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Kazuma Kaneko "Creature Features", Part One

Here are some higher-resolution versions of the Kaneko monster/urban legend columns (compare to decade-old versions) sometimes referred to as his "Creature Features." But that's just a fan-made moniker; Truth is, it's unclear where exactly these columns were originally from. They were reprinted in Digital Devil Apocalypse, where these scans seem to be from, and DDA says they originate in ゲーム批評 (”Game Criticism”) magazine, which you may remember from an older post giving a rundown of Kaneko's columns in all the issues of it available on archive.org. But not a single one of those uploads contains a "Creature Feature," so I'm puzzled: Either they are in other, unarchived issues of Game Criticism or the editor of DDA was wrong and they have some other provenance. But, either way, what we do have through DDA is fun and fascinating! There's 24 in total.

[eirikrjs]

UPDATE: SOLVED!

@b-reis solved this one lickety-split! Ad where was the answer hiding? The French Wikipedia Tschaggatta page:

On rencontre parfois le terme de Roitschäggätta, « Roi » signifiant « fumée » dans le dialecte local, en raison de la couleur foncée des masques qui sont suspendus dans une cheminée pour les noircir.

The term Roitschäggätta is sometimes used, meaning "smoke" in the local dialect, because of the dark colour of the masks that are hung in a fireplace to blacken them.

Well done!

The enduring minor mystery of the Roitschaggatta

Soul Hackers' Mizuki-inspired Swiss Lötschental masked guy is a funny little critter whose identity is fully solved and easily confirmed online--that is, if you use the shortened "Tschaggatta" spelling of its name. However, The Japanese version calls it the [ロイチェクタ](roichekuta) and the "Roi" is what I'm really curious about: What exactly is the difference between "Roitschaggatta" and "Tschaggatta"? And why does Japanese seemingly default to only Roitschaggatta?

Curiously, "Roitschaggatta" does bring up results, but only on stock photo sites, like this one.

My best guess would be that the "Roi" in the name might somehow be from the French "roi"--'king', making the Roitschaggatta the "king" Tschaggatta. But that's probably nonsense considering the thing is from an isolated German-speaking region.

[eirikrjs]

As I am in the process of subjecting myself to two dozen 1/256 Red Riders in SMTIV, I am reminded of something I did two years ago that honestly was much more aggravating and time-consuming: maxing out a Demonica-N in Strange Journey.

I chose the Demonica-N because it starts at level 1 and thus has the most chances to capitalize on the various +1 stat apps (Orpheus, Heracles, etc.) which activate at disappointingly low rates upon level ups. However, you don’t need all five to activate every level up, just enough to stay above a calculated average (which I don’t remember). Basically, this just meant that for most level ups past level 50 I think I was trying to get two of the stat bonuses to activate per level, meaning +5 to stats. This meant a lot–A LOT, A TON, A SHITLOAD–of reloading to get it just right. I don’t remember exactly how long it took me, but it was definitely a better part of the summer of 2012. Makes Red Rider seem quaint and streamlined.

[eirikrjs]

The enduring minor mystery of the Roitschaggatta

Soul Hackers' Mizuki-inspired Swiss Lötschental masked guy is a funny little critter whose identity is fully solved and easily confirmed online--that is, if you use the shortened "Tschaggatta" spelling of its name. However, The Japanese version calls it the [ロイチェクタ](roichekuta) and the "Roi" is what I'm really curious about: What exactly is the difference between "Roitschaggatta" and "Tschaggatta"? And why does Japanese seemingly default to only Roitschaggatta?

Curiously, "Roitschaggatta" does bring up results, but only on stock photo sites, like this one.

My best guess would be that the "Roi" in the name might somehow be from the French "roi"--'king', making the Roitschaggatta the "king" Tschaggatta. But that's probably nonsense considering the thing is from an isolated German-speaking region.

[eirikrjs]

abtou the god of Destruction Arahabaki

from Tsukuyomi: The Divine Hunter

[eirikrjs]

Just in case you were interested in this piece of information, over at the SMT Wiki (I know, I know, you hate that website but please spare any groaning til the end of this message), on the page for Shin Megami Tensei: if... Hazama's Chapter, there is a link that goes to a Pastebin entry that has a fantranslation of its script. The maker does admit that the correctness of the translation is debatable, but he is open to corrections from others.

I don't hate the Fandom MT wiki (the independent wiki has much better potential), though I indeed don't care much for Fandom itself. Especially now that they both own Giant Bomb and are pressuring it to change its content. No Giant Bomb and this blog probably wouldn't exist. At the very least, I wouldn't have met Soren.

Here's a link to the Pastebin:

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This is officially the best stream to start watching Streaming Knowledge!

THE START OF THE DEVIL SURVIVOR 2 STREAM

TONIGHT, April 28th, 8:00 PM EST/7:00 PM CST, we're getting obliterated by a train in Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker! Join us as we embark on a journey through the last time they made one of these games. Obariyon will be there, and perhaps others...? Tonight!!!

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/streamingknowledge

Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@streaming_knowledge

[eirikrjs]

Man that Andor image of Syril crashing out after five minutes with his mom really is just perfect.

It's one of the most relatable things ever in Star Wars. Also, the choice for new banner was either him crashing out or Dedra practicing smiling/"de-scowling".

It was so surreal seeing them as a couple in season 2. I mean, it made sense, but it's just weird, you know? I honestly didn't expect Gilroy to go there with them, considering it's creepy stalker Syril x Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS. But, then again, when you think about it...

[eirikrjs]

Speaking of If... is there any official artwork for any of the Demons exclusive to If...?

This is always a great question, with a quick, simple answer: no.

But the longer, more involved answer is "sort of, but not the finished illustrations Kaneko produced for SMT1/2." All that exists are design reference sheets Kaneko sketched out for the benefit of the If... manga. The demons sketched are but a handful of those new to If... and include:

Melusine

Vine

Angra Mainyu (his of course is the only sketch to actually make into a game proper, that being Dx2, naturally.)

Valkyrie

Heeho-kun

So why do illustrations for If... demons like those made for SMT1/2 not exist? Because those were only produced for promotional purposes (i.e.,for use in books and magazines,etc.) well after the demons of the SFC era began their lives in pixels, as detailed in this perennially important translation:

And so, considering If... was released somewhat late in the Super Famicom's life, during a particularly revolutionary transitional period when brand-new competition from shiny, 3D-capable 32-bit consoles was entering the fold, and as Atlus themselves were gearing up for Devil Summoner (including Kaneko adjusting to new digital art techniques), it was likely deemed that Kaneko's time was better spent on the game for the new platform. That's just my speculation, of course. The new If... demons probably just got lost in this generational shuffle. That said, there are a couple If... demons that nonetheless broke through and became mainstays thanks to Kaneko remembering them for the Saturn rosters:

[eirikrjs]

Say, how well have you been keeping up with G-MODE's releases? From what I've seen so far they've done (in relation to SMT) all three mobile versions of the Last Bible series, Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikuu no Tou Hen, Majin Tensei: Blind Thinker, and Aegis: The First Mission. Any hopes on what game(s) they should do next?

Honestly, not very closely other than what comes up in my discord, like SMT 20XX:

I think it's fantastic these are being released and preserved, but I'm resigned to having no desire to play them. Otherwise, I think another good Gmode candidate would be Soul Hackers: Intruder:

It has some really neat demon sprites, if nothing else. Thanks to @purseowner4thequalityanimation for bringing it to my attention!

[eirikrjs]

PHIL on the short list to lead the Catholics of Drangleic.

PAPAL CONCLAVE LIVE FROM NO-MAN’S WHARF

TONIGHT, April 25th, 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST, we're going to dodge roll with our whole hole in Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin! Watch as a congregation of cardinals and surly dwarves and PHIL decide who will succeed the late Francis in our most Catholic stream yet. Tonight!!!

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/streamingknowledge

Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@streaming_knowledge

[eirikrjs]

The History of the Kuzunoha Clan

Hey, I'm not dead. I've just finished a new video all about the Kuzunoha Clan. It focuses on the real-life mystical concepts that inspired them, explores their in-universe history, and explains how they function as a group using info from the games, manga, novels, etc. If you're at all interested in learning about Raidou Kuzunoha's background in preparation for the upcoming remaster, this will cover basically everything we know about the clan.

This video is not very spoiler-heavy, except arguably for the 2nd section covering material from the original Devil Summoner; however, this video does cover the entire Devil Summoner series if that is an issue for you.

[eirikrjs]

Strange Journey was once an article in an old children's magazine that was very popular in Brazil. More curious than the fact that this game among thousands is here is the fact that at this time we were at the end of a satanic panic period and they were clearly trying hard not to use the word demon.

This is a fascinating little historical artifact!

Can you imagine if/when SMT gets popular enough in any Western region to earn controversy? It might not happen ever.

[eirikrjs]

Hathor is coming to Dx2 in her SMT if... form.

I'm so glad to see more If... demons in 3D!

Now they just need to make the jump to the main series.

[eirikrjs]

HI HElLo!!! Sorry for the bother but I’ve been kinda going in circles trying to find more info on Toubyou!! It seems that whenever I look em up, I just find the SMT renders. Is this a case of like, a mistranslation or something else? HES LIKE. Such a Funny Little Guy and my mind craves more info on him.

(They do kinda remind me of those Snake Wine bootles. If only a little) Thank you for your time tho!!!!!!

Let me detail my process for situations like this when I want to find more info on obscure demons:

1 Toubyou is a Japanese demon, so it's likely "real"

2 I search using its name as rendered in the Japanese version of the games: トウビョウ, with the intention of finding how the name is rendered in Kanji (to search again for more info, if necessary)

3 The top two results are its Japanese Wikipedia page and Pixiv wiki (these Pixiv wikis often have reliable information, at least for Japanese stuff) The Wikipedia page offers a Kanji name: 土瓶.

4 Next I'll run what I find through a translator

5 Lastly, I'll compare the new info to an officially translated in-game profile to see if it's in the ballpark/ the original Atlus intention for the demon:

6 The bit about the golden ring around the neck is consistent between sources, so this seems to be what you're looking for

The Wikipedia page has more sources to look through that should lead you down an even deeper Toubyou rabbit hole.

[eirikrjs]

THE EASTER FINALE OF THE KYUUYAKU MEGAMI TENSEI I STREAM

TONIGHT, April 20th, 9:00 PM EST/8:00 PM CST*, we're busting out of this cave in Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei I! Join us on this fine Easter evening to bid farewell to JAZZ and BOURBON and Rick and the White Dragon Orb as we take on Lucifer and get this bad boy wrapped up in under a fiver. Tonight!!!

*current estimate, stream delayed due to easter festivities

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/streamingknowledge

Archive: https://www.youtube.com/@streaming_knowledge

[eirikrjs]

This review portends the anti-Japanese-game undertones in game journalism during the Xbox 360/PS3 era, but is just a wee bit more overt about it.

Came cross this amazing Xenogears review on social media

"japlish"... 1998 UK gaming magazine racism was simply operating on a different spectrum

"RPG's" is also really good