SoraNews24 —Japan News—

Japanese smartphone and tablet gamers spend a disproportionate amount of money on mobile games compared to the much larger mobile markets of North America and China, according to a new report from EEDAR – a video gaming analytics consultancy. This is despite the fact that the Japanese mobile gaming population is just a third of that of North America and a mere eighth of the Chinese gaming population.

Global, Internet, Japan
(Android • iPhone • mobile games • Smartphones • video games)

Train and transform your hero into a prime beefcake in otome romance game Muscle Paradise

Cara Clegg
Oct 17, 2015

Do you even lift? ‘Cos these macho guys certainly do! While the heroes of otome games, story-based romance games aimed at women, tend to err on the feminine side, the hunks in this mobile game cater specifically to women (or men!) who like their guys beefy. And when I see beefy, I mean ox-on-steroids beefy.

Japan
(Android • app • dating simulator • iOS • otome game • video games)

Free Zen-like mobile game about broken pots contains the wisdom of ancient Japanese philosophy

Cara Clegg
Sep 30, 2015

Do you think putting together broken bits of pottery sounds like fun? No, me neither. And I’d never imagine something that’s so tedious in real life would make a good basis for a game. However, that’s the theme behind this free Android app which draws upon an ancient Japanese philosophy and, after reading some reviews, I was convinced that I had to give it a go myself.

Internet
(Android • ceramics • culture • mobile game • video games • Zen)

Nintendo: Next console’s OS is not Android

Anime News Network
Jun 3, 2015

Company responds to Nikkei’s report that NX’s OS is Android-based.

Japan
(Android • Anime News Network • console • nintendo • NX • rumour • video games)

Nintendo might be using Android to power its next games console

BUSINESS INSIDER
Jun 1, 2015

Nintendo may be ditching its historic proprietary operating systems (OS) and instead using Android to power its next games console, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei, Kotaku reported.

If true, this could be a big win for Google, while helping to boost Nintendo’s flagging sales.

Global, Japan
(Android • Google • nintendo • NX • tech • video games)

Android app allegedly allows users to find and hire muscle to beat up whomever they want

Preston Phro
Apr 28, 2015

One thing that Apple fans tend to bring out during the enormous Android vs iPhone flame wars is apps. While both systems have a huge number of applications, people often claim that those on iOS are either better or cover a broader range. We won’t even pretend to have an opinion on whether or not this is true, but it looks like Android may have Apple beat in at least one area! Though we’re not so sure Google will be proud of this accomplishment.

It looks like there might be an Android app in China that you can use to find some tough guys to rough people up for you!

China
(Android • apps • crime • technology • weird)

Meet Asuna, the hyperreal android that will leave your jaw hanging 【Video】

Krista Rogers
Feb 11, 2015

Wonder Festival is a semiannual Japanese convention dedicated to model and figure-building which attracts all manner of pros, amateurs, and cosplayers from across the country. Most recently, the Winter 2015 Wonder Festival was held at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Chiba City on February 8.

Our reporter Meg was busy checking out the show when she spotted a cute girl standing behind robotic company A-Lab’s booth. “Aww, she looks just like an idol from AKB48!” Meg thought. But when she got closer, she was shocked to realize that the girl was actually a hyperreal-looking android! In fact, many of the people attending the exhibition were equally stunned to learn that Asuna was an android, and not a living, breathing human girl. Would you have been tricked along with them?

Japan
(A-Lab • Android • Asuna • technology • Wonder Festival)

Should this Japanese game developer be annoyed with “similar” release by other studio?

Preston Phro
Dec 24, 2014

As someone may have once said, “Great artists steal.” Then again, someone else probably said, “I’ll catch that hack who ripped me off and teach them a lesson or two,” so maybe we should just say that sometimes people “borrow” inspiration to make great things. And sometimes pirates come up with better titles than the original!

Of course, in the world of mobile games, “similar” and “inspired-by” games are the norm–but one Japanese game developer isn’t exactly happy about someone making a game just a bit too similar to his own. Is he overreacting or does he have a good point?

Internet, Japan
(Android • iOS • Pixel Licker • Skipmore • video games)

Real life android looks almost too real

Anime News Network
Nov 4, 2014

Innovation is the thing that keeps humanity moving towards a new future. That’s the sort of idea that is behind the Tokyo Design Week, which this year was renamed to the Tokyo Genius Expo. Gathering visionaries from all over the world every year to showcase their brilliant work in their respective fields, the Tokyo Genius Expo has taken place since 2005, and attracts over 100,000 visitors intrigued with what the human race can achieve. However, this year one star stole the show at the exposition, and while she is definitely an example of innovation, “human” might not be the right word for her. Meet Asuna.

Japan
(Android • Asuna • robot)

Flappy bird creator releases his next creation on the world, world productivity plummets

KK Miller
Aug 23, 2014

Nguyen Ha Dong**, creator of Flappy Bird,** has been teasing his second game recently and it has finally been unleashed upon us! The game, called “Swing Copters“, shares many of the same gameplay elements of his first game, but might be even more annoyingly difficult than Flappy Bird! Is Swing Copters going to become the next Flappy Bird? Is it “fun” enough to warrant your time? Find out with some hands-on impressions!

Global
(addictive • Android • extremely hard • Flappy Bird • game • iPhone • Swing Copters)

The singularity is coming: Eerily lifelike androids converge in Odaiba for exhibition

Cara Clegg
Jun 13, 2014

What does it mean to be human? That’s the question being asked in a thought-provoking new exhibition of stunningly lifelike androids, which also suggests that maybe the singularity could be closer than we think.