My Inconcludable Tripitaka article aside, this may have been the best work I've submitted all year. It exacted nearly two of my decades to finally make the reclusive author's acquaintance and garner an above-middling result. I pledge to polish it to a mirror finish during my retirement years.

If reconstructions offer even a modicum of accurate insight into how Greek sculptures presented themselves to the ancient eye, we're in the presence of the supreme historical case in favour of the precept 𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒. Our taste for art,too, is greatly indebted to the Romantic infatuation for decay.

May 1995: the laserdisc for 'Gadget Trips - Mindscapes' was released in Japan, a 1h19m long feature composed exclusively of computer-generated graphics; making it the first full-length 3D CGI film in history - not Pixar's 'Toy Story', as the internet would have you believe.

For the better part of the year, I have corresponded with SoftEdge studio founder and director Koichi Mori. As if that rare privilege wasn't enough, I was rewarded this week with one from a handful of existing copies of his self-published CD-ROM, TRIPITAKA 玄奘三蔵求法の旅. (1/3)

To mark the hair-raising occasion I uploaded the Imabikisou making-of feature included the 2007 promotional Blu-Ray disc "Imabikisou: Seitan-hen". Notably, it includes segments where Haruhiko Shono is interviewed. Apologies for not finding the time to include proper captions⬇️

Fresh off the flatbed high-resolution scans of the SleepMan and Selen character artwork for the 1999 Dreamcast RPG EGG - Elemental Gimmick Gear, possibly authored by Hisashi Kubo.

Fresh off the flatbed high-resolution scans of the SleepMan and Selen character artwork for the 1999 Dreamcast RPG EGG - Elemental Gimmick Gear, possibly authored by Hisashi Kubo.

Arranging these items, it occurred to me that Shadow of the Colossus was the videogame that I anticipated the most. I yearned for it so ardently, and it was nevertheless able to surpass all my long-held expectations. Such an experience comes once, perchance twice in a lifetime.

20歳

In case you missed it, the Katsuhiro Otomo Manben episode silently revealed that he keeps a Bloodborne statue in his studio next to his television screen.

SD Twin Peaks figures made for an issue of Hobby Japan (issue unknown, but safe to say early 90s). Not my scan, so I gotta track down this issue.

The internet is guaranteed to remember Redford for that congenial Jeremiah Johnson zoom-in shot made meme. I, for one, have an entirely different zoom-in shot in mind. All The President's Men Alan J. Pakula 1976 (4x speed)

Couldn't get a firm grasp of Dreams of Another from its fleeting demo, which only piqued my curiosity. It finds no parallel with previous @baiyon.bsky.social / Pixel Junk collaborations. Except for some vague remembrance of Beyond Eyes and 11:11, it's quite unlike any other game I've ever played.

Spent a fair bit of time this weekend revisiting the episodes that birthed this most macabre horror game series. My unsubtle posture towards game remakes should now be known to all who follow me. And yet I would readily embrace a new rendition of Akai Chō, were it to be directed by Shibata-San.

I am grateful for the opportunity to make a small contribution and help the indefatigable Jon Doyle and the team at Lost In Cult make 006 a reality. Truly, all good things come to those who wait.

Sai No Ohanashi is the title of a small yet cheerful booklet contained in the rare preview edition of the 1998 Shift game XI. The illustrations were created by children’s book author Dan Yaccarino, while the text was authored by Keiko Hidaka. Scan & translation here: archive.org/details/tale...

Sai No Ohanashi is the title of a small yet cheerful booklet contained in the rare preview edition of the 1998 Shift game XI. The illustrations were created by children’s book author Dan Yaccarino, while the text was authored by Keiko Hidaka. Scan & translation here: archive.org/details/tale...

I'm no authority on any subject, not least of which Manga. From what little I know, I would consider Morohoshi to be one of the greatest Manga artists, and possibly the greatest author. I watched this NHK doc for the second time yesterday and recommend it wholeheartedly. youtu.be/AHlG7I2Z8Ck?...

The newly emerged discmaster archive search tool came bearing gifts. Bsky user rabidrodent dug up crisp new screens from the Mario VB demo that Nintendo dispreferred over the 3D appeal of its minigame concept, which later became Mario Clash. What made this cancelled game so unique? 🧵

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the US release of Yutaka Saito's Seaman, I have scanned and archived this rather rare specimen published in Japan by Vivarium in the year 2000. This is, however, no ordinary guidebook. More information and links can be found below.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the US release of Yutaka Saito's Seaman, I have scanned and archived this rather rare specimen published in Japan by Vivarium in the year 2000. This is, however, no ordinary guidebook. More information and links can be found below.

Famicom Bunko: Hajimari no Mori was released 26 years ago by PaxSoftonica via Nintendo Power. It's one of SFC's best-told stories, up there with Ihatovo Monogatari or Gokinjo Boukentai, and the great forerunner to Boku No Natsuyasumi. An English translation is urgently needed.

My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.

FM Towns magazine ad featuring Yoko Minamino, from 1989.

The PS2 era has been on my mind of late. I mostly miss this sort of sword-wielding, no nonsense action game from developers who knew and moved comfortably within the genre. I did not value these titles sufficiently in their day. What flaws they once had were swept away by time.

Here's my gift to true #MetalGearSolid fans: a full scan of "Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes Survival Guide In The Darkness of Shadow Moses", published in Japan in 2004. It is one of the most unique videogame guidebooks ever created. Archive link and book highlights below ⤵️

Here's my gift to true #MetalGearSolid fans: a full scan of "Metal Gear Solid The Twin Snakes Survival Guide In The Darkness of Shadow Moses", published in Japan in 2004. It is one of the most unique videogame guidebooks ever created. Archive link and book highlights below ⤵️

In 2004, Kazutoshi Iida (Aquanaut's Holiday, Tail of the Sun) sat down with his friend Hideo Kojima to discuss the original Metal Gear Solid, apropos of the Japanese guidebook for The Twin Snakes, of which he was Editor in Chief. Today I present to you a translation of this conversation.

Found a Ridge Racer Type 4 press disc on archive.org absolutely loaded with high-res renders. This is my Holy Grail. 📀 archive.org/details/redu...

Boku no Natsuyasumi was released 25 years ago. ぼくのなつやすみ」は25年前に発売されました。

Boku no Natsuyasumi was released 25 years ago. ぼくのなつやすみ」は25年前に発売されました。

In 2004, Kazutoshi Iida (Aquanaut's Holiday, Tail of the Sun) sat down with his friend Hideo Kojima to discuss the original Metal Gear Solid, apropos of the Japanese guidebook for The Twin Snakes, of which he was Editor in Chief. Today I present to you a translation of this conversation.

Took a break from some of the larger projects I'm working on to translate an interview from a fairly rare guidebook concerning one of the most celebrated games of all time. I couldn't find it anywhere else, so it needs to be archived for posterity. The timing is quite right, too.

In case you missed it, I translated this 30 year old interview with the creators of the Mega CD game Switch (Panic! in the US) while keeping the original guidebook format intact.

In case you missed it, I translated this 30 year old interview with the creators of the Mega CD game Switch (Panic! in the US) while keeping the original guidebook format intact.

Few games have approached subject of alchemy with such insight. All Living Things mirrors a thorough understanding of the alchemical worldview itself, presented with strikingly smooth visuals that honour the Eastern European clay animation tradition while evoking the memory of the CD-ROMs of old.

When did you last spot a cover this vibrant, effervescent & gracious? How could there have been a time when even the mundane task of composing the cover art for a tennis game inspired a nameless artist to capture the very essence of summery pleasures? And could that nameless artist be Eijin Suzuki?

When did you last spot a cover this vibrant, effervescent & gracious? How could there have been a time when even the mundane task of composing the cover art for a tennis game inspired a nameless artist to capture the very essence of summery pleasures? And could that nameless artist be Eijin Suzuki?

Contentious a topic as it may be to us in the West, the number of Japanese videogames featuring a front and centre likeness of Hitler on their cover and ad posters is more than negligible.

One of my obsessions for the past few years has been to locate relevant examples of mirrors and mirror-like reflections in videogames from all eras. It began with a simple 4x4 grid. I have now collected 247 examples. You can find the list here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Grateful to see this story featured in so prominent a website as Polygon. I would only like to clarify that I wasn't asked to provide any comment, contrary to what the article states. Had that been the case, I would have gladly answered.

One of my obsessions for the past few years has been to locate relevant examples of mirrors and mirror-like reflections in videogames from all eras. It began with a simple 4x4 grid. I have now collected 247 examples. You can find the list here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

Discover the secrets of alchemical processes, the hidden secrets of world and even deeper secrets hidden within us… All Living Things has a steampage, wishlist to be notified for the upcoming early demo! store.steampowered.com/app/3681340

Switch is a 1993 surrealist humour game developed by Sega together with members of the controversial theatrical comedy group WAHAHA Honpo. I finally got around to translating the official guidebook interview with Hajime Tabe, Renzo Kinoshita and Kei Tani. You can find the link below.

Switch is a 1993 surrealist humour game developed by Sega together with members of the controversial theatrical comedy group WAHAHA Honpo. I finally got around to translating the official guidebook interview with Hajime Tabe, Renzo Kinoshita and Kei Tani. You can find the link below.

Celebrate the groundbreaking work of game designer & composer Kenji Eno with KENJI ENO 55: Soundworks. Includes remastered soundtracks, archival recordings, and previously unreleased tracks, offering a definitive retrospective of Eno’s musical genius.

They say it's the Sega Saturn birthday month. A console stylish in any colour, but those Japanese White Model 2 magenta accents were thirty years ahead of their time.