Latest news with #Japan-only
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Etihad
Nintendo aims to match Switch success with new console
1 June 2025 12:12 TOKYO (AFP)Nintendo hopes to match the runaway success of the Switch when its levelled-up new console hits shelves Thursday, with strong early sales expected despite the gadget's high a bigger screen and more processing power, the Switch 2 is an upgrade to its predecessor, which has sold 152 million units since launching in 2017 -- making it the third best-selling video game console of all despite buzz among fans and robust demand for pre-orders, headwinds for Nintendo include uncertainty over US trade tariffs and whether enough people are willing to shell Switch 2 "is priced relatively high" compared to the original device, company president Shuntaro Furukawa said at a financial results briefing in of the Switch, which can connect to a TV or be played on the go, were boosted by the popularity of games like Animal Crossing as a pandemic lockdown Japanese company forecasts it will shift 15 million Switch 2 consoles in the current financial year, roughly equal to the original in the same period after its new device costs $449.99 in the US, over a third more than the Switch. A Japan-only version is cheaper, at 49,980 yen ($350).New Switch 2 games such as Donkey Kong Bonanza and Mario Kart World -- which allows players to go exploring off-grid -- are also more expensive than existing Switch original Switch games can be played on the Switch 2, and some Switch blockbusters such as Zelda: Breath of the Wild will have enhanced editions released for the new Switch 2 will have eight times the memory of the first Switch, and its controllers, which attach with magnets, can also be used like a desktop computer Super Mario maker is diversifying into theme parks and hit movies, but around 90 percent of its revenue still comes from the Switch business, analysts say. The console's pre-orders have since sold out in the US market and elsewhere, with the company boasting of particularly high demand in Japan.
Japan Today
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Nintendo might record what you say and show friends in Switch 2 GameChat
By Casey Baseel, SoraNews24 We're less than a month away from the launch of Nintendo's Switch 2, and to say gamers are excited is an understatement. Sure, you could argue it's pretty much just a more powerful Switch, but that's exactly what many Nintendo fans have spent the past several years wishing for. Image: Nintendo And it's not like there's nothing new with the Switch 2. One of the most intriguing additions for the new console is GameChat, an integrated voice and video chat function with the creative twist of being able to place images of you and your friends within the gameplay field. It looks like it could be a fun way to make it feel like you and your friends you're playing with are all hanging out together in the same actual room…but with Nintendo itself peeking in and listening through a crack in the door. On May 7, Nintendo announced that it's updated its privacy policy for users of its video game hardware and related apps. As is often the case, there's a lot of technical terminology and legalese involved, but Nintendo itself helpfully summarized some of the most important changes, and the first one listed is 'we may collect, monitor and record audio and video of your chat sessions with other users.' Nintendo says it will be doing this 'to provide a safe and secure environment,' ostensibly as a means to prevent language, imagery, and behavior that it considers harassing, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate. In that sense, it's really not so different in intent from the many variations of the 'this call may be monitored for better customer service' disclaimer that businesses have been informing users of for decades, but since this is Nintendo, it comes with some potential extra wrinkles. ▼ GameChat preview video Video game chat functions have a not undeserved reputation as the Wild West of online communication, a largely lawless area where the combination of competitive juices and remote anonymity often produces a swiftly flowing stream of profanity, slurs, and other words that people wouldn't be so quick to toss around in face-to-face, and thus potentially fist-to-face interactions. The question of how to create a welcoming game chat environment without stifling expression or intruding on privacy is a tricky balancing act that Nintendo has been able to sidestep until now by simply not following the industry trend of including chat functions. With GameChat's debut less than a month away, though, it's an issue that Nintendo now has to deal with, and the way the company has embraced its family/kid-friendly image raises the question of whether or not it'll be stricter than other companies have been regarding what it allows users to do and say. Source: Nintendo via Hachima Kiko via Nintendo Soup Read more stories from SoraNews24. -- Switch 2 release date announced, Nintendo to sell both 'Japan-only' and 'multi-language' versions -- Nintendo's newest Switch game will teach you how to make games of your own【Video】 -- Nintendo makes a huge crowd-pleasing announcement about the Switch successor External Link © SoraNews24
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
The eight CDs worth up to £8k that could be in your collection, including one big surprise
The eight CDs worth up to £8k that could be in your collection, including one big surprise CDs you probably have in your collection could be worth a small fortune. From David Bowie to Michael Jackson, collectors are willing to pay hundreds, or even thousands, for a rare CD It's always worth checking your dusty CDs to see if you're sitting on a goldmine (Image: Getty Images ) CDs and vinyl records, once considered relics of the past due to the advent of MP3 players and smartphones, are making a comeback as nostalgia grips music lovers who are returning to physical media in droves. This resurgence in popularity means that those discs gathering dust on your shelf or in your car could now be worth a pretty penny. Collectors are willing to shell out hundreds, even thousands, for rare CDs from artists like David Bowie to Michael Jackson. Many of these coveted CDs were released in limited quantities or exclusively in foreign countries, while others were recalled for various reasons. Read on to discover which CDs could net you a tidy sum. Bruce Springsteen, also known as The Boss, released The Future of Rock and Roll as a promo-only compilation in Japan in 1988. This 16-track double disc is now incredibly hard to find and has been known to fetch around £1.1k, with one eBay user currently selling their copy for £907. Prince's My Name Was Prince follows a similar narrative. Only 50 copies of this Japan-only collection were issued in 1993 to promote the 12-track album The Hits/The B Side, reports MyLondon. Almost impossible to come by, collectors are willing to part with up to £5k for a copy. Paris Hilton's brief stint in the music industry may have concluded in the 2000s, but her debut album Paris is now a hot commodity. This is largely due to Banksy, London's beloved graffiti artist, who in 2006 distributed approximately 500 counterfeit copies of the album across 48 UK stores. He swapped the original booklet for his own artwork and replaced the disc with Danger Mouse remixes. These rare CDs can fetch anything from £750 up to an astonishing £8k! Article continues below Now That's What I Call Music 4, first launched in 1984, was the inaugural Now album to be released on CD, with only 500 copies pressed. Unfortunately, this 15-track compilation was re-released in 2019, so it's not extremely rare, but original discs can still command prices between £200 and £400. Coldplay's 1998 EP The Safety had a limited release, with only 150 copies available for sale, while the remaining 350 were reportedly given to family, friends, and record executives. It's now one of the most valuable CDs from Chris Martin's band, and fortunate music enthusiasts who own one could potentially fetch around £1.5k. In April 1994, Nirvana released a single titled Pennyroyal Tea, an alternate version of the song from their 1993 album In Utero. However, following Kurt Cobain's death in the same month, the single was recalled. A few copies are still in circulation and can sell for anywhere between £1.5k and £2k. Michael Jackson memorabilia has always been a hot commodity, especially following his sudden death in 2009. However, the most sought-after disc is the single 'Smile', which mysteriously vanished. This CD, released only in Austria in 1997, was later cancelled and never reissued, making the few remaining copies worth around £1k-£1.5k. Not to be overlooked is David Bowie's 'Sound + Vision'. A copy of this 1989 compilation, one of just 350 made, reportedly sold on eBay for just over £4k in 2013. It boasted 49 tracks, a video disc, a 72-page booklet, and came in a basswood and birch box. Additional copies released in 1990 are currently selling for between £70 and £350. So, there you have it, time to start hunting. Article continues below Here's the full list of CDs that collectors are on the lookout for:
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mamoru Oshii Takes A Swipe At Political Correctness, Sort Of
Mamoru Oshii commented on issues with political correctness in a new interview (Photo credit should ... More read YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP via Getty Images) In a new interview with writer-director Mamoru Oshii, he seemingly has a go at the current spate of excessive political correctness, but it's not that straightforward. Specifically, Oshii has done a new interview over on the Japanese site Pia. The initial responses in the interview are pretty tame, but these aren't what have caught the eye of Western press outlets. No, it seems that some of Oshii's other answers in the interview, which have been archived on X, have a more direct tone towards modern political correctness. The catch? These answers can only be read via the Pia app, and only if you're in Japan. This is not to say the screenshots are wrong, but they could be taken out of context. I only mention this, because back when the Dragon Quest III remaster was released, both Yuji Horii and Kazuhiko Torishima kicked off at all the bizarre changes inflicted on the game due to Western beliefs. FEATURED | Frase ByForbes™ Unscramble The Anagram To Reveal The Phrase Pinpoint By Linkedin Guess The Category Queens By Linkedin Crown Each Region Crossclimb By Linkedin Unlock A Trivia Ladder However, they both quickly retracted these statements, pulled down the video, and claimed they were mistranslated and taken out of context. The same thing could be happening here, and the fact that Oshii's spicier takes are behind a Japan-only paywall does give the general impression that they're not intended for international consumption. Having interviewed Oshii myself, he is indeed outspoken and also plays Western games like Fallout. So, if these quotes are real, then they make sense considering that he does consume current Western media and is open about his opinions. That said, the fact these comments aren't in full public view means he doesn't want to cause a fuss, which is sadly what is happening already. Personally, I agree that political correctness has gone too far and, in the case of games, is actively undermining the quality of some releases. But I don't think people like Oshii, or even Horii and Torishima, can make a difference in this debate. In the case of Horii and Torishima, they created one of Japan's most beloved gaming franchises, and they still backpedalled massively once their complaints went international. The fact that Oshii has said these things behind a paywall is no accident, as it's clear no one wants to get involved in this. I get the frustration of fans, though, as they clearly just want to play games without some agenda shoved in their face. But there will be no Japanese cavalry on this topic; it's clear no one wants the hassle. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Nintendo Switch 2 warning as demand 'far exceeds number that can be delivered'
The president of Nintendo has issued a warning to hopeful buyers of the Switch 2 that the company does not have enough consoles to meet consumer demand in Japan. The gaming titan's boss Shuntaro Furukawa shared on X yesterday morning (April 23) that an astonishing 2.2 million people in Japan had applied to buy a Switch 2 via the My Nintendo Store as part of a lottery-style draw. The gaming boss admitted that this staggering demand for the console "far exceeds expectations" and "far exceeds the number of Nintendo Switch 2 consoles that can be delivered" when the new console launches in June. While many in the UK and US have aired their grievances with the new, higher price of the Switch 2, in Japan, Nintendo has offered a cheaper, Japan-only version of the gaming device. The Japanese exclusive Switch 2 will only play Japanese games and only be compatible with Japanese Nintendo accounts, reported Eurogamer. The strategy behind this move is that this version of the gadget is offered exclusively to Nintendo's key home market, which is currently impacted by a weak Yen. This also ensures that the Japanese version of the console cannot be bought and resold online to those elsewhere, as it's only compatible with devices and accounts from Japan. But a Japan-only version of Switch 2 means manufacturing a whole different line of stock separately, which cannot be supplemented by extra units made for elsewhere. A significant number of customers from Japan will be unable to get Switch 2 at launch, the company has stated. Those who had applied to buy the console so far will be automatically entered into a second draw, but again, there won't be enough consoles to go around. "We deeply apologise for not being able to meet your expectations despite our prior preparations," Furukawa said on X. "With the cooperation of retailers, we will continue to ship the console and make efforts to get as many Nintendo Switch 2 consoles as possible into your hands," he added. Dr Serkan Toto, CEO of Japanese game industry consultancy firm Kantan Games, took to social media to share his opinion on the Switch 2. He thought the amount of interest in Switch 2 was ridiculous, noting that Nintendo had originally promised enough supply for launch. He said that those who understand the gaming market, even on a surface level, would know right away that this promise sounded like a 'fairy tale'. The Switch 2 will launch in the UK and the rest of the world on June 5, and has been available to pre-order since April 8.
