NEWS: Monday Update

Hi everyone. Bit of exciting news for you all this week, I'm heading back to Australia on Friday! Just for ten days though, a little bit of a holiday to see everyone again. Also, when I get back to Japan, I'm going to head up to Izu for a bit of a beach getaway (it's not a real summer vacation until I've been to the beach!)

As such, don't expect too much in the way of updates for the coming month! My Escapist news stories will also probably see a bit of a decline.

Last week was my "training week" for my day job as an English teacher. It was good to see all the Nasushiobara ALTs again, and to cap it off we had a poker night on Saturday. It's a very nice change of pace from my regular teaching work, and a good lead in to my lengthy summer vacation.

I bought a car this week! It may just be a Kei car, and it may have only cost me $500, but it's a car nonetheless. Even if I end up going back home in March, I'll have still saved money over renting every month, and if I do decide to stay another year, I'll end up saving a LOT of money.

On that front, it's looking more and more likely I will end up staying here one more year. Next year, my car, and my apartment's start up fees will be completely paid off, and with my current work pace at the Escapist I reckon I can save up a LOT of money. I do miss being home, and it's particularly hard with several of my best friends in the country having left Japan earlier this year, but at this stage in my life it may be best to just burrow down, save up a wad of cash, and then blow it all on a big vacation (or... sensibly save it with the intention of possibly buying a house...). It would be nice to visit all my friends in America...

My new car

Anyway, here are the last couple of week's stories (sorry about no update last week):

• Martian Manhunter Joins The Injustice: Gods Among Us Roster

• Evo 2013 Champions Revealed

• American McGee Cancels His OZombie Kickstarter

• Oculus Wants To Release The Rift For Free

• Good Old Games: Pirates Are Our Competition, Not Steam

• Skyrim Mod Adds Dishonored's Signature Abilities

• State of Decay PC Version Features Exclusive Enhancements

• Team Fortress 2 Update Kills Idle Servers

• League of Legends Unleashes Spirit Guard Udyr

• Battlefield 4's Buildings Have Advanced Falling-Over Mechanics

• 7 Days to Die Is DayZ Crossed With Minecraft

• Dead Rising 3 Ditches The Race Against The Clock

• How The Stick of Truth's Ambition Got Out of Control

• Street Fighter Live Action TV Show Starts Filming

• New Technology Lets You Physically Feel Virtual Objects

• Gearbox Announces HD Remakes of Homeworld 1 And 2

• Borderlands 2 Getting Level Cap Increase, Extra Missions, Raid Bosses

• Saints Row IV Had to Drop Bollywood Dance Number Ending

• Battlefield 4 Singleplayer Campaign Details

• First Saints Row IV DLC Detailed And Dated

• Nvidia Shield Ships On July 31

• Microsoft Vows To Fight Government Spying Via Kinect

• Nintendo Stock at a 2 Year High

• All Left 4 Dead 2 Maps Soloed On Expert By Crazy Person

• Pokemon Dev's New Game Combines Horse Riding and Solitaire

• EA Loses Lawsuit To Original Madden Creator

• Eidos Founder: Square Enix Needs to Learn How to Sell Games

• Saints Row IV Season Pass Includes Anal Probe Weapon

• "Project Logan" Brings Direct X 11 To Smartphones

• Super Smash Bros. 3DS And Wii U Drops Story Mode

• Ace Attorney 5 DLC Adds a Full New Case

• Don Mattrick Details His Plans to Turn Zynga Around

• Activision Blizzard to Buy Out Vivendi's Shares

• Battlefield 4's Battlelog is a Seamless Second Screen Experience

• Xbox 360 Gets Indie Self Publishing Too

• Saints Row IV Refused Classification in Australia (Again)

Top stories:

• Fez Dev Tells Media Member To Kill Himself

Fez director Phil Fish

• Skyrim Mod: Falskaar Adds 20 Hours of Gameplay
  

Okay guys, that's it from me for this week! Be sure to subscribe to my twitter for up-to-date news and blog updates, my youtube channel for gaming videos, and check back here every Saturday for a roundup of my Escapist news pieces!