28 June 2007

Hitomi Kitamura Covers "Romantikku Ageru Yo"
VegettoEX @ 11:05 pm EDT -- If you told me ten years ago that three different Japanese otaku/idol chippies would be covering the ending theme to DragonBall in 2007, I would have told you that you were an idiot. I would have also told you that if you said FUNimation would ever actually get to releasing the Trunks episodes, but I digress.

Hot off the heels of Haruko Momoi and Shoko Nakagawa, we now have yet another cover of "Romantikku Ageru Yo" from a young lady named Hitomi Kitamura. Upon doing some basic research, it looks like she's known for... uhh... having breasts. Fantastic.

Her recent CD, Yurechau Hitomi contains the song as the second track (it's only four tracks, with karaoke versions of the two songs making up the last half of the CD). You can hear a brief sample over on the Neowing page if you're interested. The CD (and its accompanying DVD) can be purchased on CDJapan, Play-Asia, and many other places. It came out on June 20th, and you'll find it for between $15 and $20.

26 June 2007

Sparking! METEOR Character — Ôzaru King Vegeta
VegettoEX @ 7:04 pm EDT -- You've probably already seen it elsewhere, but here goes... The official Sparking! METEOR website has indeed premiered Ôzaru King Vegeta as a playable character in the upcoming game.

Since it's impossible for me to not say anything snarky about this... For Kami's sake, how many giant apes do we need...? They're big. They shoot blasts from their mouths. Occasionally throw rocks. And have slightly different facial hair from one another. *eyeroll*

24 June 2007

Podcast Episode #0083
VegettoEX @ 9:42 am EDT -- Episode #0083 of the podcast is available for download! This week, we took a look at our predictions for 2007, as they were proposed last December in our year-end review. We seem to be doing OK with the predictions, so far... personally, I'm about 50/50 on what I thought.

We also start busting out our convention plans for the summer! Learn all about what we'll be doing at AnimeNEXT and Otakon... including the AMV contests, game shows, prizes, and a sequel to the ever-famous "The DBZ You've Never Seen"...! Awesome to the max! Definitely check it out.

23 June 2007

Sparking! METEOR Gameplay Elements
VegettoEX @ 12:30 am EDT -- I don't know if anyone's written about this elsewhere, but we talked about it during the recording of the next podcast episode, and I figured I'd just share it with you now.

"Z-Counter"... Just before you're hit with an attack, you teleport behind your opponent and deliver a counter-attack. As long as your "Blast Gague" lasts, you can keep ping-ponging back and forth. Budokai 3 and Legends players should be fairly familiar with this type of gameplay mechanic.

"Sonic Sway"... A technique that allows you to dodge an opponent's physical attacks like a sheet of paper. Think Neo in The Matrix bending around to avoid the bullets. This is different than the normal guard and evade, making it easier to get back into fighting stance and turn it into a counter-attack.

Thanks to Julian for the translating, of course!

21 June 2007

Various Gaming Updates
VegettoEX @ 10:04 pm EDT -- LaRésistance wrote in to let us know that the European art for Sparking! METEOR (Budokai Tenkaichi 3) is actually slightly different from the US art. The logo/title is in a different position (down at the bottom), where-as the US art has the logo/title near the top, pushing Gohan up further. Thanks for the tidbit. If you're a French gamer, be sure to check out the site over there.

In other Sparking! METEOR news, it appears that Babidi and Spopovitch are indeed confirmed as playable characters via the latest V-Jump. As always, our forum thread is kicking with all the latest information.

Of course, it wouldn't be an update without a random item from Tanooki Kuribo (who should really be on our payroll... if we actually had a payroll.. and he didn't send me stuff... but anyway...). Err, so here's a new image from the Super Smash Bros. Brawl site, and you should know what's cute about it.

Yep. Talk to you later this weekend in Episode #0083 of the podcast.

20 June 2007

Game Cover Art (and Names?) Exposed
VegettoEX @ 9:48 pm EDT -- We've got some pretty interesting gaming news for you, mostly in the form of cover art... but both of these are pretty significant in different ways.

First, let's get the DS stuff out of the way. You may remember that a game called Harukanaru Gokû Densetsu came out in Japan on March 21st. It came out in the US on June 6th as simply Harukanaru Densetsu. In an interesting twist, it looks like it's coming out over in Europe as Goku Densetsu...!

Unlike the US release, it features the original Japanese artwork in the background (not that the US release had bad cover art). Big thanks to SS Kakarot on our forum for this one.

And then let's kick it over to Sparking! METEOR, or as it will be known in the US, Budokai Tenkaichi 3. According to a post on the official Atari community forum, the US releases and European releases (PS2 & Wii) will be featuring the original Japanese cover art! This marks the first time that all three regions are getting the exact same art (minus the logo to compensate for name changes).

Neat stuff. Big thanks to Taku128 over on our forum for this one.

We have some really big convention news coming to you very soon. Be on the lookout for it.

17 June 2007

Podcast Episode #0082
VegettoEX @ 4:10 pm EDT -- Episode #0082 of the podcast is available for download! This week, we went with a topic idea that our forum member Kula put forth... would we watch a new "proper" dub of DBZ? To what extent would we take that interest? And would it even be worth it to make one in the first place? We hit up a wide variety of issues, including voice casts, musical scores, translations, other re-dubs that have been done in the past (Akira, Macross, etc.).

This may be one of those podcast episodes that has an appeal to non-DBZ fans. If you're looking to recommend shows to fellow otaku, this one may be worth your while to check out... I think we hit enough different topics (while still basing it off of DBZ) that other fans may find some items of interest. Definitely check it out.

15 June 2007

Atari: Delay in Filing 10-K & Earnings Call Postponement
VegettoEX @ 11:10 am EDT -- You've been hearing for some time from us that Atari isn't doing so well in the financial world as of late. To add insult to injury, their latest press release states that they will be filing their 10-K (annual report) late, and have postponed their latest earnings conference call.

"Atari, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATAR), an interactive entertainment company, today announced that it would require an extension of time to file its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which was due to be filed today. The delay in filing is primarily due to a need to make a final determination regarding the amount of a goodwill impairment charge that will be reflected on its fourth quarter and year-end financial statements."
(Official Atari Press Release @ PRNewswire)

Never a good thing.

We'll check you back later this weekend with Episode #0082 of the podcast.

10 June 2007

Podcast Episode #0081
VegettoEX @ 12:07 am EDT -- Episode #0081 of the podcast is available for download! Just like I said! Here's volume five of your so-called "Manga Review of Awesomeness". We conclude out the 21st Tenka-ichi Budôkai, and move right on in to the Red Ribbon Army arc. There were definitely some interesting opinions on the transition into the new arc, so you'll certainly want to listen in for that. Definitely check it out.

09 June 2007

Legends OST Available at CDJapan
VegettoEX @ 10:13 pm EDT -- Tanooki Kuribo is always watching stores across the internet, and when he finds something of interest, you all get to be the first to know! Right after me! :P

Though I already have it, if I didn't... I'd be snatching this up. CDJapan happens to be offering the soundtrack to Idainaru Doragonbôru Densetsu (perhaps better known as simply DBZ Legends for the PS1 & Saturn) for a mere ~$22. Get it while you can!

Look for Episode #0081 of the podcast very soon...

06 June 2007

Harukanaru Gokû Densetsu (NDS) Domestic Release
VegettoEX @ 9:56 pm EDT -- Just a friendly reminder that Harukanaru Densetsu for the Nintendo DS (originally titled Harukanaru Gokû Densetsu when it came out in Japan about a month ago) saw its American release today.

"Dragon Ball Z is one of our most successful franchises, we are delighted to deliver an all new way to play with DBZ Harukanaru Densetsu," said Emily Anadu, senior product manager, Atari, Inc. "We are especially excited to bring to fans of all ages a role playing game that combines simple card-based play mechanics in the much loved DBZ universe for the Nintendo DS."
(Official Atari Press Release @ PRNewswire)

Pick it up if you're interested! And if you're heading down to either EB Games or Gamestop, don't forget their sale where Shin Budokai (PSP) and Supersonic Warriors 2 (NDS) are but a mere $14.99.

(I should really be on Atari's payroll, sheesh.)

03 June 2007

Podcast Episode #0080
VegettoEX @ 4:45 pm EDT -- Episode #0080 of the podcast is available for download! We had to delay the so-called "Manga Review of Awesomeness (Vol. 5)" by a week due to... err... Mario Party 8 "special circumstances". Fear not! You'll hear it next week. In the meantime, we took a look this week at all the big news (which you can read about in the updates below), and then had a great discussion about (exclusively American?) fandom and its invented meaning and use of the Japanese word "ZENKAI" to refer to the power-up a Saiya-jin receives after recovering from near-death. Needless to say, this term appears nowhere in the original Japanese version (or reference materials, for that matter) in this type of context. We did a little explaining about the actual Japanese meanings of the word, and went from there. Definitely check it out.

01 June 2007

Shin Budokai 2 Famitsu Scores
VegettoEX @ 7:10 am EDT -- The Magic Box reports that Famitsu has given Shin Budokai 2 (released as Shin Budokai: Another Road in the US, last month) scores of 6, 5, 7, 7. Pretty average stuff, right there. If you picked it up, hopefully you're enjoying it. There's no word yet on whether or not the JP version contains any exclusive material, but we'll let you know if anything surfaces.