When: April 18 (Fri) - 20 (Sun)
Where: Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan
How: Get tickets HERE

New York Comic Con and New York-Tokyo are teaming up yet again to bring premium hands-on video game programming for the third year in a row. New York-Tokyo, the host of the event series “Gamers Nite Groove,” will present a diverse selection of games from some of the top publishers in the industry including: Dark Sector, Lost Odyssey, Bully: Scholarship Edition, Devil May Cry 4, The Club, Sega Superstars Tennis, Mario and Sonic, Condemned 2, and Opoona, among others. All games will be showcased for all weekend free play at the New York - Tokyo Booth, on the main floor of the convention, on giant HD screens.

Japan based fashion institution UNIQLO, known for simple and affordable clothing as well as a diverse collection of graphic T-shirts, has just launched a massive new display in their Soho store dedicated to their line of manga inspired shirts. This is not just some token nod to the daily expanding manga phenomenon in the US, but a truly informed and deeply realized tribute to the diversity of manga straight from its native country. From Golgo 13 to Urusei Yatsura, the 50 year history of some of the manga industry’s most celebrated publishers is represented and celebrated in this shirt collection. Not only are the shirts gorgeous, but the display itself is a sight for otaku and manga fan sore-eyes. More pictures after the jump.

YMCK is a 3 person pop band from Japan with a familiar sound. Just take a look at the above image and you’ll have an idea. Remember those songs emanating from your NES that you used to hum as a kid walking back from school, excited to get home and pop in your copy of Super Mario Bros? Those songs are the inspiration for YMCK.

Since releasing their album Family Music in 2004, YMCK have gone on to join the massive underground Chiptune music scene, and have traveled the world to perform their uniquely saccharine sweet audio/visual show. Now their new album Family Genesis cements a place in the global gaming phenomenon, as those of us who have grown up with games begin to influence the larger cultural scene with our love for gaming. New York-Tokyo recently caught up with band leader Yokemura to find out what makes YMCK tick. Interview and music after the jump.

In a country where, traditionally, women play a vital supporting role to their men, the existence and mainstream appeal of what are known as “Host Clubs” is a glaringly obvious sign of changing times in Japan. Working women, with the desire to free themselves from a stressful life, look to these host clubs to be pampered on and adored. (more after the jump.)

When last we checked in with robotics visionary Takayuki Furuta, he was busy coming up with new uses for robotics to help people with their everyday lives. It seems, though, that he’s concerned that Japanese kids aren’t getting excited about robotics like he feels they should. His remedy? Exhaustively research and create blueprints for the practical, real-life construction of a fully-functional Gundam. Granted, I’d be much happier if Furuta had announced he’d be making a fully-functional VF-1 Valkyrie, but I suppose beggars can’t be choosers when it comes to real-life giant robots.

Personally, I think this is some great forward thinking on Furuta’s part. Anyway you can get kids excited about science is a good one, I say. Although, let’s just hope that we don’t get a Dr. Hal Emmerich out of this who starts out just wanting to build cool anime robots, but ends up creating a walking, nuclear missle-armed tank.

Life-sized Gundam (via WIRED)

By Stewart Smith

What makes a game, a game? Technically, if you have a challenge and a reward, then I’d say you have a game. So, you could categorize The Graveyard as such. The “objective” you’re pitted against is to move an old woman through a graveyard towards a white bench. When she feels good and ready, she’ll have a seat and relax. Moments later, a song will play (complete with subtitles) while the old woman seems to reminisce about days gone by. The song is relaxing (if not a bit somber) and strangely enjoyable (you get a nice 80’s inspired music video overlay as it plays too!) Whenever you’re ready, you simply lead the old woman out of the graveyard gates and end your session. That’s it.

The Graveyard is definitely more of an “experience” than it is a “game.” It’s another instance in which an independent developer actively seeks out catering to an ever-growing audience of casual players that just want to plop down and explore an interesting environment. It’s a good direction; many new gameplay options are opening up, and the traditional idea of “gaming” is broadening out more to become “virtual experiences.” Interesting.

Check out the demo of The Graveyard here, for Mac or PC! I hear if you get the full version, the old woman actually has a chance of dying while you play! …yikes.

By Joshua C. Harris