Saturday, May 1, 2010

Second-Generation Volvo S60

The new second-generation Volvo S60 plays a major role in safeness on the road rather than becoming the most naughtiest sedan ever made for the naughtiest drivers on the coast.

What makes the new S60 so naughty, that drivers want to take advantage of its new form? Well, since this is a production version, the new S60 is the Volvo equipped with the new design language as seen on the XC60. This new design gives this naughty sedan some naughtiness and sportiness like no other sedans ever made. For the interior, it simplifies more like the Kia K5 sedan, with even more naughtiness than its rival car, even if it comes with leather upholstery. That is correct, folks. The new S60's redesigned interior is pleasantly designed for the naughty drivers who are willing to take comfort of its naughty interior.

To add naughtiness on this new form, the new S60 is equipped with the new Dynamic Chassis. This new chassis brings the naughty sedan an extra packaging armed for the grand touring challenge. Best of all, the new S60 is equipped with the thicker front struts and the new polyurethane damper mountings, for the best handling performance like no other sedans ever engineered. For improved driving pleasure, it is equipped with the Dynamic Stability and Traction Control system to prevent skidding on different corners. It also has the Corner Traction Control for smooth handling, handled for the naughtiest drivers on the road.

There are different engines and different transmissions to choose from the new Volvo S60. On the list of engines, this new sedan is offered in the following engines:

1) 2.0L Four-cylinder direct injection turbo gasoline engine (203HP)
2) D3 Five-cylinder turbodiesel engine (163HP)
3) D5 Five-cylinder turbodiesel engine (205HP)
4) T6 Six-cylinder turbo charged gasoline engine (304HP)

Depending on the engine type, there are different transmissions to choose:

1) A six-speed manual transmission
2) A six-speed automatic geartronic transmission (also available on the 4WD variants)
3) A six-speed Powershift semi-auto transmission

The ultimate level of the new S60's naughtiness is Volvo's innovative City Safety technology. With City Safety, the new Volvo S60 prevents incoming accidents from the highway and now, pedestrians as well, with the use of auto-braking feature. This auto-braking feature automatically puts the S60 to a complete halt when it reaches a nearby vehicle and this time, pedestrians, making it the safest sedan ever built. The Blind Spot Information System (similar from what they found on the latest Ford Taurus and the latest Mazda Axela) allows the S60 to detect incoming vehicles nearby at the flash of a small blinking icon found on the side mirrors, providing the safest while maneuvering at various circumstances. A Lane Departure Prevention (similar to what they found on the Hyundai Equus, Nissan Fuga and the Kia K7) triggers an alarming sound when the driver crosses the wrong lane. An added Active Cruise Control with Queue Assist makes this naughty sedan automatically sets its designated seat at the car from the front, telling the driver what speed you take and when you will brake. For parking safety, an added front, and rear parking sensors with the camera makes it useful for parking circumstances.

For convenience, the new S60 is equipped with the new infotainment system. This new system is armed on the five or seven inch monitor, giving the naughty driver a wide variety of options to choose from such as entertainment, telecommunications, navigation, and more for what the driver asks. This is the one of the first cars equipped with the Audyssey MultEQ technology, for the best sound quality as heard from reality.

My thoughts about the S60:
Destined to be the naughtiest car built for the naughtiest drivers on the world, the new S60 takes assurance and pride of its finest safety features that makes this naughty car playing safe on the roads. With the new body, new style, new performance, new packaging, and the best safety features, prepare to be gone wild because these features made this new Volvo sedan gone wild because this is a Volvo gone wild and rated XXX for its excellence, exceptional, and its expertise. Do not worry, this car is not built to have explicit content, this car is built to have the safest content. Stay sharp, everyone.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Yumeiro Patissiere Kirakira Music



Fresh from the baking oven is not just a cake, and its not even the most delicious pastry served from the bakery. Its Yumeiro Patissiere Kirakira Music. Part-original soundtrack, part-drama cd, YumePati fans are going to relieve the tasty adventures of Ichigo Amano on her quest to be the best pastry chef with the help of Vanilla.

A quick rundown on this CD, tracks 1, 3 to 29 were the in-anime BGMs scored by Megumi Ohashi, while tracks 2 and 30 were TV sized versions of Yume ni Yell! Patissiere (opening theme sung by Mayumi Gojo) and Ichigo no Mirakuruuru (closing theme sung by Yukina Sugihara). Both full versions of these sold separately on a maxi single CD. Lastly, tracks 31 to 35 were five-part mini drama led by Ichigo Amano (CV: Aoi Yuki), Vanilla (CV: Ayana Taketatsu), and Makoto Kashino (CV: Nobuhiko Okamoto) respectively.

Expect this CD melt on your taste buds because this tasty treat will relive the entire Yumeiro Patissiere story in your ears, with the delicious mini-drama to indulge yourselves.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Japan Version)
Gear up for the legendary lost chapter of the Metal Gear saga that is truly the biggest event of mankind! With sales on Japan starts today, and in June for the U.S. and Euro market, the latest chapter of the legendary Metal Gear series, that made it "one of the flagships of Konami", is not low on solipsism but the semblance of dualism strikes within! Welcome to the world of METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER! (日本名:メタルギアソリッド:ピースウォーカー)

Set in the events after MGS3, Big Boss (known as Naked Snake), the hero who once saved the world from the nuclear disaster, turned away from his motherland and established his own private army known as Militaires Sans Frontieres (Soldiers Without Borders) in South America. With Kazuhira Miller (known by Metal Gear fans as "Master" McDonnel Miller), Snake accepts a request from the visitors from "a nation without a military". A scholar of peace named Ramon Galvez Mena and his student named Paz Ortega Andrade (the leading lady), ask Snake to vanquish the mysterious army wreak havoc from the peaceful nation of Costa Rica. Well, I'm not going to give you any spoilers from this game, let me tell you the majestic features from Hideo Kojima's latest masterpiece I'm sure you Metal Gear fans love.

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker is the first MGS game that allows you to play with a friend! The new Co-op feature gives you and your friend some cooperation, coordination, and comradeship in different missions. When your friend dies, rush to your pal and give CPR to revive your friends! If you need an item, you can share an item with a friend. Aside from weapons that allows one person to use it, there are cool weapons that require two or four people to use it such as the railgun that requires a friend to handle the railgun dynamo to charge it up, a stealth ray that allows a user to make a friend invisible, tank box that requires player one to move it and player two to man the turret and blast away foes, a healing gun that heals your friends when fired, an electromagnetic wave gun that when you and your friend aligned these beams, it wipes them out, and more co-op items that makes you and your team useful in various situations. You know what they said, acting along can be weak, but working together as a team makes you stronger.

Turning your enemies into allies (just like what you and I did since Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops) is now redefined with the use of a simple tactic called "Fulton Recovery System". To make use of the Fulton Recovery System, you need to use some non-lethal tactics, like for instance CQC, hold-ups, or put them to sleep. Lethal weapons also work but be sure it is not a fatal hit in order to commence it, then when a red skull appeared on the top of the fallen enemy, use the Fulton Recovery System to get it quick before reaching the enemy's death!

When you're done with the mission, you can take a break at the base of operations called "Mother Base". As a Big Boss, you can manage your own mother base with the use of your captured foes and assign them to which position you want them to be on such as setting them to Combat Unit, R&D Staff, Medical Staff, Mess Hall Staff (for rations) and Intelligence Staff (important for gaining some briefings) respectively. As you gain more, the Mother Base will expand and new options for you to try.

Oh, and we almost forgot! You can also capture vehicles as well! To capture a vehicle, for instance a battle tank and a helicopter, all you need to do is to take out the commander piloting it, or try various items that capture these vehicles and use it on various missions, even Outer Ops, which is like Cyber Survival from MPO, even better.

With your R&D Staff, you can use them to gain various items or upgrade different weapons you have. For instance, you can upgrade your assault rifle to gain a grenade launcher attachment, a bazooka that fires sleeping gas, set a trap to fool your foes, use an even more powerful weapon, and more. Put these staff to your advantage and take good use of these newly-found items!

When you and your friends having a break from Co-ops, why not have some good time trade items and soldiers to each other. Also, you can engage in multiplayer battles (for 2 to 6 players) with different rules to choose from.

HERE'S A TIP!
Tell your ojousama, onee-sama, seitokaichou, your best friend, your maid, your classmate, your co-workers, and everyone that now it is the time for you and your friends to Co-op in! With the new Co-op feature, you can work together as a team to finish various missions! If you want to go solo, it's okay, you can go solo, but when you want a helping hand, co-ops is the best way.

LIMITED EDITION: The MGSPW Premium Package includes not just the game itself, but also the specially designed PSP-3000, cleaning cloth, pouch for your PSP, a stand, and a specially designed dogtag. If you're in Japan and rushing to get your very own Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker, buy this premium package before it runs out since this has a limited availability.

METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER
Cast (Japanese):

Akio Otsuka (as Naked Snake a.k.a. Big Boss. You know this guy right?)

Tomokazu Sugita [Kyon from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya] (as Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller. His voice looks strong)

Hochu Otsuka (as Ramon Galvez Mena. He's the scholar who begs Snake to wipe away the mysterious army wreaking havoc in Costa Rica)

Nana Mizuki [Fate Testarossa from Lyrical Nanoha series] (as Paz Ortega Andrade. She's the leading lady of this story. She looks cute)

Romi Park [Edward Elric from Full Metal Alchemist] (as Amanda. She looks tough)

Kikuko Inoue [previously played the role of Sunny from MGS4:GOP] (as Chico. A child soldier)

Yumi Kikuchi [previously played the role of Raging Raven from MGS4:GOP] (as Dr. Strangelove. She's kinda eccentric)

Yu Kobayashi [Setsuna Sakurazaki from Mahou Sensei Negima] (as Cecile. She is a playful female character)

Hideyuki Tanaka [portrayed the role of Dr. Hal "Otacon" Emmerich in MGS series] (as Huey. He looks like and sounds like Otacon, except he's in a wheelchair.)

Mugihito (as Coldman. The main antagonist of this story, with a peace mark on the back of his head)

Cast [English] (You will hear these voices once the English-International version arrives this June)

David Hayter (as Naked Snake a.k.a. Big Boss)

Robin Atkin Downes (as Kazuhira "Kaz" Miller)

Steve Blum [previously played the role of Gene from MPO] (as Ramon Galvez Mena)

Tara Strong [recoginzably known as the role of Timmy from the Fairly Odd Parents, Ben Tennyson from Ben 10, and Truffles from Chowder. Previously played the role of Ursula and Elisa from MPO] (as Paz Ortega Andrade)

Grey Delisle [Frankie from Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends] (as Amanda)

Vanessa Marshall [Previously played the role of Olga Gurlukovich from MGS2] (as Dr. Strangelove)

Antony Del Rio (as Chico)

Cat Taber [Senator Padme Amidala from Star Wars: The Clone Wars] (as Cecile)

Christopher Randolph [portrayed as Dr. Hal "Otacon" Emmerich in MGS series] (as Huey. Same thing from Hideyuki Tanaka)

H. Richard Greene (as Coldman)

Theme Song: HEAVENS DIVIDE by Donna Burke

Guest Artist (you may find these drawings in some cut scenes): Ashley Wood

Main Theme by Akihiro Honda

Character Illustrations: Yoji Shinkawa

Produced and created by: Hideo Kojima

Release Dates:
Asia (Japan version): April 29
U.S.: June 8
Europe: June 17
U.K. : June 18


Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Toyota Noah and Voxy - Second Generation Minor Change

With the latest generation of the Honda Stepwgn and Stepwgn Spada, and the upcoming Nissan Serena (coming soon) shaking things up, the two Toyota twin minivans, the Noah and the Voxy, gained their new style change that keeps them ahead in the game, despite the apocalyptic days of the mass Toyota recall.

















Let me explain how the Noah and the Voxy vans differ from each other, just like the Premio and its twin car, the Allion. The Noah is targeted for the soccer moms and has distinctive tastes only a mother can give. On its facelift, the Noah gets a new grille. The Voxy, on the other hand, is targeted for the big daddies, and it boasts sportier features only a big daddy can try. For its Phase II, the Voxy gets even more aggressive exterior, perfect for those who are looking for style.


















Despite different exterior themes targeted for different people, the Noah and the Voxy share the same interior features including the seating capacity of five to seven (or eight, when optional) people. There are different seating arrangements you can find, depending on which situation you are here, including the arrangement similar to the Chrysler Town and Country's "Swivel 'n Go" function.

For its facelift, these twin Toyota minivans get the newly improved 3ZR-FAE Valvematic engine, which combines exceptional performance and outstanding fuel economy that takes you further. A CVT, with an optional paddle shifters, is added to maintain the fuel efficiency of the new Valvematic engine. Both the Noah and the Voxy are equipped with the finest safety features such as Steering-assisted Vehicle Stability Control, Electric Power Steering, Antilock Brake System, Traction Control System, and Hill Start Assist Control respectively.

My thoughts about the Noah and the Voxy:
With the Noah targeted for the simple mothers raising a simple family, and the Voxy targeted for the coolest father in the household, both of these vans will keep themselves ahead in the game that was reigned by the latest Honda Stepwgn and the Stepwgn Spada. Will these two vans prevail? You decide.




Update: Toyota Noah and Voxy G Sports Version debut. Modified to bring out the sporty image and the sporty performance.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

A Korean Kia Forte Ad with the Wonder Girls!

I saw some commercial that is recently shown in Korean TV stations such as KBS, SBS, or MBC. There is a Korean Kia commercial starring none other than the mega-popular K-Pop group, the Wonder Girls!



I can almost hear the song "Nobody" on this commercial! "Nobody, Nobody but you! Nobody, Nobody but you!" It's a two thumbs up for the Wonder Girls for starring in this latest Kia Forte Korean commercial! Even with the Kia Forte and the Forte Koup awarded NADAguides.com Car of the Year!

COME ON EVERYBODY!

LET'S SING NOBODY!

"I WANT NOBODY NOBODY BUT YOU! 
I WANT NOBODY NOBODY BUT YOU! 
NAN DAREUN SARAMEUN SIRHEO NIGA ANIMYEON SIRHEO 
I WANT NOBODY NOBODY NOBODY NOBODY".....