Nephrus – 2012

April 2012

All articles posted in April 2012.

Roy returns to Fire Emblem

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 29, 2012 • Gaming

Roy in Fire Emblem: Kakusei

The latest game in the Fire Emblem series has a familiar face returning. Roy, the hero from Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi (The Sealed Sword or The Binding Blade) makes his return as a downloadable character in the Nintendo 3DS game, Fire Emblem: Kakusei (The Awakening).

Looking much different than before, Roy’s grown up appearance has him wearing a tattered red and blue cape, armoured boots, elaborate tunic and a spaulder on the left arm. From the artwork provided, Roy now carries a new sword in his left hand.

Roy last appeared as hidden character in the popular fighter Super Smash Bros. Melee for the Nintendo GameCube. This game elevated his exposure outside of Japan, where the Fire Emblem saga had never before been published.

Both Roy and Leaf, another character from the games Fire Emblem: Seisen no Keifu and Fire Emblem: Thracia 776, will be available for download starting April 26^th, 2012.

No date has been set for a North American launch of Fire Emblem: Kakusei.

Source: My Nintendo News, Nintendo

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Blue Exorcist t-shirts

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 28, 2012 • The Otaku Culture

Want to show off your favourite True Cross Academy students, but don’t know how? Viz Media and GE Entertainment have teamed up to bring you two t-shirts from Kazue Kato’s hit series, Blue Exorcist.

Rin and Yukio Okomura Blue Exorcist t-shirt

Made of dyed navy cotton, the first shirt has a box of the Okumura brothers, Rin and Yukio in shades of blue. Rin is in demon form with his sword drawn while Yukio is aiming his pistol above the Blue Exorcist logo.

The second is a slate-grey shirt with Ryuji Suguro, Rin and Yukio Okumura surrounded by coal tars. Kuro is clinging to Rin’s outstretched arm with the sword in hand. The Blue Exorcist logo appears atop the trio.

Both tops can be purchased at most places that sell anime and manga related merchandise, or at your nearest convention.

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New sponsor for Celebration of Light

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 26, 2012 • Local

China sparkles in 2011

Putting on a stunning pyrotechnical show is expensive, something that has haunted the Celebration of Light for much of it’s lifetime. In recent years, the event has gone from four nights to three and was on the verge of disappearing altogether without financial support.

This year, a new sponsor has stepped up and three new countries are participating to give the Celebration of Light an explosion of colour. Honda Canada is the providing financial backing of the offshore fireworks spectacle for the next three years.

The Celebration of Light starts with Vietnam on Saturday, July 28^th, Brazil on Wednesday, August 1^st, and wraps up with Italy on Saturday, August 4^th.

Source: The Vancouver Sun

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Fan Expo Vancouver 2012

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 24, 2012 • Conventions

Fan Expo Vancouver has been touting itself as the first “comicon” for the West Coast city. Organized by the same group behind Fan Expo Canada, its much larger sibling in Toronto, Ontario, the convention was able to secure a strong line up of well known actors, guests, artists and vendors. While there was plenty of hype leading up to the event, Fan Expo Vancouver fell flat in terms of venue selection. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Vancouver Convention Centre, but cramming a couple thousand people into one and a half halls in the bowels of the building isn’t exactly the best way to go about a fun weekend. Read the rest of this article…

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Canucks 1 – Kings 2 OT

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 23, 2012 • Hockey

The visiting Los Angeles Kings sealed the Vancouver Canucks fate in the fifth game of the first round last night. The Kings had dominated the first three games of the series putting the Canucks in a difficult position. Although Vancouver was able to come back with a 3-1 win in game four, they had a daunting task ahead of them — win the remaining three games, which only three teams have ever achieved in the NHL. It was not to be as the Kings’ Jarrett Stoll ended Vancouver’s Stanley Cup run.

Henrik Sedin got Vancouver off to a great start with a power play goal off an assist from his brother Daniel and Dan Hamhuis. Though there would be plenty of chances, the home team wasn’t able to add insurance to their lead.

It looked good for Vancouver until the third period when Los Angeles’ Brad Richardson got the puck past netminder Cory Schneider and setting the stage for overtime. Four and a half minutes into the first overtime, Stoll found the back of the net to win it for his team.

With the Canucks’ early exit, plenty of questions and rumours have surfaced including the fate of starting goalie Roberto Luongo, the team’s inability to score goals, possible coaching changes and more.

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Sakura-Con 2012

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 13, 2012 • Conventions

Sakura-Con has evolved over the years, and in its 15^th year the convention shows no sign of slowing down. This was my fifth time attending and I brought along a friend who hadn’t been before — I wanted to show him how things were done in the Pacific Northwest since he’s invited me down to a few conventions in Texas. I kept telling him how much I enjoyed Sakura-Con and that he would too. Needless to say, he did. Sakura-Con was held over the Easter weekend, April 6^th though 8^th, 2012 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in downtown Seattle, Washington. Read the rest of this article…

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Canucks vs Kings in Stanley Cup quarterfinals

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 9, 2012 • Hockey

It’s that time of the year again! The quest for the Stanley Cup starts with the Vancouver Canucks facing off against the Los Angeles Kings in the first round quarterfinals. After a deep run last season, the Canucks are looking to go all the way and bring the Cup to the west coast of Canada for the first time.

Wednesday, April 11^th, 2012 7:30 pm PDT – Los Angeles at Vancouver
Friday, April 13^th, 2012 7:00 pm PDT – Los Angeles at Vancouver
Sunday, April 15^th, 2012 7:30 pm PDT – Vancouver at Los Angeles
Wednesday, April 18^th, 2012 7:00 pm PDT – Vancouver at Los Angeles
Sunday, April 22^nd, 2012 TBD – Los Angeles at Vancouver (if necessary)
Tuesday, April 24^th, 2012 TBD – Vancouver at Los Angeles (if necessary)
Thursday, April 26^th, 2012 TBD – Los Angeles at Vancouver (if necessary)

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Sakura-Con 2012 in pictures

Frederick Linsmeyer • April 9, 2012 • In Pictures

It was a bright and sunny Easter weekend which means one thing: Sakura-Con! And with Sakura-Con comes all the colourful costumes that flood Seattle with their dazzling detail and creativity. There are over 200 photos from the convention, so take a look around!