“Irem vs Taito” by Paul Robertson (click for a much larger image). It’s pixelart pandemonium as the titans of these two Japanese video game publishers duke it out!

Hammerin’ Harry versus the Puzzle Bobble Crew! Ninja Baseball Bat Man versus Time Gal’s Reika! R-Type crafts versus Darius ships! Mr. Heli versus Invaders! The only battle missing is the kusoge match-up of the millenium, Deadly Towers’ Prince Myer versus Beat Takeshi.

Robertson created this image and two others — one based on Konami’s obscure arcade beat’em up Violent Storm, and another NSFW piece for Custer’s Revenge — for the Super iam8bit show. See them all here.

Perfect reminder to watch some King of Famicom.

Buy: Nintendo 3DS (Flame Red, Black, & Blue)

Find: Nintendo DS/3DS release dates, discounts, & more

tags / irem / taito / paul robertson / pixelart / super iam8bit / iam8bit / fanart / gaming / ec

Cooking Mama plush doll, free with pre-order of Cooking Mama 4 at GameStop. Something looks slightly off about the face on this doll, but it’s still pretty dang cute! If you can identify what it is that’s bothering me, though please do — because I can’t.

I’ve only seen this available at GameStop, so if you want a little plush companion to watch you break eggs, you’ll have to pre-order the 3DS game from there.

Find: Nintendo DS/3DS release dates, discounts, & more

See also: More Cooking Mama posts

tags / cooking mama / cooking mama 4 / gamestop / gaming / nintendo 3ds / taito / cooking mama ltd

tags / taito / case / accessories / space invaders / darius burst / ncsx / jc

tags / the king of games / jc / shirts / taito / bubble bobble / front line / the legend of kage

The Tablecloth Hour, a new Taito arcade game being location-tested in Shibuya. Like Cho Chabudai Gaeshi, this is an arcade machine in which players interact with virtual tables. While Cho Chabudai Gaeshi was all about pounding and, finally, upending a table, The Tablecloth Hour tasks you with pulling the tablecloth off smoothly and quickly.

This is as “practical” as any amusement-focused arcade game could be: it’s a lot easier to practice this on the machine, and get feedback from the game, than it is to dump salt, pepper, vase water, etc. all over your floor repeatedly.

[Via Arcade Heroes]

tags / the tablecloth hour / taito / japan / jc / imports / arcade

Space Invaders umbrella. Apparently, Taito is lending these out from its arcades in Japan starting today, with a 30-day lending period. Would people really return these? I’m not sure I’d be able to.

tags / space invaders / taito / jc / umbrella

Densha de Go! Special Version — Revived! Showa Yamanote Line from Square Enix. A new version of Taito’s famous train simulation game, which allows you to experience the thrill of operating a commuter train in Japan, will be released in Japan July 22, and I’m… slightly excited? Maybe?

I say “maybe” because a DS version will be more easily accessible to people like me who can’t afford to import one of the specialized controllers made for other versions of the game (which are designed to simulate real train controls). But at the same time, the weird controller is kind of the whole point. Instead of a big controller, the DS version uses the touch screen to display a control panel.

In addition to simulating the modern Yamanote Line (which basically surrounds Tokyo), this version includes a “Showa Mode” that recreates Tokyo of the ’50s/’60s as the backdrop for your regular, careful routes. 

(I wanted to link to the Nasubi episode here, in which Nasubi, stranded in an apartment with only contest winnings as his possessions, acquires a copy of Densha de Go! and a PlayStation. However, Hulu no longer has the series :( )

[Via Andriasang]

tags / densha de go / square enix / taito

tags / pet shop monogatari ds / taito / pet shop monogatari 2 / jc