Knack is the first confirmed PS4 Game

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Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, The Playstation conference is livestreaming now and has confirmed their first game.

Sony announced Knack, a third-person action game for the new system. The title features a Toy Story like visuals in a world with goblins and humans. The title character is a small morphing robot who can gain strength by absorbing objects. The game is directed by Mark Cerny who is also thelead designer.


More info as the conference goes on.

Playstation LiveStream conference for the PS4 Unveil

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Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today at 6pm EST Sony will be having a conference to unveil the PS4.
Below I will give a link below to watch the conference or you can tune in to IGN.com for coverage.

RSVP to join us for a global livestream broadcast of PlayStation Meeting this February 20th, 2013 starting at 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time at this link: https://us.playstation.com/meeting2013/

Also check Playstation web site for more details: http://us.playstation.com/http://us.playstation.com/

METALGEAR RISING 1ST 30 MIN OF GAMEPLAY AND TUTORIAL

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Hey Otakus and Geeks fans, Today we are going to give you a look at Metal Gear Rising Revengeance. This is the first 30 min of game play ( Time may vary depending on personal play ). So you will get to see Game Play, Cut Scenes, and Tutorials.




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Later we will be doing a review of the game. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance out 2/ 19/12 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.


What We Would Like To See From 2K's WWE Game

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If you haven't heard or been keeping up with recent news. Take Two the parent company of 2K Sports has recently acquired the gaming license from THQ for WWE games. This is a very exciting news personally for a guy who is a fan of 2K Sports games and WWE. There is rumors that Yukes the company that developed the game might still be hired to work on the game. This is good news as well, but I'm hoping for a whole new  team and a fresh take on the WWE franchise. I have complied a list of what we would like to see from WWE 2K (the title we gave it).

 My Wrestler Mode - This is an obvious dream for WWE fans. This is something WWE Day Of Reckoning had concept wise in they create of wrestler story mode, when you took your create a wrestler guy and started from the bottom and rises to the top. However with the new technology and in depth style that 2K brings to My Player Mode for NBA 2K, imagine that for the WWE. My pitch for My Wrestler Mode will be something like this. First you create your wrestler, then like NBA 2K 11 you will go through five games in this case five matches and depending how you do in those five matches, you will either be signed with a deal to start off with dark matches or get sent to the WWE development OVW. When you have proven yourself in the ring you are promoted to T.V. where you're given an option to whether you want to be a singles type of wrestler or have a tag team. Feuds will be set for you in the beginning, but as you prove yourself and rise to superstar status, promo's will be cut by choices like the after game interviews in NBA 2K. You will then have access backstage to engage superstars, pitch championship deals with Vince and start your own stable if you want. The idea is to give you a feel of what it's like to be a WWE Superstar. One thing I would like to see is the attributes be earned by either the match or buy hitting the gym. If your a cruiserweight your focus should be focus on speed and agility, super heavyweights should be strength and power so they will hit the weights a little more. This will be a great addition for mini games and it will give a pure authentic feel of what it's like to be a wrestler. Depending on your contract when you sign you agree to re-sign with the WWE for more money or choose not to sign, which will end your contract and you will be able to start a new wrestler. The My Wrestler Mode would have so many possibilities and I just scratch the surface of what can be done. One more thing endorsements will happen like staring in WWE film movies.

 Proper Movesets - I can't tell you how annoying it is to go into a non created wrestler and change some moves around because the wrestler never did those moves. Not every wrestler does a submission hold, not ever wrestler is a high flyer. I shouldn't have edit the regular rosters moveset and make it accurate as possible. Each wrestler has their own style and it's time that the game reflects that. Big Show barely goes on the top ropes, so why give him any top rope moves? The moves should be decided to what the wrestler does in the ring.

 Free Roster Updates - I can't tell you how much I hate buying roster updates for WWE games. Especially when the wrestler was already on the disc. I think that is a cheap move and it should be stop. Hopefully if Take Two/ 2K decides to update the roster that it will be free of charge.

 Better Commentary and Presentation - One thing 2K does very well is making sure the commentary and presentation is phenomenal. The past WWE games commentary have been the same lines over and over and sometimes doesn't even relate to action. We want commentary to stay on topic, to describe what's going on in the ring and in the storyline. The graphics will need a update as well as the look now is getting stale and old.

 GM Mode/ Universe Mode - I love the GM mode in Smackdown vs Raw and I like the concept of Universe mode in WWE 13. I would like to see these elements improved and expanded upon to give us a taste of the business side of what it's like to be Vince McMahon or one of the people behind the scenes of WWE. GM Mode you can be behind the scenes and Universe mode you control the wrestlers.

 These are some of the things we like to see, what ideas do you have for the next WWE game. Leave a comment below.













Mark of the Ninja, more like mark of awesome-sauce

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Mark Of the Ninja.
I hate stealth game.

I just want to put that out right from the start because it is something I think I should let everyone know who reads this. I don’t get Metal Gear Solid. I really don’t. How come snake can carry a remote controlled missile and a bazooka but not got shit crazy using it? I mean really if you’re a guard and you see a guy running at you with a bazooka screaming bloody murder, you would get the holy hell out of there, SCREW THAT JOB!. I will say this; when I played games like Metal gear and sometimes Splinter Cell(older ones not conviction), I just can’t wrap my head around how I am such a massive bad ass with all these sweet weapons but am crawling on my belly and hiding in the shadows or a box that is rarely out of place even if its the only box in the room(I will touch on this again later.).

Then comes Mark of the Ninja from Klei Entertainment. In case you remember this name, it is because Klei Entertainment is the same developer who created the awesome side scroller SHANK and SHANK 2. This game follows their tradition of amazing art style with solid 2D gameplay.


This game made me feel like stealth wasn’t a gimmick but truly apart of the gameplay and is necessary, more importantly I felt like a ninja, a real ninja. Now I know I am saying a 2D side scroller is a better stealth game then Metal Gear Solid but there is a reason. The ninja is unable to carry powerful weapons like a bazooka or a sniper rifle. The ninja is limited to just his blade and small armor on him, depending on the outfit you put on him he can only one attack item and one distraction item, each one has a limited amount he can carry. The tools they give you is more than enough, this is because the game want you to play smart. All stealth games want you to play smart but when they give a BFG halfway though to fight a boss but then lets you keep it. In doing that, it makes me want to play the game differently.

I know what you’re thinking now, “but its a 2D game, how can you compare it to those 3D games?”. Easy, while Mark Of the Ninja is a 2D game sneaking when compared to those game is the same. MADNESS! you say, hear me out. When you sneak in Mark Of The Ninja you will be able to hide in the foreground or the background. The AI will check behind and into those things if they see you moving into them. One could say that it is not the same but how is hiding in a doorway in the background any different from hiding inside a locker. the enemy can and will inspect both if they have a reason to. This was something that really stuck out to me and made me think about how this was stealth game that didn’t feel like you could forget the stealth part. In all this game is something else and what I would look at as a true stealth game.

As of right now it is out on Xbox Live Market place and on Stream both for around 15 dollars.

Ghost in the Shell Arise Design Cast and Trailer

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Ghost in the Shell Arise’s new trailer joins news that not only will the OVA be getting entirely new character designs, but also an entirely new voice cast, in what is proving an exceptionally controversial new direction for the series.

The preview:


As or more controversial than the new character designs is the fact that Motoko will now be voiced by Maaya Sakamoto, who perhaps not coincidentally also voiced child Makoto in SAC and Deunan in Appleseed XIII, rather than Atsuko Tanaka, who voiced her all the other Ghost in the Shell anime.
Along with Motoko, Aramaki (now voiced by Ikyu Juku), Togusa (Tarusuke Shingaki), Batou (Kenichiro Matsuda) and every other member of the cast also sees a new voice actor, for what is clearly intended to be a clean break with the previous incarnations of the franchise.
A new 2027 setting and storyline (yet again involving viruses) round out what has been described as a Motoko “origins” style story with her still with army intelligence prior to her Section 9 career.
Aside from the new character designs and seiyuu changes, plenty of other information about the new project has just emerged – it will be comprised of 4 50 minute parts, with the first – “Ghost Pain” – to see limited theatrical release and then an OVA BD/DVD release in June and July.
A manga edition of the new production is also due to begin serialisation in March, in the pages of Monthly Young Magazine.



Masamune Shirow himself has acknowledged the new iteration of the series takes things in a new direction:
2029AD. Togusa would be 29, so in the world of Ghost in the Shell, today in 2013 he would be in middle school. What would he be doing now, and would he already have resolved to become a detective?
[In the 24 years since the original manga's debut] the world has changed a lot – especially computers and networks, with many people now carrying and using high powered mobile terminals at all times.
The original manga is now quite old, and I think it must be quite challenging to adapt, but I’m really looking forward to seeing viewers enjoy whatever new Ghost in the Shell Kise and the new staff produce.
And please, afterwards don’t start saying “this was all a fake memory and none of the anime adaptations were real,” OK?
Shirow Masamune
His concern over what fans will make of all this is perhaps understandable – the fan response so far has been distinctly negative.

Source: Sankaku Complex   Author: Artefact



The preview:


Lenni Reviews: Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms by Fumiyo Kouno

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Image Source
Towards the tail end of WWII, the US made the decision to drop nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. As you can imagine, it changed the course of history for the entire world. Any history class will teach you the political and military implications of such an event but what about the day to day lives of the survivors? There are many tales, including the groundbreaking Barefoot Gen by Keiji Nakazawa. Unlike the gritty realism in Nakazawa’s work, Town of Evening Calm, Country of Cherry Blossoms takes us ten years later to the lives of ordinary citizens and how the end of the war affected them.

First we meet a young woman named Minami Hirano, a young woman living in Hiroshima. She goes about her everyday life not wanting to think about the bomb, why she survived, and how it has changed her. Then we meet Nanami Ishikawa and follow her has she visits her friends in the hospital as a young girl, then go back to visit Hiroshima when she’s grown to deal with not only her father's memories, but her own.

I did enjoy this book. The dichotomy between the light and breezy art style and the very serious subject matter (warning: you may tear up) tugs at your heartstrings. Despite the melancholy, the book ends with a feeling of hope that will make you smile. The book is a poignant sigh you can hold in your hands; calm, painful, but beautiful and I highly recommend picking this book up.

HighSchool Of The Dead Manga Set To Return Spring 2013

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Hey Otakus and Geeks Fans, Well we finally get a step closer to Season 2 of High School Of The Dead. The March issue of Dragon Ace magazine has just announced that Daisuke Satou and Shoji Sato's popular Highschool of the Dead manga will return this Spring 2013! The last volume of the manga, Volume 07, containing Acts 26 to 29, was released last April/May 2011. The manga has been on hiatus since March 2011.


 With the Manga coming back, it's only a matter of time be for the Anime series will resume. So fans let's keep our fingers crossed and hope. Until then check out volumes 1-7 of the manga and the new upcoming volumes.

Lenni Reviews: Girl Friends The Complete Collection 1 & 2

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Image source                                Image source

Any manga fan knows about yaoi and possibly knows about yuri as well. Alas, finding yuri as good as some of the yaoi out there is hard. Many yuri titles have the main female characters in a sister type relationship, where any romance is implied or strongly hinted at. It never gets as hot and heavy as yaoi, where the boys are boning so fast, they may or may not know each others names. Not to say this is a bad thing but it hardly seems fair, right?

"Girl Friends" by Milk Morinaga was a very pleasant surprise. In the two volumes, we see the shy Mariko Kamakura become fast friends with the outgoing Akiko Ohashi. As their friendship develops, Mariko finds her feelings deepening to much more than friendship and in classic manga style, they both fumble around each other till it’s all worked out.

Unlike anime like "Maria Watches Over Us" or manga like "Strawberry Panic," there is no question as to what sort of relationship these girls are in. They are in love and attracted to one another and the manga doesn't hesitate to show it (hence the 16+ rating). The art is classic manga, complete with super deformed cuteness that is sure to melt your teeth with sweetness. Half the time I was rooting for the couple, the other half I wanted to just squish all the characters for being too damned adorable.

If you are looking for a cute yuri manga where the characters are explicitly romantically involved and you want a cute, light-hearted story, I think "Girl Friends" is worth the pick up. Watch out for some intense lovin' in volume 2.

Life Is Money (Manga Review)

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Title - Life Is Money
Author - Asaniji Teru
Illustrator - Yaguraba Tekka


Story - Ten contestants agree to put their life on the line to have a chance of winning 100 million yen. To win, they must survive 10 days inside the prison. The story is centered around a guy named Meguru, he is a guy who is down on his luck. His sister is dying from a illness and she is in need of a transplant in order to survive. Meguru tried to raise money for the surgery using help from a fundraiser organization, but he was lie too and they took all the money he earned. Now with no hope in sight he is approach by a mysterious guy in the bar who overhears his story. He offers Meguru a chance to win the 100 Million Yen for his sister's operation. However he will have to gamble his life in order to do it. Meguru agrees to the join the game with ten other participants who were also tricked into this game. 

 For ten days the players will be locked up in this prison constantly being monitored by the people who brought them there. There are two important key items in this game, the first item is a bracelet which monitors the heart rate and mental stability of each player. If a player goes over a certain level they will then be killed and their share of the money will go to everyone else still alive. The game is played on a mental level, you have to keep yourself calm and cool or you will have an emotional overload, however it's not as easy as it sounds because the second item will test you. The second item is the dice which will determine which of the five senses the player will lose. Each day players will have to roll the dice, and depending on what number they roll, they will either lose one of the senses or if they rolled 6 they will regain everything back. For instance if you rolled one you lose your sight and will be blindfolded, if you rolled two you lose your hearing and force to wear sound proof headphones and etc. This brought a very interesting concept to the story because being in a place you don't know locked away for ten days is stressful enough, but now you have to add the fact that you lose your five senses and your mind starts to panic. The game is a test on endurance and players try to explore each other's mental weakness for personal gain, some players will use friendship to get ahead, others will be very manipulative and some are just naive but deadly. 

 The manga is well written and does a great job of giving detail characterizations on all the players. The player you will connect with the most is the protagonist Meguru and that is due to the fact he's in this game to save a life. His goal is noble and you will cheer for him to make it out this game for the sake of his sister. His opponents are just as compelling to read, each player deals with a social issue that you might relate too, such as bullying, financial issues, sexual identity issues, religion and more. I like how the writer depicts these issues and uses them to either make a statement, or exploit the characters weakness. The psychological aspect is used heavily not just on the players, but on the readers. There are actions, and things said that might rub you the wrong way especially when religious debate is involve. However I found this to be the best part of the manga. It made you feel like you're part of the game when certain actions are done. You start to question would you do the same thing if you're in this situation, and that's what I felt worked for the manga.


Art - The art is very well done. Artist Yaguraba Tekka does a great job of catching the emotional aspect of this manga. Since this manga main drive is psychological and emotional aspect the job of the artist is to capture that. Yaguraba Tekka hit a home run when it came down to the emotional breakdowns of the characters. The facial expressions, the tears and even the way they die is spot on related to the characters emotions.

 Final Grade A-/9.0 - "Life Is Money" is a fun and compelling manga to read. It's filled with a great concept that is executed well, great characters with enough backstory so that you can relate too, and finally it makes you think. This is a manga you should check out.

AKB48′s Yuki Kashiwagi’s Porn Star Date Enrages Fans

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AKB48 idol Yuki Kashiwagi has released the group’s latest scandal, after she was reported to have gone on a secret date with Minami Minegishi, a porn star and three athletes, and fans have not been taking the revelations well, a few going so far as to make the ultimate sacrifice – disposing of their creepy collections entirely.


 According to reports published in weekly gossip rag Shukan Bunshun, 21-year-old AKB48 B Team member Yuki Kashiwagi – “Yukirin” to her fans – attended a late night “goukon” style mixed date with both men and one of her porn star chums.
She is of course popular for her charming personality and sweet looks:






 

  Accompanying her on the date was infamous AKB48 skinhead Minami Minegishi, an unidentified female friend of hers, and “G cup” porn star Kirara Asuka, gratuitously pictured:


 

Male participants in the date included a J League footballer and two virile young Olympic athletes.
Although “romance” is officially forbidden for AKB48, most notably resulting in the recent shaving of Minami Minegishi and now being criticised as a “human rights violation,” there has been some controversial weaselling by the starlets’ wranglers as to what constitutes a “date” and who their charges can acceptably cavort with.
Kashiwagi’s agency admits she went on the date but says she “was invited” and that “didn’t know beforehand there were men present or that Miss Asuka would be in attendance.”
Minegishi’s agency denies there was a date at all: “It wasn’t a date. We hear it was just a social gathering of female friends.” However, they apparently knew the baseballer was present.
The lack of humiliating sacking, demotion or other rebuke has also apparently been explained by AKB48′s management adopting the curiously liberal position that “[goukon] dating is not romance,” and so opting to ignore the matter.
Online there has also been some surprisingly un-Taliban-like leniency from idol fans, who generously concede that just mixing socially with unrelated members of the opposite sex may be a permissible liberty for them to take.
None of this has washed with her creepy core fans however, who are outraged that the apple of their eye would dare go on a date or be found in the company of a professional strumpet, prompting much online wailing and even some fiery disposal of collections.

Source:sankakucomplex


 

INTRODUCING: Gamer Mama

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Hey moms! Have you ever felt lost in this video game world that our children live in today? You try to understand your kids and what games they play but you yourself don't even know any of the games that are out there? Well this is Gamer Mama here to tell you its OK I got your back!!! I will help you to learn what games are actually appropriates for you tikes and teens.



First off lets start with an oldie but goodie from Japan rated E. (2007)

Basic story line: Your a really small alien prince who goes to Earth collecting or "stealing" things that get rolled into a ball to bring back to your home planet Uranus. You start off the game watching your dad play tennis hitting the ball hard enough to go into space and make this black hole, which sucks everything out of Uranus. He then tells you to go to Earth where your adventure begins.


This game has the easiest controls, the concept is easy to grasp and it really is fun for everyone. The moral of this game is literally just roll a ball, collect stuff, possibly some random family members, and grow your ball from 1 cm to 1 meter in 1 minute or more to restore the things that the black hole sucked out.


I personally rated this game :F for FUN FOR ALL.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA HYRULE HISTORIA IS THE 1 BOOK IN AMERICA

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THE LEGEND OF ZELDAHYRULE HISTORIA LANDS #1 ON NIELSEN BOOKSCAN WITH 400,000 COPIES AND COUNTING
February 8, MILWAUKIE, OR—In an amazing show of demand for Dark Horse’s newest hallmark in video game art book history, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia™ soared to the top of the Nielsen BookScan charts last week, making it the #1 book in America!
In addition, the book has reached #1 on the Wall Street Journal and New York Times Bestseller list.  Dark Horse is also announcing a record print run approaching 400,000 copies, with the number continuing to grow as The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia dominates sales in the UK, China, Italy, Spain, and Canada.
This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong™, Mario™, and The Legend of Zelda™, Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link™’s adventures from the creators themselves! As a bonus, The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia includes an exclusive comic by the foremost creator of The Legend of Zelda manga—Akira Himekawa!

The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia is a must-have for any Legend of Zelda fan!

Praise for The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia:

“Perfect for Zelda fans and appealing to gaming historians, Zelda: Hyrule Historia is a shelf worthy piece of non-fiction about a great fiction.”—Newsarama

“With the full gamut of chronology on full display and a nearly ridiculous amount of history and artwork to sift through, this collection is huge and exhausting. It’s also well worth it, as this guide is the only one in its existence that could gather so many facts about such a beloved series and make it as terrific looking as it is.”—EGM Now / Digital Noob

“Hyrule Historia fulfills on its premise: a history of Hyrule, the wonderful, legendary world we’ve been falling in love with again and again since 1987. If you’re looking for the latest collector’s piece to celebrate your love for the franchise, look no further: Hyrule Historia is it.”—IGN

Look for this highly sought-after release at your local comic shop or bookstore today! Order online through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Things From Another World!


New People Travel Mag

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One thing I love is traveling. I think exploring new places, new cultures and seeing the sights is one of the best things to do. There is so much to see on this planet and since traveling cost money. I like to read about other people's experiences about traveling. New People Travel is a site otakus should check out. Why is this travel site different than other sites, mainly because this site has essays and stories written by some of the top guys in anime such as directors, artist and producers such as Katsuhito Ishii (Redline), Mamoru Oshii (Ghost in the Shell, Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence, Sky Crawlers), Dice Tsutsumi (Art Director at Pixar, Toy Story 3), and Yoshitaka Amano (Artist, Final Fantasy, Gatchaman, Vampire Hunter D). 

 The essays are very intriguing and enjoyable to read.You don't just get insight on what it's like in Japan, but you also get a little insight on some creation process on they work, locations inspirations and more. I think my favorite one was Mamoru Oshii, and how he joked about not being able to read a map to save his life. It was a very enjoyable essay and you get a little more in depth look at the director of Ghost In The Shell. The great about the essays/ interviews is the length, each one is at least four pages long and you get some great pictures as well. Here are some excerpts from the essay of Mamoru Oshii.
“In Tokyo, I only ride trains. It manages to take me to my destination even if I am completely lost in thought. I can have some time to myself in a train by reading books and imagining things. I don’t have to be part of this world. It’s purely my own time. Thus, I like to put all responsibility on others while I am en route.” 

 Mamoru Oshii Director Of Ghost In The Shell
“I am hopeless even with simple train maps, so put me in a car, and I will only drive near my house. I wish the car and the GPS could do all the driving for me. The basic GPS provides information as the outside world approaches, so I have to react to it every time. But I don’t want to have any responsibility while I am driving. Please make ‘by when’ and ‘to where’ happen for me, so I don’t have to think about any of it.”

 For more of the essay and articles. Check out New People Travel. The webzine gets update bi-weekly with a new person. Keep checking to see who will pop up next to talk about their travels, locations and more.

 Visit the site
http://www.newpeople.jp/travel/eng/index.html

Square Enix's Tomb Raider DeviantArt Contest

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Crystal Dynamics™, a Square Enix® studio, today announced a contest sponsored by Gamestop, Microsoft® and deviantART inviting fans to submit interpretations of the new Lara Croft from the TOMB RAIDER® reimagining releasing March 5, 2013. The grand-prize winner will get $6,000, a TOMB RAIDER custom Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and have an art print of their artwork sold in the official TOMB RAIDER store which opens for business later this month.

In 2012 Crystal Dynamics hosted a digital art exhibition to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of TOMB RAIDER. The team commissioned eight original pieces by a selection of esteemed artists. Andy Park, the primary penciller for the original TOMB RAIDER comics, contributed an iconic “Deviation” for the exhibition. These pieces of art sparked a wave of fan-created artwork. The initiative inspired Crystal Dynamics to draw from the international talent pool directly through a partnership with the biggest community showcase platform, deviantART.

“Over the past fifteen years TOMB RAIDER and Lara Croft have garnered a passionate and talented fan base from around the world. As such, many have naturally flocked to deviantART as a portal to showcase their creativity,” said Karl Stewart, global brand director for TOMB RAIDER. “Partnering with deviantART was a perfect fit to challenge and inspire our established followers, while engaging the artistic efforts of the greater deviantART community.”

“DeviantART is thrilled to be working alongside Square Enix to promote TOMB RAIDER,” said Daniel Bornstein, vice president of global advertising and sales for deviantART. “The deviantART community has embraced the iconic Lara Croft, and participants from all over the globe are invited to submit their entries for a chance to have their original TOMB RAIDER interpretations featured on a print to be sold within the official TOMB RAIDER store.”

Prizes include:
1st place:
  • The winner’s work will be featured on an art print that will be sold internationally via the official TOMB RAIDER store
  • TOMB RAIRDER custom Xbox 360 console
  • $6,000 cash
  • 8,000 deviantART points
  • dA PRO digital artist backpack
  • One-year premium membership to deviantART
  • One t-shirt from the deviantART store

2nd place:
  • TOMB RAIDER custom Xbox 360 console
  • $3,000 cash
  • 4,000 deviantART points
  • 6-month premium membership to deviantART
  • One t-shirt from the deviantART store

3rd place:
  • TOMB RAIDER custom Xbox 360 console
  • $1,000 cash
  • 4,000 deviantART points
  • 6-month premium membership to deviantART
  • One t-shirt from the deviantART store

Additionally, 22 semi-finalists will receive a TOMB RAIDER Xbox 360 Limited Edition Wireless Controller, a 3-month premium membership to deviantART and 2,000 deviantART points.

More information about the contest and prizes can be found at: www.deviantart.com/tombraider.


Lenni Reviews: Ninja 1000 Years of the Shadow Warrior

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Many an otaku has had the desire to find out more about the culture they’re exposed to in manga and anime. I, for example, took a semester of Japanese in college. In retrospect, my GPA would have been better off if Ninja: 1,000 Years of the Shadow Warrior, by John Man had been around instead.

While this book’s concept is interesting, it’s told through vividly detailed accounts of history and Man’s personal stories of meeting ninja families in Japan. The book is really meant for people who are interested in a deep history of real ninjas and their role in the ever changing landscape of medieval Japan and through World War II. It’s dense and fact filled. Some of the battle stories are interesting but overall, it read like more of a vacation story with some ninja facts thrown in. I learned some really cool facts but only serious Japanese history buffs are going to enjoy this. A casual reader may get bored or dizzy by so many names and dates flying at them.

To see the birth, use, and latter demise of the ninja is fascinating despite the clunky nature of this book. It can’t be helped since many concrete records of real ninjas have been lost to history, so Man is working with whatever he’s got. I recommend this book for serious Japanese history fans looking read whatever they can about ninjas. For a passing interest, it may be too heavy and boring for you.

MEDIAS W Dual Screen Android Smart Phones

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In April Japan will get a chance to get they hands on Medias W Android dual screen smart phone. The phone will run on Android 4.1. firmware, gives the user a resolution of 1080 x 90 and the great part is you can run applications on both screens. You want to watch Youtube on the top screen and check out the net on the bottom you can. Pretty cool right. It also runs on 1.5GHz dual-core processor supported by 1GB of RAM and has 16 GB of memory. Check out the video below for a cool demonstration.