GameSpasm

Japan-based electronics manufacturer Kyocera announced today it is supplying approximately 30 megawatts of solar power to agricultural facilities across Japan in a deal worth 8.5 billion yen ($89 million).

Kyocera will supply, engineer, construct, and maintain 30MW of solar power generating systems to the project implemented by the National Federation of Agriculture Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh) and the Mitsubishi Corporation.

The goal of the project is to reinvigorate the agriculture sector and local farming towns and to further spread renewable energy use. There are almost 1.5 million farmers in Japan, and Zen-Noh and Mitsubishi are planning to build one of the country’s largest solar power projects by installing 200MW of solar power systems on farmers’ and Zen-Noh facilities.

Mitsubishi and Kyocera have jointly established the JAMC Solar Energy Company to operate the project and will sell the power generated from the installations to regional utility power companies under Japan’s feed-in tariff program. The objective of the incentive program that began a year ago as a result of the nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011 is to diversify energy resources, with solar power being the main source of alternative energy.

Kyocera will provide around 124,000 solar modules to the project to be split between 80 locations. Through this project, Kyocera hopes to promote the use of renewable energy and to contribute to local communities.

Kyocera has expanded its solar energy business to include production, supply, installation, construction and operation of large-scale solar power plants and has been researching solar energy since 1975.

Image via Kyocera

Filed under: Green

Tags: Green, Japan, renewable energy, Solar

Japan-based electronics manufacturer Kyocera announced today it is supplying approximately 30 megawatts of solar power to agricultural facilities across Japan in a deal worth 8.5 billion yen ($89 million).

Kyocera will supply, engineer, construct, and maintain 30MW of solar power generating systems to the project implemented by the National Federation of Agriculture Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh) and the Mitsubishi Corporation.

The goal of the project is to reinvigorate the agriculture sector and local farming towns and to further spread renewable energy use. There are almost 1.5 million farmers in Japan, and Zen-Noh and Mitsubishi are planning to build one of the country’s largest solar power projects by installing 200MW of solar power systems on farmers’ and Zen-Noh facilities.

Mitsubishi and Kyocera have jointly established the JAMC Solar Energy Company to operate the project and will sell the power generated from the installations to regional utility power companies under Japan’s feed-in tariff program. The objective of the incentive program that began a year ago as a result of the nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011 is to diversify energy resources, with solar power being the main source of alternative energy.

Kyocera will provide around 124,000 solar modules to the project to be split between 80 locations. Through this project, Kyocera hopes to promote the use of renewable energy and to contribute to local communities.

Kyocera has expanded its solar energy business to include production, supply, installation, construction and operation of large-scale solar power plants and has been researching solar energy since 1975.

Image via Kyocera

Filed under: Green

Tags: Green, Japan, renewable energy, Solar

The official website for Dragon's Dogma Quest is live, broadly confirming yesterday's report from Game Jouhou. Quest is a 2D online-only, free-to-play RPG for Vita, coming to Japan via PSN this fall. Regards whether or not it's winging its way west, a Capcom spokesperson told Joystiq "At present Dragon's Dogma Quest is only confirmed for release in Japan and we are currently evaluating if the title will be released in pan-western markets."

As before, Quest begins with the hero character's heart being stolen by a dragon - biology be damned. The hero finds another heartless victim in a wizardly-looking woman called Lota, and together the pair trek towards home as they begin their quest to retrieve their tickers.

While it's unclear if Quest's story follows on from the original Dragon's Dogma, the Vita RPG features returning non-player characters like the knight Julien, Captain Mercedes of the Enlistment Corps, and Black Cat storekeeper Mountebank. One screen shows Mercedes in dialogue, with what looks like a hand-drawn background of a country village behind her.

As previously reported, the hero employs a party of pawns that go into battle - it's unclear if the hero's involved in combat or is more like a commander. The party size is increased to eight, with a maximum of four player pawns and four pawns from friends. The website reveals several of the 150-plus pawn vocations in Quest, including the poison archer, arc guardian, gatherer, and rogue.

It remains unclear how exactly combat adapts from 3D to 2D in Quest. The pawns-orientated combat of Dragon's Dogma, particularly in terms of formulating strategies for the larger beasts, was a key component of that game. We're curious to see how it works in Quest, particularly given there are so many vocations to choose from.

Dragon's Dogma Quest site goes live, Capcom 'evaluating' western release originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Jun 2013 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: Capcom, dragons-dogma-quest, free-to-play, Japan, online-only, Playstation, playstation-vita, vita

Tecmo Koei is trying its hand with a free-to-play alternative version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, subtitled Core Fighters, in addition to the full retail game. Core Fighters is a PS3 download "planned" for September 3 in North America. As Famitsu reports (via Siliconera), Tecmo Koei is in talks with Microsoft about an Xbox 360 version.

Core Fighters includes four playable characters: Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, Kasumi, and Ayane. Opponents span the same roster as the full version, and all stages are included. Tutorial and training modes make the F2P version as well, but the story mode does not. In terms of in-game purchases, additional characters cost $4, while the story mode is $15.

As for online play, it's enabled for free, and players using the F2P and retail versions of Ultimate can fight each other. However, neither version of Ultimate is compatible for online tussles against players using the original Dead or Alive 5, or Dead or Alive 5 Plus on Vita.

Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate free-to-play version announced, coming to west originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: dead or alive 5, dead-or-alive-5-ultimate, Japan, microsoft, Playstation, PS3, psn, release-date, team ninja, Tecmo Koei, Xbox

Tecmo Koei is trying its hand with a free-to-play alternative version of Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate, subtitled Core Fighters, in addition to the full retail game. Core Fighters is a PS3 download "planned" for September 3 in North America. As Famitsu reports (via Siliconera), Tecmo Koei is in talks with Microsoft about an Xbox 360 version.

Core Fighters includes four playable characters: Ryu Hayabusa, Hayate, Kasumi, and Ayane. Opponents span the same roster as the full version, and all stages are included. Tutorial and training modes make the F2P version as well, but the story mode does not. In terms of in-game purchases, additional characters cost $4, while the story mode is $15.

As for online play, it's enabled for free, and players using the F2P and retail versions of Ultimate can fight each other. However, neither version of Ultimate is compatible for online tussles against players using the original Dead or Alive 5, or Dead or Alive 5 Plus on Vita.

Dead or Alive 5 Ultimate free-to-play version announced, coming to west originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Jun 2013 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: dead or alive 5, dead-or-alive-5-ultimate, Japan, microsoft, Playstation, PS3, psn, release-date, team ninja, Tecmo Koei, Xbox

The Japanese 3DS eShop will host a new demo for Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies next month, according to Gematsu.

When contacted regarding the potential for a North American demo, Capcom provided the following statement: "We haven't announced any plans for a Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - Dual Destinies demo in North America at this time." Dual Destinies launches on the 3DS eShop in Japan on July 25; the North American localization is due some time in autumn.

Ace Attorney 5 files demo with 3DS eShop in Japan next month originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: 3ds, ace-attorney-5, Capcom, Demo, Japan, Nintendo, phoenix-wright-ace-attorney-dual-destinies, phoenix-wright-dual-destinies

Monster Hunter 4 seeks out Japan on September 14. Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto announced the release date in a Nintendo Direct today, during which he also unveiled two limited edition MH4 3DS XLs. Both designs are due at launch, and come with the game.

There's no news as yet on MH4 localization for the west.

Update: We've added in the new trailer that was shown during the Direct broadcast. You can find the MH4 3DS designs after the break, along with the undoubted highlight of today's Direct: Ace Attorney Iwata.

Continue reading Monster Hunter 4 tracks Japan Sep. 14 [update: trailer, Ace Attorney Iwata]

Monster Hunter 4 tracks Japan Sep. 14 [update: trailer, Ace Attorney Iwata] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 May 2013 07:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments Tags: 3ds, 3ds-xl, Capcom, Japan, monster-hunter-4, Nintendo, nintendo-direct, release-date

It's a bit frustrating when you're right in the middle of a round of Mario Chase and the Wii U Gamepad battery decides to go dead. But things may be looking up, as Nintendo recently introduced an upgraded internal battery for the Wii U Gamepad... In Japan.

The new battery apparently takes the place of the original in the back of the Gamepad, bumping the power up to 2,500 mAh from 1,500 mAh, and boosting battery life from 3-5 hours up to 5-8 hours of charge. Sadly, for the time being anyway, it looks like the upgraded battery is only available to Wii U owners in Japan. Nintendo wouldn't confirm or deny whether the new battery would be coming to the North America.

In addition to the Wii U battery boost, Nintendo Japan has also revealed a battery upgrade for the original Wii remote. The package includes the new battery, backplate and a charging stand. Again only available in Japan for the moment, the battery alone costs ¥2,625 ($26), while the whole package comes in at ¥4,200 ($41).

We'll be sure to let you know when/if any more information regarding these upgraded batteries is revealed.

[via Joystiq]

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'Leisure Suit Larry' Is Back, And Series Creator, Al Lowe, Lived To Tell About It
Random House Dips into Game Publishing with Free-to-Play 'The Black Crown Project'

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Tags: battery, gamepad, Japan, Nintendo, upgrade, wii-u

by Joseph Leray

Eagle-eyed observers will note that Sony is making a late-generation push to highlight as many quirky, charming games it can to the PlayStation 3 (and, by extension, the Vita). Some are independently-developed, but some are being made in-house.

Japan Studio, Sony Computer Entertainment's development arm, is currently working on "Rain," for example. We first covered the moody stealth-puzzle game earlier this year during the Game Developers Conference, and this newly-released trailer has done little to dispel the notion that -- if nothing else -- "Rain" has a distinct and ghostly audiovisual style.

The nice thing about this little, delicate games like this is that their marketing doesn't tend to focus on bells, whistles, or bloated features. The new trailer shows our invisible protagonist using rain puddles to wash the mud off of his feet -- so as to better avoid the spectral hounds chasing him and his love interest -- and that's neat, but there's no real news here. A reminder that "Rain" exists, and that it's just really pretty, is all we need.

There's no release date for "Rain" yet, but the official PlayStation Blog promises more info at E3.

[PlayStation Blog]

Tags: Japan, NEWS, PS3, rain, sony computer entertainment

by Joseph Leray

Eagle-eyed observers will note that Sony is making a late-generation push to highlight as many quirky, charming games it can to the PlayStation 3 (and, by extension, the Vita). Some are independently-developed, but some are being made in-house.

Japan Studio, Sony Computer Entertainment's development arm, is currently working on "Rain," for example. We first covered the moody stealth-puzzle game earlier this year during the Game Developers Conference, and this newly-released trailer has done little to dispel the notion that -- if nothing else -- "Rain" has a distinct and ghostly audiovisual style.

The nice thing about this little, delicate games like this is that their marketing doesn't tend to focus on bells, whistles, or bloated features. The new trailer shows our invisible protagonist using rain puddles to wash the mud off of his feet -- so as to better avoid the spectral hounds chasing him and his love interest -- and that's neat, but there's no real news here. A reminder that "Rain" exists, and that it's just really pretty, is all we need.

There's no release date for "Rain" yet, but the official PlayStation Blog promises more info at E3.

[PlayStation Blog]

Tags: Japan, NEWS, PS3, rain, sony computer entertainment