Rizwan Merchant

Sony’s Massive Apology

Sony has now officially made their apology to the consumer, and with a big price tag that’s likely to further dent their already weakened profits. To say the least, this is an apology that is long overdue… but may well lessen the chances of the class action lawsuit growing any larger than it already is. If you’re a PlayStation user, then you’ve probably already gotten the email, unless you aren’t religious about checking it. It’s time to come home, or, as Sony has put it, Welcome Back!

Sony Corporation Breached…..TWICE…..With a Twist

My job at Anime Secrets is to report to you guys the gaming news that goes on in our region. Do I really get to report all the gaming news out there? Of course not. That’s because I wouldn’t have time for a life, or work. I’m keen on getting you the small yet juicy nuggets that don’t get out there as well as really big news provided no one talks it to death before I get to it. Sony’s security breach was just that: talked to death before I could really sweep in on it.

Portal 2: Potatoes Fuel Glados?

Ever since the birth of Portal in 2007, gamers across the world have eagerly been awaiting a sequel game, myself included. This video game is slated to be one of the most anticipated games of 2011, however nothing we dreamed up in the weeks leading to this moment could have truly prepared us for the return of GLaDOS. Not only has she returned for Portal 2, but she has infected thirteen other video games developed by Indie Studios; titles such as Defense Grid: The Awakening,

No Place for Hideo? Or Just a Very Big Promotion?

On March 30th, it was announced that Hideo Kojima, famed writer/director/producer of the beloved Metal Gear Gearand Metal Gear Solid series, had achieved a massive promotion within Konami, the company that he works for and that covers his games. The change became effective on April 1st (hmmm……just in time for April Fool’s day), but it was no joke. Before I get into the details of Kojima’s new job, though, let’s have a small recap of who Kojima is.

Dragon Age 2 Demo

NOT What I Expected By Shadow Published: 12/25/2010 Under normal circumstances, I’d be writing a review article with a regular

GameStop Power Up Rewards 2010

Today, I went in to GameStop, my coveted gaming hidey hole, to trade in some old games that were collecting dust on my entertainment center and I got a surprise. Sure, I’m like everyone else and watch TV, but hadn’t seen any of the commercials about their new rewards program. How does it work? What is it? Are there options? Does this make my EDGE card completely useless? Is there anything new? If you’ll hold on to your controller long enough, I’ll

Love the Cosplayer, Respect the Cosplayer: The Happy Medium

I have been a member of the anime fandom for about a decade, if not longer. In this time, I have attended my fair share of conventions and even hosted a few meet-ups of my own. At these events, I’ve come across more cosplayers, or people dressed up as their favorite characters, than mathematics can actually calculate a number to describe.

Sakura-Con 2012

Sakura-Con 2012 was by far one of the best cons I’ve been to in a long time, largely due to all the awesome friends I got to see and a total lack of drama. Furthermore, it was one of the con’s biggest years for guests. This year there were three major musical performances and a whole bunch of industry people. Voice actors, directors, and producers came in droves, and for good reason: this was Sakura-Con’s fifteenth year, and the staff gave it their all to make it their best.

An Insider’s Look at Japan: Asakusa

When visiting Japan for the second time in March 2010, I was reminded of the interesting duality of culture there. Many of us see Japan and think of technology, high fashion, and modern pop culture. J-pop idols, maid cafés, anime, and manga are all prevalent, of course, but it’s really interesting to see just how seamlessly Japan’s old culture is integrated into the vast urban sprawl of Tokyo.

An Insider’s Look at Japan: Akihabara

Akihabara, the Electric Town. This is the crown jewel for anime, manga, game, and tech fans in Tokyo. Located only a scant 5-10 minutes from Asakusa, the famous temple district in Tokyo, this place has absolutely anything you could ever want, and there’s so much to see it took two trips to see everything I wanted to (or at least had time to). Akihabara has an interesting little history.