Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai Portable

Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni
Kawaii Wake Ga Nai portable

For twelve episodes, the controversial but irresistible anime TV series, Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai, or Oreimo for short (日本名：俺の妹がこんなに可愛いわけがない) leaves otakus craving for the super-cute little sister of Kyosuke, named Kirino Kousaka. As they know, most of them love Kirino but it's not just her cuteness but also her voice that is similar from K-ON's Azusa Nakano. Most of the Oreimo fans love Kirino but some prefer Kuroneko, whose full name is Ruri Goko.

No wonder this anime ended in a 12-episode basis after facing several controversies, including the episode 2 problem at Anime News Network. I guess this is somewhat problematic for this show but in partial terms of endearment; the PSP video game of Oreimo is now here and bring the misfits of Kirino and the gang wherever you go in Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni Kawaii Wake Ga Nai Portable!

This game is somewhat similar to Toradora Portable but with some tweaks to keep Oreimo fans craving on what's next. Well, actually, Oreimo Portable is a dating sim game which leaves players a few choices to deal with, affecting how the story goes and the characters progress. Features of the game that made me hard to understand include the O.I.U. system, Real Time Tsukkomi System, "if route", and ORE (Order Record Effect) System.

With the game-play seems to be more stressing, Oreimo Portable is quite possibly as irresistible as Kirino Kousaka and Kuroneko!

Who cares? There's no way this PSP game is dull but fun to play...

PACKAGING:

1) Standard Package includes the game and a special DVD in place of an instructional booklet called "How to Imo-Talk DVD". Use the Live2D feature to make use of it!

2) A Limited Edition "Zuttoko No Mama" Pack includes the Oreimo Portable game and a special booklet!

3) The Ultimate Oreimo Limited Edition Package; the "Imouto no Koi Shiyo" Pack includes the Oreimo Portable game, 5 stick posters, special DVD, special booklet, and a special game called "Imouto no Koi Shiyo!" exclusively on this package!

EASTER EGGS: There is a part of the Oreimo Portable where the Oreimo girls cosplayed as the girls from To Aru Majutsu no Index, as part of the Oreimo-Index II collaboration. See Kirino as Mikoto Misaka, Kuroneko as Index, or even Saori as Kaori Kanzaki! It's a major major party party!! Say LOL!

CAST:

Ayana Taketatsu (Azusa Nakano from K-ON!) as Kirino Kousaka

Satomi Sato (Ritsu Tainaka from K-ON!) as Manami Tamura

Hitomi Nabatame (Yukiji Katsura from Hayate the Combat Butler!) as Saori Vageena (Saori Makishima)

Kana Hanazawa (Sakura Hanazono from Maid Sama!) as Kuroneko (Ruri Goko)

Saori Hayami as Ayase Aragaki

...and others.

Official Site:
http://oreimo-game.channel.or.jp/

Survival of Team Up

Sam Concepcion and Aaron Villaflor
hosts Shoutout Level Up

First the Coolelats, then the Team Overload, now we witnessed how "Team Up" surviving the demanding auditions judged by Jake Macapagal (Acting), Lindie Achacoso (Vocal), and Denis Sahagon (Choreography) on yesterday's episode of Shoutout (Level Up)

I guessed that only Emman and Piero showed their true potential in singing and they did well on Shoutout (Level Up)!

すごぉいの来てますけど？！

Kirino Kousaka and Index at
the cover of the February 2011 issue of
Dengenki PlayStation

The question says it all;

すごぉいの来てますけど？！

That's what Japanese said because tomorrow, in January 27, both the Oreimo Portable and Index PSP are coming on sale.

Part of the Oreimo-Index II collaboration, both Ore no Imouto ga Konna ni kawaii Wake ga Nai Portable and To Aru Majutsu no Index PSP are here and it's like two birds in one stone!

Oreimo Portable is a dating sim game pits you in the misadventures of Kirino Kousaka, Kuroneko, and the gang while To Aru Majutsu no Index PSP is a fighting game where you get to pit as Toma, Biribiri, Accelerator, Kuroko, Stiyl Magnus, Kanzaki, and the rest.

And yes, there are easter eggs on both of these; Kirino Kousaka guest stars on Majutsu no Index PSP and in some part on Oreimo Portable where the Oreimo girls cosplaying as Index girls (Biribiri, Kanzaki, Index, and the other Index girls).

This will leave them saying; 

すごぉいの来てますけど？！

How Team Overload struggles

Empress and Robi Domingo hosts
Shoutout Level Up

On January 25 episode of Shoutout (Level Up), the Team Overload undergoes intense auditions judged by Director Rahyan Carlos (Acting), Monet Silvestre (Vocal), and Mickey Ferz (Choreography).

As I watched this; members of Team Overload such as Paul, Linn, Ann, Miles, Mica, Tricia, Aria, and those who are on Team Overload were struggling to get them right because they were judged by these coaches.

I guess the goal of Level Up is to reveal the Shoutout teen's full potential.

It's the first time we saw Aria Clemente playing some mini-guitar as part of showing her full potential.

Italian Journey?!

2012 Fiat Freemont

As the Dodge Journey (Dodge JC in Japan), received a minor change and soon on US dealerships this year, I think that Fiat has something to bring this facelifted Journey to Europe as a Fiat.

Replacing the Europe-spec Dodge Journey is the Fiat Freemont, the OEM of the Dodge Journey.

I have one weird feeling; if FIAT returns to the Philippines soon, can the Fiat Freemont replace our Dodge Journey?

I don't know but the Freemont is scheduled for Geneva debut this March...

Special edition X-Trail Tough Rider

Nissan X-Trail Tough Rider '11

Nissan's 2nd-generation X-Trail gets even more tougher with this special edition Tough Rider edition.

RIDER? Hey, wasn't that supposed to be an Autech? Sorry about that, but this is no X-Trail Autech to me, despite the Rider naming used on the Autech-modified versions of the Elgrand and Serena minivans.

Consider the front and rear bumper overrider, rear sensor, hyper roof rail, and HID headlamps, the X-Trail Tough Rider looks tough, but the same X-Trail experienced.

Scoop:

http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/nissan-philippines-launches-limited-edition-x-trail

Level Up...

Last week's Shoutout on ABS-CBN caused so much problems, and the risk of being pull out. I don't know what's just happened but what went wrong?

Oh wait, about Enrique Gil, did he made something wrong on Shoutout?

Because of some mishaps, I guess all the Shoutout groups are facing their new challenge;

PASS THE CHALLENGING YET DRAMATIC AUDITIONS

Erich Gonzales and Enchong Dee hosts
Shoutout Level Up!

The goals of the Shoutout Level Up:

- teammates must audition

- there will be two production numbers every week; the Theme of the Week and Free For All Performance

- the decision will belong from the three coaches; Carla Martinez (acting), Sherwin Casepe (choreography), and Olive Cruz (vocal)

After last week's problem, will Shoutout be reborn? As I watched it, I can see the teens struggling, even former host Enrique Gil.

After all, despite troubles, they still had fun at the stage!

HANG IN THERE, SHOUTOUT TEAMS!

Shoutout Level Up airs Weekdays after Juanita Banana on ABS-CBN and oh, stay strong!

Kia Morning/Picanto Mk.II -Full Model Change-

Launched in 2004, the Kia Morning (known worldwide as the Picanto) is the replacement to the Hyundai Atoz-based Visto and it revolutionizes the Korean compact by storm. It even got itself a minor change in 2008 to appeal more. Here in the Philippines, the Kia Morning is more of a decent rival to the Hyundai i10, Toyota Yaris, and Suzuki Celerio. Now, the Morning lost its luster because of heavily advanced rival compacts and leaving this compact Kia car to a complete surrender. However, things has changed for the Morning as January 24, 2011 saw its full model change.

2012 Kia Morning

Thanks to the Peter Schreyer design, the Kia Morning is now more stylish than ever and life as we know it, the new Morning is essentially more of a miniature version of the Europe-only Venga MPV. I guess this new model has a striking design than the third-generation Toyota Vitz/Yaris and the Nissan March K13, but the Daewoo Matiz Creative/Chevrolet Spark has a better design than the new, second-generation Kia Morning. Let's face it Korean car fans, this second-generation Morning is much more better than the previous one thanks to the new design philosophy thanks to Mr. Peter Schreyer himself. If it hits in Europe, this will shock the Citroen C1 and the Peugeot 107 for sure.

2012 Kia Morning

One thing to know about the new Kia Morning is the eco-car status; The Kappa 1.0-litre Multi Port Injection engine is capable of the power output of 82PS/6400rpm and it comes in 4-speed automatic and 5-speed manual. For fuel economy, the 4AT grade has the fuel economy of 19km/L while the 5MT grade has the fuel economy of a doubled 22km/L. What can I say? I guess the manual transmission variant of the new Morning makes it perfect for starters but for those who need some "easy driving" on the city streets, the automatic transmission may come in handy.

For safety, the new Morning comes with six airbags, HAC (Hill Assist Control), disc brakes, Vehicle Stability Management, power steering, and side windows automatically lowers down when incoming objects are nearby these windows. This Korean compact car made it more concern for the driver and passenger, at least this is how the new Morning behaves like.

2012 Kia Morning interior

2012 Kia Morning interior

On the inside, the new Kia Morning is a whole different view to tell. One glance of this new interior and someone might say that this is much better than the Suzuki Celerio and Hyundai i10 combined! On front view, the Morning is much more like a shrunken version of the popular Kia K5/Optima sedan, and it has the heated steering wheel found on the K7 and K5. There are five panel colors available to make a good look out of the new Morning; Black High Gloss, Soft Orange, Metal Silver, Metal Beige, and Gray. The seating comes in three colors; black, orange, and gray. Good to know that there is an available option where you can connect your iPod and listen to your music stored from your iPod while joyriding the new Kia Morning.

The new Morning comes in ten delicious colors to choose from;

1) Alice Blue
2) Bright Silver
3) Cafe Moka
4) Galaxy Black
5) Honey Bee
6) Lemon Grass
7) Milky Beige
8) Original White
9) Signal Red
10) Titanium Silver

My thoughts about the Morning;
The Kappa 1.0L Multi-Port Injection engine, the new design, the new interior, ten colors, nothing makes it more interesting than the full model change of the Kia Morning. It debuted in South Korea, and soon it will make a global debut in Geneva Motor Show this March. I just hope that Columbian Automobile Corporation will bring the Morning's full model change as the new Picanto and this is surely much better than the Hyundai i10 and the Suzuki Celerio combined. Speaking of much, there is so much getting to know about the Morning's full model change and I think this is enough for now.

Believe me, the new Morning is much better than the Hyundai i10 and the Suzuki Celerio in the design category. If it arrives in the Philippines soon, imagine an endless possibilities you can do with the new Morning/Picanto. Showing this up on SCTEX, SLEX, or NLEX really wows the traffic crowd, and I mean it.

Photo: Kia Motors

Compact Renaissance Zero vs. Creative Touring

Yes, the two hybrid hatchbacks made in Japan, the Honda CR-Z and the Lexus CT 200h. If you were not into Priuses and Insights, consider these two hybrid hatches are an alternative to boring hybrid cars. For a junkie; these can be boring. For a hybrid lover, both the CR-Z and CT 200h are sporty hybrids that possesses fun at the green level. For me, I wonder which of these hybrid hatchbacks is my good pick?

The Honda CR-Z is the world's first hybrid sports car that resembles like the 80's CR-X, henceforth that Honda fans called it the next CR-X, despite the naming is CR-Z, which means Compact Renaissance Zero. This car is made for green-living, fun-loving, people because of its 1.5L engine with Honda's Integrated Motor Assist. 

So far, tuners from Japan modified the Honda CR-Z to make it more fun to drive rather than being a normal, boring one. In some countries, there was some tuner miraculously engine swapped the CR-Z's hybrid engine into the engine used from Honda Type R cars.

The fun fact about the CR-Z is the 6-speed Manual Transmission. This transmission is the common amenity of Japanese sports cars and this hybrid has this kind of transmission, making it worthy to be called a fun-to-drive hybrid hatch.

The most disappointing fact about the CR-Z is its performance. Of course, some people think that the CR-Z is boring, others said it was much OK than the Prius. The hybrid engine doesn't satisfy my craving but for fuel efficiency, this is somewhat good, or is it? Boring but it was okay because most tuners are always welcome to tune the CR-Z further.

About Lexus' first hatchback, the CT 200h, this is somewhat their first entry to the premium hatchback segment. The CT naming in the CT 200h stands for Creative Touring. If I came close to its numbers; all I cay say is the CT 200h has more fuel economy than the CR-Z because the CT 200h has a fuel economy of 34.0km/L while the CR-Z gets 25.0km/L (CVT variants). However, the maximum output of the CR-Z is higher than the CT 200h because the CR-Z is 114 PS while the CT 200h is 99 PS. That was for the maximum output, but in terms of system output, the CT 200h has greater numbers than the CR-Z because 124 PS of system output of the CR-Z is not enough against the CT 200h's system output of 136 PS.

The CT 200h wins in terms of system output and fuel economy. In pricing, the CR-Z wins because the CT 200h costs about 3,380,952 Japanese Yen (about 2,650,000 Pesos) while the CR-Z costs about 2,160,000 Japanese Yen (about 1,960,000 Pesos). Consider the CR-Z cheaper than the CT 200h.

In the inside, I think the CT 200h has a better interior than the CR-Z. I believe the interior of the CT 200h is somewhat high-tech while the CR-Z is just ordinary and borrowed from the second-generation Insight.

There you have it folks. For me, I think the CR-Z is my pick because, this was last year's Japan Car of the Year. No wait, not only that, it still looks more fun to drive for a green-living driver. The CT 200h is somewhat an executives' choice with a price tag higher than the CR-Z. I just hope both of these hybrid hatchbacks will come to the Philippines soon.

Another mission for James Bang

OK, here's what happened on the January 22, 2011 episode on Banana Split;

- Hot showbiz issues in HOT ISSUE

- Gym jokes

- Kuya Keem tells more on the human skin

- Jayson Gainza, as Singh The Magician, is back for some hilarious magic tricks on Magic Singh

- dance to the tune of Sorry Sorry

- Another mission for the hilarious spy in Banana Split, James Bang .007; prevent some guy named Jojo from being drunk

- a game of SHOW IT!

Desu No! White and Black

Aston Martin Cygnet Launch Edition

It seems that Aston Martin, famous for Bond cars, announced the pricing for the Toyota iQ-based Cygnet city compact! The pricing for the Cygnet starts at 30,995 British Pounds (about 3,950,000 Philippine Pesos) and because of that, a special edition called the Cygnet Launch Edition is announced.

This special primer comes with two special colors that made me saying

"DESU NO! WHITE AND BLACK"

White and Black! 

That's right! 

Snow White and Magic Black are the colors for this special edition Cygnets, great for those who want to take the first step of Aston Martin's first compact car designed to wow the crowd.

Ha ha ha! Now, that's Kuroko's song!

Wait, this is somewhat similar that back in 1997, Toyota Motor Corporation launched special edition models of the Camry Gracia (sixth-generation Camry) station wagon in Pearl White and Black colors. This is the first "Desu No! White and Black" situation.

Anyway, time to listen to the song "Desu No! White and Black"

This time, the brand behind Bond cars does Kuroko's song

The things we make, make us

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Is this it? Word from CATS Motors is that they'll officially bring the legendary, American-made, Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 to the Philippines at the end of 1st quarter 2011!

Scoop:

http://www.topgear.com.ph/news/cats-to-launch-all-new-jeep-grand-cherokee-in-march

Surprise! But this will offer only in the new Pentastar V6 engine, A legendary American SUV is coming just in time when the Philippines is under in a scorching hot summer season!

If it hits, time to take a grand vacation and sing the Philippine Geography song as this American SUV travels through the Philippine Geography!

We'll be waiting... I think this is somewhat better than the Nissan Patrol Royale and the Toyota Fortuner...