Chic Pixel’s Favorite Games of 2015

12 / 28 / 15

Things have been a little quiet here at Chic Pixel during the holiday, but now that I’m feeling refreshed and recharged, it’s time to get back in the posting groove! And what better way than with some best of 2015 lists? First, I’d like to share my five favorite video games that came out this year. There are many (so, so many) games that came out in 2015 I still need to play, so please keep in mind that the titles that appear here are simply those I put enough time into to consider. But enough with the caveats… on with the list!

New Kyoukai no Shirayuki Character Profiles and Scenarios Translated

11 / 13 / 153 / 8 / 16

As promised back in September, the November issue of B’s Log brought some more information about the 2016 otome game Kyoukai no Shirayuki. Not only does it include character profiles for the last two bachelors, but it also showcases the mirror world outfits for each of the main characters, some short scenarios, and finally unveils the queen! Read on for scans and translations of the full article.

Japan Envy: Otomate Garden Amnesia Café

9 / 25 / 15

I’m a bit late to this one because I totally missed that Otomate now has their own café! Otomate Garden, the official café for all Otomate otome game collaborations, apparently opened earlier this year in Ikebukuro last month and I completely missed the announcement. Well, it just so happens that the café’s theme for the month of September is Amnesia!

Better known as Amnesia: Memories in English, this café theme comes at a great time since the English version just came out at the end of August… Though most of us appreciating the English version of the game will sadly never have the chance to attend the café in person! At least we can drool over the menu and merchandise…

Kyoukai no Shirayuki Character Profiles and Comments Translated

9 / 24 / 153 / 8 / 16

I’ve been beside myself waiting for new information on Kinako’s otome game, Kyoukai no Shirayuki, ever since it was announced last month. The dark fantasy otome game features Kinako’s striking illustrations and has an intriguing Snow White motif… coupled with a large number of prominently-displayed pomegranates. After a long month’s wait, new information on the characters and plot has been unveiled in the latest issue of B’s Log, which I’ll be going over in detail in this post. Let’s see what’s in store in the dark world of Kyoukai no Shirayuki…

Makura no Danshi Otome Game Coming to Mobile Phones

9 / 18 / 159 / 18 / 15

Makura no Danshi kittens — from *Makura no Danshi* episode 9

I’m sorry to say, but this isn’t an announcement about a new kitten book featuring cute anime boys (though that would be amazing). Rather, this season’s crazy otome anime Makura no Danshi will be getting its very own romance simulation game! Aside from the fact that it will be for both iOS and Android and is coming out sometime this winter, there’s not much else in the way of information, so I thought I’d take this opportunity to admire the wide variety of content this series is garnering.

If you’ve been listening to Chic Pixel Plus, you’ll know that Sarah and I have been following Makura no Danshi this season. Given the horrendous production values that result in extended still frames, awful animation, and a strange lack of audio during numerous sequences, I’m honestly surprised they’re actually putting more money into this franchise! In addition to the recently announced mobile game, there are also a number of upcoming drama CDs, as well as a sleeping aid app exclusive to au phones in Japan (pictured above).

I guess this is an indication that Makura no Danshi is more popular than I thought… I hope this means we’ll see even more otome anime and associated media in the mainstream going forward! Also, big thanks to Gredlen for pointing out this news to me – I’m honored to have friends that make sure I stay up to date with pillow boy news.

5 Awesome LINE Sticker Sets for Otome Game Fans

9 / 2 / 15

LINE may still be relatively unknown in the west, but the messaging app’s vast array of adorable stickers and themes has taken already Japan and much of Asia by storm. From Rilakkuma to Hatsune Miku to nearly every Disney character you can think of, these illustrated reaction images make chatting constantly adorable and fun. If you aren’t using LINE already, you can download it for free for iOS or Android and start using the free sticker packs right away. Once you’ve made an account, you can even install and sign in to the app from your PC or Mac!

With the recent addition of the Creator’s Store, now anyone can create and market their own sticker sets. The unfortunate side effect of this is that there is no real way to easily find what’s available looking for, and most Japanese creators do not share their sticker release announcements in English. While you can do a simple keyword search, they often gives hundreds of results to wade through!

The good news is, if you’re into otome games like me, there are actually a plethora of official stickers available. Since they’re so hard to keep track of, I thought I’d highlight five of my favorite sets so you can make sure to add them to your LINE library. If you want to see more, let me know in the comments and I’ll whip up a part 2!

Introducing Kyoukai no Shirayuki, Gatchaman Crowds Artist Kinako’s First Otome Game

8 / 19 / 158 / 27 / 15

Among the many announcements at Otomate Party 2015 this past weekend, Kyoukai no Shirayuki (officially subtitled as Nämlich Shirayuki), an otome game coming to the PS Vita in 2016, may very well be the most exciting. Well, if you’re as big a fan of Kinako, an artist best known for her work on Gatchaman Crowds, as I am, that is! It’s the first otome game with Kinako providing her illustration prowess and is partially based off of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. So far, it looks simply gorgeous. Check out the teaser trailer below and read on for a full translation and rundown of the characters!