From Otomate:
L.G.S – Shinsetsu Houshin Engi, another classical Chinese novel adaptation. I don’t know anything about the source material, but the setup is that in ancient China, there’s the human world, and then the ascetic world. In the human world, the good king Chuuou was made to do evil things by the machinations of Sotatsuki, so the ascetics decided to seal her. Because of her skill, Yousen was nominated to do this.
Yousen, the heroine, is regarded as a genius ascetic (sennin is hard to translate, I always think of them as wise men but obviously she’s not a man, and they seem to have special powers pretty often) and lives on Mt. Konron. She’s not very sociable, but is meek when talking to her teacher, Gyokutei Shinjin. She was also turned into a youkai somehow by her father as a young child. Apparently depending on your choices during the game, Yousen will either remain a sennin (light ending) or become a true youkai (shadow ending). I’ll do the characters once the seiyuu are announced.

Arabian’s Lost: Quinrose is redoing this for the PSP! I’m kind of excited for this, because I really liked this game way back when it was released for the PS2. It was my first Quinrose game and I loved the non-standard characters. You might recognize Curtis Nile from Crimson Empire, here you can actually get him! The art’s all updated too, which is good, although I’m not sure about Shark’s redesign. Tyrone definitely looks better though. The article in B’s Log doesn’t show Maisen at all, so perhaps his parts are being removed?

Also, the seiyuu for Abunai Koi no Sousashitsu (scheduled for May 31 release on the PSP) are announced:

Mikechi Masaomi (CV: Maeno Tomoaki)

Fujimori Kenji (CV: Kondou Takashi)

Kisaragi Kouhei (CV: Tachibana Shinnosuke)

Ogasawara Ryou (CV: Suganuma Hisayoshi)

Onose Aoi (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki)

Hozumi Rui (CV: Miki Shinichirou)

Fujimori Takashi (CV: Narita Ken)

And there are screenshots of the different areas in Bakudan Handan which SOUND like they’re different types of minigames, which would be great. However I still can’t find any description of gameplay in articles or on the website, so I’m not going to assume anything.

That’s about it that I can see, of course there’s more info on several fandisks and upcoming games, but mostly just scene descriptions. Oh, and a new character in Jyuuzaengi, Bachou (CV: Sugita Tomokazu)

Kain (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) – the oldest knight captain, he’s the defacto leader when Leviath isn’t around. He’s mature and intelligent, and his company is the Dark Crown Knights.

Kiefer (CV: Hirata Hiroaki)- a snobby jerk, although he does have a point when he complains about the unfitting behaviour of Giovanni and Gerhart. His company is the Sharp Ice Knights, and he actually keeps them in line by whipping whoever comes in last during sparring.

Gerhart (CV: Hiyama Nobuyuki) – a big sweetheart, his company the Sea Dragon Knights are apparently former pirates, and one of them is his sister Maria, who becomes friends with Theresa as the only other young woman at the fortress. He’s often drinking and gambling with Giovanni, though he always loses.

Giovanni (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou) – a casual flirt, he always wins when Gerhart gambles with him. He likes it when the heroine puts herself in the middle of things like trying to stop a fight. His company are the Shining Light Knights (or something like that).

Eugene (CV: Ono Daisuke) – the knight captain who likes the heroine the least at first – Kiefer treats her with contempt but Eugene almost kills her and definitely wants her out of the fortress, his company is the Moonlight Knights who focus more on magic than fighting. After a while it seems that it’s more that he doesn’t like new people, and he warms up to Theresa faster than Kiefer.

Shona (CV: Kaji Yuuki) – not the most socially adept person but he’s quite perceptive. His company is the Fallen Angel Knights.

Leviath (CV: Narita Ken) – the leader of everyone, he seems cold but has shown some moments of warmth. He looks just like Renoux’s dead/missing brother.

And since this was pretty short, I thought I’d throw in some videos.

First up, Omochabako no Kuni no Alice, coming out this month:

Beyond the Future – I pre-ordered this one, probably won’t be playing it until after Christmas:

The newest game from Rejet, collaborating with the creators of Are You Alice:
Tiny x Machine Gun

A bunch of UtaPuri playing videos, this one is only one song on hard, but it brings up a bunch of other ones as well:

Black Wolves Saga, also from Rejet in 2012, which they’ve been tweeting about incessantly:

It’s about werewolves, and it seems pretty dark.

And Strobe Mania, which I TOTALLY forgot about, I think it’s out already:

Finally, for anyone who’s a Gintama fan (I know it’s 50% toilet humour, 30% meta, and only 20% amazing story arcs, but I just can’t quit it), here is something we would all love to see – don’t even pretend you wouldn’t buy this! (though the video is eight minutes long, the relevant part is only the first two)

Next week I’ll hopefully have a Gekkan post up, and perhaps a Peter Pan one as well!

The heroine, Mikoto, and Iroha.

• Another spinoff from D3, VitaminX Detective B6 for the PSP! The character personalities are the same, but they’ve made it into a detective game. It’s scheduled for release on Feb 9. Vitamin’s system of tsukkomi and through is being used here again.

• A fandisk for Tokyo Yamanote Boys is announced (that was fast!) It’s called Sweet Jelly Beans, and is coming out January 13 for the PC.

• Fandisk for Harutoki 5!!! Actually, it’s called a continuation, not a fandisk, so maybe it will be the same game system? Spring 2012 on the PSP, it’s called Kazahanaki. Drat, I haven’t even finished the first game yet, I still have a couple characters to finish.

And, mark this historic day on your calendars, because for the first time in years (at least, I think it’s years), the top 3 favourite characters are not all from Hakuouki. #1 still is, though (Saitou Hajime, yeah he’s  kind of adorable). #2 and #3 are from Uta no Prince-sama.

• Amnesia fandisk – Amnesia Later, scheduled for March (for the PSP bien sûr).

• Hetalia is being adapted for the DS

• little cheese (the developer of KuroKin) is making a new R18 game, Trick or Alice, for release next year.

Trick or Alice

• Fandisk for Hiiro no Kakera 3 (Soukoku no Kusabi)

• Juuzaengi coming in April on the PSP

Cast for Bakudan Handan!

• Urabe Kimimaro (CV: Suwabe Junichi) long-haired fortune teller
• Mitarashi Ryuusei (CV: Hino Satoshi) a host
• Shidou Subaru (CV: Suzumura Kenichi) a mercenary
• Meoshi Kouta (CV: MOrita Naruichi) a gamer
• Wakasa Towa (CV: Kaji Yuuki) member of an idol group
• Mikami Makoto (CV: Suzuki Chihiro) university student
• Shirabe Ayumu (CV: Narita Ken) freelance writer

The heroine Lilith is training to be a priest in the small northern town of Dordorn. Raised in the temple, she’s a little naive, but bright, honest and hard-working. She uses a staff called the i-scepter.

One day she encounters Nayuta and Kirite, and she starts out on a new path. Not too much is clear about the plot except that it’s about saving the world.

Krite Asturias (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) A cool samurai who uses a longsword that’s the same height as him, and he’s from Savilla. He doesn’t show emotion much and doesn’t like socializing much, but meeting Lilith causes him to change.

Nayuta Roen (CV: Fujiwara Yuuki)

Born and raised in Ingrid, he’s the straightforward Captain of the White Lily Knights, protecting the temples and law of the city. In addition to being an expert at the spear, he’s also good at using healing and protective magic. Seeing Lilith, who’s still learning, he tends to be a little harsh with her.

Soo Majiku (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki)

A skilled fighter from Dainus who loves freedom. He hates feeling restricted and isn’t very good at social niceties, so he’s often scolded by Nayuta.

Nate Suruya (CV: Masuda Toshiki)

A werewolf thief who uses a bow from the woods near Midvan, he looks young but is actually the oldest of the whole group.

Nico Velvetnein (CV: Kishio Daisuke)

A magician born in Melrond who calls himself a sage. He’s willing to do almost anything for knowledge, and joins Lilith’s party because he’s interested in ‘saving the world’.

Camus Tetra Porte (CV: Suzuki Yuuto)
A small fairy who’s been Lilith’s best friend since she was small. Usually he’s bright and cheerful, but he sometimes shows a perspective that has many years of experience behind it. He’s very protective of Lilith. He can use nature spirits.

Anyways, lots of news, some I’m not sure if I’ve said before, so here it all goes:

• A new Rejet/5pb game, called Beyond the Future: Fix the Time Arrows, for release on both the PSP and the PS3!! Yay, more PS3 games! Looks pretty cool, I think it should get a post of its own.
• New game from Quinrose! Ouma ga Toki, Kaidan Romance. It’s a fantasy game, set in a school that bridges the human and youkai worlds, and the heroine is a youkai. The art is quite cute for it, and the character descriptions sound pretty awesome actually. Can’t wait to hear the cast for it!
• New game! Bakudan Handan, from Otomate for the PSP. The heroine apparently gets caught up in a ‘game’ after a local theme park has a bomb scare (or has a bomb explode?). There are 6 guys: a detective, an idol, a gamer, a freelance writer, a fortune teller, and a host. It’s going to be a mystery.
• Cast info for Strobe Mania, which I almost forgot about (it’s a PSP title from D3, release TBD). Might do a post on this since I can’t remember anything about it Cast: Konishi Katsuyuki, Shimazaki Nobunaga, Miyata Kouki, Suzuki Chihiro, Kondou Takashi, and Hosotani Yoshimasa
• More info on Ozmafia. Apparently the story explores the idea of fairytale characters being rival mafia gangs, and the heroine has amnesia. Interesting.
• Kannou Mukashibanashi Portable – the drama CD series apparently adapts myths and legends to make them more, uh, sensual. In the game you can be romanced by characters from these stories, like Zeus!! (In the Leda and the Swan myth. I guess it’s better than the time he was a bull…)
• Okashi na Shima no Peter Pan ~Sweet Never Land~ from Quinrose is coming on Sep 22 for the PSP, I might have to do a post on this.
• Mahoutsukai to Goshujin-sama is being released for PSP in November.
• Bloody Call on PSP! Awesome, this looks so pretty, and the adaptation has new scenes and outfits. Set for Winter 2011.
• Atelier Elkrone set for January.
• The Hanayaka Nari, Waga Ichizoku fandisk Cinema Mosaic is set for a December 8 release
• More info on the characters in Juuzaengi – probably the Sep B’s Log had more but it was sold out Anyhoo this is scheduled for Feb 2012 on the PSP. Cat people galore!
• More info on the new banchou in Renai Banchou 2, Choi Ero Banchou (CV: Matsukaze Masaya) and Girigiri Banchou (CV: Suwabe Junichi), adding to the new banchou Host Banchou (Morikawa Toshiyuki) and Yankee Banchou (CV: Yoshino Hiroyuki), as well as the ura banchou from the original game.
• Hakuouki will be re-released on the Nintendo 3DS. 3D vampire samurai, whee!
• Hakuouki is also getting a new anime, in OVA form.
• New Uta no Prince Sama, Uta no Prince Sama Debut! for the PSP, coming this winter

For anyone wondering what kind of swag you get with otome mags, here’s a pic I took (the colour’s kind of off but whatever):

1 – several miniposters (one set of five or so from each B’s Log)
2 – two booklets about the Yamanote Boys series (one from each B’s Log)
3 – page of stickers from Starry Sky! very cute
4 – the mags – I got the April and May B’s Log, and the most recent Cool-B and Sweet Princess
5 – The 2011 Tokyo Otome Guide – I have to plan for my fall trip! it has listings of otome-focused stores, manga, games, cosplay, everything, as well as some hotel and restaurant listings (even some butler cafés!), with lots of pics and ideas. Lots of fun to read through!
6 – Two DVD-Roms that came with Cool-B and Sweet Princess. They have promo movies, wallpapers, game guides, and even some playable demos.

And now for the news from those magazines!
A fandisk was announced for Hiiro no Kakera 4 Shin Tamayori-hime Denshou, called Piece of Future. Scheduled for July 2011, the Suwabe Brothers will be capturable! Awesome.

Sangokuren Senki is coming to PS2!!! I’m extremely happy, I’ve heard a lot of good things about this game and darnit, I’m just a sucker for fantasy historicals!

A new Quinrose game, Mother Goose no Himitsu no Yakata (Mother Goose’s Secret House) – scheduled for the PSP on June 23. Apparently there are two parts, a quiz part and an adventure part. The story is kind of like Alice, in that the heroine falls into a different world and has to find a way out. But to do so, she has to pass quizzes based on nursery rhymes. The men she meets all know her, but she doesn’t remember them. There’s a lot of really gorgeous art for this, it seems that Quinrose has over 200 nursery rhymes (which will be shown in English and then Japanese translations) illustrated by lots of different artists. Here’s a pic!

Cute huh? From left to right, the characters are:
Cezary Fritche (CV: Morikawa Toshiyuki) – a poor scholar
Eric Burrell (CV: Toriumi Kousuke) – an odd jobs guy
Heroine
Arthur Lindgren (CV: Sakurai Takahiro) – a noble gentleman
Bacchus Moore (CV: Suwabe Junichi) – a cook
(sitting) Vincent Noble (CV: Yasumoto Hiroki) – a student of Cezary at a well-known school

The Nise no Chigiri fandisk, Omoide no Saki e, is coming July 21!

A new R18 game, Persona, is announced from Mirai, the creators of the Hoshi no Joou series and Jingi Naki Otome, It seems to be based on the Phantom of the Opera, but there was just a teaser spread this month.
More info on the new Otomate PSP game, Amnesia. The heroine wakes up with (surprise!) amnesia, and apparently has to figure out which of her (current?past?) boyfriends is the real one, or something.
Kago no Naka no Alicis, the all-ages fantasy PC game from icingCandy, is set for Apr 22.

Info on the Alice movie! It’s coming out on July 30, in 7 cities around Japan. The art is quite nice, dare I say, possibly nicer than the original game! Apparently the story is new, and they’re trying to make it accessible to people who’ve never played the game. Apparently Joker is in it, and that is a hint as to the story, and there’s lots of action.

Seiyuu announcements for Hotokensaa, the sentai otome game:
Kondou Ryuuichi, Hotokensaa　Blue: Akabane Kenji
Sumeragi Rikuto, Hotokensaa Yellow: Takagi Shun
Doujima Mitsuki, Hotokensaa Green: Kimura Ryouhei

Tokyo Yamanote Boys Honey Milk – April 2011, 3500Y
Featuring Ninomiya Yuuto (CV: Suzumura Kenichi) from Shinjuku, Misaki Kotarou (CV: Morikubo Shoutarou) from Ikebukuro, and Momose Ayumu (CV: Yonaga Tsubasa) from Sugamo

Tokyo Yamanote Boys Super Mint – June 2011, 3500Y
Featuring Kirishima Iori (CV: Suzuki Tatsuhisa) from Shibuya, Isono Rui (CV: Kaji Yuuki) from Akihabara, and Kujou Takumi  (CV: Yusa Kouji) from Meguro

Tokyo Yamanote Boys Dark Cherry – August 2011, 3500Y
Featuring Rudou Jesus (CV: Namikawa Daisuke) from Roppongi, Moroboshi Tetsu (CV: Toriumi Kousuke) from Ueno, and Hamada Shinnosuke (CV: Suwabe Junichi) from Shinagawa

There are also music CDs coming out for each release, as well as events. As you can recognize, the artistic as well as directorial team is the same from Lucian Bee’s. It’s interesting that they’re moving from the PS2 to the PC for this project, I wonder if it’s to keep the game costs down, since they’re splitting it up into parts?

Each game is set in the last week of the tournament, when only three guys are left.

Quinrose actually has an event on Oct 30, but no online swag unfortunately.
And that’s it for Hallowe’en! I was hoping Karin might do something (their games are so perfect for atmosphere) but no, just an update about Omerta, a BL game, which is set for April 22 2011.I didn’t even know they did BL! In checking Koei I also noticed that Harutoki 5 is set for release on Feb 24 2011. Set your clocks! I think I might be taking some vacation in March