Tag: Japan - Page 37
News Japanese Gamers Can Now Pick Their Favourite Joy-Con Colour Combo
Mix and match
Lucky Japanese Nintendo fans now have the option to pick their favourite Joy-Con colour combination when buying a Switch online from the official store. We had a play around with the online configurator and came up with the rad combo which you can see above. Hot or not? Japanese customers can pick from any options which actually...
News Dragon Quest XI and Nintendo Switch Lead the Way in Japanese Charts
Great Ace Attorney 2 makes its debut, sales down on predecessor
The Japanese Media Create results are out, and remind us of the power of brands with two versions of a massive Square Enix title still leading the way. There's good news for Nintendo in both the software and hardware results, too. Starting with the software top 20, Dragon Quest XI:...
Gallery Checking Out Yokohama's Pikachu Outbreak Pokémon Event
Painting the town yellow
From today until next week, various locations in the Japanese city of Yokohama will play host to the annual Pikachu Outbreak event. This year's event consists of merchandise stalls, parades, air ship flyovers and a number of Pokémon GO parks and stadiums, catering for fans of the phenomenally popular mobile game...
News Pokémon GO Getting Ready For Japanese Pikachu Outbreak Event
Japan-only Pokémon GO Deluxe Set also revealed
Further details have been revealed about the upcoming Pokémon GO "Pikachu Outbreak" event occurring in Japan this summer. Like Pokémon GO's Anniversary event (but hopefully proving to be somewhat more successful), the location will see an increased lot of PokéStops as well as access to...
Feature Is It Really Cheaper To Order Retro Games Direct From Japan?
Forget eBay - there could be a cheaper option
Back in the '90s, it seemed that the Japanese got all the best stuff. Not only did games typically launch sooner in Japan, they came in gorgeously-illustrated boxes complete with full-colour manuals, putting the rather drab western equivalents to shame. Not only that, the Japanese were blessed with many...
News Dragon Quest XI Delivers Extraordinary Sales on 3DS, as Switch Hardware Continues to Thrive
New 2DS XL leads the way thanks to DQXI bundle
The Media Create chart results are out for Japan, and it was a bit of a storming week for Nintendo, with Sony also enjoying a boost. The source of this is mostly the Dragon Quest series, which is absolutely massive business in Japan. Unsurprisingly Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive...
News Splatoon 2 Delivers Extraordinary Launch Sales in Japan and Boosts Switch Hardware
Layton’s Mystery Journey takes 2nd for 3DS, too
Earlier today we shared Famitsu numbers covering the Splatoon 2 launch in Japan; now Media Create has weighed in as well. Media Create brings a lower figure, but it's still the biggest Switch game launch to date, and also led to significant hardware sales. Splatoon 2 may be the dominant arrival in...
News New Range Of Super Mario iPhone Cases Arrive In Japan
Classic and modern designs
A range of new iPhone cases featuring everyone's favourite Italian plumber have come to Japan. The seven new cases feature classic and modern incarnations of Super Mario, and are designed to fit the 6 / 6S / 7 standard and Plus models of Apple's popular handset. The two retro-style cases are priced at...
News Animals Will Duke it Out in Weird Ways in Penguin Wars for Nintendo Switch
Almost enough to tempt us to setup a Japanese eShop account
Sometimes remakes arrive that, well, not many people have asked for. We suspect Penguin Wars falls into that category, or Penguin-kun Wars as it's known in Japan. It was a 1985 release for Arcades, MSX and the Famicom in Nintendo's homeland, and plays out rather like a game of peculiar...
News A New Tamagotchi Game Is Heading To The 3DS In Japan
Tamagotchi Life
Do you remember those little cute Tamagotchi keychain digital pets? Who could forget the joys of cleaning up their poop and forgetting to feed them? Well, it's their 20th anniversary this year and Bandai Namco is bringing them back on the 3DS in Japan, as revealed by the teaser website. This new Tamagotchi game launches on 16th...
Gallery King Of Games Celebrates 15 Years Of Awesome Video Game Clothing
15 years of looking the part
Premium Japanese gaming clothing brand King of Games is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary with a gallery of products and Nintendo-related kitsch at Nakano's Meteor Gallery. In case you didn't know, Nakano is a part of downtown Tokyo which is gaining a reputation as the "new Akihabara", making it the ideal...
News Scammers Are Taking Advantage Of Switch Mania In Japan By Ripping Off Desperate Fans
Tut tut
The Switch is very hard to find in its native Japan at present, with stock vanishing from shelves as fast as Nintendo can produce it. The incredible demand for the console in the Land of the Rising Sun has predictably led to people scamming desperate gamers on social media. Several news outlets in the Far East are reporting that these...
News DeNA Has Committed 10 Percent Of Its Staff To The Nintendo Alliance
That's around 100 people
It came as a massive surprise back in 2015 when Nintendo announced that they would be licensing their IP to mobile publisher DeNA to help gain a foothold in the very lucrative smartphone game arena. Since then we've seen the quirky social network Miitomo, Super Mario Run and Fire Emblem Heroe
Feature Just How Hard Is It To Buy A Nintendo Switch In Japan?
We hit the streets of Tokyo on Splatoon 2 launch day to find out
Today is Friday, July 21st. It's horrendously hot and humid in Japan. It's the height of summer and the start of the school holidays in many parts of Tokyo. It's also the day that Splatoon 2 is out. As if the shortage of Nintendo Switch consoles wasn't bad enough, Nintendo's newest...
News New 2DS XL Tops Japanese Hardware Chart As Switch Sales Plunge Amid Stock Shortages
Hey! Pikmin sells almost 80,000 units, too
The New Nintendo 2DS XL was Japan's biggest selling piece of hardware for the last week in Japan, according to Famitsu. The newest member of the 3DS family shifted 36,860 units in its first week on sale, and was accompanied by new releases Hey! Pikmin (79,517) and Ever Oasis (15,907). Elsewhere,...
Gallery Splatoon 2 Squid "Air Mascots" Released in Japan
Blowing hot air
Coinciding with the worldwide release of Splatoon 2, Bandai has released a set of inkling inflatables known as "Air Mascots" through toy capsules. The collectible squids come in six variations being blue, green, olive, pink, purple and yellow. There is also the opportunity to find Judd the cat as a special bonus. The capsules...
News Visual Novel Song Of Memories Getting Switch Port In Japan With English Subtitles
Warning: mild cheesecake contained within
Pure Wish has confirmed that its visual novel title Song of Memories is getting a Switch port this year. Interestingly, even though no news of a western localisation has been confirmed, it has been revealed that the Switch port will contain Japanese, English, and French language support -...
News ARMS to Feature in Inaugural Evo Japan Tournament
Super Smash Bros. for Wii U makes the cut, Melee doesn't
This year's Evo extravaganza brought a range of reveals along with the high-end competitive play, and included some details related to the first ever Evo Japan. It'll take place in Tokyo from 26th to 28th January and will feature two prominent Nintendo titles in its line-up. Tekken...
News Luggage Company LeSportsac Has All Your Nintendo Travel Needs Sorted
New line of bags coming to Japan
If you like everything in your life to have a Nintendo theme, then you'll be pleased to learn that American luggage company LeSportsac has teamed up with the Japanese video game veteran to release a trendy new line of themed travel accessories in Japan. The line is split into three main categories. 'Super...
News Nintendo Switch Demand Remains High in Japan, As Thousands Queue for Raffles
It's not just about Zelda any more
When the Nintendo Switch launched there was understandable relief at its positive reception, with plenty of hype ensuring that demand outstripped supply. Though Nintendo has frequently made noises about ramping up production it's taking some time, and there still aren't enough systems to go around. A case in point...
News Nintendo's 'Quality of Life' Project Lives On
"Our aim is to enable consumers to make daily efforts to improve their QOL"
Way back in 2015 it was suggested that Nintendo's Quality of Life initiative had been put on the back burner following the untimely passing of company president Satoru Iwata. Given that not much has been said about QOL, you'd be forgiven for assuming that Nintendo had...
Random We Greedily Consumed McDonald's Pokémon McFlurry In The Name Of Science
"Can anybody tell what's wrong with this picture?"
Friday night, suburban Tokyo. All through the week, the eager Japanese public have been waiting to hear what flavor the mystery Pokémon McFlurry will be. Options ranged from the reassuringly pleasant to the downright bizarre - after all, this is coming from a country that brought wasabi Kit Kat...
News We All Need These Splatoon 2 Splat Dualie Water Pistols In Our Lives
Double up
Splatoon is a series which lends itself to irresistible merchandising opportunities, be they cute plush toys or themed towels. However, one line of toys which has done very well so far is the range of official Splatoon water pistols; released alongside the first ga
Random Dry Yourself Off With These Amazing Splatoon 2 Hooded Towels
'Stay Off The Hook'
We love the emails that Play Asia sends us sometimes - it's a reminder of how quirky some products in Japan are when compared to the sort of things which we get in the West. One thing which caught our eye today are these adorable Splatoon 2 themed hooded towels. Dress up like your favourite inkling and dry your hair at the same...
Video Learn How to Access and Use the NicoNico App on Nintendo Switch
Courtesy of gaijin hunter / aevanko
Just recently it was confirmed that the first third-party video streaming app was all set for Nintendo Switch, with NicoNico coming to the Japanese eShop. While it's not the streaming news we all necessarily want at this stage, it's an encouraging first step to show that, in theory, Nintendo is willing to allow...
Video Gaze In Wonder At The VR Mario Kart You'll Probably Never Get To Play
Unless you live in Japan, that is
A short time ago we reported on the news that Bandai Namco’s new VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo would play host to a special Virtual Reality version of Mario Kart Arcade, the company's long-running racing series which is developed in conjunction with Nintendo. We only caught a glimpse of the game previously, but...
News Japanese Pokémon GO Players Are Outspending Their U.S. Counterparts
U.S. remains the biggest market, however
Pokémon GO recently passed $1.2 billion in revenue after just a year of availability, making it one of smartphone gaming's biggest success stories. Mobile analysis firm Sensor Tower has been picking apart the data, and has discovered some interesting global trends relating to the game and how much...
Random McDonald's Japan Thinks You Might Like A Broccoli-Flavoured Pokémon McFlurry
Pick your Pokémon drink of choice, if you dare
Update: Don't worry everyone - common sense prevailed and Japan will be getting a pikachu 'flavoured' chocolate banana Mcflurry this weekend! Original story: In support of the latest Pokémon movie - entitled Pokemon 20 - I choose you! - McDonald's Japan has started a campaign which gives...
News The Latest Pokémon Movie Is Ditching Two Of The Franchise's Most Famous Characters
Written out of history
There are three things you can be sure of in life: death, taxes and a new Pokémon movie every few years. The next cinematic outing for the juggernaut than is the Pokémon brand - subtitled "I Choose You!" - is getting hyped up in Japan at present, and seeks to re-tell the famous Indigo League series - which is...
Video The Real World Gets Splatted In These Japanese Splatoon 2 Commercials
The hype train has left the station
Following yesterday's Nintendo Direct, the Splatoon 2 hype train is officially boarding. To get Japanese gamers pumped for the game Nintendo have put out a trio of new commercials; the one above features live action scenes, while the two below are more focussed on gameplay footage. All of them are pretty...
Video The Japanese Trailer For Maldita Castilla DX On 3DS Is The Best Thing
"A thousand credits and a slate"
Maldita Castilla DX is coming to the 3DS eShop this year, a fact that fans of Capcom's Ghouls 'n Ghosts should be very happy about - the game is a love letter to the epic adventures of Sir Arthur and boasts gorgeous 2D visuals, excellent music and addictive gameplay. FlyHigh Works is ha
News Sales Data For 2017 Reveals Nintendo Is Killing It In Japan
8 out of the 10 best-sellers are for Nintendo systems
Nintendo has always done well in Japan traditionally; even during the rather dismal Wii U years, the Japanese software and hardware sales charts were dominated by the 3DS. However, with the Switch now available the company is attacking Japanese retail on two fronts, and the latest sales data for...
News Nintendo President Tatsumi Kimishima's Approval Rating Grows 10 Percent
97.70 percent, up from 87.14 percent last year
It's been a crazy rollercoaster ride since Tatsumi Kimishima was named as the new Nintendo president, following the tragic and untimely passing of Satoru Iwata. He had big shoes to fill following Iwata's success during the Wii and DS era, and steering the company out of the commercial disaster...
News ARMS and Nintendo Switch Keep a Grip on the Japanese Charts
Only just...
The Media Create Japanese chart results are out, and they bring positive news for Nintendo as they have a lead in both software and hardware. In the software charts we have ARMS clinging on to top spot, very narrowly seeing off the challenge from the retail iteration of the PS4 expansion Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. We then...
News Nintendo Switch Sales Surge Past A Million In Japan
Faster than Wii U, but behind the original Wii
The Nintendo Switch has sailed past the one million units sold market in its native Japan after 16 weeks of sale, Dengeki is reporting. For comparison's sake, by the same point in their lifespans the Wii had sold 1.85 million units in Japan and the Wii U had sold 820,000. The amazing success of...
News Congratulations Nintendo 64, You're A Proper Grown-Up Now
The classic system turns 21 today
It's a day of anniversaries today it seems, not only does Sonic The Hedgehog turn 26, but it is also a whopping 21 years since the Nintendo 64 was released in its native territory of Japan. Launched on 23rd June 1996, the N64 served as a landmark moment in Nintendo's history as a video game manufacturer, mainly...
News ARMS and Nintendo Switch Lead the Way in Japanese Charts
Switch titles lock out software top 3
The Media Create Japanese chart results are out, and this week has some interest for Nintendo fans courtesy of the debut of ARMS. Nintendo's new IP claimed number one spot and passed 100,000 sales, though that's well below the figures we saw for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it arrived in late April (it hit over...
News Virtual Reality Mario Kart Looks As Much Fun As It Sounds
You'll have to travel to Japan to play it, though
Mario Kart is taking a step into the world of immersive VR thanks to Bandai Namco’s spanking new VR Zone in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Mario Kart Arcade GP VR is among several VR "experiences" confirmed this week for the new venue. VR Zone is a "virtual reality arcade" powered by HTC's Vive...
News New Nikkei Report Accuses Konami Of Blacklisting Past Employees
"If you leave the company, you cannot rely on Konami's name to land a job"
Konami has made plenty of headlines over the past few years, but not always for the right reasons. Following the publisher's acrimonious split from Hideo Kojima - who was responsible for some of the company's biggest games - reports hit the Japanese media of Konami's shameful...
News Mech-Based Action RPG Implosion: Never Lose Hope Is Stomping To Switch
Robot rock
It has been revealed in the latest issue of Famitsu that smartphone title Implosion: Never Lose Hope is coming to the Nintendo Switch eShop in Japan next month. Developed by Rayark, the game will cost 1,111 Yen. In keeping with the simplistic controls of the smartphone original, Implosion showcases a stripped-down control system - the Y...
News Pictlogica Final Fantasy Is Picross With Chocobos, And It's Coming To 3DS
, Going free-to-play on 3DS in Japan next month
Square Enix is bringing its Picross-style title Pictlogica Final Fantasy to the Nintendo 3DS as a free-to-play release, it has been revealed. It's based on the smartphone version of the game, which was released in Japan in 2015. There are more than 300 puzzles to beat and 160 characters are...
News Attack on Titan 2: Future Coordinates Brings Base Building And Army Creation To 3DS
Hits Japan later this year
Spike Chunsoft has just released new details for the next game in the Attack on Titan series, which is of course based on the popular comic, TV and movie franchise. Attack on Titan 2: Future Coordinates is billed as a “3D manoeuvre action” game and will boast a story mode which runs alongside season two of...
News Mana Series Collection Starts Well in Japan as Switch Stays on Top
Despite Nintendo's struggles with supply and demand
The Media Create chart results are out, including some new releases and - in some ways - a continuation of the norm in hardware sales. Starting with game sales, Tekken 7 on PS4 has unsurprisingly taken top spot on its debut, but we do have Seiken Densetsu Collection making its debut in second...
Feature Is Tokyo's Arcade Scene Really Dying?
Roland Ingram gives us a tour of Japan's coin-op underworld
“I know Tokyo arcades are dying out, but are they easy to find?” I was asked this question recently by an author researching a Street Fighter book. Dying out?! Maybe – but there’s a long way to go. Stand with me outside the Shinjuku Minami-guchi branch of the Taito Station...
News Get an Early Look at the Super Nintendo World Attraction at Universal Studios Japan
Watch out for the piranha plants
We recently posted about the Super Nintendo World attraction that is coming to Universal Studios in Japan, but now we have our first look at the construction courtesy of L.C.A. Studios, which has posted some photos on Twitter: While the construction is obviously at a very early stage, we can see they are going for...
News Three Months After Launch, People Are Still Queuing For Nintendo Switch Consoles In Japan
Demand remains sky-high
Nintendo may have pledged to increase production for its Switch system after incredible demand worldwide, but the supply chain is still somewhat choked in Japan, with weekly sales dropping from around 45,000 to approximately 25,000. Units are selling as soon as they arrive in store and Japanese fans are becoming increasingly...
News Here's A Closer Look At The Monster Hunter XX Switch Bundle You Can't Own
Plus a look at the Monster Hunter Switch console design
You can't own the Monster Hunter XX Nintendo Switch Ver. Pack because pre-orders have sold out in Japan already, but just in case you were wondering what the packaging looks like, feast your eyes: The pack includes the Switch console, a copy of Monster Hunter XX and a dock with a unique...
News Ultra Street Fighter II Debuts at Third in Japanese Charts as Switch Leads Hardware
New 3DS LL still selling well, too
It's Media Create charts time, once again, giving us some insight into what's hot and not in the Japanese market. This week's results brought a handful of new releases, while hardware sales stayed relatively solid. Kicking off with software, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a newcomer on PS4 that took top spot,...
Random Hugh Jackman Witnesses Real-Life Mario Kart Race, Can Barely Contain His Joy
"Go! Go! Go!"
Hollywood superstar Hugh Jackman may be famous for playing the role of Wolverine in the popular X-Men series of films, but he revealed himself to be something of a secret Nintendo fan during a recent press trip to Japan to promote the movie Logan. While waiting at some lights, Jackman (who wasn't driving, we should add) turns his...
News A Lost Super Mario Anime Has Been Found and Shown Off in Japan
Super Mario: The Lost Lessons
With the popularity of the Super Mario series you'd think that, with all of the licensing Nintendo has done over 30+ years, some items will have gone missing. One of these was a short educational film in Japan called “Super Mario’s Traffic Safety”, also known as “Super Mario no Koutsuu Anzen” in Japanese...
