One of the most popular series to come out of Japan in the 90's is now getting the online game treatment with the announcement of Slam Dunk Online. 

Slam Dunk is a sports-themed manga authored by manga artist Inoue Takehiko and was first published back in 1990.  It then had a wildly popular anime series that initially aired in October 1993 and ran for 101 episodes and 4 OAVs.  It spawned a cult following with fans all over Asia, North America and a huge following in Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries.  Slam Dunk follows the story of one Sakuragi Hanamichi as he joins the basketball team of Shohoku High School and dream of winning the national championship. 

In October 22, Korean-based company Goorm had announced that they would be developing an online game of this series with another Korean company, DaewonMedia.  Inoue Takehiko has also been brought on board and will be supervising the game creation and development.

Nintendo announces the new addition to the Nintendo family, the Nintendo DSi LL.  It has been just about a year since the DSi was released in Japan before this announcement.  The DSi LL would be the 4th version of the popular gaming console and is set to be sold in Japan by November 21.

The DSi LL boasts bigger screen at 4.2 inches.  It is considerably larger than it's DS Lite and DSi counterparts, with the DS Lite at 3 inches and the DSi at 3.2 inches.  As it comes with a larger screen, the whole handheld is also the largest in the Nintendo DS line.  The DSi LL will initially be released in 3 colors, the Wine Red, Dark Brown, and Natural White.

Interestingly enough, the DSi LL will also include 2 stylus instead of one.  One fits neatly into the DSi LL as it is with the other older models.  Another is a much larger pen-shaped stylus that is 129.3mm long that is carried separately.

Comparison between the DSi and the DSi LL

Aside from being able to use standard DS cartridges and DSi cartridges, the DSi LL will be capable of downloading and playing DSiWare.  The DSi LL will come with included software: the DSi Browser, Flipnote Studio, Brain Age Express: Arts & Letters, Brain Age Express: Math, and Meikyou Kokugo Rakubiki Jiten, a dictionary software.

Cosplay.ph and Hobbylink brings us Mega Masquerade this Halloween.  It will be held in SM Megamall Megatrade Hall 2 tomorrow, October 31, 2009.  This will be a whole day event packed with activities.

Inspired by the famous Venetian Masquerade and Mardi Gras, the Mega Masquerade aims to bring a little of the Italian Renaissance with activities taht everyone will enjoy.  Everyone is encouraged to come in colorful costumes and attire and where masks to hide your identity in true Masquerade fashion.  There will be Carnival Games like the ring toss and balloon darts; Entertainers and Performers like those found in medieval Europe; and a variety of booths and merchandise to be sold.  The event will culminate to a grand Masquerade ball towards the evening.

I have attended and have been part of the Victorian Valentine events and I can truly say that we need more similar events and I personally look forward to seeing the concept of a Masquerade event come to life. I just hope it doesn't rain hard tomorrow and I get some time to at least pass by. 

For more details, please visit the Cosplay.ph website.

The University of the Philippines Anime Manga Enthusiasts (UP AME) proudly presents this year's fair entitled AME no Jidai.  In its ninth year of anniversary celebrations, UP AME will bring us back in time to a period of the samurai and warring lords of Japan's feudal era.

UP AME is the first ever recognized collegiate anime organization in the country which aims to gather anime and manga enthusiasts based in UP Diliman.  They are behind some of the succesful anime events such as the Una kAME!, kAME Ulit!, AME Matsuri, AME Gakuensai, and AME 8th Avenue.

AME no Jidai, like previous fairs, is a themed event, this time focusing on Japan's feudal era.  Many of the activities are geared towards re-enacting the time period and experiencing some of the traditional festival activities in Japan.  Some of the activities included are the traditional Japanese fortune telling booth, a tea room with snacks served by waiters in traditional outfits of the time, and the ever popular goldfish catching that is still done in modern day Japanese festivals.  Everyone is encouraged to come and dress up in Japanese inspired outfits or maybe dress up as your favorite samurai or one of the many feudal lords and ladies.

And of course, what is an anime event without cosplay.  AME no Jidai will have both individual and group cosplay.  I am already excited to see what everyone will come up with for this event.

Our favorite maids and butlers will grace us with their presence again at the Rockwell Power Plant Mall.  Dokissaten Maid and Bulter Cafe has first debut at the Kourtyard Cafe in Katipunan as a trial run for Shizen Orchestra.  They would later make appearances in Cosplay Fusion and later at the Mech Cafe of Cosplay Mania.

So this November 14, I urge everyone who has not tried it to come and visit them at the Sango! the Burger Master.  They will be there the whole day.  My friends and I will definitely come and support them too.

Sango! the Burger Master is located at the ground level of the Power Plant Mall in Makati.  Visit the ClicktheCity.com for a map of the venue.