iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Found at least one more... Caravan Shooting Collection (from Hudson) has straight-up Famicom ports of Star Force, Star Soldier, and Hector '87. Will have to keep an eye out for others.

A shot of the title screen for Caravan Shooting Collection on the Super Famicom.

A shot of the game selection screen for Caravan Shooting Collection.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Wrecking Crew '98 on the Super Famicom includes the original Wrecking Crew as a bonus, and I've gotta say it feels absolutely bizarre to be playing a straight-up Famicom port on the SFC. I don't think there were too many of these, if any others even exist.

A screenshot of the game select screen on Wrecking Crew '98 for the Super Famicom.

A screenshot of Wrecking Crew on the Super Famicom.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Did you know that the main theme of the Captain Commando video game has official lyrics (that were translated into English no less)? Well, now you know.

The lyrics to Crime Jungle, the main theme of the Captain Commando video game.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Hoo boy what is that Jonny Five looking thing on the left there? Sometimes plain old turn signal stalks are ok, folks.

A picture of a car design project that I'm sure had good intentions but would be horribly impractical to use in real life.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

If I'm reading this correctly, Sonic's official "dislike" is a kanazuchi, which is a very specific kind of hammer? Am I missing something here?

A screenshot of Sonic Jam for the Sega Saturn showing Sonic's official details.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Nintendo... Guys... Teapot Dome was right there. I don't think you needed to worry about angering anyone in the Harding administration.

A screenshot of Wario Land for the Game Boy, played on Nintendo Switch hardware.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

From the "You never really know" file: in the July 2002 issue of Game Informer, Metroid Prime and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (both stone-cold classics) got these scathing write-ups in the magazine's annual E3 report. Hopefully, whoever wrote these got assigned to GI Vault cleanup duty.

A screenshot from the July 2002 issue of Game Informer magazine, bashing a preview version of Metroid Prime.

A screenshot from the July 2002 issue of Game Informer magazine, bashing a preview version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

I must have only kept the cover of this TV Bros. (think of a more stylish TV Guide) because of the Yoda/Clone Wars cover art. Even now, I don't think that I recognize a single name on there (apart from Shinjo, who is a baseball player).

A 2003 Kansai-version cover of TV Bros. magazine from Japan featuring Yoda from the Clone Wars animated series.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The previously unreleased D-Hopper and Zero Racers for Virtual Boy are listed under "Nintendo Classics" in the Nintendo Switch Online application, which is both weird and kind of cool at the same time.

A screenshot of Virtual Boy titles from the Nintendo Classics section of the Switch Online application.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

While looking at the latest news for the Civic Si production "pause", this ad had the nerve to show up on my screen. Figured that it needed an adjustment.

A screenshot of a Honda Civic Si advertisement, adjusted to say "never again".

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I feel like I should also mention Game Tengoku has one of the nicest main menu/option select screens that I've seen, featuring a really nice, large animated & voiced character sprite. Again, just really high production values from a game that doesn't have the highest profile in the industry.

A screenshot of Game Tengoku for the Sega Saturn.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

Really digging these cheerful robot designs in Xexyz for the NES. Thanks for being such great pals, guys!

A screenshot of Xexyz for the NES featuring a cheerful robot.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Was going through some vintage electronics and found these totally bitching AA batteries which clearly hadn't been touched in decades. Looks like Kodak outsourced this production, I wonder who actually made these? Panasonic? Maxwell?

Old AA batteries from Kodak with a really cool design.

The other side of the battery, showing that it was made in Japan.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

I think not enough attention is paid to Game Tengoku, specifically for 1) just how flat out weird it is, and 2) surprisingly, the amazing quality of the graphics. Endless gaming spoofs incorporated onto the gameplay? Check. Tons of massive, screen-filling sprites with no slowdown? Check.

A screenshot of Game Tengoku on the Sega Saturn.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

No joke, from a strictly design-related perspective, this may be one of the most "patriotic" pieces of clothing that I own.

A Tamiya T-shirt with red and blue squares outlining white stars in negative space.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

These two images were back to back on my feed which just feels weird

A screenshot of Bluesky, with two videogame characters in similar poses.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Disney Afternoon Collection, physical edition, on Switch. Never thought I'd see the day.

A picture of Disney Afternoon Collection for the Nintendo Switch.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Didn't have a lot of luggage space, but here are some pickups from my latest trip to Japan. Kind of a grab bag of random stuff; I picked up whatever looked interesting (and didn't break the bank). I think I had good reasons for getting each one.

A picture of a Konami Super Famicom controller, R-Type Delta HD and Steel Empire Chronicles for the Nintendo Switch, a Mega CD Silpheed strategy guide, a Sega taikan arcade games book, Slam & Jam '96 for the Sega Saturn.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Uhh, what now? This is actually brilliant, and opens up all kinds of new gameplay ideas.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Received these very stylish "Ninja Food" hard gummy candies in the mail. Why these are ninja-related exactly, I have no idea, but they are tasty.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Man, look at Lotteria catching strays here in a 2008 issue of Nintendo Power. I don't think it's _that_ bad, guys.

An article from Nintendo Power being extremely critical of the Lotteria burger chain.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Same energy. (I don't own one of these, though.)

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

This 1998 ESPN The Magazine Article on Japanese pitchers (Nomo, Yoshii, Irabu) features the phrase "One fishmonger doesn't tell another how to do his business" like it's some commonplace saying. I've studied and lived in Japan for many, many years and never heard this once. Am I missing something?

An ESPN The Magazine Article from 1998 about Japanese baseball pitchers in the Major Leagues.

An article about fishmongers doing their own business.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

Gillette Cool Wave deodorant, for when you must absolutely use a personal hygiene product that sounds like a song title from the Outrun radio station select screen

A picture of Gillette Cool Wave deodorant.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

Check out the Nissan Urge, a concept car from 2006 with a built-in Xbox 360 console. Perhaps if Nissan had built this, they wouldn't be in trouble like they are today. (They'd still be in trouble.)

An article from the February 2006 issue of Game Informer magazine showing the Nissan Urge concept car.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

Uh, there were rumors of a Gradius game for the PS3?? From the November 2005 issue of Game Informer magazine. Did anything more come of this??

A screenshot on an article from Game Informer magazine mentioning a Gradius game in development for the Playstation 3.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Ok, I definitely had a Zima in Japan as late as January 2025... so at least it lasted a little bit longer than that.

A can of Zima from Japan in January 2025.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Again, this concept is amazing and the fact that it even basically works at all is really cool, but... headaches.

A picture of a Nintendo Switch in a Virtual Boy accessory.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

Missing the days when 1. videogame print magazines existed, and 2. new cars were cheap enough that they could be reasonably advertised in one. Here's a great example from Game Informer in 2005, the outstanding 8th-gen Civic Si, one of my favorite cars of all time.

An advertisement for the Honda Civic Si in the October 2005 issue of Game Informer magazine.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Yeeesh. The Consumer Guide "more Strategies for Nintendo Games" book got kids started on the war crimes early.

A picture of a strategy guide for Guerilla War on the NES.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Wait, someone made mini cel-shaded RC cars from the PS2 Auto Modellista game? That's amazing.

An article from PSM magazine showing small remote-controlled cars.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 11/02/2026

I like how the cast listing on the IMDB page for Office Space makes these two guys look like they're in a scene together, even though these are two completely separate pictures

A screenshot of the Office Space movie page on the IMDb app.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

That's some very solid localization work there, courtesy of Hudson Soft

A screenshot of Adventure Island II for the Super Nintendo

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Next Channing Tatum action movie just announced

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

No joke, for years I thought the name of this game was "X Granada X"

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 09/01/2026

About 4,000 quality Canadian Calories here. All Dressed remains the King/Roy of potato chips

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 30/12/2025

Sure, you've watched Netflix, but have you ever wondered if you could _eat_ Netflix? If so, House Foods has this spicy black curry just for you. (There's a whole line of Netflix-themed foods at Japanese 7-11 stores, if you can believe it.)

A box of Netflix-themed retort curry from Japan.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

One of the more bizarre tie-ups that I've seen in Japan, drink maker Cheerio teamed with Japan's various Self-Defense Force branches for special designs of their Jungleman energy drink. (Each of the three designs would come out randomly. I got the Air Self-Defense Force version.)

A drink vending machine in Japan with military-themed energy drinks.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

If you pre-ordered Nintendo World Championships for Switch from Yodobashi Camera, you got this neat dual acrylic Super Mario Bros keychain as a bonus. However, this falls into the category of "something too nice to ever actually use", so into the storage box it goes.

A package for the dual Super Mario Bros keychain.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

The refreshed Subaru Forester just won the prestigious Japan Car of the Year award. It's only received mildly positive reviews in the States (comfortable and practical but not exciting, like other Subaru SUVs), so it's interesting to see the gap in evaluation between the two countries.

Subaru Forester winning Japan Car of the Year.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

It wasn't bad, as these things go.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Enjoy your Kyoto-branded instant Ramen... manufactured, of course, hundred of miles/km away in rural Ibaraki prefecture!

Instant Ramen with Kyoto prominently mentioned.

Manufacturer's address in Ibaraki prefecture.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 30/11/2025

Yes, Nissan has had financial problems as of late, but that hasn't stopped them from being the leading sponsor for Sazae-san, one of Japan's longest running and most beloved television shows. If this ends, though, it's definitely not a good sign.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

JP retailers keep pushing Black Friday as the hot new thing, and... I just don't see the demand for it. The Friday after the 4th Thursday in November is just a regular weekday. People are working. Kids are going to school. There's no time to shop, even online. Completely top-down phenomenon.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Just re-read that third bullet point... I promise to you that English is my first language. Anyways, we have to return to this golden age:

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Dug out my old PS3 only to find out that: -My HDMI monitor doesn't have speakers or an audio jack -Apparently the PS3 connects to Bluetooth headphones but not really? -You can try to connect USB to the PS3 headphones but they don't do anything So, Sega Ages Hang-On w/o sound it is then...

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Boss Coffeee and Dragon Quest have a collaboration going on, and the graphic design team at Suntory is really getting into it. Like how they've incorporated the design motifs from each brand here.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

To clarify the previous post, this is a mid-cycle refresh, but Honda is doubling down by making the RS grade MT-only, adding exclusive dispaly graphics including a g-force meter, improved seats, and a revamped exterior including these amazing white wheels. Anyways, I want one.

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Arrrgh-Type @arrrghtype.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

Here's one I haven't seen in Japan before - Skittles! This isn't some weird one-off import from Kaldi or something either, these are fully designed and packed for the Japan market. Wonder how long these will last.

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