Questionable Music Video: Ivy - Temptation of Sonata

Found this recently. If you are a fan of RPG games, you'll definitely recognize something eerily familiar with this Korean music video:

If you still can't figure it out yet, heres a comparison of the MV with its source:

Of course, Square Enix have sued the producers of this MV and won. More fuel to the fire between Japan-Korean tension? 

You bet. 

rOar

Playstation 3 Home

Aite, so yesterday I've decided to check out what the Playstation 3's Home of the Japanese server looks like. After a brief registeration of a Japanese account, I've successfully managed to take a look at this once hidden gem. 

Compared to the American's version of Home, there are many obvious differences:
- The Home Plaza was alot wider and more spacious than the American's.
- All spaces, excluding the personal space and the mall, were different.
- There are ALOT more things to buy in the stores, for costumes etc.

On top of that, I manage to catch a glimps of a live Hatsune Miku's performance off the pier from the plaza. Heres some highlights:

Thats right. You're eyes are not fooling you. There is a CROWD gathering to see the live performance (of a new song). 

Besides the appearance of Hatsune Miku, there is also a life-size Gundam RX-78-2 released today, in sync reveal of the REAL 1/1 ratio Gundam statue in Odaiba, Japan. The first pic is the real Gundam statue, and below it are the ones from Home: 

Now, what can possibly be more Japanese than a giant robot in the middle of Home Plaza? Why, a fully decked out festival of course! Included in the Japanese server, PS3 Home included a space that is themed with the Japanese festival. Heres a few shots:

Besides some good music and fireworks sound effects, there are mini games, such as goldfish catch, and mini shooting range that makes this place really feel like a traditional Japanese festival. Oh yea, they didnt forget to put in some pretty ladies there too: 

The American version of Home is NOTHING compared to the Japanese version. Just saying... just saying... :)

rOar

Racing on the ps3

Hey all - now that I'm in Asia I have been hitting the arcade constantly....and I must say that one thing that I've really been missing out is racing games. That said, I think that I will be investing in a controller with stick shift when I return back to the US. Additionally, I think that I will be purchasing Initial D and some other racing games to go online and play...

Think about it...

Definition of a God

Impressed. But by the time one can play like this... you might as well switch to real drums...

Yeah...

So for those wondering what the post below is about...I'd have to be honest and say I'm as stumped as you. Seems like the poor bugger is talking about some girlie he threw away aeons ago, and she has someone found him or something (who knows really, I'm just pulling straws here).

But anyways - because our ol friend Dag seems to be preoccupied I thought I would throw in some words of wisdom (or words of insanity depending on how you look at it). 

Right now I am in the midst of finals, which isn't too bad since I've prepared everything in advance. Suffice to say, I am rather tired from beating bioshock within 2 days. Absolutely awsome game 10/10 stars. The graphics and gameplay are truly superb (considering that it is a ps3 import and was made before the ps3 even came out). 

There's something chilling about a little girl singing about angels while stabbing a corpse to extract the blood [ADAM for those who have played the game] (and then drink it). And if that's not enough there is  the big lumbering bastard right behind her with a drill for an arm that makes creepy cow noises. Oh and the little girls call him Mr Bubbles too. Nothing bubbly about that personality I assure you. The joys of video gaming. 

Here's the trailer for the game which came out aeons ago. Note that the sequel will be coming out  soon...THAT should be awsome. Guns + superpowers + FPS = Awsome 

MAG (Massive Action Game)

E3 News - Sony's Presentation

Following's Microsoft's presentation yesterday, Sony came to stage today with quite a few surprising announces in its arsenal. Despite the leak of its new handheld device, the PSP Go, Sony's CEO Jack Tretton was still optimistic about their new lineup of upcoming games and services.

Most notable announcements are as follows:

• Hideo Kojima, despite breaking news of MGS Rising to be available on the XBOX 360, announces a new MGS titled MGS PeaceWalker available on the new PSP Go and PSP handhelds. Updated news about MGS Rising is said to be multiplatform, so PS3 gamers were not cut from Hideo Kojima-san's next big creation. 
• Fumito Ueda, director and lead game designer, along with the team that brought us Ico and Shadows Of The Colossus, has announced their next new title. The next sequal to their franchise, titled The Last Guardian, features a young boy with a dog-face-hippogriff-mixed creature exploring a strange and mystical land. 
• A new trailer of FFXIII was released, along with voices of the characters, and new gameplay footage. 
• Following FFXIII's new trailer, Sony CEO Jack Tretton shock the whole audiences as he announces the never-before seen trailer of FFXIV (thats FF14 mind you)! The minute long trailer shows a Final Fantasy-esque land with a epic war fought in the skies. 
• A playable demo of God of War 3 was shown. Demo featured Krato's insane moves and grotesque executions of his victims. 
• Final Fantasy VII re-released is to be available on PSN tonight (June 2nd) at midnight for download. Whether or not this will be an upgraded version with better graphics (like that of Advent Children or just a port from the PS1 version) is still unknown. Will have to wait till midnight to find out. 
• MAG (Massive Action Game) live demo was shown with 256 online players engaging in the largest scale battle in online gaming history.
• A live demo of Uncharted2: Amoung Theives, was shown. The demo showed off PS3's amazing processing power, as the demo was fill with nothing but spectacular graphics and gameplay.  

Of course, new ideas that are still in development stages were showcased, including a LBP-concept based sandbox game called Mod Nation Racers, and a new PS3 motion-sensing controller. All these are not due for release till at least mid 2010. 

Other than that, Sony's presentation was its usual self in an E3 conference; statistical presentations, guests, demos, and a few surprising announcements. 

Lets just hope FFXIII and MGS Rising will make Microsoft's XBOX 360 feel inadequate with their DVD drive. I'm still pissed at them. They do not DESERVE to have such great titles. 

rOar

E3 News - Microsoft Announces The Next Metal Gear Franchise Available on XBOX 360

Just saw this news on G4TV. If you don't know, E3 is an expo held annually in California solely for the gaming industry. It is the equivalent of major auto shows or electronic expositions. 

Now, heres the sad news. Microsoft just announced the next Metal Gear franchise, officially named by Hideo Kojima as Metal Gear Solid Rising, will be available on XBOX 360. The story this time will no longer focus on Solid Snake, but instead on Raiden. Speculations are building as to whether or not this will be a XBOX 360 exclusive title or a multi-platform game, for the official words of this announcement was that "the development [of this game] is coming to XBOX 360", and not "XBOX 360 exclusive". Lets hope for the latter, as Sony seems reluctant to let this blockbuster title go.

Not much details are given on the game at this moment, as only this above image was released. The only thing known is that this upcoming title will be a continuation from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and Raiden will be the main protagonist. 

It saddens me to see that Sony is losing its exclusive titles to other companies that still thrive on a DVD drive. I mean, seriously? First we lose Final Fantasy XIII exclusive title, and now Metal Gear? Whats next? Crash Bandicoot?! Knowing Hideo Kojima, he'll have to think of a damn good story for Raiden in order to make a game worthy of his name for under 8gigs of memory. 

Damn you Microsoft. 

rOar

PSN ID

Alllright. Finally got my PSN ID to show up on this blog. So now you can track whats happening in my gaming world. Just look to right side of the blog for updates. 

Intro of the Lazy

In retrospect, it probably would have been pretty cool for me to introduce myself into this blog with a massive bang of poetry and prose. But sadly, I am lazy (saw that one coming a mile away), and am not feeling my creativity as of this moment. 

So instead, I shall grace you all with some humor (well I think it's humor). For anyone that has ever played fallout 3, you'll love the first video.  All others that cannot appreciate video game humor...well...you could always wait for my next post.  Enjoy.

Final Fantasy XIII Versus Extended Trailer

Found this vid a while ago, but was taken down from Youtube for some reason. This is the new, extended trailer. Shows alot more about the game than the 2min trailers floating around the net. Enjoy. 

rOar