Recently in the city of Parañaque, a shooting incident that happened in a local community’s basketball court resulted in the deaths of two people and four people getting injured, according to a Manila Bulletin news report. The armed suspect remains at large.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Two people were killed while four others were injured in a shooting incident inside a basketball court at a condominium complex in Parañaque on Wednesday night, March 4.
Police said the victims were reportedly playing basketball when a 59-year-old suspect, allegedly armed with a 9mm pistol, opened fire in the area.
The incident occurred at around 7:59 p.m. at the basketball court of Azure Residences, located in Barangay Marcelo Green.
According to Parañaque City Police Chief Col. Nicolas Pinon, the suspect, who is a resident of one of the condominium units, reportedly went down from his unit for no apparent reason, entered through the main gate of the basketball court, and started shooting at the group of men playing basketball.
Pinon said that based on the CCTV footage obtained by the police, the group of men scampered in different directions while two victims were critically wounded and later died due to the shooting.
He added that the four injured victims were rushed to a hospital after the incident and were reportedly in unstable condition.
The city police chief said the suspect exited through the main gate of the basketball court and fled on foot toward SM Bicutan after the shooting.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that violent crime like what was reported will continue to happen? What do you think is the motive of the suspect? Do you know anyone who lives in Azure Urban Resort Residences?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Even though it has been severely damaged by the joint forces of the United States and Israel, the Islamic terrorist state of Iran continued to retaliate by launching missiles and drones not only at American and Israeli forces, but also on sovereign nations in the Middle East such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Islamist Qatar and more. As such, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae condemned Iran for the destruction it committed, according to a news article by Nippon TV.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news article of Nippon TV. Some parts in boldface…
Amid continued tensions surrounding the situation in Iran, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae spoke on the phone with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on March 5 and told him she condemns Iran’s actions.
Officials said that at the start of the roughly 20-minute conversation, Merz provided an overview of the international situation, taking into account events including his summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.
In response, Takaichi told Merz that she condemns Iran’s actions, including attacks that have extended to civilian and diplomatic facilities and resulted in civilian casualties. The two leaders agreed to work together to de-escalate the situation as quickly as possible.
Ahead of the phone call, Takaichi met with visiting UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Al Jaber at her office.
In the talks, Takaichi asked for cooperation from the United Arab Emirates in safeguarding Japanese nationals and maintaining a stable supply of oil to Japan.
Officials said Jaber expressed his intention to cooperate in areas such as ensuring the safety of Japanese citizens.
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, there have been disruptions in logistics, with tankers becoming stalled near the Strait of Hormuz.
Japanese automaker Toyota Motor is said to be considering reducing its production of vehicles bound for the Middle East.
According to sources, Toyota has notified parts manufacturers and other relevant entities about the possibility that it may reduce the number of vehicles produced. Toyota has not disclosed details of its production plans or whether it uses the Strait of Hormuz.
But last year, the company exported about 320,000 vehicles, including Land Cruisers, to Middle Eastern countries.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran is just days away from totally collapsing as the United States and Israel keep on pounding them with military weapons? Do you think the wicked government of Iran is paying any attention to the Prime Minister of Japan? Why do you think the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran deliberately targets civilians with missiles and drones? Did you notice a lot of people in your local community who openly support the Islamic terrorist state of Iran?
Welcome back fellow geeks, Blu-ray collectors and movie buffs!
I previously blogged about what was back then the upcoming release of the 4K Blu-ray of the classic and multi-awarded movie Ben-Hur (1959). In recent times, my copy of Ben-Hur 4K Blu-ray arrived and having replayed the movie using my Xbox Series X console, I can say that I had a grand experience watching it and it looks better than ever!
To begin with, my set came with two 4K Blu-ray discs (one disc with 100 Gigabytes and the other with 66 Gigabytes in capacity) that carried the movie in two parts in native 4K visuals (there was an intermission in the film itself). The other disc (50 Gigabytes) contained mainly the special features and extras which should delight the long-time fans and moviegoers who want to learn more about the movie, who was who and what the film’s history was about.
This is the first 4K Blu-ray disc which contains the first portion of the movie of 2 hours and 20 minutes. Behind it is the 2nd 4K Blu-ray disc and the special features-only disc (green).
With regards to my personal viewing experience, I can say that Ben-Hur looks very stunning in native 4K visuals. With the 4K resolution, I was able to spot some tiny details I did not notice before. The colors look more vibrant compared to what I saw on DVD and on cable TV, and the same can be said about the clarity (the lighting and contrasting were adjusted with better visuals in mind). There is also a boost on the sharpness.
I did not spot any visual blemishes and the all the way until the very end, the film looked more lively than ever before. That said, the famous chariot scene is at its greatest in native 4K. Not only that, the great cinematography captured by the team of director William Wyler also looks better than ever. For a preview of how much an improvement Ben-Hur 4K Blu-ray is over the previous Blu-ray disc release, watch the video below and look closely at the still images compared.
Adding more impact to the visuals, unsurprisingly, are the very solid performances of Charlton Heston as Judah Ben-Hur, Stephen Boyd as the antagonistic Messala of the evil Roman Empire, Haya Harareet as Esther and Hugh Griffith as the loud Arab to name a few. The actors’ performances deserve your attention, especially when it comes to following the story and remembering the personal directions each character took and how they developed over time.
It is now safe to say that the visuals of Ben-Hur 4K Blu-ray are truly excellent and the extra stuff provide good enough value for those who want more from the movie. I am very happy with Ben-Hur 4K Blu-ray and I will replay it again soon. Viewing the classic movie in native 4K and with lively colors is a grand experience which streaming cannot match! It is easily one of the very best movies in my 4K Blu-ray collection now!
This is my copy of Ben-Hur 4K Blu-ray. It is easily one of the very best in my personal collection of 4K Blu-ray movies!
If you wish to join a group of movie enthusiasts and talk about cinema, cinematic trends, Blu-ray releases and more relevant stuff, visit the Movie Fans Worldwide Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/322857711779576
Recently in the city of Parañaque, two individuals were arrested by the local police for selling fake luxury bags, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The law enforcers responded to a complaint filed by a victim.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Police arrested two suspects in an entrapment operation for allegedly selling fake luxury bags on Thursday afternoon, Feb. 26.
The suspects were identified as Glen, 25, and Imel, 29, both residents of Barangay San Isidro, Parañaque City.
They were arrested at a dining establishment along Aseana Avenue in Barangay Tambo during an entrapment operation conducted by members of the Station Intelligence Section and the Investigation and Detective Management Section, in coordination with the AFP Army Intelligence Regiment.
Police said the arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a 29-year-old call center agent, who reported that the suspects sold her a fake “Birkin” bag from Hermès worth P700,000 last Feb. 7.
The victim told police that the bag was confirmed to be counterfeit after it underwent validation and authentication.
Authorities conducted the entrapment operation after the victim reported that the suspects contacted her again, offering to sell a “Kelly 25” bag from Hermès worth P950,000.
During the arrest, police recovered from the suspects a white Kelly 25 bag and a black Kelly 25 bag, both branded as Hermès, as well as items bearing brands such as Chanel and Coach. A magnifying loupe glass was also seized.
Authorities likewise confiscated several mobile devices, including an iPhone 13, a Samsung Galaxy 11, a Tecno Go Spark 2, and an iPhone 6, along with P2,000 in cash and 98 pieces of boodle money.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you thankful that the local police officers were successful in arresting the suspects? Do you know anyone who was fooled into spending a high amount of money on fake products?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
A new debit Mastercard was launched recently by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) which will be available for free for clients who open an account through bank branches and also for existing clients whose existing cards are about to expire or are due for renewal, according to a business news report by GMA Network.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of GMA News. Some parts in boldface…
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has launched a new debit Mastercard made from 100% recycled PVC-free plastic, as the Ayala-led lender boosts its sustainable banking efforts.
The new card will be available for free for clients who open an account through the bank’s branches and for existing clients with cards nearing expiry or are already due for renewal. Clients who switch to the new card will be charged a P200 replacement fee.
The card—which features a curved notch at the bottom left corner—can be requested through the BPI app or BPI Online, and may be available for pickup at the preferred branch.
“Reimagining the BPI Debit Mastercard to become an eco-friendly card is a testament to BPI’s commitment to its values of sustainability and innovation,” BPI Mass Retail head Jenny Lacerna said in an emailed statement.
“By using sustainable materials for our card, we hope to make sustainable behavior the default option for everyone,” she added.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? What is your observation about the new debit card launched by BPI? If you are an existing BPI account holder, do you intend to request for the new card?
Welcome back my readers, YouTube viewers and all others who followed this series of articles focused on YouTube videos worth watching. Have you been searching for something fun or interesting to watch on YouTube? Do you feel bored right now and you crave for something to see on the world’s most popular online video destination?
I recommend you check out the following videos I found.
#1 Dead Rising Revisited – I can hardly believe that it will be twenty years since I first play Dead Rising on a rented Xbox 360 console. Released by Capcom in August 2006, Dead Rising is a zombie apocalypse adventure game developed by a Japanese team with Keiji Inafune (Mega Man) as producer. As its story was mainly set in a shopping mall, the game was easily compared with the Dawn of the Dead movies. When I first played it, I was hooked as the gameplay was pretty playable and the in-game action was entertainingly exaggerated. That said, now is a good time to revisit Dead Rising with the video below.
#2 The Binions In Las Vegas –I have toured Las Vegas twice in my life. Still, I never actually visited Binion’s Gambling Hall and Hotel which is located in Downtown Las Vegas on the Fremont Street Experience. Historically, it is know as the place where the World Series of Poker started and it had a unique gambling atmosphere with classic table games and low-limit slots. However, if you look even deeper into the history of the Binions place and the family that originally owned, there is something darker and intriguing to discover. Watch and learn from the video below.
#3 Night Of The Living Dead (1968) Revisited – What is there to say about the original Night of the Living Dead movie from 1968? The George Romero-directed zombie apocalypse movie has long been declared as the most definitive zombie horror movie and was considered as the turning point in horror film-making. As such, it is not surprising to see the movie (in public domain since the beginning) featured in multiple movie reaction videos and retrospective videos on YouTube. For your curiosity and enjoyment, watch the videos below.
#4 Notable Places Beneath Tokyo Tower – The last time I toured Japan was way back in 1997. During that same trip, I visited Tokyo Tower and enjoyed a fine view of the city several feet above ground. As our city tour moved on a somewhat tight schedule, I was not able to fully explore Tokyo Tower. That said, Nippon TV posted recently a video about the places to shop, visit and dine beneath the famous tower. Watch and learn from the video below.
#5 Street Fighter Alpha 2 SNES Version Examined – Back in 1996, I was an avid arcade gamer and Street Fighter Alpha 2 was my favorite among the many 2D fighting games available in local arcades. In late-1996, copies of Street Fighter Alpha 2 running on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) were displayed in game stores which caught my attention because I never expected the console to be capable of processing the game and making it playable (note: Street Fighter Alpha games of the time were prominently released on PlayStation and Sega Saturn). To examine closely the quality of the SNES port of Street Fighter Alpha 2, watch the video below.
#6 Democrats’ Chuck Schumer Proved Himself Pathetic – Do you have a high-ranking representative or leader in government who does NOT care about you and the nation at all? The Democrats of America today are a bunch of unhinged, twisted, wicked and unpatriotic people who do not really care about the American people. One of them is the Democrats’ leader in the US Senate Chuck Schumer who prioritized the rainbow pride flag over America. Watch the video below.
As the Islamic terrorist state of Iran – which lost its demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – kept on firing missiles and drones at several locations in the Middle East in retaliation to the joint US-Israel military operations, a Filipina worker in Israel got killed by an Iranian missile and already the embassies of both the Philippines and Israel expressed their condolences to the victim’s family, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
Israel’s embassy in the Philippines has expressed its condolences to the family of the Filipina caregiver who was killed during an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Mary Ann Velasquez de Vera, 32, from Basista, Pangasinan, lost her life when a missile struck her apartment on March 1, according (to) the Israel Embassy in Manila. Before this, she was still assisting her patient to safety while she, herself, was already injured.
“Mary Ann, like so many overseas Filipino workers in Israel, exemplified resilience, compassion, and quiet strength,” the Israeli Embassy in Manila said.
“She was identified by her husband, who is also an overseas Filipino worker in Israel, and their family,” it added.
“Israel joins in the profound sorrow of her family and the Filipino community. We mourn together and honor Mary Ann’s memory with dignity and respect. May her soul rest in peace,” it also said.
The Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv also conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family through a phone call made by Ambassador Aileen Mendiola to her husband. Mendilola assured him of the Philippine government’s full assistance.
In a separate news report by GMA News, Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh confirmed that the Jewish state has committed to providing lifetime support to the family of the victim. Under under Israeli law, the families of individuals injured or killed during a conflict — whether Israeli citizens or foreign nationals — are entitled to lifetime benefits.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this recent development? Do you think the Philippines should suspend diplomatic ties with the Islamic terrorist state of Iran? Do you think the terrorist regime of Iran should be held accountable for attacking civilians with missiles and drones so indiscriminately? How long do you think the conflict in the Middle East will last? Are you hoping that Trump’s America, Israel and all the affected nations of the Middle East will band together to end the Islamic terrorist government of Iran? Did you notice any Islamist in your local community expressing support for Iran and Islamic terrorists?
Now that the demonic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been eliminated, the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran decided to attack not only America forces and Israel but also other Arab states with missiles and drones which easily caused travel and economic disruptions on the rest of the world. In response to what happened, Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae urged Iran to solve its conflict with America and Israel diplomatically, according to a news report by Kyodo News. She also demanded Iran to stop destabilizing the region.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the Kyodo News. Some parts in boldface…
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Monday urged Iran to seek a “diplomatic solution” amid an escalation in the Middle East conflict following U.S. and Israeli strikes targeting Tehran.
At a parliamentary committee meeting, Takaichi demanded Iran stop any actions that “destabilize the region” including its nuclear weapon development, which she said is “absolutely unacceptable,” as well as attacks on its surrounding countries.
“We will work in coordination with the international community toward an early deescalation of the situation and continue to make every necessary diplomatic effort,” Takaichi said, without expressing her view on the weekend bombardment launched by the United States, Japan’s close security ally, and Israel.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said at the Diet session that no Japanese casualties in Iran have been reported so far, while the government is preparing for a possible evacuation operation for Japanese nationals in the region.
About 200 Japanese citizens live in Iran and 7,700 reside in total in the nations that have been attacked by Iran’s attacks, Motegi added.
The Japanese Embassy in Israel is planning to operate a bus for an evacuation as early as Monday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara told a press conference. Organizing a large-scale evacuation in Iran is difficult, however, because airports are closed and land routes are dangerous, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Due to its heavy reliance on the Middle East for crude oil, Japan, a resource-poor country that has traditionally maintained friendly ties with Iran, has a vital interest in stability in the region.
The Japanese government is watching the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, an oil shipping route vital for Japan, with the U.S. and Israeli strikes prompting Iranian attacks on other Gulf nations in addition to Israel.
At this stage, the Japanese stock market fell down by 2% over growing concerns about the global economic outlook following the joint US-Israel attacks on the terrorist state.
In what looked like a desperate series of moves, the Islamic terrorist government of Iran launched even more missiles in the Middle East causing more damage, injuries and deaths. Iran made it clear it does not care about the civilians in the region and they are willing to hit the Arab states recklessly. US President Donald J. Trump released a new video message telling the oppressed people of Iran to take back their country.
For updates about what happened lately, watch the videos below.
Let me ending this post by asking you readers to pray to the Lord for victory, for the protection of the American and Israeli forces, for the safety of civilians everywhere, for the end of the Islamic terrorist regime of Iran to happen soon, and for the liberation of the oppressed Iranian people. Pray to Him to also bless US President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as their respective administrations. Pray to God for more peace and stability in the Middle East.
Recently in the city of Parañaque, a wanted virtual assistant was apprehended by the local police for four counts of qualified theft, according to a news report by the Manila Bulletin. The police officers were armed with a warrant of arrest.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…
A female virtual assistant facing four counts of qualified theft through falsification of private documents was arrested during an operation in Parañaque City on Feb. 24.
The suspect was identified as “Maria,” 28, a resident of Barangay San Dionisio, and was listed as the No. 6 most wanted person. She was arrested by members of the Parañaque City Police–San Dionisio Substation along Dr. A. Santos Avenue.
Maria was arrested after police served a warrant of arrest issued by Judge Regina Paz Ramos-Chavez of the Parañaque City Regional Trial Court, Branch 274. The court recommended bail of P130,000.
The suspect is now detained at the Parañaque City Police custodial facility pending the return of the warrant to the issuing court.
Southern Police District (SPD) Director Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo said the arrest is a clear message that no one can hide from the law.
Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, are you concerned that there could be more people who worked as virtual assistants who could have committed theft? When doing transactions, do you do it over-the-counter or online?
For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673
Welcome back readers, fellow geeks and electronic gaming fans!
In this edition of the Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) series, we will take a look at another batch of retro gaming print ads from the 1980s to the 1990s focused mainly on role-playing games (RPGs) from the East and the West. This is the RPG Special!
For the newcomers reading this, Retro Gaming Ads Blast (RGAB) looks back at the many print ads of games (console, arcade, computer and handheld) that were published in comic books, magazines, flyers, posters and newspapers long before smartphones, social media, the worldwide web and streaming became popular. To put things in perspective, people back in the 1980s to the 1990s were more trusting of print media for information and images about electronic games and related products.
With those details laid down, here is the newest batch of retro gaming print ads for you to see and enjoy…
1. Dragon Warrior II Print Ad
The art style used made this one looked similar with Dungeons & Dragons.
When Dragon Quest was released in America titled as Dragon Warrior, its sales there came nowhere close to what it sold in Japan. The game, however, sold enough copies to convince Enix to bring the sequel Dragon Warrior II (Japanese title: Dragon Quest II) to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in America and they came up with an ad that had obvious Western-style artwork to emphasize the fantasy elements. By comparison, the Japanese version of the game used the distinct art of Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z). Back in those days, there was this belief that Toriyama’s art style would not be effective in promoting the game in America.
2. Breath Of Fire Japanese Print Ad
This is how Breath of Fire looked like in Japanese print media.
In 1993, Capcom officially broke into the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre with Breath of Fire on the Super Family Computer (Super Famicom). The print ad they came up with for the Japanese market showed several characters – including Ryu and Nina who would later become recurring characters as sequels were released – with designs that had elements of anime and manga styles blended which contrasted the gritty and realistic approach of Western fantasy art. The ad made it clear to readers that new adventures in a fantastic world await them. The game achieved enough commercial success in Japan which convinced Capcom to make a sequel (plus more in the years that followed).
3. Phantasy Star II North American Print Ad
The 3-page ad showcasing Phantasy Star II and many other games.
After selling a good amount of copies of the original Phantasy Star worldwide on the Sega Master System, Sega knew they were on to something. They confidently produced the sequel Phantasy Star II for their brand-new Sega Genesis console in 1989 and aggressively promoted it in America with a daring 3-page print ad. If you look closely, majority of two of the pages were used to promote Phantasy Star II with screenshots (including a big one with a TV), the text description and the console. The spaces below allowed Sega to promote their many other games in convenient fashion. The result is huge success for Sega as more than 1.6 million copies of Phantasy Star II were sold worldwide. Sega would go on to make even more Phantasy Star games.
4. Estopolis Denki II Japanese Print Ad
Estopolis Denki II print ad in Japan.
When Estopolis Denki was released on the Super Famicom in Japan, sold enough copies to justify not only bringing the game to Western markets as Lufia & The Fortress of Doom but also the production of a follow-up titled Estopolis Denki II. To promote it, Taito made a Japanese print ad that had a captivating art style (with the characters looking more realistic and a floating land that had a gritty touch), some screenshots and the promise of fantastic adventures. While the game’s title sounded like a sequel, its story was actually set in the past. Estopolis Denki II would be released in the West as Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals.
5. Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals North American Print Ad
Clearly Natsume did not have any game critics quotes to use to promote Lufia II.
When the first Lufia RPG was released in America on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), it became a commercial hit finishing as the top SNES game in the February 1994 sales chart. The sequel Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals was published by Natsume in America in 1996 and they daringly called it “The Ultimate Role Playing Game!” in its print ad utilizing the official artwork of a major character, two screenshots and descriptive text giving readers an idea on what to expect. This ad strongly relied on the visual elements while the first game’s American print ad (made by Taito) emphasized the critical acclaim received.
6. Chrono Trigger North American Print Ad
A lot of Dragon Ball Z fans recognized the art style of Akira Toriyama here.
Chrono Trigger, the JRPG that had the dream team creators of Hironobu Sakaguchi (Final Fantasy creator), Yuji Horii (Dragon Quest creator) and Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball Z creator) behind the production, was easily the most ambitious game SquareSoft released in 1995. As part of the marketing strategy for the North American market, Square came up with a 2-page ad that had Toriyama’s art as the dominant image while using the remaining space for screenshots, the description and the SNES box cover placed strategically. Such a creative visual design was eye-catching and even memorable. Chrono Trigger became a huge commercial and critical hit in the West and it has long been regarded as a classic JRPG.
7. Secret of Evermore North American Print Ad
The creepy red images overshadowed the promotion of Secret of Evermore in America. Some readers might have been scared away by this ad.
Still in 1995, Square released Secret of Evermore for the SNES. Unlike most of Square’s RPGs, Secret of Evermore was developed by an American team in Washington state which explains why the game has a very distinct tone and strongly Western art style (note: the gameplay was patterned after that of Secret of Mana). To promote the game, Square came up with a very odd-looking 2-page print ad that had two dominating red images – eyes of a man on top and the front of a dog below) that felt like a forced approach to emphasize the game’s concept of the hero (a teenager boy) and his loyal dog (a very capable fighter). They used the remaining space for screenshots (which made gamers believe it was a sequel to Secret of Mana), the game box cover and a not so helpful text description. In my view, this print ad was a marketing misfire and Square could have produced hand-drawn art of the hero and his dog instead of the creepy red pictures.
8. Star Ocean: The Second Story North American Print Ad
A really odd-looking print ad.
The Star Ocean JRPG franchise of Enix had its first game released in Japan only. That first game on Super Famicom sold a lot of copies which led to the production of the sequel Star Ocean: The Second Story. By the late 1990s, Enix itself had a partnership with developer tri-Ace on the Star Ocean games. Somewhere along the way, Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) secured the publishing rights of Star Ocean: The Second Story for not only America but also in other parts of the world. For the American market, Sony came up with a very odd-looking 2-page print ad that had a mail service form on the left. The form emphasized the concept of being away for a long time (reflecting the science fiction and extensive fantasy adventuring of the game itself) which incidentally was the eye-catcher of the ad. The other half of the page showing the game’s title, screenshots and detailed text description got overshadowed. This is another marketing misfire.
9. The Legend of Dragoon North American Print Ad
The movie poster-inspired print ad is memorable to look at.
Given how success Sony was with selling PlayStation consoles worldwide and how massively successful the Final Fantasy RPG franchise of SquareSoft was, it was not surprising that they decided to make their very own big-budget and exclusive JRPG with the intention to succeed and possibly establish a franchise. The result was the PlayStation-exclusive game The Legend of Dragoon which was made with a budget of $16 million and lasted three years in development. The game was released in Japan in late-1999 and sold at least 280,000 copies (note: majority of that in its first week of sales). In preparation for the June 2000 launch in America, Sony produced a print ad that had a very strong movie poster vibe showing what looked like painted art of the characters with vivid colors in the background and the title on the lower part. If you look closely, the credits were deliberately stylized over the way movie posters showed credits. While the game was not the massive hit Sony hoped for, it went on to become a million-seller and a great majority of its sales were from America. By today’s standards, the movie poster-like ad used to promote The Legend of Dragoon is memorable and an inspired piece of marketing work.
Author Carlo Carrasco 