July 31st, 2008 - UFO Catcher Video
I came across this promotional video on Sega's amusement machine info site showcasing the UFO Catcher, those machines where you operate a crane to get stuff. It's got really catchy Sega-type music and you gotta love how the promoter explains how to trick attract customers to want to try their luck one more time. Note: I've never won anything from a UFO Catcher.

July 26th, 2008 - Resident Tourist Parts 1 & 2 Now Available
Yah, um...The Resident Tourist Parts 1 & 2 are now available in hardcopy. If you're one of those folks who likes to read something in your hands as opposed to clicking a mouse while squinting at a tiny monitor, please follow these directions.

July 24th, 2008 - Initial D Extreme Stage New Cars Added
3 new cars (Altezza, RX-8 and Eunos Roadster) have been added via download from the PS Network today. Log in to your Japanese PSN account and check the store under Game Add-Ons. The PS3 version now has the same car count as the arcade version of IDAS4, plus Happogahara. Hey Eric, you playing this game at the moment?

July 21st, 2008 - Virtual NES Online
Not much updates as of late, eh? Well, this should tide you over if you're absolutely bored. You can play close to 800 Nintendo games from the 8-Bit era here. It runs off Java and loads straight on your comp without any installs whatsoever. Be careful. The first time I started there a year ago, I spent a whole day on Contra. Click in the game window once to play after it loads.

July 17th, 2008 - Radiohead / House Of Cards Video
In case you haven't seen the Hours Of Cards video, here it is. Plus, the making of video showing some non-camera work. Anyone else but me thinks the whole video might have been cooler if there were more disintegrating patterns like in the last shot?

July 14th, 2008 - R Tuned Ultimate Street Racing
Sega has announced a new Lindbergh racing game named R Tuned. It really looks lame. Fast and Furiously lame. I think the words Ultimate Street Racing are what put me off immediately. Apparently there is an IC card system to tune your ridiculously neon-colored car. This may end up as popular as Sega Race TV (read: Not), but you can flame me when it arrives at the end of the year.

July 13th, 2008 - Rockman 9 Trailer
Rockman 9 has was announced a few days ago for the WiiWare application. And now it seems it will show up on XBox Live and PSN as well. It's kinda neat to see Rockman (Megaman) in the old 8-bit style again. Watch this if you haven't already.

July 10th, 2008 - Electrico / We Satellites
The reinvented Electrico is here, sans Daniel Sassoon and a new distribution deal with Warner. Darker and grittier is what the press release says, but I don't feel it is. I hear a band trying out more song writing techniques and slightly unsafer grounds, which is what all bands must do and is the right direction to take. Opener Zero is good. So is The Slaves and The Digits. Try it.

July 9th, 2008 - Tatsunoko Vs Capcom Promo Video
A promo video for Capcom's upcoming VS fighting game Tatsunoko Vs Capcom has surfaced on youtube. It features all the characters announced thus far and has footage of the actual game in action. It's been a while since we've been given the over the top VS series style battles, ala Marvel Vs Capcom 2, but this may be worth playing even if I'm not a fan of Gatchaman.

July 7th, 2008 - Beck / Modern Guilt
After the so-called quasi hip hop album of The Information, Beck returns for his eigth studio album, with producer Danger Mouse in tow. The album doesn't reach any kind of crescendo like Timebomb did and I welcome it. You can preview the first three songs on his myspace, although Chemtrails needs to be heard in its entirety here. It's one of his best, methinks.

July 5th, 2008 - Silent Hill Origins PS2
I finally got this PS2 port of the PSP game after waiting for my local gameshop to ship it from the US for 4 months. Bought and beat it yesterday. You can really tell it was made for the PSP when you play it on a big screen. Still, it's an entertaining run through the old streets of Silent Hill. There is something wrong when the hero carries a toaster for most of the game though.

July 3rd, 2008 - Initial D Extreme Stage
Speed car, speed car. AE Eighty-Six is coming. Speed car, speed car, and he's gonna be the one...SPEED CAR! (Cue Super Eurobeat music) Initial D Extreme Stage is out and online works outside of Japan. So Kampong Boy, you can go into denial all you want about buying the cheaper, watered-down, non-online Asian version last week. I don't want to say, "I told you". But I TOLD YOU!

July 1st, 2008 - Otomedius G Special Box
Grrr. Just when I'm complaining how all the recent arcade shooters are coming out on the Japanese XBox 360, Konami goes out and announces a special Otomedius G special box that includes a Hori Hyper Stick Pro, a stick with a touch pad, thus recreating the arcade experience. Although, it's not really the same when your hand isn't touching a 24" screen. Damn, I'm making excuses.