30 April 2006

Video Game Cover & Logo
VegettoEX @ 9:20 am EDT -- It looks like Play-Asia has updated their database listings with both the official logo for Battle Stadium D.O.N.:

... as well as the cover-art for the Japanese release of Super DragonBall Z on the PS2:

Confirmed extra characters (extra from the arcade release, anyway!) for Super DragonBall Z are Majin Buu ("Fat Buu") Piccolo-Daimaô, Majin-Vegeta, Videl, Mecha-Freeza, and Gohan w/ Kaiôshin-gi. Play-France is hosting some scans showcasing some of these additional characters. Additionally, these six characters are shown across the top of the game's back cover.

Once again, thanks to all our forum members for keeping us on our toes with some of the info!

Podcast Episode #0024
VegettoEX @ 8:00 am EDT -- Episode #0024 of the podcast is available for download! We're up bright and early for you, so be sure to grab it. Lots of fun stuff this week... bad decisions characters made, Meri's list of "hardest hits", and even a new contest to give away a free DVD! That's right, Daizenshuu EX loves you more than other sites, and we want to give you free things :P. You'll have to listen to find out how to enter! Check it out!

29 April 2006

Sparking! NEO Official Website Confirmed Characters
VegettoEX @ 8:47 am EDT -- Just because people are claiming to see things that don't exist, I think it's necessary to take a closer look at it. The official website for Sparking! NEO flashes up a bunch of names in its intro movie. Following the image below, I have listed any names that appear... corrected from their sometimes horrible romanization, of course :D

• Cell
• Chiaotzu
• Freeza
• Ginyu-Tokusentai
• Kame Sen'nin
• Kuririn
• Majin Buu
• Mr. Satan
• Nappa
• Piccolo
• Son Gohan
• Son Goku
• Son Goten
• T'ao Paipai
• Tenshinhan
• Trunks
• Vegeta
• Yamcha

28 April 2006

Shin Budokai JP Sales & Super DBZ Home Extras
VegettoEX @ 7:17 pm EDT -- The Magic Box is reporting that Shin Budokai for the PSP sold a little over 700,000 copies last week. Not too shabby for its Japanese debut.

Early reports are showing both Gohan in his Kaiôshin-gi and Piccolo-Daimaô as playable characters in the home port of Super DragonBall Z for the PS2. More info and screens as they come!

26 April 2006

New R2 DVDs... Another Three Volumes For April!
VegettoEX @ 9:00 pm EDT -- April breaks the mold and sees another three volumes:

	DragonBall Z: Volume #19 TV episodes 109-114 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)
	DragonBall Z: Volume #20 TV episodes 115-120 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)
	DragonBall Z: Volume #21 TV episodes 121-126 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)

Amazon Japan has them for 20% off (¥3192) if you want a deal!

25 April 2006

FUNimation's DBZ Movie 13 Cover
VegettoEX @ 9:22 pm EDT -- RightStuf has added DBZ movie 13 (quite strangely renamed Wrath Of The Dragon by FUNimation) to their store, which includes the official domestic cover art. FUNimation's going out with a bang and continuing to use the original Japanese cover art as their basis, so mucho thanks to them for that nod.

Both the "Movie Guide" and "DVD Guide" have been updated. And there you have it.

24 April 2006

DragonBall's 2006 Video Game Schedule
VegettoEX @ 8:55 pm EDT -- Ya' know what? This is desperately needed. There's been so many announcements lately, it's tough to keep track of them all. So here we go.

And now back to your regularly-scheduled updates!

"Sparking! NEO" & "Super DBZ" Heading to US PS2
VegettoEX @ 8:31 pm EDT -- Mostly-substantiated rumors have been floating around for the last couple of weeks, but when it comes directly from Atari, I guess you can call it official.

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) today announced the development of two new Dragon Ball Z(R) titles for 2006 release, Super DBZ(R) and Dragon Ball Z(R): Budokai Tenkaichi 2, both for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system.

Thanks to all of our forum members for keeping us on our toes! And there we also have our confirmation that Sparking! NEO will indeed be released for both the PS2 and Revolution (both in Japan and in the US).

"Sparking! NEO" Official Website & Press Release
VegettoEX @ 6:53 pm EDT -- The official Japanese website for Sparking! NEO has gone live (http://dbzs-neo.jp/), which contains the typical Flash opening, horrendous Engrish, and little other information.

Atari has issued an official press release announcing the game (seemingly called quite simply, and still incorrectly, Budokai Tenkaichi 2 for its non-Japanese release, which contains no information about its release to any console other than the Nintendo Revolution. (EDIT: See above update)

Matt Collins, Director of Marketing, Atari, Inc., said, "The innovative controller featured with Nintendo Revolution is perfectly suited for Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2, which engages players with fast-paced fighting moves. Gamers will be able to play in a very physical way, mimicking several of the show's most popular character moves and pull off awesome combos and attacks."

More information as it comes in!

23 April 2006

Podcast Episode #0023
VegettoEX @ 9:26 pm EDT -- Episode #0023 of the podcast is available for download! Julian's back from Japan... all the gaming news... full review of the new "Dragon Box"... Meri's top five most gruesome deaths in the series... your e-mails... whatta show! Check it out!

"Dragon Box: The Movies" Feature Update
VegettoEX @ 4:00 pm EDT -- We've updated the "Feature" page with another comparison image, this time from DBZ movie 7 (in addition to the side-by-side-by-side comparison image from DBZ movie 1). Be sure to check it out!

Podcast later today ^_~. We haven't forgotten!

22 April 2006

First Real "Sparking! NEO" Screens
VegettoEX @ 12:30 am EDT -- IGN has some screens from the upcoming Sparking! NEO game, as reported in this site's last update. Check 'em.

Not too bad for a site that only within the last day couldn't even confirm that the game existed. *eyeroll*

20 April 2006

"Sparking! NEO" Coming For PS2 & Revolution!
VegettoEX @ 6:20 pm EDT -- The sequel to Sparking! (known outside Japan, incorrectly, as Budokai Tenkaichi) has officially been announced! Shown in the latest issue of V-Jump, it looks like the game will not only be coming to the PS2, but also the Nintendo Revolution! Absolutely amazing.

Jeux-France is currently hosting some preliminary images and news from the afore-mentioned latest episode of V-Jump. New characters (of at least 100, the magazine claims) appear to include Slug and Gattai-Jinzôningen #13.

Look for the game later this year, and of course all the news you can eat right here!

UPDATE: IGN did a real dick of a move and talked a little bit about the game in a new article they just put up, without sourcing at all where they got it from. Pfft. Julian, Meri, and I were just talking about it on the podcast we were recording for this weekend... looks like "in-game transformations" are coming back for all you post-Final Bout obsessive fans :P.

19 April 2006

New Contact Info + "Doomrider" Direct Download
VegettoEX @ 7:34 am EDT -- Our "Contact" information has been totally revamped. If you're going to e-mail us for any reason (be it for the podcast, "Ask" section, or even just general chat), please be sure to check it out. Thanks!

Also, thanks to the kind folks at www.amv4000.org, we have up a direct-download of "Doomrider". If for some reason you never bothered to sign up at AnimeMusicVideos.org, here's your chance to grab the project!

17 April 2006

Japanese Game Show Clip w/ New Footage
VegettoEX @ 10:47 pm EDT -- Our new forum member majinrod153 brought this clip on YouTube to our attention. Now... normally, we're not the kind of site to link to things on these viral/social sites, but the jaw-droppingly gorgeous new animation and Goku saying "Hi, everyone! It's been a while!" to me just makes me cry like a baby.

"Dragon Box: The Movies" Feature Updates
VegettoEX @ 10:24 pm EDT -- We've been updating the feature for the new "Dragon Box: The Movies" set. Have you not been keeping up?! Be sure to check it out! There's some new screen shots up for you to compare.

I've also updated the "Newbie Guide" with quite a bit of information. Is there anything else you all feel is of complete and utter necessity in there? Let me know!

I'd also like to welcome Julian back to the US! He's been in Japan for quite a while, and we're happy to have him back in the amazing eastern time zone :D.

16 April 2006

Podcast Episode #0022
VegettoEX @ 11:16 am EDT -- Episode #0022 of the podcast is available for download! This is Julian's last week in Japan, too! Due to the busy weekend, we have a slightly shorter episode for you, but it's jam-packed with all the latest gaming news from the week, some initial thoughts on the new Dragon Box, Meri's list of best animal mascots in the series, and a good bit of catching up on all your e-mails! Check it out!

15 April 2006

Dimps' Official Shin Budokai Website
VegettoEX @ 8:38 am EDT -- Dimps have a new website specifically for Shin Budokai, which is due out in Japan on the 20th. It's being updated pretty frequently, so hopefully we can get some good scoops in the coming days! Thanks to our forum member Nyoibo for the heads up.

Dragon Box Feature! Go!

14 April 2006

Dragon Box: The Movies - The Feature!
VegettoEX @ 11:12 pm EDT -- We've started a new "Feature" for you all to check out, and we're going to do it in a slightly different fashion than we normally do. We totally want to get as much information as we can about the new Dragon Box out to you, but it would be absurd to try and do it all in one shot. We've decided to do it "blog style", with constant updates to the page whenever we get around to them. So check it out!

D.O.N BattleStadium for PS2/Gamecube
VegettoEX @ 7:15 am EDT -- GoNintendo.com is hosting several images from the upcoming PS2 & Gamecube (JP-only, at this point) game titled D.O.N. BattleStadium. No, it's not a DBZ games...

It's a DBZ / One Piece / Naruto game...!

Slated for release this July 20th! If this doesn't get you excited, nothing will. (Oh man, and that's just a month after Super DragonBall Z comes out on the JP PS2...!) Let the comparisons with Jump Super Stars begin.

12 April 2006

DBZ Movie 13 Domestic Release + Sparking! 2... ?
VegettoEX @ 8:56 pm EDT -- As seen on AnimeOnDVD.com, FUNimation has officially announced DBZ Movie 13 for a North American release on 22 August 2006. Ryû-Ken Bakuhatsu!! Gokû ga Yaraneba Dare ga Yaru ("Dragon Fist Explosion!! If Goku Won't Do It, Who Will?") has been retitled to... uhh... yeah... err... Wrath of the Dragon.

Quite frankly, I'm shocked we're seeing this in 2006. I was placing bets on 2006 finishing out with the re-release of DBZ Movie 2, with Movie 13 coming out in Spring 2007. Ah, well.

Also, it appears that the website Ruliweb is listing the development of Sparking! 2 (listed with the domestic Atari title of Budokai Tenkaichi 2) for the PS3. More info as it pops up. Thanks to Nyoibo for this one.

09 April 2006

Podcast Episode #0021
VegettoEX @ 2:36 pm EDT -- Episode #0021 of the podcast is available for download! We break down a whole bunch of people, products, words, companies, etc. for those of you in need of a little edjamucation! We also do an amazingly accurate dramatic reading from the Chinese novel Journey To The West. VegettoEX playing the role of a certain Handsome Monkey King is not something you'll want to miss. Check it out!

Amazon Japan Finally Acknowledges Delay
VegettoEX @ 12:18 am EDT -- Earlier today (OK, technically it was on the 8th...), Amazon Japan finally sent out the e-mail about the upcoming DB & DBZ movie "Dragon Box" being delayed. Gee... thanks! :D

It's actually written in both Japanese and English. There's nothing really special, but here's the relevant information:

We have learned that the arrival date for the above item has been postponed. You can check the status of your order and new estimated shipping date on "Your Account". At first, please click on "YOUR ACCOUNT" (second link from right) at the top of our home page. On the following page, please click on "Set your ordering language preference" to set your language preference to English and next click the "Go!" button next to "Open and recently shipped orders." After signing in with your e-mail address and password, you can find your open orders.

And there you have it! Something you learned here back on March 18th :P.

05 April 2006

New Japanese DBZ CD Sets Images + New R2 DVDs
VegettoEX @ 10:25 pm EDT -- Yesterday, Japan saw its release of the next three volumes of DBZ on DVD. These are individual disc releases of what was originally released on the two DBZ "Dragon Box" sets beginning back in 2003.

	DragonBall Z: Volume #16 TV episodes 91-96 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)
	DragonBall Z: Volume #17 TV episodes 97-102 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)
	DragonBall Z: Volume #18 TV episodes 103-108 ¥3990 (purchase @ CDJapan) (purchase @ Amazon.co.jp)

Amazon Japan has them for 20% off (¥3192) if you want a deal!

If this isn't the most amazing, relevant, and jaw-droppingly accurate episode of South Park you've ever seen... well... that's all there is to it.

02 April 2006

Not Turning Japanese In ANY Meaning of the Phrase!
VegettoEX @ 12:00 am EST -- So while we doubt many people really "fell" for the joke, it was fun none-the-less. In case you missed out on the April Fool's Day prank, you can view an extremely large image of yesterday's home page right here. Yes, it's all entirely-legit Japanese! Go Julian~.

But hey... in case you're sad, offended, or some other strange emotion...

Episode #0020 of the podcast is available for download!