By Dr. Serkan Toto – On Japan's Game Industry
Granted, this isn’t exactly a social game, but the title is important enough for GREE to issue a separate press release: “Hourface for GREE” is the GREE version of popular iPhone photo app Hourface. Just like that app, Hourface for GREE visualizes how the user’s face may...
More games for the Mobage for Smartphones platform: Tokyo-based Pokelabo (a major third-party social game developer in Japan) has announced Pokelabo Basketball on Mobage for Android. The game isn’t a separate app but can be downloaded via Mobage’s native Android app, which went live...
Major Japanese publisher Kadokawa and Nico Nico Douga operator Dwango are deepening a business alliance they entered in October 2010. The two companies have announced a capital alliance under which Kadokawa acquired 16,800 shares (8.48%) of Dwango for US$37.1 million. At the same time, Dwango...
GREE has announced it invested in video and social game maker HAND, which has developed a number of games published by major companies in Japan in recent years. Games developed include various Kingdom Hearts titles for the DS (published by Square Enix)or Puyo Puyo 7 for Wii and PSP (published by...
Rakuten proper released their official Android app just last month, and now the company has announced that Rakuten Bank, Japan’s biggest e-bank, gets an Android application as well. Rakuten Bank customers can view their bank account information, track their balance, and send money to other...
Online restaurant service operator Gourmet Navigator has launched a marketing company that helps promote farm products in Japan, The Nikkei is reporting today. The plan is to work together with growers, local governments and others to organize events, advertise and market produce. Gourmet Navigator...
By Dr. Serkan Toto – On Japan's Game Industry