Hurricanes agree, you’re a shy one

I started playing Pulltop’s award-winning eroge Haruka ni Aogi, Uruwashino earlier this week to see what all the fuss was about, and to try to help inform the Peach Princess decision over what games to license for production in 2009 (there’s a poll going on if you’d like to see some of the options being considered and provide your own input). It turns out to be quite a decent game, with solid and often beautiful production and writing that, while formulaic, does the job nicely.

The character flipping the bird to the left is Kazamatsuri Miyabi, the chairman(‘s representative) of the board of trustees that governs school affairs at the prestigious Ouka Girls’ Academy, where the game takes place. She’s a tsundere in the fine mold of Zero no Tsukaima’s Louise, and a fun character, though her plot hasn’t quite had the motive force to compel me to see it all the way through…

Kaneko Hiraku strikes again

The master of buxom heroine animation Kaneko Hiraku was at it again in Dragonaut ep. 17 this week, as a quick check of his Sakuga Wiki entry reveals. His work on the episode isn’t quite as pronounced as it was for episode five (which he directed), but there are a few really nice cuts that show his influence clearly. The events of the episode leave me wondering whether his skills will be needed in subsequent installments of the series, but here’s hoping they bring him back at least once before the bitter end.

Birdy the Mightier

Birdy the Mighty is back! In manga form she’s been around for awhile, but the news broke last week that the kick-ass galactic enforcer of justice is returning in a new anime incarnation. The series will be directed by Akane Kazuki and features the character design stylings of animator Ryo-Timo (りょーちも) whose work I’ve quickly come to like a lot. Definitely a fun series in the making, assuming studio A-1 Pictures can hold up their end of the bargain, and I’m looking forward to seeing what they cook up for this summer!

Majodou update

The official website for Sano Toshihide designed eroge Majodou received a tremendous update this evening, including new pages that introduce the world background, story, characters, and five more sample CG. It’s enough to make a Sano fan positively giddy with joy, which I must say I am right now – pinstripes! On the uniforms! Seriously, is there anything better than vacuum-shrunk pinstripe sweaters as an element of school uniform design? I think not. As far as I’m concerned the game is looking even better than it was before, and I can’t wait to see what future developments will bring. :3 We can expect another update either next Friday or the following one.

Play-Asia affiliate recommendations

And that’s a wrap! Going to try to get more or less back on schedule this weekend…