Update : June 11th, 2002

English version of NewType Magazine

A representative of ADV Films has confirmed that the premier issue of the long delayed English language version of Newtype Magazine will debut at next month's Anime Expo convention in Long Beach, California. ADV Films will be the official American distributor of the new monthly magazine and will have a limited edition #1 issue of 20,000 copies for sale only at Anime Expo. The first regular monthly issue will be available through normal retail stores possibly in August 2002.

Out Run 2 confirmed

Sega-AM2 has confirmed the development of Out Run 2 for the arcade, the game will feature real cars from various manufacturers, such as Ferrari. The game is supposed to run on the Xbox hardware.

Capcom's game development

Capcom announced they will release a total of 74 games in this fiscal year (until March 2003). They expect to ship 16.2 million units of software, including 22 titles for PS2, 9 for GameCube, 5 for Xbox, 8 for GBA, 2 for PSone, 1 for Dreamcast and 27 for PC/Other. Capcom has also announced expectations for their upcoming GameCube game Biohazard 0 :

400,000 units in Japan
520,000 units in North America
250,000 units in Europe




Update : June 10th, 2002

Jaf-Con renamed as "HobbyEXPO 2002"

JAF-CON (Japan Fantastic Convention) will have a new name, starting this year : HobbyEXPO 2002. This general event includes various hobby contents such as TV games, character goods, card games, figures, plastic models, garage kits, military goods and more. This year, it will be held on Sunday July 28th at Tokyo Big Sight convention center. The admission fee at the door is 1,500 yen (~$12 US).

If you want to check their website, click here.

Rumiko Takahashi, the richest manga artist

For 2001, the top artist income tax payer was Rumiko Takahashi with the income tax of 225 million yen. With published works going easily over 100 million copies throughout the world; it places her as the most prominent manga artist.
Inu-yasha is still very popular in both serialized manga and TV anime in Japan.

Capcom to celebrate Megaman/Rockman
15th birthday

Everybody's favorite blue hero is 15 years old. Quite a feat for a video game character. Capcom has many Megaman games in development right now, here's what to expect in the near future :

Rockman EXE 3 for Gameboy Advance (Japan)
Rockman & Forte for Gameboy Advance (Japan)
RockmanX 7 for PlayStation 2 (Japan)
Megaman Battle Network 2 for Gameboy Advance (USA)
MegamanX 7 for PlayStation 2 (USA)




Update : June 9th, 2002

Latest video games sales in Japan

Here's the latest Dengeki Top 10 list for video games sales during May 27th to June 2nd of 2002. This week shows the arrival of the remake of Dragon Quest 1 and 2 for the PS One. The total sales are not that spectacular for a Dragon Quest game but it was enough to bring it at the Top spot.

1	Dragon Quest Monsters 1 & 2	Enix		117,511	(NEW)
2	Hamtaro 3	Nintendo		86,250	(NEW)
3	World Soccer Winning Eleven 6	Konami		45,374	(758,176)
4	Project FIFA World Cup 2	EA		36,481	(NEW)
5	Hikaru no Go	Konami		33,958	(NEW)
6	Konohana 2	Success		14,538	(NEW)
7	2002 FIFA World Cup	EA		10,586	(93,995)
8	Rockman Zero	Capcom		10,067	(158,961)
9	Mobile Suit Gundam Giren's Ambition : Zion Independence War	Bandai		9,244	(330,808)
10	Natuiro	Princess Soft		8,856	(NEW)

Update : June 6th, 2002

Latest results for most popular anime series

NewType Magazine has revealed their latest results on what is the most popular anime series among Japanese anime fans. Here's the the Top 20.

(1) .hack//SIGN (2) RahXephon (3) Full Metal Panic (4) Cowboy Bebop (5) Scryed (6) Chobits (7) Noir (8) Mobile Suit Gundam (9) Sakura Taisen (10) Neon Genesis Evangelion (11) Onegai Teacher (12) Azumanga Daioh (13) One Piece (14) Inuyasha (15) Nadesico (16) Detective Conan (17) Kanon (18) Galaxy Angel (19) Tokyo Underground (20) Gaogaiger Final (OAV series)

New Macross info

Rumor has it that the upcoming Macross Zero OVA series will be 5 episodes long and each one should be 30 minutes long. Let's hope this new series will be up to the standards of the Macross name.

Gasaraki DVD Box Set

ADV Films announced that they will be releasing a DVD box set of Gasaraki on August 20th, (including 8 DVD's) for $169.98 US. Gasaraki is a giant robot series with a rare intellectual depth, with an emphasis towards realistic military and political situations.

1st Macross series in mass markets

AnimEigo announced that they will release the sold-out subtitled only re-mastered Superdimensional Fortress Macross DVD box set to mainstream retailers at the end of June. The series will be broken up in 3 mini-box sets (including 3 DVD's each) at the price of "just under $90 US" per set.

Evangelion Death & Rebirth coming soon!

Manga Entertainment has opened an official website for the upcoming Neon Genesis Evangelion : Death & Rebirth Movie. Click here and check it out!

Phantasy Star Online Gamecube info

Sega's Sonic Team has announced that Phantasy Star Online Episode I & II for the GameCube will be released on August 8th, for 6800 yen (~$55 US). The online service will costs 600 yen (~$5 US) for 30 days or 1500 yen (~$12 US) for 90 days.

New Gamecube memory card

Nintendo of Japan will release the GameCube Memory Card 251 on July 19th for 2000 yen (~$16 US). This new memory card has a capacity of 251 blocks. For comparison, the actual GameCube Memory Card only has 59 blocks!




Update : June 4th, 2002

New official Silent Mobius website

Bandai has opened a new website for the Silent Mobius anime series. Click here.

New anime by Gainax Studios

According to Gainax's press release; Yushi, the heroine of their next anime Puchi Puri, she will be the youngest heroine in Gainax animation history. This new TV series is jointly produced with AIC and it's scheduled to air in Japan this fall.

New official website for Millenium Actress

Well there's not much at the moment but it's a start. Click here for the link. Just a reminder, Millenium Actress will be distributed in North America during the fall. I saw it last year at Fant-Asia 2001 and I highly recommend it.

Squaresoft happy with Final Fantasy X

Squaresoft announced that the total sales of the PS2 RPG Final Fantasy X has
surpassed 5 million units worldwide. Here's the distribution :

Final Fantasy X in Japan = 2,480,000 Final Fantasy X International in Japan = 260,000 Final Fantasy X International (Asian version) = 20,000 Final Fantasy X in North America = 1,470,000 Final Fantasy X in Europe = 840,000

Capcom news

Capcom will release the PS2 online racing game Auto Modellista in Japan on August 22nd. Also, the Dreamcast port of Marvel vs Capcom 2 will be released in Japan on September 19th for PlayStation 2 and Xbox.




Update : May 30th, 2002

First Look of Digimon Season 4

As you might know, Digimon is still going strong and a 4th season was inevitable. Here's a first look of what to expect this fall.

Latest video games sales in Japan

Here's the latest Dengeki Top 10 list for video games sales during May 20th to May 26th of 2002. This week shows World soccer winning eleven 6 returning at the #1 spot showing that soccer fever has now officially begun because of the Soccer World Cup.

1	World Soccer Winning Eleven 6	Konami		55,544	(712,802)
2	Mobile Suit Gundam Giren's Ambition : Zion Independence War	Bandai		15,310	(321,564)
3	You probably become the Japanese typical player!	Enix		13,985	(NEW)
4	Kingdom Hearts	Squaresoft		13,242	(750,607)
5	2002 FIFA World Cup	EA		12,814	(83,409)
6	High Heat Professional Baseball 2002	Namco		12,283	(195,595)
7	Rockman Zero	Capcom		10,100	(148,894)
8	Runabout 3	Climax		10,053	(NEW)
9	From TV animation ONE PIECE Grand Battle 2	Bandai		8,606	(500,063)
10	Prince of Tennis	Konami		8,008	(162,402)

Update : May 26th, 2002

Latest video games sales in Japan

Here's the latest Dengeki Top 10 list for video games sales during May 13th to May 19th of 2002. This week shows the arrival of a new Final Fantasy game and no surprise here, it made the Top spot. Sales numbers are very low for a Final Fantasy game but keep in mind this one only works online.

1	Final Fantasy XI	Squaresoft		76,136	(NEW)
2	World Soccer Winning Eleven 6	Konami		43,734	(657,258)
3	Captain Tsubasa	Konami		26,645	(NEW)
4	Mobile Suit Gundam Giren's Ambition : Zion Independence War	Bandai		19,504	(306,254)
5	Kingdom Hearts	Squaresoft		13,429	(737,365)
6	Rockman Zero	Capcom		11,692	(138,794)
7	Dance Dance Revolution 6th Mix	Konami		11,480	(NEW)
8	2002 FIFA World Cup	EA		9,888	(70,595)
9	Prince of Tennis	Konami		9,777	(154,394)
10	From TV animation ONE PIECE Grand Battle 2	Bandai		9,740	(491,457)

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