Tech-Gaming Technology, Gaming, and Culture

With appearances by Mai Shiranui, Sonic the Hedgehog, and the 423 different types of panties found in Gun*Gal, this week’s schedule of new releases is looking rather promising. If pugnaciousness, platforming, or pheromone shooting, isn’t ...

Growing up on a steady diet of Robotech/Macross, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Bubblegum Crisis meant that the desire to control an actual mecha is a persistent part of life. Occasionally, games would attempt to satiate ...

Not long ago, publishers relied on a persistent procession of new titles to survive. But now, a steady stream of remakes and remasters are an important part of most business models. As the practice of ...

Once again, the Nintendo Switch gets the lion’s share of new games releases for dedicated hardware, with quantity only outmatched the sheer number of Steam releases. But console owners wouldn’t be too sad, with tempting ...

Only a few years ago, the console role-playing game seemed to be in peril, its existence whittled down to a few decisive hit points. Pundits predicted that a combination of escalating production prices, dwindling audiences, ...

Much of the allure of the city simulation genre stems from the mastery of an array of municipal variables.  While you might sink a township into the ground across the first few playthroughs, gradually you’ll ...

In the United States, terms like ‘liberty’ and ‘freedom’ are quintessential expressions, underscoring an emphasis on individualism. But in Japan, life has traditionally skewed toward collectivism. As such, the word, ‘ganbaru’ is ubiquitous in conversation. ...

During the 1980s and 90s, if you stepped into an arcade, there was a very good chance of finding a Namco machine among the assortment of cabinets. While the Minato, Tokyo-based firm has been around ...

Even the most devoted strategy-role-playing game devotee will admit that there’s not a whole lot of variation across the genre. Instead, distinction is most often made in the subtle divergences from formula, whether it’s the ...

When Americans travel to Japan, they often remark on how safe the country feels. Unlike many parts of the U.S., you’re able to walk freely without the fear of assault or mugging – at any ...