I wonder if Nintendo will promote The Last Story this way in the States?

That's assuming, of course, this Mistwalker-developed RPG is released in North America at some point.

Even if it is (and, sadly, that's a big if), I highly doubt the marketing folks at Nintendo of America will promote it using a commercial that's anything like the third one in the clip below (skip to the one-minute mark)--although I'd love to be proven wrong.



(Via superpunch.blogspot.com)

The folks at Taito say this is Bubble Bobble 2

Pshaw, I say.

That's not to say Bubble Bobble 2--or Bubble Bobble Part 2, as it was called in the States--is completely unenjoyable or unplayable, but it certainly can't hold a candle, especially in terms of graphics and sound, to Bubble Bobble's real sequels, Rainbow Islands and Parasol Stars.



Despite its relative suckiness, complete-in-box copies of Bubble Bobble Part 2 command a pretty penny on eBay. (This one is going for about $450, for instance, while this one is going for a whopping $600!)

'Dead Pixel'

OK, so this threadless t-shirt design submission isn't completely game-related, but who cares? It's certainly completely cool--at least in my humble opinion.

It was created by someone who calls himself "eown," by the way. If you like his design, give it a good score (by voting on it here) within the next three days.

Another one bites the dust

With the "one" mentioned in the header above being an online import game shop.

Specifically, the guys behind RisingStuff.com have decided to call it quits. As a result, all of their stock--which includes a slew of Dreamcast, Famicom, Mega Drive, PC Engine, PS1/PS2, Saturn and Super Famicom games--is now 60 percent off.

The Rising Stuff store will close its virtual doors once and for all on Jan. 31, so check it out soon if you're on the lookout for a few import titles.

Photo above was taken at Tokyo's Super Potato by moossye.

Speaking of online import game shops that are giving up the ghost, the guy behind WolfGames.com is still trying to clear his stock. Orders of one to six games receive a 40 percent discount, while orders of seven to 13 games get a 50 percent discount and orders of 14 or more games get a whopping 60 percent discount.

See also: 'Looking to pick up a few imports?'

I'm not daring enough to wear this, but I want it anyway

Can you think of a better way to beat the winter cold than by wearing a Piranha Plant scarf? I can't.

Actually, I take that back. The only competition the scarf above, which was made by etsy shop owner enemyairship (aka anenemyairship on Flickr), has in the "coolest scarf ever" category is this Noby Noby Boy scarf.

Here's another shot of the Noby Noby Boy scarf, and here are two more shots of the aforementioned Piranha Plant scarf.