Comments on: A First Look at Otaku USA

By: Nanook

Nanook — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:41:38 +0000

I’m still a great believer in Protoculture.
It maintains a certain level of non-release related articles, which keeps me interested. But then, I’ve kind of got a loyalty complex…

Here in the UK, we have NEO, too, which is really well done. Check it out if you get the chance, it’s well worth-while.

By: Jon Haehnle

Jon Haehnle — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:05:22 +0000

Congratulations man! Hit me up on email if whenever you’re coming down — maybe see you at CF if nothing else heh

By: Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry

Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 04:00:29 +0000

…oh, man – I forgot to add man — unless Ben or Trevor has already told you the news: I am a father now. LOL, crazy eh? Hopefully I’ll run into you when I come down in July during my vacation (planning to see family while I am there).

By: Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry

Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:50:15 +0000

Hey, bro.

Nah – I just wanted to stick up for them ;p

(LOL, I kid – yeah I am freelancer there for the time being. The article Christian picked out was actually written by me.)

By: Jon Haehnle

Jon Haehnle — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 03:30:42 +0000

hey bahn! what’s new? you write for otaku usa?

By: Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry

Chris "Bahn" Scantleberry — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:28:29 +0000

LOL, ouch Christian. :p

But seriously, I can’t argue with your logic that anime-licensed gaming “should” be the primary focus for a Japanese culture mag such as Otaku.

In our defense — the magazine didn’t initially get much support in terms of advance product support. Anyways, I’ll be the first person happy to dig into the next video game iteration of One Piece, Inuyahsa or Avatar as I ponder which “timely” non-anime releases are available within the quarter.

By: ferricide

ferricide — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 07:21:53 +0000

oh great. an anime mag reviewing motorstorm, which came out in early march.

both timely and irrelevant!

i haven’t cracked otaku USA yet, but, i remember when newtype started and was full of reviews of, like, ghost recon… i was like… wtf! then they put kevin gifford in charge of the game section and it concentrated on exactly what i though it should: anime licnesed games, and anime-feel games. games the audience might like. totally the right way to go IMO.

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:55:03 +0000

I read Otaku USA over the weekend and loved it. It’s refreshing, the quirky reviews and tongue in cheek “insider” comments. If you’re new to anime or Japanese pop culture some things may be confusing but it made me laugh out loud.

As for the design the covers are not similar unless you are talking about them both having a title and an image with “what’s inside” blurbs.

The ratings are common but a format that is familiar to readers. Why complicate something that is a minor part of the article?

And as far as I’m concerned the three magazine covers you have shown look like crap, not that I like the pink on Otaku USA.

By: Jon Haehnle

Jon Haehnle — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:40:28 +0000

I agree that the design similarities are more of general sensibility shared with similar magazines and it being a conscious effort on Otaku USA’s part to be seen in that same “professional” light. And like Erin said it would’ve been nice if they had tried something different, but I can see why they didn’t. Lastly, the neon colors are indeed garish, especially on their site (this coming from someone the man who has hot pink all over PCS). Beyond the design issues though, I also question the content as Katherine did.

By: John Jakala

John Jakala — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 14:54:25 +0000

I still haven’t read everything in the first issue, but I enjoyed it enough that I’m considering subscribing.

As for the design issues: I completely agree with you on the garish neon colors and was disappointed to learn that this same color scheme has also been replicated for their site design. But I’m not seeing the similarity in cover design that you are. For one thing, NewType looks much better and more professional. Yeah, the looks of the info boxes are similar, but it also looks like what you’d find in almost any video game review mag. But I do agree it’d be nice to see Otaku USA be more original with their design, as long as they still keep the articles legible.

One question: Did anyone else’s DVD have little encoding glitches? I kept seeing annoying little pixelated blotches while watching the anime episodes.

By: Katherine Dacey-Tsuei

Katherine Dacey-Tsuei — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 12:38:35 +0000

I hadn't even thought about the similarity of the two magazines' layouts until you mentioned it... but yes, they do bear a striking resemblance to each other in presentation. My general impression of Otaku USA was positive. I think the magazine does a good job of reaching out to hardcore fans as well as folks just beginning to read outside the Fruits Basket/Full Metal Alchemist canon. I also enjoyed Ed and Shannon's columns. But the fact that those two columns were the highlight of the magazine (for me, at least) underscores one of the bigger challenges Otaku USA faces: if I can read Ed and Shannon's totally awesome essays on the web, and get my publishing news at PWCW, The Beat, MangaBlog, ICv2, and ANN, why would I pay $9.99 for the privilege of reading something similar in a magazine with waaaaay too much Gunpla coverage? I don't say this to criticize Otaku USA so much as to wonder if they can survive in a market where so many fans rely on the Internet for manga and anime news.