This news clip is in Japanese, but the guilty look on this man's face is universal.

On the early morning of July 9, a 16 year-old was slashed in the face. When TV Asahi arrived on the scene that same day to cover the incident, reporters happened to find a man out on evening bike ride. The reporter said that the suspected slasher was between 30 to 40 years old and around 180cm tall. The reporter then asked the man—45 year-old Yuuichi Yamamoto—if he had seen anyone who fits that description.

"You just said someone who looks like me," Yamamoto replied.

"Scary, it's it?" the reporter added. Yamamoto agreed. He said he was asleep when the incident happened—right in front of his apartment. During the interview, Yamamoto acted odd, and the reporter even asked, "I wasn't you was it?" To which the man replied, "It wasn't me."

Later that evening, Yamamoto went to the police station, where he was arrested. He stated that he did not recall the attack because he had spent the previous night drinking at home; however, he added that perhaps he carried out the attack. The answer to that question appears written all over his face.

直撃に「私みたいですね」45歳男が逮捕前カメラに [YouTube]

The Nintendo 3DS upgrade, the 3DS XL ("3DS LL" in Japan) will be hitting stores in Japan later this month and in the US in August. Looking at what will hopefully be a bigger launch than the launch for the original 3DS (Granted, they had to deal with a weak launch lineup and a major earthquake then.), Weekly Famitsu polled readers (552 valid responses) on their impressions and intent to purchase the 3DS's younger bigger brother.

Question 1: Do you plan to purchase a 3DS XL?
For intent to purchase, over 50% of responders expressed an interest, with 28.9% planning on purchasing the 3DS XL on release day and 29.4% responding that they plan on purchasing one eventually. Interestingly enough, of those who were in the "yes" camp, 71.7% already owned a 3DS, showing both the strength of the 3DS brand and also the wish of many users for an upgrade model.
24.3% had no plans to purchase one and 17.4% stated that they would decide after seeing an actual sample.

Question 2: What color 3DS XL do you want?
For the most part, choice of color was evenly divided. 38.9% were looking at the red and black, 32.8% a white, and 28.3% a silver and black model.

Question 3: What do you think about the retail price?
54.6% of responders thought that the price tag of ¥18,900 (US$238.34) was just Baby Bear right. Considering that there is no major difference between the 3DS and 3DS XL other than size, and the fact that the AC adaptor is sold separately, 27.4% thought it the price was high, while among the 18% that responded that they thought it was cheap, some noted that the drop in the AC adaptor price was part of their reasoning.

Question 4: What games are you looking to play on the 3DS XL?
Ever the popular brand in Japan, Monster Hunter 3G was at the top of most lists with 146 votes. Mariokart 7 came in second with 60 votes. Third was Resident Evil: Liberation with 38 votes. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D came in fourth and fifth with 34 votes and 33 votes.

Overall, impressions of the 3DS XL were positive. One user expressed excitement of a larger screen 3DS while another remarked that this would be their introduction to the 3DS market. One user even expressed hope that the 3DS XL would become the standard model. On the opposite side, some retailers noted the necessity to inform customers that the AC adaptor was not included every time could lead to confusion and complications, while others wondered if the increase in weight may not be suitable for the hands of children and might decrease the portability of the portable console.

The Nintendo 3DS XL will be sold in Japan starting July 28th for ¥18,900 (US$238.34), and in the US starting August 19th for US$199.

ファミ通.com [ファミ通.com]

Free-to-play online game Phantasy Star Online 2 was hacked, and non-playable characters were moved about as, it seems, some sort of prank.

In the game's Ship02 location, non-playable characters were moved out of players reach, making it impossible to interact with important NPCs. As you can see in the screenshots, the non-playable characters were placed on high structures and behind glass.

Today, Sega announced that it was aware of the hack and that it was investigating the matter. Sega also stated that player data was not leaked in this hack.

If you happen to see non-playable characters moved into funny locations, Sega asks that you move to another play area. If you see cheaters, you can report them via the wicked user form.

Japanese sites are blaming foreigners for the attack and are pasting chat transcripts that seem to indicate that the alleged hackers were English speakers who are apparently upset that the game doesn't have global servers. The chat log seems to indicate that these individuals have been doing this since the game's closed beta and that they think they should do this NPC shuffle again.

Sega has aggressively being going after cheaters and individuals engaged in real-money trade transactions. So far, 75 accounts have been banned. This alleged griefing could impact how Phantasy Star Online 2, currently in beta in Japan, is rolled out in the West next year.

Ship02での不正行為について [PSO2]
『ファンタシースターオンライン2』 のサーバーがクラックされて大変なことになっている！？NPCがありえない位置にいるぞｗｗｗ [オレ的]

Sega's Yakuza gangster games and porn stars are no strangers. A few years back, adult film star Rio made it to the final selection process to see which hopefuls would appear in the game. Then, there was the Yakuza hostess who starred in an adult movie after appearing in Yakuza 4...

This go round another adult actress made it to the final selection process to see which applicants would win the "Miss Yakuza" contest and appear in the upcoming Yakuza 5.

With a name like Sakura Kiryu, this latest hopeful seemed like a shoe in. See, Kiryu is also the name of the Yakuza protagonist, Kazuma Kiryu.

Sakura Kiryu has been acting in Japanese porn movies since 2008 and has starred in flicks like Water Pole 54 and Let's Screw a Bunch Until Morning. She apparently took her stage name from the game character.

Sega recently revealed the five winners of the Miss Yakuza contest, and Sakura Kiryu wasn't one of them. While the winners will appear in the game and at promotional events, Sega stated that the finalists, such as Sakura Kiryu, would also appear in the game in one way or another. So, there's still hope for the inevitable in-game Kiryu-Kiryu jokes!

"ミス龍が如く5"の栄冠は誰の手に？　ファイナリスト15人のゲーム出演も決定した「ミス龍が如く5を探せ！」最終オーディションをレポート [4Gamer]

Back in 2009, Lady Gaga's eyes got huge in her "Bad Romance" video. That, along with a Hello Kitty photo shoot, helped spawn a series of YouTube videos on anime eyes make-up tips.

Not sure where Japan was during all this, but it clearly was not paying attention. This week, a Japanese site posted some of the anime eyes make-up videos, stating that this seems to be some sort of fashion trend. (It's less a fashion trend, and more a Gaga gag.)

But what's interesting is reading through people's comments on Twitter and in forums. Even though the look was clearly inspired by anime, folks in Japan are saying things like "This is scary", "Creepy!", and "Lulz"—lots and lots of "lulz". There are also people debating whether or not this trend is, in fact, sweeping the U.S.! Um...

That doesn't mean bigger eyes haven't caught on in the West to a certain extent. Lady Gaga has fueled that fire, and, more recently, Nicki Minaj has fanned those flames. In the meantime, knock off the anime eyes, internet people! You are totally freaking out Japan.

全米で目を大きくアニメのようにするアニメイクが大流行中 [A!@attrip]

続報・目を大きくアニメのようにするアニメイクまじで海外で流行ってるぽいｗｗｗ [A!@attrip]

Sega's Tokyo Joypolis is not Sega's best arcade. That does not matter. What it is, however, is Sega's biggest spectacle. It's less a game center and more a video game inspired theme park. Still, for a hyperbolic arcade experience, few can compete.

And as of this week, Tokyo Joypolis has a new coat of paint.

Sega recently completed remodeling Tokyo Joypolis, keeping some of the amusement center's most well known attractions, like the half-pipe and the Initial D set-up, and adding some new ones, such as a Ring inspired haunted house and a new roller coaster called "Veil of Dark".

There's also a stage set-up, which now hosts mini-live events by virtual idol Hatsune Miku.

While Tokyo Joypolis does nickel and dime visitors, charging them between ¥500 (US$6.30) and ¥800 ($10) for each attraction in addition to the ¥800 entrance fee, visitors can check stuff out for free: there's a PS Vita demo corner and interactive "digital real" walls and tables for people to touch.

Or you can just gape at the life-sized Initial D set-up. That's what I usually do.

The newly renovated Tokyo Joypolis opens to the general public on July 14.

Photos courtesy of Dengeki Online, Famitsu, and 4Gamer. More in the links below.

リニューアルオープン目前の東京ジョイポリスにて『初音ミク -Project DIVA- f』ライブステージが開催！ [Dengeki]
伝説のライブをいつでも――"東京ジョイポリス"リニューアルに合わせて登場の"初音ミク ミニライブ DAIBA de DIVA"を先行体験 [Famitsu]
「東京ジョイポリス」リニューアルオープン直前。内覧会で最新アトラクションからライブステージまでをチェックしてきた [4Gamer]

Kotaku East runs from 4am to 8am Eastern. For more info about Kotaku East click here.

So Sideshow Collectibles' half-scale Catwoman statue isn't technically alive. I've dated worse.

She's not available for preorder. She'll likely cost you or me an arm and a leg once she is up for sale, but when you're dealing with Batman's finicky female counterpart, a certain amount of financial loss is to be expected. You pay to play with the pretty kitty; that's the law of Gotham's concrete jungle.

I would protest, of course. I would stomp my feet and raise my voice. I would demand recompense. And then she'd fix me with that smile.

That damn smile. She knows she's already won. It's her confidence that gets me. Her face isn't otherworldly beautiful — she's just a normal, attractive woman.

Her body isn't some unattainable ideal. She's just a woman that knows how to make a catsuit work. She's sure of herself, and it shows.

She may be only half a human high, but she's a full serving of wonderful.

Not content with digging up the corpse of classic RPG series Ultima once, EA - who now hold the rights to the franchise - are doing it all over again.

The publisher has tonight announced Ultima Forever, a cross-platform, free-to-play RPG that's being developed by BioWare and which will be published under EA's Play 4 Free label, the same place you find games like Battlefield Heroes.

Boasting a cartoon aesthetic, having you control the "Avatar" and mentioning "Lady British", it's at least closer to the source material than the ill-advised Lord of Ultima. Whether or not EA's claim that "the first great Western RPG has been lovingly restored in Ultima Forever" rings true or not, we'll have to actually play it to find out.

You can sign up for the game's beta at the link below.

Ultima Forever [EA]

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Ukrainian designer German Ljutaev has come up with this design that uses traditional video game imagery like life hearts and drops them on a cigarette. The further down the cigarette you smoke, the more hearts you burn though until you hit the inevitable "CONTINUE?" screen.

It's cute, but yet, urgh, so morbid at the same time.

No games for smokers [German Ljutaev, via Ian Brooks]

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