By Dr. Serkan Toto – On Japan's Game Industry
Yet another big console title has landed on a mobile social gaming platform: this time, it’s Bust A Move (aka “Puzzle Bobble”), a puzzle game from Taito (and one of my favorite games ever). The title (announced today and dubbed “New Puzzle Bobble Lite for GREE”) is a...
CyberAgent continues to expand its social gaming business: the company announced “Oide yo! Ramenya-san” for Mixi today, a ramen restaurant simulation. It’s actually the second game of its kind for CyberAgent: there’s also a very similar ramen restaurant simulation on Mobage...
Business social network LinkedIn is a juggernaut on a quite a few levels, but as many sites of its kind, it never gained traction in Japan. The American company started working on a Japanese localization (in February this year) before announcing a full-fledged entry into the local market back in...
Japan’s e-commerce juggernaut Rakuten and the country’s 2nd largest telco KDDI au have announced a strategic linkup focused on electronic money today. Under the agreement, Rakuten’s Edy electronic money system will be combined with KDDI au’s mobile checkout infrastructure...
As announced two weeks ago, DeNA started rolling out Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood on Mobage today, a social role-playing game that’s based on the hit anime of the same name. The game, which takes place in the same setting as the anime, is initially available for Mobage on Japanese feature...
DeNA today announced they opened an office in South Korea on June 13. DeNA Seoul Co., Ltd. is being led by Makoto Haruta who joined the company as early as 2000 and was the CFO – until DeNA did away with titles for their executives a few months ago (he is now listed as Director and Chairman)...
By Dr. Serkan Toto – On Japan's Game Industry