hard at work coming up with even more cool stuff that will keep Plants vs. Zombies 2 fresh and evolving in the months and years following launch. But enough talking, check out the official trailer below! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that Crazy Dave is still in there. If you’re hungry for more information, stay tuned for E3 next week, where more announcements about the game should be made. In the meantime, I will be replaying the original Plants vs. Zombies. Sources: IGNAsia

Could the Deathstroke DLC for Batman: Arkham Origins not be coming to the Wii U? Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/deathstroke-dlc-batman-arkhamorigins-coming-wii-u/

June 4th, 2013 By hikarucon on June 4th, 2013

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Kanjani8′s new single ‘Namida no Kotae’ will accompany Okura Tadayoshi’s role in ’100 Kai Naku Koto’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kanjani8s-single-namida-kotaeaccompany-member-okura-tadayoshis-role-100-kai-naku-koto/ By KaleNagasaki on June 4th, 2013

It might not be the best day to be a Wii U owner and a fan of the Dark Knight. There’s currently a lot of confusion whether or not the Wii U version of the Warner Brother’s upcoming game Batman: Arkham Origins is getting the Deathstroke DLC. According to some box art posted by NeoGaf, the WiiU version is the only one without a sticker saying that the Deathstroke DLC is included.

The Deathstroke DLC includes 2 challenge maps and 2 Deathsroke skins for free as long as you pre-order the game. The Wii U not getting DLC on a multi-platform release is nothing too new (see Mass Effect 3) but still difficult to believe. Some retail sites such as Amazon do list the Wii U as including the DLC but there is no official word yet whether or not this is the case. Batman: Arkharm Origins is scheduled to hit PC, PS3, Xbox360, and Wii U worldwide October 25, 2013.

Earlier today it was announced that Kanjani8 will be releasing their second single of 2013. Following 4

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“Hesomagari/Koko ni Shika nai Keshiki”, which came out last April, Kanjani8′s new song will be titled “Namida no Kotae.” The song was composed by SEKAI NO OWARI, and will be out June 12.

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 4th, 2013

You can own the single in three editions: - Limited A with DVD that includes the full music video for title track, 24pg booklet/special jacket, and deluxe packaging. - Limited B with DVD that includes version of music video and making-of footage. Deluxe packaging. - Regular CD-only with extra coupling song. First Press version adds a bonus remix track and deluxe packaging. Check out the short version of the song below: ‘Namida no Kotae’, besides likely becoming another hit under Kanjani8′s belt, will also be the main song for the upcoming movie 100 Kai Naku Koto (To Cry 100 Times). If you plan on seeing the movie to support Kanjani8, you will be doing so in more ways than one. Not only will ‘Namida no Kotae’ be extensively featured, but member Okura Tadayoshi is also starring in the movie.

DC Comics fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us has been making waves since its release last April 2013 and now, they have announced a new DLC character, Mortal Kombat’s Scorpion! Scorpion would the only character not from the comic books so far. Scorpion is from NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat series which had a cross-over with DC previously with fighting game Mortal Kombat Vs. DC Universe. NetherRealm Studios is also responsible for Injustice: Gods Among Us so the news comes as no surprise at all. Scorpion’s new costume is a redesign by comic book artist Jim Lee who has made the artwork for several Marvel and DC comics like Uncanny X-Men, Iron Man, Batman, Superman among others.

In 100 Kai Naku Koto, Okura Tadayoshi plays Shuichi Fuji, a man beleaguered by memory loss after a dramatic motor cycle accident. Mirei Kiritani will also grace the screen with Okura. Mark your calenders for June 22, and get excited to hit the movies. Here’s the trailer! It seems that Kanjani8 has established a trend with producing a song that will be featured in a movie in which one of the members act. Concerning their last single, ‘Hesomagari/Koko ni Shika nai Keshiki’, ‘Hesomagari’ is the theme song for the TV series Otenki Oneesan, and Okura Tadayoshi stars in it. ‘Koko ni Shika nai Keshiki’ is the theme song for the movie Kencho Omotenashi Ka, and (surprise surprise) member Ryo Nishikido starred in it. But this is all good news: it means we can get our Kanjani8 fix in one place! Sources: Jpopasia, comtrya.com

New Injustice: Gods Among Us DLC announced! And it’s… SCORPION!

The other DLC characters for Injustice: Gods Among us were Lobo (First DLC character announced) and Batgirl (Second DLC character announced). Scorpion can be downloaded for US$4.99 on the PlayStation Network and 400 Microsoft Points for the Xbox 360. Injustice: Gods Among Us will also be available for the Wii U in the summer (2013). source: Comingsoon.net

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/injustice-gods-dlc-announced-itsscorpion/

June 4th, 2013

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Binbougami-Ga! manga ending Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/binbougami-ga-manga/ By spartanchef on June 4th, 2013

Binbougami-Ga! is a comedy manga Sukeno Yoshiaki. It is serialized in Jump Square by Shueisha. Source: Mantan It has been announced that comedy manga BinbougamiGa! is will now be having its final curtain call. The comedy manga about an extremely lucky beauty named Ichiko and a goddess of misfortune named Momiji has been handing out laughs through its witty and playful humor since November of 2008. The manga also had an equally hilarious anime adaptation which ran from July to September 2012 (Summer anime season 2012). The final chapter will be released in the August issue of Jump Square to be released July 4 in Japan.

The story is about an extremely lucky girl named Ichiko Sakura. However, her luck comes from her sucking off the luck of others. As a result, the people closest to her become unlucky while she becomes super lucky. In order to stop this, a Binbougami or a goddess of misfortune named Momiji was sent to take away her good fortune. However, Ichiko is unwilling to give up her luck even when she almost had her beloved butler killed because of her selfishness. This results to a (very) funny battle of wits between the goddess of flatne… I mean misfortune and Ichiko.

Details on Suda51′s Killer is Dead: Premium Edition Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/details-suda51s-killer-deadpremium-edition/ By hikarucon on June 4th, 2013

Romance and execution, two sides of the same coin come to life in Suda51’s upcoming game Killer is Dead. As if just a standard version was not enough for this game, Suda51 is pushing a Premium edition with added DLC “Beauty, Beast, and Lingerie,” and an extra episode “Blood Thief” which upon clearing will earn you two extra sub-missions. The Premium edition will come with a reversible jackets with the product code put into a special design on the reverse side of it. The Premium edition will net you about 7980 yen (about $80) 6

June 4th, 2013

One of the 4 Mondo girls: Betty aka Life Forcer

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Sex: Male Height 180cm Age: 50 Residence: England Special skills: Entrapping women with his gentlemanly demeanor. His deep interest in vampires becomes apparent when he fights and transforms into a form similar to the creatures. Enemy: Dark Eye

Voice: Asakawa Yuu B/W/H: 88/56/84 Height: 170cm Age: 256 Residence: Germany Read our previous article for more information on our 256 year old beauty here Execution target: Sebastian

Wires will suddenly appear floating around in front of you. Destroying the enemy is not as simple as it may look since it is a huge floating eyeball. The enemy is great not only in size but defensive capabilities cladding itself in thick armor making doing damage to it a difficult feat. The Dark Eye is not just good for defense though, the Dark Eye can also shoot out dark matter out of its eye which will make for some heavy damage. It can also summon its subordinate, the Red Eye. Since the Dark Eye is an airborne enemy, countermeasures need to be taken, thus players will be supplied with the “Muscle Back” in order to counter the enemies’ attacks. Red Eye

June 4th, 2013

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In the submission “Scheme of the bats,” Sebastian’s bat underlings plot his revival and you’re the only one who can stop it. In order to prevent the impending revival of Sebastian, players must protect the light of sealing that keeps Sebastian asleep.

Similar to the Black Eye, it is a huge floating eye that will suddenly appear in front of the player meaning that the player needs to act quickly to avoid receiving any critical damage. The Red Eye has a thorny armor that kind of makes it look like a star. The Red Eye is a set with the Dark Eye so you’ll never just see a Red Eye hanging around by itself. Be weary that if you see a Red Eye, a Dark Eye is just around the corner. The Red Eye’s offensive capabilities are nothing short of cruel and powerful. Furthermore, when the Red Eye is destroyed it explodes meaning that not only does the player have to worry about killing the creature, but also has to worry about its impending explosion. Sub-missions When you clear “Blood thief,” you will be able to do two more sub-missions, “Scheme of the bats” and “Legendary Liquor” which players will be able to select sub-missions upon clearing an episode. In each new stage there will be various gimmicks that correspond to each stage that is chosen.

Of course, this game would be nothing without extra goodies and Killer is Dead delivers. In order to receive more presents and items from the beauties, you will need to earn money in short missions.

June 4th, 2013

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On the other hand, “Legendary Liquor” takes place in an ancient castle’s underground area where a special wine has been hidden. The players’ mission is to find and acquire as much wine as possible. The more received, the better the turn outs of the mission. Killer is Dead is working towards an August 1st release.

Team Ninja’s Yosuke Hayashi: DOA5U freemium/free-toplay to launch worldwide [Translated Interview] Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/doa5u-team-ninja-yosuke-hayashiinterview-translated/

June 4th, 2013

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By KarbyP on June 3rd, 2013

—Let’s start the interview by talking about the reasons behind why you’ve decided to add Momiji, Ain, and Jacky into the game this time around. In a lengthy discussion with Famitsu on Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate (PS3, X360, September 2013), which we’ve translated in full below, developer Team Ninja’s Yosuke Hayashi talks about the rationale behind adding Momiji, Ein, and Virtua Fighter 5′s Jacky Bryant to this iteration of the game.

Team Ninja’s Yosuke Hayashi: We decided to call this title “Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate” because we wanted our fans to truly feel that this iteration is truly the definitive version of the series. As part of making sure our fans feel that way, we began by adding Momiji to the cast as she was a frequently requested character from the fans.

He also explains why they could not roll out DOA5 Ultimate as a DLC upgrade for those who already own the vanilla version, and mentions that the freemium/free-toplay version of DOA5U revealed today for the PS3 (it will be rolled out to all PSN regions) may also be released on the X360 – negotiations for that to happen are currently underway.

Then we added Ein because there were a lot of fans who told us that they’d like for us to “please bring him back”.

Negotiating with whom? He didn’t say! But here’s what he did talk about:

The addition of several popular characters!

—In other words, they were basically popular fan-choice characters who made it in, huh? Wel what about Virtua Fighter’s Jacky then? Hayashi: In Dead or Alive 5, which was released in 2012, we introduced three guest characters in Akira, Sarah and Pai. But actually we shortlisted four character candidates in the beginning. After we decided on Akira and Sarah, we couldn’t quite decide on who between Pai and Jacky we should add as a third guest character. At the time, we thought that for the Dead or Alive series it’s probably a better idea to go with a female fight, and that’s how we decided on Pai. This time around, as Jacky is quite popular as a beginning character for the Virtua Fighter series, to the point that people will tell you “just start playing by picking Jacky”, we talked to Sega about it and managed to their approval for him to appear. —Was Sega also involved in the production work for Jacky as a DOA5U character, like with past guest characters? Hayashi: Yes. This time around too, the Virtua Fighter team worked together with us on the guest character. “Shinjuku Jacky” (a Sega employee who does planning work for them and who was regarded as one of the strongest players in the Virtua Fighter community) did the checking work on our Jacky Brayant, so I think the character will play quite true to his original series.

June 4th, 2013

—Like I thought, [Jacky was picked because] you wanted to prioritise characters that were easy to play with. Hayashi: Of course. As Jacky is an easy to use character in the Virtua Fighter series even for beginning players, naturally he’d be easy to use here. We think that most 3D fighting game fans who’s never played Dead or Alive before, will probably be familiar with Jacky, so we’re hoping that this will get more of them to try out the game, and from there, gradually learn the systems in Dead or Alive. —What about Ein, whom you’re bringing back from Dead or Alive 2. Will he play the same way he previously did? Hayashi: We’ve added quite a number of moves to his arsenal in this iteration. That said, the fundamentals with him are still largely the same, so we think fans who previously played him in DOA2 will be able to start playing him here without any problems adjusting, right away. Although in terms of the game’s storyline, Ein and Hayate are actually the same person, [we're treating them like two separate characters so] you can play a tag-team conprising Ein and Hayate if you’d like to. We sort of see this title as a compilation title for the DOA5 series, so this time we can include new characters who are not related to the game’s story at all. In that sense the atmosphere in this game is like that of a festival. —Ninja Gaiden’s Momiji makes her debut appearance in the Dead or Alive series here. What’s her battle style like? Hayashi: In the Ninja Gaiden games, Momiji fights with a halberd and she has a double-jump, but this time around she has to fight bare-handed. There are already a lot of fast and nimble ninja fighters like Kasumi and Ayane, so to give the game a good sense of contrast, Momiji will fight with Hayabusa-style Aikijutsu (mix of Aikido and Ninjutsu) and Kobudo (a type of Japanese martial arts). Furthermore, she has her double-jump here as well, and can repeatedly perform aerial attacks. So her play style relies on using the opponent’s strength against them with traditional techniques, throw them off-balance, and then proceed to perform a flurry of attacks. —It seems like, compared to the past ninja characters, you’re pushing for a completely different type here. Hayashi: That’s right. Well if you just hear about the doublejump ability, I bet you’ll get the impression that Momiji will be quite a difficult character to use. But Momiji is really quite a popular character and we expect that many players will want to pick her, and so we’re planning to make her play style one that’s suited for beginners. Also, as Momiji is a kunoichi who’s “still in training”, so we hope that through players will help to make Momiji stronger by discovering new things about her moves. —Besides Momiji, Ein, and Jacky are you planning to add other characters as well? The parting scene in this following PV appears to depict a certain character we’re thinking of… Hayashi: Who could that be? Well, since this is DOA5 “Ultimate”, there could be more characters (laughs).

Why put out a free basic version? —Can you share with us what you hope to achieve by putting out a free basic version of the game?

Published by: VR-Zone

Hayashi: The main aim with doing this, is to open the floodgates and rope every gamer into playing Dead or Alive, into wanting to get into playing fighting games. Personally, I believe that fighting games hold limitless potential, and we want for many gamers to experience this title and think “so fighting games can be enjoyed like this too, huh!” In 2012, quite a few publishers put out a fighting game, and we feel that every single one of them were well-impressioned and performed quite favourably with their fans. We don’t want this fighting game boom to just end with the core gamers appreciating it, and we hope to bring more gamers into the movement. —In other words, it’s an attempt to reach out to people who’ve never played fighting games before, I suppose? Hayashi: That’s right. Back in the heyday of Street Fighter and Virtual Fighter, the fighting game boom was such a great social phenomenon that pretty much everybody played them. We’d like to try and bring back that sort of boom. But for that to happen, we need to rope in a vast number of people, and so we think that the best way to make that happen is to somehow put out a free basic edition of the game. Our goal is to get everybody who owns a PlayStation 3 to at least give the game a shot, and hopefully from there they’ll join and participate in the fighting games community. —If the basic version is free, then it makes it easy to invite your friends to join in the fun too, huh? Hayashi: Exactly. Amongst Dead or Alive 5′s passionate fanbase, we’ve had people who volunteered to run their own tournaments for the game, and event went as far as to invite us to come attend it. We’re really humbled by the the passion they’ve got for Dead or Alive, it’s incredibly admirable. But when those passionate fans of ours try to encourage their friends to join in the fun, usually they’d have to say something to their friends like “it’s a really enjoyable game, why don’t you buy it so that we can play together?” I’m sure there were a few friends who’d respond quite despondently to that. This time around, since there’s a free basic edition, it’d be easier to recommend the game to their friends. —Fighting games are sort of unique in the sense that, if you don’t have an opponent then you can’t really play. In that sense, being able to casually invite your friends to join in on the fun seems like a really good idea. Hayashi: Yep. Since Dead or Aliver 5 came out in 2012, there have been tens of thousands of players who’ve played the game online. But as more and more time pass since the initial release date, you gradually have this divide in skill between the really good players, and those who are at the intermediate and beginning levels – which further divides up the possible pool of players available only for a match. So we thought, wouldn’t it be great if we could make it so that players could ask their friends to join in on the fun easily, which would not only make it easy for beginning players to play against other beginning players, but also just create this casual atmosphere of playing for fun. We think we can achieve that by putting out a free basic version, and improve things on that front. When it comes to online, we want to popular the online servers with a lot of players at each and every skill level.

June 4th, 2013

—When you’re playing with an opponent of the same skill level as you, when as a beginning player this makes for a very enjoyable experience. Hayashi: When it comes to fighting games, there are players who’d learn every character and see that as depth, but there would also be players who can’t use more than one or two characters. In that case, we thought, why don’t we make the game accomodating of these different play styles by putting out a different way of purchasing the game (free-to-play plus paid characters)? With the free basic version, players could buy just the characters they play, and check out only the new characters that they’re personally interested in. Or if a player plans to spend several hundred hours playing with all the characters, then buying the retail version would make more sense. —It certainly is true that there are quite a lot of different styles of play when it comes to having fun with a fighting game. Hayashi: And the thing when you’re talking abotu players who’d pick their mains and subs, and who’d want to try out the new characters, those are really folks who’ve been following the series for a while. When it comes to new players, when they look at the character select screen with over 25 characters to pick from, they may get frustrated not knowing which one to pick. If they were to try out one character per match, then you’d need to play at least 20 matches to try all of them. To find a character that suits one’s play style, that’s even worse, you’d have to do several hundred matches.

Published by: VR-Zone

Momiji and the rest as their opponents. There are also no limitations on stage selection. All of them can be fought on. —I see. In the future are you planning to increase the number of free playable characters? Hayashi: We’re thinking of doing something like a limitedtime-only promotional campaign where, for instance, “for this week only, Tina is free-to-play” so that players on this version can be encouraged to try the other characters. Apart from such promotions, every character outside of the initial four will have to be purchased. —And players from both the free and paid retail versions will be able to play against one another? Hayashi: Of course they can. Online there won’t be any sort of discrimination against a player who’s on the free version of the game, versus a player who’s on the retail version. In the free basic version, the Story mode and additional characters are paid DLC, but apart from that there is no distinction between this and the full retail version. In other words, the free basic version will include all the new features added from the PS Vita version of DOA5 Plus, such as deeper tutorial and training modes. Using these practice modes, it’s possible for a player to train and be the world’s best Dead or Alive player just with the free basic version.

So with regards to that, we’d also like to limit the barriers of entry by just giving beginners the characters that we highly recommend, to start with. —You’re referring to the characters available from the outset in the free basic version, huh? Kasumi, Ayane, Hayate and Hayabusa. Hayashi: That’s right. We picked characters that would give beginning players a good idea of what sort of game Dead or Alive is. Initiailly there was some discussion internally on whether it was really a good idea to give away the game’s lead characters, but in the end we decided, because they’re the lead characters, they should especially be the ones who are included in the free basic verison of the game.

—Recently there’s been a lot of livestreams for tournaments held all over Japan, huh? When a gamer gets hyped watching one such livestream, and decides to check out the game him or herself, the basic free versio nis really handy for that, huh? Hayashi: As more and more of these tournaments are streamed live, the number of people watching and enjoying those videos increase. Yet at the same time, those people would actually need to buy the game to actually be able to play it, and so they don’t – that’s sort of how it’s always been. With a free basic version, we feel that the barriers to entry have been lowered enough for gamers like that to join in on the action. —By the way, for fans who bought DLC costumes for Dead or Alive 5, will they be transferrable to Ultimate?

—So four characters are selectable. Are there any restrictions in terms of opponents a player in the free basic version can fight with? Hayashi: Not at all. While in the free version players only have permission to play as four characters, in online battle and the various modes offline, these players can still fight

Hayashi: All of that data will be transferrable to Ultimate. For the free basic version, these costumes will be useable for the characters they’ve paid to use in the game. From the free basic version, gamers will also be able to purchase DLC costumes that were initially released for Dead or Alive 5, to further customise their favourite characters’ styles. Of course, we also plan to release brand new DLC costumes for Ultimate.

June 4th, 2013

—When most people think about the premium model, it’s hard not to think that there might be hidden charges or some sort of “gacha” lottery system for DLC content… Hayashi: We won’t have any of that. The only things you’d ever need to buy in the free basic edition are the characters, and the story mode, and you’ll get exactly what you paid for. Of course, there won’t be restrictions on how much you can play in a game either. We won’t be implementing those sort of freemium systems where every fight in the game costs stamina to play, or that you can only play X number of matches per day and have to use paid items to recover your stamina. There’s no such thing here, you play without restrictions as much as you like. —That’s good to hear. I was thinking that if you were to implement a “gacha” random lottery system, then we might end up with a situation where I’ll buy a DLC costume and go “what the hell, I got Bayman’s costume again!” (Laughs) (Translator’s comment: EA and Bioware, you taking notes?) Another thing: Will users who currently own Dead or Alive 5 for the PS3 and X360 will be able to upgrade to Ultimate via DLC? Hayashi: This time we couldn’t do that, as we had to make many root changes to the game’s system in order to improve the overall play experience. We’ve made severe tweaks to the game program, and as such it would be incredibly difficult to roll it out as an update.

Published by: VR-Zone

—When it comes to organising a nation-wide fighting games tournament in Japan, I think that’d be quite difficult to do without the aid of arcades. Do you plan to roll out an arcade version? Hayashi: Since 2000′s Dead or Alive 2 Millenium, we have not released an arcade version of Dead or Alive. So it’s been about 13 years. After Dead or Alive 5 was released, a number of folks asked us if we were going to do an arcade version, and there are certainly requests for that to happen. Personally I’d like very much to make an arcade version as well. —Looking at the arcade scene lately, there’s been a resurgence of interest in 2D fighting games ever since Street Fighter Iv’s release. So please, we hope for an arcade release of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate that may bring about a resurgence for 3D fighting games the same way that Street Fighter IV did for 2D. Hayashi: Recently we’ve been studying the arcade business by literally visiting arcades ourselves. While we were there we did notice that 2D fighting games were noticeably more popular than the 3D ones. As a 3D fighting game maker ourselves, we were quite dispirited by that. We’re hoping that Ultimate will bring about a resurgence in popularity for 3D fighters, and hope that as a result, the entire fighting games scene gets more hype.

But this time around we’re doing both a retail version and a downloadable free basic version, so for fans who’re still on the fence on Ultimate, they can try before they buy with the free basic version. At the moment, the free basic version has only been announced for the PlayStation 3. That said, negotiations are currently underway as to whether or not we could also put out a similar solution for the Xbox 360 version. We’d very much like to do it on the X360 as well, but as this is something new we’re trying, we can’t promise at this moment that it will be doable on the platform. —I think that’s something a lot of Xbox 360 users will be looking forward to, so we’re hoping for good news on that. By the way, when you say that severe tweaks were made to improve the game, does that include tweaking the online experience to be better as well? Hayashi: Yes. We’re planning to make huge changes with that too. With Dead or Alive 5 we were able to change a lot of things that weren’t so good initially, with game patches. And with Ultimate we’re improving the game even further than that. For that reason, DOA5U is not compatible with DOA5 or DOA5 Plus, not even in terms of letting players from each version play against one another. —Previously you organised an official tournament with Dead or Alive 5. Do you plan to do that again with Ultimate? Hayashi: Yes we do. As fighting games are also about determining who’s the strongest, we’d like to be able to present some sort of target for fans to try and aim for. At the moment we still don’t know how far we can go with those tournament plans, but personally I’d like to do some form of events that we could take all over Japan. And at those events we could give out special player titles/tags/descriptions.

—Lastly, do you have any parting words for the fans? Hayashi: When we released Dead or Alive 5 last year (2012), we received a lot of positive feedback from fans, which we’re very grateful for and which we see as a form of encouragement. However, at the same time, we were also aware that there were imperfections with the game, and we’ve tried to be well on top of that. We see Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate as a result of our hard work improving on all those flaws fans saw in the previous release, and in that sense, we want to bring out the absolute best game that we can to our fans, in Ultimate. So please look forward to the game’s release. As for gamers who’ve yet to try the Dead or Alive series, this time around we’re launching a free basic version so please do download it and take your first step into the world of fighting games with it. Furthermore, the free basic version will not just be distributed within Japan, but also to the entire world simultaneously. We hope to create a well-populated online scene where hundreds of thousands of gamers from all over the world would hop on. So everyone, please join the community. We hope you enjoy the game!

June 4th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 comes out in the US September 3, 2013. The Japanese and European release dates are September 5 and 6 respectively.

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Assassin’s Creed IV gets novel and art book Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/assassins-creed-iv-art-book/ By KaleNagasaki on June 5th, 2013

to get the special slipcase edition, then, in addition to the art book, you will also receive two exclusive concept art prints signed by the artists! Get excited. However, let’s say you are a die-hard fan of the Assassin’s Creed series, and you want to support the series, but you aren’t sure if a side novel or art book would really be worth it. Ubisoft assures us that, highlights in the game, and in the art book, include one of the largest never-before-experienced nautical gameplay ever offered, with an amazing range of locations and action. The timing of the art book will nearly coincide with the release of the game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U on October 29th. Black Flag will come to the PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 later, but in the meantime you can satisfy your craving with the novel. For more information on the game and the official trailers, check out our previous coverage here. Source: IGNAsia

To accompany the release of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, Ubisoft has announced a tie-in novel and art book.Penguin Books will publish the novel, which will hit shelves November 7 for the UK and November 26 for the US, courtesy of Ace Books. The novel will be largely based on the game, and reveal the background history of the main character of Black Flag, Edward Kenway. According to the plot description, readers will discover how Edward Kenway started out as a mere privateer before becoming “one of the world’s most deadly pirates and was drawn into the centuries-old battle between the Templars and the Assassins.”

StarCraft II now offers option to spawn into higher edition game Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/starcraft-ii-offers-option-spawnhigher-edition-game/ By Zenko on June 5th, 2013

Players of StarCraft II can look forward to some added bonuses with the new spawning feature. If you have a lower version of the game, such as the Starter Edition or Wings of Glory, but have friends with the full Heart of the Swarm edition, they will be able to upgrade you through spawning. The feature, which was popularized during the era of LAN parties with Warcraft II and the original Starcraft, allows those with the full copy of the game to bring in those who do not own it or would like to try the features out, to try it for free. Additionally, those with Wings of Glory can also upgrade their friends for free. Titan Books will release the official art book of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag on October 28. If you plan on buying it, try to be one of the first five-hundred buyers, because there’s some sweet bonus material for you. If you are lucky enough 1

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By hittokiri on June 5th, 2013

For those spawning into the higher tier game this means having access to features locked in the starter edition. That includes playing against AI opponents in multi-player mode, access to ranked and unranked ladder matches and mixing things up with access to all custom game maps released to date. Unfortunately, however, it does not include the ability to choose race for those spawned into the game and goes off of whichever race is active in the Starter Edition of the game. The player that is upgraded will display the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s update icon in the party menu, and will have an upgrade button linked in their main menu.

We asked how many anime series can you identify just by their school uniforms earlier. Here are the answers.

1. Fate/stay Night 2. Accel World 3. Clannad 4. Toradora! For those hosting spawned players you will not be going unrewarded. The game will reward you with an additional 25% experience bonus for playing. Although this feature is already set in motion for anytime you play with a friend, it certainly could help to convince your friend who may be on the fence about buying the game to do so. If you have more than one friend, that also is no problem as it allows the max amount of party members available to be spawned into the game, which means up to fourteen friends at once. It is also particularly useful if you just want to bring in a friend for a one-shot match or to introduce them to the game entirely. Below is Blizzardâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intro video to the new process to help you get started.

5. Boku wa Tomodachi ga Sukunai 6. Smile Pre-Cure! 7. Persona 4 8. Toaru Mahou no Index / Toaru Kagaku no Railgun 9. Bakemonogatari 10. Mirai Nikki

Source: YouTube

Answers to how many anime series can you identify just by their school uniforms Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/answers-anime-series-identifyschool-uniforms/

1. Azumanga Daioh 2. MM! 3. Star Driver 4. Zegapain 5. Night Wizard 2

June 5th, 2013

6. Pani Poni Dash

Published by: VR-Zone

7. Fruits Basket

How many anime series did you identify correctly just by their school uniforms?

8. Lamune

Source : Yaraon

9. Sora wo kakeru Shoujo

Nendroid Faris Nyan Nyan pre-order starts – Nendroid Kurisu re-released

10. Seitoukai Ichizon

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/nendroid-faris-nyan-nyan-pre-orderstart-nendroid-kurisu-re-released/ By spartanchef on June 5th, 2013

1. Angel Beats! 2. High School of the Dead 3. To Heart 4. Hanasaku Iroha 5. Saki 6. Hyouka 7. Lucky Star 8. Ore no Imouto ga konna ni Kawaii wakeganai 9. Mawaru Penguindrum 10. Busou Renkin

The pre-orders for Good Smile Company’s latest nendroid, Faris Nyan Nyan has now started.Not only that, the nendroid Makise Kurisu is being re-released, so if you missed out on her, now your chance! The new Faris nendroid features her in her May Queen maid uniform. Included with the figure is a plate of delicious (but unfortunately inedible) plate of May Queen’s “Omurice” with “The world is in trouble” written in it. It also comes with a nendroid-sized set of Rai-Net battle cards which Faris is known to be extremely good at. The figure also comes with three facial expressions; one smiling, one smug and one winking. The figure is sculpted by Maruhige and is approximately 100 mm tall. The nendroid will be released October 2013.

1. Kannazuki no Miko 2. Yuru Yuri 3. Puella Magi Madoka Magica 4. Shoujo Kakumei Utena 5. Mariaholic 6. Baka to Tesuto to Shoukanjyu 7. Inazuma Eleven 8. Rokyuubu 9. Little Busters! 10. Card Captor Sakura 3

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Source: Hobby Search Finally, we go to the tsundere genius, Makise Kurisu! The “assistant”, “Christina” nendroid will be re-released September 2013! It is also sculpted by Maruhige and also stands at approximately 100 mm. A nendroid-sized folder and her cellphone are also included.

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 5th, 2013

Nearly 10 years after its release, Lionhead studios, developers of Fable recently posted a video teasing fans of the classic adventure game. Lionhead Studios admitted that fans have always demanded an HD remake of the game. And with the video, they showed how much fans wanted it and released a reply from (of all people), the good-old Jack of Blades! The new HD remastered Fable will be for the Xbox 360 and the PC. The remastered version offers better graphics, almost instant loading times, an all-new interface, achievements, Xbox Smartglass support and more. “We’re really excited to bring ‘Fable’ to Xbox 360.” said Ted Limmins, Lead designer for the anniversary edition of the game. He continued, “It’s the game that the ‘Fable’ community has been asking for, so we wanted to make sure ‘Fable Anniversary’ delivered the definitive ‘Fable’ experience for both long-time fans and newcomers to the franchise.”

source: Hobby Search

Fable HD remake for Xbox 360 teased! Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/fable-hd-remake-xbox-360-teased/

For the first time, the game will feature “achievements”. According to Limmins, “’Fable’ has always been about choices and consequences, so we’re trying to put that into our Achievements.” However, he emphasized that while they are bringing a newer and modern approach to remaking the game, he promised that the game will stay true to its roots. “It’s probably the hardest part of the job. We needed to keep ‘Fable’ the same, but also make it different, it was a case of playing through the game over and over and writing down a list of the things we wanted to address in order to bring ‘Fable’ to a 360 quality level that people expect.”

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

community. Relic Entertainment will be patching the beta frequently and getting into a good rhythm for their post launch support cycle.

And then, Timmins added that there LEADERBOARD for kicking chickens!

now

The video game was released for the Microsoft Xbox in 2004 with sequels for the Xbox 360; Fable 2 in 2008 and Fable 3 in 2010. The original was the top selling game of 2004 and was well received by critics and fans alike. HIDE THE CHICKENS!!!! Source: Xbox news and Digital Spy UK

“Company of Heroes 2″ Open Beta launched Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/company-heroes-2-open-betalaunced/ By weiq on June 5th, 2013

Greg Wilson also revealed some fantastic news: Beta participants and pre-order customers will be able to transfer all progression and unlocks earned, if you purchase the game within the first 60 days of launch and play it on the same Steam account as the beta! That means any commanders, skins or bulletins you unlock in beta will be yours to use in the full game. Company of Heroes 2 will be officially release on June 25, and will be available in both Single Player and Multi-player mode.

Source: companyofheroes.com/news

“Murdered: Soul Suspect” announcement trailer streamed Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/murdered-soul-suspect-announcedtrailer/ By weiq on June 5th, 2013

Relic Entertainment had just announced the Open Beta of Company of Heroes 2 is now live, and can be downloaded and played through Steam.Writing to the Company of Heroes forum, producer Greg Wilson revealed that they’ve “added new match-making servers, implemented a significant amount of Closed Beta feedback and fixed more bugs, compatibility and performance issues”. The team will continue to read comments and feedback in the official forums and participate in regular playtests with the 6

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Solving your own murder case is a tough nut to crack, especially when the murderer’s face is concealed. Square Enix had just streamed the first announcement trailer for the action/adventure 2014 game. Set in Salem, Massachusetts (the historical location of the Salem witch trials back in 1692), Murdered: Soul Suspect featured detective Ronan O’Connor, who is brutally killed and stuck in the ghostly world of Dusk. The only way for him to ‘move on’ is to uncover the identity of his murderer and brings him or her to justice, somehow. While he cannot speak with fellow detectives working on his case, he can (thankfully), with his supernatural abilities, read their minds and influence their thoughts and actions, and as well as question some of Salem’s non-living souls scattered about in the afterlife. Although the spirits he will be encountering, demonic or not, won’t respond to interrogations peacefully.

Graphics have been improved now that the game is on the 3ds. Facial expressions will be even more realistically expressed giving better detail to the court scene and overall providing a more emotional experience.

Murdered: Soul Suspect is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 3, and XBox 360. More details of the game will be unveiled at E3 2013, which is happening next week. Source: joystiq.com, Youtube

New trailer for Phoenix Wright 5 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/trailer-phoenix-wright-5/ By hikarucon on June 5th, 2013

Also, since it’s on a 3DS, there will be some cases that involve the use of 3D. The animation for Phoenix’s new partner, Athena Cykes and Apollo Justice have already been recorded and will be quite the spectacular on Nintendo’s 3D handheld.

Perfume wins overseas voting contest with record breaking numbers Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/perfume-wins-overseas-votingcontest-record-breaking-numbers/ By Zenko on June 5th, 2013

Capcom has put out a new trailer for Phoenix Wright 5 in light of its upcoming release in July 25. In this trailer we get to see the fierce battle in court between the new legendary prosecutor Yuugami Jin.

Perfume is making headways in popularity overseas as they garnish a record-breaking number of votes in a weekly contest. PopDust, a US based website that focuses on the latest pop music news, has a special contest each week. That contest pits the top pop songs from artists across the globe against each other to see who emerges victorious. This week it was Perfume who came out on top with a record breaking 3,197,633 for their latest hit Magic of Love.

June 5th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By hittokiri on June 4th, 2013

To reach their number one position, Perfume had to beat out Ariana Grande, B5 and even Korean pop stars T-ara N4. With the amount of votes they garnished, this means they also beat out previous champions like Wonder Girls and Girls Generation from Korea and popular British pop band One Direction.

Although the group has been making strides in popularity in Japan, topping Oricon’s DVD charts, there are still people that have never heard the band, and so PopDust also put together five songs they think everyone should hear from Perfume. That includes hits like Spring of Life and the less popular spending all my time.

Voice actress Maaya Uchida, known for her roles as Rikka Takanashi in Chuunibyou Demo Koi ga Shitai, Sanka Rea in Sankarea and Rei Kuroki in Vividred Operation has been chosen to play Hajime Ichinose (一一一一一一), the lead character in upcoming TV anime series GATCHAMAN Crowds. This was revealed on TV anime series’s official website. Also revealed were key visuals showcasing the characters who are appearing in the new anime series.

Source: PopDust

Maaya Uchida to voice main character in new Gatchaman TV anime series; Key visuals revealed Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/maaya-uchida-voice-main-charactergatchaman-tv-anime-series-key-visuals-revealed/

Uchida’s character, Ichinose is a cheerful, energetic 16 year old girl with an artist streak about her. A bit of an eccentric because of her love for stationary, her free spirited nature led her to be selected to become one of the the members 8

June 5th, 2013

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of Gatchaman. Together with fellow Gatchaman member Sugane Tachibane, a 19 year old boy with a strong sense of justice and responsibility and Joe Hibiki, a 29 year old civil servant from a prestigious university who has grown disinterested with the world around him, they protect their city, Tachikawa from alien invaders and the mysterious entity known as “MESS”.

The TV anime series will be directed by Kenji Nakamura (Tsuritama, [C]: Control – The Money of Soul and Possibility) while series composition and scripting will be by Toshiya Oono (Tsuritama). The TV series’ original character designs are by the illustrator Kinako (一一一) while animation character designs will be by Yuuichi Takahashi (Tsuritama, Macross Frontier). Kouji Nakakita(Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspectors, Dancouga Nova) will be doing the main suit designs. Tatsunoko Productions will be responsible for the animation production. GATCHMAN Crowds is the latest TV anime series in the Gatchaman franchise which began in October 1972 with Kagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (一一一一一一一一一一一). The first TV anime series ran for 2 years and ended in September 1974. In 2011, NTV began broadcasting on their mornings ZIP! corner, OhayouKagaku Ninjatai Gatchaman (一一一一一一一一一一一一一), a one minute flash anime short. A live action movie adaptation of original series is currently scheduled for a release on August 24 in Japan. GATCHMAN Crowds is scheduled to begin broadcast in July of this year on NTV. Source : Mantan Web, GATCHAMAN Crowds

June 6th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

the photography period to the feeling of reaching a mountaintop after an intense climb.

Filming, Photography for Kuroshitsuji Complete Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/filming-photography-kuroshitsujicomplete/ By SkerryK on June 6th, 2013

Ayame Goriki According to Ayame Goriki, who will be playing Sebastian’s master (Shiori Genpo), Mizushima’s performance is flawless. She described Mizushima as the true leading man, praising his action sequences as highlights of the movie. Filming for Kuroshitsuji, the live action film version of Yana Toboso’s popular manga, has finally been completed. Hiro Mizushima, who will be performing as Sebastian, expressed his belief that the film will showcase all the hard work he put into the project. If the completion of filming isn’t thrilling enough, I suggest you take a look at some of the pictures that have just been released.

Kuroshitsuji tells an original story, set in the year 2020. Don’t let the future setting fool you, though. The original work’s 19th century atmosphere will be preserved with the help of everything from antique furniture, chandeliers, and ridiculously classy tableware to specially-designed costumes for Mizushima. Source: Yahoo! Japan news

Cast and trailer revealed for otaku comedy ‘WataMote’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cast-trailer-revealed-otaku-comedywatamote/ By SunSoftware on June 6th, 2013

Hiro Mizushima Photography for Kuroshitsuji was taken at all locations, including places like Kitakyushucity, Yamaguchiprefecture, and the Kyushu region. It began April 1, and continued until about mid-March. Before photography for Kuroshitsuji began, Mizushima decided to lose weight until he hit a svelte 50 kg. To make sure he looked sharp. Mizushima also devoted about 4 months of practice to the action sequences. Sound rough? Apparently, it was. Mizushima compared the satisfaction of safely completing

June 6th, 2013

Tomoko Kuroki is an otaku who has played hundreds of hours of dating sims. When she enters high school, she expects to be instantly popular, but it turns out that games are different from real life (gasp!).The anime Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! (It’s Not My Fault that I’m Not Popular!) is based on a web manga created by Niko Tanigawa and published in Square Enix’s Gangan Online. Today, the official website of the anime has received a major update, revealing some of the cast members. The gloomy, unpopular otaku Tomoko Kuroki will be voiced by Izumi Kitta (Cordelia from Milky Holmes).

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Furthermore, the opening theme, which has the same name as the anime, will be performed by the 16-year-old singer Konomi Suzuki and “otastylish death pop band” Kiba of Akiba. Together, the strange combo is called “Konomi Suzuki n’ Kiba of Akiba”. Konomi Suzuki is famous for winning Animax’s National Anison Grand Prix in 2011 and has performed theme songs for Tasogare Otome Amnesia and Pet na Kanojo. Kiba of Akiba is a six-man band that formed in 2008 and have released two singles, including a joint single with the idol unit BABYMETAL. What kind of music will these two sing together? Also, the ending theme, Dou Kangaetemo Watashi wa Warukunai, will be performed by Tomoko herself (or her voice actress Izumi Kitta), with lyrics by Aki Hata, who also wrote the lyrics to the opening theme of Haiyore! Nyarukosan W (the one that goes “Sanchi! Pinchi!” over and over again). You can listen to the song in the trailer below, although… Doesn’t Tomoko sound kind of awkward? It seems like she’s slurring a little — or is that how she normally sounds?

Tomoko’s little brother Tomoki will be voiced by Yuuichi Nakamura (Kyousuke from OreImo, Tomoya from Clannad).

You can find out the rest of the staff below. To find out what happens when an shut-in otaku tries to be popular, watch WataMote when it airs on July 8. • Director: Shin Oonuma Shoukanjuu, Prisma Illya)

(Baka

Test

• Series Composition: Takawo Yoshioka (High School DxD) • Character Furukawa

Design/Animation

Director:

Hideki

• Art Director: Maki Morio • Sound Director: Satoshi Motoyama • Animation Studio: Silver Link Source: WataMote homepage Tomoko’s popular friend Yuu-chan is voiced by Kana Hanazawa (Kuroneko from OreImo, Charlotte from Infinite Stratos).

Two new characters for Shonen Jump’s 45th anniversary fighting game, J stars Victory VS announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/characters-shonen-jumps-45thanniversary-fighting-game-stars-victory-announced/

June 6th, 2013

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By spartanchef on June 6th, 2013

Japanese blog site Remoon has reveled that upcoming PS3/ PS Vita game J Stars Victory VS will have to new additional characters earlier today. When the game was announced earlier this year, only four characters were revealed; Son Goku from Dragon Ball, Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, Naruto Uzumaki from Naruto and Toriko from Toriko. All four are the main characters in their respective mangas and are finally set to battle it out with each other in the video game! The characters revealed are: Ichigo Kurosaki from Bleach

Now, the announcement of both characters come at no surprise at all! Both Ichigo and Kenshin are the main characters of two of Shonen Jump’s most popular mangas and both are fan favorites! Both swordsmen are known for their speed and agility and would be more than a match for the likes of Goku, right? Just as DC fighting game “Injustice: Gods Among Us” begs the question of who will win in a fight between DC characters, J Stars Victory VS asks who will win in a fight between Shonen Jump’s finest? So let’s do a role call shall we? A Saiyan, a Ninja, a Pirate, a Gourmet Hunter, a Samurai and a Shinigami… Who knows who else will be announced in the future? A Hunter named… I dunno… Um… GON?! A goofy samurai named GINTOKI?! A delinquent named OGA?! or even a basket ball player named Kuroko (hey! Phoenix Wright appeared in Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom so we will never know…). Or maybe a blast from the past like Kinnikuman?! Who knows right? J Stars Victory VS is a fighting game to be released for PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. The game will be released in celebration of Shonen Jump’s 45th anniversary. Source: Esuteru

Fuse Disney and music with Harmonix’s new game ‘Fantasia: Music Evolved’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/fuse-disney-music-harmonixs-gamefantasia-music-evolved/ By KaleNagasaki on June 6th, 2013

Kenshin Himura from Rurouni Kenshin (Samurai X)

June 6th, 2013

Harmonix has quite a legacy: between Frequency, Amplitude, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and most recently, Dance Central. Harmonix has built quite the reputation for making games that creatively connect players with music in interactive and interesting ways. Now, the unique development studio will be blowing our minds again with an odd marriage of Disney and modern music in the new game Fantasia: Music Evolved. This may seem weird considering that Fantasia is a leftover experiment from 1940, but I trust the genius that brought us the amazing Dance Central.

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Universal Pictures to produce “Vexille” live-action remake Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/universal-pictures-produce-vexillelive-action-remake/ By weiq on June 6th, 2013

In the game, not Mickey Mouse (even though he is adorable), but YOU are the sorcerer’s apprentice. Harmonix’s John Drake reveals that It’s less about music simulation and more about music creation. Nearly everything in the game can become an instrument. By swinging your arms in various direction in time with the music, you can use interactive parts of the scenery to add layers to the mix. When prompted by the game, you can choose whether to include a drum, guitar, etc. In a very real sense, then, you’re creating music, which is a huge step beyond what other games have ever offered.

Will it address the plot holes from the original, or will it just be another niche western remake?Universal Pictures (Oblivion, Despicable Me and Despicable 2, Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax) has acquired the rights to adapt the 2007 CG anime film, Vexille – 2077 Isolation of Japan (commonly known as Vexille), as a live-action film. Evan Spiliotopoulos will be writing the script for the remake, while Beau Flynn and Tripp Vinson will serve as producers.

Most of the music is modern, and the track list includes “Some Nights” by Fun., Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Like Dance Central, Fantasia: Music Evolved is exclusively for the Kinect for both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. While Fantasia and modern pop music seems an odd mix, Harmonix is a studio that has consistently delivered. So play the game, and let us know what you think! Source: IGNAsia

For those unfamiliar with Vexille, the story revolves around the perfected merging of biotechnology and nanorobotics, the secret experiments and uses by scientists from Japan. Being deemed a serious threat for humanity, the United Nations demanded Japan to stop all it’s research in this advanced technology. Japan, refusing to abide to the UN’s demand, responded by isolating themselves from the rest of the world via a shield of energy field, rendering communication with the outside world and satellite surveillance impossible. Ten years after the isolation, the titular female character, Vexille, an young agent in the special forces unit S.W.O.R.D, infiltrates into Japan to investigate and ultimately, to prevent a biotechnological threat. Evading capture by Japanese security forces, Vexille discovered that Tokyo is now a walled slum settlement after being isolated for so 4

June 6th, 2013

long. Interacting with a group of resistance that opposed the experiments done on Japan’s own citizens, Vexille get to know the devastating horrors and secrets that were concealed from the rest of the world and might wipe out the rest of remaining citizens of Japan, if nothing is been done to stop the experiments. The original anime film was praised for its gorgeous visuals (via the use of Non-photorealistic Rendering and rotoscoping), although the various mundane action scenes and difficult to follow storyline were criticised.

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The manga has been running for 13 years. It made its debut on July 2000 in Shueisha’s Young Jump magazine. There are currently 36 volumes of the manga published and it has sold almost 20 million units so far. The manga is written by Oku Hiroya. As mentioned earlier, there were two liveaction adaptations; Gantz in January 2011 and its sequel, Gantz: Perfect Answer in April later that year. Meanwhile, the original anime adaptation ran for 13 episodes in 2004 and had a sequel, Gantz: Second Stage.

While recent Western remakes or live-action adaptation of Japanese productions (Dragonball Evolution and Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, to name a few) have receive bad receptions, and some of them are stucked in development hell (Evangelion, Akira), it’s still too early to say whether the Vexille live-action remake will suffer the same fate. As a closet fan of the original, I definitely hope (and fingers crossed!) they will do more than just making another CGI-filled movie. Source: thewrap.com, crunchyroll.com

Gantz will have its final chapter in the next issue of Young Jump Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gantz-final-chapter-issue-youngjump/ By spartanchef on June 6th, 2013

The manga follows high school students Kei Kurono and Masaru Kato. Both died after getting hit by a train. Soon, both of them get transported into a room with others and a large black sphere known as “Gantz”. Soon, both of them get caught up in a vicious and violent game. The manga, the live-action adaptation and the anime were notorious for the amount of blood, gore and violence, however was still very popular among its fans. After two successful live-action adaptations starring Kenichi Matsuyama in 2011 as well as a successful anime adaptation in 2004 by Gonzo, the original manga will have its final curtain call in the next issue of Young Jump. The last issue will be in Young Jump #29 to be released June 20.

Source: Mantan

Blazblue Chronophantasma has a console release date and some new modes Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/blazblue-chronophantasma-consolerelease-date-modes/

June 6th, 2013 By hikarucon on June 6th, 2013

Arc Systems has officially announced that the console port for Blazblue Chronophantasma will be released October 24, 2013 on the Playstation 3. All the characters that have so far been included in the arcade version will be packaged in the console version for free. Also coming to the console version are new challenge modes, score attack, unlimited mars mode, and a tutorial mode. Challenge mode will be familiar to anyone who has played a fighting game. Players will be given certain missions to complete in order to advance onto the next one. As the player progresses, the challenges will gradually get more difficult so basically it can be as simple as pressing one button to clear a challenge or as difficult as stringing together multiple hits to string together a lengthy combo.

Arc Systems is making sure that the challenge mode will be just as convenient if not more than their latest fighting game, Persona 4: The Ultimate in the Mayonaka Arena, by including a sample video that players can watch to see how the challenge should be completed, and an input display so

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you can easily see what you’re missing or doing wrong in the challenge.

Score attack is also the same as always- fight and win against 10 characters and you clear the mode. But be careful not to lose because there is no continue option so a game over means that you have to start from the beginning. Don’t forget that just winning isn’t enough. The mode is called score attack so of course aiming to get the highest score possible is what players should be aiming for but being sure not to die might become the highest priority at times.

New to the Blazblue franchise is “Unlimited Mars Mode” which is a mode where you will go through 10 stages of unlimited characters and try to defeat each of them as quickly as possible. Different than score attack, the aim here is for the quickest victory, not the highest score. Similar to score attack though, sometimes you might just be fighting to stay alive, but don’t be discouraged and instead aim for the best time you can!

June 6th, 2013

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tips as well as character specific tips will be included so as to help players get a feel for the game faster.

Arc Systems also gave some details on one of the newcomers, Kagura Mutsuki who is the first charge character in the Blazblue series. His weapon of choice is a huge sword that gives him considerable reach.

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a newcomer or a hardened veteran of fighting games, it might be a good idea to take a look at the tutorial that is included within the game as things have been changed between the pervious console version and the new one. The tutorial will be narrated by Noel, Makoto, and Tsubaki meaning that it will be more entertaining than just sitting through some boring lecture. In the tutorial, general

Using his reach in tandem with his specials is crucial to controlling the match. Kagura can change stances with his Drive, Black Gale, meaning that he can follow up multiple types of attacks without letting the enemy restricting them. (Standing Drive) Kagura holds his great sword above his head. From this position, the player can choose several different options to attack. 7

June 6th, 2013

(Forward + Drive) Mainly used for forward-charging moves, this stance gives the player several options including getting close to the enemy.

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Toryuurenzan: Kagura swings his great sword in multiple directions. Toryuurenzan is a move that launches the enemy into the air upon hit confirm.

Specials Ryuubakusen: Basically a hadoken. Kagura sends out a black energy wave that can vary in speed and size.

(Down + Drive) Kagura kneels on the ground in preparation for an attack. From this position, Kagura can go into overhead and low attacks.

Distortion Drive Kagura sends out a black flame from the ground. The start up and range of the distortion drive is excellent.

Follow-up moves: Ryuuhashou: Instead of attacking with his sword, Kagura uses it as a shield while attacking with his bare hands. This skill can absorb attacks which can nullify some attacks of the opponents.

Ryuuha Gokuenjin (Overdrive version): Ends with a huge projectile. Overall more damage and number of hits.

Ryuugekisou: Kagura kicks the enemy to the ground with a flying kick. It is especially effective when used opposite of Ryuuhashou.

June 6th, 2013

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Story Mode: Kagura Mutsuki

Kagura is the highest commanding officer in the Librarium but begins to plot to overthrow it after a certain incident which casts doubt towards the true aims of the Librarium and the Empire. As a result, Kagura takes it upon himself to aid Ragna, Noel, and other people in their own battles against the Librarium. Kagura usually works alone but has a young boy named Hibiki Kohaku (voiced by Mitsuhiro Ichiki) as an aide. Hibiki secretly admires Kagura though he constantly criticizes him for his laziness.

June 6th, 2013

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series will be released summer 2013 for the PS Vita. The visual novel game’s scenarios were supervised by Watari Wataru himself.

The game has announced that there is a “Crock counter” for Hachiman’s “Condition Rot”. The value of the counter is changed by Hachiman’s words and actions. No further details were discussed on this.

Blazblue Chronophantasma comes out for PS3, October 24th, 2013. Be sure not to forget about the upcoming anime release of Blazblue Alter Memory, coming out Fall 2013 as well. The regular edition of the game will be 7140 yen but or can snag the limited edition for 10290 yen.

As for the choices Hachiman will take, there will be two kinds, a Behavior choice in which the low of the conversation is decided by what Hachiman says or does and a Thought choice in which the event will be decided based on Hachiman’s thoughts. The Thought choice also affects his “Crock Counter”.

Several details for the ‘Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru’ PS Vita game announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/details-yahari-ore-seishun-love-wamachigatteiru-ps-vita-game-announced/ By spartanchef on June 6th, 2013

Thought Choice

Several details for Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru‘s visual novel have been announced. The visual novel based on Watari Wataru’s popular light novel 10

June 6th, 2013

Behavior Choice The game will come bundled with the Blu-Ray OVA which is an original story not found in the light novels. The story for the OVA is also written by Watari Wataru himself. The anime adaptation of the original light novel series is currently airing in Japan as of the moment. The story follows Hachiman Hikigaya, a loner who prefers to be a loner. One day, he was forced by his teacher to join a certain club… The Volunteer Service club which only has one member; the harsh and extremely blunt Yukino Yukinoshita.

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As may have already heard, Japan’s beloved electro-pop trio Perfume is going to Europe this year! For their second world tour, they are going to three countries; the center of techno – Germany, the land of rich British rock – the United Kingdom, and the home of Japan Expo – France. To hype up the already excited fans even more, the Japanese embassy in UK has released a special interview of Perfume. Here, they talk about their expectations, speaking English, impressions of UK, and more. Please click here for the full interview. ===== What do you think? Apparently, Perfume, especially Kashiyuka and A-Chan, already love the UK very much! There have already been various photos of A-Chan wandering around UK in the past, so she surely has enjoyed her stay. Also, Kashiyuka, who has a wide taste in music and is a lover of travel, listens to a whole lot of British acts. Being in good hands, even stay-at-home-making-toast-andonigiri-all-day Nocchi will have a great, albeit short, time!

Source: Famitsu

Perfume WORLD TOUR 2nd: a special interview by the Japanese embassy in the UK Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/perfume-special-interview-releasedjapanese-embassy-uk/ By Az on June 6th, 2013

The influence of Britain on Perfume is also very visible in Magic of Love’s retro British mod motif. So for those who want to cast the Magic of Love on Perfume and answer to Kashiyuka’s cosplay call, check this site out! ===== Perfume will be in England on July 5, and has sold out their concert even after a transfer to a larger venue. But even so, stepping out of their comfort zone once again must be nervewracking. So to all fans, let us pray for Perfume’s success in their second foray to the world! To those in Europe, A-Chan will be waiting for your loud cheers so cheer your heart out! Cheer, dance, and enjoy also for us who are only there in spirit as well!

Perfume WORLD TOUR 2nd ========================================== July 3, 2013 – GLORIA, Cologne, Germany July 5, 2013 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, England July 7, 2013 – Le Bataclan, Paris, France For more info on Perfume’s lives this year and to know more of their thoughts on the Europe tour, check this interview by natalie. source: Embassy of Japan in UK, Pinterest

June 6th, 2013

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Cooking Mama to return as Gardening Mama Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cooking-mama-return-gardeningmama/ By Zenko on June 6th, 2013

Mini games will also allow the player to help other members of their town on their farms or in their gardens. Because the games are aimed at younger audiences, the mini games are simple and range from matching the proper flowers in a planter to sorting peppers. A new Cooking Mama game sees iconic character not cooking, but gardening. The last Cooking Mama game, Cooking Mama 4 came out almost two years ago. Nintendo has not forgotten about their happy mother character yet, though. In the latest game slated to release this fall, she wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be returning as Cooking Mama but as Gardening Mama.

The garden shop will grow in size the more people come to it, which means more options for planting, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beneficial to help out your animal friends in the game.

Titled Gardening Mama: Mama and Her Forest Friends (Gaadiningu Mama: Mama to Mori no Nakamatachi), the game follows Mama as she looks after her home garden and her forest friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gardening store. In the game players will have the option to grow different things in their garden, from flowers to pumpkins, and various other types of fruits. Of course, the game would not be complete without Mama cooking in some way, and a restaurant is also being incorporated. This will be done by a beneficial cycle, where upgrades and customers at the gardening store lead to recipes being sent.

As part of the game play, animals will ask for various things that you are able to grow as well.

There is no set date in September for the game release yet, and it will retail for 5040 yen.

June 6th, 2013

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Source: News Dengeki, 4Gamer

June 7th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai’ novel’s final volume released, ending spoilers revealed [SPOILERS] Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ore-imouto-ga-konna-ni-kawaiiwake-ga-nai-novels-final-volume-released-spoilers-revealed-spoilers/ By spartanchef on June 7th, 2013

As the curtain on popular light novel series ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai‘ closes with the release of its final volume, several pictures of the final volume’s illustrations have surfaced. With the anime’s second season in full swing, people are getting more and more curious as to what will happen with the lives of Kirino, Kuroneko, Ayase, Kyousuke, Saori and Manami. The final volume, Volume 12, was released June 7, 2013 in Japan. While it’s only the illustrations that have surfaced, what the actual story is has not been revealed. With just the illustrations revealed, it is possible that they may be misleading to what the actual story really is.

Before reading this, if you don’t want any spoilers, turn back now or regret going further. This article contains a few of the illustrations from Oreimo’s final volume that are sure to spoil you.

June 7th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By KaleNagasaki on June 7th, 2013

Let me give you a second to process that. Starting today, as in June 7, from 1:00 am GMT +8, the entire Civilization V series will be 75% off. What exactly, you may ask, is included in this deal? Well, items on sale include Civilization V, Civilization V Gold, Civilization V: Gods & Kings and all Civilization V downloadable content. All of it. Now, you’re probably thinking “Wow! There is nothing else that 2K and Firaxis Games could announce to make this day better!” You’re wrong. In addition to this staggering price cut, Sid Meier’s Civilization V is free to stream today, too. Now, you may ask, why all the great news? All of this is in celebration of the release of the newest expansion pack in the Civilization franchise: Civilization V: Brave New World. But before you start thanking Santa, you don’t want to miss this. If you pre-order Brave New World before the North American release on July 9 and the international release on July 12, you get 10% off your purchase. Volume 12 is be the final volume for the series which started its run August 2008. The light novel series is written by Tsukasa Fushimi and illustrated by Hiro Kanzaki and published by Dengeki Bunko. The series inspired three visual novel games including the upcoming ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai Happy End’ for the PlayStation 3. The series also has an anime adaptation whose second season is currently airing.

You can stream Civilization V for free until Monday, June 10 at 1:00 am GMT+8. If you choose to do this, you have until Monday at 10:00 pm GMT+8 to buy Civilization V for 75% off and keep all progress made in the game. The 75% off the entire Civilization V franchise deal ends Monday at 1:00 am GMT +8.

Source: Yaraon

Today until Monday only! Get 75% off of entire Civilization V franchise Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/today-monday-only-75-entirecivilization-franchise/

June 7th, 2013

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But wait, you’re saying, I just clicked here because I like titles with lots of exclamation points – I don’t actually know what Civilization V is. I’ll fill you in. According to the official website, In Civilization® V, players strive to become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the dawn of man into the space age, waging war, conducting diplomacy, discovering new technologies, going head-to-head with some of history’s greatest leaders and building the most powerful empire the world has ever known. Not only is Sid Meier’s Civilization series known as the one of the greatest strategy games of all time, but the graphics and details are exquisite. You get to align yourself with great leaders throughout history, or alternatively choose to fight them. The diplomatic battles are just as important as the military ones. Check out the launch trailer to see for yourself if all the hype is really worth it. But between you and me, who hasn’t dreamed of ruling the world?

Soul Eater manga to have its final chapter in August Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/soul-eater-manga-august/ By spartanchef on June 7th, 2013

The manga is written and drawn by manga artist Atsushi Okubo and has been running since June 2004 and serialized by Square Enix’s Monthly Shonen Gangan. The manga had a 51-episode anime adaptation which ran from 2008- 2009 with a slightly different ending from the manga itself.

The series follows a trio of Meisters, Maka Albarn; the daughter of a deathscythe and a master meister, Death the Kid; son of the Grim Reaper himself (and an obsessive compulsive to boot) and Black Star, an assassin who is extremely loud and obnoxious. These meisters work with human weapons who aim to be a Deathscythe. Maka’s partner, Soul Eater Evans transforms into a scythe, Death the Kid’s partners, Patricia and Elizabeth Thompson turn into dual pistols and Black Star’s partner, Tsubaki turns into a variety of ninja weapons. All three meisters must turn their weapons into “Deathscythes” by making them eat 99 evil souls and 1 witch soul. The manga as well as the anime has been popular with fans and critics alike. Aside from the anime, the series also had three video games as well as a Spin-off series; “Soul Eater NOT!” Source: Yaraon

Monthly Shonen Gangan has recently announced that one of their most popular manga, Soul Eater will unfortunately be ending in two more chapters. The manga has recently entered its “Final Battle” phase with Shonen Gangan’s latest issue released earlier this month. The final chapter, to be released in August 2013 will include a coloured title page.

Ai Kayano, Yoko Hikasa & Yoshino Nanjo headline the additional voice cast for ‘Symphogear G’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/additional-voice-cast-symphogear-gannounced/

June 7th, 2013

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By spartanchef on June 7th, 2013

Meanwhile, it’s not only the villains who were announced but several supporting characters as well. Voicing Serena Cadenzavuna Eve will be Yui Horie. She is known for voicing Charle in Fairy Tail and Millhiore Biscotti from Dog Days.

As the latest season of Symphogear, titled Senki Zesshou Symphogear G will be in full throttle this July, the additional cast members have been announced! Headlining the new cast are the three new villains; Kirika Akatsuki, Maria Cadenzavuna Eve and Shirabe Tsukuyomi.

Kikuko Inoue will be voicing Nastasha. She is known for voicing Belldandy from Ah! My Goddess, Goei from Ikki Tousen and Mizuho Kazami from Please Teacher! And Please Twins!. Tomokazu Sugita who is known for voicing Kyon from The Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi and Gintama’s Gintoki will be part of the cast as he will be voicing Dr. Well. Rounding out the cast will be veteran Hidekatsu Shibata who has voiced Baron Ashura from Mazinger Z as well as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi from Naruto. He will be voicing Secretary Shibata (I wonder why?). Source: Yaraon

Linked Horizon, Cinema Staff to perform Shingeki no Kyojin’s new opening and ending themes Ai Kayano will be providing the voice of Kirika Akatsuki. She is known for providing the voices of Inori from Guilty Crown, Muginami from Rinne no Lagrange, Mashiro Shiina from Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo and Mikono from Aquarion EVOL.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/linked-horizon-cinema-staffperform-shingeki-kyojins-opening-themes/ By spartanchef on June 7th, 2013

Yoko Hikasa will be voicing Maria Cadenzavuna Eve. Yoko Hikasa is known for voicing Rias Gremory from High School DxD, Erica Blandelli from Campione!, Houki Shinonono from IS: Infinite Stratos, Seraphim from Kore wa Zombie desu ka? and of course, Mio Akiyama from K-On!. Meanwhile, FripSide vocalist Yoshino Nanjo will be voicing Shirabe Tsukuyomi. Aside from being FripSide’s vocalist, she has also provided the voices for a number of characters like Akiho Senomiya from Robotics; Notes and Eri Ayase from Love Live!.

With Shingeki no Kyojin having an extremely successful and “Titanic” run for both its anime and manga, a new opening for its anime has been announced. According to their official website, the new Opening and Ending themes will begin in July. 4

June 7th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By hikarucon on June 6th, 2013

The new Opening theme song will be done by Linked Horizon, the same band responsible for the anime’s first opening theme, “Guren no Yumiya”. The first Opening theme became a meme recently as it has inspired a few parodies in Youtube. “Wings of Liberty” (of course, not to be confused with the first Star Craft II game) will be the title of the new opening theme and the single will be released July 10.

Sucker Punch Productions has just released a developer’s diary for their upcoming game on the Playstation 4, inFamous: Second Son.

The second ending theme will be done by Japanese Indie rock band Cinema Staff. This would be the very first time the group will be doing an anime theme. The band previously released their first album titled “Bōkyō” was just released last month. The group consists of Mizuki Iida (Guitar/ Vocals), Tomotaka Tsuji (Guitar), Yohei Kuno (Drums) and Sohei Mishima (Bass). No title for the ending theme has been provided so far.

The story takes place 7 years after the events of InFamous 2 in a different location but still in America. The repressive government has grown stronger and in order to make sure that they can keep an eye on all of the citizens, they’ve installed surveillance cameras throughout the U.S. cities. To throw off suspicion, the government says that they use the surveillance cameras to keep the citizens safe from any potential attacks from people with Conduit powers (ex: Cole MacGrath from Infamous 1 and 2). For further measures, the government has also created a special unit called the D.U.P (Department of United Protection) that officially specializes in capturing “bioterrorists” but actually targets Conduit users. Now that the game is on the PS4, this installation of InFamous, will be much more graphically intense and able to draw the player in with better expression of human emotion. The game will also be using motion capture in order to ensure that players will feel even more immersion than ever before.

Developer diary for InFamous: Second Son Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/developer-diary-infamous-son/

The main character, Delsin Rowe, will be played by Hollywood actor, Troy Baker who has done such roles 5

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as Joel in the upcoming PS3 game The Last of Us, and recently released Bioshock Infinite’s Booker. His voice talents coupled by with the best graphics that the console world will have to offer will surely prove to provide an experience as engrossing as a movie.

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history, that means a big package, and at a hefty 26000 yen, it proves its worth for fans of the series.

InFamous: Second Son is scheduled to be a PS4 launch title. Hopefully we’ll get more information on the game at the upcoming E3. Look forward to it!

Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns bundles with goodies, but only for limited time Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/final-fantasy-xiii-lightning-returnsbundles-goodies-limited-time/ By Zenko on June 6th, 2013

The Lightning Ultimate Box comes bundled with not only Lightning Returns, but with the previous Final Fantasy XIII games too. The games themselves may not be updated, but the discs will feature new original art. They aren’t the only discs in the box either: it also has three soundtrack CD’s that feature select music from the series. Just in case you need, well, a case, there’s a clear case stand bundled to let you display how much you love the series.

Along with a new E3 trailer, Square Enix has finally released details on the Lightning Ultimate Box bundle of their next Final Fantasy instalment. Lightning Returns will continue where previous installments to the Final Fantasy XIII games started, with the most recent one, Final Fantasy XIII-2 having been released in 2011. Despite all the negative review, though, the game’s series has been able to remain popular. With the battle system and overworld maps it brought in new players to the Final Fantasy series, but it was able to keep them coming back with the character popular among fans and critics alike: Lightning.

By becoming the titular character of a Final Fantasy game, Lightning not only guarantees her spot in Final Fantasy history, but joins in a Final Fantasy first. Since the series began in 1987, there has never been a numbered Final Fantasy game with three games attached to it. The closest would be Final Fantasy X and X-2, but with the lack of positive input from fans during the second game, a third was never developed. With such a big step in Final Fantasy

Along with these, as well as a small artbook showing off the costumes throughout the series, a special Lightning figure produced by Play Arts will be bundled. The figure shows off Lightning in her new costume and matches the CG model in every detail.

Naoshi Mizuta, composer for the series, wants everyone to enjoy the music for the series, so if you aren’t lucky enough to grab one of the box sets, he’s released the single for the series on iTunes. Called “The Spirit of Liberated Person (Tama no Kaihoumono)” or The Saviour, it offers a taste of music to come for 150 yen. The normal edition of the game will retail for 7770 yen and head to stores November 21, while the bundle will be offered in limited quantities at Square Enix’s eStore, so think fast! Source: Famitsu, Square Enix

June 7th, 2013

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Konami announces Metal Gear Solid 5, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 details in pre-E3 2013 show Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/konami-announces-metal-gearsolid-5-castlevania-lords-shadow-2-details-pre-e3-2013-show/ By sentinel011 on June 6th, 2013

With the new Fox Engine, Hideo Kojima is now able to capture expressions and feelings unlike previous Metal Gear Solid games, Kojima seeks to create a new experience for fans and gamers alike. So far, Kojima has been very satisfied with Kiefer’s top-notch acting during the motion capture sequences.

With the pre-E3 2013 show revealed just about an hour ago, Konami reveals a short list of games from all platforms, from mobile games to console games.Skipping all the typical western gaming influences, we dug out the two main highlights of the pre-show.

Metal Gear Solid Phantom Pain

From the footage, it seems that Sutherland has finished all his motion capture sequences on Big Boss, meaning the release date shouldn’t be too far off. No information has been revealed yet, but this is a big hint that the game should be all but mostly done.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow The 2

What’s particularly interesting is that Konami finally reveals the voice cast of Big Boss aka Naked Snake from the popular Metal Gear Solid franchise. Rumours are true on that British-Canadian actor and director Kiefer Sutherland will be the new voice of Big Boss. Metal Gear Solid 5′s timeline dates back to 1984, where Big Boss is in his late 40s – more accurately, age 49.

Hideo Kojima, director of Kojima Productions, wanted a voice actor to convey the emotions through his facial and vocal qualities. Consulting the help of his friend, film producer Avi Arad, who pitched Sutherland during the franchise’s 25th anniversary celebration. Kiefer Sutherland was by no means a gamer, but he knew about the Metal Gear Solid franchise and its legacy before he took on the role as Big Boss. Being an actor himself, Kiefer understood Big Boss’s past and questions his actions of creating a future, of which Kiefer terms it as a very human experience, and what he always loved about when it comes to movies. Kiefer admits to having his role as Snake being different from his past video game roles, and has enjoyed being in the process of the game’s development.

Sequel to the 2010 Castlevania of the same name, Castlevania: Lords of the Shadow 2 had MercurySteam once again working with Kojima Productions on the franchise.

You once again play as Gabriel Belmont, who became Dracula at the end of Lords of Shadow. The game was first revealed at last year’s E3, however a playable demo will be available to all E3 attendees at this year’s E3 2013 Konami booth. The graphics certainly looks a lot more impressive compared to its predecessor. Gamers can expect to get their hands on the retail version this winter, and will be made available through PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC. You can watch Metal Gear Solid 5, Castlevania: Lords of the Shadow 2 and more in the official show below.

Kana Hanazawa stars in ‘Nanami to Issho ni Manabo!’ educational English game Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kana-hanazawa-stars-nanami-isshoni-manabo-educational-english-game/

June 7th, 2013

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By SunSoftware on June 6th, 2013

The game also has a new feature that plays the native English pronunciation of words, followed by the Japanese translation. You can even close the 3DS and keep listening to tutorials through headphones, which is convenient when you’re on the move.

Kana Hanazawa, the voice behind Kuroneko and Charlotte Dunois, is one of the most popular voice actresses these days, and now she has landed one of her quirkiest roles yet — the mascot of an educational English game!Media5, a company responsible for various educational software, has announced the 3DS game Nanami to Issho ni Manabo! English Joutatsu no Kotsu (Let’s Learn with Nanami! Tricks to English Development). The Nanami series has existed on the DS, 3DS, and smartphones to help Japanese students with the English language and even prepare for the TOEIC. As you can tell by the cover art, its distinguishing feature is the cute mascot, Nanami.

In the newest game, however, for the first time, Nanami will be voiced by Kana Hanazawa. Anime fans should be familiar with Hanazawa, the soft-voiced voice actress who started her professional career with the 2006 anime Zegapain, and whose more famous roles include Kuroneko from OreImo, Charlotte from Infinite Stratos, and Kobato from Haganai.

In addition, the game will let you connect to Media5′s social network Nekurebo, where you can compete with friends, record your results on your personal record, and get ranked alongside everyone else in Japan.

The newest Nanami game includes English grammar and vocabulary tutorials, drills, and other features that you would expect of an educational language game. In addition, there are 25 different “reward voice clips” and unlockable costumes that come with their own voice clips, in order to motivate you in your studies.

June 7th, 2013

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Of course, Media5 is also giving away autographs of Hanazawa, for those of you who clicked on this article just for her. 20 people will win an autographed paper by Hanazawa, while one lucky person will win an autographed script. To enter the drawing, you just need to submit the postcard that comes packaged with the game. Presumably, you also have to live in Japan. Do you have trouble with English and happen to be a native Japanese speaker? Is Kana-chan your angel? If the answer to both of those questions is yes, then this game is for you. Pick up English Joutatsu no Kotsu when it’s released on August 22, and you’ll get better at English in no time. Then you can read more articles on this site. Source: Dengeki

Cast revealed for Miyazaki’s ‘Kaze ga Tachinu’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cast-revealed-miyazakis-kaze-gatachinu/ By KaleNagasaki on June 6th, 2013

According to the movie’s official website, the cast for Hayao Miyazaki’s new movie Kaze ga Tachinu (The Wind Rises) has been revealed.Taking on the main character Jiro Horikoshi, the historic designer of the World War II Zero fighter, will be none other than Hideaki Anno. If the name doesn’t immediately ring a bell, then know that you can thank Mr. Hideaki for Evangelion. All of Evangelion. This also isn’t the first time Hideaki and Miyazaki have worked together – in fact, Hideaki’s first recognized work came from his part in the animation of Miyazaki’s beloved movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. Here he is speaking with the Ghibli genius himself.

Miori Takimoto will take the leading female role of Naoko Satomi. We best know Miori from her role in the group SweetS.

This movie has international appeal already: Walt Disney executive Steven Alpert will voice the blue-eyed Kastrup. They actually look alike, do they not?

June 7th, 2013

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Morio Kazama, who is known for Urabe in Akagi, will voice Satomi. Again, I feel like if he had a mustache, he would strongly resemble his character.

Mrs. Kurokawa (who appears to be much more agreeable than her husband) will be voiced by Shinobu Otake, who was Homily in Arietty.

Jiro’s mother will be voiced by the beautiful Keiko Takeshita, who also has a relationship with Ghibli that goes back quite a bit. Keiko voiced Hana Matsuzaki in From Up on Poppy Hill, and Sadako from Arietty.

And finally, we have Mansai Nomura to be Caproni. Mansai played Abe no Senmei in Onmyoji. I am glad there is no character resemblance here, because that mustache is something else.

The official-looking Honjo will be voiced by Hidetoshi Nishijima. Hidetoshi recently starred in the live-action adaptation of the manga Freesia. Please feel free to call me crazy, but isn’t there a resemblance here as well?

For more background information on the movie (as a movie but also as a novel and manga), and Studio Ghibli’s other upcoming film Kaguya-hime no Monogatari, check out our previous coverage here.

The strong-willed Horikoshi Kayo will have the talented Mirai Shida as her voice. Mirai’s more prominent roles include Arietty, not to mention the many movies she’s starred in and the awards she has won.

Jun Kunimura, a man best known for being every gangster in every Japanese movie ever, will play Hattori, who is probably a gangster, too. Okay, maybe not, but still. Can’t you see the love of mafia that mutually runs through their veins?!

Masahiko Nishimura (Radio no Jikan, Princess Mononoke’s Kohroku) voices Kurokawa, an apparently disgruntled and disagreeable man. I feel like a different picture of Masahiko should have been chosen, because it seems that Kurokawa is not amused by Masahiko’s cheerful smile.

June 9th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Anime Festival Asia 2013 dates announced, starts with Indonesia in September Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/anime-festival-asia-2013-datesannounced-starts-indonesia-september/ By SunSoftware on June 9th, 2013

It’s not too early to work on your cosplay outfits, though, so work on those in the meantime. Source: AFA Facebook page

Play ‘Tekken Revolution’ for free on PlayStation network Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/play-tekken-revolution-freeplaystation-network/ By KaleNagasaki on June 9th, 2013

With all the concern surrounding the rising costs of video games (online gaming fees, console prices,used game penalties, the list goes on), the word “free” just melts a gamer’s heart.Call me cheap or stingy or whatever, but in GameSpot’s twenty-five minute video E3 preview, this stuck out to me like a ray of light in a dark room:

The official Facebook page of Anime Festival Asia has announced the dates of the biggest anime convention in Singapore. For the second time, AFA will be leaving the borders to travel to Indonesia and possibly Malaysia. AFA Indonesia will take place first on September 6, 7, and 8 at the Jakarta Convention Center. The central festival, AFA13, will take place two months later on November 8, 9, and 10 at the Suntec International Exhibition & Convention Centre, where it has always been held, except last year.

Apparently, Tekken Revolution will be free to play exclusively for the PlayStation 3. If you’ve never tried Tekken, you might want to get in on the action June 11. And I mean literally get in on the action – this game looks intense!

AFA Malaysia has no date or location yet. It’s too late to hold it in June, but after it gathered over 41,000 guests last year, it’s sure to happen sometime this year. These are all of the details that have been revealed so far. Dentsu Singapore and Sozo have yet to give any info on this year’s guest appearances, concerts, or other huge features.

June 9th, 2013

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[AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo Report] Results are in! A humorous but promising center! A sudden graduation announcement! Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/akb48-32nd-single-senbatsusousenkyo-results-in-page-akb48-graduation-announcement/ By Az on June 9th, 2013

For those of you who have been Tekken fans for a while, maybe even since the beginning in 1994, this is wonderful news. Tekken(literally “Iron Fist”) is one of Namco’s most successful franchises, and even has its own (free) museum in Osaka. Don’t take my word for it. This is what Complex magazine had to say about Tekken last year when it rated the game number 11 out of the top 50 video game franchises: Just when we thought that the Street Fighter franchise was going to be the epitome of fighting games, Tekken came to make it share its portion of the knuckle-busting pie. Tekken has cult-like fans who live and breathe the moves and storylines. Just watch any tournament with the game and you’ll see players from all over the world fight as if their own family names were at stake. With seemingly endless combos and insane moves, the fighter is a classic that continues to satisfy fans’ bloodlust. So even if you are one of those hard-core gamers who will bemoan your wallet once the new generation consoles come out, the least you owe yourself is to sit back, relax, and play some Tekken Revolution for free. Source: Gametrailers

The official count and ranking reveal for the AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo (the single to be released sometime August) has just ended! For those of you who were not able to catch it on YouTube or google+, here are the results! AKB48 32nd Single Senbatsu Sousenkyo – Final Results ========================================= (name – team – vote number) -Senbatsu1. Rino Sashihara (HKT48 Team H / HKT48 Stage Manager) – 150,570 2. Yuko Oshima (AKB48 Team K) – 136,503 3. Mayu Watanabe (AKB48 Team A) – 101,210 4. Yuki Kashiwagi (AKB48 Team B) – 96,905 5. Mariko Shinoda (AKB48 Team A) – 92,599 6. Jurina Matsui (SKE48 Team S / AKB48 Team K) – 77,170 7. Rena Matsui -(KE48 Team E) – 73,173 8. Minami Takahashi (AKB48 Team A / General Manager) – 68,681 9. Haruna Kojima (AKB48 Team B) – 67,424 10. Sae Miyazawa (SNH48 / AKB48 Team K) – 65,867

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11. Tomomi Itano (AKB48 Team K) – 63,547

42. Makiko Saito (SKE48 Team E) – 16,508

12. Haruka Shimazaki (AKB48 Team B) – 57,275

43. Aika Ota (HKT48 Team H) – 16,401

13. Yui Yokoyama (AKB48 Team A) – 53,903

44. Fuuko Yagura (NMB48 Team N / AKB48 Team A) – 16,281

14. Sayaka Yamamoto (NMB48 Team N) – 51,793 45. Tomu Muto (AKB48 Team K) – 16,221 15. Miyuki Watanabe (NMB48 Team N/AKB48 Team B) – 44,116

46. Haruka Ishida (AKB48 Team B) – 16,072

16. Akari Suda (SKE48 Team KII) – 43,252

47. Ami Kobayashi (SKE48 Team E) – 15,533

-Under Girls17. Aya Shibata (SKE48 Team KII) - 39,739 18. Minami Minegishi (AKB48 Research Student) – 38,985 19. Ayaka Umeda (AKB48 Team B) – 36,282

48. Mina Oba – (AKB48 Team B / SKE48 Team KII) – 15,064 -Future Girls49. Shu Yabushita (NMB48 Team BII) - 14,745 50. Akari Yoshida (NMB48 Team N) – 14,684

20. Aki Takajo (JKT48 Team J / AKB48 Team B) – 33,129 51. Ayaka Kikuchi (AKB48 Team A) – 13,944 21. Rie Kitahara (AKB48 Team K) – 33,121 52. Sumire Sato (AKB48 Team A) – 13,613 22. Yuria Kizaki (SKE48 Team S) – 30,307 53. Ami Maeda (AKB48 Team K) – 13,613 23. Akane Takayanagi (SKE48 Team KII) – 29,199 54. Mayu Ogasawara (NMB48 Team N) – 13,460 24. Kaori Matsumura (SKE48 Lifetime Honorary Research Student) – 27,566

55. Meru Tashima (HKT48 Research Student) – 13,246

25. Rina Kawaei (AKB48 Team A) – 26,764

56. Misaki Iwasa (AKB48 Team B) – 15,638

26. Sakura Miyawaki (HKT48 Team H) – 25,760

57. Miori Ichikawa (AKB48 Team B / NMB48 Team N) – 12,616

27. Airi Furukawa (SKE48 Team KII) – 24,990 58. Kyoka Isohara (SKE48 Team S) – 12,319 28. Nana Yamada (NMB48 Team M) – 23,950 59. Mio Tomonaga (HKT48 Research Student) – 12,128 29. Masana Oya (SKE48 Team S) – 23,588 60. Sakiko Matsui (AKB48 Team A) – 11,961 30. Anna Iriyama (AKB48 Team A) – 22,869 61. Suzuran Yamauchi (AKB48 Team B) – 11,808 31. Kanon Kimoto (SKE48 Team E) – 21,385 62. Natsumi Hirajima (Former AKB48) – 11,806 32. Reina Fujie (AKB48 Team B) – 21,324 -Next Girls-

63. Shiori Kaneko (SKE48 Team E) – 11,620

33. Amina Sato (AKB48 Team K) - 19,569 34. Haruka Katayama (AKB48 Team B) – 19,158

64. Yuka Nakanishi (SKE48 Team S) – 11,602

35. Mariya Nagao (AKB48 Team K) – 18,978 36. Asuka Kuramochi (AKB48 Team K) – 18,978 37. Haruka Kodama (HKT48 Team H / AKB48 Team A) – 18,145

Yes, you read that right. Keeping the first day election flash report rank, Sashihara, our favorite hetare (meaning weak, unskilled)from Oita jumped over the giant wall that is Oshima and has unbelievably snatched the top spot with 150,507 votes – the greatest in AKB48 election history and a bit far from Oshima’s 136,503.

38. Yuka Tano (AKB48 Team A) – 18,125 39. Madoka Umemoto (SKE48 Team E) – 17,819 40. Kei Jonishi (NMB48 Team N) – 17,381 41. Rina Matsumoto (SKE48 Team KII) – 16,715

June 9th, 2013

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kidding, we’re here to support you.” This gentle exchange between the veteran center and the new hetare one made the stadium roar in laughter and affirms the worried Sashihara. The heavy tension from a previous announcement is melted by this funny development.

“I was always concerned on whether or not I’ll be accepted. I felt so isolated and alone during this span of one year. But now that I am standing here… (to the host) 150,000, right? With an amazing 150,000 votes for me, I was able to realize that I am not alone after all. To everyone who voted, thank you very much. I am truly happy. This is all so sudden so I don’t know how I can express my happiness; I have always been told AKB will collapse if I become center but I will NOT let that happen!” says a dazed Sashihara. She continues, “When I saw the first day report, I thought, ‘this isn’t happening, it’s impossible’ (the host asks, “Did you expect this?”) I thought that I my rank would definitely be lower. Even when Yuko-chan was called, I thought that I wouldn’t be called and just be skipped over. I’m suspicious of stuff to that extent. (she turns to Oshima) What should I do~ I feel that I’ll turn it into a weird song… Yuko-chan, Yuko-chan, help me!”

This previous announcement is none other than a graduation-related one. Mariko Shinoda, who has kept her rank and Kami-7 spot secure again this year, announced her graduation during her acceptance speech. “Seeing all my juniors work hard like this…I made a big decision for myself too. I, Shinoda Mariko, will graduate from AKB48. Not because I am defeated, but seeing my juniors with such passion and vigor made me really glad; I’m leaving AKB48 without any regrets. I would like to graduate in my hometown so I will be graduating in next month’s Fukuoka Dome live.” She also adds to a very lonely Minami Takahashi, “The general manager is a necessary presence for the AKB so I would like her to do her best for thirty, no, a hundred years more.”

Oshima, who accepted rank 2 with a smile and called this ‘the first election that made her laugh so much’, answers, “Even if it’s weird, Sasshi is center so it’s gonna be fine. Mayuyu and I are going to be beside you so it’s gonna be fine. Everyone’s gonna watch you so it’s gonna be fine. Just 4

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It is truly a shift of generations with these results. Kami-7 regulars Takahashi and Haruna Kojima fall to ranks 8 and 9 respectively with SKE48′s W-Matsui (Jurina, Rena) replacing them in 6th and 7th. Four new faces appear in the senbatsu too: Haruka Shimazaki (AKB48, rank 12), Sayaka Yamamoto (NMB48, rank 13), Miyuki Watanabe (NMB48, rank 12), and Akari Suda (SKE48, rank 16). Yuki Kashiwagi falls a rank to 4th. Mayu Watanabe, who declared her serious intentions of aiming for 1st, falls to 3rd. Tomomi Itano, who is also graduating, falls outside to 11th in the last elections of her AKB career. Minami Minegishi, infamous for her scandal, falls outside the senbatsu for the first time and on to 18th. Watching the elections, I guess it is safe to say that next year’s elections, if there will be, will be the perfect time for the young ones to shine. The sister groups, including the young HKT48, took over most of the spots outside the senbatsu. Also, most importantly, this new center. Sashihara may be called hetare but she is by no means unskilled. There are very many talented new members too so I’m sure the great seniors can graduate in peace. Personally, I’m looking forward to the 32nd single and is happy that my favorites ranked. How about you? How do you feel about this year’s elections? source: Oricon (1)(2), YouTube, natalie

Psychological horror game ‘Daylight’ comes to PS4 and PC Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/psychological-horror-game-daylightps4-pc/ By SunSoftware on June 9th, 2013

June 9th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 8th, 2013

Are you thinking of getting the PlayStation 4 and are hoping for a graphically impressive horror game? Then you may want to see a teaser video for this game from Zombie Studios.The American game developer Zombie Studios has announced the game Daylight for the PC and Sony’s upcoming system, the PS4. Daylight is a first-person action game that begins in a dark, abandoned hospital where the only light source is your cell phone. As you try to escape the institution, you discover the hospital’s dark past. To get a feel of this game, you can watch this teaser video: The game will feature a story and voice acting by the TV host Jessica Chobot, who has appeared on IGN and Xbox Live. Among the distinguishing features of the game is the use of procedural level generation, which means levels are randomly generated as you play, and the game will be different every time you play.

As the much awaited Monster Hunter 4 is nearing its release in September 14, several Monster Hunter 4 related accessories are to be released alongside the game. The Nintendo 3DS gear and accessories have a “Rathalos” theme while the 3DS LL gear and accessories are themed with the game’s flagship monster, the “Goa Magara”. The 3DS Hunting Gear comes with a red grip attachment as well and a black strap. Its theme is based on the Flying Wyvern known as the “Rathalos” which gamers are sure to encounter while hunting.

The PS4 version of Daylight will take advantage of the console’s specs along with the Unreal Engine 4 to create horrifyingly realistic graphics. In addition, the game will use the PS4′s share feature so you can stream a video of you playing, and it will even use the PlayStation Eye to randomly take embarassing shots of you whenever you’re scared. Fortunately, you’ll be able to choose whether to upload them on the Internet.

Daylight is scheduled to be released early next year. Along with this horror game, Zombie Studios is working on the free-to-play first-person shooter Blacklight Retribution, also for the PC and PS4. Are you glad to see more games coming to the PS4? Source: PlayStation LifeStyle

Monster Hunter 4 3DS and 3DS LL accessories to be released alongside the game in September Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/monster-hunter-4-3ds-3ds-llaccessories-released-game-september/

June 9th, 2013

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Also to be released for the 3DS is the ‘Monster Hunter 4 3DS set’. The set comes with a protector case with a ‘Rathalos‘ printed on top, a red card case which can hold up to six cartridges, a ‘Rathalos‘ strap, and a decoration sticker set.

Accessories and hunting gear will also be released for the larger Nintendo 3DS LL, this time, they have a “Goa Magara” theme which is the game’s flagship monster. The 3DS LL Hunting Gear also comes with a violet grip attachment and a black strap.

June 9th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

The Monster Hunter 4 3DS LL accessories set comes with a protector case with a “Goa Magara” printed on top, a violet card case which can hold up to six cartridges, a ‘Goa Magara‘ strap, and a decoration sticker set.

As mentioned earlier, these gears and accessories will be released September 14, alongside the Monster Hunter 4 game for the 3DS as well as the Limited Edition set. With the number of merchandise and the high expectations for the game, Monster Hunter 4 surely is one of the most highly anticipated games this year. Source: Dengeki News

Newtype Magazine announces that ‘Akuma no Riddle’ manga to get anime adaptation Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/newtype-magazine-announcesakuma-riddle-manga-anime-adaptation/ By spartanchef on June 8th, 2013

According to the July issue of monthly Newtype Magazine, the anime adaptation for Yun Kouga’s ‘Akuma no Riddle’ or ‘Riddle Story of Devil’ is now green lit and set for release in 2014.

June 9th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By SunSoftware on June 8th, 2013

‘Akuma no Riddle’ is an assassin girl manga set in Myōjō Academy, a private all-girls boarding school. The 10th year Kurogumi class students are all assassins and they have been given one target; a girl named Haruka Ichinose. However, one of the student-assassins, Tokaku Azuma, suddenly falls for Haruka.

The manga is written by renowned manga artist Yun Kouga and the artwork is done by Sunao Minakata. Yun Kouga is known for doing the character designs for ‘Mobile Suit Gundam 00’ as well as being the manga author of ‘Loveless’. ‘Akuma no Riddle’ debuted in Newtype Magazine last September 2012 with the first volume of the manga series to be published by Kadokawa in July.

Summer is quickly appraoching, and in Japan that means yukata. Courtesy of Good Smile Company, Hatsune Miku is coming in a brand new yukata, and just so she won’t be lonely, she’s joined by Madoka in a lovely maiko outfit. Miku’s new yukata is designed by Suzunosuke and themed around a flower called the natsutsubaki (“summer camellia”). Her hair is tied in her original twin tails, but with the regal yukata and the flower adorning her hair, Miku looks more refined than ever.

Source: Yaraon

Natsutsubaki Miku and Maiko Madoka nendoroids coming next month Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yukata-miku-maiko-madokanendoroids-coming-month/

June 9th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

To go along with the summer theme, she also comes with a water yo-yo and candy apple. She looks like she came straight from a summer festival!

With her umbrella over her shoulders, you can picture her walking through a forest of cherry blossoms. Madoka also comes with a closed umbrella for when she’s indoors.

Of course, summer festivals have a lot of delicious food, so Miku also comes with a drooling expression. You don’t have to stare, Miku, you can go ahead and eat the apple!

Another accessory Madoka has is the grief box — it looks like the same one that the studio Shaft gave out at last year’s Kyoto International Manga Anime Fair!

Miku isn’t the only nendoroid coming this summer, though. Good Smile Company has also brought Madoka Kaname from the hit anime Puella Magica Madoka Magica, dressed as an elegant maiko. You’ve seen her as a school girl, a magical girl, and a goddess, but you’ve never seen her as modestly elegant as this.

As if Madoka doesn’t look graceful enough standing still, she can also close her eyes and do a gentle bow, both courteous and adorable!

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You can get Natsutsubaki Miku for 3,200 yen and Maiko Madoka for 3,800 yen. These nendoroids will be available for pre-order from Good Smile Company’s online shop starting on July 8 and delivered in October. However, if you’re lucky enought to live in France, the United States, or China, you can pick them up as early as July by going to Japan Expo 2013 in Paris, Anime Expo 2013 in Los Angeles, or CCG Expo in Shanghai, so check out those links to find out how to register for those events and get your hands on these lovable nendoroids. Source: Good Smile Company 1, 2

New Ninja Gaiden E3 trailers tease next installment Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ninja-gaiden-e3-trailers-teaseinstallment/ By Zenko on June 8th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

In the first trailer you can hear him denouncing honor in dying, and of course, denouncing the traditional soundtrack associated with ninja and samurai games as he slashes apart a well placed radio. It’s for the better though, as the grittier hip-hop goes along well with the zombie slicing action sequences and vow for vengeance. Yaiba seems to have revived after falling to Ryu’s skills in previous games, and of course needs to practice mastering his new body. What better way then by mowing down hoards of the undead? Keiji Inafune of Megaman fame is also among the developers for the game, which means it won’t just be a game focused on reaching that final boss with ease, but one with difficulty. From the second trailer it’s also clear that some effort has been put into ensuring the zombies and gore take full advantage of the graphics offered on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The darkened areas will show up better when rendered in the final game, for now the trailer is there to offer what sort of action you can look forward too. Apart from these trailers and Yaiba’s back story from previous games, not much is known about it. More details should be out soon though, because these E3 trailers are most likely just the tip of the iceberg. Source: YouTube

Volume 12 of OreImo sold out on Day 1; latest PS3 trailer revealed Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/volume-12-oreimo-sold-day-1-latestps3-trailer-revealed/ By spartanchef on June 8th, 2013

Yaiba Ninja Gaiden Z will be making an appearance at E3 this year, and two new trailers highlight the story for the next big ninja adventure. Ninja Gaiden has been making strides in popularity in the past few years, and the next installment promises to offer as much ninja packed action as before. This time, though, it will be a tale of vengeance and zombies. Unlike past entries to the franchise you also won’t be playing as lead protagonist Ryu Hayabusa either. Instead you will be taking on the roll of demon warrior and titular character Yaiba Kamikaze. But that doesn’t mean the signature gore of the series will be missing.

As the final volume of ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai‘ was just released yesterday, June 7, Amazon.co.jp has announced that the final volume, volume 12 is now currently ‘out of stock’. The only ones available 11

June 9th, 2013

at the moment are several second hand volume 12 books readers are selling in Amazon. This comes to no surprise as the final volume is widely anticipated by fans from across the globe.

Published by: VR-Zone By Zenko on June 8th, 2013

Microsoft is still trying to show off the positive aspects of its new console after stumbling out of the start gate. The last volume however had mixed reviews on Amazon with some disappointed with the ending while some loved it. It seems that those who were disappointed did not agree with Kyousuke’s final choice with some questioning if that was really the “true end” while others just described it simply as “crappy”. But even with that type of reaction from the readers, the fact of the matter still remained; the book went ‘out of stock’ in Amazon, and that is saying a lot as it speaks on how popular the series really is. Those who loved the final chapter described it as “heart rending” but a good story none the less. The book had an average score of 3 out of 5 stars with more than a hundred reviews.

While the main story has just ended, the upcoming video game based on the light novel, ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai Happy End‘, has recently released its second video preview. The game which turns your little sister (and your friends) into idols is slated for release September 26 in Japan. The visual novel game, ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai Happy End‘ will be available for the PlayStation 3 platform and is produced by Bandai Namco Games. It is based on the light novels written by Tsukasa Fushimi, illustrated by Hiro Kanzaki and published by Dengeki Bunko. The first PV video can be viewed here.

With E3 just around the corner, Microsoft knows it has to make up ground after poor reception to their press conference in May. They are slowly but surely trying to highlight the fact that what people are complaining about might not be as bad as it seems. One of the biggest complaints plaguing the company has to do with the way they plan to handle games in the future.

For one, purchasing a game no longer means you own the physical copy of the game: you are now paying for a license to play the game as well and must register it online. This isn’t a friendly Club Nintendo registration, either, as the game will be permanently linked to your Xbox account. That means even if you want to sell it, that person needs to pay for a new license. Microsoft is now saying that there might be more to this plan then simply getting people to pay more. For one, they’ll be joining Sony and Nintendo in offering digital downloads of their games the day they release. During the download, you will even be able to begin playing before it fully installs. That means if you plan on buying an Xbox One for Call of Duty Ghosts and choose the download option, you could be creating your character before the full game is even ready.

Even with the end of the original light novel series, the series still continues to be popular. The anime adaptation’s second season is currently airing and two successful PSP games have already been released. Source: Yaraon, Dengeki News

XBox One confirmed to need internet connection and limit to shared library Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/xbox-confirmed-internetconnection-limit-shared-library/

The good news about the game being downloaded and linked is that the game goes to the Cloud, meaning you can be at a friend’s house who does not own the game and play there alongside them. As long as you are logged in, all the games you previously purchased will be playable at your friend’s 12

June 9th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

house too. Essentially, apart from taking the game with you, it also means loaning a game now means loaning out your Xbox account, so be ready to change passwords frequently. If you have a small family, though, that may not be a problem at all, as you will be able to register ten names as family members. Each of these people will have full access to your library as well, creating a shared library. Presumably, the Kinect will be involved during this registration process, so it may not be as easy as entering Xbox One user names.

The other issue Microsoft has raised is the systems need for constant online connectivity. The good news is that the Xbox One does not need a constant stream of online interactions, but it does need to connect at least once in a twenty-four hour period. That means offline play will be possible in limited amounts. Interestingly enough though, it is not the machine that is tracking the online connection, but your Xbox account. If it’s verified to be playing online for one hour or more, say at a friend’s house, your Xbox One won’t be mad at you. Instead it will enter a standby mode for any connections or commands from online or from the user.

Microsoft should clear up any other problems fans have at E3 this week, and hopefully they only bring good news. Source: Famitsu

June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

New anime PV round-up: ‘Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou’ and ‘Diabolik Lovers: Haunted Dark Bridal’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/anime-pv-round-up-genei-wokakeru-taiyou-diabolik-lovers-haunted-dark-bridal/ By spartanchef on June 10th, 2013

The official website for the upcoming summer 2013 anime ‘Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou‘ has now released its second PV! ’Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou‘ or ‘Il Sole Penetra le illusioni’ is an original anime project by Aniplex and is directed by ‘Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha A’s‘ and ‘RoKyu-Bu‘ director Keizou Kurasawa. LiSA sings the anime’s theme song. ’Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou‘ will premiere July 2013. We would also like to show you the anime’s first PV:

As the Spring anime season is coming to an end, more promotional videos from the upcoming seasons have been released. The two new anime PVs are ‘Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou‘s second PV and the very first PV for ’Diabolik Lovers‘. Both new PVs have recently been released by their respective official websites.

Another upcoming anime will be ‘Diabolik Lovers: Haunted Dark Bridal‘. The anime’s official website has also just released the anime’s very first PV. The anime is based on the otome game, ‘Diabolik Lovers’. The story follows a girl named Yui Komori who because of family circumstances lives with six brothers… all of whom are vampires. The otome game also has a shoujo manga titled ‘Diabolik Lovers Anthology‘ and ‘Diabolik Lovers Prequel‘. The anime is

June 10th, 2013

directed by Shinobu Tagashira and is produced by Idea factory.

First details revealed for idol anime ‘Wake Up, Girls!’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/details-revealed-idol-anime-wakeup-girls/ By SunSoftware on June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

The anime is described as a heartwarming success story of seven girls bearing their own problems and scars who work together to become idols. It begins with a man named Matsuda who works as a manager for a failing talent agency called “0″ (“Zero”). Although it hasn’t been confirmed, the anime may be connected to the 2011 Touhoku earthquake, since Sendai is located in the Touhoku region and Yamamoto also directed a music video for the charity project Zapuni. The staff of the anime will hold a talk session at this summer’s Wonder Festival on July 28, with appearances by Yamamoto, Kousaki, Machida, voice actress Emiri Katou, and the seven newcomers selected to voice the idols. Are you interested in seeing who will make their debut in this idol anime? Source: Yaraon

Shingeki no Kyojin manga take over the Oricon comic rankings Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/shingeki-kyojin-manga-oriconcomic-rankings/ By Az on June 10th, 2013

If you’re a fan of idol anime like The Idolm@ster and AKB0048, then you may be interested in the newest anime from the director of Kannagi and Fractale.Wake Up, Girls! is an original anime from the director Yutaka Yamamoto, scriptwriter Touko Machida (Lucky Star, The Idolm@ster), and music composer Satoru Kousaki (Lucky Star, OreImo, opening themes of The Idolm@ster). The anime was first announced last fall, when Avex started working with the voice talent agency 81produce to hold auditions for the main characters. Now, after auditioning over 2,000 people, Avex has opened the anime’s official website and revealed some information about the story.

With an epic anime adaptation currently airing, a giant titan head in Kodansha, and multiple parodies, increasingly popular work Shingeki no Kyojin takes over the June 10 Oricon comic rankings.

June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

week that the all ten volumes of Shingeki no Kyojin are in the top 20, totaling three times. Isayama’s masterpiece has already sold over 20 million copies and is considered a masterpiece that appears only once every decade. It’s one heck of a ride with almost every episode leaving you overwhelmed with awe; so in case you haven’t started watching the anime yet, you better start now – and don’t forget to take your pills before it. In case you’re interested, the top-ranking manga for this week is Atsushi Mochizuki’s “Pandora Hearts” (Square Enix) – the series’ second rank 1 continuing from its ninth volume. source: Oricon

Jojo All-Star Battle PV airs in Shinjuku to the delight of the people; additional game cast announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/jojo-all-star-battle-pv-airs-shinjukudelight-people-additional-cast-game-announced/ By spartanchef on June 10th, 2013

Shingeki no Kyojin, written by Hajime Isayama, is a story about the struggle of mankind against the overwhelmingly powerful and sadistic titans. The anime adaptation is done masterfully by Production IG, hooking the viewers from the very first scene. Five volumes of Shingeki no Kyojin have entered the June 10 rankings: Vol. 10 (the latest) in rank 6, Vol. 9 in rank 7, Vol.8 in rank 8, Vol.5 in rank 9, and Vol.4 in rank 10. This is the first time that five works in the same series entered the top ten.

As people gathered in an area of Shinjuku in Tokyo, loud cheers are heard. Why? It’s simple – in a large screen in front of countless fans, the latest PV for the much anticipated fighting game, ‘Jojo All-Star Battle’ was aired. People were cheering for every character, every move, every scene. Saying that they are excited for the game’s release would be an understatement. Beloved characters from the original manga were shown in the PV and the crowd just loved it! The crowd started cheering the moment the Bandai Namco logo flashed.

This is even more amazing when you consider ranks 11-15 – all of which are also Shingeki no Kyojin, meaning the series has occupied ten straight ranks. This is the second straight 3

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Also announced in the PV video are the voice actors for some of the characters.

Published by: VR-Zone

Finally, voicing Doppio will be Akira Ishida. He has provided the voices of Athrun Zala from ‘Mobile Suit Gundam SEED‘ and Chrono from ‘Chrono Crusade’.

Voicing Bruno Bucciarati will be Noriaki Sugiyama. He is known for being the voices of Sasuke Uchiha from ‘Naruto‘, Shiro Emiya from ‘Fate/ Stay Night‘ and Uryu Ishida from ‘Bleach‘.

Also, the official website for the video game is now open. The video game will be released August 29, 2013 in Japan for the PlayStation 3. It is produced by Bandai Namco Games and is based on the original manga series by Hirohiko Araki. The manga was serialized in Shonen Jump! from 1987-2004 and is Shueisha’s second longest running series.

Voicing Narancia Ghirga will be will be Yuuko Sanpei. She is known for voicing Alexander Nikolaevich Hell from ‘Seikon no Qwaser‘ and Hidenori Tabata from ‘The Daily Lives of High School Boys‘

Voicing Diavolo will be Toshiyuki Morikawa. He is known for voicing Ugo from ‘Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic‘ and Shagia Frost from ‘After War Gundam X‘.

June 10th, 2013

Sources: Yaraon and Esuteru

Published by: VR-Zone

‘K’ is an original anime project produced by GoHands and directed by Shingo Suzuki. The story is set in the technologically advanced Shizume City and revolves around a seemingly normal student named Isana Yashiro.

Otomate announces ‘K’ visual novel for 2014 during Otomate Party 2013 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/otomate-announces-k-visual-2014otomate-party-2013/ By spartanchef on June 10th, 2013

Source: Esuteru

ChuKoi movie heads to theatres this September Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/chukoi-movie-heads-theatres-

2014 may just be another good year for ‘K’. Not only will 2014 have the the theatrical release of K’s sequel but an Otome game as well. According to the Animate website, this news was announced yesterday during the Otomate Party 2013 event.

The visual novel will be produced by Otomate, the otome game brand of Idea Factory. Otome games are basically visual novels aimed at women and with its larger female fan base, the ‘K’ otome game’s announcement comes to no surprise. However, further details like what consoles will the game be released in and the exact date of the release were not announced during the event.

september/ By Zenko on June 10th, 2013

After an announcement for a second season, ChuKoi surprises fans with even more news. Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai! (Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions), or ChuKoi, garnered quite a following when the first season aired last fall. It’s not treating its fans unkindly either, as they announced the second season last month, and have recently followed up with the announcement that there will be a movie in the fall. They did this by releasing a new trailer for it on the official KyoAni channel on YouTube. The full title of the movie is a bigger giveaway for what it will actually be about. Called Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!~ 5

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The Rikka Takanashi Revision Movie~ (Takanashi Rikka Kai ~Gekijou-ban Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!~), the film, like most anime films of a big series, will follow the plot of the first season of the show. The catch is that it will be told through Rikka’s point of view, rather than Yuta’s. It will also have a new scene at the end of the film to act as a prologue to the second season, so that’s certainly something to look forward to.

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 10th, 2013

Animedia, in celebration of its 32nd year anniversary, recently asked their readers what their favourite anime series are. They also asked who their favourite male and female characters are and the results for that poll can be viewed here. And so, without further ado, here are Animedia’s 32 Best Anime: The original cast of the show will be returning, as will the staff of the TV Anime. Because the movie is set to revolve around Rikka’s point of view, the opening for the film will also be sung by her. The ending theme, Black Raison d´être will be performed by Rikka, Yuta, Sanae, and Kumin. Films in Japan usually mean advanced ticket sales and goods to go with them. In the case of ChuKoi, they will be clear files featuring the female cast in swimsuits, ready for the summer heat. They can only be obtained by advance ticket orders, the first wave of which will start June 15 and cost 1500 yen. The film premieres September 14 and will also only be showing in select theaters across Japan, but if you plan on being in Tokyo or Osaka at the time there are several locations in the cities that will be showing it.

1. Kuroko no Basket, 7085 Votes

Source: YouTube , ChuKoi Website

Animedia releases its 32nd anniversary anime poll rankings

2. Gintama, 6514 Votes

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/animedia-releases-32ndanniversary-poll-rankings-32-anime-series-are/

3. Magi, 5987 Votes

June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

8. Ao no Exorcist, 3774 Votes

4. K-ON! (as a series), 5540 Votes (K-On! image is from the official magazine results)

9. Uta no? Prince-sama? Maji LOVE 1000% (as a series), 2846 Votes

5. Sword Art Online, 4893 Votes

10. Tamako Market, 2470 Votes (Tamako Market image is from the official magazine results)

6. New Prince of Tennis, 4326 Votes

7. Cardcaptor Sakura, 4119 Votes (Cardcaptor Sakura image is from the official magazine results)

11. Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, 2224 Votes 7

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12. Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion (As a series), 1658 Votes 13. Natsume’s Book of Friends, 1382 Votes 14. Hetalia (As a series), 1008 Votes 15. Neon Genesis Evangelion (As a series), 925 Votes 16. One Piece, 840 Votes 17. Mobile Suite Gundam SEED (As a series), 789 Votes

Published by: VR-Zone

As Animedia celebrates its 32nd anniversary, the magazine recently asked its readers who their favorite characters are, and now, the results are finally in! The readers were asked who were their favorite FEMALE and MALE characters as well as their favorite Anime series. The results of the anime poll can be viewed here. As they say, LADIES FIRST, so let’s start off with the female group. With a total of 74774 votes for The best 32 Female Poll, the winners are:

18. Hakuoki (As a series), 732 Votes 19. To Aru Majutsu no Index (As a series), 684 Votes 20. Dragon Ball (As a series), 643 Votes 21. Fullmetal Alchemist, 588 Votes 22. Sailor Moon (As a series), 540 Votes 23. Hunter × Hunter, 495 Votes 24. Hyouka, 477 Votes 25. Durarara!!, 421 Votes 26. Puella Magi Madoka Magica, 379 Votes 27. FAIRY TAIL, 346 Votes 28. BLEACH, 307 Votes 29. Inazuma Eleven, 271 Votes 30. To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S, 253 Votes 31. Smile PreCure!, 211 Votes 32. Uchuu Senkan Yamato 2199, 194 Votes The results are a mixture of new and old series as well as having the peculiarity of having a CERTAIN anime season from a CERTAIN series make it to the list… even if the series itself is already on the list. Yes, I am talking about ‘To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S‘ winning the #30 spot even if the ‘To Aru Majutsu no Index‘ series (which Railgun S is a part of) as a whole made it to #19. It seems that fans had the freedom to pick a certain season or the series entirely.

1. Morgiana (Magi) 6814 Votes

2. Yui (K-ON) 6470 Votes

Source: Yaraon

Animedia releases its 32nd anniversary poll rankings

3. Kagura (Gintama) 6204 Votes

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/animedia-releases-32ndanniversary-poll-rankings/ By spartanchef on June 10th, 2013

4. Sakura Kinomoto (Card Captor Sakura) 4380 Votes

5. Asuna Yuuki (Sword Art Online) 4359 Votes

June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

22. Haruhi Suzumiya Suzumiya) 789 Votes

(The

Melancholy

Haruhi

23. Usagi Tsukino (Sailor Moon) 755 Votes 24. Nanoha Takamachi Nanoha ) 717 Votes

(Magical

Girl

Lyrical

25. Sheryl Nome (Macross Frontier) 670 Votes

6. Azusa Nakano (K-ON) 4343 Votes

26. Robin Nico (One Piece) 643 Votes 27. Doremi Harukaze (Ojamajo Doremi) 574 Votes 28. Chizuru Yukimura (Hakuoki) 500 Votes 29. Lina Inverse (Slayer) 455 Votes 7. Tamako Kitashirakawa (Takamo Market) 4315 Votes

30. Index Librorum Prohibitorum (Toaru Majutsu no Index) 403 Votes 31. Miyuki Hoshizora (Smile Precure!) 371 Votes 32. Satsuki Momoi (Kuroko no Basket) 322 Votes Well then, now letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move onto the guys. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure there are a lot of expected and unexpected ones here. With a total of 86054 readers who voted, here are the best 32 male anime characters:

8. Lacus Clyne (Gundam SEED) 4310 Votes

9. Mikoto Misaka (Toaru Kagaku no Railgun) 3976 Votes

10. Mio Akiyama (K-ON) 3742 Votes

1. Sakata Gintoki (Gintama) 7524 Votes

11. Riko Aida (Kuroko no Basket) 3466 Votes 12. Saber (Fate/Stay Night) 3047 Votes 13. Ritsu Tainaka (K-ON) 2782 Votes 14. Rikka Takanashi (Chuunibyou demo Koi ga Shitai!) 2449 Votes

2. Kirito/Kazuto Kirigaya (Sword Art Online) 6847 Votes

15. Rei Ayanami (Evangelion) 2117 Votes 16. Haruka Nanami (Uta no? Prince-sama? Maji Love 1000%) 1240 Votes 17. Nami (One Piece) 986 Votes 18. Tsumugi Kotobuki (K-ON) 950 Votes 19. Winry Rockbell (Full Metal Alchemist) 905 Votes 20. Madoka Kaname Magica) 876 Votes

(Mahou

Shoujo

3. Kuroko Tetsuya (Kuroko no Basket) 6830 Votes

Madoka

21. Kirino Kousaka (Oreimo) 844 Votes 9

June 10th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

11. Son Goku (Dragon Ball Series) 3855 Votes 12. Toshiro Hijikata (Gintama) 3476 Votes 13. Kaworu Nagisa (Neon Genesis Evangelion) 3114 Votes 14. Monkey.D.Luffy (One Piece) 2779 Votes 15. Kurusu Syo (Uta no Prince-sama) 2443 Votes 4. Lelouch Lamperouge/ Lelouch Vi Britannia (Code Geass) 6207 Votes

16. Ryoma Echizen (New Prince of Tennis) 2092 Votes 17. Tokiya Ichinose (Uta no Prince-sama) 1755 Votes 18. Otoya Ittoki (Uta no Prince-sama) 1540 Votes 19. Syaoran Li (Cardcaptor Sakura) 1240 Votes 20. Hakuryuu Ren (Magi) 1004 Votes 21. Shinji Ikari (Neon Genesis Evangelion) 905 Votes

5. Ryota Kise(Kuroko no basket) 5741 Votes

22. Seijuro Akashi (Kuroko no Basket) 824 Votes 23. Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist) 756 Votes 24. Nyanko Sensei (Natsume’s Book of Friends) 617 Votes 25. Kyoya Hibari (Katekyo Hitman Reborn!) 528 Votes 26. Touma Kamijou (To Aru Kagaku no Index) 484 Votes 27. Ichigo Kurosaki (BLEACH) 440 Votes

6. Alibaba Saluja (Magi) 5478 Votes

28. Shintaro Midorima (Kuroko no Basket) 411 Votes 29. Takashi Natsume (Natsume’s Book of Friends) 384 Votes 30. Sebastian Michaelis (Kuroshitsuji) 340 Votes 31. Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan) 321 Votes 32. Japan (Hetalia) 275 Votes

7. Aladdin (Magi) 4933 Votes

8. Sougo Okita (Gintama) 4594 Votes

And there you have it, the 32 Best Female and 32 Best male characters voted by the readers of Animedia. It really is a mixture of old and new as classic anime characters like Lina Inverse from Slayers and Sakura Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura have made it to the list along with the most recent ones like Kirito and Asuna from Sword art Online. Source: Yaraon

Creator of ‘Assassin’s Creed’ sues Ubisoft; production of ’1666′ suspended 9. Rin Okumura (Ao no exorcist) 4309 Votes

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ubisofts-production-1666suspended-assassins-creed-creator-sues/ By KaleNagasaki on June 9th, 2013

10. Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED) 4008 Votes

June 10th, 2013

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Not surprisingly, Ubisoft repudiates all of this. Because Patrice did not have a prototype of 1666 made on time that was up to expectations, he violated his contract and thus his termination was appropriate. Now, Patrice can only get his game back if Ubisoft cancels it. But for now, all he has is an indefinite suspension. Source: IGNasia

New Racing Miku gets sexy and winner of 2nd Vocaloid China illustration contest announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/racing-miku-art-sexy/ By weiq on June 9th, 2013

Ubisoft’s next big project 1666 has been suspended indefinitely due to the fact that Patrice Desilets, the creative genius that brought the world Assassin’s Creed, is suing the game company. The bitter feelings between Patrice and his former employer have a long history, and Patrice is fulfilling his promise of taking legal action. Back in 2007, Patrice worked with Ubisoft on the first Assassin’s Creed. This was followed by the successful sequel in 2009, and then Brotherhood in 2010. When Brotherhood was done, Patrice left Ubisoft – his work with Assassin’s Creed was done. No hard feelings.

The one Miku design that gets your heart racing, literally.

In 2011, Patrice joined THQ in Montreal to begin working on his new creation, 1666. As fate would have it though, Ubisoft bought out THQ in early 2013, and by May Patrice was fired. Patrice claims that his termination was without cause, although Ubisoft felt that THQ, being desperate, gave Patrice too much control of 1666. When Ubisoft sought to diminish some of that control, Patrice would not compromise, and was subsequently fired. This is what Patrice wants: 1. Total ownership of 1666. 2. Salary, vacation, and expense payments through May 7, the day of his firing. 3. Severance in the form of one year of Désilets’ salary. 4. $25,000 for relocation and job searching. 5. $5,000 in legal fees. 6. $100,000 for “moral damages caused to [Désilets] reputation.

Illustration is by saitom, with Mari Shimazaki who is in charge of the outfit design. This new Racing Miku design is revealed along with the original, which is done back in February 2013. Illustrated to show support for the Hatsune 11

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Miku BMW Z4 team competing at the Sepang race in Malaysia, the new tanned racing Miku spots a new bikini outfit, with “Good Smile Racing” on her arm and “Super GT Sepang” on her leg as tanlines. When fans weren’t able to be there to experience it, the temperature on the racetrack is sure to have risen to a few degrees hotter by her presence! With the amount of attention she’s getting on the racetrack and online, hopefully Goodsmile company (which had added the original Racing Miku design on their GSR gear clothings for cyclists) will release her as a figurine too!

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Below is a short translation from the announcement site: Election remarks “Though the character’s a bit boyish, she is very in line for the new Vocaloid’s voice. Clean and concise look, yet not losing it’s uniqueness. Plus, the idea of a keyboard that can be rolled into a scroll is refreshing. The overall design is fresh and elegant.” Artist’s reflection “While I first heard the (new) Vocaloid’s voice, it have a cool and refreshing feel, and so the thought of a charming teenage girl came to my mind. When the voice and design are neutral in nature, the character’s outfits can be either boyish or feminine without any fuss.” So have you guessed her as the winning design? Personally, though, I was hoping for another design to win. Source: weekly.ascii.jp, announcement page)

acg.178.com(Vocaloid

China

Original Racing Miku 2013 Speaking of Miku, remember not too long ago when the candidates for the 2nd Vocaloid China illustration contest is unveiled? Well, the winner, together with 4 other finalists have been selected. The winning design is the elegant ##, by MQ. Similar with the previous contest, the 5 characters will be featured in various Chinese Vocaloid products and PVs including the episodes of mini anime series.

## by MQ 12

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Pokemon X and Y — Hordes, Sky Battles, and even more Pokemon Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/pokemon-hordes-sky-battlespokemon/ By SunSoftware on June 12th, 2013

A new feature is the Player Search System (PSS), which lets you connect to other players through Street Pass or Wi-Fi. When you open the PSS, you can pick between friends, acquaintances whom you’ve met before, or complete strangers, and then you can trade or battle with them. The PSS also syncs with your 3DS Friend List, and you can have up to 100 friends. It’s a really convenient way to connect to people, but there are even more uses for the PSS that Masuda hasn’t disclosed yet.

Less than twelve hours after our last Pokemon update, the developers of Pokemon X and Y held a roundtable where they revealed brand new types of battles, social features, and of course, more Pokemon.Pokemon X and Y made a big splash on Nintendo’s E3 presentation earlier today, where the new Fairy type was revealed along with the global release date of October 12. Now, Junichi Masuda, Director at Game Freak, has taken the stage at a developer roundtable at E3. One of the first details he revealed is that Pokemon X and Y will be playable in seven languages, and for the first time, you will be able to select the language in-game. The available languages are listed below:

The past Pokemon games have featured Double and Triple Pokemon battles, but now, there’s are Horde Encounters where you must fight five enemies at the same time with just one Pokemon.

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Other details that were mentioned in the developer roundtable include: • There is still only one save file. • Before you battle another player online, you can pick what music will play in the background. • Effort Values and Individual Values will be more visible (they’re both technical elements that common players don’t know about). • As previously revealed, you will be able to ride Pokemon, but different Pokemon travel better in different areas. For example, a Rhydon travels well in rocky areas, but you have to borrow Pokemon to ride them, and can’t ride on your own. These 5-on-1 battles might seem tough, but all you need is an attack like Surf or Earthquake, and they’ll be a piece of cake. If you ever wanted a faster way to level grind, it looks like Horde Encounters will be a life-saver.

Of course, there were several new Pokemon revealed in the roundtable, which you can see below: Talonflame (Japanese: Faiarou) A Fire- and Flying-type and an evolved form of the sparrow Pokemon Fletchling. With a high level of speed and power, it attacks by diving at foes, unleashing brutal kicks, and emitting fire from its body.

Another new type of battle is the Sky Battle. As the name implies, these battles happen high in the air, giving you a more scenic view, and you can only use Flying-type Pokemon or Pokemon with the Levitate ability.

If you ever see a trainer standing on a high ledge, that person may be a Sky Trainer who will challenge you to a Sky Battle.

Clauncher (Japanese: Udebbou)

June 12th, 2013

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A Water-type Pokemon with a massive claw, which it uses to grab enemies, shoot water, and crack boulders.

You can see all of the new features and Pokemon in this 30-second trailer. According to the official Pokemon Twitter account, there will be another video from the developer roundtable, so check this page tomorrow for even more footage. For even more news from this year’s E3, related or unrelated to Pokemon, click on this link: http://sgcafe.com/tag/ e32013 Source: Serebii, Pokemon X and Y homepage

Bandai Namco officially launches the free-to-play ‘Tekken Revolution’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/bandai-namco-officially-launchesfree-to-play-tekken-revolution/ By spartanchef on June 12th, 2013

Skrelp (Japanese: Kuzumou) A Water- and Poison-type Pokemon that disguises itself as a piece of seaweed until an unwary victim passes by and gets soaked in poison.

The worldwide simultaneous distribution of Bandai Namco’s ‘Tekken Revolution’ finally begins! A few days after its announcement during the E3 preview, the game will officially be distributed today, June 12, 2013! So what makes ‘Tekken Revolution’ different? Well, first, it’s absolutely free! It can be downloaded for the PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation store. During the launch, there will be a total of eight characters to choose from; Lili, Asuka, King, Paul, Law, Jack-6, Lars and Kazuya. But don’t fret just yet, more characters will be added with future updates and you will be able to purchase them with the in-game points that you earn! 3

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Like the most recent Tekken games, you can customize your characters, but not only that, players can also make their characters stronger through the XP they earn from playing matches. There are three attributes to choose from; POWER which boosts your damage, ENDURANCE which increases your character’s health and VIGOR which increases your chance in landing critical hits! Make Paul an absolute bruiser by increasing only his Strength attribute, make Jack-6 into a tank by increasing his Endurance, make Law even more dangerous by increasing his Vigor, the choice is all up to you, the player!

There are two ‘Special Attack’ style in ‘Tekken Revolution’ for each character; ‘Critical Arts’ and ‘Special Arts’, with each character having four ‘Critical Arts’ moves which can deal a serious amount of damage against your opponent. Meanwhile, ‘Special Arts’ grant the player a period of invulnerability at the start of the move. These special attacks will acts as the foundation of your character. 4

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The single player mode or ARCADE MODE makes you fight against CPU opponents while there are two types of multiplayer modes; The PLAYER MATCH which allows you to fight a casual game against your friends and the RANKED MATCH which will determine your ranking as you fight gamers from all over the world.

Almost 19 years after the release of the original game in 1994, the Tekken series is still going strong with nine games (Tekken, Tekken 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Tag, Tag 2) and a cross-over with Street Fighter (and you can count Soul Calibur if you want). It also sparked a 3D animated film, a Hollywood live-action motion picture and a two-episode OVA in 1998. Surely, making dysfunctional families fight each other have never been this fun!

The song, called Into Darkness, was made especially to match the feeling and world that J.J. Abrams created. The movie, taking place in 2259 AD, delivers not only a futuristic space setting, but a futuristic London a well. Just like now, there are clubs, and Into Darkness can be heard playing in one of them. It won’t be hard to recognize it, because it features guest vocalist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. Having previously worked with her, he was familiar with her cute singing and how it would fit the future club scene. Kyary for her part gave us a glimpse of her space travel adventures with the song Invader Invader.

Sources: Official Tekken Revolution Website and Sony PlayStation blog

Yasutaka Tanaka and J.J. Abrams team up for new song in Star Trek Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yasutaka-tanaka-j-j-abrams-teamsong-star-trek/ By Zenko on June 12th, 2013

Famed music producer Yasutaka Tanaka and director J.J. Abrams teamed up for the latest Star Trek movie Star Trek Into Darkness.

As for J.J. Abrams, he said that working with Yasutaka was something he had looked forward to, and considered it one of the top priorities, especially as it was a collaboration that spanned six nations. Yasutaka was just as enthused and said “It was an honor to work on a project that will be seen around the world. J.J. Abrams had a very clear image of what he wanted the future to be like, which made the collaboration very stimulating. For myself, it was an undertaking on a massive scale, but there were a lot of new people from the movie I met that encouraged me. Everyone certainly had a determined sense about their work with the music and the song. I had a lot of fun, and am really happy with the end result.”

Yasutaka Tanaka has become a big name in the Japanese industry since he premiered in 1997 with the group capsule. Since then he has produced music for big name artists like Perfume and even SMAP. Now, though, he’s making news by releasing a new song with capsule for J.J. Abrams’ latest instalment to the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Into Darkness.

The movie is not yet out in Japan, and will be heading to theatres on August 23. Source: AnimeAnime

June 12th, 2013

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Masahiro Sakurai takes to YouTube to discuss new Super Smash Bros. Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/masahiro-sakurai-takes-youtubediscuss-super-smash-bros/ By Zenko on June 12th, 2013

Sakurai also highlighted the other graphical differences between versions: Where the 3DS highlights characters, the WiiU highlights attacks, with new animations added to the attack sequences to show the speed at which they’re delivered. A focus on primary colors was also added to compliment the HD quality of the system. Perhaps one of the most anticipated games coming out of Nintendo this E3, the next instalment for Super Smash Bros. has not let fans down. Masahiro Sakurai, responsible for creating the series that has brought Nintendo characters together to brawl it out, took to YouTube during Nintendo’s Developer conference earlier today. After the announcement earlier that Megaman would be joining the fight alongside the Villager from Animal Crossing, he wanted to explain how these newcomers to Smash would pan out. They weren’t the only newcomers either, as the WiiFit Trainer was also announced to be joining in the fight as well. Before he addressed the new characters, he wanted to focus on what was coming to the games themselves, looking first at the 3DS edition of the game, and then the WiiUs. The two will luckily feature the same amount of characters, but he did not discuss whether these will be the same characters between systems. Because of the limitations on screensize on the 3DS, and the way the game functions, they outlined the characters in black to make them more visible from a distance.

He also noted that the stages will be different between the consoles, with the 3DS edition containing stages from handheld games such as Nintendogs and Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. The WiiU edition will feature stages from past home consoles, including classic stages from the Smash Bros. franchise like Pokemon Stadium and the Battlefield stage. The Animal Crossing stage also received a makeover to better match the newly released town in Animal Crossing New Leaf.

With graphical differences and features between versions out of the way, Sakurai was quick to highlight updates to existing characters as well as how those coming to the roster would affect game play. For Samus, this was as simple as her suit being updated to match the most recent game in the series: Other M. They took this a step farther as they highlighted parts of her armor in black and updated the look farther with new metal slats.

Bowser was updated a bit more. Not only was he placed into a more upright position and no longer crouched down, but his entire character was revised. In Brawl he was a notoriously slow character, and on top of his bulk, he was unable to hit very hard. They have fixed this by giving the King of Koopas an ability to run and dash, as well as making him a heavy hitter.

Pit, who made his debut in Brawl, will also be getting an upgrade to his moves. His character is now based on the one from last years Kid Icarus Uprising. Along with the ability to use the Guardian Orbiters as a way to defend himself, he also will have a new uppersmash to send opponents flying.

June 12th, 2013

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Other staples to his arsenal will include the Slash Claw and Flame Sword which will help defend you in the air, and the Leaf Shield which has the ability to not only protect you but attack opponents as well. His Spark Shot and Flame Charge will turn both hands into Mega Busters, but if not used immediately will overheat MegaMan and leave him temporarily defenseless.

And then the newcomers were discussed, and despite no live audience, early comments on YouTube and fanreactions show they were cheering most for the announcement of MegaMan as a playable character. While new to the Smash Bros. scene, the Blue Bomber brings a jam packed arsenal with him. Based on the design from the original game, Megaman does not punch his opponents, but instead uses his Mega Buster to take down enemies. Unlike Fox’s raygun or other projectile weapons, Megaman can use it while jumping in the air, just like in the original NES games. It was noted that his only real punch is his Shoryouken-like MegaUpper, which can send opponents flying into the air. Most notably, though, is his ability to channel Robot Lords and pull off their signature moves as well. Called the Variable Weapons System he can channel moves from bosses such as Crashman and Metalman in different ways as Normal and Special attacks.

The Villager familiar to fans of Animal Crossing will also be making his way from a background stage character in Brawl, to a full-on battle ready character in the new Super Smash Bros. Like Peach he can pull a variety of objects from his pockets and pull things from the ground, but unlike the Toadstool Kingdom’s princess, he can also pocket things as well. When picking up items, the Villager has the option of pocketing them for use later or using it right away. It’s not just items he can pocket either, as he is shown pocketing enemy attacks as well.

For Metalman he has the Metal Blade, that can be thrown in eight directions and can be picked up as an item, meaning opponents have the chance to use it back against him.

The mischief of the Villager doesn’t stop there either, as he can also pull of combo attacks such as digging up a patch of ground to trap the opponent, and then dropping a decent sized bowling ball on them to send them flying off screen. The Crash Bomb will act much like the gooey bombs in past games, with the ability to attach it to opponents and for them to attach back on you or any other player in the match. The Top Spin will be a spin attack similar to Metaknight’s tornado from Brawl. One of the big game changers during cliff jumps though, will be the Hard Knuckle will be a meteor attack that can one-hit KO an opponent to the bottom of the screen.

Taking everyone by surprise, the WiiFit Trainer is also is making her way to the stage to inspire fitness in herself and the other Nintendo characters. She will be bringing a heavy hitting set of moves with her, as she performs yoga and gymnastics against her opponent.

June 12th, 2013

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Komori has not yet been announced as the Official Website has said that her voice actress will be revealed later. The voice actors for the six vampire brothers who are going to live with Yui Komori however have been announced. Ayato Sakamaki will be voiced by Hikaru Midorikawa. He has voiced Android 16 from ‘Dragon Ball Z‘, Lancer from ‘Fate Zero’, Heero Yui from ‘Gundam Wing‘ and Kaiba Seto from ‘Yu-Gi-Oh‘.

It is not just her yoga moves that promise to intimidate players, as Sakurai stated she, as well as all the new characters, will be receiving a powerful Final Smash. In the case of the WiiFit Trainer, her Final Smash is called Wii Fit and sends a barrage of fitness exercising clones of herself at her enemies.

Kanato Sakamaki will be voiced by Yuuki Kajiwho is known for voicing Haruyuki Arita/ Silver Crow from ‘Accel World‘, Alibaba Saluja from ‘Magi‘, Issei Hyoudo from ‘High School DXD‘ and Amata Sora from ‘Aquarion EVOL‘.

If all of this is not exciting enough, know that Sakurai has said he uses his lunch breaks to play even more of the game, and promises even more screencaps of his experience on the MiiVerse’s new Super Smash Bros Community. And of course, for even more E3 action, check out all our coverage here. Source: YouTube

Diabolik Lovers reveals stellar male voice cast Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/diabolik-lovers-reveals-stellar-malevoice-cast/ By spartanchef on June 12th, 2013

The cast and staff for upcoming vampire anime ‘Diabolik Lovers: Haunted Dark Bridal’ have finally been announced. The anime based on the otome game will be released later this year. However, the part for the anime’s heroine Yui

Raito Sakamaki will be voiced by Daisuke Hirakawa. He is best known for voicing Makoto Itou from ‘School Days’ and he has also voiced Muneakira Yagyuu from ‘Hyakka Ryouran: Samurai Girls‘.

Syuu Sakamaki will be voiced by Toriumi Kousuke. He is known for voicing Haihime Sato from ‘Hakuoki‘, Asemu Asuno from ‘Gundam AGE‘ and Kiba from ‘Naruto‘. 8

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Reiji Sakamaki will be voiced by Katsuyuki Konishi. He is known for voicing Tooya from ‘Ayashi no Ceres‘, Tatsumi Oga from ‘Beelzebub’, Laxus from ‘Fairy Tail’, Kamina from ‘Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann‘ and America from ‘Hetalia‘.

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The story follows Yui Komori, a girl who because of family circumstances attends her school’s night class. And also because of family circumstances, she also lives with six vampire bothers.

Xbox One-PlayStation 4 battle during E3 explained through memes Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/memes-give-simple-explanationxbox-one-playstation-4-battle/ By spartanchef on June 12th, 2013

Subaru Sakamaki will be voiced by Takashi Kondou. He is known for voicing Ken Sugisaki from ‘Seitokai no Ichizon‘, Akuto Sai from ‘Ichiban Ushiro no Daimaou’ and Toriko from ‘Toriko‘.

Internet memes are often a funny reflection of what happens in real life. With E3 currently underway and Microsoft and Sony already presenting us with their latest next gen consoles, the internet is quick to respond. Several meme sites like 9gag and 4chan as well as social media sites like Tumblr and Twitter have given us a brief explanation of what happened during E3 through GIF images. Enjoy.

The anime will be directed by Shinobu Tagashi who has provided key animation for ‘Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?‘ and ‘Digimon Adventure 02‘. Music will be done by Yuki Hayashi who has done the music for ‘Robotics; Notes’ as well as the music for upcoming summer 2013 anime ‘Blood Lad‘. Yuuko Yahiro will be doing the character design and series composition will be done by Haruko Nagatsu. The anime is based on the otome game by Otomate and is produced by ZEXCS. They have also released a new anime PV which can be viewed here.

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June 12th, 2013

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that the Final Fantasy franchise is known for, only that it’s bumped up several notches better than its predecessor. While Final Fantasy XV has no release date, it will be out for next-gen consoles Playstation 4 and XBox One.

May’n finishes the last leg of HangJam tour Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/mayn-finishes-leg-hangjam-tour/ By Zenko on June 12th, 2013

I don’t really need to explain the results based on the memes, right? The new memes range from the NBA to Lion King to Shingeki no Kyojin to dogs to even little girls. They show one thing and one thing only; The Xbox One getting owned by the PlayStation 4. The speed of their uploads are also amazing as some of these were uploaded less than an hour after Sony’s press conference. Source: Rocket News

Bringing together her band for one last time, May’n took the stage and completed her acoustic tour in Tokyo with a three day performance. Singer May’n, popular for the songs she brought to Macross Frontier, finished her acoustic tour last weekend at Shinagawa’s Stellar Ball. The venue has seen popular acts in the past, but is largely a low key venue. That did not stop May’n or Team Ongakushitsu from performing the songs they love. In fact, they played a full “jam” as part of this final HangJam concert, May’n's voice resounding within the concert hall.

Square Enix teases Final Fantasy XV gameplay video Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/square-enix-teases-final-fantasy-xvgameplay-video/ By sentinel011 on June 12th, 2013

Ever since Square Enix revealed Final Fantasy XV at the Sony press conference yesterday, JRPG fans were glad and happy that there’s progress in the development of the game. Square Enix has given us a bit more, with a first look at its gameplay video, released on their youtube channel. The battle system is reminiscent to Kingdom Hearts. Opting for a cleaner UI compared to Final Fantasy XIII, the battle system seems to allow the player to switch weapons and equipment on the fly. Rather than focusing fully on RPG elements, it looks like Square Enix chose to merge action sequences in. Nobody can dispute on how beautiful the graphics looks, with dynamic lighting, textures and effects

From the heartful “Deep Breathing” to the uptempo Get It On~ Around the Speed of Light Max (Get it on~Kousoku Kurai Max), each song in the set was performed skillfully. Adding to the feeling of the show, May’n also put on somewhat of a performance when during Get It On she ran around the seating of the venue, giving those who performed a chance to see the pop star up close. She even challenged the audience later during the song What’bout My Star? as she led them in a three part chorus. That’s a fairly impressive feat for a concert, and she did not stop there as she and the band went right into an up tempo arrangement of Get Tough. To add to the dramatic feeling of the concert though, she followed this up with the calm before the storm song Infinity. Starting with a slow intro it quickly joins the upbeat feeling of the other songs in the concert. The energy for the concert was actually so intense that she performed an encore shortly after the last song in the set Run Real Run! With the audience chanting “Boss! Boss! (Buchou! Buchou!), she came back and performed Glorious Heart, Disco Galaxxxy during her June 7 encore and Get Ready 11

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during the June 8 encore finale of the tour. With everything finished, May’n told the crowd that she was “also full of the same feelings you are.”

With the Accoustic 2013 Hangjam concert over, May’n will be keeping busy over the summer before her concert hall tour called Live!Cave!Dive! in October. On July 24 she will be releasing a new single, Vivid, the opening for the new Blood Lad anime. In addition to this CD release, a BluRay of her Mic-a-Mania at Budokan will release the same day for 7,350 yen.

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In the opening to the game (above), we are introduced to six different warrior classes: the Amazon, the Fighter, the Elf, the Dwarf, the Wizard, and the Sorceress. Each have their strong points and weaknesses, and thus you have to strategically pick which type you will play as. If you are immediately enraptured by the stunning characters, then you will be pleased to know that George Kamitani designed them. George Kamitani is the president and character designer of Vanillaware, the Japanese game company that brought us Shin Megami. Now that you know the heroes, what could you possibly be fighting? Well, besides the obvious dragon, there are quite a few opponents to watch out for. For example, there’s the harpy. Erase whatever Greek mythology-informed images you have from your mind, because this Harpy means business. If your guard is down, she will lure you to her nest and use you as bait for her chicks.

Source: Lisani

Demystify the new actionpacked RPG ‘Dragon’s Crown’ with trailers and character designs

Next we have the insect-inspired group. There’s the Doom Beetle, which lives up to its name and packs a magical punch, or rather, pinch. The Doom Beetle doesn’t work solo though, as Worms will stun their enemies first so that the Doom Beetle has an easy shot. The cocoon phase is just as revolting.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/demystify-action-packed-rpgdragons-crown-trailers-character-designs/ By KaleNagasaki on June 12th, 2013

Sony has released the official trailer for the highly anticipated 2D action RPG Dragon’s Crown, and it looks like the coolest thing since Dungeons and Dragons. Maybe even cooler. 12

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The Minotaur must be fed a human sacrifice once a month, as it is locked away in an inescapable fortress. Don’t let his next meal be you.

Now that you are more familiar with the game, check out the official trailer below!

While we’ve seen a healthy dose of vampires in the recent popular media, this female Vampire is as beautiful as she is frightening.

Dragon’s Crown will come out in Japan on July 25 and North America on August 6. You can play it on the PlayStation 3 for US $49.99 or the PlayStation Vita for US $39.99. If you pre-order the game, then a limited edition art book will be all yours. As another bonus, for the first month of release a downloadable voice pack that replaces the narrator’s voice with one of the six warrior voices will be available for free. Even if you’re a bit late, the DLC will still be available for the low price of US $1.99. As probably the Amazonian, I ask who would you be?

Pokemon X and Y — the E3 trailer and two new Pokemon Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/pokemon-e3-trailer-pokemon/ By SunSoftware on June 11th, 2013

That’s a lot of villains for one game, right? Apparently, not enough, because Vanillaware felt the need to add one more. Wyverns hunt in groups, and they don’t look easy to take down.

In case you missed Nintendo’s E3 presentation, here is the trailer they revealed for the next instalments of Pokemon — plus details on two new Pokemon and the release date. The newest installment of Pokemon will feature a new type of Pokemon: the Fairy type. Pokemon of this type 13

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include Sylveon, a new evolved form of Eevee, as well as old Pokemon like Jigglypuff, Marrill, and Gardevoir. Fairy Pokemon are strong against those Dragon types, so you don’t need to carry a Pokemon with an ice-type attack anymore. Also new to X and Y is the Pokemon-Amie feature, which lets you pet and feed your Pokemon with the touch screen. The game will also use the 3DS’s camera so you can play with your Pokemon. It may seem gimmicky, but since the game uses 3D models for each of the Pokemon, Pokemon-Amie makes the game more immersive than ever. See for yourself in the trailer below. If you’ve been following Pokemon news, you should recognize most of the Pokemon in the trailer, including the spunky Pancham and the fiery Fennekin — but wait! What’s that butterfly-ish one, and the winged one with big ears?

The other Pokemon is called Vivillon (Bibiyon in Japanese) and is a Bug and Flying-type Pokemon. It uses its colorful wings to scatter scales or create wind. There may also be a hidden meaning to the patterns on its wings. Vivillon is able to use the attack Struggle Bug, which lowers the Special Attack power of its foes. In addition to the news revealed today, the director at Game Freak, Junichi Masuda, will make an appearance on the June 16 episode of Pokemon Smash to reveal more information on X and Y. The newest Pokemon games will be released worldwide on October 12. Are you going to pick it up this fall? Also, don’t forget to check the rest of this year’s E3 coverage on this link: http://sgcafe.com/tag/e32013 This one is called Noivern (Onbaan in Japanese). It’s a Flying and Dragon-type Pokemon that is extremely aggressive towards anything that approaches it, although it likes to eat fruit. Noivern looks sort of like a bat. In a way, it is like a bat because it can fly at night using ultrasonic waves that it emits from its ears. As you can guess, it also uses these waves to fight.

Source: Pokemon X and Y homepage, Official Nintendo Magazine

Its attack Boomburst unleashes a powerful sound wave that reduces boulders to pebbles. However, Boomburst also damages nearby allies, so be careful if you use it in a double or triple Pokemon battle.

June 14th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Ikimonogakari to release new album “I” in July, their first in one year and five months Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ikimonogakari-release-album-i-julyyear-months/ By Az on June 14th, 2013

(愛) . The album jacket is also the letter “I”, and the artist photo shows us the three forming an “I”. The album includes the hit songs “Haru Uta”, “Kaze ga Fuiteiru”, “1 2 3 ~Koi ga Hajimaru~” , and “Egao” plus ten new songs for a total of 14 tracks. The first press edition of the album will include the DVD containing album explanation by sound producers Seiji Kameda and Akimitsu Honma, the usual “Ikimonocard”, and a special panorama sheet. Ikimonogakari “I” List========================

Track

1. Egao 2. 1 2 3 ~Koi ga Hajimaru~ 3. PaPaPa~Ya 4. Koi Ato 5. Haru Uta 6. My Sunshine Story 7. Nande 8. Ashita no Sora 9. Kaze Koute Hana Yureru 10. MONSTAR 11. Ren’ai Shousetsu Ikimonogakari’s upcoming album “I” has just been announced. The long overdue album (it’s been a year and five months since their last one) will be called “I” and is slated for release next month, July 24. The title “I” holds many meanings for the album: the “I” that is the singer and songwriter, the “I” that is the listener, the “I” that starts the word “Ikimonogakari”, the “I” that is the reading of love (愛), and the “I” that is the reading of sorrow

12. Tokyo 13. Kaze ga Fuiteiru 14. Nukumori Release Date: July 24, 2013 source: natalie, Oricon

June 14th, 2013

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Comedy yuri manga ‘Sakura Trick’ gets anime Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/comedy-yuri-manga-sakura-trickanime/ By SunSoftware on June 14th, 2013

Sakura Trick has been serialized in Kirara Miracle since 2011 and currently has two volumes which you can read today. Tachi’s works have also been featured in fan comic anthologies for series such as Madoka Magica and The Idolm@ster Cinderella Girls. No further information has been revealed on this anime yet, but fans of cute girls being touchy-feely should keep an eye on this anime.

Do you like anime such as Yuru Yuri, featuring cute, innocent girls making subtle advances towards each other? If so, this anime is being made for you. The August issue of Manga Time Kirara Miracle has announced that an anime adaptation of Tachi’s 4-panel manga Sakura Trick is in production. The story is centered around two girls named Yuu and Haruka who were best friends in middle school, but once they entered high school, they found themselves sitting on opposite sides of the classroom and seeing different girls. When Haruka is afraid of drifting away from Yuu, they decide to do something special to tie them together forever. That “something special”, as you may have guessed, is a kiss!

Source: Yaraon

Cast members for new anime Log Horizon announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cast-members-anime-log-horizonannounced/ By SkerryK on June 14th, 2013

Haruka is the pink-haired girl, and Yuu is the blonde one. Additional cast members for the animated adaptation of Mamare Touno’s fantasy novel Log Horizon— scheduled to hit the airwaves this autumn —have been announced. Daiki Yamashita will be playing high school student Touya. The role of Minori, Touya’s sister, will be played by Nao Tamura. 2

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Eriko Matsui will be taking on the role of Isuzu, and Tetsuya Kakihara will be playing the dashing young Runderuhausu.

Tetsuya Kakihara as Runderuhausu Daiki Yamashita as Touya “It feel like feels my dream has come true, so I’m incredibly nervous and excited!” Yamshita said. According to the strong-hearted actor, it has always been a dream of his to enter the world of a game and fight with swords and magic.

Source: Mantan, Imdb

Gundam.info teases a new Gundam anime production in the works Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gundam-info-teases-gundam-animeproduction-works/ By spartanchef on June 14th, 2013

Nao Tamura as Minori The rest of the cast is just as enthusiastic. Tamura, the actress who will be portraying Minori, expressed her intention to accurately represent Minori’s sincerity, hardworking character, and strength.

‘Mobile Suit Gundam’, ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta’, ‘Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ’, ‘Mobile Fighter G Gundam’, ‘Turn A Gundam’, ‘After War Gundam X’… the list goes on, and now, gundam fans are asking if there will ever be a new series? Now, a new official Gundam site has been launched and it teases us with a new Gundam. Eriko Matsui as Isuzu Matsui, who will be playing Isuzu— a character known for their trademark braided hair and freckles— said that she’s going to do her best to convey the colorful Isuzu’s charm.

However, the only thing the site has revealed thus far are what the Gundam itself looks like, the exact time and date of the announcement and the words “1/144 GUNDAM MOBILE”

Kakihara, an experienced actor appearing in over 50 titles, stated that he’ll strive to build drama by portraying the complexity of his self-confident character. If you doubt he can do it, take a look at his record. Kakihara has over a decade of experience, and he’s lent his talents to hit anime series like Blue Exorcist, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and CLAMP’s XXXHolic.

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Published by: VR-Zone By Zenko on June 14th, 2013

Will this be a new anime? An OVA? A new HG kit maybe? Will this be part of the UC timeline? Or maybe CE (SEED)? Or maybe itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new timeline entirely? All these answers will be revealed soon. The official Gundam website, gundam.info has reported the the much anticipated video will be released July 2, 2013 and will be streamed live at 11:59 am (Japan time) via the Bandai channel Minna de Stream.

Virtual Reality is not only gaining ground in the way we look at it, but also in the way we move through it with the Omni system. You may remember us talking about the Oculus Rift, and the strides it has helped make in bringing VR closer to a reality for gamers and VOCALOID enthusiasts. One company at E3 this year, though, is helping to take it one step farther, moving people away from a need for a keyboard to using their body as the controller. Omni, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first walking controller device developed by Virtuix, will place players directly into the game to walk around, run, jump, and slide around the game environment.

Of course, the gaming system still needs motion tracking, but luckily that can be achieved with a Kinect and a set of special shoes. The shoes, which have a small ball on the sole and high friction surface, not only allow you to run on the grooved surface of the system, but also allow the Kinect to properly track your motions. Combined with the Oculus Rift, which gives a one-to-one view of where you look, it can allow for full exploration of a game without the fuss of analog stick controlled cameras. Judging from the looks of the new mobile suit, it looks like a cross between the Freedom Gundam and the Gundam X. Gundam fans worldwide are widely anticipating the news so stay tuned for more information .

Omni and Oculus Rift team up for emersive VR experience Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/omni-oculus-rift-team-affordable-vrexperience/

With AR markers on items it would also allow the Kinect to read items and movements as in-game objects, so if you are playing a first person shooter you can carry your weapon with you in real life. In this case, the markers come from the RazerHydra, something previously used as the virtual hands of gamers on Nico Nico demo videos.

June 14th, 2013

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PS3 love: Killer is Dead and Tales of Symphonia Unisonant Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ps3-love-killer-dead-talessymphonia-unisonant/ By hikarucon on June 14th, 2013

As you can imagine, running and walking everywhere to keep up with a fast paced game can get tiring. That’s why the Omni has the advantage of claiming their controller will also help gamers burn unwanted calories and stay fit. It is even compared to fitness equipment during a demo video, where they show off its space-saving ability with the removable upper ring. It’s not just adults that will be staying fit either, as gamers as young as ten are advertised using it, the belt that is used as stability support being fully adjustable. Games that have been shown using this combined technology include Half-Life 2, and for Japanese audiences a game that originally started as a modded version of City 17 from the same game, About Esther. Because of its support with Occulus Rift, though, it will be able to support any games out of the box on that system, so long as they have keyboard input, and that includes Skyrim and Team Fortress 2. The way the system works is by reading your motions as gesture controls in the Kinect, which are then linked to keystroke inputs and allow you to explore the game environment as you see fit.

The creator of the device, Jan Goetgeluk, said that what he really wants is to bring the fun and amusement of videogames to everyone, not get rich off of his idea. True to his word, the Omni’s Kickstarter page says they will be offering Do It Yourself versions of the system, so that those in those in the community who think they can improve on the design have every ability to do so.

In most of the trailers, it is shown that Mondo can change his weapons to suit the situation at hand easily during battle with his cybernetic left arm. So far, several types have been introduced but today, a fourth type of weapon was briefly introduced, the “Freeze shooter” which will freeze enemies and make them easier prey for players.

For those wanting to back the future of VR controls, the Kickstarter page is here, and will be open until July 22 for those in the US and July 23 for those in Singapore and Asia. It has already surpassed its goal, and should be announcing a stretch-goal soon. Source: Famitsu As some of you already might know, in one of the episodes of Killer is Dead, players will take place on the moon upon request of a moon denizen of the moon. Moon river The goddess of the moon who lives on the dark side of the moon is shrouded in mystery and beauty. Even though 5

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Mondo has never met this woman before in his life, he finds that he has an unexplainable attraction to her although presuming he already has an attraction to a several century old vampire, nothing is too out of the ordinary.

Mission: The man who stole the moon

The lady, Moon River, requests that the man name David who has taken over the moon be executed. Mondoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boss, Brian, was initially against the mission but Mondo was on board, not for the mission but for the reward- a kiss from the fair lady of the moon. With that sole reason driving Mondo, he heads for the moon to find David and execute him.

Killer is Dead hits PS3 and Xbox360 August 1st, 2013.

Hit RPG Tales of Symphonia, originally released on the Gamecube in 2003, is getting a remake on the Playstation 3. Included in this update is not just the original game but also its sequel, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World that was released for the Wii in 2008 making this the ultimate Tales of Symphonia experience.

Tales of Symphonia Unisonant

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Of course being on the PS3 means that players will experience the game as never before in glorious HD. Whether you’re in a battle or watching a cut scene, the revamped graphics will definitely be something to behold.

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Something to get even more excited about is that ufotable will be including illustrations for the game when you preorder the game. Beautiful illustrations and graphics make for a great game and lots of hype. Tales of Symphonia Unisonant hits the PS3 October 10th, 2013 for 6,980 yen (approximately $70). Don’t forget to preorder it for all the extra goods!

Veteran voice actor Kenji Utsumi has passed away Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/veteran-voice-actor-kenji-utsumipassed/ By hittokiri on June 13th, 2013

Ever feel like your party’s outfits could be changed for the better or that a certain outfit from another Tales game might suit a certain character better? Well now your dreams can be realized, in Tales of Symphonia Unisonant, players will be able to change outfits of characters to basically any character from any of the Tales games.

Veteran voice actor Kenji Utsumi, who voiced Alex Luis Armstrong in Full Metal Alchemist, Raoh in Fist of the North Star and Braiking Boss in Shinzou Ningen Casshern has passed away. He was 75 years old. He had been hospitalized in a Shinjuku hospital for peritonitis, a condition where the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs are inflamed. Born in 1937, Kenji Utsumi was the youngest of 5 brothers. In 1955, he joined NHK’s theater company and began 7

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working on radio dramas. He made his anime debut in Ookami Shounen Ken (愛愛愛愛愛) as One-eyed Jack. In 1984, he voiced Raoh, the primary rival and adversary to the main character Kenshiro in Fist of the North Star. That same year, he founded Ken Productions, a voice talent management agency. He received the life time achievement award during the third Seiyu Awards in 2009.

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According to their official Facebook page, MUCC will be releasing a new single this September. Although the title is not yet known, the single will mark the end of nearly a year long silence from MUCC since their last album, ShangriLa, was released in November of last year. While this is definitely uplifting news, prepare for something on the freakier side. MUCC’s song “Kyorankyosho -21st Century Baby-” will be the theme song for upcoming horror movie Fuan no Tane. The movie will hit theaters July 20 and feature a remixed version of the MUCC classic: “Kyorankyosho RMX for Fuan no Tane”.

Kenji Utsumi’s passing is the second death in as many weeks involving a notable voice actor. Last week saw the passing of One Piece voice actor Takkou Ishimori. Kenji Utsumi is survived by his wife, fellow voice actress Michiko Nomura. Source : Sponichi Annex

MUCC to do theme song for upcoming movie ‘Fuan no Tane’, a new single on the horizon Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/mucc-theme-song-upcoming-moviefuan-tane-single-horizon/ By KaleNagasaki on June 13th, 2013

If you want to check out the official site for the movie, click here. For a brief overview, Fuan no Tane (“Seeds of Anxiety”) is originally a graphic novel by Masaaki Nakamura. A phenomenal artist, Masaaki brings you scenes that are no less than chilling and haunting. Fuan no Tane features seemingly unconnected one-shots that play off of humanity’s basic fears, such as the faceless face, the unsolved cliffhanger, and the devilish infant. Listen to MUCC’s “21st Century Baby” and let me know if you think it fits the scary mood of Fuan no Tane.

June 14th, 2013

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Dating sim ‘Kisaragi Gold★Star’ coming to PSP September 5 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/dating-sim-kisaragi-gold %E2%98%85star-coming-psp-september/ By SunSoftware on June 13th, 2013

The PSP version of Kisaragi Gold Star will include a cute, new heroine named Mika, formerly a minor character, along with her own scenarios and event scenes. Of course, the adult scenes will be removed to make it appropriate for the PSP. All of the major characters are listed below. Futami Nitta

The popular dating sim brand Saga Planets is porting one of their Four Seasons games to the PSP, for all of you who like portable dating simulators and romantic comedies. Kisaragi Gold★Star -Nonstop Go Go!!-, the upcoming PSP port of the 2010 adult dating sim Kisaragi Gold★Star, will be released on September 9.

The main character and a second-year student who works part-time jobs to support his younger sister, in addition to doing all of the housework and taking care of his friends. He tends to worry a lot, but keeps working without any complaints, and always puts other people before himself. Saya Endou (CV: Mei Kojima)

The story is centered around six childhood friends who live in an old apartment building and attend Kisaragi Academy. Each of them has a special talent, except the main character, Futami Nitta, who looks after the others like a mother figure. In fact, Futami’s friends have no ability to make a living, so they always depend on Futami. Together, these six friends share a large dream…

A cheerful, honest, and popular girl who smiles at everyone she meets. Her goal is to become an idol in order to to give everyone happiness. As well as singing, she can play the guitar and writes songs with naive, girly lyrics. Even though she’s poor, she likes to give people presents, and always has a present for someone, even if there’s no special occasion. If it’s someone’s birthday, she will splurge on an even fancier present. On the other hand, if she receives a present from someone, she will feel extremely embarassed. Tsubasa Haotone (CV: Kozue Yoshizumi)

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A smart, clean, and cute girl who acts as a mediator between her friends. She is extremely popular and is the number one marriage candidate among the female students. However, she has a rough, competitive, and stubborn personality gained from living in the slums. She has a crush on Futami and regularly daydreams about him, but she is a clumsy girl who fails to communicate her feelings to him. If anyone tries to come between her and Futami, she unleashes her “hidden version”.

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An refined, old-fashioned girl who speaks in an old dialect. She gives off an elegant vibe that makes her hard to approach, but she gets lonely easily. She loves drawing and often sketches her friends. She likes looking at happy faces, so much so that she will intimidatingly stare at them. She doesn’t like talking freely, but she always carries around a sketchbook and puts her feelings down in scribbles. Mika Kuon (CV: Noriko Minagawa)

Ichika Nitta (CV: Fuuri Samoto)

Futami’s stubborn sister who can’t be tamed by anyone but her brother. Even though she’s small, she loves kendo, and she hates losing. She is interested in sports and trains her body to become stronger. She also loves food, but she eats cheap sweets in private because she thinks it’s embarassing.

The heroine new to the PSP version and a vocal music student who trains at a production company and loves Saya. She’s an eccentric girl with an unusual behavior and clothes. Hitomi Nagarekawa (CV: Yuuta Souma)

Mikoto Fujimaru (CV: Airi Sakuno)

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A boy whose tall figure and pretty face make him popular with girls. When he was a child, he was approached by a lot of boys. As a result, he is a huge man-hater. The only guy he likes is Futami, whom he often clings to, causing suspicious rumors. He also likes to design clothes. Eiko Furamine (CV: Keiko Suzuki)

Futami’s homeroom teacher and an advisor in the vocal music department. She has a strict policy, but she also worries about her students, especially Futami. She graduated from the same music college as Nanako and is considered a prodigy. Touri Kirishima (CV: Ai Fukada) The vice president of the student council and the president of the public morals committee, Tsukiyomi Festival committee, breeding club, and kendo club. She is polite and formal, but she can also be very friendly. She views Saya and her friends as enemies, since they often don’t follow school regulations. People call her “Flamingo”, even though she hates the nickname. Nanako Yomogida (CV: Michi Tanaka)

A mysterious girl who sometimes appears in front of Futami’s apartment building. She has an elegant appearance and is actually a first-year at Kisaragi Academy. For a better look at Kisaragi Gold Star, you can watch the opening movie of the PC version below, accompanied by the catchy theme song, Rolling Star★San.

An older sister figure who works at her parents’ coffee shop, named Istanbul. Futami and his friends have known her for years and often ask her for advice. During busy days, they also work part-time. She has a moody personality, and her shop is famous for its risky “moody lunch”. Many people visit just to see her — and never come again.

Kisaragi Gold Star -Nonstop Go Go!!- will be released on September 5. Are you interested in discovering these characters’ dreams?

Sanae Okabe (CV: Aiko Ookubo)

June 14th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 13th, 2013

With the third season of the Milky Holmes series titled, ‘Futari Wa Milky Holmes‘ premiering this July, new voice cast members for the anime have been announced at last. The voices of Kazuyuki Okitsu, Ikumi Nakagami, Aimi Terakawa and rookie voice actress, Ayasa Itou will the latest additions to an already stellar voice cast. They will be joining Izumi Kitta (Cordelia Glauca), Mikoi Sasaki (Hercule Barton), Sora Tokui (Nero Yuzurixaki), Suzuko Mimori (Sherlock Shellinford) and Yoshino Nanjou (Kokoro Akechi) who will be reprising their respective roles in the anime.

Source: Dengeki

Aimi Terekawa and Ayasa Itou join the Futari wa Milky Holmes cast Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/aimi-terekawa-ayasa-itou-joinfutari-wa-milky-holmes-cast/

Voicing the role of Kazumi will be Aimi Terakawa. She is known for voicing Suiko in the ‘Card Fight! Vanguard‘ series.

June 14th, 2013

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Milky Holmes members Cordelia, Hercule, Nero and Sherlock will be singing the opening theme titled “Glory Glowin’★ Days“. The anime’s end theme titled “Session Beginner!” will be done by newcomers Kazumi and Alice. Source: Yaraon

Kazumi Voiced by: Aimi Terakawa ‘Futari Wa Milky Holmes‘ will mark the debut of rookie voice actress Ayasa Itou. She will be making her voice acting debut as the voice of Alice.

Alice Voiced by: Ayasa Itou Yokohama police officer Keiko Totsugawa will be voiced by Ikumi Nakagami. She has voiced Yukari Akiyama from ‘Girlz Und Panzer‘. Kazuyuki Okitsu who is known for voicing Jonathan Jostar from ‘Jojo’s Bizaare Adventure‘ and Moid from ‘Rinne no Lagrange‘ will also be joining the voice cast. He will be voicing Shion, Alice’s overly-doting brother.

‘Futari Wa Milky Holmes‘ will be directed by ‘Azumanga Daioh!‘ and ‘Angelic Layer’ director Nishikiori Hiroshi. Series Composition will be done by Hideki Shirane who has worked for ‘Hayate no Gotoku!! (2nd season)‘, ‘Maburaho‘ and ‘Queen’s Blade‘. The animation will be produced by J.C. Staff.

June 15th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Go behind the scenes at Good Smile Company [video] Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/scenes-good-smile-company-video/ By SunSoftware on June 15th, 2013

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performs at blood donation event Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kyary-pamyu-pamyu-performsblood-donation-event/ By SkerryK on June 15th, 2013

On June 13, model and singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performed at the “LOVE in Action Meeting (LIVE)” event, a blood donation public awareness program. In Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan arena, the eccentric singer encouraged a crowd of over 8,000 spectators to donate blood. “I heard that blood donors in their teens and twenties are decreasing. That’s why I donated blood, so that everyone can smile,” she called out. You’ve seen their amazing scale figures and nendoroids on this website. Now, if you ever wanted a good look at Good Smile Company, Miku Channel has you covered. The Official Miku Channel on YouTube has posted a video that goes behind the scenes of the figure manufacturer Good Smile Company. The video is taken in their headquarters in Tokyo and gives you a look at their office spaces, where the employees work surrounded by their own figures, followed by an interview with CEO Aki Takanori about his passion for Hatsune Miku. The dialogue is in Japanese, but fortunately, the entire video comes with English subtitles. For figure enthusiasts, there is also footage of the production room where the figures are actually molded, painted, and assembled, and you get to see the Yukata Miku, Natsutsubaki Version, being created. Of course, there are a ton of other Miku figures, as well. How many do you recognize? For more information on Good Smile Company and their products, you can visit their official website, or just keep reading this website, where we’ll keep you updated on the fruits of their love and labor. Source: Miku Channel

Model, musician Kyary Pamyu Pamyu This same event has been held four times this year by Japan’s Red Cross, as part of a blood donation public awareness campaign. Musical groups like AAA, singer-songwriter Ms. OOJA, singer miwa, and musical group “mihimaru GT” also supported the cause with their music. 1

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As always, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu gave a colorful performance. She taught the audience about choreography while singing six songs, including her hit single, “Invader Invader.” The energetic star also jumped up and down while making announcements.

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The neighbors were definitely wondering what on earth was going on, but the event was a huge success. The same event took place the next day, on June 14. Musical artists “Aqua Timez,” “girl next door,” Angela Aki, and Anna Tsuchiya performed. Source: Mantan

Cover for AKB48 Idol Mayu Watanabe’s new single chosen Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cover-image-akb48-idol-mayuwatanabes-4th-single-chosen/ By SkerryK on June 15th, 2013

Actress Saki Takei In the MC corner, actress Saki Takei— this year’s “20 Year Old Blood Donation” campaign character —appeared as a secret guest. An astonished crowd went wild. “Amazing! It’s Budokan!” Takei responded. Takei went on to confidently take a blood donation quiz, answering all the questions perfectly. “I think a little courage can lead to a smile. When you donate blood, even if it’s just a little, it’s great if you can make someone smile,” Takei said.

The jacket illustration for AKB48 idol Mayu “Mayuyu” Watanabe’s new single, Rappa Renshuuchuu— on sale July 10 —has been confirmed. The picture below, created by artist “Miyoro,” won the honor of being the jacket illustration. It also won Watanabe’s praise. “Anyhow, it’s very lovely, and pleasing to the eye,” Watanabe said. “Overall, as far as the touch of the art and the use of color, it’s splendid!!”

Singer miwa During the finale, all the performers took part in a birthday surprise for miwa. They presented the singer, whose birthday was June 15, with a birthday cake. Next, everyone on stage (and almost 8,000 spectators) sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

The winning image, by the artist “Miyoro.” The jacket image was chosen as part of a public contest. It was announced with this description: “Commemorative illustration contest for the release of Mayu Watanabe’s 4th single~ Your illustration becomes the new song’s jacket cover.” 2

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The theme for these submissions— amusement park —was announced on the illustration submission site, pixiv. In about 3 weeks, over 1,200 illustrations were submitted! Of those submissions, 150 of them— that’s over 10% —were from foreign users.

Mayu “Mayuyu” Watanabe of AKB48 Of course, there could only be one winner. But 13 other excellent works, impartially judged by Watanabe herself, will be enclosed in a publication book with the CD.

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Scatterbug is classified as the Kofuki Pokemon, and stands at .3 meters. The kofuki is a type of Japanese insect that can be found on tropical plants, and resemble Vivillon in color and shape. It’s evolution, Spewpa, presents a first for cocoon-state bug Pokemon, as it can learn the move protect. It has the same classification as Scatterbug, and is also .3 meters tall.

Litleo (Shishiko) is a new lion Pokemon that has the signature move Nobel Roar, a normal type move that is identical in effect to growl. It is a dual fire-normal type standing at .6 meters, and is classified as the Boiling Pokemon.

“In spite of the short time, I received over 1,200 submissions. I’m honestly very thankful!! Getting to see everyone’s charming work, overflowing with individuality, made me happy♪” Mayuyu wrote in a recent thank-you message. Source: Mantan

New Pokemon and Trainers abound in latest Pokemon X and Y announcements Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/pokemon-trainers-abound-latestpokemon-announcements/ By Zenko on June 15th, 2013

CoroCoro to the fourth game play trailer, news on the latest Pokemon X and Y games continues to be released. During E3, the Pokemon round-table discussion showed off some new features and a handful of new Pokemon. Now, with a CoroCoro leak and a confirmation in the form of a new game play trailer, even more new faces are making their way to fans of the series. Two of the new Pokemon announced are directly related to a previously announced one. Scatterbug (Kofukimushi) and Spewpa (Kofuurai) will be the caterpillar and cocoon preevolutions of Vivillon.

Finally, Flabebe (Furabebe) is among the Pokemon that will be considered the new fairy type. Known as the Flower Pokemon, it will also know the new move Fairy Wind. Not much is known about this move other than the fact that it is able to one hit KO dragon type Pokemon in battle demonstrations. It stands at .1 meters, but it is not listed whether this height is with the flower it carries around or not.

Aside from Pokemon, details on some of the areas and trainers were also announced. Like the previous Black and White games, you will have more than one friend to challenge you during your journey to becoming Pokemon master. Instead of having two, though, you will now have four friends with different goals. You will all start in the same town, Vaniville (Asame) Town. Shauna, the trainer that dresses like Gothelle, is the enthusiastic leader of the group who will force you to pick a nickname early on. Tierno, the more burly male character, has a goal of 3

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becoming a famous dancer, and is always looking for ways to incorporate Pokemon moves into his dances. Trevor, the smallest member of the group is also the most ambitious, hoping to complete his Pokedex before everyone else. The final member will be the character you did not choose to play as, and will be your next door neighbor and training rival.

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 15th, 2013

Viola, a professional Pokemon photographer, will be one of the gym leaders you must face and specializes in bug type Pokemon. Her gym is located in Santalune (Hakudan) City, which will also host another new character. Alexa (Pansy) is the older sister of Viola, and a journalist for the city. She is set to appear in the Pokemon TV anime on July 18.

Apart from new characters and Pokemon, a new means of transportation, roller skates, has also been shown in the demo. Whether this will replace the bicycle or not is still unknown. Source: Serebii, Pokemon

Aya Hirano, Ryota Ohsaka, Daisuke Namikawa and original ‘Gatchaman’ voice actor Katsuji Mori join ‘Gatchaman Crowds’ voice cast Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/aya-hirano-ryota-ohsaka-daisukenamikawa-original-gatchaman-voice-actor-katsuji-mori-join-gatchamancrowds-voice-cast/

Earlier this month, Maaya Uchida was announced to play the lead role of Hajime Ichinose for the new Gatchman. Now, more than 40 years after the original ‘Space Ninja Team Gatchaman’ first aired in 1972, Ken “The Eagle” Washio’s voice actor, Katsuji Mori will be joining the voice cast for the new Gatchaman series, ‘Gatchaman Crowds‘. This time, he will voice J.J. Robinson, the guardian of the Earth who recruits Hajime Ichinose. Besides voicing Ken Washio, he has also voiced Garma Zabi from the original ‘Mobile Suit Gundam‘ and Gemini Cloth from ‘Saint Seiya‘.

A stellar voice cast will be joining Maaya Uchida and Katsuji Mori. Voicing Paiman will be the controversial voice actress, Aya Hirano. She is best known for voicing Haruhi Suzumiya from ‘The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya’, Misa Amane from ‘Death Note’ and Lucy Heartfilia from ‘Fairy Tail‘.

June 15th, 2013

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Sugune Tachibana will be voiced by Ryota Ohsaka. He is known for providing the voices of Haruto from ‘Valvrave the Liberator‘ and Maou Sadao from ‘Hataraku Maou-Sama!’.

Jō Hibiki will be voiced by Daisuke Namikawa who is known for providing the voices of Waver Velvet from ‘Fate Zero’, Italy from the Hetalia series and Yashiro Isana from K.

Also part of the voice cast will be Daisuke Hosomi who will be voicing O.D. He is known for voicing Capt. Ayumi from ‘Tsuritama‘.

Providing the voice of Rui Ninomiya will be Ayumu Murase who has voiced Recon from ‘Sword Art Online’ as well as Patrick Hoyle from ‘Ginga Kikoutai Majestic Prince’.

Mamoru Miyano who is known for voicing Light Yagami/ Kira from ‘Death Note’, Setsuna F. Seiei from ‘Mobile Suit Gundam 00‘ and Death the Kid from ‘Soul Eater’ will be voicing Berg Katze. Completing the announced voice cast will be Sakura Tange who will voice President X. She is known for voicing Sakura Kinomoto from ‘Cardcaptor Sakura’ and Violet from ‘Dog Days‘. The opening song for the series titled ‘Crowds‘ will be done by White Ash while Maaya Uchida will sing the end song titled ‘Innocent Note‘. The series will be directed by ‘Mononoke’ director Kenji Nakamura. ‘Gatchaman Crowds’ will premiere in Japan July 12, 2013. Source: Mainichi

New ‘The Walking Dead’ DLC: ‘The Walking Dead: 400 Days’ Kotori Koiwai who is known for voicing the Hair Queen Iwai from ‘Dansai Bunri no Crime Edge’ will be voicing Utsuutsu.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/the-walking-dead-dlc-the-walkingdead-400-days/ By KaleNagasaki on June 14th, 2013

June 15th, 2013

After the award-winning zombie game The Walking Dead, are we really surprised that the sequel to come later in 2013 already has so much hype? However, before jumping right into Season Two, you better get the whole story with the DLC 400 Days that includes an extra episode of five stories.

Published by: VR-Zone By SkerryK on June 14th, 2013

To play 400 Days, you need to have at least the first episode of Season One installed. Even though, after this minimum requirement, you can immediately begin 400 Days, TellTale recommends completing Season One. After all, 400 Days links Season One and Season Two, so the choices you made in Season One will influence 400 Days, and likewise the choices you make in 400 Days will influence Season Two. Consequently, it’s a good idea to keep all your game data saved and play everything on the same platform. Each of the five episodes of 400 Days will introduce a new character: Bonnie, Shel, Wyatt, Russell, and Vince. The concept behind 400 Days is, if we count the first day of the zombie outbreak as Day One, what transpired for the next three-hundred and ninety-nine days at a truck stop. Of course, you can expect the same tough choices, gory scenes, and great graphics of The Walking Dead.

The best part about it is the price: only $4.99. While TellTale never explicitly told (ironic, right?) us whether characters from Season One will appear in 400 Days or Season Two, I wouldn’t be too surprised if some of the characters that survived did make an appearance. 400 Days will be available for PSN, XBLA, PC, iOS, and Mac in July. The version for the PS Vita, which will include Season One and 400 Days, will come later in August. Prepare for the zombie apocalypse until then! Source: IGNAsia

High☆Speed Release date announced Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/swimming-anime-free-announced/

On June 8, Kyoto Animation will release High ☆ Speed, the novel that upcoming anime Free! is based on. Unlike the anime, High ☆ Speed focuses on the elementary school days of the swim team. 6th grade student Haruka Nanase, his childhood friend Makoto Tachibana, and their younger classmate, Nagisa Hazuki, participate in the swimming club. The boys compete with rival transfer student Rin Matsuoka, becoming true athletes in the process.

High ☆ Speed wona Kyoto Animation honorable mention, so it’s definitely worth checking out. It even has a website up, so be sure to check it for updates! If July 8 seems like too long of a wait, don’t worry. A screening event of Free! will be held on June 26 to tide curious fans over. Until then, you can check out the anime’s official homepage and see the latest key visuals and character promotional videos. Free! is scheduled to be televised this July. Fans are pretty excited— on June 11, Kyoto Animation’s official Twitter account for the show exceeded 40,000 followers.

June 15th, 2013

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Type-Moon fans, are you excited for the upcoming spin-off of Fate/stay night? If you’re still on the fence, you should watch this funny trailer, featuring a lot of magic and familiar faces. Free! dives into the story of these boys and their high-speed journey. In the swimming pool, the bonds of friendship hold them afloat. Clumsily taking on opponents while growing in mind and body, they make their way to adulthood one stroke at a time.

Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya is based on a manga by Hiroshi Hiroyama. The star of the anime is Illyasviel von Einzbern, a normal school girl who gains the power to transform into a magical girl and collect mystical Class Cards. It’s a quirky spin-off of Fate/stay night, but there are many familiar faces, including Rin, Luvia, and Shirou, as well as new characters like Illya’s rival, Miyu. In this new, two-minute trailer, we finally get to see Illya in action, accompanied by the opening theme performed by ChouCho, and Magical Ruby kicking off by saying: Nice to meet you! I am the lovable, righteous, and wonderful Magical Ruby-chan! Would you like to become a magical girl?

Most of the production team has already been assembled. The head director will be Hiroko Utsumi of Animation Do. Masahiro Yokotani will be the series organizer. The opening theme has been left in the capable hands of musical group OLDCODEX, and the five main cast member will perform the ending theme.

Along with the trailer, the studio Silver Link has revealed details on the limited edition of the first Blu-ray/DVD volume of Prisma Illya (yes, before the anime has even started airing!).

Source: Excite.com

Magical girl anime ‘Fate/ kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya’ gets new trailer and Blu-ray bonuses Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/magical-girl-anime-fatekaleid-linerprisma%E2%98%86illya-trailer-blu-ray-bonuses/ By SunSoftware on June 14th, 2013

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The first volume will be released on September 27, and the Blu-ray disc and limited edition DVD will include: • A special drama CD, “The Emiya Family Gathering! A Happy Family Circle CD”, featuring Illya’s parents, plus Kiritsugu and Irisviel (what are those two doing in this spin-off?).

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Phoenix Wright’s greatest rival and greatest ally, the genius prosecutor Miles Edgeworth returns to the Ace Attorney series. In this installment of the Ace Attorney series, Edgeworth has risen to the position of Attorney General. Even though he has risen to such a high position, he has not neglected his never ending search for the truth.

• An exclusive, 5-minute animated short. • A 100-page illustration booklet by Hiroshi Hiroyama. • The first trailer of the anime, updated with more dialogue. • A specially illustrated box and disc case • An Archer Class Card The Blu-ray package will cost 7,980 yen, while the limited edition DVD package will cost 6,930 yen, and the normal edition DVD, 5,880 yen. If you’re not sure whether you should get the limited edition, you can watch the anime first when it starts airing on July 12. Otherwise, you can pre-order the Blu-ray package right now out of blind faith. As if the anime isn’t enough, Kadokawa Games is also developing a Prisma Illya game for the 3DS, which is slated for release on September 26, just one day before the first Bluray volume! Type-Moon fans, you better start saving money.

Trucy Wright will also be making an appearance again. For those of you who do not recall, Trucy is a bright and energetic girl who was adopted by Phoenix when she was 8 years old after the disappearance of her father.

Source: Moe Otanews 1, 2

Spirits become suspects in Phoenix Wright 5? Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/spirits-suspects-phoenix-wright-5/ By hikarucon on June 14th, 2013

June 15th, 2013

Her special skill is using magic especially her “Magic Panties” act where she will pull out objects that are larger than she should be able to fit in her panties.

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The prime suspect of the murder is Tenma tarou who is a legend of the nine-tailed fox village. Tenma Tarou terrorized the village until he was finally defeated at the claws of the nine-tailed fox that protected the village. It seems that the fear of Tenma Tarou is still deeply rooted within their village if they are assuming that it was him.

The 2nd chapter in the game starts out with Apollo Justice waiting for Trucy to start a case. Apollo’s been out of the lawyer game for a bit but is getting back into the swing of things. He picks up a case and travels to the Nine-tailed fox village with Trucy. The witness to the crime, Yumemi Tenma, says that she saw Tenma Tarou do the deed.

And then amidst the fun and games in the nine-tailed fox village, there’s a murder and the suspect is a ghost. The victims in this case are two people who have been killed in the head of the village’s office. In the office, they find black wings and strange foot steps that look like some kind of ghost left them.

The police suspect that the suspect’s motive was out of anger and desperation due to the fact that the leader of the Tenma village was trying to merge it with the nine-tailed village.

June 15th, 2013

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The movie will be a CG movie adaptation of Leiji Matsumoto’s 1977 manga. ‘Space Pirate Captain Harlock‘ was also adapted into a 42-episode anime which ran from 1978-1979. The series follows Captain Harlock, an outcast turned pirate and his crew aboard the Starship Arcadia. The story is set at a time when mankind has been thrown into despair because of constant defeats by invaders. Because of this, Captain Harlock rebels against the Earth’s government and becomes a space pirate to fight mankind’s oppressors.

Unfortunately, that’s all that has been revealed so far, but stay tuned for more information leading up to the July 25, 2013 release (in Japan) and Fall 2013 release everywhere else.

Toei Animation releases new official ‘Space Pirate Captain Harlock’ trailer Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/toei-animation-releases-officialspace-pirate-captain-harlock-trailer/ By spartanchef on June 14th, 2013

With a budget estimated to be over 30 million US dollars, ‘Space Pirate Captain Harlock‘ is Toei Animation’s biggest and most expensive project thus far. The movie is directed by ‘Appleseed‘ director Shinji Aramaki and is written by Harutoshi Fukui, the writer of ‘Mobile Suit Gundam UC‘ (Unicorn). The movie will be released in Japan September 7, 2013. Source: Harlock Movie official website

The notorious, freedom-loving space pirate, Captain Harlock, along with the crew of the Arcadia, are back and they look better than ever. With the movie being released this September, Toei Animation has released its latest action-packed trailer. The trailer featured Haruma Miura as the voice of Captain Harlock and the music of ONE OK ROCK, titled “Be The Light“. 10

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

New ‘IS: Infinite Stratos’ spinoff web manga to be based on Charlotte Dunois Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/is-infinite-stratos-spin-off-webmanga-based-charlotte-dunois/ By spartanchef on June 17th, 2013

‘IS: Infinite Stratos’ is a Japanese light novel written by Izuru Yumizuru. The first season of its anime adaptation premiered January 2011 and its second season will premiere later this fall.

More bad news for fans of Microsoft consoles Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/bad-news-fans-microsoft-consoles/ By Zenko on June 17th, 2013

With the latest anime season of ‘IS: Infinite Stratos‘ premiering this fall, Overlap Bunko has announced that a new spin-off manga based on the series will be released. The new spin-off manga will be titled ‘IS Sugar & Honey‘ and will follow the lovely French IS pilot Charlotte Dunois. Charlotte or Char is the pilot of the orange Raphael Revive Custom II and is voiced by Kana Hanazawa in the anime.

Still recovering from Sony’s attacks at E3, Microsoft continues to stumble with their XBox consoles. Microsoft and the XBOne have been making headlines recently, but not necessarily for the right reasons. There is no good news for fans now, either, as the Xbox Support Twitter account has revealed that their policy on banning is not what fans would call encouraging. As laid out in their Terms of Use for the XBox One, if you are banned on Xbox Live you will no longer have access to any of your games. It is not just a temporary loss of access either, but the licenses you have to the games will also be invalidated because of the ban.

‘IS Sugar & Honey’ will be written by Takako Hitsuji who himself has written many fan-made IS manga. Overlap Bunko will be releasing the new spin-off manga online, June 25 (Japan time) and will be released monthly. In their blog, Overlap Bunko has promised that this new IS love comedy manga will make you smile. 1

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If you were wondering if you might get a refund on those games, they made it clear that, at least for the Xbox 360, you’re out of luck. As soon as the banhammer hits your account, you lose all access to any games you own digitally and any online content. Presumably, this policy will carry over to the XBox One, where it would literally render your machine useless until you register a new account with Microsoft.

Hopefully, good news is on the way for those who have ordered the XBox One, which so far has a disappointing policy on games for fans of the system. Source: Twitter

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Miku was not the only exciting character to show up to Toy Show 2013. Takara Tomy also brought along Madoka and Homura from Madoka Magica for fans to admire as well. Under the line Licca Rise Mahou Shoujou Madoka Magica, the dolls will be made in the same way normal Licca-chan dolls are. They will, however, also recreate the items and clothing worn by the heroines of the popular anime. The price of the dolls will be 6800 yen each and go on sale for preorder on July 1.

Apart from the Licca-Chan dolls, there will also be a collaboration with the Koeda-chan line that features all of the different magical girls in a petite form and will be 714 yen each.

Licca-Chan shows off Madoka and Miku dolls Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/lica/ By Zenko on June 17th, 2013

Unfortunately, the preorders for the Miku version of Liccachan is already sold out as her release date is coming up soon on July 13, but there’s still a chance to pick up the Madoka and Homura versions. The newest Licca-chan dolls were on display over the weekend, and they included not only Hatsune Miku but some magical girls as well. You won’t have to make a contract to see the latest additions to the Licca-Chan doll lineup. The Hatsune Miku version of Licca-chan was previously leaked when it was accidentally listed with an image last month. During Toy Show 2013 over the weekend, she was officially revealed by Takara Tomy. Her arrival was so anticipated that not only was she set on her own pedestal, but her own pop-up advertisement near her display as well.

Source: AnimeAnime

Miku-Pack 02 brings a bundle of joy to fans of the VOCALOID star Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/miku-pack-02-brings-bundle-joyfans-vocaloid-star/ By Zenko on June 17th, 2013

Fans of the green-haired singing star Hatsune Miku will be glad to know the next issue of Miku-Pack is out and she’s brought some of her Crypton friends along for the ride. 2

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The magazine Miku-Pack 02 might seem like it costs a bit, retailing at 980 yen, but it comes bundled with so many fun things that Miku fans are bound to be happy with it. Put out by Ascii Media Works, it features a CD with works by several VOCALOID producers, interviews and several illustration pages that can always double as posters.

Goods and interviews are not the only thing to be found within Miku-Pack 02. Specially themed Senbon Zakura illustrations are also to be found. They are there not only to look good, but to also promote the second novel in the series.

The HATSUNE Appearance! Hatsune Summer Festival Caravan was in full swing last summer, and those who were involved with the ANGEL Project during it were interviewed for this issue. The concert series was unique in that in featured a MikuMikuDance model, rather than the standard ones ripped from Sega’s Project Diva games, which proved to offer smoother motions during songs. The model, called APIMiku was later distributed for public release by Crypton on the creators Piapro page. Apart from the Senbon Zakura novel being promoted, two new illustration books are as well. One called QUANTUM FLOWERS nagismo VOCALOID artworks will retail for 2415 yen and feature art from the illustrator most famous for the Meltdown PV. The other, called CUBE hatsuko Artworks will retail slightly less at 2100 yen and feature works by hatsuko, most famous for their Invisible PV.

Five Vocaloid producers feature on the CD that comes bundled with the magazine, and each are also interviewed in the magazine. The tracklisting for the CD, called Summer Clothes, along with the producers is: 1. Parallel World – Nem 2. Tsuribashi Effect – BoukariotoP (noa) 3. Pushing into June – Ou

Featuring plenty of Miku and a smattering of other Crypton VOCALOIDs, Miku-Pack 02 is sure to please fans.

4. Sunshine Over Mary Jane – HarryP

Source: Dengeki News

5. Nighttime Swimming – Tenioha

Which 2013 summer anime has the highest expectations?

The CD is not the only thing bundled with the magazine, either. You can also get your hands on a new illustration that is part of the Happiness and Peace of Mind series.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/2013-summer-anime-peopleexpectations-of/

June 17th, 2013

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By spartanchef on June 17th, 2013

4) Ro- Kyu- Bu SS – 332 Votes

With the summer anime season right around the corner, anime website Anime One conducted a poll asking people which of the anime premiering this summer had the highest expectations. Now, the voting is over, the ballots are counted and the results are finally in… DESU! 1) ROZEN MAIDEN – 401 Votes 5) Servant X Service – 317 Votes

2) FREE! - 390 Votes

6) Monogatari Series 2nd season – 313 Voted

3) The World God Only Knows: Goddess Hen – 387 Votes

7) Kiniro Mosaic – 258 Votes

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8) Silver Spoon – 243 Votes

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11) Watashi ga Motenai no wa dō Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! (Watamote) – 176 Votes 12) Danganronpa Kibō no Gakuen to Zetsubō no Kōkōsei – 159 Votes 13-14-15-16) Senki Zesshou Symphogear G- 142 Votes 13-14-15-16) Fate Kaleid Liner Prisma Ilya – 142 Votes 13-14-15-16) Kimi No Iru Machi – 142 Votes 13-14-15-16) Hakkenden: Eight Dogs of the East – 142 Votes 17) High School DXD New – 138 Votes 18) Blood Lad – 93 Votes 19) Kamisama no Inai Nichiyoubi (The Sunday without God) – 90 Votes 20) Kitakubu Katsudō Kiroku (Go Home Club) – 85 Votes

9) Tamayura More Aggressive - 242 Votes

21) Brothers Conflict/ Conflict Brothers – 78 Votes 22) Makai Oji: Devils and Realist - 77 Votes 23) Inu to HASAMI wa Tsukaiyou – 74 Votes 24) Hyperdimension Neptunia - 70 Votes 25) Stella Jogakuin Koutou-ka C³-bu – 47 Votes 26-27) Kara no Kyōkai – 45 Votes 26-27) Uchōten Kazoku – 45 Votes 28) Genshiken Nidaime – 42 Votes 29) Futari Wa Milky Holmes – 39 Votes 30) Fantasista Doll – 38 Votes 31-32) Genei wo Kakeru Taiyou (Il Sole Penetra le Illusioni) – 26 Votes 31-32) Gatchaman Crowds – 26 Votes 33) Gifuu Doudou!! Kanetsugu to Keiji – 10 Votes

10) Love Lab – 199 Votes

The anime poll ended last June 16 with a total number of 5008 votes. The poll was open to everyone, even people outside Japan.

June 17th, 2013

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STGCC 2013 invites DJ kz of livetune, famed US cosplayer Vampy Bit Me, maestro violinist TAM, illustrator Redjuice Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/stgcc-2013-invites-dj-kz-livetunefamed-cosplayer-vampy-bit-me-maestro-violinist-tam-illustratorredjuice/ By sentinel011 on June 17th, 2013

Japanese illustrator redjuice is well known for contributing to the art for popular anime Guilty Crown. Having previously attended Comics Fiesta in Malaysia last year, the artist will showcase his illustrations at STGCC, and who knows, you may be able to purchase some of his rare items! This is just the first round of guests STGCC has announced so far, and we can expect more guests in weeks to come.

It seems that Reed Exhibitions has an exciting line up for this year’s Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention. While catering to the western comics fans, it has not lose touch with anime lovers as well. Many long time anime fans would have heard of TAM during the period where Clannad, Kanon and AIR animation series were popular. After doing numerous covers from these series, TAM went on to do many other covers as well, from Touhou to Fate/Zero. TAM will be performing various covers from anime and game titles at STGCC 2013.

US Cosplayer Vampy Bit Me has a large fan following of almost 92,000 followers on her facebook page, and it’s easy to see why. Her take on the numerous Marvel and D.C. Comics characters are superb. She also cosplays female variants of some of the characters, such as Nightwing from the Batman comics as well as Kratos from the God of War PS3 game. Livetune has grown substantially among anime fans, thanks to the immense popularity of the Vocaloid software. DJ kz, who has mixed song titles from various anime and vocaloid renditions such as ClariS’ Irony and Tell your World by Hatsune Miku. DJ kz will also be mixing his tunes at the event as well.

May’n, KOTOKO, Megumi Nakajima, Mami Kawada & more to perform in Sapporo Kitamae Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/mayn-kotoko-megumi-nakajimamami-kawada-perform-sapporo-kitamae/ By spartanchef on June 17th, 2013

The first line of artistes have been announced to perform during this year’s Saporro Kitamae anime and manga festival. The annual event will feature the performances of KOTOKO and Mami Kawada who have performed during last year’s Sapporo Kitamae as well as May’n, Megumi Nakajima and the Kitamae image girls, e-Street Sapporo. More artists are going to be announced in the days ahead.

The performances will be in two venues; The outdoor stage and the Art Hall. Mami Kawada, KOTOKO, May’n and 6

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Megumi Nakajima will be performing in the outdoor stage. The artists who will be performing in the Art Hall are yet to be announced however.

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Itasha or “painful cars” (cars with an anime themed paint job) are now part of the Japanese anime and manga culture and Saporro Kitamae will feature an Itasha car exhibition. Over 100 Itasha from all over Japan are expected to be on exhibit during the event. The event will also feature an illustration contest for the event’s image character, ‘Tamae‘. Sapporo Kitamae will also have a cosplay event titled COS X Art, however, details about that event have not yet been released.

Sapporo Kitamae will be held from August 31 until September 1 in Sapporo Geijutsu no Mori (Saporro Art Park). This will be the second ever Sapporo Kitamae with the last one held last December in the same venue. Last year’s event included live performances, cosplay, doujinshi stands and many more. Source: Kitamae official website

Tsutaya and Animate offer lottery for Nichijou goods Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/tsutaya-offers-lottery-nichijougoods/

June 17th, 2013

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By Zenko on June 17th, 2013

The multimedia store Tsutaya may not specialize in anime and manga goods, but they’re certainly appealing to fans with the chance for a cat-eared Hakase.

The lower tiered prizes out to F also guarantees a chance at one of the key characters of the show in an iconic pose from the show. From Yuko’s leave-it-to-me smile…

Fans of Nichijou may have had not much to look at recently, with the anime ending two summers ago and no third season on the way. That has not stopped the manga from continuing its popularity, though, and now for the first time in half a year fans are getting some good news. Tsutaya, a store that specializes in selling books, CDs, and DVDs, and Animate are now holding a lottery where you can win goods that feature several of the characters. For 600 yen you can buy one chance at the contest sponsored by Banpresto. A continuation from last December’s “Number One Lottery: Nichijou”, this lottery calls itself “Number One Lottery: Nichijou Version 1.5″ and offers different prizes. Previous prizes included a figure of the Fairy Queen and a copy of Helvetica Standard.

To Mio in a ready to draw mangaka pose…

The top prizes in this lottery are just as exciting though. For drawing an A prize you will win a towel blanket featuring the Professor’s favorite animal, a shark.

To Mai with her usual unreadable expression, ready to read you a paper.

If you draw a B prize, you can look forward to a figure of Nano holding the Professor’s favorite shark towel from the anime and manga.

If you find yourself unlucky enough not to win a figure, there are still some nice prizes below these. A plastic cup and coaster set will be offered in three varieties as a G prize.

The C prize is more tempting, as it offers the Professor and Sakamoto up to some cat shenanigans. The Professor dons cat ears and a tail to match her cute cat pose, while Sakamoto joins the set looking ready to offer a sarcastic comment.

June 17th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By KaleNagasaki on June 16th, 2013

H prize winners will have their choice from four types of face towels, while those drawing the lowest I prize will get to pick from rubber phone straps featuring show characters. In the heated and cutthroat battle between Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo tends to be considered a de-facto loser who didn’t qualify for the fight. The Wii and Wii U aren’t even put in the same class as the Xbox and PlayStation. Even the genius behind Zelda, Eiji Aonuma, is feeling the pressure. But let’s put things in perspective. Despite the recent lack in popularity, Nintendo has never been out. I don’t care if your favorite game is Assassin’s Creed, or Gears of War. You still like Mario, and everyone enjoys a throwback session with any of the great Mario games (my favorite being Mario Kart). Nonetheless, Eiji Aonuma told Engadget some sobering words: If we don’t change we might die. We need to evolve. Things need to change. Things need to grow.

Of course, everyone is a winner in Banpresto’s lottery, but if you feel a little bit like you could have gotten a better prize, you can enter the code on the ticket for a second chance prize. In it, you will have the chance to win a 45 centimeter wide Mogura cushion, while fifty lucky people will win a Sakamoto cushion. Source: Mantan Web

Creator of Zelda rethinking the franchise: future will push the Wii U to the edge Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/creator-zelda-rethinking-franchisefuture-push-wii-edge/

These words may appear contradictory considering that the newest Zelda games to be released for the Wii U and 3DS are A Link between Worlds and Wind Waker HD – two obvious re-dos of previous successes. However, Aonuma isn’t looking for an easy or superficial solution to Nintendo’s less-than-stellar sales. According to Aonuma, these games function as training tools for his team. Aonuma wants to know what the Wii-U can do, so that in the future the system can be pushed to its limit. However, Aonuma admits that the success of Zelda has put him between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, fans complain that Zelda has gone stale and needs a major boost, but on the other, if the franchise is changed too much, then it won’t be Zelda anymore. But Aunoma seems willing to take the risk. There is a next generation Wii-U Zelda on the horizon, but that can’t be started until A Link between Worlds and Wind Waker HD are completed. But what are these radical changes? First of all, Aonuma mentioned the decision to give Zelda a cel-shaded look that 9

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makes the game “look more like a puppet show than an animation”. Also, due to the Wii-U, the objects in Zelda now have depth, and look more 3D. Lastly, Aonuma explains, “We’re trying to find new ways to play. Not only the kinds of items you find, but how you use those items. I want to give the player more freedom. I want them to be able to explore more”. What this actually will mean on the Wii-U and 3DS isn’t clear at this time, but I’m willing to have a little faith in Zelda. What do you think? What could be done to make Zelda better? Source: Engadget

Love Live! – second season, Vita game, and new concert announced for 2014 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/love-live-season-vita-game-fourthconcert-announced-2014/ By SunSoftware on June 16th, 2013

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• A PS Vita game adaptation of Love Live! will be released next spring. • A new concert will be held in Saitama Super Arena next year on February 8 and 9, currently titled “μ’s →NEXT LoveLive! 2014→ENDLESS PARADE→” • A second season of the Love Live! anime will air next spring. That’s right, Love Live! fans are going to be busy next year! As a treat for those fans, the members of μ’s have each made a video expressing their excitement on the Love Live! official website. In case you’re not familiar with Love Live! School Idol Project, the story is centered around nine girls who form a school idol group called μ’s (muse) in order to save their school. The franchise was started in 2010 by Dengeki G’s Magazine, who teamed up with Lantis and Sunrise to release sixteen singles, five music videos, and one huge album before the anime aired this January, gained even more fans, and spawned even more singles. The franchise gained so much fans, when the general tickets went on sale for yesterday’s concert, they sold out in less than 60 seconds(!), and plans were made to stream the concert live in movie theatres. Fortunately, Saitama Super Arena will be able to fit a lot more people than Pacifico. Along with today’s news, the 6th group single from μ’s is in the works, which includes a CD and music video featuring Maki, the winner of the fifth Love Live! General Election, as the center. In addition, three singles featuring the subunits of μ’s will be released this summer. The release dates of the singles are as follows: • lily white (Rin, Umi, and Nozomi): June 26 • BiBi (Maki, Nico, and Eri): July 24 • Printemps (Honoka, Kotori, and Hanayo): August 21 A preview of lily white’s single, Binetsu kara Mystery, is already available, and you can listen to it below: In addition to all that, μ’s is going to hold their next performance in this year’s Animelo Summer Live. With all the work the idol group is doing, fans of Love Live! should keep supporting them. “Make our dreams come alive!” Source: Love Live! homepage

On June 16, several thousand people came to Pacifico Yokohama to watch Love Live!’s 3rd Anniversary concert, where some announcements were made that will blow your socks off if you’re a fan of Love Live! Here are the three announcments made at yesterday’s “μ’s 3rd Anniversary Love Live!”: 10

June 18th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Fans celebrate the birthday of ‘Kuroko no Basket’s Ryota Kise Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/fans-celebrate-birthday-kurokobaskets-ryota-kise/ By spartanchef on June 18th, 2013

June 18 is the birthday of a certain forward wearing the #7 jersey from Kaijo High school, and that certain forward certainly has a lot of devout fans.. and saying devout would be an understatement to say the least.

Fans have also celebrated his birthday by baking cakes and tarts, purchasing ‘Kuroko no Basket’ merchandise featuring him, offering his picture some flowers… and building shrines with lots and lots and lots of key chains in his honor.

Fans have shown their support and admiration for ‘Kuroko no Basket’s Ryota Kise through various social media like twitter. His birthday is even trending in Japan!

June 18th, 2013

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June 18th, 2013

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Well… um… they certainly are devoted. Ryota Kise is a Kaijou High School forward wearing the #7 jersey in the sports manga ‘Kuroko no Basket‘ written by Tadatoshi Fujimaki and serialized in Shounen Jump. He has the ability to copy any technique he sees and improve on it and judging from the looks of things, pretty popular as well. Oh, and if that’s not enough, here’s a picture of fans celebrating Seijuro Akashi’s birthday last December 20.

June 18th, 2013

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singing software released on June 14, plenty of people have taken to Nico Nico Douga already with covers of existing songs and new ones. Because the software supports MIDI file import and a UST (the file UTAU uses) to CCS (the file CeVIO) converter already released, most of the work lies in tuning Sasara’s voice to the song.

Sources: Yaraon and Matome

CeVIO creates free VOCALOID with new singing add-on Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cevio-creates-free-vocaloid-singingadd-on/ By Zenko on June 18th, 2013

Fans of VOCALOID and it’s sister freeware UTAU will be happy to know another virtual voice is making it’s way on stage. CeVIO came onto the scene in April and has been impressing users and updating since then. Originally it was created as a freeware artificial speaking program similar to VOICEROID, it has since added on a singing extension that should be familiar to users of both VOCALOID and UTAU as it utilizes a piano roll and note pencil for creating music.

Her voice is tuned through a set of switches in the program that determines anything from how high her voice is to how adult it sounds. So far, preconfigurations loaded into the program include energetic, angry, and sadness. These configurations are especially useful when the script feature for speaking is utilized. Because it features a text to speech feature you can type full sentences for her to read, then set the timing on the screen with a simple click-and-drag interface. For singing, of course, you will have to use the single phoneme input familiar to users of other synthesized singing programs. As of right now only Japanese input is supported, romanji entry on non-Japanese operating systems causing the program to crash. Sasara has proven to be popular, with her official character design showing off not only her in program appearance, but her box art as well. With the simple design, she already has MikuMikuDance models and fan art of her circulating the internet. She has gained popularity not only because of her voice, but because of the previous CeVIO Vision event held in January at Animate in Akihabara. While there visitors could interact and speak with the newest virtual star. Recenlty, on TV Tokyo’s ChoRyuHa program she has also been appearing alongside her users.

For those curious about the program and looking to download CeVIO Creative Studio, the official site is here. Source: AnimeAnime The project originally wanted to create a program that could speak alongside a cute character, which was ultimately achieved in it’s original version with the character Sasara Satou. They also hoped that they would be able to have the voice sing, and with support from fans they were able to create a synthesized voice and face that is suited for both singing and speaking. With the newest version featuring the

Comedy manga ‘Love Lab’ gets official guidebook Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/comedy-manga-love-lab-officialguidebook/

June 18th, 2013

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By SunSoftware on June 18th, 2013

To get a preview of the anime, watch this compilation of short trailers below. Maki is the one with the beastly glare in her eyes, and Riko is the one with common sense (rather, Riko is the first person in the trailer, and Maki is the second). Along with the anime, volume 8 of the manga will be released on July 4, followed by volume 8.5 on August 7, which contains secret manuscripts and manga from guest artists, followed by volume 9 on September 7. If you’re a fan of school girl comedies, you should check out this series. Source: Natalie

The anime Love Lab is coming next month, but if you want to know everything about the manga (or if you’re already a fan of the series) you can read this official guidebook right now. To celebrate the anime adaptation of the comedy manga Love Lab, Houbunsha has released the Love Lab Official Guidebook on June 17. The guidebook recounts every major event from the manga and also includes character profiles, guest illustrations, and an interview between the anime director Masahito Oota and original creator Ruri Miyahara, making it the definitive book for anyone who wants to relive the series.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown comes to iOS devices this Thursday, June 20 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/xcom-enemy-unknown-hit-iosdevices-thursday-june-20/ By KarbyP on June 18th, 2013

The 4-panel comedy manga Love Lab has been serialized in Manga Home and Manga Time Special since 2006. The story is set in Fujisaki Girls Academy, a school famous for its proper and refined students. Among the most popular are Maki, the student council president known for her calm demeanor, and Riko, the president’s side known for her blunt and boyish personality. Through a sudden turn of events, Riko discovers a hidden side of Maki that is interested in exploring the world of romance — and Riko is forced to join her.

June 18th, 2013

2K and Firaxis Games have announced that they are bringing their award-winning strategy title, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, to the iOS.

Published by: VR-Zone By Zenko on June 18th, 2013

The iOS version of XCOM is said to contain an experience similar to that of the PC, PS3, and X360 original. By that, what it means is that you’re pretty much getting the entire single-player campaign here – albeit with controls and features optimised for iOS touchscreen devices. A future update to the iOS port will also add the PC and console version’s popular head-to-head multiplayer mode here. Once the multiplayer patch is out, that’s basically more or less the exact same game you’re getting on the iOS as the PC and console versions (sans the expansions and updates). Which is great for fans who’re dying to bring their XCOM with them everywhere they go (if you haven’t played XCOM, this is one of those games that make you go “just one more turn” and the next thing you know, it’s 6AM in the morning) as well as iOS gamers who’ve never been able to try the award-winning strategy a game simply because they do not have a gaming PC or a console (read our review of the game here if you’re unfamiliar with the title). It’s a winwin situation, and I wished more developers and publishers would do that.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown for the iOS will hit the iTunes app store this Thursday, June 20, priced at S$25.98 for the Singapore market. The game app supports the following iOS devices: iPad 2, iPad 3, iPad 4, iPad mini, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th Generation.

Lawson, the convenience store chain recognizable by their blue and white striped uniforms, is kicking off summer with some fun anime campaigns. Madoka Magica and Tamako Market are getting ready to welcome fans of the shows to Lawson stores this summer. That means lottery prizes, items, and sometimes, in the case of spring’s Dragon Ball Z campaign, themed food. As far as food goes, there’s no announcement yet for Tamako Market, but for Madoka Magica the usually themed packaged foods seem to be making an appearance. Madoka fans can also look forward to the face that it will be the first to have its campaign. Starting June 25 and running until July 8, Lawson will run a promotion featuring Pringles and goods. Three flavors of Pringles in two sizes (134g and 64g) will be offered in a special can featuring the iconic magical girls. The designs are yet unreleased, but the flavors featured will be Sour Cream and Onion, Lightly Salted and Korean Kimchi. The larger cans will retail at 298 yen, while the smaller ones will go for 148 yen without tax.

A pocket memo pad in two different editions will also be distributed during the Madoka campaign as well. One will feature Goddess Madoka and Homura, while the other will feature Mami, Sayaka and Kyouko.

Lawson to launch ‘Madoka’ and ‘Tamako Market’ summer promotion campaigns Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/lawson-announces-summercampaigns-featuring-madoka-tamako-market/

There are no released goods yet for the Tamako Market campaign, but there are dates. Fans will have to wait a little longer as it starts July 2, but finishes later on July 15. The promotional art promises fans should have something fun to look forward to. 6

June 18th, 2013

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Source: Yaraon

The top 5 anime for the 20′s, 30′s and 40′s demographic according to Shueisha Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/top-5-anime-20s-30s-40sdemographic-shueisha/ By spartanchef on June 18th, 2013

1 One Piece (73 people) 2 Dragon Ball (50 people) 3 Neon Genesis Evangelion (43 people) 4 Mobile Suit Gundam (33 people) 5 Detective Conan (20 people) Top 5 anime among men in their 30′s

1 Dragon Ball (83 people) 2 Mobile Suit Gundam (70 people) 3 Neon Genesis Evangelion (37 people) 4 One Piece (33 people) 5 Detective Conan (23 people) Top 5 anime among men in their 40′s

Anime has always been a part of modern Japanese culture. Its appeal has reached all demographics, from men and women to the young and old. Shueisha, publisher of Weekly Shounen Jump, Margaret, Bessatsu Margaret, Weekly Young Jump, Jump SQ and Super Jump, has recently conducted a survey on which anime is popular among the 20′s, 30′s and 40′s demographics. They asked about 1000 men over the internet and here are the results; Top 5 anime among young men in their 20′s 7

June 18th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By KarbyP on June 18th, 2013

1 Mobile Suit Gundam (80 people) 2 Lupin III (50 people) 3 One Piece (47 people) 4 Dragon Ball (40 people) 5 Doraemon (27 people) Certainly every single title mentioned in the top 5 can be considered a masterpiece. Classics like ‘Mobile Suit Gundam‘ and ‘Dragon Ball’ have reached out to all ages and is even popular among the younger generations and are still popular even after ending years ago. ‘One Piece‘ on the other hand has proven that it can also reel in the older crowd and prove it is worthy of also being called a classic by reaching out to all demographics. Meanwhile, Shueisha also asked its readers where they usually watch anime. They also asked men in their 40′s, 30′s and 20′s over the internet. Over the TV (Live broadcast/ Recorded) 40′s – 200 people 30′s – 163 people

Calling all NBA2K13 and WWE 13 players in Singapore: Do you have what it takes to go up against the very best gamers our little red dot has to offer? If you consider yourself unbeatable in either 2K Sports title, then make sure to save the date this Saturday, June 22. You’re cordially invited to star in publisher 2K and local video games retail chain St. Games’s inaugural The Ultimate 2K Gamer Challenge, where it’s time to prove your mettle – all for a chance to win up to $400 worth of prizes. Actually, everyone’s invited. Even if you don’t fancy your skills at either 2K Sports title to be the stuff that legends are made of, do come on down and join in the festivities from the spectacles’ stand, as we usher in the crowning of Singapore’s very first pair of Ultimate 2K Gamers. So come one, come all. The more the merrier!

Over the Internet

The event will take place this Saturday, June 22, from 1PM to 6PM, at The Cathay branch of St. Games retail store on Level 4 (2 Handy Road #04-18, Singapore 229233).

40′s – 77 people

Here’s the prize breakdown for those of you who’re curious:

30′s – 140 people

NBA 2K13 1st – Dynasty Edition of NBA2K13 + $150 shopping vouchers

20′s – 147 people

20′s – 143 people Rental Video 40′s – 60 people 30′s – 103 people 20′s – 97 people Source: Shueisha

Singapore: The Ultimate 2K Gamer Challenge to take place this Saturday, June 22 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/singapore-ultimate-2k-gamerchallenge-place-saturday/

2nd – $100 shopping vouchers 3rd -$50 shopping vouchers WWE13 1st – $150 shopping vouchers 2nd – $100 shopping vouchers 3rd – $50 shopping vouchers Where: St. Games @ The Cathay (2 Handy Road #04-18 Singapore 229233)

June 18th, 2013

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When: Saturday 22nd June, 1-6PM

Killer is on the Moon: Weapons, characters & more Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/killer-moon-weapons-characters/ By hikarucon on June 18th, 2013

Bullet Shot:

In Suda51’s upcoming game, Killer is Dead, we know that Mondo’s going to need all the tools he can get to be able to get through the trials and tribulations ahead of him. Equipped with a cybernetic arm, Mondo is able to change weapons to suit the situation easily. So far, several weapons have been revealed such as the Bullet Shot, Charge Canon, Drill, and more recently the Freeze Shooter. Freeze Shooter:

The basic and primary mode of Mondo’s cybernetic arm. It’s possible to upgrade this like Megaman’s mega buster to do things like more damage so while it may be the first form you get, it can still be one of the strongest. You can also use it when you’re surrounded by enemies or blocked in by objects to completely destroy them.

The Freeze Shooter shoots out bullets at freezing point in order to freeze his enemies in their tracks or at least slow them down. Initially it will stop the enemy completely but then as time passes they will begin to move but at a reduced speed. But gradually they will return to their normal speed without the effects of your gun, of course the length of the effect will depend on what enemy you’re using it on so be sure to take that into consideration every time you use it.

Charge Cannon:

June 18th, 2013

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The longer you charge it, the stronger it becomes. You’ll primarily be using this shot to quickly take down enemies with more armor that would normally take much more effort if you used any other weapon.

So far most of the details of the game’s story have centered around the episode “The man who stole the moon” where the help of Mondo is enlisted to execute a man, David, who has taken control over the moon. The request comes from the lady of the moon who Mondo instantly falls for. Drill:

Enemies: David

It’s just what it sounds like- it’s a drill. You can use this to go through any kinds of shields that they might be holding or just completely obliterate walls- your choice. A man who dresses to fit his role of an evil ruler of the moon. He is originally from America but conquers the moon in order to begin preparations for taking over the Earth. Supposedly he and Mondo have never met but he appears to

June 18th, 2013

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know some private things about Mondo like his love for softboiled eggs. What could his relation to Mondo be? Observer:

One of David’s Secret Service agents. This enemy holds a huge double edged scythe as well as enough power to cleave through even the most formidable enemies. Guardian= Over D:

This enemy holds great defensive powers making him a very difficult enemy to easily defeat. The only way to take down this enemy is to cut his head off. You can knock him down all you want but the battle won’t end until you cut off his head. Enjoy some of the screenshots from “The man who stole the moon” below and get excited for Killer is Dead’s release on August 27, 2013.

June 18th, 2013

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June 18th, 2013

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Kaku-san-sei Million Arthur x Soul Sacrifice: The ultimate collaboration event? Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kaku-san-sei-million-arthur-soulsacrifice-ultimate-collab-event/ By hikarucon on June 18th, 2013

At the end of the event, special prizes will be awarded to those who get the most points. These special prizes include the rarest of the rare cards that cannot be obtained anywhere else- the Merlin card set.

Square Enix will be holding a joint event with Sony for their games Kaku san sei Million Arthur and Soul Sacrifice respectively from June 17th to June 24th.

All you need is a copy of Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur to get in on this event, so if you have it, be sure to get in on this as soon as possible! During this event, owners of Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur will be able to explore two areas straight from Soul Sacrificethe Plains of Olympia and Valhalla Abbey. Of course since players will be diving into the realms of Soul Sacrifice, it’s not just going to be sightseeing, players will be able to hunt in the same way that they would do in Soul Sacrifice.

Get your fill of ‘One Piece’, literally, with the new ‘Baratie’ restaurant in Tokyo Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/fill-one-piece-literally-baratierestaurant-tokyo/

By going through the realms of Soul Sacrifice, players will be given a chance to get rare cards or items that can only be gotten during this event.

June 18th, 2013

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By KaleNagasaki on June 18th, 2013

Staying in character, visitors will be greeted by Zeff (the store’s owner) and Sanji’s voices. You can also hear Luffy’s voice coming from the kitchen. The menu, which will be kept fresh with updates every few months, will feature food and drinks inspired by the characters. The anticipation is high – reservations have already been made!

Today, Fuji TV announced that they will be opening a One Piece themed restaurant on the seventh-floor of their headquarters in Odaiba, Tokyo. Fuji TV has been producing the unbelievably popular anime adaptation of Eiichiro Oda’s manga since 1999, so I guess you could say that it’s about time! For the One Piece fans out there (and that’s to say everyone), “One Piece Restaurant Baratie” will open June 28th – less than ten days from now! Obviously, the name “Baratie” comes from the shiprestaurant in the Sambas region where Sanji worked before he joined the Straw Hat Pirates. Fuji TV will place “Baratie” on the garden part of the floor and have the exterior replicate the restaurant in the show. The interior design looks pretty snazzy as well.

If you’re wondering why this news sounds familiar to you, it could be because this is not the first One Piece themed eatery. In Shibuya, there’s a placed called “Buffet and Food Bar 325″ which also features One Piece inspired interior and food. You can check out our previous coverage of that particular place here. Go to both places, and let us know what you think! Do they satisfy your hunger for One Piece? Source: Crunchyroll 14

June 18th, 2013

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June 19th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

OreImo to stream second season internationally in August Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/oreimo-stream-seasoninternationally-august/ By Zenko on June 19th, 2013

If you prefer to watch it with, however, the episodes will be streaming at the same time regardless of country. This is so fans all over the world will have a chance to have fun together during the show’s finale. For fans who wish to watch it with English subtitles, it will be available on Crunchyroll in the Americas. Fans in China will be able to view it on LeTV, while those in Singapore can view it through their cable television providers.

Continuing a tradition started with the original season and it’s OVA episodes, the second season of OreImo will stream the DVD only episodes and conclusion internationally. Fans of OreImo (My Little Sister Can’t Be This Cute) will be happy to hear that you won’t have to buy the DVDs and Blu-Rays to see the conclusion of the anime’s second season. With rights to broadcast on websites and mobile devices, there should be plenty of options for fans of the show. The creators of OreImo are looking for everyone to feel the same happiness as fans of the show in Japan, and are certainly on the right path. Source: AnimeAnime

Starting August 18 at 1 PM JST, the final three episodes of the second season, episodes 14, 15, and 16, will make their way to several websites for viewing in Japan and internationally. The official site for OreImo, Nico Nico Douga, and d Anime Store (a service on Docomo phones) will have it available for fans of the show who wish to watch it without subtitles.

‘Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload’ coming to PS Vita, preview of anime’s ending theme revealed Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/danganronpa-1-2-reload-coming-psvita-preview-animes-theme-revealed/ By SunSoftware on June 19th, 2013

June 19th, 2013

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Suzumu and Soraru’s ending single will be released on August 7, and a limited edition will include a DVD with the full music video. In case you haven’t seen the trailer from Anime Contents Expo, you can watch it below and see all fifteen students accompanied by the games’ main theme composed by Masafumi Takada. Danganronpa the Animation will start airing on July 4, while no date has been given for the PS Vita port yet. Whether you’re a fan of Danganronpa or you’ve never heard of it, you have a lot to look forward to. Source: Yaraon, Otakomu Spike Chunsoft has been teasing Danganronpa’s arrival on the PS Vita for a while, but the latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has officially revealed a PS Vita port of the murder mystery series, titled Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload. Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei is set in Kibogamine Academy, a school occupied by a group of incredibly talented super-students who each have a title such as “Super High School Level Baseball Player” or “SHSL Gambler”, the only exception being Makoto, an ordinary student who entered by winning a lottery.

Saika route announced for ‘Onegairu’ PS Vita game via twitter, while fans celebrate Yui Yuigahama’s birthday Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/saika-route-announced-onegairu-psvita-game-twitter-kurobasu-fans-celebrate-yui-yuigahamas-birthday/ By spartanchef on June 19th, 2013

However, the only way to graduate from this school is to kill someone without getting caught! As if that doesn’t sound bad enough, every time someone is killed, all students have to enter a trial where either the culprit gets caught and sentenced to death, or everyone else dies! The second game, Super Danganronpa 2: Sayonara Zetsubou Gakuen, takes a similar premise, but sets it on a deserted island, and it sold over 69,000 copies in its first week.

Danganronpa 1 & 2 Reload will feature high-resolution graphics for both PSP games and use the Vita’s touchscreen and rear touch pad. In addition, there will be new dialogue for dating and socializing parts, the Island Mode from the second game will be renamed School Mode, and you will have the option to adjust the difficulty settings for minigames in the School Trial Mode.

Saika Totsuka, at first glance, you could say that the character is a pretty girl that you just have to protect, right? Well, there is some good news and some bad news, the good news is that according to their twitter account, the ‘Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Com Wa Machigatteiru’ PS Vita game will indeed have a Saika route… the bad news is that Saika is a boy.

Along with the port being announced, the animation studio Lerche has revealed a preview of the ending theme of Danganronpa the Animation. The song, titled Zetsubousei: Hero Chiryouyaku (Despair: The Hero Remedy), is performed by Suzume, a composer famous for his Vocaloid songs, and Soraru, an artist known for singing cover songs on Nico Nico Douga. You can listen to a preview of their wild ending theme below:

June 19th, 2013

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Saika is quite popular as a trap as several twitter accounts have added the #totsukawaii hashtag in support of the character. Certainly, some people will really be happy with the news, while some people however… not so much I’m afraid. The new ‘Onegairu’ PS Vita game will be released summer 2013 in Japan. The scenarios for the game are supervised by the original light novel author himself, Watari Wataru. The game will also come bundled with an OVA BluRay disc.

Source: Yaraon

Doraemon author joins opposition for the Japan’s Child Pornography law amendment Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/doraemon-author-joins-oppositionjapans-child-pornography-law-amendment/ By spartanchef on June 19th, 2013

Meanwhile, yesterday was June 18, which means that yesterday was not only a certain ‘Kuroko no Basket’ character’s birthday, but also one of ‘Onegairu‘s main heroines. Yes, June 18 is also “Nice Girl” Yui Yuigahama’s birthday, and to celebrate the occasion, a fan-made birthday cake was baked and decorated for her.

June 19th, 2013

Japan’s controversial Child Pornography Law is gathering even more opposition. This news comes as one half of the Fujiko Fujio duo responsible for the classic comedy manga ‘Doraemon’ issued a statement against the law. Renowned manga artist Fujiko Fujio A, one half of the Fujiko Fujio duo who wrote classics like ‘Doraemon’ and ‘Mojako’, has said that the bill will “lead to a decline of Japan’s manga culture”. He also added that the bill will “take away the mangaka’s freedom to deploy creative activities under free thinking and freedom of expression”. Fujiko Fujio A also adds that there would be a possibility that works would “not be interesting” and he fears that “only mangas that do not get the support from readers will be mass-produced”. He then calls for the withdrawal of the amendment. The opposition to the amendments on the Child Pornography Law is mainly directed towards a provision of the bill that calls for an investigation into the relationship of anime, manga and CG images and Human Rights violations against children. ‘Doraemon’, which was co-written by Fujiko Fujio A, can be used as a good example for this issue. It is a regarded as a children’s anime/manga and is now considered a classic, however, there are several scenes within the anime that depicts Shizuka showering naked as well as being seen bathing with Doraemon and even Nobita.

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The Movie and Theater Trade Union of Japan (######### ##) also issued a call against the amendments which calls on the video industry and its stakeholders. They mentioned that the bill will “exert constraints on a world based on computer, manga and anime images where the child victim does not actually exist”. Meanwhile, Takaichi Sanae, chairman of the Policy Research Council of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who cosponsored the amendments said that they do not intend to regulate anime and manga immediately and that they would only be researching the relationships between anime/ manga and child pornography. It should also be noted that according to Yahoo! Japan, there is also opposition against the amendments within the LDP. The amendments for the Child Pornography Law are cosponsored by the LDP, the New Komeito Party and the Japan Restoration Party. The amendment would have individuals caught with possessing sexual images of children below 18 years of age would be given a one million yen fine plus less than a year’s imprisonment. And as mentioned earlier, the bill has a provision that calls for an investigation into the relationship of anime, manga and CG images and Human Rights violations against children. Earlier this year, Japan’s Cartoonist Association issued a statement against the proposed amendment. Other manga authors have also voiced their opposition to the bill like ‘Negima?!’ and ‘Love Hina‘ manga author Ken Akamatsu, ‘Mazinger Z‘ author Go Nagai and ‘Ashita no Joe‘ author Tetsuya Chiba. Source: Yahoo! Japan and 47 news

Perfume to release new album this Fall, performing at two Dome locations this December Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/perfume-release-album-fallperforming-dome-locations-december/ By sentinel011 on June 18th, 2013

The scenes of her bathing beg the question, would this be for the “purpose of satisfying the sexual curiosity” or would this scene just merely be a simple part of the story and would be a part of the writer’s freedom of expression? Should Shizuka, a fictional character be subject to the regulations set forth by the government? Well, what is certain is that most anime and manga fans would answer the latter question with this: “The world of 3D and 2d should never mix.” Other opposition to the law’s amendment have also been announced. The council of animation directors of Japan (# ############) has said that the bill has a “significantly chilling effect on freedom of expression”. The statement also provides a warning that the bill has a “high risk to cause the decline of the animation culture, such as anime and manga”.

After a very successful collaboration concert with Maximum the Hormone yesterday night, Perfume announced their new album and Dome live concerts. The Perfume Fes! line of concerts is a first for the ladies, collaborating with Saito Kazuyoshi, Okuda Tamio and Maximum the Hormone. A set of 2 concerts per artiste and venue, the last concert ended with Maximum the Hormone, where they made their announcement. 4

June 19th, 2013

Titled “Level 3“, the new album is slated for a Fall 2013 release. There isn’t any specific date as of yet, but expect them to release it sometime in either October or November.

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what the Playstation 4 will look like in colors other then black.

A Dome line of concerts were also revealed, with Kyocera Dome in Osaka to be held on the December 7 and 8, and Tokyo Dome on 24 and 25 of the same month. Both Domes have a capacity of 50,000 people. [UPDATE] Perfume has updated the date and price of the Dome concert tickets on their website. Fanclub members worldwide can enjoy advanced sales via balloting from July 5 to 12. Tickets are 6,500 yen (SGD$95) a piece, and public sales will commence on November 3. Coincidentally, Kashiyuka’s birthday falls on December 23, one day prior to the first day of their Tokyo Dome concert. Kashiyuka is one of the three members of Perfume. The past three months have been a bumper crop of awesome announcements for Perfume fans, with the launch of a new single, a second overseas tour, as well as their invitation to Cannes Lion Festival. Looks like Perfume will continue to be very busy in the later half of this year. Will Perfume perform songs from their new album in their Dome concerts? I certainly hope so! Source: Perfume homepage

Fan created, anime themed Playstation 4 alternate colour variants Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/fan-created-anime-themedplaystation-4-alternate-colour-variants/ By hittokiri on June 18th, 2013

Not to be left out, anime fans have decided to share how some anime themed Playstation 4 will look like. Last week, Sony finally revealed the Playstation 4 to the world at a pre-E3 press conference. The black rhomboid shaped console with a matte and glossy finish have caught the eyes of many fans. Others however have began to wonder

June 19th, 2013

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When news came out that Kingdom Hearts would be out on not only the PS4 but also the Xbox one, there was some confusion since Kingdom Hearts up until now has been exclusively published on a Nintendo or Sony console. For that matter, Nintendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consoles have received a lot of the titles including 358/2 days, coded, Dream Drop Distance, and chain of memories so why are Nintendo fans being left out? If Square Enix is going to bring Kingdom Hearts III to the Xbox One then why not the WiiU? Working off this sole question, fans have begun a petition to get Kingdom Hearts III onto the WiiU. For those interested, click here to sign the petition to Square Enix. This is the game weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve all been waiting for, we should all get to play it right?

Yoshino and Chiwa Harusaki figures now available for preorder Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yoshino-chiwa-harusaki-figures-preorder/ By SunSoftware on June 18th, 2013

With Sony having previously released alternate color variants for Playstation 2 and Playstation 3, it is safe to say that it is only a matter of time before Sony announces some alternate color variants for the Playstation 4. Source : NeoGAF, Jin115

Kingdom Hearts III on WiiU? Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kingdom-hearts-iii-wiiu/ By hikarucon on June 18th, 2013

If you collect figures and you like really cute girls, then hurry and pre-order this spirit from Date A Live and childhood friend from OreShura. From the figure creator Phat! Company comes Yoshino, the cute, timid spirit from the fantasy romantic comedy Date A Live.

June 19th, 2013

This 180-mm, 1/8th scale figure displays every aspect of Yoshino’s design by Tsunako, from her coat’s bunny ears to her bunny puppet Yoshinon and the round, white ball on her “tail”. Not only are her distinguishing features highlighted, but so are the fine, subtle details, such as the creases in her dress and boots, the frills of her hood, and the gold etchings on her coat.

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Dressed in her light, pastel school uniform and her hair tied in short twintails, her design is much more simple than Yoshino’s, yet just as adorable. With a dynamic pose and cheerful smile, she appears to have no care in the world — just hope that Eita’s girlfriend, Masuzu, isn’t around!

By the way, a figure of Masuzu is in the works, so OreShura fans can look forward to that, even if Chiwa doesn’t. You can pre-order Chiwa now for 8,800 yen, and she will be standing in your room this October. Source: Good Smile Company 1, 2

Voice Actress Yoko Hikasa’s upcoming album features a song composed by the famous Tetsuya Komuro Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/voice-actress-yoko-hikasasupcoming-album-features-song-composed-famous-tetsuya-komuro/

You can pre-order Yoshino now for 7,800 yen, and she will be delivered this November. There is also a figure of Tohka being developed, so fans of Date A Live can look forward to her, as well. Also, from the manufacturer FREEing is a 180-mm, 1/8th scale figure of Chiwa Harusaki, the cute, little childhood friend from another romantic comedy, OreShura.

June 19th, 2013

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By KaleNagasaki on June 18th, 2013

Normal Version CD Jacket Tetsuya Komuro, also known as TK, has produced songs for Namie Amuro, TRF, Ami Suzuki, Tomomi Kahala, and hitomi, among others. TK composed nearly all the songs on Ayumi Hamasaki’s album Love Songs, and all the records ever produced by him have sold over seventy-million in Japan alone. Probably the most famous of TK’s songs is TM Network’s “Get Wild”, which was the first edition song for City Hunter. You may know Yoko from her roles as Mio Akiyama in KON! and Saki Nagatsuka in Ro-Kyu-Bu! Yoko is also part of a group of the same name, which consists of the other voice actors for the main characters: Kana Hanazawa, Yuka Iguchi, Rina Hidaka, Yui Ogura. Check out the videos for Yoko’s first two singles below, and hopefully that will hold you over until the release of “Glamorous Songs”. Source: Crunchyroll

Limited Version CD Jacket The beautiful voice actress Yoko Hikasa will release her first solo album “Glamorous Songs” in Japan on July 17th. Her first single off the album, “Utsukushiki Zankoku na Sekai” (“The Beautiful Cruel World”) came out just last month. You may know it as the heart-touching ending to the extremely popular anime Shingeki no Kyojin (“Attack on Titan”). Yoko’s second single, “Owaranai no Uta” (“Song that Doesn’t End”) met with similar success, as it was used as the ending to the anime film Hal.

Music video of Platina Jazz’s cover of Sailormoon’s Moonlight Densetsu released Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/music-video-platina-jazzs-coversailormoons-moonlight-densetsu-released/ By hittokiri on June 18th, 2013

If the success of Yoko’s new album wasn’t already guaranteed by these two songs alone, this last bit of news definitely seals the deal. One of the songs on the album, “Through the Looking-Glass”, is composed by Tetsuya Komura, the talented keyboard player, producer, and composer. The song is upbeat and beautifully done – but don’t take my word for it, you can listen to the song at Yoko’s official site.

June 19th, 2013

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A little while back, we mentioned about the fourth Platina Jazz compilation album, the fourth in a series of jazz styled anime song cover albums produced by Swedish music artist Rasmus Faber and performed by his band, the RaFa Orchestra. With the album due for release soon, a music video for their jazz cover of Sailormoonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theme song Moonlight Densetsu was uploaded onto their official Youtube channel. Moonlight Densetsu was composed by Kanako Oda and Tetsuya Komoro as the opening theme song for the TV anime series Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon. The Platina Jazz cover of the song was arranged by Nils Janson and featured the vocals of Douglas Unger. Other notable songs covered in the album include CHALA HEAD-CHA-LA from Dragon Ball Z, Eternal Blaze from Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, Taiyou Iwaku Moeyo Chaos from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san and GO! GO! MANIAC from K-On. Rasmus Faber presents Platina Jazz ~Anime Standards Vol. 4~ will go on sale on June 19th. Source : Ota-suke

June 20th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

this year), and 60 illustration works of Araki, including the arts from the 2012 Sendai and Tokyo exhibitions (which is held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the JoJo manga series).

Hirohiko Araki JoJo’s Art Exhibition to be held in Italy Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/hirohiko-araki-jojos-art-exhibitionheld-italy/ By weiq on June 20th, 2013

The details of the exhibition is as follows: Date: June 28th to July 14th Venue: 7 Via Delle Caldaie, Firenze Italy Visiting hours: 10 AM to 8PM Admission is Free JoJo fans may take this oppotunity to go for some Gucci bags shopping spree! Source: araki-jojo.com

Latest trailer for ‘Hyperdimension Neptunia the Animation’ showing almost all of its female leads Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/latest-trailer-hyperdimensionneptunia-animation-showing-female-leads/ By SunSoftware on June 20th, 2013

Key visual for the exhibition Following the 2012 exhibition held in Sendai and Tokyo, Hirohiko Araki’s upcoming JoJo Art Exhibition will be held in Italy. Hirohiko Araki’s official site had announced that the art exhibition, titled “HIROHIKO ARAKI AN EXCLUSIVE MANGA EXHIBITION IN FLORENCE” will be held in aforementioned captial city of Italy. The venue will be at a historic building built in the 15th century, which is owned and used as a workshop by Guccio Gucci. The Florence exhibition, sponsered by Gucci, will not only showcase artworks from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, but also the 2013 Cruise Collection (a original illustrated collabration of Araki and Gucci’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini, early 1

June 20th, 2013

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other game for the PS3. Do the people at Compile Heart sleep? Source: Dengeki

Kingdom Hearts III “not a direct sequel to II” Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kingdom-hearts-iii-not-directsequel-ii/ By Zenko on June 20th, 2013

With the anime based on Compile Heart’s popular RPG series coming around the corner, David Production has revealed a solid, 3-minute trailer with practically every character. Whether you’re a fan of the series or have never heard of it, you should take a look at this video. Hyperdimension Neptunia (Choujigen Game Neptune) is set in Gamindustri, a world guarded by four goddesses based on real-life game consoles, including the Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, and the successor to the Dreamcast that was never released, the Sega Neptune. Residing along the goddesses are their younger sisters, based on handhelds, and friends based on developers like Compile Heart and Idea Factory (who created the Neptunia games). You can get a glimpse of all of those characters in ths trailer, accompanied by the ending theme performed by Afilia Saga and the opening theme by nao.

Although it has only been a week since the initial news broke at E3, Famitsu has released the latest news on the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 3. After six years of waiting, fans were ecstatic to hear that the next numbered game in the Kingdom Hearts series was going to be released. With initially just a trailer and console names, there was not much info about the upcoming sequel. In the latest issue of Famitsu, however, an interview with series creator Tetsuya Nomura has helped to fill in some of the holes and questions on everyone’s mind.

Hyperdimension Neptunia the Animation will start airing on July 12 and feature all of the voice actresses from the games: • Neptune/Purple Heart: Rie Tanaka (Suigintou from Rozen Maiden) • Noire/Black Heart: Asami Imai (Chihaya from The Idolm@ster) • Vert/Green Heart: Rina Satou (Mikoto from Toaru Kagaku no Railgun) • Blanc/White Heart: Kana Asumi (Nyaruko from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san) • Nepgear: Yui Horie (Naru from Love Hina) • Uni: Eri Kitamura (Sayaka from Madoka Magica) • Rom: Ogura Yui (Tsukiko from HenNeko) • Ram: Kaori Ishihara (Azusa from HenNeko) • IF (pronounced “I-F”): Kana Ueda • Compa: Kanako Sakai • Histoire: Mika Kanai • 5pb.-chan: nao • Arfoire: Chiaki Takahashi • Pirachu: Niiko

It should be no surprise that Kingdom Hearts III is not a direct sequel to Kingdom Hearts II, but a sequel to Kingdom Hearts 3DS in much the same way the second game was a continuation of Chain of Memories. It will, however, bring the storyline surrounding Master Xehanort to a close and be the last chapter in what’s called the Seeker of Darkness saga. That means finally defeating an enemy that has been plaguing the series for seven games and should provide exciting opportunities for the series afterwards. As for graphics, the previously announced Kingdom Shader has been developed for the game to provide a better mesh between main characters and the Disney worlds. In particular, it was created to give the look and feel of Disney illustrations. This should provide not only a smoother feeling to the game but also add more depth to previously visited locations.

Along with the anime, Compile Heart released Hyperdimension Idol Neptunia PP today for the PS Vita and is working on two more Neptunia games and one

June 20th, 2013

Speaking of worlds, and NPC from each one will be able to join your party without having to shuffle Donald and Goofy in and out of battle. Not only will you have the ability to travel with three party members, but as you progress throughout the game their AI will change and develop based on play style. The AI for enemies will also change to compensate, though, adding a level to the game that has never been seen.

Whether Kairi or Riku will be playable is not answered directly, but rather with a vague “it’s possible.” Time will tell though, as more news has been promised at this years Tokyo Game Show and Disney 23 in the fall. Source: Famitsu

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified to receive downloadable content Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/bureau-xcom-declassified-receive-

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The game, set to release for the Xbox 360, PC and Playstation 3 on August 23, takes place during the Cold War when fear and paranoia run rampant. It is up to Special Agent William Carter to lead a covert operation against invading alien forces of the extraterrestrial kind. The player in this 3rd person shooter will lead a small squad to defend humanity and keep the secret war under wraps. With an expansive storyline from the creators of the Minerva’s Den DLC for Bioshock 2, it is understandable that the story behind The Bureau cannot be limited to the main game.

The DLC content will be made available after the game’s initial launch to Xbox 360 owners first, with PC and PS3 owners to receive it shortly afterwards. Owner’s of all three consoles can receive a special downloadable mission, though, when it is ordered through select retailers. The mission, called Codebreakers, will start with enemy radio transmissions going silent. It is up to the player and their squad to bring the enemy facility back online, figure out the code, and of course, dispatch any enemy threats in the area.

downloadable-content/ By Zenko on June 20th, 2013

In a press release 2K and 2K Marin are showing that they want to give fans more to play beyond launch content. For those looking to purchase The Bureau: XCOM Declassified but aren’t sure just how satisfying or expansive the game will be, you can rest easy as the alternate 1962 timeline is set to receive DLC that features strong narrative elements.

As Morgan Gray, development director at 2K Marin says, “there are many more stories to tell about the early days of XCOM” which means players can look forward to a slew of exciting content. A trailer showing off the shooting action can be found on the official YouTube account of the company.

June 20th, 2013

[Kyary Pamyu Pamyu] ‘Nandakorekshon’ mega mix to be released, album trial listening and video teaser now up

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worldwide hit, ‘PONPONPON’. The song in the background, “NandakoreMIX” by Nakata himself, will be released in the site the same time as the album, June 26

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kyary-pamyu-pamyunandakorekshon-mega-mix-released-album-trial-listening-video-teaser/ By Az on June 20th, 2013

Kyary will also be having an event on the release, June 26 in Laforet Museum, Harajuku, Tokyo. It will be an invitational event called “Nandakorekshon 2013″ for a total of 400 attendees from the fan club and regular fans. Scheduled for the event is a fashion show featuring the characters seen in all of Kyary’s videos so far, a mini-live, and a commemorative photo with the dancers and fans. Here’s the video teaser for the album. source: natalie, Warner Music Japan Official Site, Warner Music Japan YouTube Channel

NIS reveals action-RPG ‘Battle Princess of Arcadias’ for PS3 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/nis-reveals-action-rpg-battleprincess-arcadia-ps3/ By SunSoftware on June 20th, 2013

Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s soon-to-be-released album ‘Nandakorekshon’ is now up for trial listening on Warner Music Japan’s official site. For the trial listening, short versions of all the songs were uploaded to the site. In addition to this, a teaser video featuring the producer Yasutaka Nakata’s ‘Nandakorekshon’ mega mix is now up on YouTube. The trial and teaser showcases new songs in the album, such as “Nandakorekshon”, “Super Scooter Happy”, “Saigo no Ice Cream”, “Otona na Kodomo”, and more. The teaser also features clips from Kyary’s music videos and cute images – a pop video in its own different way. These visuals were produced by director and graphical designer Jun Tamukai, who has also worked on Kyary’s 4

June 20th, 2013

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The developer of the insane Disgaea series has been working like crazy to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Now, they have revealed their fifth game of the year, and it looks different from anything they’ve done before. Nippon Ichi Software has officially revealed their upcoming action-RPG, Battle Princess of Arcadias (Arcadias no Ikusahime). The game was first teased last year as one of NIS’s 20th anniversary projects and is scheduled to be released on September 26. The game is set in a world where countries have deployed warriors to defend their livelihoods from rampant monsters. These brave, beautiful, sword-weilding warriors are called “Battle Princesses”.

Plume takes pride in being a Battle Princess and loves to fight. She has a cheerful, naive, and ever-so-slightly dumb personality, and the people of Schwert refer to her as “Pucchan”. However, one day, a giant monster steals the lives of the people and soldiers who admire her. Having failed to uphold her responsibility, Plume decides to change and sets off on a new adventure.

The story may not sound too original, but NIS created this game to challenge themselves, since they are famous for making RPGs and occasionally visual novels. Drawing elements from their Prinny games on the PSP and their upcoming PS3 game The Witch and the Hundred Knights, this game combines side-scrolling action gameplay with RPG elements and colorful 2D graphics. The world of Battle Princess of Arcadias is divided into three countries: Schwert (west), Velos (center), and Armatura (east). Out of the three countries, Schwert has the least monsters. However, the number of monsters in the region has been increasing recently. In the name of a Battle Princess, I shall now bring judgement upon you! The game features 2D side-scrolling levels with traditional action-RPG elements in which you mash buttons to fight monsters, gain experience points, and equip different types of weapons.

The main character is Plume, a Battle Princess of Schwert. Her voice actress is Saori Hayami, who also voiced Izumiko from Red Data Girl and Ayase from OreImo.

June 20th, 2013

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The game will also include alternate playable character and modes. They haven’t been detailed yet, but in this screenshot, you can see Plume leading a group of soldiers against a huge boss monster.

Source: Dengeki

Even though this game has been just officially revealed, Battle Princess of Arcadias looks different from anything NIS has done before. Along with The Witch and the Hundred Knights and Makai Wars Live coming next month, this may be NIS’s greatest year ever.

Hatsune Miku to have special stage in Asia Style Collection in Singapore Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/hatsune-miku-special-stage-asiastyle-collection-singapore/ By Az on June 20th, 2013

It has just been revealed yesterday, June 18 that vocaloid idol Hatsune Miku will be coming to grand fashion event ‘Asia Style Collection by stylexstyle.com’. The event will be held in Singapore Expo on June 22.

June 20th, 2013

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‘Asia Style Collection’ (ASC) is a large scale fashion event mainly involving the countries Japan, Korea, and Singapore. It showcases the forefront and very latest trends in fashion and music, combining it in this one of a kind stage. In her appearance, Hatsune Miku will be collaborating with ‘Tokyo Girls Style’ for a special stage. There will also be other performances in the event. AKB48 and its Shanghai based sister group SNH48 will be appearing, along with Korean idol group Shoujo Jidai (SNSD) and singers AI, Thelma Aoyama, and Mai Kuraki. Popular models like Lena Fujii and Tsubasa Masuwaka, Kozue Akimoto, Mikiko Yano, and Rola will be strutting their stuff too. source: Mantan Web

Adult visual novel ‘Walkure Romanze’ to have anime adaptation Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/adult-visual-walkure-romanzeanime-adaptation/ By spartanchef on June 20th, 2013

An anime adaptation for adult visual novel ‘Walkure Romanze‘ has been announced in the August issue of Tech Gian magazine. “Walkure Romanze‘ is based on the adult visual novel by Ricotta which also developed ‘Princess Lover‘.

June 20th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 20th, 2013

With E3 2013 in the books, it is safe to say that Microsoft got a little banged up by Sony… OK, saying it’s just a little would be an understatement. The story’ is set on an academy where jousting is the main sport and follows Takahiro Mizuno, a student who aspires to be a knight but instead acts as an adviser for the school’s riders. The heroines are Noel Marres Ascot who is a top class jouster, Mio Kisaki who is Takahiro’s neighbor and childhood friend who hasn’t even ridden a horse before, Celia Cumani Aintree who is a champion jouster and is also the student council president, and finally, the promising young, undefeated rookie named Lisa Eostre.

And now, because of the beating Microsoft got during E3, Xbox One is doing a 180 degree turn and reversing its decision. Yes, this could very well be the biggest decision reversal in console history; Microsoft is dropping the Internet check-in requirement and used game restrictions. According to Don Mattrick, Microsoft’s President for Interactive Entertainment Business, he has heard a lot of feedback from the consumers since E3 and made a decision based on their feedbacks. It also has several manga adaptations; one by Mitsu King and serialized in Monthly Comic Dengeki Daioh magazine by ASCII Media Works and another by Nagisa Manoa in Dengeki Hime and finally one by No.Gomesu in the Comic Valkyrie website. There were also two drama CD’s released for the series. The anime adaptation will premiere this Fall anime season 2013. Source: ieee80211 blog

Xbox does a ONE-eighty; Microsoft reverses Xbox One’s DRM policies Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/xbox-one-eighty-microsoft-reversesxbox-drm-policies/

For the offline gaming issue, he said “After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc based game without ever connecting online again. There is no 24 hour connection requirement and you can take your Xbox One anywhere you want and play your games, just like on Xbox 360”. For used games, he said “There will be no limitations to using and sharing games, it will work just as it does today on Xbox 360”. He then added “In addition to buying a disc from a retailer, you can also download games from Xbox Live on day of release. If you choose to download your games, you will be able to play them offline just like you do today. Xbox One games will be playable on any Xbox One console — there will be no regional restrictions“. So, with this new decision for the Xbox One, here’s a recap: - You can now play offline - There is no more 24-hour internet connection requirement - All game discs will now work as they do in the Xbox 360 - No more restrictions on used games -No restrictions in trading and loaning games - No more regional locks

June 20th, 2013

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Since its reveal last May, Xbox One has been through a lot of criticism for their policies on used games as well as the 24hour internet connection rule. Its rival, PlayStation 4 on the other hand has received a lot of praise since its reveal during E3. Source: Xbox Wire

Sony takes PS3 firmware update 4.45 offline after causing some problems Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ps3-firmware-update-4-45problems/ By spartanchef on June 20th, 2013

The update was supposed to allow users to switch off trophy notifications. Given the number of complaints, many were advised to not update their consoles for the meantime since many were getting bricked already. Meanwhile, Sony has admitted that there is a problem and is finding a solution. They have taken 4.45 offline at the moment and are apologizing for the inconvenience. They have apologized for the inconvenienced and have advised users to wait for their announcement when update 4.45 will be ready for use without any problems.

Firmware updates have always been a part of the PlayStation 3 as they have proven to improve the performance of the console, but as update 4.45 comes in, many users have already reported problems. This news comes as Sonyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PlayStation support page has become flooded with complaints regarding the 4.45 update. Users have reported that after installation, the system rebooted as it usually does but then, their consoles become locked as they cannot go out of the ribbon screen. Some have complained that they cannot shut down their consoles even if they press the power button on the PlayStation 3 itself.

Sources: PlayStation twitter account, PlayStation Europe twitter and PlayStation 3 support

June 22nd, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Makai Wars Live episode 1: Asagi’s Counterattack [For 8 years in conception!] [The eternally delayed title "Makai Wars"!!]

NIS reveals strange trailer for Makai Wars Live Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/nis-reveals-strange-trailer-makaiwars-live/ By SunSoftware on June 22nd, 2013

[Is finally stripped of its veil of mystery!!] Kururu: Nippon Ichi Software♪ Asagi: Wuh, why are you singing!!? And why Nippon Ichi Software!!? [All of Nippon Ichi's characters in one place!!?] Prinny: Today, we are introducing this product! The Z/X Nippon Ichi Pack!* [Anything and everything can happen!] Asagi: Fine. It’s a fight to decide the hero of the next game, Mimorin! [An original script!] Asagi: Who are you calling the eternal hidden character? How rude!! Tenpei Sato: Let’s heartbeat! Everyone, sing with me!! [Original footage!} Lilliel: I have been born out of your unhappiness. The way you are now, you will cease to be a hidden character, let alone a main character. [Plus, an incredibly amazing cast!!] [Makai Wars, for one day only!!!] [This is only the beginning!!]

As fans of Nippon Ichi Software know, their games are often filled with nonsense. Well, so is this trailer for their 20th anniversary concert. On July 13, Nippon Ichi Software, the developer of the Disgaea series, will hold their concert “Makai Wars Live episode 1: Asagi’s Counterattack” in Yokohama BLITZ. As the name implies, the event is centered around Asagi, the hero of Makai Wars. NIS first teased Makai Wars in the summer of 2004, but the game was never released. Since then, Asagi has been featured as a hidden character in 18 different games with ten different Japanese voice actresses, earning the nickname “the eternal hero of the next game”.

Laharl: Take this! Ultimate Attack, Mizuhashi’s 7 Transformations!!** * Z/X (aka Zillions of Enemy X) is NIS’s multimedia project that includes a PS3 game, trading card game, and anime. ** Kaori Mizuhashi is Laharl’s voice actress, whereas “7 Transformations” can also refer to the lantana, hydrangea, or a type of kabuki dance that involves quickly changing clothes seven times. The artists performing in Makai Wars Live are as follows:

However, things are finally looking bright for Asagi, as she was voted the most popular female NIS character in a survey by Dengeki Online, and she has gained over 8,500 members in her online fanclub. Now, NIS has revealed a trailer for Makai Wars Live, featuring… well, a lot of random characters doing random things with Tenpei Sato’s You Go Girl playing in the background. Along with the trailer, you can read an English transcript below. However, much like NIS’s games, the trailer doesn’t really make sense.

• Ultra-Prism (dressed up as Asagi and performed in last year’s Asagi’s National Tour; is also responsible for the opening theme of Squid Girl)

June 22nd, 2013

• Maria Kawamura (voice actress of Kururu from Little Princess: Doll Princess of Marl Kingdom 2)

Published by: VR-Zone By KaleNagasaki on June 22nd, 2013

• Tenpei Sato (music composer of the entire Disgaea series, plus other games) and his band, MissKiss

• Minori Chihara (performed the opening theme of Disgaea D2) • Suzuko Mimori (voice actress of Asagi in Disgaea D2, plus Sheryl from Milky Holmes and Umi from Love Live!) • Yousei Teikoku (performed the opening theme of The Guided Fate Paradox, as well as the anime Mirai Nikki)

• Emi Nitta, Yurika Kubo, Sora Tokui, Aina Kusuda, and Yoshino Nanjou from μ’s (the idol unit from Love Live! who also voiced the female characters of The Guided Fate Paradox) Makai Wars Live is coming on July 13. After waiting for nine years, will Asagi finally be the hero of her own game? Source: Dengeki

‘Code Geass: Akito the Exiled’ episode 2 trailer released; announces yet another delay Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/code-geass-akito-exiled-episode-2trailer-released-announces-delay/

Finally! The official website for Code Geass: Akito the Exiled has streamed a trailer for the second episode in the four-part OVA series. However, with this good news comes some bad – the second episode will be delayed again. Originally, the second part was to be released this past spring, but was postponed til the summer. So I waited patiently, eager now that summer is here. But after another delay, the second OVA isn’t set to premier until September 14th. Set between season I and season II of Code Geass, this story takes place right around the formation of the Black Knights and the comeback of Zero, who was previously thought defeated and dead. While the universe is the same, the story of Akito (voiced by Miyu Irino - Mobile Suit Gundam 00′s Saji Crossroad, Spirited Away‘s Haku) unfolds in the European Union, where we follow a group dubbed “W-0” wage war against the tyrannical Britannian Empire. The group is led by Layla Malkal, who is voiced by Maaya Sakamoto (Black Butler‘s Ciel Phantomhive, Monogatari’s Shinobu Oshino). As a huge follower of Code Geass, the fact that Akito the Exiled will only be four episodes is enough of a tragedy – having to wait longer for episode two is just cruelty! While many cast and staff are returning, such as Takahiro Sakurai (voice of Suzaku Kururugi – my favorite character!), there are a few new members. Fumihiko Tachiki (Neon Genesis Evangelion‘s Gendou Ikari) will play Michael Augustus, and Takuma Terashima (Blood Lad’s Wolf) will play Ashley Ashura. See everyone’s work come together in the trailer: For those of you who enjoyed Code Geass, but just cannot imagine the show without your beloved Lelouch, Suzaku, and C.C., never fear! These characters make appearances, and to be honest, the excuse to see Suzaku is one of the main reasons I’m watching Akito. In the meantime however, we can only anticipate the release of episode two by reigniting 2

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our obsession with the original Code Geass and staying up-to-date with the official website. Not into Code Geass? Lelouch vi Britannia commands you to watch!

Get in on all the action with ‘Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z’! Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/action-dragon-ball-z-battle-z/ By KaleNagasaki on June 22nd, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

However, one thing I do know: once this game comes out, see me on the battlefield!

Good Smile Company announces Summer Wonfest 2013 exclusives Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/good-smile-company-announcessummer-wonfest-2013-exclusives/ By spartanchef on June 22nd, 2013

As the summer edition of Wonder Festival 2013 (or Wonfest for short) is almost upon us, Good Smile Company is giving us a good look at what to expect. Each product will be on sale at the GSC booth during Wonfest this July. These products will also be on sale for a limited time at the Good Smile Online Shop from July 28 until August 5. All products ordered online will be shipped late November. All products are limited edition so it would be wise to order early. GSC will ship each product to countries outside Japan and there would be a 2000 yen fixed shipping cost to all countries. Mika and Rika Jougasaki figma

The official website of Namco Bandai’s newest Dragon Ball fighting game Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z has opened, and it posted the first trailer for the game. Prepare your eyes for all the punches, kicks, and energy blasts that Dragon Ball is famous for, but to a whole new level. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z features up to four player co-op, and an up to eight player battle royale! To make these new features seamless, the game has strong online multi-player support. Instead of just having a bunch of people in the arena just doing their own thing, players can cooperate and perform synchronous moves, such as “Synchro Rush”. Players can even increase each other’s health through “Revive Soul”. As a huge Dragon Ball fan (and that is an understatement – my entire room is Dragon Ball, I watch it almost every night, I have over fifty Dragon Ball action figures, all the manga and episodes, and my Deviantart account is flooded with fan pictures), I am so excited for this game! The Super Saiyan God form that was shown in this year’s movie Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods will even be available! Check out the awesome trailer below. Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Z will come to the XBox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita, although the price and date are unknown.

From the popular social game, ’IDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls‘ comes the Jougasaki sisters, Mika and Rika (sold separately). Both girls are sculpted by Max Factory’s Masaki Asai and both come with the signature articulated figma stand. Rika Jougasaki She comes with comes with a rhinoceros beetle, a bear-ears headband and her memo pad as optional parts. She stands about 125 mm and comes with three expressions; winking, 3

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smiling with sparkly eyes and serious. There will only be 3000 units available.

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She comes with two alternating hairparts; her classic pony tail and her twin tails. She stands about 130 mm and comes with a cellphone and three expressions; determined, winking and embarassed. Like Rika, there will only be 3000 Mika figmas available.

Source: Good Smile Company Mika Jougasaki

June 22nd, 2013

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Source: Good Smile Company Ranko, Uzuki and Mika + Live Stage Nendroid Petite Set We have another one from‘IDOLM@STER: Cinderella Girls’, but this time, in nendroid petite form. The trio of Ranko Kanzaki, Uzuki Shimamura and Mika Jougasaki, along with a live stage make up this set. The nendroids are sculpted by knead (sai), knead (kan-D!) and knead (amato) with each figure being approximately 65 mm tall. There will only be 2000 sets available.

Source: Good Smile Company Nendroid Nyaruko (Maid Ver.) Our favorite cthulhu is back, and this time, she comes in a cute maid outfit. She comes with a ’Nightgaunt Drink’ on a tray, a ‘Kurogane no Striver’ Blu-ray boxset, and heart effect parts to show her undying love for her beloved Mahirokun. She also comes with a nendroid-sized Manta-kun. This figure stands at approximately 100 mm and is sculpted by Maruhige and Hidetoshi Seibu. There will only be 3000 units of her available.

June 22nd, 2013

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Source: Good Smile Company 1/8 Kurisu Makise (white coat ver.) GSC will also sell a 1/8 scale figure of that certain tsundere genius from ‘Steins; Gate’. CHRISTINA… I mean Kurisu is holding a bottle of “Dokupe” and is wearing the future gadget #12: ‘Darling no Baka‘. This 1/8 scale figure is sculpted by Hironori Tokunaga. There will only be 2000 of these figures available.

June 22nd, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

with Touhka, Yoshino, Kurumi, his sister Kotori and the human AST member Origami, he has to deal with even more, including these guys; The Yamai sisters, Yuzuru and Kaguya

Miku Izayoi

Date A Live is based on the light novel written by Koushi Tachibana with art by Tsunako. It is serialized in Dragon Magazine and published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko. It follows a boy named Shidou who must seal beings known as Spirits in order to stop them from creating chaos. To do this, he must date them. Source: Good Smile Company

Here’s more images from the released clip

‘Date A Live’ anime’s second phase unveiled Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/date-live-phase-unveiled/ By spartanchef on June 22nd, 2013

Shidou Itsuka is going to have to deal with even more spirits. Yes, Date A Live‘s second phase has been announced and green lit. The new season was revealed right after the final episode ended. The original light novel’s author, Koushi Tachibana also announced the anime’s second season via twitter. The new season is guaranteed to introduce even more spirits for poor Shidou to deal with. Not only does he have to deal 7

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convey everything that developers want to especially when it comes to an updated version of an older game. Finally though, Tales of Symphonia: Unisonant has a trailer upon the opening of its new official website. On it, all the essential information that anyone interested would need to cultivate interest is included. Of course before all of that, seeing the game in action would definitely speak more for the game than any written text. So without further adieu… The animation work is as usual done by the folks over at Production I.G. and as usual it looks great. Tales of Symphonia: Unisonant releases October 10, 2013 for 6,980 yen (approximately S$100)

Creator of ‘Metal Gear’ series Hideo Kojima wants ‘Metal Gear Solid V’ to be a global phenomenon Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/creator-metal-gear-series-hideokojima-metal-gears-solid-v-global-phenomenon/ By KaleNagasaki on June 21st, 2013

Source: Yaraon

Tales of Symphonia: Unisonant first trailer showcases gameplay, beautiful glimpses of cutscenes Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/tales-symphonia-unisonant-trailershowcases-gameplay-beautiful-glimpses-cutscenes/ By hikarucon on June 21st, 2013

Up until now Tales of Symphonia: Unisonant has only been revealed through screenshots which cannot always properly

After an exciting week at E3 2013, creator of the Metal Gear series Hideo Kojima took the time to talk with Famitsu about his hopes for the latest instalment Metal Gear Solid V. Rightly curious about Metal Gear Solid V’s open-world and online aspects, Famitsu began by asking Kojima to elucidate his reasons behind making the newest Metal Gear a AAA game. Kojima replied:

Well, a part of me likes to express myself in such a way, but video games are a form of media that rely on technology. Games continue to grow horizontally, but in order to evolve in a vertical 8

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direction, they need to climb one step at a time, and it isn’t easy to jump two steps at once. In other words, if they don’t pursue the most they can, it’s a tough road ahead. Despite the fact that Metal Gear is an extremely successful franchise, Kojima remains humbly aware about the difficulties that lie in making the game better. Not to be outdone by other next-generation games, Kojima acknowledges that the social aspect to gaming cannot be ignored, and that Metal Gear Solid V will have social features.

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Source: Famitsu

Unchained Blades developer reveals trailer for new RPG ‘Exstetra’ Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/unchained-blades-developer-revealstrailer-rpg-exstetra/ By SunSoftware on June 21st, 2013

Kojima believes that with each installment in Metal Gear, he has moved forward vertically and has continued to evolve. Perhaps these next-generation social features he talks about include the possibility to make Metal Gear Solid V playable on multi-tablet platforms. Of course, Kojima would never abandon what made Metal Gears so great in the first place. Even with the open-world and online features, Kojima stresses that Metal Gear Solid V will still be a good game on its own. Great graphics, great story line, everything we’ve come to expect.

In Furyu’s newest RPG, you give people special powers by kissing them. Metal Gear Solid V will be available for both current and next generation consoles. Kojima sees video games increasingly relying on cloud services, and believes that tablet features necessary so that games are not restricted to a particular platform. The series has been one of the most successful ever to launch in Japan, and is one of the few games whose fame carried over into Western audiences. When Famitsu asked whether Kojima is keeping his Western audience in mind, Kojima replied: Our intent is to develop something that can please players on a global scale, so we’re not thinking about anything like that. However, Metal Gear sells the most in the United States. The largest market is also the United States, and they’re home to the world’s largest game show in E3. Naturally, we’d like to compete and win against the world’s best, there. Metal Gear Solid V’s ‘V’ also stands for ‘Victory,’ which also means that we’d like to win in a global scale, once again. The trailer at E3 definitely excited Western audiences, so we can only imagine the success Metal Gear Solid V will reach. If you missed the trailer, here it is below.

Exstetra is an RPG for the 3DS and PS Vita coming from Furyu, the developer of Unchained Blades. The story begins when Tokyo is suddenly fused with an alternate world called Amazia. The protagonist is a high school boy named Ryouma who is chosen to be the “Prisma”, the hero who must save the two worlds from disappearing into oblivion. As part of his mission, he must seek out people who can become “Prisma Knights” and awaken their powers by kissing them. To get a glimpse of the game, you can watch the teaser video from Furyu, featuring character illustrations by Tony and Katsumi Enami, and the theme song with you, performed by ClariS (the same duo who performed the opening theme of OreImo). Just once, okay? Just a little bit, okay?! Not many details have been revealed yet, but we do know three of the main characters. Ryouma (CV: Yuuichi Nakamura) The hero of the game and the Prisma who must save Amazia and bring peace to the world. Unfortunately, he has no memories.

In his final statement, Kojima addresses his fans, saying “Metal Gear Solid V will indeed be challenging the rest of the world. In order to win this fight, we’ll be needing all of your support. Please look forward to the world of a nextgeneration social service that will utilize the cloud”. Are you on team Kojima? 9

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Shiho (CV: Kaori Ishihara) A 17-year-old high school girl who aims to be an idol. She shared a kiss with Ryouma and became a Prisma Knight.

Masaru (CV: Takuya Eguchi) An easygoing mood maker who loves video games. Like Shiho, he is also a Prisma Knight(!).

Source: Famitsu

Doki Doki Precure Narikiri Life hits 3DS this August Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/doki-doki-precure-narikiri-lifehits-3ds-august/ By Zenko on June 21st, 2013

You can start kissing your friends when Exstetra is released on October 17. Also, the theme song with you will be included in ClariSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s next album, Second Story, coming on June 26. Put this game alongside Conception II, the game where you make children and use them to fight monsters, and you have twoâ&#x20AC;Ś unusual games.

Fans of the latest Precure installment, Doki Doki Precure will be happy to know that more has been released about the upcoming 3DS game. Doki Doki Precure may have just started in the fall, but it has already gained enough steam to merit a 3DS release on August 1 for 4980 yen. The game, which promises dance and idol action, will feature both the opening and ending song for the show along with a slew of minigames. With the idol theme, it also promises a makeover for the Doki Doki Precure girls.

June 22nd, 2013

Mana Aida, or Cure Heart, is the all around talented and sporty girl that has a natural talent for leadership. Unfortunately she’s a terrible singer, but it does not stop her from inspiring others. Her fellow PreCure, Makoto Kenzaki and Cure Sword, is a talented idol and should provide a foil to Mana’s voice. Her goals, though, are to help find the princess of the Trump Kingdom who she became separated from during a world jump.

Childhood friends Rika and Alice, Cure Diamond and Cure Rosetta, will of course also be making an appearance in the game. Rika still attends school with Mana where she has managed to rank tenth during national exams. Alice now attends a private academy, and is largely a pacifist except when it comes to protecting those closest and dearest to her.

One of the minigames featuring the characters will be a rhythm game that uses the opening and ending themes. In it players will have to time their taps on the lower screen to match hearts flying in from left and right on the upper screen. Matching enough with the proper timing will lead to the heart gauge becoming full and a Precure Appeal pose occuring. The minigame will have two different options: Solo Mode and Unit Mode. Solo Mode will show just one of the characters performing and can help to unlock other features during other parts of the game.

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Another minigame, called Lunch is exactly what it sounds like: serving lunch. Taking on the role of Mana at her family’s restaurant The Pig’s Tail Pavillion, you must fulfill a customer’s order by matching food on the tray within a specific time limit. The faster you clear the challenge, the higher your score will be.

The Idol minigame will have you take on the role of different girls as they aspire to become the best. Unlike the dance game, you will trace the motions for the song on the lower screen with the upper featuring directions. The main goal is to make the cutest pose possible for that particular Precure, which will only be possible by properly timing moves.

The final minigame released so far is Taking Care of the Baby. In it you must help Rika with babysitting the series iconic baby character, Ai. You must figure out which toy Ai is crying for, and she will occasionally give you a hint through balloons, so it is a fairly simple game compared to others.

June 22nd, 2013

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Much like the Project Diva games, Doki Doki Precure Narikiri Life will have a room feature. By playing the minigames you will gain heart points that you can use to buy outfits and furniture for the different idols. It will be done through a gachapon (capsule) system, so each piece will be completely random.

There has been no word yet on the main game play, but the minigames are already promising a good deal of fun for Precure fans. Source: News Dengeki

Kana Hanazawa (‘Oreimo‘s Kuroneko) voices the team’s small forward, Tomoka Minato

Ro-Kyu Bu SS main voice cast to perform in live event; liveaction teaser video for ‘Get Goal’ single released Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ro-kyu-bu-ss-main-voice-castperform-live-event-live-action-teaser-video-get-goal-single-released/ By spartanchef on June 21st, 2013

Yui Ogura (‘Hentai Ouji‘s Tsukiko Tsukakishi) voices the shooting guard, Hinata “Hina” Hakamada

The much awaited basketball anime Ro-Kyu Bu SS will premiere this July and now, its main female cast members comprised of Kana Hanazawa, Yui Ogura, Rina Hidaka, Yoko Hikasa and Yuka Iguchi will be performing live this July for ‘Ro-Kyu-Bu! Live 2013‘. Rina Hidaka (‘Sword Art Online‘s Silica) voices the center, Airi Kashii

June 22nd, 2013

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Yoko Hikasa (‘High School DXD‘s Rias Gremory) voices the point guard, Saki Nagatsuka

and Yuka Iguchi (‘To Aru Majutsu no Index‘s Index) voices the power forward, Maho Misawa

The live event will be held July 29, 2013 at the Saitama Super Arena and will start 5:00 p.m. with doors opening at 3:00 p.m. The event is produced by Bandai Namco Live Creative and is sponsored by Warner Entertainment Japan. The voice cast will also be releasing their latest single, ‘Get Goal!‘ this July 10. . Get Goal!’ will be the ending song for the upcoming ‘Ro-Kyu-Bu SS‘ anime this July. A live-action teaser video featuring the main female voice cast has been released for the single. ‘Ro-Kyu-Bu SS’ is the sequel to the 2011 basketball anime ‘Ro-Kyu-Bu’. It is based on Sagu Aoyama’s light novel and is directed by Keizou Kusakawa. Source: Ro-Kyu-Bu official website

June 24th, 2013

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SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Famitsu interviews Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade lead producer — a look at the series’s past & future Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/famitsu-interviews-hatsune-mikuproject-diva-arcade-lead-producer-seriess-future/ By KarbyP on June 24th, 2013

—Please tell us your thoughts on Project Diva Arcade reaching its third anniversary! Makoto Osaki: Er well, really, to be able to get this far… we never imagined things would go this well. It’s really all thanks to the passionate support we received from all the users, great guys and gals from all spectrums of life, that we were able to get this far. —I remember back when it was the game’s first anniversary; you also held an event to celebrate it back then. Osaki: That’s right, we did hold an event back when it was our first annivesary. As to why we didn’t do one for our second anniversary, well… (laughs). When we did our first anniversary event, we thought “if we could hold an event like this again, that would be great”, so to be honest I’m just really glad that we could finally hold another celebration event. As now we’ve also got Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade Future Tone coming, I’d really like to hold another anniversary event for next year. —For this event you’ve got 14 Project Diva Arcade cabinets here. That’s quite the spectacle. Osaki: Yeah we got the machines from Ikebukuro GiGO [arcade], as well as a number of nearby establishments that carried the game. —Please tell us your thoughts on the event now that it’s concluded. Osaki: Frankly I was pleasantly surprised. “This many people were willing to come and attend it!” I thought. What happens with video games in general is that people are really quite excited and hyped up for a new title at the point of its release, and that usually ends up being the peak for a game’s momentum.

At Sega’s Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade 3rd anniversary, Famitsu caught up with Sega’s Makoto Osaki, producer of the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade series, and got the man to spill the beans on the PDA series’s humble beginnings (Miku had Sarah Bryant’s hair and a pretty scary face at one point), as well as what’s in store for the future – the types of songs they’d like to put into the arcade version. Osaki also talked briefly about Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2, which his team (in charge of making arcade games) is helping with, and hints at some of the new 3DS rhythm game’s surprising features: the “My Room” mode has grown so much that it may not even be apt to call it a “room” any more.

So to see this many people come out here to celebrate Project Diva Arcade’s third anniversary, and with some coming in from quite far away, we’re truly humbled, and we want to thank all of our fans for the support. —At this point, Miku-san is no longer just popular in Japan, but she’s also a phenomenon all over the world. What do you think about that, Osaki-san? Why do you think Miku-san has gotten this popular? Osaki: The way you can create songs with Miku, dance her songs, sing her songs (with no restrictions or without worrying that you are infringing on the artiste’s intellectual property rights), I think that it was easy for that part about the phenomenon to be communicated to general users, even overseas ones, and that really had a great effect on everything, that’s what I personally think. So here in Japan, Hatsune Miku got extremely popular as a form of CGM (Consumer Generated Media), and I think that similarly for overseas audiences it was easy for them to see this and go “Hey, I want to try doing this, and create this 1

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type of content too”. They were able to assimilate into the phenomenon easily. And also I’d like to think that, the hard work our staff put into doing all the [Hatsune Miku] live concerts also contributed to getting the phenomenon accepted overseas, if I may so unabashedly say (laughs). —When you came up with the concept and plans for Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade, did you ever imagine that the game was going to grow on so many different levels? Osaki: Nope, not at all. If I were to talk about the project’s beginnings, let’s see… it all started after the first Hatsune Miku: Project Diva came out on the PSP. At the time we looked at what users did with Edit mode(which lets you make your own music videos and playable stages in Project Diva), what sort of videos they made and posted on the Web, and we were just blown away. We thought: “Wow, that’s… [amazing]!” Creating illustrations and songs can be quite a difficult undertaking, but with the Edit mode as long as you are determined to make something, you could do it. Seeing those user-created Edit mode videos made us think: “Wouldn’t it be cool if we could do contests where users would submit their songs and their Edit mode PV creations to us, and then we we could feature them somehow? Like maybe in an arcade version of the game.” And that was how the plans to produce a Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade plans started. From there, we thought that if the R&D2 team (the development team that Osaki currently leads; formerly known as AM2) were to do this, then it’d be pretty boring if we merely ported over the consumer game version into the arcades – so we really wanted to do something special with it. Initially, Miku’s face turned out to be extremely scary – it was as if we lit up a female TV announcer’s face with an extremely bright light (a technique known as “Jyoyuu Light” that TV stations use, that explains why you’d need to have a flawless complexion to be a female TV announcer). As for Miku’s hair, that was actually Sarah Bryant’s hair (from the Virtua Fighter series) dyed in green/blue. As for the costume, we put the character model in a long-sleeved kimono in green/blue and went on from there. Then we came up with this obtuse sales pitch for the game – it’s basically CGM culture meets R&D2′s technology… or that was what our excuse was for spending time to work on this. To be perfectly honest, this was just something we personally really wanted to work on (laughs). After all, Hatsune Miku: Project Diva on the PSP had just came out (July 2009), and then we ended up coming out with the location test for Project Diva Arcade in January 2010. If you think about it, that sort of schedule meant there were a lot of things we couldn’t possibly do (laughs). However, the programmers and the rest of the staff working on this were really into it. Also I think I’ve mentioned this before, but the Virtua Fighter team had actually made a (Project Diva Edit) video and uploaded it to the Web before. “Although we were supposedly pros at this, the view count for the video(s) we uploaded ourselves without anybody knowing it’s us, were quite low (laughs),” I remember the Virtua Fighter team having a conversation like that. So once we (R&D2/AM2) got to work on Miku (translator’s note: the

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Project Diva PSP team is different from the Virtua Fighter/ Project Diva Arcade team AKA R&D2 or AM2), everybody was pumped. We were able to do so much only because or the vigour and passion everybody had. —Could you also tell us a little about what’s in store for the future of Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade? Osaki: At the talk session today we already covered this, but basically we want to “put in songs that we absolutely should put in”, “put in tracks that are great songs but that which did not do very well in terms of view counts as a video uploaded onto the Web”, and to “put in Project Mirai tracks”. We want to do all of that at a very regular pace, without skipping a beat. Also, we’re also making Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade Future Tone. Our ultimate goal is to really establish something like a “Vocaloid MTV” (translator’s note: I think the “MTV” here refers to the MTV channel, as music videos in Japanese are more commonly referred to as PVs). Let users play great songs accompanied by great PV. And of course, we’re planning to have the way players play evolve as well. What we’re doing here is creating a “(Vocaloid) songs archive”, which would have been quite difficult to do if not for the fact that we’re a game company, I think. As to specifics on which songs we’d like to add into the game in the near future, I can’t really talk about that now, but since the song Rosary Pale is coming to Project Diva Arcade, I think there are quite a lot of Vocaloid fans who would be able to tell what other songs are coming next just from that fact alone. Rosary Pale was a song that we wanted to add into the game since 2010! Everyone told us that they’d love to see it in the game, and I want to let them know that their voice has most certainly reached us – so rest assured that we’ve heard you loud and clear. (Let us know in the comments below if you know what song Sega’s Osaki is hinting at!) —Osaki-san, your team is also concurrently helping with development on Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 (3DS), right? Tell us about that. Osaki: Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai 2 (working title) will be showcased at The Strongest V Jump Festa 2013. You’ll be able to play 1/6 -out of the gravity- and other unannounced track(s) at the event. We think our fans will understand the appeal of Mirai 2 very much with this new demo – at the moment, all the info that’s been revealed about Mirai 2 is only but a small slice of the pie. In fact we’ve loaded Mirai 2 with so much awesome new stuff that we think people will be surprised and go “Are you seriously putting that in!?” (laughs). In the previous game, we got a lot of feedback like “ah, I see you’ve chosen tracks that evoke a warm and fuzzy feeling for this game”. For Mirai 2, we’re not betraying those expectations for the series, but we’re also putting in a lot of unexpected songs that also evoke lots of ngood vibes. Gameplay-wise there are lots of new elements too. This new game feels completely different compared to its prequel. For instance, in My Room… well, it’s no longer a “room” anymore. Please look forward to that.

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—We look forward to developments in both the arcade and consumer versions.

in the background is Hajimari no Umi, performed by Maaya Sakamoto.

Osaki: Please continue to give us your support.

If you’re not interested in cute girls, and you prefer girls who show more skin and happen to have magic powers, you may want to watch the second season of High School DxD. The story follows Issei, a perverted high school boy who is killed on his first date and reborn as a demon who must serve Rias, another demon and the most popular girl in his school. As part of his job, he must fight against fallen angels who are hunting for the divine Excaliburs.

Source: Famitsu

Hyped up for Summer 2013 anime season? ‘Love Lab’, ‘Tamayura’, ‘High School DxD’ release more promotional trailers Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/hyped-summer-2013-anime-seasonlove-lab-tamayura-high-school-dxd-released-promotional-trailers/ By SunSoftware on June 24th, 2013

The second season, titled High School DxD New, will follow up on the first by introducing two new enemies, Xenovia and Irino. You can see both of them in this trailer, accompanied by narration by Issei, voiced by Yuki Kaji (Eren from Attack on Titan), and the opening theme, Sympathy, performed by Larval Stage Planning. With all of these different anime and more coming next month, are you excited for this summer? Source: Love Lab HP, Tamayura HP, High School DxD HP

Stealth game “Thief” confirmed to release on on PS3, XBox 360 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/stealth-game-thief-confirmedrelease-ps3-xbox-360/ By Az on June 24th, 2013

With less than one month left until the summer anime start airing, three of them have released another trailer. Which one are you most interested in? The first trailer is for Love Lab, a schoolgirl comedy featuring Miki, a proper and refined student council president who secretly wants to explore the aspects of love. When the rest of the student council discover her guilty pleasure, Miki viciously drags them into her romantic research. In this trailer, you get to see the five members of the student council and hear them singing the opening theme, Love Shitai! Another anime coming next month featuring cute girls is Tamayura ~More Aggressive~, the second season of Tamayura. Unlike Love Lab, Tamayura is a peaceful and heartwarming anime from Junichi Satou, the director of the beautiful Aria series. The story is centered around Fuu, a girl who practices photography with a camera passed down from her late father. In this season, Fuu nervously starts a photography club in her school. In this trailer, you get to see Fuu, voiced by Ayana Taketatsu, shouting, “Let’s photo!” as well as a new character, Kanae, voiced by Ai Kayano (Saori from Girls und Panzer). The song

It has been announced that “Thief” (Ps4, XONE, PC), one of the most anticipated next-gen games, will be having PS3 and X360 releases. No news on the release date yet though, besides the fact that it will be next year, 2014. Here’s Eidos Montreal’s announcement video. For those not familiar, “Thief” is the highly anticipated reboot of a game series that started in the PC on 1998, with it’s latest game being “Thief: Deadly Shadows” for the PC and XBox. The series was started by Looking Glass Studios, and is now being rebooted by Eidos Montreal and to be published by Square Enix. You control Garrett, a master thief in a world of disease and poverty where the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, and steal all sorts of treasures and hidden valuables. It’s a first-person game that encourages stealth over run-n’-gun tactics and with many different approaches to a single level, much like Bethesda’s Dishonored. Other than Thief, we already know that hot titles such as “Assassin’s Creed IV: The Black Flag” and “Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain” will be released on current-gen too, so those not immediately jumping to next-gen will still be able to experience these great games, albeit with lower visual quality.

June 24th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

source: famitsu, IGN YouTube, Playstation YouTube

Yukari Tamura’s nendoroids sell out, announces new album launch & concert this Fall Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yukari-tamuras-nendoroids-sell-outannounces-album-launch-concert-fall/ By spartanchef on June 24th, 2013

As voice actress Yukari Tamura wrapped up her ”Yukari Tamura Love Live 2013 *Cute’n Cute’n Heart” concert yesterday on June 23, people have been tweeting that her nendoroids have been sold out. There were a total of 20,000 units sold with 16,500 sold during the event and another 3500 sold through mail order.

The nendoroids in question were sold during her “Yukari Tamura Love Live 2013 *Cute’n Cute’n Heart” concert. Her nendoroids are produced by King Records in cooperation with the Good Smile Company. Earlier this year, she, along with fellow King Records voice actress and artiste Nana Mizuki have been announced to get their own nendoroids.

June 24th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

“, Kanako and Meruru from ‘Oreimo’ and of course, Nanoha Takamachi from ‘Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha“. Sources: Matome, Animate

Project Diva Arcade celebrates three years of rhythm gaming Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/project-diva-celebrates-yearsrhythm-gaming/ By Zenko on June 24th, 2013

In her official website, the voice actress announced that she will have her “Yukari Tamura LOVE LIVE 2013 Autumn ＊ Caramel Ribbon＊” concert later this fall. Her latest concert will be held at the Yokohama Arena on September 16. More details on her concert to come in the future. Her website also announced the launch of a new album which is also coming this fall, however, further details have not yet been provided as of the moment.

On June 23 SEGA celebrated the third anniversary of one of their most popular arcade games at a special event that featured plenty of VOCALOIDs. At Club Sega in Akihabara, SEGA celebrated three years of Project Diva Arcade with plenty of VOCALOID events and goods. Of course, it would not be too much of an event if the star of the show wasn’t there. In celebration SEGA set up fourteen Project Diva machines for players to enjoy, and those that did so received a limited edition three year anniversary sticker. In addition, Famitsu caught up with Sega’s Makoto Osaki, the lead producer on the Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Arcade series. Check out our full translation of that interview for some interesting trivia about the series’s humble beginnings (Miku had Sarah Bryant’s hair, from Virtua Fighter, at one point). He also talked about what fans can expect from Project Diva Arcade and Project Mirai 2.

She will also be releasing her ”I’m 17 years old?! Yukari Festival!” BluRay/ DVD box set this July 24. The BluRay/ DVD box sets will cover her February 2013 concert which was held at Pacifico Yokohama National University Hall for her 27th birthday.

The creators also celebrated by thanking their fans with individual messages and pictures. Most featured Hatsune Miku, but the Kagamine twins were also on board to help the creators give thanks.

Tamura Yukari is the voice actress known for providing the voices of Suzuha Amane from ‘Steins; Gate’, Sakura Yoshino from ‘Da Capo’, Fear Kubrick from ’Cube X Cursed X Curious’, Tenten from ‘Naruto’, Masuzu Natsukawa from“Ore no Kanojo to Osananajimi ga Shuraba Sugiru

June 24th, 2013

Fans were also able to purchase limited edition goods such as a large sized poster of Miku and Project Diva lanyards. One player of the game even showed off his edition of the Project Diva -f & F- Memorial Fanbook that was signed by the voice providers for several VOCALOIDs, including Suki Fujita, the voice of Miku.

Continuing a tradition at Project Diva based events was a display of upcoming modules for the game, such as the summer yukata series for each of the Crypton VOCALOIDs. For KAITO fans, his V3 Append module is also being made available.

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If seeing other guests’ surveys wasn’t shocking enough, SEGA surprised the audience by hosting a talk show with Makoto Osaki who is currently involved in Crypton’s next Vocaloid3 release, the ZOLA Project. Fans from all over, even as far as Osaka, packed into the hall and greeted him with a huge round of applause, letting him and the staff know their appreciation for such hard work.

With three years under it’s belt and a new arcade cabinet in the works, let’s hope Project Diva continues for three more years and beyond. Source: Famitsu

LiSA to have her first Budoukan live this spring, releases details of new single “traumerei” Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/lisa-budoukan-live-spring-releasesdetails-single-traumerei/ By Az on June 24th, 2013

Fans were also welcome to write messages in a book to the creators of the game to return their gratitude, and a survey about Miku Dayo was affixed to a nearby wall for guests of the event to take a look at how others responded to the questions.

June 24th, 2013

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4. träumerei (instrumental)

Limited Edition 1. träumerei 2. I doubt it 3. Yuuyake Nostalgia 4. träumerei -TV ver.It has been revealed that LiSA will be having her first Budoukan live, “LiVE is Smile Always ~Kyou mo Ii Hi da~” (today’s a fine day too). The live is set for January 3, 2014. This was announced yesterday, during LiSA’s opening stage (in CLUB CITTA, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa) for her currently ongoing tour, “LiVE is Smile Always ~best day, best way~”. She announced this after singing during her encore, with a piano tune in the background. “If it’s with all of you guys, I’m sure we can make a much more beautiful scenery,” says LiSA as she goes on to her Budoukan announcement. As if to answer to the loud cheers and the crowd’s “congratulations” chant, LiSA sings one more song, and closes her stage. “On January 3, 2014, let’s have the most fun in the world,” LiSA exclaims; her final words for the evening. LiSA’s fan club got a head start on the tickets as applications for the ticket lottery has just started yesterday, June 23. General ticket selling will start on August 31.

*Limited posters will also be given to those who bought from select music stores. There are different designs for each retailer. source: natalie, Sony Music Japan

Terumae Romae spin-off announced, to be published this September Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/terumae-romae-spin-off-announcedpublished-september/ By SkerryK on June 24th, 2013

LiSA will also be releasing her fourth single, “traumerei”, on August 7. “traumerei” will be the opening theme for “Gen’ei wo Kakeru Taiyou” which will start airing on July 6. The single will also be featuring the coupling tracks “I doubt it” and “SPiCE” – songs written by LiSA herself. LiSA 4th Single “traumerei” =======================

First Press Edition, Regular Edition 1. träumerei 2. I doubt it 3. SPiCE

This year, a spin-off of Mari Yamazaki’s popular manga Terumae Romae, which finished up this March, will begin serialization. The spinoff will premiere on September 12, in the 10th issue of Gekkan Comic Beam. Gekkan Comic Beam began publishing Mari Yamazaki‘s series in 2008. At first, the serialization was irregular, but by April 2012 Terumae Romae was a permanent fixture of the magazine. 7

June 24th, 2013

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Gintama promotion fair begins – at all Animate stores Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gintama-promotion-fair-begins/ By SkerryK on June 24th, 2013

Terumae Romae recounts the tale of a Roman architect called Lucius, who navigates timeslips to travel from ancient Rome to modern-day Japanese bathhouses and bathrooms. Sales for the final volume topped 9 million. Surprising? Not really. Terumae Romae won the Manga Taisho 2012 award and the 14th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Short [Work] Award. In January of 2012 it got its own televised anime series, and in April 2012 actor Hiroshi Abe starred a live-action film interpretation. There are plans to release a sequel— called Terumae Romae 2 —in 2014.

From June 22 to July 28, a special product release fair will be taking place at Animate stores all over Japan to celebrate the completion of Hideaki Sorachi’s anime series Gintama. During this event, people who drop at least 1,000 yen on Gintama publications or character promotional items will receive a free sheet of stickers.

Hiroshi Abe as Lucius. In the spinoff, fans will see more of Hanako (the horse with an odd affection for Lucius), as well as Tetsuzo, the heroine Setsuki’s grandfather. Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who saved Setsuki, will also make an appearance. The first series may have ended, but it looks like fans still have have plenty to be excited about. Bamboo fans decorated with Gintama characters. The character designs for these stickers will include “Gintoki,” “Shinpachi & Kagura,” “Hijikata,” “Okita,” “Kondo and Yamazaki,” and “Katsura & Elizabeth.” That’s a total of 6 varieties, with plenty of character quotes— it’s definitely worth seeing how many of them come from the movie.

Hanako the horse.

It doesn’t end there. Folks who present an Animate card or a ticket stub from the promotion fair when they’re out shopping may also receive free stickers. Some stores have even prepared limited edition stickers!

mantan-web.jp

June 24th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 24th, 2013

After a man wielding a knife disrupted the Hyperdimension Neptunia event in Cinema Sunshine Ikebukuro last June 22, voice actress Rie Tanaka’s management agency explained through her blog that she suffered a few minor injuries which includes a bruised knee. Metal plates with characters and wise sayings on them. A Shibuya shop is offering stickers that showcase Gintoki and Hijikata in casual clothes. If you’re looking to get your hands on some “3-Nen Z-Gumi” stickers, shops in Sapporo, Asahikawa, and Hakodate, as well as the Ion Kushiro shop and the New Millennium Airport shop, are all offering them.

Though her injuries aren’t really severe, her staff explained that she has now suffered an emotional setback but is okay overall. They also apologized to her fans, the people who attended the event and her co-stars for giving them something to worry about and thanked everyone who has shown their support for Rie Tanaka as she went through that harrowing experience. Tanaka voices the main character, Neptune in the Hyperdimension Neptunia anime which will premiere this July. This anime season, she is currently reprising her role as the lovable maid Maria from Hayate no Gotoku Cuties and she will also reprise her role as the antagonistic Suigintou in the Rozen Maiden reboot this July. Also, she isn’t only a voice actress but is also a well known cosplayer. Here’s her cosplaying two of the characters she voices, Suigintou and Maria.

Gintama wooden sword. At Sapporo and Ikebukuro stores (until July 28 and July 21, respectively), Only Shop will also be holding an exhibition. In addition to limited edition goods, you can check out panel displays and get a hold of free Shiroyasha stickers. Source: natalie.mu

Neptunia knife incident aftermath: Voice Actress Rie Tanaka’s agency talks about her condition Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/neptunia-knife-incident-aftermathvoice-actress-rie-tanakas-agency-talks-condition/

June 24th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 24th, 2013

The event was supposed to be an advance screening for the upcoming Neptunia anime, however, halfway through the event, a man with a knife interrupted it and forced the event’s cancellation. Among the artists affected by this incident are Asami Imai who voices Noire in the anime, Rina Satou who voices Vert, and artistes Nao and Afilia Saga. The idol group Afilia Saga, who sings the ending song for the anime, also spoke out regarding the incident. Their official twitter account explained that Saturday’s fiasco has disappointed all of its members even if none of them were injured. The group promised to keep at their work however and thanked the fans who showed their support.

Shounen Jump!‘s 45th anniversary fighting game J-stars Victory VS will have you pit Weekly Shounen Jump!‘s greatest heroes against one another. Think of it as ‘Injustice: Gods Among Us‘ with Jump! characters. With Naruto, Goku, Toriko, Luffy and the recently announced Ichigo and Kenshin in the line-up, the game looks very promising.

Now, thanks to some recent scans from V Jump magazine, some game play aspects from the new game which includes a 2-vs-2 tag battle mode are now revealed. The scan also shows some of the fighting game’s tag mechanics. 1) The 2-vs-2 tag battle is pretty much your basic tag battle where you control one team and your opponent controls another. Each team also has a support character providing assistance to your main team. Source: Rie Tanaka official Blog

Shounen Jump fighting game ‘J Stars Victory VS’ to have tag battle mode Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/shounen-jump-fighting-game-jstars-victory-vs-tag-battle-mode/

2) When one of the two characters is defeated, the player controlling them is going to be at a major disadvantage as it will become a 2-on-1 battle. 3) Your team decides the tactics and you can launch combination attacks as well as super attacks by your two characters plus the support like the one shown in the scan; A reversed-edge katana attack by Kenshin followed by Goku’s Kamehameha and then is topped off by Naruto’s Rasenshuriken. 4) A player achieves victory if his energy bar is filled. The energy bar has three segments and each time you defeat your

June 24th, 2013

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opponent, a segment lights up. You achieve victory once you defeat your opponent thrice and fill your energy bar.

J Stars Victory VS will be released for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita platforms, however, no release date has been revealed as of the moment. Source: Saiyan Island

June 25th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Chara-Ani’s sexy Mikoto and Kuroyukihime, Good Smile Company’s Tharja and figma Hiro up for pre-orders Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/figure-pre-orders-chara-anismikoto-kuroyukihime-good-smile-companys-tharja-figma-hiro/ By spartanchef on June 25th, 2013

Figure makers Chara-Ani and Good Smile Company are gearing up their latest figure offerings and so far, they are looking good. With ‘To Aru Kagaku no Railgun S’ going into its second phase this summer, Chara-Ani is giving us this awesome shocker… Biri-biri with no pants on! ‘Misaka Mikoto Peek Sister Ver. ‘ is produced by Chara-Ani and stands approximately 140 mm. This figure made of PVC and ABS will be released September 2013. Be careful though, it is wise not to cross a Level 5 esper, especially if she can fire projectiles at you at three times the speed of sound.

June 25th, 2013

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Source: Hobby Search From one of the seven Level 5 espers to one of the seven kings of the Accel World, Chara-Ani presents you this ‘Kuroyukihime Floating Black Swallowtail’ figure. This 1/10 scale figure made of PVC and ABC stands about 140 mm and will be also be released September 2013. But don’t let this pretty little black butterfly fool you though, she can give you a Death by piercing.

Source: Hobby Search The people over at Good Smile Company are also giving us a nice treat with this new figure from the Nintendo 3DS game, ’Fire Emblem: Awakening‘. This 1/7 scale figure of the dark mage named Tharja stands approximately 205 mm. 1/7 Tharja is sculpted by Shining Wizard @ Sawachika and will be released December 2013. Well, pardon my French but… Dat Ass!

June 25th, 2013

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Source: Hobby Search Max Factory is also releasing its latest figma from the Hidamari Sketch series, and this time, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the cute and gentle girl who takes care of everyone from the Hidamari appartments, Hiro. This figure also contains head parts for Nazuna, one of the first year girls living in the Hidamari apartments. You can switch out her head parts so you can have either Hiro or Nazuna on display. This articulated figure comes with two expressions; upset and smiling and it also comes with the signature figma articulated stand. This figma is sculpted by Masaki Asai and stands about 125 mm. Hiro will be released in November.

June 25th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By SunSoftware on June 25th, 2013

Are you excited for the next season of Genshiken? If so, you should see this new trailer, plus a video of the voice actress Sumire Uesaka singing the peppy opening theme. The story of Genshiken Nidaime is centered around “The Society for the Study of Modern Visual Culture” (“Genshiken” for short), which is essentially a group of college otaku. The anime continues from the second season of Genshiken from 2007 by introducing a few new members, whom you can see in the trailer below. Along with the trailer, King Records has revealed a short music video for the opening theme, Genshi, Joshi wa, Taiyou Datta, performed by Sumire Uesaka, who also voices Rika Yoshitake. Anime fans should recognize Sumire Uesaka as the voice behind Sora from PapaKiki and Dekomori fom ChuuKoi. Recently, she began her singing career with the opening single of Namiuchigiwa no Muromi-san.

Source: Hobby Search

‘Genshiken Nidaime’ gets new trailer and music video by Sumire Uesaka Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/watch-sumire-uesaka-sing-openingtheme-genshiken-nidaime/

In this preview of Uesaka’s music video, you get to see her singing and dancing accompanied by Kabuki Rocks, a rock band that formed in the late 1980′s. As their name implies, they’re dressed like kabuki actors, one of whom beats a wooden drum at strange intervals. Genshiken Nidaime will start airing on July 6, while the single will be released on July 10 and also come in a limited edition that includes a DVD with the full music video and a postcard drawn by Uesaka herself. Uesaka will also perform at this year’s Animelo Summer Live, so her singing career is sure to grow from here.

June 25th, 2013

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Final theater performances for Mariko Shinoda, Sayaka Akimoto, and Tomomi Itano has just been announced in AKB48′s official website. This was announced yesterday, June 24. As previously reported, the three will be having their graduation ceremonies in AKB48′s summer dome tour. It will be July 21 for Shinoda, August 22 for Akimoto, and August 25 for Itano. Not to be confused with the ceremony, the final theater performance is THE final one for all things as an AKB48 member – meaning as soon as they step out of their theater in Akihabara, they would no longer members. Shinoda’s final theater performance will be on July 22, Akimoto’s on August 28, and Itano’s on August 27. Since these three are among the most loved members, these final performances might be streamed live like Atsuko Maeda’s, so stay tuned.

Source: King Records YouTube Channel, Genshiken Nidaime HP

Final AKB theater stages for Shinoda, Akimoto, and Itano announced; Miyazawa formally cancels AKB concurrent post Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/final-akb-theater-stages-shinodaakimoto-itano-announced-miyazawa-formally-cancels-akb-post/ By Az on June 25th, 2013

In related news, AKB48 Team K/SNH48 Sae Miyazawa officially cancels her concurrent post, putting her back into just SNH48′s (Shanghai 48) Sae Miyazawa. This was announced in AKB48′s official website and also announced by Miyazawa herself on twitter. “Today, I cancel my assignment with AKB48, and return to being SNH48′s Miyazawa Sae. Though I may be like this, please continue to support me,” Miyazawa tweets. She announced her intentions during the Senbatsu elections on June 8. “I was reassigned back to Team K as a concurrent member, but I would like to continue to focus on SNH48 only,” announced Miyazawa in her awarding speech. Though she cannot stand on their stage in Shanghai yet due to visa issues, there are so many things left undone for Miyazawa there, as SNH48 is still very much raw compared to the other 48-groups. It’s going to be tough for these four, so let’s all wish them the best of luck in their endeavors! source: Oricon (1)(2), AKB48 Official Website, Miyazawa Sae’s Official Twitter

June 25th, 2013

Rino Sashihara reveals details for AKB48′s 32nd single, Janken Tournament details Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/rino-sashihara-reveals-detailsakb48s-32nd-single/ By Az on June 25th, 2013

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Also announced a couple of days ago are details on the Janken Taikai, AKB48′s annual senbatsu selection via rockpaper-scissors. This tournament has produced the center for the singles “Chance no Junban” (Mayumi Uchida), “Ue kara Mariko” (Mariko Shinoda) and “Eien Pressure” (Haruka Shimazaki). The 34th single Janken Taikai will be held on September 18, in Nippon Budoukan, Tokyo. Since all the previous tournaments were streamed live on google+ and YouTube, there’s a big chance that this one will be too, so be sure to check AKB48′s official YouTube during this time.

AKB48′s Senbatsu queen Rino Sashihara has just announced the title of their 32nd single, where she’ll serve as center. The title of the single is “Koi Suru Fortune Cookie”. The announcement was made during “AKB Eizou Center”, a show hosted by Lily Franky and Sashihara herself. The single is to be released on August 21. Sashihara revealed that shortly after the elections, AKB48producer Yasushi Akimoto mailed her that the new AKB48 song will be an “amazing lead song”, meaning that Sashihara gets all the lead notes, quite a shock for the girl as singing isn’t exactly her strongest point. “Since it’s come this far, I hoped that it would at least be a cute song,” says Sashihara. “But I was deceived. They thought it’ll be funny if I believed them. All was part of Akimoto and the staff’s evil plot.”

source: natalie, Oricon, AKB48 Official YouTube

Buy a copy of ‘InuHasa’, get a piece of tuna for free Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/buy-copy-inuhasa-piece-tuna-free/ By SunSoftware on June 25th, 2013

The song isn’t actually that kind of song where Sasshi will lead, but one where they all sing and dance together, 80s disco style – catchy and easy to do. Here’s a footage from the making of the video. This was shot three days ago, June 22 in Fukuoka, adjacent the Fukuoka Yahoo! Auctions Dome (where Mariko Shinoda will be having her graduation ceremony) and near the HKT48 theater. This is the AKB48 video with the most people participating in it, having approximately 3800 extras. The dance is choreographed by Papaya Suzuki, an artist and choreographer famous for his afro and dancing.

June 25th, 2013

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and reborn as a dachshund owned by the sadistic author, Kirihime Natsuno. The anime starts airing on July 1, but you can see a trailer right now in our previous article. If you live near Akihabara and want to know where you can get your coupons, you can check Sushi Zanmai’s official website. Source: Crunchyroll

‘Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru’ anime adaptation joins the fall anime line-up

There’s a very good reason why an upcoming mystery anime about a dog is collaborating with a sushi restaurant.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/ore-nonai-sentakushi-ga-gakuenlove-zenryoku-de-jama-shiteiru-anime-adaptation-join-fall-anime-lineup/ By spartanchef on June 25th, 2013

As part of a collaboration between Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou and the chain restaurant Sushi Zanmai, people who buy a copy of the InuHasa light novels or manga at certain stores will receive a coupon good for one free piece of lean northern bluefin tuna sushi (honmaguro akami) at Sushi Zanmai’s Akihabara store.

In addition, there will be a kuji lottery in the store where you have a chance to win a figure of the heroine, Kirihime, or products signed by the author Shunsuke Sarai or Madoka’s voice actress, Kana Asumi. The campaign will run from June 29 to July 7.

With the summer anime season less than a week away, the Fall anime season which comes right after it is slowly shaping up. With titles like ’Walkure Romanze‘ and the second season of IS: Infinite Stratos already part of the fall line-up, the season is slowly starting to come together. Now, another anime is announced to join the fray; ’Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru‘. ‘Ore no Nōnai Sentakushi ga, Gakuen Love Come o Zenryoku de Jama Shiteiru‘ literally means ‘My Mental Multiple-Choice Power Is Completely Ruining My School Romantic Comedy’ and it is based on the light novel written by Takeru Kasukabe. The light novels are illustrated by Yukiwo and published by Kadokawa Shoten. It is also adapted into a manga written by Ituki Sayaka. According to the official website, the anime’s production is currently in progress.

If you’re wondering what InuHasa has to do with tuna, the character Madoka has a kitchen knife named “Maguro Eater” (“Tuna Eater”). You can see Madoka promoting the campaign with the Maguro Eater(?!) in the commercial below. Inu to Hasami wa Tsukaiyou is centered around Madoka’s brother, Kazuhito, a bookworm who is shot by a robber

‘Ore no Nōnai’ follows Kanade Amakusa who has the power of ”absolute multiple-choice” where a multiple choice quiz 7

June 25th, 2013

appears in his mind and whatever he answers becomes reality. One day, he is given a choice whether 1) A beautiful girl will fall before him or 2) he will fall from the rooftop wearing female clothing. Guess what he chose because suddenly, a wild blonde cutie appears, and her name is Chocolat.

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Kirino becomes manager-fora-day for an Animate in Chiba Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kirino-manager-for-a-day-animatechiba/ By spartanchef on June 25th, 2013

My little sister can’t become a an Animate branch manager in Chiba. Yes, an Animate branch in Chiba actually hired Kousaka’s little sister to be their manager for a day, and knowing Kirino, she must be in Otaku heaven with that gig… b-b-but it’s not like she’s happy to be a manager or anything.

Yukihira Furano

Both Kirino and Kuroneko are announced to manage Animate branches, with Kirino taking the very first assignment in Chiba. This is part of Animate’s promotion for the Oreimo PlayStation 3 visual novel titled ‘Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai HAPPY END‘ as well as the Volume 1 Blu-Ray/ DVDs for Oreimo‘s second season. Kirino wore the staff uniform you can see on any Animate employee, she even had her own personal I.D.!

Chocolat Source: ieee80211

June 25th, 2013

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Jin Akanishi makes a comeback with a new single and movie role Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/jin-akanishi-making-comebacksingle-movie-role/ By KaleNagasaki on June 25th, 2013

Fans lined up to meet her as she held a handshake session as well as a photograph session. She did a lot of poses for the fans, and remember, she is a professional model. People filled up the Animate branch and surrounded Kirino all the way up to the staff room.

”Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake ga nai HAPPY END‘ will be released September 26 in Japan. The Light novels which the anime and the games are based on just ended earlier this month with its last volume selling out in a day. The light novels are written by Tsukasa Fushimi and illustrated by Hiro Kanzaki and published by Dengeki Bunko. Source: Animate

It’s been about a year since we’ve heard anything about the popular singer and voice actor Jin Akanishi. Of course, this could have something to do with his recent marriage to Meisa Kuroki and the even more recent birth of their baby, Theia. This, coupled with the fact that right before the marriage, Jin experienced some difficulties with his agency Johnny’s Entertainment perfectly explains why Jin might want to take a break.

But when is he coming back? The answer is NOW! Well, not really, but very soon! Nikkan Sports revealed that Jin will have a new single August 7, titled “HEY WHAT’S UP?” It seems the star is well aware of his absence from the music scene, and is bringing a bit of humor into the situation. Nothing else is known about the song quite yet, but keep a look out!

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Being the multi-talented man that he is, Jin also plans to make an impact on the big screen. Jin Akanishi will star in the upcoming movie 47 Ronin. The story is probably familiar to you already, but just in case you haven’t heard about it, the movie takes its story from the popular puppet play Chushingura. In Japanese, ronin means master-less samurai, and the tale of the forty-seven ronin follows these men who plot to avenge their master’s death. Keanu Reeves plays the lead as Kai, a pariah who joins the group of ronin. His character is made up for the film. Hiroyuki Sanada plays the head samurai, Kuranosuke Oishi, and Jin Akanishi plays his son, Chikara Oishi. Other cast members include Kou Shibasaki as Kai’s love interst, and Tadanobu Asou as Lord Kira (the man responsible for killing the ronins’ master). I actually read Chushingura in my modern Japan class this past year, and I have to say I am excited for this one! Hopefully it won’t turn into a fail, like that terrible movie with Tom Cruise. With Jin Akanishi starring in it though, I can’t say that I am worried. Just look at him!

Published by: VR-Zone By hikarucon on June 25th, 2013

There’s still life within Type-Moon’s Kara no Kyoukai (Garden of Sinners) yet. Kara no Kyoukai is slated to have another movie, Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin, in September of this year.

Kara no Kyoukai was originally an online released dojin written by Kinoko Nasu and illustrated by Takashi Takeuchi. The five chapter series was well received and brought Nasu and Takeuchi to form what we know as the present TypeMoon.

After a few delays, 47 Ronin is scheduled to come out Christmas Day. A perfect gift for us, don’t you think? Source: Jpopasia

Next Kara no Kyoukai movie ‘Mirai Fukuin’ slated for release this September

Kara no Kyoukai can be said to be the prototype of Tsukihime not just because of the timeline but because of the setting and characters. Similar to Tsukihime, Kara no Kyoukai takes place in a world where dead apostles, vampires, magicians, and other fantastical existences reside. Furthermore, the main character is named Shiki, wields a knife, and has Mystic Eyes of Death Perception. The eyes are a token concept of Type-Moon. Whoever has these eyes can see the death lines of any object or person as well as the origin.

Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/kara-kyoukai-movie-slated-releaseseptember/

June 25th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By hikarucon on June 25th, 2013

If they cut along the lines, they will slice through the target as easily as butter making damaging them very easy. If the pierce the target’s origin points, they will destroy the existence of the target not only effectively killing them but completely destroying any reincarnation resulting in its absolute destruction.

Shiki in the universe of Kara no Kyoukai is portrayed as a unsociable girl who denies any human contact. On the flip side she is related to a slew of mysterious deaths that have occurred around the town.

Here comes another PV for Suda51’s next action game, Killer is Dead. This time, we briefly get taken through the level on the moon and get some hints on the story as well as some breaking of the fourth wall. Besides the pools of blood that are flowing everywhere, we see several of the revealed weapons and mechanics in use during the PV. Of course there’s Mondo’s standard attackschain attacks with Mondo’s katana by tapping different buttons and seeing what works. When you kill enough enemies, you can activate Mondo’s adrenaline meter which will allow Mondo to rush up to an enemy and do a one hit kill. All of these are shown through boss battles, quirky character designs that only Suda51 is capable of. For those of you who remember No More Heroes, you will remember the Dark Step- a mechanic that if used properly will allow for some heavy damage in style. That battle mechanic is back in Killer is Dead as quick dodges. Dodge at the right time and the screen will darken and the enemy will slow down but Mondo will be able to execute his attacks at an increased speed. The mode is not only stylistic but essential to making sure that you don’t die.

It has been said that the male protagonist, Kokutou Mikiya of Kara no Kyoukai is the prototype for the male protagonist of Tsukihime, Shiki Tohno. Also, as the “origin” story for Nasu’s works, Kara no Kyoukai introduces many themes and terms that are frequently used in later works such as Tsukihime, Mahoutsukai no Yoru, and Fate/Stay Night. Fans of the movie series have been anticipating an actual date since the second PV revealed a Fall 2013 release. Mirai Fukuin will focus heavily on Mana Ryogi, daughter of the two main leads Shiki and Kokutou. Up until now there have been seven movie adaptations of Kara no Kyoukai. The upcoming film, Kara no Kyoukai: Mirai Fukuin, will be the eighth one in the series. In just a short three months, the film will be hitting the big screen in Japan so be excited!

Also shown in the trailer are Mondo’s various weapons that can be changed with his cybernetic arm. Primarily shown in the trailer are his Bullet Shot and Charge Cannon. The Bullet Shot is the primary weapon that Mondo will be using and it can be upgraded to do various things like more damage or faster shooting.

Source: Hachimakoubashi

There will be blood in Killer is Dead’s 5th PV Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/blood-killer-deads-5th-pv/

June 25th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

The Charge Cannon is a weapon that gets stronger the longer you charge it for. When you release the charged shot, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll do some heavy damage on the target most likely putting them down for the count.

Story wise, the trailer shows that David, the man clad in gold who conquered the moon, plans to look for the ultimate weapon in order to conquer the Earth. He also says that he is planning on killing the lady of the moon who asked Mondo to execute him. Of course, Mondo wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let any of these things happen on his watch so he begins the attack on David.

The trailer also gives little hints towards what happened to Mondo to make him the way he is today, a cybernetic killer. On a side note, are you impressed by the music? The song in the background, Oboro Zuki is a song by The Heana Cat who first debuted in 2007 with their hit single Black Butterfly.

So far everything looks great for Killer is dead. It releases August 27th for the PS3 and Xbox 360 so if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested, get to pre-ordering soon! Source: Famitsu

June 26th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Singer Yuming and Studio Ghibli team up to offer 40 year memorial disc Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/singer-yuming-studio-ghibli-teamoffer-40-year-memorial-disc/ By Zenko on June 26th, 2013

With the upcoming release of Miyazaki’s latest work The Wind Rises, it seems appropriate that Yuming’s first song Airplane Clouds would be re-released with it.

The particular reason that Studio Ghibli picked her out of other singers is simply because they felt that her “songs are the best ones to represent the feeling of the world they created, as well as link together the background images with the action. Because of this the viewer can feel as if they’ve entered the world, with all the feelings and emotions attached to the scene.” On July 31 the CD and DVD version of the album will release for 6980 yen. It will feature the original eleven songs from the first album release, including two different versions of Airplane Clouds. For fans that want to experience a more traditional experience, the LP (vinyl), CD, and DVD set will release August 14 for a steeper 10500 yen.

It may be forty years after the fact, but Yuming’s first song under her original name of Yumi Matsutoya, Airplane Clouds (Hikouki Gumo), is an appropriate choice to pair up with The Wind Rises, which focuses heavily on the Miyazaki family business: aviation. To celebrate this fact, Yuming and Studio Ghibli will be releasing a special memorial album of her music.

Like many Ghibli products, this one is proving to be rather pricey, but is the price worth it? Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Source: AnimeAnime

Bundled with eighteen original artworks by Miyazaki, it will try to recreate the original listening experience. Miyazaki chose this album specifically when he heard the titular work on the 2012 release of Yuming’s best works called Japan’s Love and Yuming. Yuming had been heard at Studio Ghibli before though, when she provided the insert songs for 1989′s Kiki’s Delivery Service. One, Rouge Message, has continued to be enjoyed by Japanese fans outside of the movie, and even appeared in commercials last fall. After the BluRay release of Kiki’s Delivery Service, Miyazaki approached her about working together again in the future.

Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 is a complete remake with new everything; comes out October 31 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/neptune-rebirth-october-31complete-remake/

June 26th, 2013 By KarbyP on June 26th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

Other than gameplay and scenario changes and additions, Famitsu also revealed that the PS Vita JRPG is now set for an October 31, 2013 release date. The regular edition of the game is priced at 6,090 yen in Japan, while the limited edition – which includes a strap and drama CD – will sell for 8,190 yen. A digital copy will also be launched on PSN day-one for 5,300 yen. Source: Famitsu

1st details on ‘Chronos Materia’ — Atelier Escha & Logy developer Gust’s next JRPG Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/1st-details-chronos-materia-atelierescha/ By KarbyP on June 26th, 2013

Co-developed by Compile Heart and Felistella (Summon Night series, Agarest Senki Marriage), Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1 for the PS Vita is a complete fromthe-ground-up remake of the first game (PS3), with play mechanics froms Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, new illustrations, new dialogue, new event scenes – new everything, essentially – this week’s issue of Famitsu magazine reveals. Well, okay, obviously not everything is new – the story, characters will remain. They’re not throwing that away. But a lot of the game’s elements will be done from scratch. Character models, for instance, will be re-created to match the quality of those in Neptunia Victory – that alone is a huge boost to Re;Birth1′s visuals.

Chronos Materia. That’s the name of a brand new PS Vita JRPG that Atelier series developer Gust is working on next, the games maker announced this week through the pages of Dengeki PlayStation magazine.

The “standing illustrations” for IF and Compa will also be completely re-drawn (but not the one for Neptune, apparently). Not having played the first game, I’m not sure what quite the developers are referring to – let me know if you do. Dialogue scenes will now be rendered with the Active Animation System, popularised by Agarest Senki Zero. This animation technique, which gives 2D illustrated portraits breathing and blinking animations, was used in Neptunia Victory but not the first two games. The game’s story plot is also being revised by Hyperdimension Neptunia series director Shingo Onodera. New dialogue scenes will also be added, including one where Noire, Vert, and Blanc (basically all the goddesses except for Neptune) are wearing glasses. “We added this scene because I really wanted to see Vert appear with glasses on, no matter what,” Onodera said. And those are just a few examples from a list of 50 changes Compile Heart have made in Re;Birth1.

The game is said to be a leisurely, light-hearted JRPG that attempts to approach replayability – a hardcore element of the RPG genre – with the sort of gentle pick-up-and-play nature of a social game. Gust believes that JRPG fans will find this approach to be quite refreshing. Like with Gust’s other games, Chronos Materia features cute characters rendered in a style that fans have come to know and love. Vocaloid illustrator Non (who also goes by the 2

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psuedonym Nozomi Ousaka, and involved in the animation work for Love, Chuunibyou & Other Delusions) did the character designs for this title. Plot-wise, Chronos Materia tells the story of a group of girls who wind up finding themselves lost or trapped in a naturefilled world where mankind and civilisation does not exist. Two of Chronos Materia’s gameplay systems – synthesis and time-rewinding – were detailed in the Dengeki PlayStation scoop.

Published by: VR-Zone

“Yume janai kono Sekai” – WEAVER collaboration PV with its fans now revealed Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yume-janai-kono-sekai-weavercollaboration-pv-fans-revealed/ By Az on June 26th, 2013

The synthesis mechanic looks to be fairly similar to that in the Atelier games. As for time-rewinding, this doesn’t appear to be a story plot point. Rather, it seems to purely be a play mechanic: the game will let you go back and revisit an earlier point in your playthrough, while allowing you to retain all the experience points and items you’ve accrued so far. At various points throughout the game, there will be branching paths, and the time-rewinding element will let you go back to pick another option. For instance, maybe the choices you made through the game eventually led to a fire accident that razed a gigantic tree to the ground.

By turning back the hands of time, you could return to that point in the game, change fate – without losing all of your experience points and items – and save the tree, which leads to a whole different chain of events.

The PV for WEAVER’s new single “Yume janai kono Sekai” is has now been released for public viewing. This was released in tandem with the single release today, on June 26. The PV also has its own special site so be sure to check that out.

This system will also allow you to challenge and defeat previously unbeatable bosses, or restart the game from an early point with strong items. Four leading characters from Chronos Materia were unveiled. Here are their names and respective voice actors: Iris (left page): Yuuka Aisaka (relative newcomer, check out her voice samples here… she even does Engrish English!) Primula (girl on right page): Yoshiko Ikuta (Yukina Kashiwagi in Penguindrum, a nurse in Persona 4 the Animation) Time/Taimu (top on right page): Yuka Watanabe (another relative newcomer) Sion/Cion (bottom on right page): Toshinari Fukamachi (Franken in Hidamari Sketch × Honeycomb; he’s also done a few games) Source: Dengeki PlayStation, pic

The “Yume janai kono Sekai” PV uses fan-submitted pictures or videos whenever the related keyword or lyrics come up. These fan-submissions are projected onto the background in a flashy fashion, alternating between these and CG projections. In the PV’s special site, you can click on the screen and inspect these videos one by one; a special CG version of the video can also be viewed here. The full video is also up in YouTube in beautiful HD. Here it is: WEAVER will also be having a live in NHK Hall, Tokyo on June 29 called “WEAVER Special Live 2013 ~Kawabe Taoru, Shihanseiki Tanjou Matsuri~ (Kawabe Taoru, Quartercentury Festival). As the title says, this is a special birthday live for their drummer, Kawabe Taoru, who is turning 25 on June 28. They also have a track in this single called “1/4 Seiki”, meaning quarter-century.

June 26th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

‘Yotsuba&!’ to celebrate 10th anniversary with Shibuya exhibit Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/yotsuba-celebrate-10th-anniversaryshibuya-exhibit/ By spartanchef on June 26th, 2013

For those not familiar with WEAVER, they were part of international event Music Matters, which was held in Singapore just this May. They appeared with flumpool and SID on their stage in Beer Market, Clarke Quay. They also had a live in SCAPE March 13 last year. WEAVER “Yume janai Sekai”============================

kono

When Azumanga Daioh ended 11 years ago in 2002, people waited for another manga masterpiece from author Kiyohiko Azuma, and almost a year later in 2003, he did not disappoint. 2003 marked the debut of ’Yotsuba &!‘ which introduces us to a very peculiar 5-year old girl named Yotsuba Koiwai and of course, Danbo, which is now not only an icon for anime and manga but also an internet meme. Heck, Danbo is even more known than the series itself!

First Press Edition 1. Yume janai kono Sekai 2. Summer Tune 3. 1/4 Seiki 4. “WEAVER TV” CD Special Edition

In commemoration of the manga’s 10th anniversary, an exhibit named ‘Yotsuba and Danboard: the exhibition’ will be held. The exhibit will take place in the Parco Museum in Shibuya and the exhibit will be displayed from August 31 until September 16.

Regular Edition 1. Yume janai kono Sekai 2. Summer Tune 3. 1/4 Seiki source: natalie

June 26th, 2013

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The exhibition will feature original figures and other ‘Yotsuba &!‘ goods as well as artworks, sketches and production materials by Azuma. There is also a video screening planned in Shinekuinto. ‘Yotsuba &!‘ is a 4-panel manga written by Kiyohiko Azuma and serialized in Dengeki Daioh magazine. It made its debut in January 2003. It won several manga awards including the ‘Japan Media Arts Festival Manga Division Excellence Award‘ in 2006. It has currently 12 volumes released and sold more than ten million copies. Source: Yotsuba 10th anniversary website and Mantan

Slice-of-life anime ‘Non Non Biyori’ gets first cast members Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/slice-of-life-anime-non-biyori-castmembers/ By SunSoftware on June 26th, 2013

The anime is being directed by Shinya Kawamo, who also worked on Kokoro Connect and .hack//Gift. Rie Murakawa (Aoi from Vividred Operation, Arisa Matsuda from The Idolm@ster Million Live!) will voice Hotaru Ichijou, a fifth-grader who transferred to Asahigaoka Branch School from Tokyo. She is calm and mature for her age, but she also has a childish side and cries easily in certain situations.

Kotori Koiwai (Iwai from Dansai Bunri Crime Edge, Kigu from Joshiraku) will voice Renge Miyauchi, a six-yearold first-grader. She has an odd personality that no one understands and she often says “non” at the end of a sentence. She has a pet tanuki named “Gu” (“Ingredient”).

Dengeki Maou has revealed the first cast members of Non Non Biyori, a gentle comedy about four girls in a country town that’s so small, the school has only five students. The anime Non Non Biyori is based on the manga of the same name by Atto. The story is set in a town that is so far in the countryside, it takes 20 minutes to reach the nearest bookstore by bicycle, a bus comes once every five hours, and there is only one school, which has five students. In this remote outpost, four girls casually spend their quiet days together.

Ayane Sakura (Akane from Vividred Operation, Miyabi from NakaImo) will voice Natsumi Koshigaya, a cheerful seventhgrader who likes to tease people. She is bad at studying, but she knows a lot of random facts.

June 26th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By Zenko on June 26th, 2013

Kana Asumi (Nyaruko from Haiyore! Nyaruko-san, Yuno from Hidamari Sketch) will voice Komari Koshigaya, an eighth-grader and Natsumi’s older sister. She is short for her age and tries to act like an adult, but she gets scared easily.

Gumi, who recently received her own rhythm game Megpoid the Music, is celebrating her birthday today, and Sega has good news for her fans. Project Diva Mirai 2 is set to come out later this year, and Sega has announced in honor of Gumi’s birthday that she will be receiving her own model in the game. Although she appeared in Project Diva Mirai Future Stars, she did not have her own model and could only be seen in the PV’s for Happy Synthesizer and Matryoshka. This was largely because she is not a Crypton VOCALOID and the company had to obtain the rights for her use. Things seem to have been ironed out for a full out guest appearance this time around, though.

Media Factory first announced the anime a few months earlier with this peaceful trailer: Non Non Biyori will air this fall, while the manga has been serialized since 2009 and is available in five volumes. If you’re interested in peaceful slice-of-life comedies, you can start reading the series today. To show off her model, Sega gave a preview of in-game video for Yi Er Fanclub (1, 2, Fanclub) by MikitoP. The song gained popularity not only for it’s bilingual phrases, but also with just how catchy it was. In the preview, Gumi is shown in her standard outfit and donning her panda hood from the original PV.

Source: Yaraon

Gumi gets a birthday present from SEGA Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/gumi-birthday-present-sega/

Because it is a duet, Rin also makes an appearance to show off her Chinese skills in her PV outfit.

June 26th, 2013

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As Carly Rae Jepsen sung her hit song “Call me Maybe”, the beautiful girls of Momoiro Clover Z hopped on stage and danced along. While they did not sing with Carly Rae Jepsen, their outfits and energy definitely added some excitement to the song. Here’s the video of the performance, and you can see that Momoiro Clover Z shows up at around the oneminute mark.

Given the fact that Gumi was shown off with a standard outfit and a module, Sega has hinted that she will play a bigger role in the game than before and may very well show up as an alternate for other songs. Even though it has just started, it would seem that Gumi is already having a very happy birthday. What other songs would you like to see Gumi dance in? Source: Famitsu

Momoiro Clover Z teams up with Carly Rae Jepsen at MTV VMAJ 2013 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/momoiro-clover-teams-carly-raejepsen-mtv-vmaj-2013/ By KaleNagasaki on June 26th, 2013

If you’re feeling a bit disappointed that Momoiro Clover Z didn’t sing with Carly Rae Jepsen, just think of it as them preparing for their awesome performance later of “Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimitachi yo”. This song received top honors from VMAJ for Best Choreography, and that definitely showed in their dancing. Watch the video here. Let us know what you think! Which performance was the best for the night? If you missed VMAJ 2013, here’s a recap of the winners and nominees for a few of the categories. Did your favorites win? Best Male Video - EXILE ATSUSHI “MELROSE ~AISANAI YAKUSOKU~” (DIR: TETSUO INOUE) •

BRUNO MARS “Locked Out of Heaven” (Dir: Cameron Duddy)

• GOTYE “Somebody That I Used to Know feat. KIMBRA” (Dir: Natasha Pincus) • JUSTIN BIEBER “Beauty and a Beat feat. NICKI MINAJ” (Dir: Jon M. Chu) • Daichi Miura “Two Hearts” (Dir: tatsuaki) Best Female Video - KANA NISHINO “ALWAYS” (DIR: NOBU SUEYOSHI) • ALICIA KEYS “Girl on Fire feat. NICKI MINAJ” (Dir: Sophie Muller) • JUJU “Arigatou” (Dir: Tsugihisa Tanaka) • RIHANNA “Diamonds” (Dir: Anthony Mandler) • TAYLOR SWIFT “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (Dir: Declan Whitebloom) Best Group Video J SOUL “HANABI” (DIR: MIKA NINAGAWA)

BROTHERS

III

• FUN. “We are Young feat. JANELLE MONAE” (Dir: Marc Klasfeld) • MAROON 5 “Payphone feat. WIZ KHALIFA” (Dir: Samuel Bayer) • ONE DIRECTION “What Makes You Beautiful” (Dir: John Urbano) • TOHOSHINKI “Catch Me -If you wanna-“ (Dir: JAEHYUK JANG) Best New Artist Video - CARLY RAE JEPSEN “Call Me Maybe” (Dir: Ben Knechtel) While there were many fantastic performances at this past weekend’s MTV Video Music Awards Japan 2013 ( BENI, TLC, Imagine Dragons, and Kana Nishino were some of the other performers to give you a taste of the level of talent on that stage), one of the most surprising and interesting was the East/West team-up between Momoiro Clover Z and Carly Rae Jepsen.

June 26th, 2013

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• JUSTIN BIEBER “Beauty and a Beat feat. NICKI MINAJ” (Dir: Jon M. Chu) • NEGOTO “nameless” (Dir: Kazuaki Seki) • TAYLOR SWIFT “We are Never Ever Getting Back Together” (Dir: Declan Whitebloom) Best Album of the Year - 2PM “LEGEND OF 2PM” • CARLY RAE JEPSEN “KISS” • LINKIN PARK “LIVING THINGS” • Kana Nishino “Love Place” • ONE DIRECTION “TAKE ME HOME” • FUN. “We are Young feat. JANELLE MONAE” (Dir: Marc Klasfeld) • GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE “BRAVE IT OUT” (Dir: Shigeaki Kubo) • ONE DIRECTION “What Makes You Beautiful” (Dir: John Urbano) • SALU “The Girl On A Board feat. H.TEFRON” (Dir: SITE) Best Video of the Year - EXILE TRIBE “24KARATS TRIBE OF GOLD” (DIR: SHIGEAKI KUBO)

Source: Crunchyroll

New details on Final Fantasy XV from director Tetsuya Nomura Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/details-final-fantasy-xv-directortetsuya-nomura/ By Zenko on June 25th, 2013

• Namie Amuro “In The Spotlight(TOKYO)(from ALBUM “Uncontrolled”)” (Dir: Shigeaki Kubo) • BRUNO MARS “Locked Out of Heaven” (Dir: Cameron Duddy) • Mr.Children “Marshmallow day” (Dir: Kawamura+Kazuaki Seki+Kei Takahashi)

Shinji

• MUSE “Follow Me (Tekken Version)” (Dir: Tekken) Best Rock Video ONE BEGINNING” (DIR: MAXILLA)

ROCK

“THE

• FUN. “We are Young feat. JANELLE MONAE” (Dir: Marc Klasfeld) • MAN WITH A MISSION “distance” (Dir: Takayuki Kojima)

Final Fantasy XV may have shown off quite a bit at E3, but game director Tetsuya Nomura still had some details to share about the game and characters. Final Fantasy Versus XIII may be no more, but it’s rebirth as Final Fantasy XV promises the same spirit of E3 demos in the past. With five characters and an emphasis on action oriented game play, it is promising to breathe new life into a series that spans the history of consoles.

• MUSE “Follow Me (Tekken Version)” (Dir: Tekken) • Sakanaction “Yoru no Odoriko” (Dir: Yusuke Tanaka) Best Pop Video - KYARY PAMYU PAMYU “FASHION MONSTER” (DIR: JUN TAMUKAI)

• GReeeeN “Orange” (Dir: Taro Okagawa)

The latest installment brings the newest main character into the light, despite his name: Noctus Lucis Caelum, the Noctus meaning night in Latin. The prince of Lucis Kingdom, he can be seen warping and switching weapons in the E3 trailer. Like all Final Fantasy protagonists, there is something unique about him. In Noctus’s case he is able to see the light of the heavens, which appears right before a person dies. 8

June 26th, 2013

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Cor Leonis is the commanding officer of the Imperial Troops of the Lucis Kingdom. Although stubborn, he has been loyal to the royal family since the time that Noctus’s father ruled. Since Noctus was three he has been teaching him how to fight and was given the title of “Immortal Shogun.” He still practices all of the austerities needed of his office, but is no fan of the smoke and mirrors involved in politics.

Gladiolus Amicitia may sound like the name of a love interest, but it’s actually the name of the “shield” of the royal family. The Amicitia family has done the job for generations, actually, which makes him quite close to Noctus. With his large build, though, he dwarfs the crown prince he’s protecting. Outside of characters, Nomura in his interview also gave some insight into what the future of Final Fantasy will feature. For one thing, he pointed out that during the dmos shown at E3, Noctus was at a high level. That means when players first pick up the game they should not expect too much in terms of warping and weapon changing.

Ignis Scientia has the same job as Gladiolus: looking after Noctus. He has been friends with the crown prince since a young age, and his calm composure can quickly change. In the future he hopes to work as an advisor for his friend and help other gifted children with their problems.

He also addressed why the game is coming to the PS4 and XBone rather than Playstation 3 like it was originally intended. With the strain on the memory of the system, Square Enix as a whole realized two years ago that it was going to have to be moved onto a next gen console. Because it runs on a DirectX 11 engine, it allows for greater action sequences as well, but needs a larger memory within the console to handle them. Someone who has always been a little bit different from his friends is Prompto Argentum. Perhaps the biggest difference is that he’s the bad apple of the bunch, constantly chasing after women. Despite all that, he cares for his friends more than anything.

Another reason for the move is that he wanted to create as seamless an experience as possible and allowing party members to participate fully in the action of the game. Despite toying around with the idea of having the player take on the role of only Noctus with no support, in a sort of First Person Shooter style game, Nomura realized that he would be moving out of the RPG genre and it would no longer be a Final Fantasy game, and so the unique party members were 9

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created. It will also see a return of the HP gauge as well as a damage indicator like those seen in past games. Luminous Studio, something that was also tossed around during E3, is mostly in development alongside the game engine. It should provide a more distinctive camera, which will work well with the ability to choose where to attack enemies and even the ability to ride on them. Unfortunately with this update, it means the action will be hard for those watching you play to follow, as the game moves incredibly fast during large battle sequences.

During the polling period, a list of 100 characters was placed on the Level-5 website informing visitors on which character they could vote for in the poll. The list consisted of characters from Level-5 titles such as the Professor Layton series, the Inazuma Eleven series, the Little Battler eXperienece series as well as many other titles.

For those hoping for a PC release of the game, Nomura has pointed out that it would require a machine with rather expensive specs, but if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something fans really want he will look into it after the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s release. Source: Famitsu

Level-5 15th anniversary character poll results in Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/level-5-15th-anniversary-characterpoll-results/ By hittokiri on June 25th, 2013

The results of the poll announced on June 25 has been rather amusing. As can be seen from the image above, the aeroplane from Aero Porter came in first with 46,263 votes. Second was Ranmaru Kirino from Inazuma Eleven Go with 38,339 votes while Kinako Nanobana from Inazuma Eleven Go 2 came in third with 29,325 votes. Eight of the top ten characters were from an Inazuma Eleven series title. It is worth noting that another character from Aero Porter appeared in the top ten, that character is Mr. Porter which came in ninth with 17,889 votes. Aero Porter is a simulation game directed by Yutaka Saito where the player is in charge of baggage management in an airport. The title was originally released as part of Guild01, a compilation of video games produced by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS. It was later released individually on Nintendoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eShop. Source : Hachimakiko

In commemoration of its 15th anniversary, Level-5 recently ran a character poll on its website asking visitors to vote for their favourite character from a list of 100 characters. The polling period ran from May 29 until June 24. A total of 464,333 votes were cast.

June 29th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

SGCafe : Cosplay | Vocaloid | Otaku | Pop Culture A daily publication about Cosplay, Vocaloid, Otaku and Japanese Pop Culture

Hype up this coming anime season with new videos from Rozen Maiden , Nekomonogatari Shiro & Walkure Romanze Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/hype-coming-anime-season-videosrozen-maiden-nekomonogatari-shiro-walkure-romanze/ By spartanchef on June 28th, 2013

Another highly anticipated series this summer is the Monogatari Series second season. It placed #8 with Famitsu’s rankings and #6 with Anime One’s summer anticipation rankings. This newest adaptation to NisiOisiN’s popular light novel series has released the second preview for the anime’s first part; Nekomonogatari Shiro. Click here to watch it. Also, here’s the first PV released for Nekomonogatari Shiro. So, are you excited for for more Tsubasa, Tsukihi, Karen, Hitagi, Mayoi, Shinobu, Suruga and Nadeko? Nyaaaaaaah!

With the anticipation and the excitement already going high just like the summer temperature, upcoming summer 2013 anime ‘Rozen Maiden‘ and ‘Monogatari Series Second Season‘ as well as upcoming fall anime ‘Walkure Romanze’ have released their latest preview videos.

Let’s start off with the 2013 reboot of Rozen Maiden. It is definitely one of the most highly anticipated anime this summer as it ranked #3 with Famitsu‘s summer anime rankings and got the top spot with Anime One‘s summer anime rankings. So, are you guys ready for more DESU?!

Even with some great summer anime out there, let’s not forget that the Autumn anime season will also have some great gems. Walkure Romanze, which is now officially a part of the Fall anime line-up has recently released its very first PV. Walkure Romanze is adapted from the adult visual novel (eroge) by Ricotta. The voice cast for the anime has also been announced recently. Sources: Yaraon, and youtube

Monogatari

series

official

page,

Namco theme park offers tie in with UtaPri Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/namcos-theme-park-offers-tieutapri/

June 29th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone

By Zenko on June 28th, 2013

Namco-owned theme park (or rather, theme town) Namja Town will be holding a tie-in event with the season finale of Uta no Prince Sama Maji Love 2000% this summer.

Another set of goods is being given out with the purchase of one dessert or food item, which means fans will have to do a lot of eating.

With the second season of UtaPri having just finished, the creators are wasting no time in scheduling tie-in events, with the first slated to start July 17 and run until September 16. Like all good events it will offer not only goods, but something Namja is somewhat famous for: food.

A set of bromide cards featuring each of the princes individually, a group shot of them and a group shot of HEAVENS will be given out with each UtaPri related food purchase.

Overall the event is meant to tie into the season finale, so it’s not just the princes of STARISH being offered up to fans, but HEAVENS as well. One set of goods that may not see HEAVENS join the line but involves their sempai is a set of tumbler thermoses. Apart from the seven idols involved in STARISH, a second line features their teachers, and both groups don a set of cat or dog ears, depending on the character.

Speaking of food, Namja is rolling out an UtaPri menu worthy of the singing princes. Natsuki’s favorite bird, Piyo-chan, makes an appearance on a set of perfectly round gyoza for 680 yen. Syo will be gaining a dessert that’s as small as he is: called the TRUE WING Pudding it will be offered at 840 yen.

A set of games will also let attendees try their luck at winning a variety of goods. A capsule lottery will let fans win anything from a badge of Otoya to a cushion with the cast of UtaPri printed on it.

A ring toss game called “Catch the Music” will also offer a chance to win a character pop stand or themed kinchaku bag.

Other characters joining in the gyoza fun are Ichinose’s guitar shaped dumplings (550 yen), Masato with his loving sakura flavored dumplings (580 yen), Tokiya and his Starlight Colored dumplings that feature his face on the plate (560 yen), Ren who hopes to set your heart on fire with his spicy dumplings (550 yen), and Cecil with his Emerald Dumplings (550 yen). Of course, Syo also has to show off his manly strength with a manly meal in the form of a dumpling bowl for 580 yen.

June 29th, 2013

Published by: VR-Zone By spartanchef on June 28th, 2013

Deserts being offered up also include Ichinose’s Onpuku music note pancakes (650 yen), Masato’s melon bread (550 yen), Natsukis “To Sirius” jelly (840 yen), Tokiya’s CRYSTAL TIME dessert (680 yen) and Cecil’s Star Fantasia Ice Cream (750 yen).

Many manga artists or mangakas have admitted that it is already a challenge to write 20 pages worth of manga in a week. Well… how about you have two weeks? 40 would be a challenge too right? Now, imagine instead of 40 pages in two weeks, you do 150? Fairy Tail’s manga author, Hiro Mashima is attempting something very hard to do; writing up to 150 pages worth of Fairy Tail manga in just two weeks. First, he will be writing three whole Fairy Tail chapters for issue 32 of Kodansha’s Weekly Shounen Magazine which will be released on July 10. He will then be writing another three chapters for issue 33 which will be released a week later on July 17. So in a span of two weeks, Hiro Mashima will be writing six whole chapters of Fairy Tail which will total to 128 pages.

Of course, the sempai of quartet night will also be involved with their Poison Kiss frappe for 750 yen.

With cool food and a hot summer, Namja is promising to offer fans of UtaPri something to make the summer break an enjoyable one.

Mashima has announced via twitter that this will be the very first time Weekly Shounen Magazine has done anything like this. He also tweeted that he will also be doing even more Fairy Tail for a magazine special which will be released July 20. This gives him a total of 150 pages to work on.

Which food item grabbed your interest? Who’s your favorite idol? Weigh in the comments or join in on the discussion via the forums. Source: News Dengeki

Hiro Mashima to do a total of 150 pages worth of Fairy Tail manga in two weeks Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/hiro-mashima-total-150-pagesworth-fairy-tail-manga-weeks/

June 29th, 2013

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by releasing character goods before the show has even aired. One of those goods hints at a rival school in Samezuka High where the red haired Ren Matsuoka attends, with pins and straps of the logo being offered. Iwatobi also has it’s own set of straps to match, so fans already have a difficult decisions to make.

In addition to that, he will also do colour pages for all three chapters on the next Shounen Magazine issue, talk about hard work ethics. Aye sir!!!!

Free! goods already being offered, any female fans baited yet? Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/free-goods-offered-female-fansbaited-yet/ By Zenko on June 28th, 2013

The notorious swimming anime is set to hit the airwaves next Wednesday, and already goods are being produced for it. Although the first two episodes were shown at a special event recently, Free! has yet to officially premiere and yet goods maker Hobby Stock is already prepared to offer fans what they want. If you aren’t familiar with Free! yet, it’s story is not hard to follow as it focuses on the daily lives of the Iwatobi Swim Club. The project originally was not designed as a serialized anime and featured only a short promotional video on Kyoto Animation’s YouTube page. It is still unknown if it is a marketing stint for Studio Do yet, since the short clip too off like wild fire among the female fan community. One thing’s for sure – its anime will be airing this July.

If taking sides on a school rivalry that you know nothing about is too difficult, don’t worry because they also have straps readily available of the main swimmers. As an incentive to order early and from them, Hobby Stock is offering a paper coaster with a random swimmer on it when you order on their website. What they will look like is a mystery, as they are currently in “now printing” status.

If Free! doesn’t have you excited for the summer season, what does? Join the discussion in our forums here, or let us know in the comments below. Source: AnimeAnime

Asami Imai plays ‘The Witch and the Hundred Knights’ [video] Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/asami-imai-plays-the-witch-knightsvideo/ By SunSoftware on June 28th, 2013

With a cult fan following waiting to soak up as much Free! as possible, Hobby Stock has gotten ahead of any competition 4

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Published by: VR-Zone By sentinel011 on June 28th, 2013

In the latest episode of Asami Imai’s Sing Song Gamer, the singer/voice actress tries her hand at Nippon Ichi Software’s biggest action-RPG yet. Watch her now to get a preview of the game (and see if Imai is actually good at it). Anime and video game fans should recognize Asami Imai as the voice of Chihaya from The Idolm@ster and Noire from the Hyperdimension Neptunia series. As part of her radio show, Sing Song Gamer, Imai plays a game and gives her impressions every week. In her latest feature, Imai takes on The Witch and the Hundred Knights (Majo to Hyakkihei), an upcoming PS3 game from Nippon Ichi Software. The company is famous for making strategy-RPGs, especially the Disgaea series, but The Witch and the Hundred Knights, a top-down actionRPG with massive environments and 3D character models, is remarkably different from anything they made before. In this 9-minute video, Imai takes control of The Hundred Knights, a legendary undead warrior and the servant of the Marsh Witch Metallica. How will she fare? First, Imai learns how to equip five different weapons and unleash them in a single combo. Each weapon gets a power boost depending on the order they’re placed in. Later on, she discovers the “Mystical Dodge” skill, which lets The Hundred Knights slow down time to dodge attacks. Also, as NIS fans should notice, the music is composed by Tenpei Sato, who created music for the entire Disgaea series. Imai will give her impressions on The Witch and the Hundred Knights on her next radio show on June 29. You can listen to her on either Famitsu.com or the famitsutube channel. On a side note, Imai’s latest single, Hoshikuzu no Ring, was released on Wednesday, and you can listen to her as Noire in the upcoming anime Hyperdimension Neptunia or the PS Vita game Hyperdimension Idol Neptunia PP. If you’re anxious to get your hands on The Witch and the Hundred Knights, you can pick it up on July 25, but if you’re still on the fence, you can get another look at the absurdly in-depth game in this initial trailer: Source: famitsutube

Cosmo Youth Parade interview: King x Mon, Misa,Yui & Saffron Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/cosmo-youth-parade-interview-kingmon-misa-yui-saffron/

Cosplay guests King x Mon, Misa, Yui & Saffron were in Singapore as part of Cosmo Youth Parade’s cosplay exchange and meet-and-greet segments. We met up with all five for a group interview session with the ladies. Yui and Saffron’s popularity picked up as they partnered up earlier this year for their PSYCHO-PASS photoshoot. Based in Hong Kong, their cosplay shoots focus more on a ‘what if’ element than a standard shoot, increasings their likeliness to the characters. Misa’s fanbase has been going on for quite a few years, with many cosplays from lead characters as well as side characters. Most of them are bubbly and cheerful types, similar to her own character. King x Mon deals out many high quality cosplays through their shoots, and if you have been following them, they have behind-the-scenes videos that are funny yet interesting to watch. Who says you have to be totally prim and proper to be a famous cosplayer? ===== SGCafe had the opportunity to have a casual interview with them yesterday afternoon. While lunching at an eatery somewhere in town, we received somee very interesting responses from the cosplayers: Greetings, and welcome to Singapore! What are your opinions of cosplay before entering this hobby? As a cosplayer now, what are your opinions of the hobby? Misa: Before cosplaying, I have always admired and respected cosplayers who dress up as anime characters, and looking like the characters! But now, I find it slightly weird as to why I would think of that way then. (As a cosplayer now) I feel that we are very weird people, so please don’t look up to us (laughs) How do you guys communicate with your photographer during photoshoots?Mon: We are mostly very playful and 5

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boisterous during photoshoots! But even then we are serious about it, and will notice irregularities like (preview photos with) weird angles. King: We work very closely with the photographers. Normally, we will find photographers who are familiar with the series that we plan to shoot, but even so, the photographer may have his own way of thinking, as do us cosplayers, so there may still be some difficulty in communication. To solve this problem, we will print out images of the things we want to achieve in our shoot, and tell our photographer to follow this style of photography. The photographer may then adjust certain angles or incorporate his own style. But this process may cause the photoshoot to drag on as we try to understand each other in order to create good photos.

Yui: Communication is very important, so much so that photographers are also our friends; but they can be quite merciless as well in a way that they would say “No this angle won’t work, you will look ugly!” (laughs)

Misa: I will try to illustrate or draw out the concept I wish to achieve in the photoshoot, either by using a rough shot and adjusting using Photoshop to let the photographer know what I’m trying to achieve with the photoshoot. I will let the photographer know that post-processing or special effects for these photos will be left to be done by me, and the photographer should simply focus on achieving those shots that I requested. I will also let the photographer know of the angles by using the photographer’s camera and ask the photographer to go to that spot to pose instead. Saffron: Very similar to how King and Mon have answered, we will communicate with our photographer on the direction we want our photoshoot to go, and preferably a photographer that understands us and the series we will be having the shoot on. Also, we don’t usually just work with one photographer, as there are various photographers with different styles.

There are Singaporean cosplayers who approach you guys through your individual facebook cosplay pages. Were you surprised that you had fans from Singapore? How do you find our local cosplayers? Misa: The fans’ responses were very happy and expressive, with loads of exclamation marks and emoticons (laughs) I feel Singaporean cosplayers are very friendly and warm, even more so than Taiwan’s. Do any of you have foreign cosplay friends? If there’s a chance to have photoshoots with them, would you take up the chance? Misa: Yes of course I’d love to! Saffron: I feel that overseas photoshoots will be fun and challenging, especially for locations that Hong Kong does not have. So I think it would be nice to be able to (have a photoshoot with foreign cosplayers) and have an exchange of sorts. King: I feel that for Singapore, the night scenery is fantastic especially with all the tall structures and buildings, and is very iconic that once you look at the picture you’ll know that’s definitely Singapore. Mon: Yeah, Taiwan doesn’t have that kind of fantastic night scenery. King: Not as beautiful – it is because our buildings and structures are more cluttered. 6

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Throughout the interview, we get to know that Misa loves food and snacks, and actually has a friend who used to partner up with her for cosplays. Unfortunately, she was more involved in cosplay, while her partner had to focus less on the hobby and cannot keep up with Misa’s cosplays. For King & Mon, King explained that she would still be friends with Mon even if they weren’t cosplayers in the end, as their families know each other. Yui & Saffron only began partnering up recently, but both have cosplayed for quite a while.

Published by: VR-Zone

Aya Hirano will perform in Indonesia for the first time. This is great news for those in Indonesia, since Aya Hirano is a talented voice actress and singer. She voiced the main character in Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu, and has landed roles in Death Note, Lucky Star, and Fairy Tale, to name a few. Aya Hirano is also a talented stage actress, playing Eponine in the Japanese version of “Les Miserables”.

===== If you wish to meet and interact with these cosplayers, head on down to *SCAPE tomorrow for the COSMO Youth Parade, starting at 12pm! The event will last till around 7pm, be sure not to miss it!

Celebrate your favourite Anisong Artists at Anime Festival Asia Indonesia 2013 Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/celebrate-favourite-anisong-artistsanime-festival-asia-indonesia-2013/ By KaleNagasaki on June 27th, 2013

Last year, the first Anime Festival Asia Indonesia brought over forty-thousand people together to celebrate their mutual love of Japanese pop culture. If that was result of only the first run, then the success for the second AFA ID can only be imagined. This year, AFA ID is bringing the cultural hot spot Akihabara straight to Jakarta with premium merchandise, cosplay, maid/butler cafes, and everything else an otaku could ask for. Still, I think the greatest anticipation lies in the Anisong artists that will perform, some for the first time ever in Indonesia.

Eir Aoi has made quite the impact for a newcomer. Her first break came when she was chosen to sing “MEMORIA”, the ending song to Fate/Zero. Eir Aoi’s first single, “Prayer” also appeared in Fate/Zero, and her second single “AURORA” is the opening to Gundam Age. Her latest song “INNOCENCE” is the opening for Sword Art Online. She’s definitely worth keeping an eye on, as her career is just beginning!May’n's first solo live concert at Nippon Budokan in 2010 sold out on the first day: that should give you an idea of the kind of talent May’n has. Some of her work includes “Chase the World”, which was the opening for Accel World, and Sheryl Nome in Macross Frontier. With successful tour after successful tour, May’n is a J-pop diva you don’t want to miss.

June 29th, 2013

Babymetal‘s music is an intense as the girls are cute. Originally a YouTube phenomenon, Babymetal is swiftly gaining popularity all over the globe. Every single one of their live concerts have sold out, and their very first single “I.D.Z. Ijime, Dame, Zettai” ranked fifth on the Oricon daily charts. Come to ADA ID to adore these adorable girls!

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AFA ID will take place September 6th-8th at the Jakarta Convention Center. For more information on events and tickets, check out the official website. In the meantime, who are you most excited to see? Who will you cosplay as? Let us know at the forum here. If you want to talk about AFA more generally, then stop by here to start ranting!

Famitsu’s top 10 summer anime expectation rankings Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/famitsus-top-10-summer-animeexpectation-rankings/ By spartanchef on June 27th, 2013

After revamping in 2009, FripSide has released a string of hit singles. “Only my Railgun” and “LEVEL5 – judgelight-” were both theme songs for To Aru Kagaku no Railgun. Most recently, they performed the opening for To Aru Kagaku no Railgun, “sister’s noise”, which, like everything else they do, hit the top of Oricon’s Weekly rankings.

The summer anime season is less than a week away and people are now excited for the new upcoming series. With expectations running high, websites like Anime One have asked people which anime they were waiting for the most, and many of them have overwhelming responses. Now, it’s Famitsu Magazine’s turn to ask. Are the results the same as Anime One’s? Will Rozen Maiden and Free be the top dogs once again? Let’s find out, shall we? These are the results from Weekly Famitsu Magazine‘s June 27 issue 10 Ro-Kyu-Bu SS Produced by Yuki Kajiura, Kalafina debuted with a bang when “oblivious” became the theme song for the movie Kara no Kyokai. You probably know Kalafina from their incredibly popular song “Magia”, which was the ending theme for the Puella Magi Madoka Magica. This will be their first time performing in Indonesia, so don’t miss it!

9 Watashi ga Motenai no wa Dou Kangaetemo Omaera ga Warui! (Watamote)

June 29th, 2013

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8 Monogatari Series Second Season

4 The World God Only Knows: Goddess Hen

7 Kara no Kyoukai (3D remastered version) 3 Rozen Maiden (2013 reboot)

6 Danganronpa: Kibou no Gakuen to Zetsubou no Koukousei â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Animation

2 AnoHana (rebroadcast)

5 Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 1 SILVER SPOON 9

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Looks like Free! didn’t make to the top 10 it this time which is quite the surprise since its one of the most anticipated anime this summer (especially by the girls). Also surprising is AnoHana’s entry and ranking – it is unexpected for a rerun to be this popular in the polls. Do you guys agree with the results Famitsu posted? Source: Famitsu

Akira Toriyama to create 3shot for Shonen Jump’s 45th Anniversary Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/akira-toriyama-create-3-shotshonen-jumps-45th-anniversary/ By KaleNagasaki on June 27th, 2013

I think Weekly Shonen Jump said it right with the words “The ‘legend’ of hope for the entire world returns here!” That legend is Akira Toriyama, the genius behind Dragon Ball and Dr. Slump. In honour of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump’s forty-fifth anniversary, Akira Toriyama will be creating a three-part series titled Galactic Patrol Jako. Serialization begins July 13, so remember to hit the manga stands that day! This is not the first time Akira Toriyama has graced the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump since the end of his major manga series. In 2009, he partnered up with fellow artist Masakazu Katsura (the author behind Video Girl Ai and DNA²) to create the mini-series Jiya for Young Jump. In fact, these two collaborated on a one-shot for Jump Square in 2008, too. More recently, Akira Toriyama wrote Kintoki for Weekly Shonen Jump in 2010. So the legend is always around, planning to bring new hope to his followers. As one myself (and that’s an understatement, since I’m probably single-handedly responsible for at least half of all the profit made off of Dragon Ball), I can’t say any other manga artist’s work made me feel as ready to take on the world as Akira’s, and it is certainly phenomenal news that he will be bringing smiles to the faces of his readers again soon. Seriously, just look at him! If that face doesn’t make you want to nerd-up and shoot kamehameha waves all through your house, then I don’t know what else could!

June 29th, 2013

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Hina, Negima?!), Go Nagai (Mazinger Z) and Fuijo Fujio A (Doraemon) have called for its withdrawal. Their reasons for this is that if the government does indeed find a relationship between child pornography and anime, manga and video games, they fear that their freedom to write whatever they want (hence their freedom of speech) will be trampled on. This is because the government will also include anime, manga and video games into the regulations. Let’s just say writers really don’t like to be regulated.

Source: @manganewsjapon

Child Pornography Bill amendments not scrapped as Japan’s National Diet session ends Source: http://sgcafe.com/2013/06/child-pornography-bill-scrappedjapans-national-diet-ends-deliberations-continue/ By spartanchef on June 27th, 2013

Tetsuya Chiba, manga atist of ‘Ashita no Joe’ and shoujo manga artist Machiko Satonaka showing their opposition to the bill in 2010 In Japan, whenever a Diet session ends, bills that were not voted on are usually scrapped when the session ends, however, a bill not voted on can make it into the next session if a request is made. Six lawmakers led by LDP member Sanae Takaichi made a request to continue the deliberation of the proposed amendments to the Child Pornography law into the next National Diet. This request saves the amendments from being scrapped like the others and makes it into the next session of the Japanese Diet.

The 183rd National Diet session of Japan just ended yesterday, June 26, and people who were expecting the proposed amendments to controversial Child Pornography Bill to be scrapped by now are going to be disappointed. The proposed amendments were submitted last May 29 and gathered a loud opposition from the anime and manga community. The bill was passed in 2011 and the move to add some amendments to it was co-sponsored by three parties; the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), the New Komeito Party, and the Japan Restoration Party. The proposed amendments aimed to regulate the possession of explicit materials showing children for the purpose of sexual fulfillment. While it is illegal to commit child pornography in Japan, the possession of materials relating to child pornography is not regulated and not illegal. What the amendments really seek is the regulation of these materials and the punishment to those who are caught in possession of said materials. A fine less than a million yen will be imposed with additional jail time for less than a year.

In his twitter account, Love Hina and Negima?! manga artist Ken Akamatsu says that the fight is still not over and called for more active opposition for the proposed amendments. He also says how frustrated he is that it was not scrapped and adds that it should not even have made it into the next session. Akamatsu is one of the loudest and most out spoken manga artists opposed to the recently proposed amendments.

The amendments also has a provision which calls for an investigation into the relationship of anime, manga and CG images and Human Rights violations against children. This provision is what made the amendments so controversial as groups like the Japan Cartoonist Association and manga artists like Ken Akamatsu (Love 11

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While most manga artists, anime fans and gamers oppose some parts of the amendments, they do not oppose it in its entirety. From the statement by the Cartoonist association, they support the measures protecting the children but warn that anime and manga should not be regulated as it is an impediment to the freedom of speech. source: Huffington Post Japan