NEWSWORTHY
Defining the Heisei Era: When Japanese games went global
The Japan Times presents the fifth installment of a monthly 12-part series that looks back at the leading issues of the past three decades.
Scrabble dictionary adds 300 words, including 'OK' and 'ew,' to official play
Scrabble players, time to rethink your game because 300 new words are coming your way, including some long-awaited gems: "OK" and "ew," to name a few. Merriam-Webster released the sixth edition of The Official Scrabble Players Dictionary on Monday, four years after the last freshening ...
'Super Mario' creator says gaming industry should put steady subscriptions ahead of in-game charges
The legendary video game designer who created "Super Mario" and "Donkey Kong" has a word of advice for today's industry: Stop nickel-and-diming users. Shigeru Miyamoto, 65, said Nintendo Co. is exploring different ways of charging people for games, shunning the free-to-play model, which has become ...
Apple set to debut phone-to-phone augmented reality, sources say
Apple Inc. will in the coming week debut tools to let two iPhone users share augmented reality while limiting the personal data sent to its servers, two people familiar with the matter said. Augmented reality (AR) allows viewers to see virtual structures superimposed on their ...
Game on! Japan's live-action games offer players a fleeting escape from reality
A group of surly guards inspect a line of inmates on death row standing in front of a prison. One by one, the inmates are led inside and locked inside their cells as they await their execution. "You better not try to escape," the warden growls ...
Game makers deploy deep-learning AI algorithms to keep players coming back for more
In today's game industry, titles like "Clash Royale" and "Pokemon Go" are free for most people to enjoy because there's a small number of players who pay for extras, like special weapons or more lives. Game developers have to strike a delicate balance in ...
Newest version of self-taught, 'superhuman' AI now even smarter: makers
The updated version of the computer that stunned humanity by beating the best mortal players at a strategy board game requiring intuition has become even smarter, its makers said Wednesday. Even more startling, the new version of AlphaGo is entirely self-taught — a major step ...
Christian newspaper taps manga and games in bid to nurture young fans, flock
Smartphone games, manga and cosplay events might seem incompatible with the solemn practice of religion, but a Christian newspaper in Japan is deploying such secular entertainment in an attempt to draw new followers to the faith. Christ Newspaper (Kirisuto Shimbun) is aiming to attract young ...
Role-playing video game helps fight against depression for counselor-shy Japanese
It's a role-playing video game that, like many of its kind, allows users to choose and customize their own avatars, including a hairstyle and clothing. Set in a medieval fantasy world, users build up power as their characters travel across "provinces," overcoming obstacles and ...
Pokemon chief hints at big plans for augmented reality smartphone game
It's been more than a year since "Pokemon Go" took the world by storm, getting people to wander outside and look for virtual monsters with their smartphones. The game became a social phenomenon, with adults and children gathering in parks and public areas to train ...
Blasts from the past: Japan's gaming classics get a retro revival
Nothing sells like nostalgia. Renewed interest in vintage Japanese video games is drawing buyers to the country's online markets and retro gaming shops. While enthusiasts have collected old titles for years, even casual gamers are now snapping up cartridges and CDs, as well as gaming ...
