“With the tenth anniversary of the series on the horizon, the current Kingdom Hearts saga is approaching its climactic conclusion,” said Tetsuya Nomura, director of the game. “The story of this game will serve as the opening chapter of the final conflict, and, as always, will be full of surprises. In order to best implement this element of surprise and discover new realms of possibility, we have chosen Nintendo 3DS as our platform. With its revolutionary new game system, this title will not only be a bold, exhilarating tale of adventure, but also a first look into the future form of the KINGDOM HEARTS series.”

In the game, King Mickey and Yen Sid put Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam, which, if they pass, means that they’re true Keyblade masters. (You’d think after so many games, they’d be masters, but apparently there is an exam. Okay.)

A trailer that’ll take you eight minutes to watch has been released. For subtitles, click on through to the actual video’s page, where an incredibly sweet person has already done the work.

But hey, it’ll be in 3D! And Quasimodo and Esmeralda are there!

Dream Drop Distance will also be able to utilize the 3DS’ additional thumb pad if you end up buying one of those. Thankfully, it’s not necessary, but I can definitely see where it would be desirable in this case.

KINGDOM HEARTS 3D Dream Drop Distance – TGS 2011… by RedWizard_KHD

Yeah, they’re 2mm thick, but you don’t have to gussy them up and call them “decals.” These are stickers, people. They might be thick stickers, but they’re stickers. You stick them places (Square Enix helpfully suggested sticking them places that you would like to decorate), and they (theoretically) stay. Because they’re sticky. Stickers!

So, if you really want some stickers, pre-order Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, out 1/11/11.

Luckily, we’re not so limited these days. Women (and men) have costume options covering pretty much every genre – and a few of these can get rather geeky. Your only limitation is your imagination (and possibly a few public decency laws dictated by common sense and an appreciation of the clothed body). Here are a few categories you can choose from – they’re just starters, obviously, but Milanoo has costumes for every kind of geek. (Don’t worry if your hair’s not purple or spiky – their cosplay wig section has you covered.)

RPG Style
A ton of costumes are out there for the JRPG fanatic – especially if you like Square Enix’s Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series. Try your hand at being Aerith Gainsborough from Final Fantasy VII this Halloween, or, if you’re more into the recent games, dress up as Lightning or Fang from Final Fantasy XIII, or even Yuna from Final Fantasy X. If you’re more into couples’ costumes, you can even pick Kairi and Sora from Kingdom Hearts or Rinoa and Squall from Final Fantasy VIII – a lot cooler than dressing up as salt and pepper shakers. (Milanoo even has faux weaponry for the finishing touch to your RPG look – Limit Breaks not included.)

Other games
Even if RPGs aren’t your bag, you’ve got plenty of other options to go with when it comes to gaming. How about mimicking a classic? Street Fighter, for instance? Check out Chun-Li, Sakura, Ryu and Ken, but you’ll have to learn how to fight on your own (though we don’t endorse that). If you’d prefer to be Dante or Trish from Devil May Cry, you can do that. Or, if you’re looking for something that isn’t nearly as violent, try Phoenix Wright’s Franziska von Karma or Gavin.

Anime
The otaku among us will definitely appreciate MIlanoo’s selection of anime-related costumes. Not only do they carry multiple Sailor Moon senshi uniforms, but they’ve also got costumes from other anime classics, like Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion and multiple InuYasha characters, including InuYasha himself and Kagome. If you’re more into recent series like Naruto, there’s also a full range of costumes that allow you to portray those characters, including accessories that allow you to complete the costume, like masks, wigs and shoes. If you’re not into any of those, there’s always Pikachu (who could have also gone in the RPG section, but the costume is just too cute to leave out totally). They’ve even got school uniforms based on the ones from Azumanga Daiou, which surprised me quite a bit. If you like anime, there’s bound to be something up for sale based on a favorite character.

Movies and Comics
If you’re looking for something slightly more American Geek (let’s be honest, the other three sections were very Asia-inspired), Milanoo’s got you covered there, as well. They have “sexy” versions of a few DC classics, like Batgirl, Robin and Wonder Woman. There are also a few options for the guys, like Spiderman and The Flash. If you’re wanting things from movies, instead, you can go for Anakin Skywalker, Neo (from The Matrix) or even Captain Jack Sparrow (the latter of these gives you an excuse to ask why the rum is always gone). You’ll look like you just walked off the set, especially since there is a “custom” option for a few of these costumes that allow you to have them made to your measurements. There’s no better way to feel like a real super hero.

The Bottom Line
If you want to be something cool and geeky for Halloween and don’t have the time to make your own costume, buying one is definitely the way to go. Even if you do normally make your own costumes, there’s not a pattern for everything (for sale, anyway), and buying the necessary materials can add up quickly – and drain your wallet in the process. If you want fast, easy and affordable – Milanoo should be your first stop.

This post was brought to you by Milanoo.

With Halloween still a little over two weeks away, the clock is certainly ticking to get an awesome Halloween costume in order. But there’s still plenty of time, even for less seasoned costumers looking to enjoy my personal favorite holiday of the year.

For us cosplayers, costuming is a year round activity and while we frequent stores like Joann’s (www.Joann.com) or local fabric stores, and websites like Fabric.com four our creative needs, we still respect that creating your own costume can be daunting and for most people, buying a well made costume is still the best option. I’ve compiled a short list of reliable websites below for anyone looking to buy quality costumes, wigs and supplies for this upcoming Halloween.

HalloweenCostumes.com
http://www.halloweencostumes.com

The quintessential site for anyone looking to buy a quick costume that’s made well for a decent price. I’ve purchased things from them before, and their shipping times were quick as well. They have quite the selection too, including pop culture costumes, Sci-Fi, traditional Halloween outfits and any current trend costumers are looking to sport. (They have several different versions of Lady Gaga available, complete with inexpensive platinum wigs.) This one is great for people who don’t wanna be anything too specific also, and might need ideas still. It’s also ideal for anyone looking for Western culture costumes.

CosplayMagic.com
http://www.cosplaymagic.com/

Cosplay Magic is far more to the point for anyone looking to dress up as a specific character, especially from anime/manga or video games. The costumes are a bit more expensive than the previous reference, but if you just HAVE to be a member of Organization XIII from Kingdom Hearts to go with your friends, this is the fastest way to go about it for those who don’t sew. The costumes are a good quality too, and the site has a HUGE variety to choose from. They also sell pre-styled wigs as well to go with your costume, for all your spiky, anime hair needs. They ship pretty quickly as well, and even sell various jewelry and t-shirts from popular anime and games as well.

Cosplay.com Shopping
http://shop.cosplay.com/

Cosplay.com is still a huge hub for cosplayers everywhere. And while you can’t directly buy costumes there, they have a wonderful selection of very high quality wigs that will last you for years. The new updated site (which used to be called CosWorx) has a variety of Japanese and imported wigs, with very unique colors and styles. Most cosplayers have purchased a wig from them, myself included and the shipping times were fairly quick. While somewhat expensive, the investment would be a wig you could wear for years from now with proper care. (One of my favorite hard-to-find colors available here is the CosWorx Dark Pink.) They also have a special type of foam board, as well as accessories and shoes available, also.

Amphigory.com
http://www.amphigory.com/

Much like Cosplay.com shopping, this site specializes in wigs, but has many other things available also. This includes different types of hosiery, gloves, body suits, leg warmers. It even has sections for hair color, jewelry and an impressive cosmetics selection. The site has a nice array of price options available, for those who are looking for more quality supplies or those who are looking to save money but still buy something decent. Shipping is also fast, and the site even has a helpful little wig styling section too.

CosplaySupplies.com
http://www.cosplaysupplies.com/

This site is HUGE. And as the home page boasts, it has over 50,000 different kinds of products available. The selection is probably the widest of any site listed so far, and includes things like; craft materials such as Wonderflex, props, prosthetics, party supplies, body paint, beads, and pretty much everything you’d need under the sun. Can’t quite find any prosthetic skin attachments for a scar you need? Need a flying monkey on the railing of your house as trick-or-treaters approach? This is the place to go. In addition to having nearly everything… they have nearly everything, including basic costumes and even sewing supplies too. Definitely worth a bookmark for veteran cosplayers and people just looking to have fun on Halloween alike!

Aradani Studios
http://www.aradanicostumes.com/

An extremely awesome, unique site backed by a wonderful team of artists and crafters. Aradani specializes in things like elf ears and horns, but has since expanded into a wide variety of costumes and accessories too. Everything on the site is made from high quality materials, so prices can go pretty high for some things. While I love Aradani and I had to include this link, it may be a bit steep for someone just looking to shop for Halloween. (i.e. they have a full Forest Faun costume complete with prosthetics and hooves that’s amazing and custom made for you, but costs $2,000.) This is a SUPER popular site for those looking for Renaissance Faire attire, also. Shipping times are quick, and if you’re looking to dress up like something out of Lord of the Rings or The Legends of Zelda, you definitely wanna check this site out. It has a helpful “How To” section as well.

Perfect Occasion – Costumes and Magic Emporium
http://www.perfectoccasioncostumesandmagic.com/index.php

The final resource on my list, but certainly not the least. This site not only includes some basic costuming supplies, like wigs, pre-made costumes and body paint, but it has a section for magic supplies and party tricks, too. Cosplaying Roy Mustang? Do you actually wanna be able to snap fire from your fingertips to complete your costume? This is the site for you. It also has a section devoted to costume rentals too, for those who want a great quality costume for only a temporary period of time.

Here’s hoping you all have a lovely Halloween, and hopefully these resources will be to be useful for you in all of your costuming endeavors. Visit us in our forums and post pictures of your Halloween costumes too. We’d love to check them out!

Square Enix announced that Kingdom Hearts Re:coded will contain quite a few twists to gameplay, including integrating both sidescrolling and shooting into the mix. The game will also include an “Avatar Menu,” which allows the system to trade avatar profiles with other DS systems while in Tag Mode.

The game will be playable at this weekend’s New York Comic Con, in booth #1823.

Here’s a few more notes from Square Enix:

Story

Sora’s journey in KINGDOM HEARTS II has drawn to a close, and now a new tale is set to begin.

Jiminy Cricket is looking over the journal he used to document his first adventure with Sora when he discovers a mysterious message. He didn’t write it – so how on earth did it get there? King Mickey is determined to find out, so he and his friends decide to digitize the journal and delve into its deepest secrets. Inside this “datascape” dwells a second Sora who is about to embark on a grand adventure of his very own.

Features

• The future of the KINGDOM HEARTS series arrives on Nintendo DS: From world-renowned creator and character designer Tetsuya Nomura comes the latest installment in the beloved KINGDOM HEARTS series. Sora, Mickey, Donald, Goofy and a host of familiar faces from KINGDOM HEARTS and FINAL FANTASY unite once again for an exciting new adventure.

• Classic KINGDOM HEARTS gameplay with innovative twists: All-new features include a new character growth system created specifically for the Nintendo DS release, building on the series’ immersive blend of action and role-playing elements.

• An assortment of diverse and entertaining boss battles: Guide Sora like never before through boss battles inspired by side-scrolling, shooting and classic FINAL FANTASY games.

• Endless possibilities in the Avatar Menu: Players can design their own avatar using over 800 unlockable parts and trade playable maps with friends.

The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/khrecoded.

In the screenshots released by Square Enix earlier today, the character models directly resemble their PS2 counterparts – age and all. You’re playing with a younger Sora and Riku.

Whether or not this spells a remake of the original, it looks like it’s going to be fun.

Square Enix also announced a new Chocobo Racing title, with “speedy racing” featured alongside classic Final Fantasy characters. (Well, I’d hope it would be speedy, given that it’s a racer.)

No release dates were given for either title, but we don’t know when the system is coming out, either.

What elements of both games are you looking forward to seeing in 3D?

Here’s a full list, including release periods  – if we know them. After the list, we’ve got trailers for a ton of games on the list to occupy your time.

Nintendo Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)

Mario: Sports Mix (2011)

Just Dance 2 (Fall 2010)

Metroid: Other M (August 31)

GoldenEye 007 (Holiday 2010)

Wii Party (Holiday 2010)

Epic Mickey (2010 – probably Holiday)

Kirby’s Epic Yarn (Fall 2010)

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Nintendo (3)DS

Dragon Quest IX (in 26 days!)

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn (not 3D, Holiday 2010)

Kid Icarus: Uprising

Nintendogs…and cats!

A whole host of titles from top studios (titles in parentheses):

• Activision (DJ Hero 3D)
• Atlus
• AQ
• Bandai Namco (Ridge Racer)
• Capcom (Resident Evil, Super Street Fighter)
• EA
• EA Sports (Madden and FIFA Soccer)
• Harmonix
• Hudson
• Konami (Metal Gear Solid)
• Tecmo Koei (Ninja Gaiden and two others)
• Level 5 (Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle)
• Majesco
• Marvelous Entertainment
• Rocket
• Square Enix (A Kingdom Hearts title, along with a possible Final Fantasy)
• SEGA
• Takara Tomy
• T2
• THQ (Saints Row)
• Ubisoft (Assassin’s Creed: Lost Legacy, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell)
• WB Games (Batman title)

And that’s just a partial list for the 3DS – there’s more to come, along with 3D movies, which are viewable on the device without glasses.

And now – the trailers!

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Kirby’s Epic Yarn

Mario: Sports Mix

Kid Icarus: Uprising (the beginning is slightly cut off)

Donkey Kong Country Returns

Epic Mickey Demo

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn

Just Dance 2

Wii Party

Final Fantasy XIV (MMO)

Representing some of the most anticipated games at E3 this year is booth 1647 — Square Enix Ltd., who will be showcasing both the Square Enix and Eidos brands. With a couple of Final Fantasy titles, two new Kingdom Hearts games, and the surprise of Deus Ex: Human Revolution headlining the Square Enix booth has something for everyone.

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, Dungeon Siege 3, and Front Mission Evolved will highlight Square Enix’s partnerships with North American developers while Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Chaotic Conflicts and The Tales of Bearsworth Manor: Puzzling Pages round out some of the booth’s downloadable titles.

“We will be showing a truly diverse range of games at E3 this year which illustrate the strength and breadth in our product portfolio,” said Phil Rogers, chief executive officer of Square Enix Europe. “Individually each game offers something original and exciting to make its own impact at the show and collectively our line-up characterizes the global ambition of Square Enix.”

Follow the Square Enix booth on Twitter during E3 for title announcements and watch for updates to their E3 site starting June 15.

The game is a prequel to the series, long before Sora was chosen by his Keyblade. Players will explore Disney worlds in an experience that unfolds through three different main characters: Terra, Ventus and Aqua. The journey will take them through Sleeping Beauty’s Enchanted Dominion, the Dwarf Woodlands from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Deep (both of which I’m very excited to see) and Space from Lilo & Stitch. The game also includes four all-new multiplayer modes that allows you to play with friends. Character voices will include Mark Hamill, Willa Holland, Jesse McCartney, Leonard Nimoy and James Woods.

For game’s launch, Square Enix and Sony are introducing a limited edition PSP Entertainment Pack. Available in North America, this GameStop exclusive bundle will include a “Mystic Silver” PSP-3000 system, KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep on UMD, a movie (title to be announced, but is unrelated to the KH series) and a 4GB Memory Stick.

“The entire development team is extremely happy to announce the North American release date for KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep,” said Tetsuya Nomura, director of the KINGDOM HEARTS series. “We hate to keep fans waiting, but we’ve added some brand-new features for the North American version, so even those who have been following the Japanese version are sure to find a few surprises. In addition, we’ve put together an outstanding voice cast. We can’t wait for everyone to experience this game!”

With more than 14 million copies shipped worldwide, KINGDOM HEARTS is one of the most beloved video game series. Discover the origins of its captivating story on September 7, with

KINGDOM HEARTS Birth by Sleep is rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) and will be available for the suggested retail price of $39.99.
The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/khbbs.