Princess Waltz is amazing and etc related comments

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What I've been up to

Mostly playing Princess Waltz... entertaining family.. etc... not much to blog lately

I got an Apple Remote :D Might use it with lockdown but the problem with lockdown is its SCARY when it goes off.... People might drop the damn computer if it goes off when they pick it up. XD Oh is it LOUD. Also... I recommend pairing your remote or turning off the IR port if you have lockdown running all the time... don't want someone like me activating it whil your working... or unlocking it with my remote.

Can't wait for school to resume so I can weak havoc with this little toy....

Kitty cat photos (mostly)

Kitty goodness and a random picture of a firmware update yay! (Kitty is 2-4th photos)

iCoffee? Caffeine for Mac

Lighthead - Caffeine

Now as you probably haven't noticed (assuming Apple is doing its job) your computer DOESN'T sleep or go to screen-saver when your using DVD Player or w.e Unfortunately web video (like Hulu.com which I <3 or NetFlix Instant) can't tell the OS not to sleep/dim the display/go to screensaver. Want to keep your Mac awake? Give it some Caffeine. With a single click you can turn caffeine on to keep it from sleeping/dimming/etc with out messing with system preferences. Click again and your mac will go back to its usual settings. The icon shows which mode your in and you can even set Caffeine to turn off after a set amount of time in case you forogt after finishing what ever you were doing.

I've been watching a lot of streaming anime on Hulu lately so this is great :D

ANN forumers may basically suck but we all <3 Nina

08-06-09 - Anime News Nina! - Anime News Network


Someone actually cited this in that last thread to show how VNs are just perverted crap. Its a comic strip dude... a JOKE. -__-

I personally find this one hilarious because I've played a lot of VNs :D

Anime and Visual Novels : Why the hell can't these fandoms get along?

NEWS: Tayutama Adult PC Game to Reportedly Get TV Anime - Forum - Anime News Network

First let me say ANN usually has news writers that are alot better than the article that spawned this discussion (the article isn't bad but somewhat awkwardly written). The boards are usually exactly like this: full of people who have never read a VN (ero or not) but don't pause to rag on them (and pirates but thats another story). Why does the anime community have such a problem with eroge/visual novels? Some piece of regurgitated shonen is OK like Naru-BleachNote-to or crappy yaoi comics (sorry Aki but most of them are). Sure some eroge are OK with anime folks (FSN, Kanon) but most are pushed to the side. When ANN announced the new Phantom anime they linked to the crappy OVA but didn't mention the original game is available in the English market.

I've had people who are diehard anime/manga/MMO/novel fans who would love the story of Ever17 but refuse to play it:
me : "I have this amazing visual novel to should check out"
her : "visual novel? like a porn game?"
me : "no this one is clean, its not even really a date-sim. I know you really like science fiction and mystery so..."
her : *interrupts* "sorry I don't play those types of games"
me : "you've never tried one"
her : "I am sure I won't like it" *rambles about twilight*

Now when I first heard of VNs (hirameki's booth at SDCC) I was hesitant of the idea of anime video games so I didn't buy any from them that con. I didn't reject them for not being anime, I just wasn't sure about it. But, for the whole next year it hung in my mind: "what happened to those people in that theme park? That story looked kinda interesting, how would it work as a game?" I found the Hirameki site and downloaded the trial, I was hooked. I bought E17 and Hourglass of Summer from J-List (Hirameki didn't come to the con sadly). And here I am now, a serious reviewer of visual novels. Just try them.

What the hell anime peeps? Is your time so much better spent watching bad fansubs on YouTube you can't try a game for 10 minutes?

Sadly, an excellent work like Princess Waltz can't even get advertising space in older-teen/adult aimed media spaces even though magazines for pre-teen/teen girls (Shojo Beat) can advertise trashy unrealistic homosexual rape porn.

Miku figure photos (small)

Playing with Bluetooth (insanely smart tech this is!) and Picasa uploader :)

Protect Traditional Marriage - Outlaw Divorce

More prop 8 stuff. Sorry for all the folks outside of Cali but this is important shit.

Yay 100 posts

Impressions of the Waltz...

PRINCESS WALTZ Official Website

A review of this game is in the works (I am still playing it). Very fun game, the action-packed plot and a fun battle system make this title appeal to the most casual visual novel players but purists are not totally abandoned. The easy mode ensures you can advance the story which is still very character centric. As the website proclaims, this is an eroge so it surely will not receive the attention it deserves. Not much sex is present however, if you can this is a great title to check out.

Please note both the download and the DVDROM versions have DRM protection. PW is the first English VN with this new DRM technology and it is painless. Enter your activation # once and you are done. The program "Software Defender" will try to contact the (very fast) server every time you run the game but will allow the game to run if you do not have internet access. Even a downloaded game will run with no restrictions without a internet connection. This is the most reasonable download game DRM I have seen, you receive five installations (not restricted by IP address) and can request a refresh of installations at Peach Princesses discretion. The package version will have the DRM removed in 1-2 years by a patch. DRM can ruin a game but this system doesn't both me much, read more about PP's policy here.

Princess Waltz - Demo Movie

This looks really good! And costs less than half as much as a Japanese version (plus its uncensored and ... in english!).

I don't care if it is garunteed to crash : this is EPIC!

Its Kanon in ENGLISH!

I have SE_ALL; no H. This means this patch for SE WILL CRASH on me when I reach an H scene (though this patch isn't done anyhow). This is so epic I don't even care ..... I never honestly expected this project to produce anything after Haeleth left it.

C75 key goods

C75 key goods

This rocks but I wish I could buy it!!!!!

Hatsune Miku Mixing Box ~ Miku Hatsune Special Fan Book

Hatsune Miku Mixing Box ~ Miku Hatsune Special Fan Book

The closest JLPT test center is in LA and in my mind LA=Little Tokyo=Kinokuniya Shoten!!!!!!!!

Books Kinokuniya, as the English sign says, is the best Japanese bookstore inside (Elevator Girls is +1 over Junkudo) and outside of Japan. The LA branch (and assumedly others) have begun to carry basic stock of character goods. This lovely product is a hybrid of the two : the box says Kodansha so its a book, but inside is a PVC figure, a DVD, and well... a book.

Kinokuniya is basically the same as J-List so buy it from them if you aren't near a Kinokuniya. Very epic and expensive item about 45$ after tax? Shipping would be a bit more of course, the box is study so don't worry about the figure breaking in travels.

The figure is very cute, you can see her in person at Kinokuniya if you are worried about quality (I was). The book is no slouch at 96 full-color pages and a original cover by Kei (same as box). Dustjacket of course (this is Japanese after all). Now if your in Japan this item is only 2980yen so there is no excuse not to buy her.

Oh and I think I passed JLPT 4kyu :D (lowest level...T.T)

EDIT: DVD is mac compatible "hybrid" according to box. XD The data is only enough for a CD tho *shrug* I don't want to know the logic there...

Planetarian Novel :D

Well I got a welcome phone call yesterday informing me my ordered book had arrived. Fast forward to the bookstore, I had to enlist two clerks to find the elusive novel on the reserved shelf, since it was a novel that looks like a comic, and is small as heck and named something engrish sounding (but is real english). The book is in Japanese of course with a couple of pages of already released art with words on it as well as the art produced for the book back when the first release came out. I am so happy I can use this to follow along with the drama CDs now.

Below you can see the book (orange stripe on top) next to the CD version of the game (which is as tall as a DVD case). The photo is crappy but I mainly want to show the petite size of the book.

Lockdown: Secure Your Mac

Foozoo Design - Lockdown: Secure Your Mac


Not unlike a car alarm, this program is good for coffee shops and libraries where you might leave your mac alone for a minute. A shiny apple computer all alone? Pretty tempting to steal yeah? Lockdown is a password (or remote) controlled system that once turned on by the user displays a large anti-theft warning on the screen.

If someone does decide to try, unplugging any cord, pressing a key, touching the mouse, tilting the laptop slightly or even closing the lid will trigger a fairly loud alarm that cannot be muted. It also prevents the computer from shutting down or sleeping. The screen will flash and take a photo of the would-be theft to mail to the computers owner.

Obviously this isn't going to help in a burlargy (neither do cable locks) but if you work anywhere where you might leave your seat, lockdown is a valuble tool.

PC peeps.. you have any equivalents? Might be nice to have this on the boot camp as well.

Make your Mac... more Mac-like. (PCs too!)

calaboration - Google Code

Ah, I have wanted this tool for about a month.. I love how all these mac apps I need are coming out right about when I got a mac. I love iCals slick look but NEED it to hook into my Gmail account and etc services. Finally I can make offline changes!

OpenOffice.org

Every mac person need OpenOffice.org 3.0 (Aqua). This newest release makes OO.o match Apple's aqua interface and does not use the clunky X11 system (which is highly useful but annoying as HELL). You can now use your command key to secondary click like every other aqua app. Runs like a charm. Ditch Microsoft for good and get rid of Office for Mac. Honestly unless you use Pages graphical layout features you can probably ditch iWork too. (I've never had iWork so I dont know how they compare)


Any person (on any OS; Windows people I mean YOU) needs OpenOffice.org PERIOD. Why pay hundreds for a program that is essentially inferior? The menus make more sense is OO.o, the file type is transparent and if you need to you can save in the .doc etc formats, and most of all... its extendable just like firefox. Need a Japanese dictionary, clip art, maybe you want to edit pdfs or make flashcards? Or want automatic furigana insertion? Extensions are free in every sense of the word.

Now that I've brought up Firefox... 3 has a nice Safari like interface so I suggest switching to that too XP Free japanese mouse-over dictionaries to bookmark syncers (indespensible with a dual boot machine)

Windows people might want to Fly a Kite

(PRODUCT) RED

PRODUCT RED - Home: Buy Red products from top brands, and help fight aids in Africa

Since its the holiday season and everyone is buying lots of stuff anyhow look in to getting (RED) gifts. You spend the same amount of money anyhow except this way some of the money goes to help people with HIV in Africa.

It's not charity*, its not supposed to be. It's just a way to do a little bit of good. (RED) is a business model, if we all favor (RED) products more companies will join (RED) and more money will go to people who need it.

A (RED) gift is not only a product from the top brands in America, its a statement to remind people to make a difference and care.

*If can afford to donate to charity you can donate to the cause directly through The Global Fund.

figma Miku Hatsune

figma Miku Hatsune
Posted this to the wrong blog at first..

Bought her this afternoon... isn't she cute?

Contrary to those pictures... She will not stand without the base... The shoulder joints were my one concern lookswise but the movement they afford is great. Her shirt is also wonderfully detailed. My only complaint is her wrist joints. Because of her sleeves they can't do much but droop and they are loosened once moved. The joints also make her hands very fragile and hard to replace. Solid hands would have been a better choice by far.

Photos to come later, after al|together stuff. I need to photograph my whole collection XP

EDIT: One iSight-quality photo for you... The book they are standing on is pretty bad btw...

Little Busters! EX - Sasami Cat Apron

Little Busters - Sasami Cat Apron [TL300787295] : ToysLogic


This is INCREDIBLY cute.....


My Rin Natsume figure is STILL on backorder with TL ... Komari is so cute though...

I need to get back to playing LB! I've been so loaded with stuff I don't have the energy to bother reading Japanese. (and Im not a Mio fan).

I have been playing:

• Higurashi (mac!)
• Gadget Trial (Saikano as a comedy!)
  
• Tile World (Chip's Challenge on a Mac! Not a visual novel ><)
• Casual Romance Club (Lost all my saves!)
• Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! (Already has a !)
• Piece of Wonder (Cause I couldn't remember why I named my windows install Alecto!)
• Bye ( Its in JP but on Mac!)
  

al|together 2008 "CROSS THE RUBICON"

al|together 2008 "CROSS THE RUBICON" official website


This is so fracking awesome.....

(for those who don't know what the hell al|together : check out the 2005 event's about page... then play some of the work, free, immediately, and legally.)

An awesome Miku Clock for your OS X dashboard + Hachune Tunes

This post is Mac oriented. If you don't have a Mac, Apple is having a sale this Friday. Go get one. The new Unibody Glassbooks ROCK!

If you were awesome and visited my boyfriend's blog at some point you would have seen this amazing Miku Clock that speaks the time:

Yep, shes a cutie isn't she? Don't worry about all that white.. we'll get rid of it.

To add her to your dashboard, first open a page with her always on it NOT my blogs main index but this posts static page; (I don't expect a page that changes would work). Open the page in Safari not Firefox or whatever else you use (I use Firefox btw).
Once on the page in Safari right click and select the option "add to dashboard", click Miku, then crop her as instructed by Safari (remove all that white). Finally click "Add" in the information stripe. This will open Dashboard. You can do some further cropping here if you'd like by pressing the i button and selecting edit. The frame can be changed also.



Oddly she looks larger in Firefox than in Safari *shrug* Unlike in the browser, you need to click her twice to make her speak in Dashboard.

Mac users should also get HachuneTunes:

I did not realize it until this moment but she runs in English on my computer. To download go to this page and scroll till you find HachuneTunes.dmg From there is self explanatory.

Skirt Work

Skirt Work

This is my boyfriend's blog, Skirt Work. Unlike me he can draw.

I designed the new banner... you can see all of the drafts below from top to bottom:

Side: Original drawing

First : His original draft.

Second : My mockup with little finishing,

Third: My draft before final background was chosen (by him) and before edges were smoothed.

Last : The final banner

Asda Story

Official Site for Asda Story

I started this again recently (played a old version of it a whole back). It's not too hard or overwhelming. Cute too, the japanese version is called MicMac but it got closed.

The most unique feature of this game is the soulmate system. This system lets you form a bond with another player to share exp, skills, and even characters. That's how my boyfriend talked me into trying it ^^; Its a fun idea

A more civilized follow up to my last post

I chilled out to CosMo (musican with free works) and iTunes visualizer, here is a follow up.

1st: Anime fans who do buy, you don't have to go to hell. We need more people like you. Even if you buy DBZ, that helps (as much as I dislike the series). Pirates can go to hell with the Mormons.

2nd: Obviously this is not all about Broccoli. This is about having done two months of piracy research and having it all point in the same direction. Things need to change yes, civilized planned copyright reform. Stealing anime doesn't help, it hurts any efforts to move forward. Even when I'm discussing piracy as part of my project people insult me for it. Telling me to "Shut the Fuck Up" doesn't help anything, listening doesn't hurt. I will sit and listen to your "explanation" on why you pirate. Please, post it here.

3rd: I don't own Photoshop because I use GIMP. I don't own MS Office because I have OpenOffice.org Pirating programs helps cement them as the de facto standard, I choose to use free (as in speech not as in beer) open source programs to move away from these corporate monopolies. Pirates are not radicals, they are lazy people clinging to an old system.

4th: If you want free work, make your own work free. Look into Creative Commons licensing. I mentioned CosMo a few lines up and said his music was free. Free to download and to share (gratis - without payment) but also free to anyone to remix and make derivatives (libre - true freedom). In Creative Commons abbreviations we would equate this to a CC-BY liscense and it is one of the free-est CC licenses. Want more control? Try a BY-SA or a BY-ND, which respectfully require others to use the same license with derivative or prohibit derivative completely (not reccomended). You can add a NC or a no-commercial clause to prevent others from making money of your work. I prefer to use CC-BY-SA and CC-BY-NC-SA to encourage free derivatives.

5th: I really want to read Sola 2 in my native tongue and I doubt it is going to happen.

To my fellow "fans": Are you happy?

Broccoli International USA to Shut Down by Year's End (Updated) - Anime News Network

More and more anime/manga/visual novel companies have been shutting down or losing licenses or all sorts of drama. Now Broccoli USA is dead. Blah blah blah boom, natural course, all that shit. The problem is too many selfish egoistical jackasses read manga and watch anime online. Those who don't sit in the middle of the floor at Borders and bend the books out of shape. These things are a luxury, you don't deserve them and you certainly don't need them. To claim you have a right to read it before the english book is out is asine. Don't have money GET OFF YOU ASS AND GET A JOB. Maybe you shouldn't be spending the whole day reading scanslations.

These people aren't fans they are leeches that damage the fandom and damage the community. They band together for "justice" against "unfair laws" but can't even define fair use. They are ignorant SOBs.

People are degrading. People come up to me "why don't you have photoshop?" me: "Cant afford it", them "why don't you download it" me: I don't pirate them "OMFG how can you be such a prude, don't insult me!". Other remarks "Why did you buy Japanese games/dvds that stupid and a waste of money"me " I dont steal" them "You dont have to be a jack ass about it"

So fine, I'll be a "jack ass" or a "prude" or what ever the hell a person with morals and fucking human decency is called. Atleast I support what I like.

From a message board because I suggested he should buy the game translation he wanted :
"Yaa and i am sure that your windows is genuine because you suporte microsoft and Bill Gates for a bug free vista and all your programs have been processed because you suport all of them..please give me a brake."

Yes, my copy of XP is GENUINE. So is my copy of my primary operating system, LEOPARD. BECAUSE ITS YOUR PROBLEM I PAY FOR MY SOFTWARE.

The anime fandom can go to hell. I'm going to book off and buying a copy of Sola 2 since I can't count on a English edition anymore.

Some Miku for ya

200 songs about... You can attach this to your blog too, see this link.


This gadget will migrate to my sidebar soon but I thought I might feature it here so people begin to think to actually look at the side bar... I try to update it every once in a while :)

So check the Awesome things in the sidebar every once in a while kk?

LOVE SONG〈2002〉Saikano Artbook

LOVE SONG〈2002〉 (Big spirits comics special): 高橋 しん: Amazon.co.jp: 本

Another great find at Book Off! I went in to sell books and plump my wallet but instead found this gem for 14.50$. Now, I know the Amazon page says 'used and new' (and not shipping outside Japan) from 250yen BUT the copy I found has all of the first press bonuses (and the obi but I don't care about them), the first copy on Amazon with all of these items is 2800yen. Also the CD-ROM was unopened :D

What it comes with:
*A large gorgeous artbook by Takahashi Shin (duh XD)
*A4 size plastic card of the cover image with the logo disappearing depending the angle (lenticular)
*CD-ROM with voice clips, trailers, music, and comic to storyboard comparisons.
*B2 size double sized poster with a drawing by Takahashi on one size and the same image in the anime's style on the other.
*A special letter "by Chise" on her trademark diary paper (and a note saying said paper can be bought at Animate countrywide)

This is an amazing book.

Amazon isn't being completely stupid with Visual Bunko

planetarian―ちいさなほしのゆめ (VA文庫 (002)): 涼元 悠一, 駒都 えーじ: Amazon.co.jp: 本: "
# 文庫: 238 pages
# Publisher: ビジュアルアーツ (2008/11)
# ISBN-10: 4894906228
# ISBN-13: 978-4894906228
# Release Date: 2008/11
# Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 4.2 x 0.7 inches"

For the Key Sound Label/etc game CD lines Amazon.jp has a long history of treating them like software and therefore refusing to ship them out side of Japan. The original Visual Bunko (Visual Arts book line) was listed as such. Luckly atleast for the planetarian novel, a second listing was added with ISBNs and other book thing and was listed AS A BOOK so Amazon can ship it to the US.

I still will likely order it locally from Book Cafe J (cause they have decent rates but long wait times) but I could not do so without the ISBN. If BCJ can't get it, I still have Amazon to fall back on.

I have no pacience to actually play Portal.. but Still Alive is totally getting my 99c on iTunes

This song is so fun :D I just need to get iTunes all dandy.

No vs. Yes on Proposition 8 : "Mac vs. PC"

I know California polls are only open for another hour but...

フリー音楽素材 MP3・MIDIを無料で提供 『SAM Free Music』

フリー音楽素材 MP3・MIDIを無料で提供　『SAM Free Music』

This is a (IMHO) very talented doujin musician who gives away all his work for no cost. He is pretty skillful working with Miku as well :D

Check out CosmoP (who's in the side bar right now) as well!

Kanon Costume is Done!

Kanon Costume Quick Shot
Originally uploaded by kis_kat

Well I finished my Kanon costume just in time for Halloween! I did the 2nd year shawl because I like the blue better. I might get a Mai wig sometime. the collar didn't come out how I wanted it to but I am quite happy with the shawl because I used a knit, so it feels like something that would actually be in a winter uniform.:D

I also added a pocket to the right side panel's back seam. I can't stand clothes with no pockets.

I am pretty happy with this costume. Sorry about the low image quality, I'm using an iSight (and holding the mouse to use it lol) and Aki will probably take some better ones later.

UPDATE: Oh, and DokiMajo 2 came today. The puchi nendoroids are very cute but hard to assemble. The special CD is mac-compatible also :D

Apple says No to Prop. 8

This is a serious post... deal with it.

The Technology Chronicles : Apple donates $100,000 to fight Prop. 8

In a controversial move, Apple has announced that it is publicly opposing California Proposition 8. Prop 8 is a movement to overturn the Californian Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Prop 8 seeks to define marriage as exclusively between a man and a woman. Apple has donated 100,000 USD to group to prevent the passing of this proposition, stating that "Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8."

I found this particularly amusing since the "Yes on 8" groups has been blatantly targeting businesses that give money to gay-rights groups urging them to "Make a donation of a like amount to ProtectMarriage.com which will help us correct this error". (SD Union Tribune) Businesses that do not will be listed publicly. I don't see who would fall for this extortion. They made their donation for a reason. To add more insanity to this fight... the biggest donors for Prop 8 are NOT Californians. The law of California does NOT effect them. (As a note, Apple is based in California.)

Another reason to be happy with my shiny new MBP.

From the WTF department: DeathNote+2chan=?

Ever wonder what you would get it someone took a chapter of DeathNote and changed all the ... to www (laughing in Japanese; like lol)? Now you can know~! It all goes better with dramatic classical music of course. Please note this has DeathNote spoilers since its a certain middle chapter we all remember very well... (though everyone spoils this chapter anyhow)

What I am reviewing next

kuroigames.com <---NSFW!

Yes, its a eroge for once, an actual eroge. Most importantly a new, cheap, and promising looking one with no fancy patches to install. Seems to have dark themes and full voice and animation. I'm looking forward to this one. Especially since I now have a computer that can run animated games :D

And I have heard rumor of a mac version.

New computer, witch touching, and Erin

Well, I am back from my excursion to Oregon. We of course went to the Portland area Kinokuniya Shoten where I picked up the first two volumes of "Erin's Challenge! I can speak Japanese" a NHK video series with textbooks for foreigners learning Japanese. I also grabbed Lucky Star GN 1.

When I came home I was greeted by a small package from eBay: Doki Doki Majyo Shinpan. This had to wait though because I had to head off to the FedEx depot to pick up my new MacBook Pro.

Yes, I am typing from it now.

Dokidoki Majo Shinpan! 2 DUO [First Print Limited Edition Box] on sale

Buy Dokidoki Majo Shinpan! 2 DUO [First Print Limited Edition Box] (Nintendo DS) - Order Now!

The aforementioned game is Play Asia's deal of the week. It's quite a good price at under 40$ + shipping.

This is the limited edition box that comes with:

• 2 petite nendoroid figures by GSC
• a student book of some sort
• a mascot charm set
• a special CD-ROM
• heat sensitive stripping card.
  
• The game (well duh)
  

I ordered this just a minute ago despite not having the first one yet (its in the mail). I actually have wanted this set for quite sometime and just despise buying things out of order. This sequel actually has a higher CERO rating than its out of print predecessor (likely due to the jiggly boobs) and would probably function as a fine stand alone introduction to the series.

Honestly, I would have preferred to spread out the purchases but weekly deals are timed -_-

ai space is open!

ホーム｜ ai sp@ce（アイスペース） 3D生活空間サービス

ai sp@ce the bishoujo game based MMO social game, is open to most of the public as of now.

When I get my new computer I shall try it out.

Ordered new MacBook Pro and Doki Doki Majo Shinpan, box came from CDJapan

Well I ordered a new computer. The shiny new MacBook Pro high end 15' model with the processor upped to 2.8 Ghz.http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/ My totally awesome parent's are footing the bill for the majority of this amazing machine.

I also ordered Doki Doki Majo Shinpan! used from eBay for about 10 dollars + shipping. This is the infamous witch touching game. Play-Asia is having a special on the sequel by the way.

My SAL box from CDJapan came with my LB! long strap, it is indeed quite long unlike most other cell straps from the Japanese market, I can fit both hands through it comfortably. The cloth strap is decorated with the baseball chibis of all the main characters, girls on one side, boys on the other. It comes with a metal charm of the teams logo also.

I also ordered Re:Package, Hatsune Miku's first commercial album, all musical performance by livetune. I might have actually received the sold out first press as it came in a fancy hologrammed box with such kanji on the label. (First press bonus is a caramel box what ever that is) I will update this post when I listen to it so check back :3

UPDATE : Fun electronic-style music. Unlike many albums I actually like all of the songs. Recommended

AppleInsider | Apple makes October 14th MacBook event official

AppleInsider | Apple makes October 14th MacBook event official


MY PRAYERS HAVE ALMOST BEEN FULFILLED

If this is a macbook but not macbookpro event I will cry.

Pray for new MBPs so I can get back to playing games and reviewing them for you all!

Alicemagic closer to final translation : Google Docs posting isn't quite there yet.

Closer to final translation of Alicemagic by Rita... Posting from Google Docs doesn't really work right yet so sorry about the lack of title for a couple hours

Romaji
akaneiro no kumo omoide mo futatsu tooku nagarete ikuyo
hibiku kane no oto kakera kimi to hitotsu zutsu
ashita wa tenki ni nare

hoshi no mukou ikerukana
sora mitsumete aruku hito hikari
tsuki no ue hitori demo
rasen no hate e kaketeikuyo

kimi wa naita ato waraeru hazu dakaratte ittanda
bokura no tabi wasuretarishinai yo
nakusanai you mahou kakete sayonara o tsutaenai
arukidasu yo mata itsuka

kieru kageboushi machi wa somaru yuuhiiro omoidasenai
takai kono bashou de miokuru kimi to yakusoku
ashita wa te o tsunagou

niji no kaze ni nabikarete
mitsukaranai boku wa doko e ikou
shiranai yume no kanata
tomadou ARISU sono saki made

tsutaerarenakatta kotoba o ietara saigo ni shinai
bokura no tabi mada wakaremichi demo
soredemo mezamete kieteku
sei ippai no egao de miokuru yo kimi no koto o

zutto sagasenai kotoba to hatasenakata yakusoku
owaranai owari nan de nai koto

kimi wa shiranai mama de ite, boku mo iwanai mama de
dakedo kitto kaerenai

kimi wa naita ato waraeru hazu dakaratte ittanda
bokura no tabi wasuretarishinai yo
nakusanai you mahou kakete sayonara o tsutaenai
arukidasu yo mata itsuka
English
Deep red clouds, memories too, they leave and flow far away.
Ringing bell, fragments of you piece by piece
Become a clear tomorrow.

Buried beyond the stars
Staring at space I walk, a single light
Alone above the moon but
Running to the end of the spiral

You said we should be able to laugh after we cry
Don't let our journey be forgotten.
To lose nothing magic is cast, not saying goodbye
Someday we will walk again.

I cannot forget the disappearing silhouettes as the street is dyed by the setting sun.
From that tall place I can see you off with our promise.
Tomorrow, we will link hands.

Fluttering in a rainbow breeze,
The place I am going cannot be found.
The far side of an unknown dream,
bewildered Alice, going to that kind of place.

Words that cannot convey through the end won't do,
Our journey is again a forked road.
But still, when you wake up it will disappear.
I smile with all my might as I see you off.

Words that cannot be found and our promise that cannot be fulfilled.
Things like a never-ending end don't exist.

You still don't know and I still haven't said,
However surely we cannot return.

You said we should be able to laugh after we cry
Don't let our journey be forgotten.
To lose nothing magic is cast, not saying goodbye
Someday we will walk again.


Japanese
茜色の雲　思い出も二つ　遠く流れていくよ
響く鐘の音　カケラ君と一つずつ
明日は天気になれ

星の向こういけるかな
空見つめて歩く　ひとひかり
月の上　一人でも
螺旋の果てへ　駆けていくよ
　君は泣いたあと笑えるはずだからって言ったんだ
　僕らの旅　忘れたりしないよ
　失くさないよう魔法かけて　さよならを伝えない
　歩き出すよ　またいつか

消える影法師　街は染まる夕陽色　思い出せない
　高いこの場所で見送る　君と約束
　明日は手を繋ごう

虹の風になびかれて
　見つからない僕は　どこへいこう
　知らない夢の彼方
　戸惑うアリス　その先まで

　伝えられなかった言葉を　言えたら最後にしない
　僕らの旅　また分かれ道でも
　それでも目覚めて消えてく
　精一杯の笑顔で見送るよ　君のことを

　ずっと探せない言葉と　果たせなかった約束
　終わらない終わりなんてないこと

君は知らないままでいて　僕も言わないままで
　だけどきっと帰れない

　君は泣いたあと笑えるはずだからって言ったんだ
　僕らの旅　忘れたりしないよ
　失くさないよう魔法かけて　さよならを伝えない
　歩き出すよ　またいつか

Computer, do me a favor....

Well as some of you know, the body of my compaq presario 2104 had a failure in the wiring a long while back. To my joy, my sister's much abused old computer of the same model (she got a new one because "it made funny noises) could still turn on. (Mind you this was prime time to buy a macbook) So my hard drive was swapped.

Now we are at the end of the macbook cycle, as in "updates as soon as 7 days from now according to popular rumors". End Of Cycle. Of course now my parents want me to get a new computer not wait for the new model.

But I am determined to ride this piece of shit at least another week. (It's well over 4 years old)

Problems with this PoS in chronological order

- I UPGRADED it to 512 RAM.... and that's as many slots as it has....

-USB port 1 : physically destroyed by my sister being dumb and leaving computers with plugged in USB devices on couches

-Headphones port : cuts in and out due to manufacturing defect (also evident in my dead body but much less severe) I tape the cord to the body at an angle to hold the port correctly
-PCI slot : broken (for wireless card since internal is crap) I sit with a cord running from my wireless router to my computer....

-Right click trackpad : Sometimes works sometimes not, sister's cat sitting on said sisters lap and trackpad when sister used said PoS

-Keyboard : Only two keys missing: [ and ], just kind of fell off one day.

-Charging port : At first it heated up to not let me unplug the charger, now I can only use my sister's old one as it won't fit my targus one anymore (my compaq brand on broke long ago). You could lift the laptop by the charging plug when it was hot. Now the charger doesn't unplug from the computer. Ever. So its become shaky and doesn't work all the time.

-USB port 2 : Inconsistent but mostly not working. causing the coolerpad to not work leading too.. Probably because it became the port sister left USB devices plugged in to and then left on couches

-OVERHEATING : I've burned my self on this thing... this causes the charger problem too as something in the port swells around the plug or something...

So lets all pray for new MacBookPros on October 14th okay?

(Since I've been wanting a mac for about three and a half years...)

and remember... Friends don't let friends buy Compaqs

Kamikita Komari PVC and a Kudryavka Cup, Domo too

Toyslogic box came today. Aki and I are going to do a photo shoot of Komari so no photos now.

She is super hard to dissasemble (to get the plastic protector sheets out of between pieces) but shes amazingly cute. She has toenails! Absolute favorite 1/8th figure I own. The essence of moe. SPOILER on color changing "secret" : panties change from white w/ red stripe to lavender w/ no stripes but I was too lazy to wait that long with the hair dryer so I got to lavender with pale stripes. ^^:


The Kudryavka cup I ordered on a whim. She is very nice looking and I am about to go make a cup of tea after this post. See her here: http://www.hlj.com/product/CSP31421 (you can backorder her here too but I am not fond of HLJ)

Lastly, I got a little envelope from eBay. The completely sold-out (in San Diego at least) Domo Reuseable bag from Target. It folds up very nicely and has two pockets. I also got the Domo Target Gift Card (empty) because noone sold just the bag.

初音ミク＆宮沢賢治：星めぐりのうた

If you can't read the title this post will likely mean very little to you. Hatsune Miku singing (with some random woman) Kenji Miyazawa's Hoshi Meguri no Uta. Then again this song was used in Planetarian (but only sung in the unpatched CD version) so you all might care. :) The actual music says "allegro" or something of the sort but the Japanese can't read Italian (I guess) so deal with the uber-slowness.

Yeah you need a niconico account to view it. Get one. XP

Hatsune Miku Stripping Game

- Malaysia, a Sweet Trap -: Hatsune Miku Stripping Game

While wandering the internet I find lots of things, fun, strange, disturbing, cute. This one is all three? Plays like brick breaker but with Miku's clothes as the bricks.

I'm not very good at brick games. The big strip was from a lucky power ball

Miku mania and top 5 bishojo

Well as you all know I finally bought the Miku nendoroid (2nd wave). She is amazingly cute, nendoroids consistently exceed my expectations despite this being my third.

Then I bought a copy of Livetune feat. Miku because CDJapan had the LB! long strap I've been infinitely backordered on with HLJ.

Then, (with a generous deal from my dad who admires all things in comic stores) I bought Kei Illustrations which among lots of pages of amazing art, has all of the offical Vocaloid2 drawings. It also smells of rosemary.

My top bishoujo (atm)
1) Hoshino Yumemi
2) Chi
3) Komari Kamikita
4) Chise
5)Hatsune Miku

Waiting on Toyslogic still.. but shipping the rest..

Well I got a lovely email 2 days ago notifying me Rin will be pushed back yet another month. So I told them to ship Komari and etc now so I have something next week if not the whole order =P I got an email back today with an acceptance of the split.

Should have listened to Aki and doled out the split shipping charge when Komari came in...

Planetarian book RERELEASE!!!!

『planetarian ～ちいさなほしのゆめ～』の小説が10/31に発売｜Key Official HomePage

The limited edition way out of print book that came with both packaged editions of planetarian is being rereleased on halloween. This is a Good Thing (TM).

How to get monies?

And I bought the Kei artbook and ordered Livetune feat Miku. But Revvie > Miku, I'm sorry folks so that is small info now


EDIT: THIS is the best possible use of the new Visual Bunko line.. how could I not see it coming?!?!

Project 10 to the 100th

Project 10 to the 100th

This is not an otaku post for once... but keep reading for me?

Google has outdone themselves. This project for their 10th birthday is a commitment to spend 10 million dollars on helping people globally. How? That's up to you. Google is calling for everyone and anyone to submit an idea. This project is available in 17 languages currently so no excuses.

Lets change the world.

Waiting on ToysLogic....

08/16/2008	Processing	order comments
08/16/2008	Processing	payment completed
08/20/2008	Waiting for More	Holding the following figures and ship later: Little Busters - Noumi Kudryavka Tea Cup
09/09/2008	Waiting for More	Holding the following figures and ship later: Little Busters - Noumi Kudryavka Tea Cup Little Busters - 1/8 Komari Kamikita PVC Figure

As you can see I've been waiting a while for some LB! figures (and a splurge cup). Both Rin and Komari were pushed back to Oct.4th (original date was 8/31) but then Komari (x2 : One for Aki) came in early but not Rin. Even though its from LA I'm too cheap to ship the first three items now because 1) I could buy a manga for that 2)Komari will be lonely without Rin 3) Conjecture made me broke. Now we are finally approaching the new release date scheduled for Rin and I am quite anxious to receive her already.

ToysLogic has been really nice to me and has a good website but their distributor seems to be a bit iffy.

Chaos;HEAd Promo with Anime Footage Streamed - Anime News Network

Chaos;HEAd Promo with Anime Footage Streamed - Anime News Network

I linked to the ANN post here because it has english instruction on getting to the trailer. It look promising even if the art looks soso compared to the game.

Someone in the ANN forum said this was based on a doujin game despite the games credits being in the news article -__-

Oh and Clannad (TV probably) is licensed... maybe a thin pak someday..

Hatsune Miku Nendoroid

Both Aki and I have acquired Hatsune Miku nendoroids as the AAA distribution trickles down through the local shops. Shes every bit as well made and cute as the pictures make her look. A fabulous figure.

http://www.goodsmile.info/products/gsc/2008/gsc0803-04.html

Domo Furoshiki

どーもくん　小風呂敷　豆旅人| DVD・キャラクターグッズ 通販サイトのNHKエンタープライズ


My mother and I really like the Domo furoshiki that NHK offers but we cannot order the items since we do not have a Japanese address or credit card. Japan is so closed :-'(

At Target I got another Domo plush (pumpkin) and a small soft Domo square tote with candy. Yay for Target!

Domo

I have been sucked into the cult of Domo. The little one is my Ninja Domo Mimobot (Flash Drive) with all his 8 GB glory protected in a fuzzy hoodie (mimoco.com!). The large Dracula Domo I got at Target earlier today as Target's Halloween promotion is Domo focused (an unusual choice for them). The Domo stuff endcap was almost completely empty, I got one of two left pushies. Upon leaving the store, Domo in hand, he immeadately got comments from cute girls what a playboy!

Here's to hoping for massive Target restocks

Follow me on Blogger ?

Yeah, Same thing as the other blog. Please follow me on blogger if you like my blog. Also, if you have a blog leave it in the comments section and I'll check it out ^_~

Saikano Supplementary Volume : You and the Two of Them at the End of the World (?)

最終兵器彼女 外伝集 世界の果てには君と二人で

Bit shaky on that title translation ^^; but yes, this is a supplementary volume of Saikano!!! I found it unsuspectingly at my local Book Off (still one copy in stock at San Diego branch!) Several color parts for every story as well as a Saikano illustration gallery make this a nice buy :D

Stories included:

• わたしたちは散歩する （We go on a stroll) Chapter 4 : This is Shin Presents! 4 koma series chapter four. The chapters are seemingly not connected.
  
• 世界の果てには君と二人で。。。(Long title I am not typing it out）：This is a long story with a long name I haven't tried to power through yet. New cast and subtitle: "The Last Folk Song on This Little Planet" Set during the time of Saikano.
  
• LOVE　STORY,　KILLED. ： This one was published a couple years back around the anime announcement and quite a few fan translations can be found on the net. An excellent story.
• スター＊チャイルド　（Star Child) : Again I have not read this story yet (as I am lazy and have eroge to play) but seems likely to be an aftermath story.
  
• ギャラリ　「最終兵器彼女の世界」(Gallery : The World of She, The Ultimate Weapon)　Color art SinPre has made of Saikano since the release of Love Song 2002 artbook.
  

Don't expect to find this in English any time soon despite that Viz hold the license for the original 7 books.


She, The Ultimate Weapon, or Saikano is an amazing romantic seinen manga and I would highly recommend it to all mature fans but just as a reminder, Takahashi Shin puts the graphic in graphic novel as this series (including this supplementary volume) contains serious depictions of war and sex (sometimes together). XP

Nanatsuiro Drops - DX Trading Figures (Set of 5)

Nanatsuiro Drops - DX Trading Figures (Set of 5) [TL300786084] : ToysLogic, Imported Anime Toys, Gundam, Ma.K

Its toysworks but....


It's NANATSUIRO DROPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIGURES!

WITHOUT SHANA!

(You all shall become nanadro otaku just like me >:D)

Vocaloid - Miku Hatsune Figma

Vocaloid - Miku Hatsune Figma [TL300785975] : ToysLogic


This is amazing! Must buy!

Goods Round Up : Small purchases add up

These are three otaku goods I have acquired in the last week or so. First on top is a Little Busters! pass case. This was originally destined for my work ID but since I have one maybe two days of work max for the next several months I have not decided what to do with it except put my currently useless pasmo in it and wish longingly to return to the land of the rising sun. ^^;

Secondly, I have a small note pad featuring Saya Tokido from LB!-EX scored off ebay. This normally comes with Dengeki festival! Comic 3 but that magazine and the other goods (a CLANNAD anime poster and towel featuring the image used for the LB pillow from Dengeki Festival! 9) did not thrill me enough to order the whole package. This little one is destined to be used up by Aki and I planning similarly fetishistic purchases.

Lastly, we have a true gem. This is the schedule book included with the Chobits First Press Limited Edition manga volume 4. I found this FPLE book at my local Book Off! for $9 (I also bought Shana 1 for $1). I am scheming to create refill pages but a recent bout of severe illness has cut in to that.

Little Busters! Trading Figures

Toy's Works has announced a new set of LB trading figures that look good in the photos (they resemble the 4-koma versions of the characters quite well) but I can't get excited about the manufacturer after that piece of plastic they pretended was Komari.

I also finished Yume Miru Kusuri. Very awesome. Now back to dear Rin....

Nanatsuiro Drops R2s

I finally broke down and bought the Nanatsuiro Drops R2 DVDs. I still think the price is obscene but that is the depth of my fandom I guess. As people told me they run fine on VLC despite my R1 drive. Very cute boxes (2 boxes of 3 discs each) and cases all around.

Photos eventually...

Little Busters! English trial...

Okay,

Pros

Very nice menu translations/graphics edits.

Nothing is completely off base, you will accurately understand the events portrayed in the trial.

Cons

Tense : Switches between present "He opens the door" and past tense "He waved the cat, she kicked him"

Pluralizing : "Anyone who disagreed with Kyousuke were the unlucky ones." is one example I noticed.

"We are called Little Busters!" vs. "We are called the Little Busters!" since the term is a proper noun as a team name (We are the San Diego Padres) rather than a noun describing the qualities of its members? (We are the defenders of evil.) This is purely subjective however.

Not localized. Japanese name order is unnecessary and should be localized. -sama could easily be translated to Lord or "honorable" and nya (being the sound of a cat) is "meow" or "mew".

Overall, they just need a good editor XP

Yume Miru Kusuri and LB-EX

First of all Yume Miru Kusuri is amazing. I just finished Aeka's route. This is not a "pure love" ren'ai game like those by Key where the boy rescuses the girl and all is fine and dandy. This is a nitty gritty portrayal of a imperfect world and the selfish intentions of it's inhabitants. It's a lot more realistic XD. Don't expect to see a "clean" version of this ever, it wouldn't work and it would disgrace the game to try to do such a thing, that's the kind of game it is.

On a lighter note, Tsubaki is now my second favorite visual novel male character. Right behind Natsume Kyosuke.

Speaking of Kyosuke, (Aki your not gonna like this) I have decided to not open/install/play the game contents (I have opened the box for the audio content) of LB-EX untill I finish LB. This is not any noble intention of purity but rather simply because LB-EX has a function to view only new content assuming you've cleared Little Busters!. I'm guessing this marks all of the previous games text as read so you can skip it, or something of the sort. If this was in english I would simply reread everything I've read so far but Japanese is so slow and this is the least time-consuming way to play all content as easily as possible.

Since I have only cleared 2/6 character routes (though I am on Yuiko's endgame) and have not played any of the true routes I do not want to accidently expose my self to any spoilers nor miss any of the game. I bought the game(s) such it is my decision how I would like to play or not play them and I hope those who wish to borrow the newer version understand they will have to wait or do as I am doing (borrow LB complete it then use EX's new content function). Yes I know this may frustrate you as I work through this game rather slowly but I simply do not have the energy to get home from work and immedately tackle several megabytes of Japanese text. As a fast english reader this amount of time needed is one of the most frustrating aspects of these games to me.

On the bright side I may be enticed to help the translation project once I have completed the whole of the first game as reading the whole work is essential to attempting to translate it. :3

Comic-Con and Himeya Box Goods Roundup

This list is why I'm not updating :

Comic-Con goods

• Yume Miru Kusuri (EN)
• Casual Romace Club (JP/EN)
• Clannad: Tomoyo Sakagami 1/8 PVC figure by Kotobukiya
• Clannad: Kyou Fujibayashi 1/8 PVC figure by Kotobukiya
• To Heart 2 Another Days hand towel
• Ninja Domo-kun 8GB flash drive by Mimoco (a generous gift from parents)
• SHUFFLE! Disc 5 (pre-sale)
  

Himeya Shipment

• Little Busters! Ecstasy First Press with jigsaw puzzle (JP)
  
• complete set of planetarian drama cds (JP)
  
• Watashi wa Konya Aishite ~Come See me Tonight~ (EN)
• OTSU volumes 1 & 2

Firstly, Little Busters! EX is waiting for hard drive space to become available. The bonuses were an arrange CD and a special edition of "Natsume Brothers!" It might very well end up installed on the previously mentioned Ninja Domo-kun flash drive.

The packaging for the planetarian Drama CDs is amazing... a box and a "picture card book" were included with volume 1. The box holds all three CDs and the book which is a set of postcard style illustrated cards with a spine like a composition note book. Closest thing to a planetarian art book on the market. The CDs are all in DVD style cases with a double sided cover insert (so you can see it through the clear case) and booklets with the art from the orginal novel. The last drama CD is a set of the last two stories (one per disc) making this a 4 disc set.

10 audio CDs to import........hurry up iTunes

Yuiko is so cute....

Riki is cute too XD

Little Busters! Pass Case

Little Busters! Pass Case

Ordered this. Cute isn't it? Too bad I don't have any (US) IC cards... It'll end up as a sleeve for my SeaWorld ID I'm pretty sure.

Comic-Con and LB-EX... both so close and so far

nventionAs most of you know, San Diego Comic-Con International (or as I shall say from now... comic-con or cc) will soon be upon us (Wednesday evening in fact) and will cast it's rays on San Diego untill Sunday. (So its simple : Don't go downtown, don't try to take the trolley)

CC is scarily popular now though, I used to tell people I went to it and they would say something like "wait what.. you went where?" Now everyone is going and I saw a blub in (someone else's copy of) Elle O.o

I am actually more excited about the release of Little Busters! EX than the con... probably because the former sucked away most of the money I could spend at the latter. That and the half a dozen Little Busters! soundtracks I want T_T

You know when I started getting in to these games I thought to my self "How can someone bring them self to buy something twice? Isn't that a grand waste of money, they have to be crazy to do that at the price these games cost. They ought to at least sell their copies of the old editions." Then when EX was announced I posed the question to some friends both said "Yeah I'd rebuy it." and my guilt crumbled away XD

And hey... Play-Asia carries some eroge now...

Key Sounds Label Updates :D

First of all Key Sounds Label (KSL) is the audio CD publishing branch of the Key visual novel studio. I say audio CD but don't try to get these through Amazon or CDJapan, as the first marks them as software (since their from a software house) and the second doesn't carry them at all. Hello Himeya....

I ordered the Planetarian Drama CDs and OTSU trance remixes recently and will have more information on those when they arrive.

New Discs (All LB you can stop reading here if you'd like.)

リトルバスターズ！エクスタシートラックス: Little Busters! Ecstasy Tracks

All the music added to Ecstasy that was not in the original. An append disc to the OST. This is a Comiket 74 exclusive release for ¥2,000 but Key never keeps CDs exclusive for long (price may change however).

Rockstar Busters! Little Busters Arrange Album


This was a Comiket 73 exclusive but it will be reissued for general sale on 8/15 for ¥2,000. I believe the Ecstasy version of the OP is from this disc.


リトルバスターズキャラクターソング "鈴の密かな恋の唄 / Mission:Love sniper" : Little Busters Character Song "Rin's Secret Love Song/Mission:Love sniper"


Another previous exclusive this will be released at the same time as Rockstar Busters! on 8/15 for ¥1,200.

ラジオCD 「ラジオ リトルバスターズ! ナツメブラザーズ! 」 vol.1 : Radio CD "Radio Little Busters! Natsume Brothers!" vol.1

No cover art available
While this has not been officially announced by Key yet, from the software designation it is clearly a KSL title. This is a collected volume of the streaming net radio show with the expected price of ¥3,000. There will be limited and regular editions of this CD according to amazon but only the regular edition is listed currently.Expected release date is 9/24

Another awesome LB figure but this time exclusive -_-

First of all AAAAnime distribution seems to have plans to carry the two Kotobukiya Little Busters! figures of Natsume Rin and Kamikita Komari I blogged about previously. This is awesome :D

Well a more dynamically posted Rin figure has surfaced but its an exclusive to two shops and niether ships to The-World-Not-Including-Japan. So stare at her with me XD

Kotobukiya's Web Shop's Order Page (for those in Japan)

LB-EX master up!

And I'm ordering tonight :D

Computer situation..

We put my hard drive into my sisters old laptop (same model). Note I say old as in she got a new one because it sucks majorly worse than mine did because she treated it like crap. I swapped my battery in to because she killed hers.

Pros
-Working built in wireless (I still use the other card though
- Turns on

Cons
-Broken USB port
-Sticky mouse buttons
-Much much hotter
-louder

Neutral
- headphones port defective on both

If only mine would turn on...

Uhhhh...

My computer spontaneously shut down and won't turn back on... even the charging indicator that is on when it's plugged in won't work making me suspect the internal power structure... so don't expect to see me on the forums this week... or next unless it magically fixes.

I really appreciate Hirameki's DVD games right now....

AnimeExpo and LB-EX

Well my Little Busters! Ecstasy focused G's festival DX arrived while I was away at AnimeExpo. G's is a simply wonderfully moe magazine, and festival's are always a treat. I need a mouse so I can use that mouse pad...

Booty List from AX

Dengeki G's Festival 5 - Tsuyokiss with talking alarm clock, metal pins, and pencil board
sola GN 1 by Broccoli Books
Love Hina Bilingual GN 8 - One dollar clearance
Little Busters! Solid Works trading figures: Kudryavka and Rin
Day of Love by Hirameki
Anime LA 4 shirt I forgot to buy in January

The Kudo figure is most definitely from the same leg mold as the G's anniversary Kudo with a very similar rest of the body (different faces, same pose). The paint and textures are a lot better however especially on the upper body. Kudo isn't a big fave of mine but I enjoy her well enough to not regret the purchase. Rin is the real treat however as she has such a cute pose (pulling on her socks with a frolicking cat nearby). I seemed to get a different colored cat than the box had but this might simply be a issue of prototype vs. finished product.

I saw the three announced Kotobunkiya LB figures. Adorable, excellent quality, and NOT FOR SALE waaaaah ToT. I saw ToyWorks Kudo for sale but cannot say the same praise... it looked fine but not as polished.

MangaGamers had a presence through Circus who was there through Broccoli. very nice people at Cicus's booth.

ComicCon will still remain my go-to con for esoteric purchases but AX was a wonderful change of pace being a "large" con vs. a megagiant (My sisters first words... wow its so small!) . If all goes well I will have attended all 4 major sizes of conventions by the end of the year (small - ConJecture, medium - ALA, large - AX, San Diego - SDCC; The size is simply called San Diego because its the side of the San Diego convention center XP )

I will be making my biannual Himeya purchase tomorrow. All you San Diegans suck for not splitting shipping XD Just kidding I know how hard it is to afford this shizz.

Haven't posted in a while!: Goodies, work, and AX08

Well its been a while, I haven't had anything particularly notable to blog since I am not buying any otaku goods until I've placed my Himeya order (LBEX and a hell of a lot of KeySoundLabel CDs). And I'm not placing this order untill after AX in case I find someone selling the said CD's there (like that'll happen =P).

I will be at AnimeExpo Saturday and Sunday. This is my first time at AX and I am excited. ^_^ Additionally, I recieved my first paycheck of the summer today >.> I am working all week up till the convention (including the 4th) so I should have no problem affording LBEX. I just might not have time to play anything XD I enjoy work though in a way because it lets me interact with happy people. This is the big "secret" in working at a theme park: the customers are already happy and relaxed so your job is halfway done before you say hello.

Anyone who keeps up with me on Google Talk might have been aware of this but I am trying to clear out my anime/game backlog this summer hence titled : 萌えの夏 . Here's what's been done so far:

• Finally cleared the last bit of Hourglass of Summer (Mana's route)
• Wrote a bit more on ONE review ^^;
  
• Finished Tomoyo's route in CLANNAD (I can now play Tomoyo After with no regrets)
• Cleared Nanatsuiro*Drops DS again to unlock a new "If Story". Yuri is popping up in the main game now. :3
  
• Purchased SHUFFLE! volume 4 (en route)
• YesAsia goodies
  
• Purchased Dengeki Festival! DX 3 (en route)
• Cleared Kudryvaka's route in Little Busters! Now powering through common for the last time (making save points this time ^^;)
  
• Worked more on Wahrheit Academy plot
  
• Hung up Nanatsuiro Drops posters that have been rolled up for months.
• Rereading Higurashi because it is brilliant. The translation is full of life and a pleasure to reread. :3
  

YesAsia goodies

A package came:

Nanatsuiro Drops Comic 3 : No suprise its the third volume. Jurisia (?) from the pS3 version is in it and thats kinda odd but its exactly what I expected. More 4 koma this time ones I haven't seen and a bonus chapter. (volume 2 had the strips from G's Festival which I have in large color pages already)

Shining stars bless * : Kaori Utatsuki's debut single. Kotoko provides some vocals also I think. The OP theme from Nanatsuiro Drops anime and a unplugged version of "I'm home". Karaoke of course. I opted against the Special Edition since a region 2 music video DVD didnt thrill me enough for YesAsia's markup.

Saishuu Heiki Kanojo ~The Last Summer Festival~ : Saikano drama album. I'm listening to it right now. Fun stuff but side stories all the same. Insert book had the transcript which is nice. Oddly the spine and obi had the title as "The Last Summer Vacation" despite the story starting with a school day. The fault of lazy quality checkers.

Kanon & AIR: Sky : This is an anthology of Kanon and Air sidestories and crossovers by Rei Izumi/Idumi. Izumi draws Hibiki's Magic (written by Jun Maeda) currently and has previously drawn .hack//The Legend of the Twilight Bracelet and the insert art for Natsume Kyosuke Fuurai Ki (Little Buster! Visual Guide Book). She seems to have a very friendly relation to Key and is drawing a corner for LBEX in Dengeki G's right now. This is a larger than average comic (like the Dengeki Comics EX line) and has nicer paper than any Japanese volume I have. Textured cover and a decent amount of color pages scattered throughout. A nice book!

Updated "Never use DHL" with pretty photos; Panera soup recipe

Why are you reading this? Go there already! (Tomoyo After game and Clannad teaspoons)

http://jyuichi-11.blogspot.com/2008/06/never-use-dhl-but-if-you-do-they-do.html

Yes, Jimmy I am playing Hotel Dusk as much as possible! I will play a lot tomorrow since its a day off. That and LB >.> Just think of how much of a nice long game it will be when you borrow it eventually XD orz

Panera French Onion Soup is AMAZING btw. I wanna make it

From: http://www.recipelink.com/

FRENCH ONION SOUP LIKE PANERA BREAD

FOR THE ONIONS:
1/4 cup butter
4 medium yellow onions, sliced
FOR THE SOUP:
2 cans (14 oz each) (Swanson) beef broth
3/4 cup (Swanson) chicken broth
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups water
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 drops Tabasco sauce
FOR THE GARNISH:
Focaccia (or other bread) (for croutons)
shaved Asiago Cheese

TO PREPARE THE ONIONS:
Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add sliced onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until onions turn brown.

TO MAKE THE SOUP:
Add remaining ingredients for the soup to the pan and stir to combine. Heat soup until it's boiling, then reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

TO MAKE THE CROUTONS:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Slice focaccia bread (or any bread you want to use) into 3/4-inch thick slices. Butter both sides of those slices, then cut the slices into bite-size cubes.

Bake the bread in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes or until crispy.

TO SERVE:
Serve the soup super hot with a handful of croutons floating on top followed by a couple tablespoons of shaved Asiago cheese.

*You can use a potato peeler to shave the Asiago cheese by dragging it over the edge of the cheese wedge.

Servings: 8
Adapted from source: Todd Wilbur

MSG URL: http://www.recipelink.com/msgid/1425137

That is all.

We are making a game?! (so play the trial!)

JonFawkes and I are making a visual novel.


Stop laughing and watch the opening video


We have a story outline (top secret ;3) and a trial version (not secret at all). Please play and comment! I would love if someone could help with music as I am limited with what I can do (arrange with Garage Band ^^;). Jon is the artist so all visual feedback goes to him (including video feedback).

About the Game:
The game is called Wahrheit Academy (I believe Wahrheit means truth in German? To be honest... we needed a name and German is an awesome language so we used Google Translate to find a good sounding title). This is a all ages shoujo-ai school story set in an unnamed western fantasy world. Read the official site for more information >:D I can provide downloads to mirror if anyone feels that generous? ^^: The final is aimed for this time of year 2009 at latest but don't hold us to it as we are complete n00bs at this.

Thank you for reading this and I hope you enjoy our efforts

Official Site

Oh, team name is Toast, but the logo didn't make it into the game yet XP

電撃G's Festival DELUXE Vol.3

http://www.hobbystock.jp/item/view/HBY-BKS-00000299 (NSFW by American standards; upper body fanservice)

I ordered this from Hobby Search today, its a Little Busters Ecstasy special edition of Dengeki G's that comes with a Kudo "small breast" oppai mousepad, a puzzle (what is it with LB and puzzles? this will be my third and the preorder bonus will make 4), and a deck of cards. I don't know of any other LB oppai mousepads so X3 Dengeki G's Festival!'s are really quite a deal price wise. The magazines are very large and pretty as are the three included items.

Never use DHL... but if you do they do come eventually (updated!)

My copy of Tomoyo After came today, which also marked 4 weeks from the day it shipped... I cannot reccomend DHL... they couldn't give me information on the average delivery window/times and after I gave them the service name twice they asked what shipping company I used (uh... DHL obviously...). The package did finally come however :3. I also purchased the CLANNAD official privilege teaspoon set. (Photos below)Which is beautiful and has the most amazing english translation of the prologue (by Key):

"Does this school like it?"
"Even if I take and I take, I like it."
"But it is at all. --It cannot but change."
"A pleasant thing, a delightful thing, and all"
"It cannot but change."
"It like this place but is still?"

Things like this make me really appreciate all the hard workers at Baka-Tsuki on CLANNAD. XD A Tomoyo After translation was supposedly started there too recently btw.

The assorted parts of Tomoyo After PC first press. From left to right, top to bottom, Box, Game Disc, Soundtrack, User Manual (small booklet), Visual Guidebook (large booklet). This game evidently is quite a rare item nowadays. Tomoyo is the most moe of the CLANNAD girls (especially when she wears glasses!) so I have been searching for this title for quite sometime (nevermind its NOT a CLANNAD sequel *wink wink*)


The large white item is the slip that holds the two smaller blue boxes together. The large one opens up to showcase the teaspoons. The other is a simple box with the rolled towel inside, I thought it was a placeholder at first ^^;



The spoons have character portraits in the handles, the spoon part also had the girl's names engraved (in romaji). This hand towel came with the teaspoons, a nice surprise!

Navel Figure Collection

On a note that has nothing to do with this picture: I updated the Alicemagic Translation final post with a link to a iPod-ready text version as well as that bulky pdf.

Tomoyo After (or D.H.L. is S.L.O.)

DHL or American customs or w.e is awfully slow from Europe ^^; It's been two weeks and no Tomoyo After. Since the first company screwed up (evidently, my address doesn't exist) I'm a bit paranoid I admit but this is awfully slow for the amount they charge XP

(Of course none of this is the seller's fault so I'm not ragging on him; he's been extremely helpful through all this.)



So watch the opening :3

What I'm Playing

I'm playing a lot of games right now but not getting very far in any.

In the scope of English VNs I just finished ONE. It was painfully repetitive but the characters are very well developed. I promise to review this soon. I'm as far as possible in Higurashi (day 12) and it is a wonderful wonderful game in the sense that I can't sleep safe anymore. The writing is brilliant but NEVER play at night! Lastly, I need to finish Phantom of Inferno atleast once... the format is such a drag. I need to get back to Night of the Forget Me Nots as well... the endings are so numerous! Hotel Dusk has largely been forgotten but I hope to play some later tonight. (sorry Jimmy!)

While not a pure VN I am stuck on battle 5 of Gadget Trial. Anyone know how to get through it? (I suspect it has to do with the factory in the middle of the left lower side.) Graduation still haunts me with bad marks as well.

As for Japanese games I am playing Nanatsuiro Drops DS, Little Busters!, Primula's Little Big Adventure and Little Royale. I am through the main route of NDDS but not all the IF stories, its a fine adaptation of the anime version of the story but doesnt branch which was rather disappointing. Oddly only the IF stories are fully voiced. The minigames are excellent though.

I'm crawling through Kudo's route of Little Busters! and am near the end of SEEN4000. A lot to go on that.... Primula is extremely fun if limited and if anyone can hack it I could be persuaded to translate it as it is short. Little Royale is a LB doujin fighting game. Jon finished it a while back but I haven't managed too.

俺たちに翼はない～Prelude～OP

YouTube sure likes to be a pain. I'll type all this stuff twice since it didn't get posted the first time.

Navel's new game's prelude (what a mouthful of a phrase). I really want this but it comes out at the worst time : right before summer. (which is when I earn money to purchase aforementioned game.)

ななついろ＊ドロップスDS! Or: why I don't have a life

From the title it is obvious what came in the mail today: Nanatsuiro Drops DS! The game is quite fun but Japanese knowledge is necessary unless you just want to play minigames. It follows the anime heavily including cut-scenes and the opening. Characters are not voiced except in the cutscenes. I wish I could buy the anime but I don't have a region-free player.

The first-press is absolutely adorable. I ordered it from National Console Support since Play-Asia was out when I was buying (they may have some now). Very fast shipping. The nendoroid of Sumomo is adorable and I will hang the posters soon :3. I love Sumomo's pajamas, they are pink with little sheep, I might poke around Yardage Town to find a similar print >.>

What do people do with spare nendoroid parts? I'm afraid of loosing them if I leave them laying around. ^^;

プリムラちゃんがきた！！！

My lovely Primula nendoroid (photo 2 posts down) arrived today. She is quite cute but a bit top heavy due to the voice chip and the nendoroid design. I have the "normal version" so she says "Oniichan" and "Neko". The voice quality is comparable to a mugen puchi puchi (the talking moe ones) and not as clear as a sound drop. Fine but not outstanding. She comes with three little kitties and no extra body parts but one could likely mix with other nendoroids to a point.

The minigame software that came with her is quite fun also. You can dress Primula and decorate her room. To earn "money" you play a multi-stage/level 2Dside-scrolling action game set in the demon world. You can talk to other SHUFFLE! characters(Everyone looks like 3D nendoroids.) who give you quests for the action game. You can buy new furniture and clothing with your winnings. There is a lot of clothing to buy 10 outfits, 39 head accessories (you start with three) and 32 others. I am not sure yet how much furniture there is but the shop for everything has 140 items.

LOVESAVER

西又葵　オフィシャルサイト

The official site of one of Navel's (Shuffle!, Soul Link, etc.) lead artists. Includes lovely illustrations of character of other series such as Suzumiya Haruhi and LB!.

プリムラのちっちゃな大ぼうけん！？

プリムラのちっちゃな大ぼうけん！？

This is a talking nendoroid of Primula from Shuffle! It comes with Windows minigame Software "プリムラのちっちゃな大ぼうけん！？ (Primula's Little Big Adventure!?)".

Ebay is the worst temptress this world has ever faced.-_-

I got a decent price tho ^_^

SHUFFLE! Essence+

SHUFFLE! Essence + has been announced. Kareha's and Mayumi's routes from the PS2 port "SHUFFLE! On The Stage" have been added to this new Windows release. It also seems from this picture and my limited Japanese that two more characters will be added (see corner). The first girl says "New character Daisy" and the other "New character Ruri = Matsuri " I leave that to your interpretation.

On a side note I am enjoying the SHUFFLE! anime greatly. (DVDs 1&2 were birthday gifts)

Back fron Little Tokyo! Ring up the damages

Hey I went to little Tokyo this weekend and scored some good deals. I got the Clannad Visual Fanbook for an average price but managed to find Nanatsuiro*Drops GNs (tankoban) 1 & 2 for 1$ each. Also picked up Magichu Little Busters! 4-koma volume 2.

Fun times indeed, and a great Japanese dinner too (the place is called Oomasa if anyone is ever in LA)

リトルバスターズ！エクスタシー

'nuff said.

Alicemagic: Final Translation and Lyric Analysis

I have a somewhat final translation of Alicemagic now. I managed to transform this in to an English assignment so I also wrote a page or so briefly analyzing the lyrics, mostly connecting to other works by the same writer (Little Busters! namely Komari's route to be precise). If you don't want complete spoilers on Komari's route please do not read the lyric analysis... it's fairly boring anyhow. XP

Link to PDF
Text Only with out the boring academic stuff. (Formatted for iPod)

Formatted for iPod means the the three sections are well sections not line by line english-romaji-japanese as I find that very irritating to read on an iPod. Copy and paste this all in your favorite text editor. Save and put in the Notes folder for older iPods or whatever you do for the newer ones (its in iTunes I think.)

If anyone knows a lyrics site this would be useful to be posted on leave a comment and I'll take care of it ASAP

Yes I really did go to Japan

Kathleen @ Golden Temple
Originally uploaded by gcmser1954

A photo of me at the Golden Temple in Kyoto. I'm not smiling much because my mother made me be in a bazillion photos. She has all her photos on Flikr (user: gcmser1954) and I'll have my presentation up soon. Additionally you all know what I look like now, not that you or I care.

My point is : Yes, I did actually go to Japan and yes we took photos.