(Unless otherwise noted, all content is by Vanessa and Tiffany.)

Dark Souls (Click any game name to buy it from Amazon through an affiliate link: $34.99)

Rated: M — Ages 17+

Dark Souls is the predecessor to 2009’s acclaimed Demon’s Souls. If you’re shopping for a gamer this Holiday season that LOVES a challenge, and has a great deal of patience, Dark Souls is the perfect game to choose. Not only does it have a lot more content, some of the challenges it poses will daunt even the most seasoned veterans of Demon’s Souls. Because of this, it also provides one of the most rewarding gaming experiences around. This is the ideal game for anyone who enjoys a high risk, high reward venture in a dark medieval fantasy style setting. It would also provide the perfect holiday drinking game — take a drink every time the words “You Died” come up on the screen! (Note from the editor: Do not do this. You will probably die.)

The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection ($39.99)

Rated: T — Ages 13+

Team ICO’s two legendary games for the price of one. As someone who previously played and purchased the original PlayStation 2 versions of the game, I still couldn’t pass this one up. The collection is definitely a must-have for those who have never experienced either masterpiece before. Both games have been polished and updated into splendid 1080p resolution and for those with a 3D TV, both titles are now fully compatible. The two games are also considered the pre-cursor for Team ICO’s third and upcoming title, The Last Guardian, and would be the perfect gift for anyone looking for a more unique, artistic gaming experience.

Assassin’s Creed Revelations ($58.99)

Rated: M — Ages 17+

Two years ago in Assassin’s Creed II, we were introduced to the Italian noble-turned-Assassin, Ezio Auditore. The follow-up to last year’s Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood was released this November, and we’ll finally have the conclusion to Ezio’s story and impact on the assassins. With revamped multiplayer returning from its predecessor in addition to the main single-player, sandbox-style game, Assassin’s Creed is one of Ubisoft’s most revered properties, and Revelations definitely delivers.

Metal Gear Solid HD Collection ($49.99)

Rated: M — Ages 17+

Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series is renowned for its innovation, amazing characters and its top-notch, action-oriented tactical espionage gameplay. The HD Collection has been fully upgraded to 1080p, and includes Metal Gear Solid 2, Metal Gear Solid 3 (my personal favorite in the series) and PSP’s Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. This set of games would be perfect for anyone who ever wanted to play Metal Gear Solid 4, but never caught up, or anyone in anticipation of next year’s Metal Gear Rising. The total package has quite a bit of replay value, and is a convenient choice for anyone looking to get into the series for the first time, but who doesn’t know where to begin. (Hint: Start with MGS3!)

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim ($59.99)

Rated: M — Ages 17+

Despite not being a fan of the series’ previous entry, Oblivion, Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has gone above and beyond to create a unique gameplay experience unlike any other. This medieval fantasy adventure allows players to go whenever they choose and play the game in any way they’d like. With such a wealth of content, there’s no end in sight for when it comes to what you can do in this game. You can collect books, weapons, join a variety of different orders, groups or schools and collect just about any item that’s lore appropriate. Wanna’ wipe out an entire town of villagers? Go for it. Feel like getting into a bar fight with a Drunken Bard? Skyrim literally offers something to every type of gamer, and even the most jaded of gamers can find something to take away from it.

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine ($56.99)

Rated: M — Ages 17+

Do you like finding nasty ways to kill hundreds and hundreds of green orks? Do you want to play a shooter that doesn’t rely on cover? Look no further than Space Marine, the best game that no one is playing right now. Players take on the role of Captain Titus, one of the best Ultramarines in the Empire, as he tries to save human colonies from being completely massacred by orks. The gameplay is unique, the story is deeply woven, and many, many orks will die. (Recommended by Keri.)

Batman: Arkham City ($51.96)

Rated: T — Ages 13+

The Batman is back, and he’s ready to brawl. Once again, Rocksteady has gotten the formula just right for a game that’s not only hilariously fun to play, but will also provide hours of treasure-hunting entertainment. If you loved Arkham Asylum, this is really just more of the same, but in a great way. Also, the addition of Catwoman makes for a fun new way to play, whether you resent her being add-on content or not.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception ($43.96)

Rated: T — Ages 13+

Nathan Drake’s on another adventure. This time, he’s focusing on Sir Frances Drake and T.E. Lawrence — better known as Lawrence of Arabia. The single-player is, once again, downright cinematic, and the multiplayer’s a ton of fun, especially with friends. In any case, the gang is back and you’re on the search for another legend. Is there really anything else you need to know?

inFAMOUS 2 ($39.99)

Rated: T — Ages 13+

What’s life like as a Conduit — an electric man? The first inFAMOUS game gave us that answer, but this one introduces a bigger threat and a city that almost exists as a character in itself. If you lived in or remember New Orleans post-Katrina, maybe the game’s New Marais will hit a little close to home, but the simple fact that it might be a little too much is an artistic achievement in itself. Ultimately, the game itself isn’t that kind of meaningful, but it fixes the problems of its predecessor and then some. What’s left is some of the best open-world fun you can have this year.

L.A. Noire ($34.62)

Rated: M (for very, very good reasons — see our podcast and traditional review) — Ages 17+

1940s L.A. isn’t all glitz and glamour. Not unless you’re counting the sheen of blood as glitz, and incredibly graphic murder scenes as a special kind of glamour. Rockstar appropriately captures the feeling of L.A. post-WWII as a place in a struggle between what it once was and what it is becoming. You play as Cole Phelps, a rookie detective working his way up the ranks at the LAPD. He finds himself in the middle of a horrific mystery that tests relationships and turns his life upside-down. The new “complete edition” of the game includes all of the downloadable cases — a true bargain, here. I suppose that we could also talk about the fantastic facial animation technology on display, but that’s been done to death at this point. Suffice it to say that no game’s faces look better or more realistic animation-wise.

Portal 2 ($39.90)

Rating: E-10+ — Ages 10+

Portal 2 is one of my favorite games of the year, mostly because I got (and continue to get) so much mileage out of it. But even for the non-Portal-superfan, it’s just a great, challenging game. The puzzle game once again returns you to Aperture Science, ruled by malevolent AI GLaDOS. This time, you’re not so alone in your battle against her. Here, you’ll play through the (much longer) single-player game, but you’ll return for the co-op campaign, where you play as two robots and get to play with twice as many portals. The brain-stretch and subsequent feeling of glee you get when you finally solve a puzzle can’t be beat by anything out there. The PS3 version of the game also comes with an additional, PC/Mac copy of the game for when you’re away from your console.

No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise ($29.95)

Rating: M — Ages 17+ (Again, for very, very good reasons)

Travis Touchdown, the pitiful otaku-turned-assassin, makes the jump to PlayStation 3 with this remake of the one Wii title that always stood out to me as being strictly for adults. Suda51′s crazy edge is fully on display here, and the best part is that the game even uses the underutilized PlayStation Move peripheral to recreate the Wii experience. Of course, if you don’t have that, it’s cool. There’s an alternate input method using the controller. If you’re looking for something just a little zany with a ton of nerdy jokes, this is your winner.

Hopefully out of all these suggestions, you find something you want this holiday! Unfortunately, most of these aren’t exactly kid-friendly, but for everyone else, there’s a good chance that you can find something among these.

See anything we left out? Leave a comment and make your case!

Manga Masterpiece Recognized With The Comic Book Industry’s Most Prestigious Award

VIZ Media is proud to announce that NAOKI URASAWA’S 20th CENTURY BOYS was recognized with an Eisner Award in the Best U.S. Edition of International Material – Asia category during award ceremonies held at the recent Comic-Con International event in San Diego, CA. Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys is published in North America by VIZ Media’s Signature imprint. Volume 17 of the series will be released in August.

20th Century Boys is the story of a group of boys who try to save the world. Humanity, having faced extinction at the end of the 20th century, would not have entered the new millennium if it weren’t for them. In 1969, during their youth, they created a symbol. In 1997, as the coming disaster slowly starts to unfold, that symbol returns.

For Kenji, a simple convenience store manager who once dreamed of becoming a rock ‘n’ roll musician, a host of memories from his past come rushing back when one of his childhood friends mysteriously commits suicide. Could this new death be related to the rise of a bizarre new cult that’s been implicated in several other murders and disappearances? Determined to dig deeper, Kenji reunites with some of his old buddies in the hope of learning the truth behind it all.

“We’re elated to have Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys recognized by the comic book industry such a prestigious award,” says Andy Nakatani, Editorial Director at VIZ Media and editor for the title. “Urasawa‘s tense and dramatic storylines have firmly established him among the very top echelon of manga creators. With this, and other acclaimed series such as NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER and PLUTO: URASAWA ´ TEZUKA, Naoki Urasawa continues to push the boundaries of the manga genre, and we look forward to this award bringing his work to the attention of many new fans across North America.”

The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards are considered the “Oscars” of the comic book industry and are named for renowned cartoonist Will Eisner (creator of The Spirit and several award-winning graphic novels). The awards are handed out each year in a gala ceremony at Comic-Con International in San Diego, the largest and oldest comic book convention in the United States.

Naoki Urasawa’s career as a manga artist spans more than twenty years and has firmly established him as one of the true manga masters of Japan. Born in Tokyo in 1960, Urasawa debuted with BETA! in 1983 and hasn’t stopped his impressive output since. Well-versed in a variety of genres, Urasawa’s oeuvre encompasses a multitude of different subjects, such as a romantic comedy (YAWARA! A FASHIONABLE JUDO GIRL), a suspenseful human drama about a former mercenary (PINEAPPLE ARMY; story by Kazuya Kudo), a captivating psychological suspense story (NAOKI URASAWA’S MONSTER), a sci-fi adventure manga (NAOKI URASAWA’S 20TH CENTURY BOYS), and a modern reinterpretation of the work of the God of Manga, Osamu Tezuka (PLUTO: URASAWA X TEZUKA; co-authored with Takashi Nagasaki, supervised by Macoto Tezka, and with the cooperation of Tezuka Productions). Many of his books have spawned popular animated and live-action TV programs and films, and 2008 saw the theatrical release of the first of three live-action Japanese films based on Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys.

No stranger to accolades and awards, Urasawa is a three-time recipient of the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award, a two-time recipient of the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize, and has received the Kodansha Manga Award. Urasawa has also become involved in the world of academia, and in 2008 accepted a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he teaches courses in, of course, manga.

For more information on Naoki Urasawa’s 20th Century Boys and other VIZ Media manga titles, please visit www.viz.com/manga.

New People Welcomes Japanese Fashion Designer h. Naoto to 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival

Edgy Designer Inspired By Gothic, Lolita And Punk Will Have A Fashion Show Showcasing New Work, Screen A Tokyo Collection Film, And Preview New Store To Open In October At NEW PEOPLE

NEW PEOPLE, San Francisco’s dynamic entertainment destination showcasing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture, welcomes edgy fashion label h. Naoto to its 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival, happening in the city’s Japantown for two days – Saturday and Sunday, August 27th and 28th. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and features regular updates.

h. Naoto will open his long waited U.S. debut flagship store in October and will showcase new designs for sale in a special pop-up boutique during the J-Pop Summit. The brand will also host several events including a fashion show on Saturday, August 27th inside NEW PEOPLE’s SUPERFROG Gallery, and screen footage from the brand’s latest Tokyo Collection fashion show on Sunday, August 28th in NEW PEOPLE’s cinema. h. Naoto will also appear to participate in a Q&A session immediately following the film

Tickets to fashion show and film screening will be given to shoppers with over $100 purchase at the h. Naoto pop-up boutique on the first come, first served basis while supplies last. Seating is limited.

In preparation for these events, h;.NAOTO has also issued a public call for volunteer models, hair and make-up artists. Information is available at www.newpeopleworld.com, and applications may be sent to: h.naoto@newpeoplesf.com.

h. Naoto is the essence of Gothic-Lolita and Punk fashion and represents the type of innovative fashion forward design for which Japan is known worldwide. The label’s one-of-a-kind unique designs, inspired by punk and goth, are widely sees in Tokyo, and are now gaining a new market in the United States. With inventive ensemble and separates, h. Naoto is poised to bring a new side of Japanese fashion and pop culture couture to North America. More information on the brand and its collections are available at: www.s-inc.com/hnaoto.

“h. Naoto incorporates the essence of the Gothic and punk-inspired styles and synthesizes an ultra-modern look that delivers the latest in Harajuku fashion to a new U.S. audience,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “The launch of their first U.S. retail store is very exciting and J-Pop Summit attendees will get a sneak preview of their latest designs and even be able to participate in the fashion show! More events will be announced shortly and are sure to make the 2011 J-Pop Summit celebration the best one we’ve done yet!”

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

Otakon 2011 Raises Over $65,000 For Japan Tsunami Relief

Otakon 2011 digs deep for Japan Relief and raises over ¥5,000,000 ($65,000).

In an unprecedented show of generosity and goodwill, members of Otakon 2011 including attendees, guests, industry partners, and staff raised $65,150 for Japan Relief. The various efforts included merchandise (t-shirts, wristbands, buttons etc), Otakon exclusive Madoka Magica posters, charity autograph session with Nobuo Uematsu, and our hugely successful Charity Auction. Some of the money was specifically earmarked for Japan Red Cross (posters, autograph session) but the rest will go to these four charities as mentioned before:

● Save the Children: Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund
● The Japanese Red Cross Society
● Second Harvest Japan
● Habitat for Humanity Japan

We would like to thank our members for digging deep and proving that Otakon members are the best and we could not have done it without them. We would also like to thank the members, industry partners, and guests who donated to make the Charity Auction a huge success. The top 3 items at the auction were:

● An original beautiful mixed media illustration by Haruhiko Mikimoto from Macross. Donated by Noboru Ishiguro, raising $9100.
● A stunning colored piece by Hidenori Matsubara depicting Belldandy from Ah My Goddess, donated by the artist and raising $5500.
● A brilliant drawing of Enishi Yukishiro done and signed by Nobuhiro Watsuki, used in the cover art for the new Rurouni Kenshin PSP Game: “Rurouni Kenshin: Saisen”

Donated by the artist, raising $2100. You HELPED us show Japan we care. You SUPPORTED our efforts by spreading the word and raising awareness in your own community. You GAVE what you could to help relief efforts. Otakon 2012 will be held July 27–29 at the Baltimore Convention Center in Baltimore, MD.

New People Entertainment Releases Japanese Sci-Fi Thriller Gantz on DVD and Blu-Ray

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, has announced the highly anticipated release of GANTZ on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack on August 30th.

GANTZ is based on a hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City).

GANTZ played to more than 19,000 fans in a one-night-theatrical premiere in January at more than 300 theatres in North America.

Sci-Fi Live-Action Film Based On Hit Anime/Manga Series Features Two Of The Biggest Stars Of Japanese Cinema

NEW PEOPLE Entertainment, a film division of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. that focuses on the licensing and distribution of Japanese films and media, will delight sci-fi, action and anime/manga fans across North America with the release of GANTZ on DVD (SRP $24.92) and Blu-ray/DVD combo-pack(SRP $29.99) on August 30th. The film, which is unrated, features both English and Japanese dialogue options and a bonus disc with an exclusive director’s interview and film trailers.

To celebrate the film’s release, a special screening of GANTZ is scheduled for Friday, August 26th at 7:00pm in San Francisco at NEW PEOPLE’s Cinema as part of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival. The film will be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Get a great deal by purchasing a ticket bundle that also includes the brand-new DVD or Blu-ray plus a poster. Tickets and more information are available at http://www.newpeopleworld.com/films.

In addition, the San Francisco theatrical premiere of GANTZ II: Perfect Answer will also take place during the J-Pop Summit Festival on both Saturday, August 27th and Sunday August 28th. The film will also be shown in Japanese with English subtitles. Complete details on the J-Pop Summit are available at: www.J-Pop.com.

GANTZ is based on a hit manga series created by Hiroya Oku and stars leading Japanese actors Kazunari Ninomiya (Letters from Iwo Jima) and Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note, Detroit Metal City). The film tells the story of two childhood friends that are accidentally killed while trying to save another man’s life. Rather than find themselves in the hereafter, however, they awaken in a strange apartment in which they find a mysterious black orb they come to know as “GANTZ.” Along with similar abductees, they are provided with equipment and weaponry and manipulated into playing a kind of game in which they are sent back out to the greater world to do battle with alien beings, all while never quite knowing whether this game is an illusion or their new reality.

“GANTZ first thrilled domestic audiences when we presented the film theatrically in a special one-night-only premiere at over 300 movie theatres nationally earlier this year that was attended by thousands of people across North America,” says Seiji Horibuchi, President and CEO of NEW PEOPLE, Inc. “Anticipation has risen steadily since then and fans now have the exclusive opportunity to own the film on DVD and Blu-ray with our release on August 30th. GANTZ features two of the biggest stars in Japanese cinema and remains true to the innovative storyline from the original manga series. Fans won’t want to miss this exciting release and stay tuned for news coming soon on the upcoming release of the film’s action-packed sequel, GANTZ II: Perfect Answer!”

Kazunari Ninomiya, best known in America for his role in Clint Eastwood’s 2006 blockbuster, Letters from Iwo Jima, is both an actor and a singer. He is also world-renowned as a member of the Japanese boy band “Arashi,” which topped Japan’s music charts in 2009 with the three best-selling singles.

Kenichi Matsuyama is currently one of the most sought-after actors in Japanese film and he has won several awards including Japanese Academy Awards Best New Actor (2007) and Most Popular Actor (2009). Matsuyama is widely recognized for his part as L in Death Note (2006), Death Note II: the Last Name (2006) and Death Note: L, change the WorLd (2008) and also for his portrayal of Johannes Krauser II in the outlandish rock and roll comedy, Detroit Metal City (2009).

August Sizzles With New Digital Releases For VIZManga.com And The VIZ Manga App

The First Half Of August Features The Debut Of OISHINBO And WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!; Updates To 22 Popular Series

VIZ Media delivers even more new digital manga (graphic novel) fun for the first-half of August as the company announces a pair of new titles that will be available on VIZManga.com and for digital download on the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad™, iPhone™ and iPod™ touch.

The latest round of updates features the debut of OISHINBO, the appetizing series about Japanese gourmet cooking and cuisine, as well as the launch of WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD!, Inio Asano’s poignant collection of vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, on August 8th.

Updates for the first-half of August are further augmented by new additions to 22 existing VIZ Media manga series, including AI ORE! Vol. 2 and THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU Vol. 4, launching digitally with their print counterparts’ national release.

OISHINBO Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T’ for Teens · Available Now!

Written by Tetsu Kariya and illustrated by Akira Hanasaki, OISHINBO is considered to be the epitome of food manga and defined the genre while selling more than 100 million copies in Japan since its debut in 1983. The series depicts the adventures of journalist Shiro Yamaoka, who writes for the fictional newspaper Tozai News. As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers commission the creation of the “Ultimate Menu,” a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine. This all-important task has been entrusted to journalist Yamaoka Shirō, an inveterate cynic who possesses no initiative – but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food.

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! Vol. 1 · Rated ‘T+’ for Older Teens ·

Available August 8th

A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. What begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series about the unexpected ways that lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of modern life, these stories are about discovering something precious in the chaos of daily existence.

Additional new VIZ Media manga volumes launching include:

August 1st:

AI ORE Vol. 2

BLACK BIRD Vol. 9

BLEACH Vol. 20

CLAYMORE Vol. 15

DENGEKI DAISY Vol. 3

D. GRAY MAN Vol. 16

DRAGON BALL Z Vol. 20

I’LL GIVE MY ALL TOMORROW Vol. 2

INUYASHA (VIZBIG) Vol. 2 – Exclusive to VIZ Manga App for iPad!

NARUTO Vol. 46

MOAH: JUVENILE REMIX Vol. 4

ONE PIECE Vol. 37

THE STORY OF SAIUNKOKU Vol. 4

VAMPIRE KNIGHT Vol. 9

August 8th:

BLUE EXORCIST Vol. 3

DRAGON BALL Z Vol. 21

FUSHIGI YUGI: GENBU KAIDEN Vol. 5

GRAND GUIGNOL ORCHESTRA Vol. 2

HYDE & CLOSER Vol. 4

KEKKAISHI Vol. 10

NARUTO Vol. 47

ONE PIECE Vol. 38

OURON HIGH SCHOOL HOST CLUB Vol. 9

ROSARIO + VAMPIRE II Vol. 2

RUROUNI KENSHIN Vol. 19

VIZ Media’s digital manga platform allows for universal access for fans for reading manga from their iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and now, VIZManga.com for desktop/laptop computers and Android-powered devices with built-in web browsers. With one account, registered users are able to view their purchases across even more devices than ever.

The free VIZ Manga App continues to be the top app for reading manga on iOS devices and features a rapidly growing library of the most popular manga series in the world, currently offering 40 series and over 300 volumes, with new additions and free Chapter 1 previews added weekly.

For more information, please visit VIZManga.com or www.VIZ.com/apps.

Sentai Filmworks Announces License of NO. 6

Sentai Filmworks today confirmed the latest in its recent string of anime series acquisitions by announcing the company’s acquisition of the futuristic thriller No. 6. Based on the manga written by Atsuko Asano and illustrated by Hinoki Kino, the 11 episode post-apocalyptic mystery anime is the first series directed by storyboard and opening animation master Kenji Nagasaki (Kiba, Mobile Suit Gundam 00,) with series script duties being handled by Seishi Minakami (Heaven’s Memo Pad, Living For The Day After Tomorrow,) and character designs by Satoshi Ishino (Excdel Saga, Puni Puni Poemy.)

In a near future world after the last great war, most of mankind now lives in a handful of city states. There, for the privileged elite, life should be perfect. But for young Shion, the only thing perfect has been the nightmare his life has become since letting a strange boy named Nezumi shelter for the night in his apartment. Banished to the outskirts of the city and stripped of all privileges for helping the mysterious stranger, Shion’s personal danger only compounds when his inquiry into a new series of mysterious deaths results in his being arrested on suspicion of murder! But even as Shion is being sent to the city’s Correctional Institute, the long missing Nezumi reappears to rescue him! Now, on the run, the two young men have only one chance at survival: uncover the mysterious secrets that lie at the sinister heart of City Number 6!

No. 6 is currently airing digitally on Crunchyroll, and will soon be available through other digital outlets with a home video release of the series to follow next year.

Anime Network to Stream No. 6 Online Starting this Sunday!

Broadcast and Digital Distributor Anime Network announces that the futuristic thriller No. 6 will be added to their Online Streaming Service.

The 11 episode series will be released online weekly on Sundays at 12:15 PM (Central), beginning August 7th. The entire series will be available to watch online for free. (Registration is required.)

Schedule

Ep. 1: August 7 @ 12:15 PM (Central)
Ep. 2: August 14 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 3: August 21 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 4: August 28 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 5: September 4 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 6: September 11 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 7: September 18 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 8: September 25 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 9: October 2 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 10: October 9 @ 12:15 PM
Ep. 11: October 16 @ 12:15 PM

About the Series

In a city built on the ashes of our world, what you don’t know…WILL kill you!
In a near-future world, after the last great war, most of mankind now lives in a handful of city-states. There, for the privileged elite, life should be perfect. But for young Shion, the only thing perfect has been the nightmare his life has become since letting a strange boy named Nezumi spend the night in his apartment. Banished to the outskirts of the city and stripped of all privileges for helping the mysterious stranger who has since disappeared, Shion now finds himself in even worse danger as his inquiry into a new series of mysterious deaths results in his being arrested on suspicion of murder! But even as Shion is being sent to the city’s Correctional Institute, the long missing Nezumi reappears to rescue him! Now, on the run, the two young men have only one chance at survival: uncover the mysterious secrets that lie at the sinister heart of City Number 6!

Based on the manga written by Atsuko Asano and illustrated by Hinoki Kino, the 11 episode post-apocalyptic mystery anime is the first series directed by storyboard and opening animation master Kenji Nagasaki (Kiba, Mobile Suit Gundam 00,) with series script duties being handled by Seishi Minakami (Heaven’s Memo Pad, Living For The Day After Tomorrow,) and character designs by Satoshi Ishino (Excel Saga, Puni Puni Poemy.)

For more information, check out www.theanimenetwork.com

VIZ Media Offers Inventive Fantasy in ICO: Castle in the Mist Novel

HIGH FANTASY AND TRUE LOVE COME TO LIFE IN ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST, NEW FROM VIZ MEDIA’S HAIKASORU IMPRINT

New Novel Is Based On A Popular Japanese Video Game From The Acclaimed Author Of BRAVE STORY

VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor and licensor of anime and manga in North America, with publish author Miyuki Miyabe imaginative fantasy novel ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST, on August 16th. The new book will be published by the company’s Haikasoru imprint and will carry an MSRP of $15.99 U.S. / $18.99 CAN.

A boy with horns, marked for death; A girl who sleeps in a cage of iron.

The Castle of the Mist calls for its sacrifice: a horned child, born once a generation. When, on a single night in his thirteenth year, Ico’s horns grow long and curved, he knows his time has come. But why does the Castle of the Mist demand this offering, and can the castle keep Ico’s destiny from intertwining with that of the girl imprisoned within its walls?

“ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST first appeared as a popular videogame for the PlayStation 2 and will soon to be re-mastered in high-definition for the PlayStation 3,” says Nick Mamatas, Haikasoru’s Editor. “Award winning author Miyuki Miyabe was inspired by the game’s atmosphere and expands the story in her novel, creating a whole world for readers to explore. Delve into the mysteries of this talented author’s grand achievement of imagination in this new release from Haikasoru!”

Author Miyuki Miyabe’s first novel was published in 1987, and since then she has become one of Japan’s most popular and best-selling authors. Miyabe’s novel, BRAVE STORY (also published North America in 2007 by VIZ Media and Haikasoru), won The Batchelder Award for Best Children’s Book in Translation from the American Library Association. ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST is her seventh novel to be translated into English.

For more information on ICO: CASTLE IN THE MIST and the Haikasoru imprint, please visit www.haikasoru.com.

New People Showcases Vocaloid Music Phenomenon at J-Pop Summit In San Francisco

New Musical Genre Inspired By Japanese Pop Culture To Be The Focus Of J-Pop Summit VOCALOID Music Conference And Features ZANEEDS, DANCEROID Dancers, And DJ Amaya At Annual Bay Area 2-Day Event

New People taps the latest dazzling musical trend from Japan – vocaloid music – a new genre of electronic arts and music that originated from Japanese pop culture. The style notably blends catchy pop melodies and technology-inspired vocals with captivating anime-influenced imagery and will be a major centerpiece of the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival and its theme of “Fashion, Music & Technology.”

The 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, August 27th- 28th across the city’s Japantown and will host the VOCALOID Music Conference, highlighted by a variety of free interactive activities, panel discussions, DJ dance parties, and live performances from several notable Guest of Honor artists. A dedicated web site is now available at J-pop.com and features regular updates.

Hosted by Brian Zesk, the founder of S.F. Music Summit that takes place in September in Japantown, the J-Pop Summit x SF Music Tech present the VOCALOID Conference: The Voice of Future Music at 2:00pm, Sunday, August 28th. Tickets and more info on the conference are available here.

The conference will feature ZANEEDS, the vocaloid creative team that produces the work of several virtual pop idols such as Hatsune Miku, Kagamine Rin and Megurine Luka. The team will explore the evolution of this phenomenon and screen several music videos and discuss work they have done with many Miku-inspired creators and animators.

The main panel topic will be, “The creative explosion caused by internet platforms and vocaloid Hatsune Miku, and how it’s affecting the future of music.” Furthermore, ZANEEDS and Danceroid will share latest videos and reveal behind the scene stories from the production process!

The conference also features Ikura and Kozue from Danceroid, a vocaloid dance unit that has become an international musical dance sensation with their performances choreographed to popular Vocaloid songs. The group’s videos have been played more than 100 million times online.

Danceroid also takes over Japantown’s Peace Plaza to perform on Saturday, August 27th. The spunky pair of dancers also joins the Vocaloid Dance Workshop, also set for Sunday, August 28th and will serve as judges at the Vocaloid Dance Contest the same day.

DJ Amaya returns to the J-Pop Summit Festival and will again turn Peace Plaza into a massive dancehall as he did in 2010. This year, he will feature mixes of top vocaloid artists and challenges at ZANEEDS at MIKU MIX DJ BATTLE on Saturday, August 27th!

Last year, NEW PEOPLE became the first outlet in North America to present the vocaloid phenomenon when it premiered a live concert film for virtual pop idol Hatsune Miku at the 2010 J-Pop Summit Festival. Miku has since become one of the most visible and popular vocaloid performers. A fun new hybrid of the pop star and Sanrio’s Hello Kitty – MIKU KITTY – will be a prominent character mascot at the 2011 J-Pop Summit Festival.

Other Vocaloid-Inspired Interactive Activities:

Saturday August 27th

Vex Mode

DJ and musical artist Vex Mode started producing video game music in 2005 under the name David Nereus. Vex Mode will joins the 2011 J-Pop Summit with his pulsating Japanese Rave music (J-CORE) remixes that will kick off this year’s festival!

Miku Mix DJ Battle

L.A. meets Tokyo in San Francisco! DJ Amaya and ZANEEDS rocked thousands of fans at the Nokia Theater during this year’s Anime Expo and come together again on the J-Pop Summit’s Main Stage in Peace Plaza to take turns mixing up some mean Miku remixes!

Sunday August 28th

Vocaloid Dance Contest

Vocaloid fans hit the stage to dance and lip-sync in front of a huge audience! Bay Area anime organization Animation on Display is the host and guest performers Danceroid will judge the performances. Winners will be awarded DVDs of Danceroid and a variety of Hatusne Miku prizes!

Saturday August 27th & Sunday August 28th

Featured Performers:

ZANEEDS

The composers of this year’s J-Pop Summit Festival theme song, “Tokyo Beat.” ZANEEDS works as five “crews” that include: Music by ZANIO, Illustration by CHAN*CO, Design by PPRP, Movies by Ippai Attenya and Direction by Torinos. The group brings a Japanese aesthetic and the sense of beauty into their music which is inspired by Acid Jazz, Deep House and Electronica. More info at: http://zaneeds.com/

Danceroid

Danceroid is a group of four girls that have become an international musical dance sensation with their performances choreographed to popular Vocaloid songs. The group’s videos have been played more than 100 million times online on Nico Nico. More info at: www.danceroid.jp

DJ Amaya

DJ Amaya has been performing and producing his own original tracks and remixes since 2002. He is best known for his underground remixes of the Japanese Superstar Ayumi Hamasaki, and his podcast “Hitsuzen Radio” that features the best in Japanese remixes, and dance music from around the world. His latest CD, “Angel at Dawn,” is available now. More info at: www.djamaya.com

NEW PEOPLE opened in 2009 and has become a unique must-see attraction of San Francisco’s cultural landscape. The 20,000 square foot contemporary venue features the latest examples Japanese popular culture expressed though film, art, fashion, and a variety of specialty boutiques and ongoing monthly events. NEW PEOPLE is located at 1746 Post Street in the city’s Japantown.

Sony announced yesterday that the HD collection containing both Ico and Shadow of the Colossus will have a few extras.

Sure, there’ll be some dynamic themes (one for each game, you’ll get a voucher for them) and videos, but…

Well, some of the video content will actually be about the studio’s next game The Last Guardian. That’s sure to excite some people a lot more than a theme or two.

The Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD collection hits September 27.

Lost in Shadow is a puzzle game with a twist.  The game is known as “A Shadows Tale” in the UK or “Kage No Tou” in Japan, which translates to “Tower of Shadows.” The latter name makes more sense as the title of the game, but that’s translations for you.  The game starts with a boy, suspended in midair on top of a tower in the middle of an arc.  A hooded figure shows up and materializes a weird looking sword.  He slashes towards the boy, no blood or movement comes from the boy but his shadow collapses on the floor.   The hooded figure then grabs the shadow and tosses him over the edge of the tower. The boy is called, simply, “Boy.”  Spangle, a fairy that accompanies you, very much like in Zelda, also has an unknown origin.  So this is how you start the game, the weird hooded dude takes shadow of the boy named Boy, who later is accompanied by the fairy.  The only thing you know at this point is that you must climb the tower in order to be able to reunite your shadow with your body.

The demo reminded me of Braid and many other puzzle games, but what makes Lost in Shadow unique is the shadow part.  The detail as to how the shadow looks on different surfaces is amazing.  How it bent, broke, changed perspective, enlarged or shrunk according to the light of the game at the time was nicely done.  It took a bit to get used to looking at the shadow of the platform I needed to walk or jump too, instead of the actual platform, but once I got the hang of it, it became almost second nature.  The game is not only played by the shadows that are already in place, but you can use Spangle to help you move platforms to cast a different shadow, or to make a shadow so you can get to a higher area.

On each stage, you have to collect 3 artifacts that grant you the ability to exit the area, which is protected by a shadow wall.  If you reach the end and don’t have all 3, the shadow wall will hurt you if you touch it.  Among other things, you have memories that you pick up and read.  Every time you do so, your shadow gains weight.  Yes, weight! If it’s a trivial memory, you might gain 0.10lb.  If the memory is of more significance, the weight you gain is greater.  I was a bit confused by how the weight worked, but the only thing I could derive is that at certain point, you gain enough weight to become solid and work other puzzles.  The weight also works as your health bar.  If you get hit by shadow spiders, shadow stars with pom-poms or shadow spiders with blue eyes, you lose weight, aka you lose life.

The enemies are far and few in between, and they show up only when you pick up the shadow of a rusty sword that was left behind.  The fact that is rusty, doesn’t bother you because the shadow it’s just a normal sword.  The 3 types of enemies you encounter on the demo are spider blue eyed, spider red eye and the star.  The different between red eye and blue eye is that red spider can be killed with your sword.  The blue eyed spider must be killed with elements present on that particular stage.  As you advance, you can also mess with the light of stage in order to cast a taller or shorter shadow, or lean the shadow to the left or right.  You can also encounter a shadow door that takes you to another shadow dimension where you must change the platforms to create new shadows to find and reach the next shadow door. Once you are out, it disappears and gives you health and experience, since the boy shadow is capable of leveling up.  What happens at level up is unknown to me, since the demo didn’t explain that.  Another interesting thing is that if you die the message reads “Boy’s shadow #1 fainted at ___” and lists the level you where in.  The game keeps track as to how many boy shadows you go through.

The demo lasted long enough to get me curious about the game.  I did not like the fighting system, as the boy does only 3 animations and most of the time the spiders had a longer reach, hitting me no matter what I did.  Things might be different later in the game, and I’m hoping Boy will get a longer sword, so killing the spiders would be a bit easier.   The game has different difficulty settings that can be changed on the fly.  When I made it harder, it took more hits to kill a spider. Normal took 2 to 3 hits and easy only 1 to 2 hits.  The puzzle didn’t seem to get any harder.

If you like puzzle games and like the look of PS2’s Ico and the playing style sort of like Braid, this might be the game for you.  If you have never heard of Ico or Braid, no worries, you will then be in for a treat!  (PS you should go check those out too!) I would like to play more of this game and discover the deep dark secrets the game has.  Best part? You can play the demo online at their website, the downside being that you won’t get to see how it works on the Wii.

A review copy of this game was provided by the publisher and did not affect the outcome of this review.

Currently, the release date for the two games (which will likely appear in a compilation à la God of War) is unknown. Or at least Famitsu didn’t know it at press time. But with the Tokyo Game Show happening this week, we might hear more from Sony and Team ICO.

Kotaku also noted (in a separate article) that Swedish game retailer Webhallen have posted a picture of the rumored boxart that is a little…well, bland. (That’s it posted to the right.)

Are you excited about a re-release of these titles?

# 6 THE BOUNCER

What do you get when you cross an angry, German pro-wrestler with a dash of Kingdom Hearts and a tattooed Asian? We get Volt Krueger, Sion Barzahd and Kou Leifoh, the three super-karate-fied heroes of Squaresoft’s first Playstation 2 title! SURPRISE! “The Bouncer!” Yep, this little number was the very first game I purchased for the Playstation 2.. This was when “Square” and “Soft” lived together in perfect harmony—still moderately cool, right? Anywho, “The Bouncer” turned from a bar fight into a space oddity in lightning speed and I couldn’t decide what was more bizarre, Echidna’s super-hold, cone-headed hair-do or the fact that Dominique was a cute, bug-eyed, blonde…cyborg thingy. I’m not sure why I focused all my attention on Squaresoft games back in the day, maybe it was because I felt the need to be one of those biased, disturbing fangirls after playing Final Fantasy VIII as a wee lass. You could say that “The Bouncer” was nothing special, but I try to discount all the mostly mediocre reviews because that’s just my style. Basically, it’s just a slew of short, cinematic cut scenes placed in-between fun “beat-em-up” gameplay and you can bet every, single character has their own suave taunt for amusing purposes. I do know one thing, “The Bouncer” was more entertaining than your mom and whipped cream on a Saturday night and surprisingly, it still remains so in this gal’s heart of hearts. I’ll admit, the “Story Mode” hardly made any real sense to me, but nothing was better than getting into brawls after school with my girlfriends. That is, until somebody would just have to pick Mugetsu. Remember him? He was that unbearably annoying ninja with an awesome ROFL copter roll move…thing. Also, something about Echidna’s Capoiera dance just makes me want to pop this bad-boy in again and again…and…

# 5 SUMMONER

I was one of those close-minded girls who refused to play anything that required less than forty hours to get through, so you can probably deduce I believed myself to one of those pseudo-cool gamer gals with an RPG-based diet. Of course, by now I’ve made it clear to “RPG” that I am promiscuous, but I’ve learned something valuable during my fidelity. RPG’s just adore their friggin’ “summons.” Occasionally, developers get risqué, so we’ve been duped into thinking a “Guardian Force,” “Aeon,”and “Element” are all different. So, this may sound lame but, in all my nagging, “Summoner” is an awesome game. Initially, I didn’t think it would be. As if the whole “Summoner” title couldn’t have been any less appealing to thine eyes, the cover-art displayed a dude on a mountain. Whoop-Dee-Freaking-Doo, right? The truth is, it was eleven bucks plus tax and I was aching for a fix. It is my ideal RPG albeit non-traditional in that the battle-system is not reminiscent of Final Fantasy and the side-quests are as massive as the main story-line. I enjoyed not standing in a straight line. I enjoyed the heartfelt storyline. I enjoyed getting to know the NPC’s and listening to their tales, whether of daily life or religious nuttery (I usually loathe the whole NPC portion, by the way). Overall, I just dig the feeling of “Summoner” and it taught me an important lesson: the video-game shelf is soiled with many bland, cheap, cliché, overlooked, and overhyped titles made just for you. Don’t judge, darnit! Get a doggy bag, slide-on a rubber (glove) and pick-up as many pieces of poop as you can handle and just maybe, it’ll turn to gold. “Summoner Geeks” is pretty legendary, though.

#3 GTA: VICE CITY

There’s nothing more satisfying than being a smooth-talking, Italian mobster voiced by Ray Liotta himself. Although I don’t have a long track-record of loving the whole “Sandbox” genre, GTA is perfect when I’m my emotions are raging in all different directions. Plus, I adore mob movies exponentially. Miami isn’t safe with a broad like me on the loose and this game has often made me wonder about my pleasure-seeking ways. I enjoy the pool of GTA titles for many different reasons; GTA allows me to destroy a city with no inhibitions and not go to jail if I run fast enough; that’s just awesome. GTA is a better reenactment of “Scarface” than the corresponding video-game title and I had been begging to explore my inner Tony Montana. GTA takes place in the 80’s, the time of loafers with no socks and odd music videos. As Mr. Shlomi would say, “I don’t know it sells itself!” I suppose “Vice City” stands-out over the others because it’s just one of those unquestionable instant classics in pop-culture. It has all the ingredients of a troubled era, all mixed-together in an entertaining game. I’ve enjoyed how “Grand Theft Auto” has progressed with simple things, but I’m always anxious to see how Rockstar will continue to push the boundaries of stealing, murdering, and casual sex.

# 2 PRIMAL

The story of a girl and her gargoyle would have never felt like a great idea until “Primal” proved me wrong. This game is cleverly composed of so many awesome elements that have pushed me to plug-in my Playstation 2 time and again. “Primal” is a prime example of overflowing badassery; from its eerie graphical arrangement to its masterful soundtrack, it had me compelled from the get-go. Something about being this demonic, crimson-lipped bird searching for her boyfriend in the planes of oblivion had some real-life appeal to me, maybe? If you want to know the truth, I was hooked on this Jennifer Tate character. There’s definitely a difference between living “on the edge” and hanging off one with one-hand, but Ms. Tate has it down. She was funny, sexy, charming, witty, and was accompanied by a useful side-kick—what more could you ask for, really? Although Jennifer sported some butt-squeezing attire and a fierce attitude to match, it was hardly enough to knock Lara into the bog below, but it was enough to convince me of my love for this heroine. Besides my weird girl-crush, one of my favorite aspects of this game is solving puzzles in different perspectives as both Jen and Scree, an endearing duo. I liked flashy effects and I liked transforming into all these advantageous freaky-deaky creatures from hell. The combat gameplay satisfied my nightly blood-lust as a latent sinner in this fabulous, virtual realm. Holy Gargoyles Batman! So much trouble for one boyfriend, but I’m sure he’d do the same for Jennifer, right?

# 1 ICO

The whole Princess in the castle bit has always gone way over my head, which is probably why I progressed away from Mario, Peach, and Nintendo in general fairly quickly. Although I enjoy the classic “brave savior” tale once in a great while, “ICO” happens to be one of my favorite games of all time—totally contradicting, I know. I mean, no, I don’t think I’ve ever been more annoyed with the concept of holding a girl’s hand but it somehow makes me feel important, you know? What’s so great about being a boy with horns being slapped with responsibility to defend a beautiful chick against menacing shadows? I guess it’s the immersive factor, really. The environments are vast and totally gorgeous. You see, I’m one of those gals who enjoys a painful amount of information overload during every, single conversation (I’m looking at you, “Mass Effect”) but “ICO” doesn’t blabber and I enjoyed that. It’s all very visual and emotional and as Lead Developer Fumito Ueda envisioned back in ’97, he wanted a game that played-out like a film and, despite the lack of heavy dialogue, would solidify a powerful bond between a boy and a girl. After fours years in development, I can truly say that this video-game is a piece of priceless art. It’s extremely hard not to appreciate Ueda’s imagination and this is exactly why I see games such as “ICO” and “Shadow Of The Colossus” refraining from getting lost in the whole next-generation craze. If there was one game I couldn’t say enough good things about, it would probably be “ICO.” Although rare, it’s totally worth it when you finally stumble upon a game like this and it’s totally worth it when a corny game is totally worth it.

I can feel myself coming down with something mean already, Dear School. What are some of your favorite PS2 titles, guys and gals?