Category: Music

Innovative Multimedia Group Blends Technology and Pop Sensibilities for New Album Featuring Vocals by Virtual Pop Culture Star Hatsune Miku

from VIZ Media:

Sony Music Direct (Japan), Inc., a division of Sony Music Entertainment Japan, Inc., has announced the U.S. release of the full-length major label debut from the Japanese pop group, Supercell, on Tuesday, June 21st. Supercell blends catchy pop melodies and technology-inspired vocals with captivating anime-influenced imagery and notably features the world’s first virtual pop star, Hatsune Miku. The new record will be available exclusively on iTunes and Amazon.

The album for Sony Music Direct is titled Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku and features a striking cover illustration of the singer by renowned manga artist Shiro Miwa. The record’s first single, “The World is Mine,” was released in North America on May 10th on iTunes and Amazon and placed as high as Number 4 on the iTunes World Music charts.

Supercell is a group of multimedia creators and artists led by composer/lyricist Ryo. Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create synthesized vocal tracks.

Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku features 12 upbeat tracks that are driven by the singer’s bright vocals supported by lush electronic, pop and rock-inspired melodies. “Because Hatsune Miku is portrayed as a 16 year-old girl, I wanted to compose love songs that would be believable for a teen like her to sing,” says Ryo.

He adds, “I’m very intrigued with the new possibilities for creativity that vocaloid technology and virtual personalities like that of Hatsune Miku present. This is the ultimate hybrid of organic human creativity combined with the latest technological innovation to produce a whole new kind of pop group. I’m very excited at the prospect of U.S. audiences discovering Supercell!”

In Japan, Hatsune Miku is a major national phenomenon appearing in many popular video games and music videos. She’s also played several sellout “concerts,” where she performed on stage as a 3D hologram backed by a live band. Her international notoriety is spreading to North America, where she’s currently featured in a new commercial for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. Hatsune Miku is also scheduled to perform her first U.S. concert with an event called “MIKUNOPOLIS in LOS ANGELES,” at the 2011 Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA July 1-4. Information on the concert is available at: mikunopolis.com.

More information on Supercell is available at: facebook.com/supercell.JPN.

“Alpocalypse” Available for Pre-Order Now!

from “Weird Al” Yankovic:

Why wait? “Weird Al” Yankovic’s new album — Alpocalypse — won’t be in stores until June 21, but you can pre-order it right now! This very minute! We’re not even kidding.

You can buy it as a regular CD, as a deluxe CD/DVD (with 10 music videos), or if you’ve got a healthy disposable income, as part of a fancy-schmancy super-deluxe package (with cool, collectible stuff)!

Check out all the options here! And choose wisely… the Alpocalypse will be upon us before you know it.

New Japanese Pop Group Supercell Releases First Single “THE WORLD IS MINE feat. Hatsune Miku” in U.S.

Supercell: THE WORLD IS MINE feat. Hatsune Miku

from VIZ Media:

Sony Music Direct (Japan) Inc., a division of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc. has announced the U.S. release of the first single — “THE WORLD IS MINE feat. Hatsune Miku” — by the Japanese pop group Supercell. The track is available now on Amazon (Amazon.com) and iTunes (iTunes.com).

Supercell is composed of a group of innovative multimedia creators for the 21st Century that blends catchy pop sensibilities, technology-inspired vocals, and captivating anime-influenced imagery. For the new single, “THE WORLD IS MINE,” the group employs the electronic vocals of Hatsune Miku, the world’s first virtual pop idol. Hatsune Miku, whose name means, “first sound of the future,” is a digital female avatar and the most popular of the Vocaloid Character Series software originally created by Crypton Future Media using Yamaha’s Vocaloid 2 engine to create synthesized vocal tracks.

In Japan, the popularity of Hatsune Miku has become a national phenomenon. She has appeared in several video games and music videos and has also performed several sellout “concerts,” where she appeared on stage as a 3D hologram, backed by a live band. Most recently she also appears in a new commercial for the U.S. market for the 2011 Toyota Corolla. The spot is also available on YouTube, and since its debut on May 4th, the segment has received more than 700,000 hits.

Supercell is a league of creators led by composer/lyricist Ryo, who produces the music and writes the lyrics. Ryo tapped other creators to provide an array of vivid illustrations, animation, design, and photography for album booklets, CD cases and music videos. On “THE WORLD IS MINE,” artwork features illustrations by Redjuice, a member of the league. Led by composer Ryo, Supercell’s songs were initially posted on the Nico Nico Douga video sharing service in Japan and quickly garnered more than 20 million views, feeding a frenzied interest in the group that is now spreading to new overseas markets.

The self entitled album, supercell, debuted in Japan from Sony Music Direct in 2009, selling more than 150,000 copies. Same year, the group performed the ending theme song for the 2009 anime series Bakemonogatari. In March 2010, Supercell received the award for “The Best 5 New Artists” at the 2010 Japan Gold Disc Awards, a major record industry awards event. The Supercell track, “Kocchi Muite Baby,” created by Ryo and featuring vocals by Hatsune Miku, peaked at No. 11 on Billboard Japan’s Hot Singles Chart last July.

New “Weird Al” Album Announced! Single on iTunes!

from “Weird Al” Yankovic:

In case you haven’t heard, Weird Al and Lady Gaga recently made a big splash in the news — it seems there was some kind of misunderstanding over Al’s parody of “Born This Way” (which he retitled “Perform This Way.”)

We’ll spare you all the gory details and just give you the happy ending: Gaga loves the parody, and the single is on iTunes right NOW!

This means that Al’s 13th studio album — his first in nearly 5 years — is finally complete.

“ALPOCALYPSE” drops on June 21.

Nintendo 3DS Changes the Way You View Portable Entertainment

from Nintendo of Canada:

Nintendo introduces portable entertainment in 3D — without the need for special glasses. The Nintendo 3DS system goes on sale in Canada on March 27 at a suggested retail price of $249.99. It comes with a collection of pre-installed games and fun features, with more on the way.

“Nintendo 3DS can play 3D video games and take 3D pictures, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Nintendo of America President, Reggie Fils-Aime. “The 3D display is amazing in its own right, but just as compelling are the new forms of gameplay it delivers, and the groundbreaking ways it will connect players to new content… and each other.”

To celebrate the arrival of the system, Nintendo is hosting launch events in Toronto and Vancouver on March 26 from 6 PM to 12 midnight. The events will feature hands-on Nintendo 3DS demos with food, music and giveaways (while supplies last), leading up to a countdown to midnight, when the Nintendo 3DS system goes on sale. Fans can visit nintendo.com/3ds/events/canadian-events/ for more information on the launch events as well as the Nintendo 3DS sampling tour.

Nintendo 3DS has 18 games available on launch day, with more than 30 total available by early June. Nintendo-published games available March 27 include:

Pilotwings Resort, a high-flying aerial adventure that lets you soar over a tropical island in a plane, on a hang glider or with a rocket belt. You can take on more than 30 challenging missions, or go sightseeing and snap pictures in the game.

nintendogs + cats, which lets you train and interact with your very own puppy and kitten. They react to your voice and will even welcome you with a lick of the face as you lean in. There are three different versions of the software, each featuring a different starting breed: Toy Poodle, Golden Retriever or French Bulldog. In each version, players can eventually unlock all 27 different breeds to enjoy.

Steel Diver, an action-packed and immersive 3D submarine combat adventure. Take command of your sub to control its speed, depth and pitch, and use both the touch-screen and motion-sensitive controls to navigate through lush undersea environments and fire torpedoes at enemy ships and obstacles.

Nintendo’s third-party publishing partners are rolling out their biggest names for launch day. Games ready for March 27 include Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition from Capcom, The Sims 3 from EA, Madden NFL Football from EA Sports, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars from LucasArts, Ridge Racer 3D from Namco Bandai Games America Inc., Super Monkey Ball 3D from Sega, Bust-a-Move Universe from Square-Enix, Inc., Samurai Warriors: Chronicles from Tecmo Koei America Corp., plus Asphalt 3D, Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D, Rayman 3D and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars from Ubisoft.

Meanwhile, Nintendo is working on Nintendo 3DS games from its top franchises, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and new installments in the Super Mario, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Paper Mario series. The system is also ready to play nearly every single Nintendo DS game with its original 2D graphics. Nintendo DS games that required the use of the Game Boy Advance slot are not compatible with the Nintendo 3DS system.

Nintendo 3DS features two screens. The top screen displays 3D images without the need for special glasses. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive. It also has three cameras. One inner camera points at you, while two exterior cameras let you take pictures of your friends and family in 3D or 2D. It weighs approximately 8 ounces and is available in Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue.

Built-in games and applications include Mii Maker, which uses facial recognition technology to create a Mii character that looks just like you; Face Raiders, which requires you to shoot at comical depictions of your own face as well as others around you; AR Games, which superimpose graphics and animations on the real world using the included AR Cards; and Nintendo 3DS Sound, which lets you listen to MP3 or AAC music files, or make your own recordings and play with them using fun filters. The StreetPass feature lets some of your games and applications wirelessly swap small bits of game data as you pass other Nintendo 3DS users throughout the day, if you choose. SpotPass, on the other hand, lets the Nintendo 3DS system detect wireless hotspots or wireless LAN access points and allows users to obtain information and game data when the system is in Sleep Mode. Free software and videos will also become available with future system updates.

Soon Nintendo will roll out a series of additional features for Nintendo 3DS, including an Internet browser, an online store called Nintendo eShop, and the ability to access 3D Hollywood movie trailers.

Remember that the Nintendo 3DS system features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit nintendo3ds.com.

“Star Wars” in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

from StarWars.com:

This summer, Star Wars fans and music lovers in the Los Angeles area can experience the sweeping music and epic story of the Star Wars saga in a two-night engagement of Star Wars: In Concert at the Hollywood Bowl.

On Friday, June 3 and Saturday June 4, 2011, the famed amphitheater will host the unique multi-media event featuring music from all six of John Williams’ epic Star Wars scores. Narrated live by Anthony Daniels (the actor who portrayed C-3PO in all six films), the production features principal conductor Dirk Brossé leading the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and choir, accompanied by specially edited footage from the films displayed on a three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen — one of the largest ever put on tour. The live music and film elements are synchronized in order to create a full multi-media, one-of-a-kind Star Wars experience.

Tickets go on sale starting Monday, March 14 at 10am Pacific. Tickets will be available at Ticketmaster Outlets, via phone (800) 745-3000, or online at ticketmaster.com. For more information about Star Wars: in Concert, visit the official website at StarWarsinConcert.com.

Star Wars: in Concert at the Hollywood Bowl is produced by Andrew Hewitt & Bill Silva Presents.

Save 20% on All Green MIMOBOTs during our St. Patty’s Week Sale!

from Mimoco:

St. Patty’s Week Specials! Take 20% OFF all green MIMOBOT designer USB flash drives! AND SAVE 50% on select Stuff We Like! Shop Now!

Batman X MIMOBOT Wave 1 Series — Shop Now!

Limited Edition Batman X MIMOBOT — Hurry before they’re all gone! Shop Now!

The Traveling Circus:

PAX East
We will be exhibiting at PAX Boston this weekend!
Booth #254!
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Boston, MA 02210
east.paxsite.com

SXSW
Come see us in Austin, TX at booths #1019 and #1118!
sxsw.com

FREE Shipping on ALL Orders Over $50! (Excludes Hawaii, Alaska)

“The Guild” Season 4 DVD in Retail Stores Today

from The Guild:

The Guild is pleased to announce that as of today, Season 4 is out on DVD in retail stores in the US and Canada. So if you didn’t already buy the DVD from Amazon, you can stop by your local Best Buy or Barnes and Noble (or your HMV or Indigo if in Canada) and buy one starting today.

As we posted before when the Amazon-exlusive DVD was released, the DVD is packed with tons of bonus features, including many DVD-only extras. Bonus features on the DVD include the “Game On” Music Video, The Making of the “Game On” Music Video, Cheesybeards featurette & commercial, Avinashi Returns featurette, Season 1 and 2 recaps, Season 3 recap by Auto-Tune the News, Table read by the cast, Audio Commentary with the Cast, Audio Commentary with the Creator, Director and Producer, Axis of Anarchy Interviews, Gag Reel, PDF of Script, Play All Feature and English Subtitles. The DVD is NTSC format and region-free.

NOTE: The content of the two different “versions” of the DVD are identical, the only difference is that the Amazon exclusive release comes on two DVD-R discs by Amazon’s Create Space, while this retail release is on a single, manufactured DVD.

Season 4 also available for purchase via iTunes, and if you’d prefer to buy online, here are some links: Barnes and Noble, Best Buy, HMV.ca, Indigo.ca, Amazon.ca (Canada) and Amazon.com (US).

Win a Cast Photo Signed by Felicia Day
To celebrate the retail release of the Season 4 DVD, we’re giving away some 8×10 photos of the cast, signed by creator/star Felicia Day. Simply take a photo of the Season 4 DVD in a retail store and post it to our Facebook page, Twitter (use @theguild in your tweet so we see it), or link it in the comments on this post. You have until midnight, US Pacific Time on Thursday 2/24 to post, and we’ll draw names at random from the valid entries. [Note: you don’t have to buy anything, just get a pic of the DVD — so if you’ve already bought the DVD, we don’t want to penalize you for that, you can still enter!]

Discuss the Season 4 DVD and iTunes release on our forums, and talk to us on Facebook, Twitter or by leaving a comment here!

Thanks,
The Guild Management

Nintendo Reveals Launch-Day Lineup of 18 Nintendo 3DS Games

from Nintendo of Canada:

On day one, new Nintendo 3DS owners will have plenty of video games to keep them busy. Nintendo and its third-party publishing partners have made sure that people who buy a system on March 27 will be able to choose from a variety of experiences that leverage the system’s new features. A steady and diverse stream of games of all kinds will keep the fun going, with more than 30 Nintendo 3DS games total launching before the E3 Expo in early June.

“Seeing 3D visuals without the need for special glasses is just one aspect of Nintendo 3DS,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The real test of any system is whether the games and applications draw you in and keep you engaged. Through the launch window and beyond, Nintendo 3DS delivers.”

On March 27, new Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to choose from the following Nintendo-published games, each available at a suggested retail price of $39.95:

  • Pilotwings Resort, an aerial adventure featuring airplanes, hang gliders and rocket belts. Players soar above tropical Wuhu Island in 3D as they complete missions or snap pictures.
  • Steel Diver, a submarine game that involves strategy and combat. The 3D visuals give players the sensation that they are looking into a miniature aquarium as they control the sub’s speed, depth and pitch, and fire torpedoes.
  • nintendogs + cats, a game that lets players interact with realistic puppies — and kittens — in a variety of fun ways. There are three versions of the software, each with different starting breeds: French bulldog, toy poodle and golden retriever. But in each version players can unlock and enjoy more than 20 different breeds.

Other Nintendo 3DS games in the works for 2011 from Nintendo include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and new installments in the Mario Kart series.

Third-party publishers also have a strong slate of games ready to go on March 27. These include:

  • Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition from Capcom
  • The Sims 3 from EA
  • Madden NFL Football from EA Sports
  • Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D from Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
  • LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars from LucasArts
  • Ridge Racer 3D from Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
  • Super Monkey Ball 3D from Sega
  • Bust-a-Move Universe from Square-Enix, Inc.
  • Samurai Warriors: Chronicles from Tecmo Koei America Corp.
  • Asphalt 3D from Ubisoft
  • Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D from Ubisoft
  • Rayman 3D from Ubisoft
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars from Ubisoft

Nintendo 3DS also comes pre-loaded with a variety of fun games, applications and features, such as the Nintendo 3DS camera, which can be used to take photos in 2D and 3D as well as be used in other games and applications. For instance, the built-in Face Raiders game asks users to shoot at funny depictions of their own photographed faces, while the Mii Maker application lets gamers use the camera to take a picture of a person and have an automatic Mii character created. The system also comes with six AR Cards, which, when viewed through the outer cameras, bring to life fun and interesting animations and images. For example, when used with nintendogs + cats, users might see their puppies or kittens sitting on their coffee tables or in the palms of their hands. With Nintendo 3DS Sound, users can enjoy sound-manipulation tools or rock out with their Nintendo 3DS system while listening to their MP3 or AAC music files.

Nintendo 3DS is also able to play nearly every game in the massive Nintendo DS library, except those that require use of a secondary Game Boy Advance slot.

For more information about Nintendo 3DS, visit nintendo3ds.com.