VERACITY IN GAMING
VERACITY IN GAMING
.Ryuki Ishii
Former JP AUTOMATON editor & former AUTOMATON WEST editor in chief (*until May 2023)
Oshi no Ko’s baking soda-girl Kana collab with actual baking soda
Oshi no Ko's baking soda-girl Kana Arima collaborates with actual baking soda product Juusou chan (which literally means Baking Soda-chan).
Doujin store DLsite temporarily suspends sales of AI-generated content
Doujin store DLsite has announced that it is temporarily suspending sales of AI-generated works. The categories of content that this suspension applies to are Manga, CG + Illustrations, Video, and Creator Assets.
Japan creates Metaverse Department with AI employee in Tottori Prefecture
Tottori, Japan’s least populous prefecture, has announced the launch of a virtual Metaverse Department. The department’s first employee is Yakamihime, an AI-powered avatar.
Can anyone actually play enough games to pick the GOTY?
As 2022 draws to a close, the annual tradition of picking a GOTY is upon us. But can anyone actually play enough games to pick the GOTY? It feels more and more unattainable as the medium diversifies.
A massive anime database cataloging nearly 15,000 titles made available to the public
The Association of Japanese Animations recently released Anime Taizen, a consolidated database of information regarding Japanese anime, to the public. The database was made available with information for 14,710 different anime and 175,755 episodes of anime.
Bandai Namco doesn’t want to implement NFTs for speculative investment purposes in its Gundam metaverse
In a question about Bandai Namco's Gundam metaverse, the company was asked if they were thinking about support for new blockchain and NFT technology. They responded by saying that they are looking into it while considering how necessary those technologies are for connecting fans and not for speculative investment purposes.
Gaming snacks made of 70% mackerel called Gaming SABACHi will soon be sold in Japan
Japanese food manufacturer Ajigen has announced that its new gaming snacks, Gaming SABACHi, will go on sale in Japan starting September 5. SABACHi is made of 70% mackerel and Ajigen claims the snack works perfectly as a nutritional supplement for when you are gaming.
FIMMIGRM is an AI track generator that automatically creates original songs
FIMMIGRM is a music creation service that generates songs using AI. The service uses an AI that uses machine learning to analyze the characteristics of hit songs, to create a variety of different melodies and chord progressions. The service allows for songs to be purchased for a low price without any of the hassles that normally come with rights management.
Can’t decide what to read? An online bookstore in Japan now offers a book gacha
Japanese online bookstore honto has begun offering a “book gacha” in which users only pick the genre that they want to read. There are around 100 paperback novels (all in Japanese) that are included in the gacha.
Students who game longer have lower test scores on Japan’s national achievement test
Students who game longer have lower test scores on Japan’s national achievement test. It wasn’t just limited to gaming as time spent on social media and video sites also showed a comparable trend in relation to test results.
A Shinto shrine in Japan to offer lucky charm NFTs as it searches for new revenue streams
The Kemigawa Shinto Shrine in Japan to offer Omamori NFTs (good luck charm NFTs) as it searches for new revenue streams. Like the real thing, the benefits of the NFT charms wear off after a year, after which they are automatically burned.
Apex Legends rice paddy art has been created in Japan
Rice paddy art featuring the Legend Bloodhound from Apex Legends has been created in Saitama, Japan. There's also a separate paddy that features a huge 40x40 meter QR code that links to the game’s official website.
A monster illustration contest judged by Vanillaware is going on now
A fantasy monster illustration contest is currently being held with the winners being selected by Nippon Ichi Software and Vanillaware. GrimGrimoire OnceMore, a game both companies were involved with, was recently released in Japan.
A Final Fantasy arrangement compilation by Vocaloid producers has been announced
Square Enix has announced a new arrangement compilation CD called Electronica Tunes -FINAL FANTASY Series-. The album includes various songs from the Final Fantasy series that have been arranged by a number of different Vocaloid producers.
Initial D collaboration taxis are now running in Gunma, Japan, the setting of the hit series
Initial D, a popular manga and anime series that takes place in Gunma, Japan, is collaborating with taxis in Gunma’s Shibukawa city. The collaboration sees taxis in the city wrapped with three different designs based on the series, including one based on protagonist Takumi Fujiwara’s Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86).
The University of Tokyo to establish Metaverse courses that will teach engineering in virtual space
The University of Tokyo has announced that they will soon offer Metaverse courses to teach engineering in a virtual space. The intention is to provide a new style of learning to a wide range of people including middle and high school students, working adults, and more.
Pokémon Trading Card Game illustration exhibition to be held online for the first time
Pokémon Trading Card Game: Online Illustration Exhibition will be held between August 10 and October 22, 2022. Admission to the event is free and it will have support for ten languages including English and Japanese.
Haruhi Suzumiya’s real-life school faces an uncertain future due to Japan’s declining population
The school featured in the popular light novel, manga, and anime series Haruhi Suzumiya was modeled on real-life Japanese high school Nishinomiya Kita High, located in Japan's Hyogo prefecture. But this real school may soon be consolidated into another school.
The company behind RPG Maker is holding a short story contest with the winner having their story turned into a game
Kadokawa has announced they are holding a short story contest with RPG Maker developers Gotcha Gotcha Games and are seeking stories that can be used as an outline for a game.
Brutal Japan to be removed from Steam Early Access as it undergoes a massive overhaul
Japanese game developer 838s Maniacs has announced that Brutal Japan, a game they released to Steam Early Access last month, will be delisted. Brutal Japan is a survival horror game that takes place in present-day Japan.
Japan continues its reign as the country that tweets the most about gaming
Japan once again took the top spot in the “Top 10 Countries Tweeting Most About Gaming” for the first half of 2022, something it also achieved last year. The country has been the king of gaming tweets in recent times, also topping the yearlong rankings in both 2021 and 2020.
A device that can alter the taste of food has been developed by a Japanese university professor
Meiji University in Japan has announced that they have developed a device that can alter the appearance and taste of food. It is named TTTV2 which stands for “Transform The Taste and Visual appearance.”