Ogre Run
@ogre-run.bsky.social
Research: Japanese Role-Playing Games and Media
Blog: https://ogrerun.com/
Contact: OgreRun@protonmail.com
Support: https://www.patreon.com/OgreRun
Blog: https://ogrerun.com/
Contact: OgreRun@protonmail.com
Support: https://www.patreon.com/OgreRun
Thread for keeping track of J-Drama actors I run into.
Here’s Akira Nakao, known for his role as Uchiyama in the live-action GTO (1998), playing the police chief in episode 25 of Tantei Monogatari (1979).
Here’s Akira Nakao, known for his role as Uchiyama in the live-action GTO (1998), playing the police chief in episode 25 of Tantei Monogatari (1979).
December 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Thread for keeping track of J-Drama actors I run into.
Here’s Akira Nakao, known for his role as Uchiyama in the live-action GTO (1998), playing the police chief in episode 25 of Tantei Monogatari (1979).
Here’s Akira Nakao, known for his role as Uchiyama in the live-action GTO (1998), playing the police chief in episode 25 of Tantei Monogatari (1979).
Helping in to fill any lulls was a serialization exploring the world of Cyber Knights by none other than a few members of Group SNE, including Hiroshi Yamamoto, Ryu Mizuno, and Hitoshi Yasuda. This also doubled as promotion for the just-released eponymous game.
December 16, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Helping in to fill any lulls was a serialization exploring the world of Cyber Knights by none other than a few members of Group SNE, including Hiroshi Yamamoto, Ryu Mizuno, and Hitoshi Yasuda. This also doubled as promotion for the just-released eponymous game.
The Lord of The Crystal ran for the first ten issues and was then replaced by two alternating mail-in serializations: Twilight Hunter (odd # issues), a modern-day paranormal RPG, and Platinum Palace (even # issues), another Jerusalem-set story.
December 15, 2025 at 11:45 PM
The Lord of The Crystal ran for the first ten issues and was then replaced by two alternating mail-in serializations: Twilight Hunter (odd # issues), a modern-day paranormal RPG, and Platinum Palace (even # issues), another Jerusalem-set story.
This includes what appears to be a story set in the Jerusalem setting of Roads to Lord (1984), Tsukuda Hobby’s genre-defining TTRPG that predates Sword World. Furthermore, readers are encouraged to participate in the narrative by mailing in their own created characters and choice of actions!
December 15, 2025 at 10:18 PM
This includes what appears to be a story set in the Jerusalem setting of Roads to Lord (1984), Tsukuda Hobby’s genre-defining TTRPG that predates Sword World. Furthermore, readers are encouraged to participate in the narrative by mailing in their own created characters and choice of actions!
The featured image is from SOLDIERS DesireWing (Tokumeikibou, 2025), a contemporary freeware RPG made in Rm2k3.
December 14, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The featured image is from SOLDIERS DesireWing (Tokumeikibou, 2025), a contemporary freeware RPG made in Rm2k3.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (Atlus, 2003).
December 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (Atlus, 2003).
A few Japanese TV shows of the era were influenced by Twin Peaks including Night Head (1992) and Keizoku (1999). A more recent production would be Atami no Sôsakan (2010). While I didn’t enjoy them as much as The Return, I still found these enjoyable. There's also Von Trier's The Kingdom.
December 14, 2025 at 12:04 AM
A few Japanese TV shows of the era were influenced by Twin Peaks including Night Head (1992) and Keizoku (1999). A more recent production would be Atami no Sôsakan (2010). While I didn’t enjoy them as much as The Return, I still found these enjoyable. There's also Von Trier's The Kingdom.
The Tragedy in the Devil-Mask Village (Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, 1978)
December 11, 2025 at 5:51 PM
The Tragedy in the Devil-Mask Village (Kazuhiko Yamaguchi, 1978)
Regarding GPM, it's interesting he notes that it would take a producer who's also a fan to help push the port. This seems to be the exact case for Yasuomi Umetsu's latest film, Virgin Punk, which seems like a miracle one episode was even completed in the first place.
December 11, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Regarding GPM, it's interesting he notes that it would take a producer who's also a fan to help push the port. This seems to be the exact case for Yasuomi Umetsu's latest film, Virgin Punk, which seems like a miracle one episode was even completed in the first place.
Group TAC’s 2003 Blame! ONA which has no interest in straightforwardly adapting the original manga but rather in capturing its disorienting atmosphere with a droning soundtrack, scuffed visuals, and of course, an opaque narrative. A style that will infect your brain like a virus in the Netsphere.
December 10, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Group TAC’s 2003 Blame! ONA which has no interest in straightforwardly adapting the original manga but rather in capturing its disorienting atmosphere with a droning soundtrack, scuffed visuals, and of course, an opaque narrative. A style that will infect your brain like a virus in the Netsphere.
Interestingly, Wizardry XTH seems to have been remade by Zerodiv.Inc as Class of Heroes which was localized by Atlus. The same is true for the Generation trilogy which would be remade as the Operation Abyss duology.
December 9, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Interestingly, Wizardry XTH seems to have been remade by Zerodiv.Inc as Class of Heroes which was localized by Atlus. The same is true for the Generation trilogy which would be remade as the Operation Abyss duology.
Wizardry XTH would establish the foundation from which future DRPG devs, Experience, would later work from. The core team would go on to develop Generation XTH, a trilogy of spiritual sequels. A fan translation for the first game can be found floating online.
December 9, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Wizardry XTH would establish the foundation from which future DRPG devs, Experience, would later work from. The core team would go on to develop Generation XTH, a trilogy of spiritual sequels. A fan translation for the first game can be found floating online.
Despite the localization of many Wizardry-influenced JRPGs, a small handful of Japanese Wizardry games still remain available only in Japanese.
December 9, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Despite the localization of many Wizardry-influenced JRPGs, a small handful of Japanese Wizardry games still remain available only in Japanese.
I don’t think such critiques excludes one from appreciating the novelty of LSD but Sato wasn’t alone in exploring the possibilities of the CD-ROM. Others likewise expressed interest in the virtual 2D and 3D environments of museum exhibitions as they could be recreated through computer interfaces.
December 7, 2025 at 6:11 PM
I don’t think such critiques excludes one from appreciating the novelty of LSD but Sato wasn’t alone in exploring the possibilities of the CD-ROM. Others likewise expressed interest in the virtual 2D and 3D environments of museum exhibitions as they could be recreated through computer interfaces.
Yes, the precedence for this is Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, but as the name of the film implies, Yoshida contextualizes this subject within the political and social landscape of contemporary Japan.
December 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Yes, the precedence for this is Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries, but as the name of the film implies, Yoshida contextualizes this subject within the political and social landscape of contemporary Japan.
Daihachi Yoshida’s latest film, Teki Cometh, takes such a personal approach. At the end of his life, a retired professor of French literature is haunted in both his sleep and waking life by his desires, regrets, and personal failings.
December 7, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Daihachi Yoshida’s latest film, Teki Cometh, takes such a personal approach. At the end of his life, a retired professor of French literature is haunted in both his sleep and waking life by his desires, regrets, and personal failings.
I will be publishing an additional piece on Alfa System’s dungeon-crawling, deity-breeding simulator, Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (1999), towards the end of this month.
December 6, 2025 at 9:59 PM
I will be publishing an additional piece on Alfa System’s dungeon-crawling, deity-breeding simulator, Ore no Shikabane o Koete Yuke (1999), towards the end of this month.
Finally, here's an example of a short combo. 6 steps become 3. The end of this clip also features enemies retreating and the arrival of enemy reinforcements demonstrating the spontaneity of the war front.
December 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Finally, here's an example of a short combo. 6 steps become 3. The end of this clip also features enemies retreating and the arrival of enemy reinforcements demonstrating the spontaneity of the war front.
I understand why Barthes disparages television, but in relation to Gothicmade, I'm also thinking of the wider, and older, experience of otaku gathering together to watch anime in basements (and "halls") which had its own pleasures that were very much fostered by the specifics of space.
December 6, 2025 at 12:10 AM
I understand why Barthes disparages television, but in relation to Gothicmade, I'm also thinking of the wider, and older, experience of otaku gathering together to watch anime in basements (and "halls") which had its own pleasures that were very much fostered by the specifics of space.
Enjoyed this piece from Baxter that touches on the experience and ritual of watching the rarely screened Gothicmade. Reminded of Barthes writing on the erotics of the film theater.
December 6, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Enjoyed this piece from Baxter that touches on the experience and ritual of watching the rarely screened Gothicmade. Reminded of Barthes writing on the erotics of the film theater.
Bonus: This worked out really well and allowed me to clean up the surrounding enemies. Considering how turn orders function and that allies act on their own, this is not something that can be planned.
December 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Bonus: This worked out really well and allowed me to clean up the surrounding enemies. Considering how turn orders function and that allies act on their own, this is not something that can be planned.
Here's a sample of battle animations and the "Battle Relay," featuring the game's strongest weapon, the N.E.P.
December 5, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Here's a sample of battle animations and the "Battle Relay," featuring the game's strongest weapon, the N.E.P.
Hi Joey. I am sorry to hear you're feeling down. The work that you do has been absolutely instrumental to my own research in ways that only the National Diet Library has. I am incredibly grateful of the labor you've undertaken to make so much material freely accessible. Thank you!
December 5, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Hi Joey. I am sorry to hear you're feeling down. The work that you do has been absolutely instrumental to my own research in ways that only the National Diet Library has. I am incredibly grateful of the labor you've undertaken to make so much material freely accessible. Thank you!
Of course, Ultima also revealed its own SF elements. Another influence to consider would be the erotic-grotesque. Panorama Toh borrows from Edogawa Rampo’s novella of the same name. Likewise, Koei’s “strawberry porn” series blended role-playing with pornography.
December 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Of course, Ultima also revealed its own SF elements. Another influence to consider would be the erotic-grotesque. Panorama Toh borrows from Edogawa Rampo’s novella of the same name. Likewise, Koei’s “strawberry porn” series blended role-playing with pornography.
At this time, discourse on RPGs seemed not to have made strict distinctions between fantasy & sci-fi. In the August 1983 issue of S-F Magazine, Hitoshi Yasuda would introduce American SF games by way of D&D. Furthermore, some of the earliest RPGs produced in Japan emerged from SF.
December 4, 2025 at 6:07 PM
At this time, discourse on RPGs seemed not to have made strict distinctions between fantasy & sci-fi. In the August 1983 issue of S-F Magazine, Hitoshi Yasuda would introduce American SF games by way of D&D. Furthermore, some of the earliest RPGs produced in Japan emerged from SF.