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.
Visions of Mana: details on new characters, class switching and Elemental gameplay
![Visions of Mana gameplay party](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719-34176-header-768x432.jpg)
New insights into Visions of Mana's elemental, class switching gameplay and the characters the party meets on their journey to the Mana Tree
Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano’s Kickstarter for first European exhibition reaches target in just 3 hours
![Final Fantasy artist Yoshitaka Amano exhibition in Milan Italy Amano Corpus Animae](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719-34161-header-768x400.jpg)
A Kickstarter for a retrospective art exhibition in Italy celebrating Yoshitaka Amano has already surpassed its 50,000 euro goal.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess gets traditional Japanese puppet show prequel
![Kunitsu-Gami Path of the Goddess bunraku play traditional Japanese puppet theater](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240719-34139-header-768x433.jpg)
Capcom collaborates with Japan's National Bunraku Theater to give its new game Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess a puppet play prequel.
Unreal Engine 5 has tremendous potential as an anime production tool, according to Japanese studio
![I was reincarnated as the 7th Prince Unreal Engine 5 use](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718-34118-header-768x381.jpg)
Tsumugi Akita Anime Lab give insight into how they used Unreal Engine 5 in the production of their anime I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince
Protect a birthday cake from a crowded Japanese station in this hyperactive sidescroller
![The Cake Japanese side scrolling action game](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240718-34090-header2-768x432.jpeg)
Coming to Early Access on July 19, The Cake is a quirky action game from Japanese developer Racjin, known for some of the Bomberman games.
New Pokémon Sleep study shows that Germans get the most sleep, while Japanese get the least
![](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240717-34067-header-768x432.jpg)
The Pokémon Company's new study using data from 7 million Pokémon Sleep app users gives insight into average sleeping hours by country
Japan mod for Euro Truck Simulator 2 goes viral for crazy level of realism
![Euro Truck Simulator 2 Project Japan mod](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240717-34022-header-768x406.jpg)
The Project Japan mod for Euro Truck Simulator 2 has impressed Japanese netizens by how close it is to actually driving a truck in Japan
Nikke jiggly butt physics perfectly recreated by model kit enthusiast… with a twist
![Goddess of Victory Nikke Shift Up](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240716-33995-header-768x433.jpg)
Goddess of Victory: Nikke is known for its curvy anime girls. One model maker recently recreated the game's bouncing butts using a Gundam kit
DoDonPachi series developer Cave sees 527% yearly profit increase in video game sector
![Touhou Gensou Eclipse](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240716-33964-002-768x451.jpeg)
Touhou Project game and Monster Strike perform strongly for renowned bullet hell shooter developer Cave in their 2024 fiscal year.
Square Enix’s new book explains AI usage in game development, features Final Fantasy 7 Remake
![Cloud Final Fantasy Remake Square Enix AI book](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240712-33932-header-768x376.jpeg)
Square Enix's AI Division have compiled a comprehensive book on AI usage in games, featuring examples from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest.
(UPDATE) Ubisoft’s apology for stolen imagery in Assassin’s Creed Shadows followed by further call for revision of Collector’s Edition artbook
![Assassin's Creed Shadows](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240712-300990-header-768x432.jpeg)
After apologizing, Ubisoft is being petitioned to remove re-enactment group's flag from Assassin's Creed Shadows Collector's Edition artbook
Oshi no Ko anime studio Doga Kobo acquired by Kadokawa
![Oshi no Ko anime doga kobo](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240711-33880-header-768x448.jpeg)
The anime studio behind global hit series Oshi no Ko and Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian has become part of the Kadokawa Group.
Tose has new projects and recovery plan in the works, despite huge losses
![Crisis Core Final Fantasy 7 Reunion Square Enix Tose](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240711-33861-header-768x381.jpg)
Tose, a major Japanese outsourcing game developer, is tightening rules to prevent future losses from cancelled titles.
Final Fantasy 14 fans in Japan are getting horny for Bakool Ja Ja too
![Final Fantasy XIV FF14 Dawntrail Bakool Ja Ja](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240711-33839-header-768x384.jpeg)
Final Fantasy 14 Dawntrail's new character Bakool Ja Ja has some thirsty Japanese fans too, with his "ugly erotic" charm and "kitty" comments...
Like a Dragon’s casting audition finalists for new title revealed
![New Like a Dragon Ryu ga Gotaku game cast audition finalists](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240710-33750-header-768x432.jpg)
Sega have announced the 10 finalists for their casting auditions for the new Like a Dragon game. The finals will be broadcast live on YouTube
Trails through Daybreak 2 to get English release
![The Legend of Heroes Trails through Daybreak 2](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240709-33713-header-768x400.jpg)
The English version of Nihon Falcom's 2022 action RPG Trails through Daybreak 2 will let players find out what happens to bounty hunting detective Van Arkride
Disney Pixel RPG developer’s shares soar following announcement
![Disney Pixel RPG](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240709-33694-header-768x410.png)
After Disney Pixel RPG was revealed on July 8, Gungho Online Entertainment's share prices reached their highest point so far this year.
EA Japan reminds users to report User Agreement violations in wake of “Apex Legends Hostess Club” incident
![Apex Legends Horizon](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240708-33624-header-768x384.jpg)
Unofficial Apex Legends Hostess Club that trended on Japanese X last week is likely the reason for EA Japan's stern reminder to players.
Konami is intent on region locking Japanese players out of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
![Metal Gear Solid Rising Revengeance Raiden](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240708-33597-header-768x411.jpg)
The July 4 GOG.com release of the 2013 action game was promptly made unavailable in Japan moments after launch
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP will let players choose Juliet’s voice
![Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Juliet](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240705-33557-header-768x381.jpg)
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP will feature at least four different voices for zombie slayer Juliet, including a new Japanese voice by Yukari Tamura
Kadokawa cyberattack: legal action to be taken against anyone spreading leaked data
![Kadokawa Dwango logo](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240705-33541-header-768x432.jpeg)
Dwango state that they will take legal action against those who maliciously distribute leaked data from the cyberattack on Kadokawa.
Japanese “Overwatch Hostess Club” gets banned, lewd “Apex Legends Hostess Club” takes its place
![Apex Legends Watson](https://automaton-media.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240705-33521-header-768x382.jpg)
Mere hours after an Overwatch Hostess Club on Japanese X was banned likely for breaching Blizzard's terms, a similar Apex Legends account popped up.