Let's Do The News! (February 23, 2013)

River's Diary

Right, what's the news today you spoiler-laden TARDIS journal?

MX-5 Superlight GET!

Mazda MX-5 Superlight

The Mazda MX-5 Superlight Concept, a unicorn car on Forza Horizon, is now in my possession and as for that, I have finally completed all seven unicorns on Forza Horizon. Reason for getting that is because the producers sent players like us for a Scavenger Hunt last week. Good thing I got the last of the unicorns before everyone's favorite "Unicorn Saint" johniwanna left for a break. Let's celebrate my completion of my Horizon unicorn collection by having my MX-5 Superlight for a spin...



Horizon VIP Membership available for everyone

VIP Membership on Forza Horizon is only allowed for those who've owned the Forza Horizon Limited Collector's Edition, like me. But now, the cap has been lifted because now, Horizon VIP Membership is now available for everyone starting at just 800MSP and for that you'll get cars like the Pagani Huayra, Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, Audi R8 GT Spyder, Koenigsegg Agera, and the RUF Rt 12 R. Not only that, you can enjoy VIP perks and privileges such as taking part on VIP-only rivals event, receive VIP gift cars, expanded storefront, and expanded MyForza gallery space!

Details: http://forzamotorsport.net/en-US/news/Forza_Horizon_VIP_Available_Now

2014 Jeep Cherokee

2014 Jeep Cherokee

Seen here is the replacement for the aging Jeep Liberty to be seen on this year's New York Auto Show and Jeep's reviving the Cherokee nameplate for this new crossover. Sadly though no details have been given and the weirdest thing about the Cherokee's design is the front view because the front kinda reminds me of the Daewoo Musso so this is quite a rubbish-looking crossover to us but that's just the beginning.

Meh, didin't like that kind of car to be driven round town, otherwise some blind people may mistake one for a Musso...

Story: http://www.netcarshow.com/jeep/2014-cherokee/

Great Britain lost its AAA rating

As the Euro Debt Crisis lingers, most countries are suffering from downgrades by either Moody's or Standard & Poors. The latest victim of the downgrade was United Kingdom because reports said that for the first time ever since 1978, the United Kingdom is suffering a downgrade from AAA to Aa1 based on Moody's. Oh geez, those finance experts in the UK need to take action due to the recent downgrade by Moody's but that would be very tough to bring UK back on track on economic growth. Chancellor George Osborne said the decision was 'a stark reminder of the country's debt problems' but as some analysts said, he will be branded as the "downgrade chancellor". That latest downgrade packs a huge damage for the prime minister and chancellor who said keeping our AAA rating was the test of their economic and political credibility".

Sorry, UK....

Story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21554311

Reece Shearsmith to play as Patrick Troughton?

Moments ago, Whovians are anticipated for the upcoming true-to-life story titled "An Adventure in Space and Time", a special to be aired in Autumn 2013 in celebration of Doctor Who's 50th birthday and then they've pitched in David Bradley (he was guested last year as Solomon on Dinosaurs on a Spaceship episode of Doctor Who Series 7) as William Hartnell, the first ever Doctor Who lead actor in 1963, while Call the Midwife lead actress Jessica Raine appointed as Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert and others garnered for roles of the upcoming docu-drama written by Sherlock's Mark Gatiss.

Something fishy that there's a report from RadioTimes indicating that LXG actor Reece Shearsmith will land a role on being Patrick Troughton, the second Doctor Who lead actor. Is it a rumor? Jury's out soon...

Story: http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-02-18/doctor-who---reece-shearsmith-cast-as-patrick-troughton

To Aru Majutsu no Index Endymion no Kiseki

To Aru Majutsu no Index
Endymion no Kiseki

The To Aru series has been one of the pinnacle of ASCII Media Works' history and because it's the 20th anniversary of ASCII Media Works, the hit anime series, To Aru Majutsu no Index, that caused a stir among fans everywhere for the past two seasons as well with its Railgun spin-off (which the second series will be airing this Spring 2013 under the Railgun S banner), some PSP games (the Index fighting game, the Railgun game, and the Ensemble game that brings every To Aru character you loved in one complete package), and a whole lot of promotion that keeps the To Aru spirit flowing through every otaku's fandom, now gets its very first feature length film and this goes to show that ASCII really did had a big start on the year 2013 and what could be more than starting the year right with an Index movie.

Called Endymion no Kiseki, the first ever Index film features every Index character you loved in the big screen such as Toma Kamijo, Index, Mikoto Misaka, Kuroko Shirai, Kazari Uiharu, Kaori Kanzaki, Stiyl Magnus, and Accelerator. If that wasn't fancy enough, a fan favorite from the Kagaku no Railgun spinoff by the name of Ruiko Saten, for the first time, makes an appearance on the movie as well. Thumbs up? Yes, very.

In the movie, just before the Academy City space elevator known as Endymion, our heroes made a close encounter with a level zero girl named Alisa Meigo but as it turned out, a number of rogue magicians are on the hunt against her and the Academy City. It is believed that Alisa Meigo could be the only key to a brewing war between Magic and Science according to Stiyl Magnus. This movie is a race against time as our heroes risk everything to prevent Alisa fell to the wrong hands and who can blame them?

Behind this first ever Index film is Hiroshi Nishikiori who directed the film at the J.C. Staff studio, Hiroyuki Yoshino's responsible for the film's script based on the concept by the To Aru series creator, and of course Maiko Iuchi (who was responsible for the background musics from the To Aru franchise) returns to stir up the soundtrack of the Endymion no Kiseki film.

The surprising bit about the Index film is that Warner Bros. Japan is now responsbile for the film's distribution, meaning that the songs you'll about to hear from the Endymion no Kiseki movie is...well, let's put it in a chase, no longer Geneon Universal material, well except for the ending theme titled FIXED STAR by Mami Kawada because's it's still a Geneon Universal material. Explain?

First and foremost, there's a mini-album on sale and those songs were sung by Sachika Misawa, who did the voice of Alisa Meigo from the film, and this mini-album, titled POLARIS, has five tracks. Then, the other one, provided by Yuka Iguchi, who was Index, is a maxi-single CD called Shining Star-☆-LOVE Letter. Uh, you know what? Forget about the WMG-labeled songs you'll hear on the film, let's just concentrate on the bigger aspects on the film.

Although, this is the first ever theatrical film for the To Aru series, Endymion no Kiseki is going to be more of a Miracle Day with a thousand times more manageable. The start will get a little bit smooth but as the film progresses, it gets even more intense and intense and intense right until to the moment you'll start asking questions or taking a break at the comfort room if you wish. Once you look at this film, you'll never gonna blink on the first half of the film right until your senses think that you're going to snooze over but I'd recommend not to do it because you'll be missing out the action. Speaking of action, Endymion no Kiseki really packs a thriller, this is just one of the few good anime films you can get yourself a thrill if you wish. You'll be excited to watch it again and again and again until the theater staff asked you to leave and come back on the second day but for the record, don't because if you watch it on the first day, consider it enough and watch it again in the next day but this time, bring your friends so you can share this kind of experience.

In essence then, Endymion no Kiseki really is the cherry at the top of the cake when you think about it because this is what fueled the 20th anniversary for ASCII Media Works but being more than just an 20th anniversary celebration for ASCII, Endymion no Kiseki is definitely a must-see for every To Aru fan across Japan and if you were the idiot to sneak onto that film, I really don't care about what you did. But still, it's a To Aru fans' dream come true to see that kind of movie.

"Leave him wanting more"

In the February 22, 2013 episode of Bubble Gang...

- Locker room gags for the losers

- One man argues at the funeral "I Shouldn't Be Alive"

- Bubble Gang does Harlem Shake!

- A peaceful wild west turned awry when a mad cowboy challenges a cowboy on a duel...

- Don't worry, those girly stuff can also be..."FOR MEN" so it's okay if you're a dude...

- Leave him wanting more with KAMEY. Bubble Gang does Camay Bar Soap and Shower Gel by spoofing this commercial as KAMEY BAR SOAP AND SHOWEL GEL!

Bubble Gang does Camay

- Pickup Lines! Ayt! Ayt! Katahimikan!

- News reporters making up some news coverage of some prisoner set for execution

- Problems with your life? Tata Lino's here to help!

- A talk with some guy who's facing problems due to communication gap with his dad. Don't ask...Let them talk...

- IyoTube

To Aru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble

In celebration of Ascii Media Works' 20th year, there's going to be a movie version of the hit TV anime series "To Aru Majutsu no Index" under the banner "To Aru Majutsu no Index Endymion no Kiseki", which will hit theaters this Saturday across Japan but before that, there's a new PSP game that combines all of your favorite characters from two To Aru series. That's right, your favorite characters from To Aru Majutsu no Index and To Aru Kagaku no Railgun joined forces for this one-of-a-kind video game that some say it took place before the film.

To Aru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble is an icing in the cake that really sums it up for Ascii Media Works' 20th birthday but this is just more than just a birthday present to ASCII. Aside from meeting up with your favorite characters from the To Aru franchise such as Index, Toma Kamijo, Mikoto Misaka, Kuroko Shirai, Styil Magnus, Kaori Kanzaki, Kazari Uiharu, Ruiko Saten, Accelerator, Last Order, Sisters, and other characters from the franchise, you can also expect original in-game characters as well. If that wasn't surprising, there's a special character waiting in the game and Alisa Meigo from the upcoming Endymion no Kiseki film makes a very special appearance on Ensemble.

Ensemble takes place before Endymion no Kiseki and the storyline made by the series creator Kazuma Kamachi were purely original meaning that this is an all-original storyline made for this game. While the game begins at their respective routes of the Science Side and the Magic Side, the two routes intertwine at a certain point. Like most games, Ensemble is depend on the player's decision because it has choices, multiple approaches, multiple paths, and multiple tools you can expect on this game. Choose your path and you'll be facing some crucial consequences of your actions and it's up to you how the Ensemble story unfolds.

As a headsup, To Aru Majutsu to Kagaku no Ensemble was developed by the same blokes behind Toradora Portable and Oreimo Portable. We're talking about Guyzware, the developer. Which means that there's a bit of a clever Live 2D System that you expect from other games, the Live 2D System lets the character change moods as you scroll your way to the story so far.

A good effort all round and for a To Aru fan, I think that the Ensemble PSP game is the biggest treat for any To Aru fan who just can't wait for Saturday's big movie.

LIMITED EDITION:

Although the game may cost you 6,280 Yen, there's a limited edition offered for 9,980 Yen as well. For the Limited Edition, which is a must have for any To Aru fan around here, not only you can get the PSP game but also comes with 4 Chibi-Kyun mini-figures: two of the returning heroines Misaka and Index, and the other two of Urepady Exica and Hibiki Kukimoto. It will also bundle a stage set for the figures and come in a box with an exclusive illustration by the animators at J.C. Staff.

2014 Suzuki Alto Eco

2014 Suzuki Alto Eco

Ever since the Suzuki Alto Eco came out in 2011, Suzuki is now the king of fuel efficiency because it's fuel economy is about 30.2km/L based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards and that's about .2kmpl more than the Daihatsu Mira e:S.

As fuel economy is now an issue of today, the Suzuki Alto Eco is updated for the 2014 model year and for this year, the Alto Eco borrows something from the latest Suzuki Wagon R; a new mild-hybrid system named "ENE-CHARGE" (short for 'energy charge'). Combining the Alto Eco's R06A engine with an electric motor/generator and a lithium-ion battery, ENE-CHARGE provides regenerative braking and at least some level of power assist to the internal combustion engine.

For that, the fuel economy for the world's most fuel efifcient car is now improved to a record high 33kmpl  based on Japan's JC08 Mode standards. 33KMPL! No other fuel efficient car comes close!

For styling details, the 2014 Alto Eco has given a new front design and a new speedo on the interior. Prices start at 900,000 Yen and for the first time, the Alto Eco now comes with an available 4WD variant.

URL: http://www.suzuki.co.jp/car/alto_eco/index.html

Scoop: http://autoc-one.jp/news/1313764/

Let's Do The News! (February 21, 2013)

(cheers and applause)

JM: I wasn't expecting that this hack-and-slash game could be that better than that, anyway, let's do the news and it's BIG NEWS! Big news is that Sony announced the Playstation 4 gaming console at the live press conference earlier!

JC: Wow! Sony announced the Playstation 4 console? Wonder what it looks like.

JM: Uh, only the new controller was featured while the whole console is not yet featured until this year's E3 or something and this is dubbed as Dualshock 4...

Dualshock 4 controller for the new PS4

RH: Wow, looks better than the old controllers of the past Playstations of yesteryears and um...where's the start and select button?

(audience laughing)

JM: As a matter of fact, that's a bit of a problem here but what this new controller has, something that old PS generation controllers don't have, enhanced rumble capabilities, a touch pad, a share button, a headset jack, and a dual camera that senses the position of the controller.

(whoa)

JC: Wait a minute....A headset jack? A touch pad? Dual camera? Whoa! No wonder it's a world first for the PS4 controller, well except for the headset jack because I think the XBOX 360 controller has a headset jack under and this is where a bunch of noobs and vets used it and go trash talking while playing multiplayer games. Turns out they like it better than the Kinect mike because it's a bit of noisy in the ears of the opponents. Good for losing their concentration and taunting though...

(audience laughing)

RH: Wait a minute....You said that those blokes can't concentrate on the killshot because some lucky bloke used the Kinect's microphone and then make some noises to annoy idiots until he bashed one after another? That brought me an idea, that makes me more negotiable in a game of Black Ops! Gonna try that...

(audience laughing)

JC: Uh, little man, that's not quite a good idea because sometimes, those blokes may kick you out in the gaming session and they won't let you in for good...

RH: Oh....

(audience laughing)

THE IDOLM@STER 2 Master Artist 2 FIRST SEASON 04 - Makoto Kikuchi

JC: Anyway, as we know, apart from Hiromi Hirata for being Makoto Kikuchi from THE IDOLM@STER franchise, she also played as Maggie from R.O.D. the TV, Ruji Familon in Zoids Genesis, Mao in the Makai Senki Disgaea 3 game, and others. Now, I just got a report that the voice actress behind one of my favorite iM@S idol announced that...um...uh...

RH: What? Pregnant?

(audience laughing)

JC: Once again, thank you for completing my sentence. Yes, Hiromi Hirata said that she was six months pregnant and that really is a bombshell for one of the people involved in iDOLM@STER...

JM: Pregnant you said?

JC: Yes. She's pregnant. Don't blame her why but some idiots said, she got bit by some alien shapeshifter in the arm...

(audience laughing hysterically)

RH: Alien shapeshifter? What is this? Torchwood? You think she's like Gwen Cooper when she got bit by an alien and then the next day, she's pregnant?

(audience laughing)

JC: E he he he he, oops! Why did I just said that? Oh wait! We're just referring to some defunct sci-fi show to state a point!

(audience laughing)

JM: Guys, guys, would you please enough with this sci-fi trash talk malarkey? Can we just move on to the next topic?

JC: Okay, okay, okay, enough about that...Anyway, there's a brand new Bentley Continental Spur coming this year and here's the pic...

2014 Bentley Continental Flying Spur

...by the looks of it, it kinda look like the Mulsanne, the car that killed James May while being chased by cops in Albania. Thing is though, if you were an idiot like James who ended up being chased by cops in another country rather than Albania, would you end up on the same fate as James May on this new Flying Spur?

(audience laughing)

JM: On a nutshell, I think yes because sometimes Bentleys result to, what you called it, CATASTROPHIC UNDERSTEER. Sure, it's got the power from its twin-turbo W12 engine, same as the GT, but as a four-door saloon, I think it's nowhere near as good as the Rolls or a Benz.

RH: Yeah, pretty soon, you'll just wanna kill yourself on the Bentley when the jig is up...

(audience laughing)

2012 McLaren P1 Concept

RH: Anyway, McLaren provided details for the upcoming P1 hypercar and according to McLaren themselves, the P1 hypercar will be a...and when you're sitting down...(imitates drum roll) A HYBRID?! A HYBRID ENGINE WIELDING SUPERCAR?

(audience laughing)

JC: Wait, the P1 is a hybrid supercar? How come this McLaren's going to be a hybrid? Oh dear, guess those guys made themselves a Prius with a McLaren badge on it...

(audience laughing)

RH: Care to tell me how much power the P1 develops?

JC: What? About the same as the Prius?

(audience laughing)

RH: Wrong. That's about 903bhp!

JC: What?! 903bhp?!

JM: Uh-huh. 903bhp. You see, sources told that the P1 uses an improved version of the engine that was used on the MP4-12C, which generates about 727hp, while the electric motor generates about 176hp. If both the petrol engine and the electric motor kicks in, the combined power output is guaranteed to be 903bhp and that puts it awfully close to the standard Bugatti Veyron's thousand horsepower mark.

JC: Something smells about this article...

RH: What?

JC: The McLaren P1. Hybrid engine wielding supercar. Suspicious much?

JM: Jezza, don't be stupid. Nothing's suspicious about the McLaren P1 even though the fact that it's a hybrid engine wielding supercar.

(audience laughing)

RH: Oh, wait! Jezza, you think it does ring a bell? You think some blokes in McLaren spend their lunch breaks playing Ridge Racer on PSVita? I guess this is where their idea came from...

Ridge Racer PSVita screenshot

(audience laughing)

RH: Uh-huh, everytime when there's a carmaker going to make a hybrid supercar, I remind of this Ridge Racer machine, the hybrid engine wielding Kamata SYNCi...

JC: Agreed...And on that bombshell, that's the end of the news...

METAL GEAR RISING REVENGEANCE

Over two and a half decades, the Metal Gear saga is a hallmark of Konami history. With over a billion copies sold worldwide, it become one of Konami's flagship titles and in case you missed last year's 25th anniversary party, there's a movie in the works. As a trendsetter of pop culture, I always love how the saga evolves into new and exciting ways to sneak your way through redemption and now, there's a new game that changes the way Metal Gear has played...forever.

METAL GEAR RISING REVENGEANCE

Welcome to METAL GEAR RISING REVENGEANCE, the latest chapter of the Metal Gear saga with a vengeful twist and when I said "twist", it really is because RISING marks the departure of the stealth action genre that coveted the saga for decades with the birth of a new high speed action game that lets you...well, as the saying goes, CUT WHAT YOU WILL. (キレる体験。)

This is the first time a Metal Gear game that lets players kill everyone on sight and it's definitely the most BRUTAL hack-and-slash game ever made. If you think that's surprising, this game is, for the first time ever, a collaboration between Kojima Productions and PlatinumGames. If you don't know what PlatinumGames was, it's a Japanese game developer behind the sanely bonkers games such as Bayonetta (which was directed by the man behind Devil May Cry series), Vanquish (directed by the creator of Biohazard/Resident Evil franchise), Max Anarchy/Anarchy Reigns, Mad World, Infinite Space, and others. In the spirit of PlatinumGames, games like Bayonetta or Vanquish were really really HARDCORE and gamers were so impressed on how those games were developed because of its uniqueness.

Here's a little story, when you caught the trailer from the VGA 2011, you might be noticed why it was titled REVENGEANCE. Apart from being a combination of the words "REVENGE" or "VENGEANCE", the blokes from Kojima Production found out that making this next chapter is a bit challenging. They did well on the storyboard but in the terms of quality assesements, that's a different story. Hideo Kojima could have killed this project until he joined forces with PlatinumGames. With PlatinumGames doing the bits of Metal Gear Rising, Hideo Kojima was very impressed and they're really back in business. Thing is though, what the folks from PlatinumGames said "Uh, Kojima-san, you do the storyboard, we do the action". Which means, with an epic storytelling courtesy of Kojima Productions and the hardcore gameplay feel courtesy of the same blokes that brought you Bayonetta and Vanquish, REVENGEANCE really turned skeptics into believers and fans really drooled over Raiden's unique hack-and-slash action that defies all odds.

After the fall of the Patriots four years ago, Private Military Corporations or PMC's that were controlled by the Patriots were collapsed and spawning rogue entities that origins traced back to criminal organizations. As PMCs are employing cyborg technology, the balance of global power has gone out of control. You are Raiden, a child soldier bearing the namesake "Jack the Ripper" who became a cyborg ninja whose origins are connected from Sons of Liberty and Guns of the Patriots. Raiden is a member of a PMC called Maverick Security, with the support of Boris, Kevin, Doktor, and Courtney, he lives by the mantra of protecting the innocent right until a terrible incident that lead him fueled with the soul of revenge.

This new game though showcases a new style of gameplay with a new main character and as Raiden, armed with the HF Blade, you can hack-and-slash your way against cyborgs as your quest for revenge leads you from the villages of Eastern Europe, the sewers of Mexico, the streets of Denver, Colorado, the underbelly of World Marshal HQ, and all roads lead to the climactic battle in Pakistan. What surprised gamers is the system called Blade Mode and ZANDATSU. In Blade Mode, players are free to "CUT WHAT YOU WILL" and with the right timing and the right target, you might be able to initiate ZANDATSU. ZANDATSU restores your life and electrolytes, giving you an exciting edge on your gameplay.

Apart from this hack-and-slash action, there are subweapons that changes the course of your gameplay such as an RPG, heat-seeking missile  grenades, electromagnetic grenades that paralyze cyborgs, chaff grenades that is effective against surveillance machinery, red phosphorous grenades that clouds the place in smoke, or distract your enemies with a 3D hologram. How you use it is all up to you.

As you progress through the game, you'll get some new weapons that can make up with the strong attacks and combine it with some deadly combos to thrash down your foes such as Mistral's Pole-Arm "L'étranger" that is my kind of favorite because it poses a well balanced attack against surrounding enemies, Monsoon's Ninja Sai "Dystopia" that can paralyze cyborgs at the right time or useful for breaking down a heavy cyborg's armor, Sundowner's pincer swords "Bloodlust" that is slow but powerful enough to crush your foes, and the HF Murasama Blade used by baddie Samuel Rodrigues. As you play, you'll earn Battle Points and you'll spend it for upgrades and new skills that might be useful enough on a more intense gameplay, especially boss battles.

If you want to polish your skills, there are VR missions offered in Rising but if you want to unlock some VR missions, you have to find computers that scattered throughout this game. Find one and you've unlocked a new VR mission that tests your stealth, subweapon, Blade Mode, and other skills. This is how worthy you are being a true "Jack The Ripper" in Rising but that's just the half of battle because on early April 2013, there are some special VR Missions available as a DLC on the PlaystationStore. It will be priced at 300 Yen and these VR Missions involve on mastering the Dwarf Gekko, just like what you did in the Mexico mission. Yeah, good luck mastering this pesky little critter...

It maybe a twist to the franchise but Metal Gear Rising Revengeance combines the best of both worlds. With the storyline provided by Kojima Productions and the high-speed lightning bolt action provided by PlatinumGames, it is, by far means, the most remarkable hack-and-slash game I like. Sometimes, even though it was a great game made by the best people in Japan, there are so many things that went wrong with it. Yep, many things are wrong with it BUT IT'S STILL...

...THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER PLAYED. Best game ever played...end of discussion.

LIMITED EDITON:

With Metal Gear Rising Revengeance available exclusively on the PS3 for 6,980 Yen, your fandom thinks it's not quite enough because if you're a hardcore fan, you'll need to speed 9,980 Yen for the Premium Package. Metal Gear Rising Revengeance Premium Package not only includes the game but also an art book with works by Yoji Shinkawa, a soundtrack CD, and 2 Dwarf Gekko figures that can be split into half or reaatachable thanks to some magnets from each half of it. The Konamistyle special, which costs 12,980 Yen and availabe exclusively at Konamistyle.jp, features the same content from the Premium Package with the addition of a special Square Enix Playarts Kai Raiden White Armor version.

The Zandatsu Package gives you a headstart on Rising if you didn't have a PS3 yet. Not only you'll have a specially designed 250GB Playstation3 but also you have the Metal Gear Rising game and a downloadable code for a special theme on your PS3's XMB.

Those who pre-ordered it will be on a wild ride because they'll have a code to access a special body for Raiden and it's a special Cyborg Ninja body that resembles Gray Fox from the original MGS game. For Amazon.jp customers, they'll get an MGS4 version body of Raiden. For Konamistyle or Loppi, customers get the White Armor for Raiden. Tsutaya customers get the Inferno Armor for Raiden plus a special card on Metal Gear Solid Social Ops. GEO customer get the Commando Armor for Raiden and a card for Metal Gear Solid Social Ops. Joshin and Edion customers will receive special Raiden cards on Social Ops and most will give you a special Raiden (Mariachi version) card in Social Ops mobile game. Well, you get the idea.