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Us otaku, we are complex creatures. We can hold encyclopedic knowledge of the most intricate details of our hobbies. We all, to some extent revere Japan and its culture for it has brought us much joy. Hey some even try and learn Japanese in order to better appreciate anime, manga and whatnot.

But for god’s sake people! When in public, unless you can actually, you know speak japanese,  dont try mouthing off a few phrases in front of a camera, much less sing. It will only bring physical pain to all those who watch the video, like the one above. Be warned, it will hurt, and remember: Kawaii means cute.

Most of us men hate it when women just stare at us blankly, they are either pissed, judging us or preparing to give us the look. However, in japan, some men will actually pay to see a woman staring them down. That’s why Avex Group in Japan have released their Miteru Dake (just looking) DVD in which you can select from any 50 women including children and the elderly to stare blankly at you for one minute and one minute only (that is unless you loop them). Here’ we’re showing you 3 examples of Just Looking for your… um… entertainment.

The mind runs wild coming up with theories of why on earth they want this. Its weird, its creepy, its kinda disturbing but this is, after all, Japan.

[Mitery Dake / Japan Probe]

Mike Capps of Epic Games, playing industry pundit, says that new consoles from any of the big three won’t even be around until 2012 at the earliest…and 2018 at the latest. THQ CEO Brain Farrell concurs, adding that we might have to wait seven or eight years until the next gen.

According to Forbes’ Chris Morris, who wrote the original article collecting these findings, the graphics technology in development for the next step in gaming infrastructure is going pretty slowly.

I find it hard to agree with such conservative estimates. Although we already know that Sony plans to give the PS3 a ten-year life span, the other competitors will be hungry to produce new consoles first. Nintendo in particular realizes they need to catch up in terms of graphical quality, and I think because of that they will be the first to produce a system in the next gen. They’re also in the best financial position to do so. What do you guys think?

[globeandmail.com / via N4G]

Feels good, man. I honestly wouldn’t have expected anything less (or more, for that matter) from the latest installment in a series that’s always delivered the hardcore goods. The graphics have gotten a nice touch-up since the last installment on PS1, sporting lots of fancy transparency effects.

The triumphant return of the deadly Free Range weapon brought a smile to my face, and there appear to be some additions to the old arsenal: some crescent-shaped bullets showed up, as well as a multi-pronged beam that spouted out from all sides of the ship.

There are also some bosses that look very similar to the ones found in Thunderforce V, like the purple sea dragon. I’ll be looking forward to this title, although there’s still no word of a stateside release. It’s coming to Japan October 30th for the PS2.

[Siliconera]

American McGee has been cooking up a series of episodic, short games based on various fairy tales for your downloading pleasure through GameTap. The first, available now (and for free for the first 24 hours!) is “A Boy Learns What Fear Is.” The game promises to deliver a twisted fairy tale in a conveniently bite-sized action/adventure morsel.

I’m pleased to report that you don’t need to sign up for any sort of account to download the game, and I am doing so as I write this. The user rating for the game on GameTap is a solid 8.4, so I’m eager to dive into this world where “Happily Ever After ends now!”

[Kotaku]

Ragdoll physics always seems to produce the most interesting (and sometimes lewd) ways for corpses to be thrown across a battlefield. Halo3screenshots.com has assembled a collection of 26 different positions illustrating the letters of the English alphabet, as well as 10 extras for the numbers 0-9 and an additional three for a period, question mark, and exclamation point. They also shrunk them down and edited out most of the background for those who wish to use them as a font (though there’s no actual font file for them).

Perhaps a Halo Corpse Grammar Lesson is in order. Think of the benefit for all of the kids you find in Xbox Live multiplayer matches! English standardized test scores would skyrocket. Are you paying attention, Department of Education?

[Boing Boing]

So, the commercial for Pokémon Platinum, the next game in the long-running series, was released yesterday. And all I have to say is: Awesome. The trailer showcases new and improved graphics, what seems to be redesigned gym puzzles, the new costumes for both characters, new Wi-Fi minigames, and what looks to be a new area that features a 3D world with the ability to move between sides of the area, a first for the series. I must say, as a huge fan of the series ever since the original games, I’m definitely looking forward to the American release.

[Gametrailers]

Ever wanted to feel like the Doctor, but don’t want to tangle with Daleks, Cybermen, and the occasional Ood invasion? Well, now you can, with the Tardis MAME unit! A dedicated Doctor Who fan crammed a MAME console into the iconic police box facade of the Doc’s famous spaceship, the Tardis. He even managed to make the control console look almost exactly like the console from the inside of the Tardis from the original series. He chronicled how to do the whole thing at his site, if you ever want to copy this amazing feat.

[Joystiq]

Adapted from the Japanese versions, two Phoenix Wright graphic novels will be coming to North America under publisher Del Rey. The first book, The Phoenix Wright Files, will be out September 30th, and the second, The Miles Edgeworth Files, will be arriving February 24th.

The volumes cover cases not found in the games, and reveals more juicy bits of backstory, such as how Wright got to be a lawyer in the first place. You can preorder the books from Amazon right now (you can get both together for a mere $20.34!).

[Wired / via Kotaku]

This week’s Famitsu brings a surprising official take on an age-old hoax of Ragnarok Online coming to DS. Ragnarok Online is coming to the Nintendo DS, however, it is not just a client for the online game, or even an MMORPG at all. Instead, the game is a small scale multiplayer RPG featuring the same 2D Sprites on 3D Environments style of the original game.

The game will allow for up to three players to join forces to combat some likely evil, and we can expect locations and bosses from the online game to make the jump to the portable system. Players will take control of Ares, a novice, and be able to build him just as one would in the online game, choosing your class, skills, and headgear. The game is set to release in Japan in December, and given the popularity of the game here in the States it wouldn’t be unreasonable to see it here some time next year.

[Wii @ Everyday]

In a bit of an unexpected move, European publisher Rising Star games will be releasing a DS port of Suda 51’s (then Grasshopper Manufacture) Playstation 2 adventure game Flower, Sun, and Rain on October 18.

As you may have guessed, the port makes use of the touchscreen to explore and solve puzzles. The story is a mystery wherein you play a detective who is attempting to defuse a bomb before he goes insane. Classic Suda for you! No word on a US announcement as of yet, but it’s to be expected.

[Gamasutra]

The new game in the much-revered JRPG series is Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The King of Abaddon, sequel to Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army (god, what a mouthful). Like the previous installment, the setting is 1931 Japan, but this time in a small mountain village beset by demons.

Besides merely being an RPG, the game has some action and adventure elements. It’s slated for an October 23 release in Japan, and the first pressing will come with a free soundtrack disc and cost 7329 yen. There will also be a special edition at a hefty 10,479 yen that includes Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne Maniax Chronicle Edition (more tongue-twisters).

[1up.com]

In order to compete with Rock Band’s successful ventures in extensive DLC, Guitar Hero is following suit when it comes to their downloadable music. However, Chief Executive Officer at Activision, Bobby Kotick, says they’re taking things one step further and claim they will be a “successful competitor” with iTunes.

Activision’s partnership with Vivendi and subsidiary Universal music will strengthen their bid considerably. The whole thing has me confused, because not nearly as many people are going to own Guitar Hero: World Tour as they are ipods. Will the service take a life of its own outside of the game? We’ll have to see how the strategy is played out in the future.

[The Escapist]

Continuing with out Comic-Con report we now bring you the sights and people of Comic-Con 2008! Its a lot of cosplay with some other stuff thrown in there for good measure. Catch the cool, the scary, the sexy and the gross as we take you through a trip of the San Diego Convention Center on its oddest days of the year.

Be on the lookout for Velcor in his sweet Philosopher Ganondorf outfit, it was a hit with the ladies. Hit the jump for the complete gallery.

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What’s better than listening to music on your MP3 player of choice when on the bus/on the train/at some place that makes you sit still? Playing music on a DS in a way that makes people look at you funny, probably moreso than using two styluses to beat a Japanese Taiko drum. Rhythm Tengoku Gold is the sequel to the 2006 cult hit (aptly named Rhythm Tengoku) for Gameboy Advance. Now that the second incarnation is surfacing in stores, we’re here to tell you whether or not it’s worth the 3990 yen asking price.

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