VERACITY IN GAMING
VERACITY IN GAMING
With Japan’s otaku haven Akihabara soon undergoing redevelopment, some fear it may lose its charm
Is Akihabara about to lose its charm? Some argue that the redevelopment of the 'Electric Town' will cause it to lose its uniqueness.
Are weird baby names in Japan like Zeus and Hello Kitty really widespread enough to require law amendments?
As so-called “kirakira names” grow into more and more of a controversial topic in Japan, some call for legal regulations for unconventional names, while others don't see the issue as such a big deal.
Japanese supported employment company has disabled users work as animators for major titles, causing controversy
A supported employment business for disabled persons in Kyoto, Japan has started taking animation production orders, allowing its users to do animation work for popular TV animations. The news has caused mixed reactions among the public, including doubts of exploitation.
ByAmber V
Japanese maid cafes grow less innocent and more revenue hungry, resembling hostess clubs
Are modern maid cafes becoming too adult-themed? A Japanese author shares how many maid cafes are becoming increasingly reminiscent of hostess clubs.
Farming simulation game Story of Seasons influences Japanese man to become a farmer in real life
Marvelous, the publisher of the Story of Seasons farming simulation series, received a Letter of Appreciation from a Japanese agricultural association after a youth decided to take up farming influenced by the games.
Nintendo’s new Super Mario Bros. Wonder short clip proves that Bowser is based
Nintendo's new promotional short for Super Mario Bros. Wonder, featuring Bowser and Princess Peach has caused waves in the fandom due to its unexpected but wholesome twist.
- ByAmber V
Why do Japanese players hate PvP in Final Fantasy XIV?
Why do Japanese players seem to dislike Final Fantasy XIV's PvP so much? Online users share their frustrations with the game's PvP mode.
As use of hexagrams becomes taboo in popular media in Japan, artists search for alternatives. What is the reason behind the censorship?
Use of the hexagram has come to be mostly forbidden in Japanese media such as manga and anime. This likely has to do with the symbol's association with the Star of David, the symbol of the Jewish religion and identity.
- ByAmber V
Even Japanese gamers notice Arma 3 gameplay being used as fake Gaza conflict footage
A video posted on October 10, described as depicting an Israeli soldier shooting down a Hamas aircraft, has been circulating significantly on X/Twitter, but the Japanese gaming community has taken notice of the fact that the video is actually gameplay footage from the poplar simulation game Arma 3.
- ByAmber V
Armored Core 6: Are Bazookas the new thing now that the Zimmerman was nerfed?
FromSoftware's new regulation patch (1.03.1) for Armored Core 6 adjusts the performances of certain weapons, and Bazookas in particular seem to be gathering the attention of players for their new and improved performances.
Tanjiro was originally not the protagonist of Demon Slayer. How does the manga differ from its earlier versions?
How much does an anime and manga change from its original conception to its finalized version? Demon Slayer's conceptual manga Kagarigari and Kisatsu no Nagare characters and plot are examined.
Developer tells of “atrocious labor practices” experienced in Japanese game industry. How have conditions in Japan changed in the meantime?
A US developer who had worked for Japanese game companies for about 12 years told of the harsh conditions they experienced, bringing attention to the low wages and long working hours. We look into whether and how conditions have changed in the past few years.
Japanese otaku-targeted dating app’s bizarre AI image advertising leads to 3x – 7x increase in female users
The Japanese otaku-targeted dating app Otakoi, which had previously gone viral for their advertising using jarring AI generated images, has recently reported a dramatic increase in female members of their platform.
- ByAmber V
Nintendo Switch exclusive Suika Game is so addictive its previous daily sales have multiplied by fifty thousand
The viral Suika Game (Watermelon Game) has experienced a boom in popularity, consecutively ranking No. 1 in the Nintendo eShop, with sales multiplying by the thousands.
Drum Roll – a game in which you roll a drum around before it violently explodes will be out October 19th
Indie game developer MantaStudio announced the upcoming title Drum Roll for the PC. The game is about rolling a drum on the verge of exploding to a designated finish line, but its not as simple as it may seem.
Sega Japan analyzes overwhelming popularity of Sonic IP in the US compared to Japan, background of Sega-style marketing
In a recent interview, Shuji Utsumi, Co-COO of Sega Corporation, discussed the overwhelming popularity enjoyed by the Sonic IP in the North American market as opposed to Japan, as well as tendencies in Sega-style marketing and the influence of the blockbuster Sonic films.
- ByAmber V
Japanese users discuss why some works that were iconic in their heyday tend to feel like imitations over time
Does the overuse of themes in modern works spoil the original content that made them popular? A user discusses why their first time reading the popular Haruhi Suzumiya light novel series felt somewhat lackluster.
Anime adaptations that earned the “wrath” of the original manga authors
In anime adaptations of manga, there have been cases where certain changes to source material brought on the anger of the original manga artists, who didn't hesitate to renounce the adaptations. Conversely, there have been cases in which changes to source material earned positive reactions from audiences.
- ByAmber V
Parent company of Cygames to delve into research and development of game generation AI
CyberAgent announced the establishment of a “Game AI Lab,” and “Animation AI Lab” through which the company will delve into research and development of generative AI technology for use in the process of game development and animation production respectively.
- ByAmber V
Dance Dance Revolution Classic Mini – miniature console that reproduces the DDR arcade unit at 1/5th scale announced
Zuiki Inc. announced DanceDanceRevolution Classic Mini, a playable 1/5 scale reproduction of the DanceDanceRevolution arcade game. Crowdfunding for the projects will start on October 10.
Is Japanese manga behind the times? Users discuss if adopting the webcomic format is needed in order for manga to keep up
Is Japanese manga falling behind modern comic formats like webtoons? Comic book fans discuss the pros and cons between the two styles, prompted by the statement that Demon Slayer put Japanese manga behind the times.
Touhou isn’t old: 15- to 19-year-olds make up the majority of the fandom even in 2023
According to the Touhou Project Popularity Poll for 2023, almost 40% of the Touhou fandom is aged 15 to 19 years old, which has caused some shocked reactions throughout the community.
- ByAmber V