tobeASIAN - your daily dose of Asian life. http://www.tobeasian.com taste the ASIAN side of life. Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:55:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 en http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/tobeasianhttp://feedburner.google.com China’s Virtual Gold Rush To End http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/07/09/chinas-virtual-gold-rush-to-end/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/07/09/chinas-virtual-gold-rush-to-end/#comments Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:55:32 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/07/09/chinas-virtual-gold-rush-to-end/ Gold Farming is over?!
Picture courtesy of onlinemassivelymultiplayer


The virtual gold rush may be coming to an end, or at least in China where their government has passed a new law restricting virtual currencies.


A joint announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Commerce states that:

virtual currency, which is converted into real money at a certain exchange rate, will only be allowed to trade in virtual goods and services provided by its issuer, not real goods and services.



The new law will largely restrict ‘gold farming’, a term coined for gamers who would ‘farm’ virtual currencies on online games and then sell it to other gamers. It became a huge trend in China mainly due to the infamous MMO — World of Warcraft. The gold farming business became a very profitable industry in China with a survey suggesting it generates real money of around $200 million to upwards of $1 billion annually back in 2008!


Most people doubt that the new law will hold gold farmers back as larger gold farming businesses will find a way around the restriction. Though it doesn’t make sense why the Chinese government would want to stop an industry that has gotten so large in a time of economic downturn…


Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


[cnet via wan]

]]> http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/07/09/chinas-virtual-gold-rush-to-end/feed/ ToBeAsian On Hiatus http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/06/01/tobeasian-on-hiatus/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/06/01/tobeasian-on-hiatus/#comments Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:25:26 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/06/01/tobeasian-on-hiatus/ ToBeAsian will be on hiatus for the next 3 weeks or so, as I will be very very busy. Apologies for not being able to provide your daily dose of Asian life for the next while, but I’d prefer to let you guys know rather then you guys wondering ‘what happened to tba’.


I’ll leave you guys with some rather entertaining links while I’m gone:

    • Better late than never - A Japanese Man runs the 1912 Stockholm Olympic marathon in 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 8 hours, 32 minutes and 20.3 seconds, record time indeed.



    • If you ever wondered how women play football in the Middle East, just take a look at this Female football team in Iran. At least they get to play, i guess.


    • China’s a busy place, if you’re gonna jump, then jump, or else, someone will help you out. Talk about impatience and assisted suicide…


    • Super Smash Brothers Fan and Team Fortress 2 Fans can enjoy this very entertaining video.
    • ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/06/01/tobeasian-on-hiatus/feed/     Dragon Ball 3D Side-scroller Game http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/27/dragon-ball-3d-side-scroller-game/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/27/dragon-ball-3d-side-scroller-game/#comments Tue, 26 May 2009 13:45:18 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/27/dragon-ball-3d-side-scroller-game/ Dragonball: Tenkaichi Daibouken!
    Picture courtesy of thenintendo


    Step aside Mario, Goku is taking over the side-scroller world, or at least the 3D side-scroller world!


    Finally breathing new air into an overdone title, Namco Bandai gives us hope with Dragonball: Tenkaichi Daibouken (Dragonball: The Strongest On Earth Great Adventure). A 3D side-scroller that will definitely bring new experience to fans of the Dragon Ball game series that’s tired of the series’ long-running arcade-type fighting games.


    In addition, I always found Dragon Ball to be the better anime over Dragon Ball Z to watch, so I’m sure the story for this game will also be more entertaining to follow then just straight out typical plot with Kame-hameha here, Spirit Bomb there and Goku winning in the end.


    The game will be released in Japan this summer for the Wii exclusively, so the rest of the world will just have to wait.



    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


    [Siliconera]

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/27/dragon-ball-3d-side-scroller-game/feed/     Weekly Briefs http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/weekly-briefs-2/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/weekly-briefs-2/#comments Mon, 25 May 2009 03:07:44 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/weekly-briefs-2/ Relaxing stroll to school!

    • Nintendo has given the Queen, a gold-plated Wii and their new upcoming game: Big Family Games as a gift in an effort to get on her Queen’s good side and probably as a clever marketing ploy. (Gizmodo)


    • Hayao Miyazaki, director of famous animated films like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Ponyo on a Cliff will be receiving a lifetime achievement honours from the University of California! (Boiled Egg via AnimeNation)


    • Not as extravagant as throwing a paper plane from space, but still quite an amazing feat. Takuo Toda, a Japanese engineer has set the world record for the longest paper-airplane flight at 27.9 seconds! (Telegraph)


    • Japanese researchers and manufacturers has built a robot named KOBIAN that is able to uses its face and entire body to express a wide range of emotions. (Pink Tentacle)


    • Metal Gear Solid and Lego enthusiast may now enjoy both pastime at the same time with Vinyl Metal Gear Solid figurines that comes at a hefty $243… (Hellforge)


    • The former South Korean President has committed suicide that has been assumed to be caused by his corruption charges. (Washington Post)


    • Students in rural Japan are to be trained as marksmen/women to hunt wild deers, boars and monkeys to try and reduce road accidents and other issues caused by wild animals. (Times Online)


    • Trailer for new movie called ‘Gamer‘ shows potential.



    Picture courtesy of its artist, whoever it is

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/weekly-briefs-2/feed/     Sushi-Roller, Making Sushi The Easy Way http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/sushi-roller-making-sushi-the-easy-way/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/sushi-roller-making-sushi-the-easy-way/#comments Sun, 24 May 2009 13:37:25 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/sushi-roller-making-sushi-the-easy-way/ Sushi Roller, revolutionising sushi-making!
    Picture courtesy of Gizmodo


    Sushi-lovers that hate the lengthy and difficult process for creating their favourite sushi can now mass produce them to their stomach’s content with Sushi Roller!


    If you ever tried making sushi, then like me, you must have realised that it requires hand-numbing techniques and samurai-like concentration, yet the reward of feasting on your own homemade sushi - supposedly a gift by Gods to the Japanese (just kidding, but it’s probably true) - is so worth it.


    Now, the ancient art of sushi-making has been revolutionised for us with Sushi Roller! This contraption designed by Osko and Deichmann is still in its concept phase, but it won’t take long for them to realise that they have a million dollar idea in their hands.


    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


    [Gizmodo via OneInchPunch]

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/25/sushi-roller-making-sushi-the-easy-way/feed/     Japanese Astronaut rides ‘Magic Carpet’ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/21/japanese-astronaut-rides-magic-carpet/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/21/japanese-astronaut-rides-magic-carpet/#comments Thu, 21 May 2009 07:41:54 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/21/japanese-astronaut-rides-magic-carpet/ Magic Carpet!
    Picture courtesy of Disney


    Space, the final frontier, is truly a magical place. Japanese astronaut, Koichi Wakata illustrates this through carrying out 16 zero-gravity challenges on the International Space Station that was issued by the Japanese public.


    One of these challenges was for Koichi to ride a ‘magic carpet’ which was really a large bathroom mat, but in zero-gravity, it did the trick. The difficult part wasn’t to get his ‘magic carpet’ to float (obviously), but rather, to make sure his feet stayed on it. This was overcome with some adhesive tape.


    Other challenges included using eye drops, folding laundry and doing push-ups, which are simple tasks down here on Earth, but has proven to be quite the feat in zero gravity for Koichi. Too bad NASA doesn’t have a similar arrangement with they’re own astronauts, it would be interesting to see what the American public comes up with.





    I wonder why the ISS even have bathroom mats…


    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


    [telegraph.uk via Engadget]

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/21/japanese-astronaut-rides-magic-carpet/feed/     The Fly http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/19/the-fly/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/19/the-fly/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 11:04:24 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/19/the-fly/ The Fly!


    There’s no ground-breaking news happening today, so I’ve decided to post a short animation film that will teach you about meditation, focusing your mind and it involves some elegant swordplay which is always a plus.


    A must-watch for those aspiring samurais that seek to learn about the Bushido code. You never know, this video just might make you the next Musashi, or maybe not…



    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


    Source:
    TheAwesomer

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/19/the-fly/feed/     Weekly Briefs http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/18/weekly-briefs/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/18/weekly-briefs/#comments Mon, 18 May 2009 09:46:20 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/18/weekly-briefs/ TBA is back in action. Full throttle style! We’re experimenting with a new segment called Weekly Briefs. The title is self-explanatory, the side-banners will mostly be unrelated artistic pieces for eye-candy purposes (I will definitely try to source where I can), so look forward to it!


    Sakura Blossoms!

    • One Piece is getting its 10th movie! It’ll be out in December this year. The title is called One Piece - Strong World, so expect ’strong’ things from it. (Nanoda)


    • Fans of Eden of the East will most certainly like to get their hands on their very own seleção mobile phone replica minus the excessive amount of credit! (NEC via Japanator)


    • Even if you don’t play Team Fortress 2, i bet many of you still love watching valve’s morbidly humourous video updates. Enjoy their newest and best one so far - Meet the Spy. (Kotaku)


    • Beck has released Helly Kitty Beer so you can get drunk while reminiscing your favourite childhood cartoon cat. (Hello Kitty Hell via OneInchPunch)


    • China’s controversial ‘Sex Theme Park’ in Chongqing gets shut down before it even opens. I guess it’s ahead of its time. (NYTimes via Shanghaiist)


    • Asia’s longest lasting modern civil war is over. The leader of the Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger, Velupillai Prabhakaran is claimed to be shot dead while fleeing. (ChannelNewsAsia)


    • Kojima production has released a teaser site counting down to their next project. It has been rumoured to be many things from MGS 5 to a Snatcher revival. Whatever it is, I’m sure Kojima knows what he’s doing! (Siliconera)



    Picture courtesy of its artist (unable to find source, sowie)

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/18/weekly-briefs/feed/     Busytimes at TBA http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/09/busytimes-at-tba/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/09/busytimes-at-tba/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 13:35:51 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/09/busytimes-at-tba/ The regular readers would have noticed the lack of new content for the past week or so. I apologise for this as I am currently very busy. Look forward to new content by next Friday.


    Since there’s no new posts, It would be great if you guys could express your opinions on what you think of TBA, like on what contents you enjoy and dislike, what articles do you prefer TBA to write. I bet most of you noticed our TBA Top 10 Coolest Men of Anime article. Do you guys want more of those kind of articles? Leave a comment, I look forward to reading what you guys think.


    To fill in your boredom a little, here is a link to the rather interest and whimsical story that you guys will bound to enjoy. It’s about the creation of Kogepan, the very famous Japanese burnt red bean bun.

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/09/busytimes-at-tba/feed/     Annual Human Shogi Match http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/04/annual-human-shogi-match/ http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/04/annual-human-shogi-match/#comments Mon, 04 May 2009 10:23:17 +0000 Sukai http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/04/annual-human-shogi-match/ The Annual Human Shogi Match!
    Picture courtesy of Mainichi


    Shogi, the equivalent of ‘Japanese chess’ is a delightful medium to watch the beauty of strategy, wits and deceit being put into action. Now, imagine watching this board game being played with real human pieces!


    The people of Yamagata prefecture must certainly enjoy this more complicated form of chess to have an annual human shogi match that’s held on top of Mount Maizuru in Tendo, where the art of war can be conducted while enjoying the cherry blossom season. Ahhh, if only all wars can be fought like this - dressed up soldiers amongst falling cherry petals and no casualties…


    The students are dressed up in traditional samurai armour whist holding their represented Shogi piece on a 16.6 metre by 13.8-metre Shogi board. The pieces are led by their commanders who are two female professional Shogi players, 17 year old high school player Kana Satomi, and 20 year old second-dan player Hatsumi Ueda. I’m sure the soldiers felt secure under their leadership.


    But, like in any battle, there can only be one victor. The match ended with Kana Satomi defeating Hatsumi Ueda.


    Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post’s poll.


    Source:
    Mainichi via TokyoMango

    ]]>     http://www.tobeasian.com/2009/05/04/annual-human-shogi-match/feed/