Elsewhere, 9/30

For many years, Tokoy’s Akihabara district has been the Mecca of otaku-dom, with its countless computer, electronics, anime, and manga stores. But according to Patrick Macias, recent development and government programs have resulted in Akihabara becoming increasingly generic and commercialized, pushing out the otaku population that made it what it was. Via

Eric revisits Spiritual Warfare, and early Christian video game for the Nintendo: “I have converted thugs, skateboarders, homosexuals, and Hare Krishna members. I have done it with grapes, pomegranates, apples and bananas. I have blasted what I can only assume are union workers with vials of the wrath of God. I have cleaned up a slum where every single person is either a gangster or a wino stumbling around holding a beer bottle. I have used spirit points to buy God’s wrath to call down on the heathen, and anointing oil to heal my wounds (ironically without an elder in sight). This is ridiculous. Even the bible questions scattered throughout the game are simplistic and often taken out of context.” Wikipedia has more on the game.

As if there haven’t been enough versions of Neon Genesis Evangelion released over the years, here’s one more: Neon Genesis Evangelion Platinum: Perfect Collection. This collects all of the remastered “Platinum” releases, as well as the special features, and packages everything in a tin package.

Wired interviews Ridley Scott concerning Blade Runner and upcoming “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” (which I blogged about earlier). Man, I can’t wait to see Scott’s new cut, which screen at the New York Film Festival yesterday. GreenCine Daily has some coverage.

Paul Nethercott, who spoke at Cornerstone on the topic of Japanese culture and specifically the hikikomori phenomenon, wonders about Japanese pop culture’s popularity in the West, and what that means for missions in Japan: “The current popularity of Japanese pop culture in the West may be the catalyst for a new surge of young people coming to Japan as missionaries. These young people are ‘connecting’ with Japan via anime, manga, and J-pop. They tend to be bright, creative, media savvy, unconventional, and many aren’t interested in raising support; some young adults who fit this profile are already showing up in Japan. And, there are signs that many more will follow.”

The wife and I have been dying to see the third season of Battlestar Galactica, but no DVD announcement has been forthcoming. And now there’s another spin-off series entitled “Battlestar Galactica: Razor” that’s starting up this week. Sigh… Via