Japan’s arcades are in crisis, past two years see increase in bankruptcies
Japan’s arcades are struggling due to tightening profit margins, the impact of COVID-19 and various other factors, with many shutting down.
VERACITY IN GAMING
VERACITY IN GAMING
Verity Townsend
Automaton West Editor and translator. She has a soft spot for old-school Sierra adventure games and Final Fantasy VIII (yes, 8!). Can often be found hunting down weird forgotten games and finding out everything about them. Frequently muses about characters and lines from Metal Gear Solid and Disco Elysium. Aims to keep Automaton fresh and interesting with a wide variety of articles.
Can AI solve the anime industry’s problems? Industry member sparks discussion
A Japanese anime industry member's tweet on how AI could be used to help animators has drawn various views on the contentious issue
Man acquitted of upskirting charges because of “sexual attraction to Gundam”
In an Ace Attorney-style case in Japan, a man accused of voyeurism was acquitted- in part due to his reported sexual attraction to Gundam.
Enjoy life with your custom cat in this quirky, cozy Japanese indie game
Create your own purrfect cat, help people find lost pets and decorate your home in this laidback Japanese life sim for cat lovers.
Cygames’ parent company announces policy on generative AI use
Granblue Fantasy series dev Cygames' parent company explain how they envision enhancing employee creativity through generative AI usage.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 “stress-free” mods become popular with Dragonsplague avoiders
The Dragon's Dogma community in Japan is also divided on the topic of using Dragonsplague mods, with some pointing to Capcom's anti-mod stance
Final Fantasy XIV director Yoshi-P’s Rolex scrutinized (and approved) by fans
Three big names in Japanese gaming have a dinner date, but some users focus in on Final Fantasy XIV director Naoki Yoshida’s Rolex wristwatch.
Square Enix’s Tetsuya Nomura explains launch of Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts pet product line
SQEX Pets features Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts accessories for dogs and cats, but what's the inspiration behind this line?
Keep calm and escape a dodgy elevator in this cursed Exit 8-like
The Exit 8 inspired horror puzzle game 0th Floor requires you to keep a cool head as you try to escape a cursed elevator and an attacker.
Resident Evil’s environments perfectly captured in real life in… Japanese aquariums?
Resident Evil players are being reminded of in-game locations by Kyoto Aquarium's Jellyfish area, which has serious Umbrella Corp. vibes.
Overcooked makes even Japanese celebrities fear their co-players
Couch co-op cooking game Overcooked can make even the calmest people rage, reveals Rino Sashihara, former member of Japanese idol group AKB48.
Rise of the Ronin’s inclusion of same-sex samurai romances explained
In Rise of the Ronin, you can have same-sex romances with Ryoma Sakamoto and Shinsaku Takasugi, but does this have any historical basis?