Suikoden Revival Movement Campaign

We have featured Suikoden Revival Movement before, petitioning to Konami to release the PSP versions of Suikoden outside of Japan, and a year on still causing an uproar. They have recently announced the next phase of our campaign, OBM. Here's their promotional video about it: www.youtube.com/watch

The aim of OBM is to target Konami Japan's Headquarters with a mass mail in campaign in the hope that KCEJ will see just how much love and demand there still is for the Suikoden series. OBM hopes to show Konami Japan how important the Suikoden series still is and how much demand there is for the Suikoden series within the modern gaming market. From December 10-12 2013, fans from around the world are invited to send Konami Japan letters, fanart, cosplay pictures, sculptures and CD arrangements; anything creative that is sure to catch Konami's eye. A mass mail in campaign, on these set days is sure to make an impact and not go unnoticed at Konami Japan.

Suikoden Revival Movement Goals:

"Our main aim here is to revive the Genso Suikoden series. We aim to prove that the Suikoden fan base is still large enough, and passionate enough, for Konami not to give up on. An already peculiar and modest series, Genso Suikoden's popularity has waned in recent years. With rumours that Konami's 'Suikoden team had been disbanded', or that the whole Genso Suikoden series had been abandoned entirely, it was a surprise to many of us when Konami announced Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki at Tokyo Game Show 2011. But is this 'new direction' really what is best for the series?

While we are grateful that the Genso Suikoden series is, in fact, not dead - we aim to show Konami that it would be more profitable, and to the benefit of us all, if they continued the Suikoden series based in the same world and timeline originaly set out by Yoshitaka Murayama and in the main games I-V.

It is no secret that Konami has mishandled this series that held so much promise. But instead of telling Konami where they went wrong, we aim to work with Konami to revive the older games and the Suikoden franchise as a whole."



Here is a rough check list of what we they to achieve and what you can expect them to be pushing for in the coming months:

• Suikoden I and II on PSN and digital distribution worldwide


• Currently, only the North American version of the PSN has Suikoden I, while the European or PAL region lacks this title, as well as the Indian PSN. None of these PSN regional stores carry Suikoden II. Further digital distribution should include iOS, Android, Steam and XBLA.


• Suikoden III-V on PSN and digital distribution worldwide


• Currently, there are not too many PS2 games on the PSN. Therefore, we feel getting the PS2 Suikoden games on PSN as quickly as possible would be a great way to promote the games and give the series more exposure. It would also mean that European fans can purchase Suikoden III legally, which I'm sure both ourselves and Konami would prefer. Further digital distribution should include Steam and XBLA.


• Localise Genso Suikoden Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki outside of Japan


• Localise the Suikoden Manga/novels outside of Japan


• To lobby Konami for greater and more wide-spread advertising of the Suikoden series.


• For Konami to distribute various Suikoden merchandise outside of Japan, such as: soundtracks, guides and art books.


• For Konami to launch an official, English language Suikoden Facebook fan page


• Of course, the main goal I'm sure we all want to see here is a main title Suikoden, i.e. Suikoden VI. However, we feel it is more beneficial to revive and promote the older games of the series before we help Konami push for a brand new main title Suikoden.

"With each point from the check list that is achieved, I urge that we will all do our upmost to promote and advertise the achievement - and Suikoden as a whole.

Together we can make a difference. Together we can bring back Suikoden. And, together, we can give Suikoden the success that it truly deserves."

Konami Europe has announced on 22/01/15 that Suikoden I & II will be available on EU PSN on 4th Feb 2015. Congratulation to all the supporters!

What is Purikura?

 Purikura or 'photo sticker' machines are a special type of photo booth that produce photo stickers. Jointly developed by Atlus and Sega, the first Purikura machines were sold in July 1995. Still going strong in Japan they have spread throughout Asia to Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Germany and even the UK.

How do they work?

Inserting money in the machine money slot, multiple customers can enter the booth and pose for a set number of exposures. Some common options include the ability to alter lighting and backdrops while the newest versions offer features such as cameras from a variety of angles, fans, seats, and blue screen effects, changing hair colour, eye colour and your appearance.

Once the pictures have been taken, the customer selects the pictures that they wish to keep and customise them using a touch screen or pen-sensitive screen. The touch screen gives them options such as shiny stamps, clip art, colourful backdrops, borders, auto text, date stamp and pens that can be superimposed onto the photographs.

Features that can be found in some sticker machines are customising the beauty of the customers such as brightening the pictures, making the eyes sparkle more, changing the hair, bringing a more reddish colour to the lips and fixing any blemishes by having them blurred. Other features include cutting out the original background and replacing it with a different background. Certain backgrounds may be chosen so when the machine prints out the picture, the final sticker will be shiny with sparkles.

Finally, the number and size of the pictures can be chosen within the layout section so you can pick a few big ones, or multiple small ones to divide between friends. Some photo booths also have email capability to text to mobile phones or email. Other photo places have a scanner and laptop at the cashiers desk for customers to scan and copy their original picture before they cut and divide the pictures amongst their group.

Photo sticker booths are particularly popular among young people as an inexpensive form of recreation. The pictures can be kept as souvenirs or traded with friends.

Purikura in London:

There is actually one known Purikura booth located in China Town, Westend, London. Here staff operate the machines for customers and take payment in pounds rather than yen. With three different types:

Pink Machine - you choose a layout and then take photos according to the layout with a plain white background

Red/Blue Machine where you take photos in font of green background to add different backgrounds/foregrounds and draw on top or add fake ats, stars, hearts or text.

Purikura machine - the only Japanese Purikura, where the staff bypasses the automatic settings for you to take 8 automatic photos. You sit in front of a green screen using sofas and monkey bars to hang upside down create the illusion of carrying your friends too. After you choose your four favourite photos to be large, you can then go to one of the editing pods to add your own unique style to the sticker photos.

Do you have any Purikura machines in your area? If so, post them in the comment section below and help out your fellow Purikura adventurers.