Nerdcore

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:09:15 GMT

LINK

The video service Hulu.com has announced that it is launching a channel for free, legal streaming of anime in the United States today. The newly added anime include 20 English-subtitled episodes of Naruto, all 37 English-subtitled episodes of Death Note, and 12 English-dubbed episodes of Mushi-Shi.

The service promises to add more titles from the anime distributors Viz Media, Funimation, and Gong — such as Bleach, Basilisk, Black Blood Brothers, Kiddy Grade, MoonPhase, Peach Girl, and School Rumble. The site had already been streaming the Speed Racer (Mach Go Go Go) series and the 2003 Astro Boy series. The site requires no fees for its anime streams and supports itself with commercial breaks within the streams.

Very interesting.... Though I'm wondering how they get to legally show fansubs, assuming that's what ANN meant for the Death Note episodes.

KINGDOM HEARTS RE: CHAIN OF MEMORIES

Sat, 20 Sep 2008 08:17:21 GMT

http://www.kh2.co.uk/

IT'S COMING TO THE US. YES. Nevermind that I have the import. I want it in English, too, fuckers. Besides, I bought Final Mix + for the cut scenes, not so much for RE: CoM. |D

GOD YES. 8D

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:30:59 GMT

A listing of the new anime series airing in Japan for the fall 2008 season.

My choices: Nodame Cantabile Paris-hen, Jigoku Shoujo Mitsuganae, Gundam 00 Second Season, Vampire Knight Guilty, Kannagi, Yozakura Quartet, Shikabane Hime: Aka, Kuroshitsuji, CHAOS;HEAD.

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 05:24:47 GMT

http://www.gametrailers.com/player/38609.html

Silent Hill Homecoming trailer.

DO WANT! *grabby hands* \:D/

HP News

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:56:05 GMT

Warner Bros.' Alan Horn Addresses Harry Potter Fans
Wednesday, August 20th, 2008

If you read this story, then you might be one of the many fans whose frustrations and criticism compelled Warner Bros. president Alan Horn to issue a statement to respond to fans, regarding the delay of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince's release until next July.

Warner Bros. president Alan Horn has released the following statement:

Many of you have written to me to express your disappointment in our moving Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to Summer 2009.

Please be assured that we share your love for Harry Potter and would certainly never do anything to hurt any of the films. Over the past 10 years, we have nurtured and protected each film, and the integrity of the books upon which they are based, to the best of our ability.

The decision to move Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was not taken lightly, and was never intended to upset our Harry Potter fans. We know you have built this series into what it is, and we thank you for your ongoing enthusiasm and support.

If I may offer a silver lining: there would have been a two-year gap between Half-Blood Prince and the much-anticipated first part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which opens in November 2010.

So although we have to wait a little longer for Half-Blood Prince, the wait from that film until Deathly Hallows will be less than 18 months. I am sorry to have disappointed you now, but if you hold on a little longer, I believe it will be worth the wait.
Alan Horn
President, Chief Operating Officer
Warner Bros.

SOURCE

This really does nothing to console me :(

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:12:59 GMT

LINK

Regular readers know that I love video games as much as the next guy. In fact, my right ankle is still sore from drumming my way through a marathon Rock Band session last night (who knew calibrating the TV would make such a difference!?), and I'm always looking for the latest titles to pop into my Xbox.

But how much gaming is too much? For North Carolina native Blake Peebles, there's no such thing. Guitar Hero is his title of choice. "I usually play till I can't anymore," he says, in this profile from the News & Observer.

In fact, young Mr. Peebles is dropping out of high school... in order to focus on Guitar Hero full time. Peebles hopes to join the small but growing crew of players looking to make gaming a job. Citing his victories in Guitar Hero tournaments, which include "gift certificates, gaming equipment, and chicken sandwiches," Peebles thinks he has the chops to play competitively and earn actual money in the process. As the story notes, top gamers on the competitive circuit can earn up to $80,000 a year (though $25,000 is more common). Peebles, of course, can count his 52 Chick-fil-A combo meals toward that total.

I was at first inclined to disparage the decision by his parents to let Peebles drop out of school, but it seems a little less ridiculous when you delve into the facts. Peebles hadn't been doing well in school and wasn't liked, and even now he isn't gaming full time. He has a tutor that provides a private education, and his parents say he's doing well with the more focused instruction and that their son now even does his homework without complaint. (Presumably he can hit the axe sooner after he's finished his studies.)

However, I worry that Peebles, who's just 16, may have a tough road ahead trying to break into competitive gaming. The costs of traveling to tournaments alone can totally outstrip earnings, and the amount of training can be grueling. Sponsorships are often a pipe dream. And then there's the issue of games going out of date and being replaced by something new. Traditional athletes never have to worry about, say, distance running being upgraded with a new version, but many games can go out of style, fast. In the end, there's just not much cash there: One gamer, quoted at the end of the linked article, says that in eight years his total earnings are about $25,000 total, and that's including a national championship in Halo 2.

While I disagree with Peebles's parents' decision I'll also quote one of the commenters in that article with a statement that makes perfect sense to me...

if u have that much time to play video game guitar, TAKE UP THE REAL GUITAR, WHY WOULD U SPEND THAT MUCH TIME PERFECTING SOMETHING FAKE, MORE MONEY FROM REAL GUITAR

News on Cowboy Bebop flim casting

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 21:21:00 GMT

HERE'S HOPING THIS SHIT IS A RUMOR ONLY.

A source at FirstShowing is reporting a juicy rumor that Keanu Reeves has been attached to play Spike Spiegel in a big budget live-action adaptation of Cowboy Bebop.

Sinichiro Watanabe’s popular Japanese anime is set in the year 2071 AD, and follows a group of bounty hunters, called “Cowboys”, on the spaceship Bebop. Spiegel is a former member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate who is haunted by the memory of his time in the organization. Fox has yet to announce a writer or director, but the project is being fast tracked for a 2010 release. The popular anime has spawned an animated movie, two manga series, and two video games. Not much more information is known at this time.

FUCK. NO.

I REFUSE.

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:32:25 GMT

DO WANT! :D

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:16:36 GMT

I can already here the fangirling over Kamina, heh.

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:59:01 GMT

BRB GONNA GO AND MAKE SCREENCAPS OF THIS TRAILER LOL.

Writing news for Iron Man 2 and casting news for the Avengers.

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:43:49 GMT

Louis Leterrier says new Avenger will feature in Iron Man 2 and Jackson, Downey and Norton set for Avengers in 2011.

Louis Leterrier has revealed not only that Jon Favreau is currently writing Iron Man 2 with Robert Downey Jr., but that the sequel to the Spring blockbuster will feature a new character from the Avengers, after the brief appearance by Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury in the post-credits sequence of Iron Man.

Additionally Leterrier is reported to have said that 2011 will definitely bring Jackson, Downey Jr., Hulk actor Ed Norton and two other 'A-list actors' - presumably whichever A-listers get cast as Thor and Captain America in their respective upcoming movies that Marvel is also producing - together for the Avengers movie.
DoG source 'Mr Miyagi' spoke with Leterrier - who had just come from a meeting with Iron Man director Jon Favreau - at the Marvel Night at the Grand Rex in Paris in early July.
Current expected release dates are Iron Man 2 in 2010, Thor is pencilled in for 2010, Avengers in 2011 while The First Avenger: Captain America is due in May 2011 too.

Ugh, so excited for this. I just want to see who they're casting as Thor and Captain America. I'm hoping they keep doing the bang up job they've done with casting so far on the other movies, and not do a repeat of casting for the FIRST HULK or Daredevil or something.

Also...

RDJ and Edward Norton in the same film?

Yes, please.

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:34:06 GMT

Researchers led by Takahisa Furukawa, M.D. & Ph.D. of Japan's Osaka Bioscience Institute have named a protein that they discovered after the Pikachu character from Nintendo's Pokémon game and anime franchise. The "Pikachurin" protein plays a role in the efficient transmission of kinetic vision information from the eyes to the brain, so the researchers named the protein after the Pokémon character known for its fast moves. The researchers expect that the discovery will help advance the treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, a major hereditary cause of blindness.

LINK

The September issue of Kodansha's Nakayoshi magazine will reportedly announce on August 2 that the anime adaptation of Peach-Pit's Shugo Chara! manga has been green-lit for a second year. The two manga artists who make up Peach-Pit have been drawing their take on the magical girl genre since the end of 2005, and director Kenji Yasuda and the Satelight animators have been producing the anime version since last fall. The manga won the Best Children's Manga honor in this year's Kodansha Manga Awards. Del Rey publishes the manga version in North America.

LINK

The North American distributor Funimation has announced in its Monday video update that it has acquired the Baccano! anime series. Funimation's official website for the series is streaming the first English-subtitled episode for users who type in the anime's featured train (Flying Pussyfoot) as the password. Takahiro Omori directed this Aniplex adaptation of Ryohgo Narita's light novel series about immortal alchemists, thieves, and killers whose paths meet in the United States during the 1930's.

LINK

The Disney Channel in Japan has launched the official website for the Japanese-animated Stitch! television spinoff based on Disney's Lilo & Stitch film, and the site is streaming a promotional video from the series. (In the linked page, select the third button on the lefthand side to see the video.) In the new story, the alien creature Stitch is running off on the mad scientist Jumba's space scooter when he gets caught in a space storm and has to make an emergency landing at Izayoi Island, the southermost tip of Japan. There, he meets Yūna, a spirited fourth-grade girl who happens to know karate. Yūna tells Stitch about the Stone of Chitama, a mysterious object that can make any wish come true. However, he has to perform 43 good deeds to receive his wish.

The series will premiere on Japanese television this October. The site has an introduction to the story (first blue button on the left) and profiles (second blue button on the left) of the six main characters, including Stitch, Yūna, the native creature Kijimunaa, Yūna's grandmother Obā, the galactic agent Pleakley, and Jamba. Disney first announced the series in March, and it screened a pilot video during the Tokyo International Anime Fair that month.

LINK

FFIV

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:49:29 GMT

As you may have figured from the title and image alone, you can get your copy of Final Fantasy IV for the Nintendo DS today! Lord knows I have mine! Mwahaha.

Live action Cowboy Bebop in the works

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 20:34:20 GMT

Exclusive: LIVE-ACTION 'COWBOY BEBOP' MOVIE IS IN THE WORKS
Producer Erwin Stoff reveals that he is developing a live-action adaptation of the iconic anime for Fox.

By CHARLENE CHENG, News Editor
Published 7/22/2008

LOCATION: Beverly Hills, CA

THE SKINNY: If anybody is in the mood for some exhilarating, long-anticipated, previously-unannounced breaking news about anime series COWBOY BEBOP, iF Magazine has the exclusive scoop for you.

We caught up with producer-extraordinaire Erwin Stoff at the NBC TCAs where he was promoting his upcoming updated-David-and-Goliath-based show KINGS. When asked about other projects he is currently working on, Stoff, let slip some very juicy news about a very beloved anime franchise.

“I’m developing COWBOY BEBOP for Fox, but doing it as a live-action film, so I’m working on that at the moment,” Stoff tells iF. “I’m really excited to be working on it, and it’s in the really early stages. We just signed it the other day.”

Before any of you BEBOP fanboys/fangirls get your skivvies in a twist about yet another questionable anime-to-human adaptation (see: DRAGONBALL), iF made sure to get an oath of fidelity to the original material from Stoff.

“I have such an enormous admiration for its creators, that our first and foremost concern is going to be a real degree of faithfulness to the tone of the movie, to the mix of genres, and so on and so forth,” he says. “When I met with them in Japan, one of the first things that I brought up was the experience that we had on A SCANNER DARKLY, and how hard we worked to remain faithful to Philip K. Dick, and that was our big concern here.”

For those skeptical about the casting possibilities, Stoff has the following to say: “Flak about choices is meaningless until people see the movie," he notes. "When people see the movie, then criticism has a place in it.”

Does Stoff think that American audiences that aren’t familiar with the anime will have trouble getting aboard?

“No, I really don’t think they will,” says Scoff. “I think they haven’t [gotten aboard] with the anime because it’s had limited exposure - it’s just been on Adult Swim, and so on. I think the ability to tell this larger frame - the ability to build a world that’s iconically American in its Western nature - I don’t think so at all.”

Source

Thoughts?

TOTA ANIME!!1!

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 03:21:02 GMT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snp3fvVtVqY

YES. A TALES OF THE ABYSS ANIME. OCTOBER, THEY SAY. OF COURSE I'M EXCITED.

More from GameStop...

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:58:57 GMT

So, it's not an official release date, but it's at least been confirmed that Chrono Trigger is in fact in the works.
SOURCE.

That aside, I was asked if The DS Guitar Hero (On Tour) handles differently for lefties. I tried it, and when you insert the guitar peripheral you're encouraged to hold the DS with your left hand and strum with your right. I found this easy to get used to. I hope this answers any questions.

Also, Final Fantasy XIII has been confirmed on Xbox360.

Lastly, the Xbox360 Pro has gone down in price to $299.99.

Chrono trigger.

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 02:48:22 GMT

Got your attention? Good. There's a rumor going around that the next big re-release on the DS is gonna be, you guessed it, Chrono Trigger.

I'll update again once I get more information~

GAMESTOP CRAP~

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:16:16 GMT

You can download Deoxys for free at any participating GameStop on either June 20-22 or June 27-29.

Please note that Nintendo didn't give out enough of the download chips so some stores may not have them for this reason.

DETAILS.

Also, Games that come out tomorrow are:
Rockband (Wii)
Guitar Hero On Tour (DS)

Another message from your friendly GameStop employee.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:55:30 GMT

We just had a bunch of mark downs on used games at GameStop, among which Devil May Cry 3 was dropped to $12.99. Also, until the end of the month, there's the Game Days Sale where you can get up to 50% off of select new games and accessories. I just got a charger for my Wii-mote so I don't have to keep buying batteries for that motherfucker. So. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS DEAL, GAIZ.

Funny shit:Episode One [Wanting to be Loved] A horrible MGS slash fic.

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:01:12 GMT

Just felt like being a jerk today, making fun of this legendarily bad fanfic called ~ Wanting To Be Loved ~
By Synthesis Landale

Enjoy.

Prologue

Balthier: For the love of the Gods, I can not believe such a horrible story exists...*Grumbles a bit as he turns away from the screen.

Dr. Cid: *Looks over at him, was doing a sudoku puzzle.* What's a matter, son? You aren't fooling around on AIM again, are you?

Balthier: *Eye roll* Don't give me that, old man. I am no mood for your jest after reading such lewd...garbage!

Dr. Cid: Oh? What are you speaking about, Fframan? *Gets up and moseys over toward the monitor

Balthier: It's BALTHIER, old man! B A L T H I E R! Got it? *Glares a bit* It's some horrible story I had the displeasure of running into online...
It's called 'Wanting to be Loved' and for the sake of the Gods, I think my mind may have died after reading such repugnant trash!

Dr. Cid: Oh, really now? Where did you find this little diddy in the first place? Don't you dare tell me you've been anonying on 4CHAN again, Balthier...

Balthier: PAY ATTENTION, OLD MAN! I just randomly found it thanks to Vaan who signed on earlier! He has a fetish for this sort of...*Turns up his nose toward the monitor in a look of disdain.* Literature...

Dr. Cid: My word! I think the boy should come out from the closet but this is ridiculous! *Skimming over the fanfic on the screen* Mhm...let's tear it apart, Balthier. Like good ol' times!

Balthier: Mhm? *Raises an eyebrow and starts grinning* Ah yes! Like the time we ran into the SQUIRRELKING's works, yes?

Dr. Cid: *Evil Grin* Indeed....

------------------------------

Wanting to be Loved- THE WORST METAL GEAR SLASH FIC EVER!
Narrated by Balthier and Dr. Cid!

Dr. Cid: Well, well....let's get this show on road, dear son!

Balthier: Mind your matters, old man!

Snake noted that this mission was going badly wrong as he drew close to the torture room.

Balthier: Oh, God...this sounds badly wrong indeed....

Otacon had been captured, and they hadn't been able to find evidence of the new Metal Gear anywhere.
It had all been a trap to lure them out here. Snake wouldn't have minded so much if this was the first time they'd been set up, but they'd fallen into a trap before, and were blamed for the tanker incident and the ensuing environmental disaster.

Dr. Cid: Why the hell is Otacon captured? Where are they at? Where ARE THEY AT?
Are they floating in space or something? I am not very sure what this whole Metal Gear mess, but what is luring them out? Invisible men?

Balthier: Not to mention the word HADN'T does not bloody exist, first of all!

Snake slunk around the corner in perfect silence. He was close to where Otacon was being held, he was sure of it. He was just hoping that Otacon wasn't being treated too badly...

*^*

Balthier: You have no idea what is about to come, Snake. No idea....

Otacon whimpered. "Leave me alone!"

Ocelot laughed, "Why should I?" he said, "I have good things in store for you..."

Dr. Cid: ...now that line Ocelot said greatly DISTURBED me, son.

Balthier: It gets much worse, father.

Otacon suddenly felt very exposed. He was naked and bound to some kind of metal table, face down. He couldn't see a thing, and that frightened him even more. He just wanted Snake to come and rescue him before something terrible happened.

Dr. Cid: Huh?! What? What just happened? Did Ocelot magically strip off the poor sap's clothing with his magic words? I smell a horrifically bad scene coming, Fframan...

Balthier: It's BATHIER!

Dr. Cid: Oh,whichever!

"Oh, don't worry..." Ocelot said wickedly, "You'll enjoy this..."

Balthier: The hell we will!

Dr. Cid: The only way I would ever enjoy this, is if I get a forced lobotomy...

Otacon felt something warm being pressed up against his ass, and wanted to scream when he figured out what it was.

Balthier: ...wait...
Dr. Cid: ...no, please tell me this is not what I think it is...

It thrust against him suddenly, and he cried out as searing pain shot through his body.

Balthier: AHHHHH!!!!!!! *covers eyes*
Dr. Cid: GOD LORD!? >_<

"NOOO!" Otacon screamed.

Balthier: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Dr. Cid: NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

"Get away from me!" He sobbed as Ocelot violated him. He'd always been used, abused, destroyed, and now Ocelot was taking the last piece of innocence he had left...

Dr. Cid: What the devils?! Ass hymen? Good Lord, son! I can't read this anymore!
Honestly!

Balthier: Oh, you think THIS is bad?

the part he'd wanted to save for the man he'd loved all this time but had never been able to tell... Now, he had nothing left to offer anyone.

Dr. Cid: Why the fuck would anyone want to offer THAT to anyone?

Balthier: Now now, father! Don't get too testy, you have yet to see the fanfics that include you with a certain Solidor!

Dr. Cid: !?

He was glad he was blindfolded, but he wished he wasn't awake, either. The sound of Ocelot's moans and the feeling of him pressing hard into Otacon was making him feel sick. He was crying, sobbing, unable to control his emotions. He wanted to wake up and discover this was some kind of sick nightmare, but he knew it wasn't, the pain was too intense, the agony in his soul was too real.

Balthier: Oh, but it IS a sick nightmare....

Dr. Cid: *Got up and walked away by now*

He was so sore, he just wanted it to end, but it just got worse as Ocelot neared climax. He pushed into him harder and harder, and all Otacon could do was scream in agony and cry as Ocelot came inside him. Otacon wanted to be sick.

Balthier: I think we beaten you to the *sick* part, Otacon.

Dr. Cid: *A sickly series of coughs could be heard in the background*

Balthier: Dry heaving already, old man? *looks over*

"FREEZE!" came a cry from the door. Ocelot withdrew from Otacon and turned around slowly, laughing wickedly as he zipped up his trousers. Snake glowered at him with a look of sheer disgust as he felt his blood boil inside of him at the realization of what Ocelot had done to Otacon.

Balthier: I think you should be throwing up, Snake...
I mean honestly, Hal just got assraped by a 65 year old gremlin,!!!

Ocelot laughed. "You missed the show, Snake," he said, "Your little friend here was very... good. A virgin too...!"

Dr. Cid: *shouting* HOW CAN THIS WOMAN WRITE THIS GARBAGE WITH A STRAIGHT FACE?!

Balthier: See, now you realize why I called it trash to begin with...

[EPISODE TWO, TOMORROW]

METAL GEAR SOLID 4

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:42:54 GMT

Of course, if any readers a hardcore Metal Gear fans, you'll already know that it comes out tomorrow but if you've got this game reserved at any of the GameStop/EB Games/et cetera stores, you might want to check here to see if your store is having a midnight release. Also, they MGS4/PS3 bundle packs will be limited in quantity so if you were planning on getting one, you'll have to be there before everyone else.