.

YES!!! Bandai Namco have finally answered my call! They are now developing a new ACE COMBAT game for the PS3 platform, like finally! Assault Horizon is the new push for the ACE COMBAT series, developed by Project Ace under Bandai Namco, and the game is set to be released in the year 2011.

What I am a bit disappointed about is the departure from the alternate earth, we called Strangereal. Instead the setting this time will be on our earth, with real locations like Tokyo, New York and etc.

I sure hope the game play will not be a QTE… In order to get behind an enemy, It’s really kills the fun… Either way, I’ll be awaiting the release of the game and this might be the biggest game release for me next year! Not talking about the graphics since this is only an announcement trailer, I’m sure the game will be better looking then this trailer.

Finally, something to look forward too!

Source: Kotaku

P.S: As much as I hate it, the game is going to the Xbox 360 also…

Popularity: 5% [?]

Here is one more reason why the Android platform is so better then the Iphone. Even thou Iphone 4 looks so good… I sure hope someone roots it and find a way to install Android on that hardware…

The app is on the android market place but being a paid app, it is only available at certain locations… Japan being the obvious one of them. There is also an English version with all the buttons translated to be one real soon. The name of the App is Isshoni Training with Hinako or more commonly the Isshoni series, which includes a sleeping video… on DVD and Blu-ray now… Which might also be ported to the Android platform…

I’m not going to be getting the app but hey just to let you in the loop, yah?

The creator will be at the Comiket 78 selling some things… too.

Hinako, she will be wearing less as you get to know her better…

Source: ANN

Website: Isshoni Training Website(Japanese/NSFW)

Popularity: 8% [?]

World Cosplay Summit aka WCS will be on live on UStream!

That would mean that if you can’t fly to Nagoya to watch the cosplaying representatives of the world perform, you can now watch it online LIVE.

For the starters, you might want to check out tomorrow(31st July)’s Cosplay Parade at 2:30 pm(SG Time), and then the Competition performance on the the 1st of August at 8pm(SG time).

Of cos, the Singapore Representatives will be in the show too, so do support them! Tan Jun Mao and Christy Bell Goh Ganbatte! Do Singapore proud!

Free video streaming by Ustream

So here are the Schedule again on the WCS Channel,

31st July 2010, 2:30pm: The Cosplay Parade

Synopsis: Where in the previous years, the world’s representatives lead the cosplayers in a parade around parts of the city of Nagoya.

1st August 2010, 8:00pm: The World Cosplay Summit

Synopsis: This is the stage, where the best cosplayers from various countries, represent their country to determine who is the best in the world, much like the Olympics of Cosplay.

All in Singapore Time, GMT+8.

Credit: The Cosplay Chronicles

Website: World Cosplay Summit | WCS, UStream Channel

Popularity: 8% [?]

Hirano Aya have been using twitter, using her latest album’s name Hysteric Barbie since  yesterday for today’s launch of the album.

And as of now, just 1 day after the account is open, there is 22580 followers when this post is written, it’s a lot. So if you like Hirano Aya, you can buy her album or follow her on twitter.

Good luck with that now, it seems like the World Cup messages are bringing the Twitter whale out of the sea…

Website: @Hysteric_Barbie

Popularity: 6% [?]

Ah so in the Apple World Wide Developer Conference 2010, as expected the Iphone 4 is announced… Nothing else, just pimping the phone… and here in this post I’ll state my views but first some keynotes from the WWDC10 aka Iphone 4 announcement.

Highlights about the Iphone 4 taken from VRZone

iPhone 4 Announced

• Whole new design, just as expected from leak photos
• Stainless steel band around the phone
• Design is really sleek here, thinner than 3GS
• 5 megapixels camera with LED flash with front camera. It allows 5x digital zoom
• A 6-Axis motion sensing, 3 axis Gyroscope will be present in the iPhone 4. We can expect great motion sensing games.
• Antenna outside the case !?! Yes, the steel band acts as the antenna.
• Still on the old GSM / UMTS
• 4 times the pixel density in display, Apple calls it Retina Display. The whole new display allows 326ppi at 960×640 resolution
• Display is using IPS technology, 800:1 contrast ratio, display is at 3.5 inch.
• Internals: Powered by A4 chip, uses microSIM and whoa, the battery is big
• 802.11n WiFi Support, up to 32GB of storage
• Battery life: 7 hours of 3G talk, 6 hours of 3G browsing, 10 hours of WiFi browsing, 10 hours of video, 40 hours of music.
• HD Video Recording up to 720p at 30fps. Tap-to-focus recording with built-in editing
• iMovie for iPhone – yes, add those effects to your videos. geotag them. Not free though, at US4.99 at App Store
• iPhone OS4 is now known as iOS4
• Jobs demonstrate the iOS4 features we know, multi-tasking. the new Mail feature, capable of renaming folders. It was announced before
• Bing is coming to iOS4
• Developers will get a gold master release of iOS4 today
• Apple claims they will be selling their 100 millionth iOS device.
• iBookstore coming iPhone 4. Not a surprise to be honest.
• iBookstore will automatically sync bookmarks, books to your devices. No extra cost for transfer to other devices.
• Jobs talk about… iAds. Surprise! Apple talks about developers relating the phone. Nothing really new here as it was introduced during the iOS4 event.
• Apple supports 2 platforms – HTML 5 and App Store.
• One More Thing, says Jobs…
• Video Chat ! Apple calls it FaceTime,
• FaceTime Requirements: iPhone 4 To iPhone 4 only. Wi-Fi only (no 3G?!)
• FaceTime allows you to use front and rear camera and supports both portrait and landscape.
• Price: US299(SG$423) for 32GB, US199(SG$281) for 16GB
• For AT&T customers, if your contract expires at any time in 2010, you are eligible for upgrade to the iPhone 4.
• The 3GS 8GB will be launched at US$99(SG$140)
• Availablity: June 24 2010 for 5 countries : United States, Japan, France, Germany and United Kingdom
• Pre-orders start a week from tomorrow. 18 more countries will be getting it in July
• iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod touch 2nd gen will be able to go iOS4 – free

Availability of iOS4: June 21

I must say, I’m very impressed by the new Iphone 4. Impressed by it’s build and hardware rather then what comes within it, the software… Even with the leak, the IPhone 4 is still as good looking as it can be…

What I find stupid is the software coming with it… the IOS4. iMovie app is not included, no flash, FACETIME?!, No Remote features… It just did not wow me as much as the Developer Conference that Google put up, Google I/O day 2 for Android, not especially when most of the “new” features should be in there since a long time ago. And well OS4 is not really fresh…

It’s just under whelming… Especially Facetime, works only on WIFI… If I can use wifi, I would have used Skype and I can chat with anyone using it, be it on an Phone, Tablet or PC…

Now how nice would it be if I can have Iphone Hardware with Android 2.2… that would be so great… isn’t…

Anyway, most in SEA will be getting it in August, Singapore in July. Those who just switched to the 3GS… you should really be banging the wall because Iphone 4 cost the same… and your phone just got a price cut… How does US$99(SG$140) sound…

Do note thou, the price might come with a AT&T plan, so the standalone price will not be that low… But it’s a reference if  you are going to be getting one from your Telcos (Singtel, M1, Starhub in Singapore. Maxi in Malaysia. Telkomsel in Indonesia)

Pictures from Engadget and Mac Rumors, Highlights by VRZone

Popularity: unranked [?]

Update: It’s over…

Live Streaming by Ustream.TV

Watch the stream now! And exclaim your amazement on twitter!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Are you sick of the same mechanism of fetching a quest and then going to complete it, even when you know that nothing will happen if you don’t do it…

Then how bout a world where your action matters and, if you with your friends don’t step up to save the world, dreaded monsters and the undead will overrun the village, there by loosing a shopping center or two…Worse they will even use that location to launch further attacks on your side’s territories… Making you loose more shopping centers…

How bout it are you game? Then look forward to Guild Wars 2, yup Guild Wars.

The first game made me an addict of MMO for a month before I run dry and return to reality… Why? It’s the only good looking no subscription needed MMO with a decent plot and gameplay. The world can be huge and interesting, with me progressing thru like a normal RPG, with real counter-parts.

The second seems like an extension of the first and might prove to be quite a winner. But for now, it has only been explained with no real demos… … It will prove to be quite interesting.

Maybe you can make something out of the wall of text explaining the game mechanism…

[Websites: Guild wars 2 | Guild Wars 2: Dynamic Events | Dynamic Events Overview by Colin Johanson]

Popularity: 6% [?]

这首歌是初音唱的， 很好听把！但是可气疯了一点日本人啊。。。

This song is sang in Chinese and by Hatsune Miku. A very nice song which managed to use the voice synthesizer rather nicely, with a song written by Solpie.

But this song is creating some racist comment from the popular video hosting site NICO NICO… Leading to the deletion of the video by the creator… This a bit sad but what to do, it’s quite a norm, so say the experts…

[Source: Sankaku Complex | Derek Teo(Zero) for bring this video to my attention...]

Popularity: 5% [?]

[Source: youtube via Kotaku.com]

This is what a mod can do in Starcraft II, it’s more then just dota now… The tools used is the Galaxy Editor, released just a few weeks ago. Have fun… Developers…

As for the gamers, look forward to the many mods that will be online… and have fun playing with them…

Starcraft 2 will be launch 27th July 2010, after nearly 10 years of development…

Popularity: 6% [?]

The latest version Vocaloid, Hatsune Miku Append ver is not just a figurine but a new software pack. An update over the Vocaloid 2, released by Cryptron Future Media INC, named “MIKU APPEND” to be released on April 30th.

This software pack, give the Hatsune Miku, the face of the vocaloid line, more emotions like being happy, sad, dark or basically emotions.

With this, the feel of Miku’s sound will be further improved, and may sooth the critics main complain of the sound being too machine like.

The people at Crypton is offering a DEMO album for download online over at HearJapan. The album consist of 6 songs, to demonstrate the effect and changes brought about by the new patch.

The downloadable demo is free, but you need to have an (Free)account with HearJapan to download them.

Of  cos you can also find the demo bits over at the “MIKU Append” site for online streaming.

[Related: HearJapan.com | MIKU Append]

Another look at the figure… ….

Aww… …

About HearJapan.com, some might have heard about them, for me this is the first time… I have, as expected sign-up for an account and downloaded a few of the demos, and also did some reconnaissance of the site.

I found out that the design and the content available on the site is not very impressive… but it’s a start. Since it’s one of the few place where you can buy digital Japanese music and songs legally online.

Since Singapore have no Itunes, it’s an addition plus for me. But, like I mentioned, there is really not much of a chance to go legal… Digitally…

Do take note thou, if you find something like the Anime Collection Album Volume 1 – 38, It’s not sung by the original artist… It’s a cover and it’s legal.

Now for a Press release from HearJapan. Since they so happily sent us a copy.

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Yokohama, Japan – April 28, 2010 – HearJapan is proud to bring the world this exclusive first look at the new voice of Hatsune Miku!

It’s a brand new day for Vocaloid fans and producers around the world. The newest Vocaloid addition, called Hatsune Miku Append, has just been released. It adds six new emotions to Miku’s voice: solid, soft, sweet, vivid, dark and light. These new options not only sound more natural, but allow Miku to add a variety of moods to the music.

To celebrate, HearJapan is offering an exclusice free music sampler featuring the Append sounds! You’ll hear all six of Miku’s new emotions, each adding new depth to Miku’s range while still maintaining her signature voice. The musical styles also cover a wide spectrum, from acoustic folk, to 8bit chiptune, gentle Shibuya-kei and even some upbeat rock. Each track lists the various emotions used, so you can spot the differences as you listen.

There’s a little something for everyone packed into these six songs, not to mention a new universe to explore for long-time Hatsune Miku fans. Head on over to the download page now and see what the future of Hatsune Miku music will sound like!

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Links:

Free Miku Append Demo Album
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/album_info/Miku_Append_Demo_songs

whoo
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/whoo

negoto
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/negoto

kous
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/kous

k-shi
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/kshi

Chiquewa
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/Chiquewa

mojoP
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/member_info/mojoP

All Vocaloid Albums at HearJapan (over 200!)
http://www.hearjapan.com/store/genre/1/74/vocaloid

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HearJapan is the largest and fastest-growing place on the web to purchase Japanese music of all genres. Featuring over 3000 artist profiles in English with 40-second samples of all songs. Over 100 releases are added every week to the currently-available 25,000+ songs in the 100% DRM free catalog. HearJapan is a great place to find the hard to find and to explore the unexplored in the world of Japanese music.

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Popularity: 21% [?]