HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! SUBARASHI!!!

It's kinda slow week for the HobbyBox but that's okay for now because today we're celebrating the Birthday of the owner of the HobbyBox -- Jima-san!

So here's Mr. Kougami to sing for us the birthday song for Jima. I think he will also provides the cake for the celebration. XD

So for Jima-san... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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Catherine: Nightmarish Experience

 Good day HB Fans! Maxwell here with 1st post and 1st review on Atlus' mind-boggling game: Catherine for the Xbox 360.

Now, you may think this is your usual adult oriented themed game with lots of nude or saucy sexy scenes but for the long run... It's not. The game is actually comes with a deep story line and a shocking wake up call. For most of the players out there who are in it for just the graphics and for the special scenes, this isn't your game.

The game actually starts with your hero, Vincent Brooks (ironically named), waking up from a nightmare and apparently meeting up with his girlfriend "Katherine". The two began a conversation which leads to Katherine wanting to tie-the-knot. So you go to the bar that night, talk to friends and ask for advise. They leave early and you decide to drink some more. Unexpectedly a cute girl sits besides and the next morning, you wake up with "Catherine", naked on the bed not before having another nightmare. Here's where 50% of the game actually begins. You are expected to see through a bunch of dialogues throughout the game. That's the point. The key to this game is the scenes, the conversation, the text messages and your responses. Skipping scenes and avoiding conversation would lead you to either making a wrong decision and ending with bad ending. Paying attention to details is a must in this game. There's also this meter that appears whenever you made your decision and apparently it affects your relationship with characters. The messy part is the nightmare.

The game's second challenge is the nightmare where you, as the hero must go through a series of levels of climbing all the way up to the very top, avoiding traps, pitfalls, getting crushed, hoping to be rid of this nightmare. You also get power ups along the way and meet other sheep like you whose goal is also to get to the top and be rid of the nightmare. There will also be boss battles... err... not like megaman boss battles but rather you need to get to the top faster or get forked. As the story progresses, the game becomes more dark and more deeper, more challengine as you find out, the nightmare was actually placed on to you!  You would find yourself hours and hours trying to find ways to get to the top and avoiding death.

The game graphics are actually very well made as every details are made sure to be outlined. Sound, creepy and yet perfect for the game. Gameplay... challenge... this game is not for the faint of heart as this requires planning and quick thinking. Having a panic button will get you nowhere. Storyline... this is the best part. Most of the game story is actually based from real life scenario and would ask you personally on how you actually deal on things. On every end of level there's a confession box where your response is uploaded in the internet and determines where you are indeed honest with yourself and with others. Bottomline... the game is an excellent experience. As even news of Atlus game being a high selling game out in the market, this game does deserves its spot. 

So my scoring goes like this:

Graphics: I'd give it a 9. Atlus gave its way to making sure those curves are well seen

Sounds: I'd give it a 7. 

Gameplay: I'd give an 8. The challenge and getting that gold trophy was worth it!

Story: 9. Can't beat a "Woman's Wrath"

Overall: I give it an 8.5

Looking forward to the next game out there!

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Why collect?

Yeah, my room looks like Toy K*ngdom :D

 Why not?

It's a typical otaku urge. Whether it's is brought about by love for a certain show, hobby or celebrity, otaku just like you and me feel compeled to own a piece of what we adore no matter how mundane or bizaare it is.

Collectors can be of varied degrees. They are usually classified into the 'completist', the 'casual/chance' or a mix of both. 'Completist' tend to be the hardcore ones, completing the last action figure in a series or the last existing cel for an anime or cartoon show, movie or anime.  A number of completists go as far as collecthe the whole line of merchandise or items related to his interest. And usually he/she does not go for a certain theme or genre for his/her collection. He/she just wants each and every little thing that goes out with the show's/character's/celebrity's name on it. And thus, many find it difficult to be a completist unless said collector is not financially hindered.

Messy don't you think?

One otaku's junk is another one's treasure.

On the other side of the fence, we have the 'Casual' or 'Chance' collectors. This type collects whatever is available. He/she never cares to complete an entire line of merchandise as long as he/she has at least an item at his/her possesion. Or in the case of 'chance' collector, stumbling upon an item that fits into his/her collection is all it takes.  An action figure of his favorite character, a ball-jointed doll of her faveorite J-pop idol, a signed copy of a manga is all that a casual collector wants. Typicaly, their collections are random and may or may not have a focus on a certain theme.

In my case, I find myself as a mix of  the 'completist' and 'casual' type. Sure I have a complete set of the first 5 Autobots (and soon the first 8 Decepticons) Transformers toys from the first movie, but I still have a few 'bots lying around the house from other TF lines. I collected the first 4 Celestial Being Gundams from the 1st season of Gundam 00 but I won't go as far as collecting the whole line-up. To sum it up, yes I do have a lot of my  collection completed but then there's many more that a)I'm not able to complete or b) not planning to complete for one reasonon another.

So then, I shall leave you with this question: 'What kind of collector are you?'

 

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3.. 2.. 1.. Henshin! / Kamen Rider Fourze is on its way!

We still have around 2 months before the official showing of the next Kamen Rider series yet everybody are already talking about it. Its actually been a usual thing whenever the current series is going to end and transcends to the new one coming.

But this time around, it’s quite a bit interesting because of the theme that the next series will going to take and even the motif of the next rider is really something that you can't really apprehend at first.

he's kinda like a marshmallow, heheh

The new rider is name Kamen Rider Fourze or with a play-word of 40 or 4-0 though not entirely sure if it’s going to be the official play-word for his name but his official name is indeed Fourze. Fourze's motif is an Astronaut (no kidding). And many have pointed out about the rider's look is terrible or something, let alone that the given motif is somewhat a bit weird in the sense and thinking how will that work in the series.

rocket punch!!!

I'm always feels skeptic on something at first but I always ended up accepting it on the long run. Fourze is no exception. I'm as skeptic as ever when I first see it because of his head design (Rocket Head!) and his body is somewhat chubby (he's like a mascot!). Plus both his arms and legs have a Playstation button design on each and I'm still wondering what are those for. Though it’s not been clear on Fourze's features but some were already assuming (including me) that he will also be like W and OOO having combo forms. I'd also thought it because so far it’s been a running concept that started from W. Base on one of the screenshot, Fourze has some sort of rocket at his arm. Many dubbed it as his Rocket Punch. So I guess this is his Rider Punch.

There's no further info about how the setting of the story of Fourze will make except for the fact that it will be more like a school-themed since most of the official casts are portraying students or teacher. The main hero is somewhat like a typical bad boy-kind-of a student though not entirely sure how the character will really play in the series for it’s not been totally revealed yet.

But as I said it's just me being skeptic at first but I don't entirely judging the series just because of the looks of the rider. I love the Kamen Rider series so I will still dig it whatever is going to offer. Whatever you think about the new rider whether good or bad, everybody would probably agree that it’s so far the unique rider you could ever see. Besides, for a Kamen Rider fan (like me) you will still watch it anyway despite however or whatever it goes. “It's Our Duty” to watch it! For now we'll just have to wait see.

Kamen Rider Fourze will start on September 2011. For sure there will still be more information will span before it. At the moment, these are the basic things about the new upcoming Kamen Rider series. Hope it helps.

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It's... still... ALIVE!!!

TEASER ARTICLE RANGER!!!

Yup, you read the title right up there. Jima-san here, reporting that the HobbyBox is still very much alive and well. It went on temporary hiatus due to real life duties butting in...

...and then it soon overwhelmed me a bit...

Anyway, that's all done and gone. The HobbyBox is being revived, slowly but surely, so to all who still stuck with us despite the dreary time you had waiting for something new... KATAJIKENAI.

As for everyone else who've just stumbled onto this blog, and all those who are yet to stumble onto it, Stay tuned to us here, as we bring you more of the things you love, we love, and, most importantly, I LOVE.

That's definitely something to cheer about, Tako-Mugi...

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