"Though I cannot fight, with this power I will protect you all!" In this minigame, do your best to heal and support your allies while an automatic battle ensues. Each level lasts about 1 to 5 minutes, with the whole game lasting roughly 30 to 50 minutes. No scenarios, no stories, only your mouse and the ability to autosave. 10/26 Now available in English! Highlights
Made in WOLFRPG Editor
Controlled completely by mouse, built-in autosave
Conveniently, this game has an English version, but the download page is in Japanese! Don't worry; either copy + paste the URL under "English Edition" or click on the blue button under the social media icons. Either way, you'll find the download link. Just look for a small white button under the URL and file name that says ダウンロード (download).
Reviews say it's a great concept and easy to play, but could probably be taken a bit further. For instance, the other jobs on the team are fixed, so it might be interesting to switch between them. Otherwise, it's fun as a minigame, and the graphics are quite cute! Plus, you'll get to know how tough it is to be a healer.
Tip: it seems that there's no way to return to the menu after selecting the Gallery, so you'll have to start the game again!
Language Difficulty: 0 / 3 ✩✩✩
There's an English version!
You know what, I've started to like Free Game Mugen ("mugen" meaning "between dreams and reality"). First of all, it has a great design that's easy to explore. Even without understanding the words, you can figure out each category by its icon.
If you've studied katakana, you'll be able to recognize most of them already!
Plus, they tag each game with its operating system, going back as far as Windows 95!
Back in my day... actually, let's not date myself.
And, since I got permission from the site manager to translate what's written for each game, I'll be introducing some of them... with insider information(?)! We'll start with something anyone can play... EntreatDream genre: shooting
"A scrolling bullet hell game."
It's split into four difficulty levels, so there's fun for anyone from newbies to pros. In addition to three basic types of equipment, you can choose two of four magic-consuming powers. In a somehow-familiar foreign world, a magician struggles to solve the riddle of the foreboding skies. What truths will be revealed?!
Highlights
Compatible with controllers
About 30 minutes per round, with 7 stages total
*Epilogue unincluded
Player reviews say it makes up for its unfinished polish with a great design sense, specifically in terms of its unique graphics and shooting gameplay. It's just a bit hard to tell things apart on the screen, but you'll get used to it. Other than that, it's interesting if only a bit difficult! Language Difficulty: 0 / 3 ✩✩✩ Looks like it's all in English!
To download, click the blue button under the social media icons!
I've just discovered Mogura Games, a website dedicated to introducing free and indie games from around the world... but of course that also means Japan. Weeding out the ones that have already gone to Steam or elsewhere, the first one I came across was ELMIA by AECRNIA. [Action] ELMIA
by AECRNIA
for PC (Windows, Mac)
to be released later this year on Steam
expected price of 980 yen
It's a cute, storybook-style side-scroller made with Unity in which your character can be transported to her spirit at any moment. That means you have control over both your character and the spirit... which gets tricky at times. Plus, you have to recharge after using your transportation ability, so time it well. The story is written in Japanese but the menu is in English and additional hints throughout the game are given through illustrations.
You can choose from normal, hard, and one-life mode, plus three additional modes that seem to be unlockable. Anyone able to get that far, let me know! The demo on their website is free.
Language Difficulty: 0 / 3 ✩✩✩
While the introduction is written in Japanese, it doesn't affect your ability to play or understand the story, as hints are given through illustrations.
Update 10/21: I have it from an insider source that the game will be on Steam later this year with support for Japanese, English, and Simplified Chinese! The OST will also be put on sale at that time.
Update 8/14: The full game has been released! Public online release scheduled for late 2017.
At Comiket (short for Comic Market, a huge convention for dojinshi, or self-published works), they handed out these buttons and sold download cards for the game and its soundtrack. The things you get at Comiket tend to be created for the convention only, so they can become extremely valuable!
To set things straight, the developer is an effects designer at the company they entered after graduation, and in their hobby group they're a technical artist.
The spirit's name is El, and the girls' name is Mia. Put them together, and you get ELMIA. (No connection to the convention center in Sweden... probably.)
ELMIA starts out like Kirby and ends like Donkey Kong. How many lives will it take you? The developer's bad at games so they're looking at a lot of dead girls...
Earlier, the developer was asked if they wanted to sell their game on a self-publishing site. It might be easier for Japanese gamers to play? Maybe they'll start selling on Steam and "DOO" [I've never heard of this!]. But prospects look good!
They want to localize into Japanese, English, Chinese, French, and German!
And after sending a DM, it sounds like they plan to release the game on Steam in November, within the year at the latest! Of course, I'll have the link here when they do.
Exciting news! When I went to BitSummit- another story for another time- I met some people who also like to play board games. Unfortunately, I'm pretty far removed from where they meet up. However, after some searching I found out about a board game cafe opening right by Ueno Station in Tokyo. It's called Musubiyori, and it looks like they have a great setup! There are tables as well as tatami booths (with lowered floors, so you don't need to suffer through your feet falling asleep!), plus discounts and spaces for all kinds of customers and even a bar. They've kindly allowed me to translate their crowdfunding page. I know I'm not the only one who wants to go, but they need help! If you can, please donate any amount you're comfortable with, and depending on that amount, you can get some sweet rewards! The crowdfunding campaign is only until July 3rd! Note: this crowdfunding service cannot send rewards outside of Japan. That especially applies to the teacup set, but if you ever find yourself in Tokyo, you can pick up the tickets at the store! For the crowdfunding page, click here. English translation is below.
-Introduction-
"I don't bite!" I'm Shimazu of Talosil Games.
We're going to open a board game cafe called "Musubiyori" in a great location just a minute's walk from Ueno Station! Anyone can enjoy plenty of games and feel at ease in our Japanese-themed space. On weekdays, you can stop by after work before getting on your next train home. On weekends and holidays, you can play games just like you just invited a bunch of your friends over. We want you to feel at home here. Ueno Station is unbelievably convenient for those transferring trains to Chiba or Ibaraki. However, there haven't been any board game cafes in the area until now. So we took our chance and found this incredible location, and what's more, at a resonable rent. Sure, it's not a new building, and there's no elevator to take you to our place on the 5th floor, but it's close enough to escape from the rain and, hopefully, offer a comforting refuge. At Musubiyori, we'll make a fun place with all of the right services. Our goal is for guests, both players and creators, to use the space in a way most convenient for them and to share good times through games. That's why we need your help to support this project! -About the Store- Address: 7-chome-7 5 Ueno Taito-ku Tokyo To-o Building 5F (〒110-0005 東京都台東区上野7-7-5 東欧ビル5F) Access: 1-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Iriya Exit
5-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Asakusa Exit 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro Ueno Station (Ginza or Hibiya Line)
-Visiting Musubiyori- Musubiyori is a cafe where you can enjoy board games, but above all we think of it as a place you can have a good time with your favorite people. That's why we've prepared the following plans to suit any occasion.
*Not an actual image.
- Girls' Party Discount: female-only groups get 500 yen off their table and complimentary snacks! - Parent-Child Discount: groups of parents and their children can use the children's space for free and get a free kid's drink! (limited to pre-school children and under) - Student Discount: with a student ID, get 500 yen off your table! - Others: We also offer a variety of other plans, including a Ladies' Day discount, renting out the entire cafe, and holding events. How you use the cafe is up to you. You also have your choice of seating! In addition to regular tables and chairs, we have prepared lowered tatami seating areas separated by folding screens for an at-home-with-friends experience. Of course, the regular tables are separated by partitions as well so you and your friends can play in peace! Feel free to visit on your own, too! In that case, you can either put out a call for other players to join you or have a playing space all to yourself. Our female staff will assist women who come alone. Plus, we have couples' seats and a counter for those who want to chat with the staff. Please use the cafe as you see fit! -Not Just Any Board Game Cafe!- The 22nd of every month is Cat Day! (In Japanese, the number 2 is pronounced "ni", which is close to "nyan", the sound a cat makes!) On this day, the cat on our signs, Tart, will clock in to work. He's still a spoiled 3-year-old, but he loves company! Guests who bring their cat on this day get 500 yen off their table as well as a gift for their cat!
Tart says, "Yeah, games or whatever, play attention to me!"
We expect Musubiyori to be a hit with people on their way home on the train. I happen to be a fan of alcohol myself, so I'm getting ready plenty of drinks for those who do. I'll also keep your unfinished bottles for your next visit. You can also use the counter as a bar to play games while getting to know the staff!
*Not an actual image.
-Store Information- Business Hours: [Weekdays] 4pm-10pm *We also open between 1pm and 4pm for advance reservations. [Weekends] 1pm-10pm Regular Closings: Every Thursday *When a holiday falls on Thursday, we open on that day. *We also close for Obon (in August), New Year's, and special events. Prices: [Weekdays] "Daytime" 1pm~4pm 1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) *reservations required "Evening Time" 4pm~7pm 1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) "Bar Time" 7pm~10pm 1000 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) [Weekends] "Daytime" 1pm~4pm 1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) "Evening Time" 4pm~7pm 1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) "Bar Time" 7pm~10pm 1250 yen for up to 3 hours (with 1 free drink) [Fixed-Price Passport] Within the period of validity, you can use this passport as many times as you want. 20,000 yen per month (with 1 free drink per time slot) -Supporter Rewards- (1) Thank You Email We'll send you an email with our heartfelt gratitude. (500 yen) (2) 6 Tickets (50% off original value!) (women only) These tickets give you free table use for up to 3 hours on weekdays during Evening Time (4pm~7pm) or Bar Time (7pm~10pm). Invite your friends! *Only women can use these tickets. *Each ticket comes with 1 free drink. *You can also pick up these tickets at the store. (3,000 yen)
(3) 6 Tickets (40% off original value!) These tickets give you free table use for up to 3 hours on weekdays during Evening Time (4pm~7pm) or Bar Time (7pm~10pm). Invite your friends! *Each ticket comes with 1 free drink. *You can also pick up these tickets at the store. (3,500 yen)
(4) 2 Original Teacups Along with a thank-you letter, we'll send two teacups with our original logo. It's great for those who may not be able to visit the store but want a commemoration of their support! (4,000 yen)
(5) Party Set of 8 Tickets (35% off original value!) These tickets give you free table use during any time on any business day. Come and have fun with your buddies! *If you use these tickets on a weekday, you'll get an additional free drink. *You can also pick up these tickets at the store. (6,500 yen)
(6) One-Month Passport (50% off original value!) For one month after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free! We'll send you one passport. *Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink. *You can also pick up this passport at the store. (10,000 yen)
(7) 3-Month Passport and Event Invitation For three months after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free! We'll send you one 3-month passport. *Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink. *You can also pick up this pasport at the store. We'll also send you an invitation to the pre-party before the store opening (planned for Friday, June 30th from 5pm to 8pm). (30,000 yen)
(8) 3-Month Passport, Right to Select Games, and Event Invitation For three months after the store opening, you can use a table as many times as you want for free! We'll send you one 3-month passport. *Each visit to the store comes with 1 free drink. *You can also pick up this pasport at the store. We'll put your favorite board games on our bookshelves! *You can choose up to 10 board games. If the game you choose has several expansion components, we may not be able to acquire all components. *We'll keep the games on the shelf for at least a month. After that, they may be changed according to store operations. We'll also send you an invitation to the pre-party before the store opening (planned for Friday, June 30th from 5pm to 8pm). (50,000 yen)
-Use of Received Support- We'll use received capital for the following investments: - promotional expenses - enhancing store facilities - reward postage fees - pre-opening event expenses - payment for interior design -Who We Are- Finally, as the originator of this project, I have a few things to say. It's already been 20 years since I first tried out a table-top RPG. I play all kinds of games, analog and digital; there's no question about it, I like them all. I want to keep working with games and connect to other game-lovers. Oh, and I love bringing people together. I still have really fun memories of getting together and playing games with my family and relatives as a kid. I want to meet, talk, and connect to many people. That's why I thought to make such a place. Musubiyori is my dream, but I'm also looking to expand my circle of friends by even one more person. I'm grateful for any assistance you can offer!
This time, I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do four years ago.
Four years later, I can't wait for it to end.
I have about a month left before my contract as an Assistant Language Teacher finishes. When I tell people about some of the things I've done, they tell me I should write it down somewhere. It just so happens that the stories I tell are the most interesting parts of my experience here; for the most part, I just sit at a desk and try to figure out what's going on, wander around and try to figure out where everyone's going, or be "genki" in a classroom and hope it's going well. It wears you down, and you stop wanting to do anything. I stopped doing the things I enjoyed because I thought I should concentrate on "doing better". I ended up doing, well, nothing.
The stories are few and far between, but they gave me a reason to keep trying. I kept hearing the phrase "take care of the ones you care about" (iterations of 「大切な＿を大切にする」) and came to the realization that I just need to find what's important to me and keep it close. There aren't so many people to meet in the countryside; you'd assume the scarcity would give you a better chance to know more people, but it just deepens your relationships with the few that open up to you. I spent most of my time with those people, not doing anything special but making memories nonetheless. Something as simple and unmemorable as going out to karaoke in the middle of the night gave me incomparable joy, and being able to go to a friend's house while she's busy with other things evaporated the loneliness if only for a while.
Some things just don't last, but that doesn't make them meaningless.
Case in point: I want to keep going forward with new ambitions. From now on, I'd like to introduce as much of the good as possible so that they can be enjoyed and my hardships will have been for good reason.
Lately I've come into contact with lots of interesting people here. Well, not here, exactly, but during my time as an ALT, and before I start my new adventure. With their help, I hope I can do something "super" enough to suit this blog.
First off: I had the chance to publicize a social event called "Kawakom" to the community of English teachers here.
What's Kawakom, you ask? Well, it comes from "river" (川) and the kon of "goukon" (合コン), which varies in meaning from the innocuous "mixer" to "matchmaking party". In this case, it's a way to do an extreme water sport with a bunch of people who may or may not have romantic intentions. Then you bathe and melt your fatigue away in the hot spring, eat a feast, end up in a dance party and by the next morning, cozy in your cabin, you've probably made some friends. Apparently two couples have been formed so far, and this is their 8th round... which means there's no pressure if you're just there to make friends! (I guess.)
Seriously, it's fun, and the guides are a riot. This is the kind of thing you should be doing in Japan! Stop taking pictures of that crosswalk in Shibuya, it's just a bunch of concrete and wires! /endrant
Funny my blog should resurrect on a Sunday. Anyway, here's a post I had on the backburner for a while:
Man it's been a long time since I've posted last. Every time I thought about updating the task just became more daunting because it feels like I've been doing amazing things every day. Now that I'm being punished with a cold for having too many adventures and not enough rest time, I guess it's time to catch up.
The other night my friends and I went out after visiting the sister campus of our school. It was pretty late and we wanted to find somewhere to eat. We looked around, skimmed through a few menus, and laughed and joked around the whole time (remind me to take a picture of the "blead" sign).
Then, out of nowhere, a man opens the door of a restaurant and, in one fluid motion, both asks if we're looking for somewhere to eat and hands out some menus. We were all too startled to think of an immediate reply, but after looking at the prices we definitely wanted to find some way out. I asked in Japanese if we could take the menus with us and he said yes; my friend said we would think about it. Then we scurried away. He definitely looked like he was waiting for an opportunity to spring out and do his thing, because that "konbanwa" with a smile was definitely rehearsed. Poor guy. He probably thought he could snag a big group of foreigners and ring up a hefty check. I'm sorry, Konbanwa Man: we're all poor exchange students.
Let's rewind a bit, though. As I said, we had just come back from the sister campus of KGU, which is somewhere in the mountains. Japan is pretty much made up of mountain and beach so that's not a very good description, but we took a 45-minute long bus through some winding roads so I couldn't keep a sense of direction if I tried. The commute was incredibly scenic, though, and when we arrived we were welcomed by a rainbow.
We had a lot of fun with the Sanda campus people, not as if Uegahara is full of meanies but we were a bit overwhelmed by our first "Coffee Hour" experience in which the school attempted to shove all of the exchange students, plus any interested Japanese students and some high schoolers who needed to find 外国人 (foreigners) to answer their homework questions, into a tiny lounge with barely enough food to feed us all and speakers that couldn't handle the sheer number of people.
So Sanda~ (sparkles and sunshine and rainbows) left an impression on me. I want to go again if possible. The volleyball circles meet there but uh, a weekly trip would be a little much, thanks.
The thing about a personal blog is that you need access to a computer, so when your laptop breaks down you're pretty much out of luck. I hadn't even thought about the fact that I was using a Japanese-brand computer until I switched to an American one. Even when the machine got here I still had to go out and find an adapter.
I'm pretty sure the only instruction that came with my computer was NOT to use a 3-to-2 adapter. More importantly, what's the green thing doing there? Should I be worried?
... Naaaaaaaah.
So that's the end of that.
Here's what you missed: I was part of a foreign student music festival, got sick a couple times, visited Tokyo, finished my finals, met some new people, learned some new things, got a job, and had a couple dramatic episodes that weren't nearly as intense as I thought. Right now it's winter so I'm pretty much stuck at home in a corner with a space heater hoping it will unfreeze my toes at some point. See, the reason I love winter is because you can go out and play in the snow then return to the warmth of your home and drink some hot chocolate. In Japan, your home is most likely the coldest place to go (unless you have one of the aforementioned space heaters), and in this area even when it snows it never accumulates. That hasn't stopped me from frolicking, of course, but every morning is a mental struggle to overcome the part of me that wants to say under the covers. I usually don't get up until 9 or 10am.
To be honest, besides going to the school cafeteria for lunch I've just been escaping to warm places with my friends. I can't tell whether we're supposed to be there but one of the doors is open to get to the Global Lounge on campus so we usually meet there or at the mall not too far away. The mall is way more glamorous than it should be, with random European-sounding names for the stores and sales signs that never go out of season on overpriced goods. There's a park on the roof complete with a children's playground, fountain, and stage for what I assume must be performances I've never seen. It's really nice, actually, but I have a feeling most people go there to look fashionable rather than to buy stuff, at least on the clothing floors. It's where I got my adapter (for only $3!) so maybe I should be more appreciative. Once you find the dollar stores and the cheap shopping places, though, it just becomes a place to hang out. I've been spoiled by cafeteria food, too, so I can't stand the mall prices any more.
Another thing I got used to: safety. I've never felt so safe in my life. I would get to my host family's house a little after midnight on some nights, which I realized was a bit bothersome to them since they have to get up early for work so I've been trying to avoid it, but I wouldn't even look around my shoulder for suspicious-looking characters. Most people walking or biking around are moms with their kids or hurried businessmen anyway. Recently they told me there was a theft in the neighborhood on one of the streets nearby that isn't so well-lit so they were worried about me getting home so late. It's true that foreigners tend to be targeted for crimes like that, but the reason I get home before dark these days is because I want to have cuddle time with my space heater, not to avoid muggers. I'm really going to be in trouble when I get back to the States.
In summary, it's too cold to do anything so I guess I'll catch up on the things I've done until now but couldn't post about because I had no computer. You know, after I settle down with some hot cocoa, put on as many layers as possible, and try not to feel guilty about using the energy-guzzling space heater so much.
