Da Capo I.F., Dear Drops Among New Titles

In what has to be an unprecedented record for Anime Expo, MangaGamer’s latest panel ran an outstanding two and a half hours, equating to a whopping sixty extra minutes of hentai, ecchi and wait for it – more hentai! Treating attendees to a full-blown concert featuring their lovely female guests, prizes (including two empty boxes signed by the panelists themselves) and most importantly: new titles.

Hosted by Overdrive (Kirakira, Edelweiss,) composer ‘Bamboo,’ other panelists included Circus producer Taroro Dancho, Da Capo II’s artist Yuka Taira, Overdrive Artist Shinji Katakura and John Pickett, a translator working on such titles as Koihime Musou. Once the ball got rolling it didn’t stop; at least until it was raffled off like pretty much everything else in the room that wasn’t nailed or bolted down!

After going over the obligatory introductions, John proceeded to explain the current titles in MangaGamer’s library starting with Circus’ successful Da Capo and Suika A.S. As a plea to help support the visual novel scene in North America, Navel President made a plea with fans: “If you buy a lot, we’re going to release more games.”

More Sales = More Profits; More Profits = More Games

A simple equation really if you ask me. So for those of you pirating your software, please support these publishers. They’re doing this for the sake of their fans, and the more money they make the more chances you’ll get of seeing your favorite game here.

To the surprise of everyone, or non-surprise if you had a chance to attend their booth, Age’s Miyata Sou went up and announced that Age is willing to work on translating MuvLuv and Kimi Ga Nozomu Eien if given the chance. Both of which have been successful in Japan. Second, Da Capo I.F. And the “powered-up” version of Da Capo I, Da Capo II featuring both a big and little sister.

For fans eagerly anticipating Koihime Musou, the game largely based on an alternate retelling of the Romance of the Three kingdoms, the answer is: it will be very soon. Although, if you’ve been following the bishoujo scene then you’ll know that they’ve been saying that for quiet sometime. Lastly, the newest entry in MangaGamer’s Overdrive library will be their second game, Deardrops with Dengeki Striker coming up as a possibility to receive the next translation.

The most intriguing part of the announcements? The fact that Overdrive is thinking about creating a game exclusively for MangaGamer that will be a ‘digital study’ abroad based around bishoujo. Now, just like any other Otaku out there, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who thinks that this idea is perfect. I mean, a virtual study abroad? Moe characters? Sign me up for twenty.

The concerts led by Aina Kase, Minami, UR@N and Coorie made for the end of a perfect night for many of the people in attendance, especially those who expended all of their leftover energy at the concert.

Tags: ax2010, MangaGamer