I felt like it was time for a new theme because Tarski was starting to get stale, so Mandigo is getting a test run. The Clannad banner will probably be temporary until I can make something better.

Pull out those discount cards, lads!

In the latest version of its “In Pictures” photo gallery feature, the BBC News website takes us on a shopping tour of Tokyo’s world-famous otaku paradise, Akihabara.

Many of the featured items aren’t new, but I always get a kick out of seeing these delightful little oddities. Here’s my pick of the lot:
- A USB-powered microscope
- A necktie with a built-in cooling fan (also USB-powered)
- Tinned pasta (best eaten with tinned bread!)

I’m not really into the Tales franchise, but this bit of news from Kotaku was pretty intriguing. Apparently Namco Bandai is going to let consumers pick their poison by releasing two versions of the DS game. One will utilize anime cutscenes while the other will feature CG cutscenes to further the story.

The franchise’s style has always favored traditional anime designs and this version looks better. Of course the new generation of gamers are spoiled on CG graphics, so that may give the CG version the edge. Which one would you guys pick?

Maids are great. Maids that stop time and throw knives are even better. This week the spotlight falls on Sakuya Izayoi from the immensely popular Touhou franchise.

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Happy Moon Festival to everyone out there. Guess I’ll have some mooncake to celebrate.

PS: The mooncake is a lie.

Today the spotlight falls on the third volume of Kadokawa/Bandai’s special edition Region 1 Lucky Star DVD series.

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Please disable those annoying snap previews. When someone hovers over a link or picture, they are attacked by a distracting pop-up! Everytime a snap preview pops up, a Strike Witch dies. So please think of the Strike Witches. Here’s how to disable the evil snap preview.

Dashboard -> Design -> Extras -> Disable Snap Preview -> ??? -> Yamcha is a happy camper

Don’t let snap previews happen to you.

PS: Sorry for picking on you C.I. Or am I? Ha ha ha ha!

It’s a month of maids, desu. This week we feature Hisui, the popular stoic maid from Tsukihime. The key aspect of Hisui’s personality is her intangible subtleness. She seems boring at first but her actions speak louder than words. Though she may be one of Tsukihime’s secondary girls, at least she has her own route. Oh zing! I just totally burned Sacchin.

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I was browsing the fall series when I noticed something.

http://www.linebarrels.jp/machine.html

A new upcoming series by Gonzo. The art on the mech page seems to show cel-references. I almost can’t remember the last time Gonzo ever not did mecha with 3D, but maybe they’ve had enough feedback to make the change back to 2D? Or is this a huge red herring? Who knows? Either way, it seems like Gonzo’s on the verge of going kaput, from what I gather from my lurkerisms, which is a shame since despite their many flaws, they did come up with Last Exile and Gankutsuou, which are both top-grade series. (Though, to be fair, even a lot of the 3D in those were pretty sub-par…) It’s rather ironic how I maintain a clearly love-hate relationship with them, but time to time the waiting does pay off.

At any rate, I just posted this to bring up a point: Would you be sorry to see them go, or will you smirk and send them a “Good riddance!” card?

Addendum: Watched a Linebarrels trailer on Youtube. It seems the fight scenes are still predominantly 3D. Although there seems to be some 2D in it… Hrm. Well, they had the mech designer from Zone of the Enders do the mechs so if they can get some decent-quality ZOE2 3D maybe it won’t be so bad.

It’s that time of year again. Trees will shed their leaves, birds will flee to warmer climes – and otaku will barricade themselves in their rooms with ample supplies of Cup Ramen and bottled water.

The fall season is nigh!

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