The day we've all (or at least three or four of us have) waited for has arrived: Tomodachi Collection is coming to Europe and North America this June

Surprisingly, the bigwigs at Nintendo have decided to retain the Tomodachi part of this seemingly crazy 3DS game's Japanese title, although in the Western world the game will be known as Tomodachi Life rather than Tomodachi Collection: New Life.

Oh, and it will hit both European and North American store shelves on June 6. (It'll carry a price tag of $34.99 in the latter region; I'm not yet sure what it'll cost in the former.)

For more information on this zany life sim, check out its first trailer, below.



If you'd like a more in-depth look at Tomodachi Life, both of Nintendo's Western arms uploaded rather in-depth (and completely bananas) Nintendo Direct broadcasts devoted to the game early this morning. Watch the North American one here, and the European one here.

See also: 'We interrupt this program to inform you that Tomodachi Collection: New Life is almost assuredly heading West'

Reason #407 I could be considered an 'eccentric' (aka bat-sh*t crazy) gamer: I recently bought a gold Pokémon Center 3DS LL

While everyone else in the world (yes, every single person in the world who isn't me) digs into Pokémon X and Y this weekend, I'll be impatiently waiting for my copy of this portable, catch-them-all-centric RPG to show up on my doorstep.

That's not because I decided to order my copy from a retailer with snail-slow shipping, by the way; instead, it's because, as is stated in the header above, I recently bought one of the gold Pokémon Center 3DS LLs that were just released in Japan and that come packed with a digital version of either Pokémon X or Y.



(Actually, I pre-ordered this system the same day I published this post, but I didn't mention it here until now because I was pretty sure I would cancel said pre-order long before it actually shipped.)

Is this one of the crazier things I've done in my gaming life? I think it may be. I guess that speaks to the power of this system's stunning, Disney-esque (in my opinion) design.

Speaking of designs, I can't say I'm thrilled with the boxes (see above and below) that contain these systems and their related accoutrements. I expected the packaging to be shimmery and gold, like the systems themselves. Oh, well, I guess the red and blue backdrops help draw attention to the golden systems hidden within.



Although I have no idea when my gold 3DS LL will arrive, you can rest assured that as soon as it does I'll snap tons of photos of the packaging and the system and everything else and then share them here.

In the meantime, let me know in the comments section below what you think of Pokémon X and/or Y, should you be able to pull yourselves away from its preciousness.

See also: 'All of a sudden, I want one of these suckers'

Don't mind me, I've just gone Animal Crossing crazy (again)

I don't know about you, but all of this talk about Animal Crossing: New Leaf--or Tobidase Dōbutsu no Mori, for those playing the just-released Japanese version--has me feeling a little, well, crazy.

What talk, you ask? For starters, there are blog posts like Chic Pixel's "Initial Animal Crossing: New Leaf Impressions" and "Gratuitous Animal Crossing 3DS LL/XL Photo Shoot"--both of which I've read and re-read more times than I'd prefer to admit over the last few days.

And then there's the spate of ads and promo videos that have been released in the wake of the Japanese iteration's release on Nov. 8. My favorite so far:



As for how I've been trying to quell this bout of Animal Crossing craziness: Would you believe I decided late last week to start a new town in the GameCube-based original?

My wide-eyed character, Mimi, is still getting a feel for the burgh she now calls home--Miminton, whose name was inspired by the import-only Wii game, Captain Rainbow--but I think both she and I will settle in soon enough. I just hope I don't settle in to the extent I did the last time I played it--as that experience lasted 80 hours (or more) and at least eight months.

Are any of you chomping at the bit to get your hands on this 3DS game? If so, has that desire caused you to make a return trip to the towns you created in the first Animal Crossing or in Wild World or City Folk?

To buy or not to buy, that is the question when it comes to the 3DS game called Dangerous Jī-san to 1000-nin no Otomodachi Ja

Don't worry if the title in the headline above doesn't ring any bells. It's hardly the kind of release that tends to receive a lot of attention from western gaming sites and blogs.

That said, I have mentioned it here once before--in the cheekily titled post, "Is this 3DS game's heath bar really made up of little butts?"

Of course, this Namco Bandai-published 3DS game, which will hit the streets of Japan on Nov. 22, didn't have a title at that time. Now it does. It also has a new and rather effervescent trailer that's packed full of so much weirdness it nearly makes my head spin.



For those of you wondering what this game may be called if it ever earns a European or even North American release (yeah, right), my podcasting pal Anne (aka apricotsushi) took the time to translate the Japanese title for me last night after I accosted her via Twitter. Her suggestion: Dangerous Grandpa and His 1,000 Wicked Friends.

Another possibility would be Grandpa Danger and His 1,000 Wicked Friends, considering that's the verbiage Viz Media has used for the North American version of the anime.

Regardless, the guy obviously has a lot of friends, and all of them seem to be wicked. Which may be why, according to the now-defunct andriasang. com, they're turned into post cards at the start of this game. (I know, I don't get it either. Although I guess that's why ol' gramps is constantly shown interacting with mailboxes in the trailer above?)

Is this 3DS game's heath bar really made up of little butts?

If so, I think I've just found my next "must have" title.

Granted, it's extremely doubtful the game in question--Dangerous Jii-san Jya, which is based on the popular Coro Coro Comics "gag manga" that's known as "Grandpa Danger" in the West--will be released in North America, so I guess I'll have buy a Japanese 3DS (or 3DS LL) if I want to play it.



Normally my reaction to such a suggestion (yes, even if I made the suggestion to myself) would be, "yeah, right," but in this case I'm not so sure. I mean, not only does Dangerous Jii-san Jya (teaser trailer here) appear to include a health bar made up of little rumps, but it also seems to feature some sort of "butt blast attack" (see screenshot above) and a character that's basically a pile of poo with muscular arms and legs.

I'm also pretty fond of the Egyptian samurai with a pair of underwear covering his eyes that can be seen here.



As for when this daringly disgusting 3DS game will hit store shelves in Japan: Sadly, I'm not sure, although andriasang.com suggests it'll happen sometime "this winter."

Woe is my wallet should Dangerous Jii-san Jya sport a compelling cover illustration.

(Via andriasang.com)

So, what are the odds that we're all going to turn down the volume on our trusty 3DSes after playing New Super Mario Bros. 2 for a bit?

I ask because it just hit me that although I'm likely to have a blast collecting coin after coin after coin while playing New Super Mario Bros. 2, I'm also likely to go completely bonkers due to the constant "ching! ching! ching!" that will be coming out of my 3DS' speakers as I do it.

That said, I'm willing to risk my sanity in order to traipse (yes, traipse) through some of the levels revealed in the latest trailer for this cash-obsessed platformer.

My favorite moments in the trailer below (and here): That never-before-seen nighttime-ish stage shown at the 14-second mark, the rainbow-filled one that follows (at :22) and the rampaging Mega Mario that pops up at :40. Oh, and the golden Big Boo that's given the spotlight at :52.



All that said, I'm not as excited about New Super Mario Bros. 2 as I'd expect to be. Maybe that's because I'm days away from getting my hands on copies of Rhythm Thief & The Emperor's Treasure and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy. Or maybe it's because I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Paper Mario: Sticker Star sometime later this year.

Another possibility: I'm just into the whole "collect a million coins" thing that seems to be this game's raison d'être.

Are any of you also feeling similarly ho-hum about New Super Mario Bros. 2? If so, are you planning to pick up a copy of it anyway or are you going to pass on it in favor of something else?

The Gay Gamer Giveaway™: Ashley Anderson Edition

Atlanta's one and only Ashley Anderson recently surprised me by sending me the poster--of his crazy, sprite-filled collage titled "Cabana Fever" (below)--that was showcased in a recent issue of Young Foxy & Free magazine.

As much as I love the poster, I thought it might be cool to offer it to one of you via the second Gay Gamer Giveaway™. After mentioning this idea to Anderson, he said he'd send another so I could keep one for myself and give one away. Awesome, huh?

A few details about said poster before I get to how you can win it: It's approximately 18 inches by 23 inches. Also, it's been signed by Anderson. Oh, and it'll be shipped rolled up and in a tube (as opposed to folded and stuffed into an envelope).

Winning this particular giveaway is just as easy as the last one, by the way. Just leave a comment below between now and the end of the day (let's say 11:59 pm Pacific Daylight Time) on Friday, May 25. I'll announce the winner of this oh-so-fabulous poster on Saturday morning.

Those who don't win may want to check out Anderson's society6 shop, where art prints, stretched canvases, stationary cards, iPhone skins and t-shirts featuring this image can be purchased for as little as $12.

See also: 'Ashley Anderson's Cabana Fever'

I'd love to have a chat with the person selling this sealed copy of Bubble Bobble Part 2

Said conversation would begin, of course, with me asking the seller, "You're completely bonkers, aren't you?"

I can't think of a better question to ask someone who is trying to sell (via this auction) a factory-sealed copy of Bobble Bobble Part 2 for the oh-so-reasonable (insert eye roll here) price of $19,999.99.

Sure, the seller is accepting offers from interested parties, but I can't imagine any of them are going to walk away with this particular copy of the game for, say, a few hundred dollars (which, although a lot more than I'd personally be willing to spend on an NES title, is sure to be closer to what this one is worth) when all is said and done.

And then, of course, there's the fact that this eBay auction is for a copy of Taito's Bubble Bobble Part 2, a game that pales not only in comparison to its predecessor, but in comparison to that release's "real" sequels, Rainbow Islands and Parasol Stars, too. (Truth be told, I'd much rather play the oddly-expansive GameBoy title that goes by the same name than this ugly duckling of the series.)

Even if this not-made-by-Fukio-Mitsuji pseudo-sequel were the best game ever made, though, I guarantee you I wouldn't spend nearly $20,000 on it.

Much more likely to be bought by yours truly: The Famicom version of Bubble Bobble Part 2--in part because it can be purchased for a lot less than $19,999.99 and in part because I find its box art (which can be viewed here) a lot more appealing than the art (see above) that's plastered across the front of the North American release.

Ashley Anderson's 'Cabana Fever'

Remember how I introduced you to the "Alien Goose of Love" a couple of weeks ago? (If not, you'll probably want to check out this post before continuing on.)

Well, artist Ashley Anderson just shared (OK, so he shared it a few days ago) the full, final product on his Flickr photostream and, boy, is it a doozy. Don't believe me? Click on the image to the right and take a good, long look at it.

The piece's official title is "Cabana Fever," by the way, and it's currently featured (as a pull-out poster, I believe) in the latest issue of Atlanta's Young Foxy & Free magazine.

Sadly, I can't tell you at this time which games Anderson, who's also based in Atlanta, plundered to find the sprites that make up this crazy collage. I'll ask him to spill the beans--via his Facebook page--shortly, though, and then share the details here, OK?

Any of you who really like "Cabana Fever," by the way, might like to know that prints, stationary cards and iPhone cases/skins featuring Anderson's illustration can be bought via society6.com.

See also: Previous Ashley Anderson posts

Reason #404 I could be considered an 'eccentric' (aka bat-sh*t crazy) gamer

I recently bought a Game Gear game--the Japanese version of Tengen's Magical Puzzle Popils, to be exact--despite the fact that I don't yet own a Game Gear system.

There's a method (well, kind of) to my madness, though; you see, in part I bought a copy of this Fukio Mitsuji-designed game because I hoped it would push me to (finally) pick up Sega's first handheld. (Its second being the Nomad, of course.)

Another reason I bought the copy of Magical Puzzle Popils you see in the photo to the right: Its cover art. Duh! (For a bit more information on this precious puzzler, read these previously-published blog posts.)

Don't worry, I won't hold off on reviewing this titillating title until I actually acquire a Game Gear system. I've played it enough via emulation to know it inside and out, so there's no real reason for me to wait. Anyway, keep an eye out for it if you're so inclined.

In the meantime, have any of you ever bought a game or two for a system (console or handheld) that you don't yet own?

See also: Other reasons I could be considered an 'eccentric' (aka bat-sh*t crazy) gamer

Is it crazy that the Tempura Wizard's inclusion in Kid Icarus: Uprising has caused me to completely change my opinion of the game?

More specifically, it's caused me to change my opinion of Kid Icarus: Uprising--which will hit store shelves in Japan tomorrow and throughout North America and Europe on Friday--from "no thanks" to "just take my money already, Nintendo."

If you have no idea who or what a Tempura Wizard is, check out the recent-ish Kid Icarus: Uprising trailer below. (The battered baddie first shows his craggy face at the 1:38 mark.)



Anyway, thanks to the rather surprising and hilarious inclusion of Mr. Tempura Wizard--as well as the positive word of mouth that's slowly making the rounds (here's a good example)--I'm now seriously considering picking up a copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising.

Are any of you thinking of doing the same in the coming days, weeks or months--either because of or in spite of the inclusion of the aforementioned Tempura Wizard?

Buy: Kid Icarus: Uprising

Any game that 'looks like someone tried to port Gunstar Heroes to the Atari 2600' sounds like a winner to me

I can't take credit for the quote that appears in the headline above, by the way. That honor belongs to NeoGAF user Fine Ham Abounds.

Anyway, I so completely agreed with what Fine Ham Abounds had to say about an upcoming, tantalizing-looking game that I couldn't help but quote him in this post's header.

As for the game he compares to a 2600 port of the Treasure classic known as Gunstar Heroes: It's called Super T.I.M.E. Force and it will be released at some as-yet-unknown date and on some as-yet-unknown platform (or, more likely, platforms) courtesy of the folks at Capybara Games.

I know, the lack of info in regards to the game's release date and platform(s) of choice stinks, but it stinks a lot less (or more, if you're a 'glass half empty' kind of guy/gal) after you watch the following teaser:


Super T.I.M.E Force - First Peek from Capy! on Vimeo.

I'm not at all sure what's going on in the trailer above, to tell you the truth, but I like what I see all the same--especially the part where the little soldier dudes and dudettes leap from missile to missile.

Anyway, here's hoping the Capybara crew loosen their lips soon and let all of us slobbering fools know when and where we can expect to play what looks to be a fabulously frantic title.

Oh, and one last thing: If you're looking for a good chuckle, check out Capybara's official description of the game here.

Japan's crazy Super Mario 3D Land commercial

Super Mario 3D Land will hit the streets in the Land of the Rising Sun in just a few weeks (on Nov. 3, to be exact). As such, Nintendo's Japanese arm is revving its promotional engines in the hopes of piquing the public's interest in their mustachioed plumber's first 3DS-based adventure.

I don't know if the following commercial will catch the attention of Japanese consumers, but it's certainly caught the attention of this consumer.



Here's a far more conventional commercial for Super Mario 3D Land, if that's what you're after.



Super Mario 3D Land will be released in North America on Nov. 13, by the way. (It'll follow suit throughout Europe on Nov. 18 and in Australia on Nov. 24.) Pre-order it here.