Saturday, September 30, 2006

Xbox 360 Bronze, Gold and Chrome Faceplates



All currently available from Liksang.com

Copperized Bronze Faceplate

Gold Faceplate

Chrome Faceplate

How to Remove your Faceplate

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Rumble Roses XX Cosplay





Reiko Hinomoto was raised and trained in the art of wrestling from early childhood by her mother, a legendary wrestler in her own right. When she was 12, Reiko was told that her mother had died during a match while on tour in the U.S. Reiko's older sister, with whom she had grown up training, left for the U.S vowing to seek revenge and has not been heard from since. Now Reiko searches for glory and her sister.

Images from comic.qq.com (slow loading)
Rumble Roses xx fansite
Official Japanese Website

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Friday, September 29, 2006

Gaming Filth and a brown paper bag

March 2006 saw the introduction in Japan of a new rating system for games. And so it came to pass that Z-rating (18+) came to be. And what has been the impact of such an apparently cosmetic exercise? Well so far quite dramatic, that is if we take the experience and quite rational argument set forth by a certain Jonnyram on Gamescience.

It appears that Z-rated games have had a number of Japanese game stores running scared, so scared that some select Z-rated games have literally been consigned to the back room.

In one case the purchaser of a Gaming Nasty was required to pass a non descript card to the counter assistant before the offending piece of filth made it onto the shop floor.

As America steps up its war on video games with the passing of the Children Media Research and Advancement Act, can gamer's in the West expect a similar scenario as our gaming comrades in Japan?.

As our favourite entertainment medium increasingly becomes a scapegoat for failed social policies, and we skulk home with our latest deviancy wrapped in a brown paper bag, we can take comfort knowing that we're not completely at odds with societal concerns, at least the bag is bio-degradable.

Full story from Gamescience



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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Metal Gear 4 TGS 2006 Trailer


The trailer from the Tokyo Games Show 2006, featuring the enigmatic "young" solid snake lookalike at trailer end. MGS4:Guns of the Patriot, the next-generation adventure set in the aftermath of MGS2: Sons of Liberty and more mystery to keep us guessing till by all accounts late 2007. Stunningly the trailer was made by editing together clips from someone's actual gameplay session. The only difference from the real gameplay experience is that cinematic camera angles are used in the trailer.

The game is no longer about "sneaking missions." you have a goal, and you're free to decide how to get there. You can use stealth to get to the goal with minimal resistance, or you can kill off all your enemies. All extremely impressive, but who the hell is the new guy?????


83 screenshots and 10 videos from IGN

Trailer Details from IGN








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Latest Concept Art from Assasin's Creed




Images from Playsyde.com

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Fantasy Art Susan McKinvergan



Prior to working with digital art, Susan McKinvergan completed 2 years of her BA in Fine Arts at St. Petersburg College in Florida. Her preffered tools of the trade are Photoshop CS, Poser 6, & Vue 5, alongside with my Wacom Int3 Graphics Tablet. An Everquest fanatic, she discontinued her 5 year love affair with online adventures and currently keeps herself busy growin her extraordinary portfolio at Deviant Art , setting up shop at Cafepress and being a mum. Her work has recently featured in the July issue of the magazine ImagineFX. Visit her website Cosmosue.net for more illustrations and print order details.

Official Website

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Monday, September 25, 2006

Aya Ueto Yume No Chikara

Aya Ueto, (born September 14, 1985 in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan) is a Japanese actress, idol, and singer. Her discovery in a national beauty pageant, led to many TV commercial deals, which would eventually start her acting career. She released her first single, "Pureness," in 2002. Since then, she has released several more singles and three albums. She starred in Ryuhei Kitamura's blockbuster Azumi (hence the samurai sword shot) and in its sequel, Azumi 2: Death or Love.

Official Ayo Ueto Website
from morbidangel on Video utopia


Replay video | Share video | Watch more videos


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Dawn of Mana (Ps2)


Secret of Mana is a Squaresoft action/RPG, released in 1993 for the Super Nintendo. In Japan it was known as Seiken Densetsu 2, a golden classic of the 16-bit age.

Dawn of Mana, (Seiken Densetu 4 in Japan), is the first direct sequel in the series since the days of the SNES. A prequel, it promises to weave a tale of the origins of the Tree, Sword, and Goddess of Mana, as well as about how people came to learn about magic. The game is set for release this December in Japan and due in the US for Q1 of 2007. Luckily for us IGN have had a quick look.

IGN Preview

Secret Mana the game
Screenshots from IGN

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Sunday, September 24, 2006

Xbox 360 case modding without the Solder Iron

Not that I have anything against soldering irons mind you, but if like me your still in awe of the light switch and would like to change the appearance of that garish white block under your TV, then this may well be the answer. Features include:

  • Full Replacement Case for your Xbox 360 console!
  • High Quality Black Case with Blue LED and Clear X cutout.
  • Also Includes Black Faceplate, DVD Bezel, and Eject Button
  • Case Opening Tool Included
  • No Additional Tools Needed!
  • Easy to Install - 10-15 Mins

  • but yep you guessed it there's always something to spoil the party
    Installation of the case WILL...... void your warranty

    Available From Lik Sang

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    Saturday, September 23, 2006

    Rurouni Kenshin Wandering Samurai Premium DVD



    It is the start of the Meiji Era, 10 years since the end of the rule of the Shogun and the Samurai in Japan. A Rurouni(wandering Master Samurai) named Kenshin travels to Tokyo to find a new life with new friends. Trying to escape his past as the Hitokiri Battousi (the greatest killer of men) and grieving for the lives he has taken, he tries to escape his past and vows never to kill again. However, an old menace, threatens the peace of the new Meiji Era.

    And now if you could push back your chairs before playing this fan edited clip featuring the theme song "Butterfly" from paradiseiscalling on youtube



    Box Set Region 1 DVD (United States of America, Canada) Wandering Samurai contains the first 27 episodes of Rurouni Kenshin


    Wallpaper from Romantation.com

    Available from Japanimation.com

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    Pan's Labyrinth Trailer


    From the Director of Hellboy, set for general release on December 29th, Pan's Labyrinth is a fanciful and chilling story set against the backdrop of a fascist regime in 1944 rural Spain. The film centers on Ofelia, a lonely and dreamy child living with her mother and adoptive father; a military officer tasked with ridding the area of rebels. In her loneliness, Ofelia creates a world filled with fantastical creatures and secret destinies. With post-war repression at its height, Ofelia must come to terms with her world through a fable of her own creation.

    Trailer from wanax on youtube



    Posters and screenshots
    Official Website
    Rated a movie masterpiece by Latino Review
    (Movie review-----MAAAAjor Spoilers)

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    Friday, September 22, 2006

    Blue Dragon Preview and Trailer

    The first of two epic RPG projects for Microsoft by Mistwalker , the studio founded by Square-Enix's and Final Fantasy fame Hironobu Sakaguchi. Set for release in Japan on December 7th with a 2007 relase planned for the rest of us.

    Blue Dragon featuring characters by designer Akira Toriyama (Dragon Quest, Dragon Ball, Chronoquest), tells the story of a young boy named Shu who has special adventure with his two friends and a mythical blue dragon.

    The setting is a planet that is abundant with ancient ruins from a past civilization. The main character is a boy named Shu who is only 16 years of age. A few of his friends will be tagging along on his adventures such as Kluke and Jiro. There is drama between the three as Jiro has feelings towards Kluke and feels Shu is his rival trying to earn Kluke’s affection. The rest of the cast is completed by Zora, a 20-year old mercenary who doesn’t place any type of trust in anyone, and Marumaro, who is only 14. Marumaro is from the “Devi tribe” and he expresses himself through his awkward dances.

    Official Website set to go live on October 7th
    Blue Dragon Screenshots from IGN
    Blue Dragon preview from 1up
    Blue Dragon movie page from Gamespot

    Trailer from hyogaraul on Youtube



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    Thursday, September 21, 2006

    Tuesday, September 19, 2006

    Untold Legends Dark Kingdom Buddy Icons and Wallpaper

    Set for US release November 17th, the official website has been updated with 3 wallpapers and some buddy icons, for the buddy icon conscious amongst us.

    see also
    Dark Kingdom Concept Art

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    Star Wars Next Gen Trailer and Concept Art

    Both Trailer and concept art were not originally intended for distribution outside of LucasArts, but they liked it so much, they just had to share. The trailer and images are a target for what the first Star Wars game created exclusively for next-gen consoles should play like. Game Title and Characters have yet to be revealed.

    10mb Trailer and 2 more art pieces from Worthplaying.com

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    Famitsu Scans: Infinite Undiscovery

    No idea as to the storyline or gameplay details, which would make you wonder what sort of interview questions Famitsu were asking. Tri-Ace president Yoshiharu Gota, producer of Infinite Undiscovery bored with the tried and tested RPG did say that his team are endeavouring to develop a game that "pulls on the excitement of a true RPG" a game which seeks to "combines the slow thought of standard RPGs with the quick reflexes required of a battle system with time limits, and the strategy of real time gameplay."

    Full story from IGN
    Full size scans from Ruliweb
    2 scans weighing in at 10mb

    Box Art: NFS carbon, Red Steel, Lost Planet




    From Ruliweb.dreamwiz.com

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    Monday, September 18, 2006

    European Wii

    Nintendo have announced that on December 8th, European gamers with £179 or €249 in their pockets will be able to walk out of their local gamestore with a glistening fresh smelling Wii in their hands. Each unit will come with Wii Sports, a single Wii-mote and Nunchuk attachment. Games will cost between £34-£39 (49-50 Euros).

    Why I am getting this dreadful sinking feeling there won't be enough for everyone? Time to cheer myself up, with a one minute trailer for Twilight Princess from majinvegata on youtube



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    Sunday, September 17, 2006

    Retro Review: Hacker for Commodore 64

    1985, the days when your phone line was only used for making telephone calls, it's been two years since the release of the film WarGames, and computer hacking and computer security are in the limelight. Activision release Hacker, with the unique byline "You found your way in, but is there a way out".

    Designed by Steve Cartwright, produced by Brad Fregger and released for the Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari XL/XE, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Macintosh, MS-DOS, MSX and ZX Spectrum.

    Hacker is an adventure/trading game based on what was then a unique idea. The game was shipped with minimal instructions to get the game going, but no information on how to play, thus building the notion that the player was to about to experience a real hacking experience,

    You start into the adventure as a real hacker would do, lacking information of what is to come, only driven by your ambition. Consequently, the game opens with a plain text screen, prompting you for the login password. Of course you've no idea what the password is, but after a few attempts the computer throws a glitch and automatically logs you on.

    Once in, you'll soon find out that you've accidentally stumbled upon a conspiracy of global impact. The player gains control of the robot (powered by magma no less) which can travel around the globe via secret tunnels, deep within the earth.

    In major cities, you surface and talk to contact persons, who'll trade items for cash. When delivered to the correct city, you can exchange these items for a piece of evidence. If all evidence is collected, you're to inform the FBI. As if figuring out the correct routes and trades wasn't hard enough, frequent system malfunctions and security checks test your skill along the way.

    Hacker on Mobygames
    Hacker on Wikipedia
    Hacker on lemon64
    ZZap 64 mag scan
    Hacker on ebay

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