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INTERACTION |
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Daizenshuu EX - Updates from January 2009 |
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29 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 8:47 am EST -- According to Kotaku, the game DragonBall Origins for the Nintendo DS has been recalled down under in Australia due to some of the game's content not quite matching up with the given rating (a "PG"). Kotaku notes that once it receives a new rating, it will be back on store shelves.
DragonBall DS received an "A" in Japan from the CERO (appropriate for all ages), and received a "T" from the ESRB in the United States (appropriate for teens).
In other (more Daizenshuu EX-centric) news, we're going to be recording Episode #0162 of the podcast this evening. Hopefully the main computer will be back on its feet in the next week or so and we'll be able to go back and add #0161 back into the feed. |
26 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 12:16 pm EST -- If you would like to read in extreme detail why Episode #0161 of the podcast is going to be delayed in its posting, read along over on my personal blog. Long story short... our main rig is down, and despite the episode being complete, I didn't get a chance to upload it before disaster struck. Whether or not I can plug in the hard drive elsewhere and get it out to you all this week is up in the air, but if not, it will at least (eventually) be retroactively added into the feed. We reviewed the CD single and full soundtrack for Infinite World, and it was a really good episode...!
In the meantime, Julian has been plugging away at some new song lyrics for everyone, and we are happy to debut two of them. One is actually very old, and was the first insert song in the DBZ TV series, "Shura-Iro no Senshi". In addition to that, Julian has done the opening theme to Infinite World, "Hikari no Sasu Mirai e!" We have a bunch more coming your way in the future, so stay tuned! |
19 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:36 pm EST -- As you may have seen on Kotaku and other gaming websites, some screens from the upcoming Dragon Ball Evolution video game on the PSP have shown up online. The only characters we have seen so far have been Bulma, Chi-Chi, Yamcha, and Master Roshi (all somewhat awkwardly resembling their "real life" counterparts).
Gaming sites are claiming the game will be out stateside in April (we know it comes out in Japan 19 March 2009), but we'll keep an eye out for an official, set date.
Dayspring on our forum let us know that the French version of the seventh daizenshuu went back into print at some point in time, and Amazon Canada actually has it in stock (one left right now, but noting that more are on the way) for $45.95 (that's Canadian dollars, by the way). This is definitely not a bad little item to add to your collection! |
18 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 3:33 pm EST -- Episode #0160 of the podcast is available for download! In addition to catching up on a couple little bits of news (which you've no doubt read below), we brought on our podcast host and The Fanboy Review superfan godofchaos to talk with us about FUNimation and their plans for Blu-ray, specifically with the DragonBall franchise. Lots of great image comparisons will be up in the forum thread for this episode, so make sure you take a look there. We also had a couple great e-mails and various other shenanigans, so it's exactly what you need on this cold Sunday! Definitely check it out.
For those of you not into the audio content (which you should be checking out, even if you think you don't like it!), we have a bit of general news and content awesomeness for you.
To start it off, CDJapan has up listings for Ayumi Hamasaki's new CD single which is being used as the somewhat "international" theme song for Dragon Ball Evolution, the upcoming American-made live-action movie (no word on whether or not we're getting this song... let's assume not). Regardless, there are three versions available for order. Of particular note is the CD+DVD version, which contains music videos for the songs contained on the disc. Nice! Apparently the b-side of the single, "Sparkle", is being used in the TV spots for the movie over in Japan, and is therefore being considered an "insert song" of some sort. The CD comes out in approximately one month, on 25 February 2009 (with different prices depending on the version you decide to get).
All of this information is updated (along with two recent CD singles, the Super Survivor and Infinite World releases) over on the "CD Singles" page. Yes, this is what all of the other database pages will eventually look like. It's quite an undertaking, and I curl up into a fetal position when I think about the work that needs to be put into the "CD Sets" page.
Additionally, we're putting all of Rachel's hard work to good use with another episode in the "Filler Guide" ready for your reading. DB episode 12 is all up, and make sure you check all the extra notes at the bottom of the page. Very interesting stuff, there! |
15 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:16 am EST -- Our buddy Tanooki Kuribo found a listing for Dragon Ball Evolution on Play-Asia for the PSP. This would indeed be the game based on the upcoming live-action movie that was first shown off at Jump Festa a few weeks back. Right now Play-Asia is listing a release date of 19 March 2009 for this Japanese version of the game and will be selling it for $48.98. There has been no word on a stateside release of the game, but being that it's based on a movie that's been created over here in America, it would make sense to release it over here. Keep in mind that despite all this, Japan's getting the movie a month before the US, so perhaps we can expect the PSP game in April, as well...? We'll let you know.
To follow-up on what we mentioned on the last podcast (and forgot to put up on the home page), we now have word of at least twenty FUNimation employee layoffs, in addition to (or including; the wording is vague) the two we had noted last show, including their Chief Operating Officer, Brian Burke.
I wanted to bring into the limelight something which I again noted on the podcast but didn't have in front of me at the time. Upon FUNimation's acquisition by Navarre, they entered into a special employment agreement with Gen Fukunaga, President and CEO of FUNimation. The exact wording from their various SEC filings over the years is as follows:
In connection with the FUNimation acquisition, the Company entered into an employment agreement with a key FUNimation employee providing for his employment as President and Chief Executive Officer of FUNimation Productions, Ltd. (“the FUNimation CEO”) until May 11, 2010 at a base salary of $350,000 per year. Among other items, the agreement provides the FUNimation CEO with the ability to earn two performance-based bonuses in the event that certain financial targets are met by the FUNimation business during the fiscal years ending March 31, 2006 through March 31, 2010. Specifically, if the total earnings before interest and tax (“EBIT”) of FUNimation during the fiscal years ending March 31, 2006 through March 31, 2008 is in excess of $90.0 million, the FUNimation CEO is entitled to receive a bonus payment in an amount equal to 5% of the EBIT that exceeds $90.0 million; however, this bonus payment shall not exceed $5.0 million. Further, if the combined EBIT of the FUNimation business is in excess of $60.0 million during the period consisting of the fiscal years ending March 31, 2009 and 2010, the FUNimation CEO is entitled to receive a bonus payment in an amount equal to 5% of the EBIT that exceeds $60.0 million; however, this bonus payment shall not exceed $4.0 million. No amounts have been expensed or paid under this agreement as the targets have not been achieved.
The global business community is struggling, so it comes as no surprise to see FUNimation taking measures such as these layoffs to stay ahead of the game, similar to various other organizations. With this employment agreement in mind, however, one can't help but raise an eyebrow when we get quotes like this:
"This decision was not taken lightly and thoughtful consideration was given as to how this move would affect our customers, vendors and employees," said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "However, we must anticipate and adapt to the current economic climate. This action is expected to streamline our processes as we manage our business for long-term growth."
It's perfectly fine, acceptable, and expected that a company will do everything to keep itself afloat and the leader in its industry; don't misunderstand the information we are trying to get across. However, let none of us forget that come March 2010, Gen Fukunaga gets a personal hefty pay-out up to $5 million if they meet financial expectations.
Coincidentally, Atari's own contract with FUNimation to produce games for the DragonBall franchise expires in January 2010. |
11 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 3:44 pm EST -- Episode #0159 of the podcast is available for download! Jeff joined the trio of hosts for taking a look at volume 23 of the manga. Goku still hasn't arrived, but things are going crazy with Vegeta teaming up with the Earthlings, Ginyu-Tokusentai has arrived, the seven Dragon Balls have been gathered... crazy times on Namek, right now. How is the story moving along, though? Does Toriyama still seem like he knows what he's doing? Definitely check it out.
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09 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:27 am EST -- I guess it's just cover art week here on the site! Today we have a few DVD covers for you, both from the US as well as Japan. We'll start off with FUNimation's cover art for DBZ "remastered" season nine, due at at some point later this year (most likely spring; season eight is due next month):
It's a little surprising seeing Vegetto make the cover, but I certainly can't complain. Heading off to Japan, we actually have the covers for the next (and last) three DBZ movies, with 11 and 12 due out today, and movie 13 (as well as the 10th anniversary movie) due out 13 February 2009:
Big thanks to everyone on the forum for keeping up on this stuff for us!
UPDATE: Aaaand we just got in the 10th anniversary cover!
I really wish it didn't say "14" on it, since it's not DBZ movie 14, or anything... |
05 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 11:52 am EST -- We mentioned this on the podcast and then totally forgot to post it up. The soundtrack for Infinite World (due out this week in Japan on King Records) finally has some cover art courtesy of CDJapan:
We'll be doing a review of this soundtrack and the game's theme song CD single as soon as they come in, so expect that all later this month. |
04 January 2009
VegettoEX @ 9:17 pm EST -- Episode #0158 of the podcast is available for download! We were finally able to catch up with Julian again to record, so the core trio took a look back at 2008 in its entirety. We had all sorts of crazy stories, huge surprises, wacky releases, and so much more. Also, how did our predictions for 2008 fare? We took a look at those, as well as made (more beefy & substantial!) predictions for 2009. Definitely check it out.
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