News:: Canada gets anime tourism commercial from Your Name creators

Last year marked the release of Your Name, one of the most successful anime films was released in Japan and worldwide, wowed audiences with stunningly beautiful animation and evoked many emotions within its viewers. Now, the creators of Your Name, renowned director Makoto Shinkai and the studio CoMix Wave, has now put their skills to work to promoting the beautiful sites of Canada.

The 31 second video seen above features a few locations of the country from: Vancouver, Toronto, Banff, Abraham Lake, Canadian Rockies, Nagara Falls. This tourism campaign is intended for the Japanese market, in cooperation with the Destination Canada, which is owned by the Canadian government. So the Canadian government and its people paid for anime to be created and that is something I don't think I would ever write or think ever in my lifetime.

This isn't the first time that Makoto Shinkai was involved in creating a commercial in his gorgeous anime style that I believe to be the progenitor to Your Name. The anime commercial was for a mail order cram school tutoring service, kinda like those "cram schools" that you see in anime where students get extra supplementary schoolwork but this one is done via the postal service.

The video is below for those interested to see just how someone like the Makoto Shinkai and his studio can make something very monotonous as schoolwork into something great with ridiculously pretty animation and music.

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News:: 'Super Mario Run' update breathes life into Nintendo's mobile plans

You'd be forgiven for wondering what was happening with Super Mario Run. After a flurry of activity in its first few months, things have mostly quieted down. However, Nintendo is about to spark a bit of life into its signature mobile game. It's releasing an update on September 29th that adds some (frankly needed) variety. You can play as Daisy, for instance. There's a new world (World Star) with new gameplay elements, and a Remix 10 game mode that randomizes parts of 10 levels for a fast, perpetually fresh experience. You can also listen to your own music while you play, and your character will even don headphones to reflect that you're not listening to the usual Super Mario themes.

Via: Polygon

Source: Nintendo (Twitter), App Store (iOS required)

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News:: Dragon's Crown's most controversial character gets a new figure

Orchid Seed is a funny company. When Dragon's Crown came out in 2013, a few figure makers announced that they would be picking up the property. Around that time, Orchid Seed announced their very own Sorceress figure. And then, a whole lot of nothing happened...

As the years wore on, MegaHouse released their Dragon's Crown lineup. Max Factory, belatedly, released their Sorceress figure. I was starting to think Orchid Seed's version was just going to wind up in their large pile of abandoned projects. But now I see the truth. They had known all along that Dragon's Crown Pro was on the way, and timed this pre-order accordingly!

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News:: Final Fantasy-dedicated art exhibit celebrates 30th anniversary this January

Descending the escaltor at Kaihin Makuhari Station to attend the Tokyo Game Show, one can see monochrome posters of each Final Fantasy and their protagonist. During TGS it has been announced that a full Final Fantasy art exhibit is coming to Tokyo to celebrate the series's 30th anniversary. The first game originally released on December 18, 1987 but hey who's counting?

It can be seen from January 22, 2018 through February 28, 2018 at Roppongi Hills' Tokyo City View Observation Deck Gallery. If it's anything like the Sailor Moon exhibit that was held in the same location it should be elaborate. Seeing that makes me hopeful, otherwise I wouldn't expect much after an underwhelming Tokyo Tower light-up event.

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News:: Kotobukiya announces a Decapre Bishoujo figure

Keeping with the grand tradition of fighting game character design, Kotobukiya has palette-swapped their upcoming Cammy figure to create a Bishoujo Decapre. It makes sense, as Kotobukiya gets to capitalize on a popular character and get more mileage out of the Street Fighter Alpha Cammy design.

For the time being this is just a teaser illustration. There hasn't been a sculpt revealed yet. But judging by previous Bishoujo releases and the base Cammy sculpt, I'd expect a bit more musculature when this transitions to 3D. Decapre is set for a March 2018 release in Japan and an April 2018 US release. Kotobukiya's Facebook page has the price at US$84.99.

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News:: Android 21, Yamcha, and Tien tag in for Dragon Ball FighterZ

As part of the character trailer series for Bandai Namco's Dragon Ball FighterZ, recently announced characters Yamcha and Tien had their trailers shown at Tokyo Game Show 2017. They show off their signature moves including Tri Beam, and Wolfgang Fang Fist while Chiaotzu assists Tien.

A trailer revealing how Goku, Krillin, and Android 18 first encounter Android 21 has also been released. She appears in doctor's garb and tends to an injured Android 18.

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News:: Koei Tecmo finally ready to move on from Dead or Alive 5

September 25 will mark the 5th anniversary of the first release of Dead or Alive 5, Koei Tecmo's beautiful babe and bro brawler that has seen as many re-releases and version updates as it has articles online referring to it as filth. There is the original, Dead or Alive 5 Plus for the PlayStation Vita, Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate for last-gen consoles, Dead or Alive 5 Last Round for current-gen consoles, Dead or Alive Ultimate Arcade and the free-to-play Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate Core Fighters.

DLC for Last Round has been an ongoing affair. Currently in its seventh season, the total cost for all of the game's DLC is an extremely affordable $633. It's no Train Simulator but goddamn that is a lot of money for some costumes. This December, that all comes to an end.

At the Tokyo Game Show, producer Yosuke Hayashi confirmed DLC support for the game will end this year so the team can "focus on the future."I hope this means we'll finally see a Dead or Alive 6 soonish, and hopefully, Venus Vacation's Misaki will be able to make her fighting game debut because she looks like she's ready to throw down.

Dead or Alive 5: Last Round DLC Releases Ending This Year; Developers Prepare for the Future [Dual Shockers]

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News:: Watch some in-depth Monster Hunter World character and Palico creation

As in previous entries, Monster Hunter World will feature character creation for both your player character and your Palico companion. For the player character you can choose from 10 presets and edit face type, skin color, age, hair style, gender, eyebrows, forehead, eye color, eye position, eyelash length, nose, mouth, facial hair, makeup/face-paint, facial expression, voice, underwear, starting equipment, and lightning. These changes will reflect in cutscenes as well as gameplay.

The Palico creator begins with 12 presets and then let's you change it's hair (length, thickness, color), patterns, individual eye color, ears, tail, voice, skin color, and starting equipment.

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News:: My favorite places in video games

[For some folks, playing a game means more than taking in the gameplay or the characters. For people like JPF720, the scenery can be just as big a part of the experience as actually playing. Join him as he revisits some of his favorite places in gaming, in this our latest entry of Who Let the Blogs Out?!, our series of highlighting gems we missed the first go around. Write a sweet blog like this one, and you could see it promoted to Destructoid's Front Page! - Wes]

Following my previous blog post about the way the context and setting of certain works influence my motivation to experience them and my initial investment, I've decided to go ahead and share some wonderful places I’ve visited in video games that really left a mark.

I tried to only pick places which are smaller in scale. Maybe some other time I'll write about towns or, at least, some slightly more expansive areas (*hint*hint*). On to stuff!

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News:: Create your own character in Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet in early 2018

Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet is releasing in early 2018 with a season pass, character creator, and limited edition package. The Japanese release date is February 18, 2018 and while Sword Art Online games have usually taken between four to eight months to release in the west, the most recent non-crossover title, Hollow Realization, only took 12 days to release worldwide after it's Japanese release and the western release of Fatal Bullet still reads "early 2018."

A limited edition package (not confirmed for outside Japan yet) will include a special box, two-disc soundtrack CD set, special contents book, Dengeki NerveGere Special Version Vol. 05 magazine, and special product code card for 10,900 yen (~$93). Three additional DLC episodes are planned with new dungeons, quests, enemies, and systems at 1,200 yen (~$10) apiece or you can get them all in a 3,000 yen (~$27) season pass. There is also a “Knights of the Blood” costume for Asuna for first-print copies. If you want both the limited edition pack and the season pass, you can get the Premium Edition for 11,200 yen (~$100).

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News:: The first trailer for DoA Xtreme: Venus Vacation promises surf, sand, and steamy showers

It's been a long, slow, ecstasy-inducing tease for Dead or Alive Xtreme: Venus Vacation, the upcoming browser game from DMM and Koei Tecmo. After getting a naughty little peek at the game more than a year ago, the developers used the Tokyo Game Show to finally bare all on its free-to-play project with a new trailer that shows off the girls, the games, and everything players will be gawking at when it launches later this year.

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News:: Inside coming to Nintendo Switch and iOS

Inside, a popular indie side-scrolling puzzle-platformer by the makers of Limbo, is headed to Nintendo Switch and iOS devices at an unannounced date. This news comes via a Famitsu interview with a Playdead developer. The game is already available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Count me among those who were not terribly impressed by the game nor it's predecessor, Limbo. The visuals are nice and I appreciate the story-telling and gameplay without tons of text-boxes, extended cut-scenes, and tutorials, however the puzzles and platforming elements are standard. The games feel tedious and the big surprises don't really do much for me.

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News:: Recommended Reading: Behind the scenes of 'Blade Runner 2049'

The Replicant: Inside the Dark Future of 'Blade Runner 2049'
Brian Raftery,
Wired

The much-anticipated Blade Runner sequel is due to hit theaters in two weeks, but Wired wants to make sure you're properly prepared for that viewing. Step behind the scenes of Blade Runner 2049 for a look at the sci-fi, dystopia and darkness.

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News:: Caeda and Tiki confirmed for Fire Emblem Warriors

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon's Caeda and Tiki will join the roster for Koei Tecmo's upcoming Fire Emblem Warriors. Announced at Tokyo Game Show 2017, these characters were seemingly visible on the European Limited Edition box that was revealed eleven days ago.

They were spotted by our own Bass and users Alex Heat and Dominator101. As Viewtiful Devil pointed out, the amiibo of Tiki was likely a dead giveaway. In any case it may be worth looking at that box a little more closely to get an idea of who will make up the rest of the cast.

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News:: Check out .hack//G.U. Last Recode gameplay, PS2 comparison, release date, and goofy Parody Mode

A lot of new information has come in since we last reported on .hack//G.U. Last Recode including the release date, gameplay footage, PS4 vs. PS2 comparison footage, a silly Parody Mode, and various updates. First off, the game releases in America and Europe on November 3, 2017. 2017 is not only the year that G.U. takes place in, but it is also the 15th anniversary of .hack and the 10th anniversary of the first .hack//G.U. title, which is one of the reasons they're remaking them now.

My favorite part of all this is the all new Parody Mode. They replace lines in many serious scenes with silly, funny lines. It's not a full-game treatment, but rather a collection of videos a la Metal Gear Solid 3's Secret Theater.  Doesn't sound like it goes to the lengths that the Secret Theater did by redirecting and animating scenes, however. 

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News:: Check out your new student Chisato Shinjo in this first trailer

Our first look at the girl-in-the-tower student DLC for Summer Lesson is here. Revealed at Tokyo Game Show 2017, Chisato Shinjo seems interested in English decor and tea. I can't help but think of Fiona from Shrek or Rapunzel from, well, Rapunzel. Thankfully she is neither an Ogre nor long-haired, but she is cute.

Along with Final Fantasy XV: Monster of the Deep and Supermassive Games' Inpatient, I tried to get my hands on this at TGS, but the VR section is basically a lottery. You stand in line for 1-2 hours and get a random game to play. Unfortunately I got No Heroes Allowed! (unrelated to No More Heroes), which frankly sucked. Still, every time I try VR I'm convinced it has a place in gaming as an improved way to experience games rather than it's gimmicks or motion control collaboration.

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News:: Sonic Forces and Hooters Collaboration is real and happening

After his relationship with Elise in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006), I guess we should've expected something like this. Sega announced at Tokyo Game Show 2017 that there will be an official collaboration between Sonic Forces and Hooters, a chain restaurant with busty waitresses and overpriced wings.

The promotional image lists a few Hooters branches in Tokyo where their side of the collaboration is likely to occur: Shibuya West, Ginza, and Akasaka. The collaboration starts from the middle of October and further information will be revealed in a few days. I don't think Amy will approve and oh god please don't put her in a Hooters costume.

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News:: Square Enix keeps pumping out Final Fantasy XV content and will continue to into 2018

This is why I still haven't played Final Fantasy XV: they just don't stop releasing new content. I thought it was a lot when they had multiple non-numbered, canonical demo episodes, an anime, and movie before release. Now there are multiple canonical DLC episodes, a canceled VR experience, a not canceled VR fishing game, a PC port, a mobile port, a multiplayer expansion, and now here's even more.

The next free update will include new story content as well as increase the hunt capacity. Square Enix announced this along with their plays to continue to develop for the game well into 2018 at Tokyo Game Show 2017. While Episode Ignis was planned to be the last bit of content, game director Hajime Tabata said that due to fan demand for more content and story they want to develop story where there wasn't much explanation in the base game. He explains "if we don’t convey the setting that is the foundation of the world, we won’t be able to convey the characters’ way of life."

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News:: Attack on Titan 2 slated for PS4, Switch, Vita, and PC in Japan

There's not a ton of games based on movies or anime that turn out great, but Attack on Titan is one of the few exceptions. It captured the spirit of the show in it's story and the thrill of flying around the titans in combat. The sequel is now headed for PlayStation 4, PS Vita, PC, and even Nintendo Switch at least in Japan. While it's likely that all but the Vita versions will be the same in the west, an official announcement should come soon.

Attack on Titan 2 covers the second season of the anime and the number of playable characters is far greater than the original game (10), although a specific number wasn't announced. Also 3D Maneuver Gear actions are more diversified and titan movements have evolved according to the developers.

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News:: The Morning After: Weekend Edition

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to the weekend -- and be careful with your new iPhone 8.

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News:: New Umihara Kawase game confirmed for Nintendo Switch

At Tokyo Game Show 2017, a poster was seen at the Success Corporation Booth showing a silhoutte of Umihara Kawase, from the series of the same name, and that reads "The latest entry in the series! Planned for release on Nintendo Switch." This would be the fourth title in the series if you exclude ports and compilations that included extra content.

Umihara Kawase is an excellent platforming game involving rope physics that released in Japan on the Super Famicom in 1994. It's sequel, Umihara Kawase Shun, released on PlayStation in 1997 and received some updated ports and a compilation later on. None of these were localized in the west originally. It wasn't until the third title, Sayonara Umihara Kawase for Nintendo 3DS, that the west got a taste of the series when it released west in 2014.

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News:: Yes, the new Atelier game is coming west

The 17,497th Atelier game is the 17,496th to be localized. People keep buying these, so Koei Tecmo keeps bringing them over. After releasing in Japan this winter, Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings will make its western arrival on PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam in 2018. It was released on PS Vita in Japan but not PC, whereas in the west it will be on PC but not Vita.

Lydie & Suelle is the final game in the "Mysterious" series (Atelier Sophie, Atelier Firis) and involves the twins skidooing into paintings to explore bountiful worlds and improve their alchemy to become the best atelier in the land. You play as both of the 14-year sisters (instead of choosing one) and can enter more paintings by raising your atelier rank, which is increased by completing tasks in the town of Melveille, capital of the Adalett Kingdom.

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News:: Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Spirit of Justice joins the gang on mobile

The latest title in the acclaimed Ace Attorney series, Spirit of Justice, released yesterday on iOS and Android for $19.99. It joins the the first five mainline Ace Attorney games on mobile devices. The first Daigyakuten Saiban / The Great Ace Attorney is also on mobile but not localized of course. The Great Ace Attorney 2 and the two Ace Attorney Investigations games are the only games in the series yet to release on mobile (Investigations 2 also not yet localized).

According to reports from several sites, there is a $0.99 option for just the first episode while unlock the rest of the game beyond that is $14.99. Also reported is that the special DLC case Turnabout Time Traveler is available for download at an additional cost of $2.99. 

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