News from Play Asia

Welcome to this week's Movie/Music news roundup, containing all new Japanese and Hong Kong Video and Music releases from this week listed at Play-Asia.com. Around 800 new items are covered in this week, including new J-Pop, Anime as well as Japanese, Hong Kong and Western movie releases and much more.

J-Pop Music releases (205)
ENKA Music releases (13)
Anime Soundtracks & Drama CDs (71)
Video Game Soundtracks (8)
Hong Kong Version Music releases (5)
Blu-Ray Disc Movies (8)
HD DVD Movies (7)
Hong Kong Version Movie releases (23)
Japanese Movies (69)
Non-Japanese Movies / Japanese Version (205)
Anime DVD releases (156)
J-Pop DVD releases (17)
ENKA DVD releases (2)
Misc. Japanese DVD releases (3)
Idol DVD (47) ...

Heres what is now last weeks full list of games released via import shop Play Asia

Xbox360™:
All Pro Football 2K8 US US$ 59.90
Major League Baseball 2K7 JPN US$ 64.90
NCAA Football 08 US US$ 59.90
The Darkness ASIA US$ 49.90
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion JPN US$ 69.90

PlayStation3™:
All Pro Football 2K8 US US$ 64.90
Major League Baseball 2K7 JPN US$ 64.90
Minna no Golf 5 JPN US$ 59.90
Minna no Golf 5 ASIA US$ 54.90
NCAA Football 08 US US$ 64.90
PlayStation3 Console (HDD 20GB Model) w/ Minna no Golf 5 - 110V JPN US$ 519.00
PlayStation3 Console (HDD 60GB Model) w/ Minna no Golf 5 - 110V JPN US$ 629.00
Wangan Midnight JPN US$ 64.90
Wangan Midnight ASIA US$ 59.90
Wireless Hori Pad 3 Turbo (black) US$ 39.90
Wireless Hori Pad 3 Turbo (blue) US$ 39.90

Nintendo Wii™:
Dewy's Adventure: Suishou Dewy no Daibouken!! JPN US$ 59.90
Guilty Gear XX Accent Core JPN US$ 49.90
Jigsaw Puzzle: Kyou no Wanko JPN US$ 39.90
Mario Party 8 JPN US$ 59.90
Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079 JPN US$ 64.90
Puyo Puyo! 15th Anniversary JPN US$ 49.90
World Championship Poker: All In US US$ 34.90

PlayStation2™:
Daito Giken Koushiki Pachi-Slot Simulator: Shake II JPN US$ 49.90
Galaxy Angel: Eternal Lovers (Broccoli The Best Quality) JPN US$ 34.90
Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M JPN US$ 64.90
Getsumento Heiki Mina: Futatsu no Project M [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 95.00
Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s US US$ 59.90
Hot Shots Tennis US US$ 39.90
Ikki Tousen: Shining Dragon JPN US$ 64.90
Ikki Tousen: Shining Dragon [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 89.90
Izumo Complete (GNsoftware Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Kimore Hi no Namiki Michi (GNsoftware Best) JPN US$ 34.90
King of Fighters Maximum Impact Regulation A JPN US$ 49.90
Mahoroba Stories JPN US$ 64.90
Mahoroba Stories [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Major League Baseball 2K7 JPN US$ 59.90
Metal Gear 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater JPN US$ 29.90
Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Collection JPN US$ 69.90
Phantasy Star Universe (PlayStation2 the Best) JPN US$ 24.90
Sanyo Pachinko Paradise 14 JPN US$ 49.90
Sega Ages 2500 Vol. 30: Galaxy Force II JPN US$ 28.90
Shuffle! On the Stage (Kadokawa the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter (Ubisoft the Best) JPN US$ 34.90
Yatohime Zankikou JPN US$ 64.90
Yatohime Zankikou [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90

Nintendo DS™:
Anan Kanshuu: Onne de Kara Kinkyuu Up! DS JPN US$ 39.90
Atsumare! Power Pro Kun no DS Koushien (Konami the Best) JPN US$ 29.90
Biz Taiken DS Series: Kigyoudou Inshoku JPN US$ 48.90
DS Card Case 6 (black) US$ 5.99
DS Card Case 6 (pink) US$ 5.99
DS Card Case 6 (white) US$ 5.99
Hello Kitty no Oshare Party Sanrio Character Zukan DS JPN US$ 48.90
Ichido wa Yonde de Okitai Nihon Bungaku 100-Sen JPN US$ 39.90
Idol Janshi Suchi-Pai III Remix JPN US$ 48.90
Mame Goma: Honobo no Nikki JPN US$ 48.90
Mimi de Unou o Kitaeru DS: Chou-Nouryoku JPN US$ 29.90
Nanpure 10000mon KOR US$ 34.90
Shikaku Kentei DS JPN US$ 39.90
Simple DS Series Vol.18: The Soukou Kihei Gun Ground JPN US$ 28.90
Simple DS Series Vol.19: Yareba Dekiru! The Micro Step Gijutsu de Oboeru Eitango JPN US$ 28.90
Soroeru Puzzle Douwa Oukoku KOR US$ 34.90
Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It's a Wonderful World JPN US$ 58.90
Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It's a Wonderful World (Wonderful World Edition) JPN US$ 299.00
Subarashiki Kono Sekai: It's a Wonderful World Accessory Set N/A
Taiko no Tatsujin DS JPN US$ 48.90
Taka Reet Ura Mahjong Retsuden: Mukoubushi JPN US$ 48.90
Touch Pen Knock Metal (The Legend of Zelda) US$ 8.99

Sony PSP™:
For Symphony: With All One's Heart Portable JPN US$ 58.90
Grand Theft Auto Libert City Stories JPN US$ 48.90
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix KOR US$ 49.90
Idol Janshi Suchi-Pai III Remix JPN US$ 58.90
Metal Gear Solid 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops JPN US$ 29.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack (Champagne Gold) JPN US$ 249.90
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd Summer Bonus Pack (Metallic Blue) JPN US$ 249.90
Parappa the Rapper US US$ 34.90
Sarugetchu: SaruSaru Daisakusen JPN US$ 48.90
Sarugetchu: SaruSaru Daisakusen (Chinese language Version) ASIA US$ 42.90
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology US US$ 39.90

PS One™:
Metal Gear 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid JPN US$ 18.90
Metal Gear 20th Anniversary: Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty JPN US$ 19.90

PC Games:
Erosmash! (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 69.90
Izumo 3 (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 79.90
Izumo 3 [Limited Edition] (DVD-ROM) JPN N/A
Lyrical Lyric (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 79.90
Majiyome: Majin-Kun no Hanayome (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 79.90
Melty Blood Act Cadenza Ver.B JPN US$ 59.90
Melty Blood Act Cadenza Ver.B [Limited Edition] JPN US$ 79.90
Memories Off History (DVD-ROM) JPN US$ 249.90
Phantasy Star Universe (DVD-ROM) (Sega ...

In an interview with Dean Takahashi, Shigeru Miyamoto said that Nintendo may introduce some new characters next year "in the same way [Nintendo] came up with Pikmin when [they] introduced the GameCube." While that's all well and good for getting us pumped for The Next Big Thing, we're more interested in Miyamoto's explanation of why it's taking so long.

"I guess I don't necessarily see my job as creating new characters as it is creating new experiences," he said, later adding, "For characters, we came up with the concept of the Miis and that allows people to come up with their own characters." So don't forget you read it here first, the next big Nintendo characters are Chuck Norris, Kenny, Dr. Zoidberg and, of course, indie rockers Wilco. Wow ... the next Smash Bros. is going to be awesome.

Via Joystiq ...

via joystiq

Speaking at a Microsoft press conference in Amsterdam earlier today, Bungie has confirmed, once and for all, that Halo 3 will feature two to four player online co-operative play over Xbox Live. This news comes after months of rumors and slip-ups, but is extremely appreciated nonetheless.

Details are extremely sparse at the moment (chugging a Mountain Dew while snowboarding with a live bear extreme) but we can tell you this: we have Bungie's word. Bungie will be issuing an update themselves on this matter over at their website later today, so be patient and we'll have further information for you as soon as it rolls in.

More Info ...

via joystiq



If you're the sort that turns their nose up at paying less that $600 for a PS3 and has an insatiable hunger for gigabytes and off-road racing, you may want to point your browser to EBgames.com, where 80GB PS3 pre-orders have gone on sale.

It may seem a bit of overkill to pre-order a system that's already available and hasn't exactly been flying off shelves, but those who want to pay $600 for their game system as a matter of pride or only like a limited number of the PS2 games they own may want to act fast. -- If some are to be believed, you may have less time to buy a $600 PS3 than you think. ...

via engadget

While everyone's busy trying to figure out which particular shade of brushed metal Apple's new iMacs are going to show up in, a few major online retailers have quietly trimmed 5.5G iPod prices. Apple, who usually keeps a pretty tight rein on its product prices throughout various retail channels, hasn't matched the cuts on the Apple Store, but you can currently score a 30GB or 80GB iPod (with video) for about $20 off at Amazon, Best Buy, Circuit City and J&R online stores. Notable exceptions include Target's online store, and Wal-mart, which doesn't sell iPods online. It's anyone's guess as to what actually sparked these price drops. It could be a way for traditional retailers to compete with Apple's aggressive back to school promotions, an attempt by Apple to clear away excess stock in preparation for a brand new iPod, or perhaps just a good old-fashioned price cut. Perhaps we'll know more on August 7th? ...

via engadget



And so we've come full circle. After accurately predicting that $100 PS3 price drop a few weeks back, Circuit City is back in the rumor game with a flyer that seems to confirm the $50 price cut for the Xbox 360, and even tosses in some info on price breaks for the Elite and Core systems. According to the flyer, on August 12th the 360 Premium will dip to $350, and include a copy of Rockstar's "Table Tennis," while the Elite will raid your wallet for $450 -- a $30 reduction -- and include zero free games. Finally, the Xbox 360 Core will get $20 lopped off, and sell for $280, which might be the end of the road for the stripped down console once stock runs out.

More Info ...

Via engadget



Looking to collect a little acceleration / braking data on the cheap? Even if you're just scouting alternative uses for that oh-so-handy Wiimote, a recent project from klee just may suit your fancy. A proud owner of a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta managed to rig up a Wiimote-based tracking system that gathered information on g-forces, acceleration, turning, and overall speed, and thanks to a little Excel computation, the results are neatly graphed once the outing concludes. Of course, you may need a little help in the script writing department, by judging by the looks of things, most everything you need is awaiting you in the read link -- you know, except your own Wiimote and a Vee-Dub.

Read More ...

via Eurogamer


Sony has confirmed to Eurogamer that problems with one of the downloadable PSone games released on PlayStation Network last Thursday have led to its withdrawal.

MediEvil has a confirmed crash-bug that causes it to fail on the third level. Sony said it would return to PSN once fixed and that anybody who had paid for it would be able to re-download it for free then.

Sony is also investigating reports of audio problems in Spyro 2, which remains available on the store, although there are anecdotal reports of broader issues with that one, so you might want to duck it for now too.

The two games were released for GBP 3.49 last Thursday along with Crash Bandicoot 2 at the same price, which seems to be working alright. Touch wood.

Sony wasn't able to offer an estimate on when MediEvil will return to the store, but said it would have something to say on that front in due course.

For more on what's going on, keep an eye on the official Sony forum thread relating to the problems. ...