KaniPro Games founder Chris Stark aka the Ultra Healthy Video Game Nerd joins the pod to chat about indie game development in Japan. He shares his experience developing the action platformer Violet Wisteria in Japan, working with local artists, the challenges of making your game bilingual, and what it takes to bring a vision to life. I also chat about For The Frog The Bell Tolls, a fascinating Nintendo developed game that never left Japan. Plus news, leaks, and sneak peeks!

Be sure to follow our guest:

Violet Wisteria on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2018610/Violet_Wisteria/

KaniPro Games on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaniProGames

Ultra Healthy Video Game Nerd on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ultrahealthyvi1

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(1:50) - Indie game development in Japan with KaniPro Games

Games

(32:46) - For The Frog The Bell Tolls

News

(43:58) - Nintendo Live 2022

(46:06) - Final Fantasy X kabuki play in 2023

(46:59) - Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Booster Course Pass Wave 2

(49:04) - Kirby’s Avalanche and Kirby’s Super Star Stacker on Nintendo Switch Online

(50:39) - Tactics Ogre Reborn coming on November 11th

(52:02) - Saturn Suchie-Pai games coming to Switch

(53:03) - Pokemon TCG: Incandescent Arcana and Eevee ice cream at Baskin Robbins

(53:51) - Japanese software and hardware sales

(55:26) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (初心者狩り shoshinsha gari)

(55:56) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/aruco_coo/status/1551503283021180929

(56:17) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Culdcept Central founder Andyman joins me to chat about the mostly Japan-only franchise Culdcept. A mix of Magic the Gathering and Monopoly, this long running series carved out an interesting niche in the Japanese gaming sphere. We chat about the history of the franchise, the ambitious Culdcept Revolt, which Culdcept character should be in Smash and more. I also share thoughts on the memorable Kirby 64 and the coop chaos of the Overcooked series. Plus the latest Nintendo news and whether or not you should believe Yuji Naka.

Check out Culdcept Central:  https://culdceptcentral.com/

Culdcept Central on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CuldceptCentral

Culdcept Central on Discord: https://discord.gg/7VYT6XhrY9

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(1:35) - Culdcept series with Andyman

Games

(17:53) - Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards

(29:27) - Overcooked and Overcooked 2

News

(38:35) - Kirby’s Dream Buffet coming this summer

(39:53) - Bayonetta 3 gets a date

(40:37) - Splatoon gets an OLED model and a quiz in Japan

(43:22) - Pokemon Puzzle League and Custom Robo coming to Nintendo Switch Online

(44:14) - Valkyrie Elysium and Frogun get dates

(45:28) - Yuji Naka’s Twitter adventures

(48:47) - Kirby Cafe opening in Nagoya, Kirby Encyclopedia

(49:24) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (十字キー jyuujiki)

(50:56) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/kmotandkirby/status/1546313328808513536

(50:29) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Tokyo resident Genki joins me to chat about the Square Enix Cafe and Artnia. Part restaurant, part merch shop, Square Enix fans won’t want to miss it. Join us as we examine the allure of magic crystal rooms and determine whether or not Cait Sith tastes good. We also dig deep into both Nintendo Directs to examine the platform’s exciting upcoming games like Harvestella, Ultra Kaiju Monster Rancher, and Persona 5 Royal. I also share my thoughts on two puzzly platformers: Kirby Tilt N Tumble and ElecHead!

Be sure to follow my guest on social media!

Genki’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Genki_JPN

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(1:29) - Square Enix Cafe and Artnia with Genki

Games

(13:01) - June 2022 Nintendo Directs with Genki

(39:12) - Kirby Tilt n Tumble

(50:16) - ElecHead

News

(56:54) - Pokemon TCG Lost Abyss set

(57:53) - Pearl and Marina return in Splatoon 3

(58:34) - Bandai Namco and ILCA establish Bandai Namco Aces

(59:26) - Japanese software and hardware sales

(1:00:30) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (カンスト kansuto)

(1:00:55) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/game_tanteidan/status/1538880142579486720

(1:01:21) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Josh from the Still Loading Podcast joins me to chat about the best games of 2022 so far. What games have impressed us six months into the year? Is Persona 3 secretly 2022’s GotY? We also chat about the dozens of new game announcements and highlight our favorites. In the feature, I explore Dorama, a used games shop located in a very cool part of Tokyo. The Switch also has two high profile game releases: Mario Strikers Battle League and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. I’ll share my thoughts on these games in this Nintendo Directless episode!

Be sure to follow my guest on social media!

Still Loading Podcast: https://stillloading.libsyn.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StillLoadingPod

(0:00) - Intro

(1:52) - Best Games of 2022 So Far with Still Loading Podcast

News

(26:57) - Summer Games Fest

(38:50) - Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase

(44:43) - Wholesome Games Direct

(48:52) - Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, Dragon’s Dogma II

(52:08) - Pokemon Snap coming to NSO

(54:55) - Japanese software and hardware sales

Feature

(59:42) - Dorama, used goods shop

Games

(1:11:49) - Mario Strikers Battle League

(1:23:44) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

(1:32:41) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (サイドビュー saido byuu)

(1:33:13) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/mokumokuren/status/1534850431205412864

(1:33:35) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Otome game fan and YouTuber Resting Peach Face joins the podcast this week to talk about, what else, otome games! More than just dating sims for women, the genre carved out a unique niche in the Japanese game market and is rapidly growing overseas. We talk about the history of the genre, what makes a great otome game, the upcoming even if TEMPEST, and whether or not you should fall in love with someone who shoves you in a dog cage. I also dig deep into Buddy Mission BOND, the only Nintendo published Switch game that has yet to leave Japan! And game announcements are ramping up, so I throw out my predictions for a June 2022 Nintendo Direct. Plus Pokemon, Pokemon, Pokemon!

Be sure to follow my guest on social media!

Resting Peach Face on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RestingPeachFace

Resting Peach Face on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeachTheOtome

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(1:18) - Otome games with Resting Peach Face

Games

(23:19) - Buddy Mission BOND

(31:57) - Nintendo Direct June 2022 Predictions

News

(47:37) - Pokemon Scarlet and Violet second trailer

(52:54) - Junichi Masuda becomes Chief Creative Fellow at The Pokemon Company

(54:38) - Mischievous Pichu collaboration and Pokemon scrubs

(55:37) - PlayStation State of Play June 2022

(1:00:03) - Furyu announces Trinity Trigger

(1:01:05) - Super Bomberman R Online ending online service

(1:02:35) - Umihara Kawase and others join NSO

(1:04:06) - Final Fantasy VII collaboration at Square Enix Cafe

(1:04:46) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (キラータイトル kiraa taitoru)

(1:05:23) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/CHAPPIKA38/status/1530795413246459904

(1:05:46) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

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Sakura Wars GB fan localizers burntends and Matt B join the podcast to talk about bringing the English version of this spinoff to life. How do you translate a Kansai accent? How often should you check the showers? We get into everything about this surprisingly important title. Did you know Sakura Wars GB is the first Sega game on Nintendo hardware? I also do a deep dive into the best place to play retro Game Boy titles: the Analogue Pocket. And join me in the alleys of Shinjuku to check out 8bitcafe, a retro gaming themed bar. It has a Super Famicom Box, what’s not to love?

Be sure to follow my guests on social media!

Burntends: https://twitter.com/burntends2

Matt B: https://twitter.com/matto_bii

Matt B’s Sakura Wars YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MattoBii

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(2:15) - Sakura Wars GB with burntends and Matt B

(30:15) - Analogue Pocket

Feature

(41:07) - 8bitcafe retro gaming bar in Shinjuku

News

(51:10) - Indie World May 2022

(53:53) - Pokemon Home now compatible with BDSP and Pokemon Legends Arceus

(55:21) - Kirby 64 on NSO and new Kirby plushies

(56:52) - My Famicase Exhibit in Ogikubo

(58:22) - Bandai Namco Cross Store and Pokemon Center Okinawa opening soon

(59:48) - Japanese software and hardware sales

(1:01:25) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (うんゲー ungei)

(1:02:01) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/Chatgris8/status/1526675001885065216?s=20&t=3pM-KXyYtzuh8V8Kdr1LzQ

(1:02:31) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Save me Mr Tako developer Christophe Galati joins me to talk about the origins of this Game Boy inspired title, the upcoming physical release, cooking takoyaki and more! Nintendo also has a new first party release this month, Nintendo Switch Sports! I chronicle my quest to become the first six sport all-star. And as always, I hit the streets of Tokyo to talk about BEEP, a unique retro game shop that specializes in old Japanese computers. The news has a rundown on the latest Splatoon info and five figure Final Fantasy statues!

Christophe Galati’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisDeneos

My guest appearance on Still Loading Podcast: https://stillloading.libsyn.com/still-loading-223-tokyo-game-life

See me reach the final round in MinnMax’s Trivia Tower: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUt_wpSAuMI

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(2:48) - Save me Mr. Tako with developer Christophe Galati

(24:46) - Nintendo Switch Sports

(38:16) - Mario Golf (N64)

Feature

(48:26) - BEEP retro game and computer shop in Akihabara

News

(1:00:52) - Splatoon 3 gets a date

(1:03:19) - $12,000 Final Fantasy VI statue

(1:04:09) - Mini Pikmin erasers on sale at Nintendo Tokyo

(1:05:00) - Embracer Group buys Square Enix’s western studios

(1:06:57) - Japanese software and hardware sales

(1:08:20) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (コネロス konerosu)

(1:09:05) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/moku_ssbu/status/1519968936737275904?s=20&t=FP_-NtquDpwUIcSFJ1RTtw

(1:09:31) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Let’s go older than old school! We take a look at Nintendo’s origins in this episode’s feature on hanafuda, a traditional Japanese card game that was Nintendo’s first product. Hanafuda expert and YouTuber Omitsu joins me to chat about this ancient game and how to become a koi koi master. Is koi koi the best game ever? Find out as I rank all 51 games in Clubhouse Games for Switch. I also chat about my final thoughts on Elden Ring, and the news is filled with Final Fantasy shirts, Yoshi pajamas, Kirby stickers, and Earthbound plushies.

Be sure to follow Omitsu on her social media accounts!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omitsu_hanafuda/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaIuCUXkqPxZ73Bqymj7wHw

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(2:42) - Hanafuda with Omitsu

Games

(13:46) - Ranking all 51 games in Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics

(32:56) - Elden Ring endgame thoughts

News

(47:30) - Xenoblade 3 moved up to July

(50:58) - Nintendo purchases land in Kyoto

(51:35) - Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy/Game Boy Advance emulator leak

(54:07) - Final Fantasy Uniqlo and Super Mario Gelato Pique clothing campaigns

(55:14) - Sonic Origins and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising get dates

(57:43) - GrimGrimoire OnceMore and Bugsnax coming to Switch

(59:08) - Pokemon TCG Dark Phantasma

(59:53) - Kirby and Mother/Earthbound pop up shops in Tokyo

(1:01:57) - Japanese software and hardware sales

(1:03:22) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (裏技 urawaza)

(1:03:55) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/pokeyugami/status/1513062298604433410?s=20&t=Gqct_jtZhfkoeWJqO2J_ag

(1:04:28) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Pink puff power has taken over the podcast as this episode is all about Kirby! Fellow Tokyo resident Genki joins me to talk about Kirby and the Forgotten Land, Kirby’s first 3D adventure. I also take a peek at some retro Kirby titles, Kirby’s Dream Land 3 and Kirby’s Dream Course. This episode’s feature is all about Yamashiroya, a six-story toy shop in Tokyo that’s home to amazing exclusive Kirby merchandise. How many Kirby plushies can you buy? Is HAL’s first 3D Kirby game the best yet? Should Marx be in jail? All will be answered in this episode!

Be sure to follow Genki on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Genki_JPN

(0:00) - Intro

Games

(2:25) - Kirby and the Forgotten Land with Genki

(19:11) - Kirby’s Dream Land 3

(28:35) - Kirby’s Dream Course

Feature

(36:06) - Yamashiroya, a toy shop featuring exclusive Kirby merch

News

(55:14) - Breath of the Wild 2 delayed until 2023

(58:44) - Kirby collaborations in Japan and Grammy win

(1:00:45) - Mario Golf coming to NSO

(1:01:37) - Nobody Saves the World and Pocky and Rocky Reshrined get dates

(1:02:29) - Yoshitaka Amano exhibition in Tokyo

(1:02:53) - Japanese Software and Hardware Sales

(1:04:53) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (移植 ishoku)

(1:05:41) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/goegoezzz/status/1510461682186739713?s=20&t=5ZNCpJLpKiTfacWMGWYEQw

(1:06:14) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]

Race into spring with this racing game themed episode! I explore pro racing simulator arcade DDR Akiba, where you can experience the closest thing to driving on a real Japanese speedway. If realism isn’t your thing, I also look at a trio of fascinating Nintendo racers. Mario Kart 8’s Booster Course Pass gives new life to the Switch’s best selling game. F-Zero X reminds us of the N64’s impressive hardware. And Stunt Race FX is an odd yet important relic of Nintendo history.

(0:00) - Intro

Feature

(2:28) - Racing Simulation Pro Shop DDR Akiba

Games

(14:50) - Mario Kart 8 Booster Course Pass

(28:39) - F-Zero X

(39:44) - Stunt Race FX

News

(49:14) - Alien Soldier, Super Fantasy Zone, and Light Crusader on Nintendo Switch Online

(50:39) - Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl Mythical Pokemon

(52:12) - Kirby 30th Anniversary Concert

(53:05) - Nintendo Switch Online Missions and Rewards

(54:30) - Elden Ring Sales

(57:10) - Yuka Morii Exhibition in Tokyo

(57:54) - Japanese Software and Hardware Sales

(59:51) - Japanese Gaming Phrase of the Week (芋 imo)

(1:00:26) - Japanese Tweet of the Week: https://twitter.com/blacktangent/status/1504469997245980674?s=20&t=iwGjQNpa0Un7TBfCbJwinQ

(1:01:02) - Closing

Social media:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TokyoGameLife

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyogamelife/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tokyogamelife

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpuRpKHGfsC3_45I3QVocxA

Website: https://tokyogamelife.com/

Like and subscribe on your favorite podcast app!

Send questions and suggestions to: [email protected]