News: One Week Friends Anime Picked Up by Sentai

The North American anime distributor Sentai Filmworks has licensed the anime Isshuukan Friends, or One Week Friends.  The original creator of the manga series is Matcha Hazuki.  Studio Brains Base is handling the anime production and adaption.  The manga is still ongoing, and it has not been revealed how many episodes the animation will be.  Each episode of the anime will be streamed in North America as it airs in Japan starting April 7.

News: Last Major Voice for Attack on Titan Revealed

Anime Boston started this weekend, and in the moments leading up to the English premiere for Attack on Titan, FUNimation revealed who the voice actor is for Eren Jaeger, the main character of the series.  Bryce Papenbrook (Rin Okumura in Blue Exorcist, Kida in Durarara!!, Kirito in Sword Art Online) was the one chosen to the play the leading role.  In a video released on FUNi's YouTube channel, Papenbrook introduced the official trailer for the anime, which you can watch below.

Review: Yotsuba&! vol. 12

I’ve been following Yotsuba&! since its debut in the U.S. back in 2009, and I wait in anticipation for each volume’s release more than any other of the many series I own.  It is an ongoing slice of life manga series created by Kiyohiko Azuma.  I recommended this in my Manga Holiday Wishlist.  It’s a great title to pick up and introduce to children and newcomers of manga.  This volume has become my favorite of the series thus far.  The simple setting and antics of the little girl Yotsuba are extremely relatable.  Any parent will soak up the familiar scenarios of children getting into things they shouldn’t.

Since it’s so modest to begin with, there isn’t much to say in terms of the story.  Yotsuba learns how to tie a bow, the basics of telling time, and how to cook curry with the help of her neighborhood friends.  She has a fun (yet horrific) time with blue paint, and she gets a bicycle helmet that’s pink and blue.  Throw in a camping trip and you have the gist of this volume.  It’s a manga that is incredibly human and laid-back, not meant to wow but to peacefully entertain.  There laughs to be had with this installment, but the majority of the time I found myself sitting back and smiling at how sweet the scenes were.  I never felt like I had to rush to get to the good parts; I instead took my time, leisurely flipping through the pages.

News: Two More Reveals for Attack on Titan Cast

FUNimation has revealed two more major characters for the anime series Attack on Titan.  The English dub will premiere at the company's panel at Anime Boston, March 21 - 23.  The final voice actors will be announced in the days before the convention.  However, FUNi has said that Eren's voice actor won't be revealed until the day of the premiere.

News: Next Two Batches of Attack on Titan Cast

FUNimation has revealed two new batches of voice actors for the upcoming anime called Attack on Titan.  The dub is planned to premiere at Anime Boston, March 21 -23.  As the convention nears, more of the cast will be announced and shown on the company's blog.  A major character has finally been revealed, and I have to admit I'm a little happy with the choice.

News: First Batch of Attack on Titan Cast Revealed

Via their blog, FUNimation has revealed the first batch of voice actors for a few of the rolls in Attack on Titan.  Subscribers got the news and a sneak peak of the dub early.  More of the cast will be given out to the public as Anime Boston nears.  The English dub is due to premiere during the convention, which takes place March 21 - 23.  Also, the company detailed what items will be included in the Collector's and Limited editions of the DVD.  They are exclusively available at FUNimation's online store.

News: Watch Dogs Release Date

Ubisoft has confirmed the release date for their new IP, Watch Dogs.  It is planned to release May 27th.  The date was initially leaked by a UK retailer called GAME via twitter.  It will be available for Xbox ONE, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC.  A Wii U release will not be arriving until later.  The company has sent out a release trailer of the game, revolving around the story.  You can find it over at Game Informer to watch it (just click on the link).  The trailer was actually leaked earlier today before Ubisoft's official announcement.

News: Viz Media to Translate Naoki Urasawa's Master Keaton

Viz Media announced earlier today that the company would be bringing the manga called Master Keaton to the States.  It will be published in twelve volumes and have a rating of T+.  The expected retail price will be $19.99.  The series originally released in Japan in 1988 and lasted until 1994.  An anime adaption of it was made in 1998, and an OVA continuation was created in 2004.  Geneon Entertainment picked up and released the animation in the United States, but it has been out of print for quite some time.

News: New-Gen Mass Effect Trilogy a Possibility

A recent tweet from BioWare Edmonton and Montreal general manager Aaryn Flynn has indicated that a next-gen Mass Effect trilogy is being discussed internally.  It was in response to a question of whether or not a PS4 and Xbox 1 re-release for the series was possible.  Flynn said that it was great to hear fans would be interested in a next-gen re-release; he says that if solid plans can be put into place they'll likely make a go of it.  The question posed to him was specific to a console remaster, so it is unclear if it would be available to PC as well.

Seeing the influx and success of recent HD remasters in the gaming market, I bet this project will most likely be approved.  Also, the popularity surrounding the Mass Effect series doesn't seem to be subsiding any time soon.  Even with the controversy around the third installment's ending, it is a fondly remembered and highly recommended action RPG.  If this remaster does get released on the PC platform alongside next-gen consoles, I would gladly make an additional investment into the sci-fi series.  I currently own all three games, and they're always fun to revisit.  A HD version of the first Mass Effect would definitely be something I'd want to get my hands on.

If this project is approved, hopefully the next Mass Effect title won't be negatively impacted.  It would be bad if it pulled away time and team members from the new installment.  I'll keep my eye out for more updates.

*source GameInformer

*image from Google Images

News: Four Persona Games Coming to North America

Fans of Atlus and their unique video games will be pleased to hear this latest news.  Atlus USA has confirmed that their most recently announced four games of the Persona series will be coming to North America.  Two will be on the PS3, one on the 3DS, and another on the PS Vita consoles.

Review: The Swapper

You arrive on a space station disoriented and confused about what had occurred.  The personnel are missing and the compartments seem oddly abandoned.  Rock samples litter the halls; you hear whispers of mysterious happenings as you commence your investigation.  You stumble upon a device that allows you to make clones of yourself, the only method to successfully navigate the complicated layout of your destination.  As you progress and find computer logs detailing the moments before the incident behind the crew’s absence, you begin to unravel the deep secrecies present on board.  Find a way off the station to tell your superiors of what happened.

The Swapper is a science fiction, puzzle video game.  It was created by a group of developers in the indie scene:  Olli Harjola, Otto Hantula, Tom Jubert, Carlo Castellano.  The goal of the game is to find out what has occurred to the crewmembers and to save yourself from their fate.  Players must collect orbs along the way to open doors and new areas in the station.  Some puzzles are simpler than others, but each possesses a clever solution.  The majority of the time players are forced to think outside of the box for their approaches to the puzzles.  They become more intricate as you get deeper into the story, such as adding different lights that hinder certain functions of the cloning device.  Numerous switches and the moving of boxes provide an extra level of difficulty.

Review: Star Trek Into Darkness

I’m not any type of a Star Trek buff.  Reading summaries of episodes and hearing tidbits from fans, the most I’m familiar with is the bare bones of the original television series with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy.  I know the Vulcan salute and a few famous quotes from seeing them on nerdy t-shirts and bumper stickers.  Character backgrounds aren’t my specialty; the basics of Captain Kirk and Spock are known to me, but don’t bother asking me about the doctor, the mechanic, and the other Enterprise crew.  I struggle remembering all of their names and understanding certain references within the series.  That being said, I really enjoyed the Star Trek reboot film in 2009 directed by J.J. Abrams.  When I saw a sequel announced, I was eager to watch it.  Star Trek: Into Darkness delivers a fun, wild experience, occasionally bringing in heartfelt moments to kick viewers where it matters.  It’s not without its flaws, but its high production value and intense moments serve in getting your money’s worth.

Shall we begin?

Review: Avatar: The Last Airbender - The Search

Nickelodeon’s animated television series called Avatar: The Last Airbender was one of the company’s most popular shows.  When I first watched one of the trailers for its premiere back in 2005, my 11-year-old self was so excited that I set my alarm clock to wake me up early enough for me to tune in for the first episode.  The show’s heavy use of Asian art, culture, and mythology had me hooked from the start.  I persistently kept watching each new episode every week, and at the end of every season, I would keep an eye out for any announcements on its continuance.  The story follows the main protagonist named Aang and his group of friends, who must save the world by stopping the Fire Lord and putting an end to his destructive war.  Being the Avatar, Aang must learn all four elements—air, fire, water, and earth—before the Fire Lord’s world conquest is finished.

Avatar: The Last Airbender lasted for three seasons, ending on a 4-part conclusion in 2008.  The series won and was nominated for many awards during and after its run.  The lovable characters and engaging story had pulled me right along to its conclusion.  However, there was one main question that fans were dying to have an answer for: what became of Prince Zuko’s mother, Ursa?

News: Attack on Titan English Dub at Anime Boston

Fans of the hit series called Attack on Titan will be happy to hear that an English dub is fast approaching.  FUNimation made an announcement during an industry panel at Katsucon, saying that the dub of Attack on Titan will premiere at Anime Boston, an anime convention that will take place March 21-23 this year.  FUNi's official blog confirmed the announcement today.  Some of the crew working on the dub project was also posted:

• ADR Director – Mike McFarland
• Head Writer – John Burgmeier 
• Script Writers – J. Michael Tatum & Tyson Rinehart (episodes 3, 7, 10) 
• ADR Engineer – Kenneth Thompson

The company plans to reveal the chosen voice actors for the series's characters as the date of the convention nears.  These announcement will come in stages, most likely meaning a batch of characters will be revealed one at a time.  I'm looking forward to see who they pick; FUNimation has done some of my favorite dubs in the past.  I'm hoping they bring in the veterans on this highly anticipated release.

*source from FUNimation

*image from Facebook

News: 7th Manga Taisho Awards & Nominees

The 7th Manga Taisho Awards has begun with its committee choosing this iteration's 10 nominees.  In English, the title of the awards translates to "Grand Cartoon Prize."  It was established to promote newer manga titles, and the committee is composed of bookstore owners overseeing their respective stores' manga.  Any manga from 2013 and with 8 or less volumes in the series are eligible for the prize.  A second round of voting will determine who the winner is for 2014.  On March 27, an award ceremony will take place for the announcement of the winner.

[Updated] News: Double Fine's Broken Age Backers & Official Release

Double Fine has announced the official release date for their point and click adventure for the regular public.  Kickstarter backers will be getting Part 1 early, but the rest of us will have to wait until January 28.  The option to pre-purchase is already available on Steam with a 10% special promotion.  It will be for Windows, Mac, and Linux.  Part 2 will be coming later this year as a free update.

• Pre-purchase Broken Age: $22.49
• Pre-purchase Broken Age + Soundtrack: $26.99

[Original story]...

News: SimCity Offline Mode

Update 10 for Maxis's SimCity will provide a single-player option for those wanting it.  There was a lot of heat and anger thrown the developers' way when the game was released last year on March 5th.  An always-online requirement was something people had complained about day one.  Players will finally get their wishes fulfilled, having the ability to load and save whenever they please.  General manager, Patrick Buechner, made the announcement in a blog post.  He said more details will be revealed later and to keep an eye on future blog posts.  With this new update, modders will have more freedom to create and implement game mods into SimCity.

News: New Sgt. Frog Anime in March

For those who loved the crazy antics of the alien frogs from Sgt. Frog series, you'll be happy to know that a new television anime for it will be airing in March 22.  It will be called Keroro, and Haruki Kasugamori will be directing it at animation studio Sunrise.  Another studio, Gathering, will be helping in the animation as well.  The original cast from the first series will return.  No details on the story have been provided yet, and how long the anime will run has not been stated.

I'm not really familiar with Sgt. Frog; I've only read the first manga volume and barely watched 2-3 episodes of the first anime.  It's comedy was a bit over-the-top zany and not something I usually prefer.  It did elicit a few good laughs, however, so maybe I'll pick it back up in the future.  The Sgt. Frog manga by Mine Yoshizaki was first adapted into an anime in 2004, and it ran for 358 episodes.  The series was licensed and released in North America by Funimation Entertainment.  Tokyopop picked up the manga and released 20 volumes before the company shut down.  Because of Sgt. Frog's popularity, five movie adaptions were also done.

*source and image from ANN

News: 2nd Season of Mushishi to Air in April

A 2nd season for the anime Mushishi was announced Sunday during the premiere of its one hour special, Mushishi Tokubetsu-hen: Hihamukage.  The special was an adaption of the original creator's, Yuki Urushibara's, two-chapter special manga spinoff, which Kodansha published in its Afternoon magazine.  The 2nd season will be called Mushishi: Zoku-Shou, or Mushishi: The Sequel Chapter, and it will air in April 2014.  It will reunite most of the original staff of the first series.  Animation Studio Artland will once again be handling the animation production; Hiroshi Nagahama returns as the director and series script supervisor.  Yuto Nakano will be reprising his role as the main character named Ginko, and Mika Doi will be the narrating voice again.

Feature: Video Game Pre-orders of 2014

When every new year begins, a fresh batch of release dates soon follow.  Teaser trailers and updates start flooding in as the developers inch closer to their deadlines.  Meanwhile, gamers flock to forums and websites to see the titles piling up, wondering what they should be adding to their pre-order lists.  If they were fortunate to escape the holiday sales unscathed, their wad of cash is sure to diminish as they explore the gaming possibilities of 2014.  We all like an assortment of genres, preferring one game mechanic over the other.  Will a particular video game give me countless hours of entertainment?  Will the gameplay be fluid and responsive?  Is the story going to be satisfying?  These and many more questions flutter through our heads as we peruse our gaming prospects.  I usually try to go where I’ll get my money’s worth; I don’t like risking day-one purchases on lesser known titles.  Reviews are my friend in most cases, but I like watching gameplay videos on the web to make a decision.  Solid controls, fresh combat, or a unique atmosphere are what I look for in any game.  An intriguing, well-written story is an aspect that sways my wallet a lot of the time as well.  Whether from Japan or from Western developers, RPGs is one of the first genres I check out.  Of course, others are attracted to the next shooters releasing, and some prefer the slower pacing of puzzle games.  However, with so many interesting games releasing this year, and with the varying degrees in what people like, I will only be focusing on the titles that have caught my eye.  As more announcements and dates surface, I may do an additional post in the future.

Wish my wallet was bigger.