Gizmodo Australia » bandai

Rejoice! Colour Tamagochi Will Make The World Go Round

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:00 +0000

You know we have arrived to The Future when Bandai manbirths a Tamagochi with a colour LCD screen. Because the future is really like the ’90s, but in colour. Fortunately, the Tamagochi ID only exists in Japan for $US56.

[Akihabara]

A Gadget To Tell You Your Skin Ain’t Great

Adam Frucci — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Bandai’s Skin Expert is a device that you hold up to your face and it tells you how healthy your skin is. Finally, a gadget to make me feel bad about my appearance automatically! Thanks Japan! [Hobby Blog via Engadget]

Nintendo DS Piano Attachment Now Lets You ‘Hone’ Your ‘Musical Chops’

Adrian Covert — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 01:30:00 +0000

Set to be bundled with the Easy Piano instructive game for the Nintendo DS is this Piano/Keyboard controller, which lets you go from punishing ears on a full-size piano, to punishing ears on your handheld.

The game itself seems about as fun as reading theoretical physics when you’re drunk, but the controller seems like it would work nicely with more than a few games on the DS—namely the Korg DS-10 simulator, or future versions of Rock Band-type games—IF it had proper support and wasn’t Europe-only (for now). Even better, someone could always hack it, conjure up some home brew magic, and use it for some live, chiptune wizardry. Mmmmmmmm…chiptuuuune. [Joystiq via Ubergizmo]

Bandai RilakKuma Finally Achieves Maximum Netbook Adorability

Dan Nosowitz — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:45:00 +0000

It can be hard to tell the legions of identical netbooks apart, but this Bandai RilakKuma will never have that problem, because it’s the cutest Atom-based piece of hardware we’ve ever seen.

Yakiniku Game Serves Guests With Fake Korean BBQ

Sean Fallon — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:20:00 +0000

Yakiniku or Korean BBQ restaurants are extremely popular in Japan, which is why Bandai has released a game that simulates the experience at home—minus the distractions of flavour, chewing and hunger satisfaction of course.

Using a fake BBQ and fake food, players must be the first to successfully collect fully “grilled” plastic foodstuffs. So, it’s all the fun of grilling without the payoff. If only they would make a sweet dishwashing simulator followup. [Bandai via Akihabara News]

Alton Brown Would Not Approve Of The Bandai Gyoza Maker

Dan Nosowitz — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:45:00 +0000

Though it looks a lot like a larger version of those little cigarette rollers, this gadget is actually used to form perfect stuffed Japanese gyozas. We like it, but Alton Brown would never approve of such a single-function device.

Gyozas, like empanadas, dumplings, or knishes, consist of a stuffing (usually ground meat and spices) wrapped in a thin piece of dough (a “gyoza skin” here in the States) that is then deep-fried, pan-fried, or steamed. They can be a little tricky, because if they’re not sealed airtight they can explode in mid-fry, spraying burning hot oil and gyoza insides everywhere. This gadget looks to automate the process for a perfect seal.

It may not be the most versatile of kitchen gadgets, but if you’re doing a huge batch of gyozas and are some kind of wuss who fears horrible oil burns, we could see it being pretty handy. It’s Japan-only for now, but we’re sure an import kitchen supply store would have this or a similar device. [Akihabara News]

Pedometer Makes You A Character In A Samurai Storyline

Sean Fallon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:40:00 +0000

Bandai is taking a new approach in the herculean task that is enticing nerds to exercise. This pedometer/calorie counter casts you as a 16th century Samurai hell-bent on controlling Japan.

You can choose between three daimyo characters from the Sengoku, or Warring States. The more you walk, the closer you and your foot soldiers will come to conquering Japan. Although, something tells me Samurai wouldn’t need a nap after five minutes on a treadmill. [Bandai via Impress via Tokyo Mango]

Bandai’s Somen-Making Noodleslide Is the Most Fun You Could Possibly Have With Food

Adrian Covert — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:30:00 +0000

I like to imagine this Bandai Noodle-maker/slide helped turn this family from dysfunctional and unhappy, to loving and close-knit. Do you see how much fun they’re having watching their dinner fall 18-inches in dramatic fashion?

Lisa over at Tokyo Mango writes that the Somen noodles start their journey from the house at the top of the slide, twisting and turning their way to the bottom, where the food is met by a strainer. It also looks like there are parts of the slide that house extra ingredients or something. WOWEEE!

I want one, and I want one now. Maybe if I bring this home next time I have dinner with my parents, my dad won’t consider me the great disappointment of his life? [Impress via Tokyo Mango]

Mugen Beer Can Opens Again and Again and Again

Mark Wilson — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:54:54 +0000

Usually to meet my top popping OCD, I plow through a 24-pack or two in a single night. But it’s an addiction.

Something about the just right amount of resistance, the yeasty mist striking my fingers. It’s a glorious self-contained activity, akin to smoking or popping a zit, and it can be yours for infinite use with this Mugen (Endless) Beer Can from Bandai. Crack a beer without the damage to your liver or social life. Then crack it again. And again. And again.

Wait, this is no fun. What did I ever find exciting about opening a beer? Oohhh, I must be an alcoholic! [Bandai via Crunchgear]

Bandai’s Aqua Dance Water Toy Hypnotises Using Nanotechnology

Sean Fallon — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:00:00 +0000

Bandai’s Aqua Dance water toy utilises some sort of nanotech coating to send endless balls…of water cascading through a maze. I feel the urge to pee just thinking about it.

When the water balls have finished their journey through the maze, they are sucked back into the water tank to be reborn once again (haha…innuendo). So, it’s kind of like a water fountain, only way more sciency. The device should be available in March for roughly $US40. [Bandai via C Scout Japan via DVICE]