Laura Post has been pretty busy lately with awesome shows like Squid Girl and Redline. On top of that, you can kick some butt with her as Ahri in League of Legends and Valentine in Skullgirls!

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For all you folks into the fighting game community, you probably know GK Bowes. She’s been trading blows as Felicia in Marvel vs Capcom 3 and Asuka in Street Fighter X Tekken, so put your fighting gloves on and have at it!

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Ok, so I lied when I said I wasn’t going to update again until the 4th Wednesday of the month. I have a mini update to plug in before my next big article. Anime Central still has a little more content to pump out of it for the year. I’d like to take the time to draw some attention to the Virtual World Entertainment, MechCorps Entertainment LLC, and VGCorps groups involved in the touring BattleTech road show that regularly visit anime, gaming, and sci-fi conventions around the southern and mid-western United States.

The BattleTech: Fire Storm game is a multiplayer arcade game stemming from the same BattleTech franchise and affiliated fictional universe that spawned the MechWarrior series of PC and home console video games that were popular during the mid 90s and early 2000s. Firestorm is the second generation of BattleTech arcade simulators, following the 1990 BattleTech VR which ran on the original Tesla arcade pod. The 2009 released Firestorm game runs on the updated Tesla II arcade pod, each of which is outfitted with 5 different MFD(multi-function display) screens surrounding the main heads up display, as well as a sort of PFD(Primary flight display): that is a total of seven different monitors. Each MFD displays information and menus pertaining to specific functions of your mech: Navigation, Communications, Armor, Targeting, and Weapons (as you can see in the illustration flyer to the left/right) each with corresponding buttons with which to cycle through and select your various different available options. basic controls are split up between throttle(1 axis, 1 button), two foot pedals, and a joystick. (if I am remembering this correctly it has 3 buttons and 1 trigger)

The arcade pod itself has a very nice retro, industrial sci-fi look about it and the look and feel of being seated in the cockpit with the door shut and only the light of your 7 monitors to see by creates a genuinely unique experience. In spite of what sound like a complicated barrage of conflicting interfaces and controls, any giant robot fan with a little bit of genre savvy will appreciate the appropriately complicated detail. In reality though, it’s not as convoluted as it may look at first glance, really the somewhat daunting array of monitors just break down a standard HUD or game menu into an every present collection of status updates without the hassle and mood breaking process of pausing and navigating drop down menus, and with the added rush of excitement in adjusting and managing your mech’s weapons, armor, and equipment in the heat of battle.

The game itself is remarkably simplistic. As one of as many as 5 to 15 other pilots engaged in any given conflict, you have your choice of dozens of mechs, divided into various weight/mobility classes, and all with their own unique combination of weapons, equipment, and stats. Once gameplay starts you and the other mechs are deployed onto a fairly barebones 3D rendered battlefield and depending on whether you’re fighting in a free for all or on teams you have at it. When your mech gets trashed you’re briefly warped out of and then back onto the battle field and let back into the fray. Individual matches last something around 7 minutes, and a single match can cost either $5 or $4 if you pay for a $20 card with 5 game credits on it. While you and your friends play in the Tesla pods, the entire conflict is broadcast over any number of standards TV or computer monitors cycling through different camera angles of the overall battle field, and when you’re done you are even offered a full printout of your performance stats, and a summary of the entire conflict.

What I absolutely love about this concept is that it is the embodiment of a nearly 3 decade old dream of sci-fi geeks bearing just the earliest signs of fruit. With the original BattleTech franchise spanning back into the 80s and permeating almost every medium of fiction available on the company’s admittedly modest budget, the development of the Tesla pods and updated Tesla II pods is a hardware development that has sadly gone unnoticed, under appreciated, and holds an enormous amount of potential that remains altogether untapped.

I’ll spare you my usual ranting today in favor of just sort of fanboying in a somewhat organized manner: The first BattleTech center was opened in Chicago Illinois, USA in 1990 and later spread as far as Japan where it saw great success. While the American activities and expansion of the Virtual World Entertainment company have gone about over the past twenty years without much disruption to or by the rest of the game industry, the Japanese branch folded by the end of 2000 and has since gone without resurrection. But I personally don’t believe that this was due to any real lack of interest so much as financial complications in either trying to run and overseas outlet or maintain a foreign division of what was always a fairly small company and one that frequently saw a change of hands in ownership during the late 90s. Where as the American market for arcade games and the arcade scene in general fell prey to a violent crash and burn during the late 90s and early 2000s, Japan’s has always held a firmer grip on its place in urban Japanese culture and so I suspect that the domestic competition was just too steep.

Of course it could also be possible that the Japanese simply didn’t take to the BattleTech title as an unfamiliar franchise, considering that the Japanese revisited the base concept themselves in 2006 when Bandai Namco and game developers in Banpresto produced the Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield P.O.D. (Panoramic Optical Display) arcade machines. The beautifully designed machines offer a 180 degree screen, physical feedback, and online gameplay to allow for full 8vs8 matches ready to launch at all times. The game of course featured a wide selection of original Mobile Suit Gundam machines, both United Earth Federation and Zeon models, to pilot as well as a variety of different elaborate locations modeled straight off of the original 1979 anime TV series.

I don’t mean to let Japanese big budget projects like Banpresto’s P.O.D. overshadow the Tesla II by any means however. (I vastly prefer the Tesla II’s mechanical appearance and performance to the P.O.D.’s) What I truly love about putting these two arcade machines side by side is showing just how much potential there really is for the Tesla pod series, for Virtual World Entertainment, and for the unique arcade experience in America as a whole. Think of what a system like the ones I’ve just described with not only a fully function mech simulator game available, but multiple different mech oriented games, with multiple game modes and map options in each would be like. Technically the Tesla pods have been used for just such an experiment, several Virtual World Entertainment centers around the US still feature both BattleTech games as well as a racing game called Red Planet on their Tesla pods.

Now imagine for a moment that the old 70s-80s arcade boom has somehow made a comeback. Imagine that you’re on your summer vacation, you and four friends are off to the mall, or the movie theater, or if you still have one in your local town, an actual arcade for the afternoon. You and your friends find a machine like the Tesla II or the P.O.D. and between the bench of you, you split the cost of a 5 match card. You sit inside and settle into your seat, lean forward to your main dashboard and swipe your card before passing it off to your friends in turn. You watch the cycling title and leader board screens fade away and you’re faced with a selection of games based off some of your favorite best selling sci-fi franchises: BattleTech, Gundam, StarWars, Zoids, Robotech, etc… as well as arcade original titles. You and your friends pick your game, your game mode, your machines, your weapons, your gamer tags, teams, and then server and open game. For the next 10 minutes you and your friends are rocked jolted and shaken in your chairs as you take on a team of 5 Japanese late night arcade crawlers in an explosive and fast paced team elimination game, or capture the flag, or territory capture, or race through well rendered well modeled set pieces from the show/ movie you’re familiar with or brand new ones that you can explore and master.

When I see the BattleTech road tour team at events like Anime Central, I don’t just see a cool arcade game with a unique gimmick, what I see is the potential inherent to the arcade scene: an immersive experience that you can’t get sitting in your room in your parents’ house or in a dorm in your boxers and a tee-shirt. The sort of mechanically awe inspiring and aesthetically and stylishly appropriate apparatus that makes your eyes light up, your heart skip a beat, and your inner child gasp and squeal with pure honest impulsive excitement: the sort of machine that you not only can’t afford but that isn’t going to fit in a house you’ll ever afford in the next 10-20 years. What I see is the future of competitive online gaming. (after all, let’s face it you’re never going to get a decent lag-free internet connection to game on living out of a ruddy little house/apartment/dorm, and why even pay the obscene prices for a better provider when an arcade owner can shell out for a silky smooth T3 connection?) Given the right financial and public support from enthusiastic gamers, sci-fi fans, and just geeks in general, a group like Virtual World Entertainment could rock the world with something like the Tesla pods line in the near future.

The future will just have to wait for now though. For the time being, I’m just happy to spread the word and give a little bit of recognition to a group that I admire for their ongoing efforts to bring a fantastically fun and unique gaming experience to nerds here in the US. For those interested, information on both current permanent BattleTech centers and of conventions on the road tour group’s schedule for the rest of this year can be found on the Virtual World Entertainment BattleTech Centers wiki and the Virtual World Entertainment LLC homepage, respectively. I hope you’ll take the time to check out this group if you’re in any of these areas at an appropriate time.

Today, Nico Nico Super Kaigi Convention loses 400 million yen, Kimi ni Todoke has 20 million plus in profits, and the first day of the Super Junior Super Show 4 concert draws 50,000 fans.

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Today, Anime Expo to showcase Animetal USA’s first American concert, Sony Stock falls lowest in over 31 years, and Street Fighter X Tekken is coming to Windows PC.

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It’s that time on Merry Melodies where we take a look at the more recent openings that Christmas bases his watch list on. At the top of that list, we have a great opening from a great series!

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I’ve often mentioned how hard it is for me to keep up on newer series due to the sheer volume of titles I decide to watch. Jormungand is one of the series that stands out enough for me to keep up with it, and I’m proud to say that not only am I caught up, but I got Cerulaine to do so as well, which is a big deal for her since she doesn’t watch a whole lot of anime. It’s a very entertaining series for those of you who liked watch Black Lagoon. Less swearing, but at least twice as many guns. Not to mention Koko has all the wacky antics you could ask for from a slightly insane weapons dealer.

In order to learn more about how a series works, you watch the opening animation. What does this one tell you the series is about? Guns, and lots of them. Jormungand revolves around the weapons dealer Koko, her child soldier bodyguard Jonah, and the rest of their merry band of misfits. Each has their own unique talents, my favorites are the eyepatch knife chick and the old dude sniper.

I knew right from the start I would love Jormungand for one reason: Mami Kawada. Every series that mami Kawada does an opening for is amazing. Borderland is no exception to the rule, taking Mami’s style and putting a nice techno feel to it. Not a whole lot of heavy guitar like in some songs that I really enjoy, but this is probably my favorite Mami Kawada song, at least until I get sick of it from playing it over and over.

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QUESTION TIME! Borderland is at the top of my Spring 2012 song list, but what about you guys? Next week we’ll take a look at my second favorite, so look out for that

You can watch Jormungand over on Funimation! While you’re at it, use our new Anime Directory to help you watch other stuff! http://bit.ly/AnimeDirectory

Today, Right Stuf! announces plan to re-publish Hetalia Axis Powers, May’n comes stateside, and Sharlto Copley will play the main villain in Spike Lee’s remake of Old Boy.

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  May’n (Accel World, Macross Frontier) to release new album on USA iTunes

  May 4, 2012 – J-Pop superstar May’n will release her recent albums “HEAT” and “If you…” in the USA iTunes music store on May 16, in conjunction with the singer’s upcoming American tour.

  May’n's latest release “HEAT” (2012) reached Oricon’s Top 10 in its first week of release, including recent Japanese anime theme songs “Brain Diver” (Phi Brain) and “Scarlet Ballet” (Aria the Scarlet Ammo / Hidan no Aria), plus “Giant Step” from her collaboration song for Kamen Rider Fourze.

  “If you…” (2011) features more songs from the vocalist’s catalog of popular Japanese anime/game/movie tie-ins, including “Ready! Go!” (Okami-san and her Seven Companions), “Moshimo kimi ga Negau no Nara” (Valkyria Chronicles 3: Unrecorded Chronicles), and “Shinjitemiru” (Incite Mill – 7 Day Death Game).

  May’n's most recent anime theme song “Chase the world” (from Accel World) will also be available for purchase on May 16.

  ROCK YOUR BEATS – USA Tour

  May’n will return to America in June 2012 for two live performances in Los Angeles and San Francisco. May’n will perform with a live band and meet American fans at a special autograph session for VIP ticket holders.

  Thursday, June 21 – Key Club, Los Angeles Saturday, June 23 – Yoshi’s, San Francisco

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More then anything, the sakura has always held great symbolic importance in Japan. In fact, they celebrate the blooming sakura every year. In America, we too celebrate the blooming sakura to honor the Japanese culture and spirit. Cities all over America have cherry blossom festivals, and Philadelphia is no exception. Hence, the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia presents the Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia.

The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival is a month long celebration of all things Japanese in the Philadelphia area. Over twenty events and gatherings were held, focusing on many aspects of Japanese culture including music, clothing, anime (of course there’s anime) and food. The one event that towers over them all is Sakura Sunday, held in Fairmount Park. It’s a one day festival where they try to cram in as many performances, demonstrations, vendors, and booths that a park can hold.

The first major performance on the main stage was the Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Troupe. They’re considered one of the highlights of the festival but I was skeptical at first. Turns out, I was wrong; their show really does live up to the hype. Sadly, explaining why is like describing the opening scene from Episode VII in Samurai Jack. Although the basic premise is fairly basic, it’s done with such style and mastery that you can’t help but be amazed. Words and writing are simply the wrong medium to convey how great it is. It’s best to go see them live but chances are you’ll have to settle for an online video. That won’t stop me from trying to describe it with words though.

What really sticks out to me is how disciplined the troupe really is. Getting five to twenty people on one stage in perfect sync doing complex routines is never an easy task. I get the impression that one of them getting shot wouldn’t stop the show for longer then a minute. Losing a drumstick or two isn’t even worth a pause. I didn’t notice that someone lost a drumstick until I saw it on the stage floor a minute later. I can only assume that the drummer tossed it, quickly drew his backup drumstick, and kept on playing without missing a beat. My favorite segment was with all the women using the hand shaker type drums. It was especially cool when they were throwing the shakers behind themselves in a synchronized pass line. What really gets me is that they did it all in kimonos. Kimonos are meant to restrict movement, not for a drum and dance routine. The show is so good, it’s worth seeing twice; which you could have done on Sakura Sunday since the troupe gave two performances that day.

A map of the day's events.

The event proceeding the Drum and Dance Troupe was the Harajuku Fashion Show brought to you by the Art Institute of Philadelphia. All of the designed clothes were inspired by the Harajuku area, world famous for being a mecca of clothing, fashion, and unique styles. The clothes were also produced and designed solely by the institute’s students. Everything showcased generally had a strong sense of style, being elaborate and featuring strong, showy colors. Listen, I have no fashion sense and no idea how to describe how pretty clothes are. Just check out the big photo gallery proceeding this article to see the clothes (and much more) for yourself.

After the fashion show was 10tecomai’s Yosakoi Festival Dance. If you don’t know what a Yosakoi Festival Dance is, don’t worry about it because I don’t know either. Good thing they provided ample exposition so that the audience wouldn’t be clueless. Yosakoi is a “newer” dance, originating during the 1950′s for celebrations between July and September. It’s an energetic dance that incorporates elements from other cultures. Yosakoi dance troupes are very open and welcoming, allowing people young and old into their ranks. This results in dance groups averaging between one hundred to a hundred-fifty members each. 10Tecomai has the distinction of being the only Yosakoi dance group in the US. That would explain why they only have seven members but they are recruiting so go try out if you live near New York City and got some moves.

For their show, 10tecomai did three dances. The first dance was called “Rebirth” which was about the seasons and how spring is a rebirth of life after winter. This dance was used for fund raising in response to the 2011 Japanese Earthquakes. Then they performed “Kaigo” which was a ninja themed dance. Ninja themed anything is something I fully endorse. Lastly, they did “Sorin Bushi;” a dance honoring the Japanese fisherman. This must be a crowd favorite back in Japan. It actually has audience participation in it, but the audience here more or less bombed that part because most of the people there (including me) couldn’t pronounce the Japanese phrases. It was still a good show though.

If that wasn’t enough for you, there was also a Shamisen and Buyo Traditional Dance and a performance by Sho Asano himself! FYI, Sho Asano has the honors of being a four time world champion Shamisen player as well as being the youngest person ever to earn said championship. He’s basically the Yugi Moto of shamisen playing. Talking about anime characters, there was also a Cosplay Fashion Show presented by Zenkaikon, eastern Pennsylvania’s premiere anime convention. Honestly, I didn’t really take many pictures of that because I’ll go to Zenkaikon anyway, where taking cosplay pictures will be a snap. Tying it all together was Rio Koike, Japanese comedian and MC of the day’s affairs. He did an admirable job of being funny and stalling for time in between events. Of course, everything I told you about so far was just the stuff going on in the Main Stage. There’s still a lot of festival fun left to cover.

Well, if you want some real pictures, scroll down!

The Demonstration Stage featured an assortment of marital arts demos including Kendo, Iaido, Aikido, and even some Ninjutsu/Ju-jitsu. The participates ranged in age from children showcasing basic maneuvers to adults undergoing formal sparring practice. At the end of the day there was the “Subaru Prettiest Pet in Pink Parade.” I draw the line at taking pictures of dressed up pets. I object to few things and dressing up pets one of them. However, they did take the opportunity to promote animal adaptions so some good did come of it.

If you wanted to actually do something instead of watch other people do stuff, you have several options. For one thing, if you filled out a survey about Sakura Sunday, you could get a nice tote bag from the the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia. For actual activities, you could make origami, try calligraphy, make a windsock or learn to play Go. It seemed that at least a few of those activities were designed with children in mind though. It’s to know that they had kids in mind when planning events for the day. There was also a good deal of shopping to be done if you have that mindset. Vendors were selling/promoting many different things, including a nice array of Japanese flavored goods. There were even Yukata on sale (I think, but it may be some other traditional Japanese clothing)! Of course, there was food there, but being a festival it was naturally over priced.

Even simply people watching can be a treat. The cosplayers did make their presence known on Sakura Sunday. I didn’t really focus on them though. Instead, I decided to take pictures of people in other Japanese fashions. It’s not everyday you have a reason to put on your kimono/yukata/etc. There were a few people who elected to wear traditional Japanese clothing and I was able to get their pictures. I also got a few sweet pics of women in Lolita fashions, which are gorgeously overdone. Lastly, It’s always a plus to get complements on your Gurren Lagaan T-shirt.

I’m know I’m glossing over a lot of stuff but I’M ONLY ONE MAN!! There’s only so much I can cover in one sakura festival! Mind you, everything that I described was somehow crammed into a single five and a half hour time period! The Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia poured everything they had into Sakura Sunday. There was a high concentration of Japanese culture; yet it was too short to fully enjoy. Perhaps that is completely intentional? Does not sakura itself bloom for a brief but beautiful time? It’s a temporary state; one that we must savor with all our heart, because it will be gone before we know it. However, the sakura will bloom again next year, as will Sakura Sunday. I hope to see you there.

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Whether you know her as Kira Buckland or Rina-chan, she’s been doing stuff all over from the place doing awesome stuff. From Newgrounds collaborating with Kirbopher to the source of gamer rage in Skullgirls, she’s not one you want to miss!

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A quick interview with a Japanese guest, Chii Sakurabi is an awesome idol who we met up with last year at AM2! Check out just how awesome she is for yourself!

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