Hatsune Miku is not real.
That’s the first thing you really have to get out of the way when introducing people to the world of Miku, but it’s possibly the least relevant. Behind the computer-generated voice and appearance are actual songs by real creators, making Hatsune Miku and her “vocaloid” colleagues much like a Japanese spin on Gorillaz. READ MORE
The Operation Rainfall fan support campaign may or may not have been the sole reason Western players were able to enjoy Xenoblade Chronicles, The Last Story and Pandora’s Tower, but there’s no denying that it certainly helped. It’s important to remember, though, that these three Wii games weren’t exactly the first to be withheld from the West. In fact, though the history is rich and diverse, it just so happens that each of the three Rainfall studios had previously developed deep, nuanced DS games for Nintendo, and we didn’t get those either! READ MORE
This week’s marquee 3DS release, Project X Zone is a mash-up celebration of Namco Bandai, Capcom and Sega’s most Japan-centric franchises. Of course, the celebration doesn’t work so well when you haven’t heard of them! Here’s a profile of those protagonists who haven’t made a Stateside appearance. READ MORE
Welcome to Gaijin Guide! Or, I guess, welcome back, but I’ll get to that later. This is a column devoted to the world of import games, from the lens of the outsider. I’ll never ask you to become fluent in Japanese (or any other foreign language, when applicable), and when possible, I’ll help you navigate the little bit you’ll need to get into most games. More than that, though, I hope to provide context, that valuable insight into games we just never saw in the States. READ MORE
