31 May 2007

Shin Budokai: Another Road $14.99 @ EB/Gamestop
VegettoEX @ 6:56 am EDT -- I stopped in to my local EB Games last night to pick up Mario Party 8, and grabbed one of their flyers on the way out. Looks like they're having a pretty nice sale on a deal of stuff. Check it:

If you haven't grabbed Shin Budokai: Another Road (or Shin Budokai 2 as it's known in Japan), now is certainly a great time to do so. I'm thinking about picking it up even though I haven't gotten around to picking up a PSP itself, yet... still waiting on that inevitable redesign...

Note that this deal does not apply to purchasing through their website... they really want to drive you into the store. You can actually pick up the first Shin Budokai for only $14.99 on their site, though, so that's at least something.

UPDATE (5:47 pm EDT): So I stopped in EB this afternoon, again, to grab the additional cheapo stuff. Turns out it's definitely a mis-print in the flyer. The first Shin Budokai is the $14.99 one ($19.99 new + 25% off), and there's no deal on Another Road. The ad does say they're not responsible for errors, so they're probably not going to give you the deal. Good luck, though :P.

After I wrote this little update-update, I noticed Tsukento in our chat had the grand plan to bring the ad to another place that does price-matching and see if you could convince someone to give you the deal. Go for it, and let me know how you make out.

They are also selling Supersonic Warriors 2 for the DS for the same $14.99 price ($19.99 + 25% off) if you haven't picked it up, already. Same goes on their website.

28 May 2007

Microsoft Zune Commercial Features Fusion
VegettoEX @ 6:37 pm EDT -- The newest commercial for the Microsoft Zune features quite an interesting little DBZ reference...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Fusion Dance is pretty specific to DragonBall Z, is it not...? :P Big thanks to everyone who's written in and posted about this one. From the sounds of it, you can check out the commercial on (at least) American television right now, especially on MTV and Cartoon Network.

ZARD's Izumi Sakai Dies At Age 40
VegettoEX @ 2:51 pm EDT -- Posted on our forum by Ash, we have learned that the performer of the second closing theme to DragonBall GT ("Don't you see!"), and additionally, the writer to the series' opening theme ("DAN DAN Kokoro Hikarete 'ku") has passed away today at the age of 40.

Izumi Sakai, the singer of Japanese pop group ZARD, died of a brain contusion at a hospital in Tokyo on Sunday afternoon after falling from stairs, her office said Monday. The police are investigating whether her death was caused by an accident or suicide. She was 40.

Slightly more information can be read over on Kyodo News.

27 May 2007

Podcast Episode #0079
VegettoEX @ 4:20 pm EDT -- Episode #0079 of the podcast is available for download! This week, we took a look at the initial announcement of Sparking! METEOR (Budokai Tenkaichi 3). Are we excited? Should we be? I took a look back at how my excitement from Sparking! to Sparking! NEO was shattered by the final product, and speculated on whether or not it can possibly deliver. Meri explained her viewpoint on why she can't give any less of a rat's ass about the game, and Julian cries in defeat reminiscing on losing in a Japanese arcade to a fierce Chi-Chi-wielding foe. Definitely check it out.

24 May 2007

Japanese Bootlegging Be Damned!
VegettoEX @ 7:23 am EDT -- Anime News Network is reporting a story from over on ZAKZAK that a Japanese man has been arrested for bootlegging (and then, of course, selling) over 100 copies of DragonBall movies on DVD.

Good. Start with this scum, and then go after the Triads. Of course, I've just sealed my death by naming names, but you know how it goes. Tons of people in the world want VegettoEX dead.

21 May 2007

Atari Formally Announces Budokai Tenkaichi 3
VegettoEX @ 8:46 pm EDT -- Atari's formal press release announcing Budokai Tenkaichi 3 (known in Japan, as you can read below, as Sparking! METEOR) states a whole lot of interesting things.

Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR) one of the world's most recognized brands and a third-party video game publisher, today announced that Dragon Ball Z(R): Budokai Tenkaichi(TM) 3 is in development for Wii(TM) and PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 combines the lightning fast fighting and action that have made Budokai Tenkaichi 1 and Budokai Tenkaichi 2 the #1 fighting games of 2005 and 2006. Developed by NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. / Spike, Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 is slated to release during the 2007 holiday season.

Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3 delivers an extreme 3D fighting experience, improving upon last year's game with over 150 playable characters, enhanced fighting techniques, beautifully refined effects and shading techniques, making each character's effects more realistic, and over 20 battle stages. In addition, an improved control system for the Wii will allow players to easily mimic signature moves and execute devastating energy attacks as they are performed in the Dragon Ball Z animated series.

"Atari is incredibly excited to offer the ultimate chapter in the Budokai Tenkaichi series with over 20 new characters that have never been seen in any other DBZ video games such as Nail, King Cold and King Vegeta and battle stages that fans will love," said Emily Anadu, Senior Product Manager, Atari, Inc. "Each year, the developers refine the game to bring fans closer to feeling like they are actually playing the show."

In addition to the unprecedented number of characters and improved Wii control system, the environments have also been enhanced to feature day and night stages. The power of the moon in the night stages gives players additional ways to transform their characters and lets fans recreate some of their favorite memories from the show.

Some juicy tidbits in there. We've got the day/night stages (which you may remember from later Budokai games; as opposed to the Sparking! series, which you may remember is not considered a part of the Budokai series as it was created by a different publisher in Japan). We've got a confirmation on the number of characters, stages, etc. It will be interesting to see what Atari considers for characters "never" before seen in a video game; if you check out our "Rumor Guide" you will see that Atari once claimed Broli had never appeared in a DBZ game, prior to their release of the abysmal Taiketsu.

For fans of the Japanese version, you'll be happy to know that the official website for the game has launched:

http://dbzs.jp/meteor/

As always, we'll keep you up-to-date on everything... so stay tuned! And expect a Sparking!-filled next episode of the podcast... ^_~ In the meantime, check out our forum thread for all sorts of new scans from V-Jump, additional information, and more.

20 May 2007

Podcast Episode #0078
VegettoEX @ 9:32 am EDT -- Episode #0078 of the podcast is available for download! We recorded the episode before the news on Sparking! METEOR broke, so you can expect a great deal of thoughts on the game on next week's episode.

Until then, check out all the rest of the news we posted about yesterday... that's what you'll be hearing some commentary on! We touched on Atari's current workforce reduction, and went a little more in-depth with Shoko Nakagawa's recent cover of the DragonBall ending theme (along with its video). Definitely check it out.

19 May 2007

Sparking! METEOR (PS2/Wii) Officially Announced + More
VegettoEX @ 11:51 am EDT -- When you pay attention to Daizenshuu EX, you certainly learn things weeks ahead of other people, huh? ^_~

The next game in the Sparking! series is heading to the PS2 and Wii, officially announced for Japan thus far later this year (no concrete date has been set, but if the past two games/years are any indication, look for it in the fall before the holiday season for sure). This one will be entitled Sparking! METEOR, sure to yet-again incorrectly be known as Budokai Tenkaichi 3 when it hits the US.

A few images are starting to trickle out of the latest V-Jump, but it would appear some of the new characters include Nail, King Vegeta, and King Cold, and the game is shooting for around 150 characters in total. Everyone's sourcing a Japanese blog, but it came from V-Jump, so it's not all that exclusive :D.

There's already a crapton of discussion going on over on our forum, so check it out.

Other news you may be interested in, which will be covered on this weekend's upcoming podcast...

Speaking of video games, Atari released a press release earlier this month stating that that are in the process of a workforce reduction of approximately 20%.

"We expect that today's reorganization will continue to reduce Atari's general and administrative cost," stated David Pierce, President and Chief Executive Office of Atari, Inc. "These actions, though difficult, are a significant first step in reorganizing Atari and demonstrate our commitment to restoring shareholder value."

This probably won't affect much in the way of DragonBall stuff... that is, of course, until the company finally falls apart. They haven't exactly been putting out the greatest figures the last few months/years, and not too many press releases are all that favorable if you actually read into them. Ah, well. Such is the way of "enhancing shareholder value" in this fantastic capitalist world.

In completely unrelated news from that crazy land known as Japan, Shoko Nakagawa, generic Japanese otaku-idol-of-all-trades #291, has released an EP of anime cover songs. The first track and single off of the CD is none other than the closing theme to DragonBall, "Romantikku Ageru Yo". The five-track EP is entitled, Shokotan Cover ~ Anison Ni Koi Wo Shite.

There's a special CD+DVD bundle that includes the music video for the song, which somewhat does a little homage to the original animation to the song.

If you're looking to pick up the CD or CD+DVD combo, a bunch of places are carrying it. Check out the discussion over on our forum for more information, some YouTube links, and purchase links.

I think all that news should hold you over until tomorrow's podcast episode release!

14 May 2007

Podcast Episode #0077
VegettoEX @ 6:35 pm EDT -- Episode #0077 of the podcast is available for download! Sorry for the slight delay, but hey... you know how it goes this time of year for all of us. This week, we took a look at the ending to DBZ Movie 10 and had a little discussion we like to call... Goku: There or Not?

In a brief recap of the news on the show, it looks like that release of the remastered movies coming out in France will indeed by widescreen (contrary to early reports), and the ending to episode five of Lucky Star is karaoke goodness of "CHA-LA HEAD-CHA-LA".

Definitely check it out.

07 May 2007

Video Game Rumor Mill
VegettoEX @ 6:10 pm EDT -- Let me begin by saying that things in the video game industry can, and do, change at any time.

With that out of the way, let's take a look back at this time last year. We first heard about Sparking! NEO around this time, and if history continues to repeat itself, it would make sense to hear about this year's big DBZ game(s) relatively soon. If the little birdies' songs are correct, expect to hear something about DBZ's next foray onto the Wii in that same "soon" category... and don't expect it to be another typical fighting game.

06 May 2007

Podcast Episode #0076 + France Movies Boxset
VegettoEX @ 12:25 am EDT -- Episode #0076 of the podcast is available for download! This week, Jeff stopped by to analyze and discuss volume four of the manga. We all agreed that the series begins to hit it stride with this volume, but how does it stack up to what came before and what comes after? Definitely check it out.

In the news (also covered in the podcast), it looks like France is getting a pretty sweet deal with a great release of the movies! Over on our forum, sangofe has left a lot of information regarding the two-volume release, which seemingly features "remastered" versions (all the rage these days, it would seem) of all of the DB & DBZ movies and TV specials (excluding, unfortunately, the 10th anniversary movie), a special book, cards, and more. This beast is due out on 27 June 2007 for a little under 70€, featuring the French and Japanese language tracks (and French subtitles).

Check out the discussion for yourself.