The story of Mai, Yuichi, Shiori, and Kaori continues. Mai had a destructive battle against the demons that almost got her expelled from dancing school. Yuichi wants to help Mai in her fight regardless of whether she welcomes his help or not. Eventually though, Yuichi discovers that the story between Shiori and Mai and how the two met. Mundane memories make him realize that he does have past connections to Mai and this influences their current situation.

After the battle against the demons, Yuichi’s attention shifted more towards Kaori and Shiori; they are sisters even though Kaori don’t want to admit it. Shiori is sick and Yuichi wants to heal the relationship between these sisters. Ayu is almost forgotten as Yuichi deals with other girl’s problems but when he did notice her, their bond deepens. However, a mystery in their past can be devastating.

Perhaps the best thing about the Kanon series is how the characters can continue with their cutesy daily activities while deep emotions lurk in the background. Though Kanon is not without its flaws, it nevertheless was able to deliver a good series with great characters to match it. Kanin is definitely worth watching for if only to let you find out how the characters will eventually evolve.

Let’s get to gaming news. Ubisoft has formally holdup Splinter Cell: Conviction which is to be released on 2009-2010 following the report of Xbox World 360 last May 2007. The determined stealth installment will soon be release probably amid 2009 of April and March 2010. Beforehand it had a discharge date prior to Q1 2009.

Few months before the magazine Xbox World 360 informed that the game has been decided to be returned to the drawing board and will be released by 2009 or 2010.

The original edition of Splinter Cell was bound to comprise a series luminary Sam Fisher to go apposite rouge, concealing in the middle of the crowd and dealing with police, just like Jason Bourne.

According to Xbox World 360 magazine, the conclusion was set following Conviction as being outdated due to other gaming developments such as Ubisoft’s Assasin’s Creed.

It must have been a long wait for other Splinter Cell Conviction fans, and might be wondering if you have seen all the previews. Seeing Fisher choke policemen, beat up terrorist using chairs and setting foes on tables. All of these are real though, the creators are just no t rushing things out. Ubisoft is just anticipating for the correct moment to release the game.

Set in 19^th century London, the story of Emma tackles the story of a maid who becomes in love with the son of a bourgeois family. Though it appears like a romantic story at its surface, Emma is definitely more than that because issues of discrimination, social unrest, inequality, and the acceptable behaviors in society. Emma is the maid of Mrs. Stownar who is the former governess of William Jones. He was forced to come visit his former tutor and he immediately becomes smitten with Emma.

Emma becomes equally smitten and they have a quiet but blissful courtship. Inevitably, the issue of their social divide forces them to rethink their relationship. William’s father is determined to marry into nobility to get a better social leverage. Eleanor, a naïve noblewoman, falls in love with William. No one approves of William’s relationship with the “hired help” especially when she is compared with Eleanor.

When you mention the word, Victorian, the image that instantly comes to mind is the setting where Sherlock Holmes and Mary Shelley became known-for. But neither of the two settings is just right for this series because this romance surprisingly reveals a spark of conscience and a wide range of emotions that will take the reader into a ride they will long remember.

Flag is a seriously great drama that will squeeze the hearts of its viewers. Some may criticize Flag because of its lack of action especially for a war-centric anime series but when you look past that, you will discover that Flag offers a unique and insightful experience. It is well-worth your time since it offers a reprieve from the usual.

The last several episodes of Flag basically revolve around actually retrieving the flag but there are several other issues as well. These include the different events happening on the background as well as the UN’s real reasons. While the story in itself is already notable, it is just a background to what the series is all about.

The series is about human motivation. Soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives based on what they believe is best for their world. The series is also about nomads who know about these conflicts but they still focus their lives on sheepherding. It is also about civilians caught in the middle of a war but try to make the best of their situation. Flag will definitely give you a lot of insights to the human psyche and how people are affected differently when they are faced with war and tragedy.

Capcom’s anticipated sequel, the Resident Evil 5, is definitely more than what gamers bargained for. Chris and Sheva, the main characters of the games, watches as an execution unfold amidst a bloodthirsty mob. The mob soon sees them and attacks. After watching the gruesome execution, the gamer can take control over Chris or Sheva.

Chris can be directed towards a shack with two rooms with a narrow window. There are bookshelves found on both doors you can either push by yourself or get Sheva to open in. Here, you will encounter the popular “cabin battle” that Resident Evil 4 is known for. However, this battle can be claustrophobic because the room is incredibly small and it has no stairs.

The enemies in Resident Evil 5 are harder to kill compared to their predecessors. They are faster and they are fond of circling you. And Chris moves more slowly compared to Leon because he is bigger and he wears body armor with several guns. In addition, his peripheral vision is slightly more limited because the camera seems to be closer to him. Overall, the whole control scheme of Resident Evil 5 is basically that same as its predecessors with a few minor exceptions.

Windaria derived its name from a gigantic tree between the countries of Paro and Itha. This tree is so old that it’s actually worshiped as a god by people who live near the area. Some believe it can bring blessings. In the small town setting where this tree is located, there are several main characters. One is the story about a young farmer named Izu who lives together with his girlfriend Marin. Another story is about Ahnas, she is Itha’s princess who is having an affair with the prince of their neighboring country.

One morning, Izu was with Marin selling their vegetables. They save their last merchandize for an old widower who controls the aqueduct. But on this particular morning, a terrible thing happens; an enemy opens the dam and sends seawater into the town. Izu saves the day by closing the dam. The enemy was from Paro who wants to invade the country.

Izu brags to his neighbors about his heroic act and soon, the Paro army butters him up with promises of military power and prestige. Marin is against his leaving but she soon relents by telling him that she will wait for him. The Prince of Paro and the Princess of Itha have their own problems because their parents want to go to war.

The terrible war soon begins and the village is directly endangered. However, Marin refuses to leave because she is waiting for Izu. But Izu became caught up in intrigue and destroys the people and places that were once close to his heart. The princess and prince are at the front line of war against each other. Windria reminds human civilization about all the horrors and bloodshed it must have witnessed because of human greed.

After several months of hype about how “big things are coming soon”, the Bandai Entertainment is finally taking action. A massive step in the anime world is to be expected with Masayuki Fujikawa’s statement “We plan to reduce the time-lag that exists between release in Japan and elsewhere.” The flagship brand HONNEAMISE will plan and execute the release of their Blu-ray titles simultaneously around the world so that the international audience can get them as quickly as possible.

For example, the anime Freedom, the Diebuster, and the Gunbuster can now be released worldwide. The said shows can be released in the HD format and it will have English, Japanese, and French dubbing with the choice of English or Fresh subtitles. This release will cater to a large number of anime fans who have the ability to use Blu-ray disc. Local distribution will be conducted with established companies including the Bandai Visual in Japan, the Beez Entertainment in France and UK, and the Bandai Entertainment in the US.

Activision has formally announced that it got shareholder approval for merger with Vivendi. Around 92% of their shareholders approved the proposed merger and the transaction is now officially closed. The planned Activision-Vivendi merger was first mentioned last December 2007; through it, Vivendi which is the parent of Sierra and Blizzard will become a fully-owned Activision subsidiary.

Activision’s name will become Activision Blizzard which had also been approved by its shareholders. Formally, it will trade under NASDAQ under its old symbol though, ATVI. Activision and Vivendi Games will be able to combine through business with this merger. To be headquartered in Santa Monica, this subsidiary is a worldwide console and online game manufacturer with leading market positions in all categories. It will be able to take advantage of the fast growing interactive software industry.

The company also has operations in Canada, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark among others. In Asia, it will have a presence in China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.

By the 24^th Century, the earth’s fossil fuel supply is completely depleted. This forced humans to seek alternative energy sources like solar energy. At this point, solar energy became the primary energy source and building huge energy system becomes necessary to provide the earth with power. The system orbits was eventually built but at a significant cost.

With the large expense involved, the world became consolidated into three major factions including the Human Reform League, the Union, and the AEU. Despite everyone’s dependency on a single energy supply, humanity still continues to build up armaments and fight. In line with this, the Celestial Being which is a parliamentary organization equipped with mobile suits was formed. They have the Gundams which is tasked to unite the world and eradicate conflicts.

The story of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is the typical action flick you can expect from an anime of its class. At first the story is interesting and it is coupled with intense scenes to complement it. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes dry. Nevertheless, this story is filled with energy that will keep you at the edge of your seats until it is finished.

Michiko is the typical “tomboyish” character that loves motorcycles, hates girly stuff, and dislikes being tall. While delivering pizzas one day, she is mistaken as one of the runway models there and is suddenly tossed into the catwalk. The show designer says that she cannot hack it though so Michiko goes away in humiliation. But Michiko’s pride has been damaged and she wants to prove to Mihara, the designer, that she can make it as a glamorous runway model. She wants Mihara to acknowledge her but to do this; she must take the first steps. She will not only need to convince the modeling agency to take her in, she must also learn who she really is.

Review:

The Walkin’ Butterfly is painfully hilarious but honest series that will make any viewer appreciate it. Modeling becomes more of a tournament than a glamorous job and the protagonist is subjected to numerous trials that increase in difficulty each time. But overall, while Walkin’ Butterfly is a manga to watch out for, it suffers from a lot of stereotypical storyline such as sports (baseball, basketball), common narrative structure, and a relatively common plot line. The protagonist is quite likable with her sincere but high-tempered attitude that appears a little naïve.