Peachy Project Updates

Now that we are quickly approaching our second Will, Strife and Ayu-Vogue discography update deadline, I figure it's time for an explanation as to what I've been up to.

After spending the better part of six months on a thesis, I graduated last June and thought I'd have a couple of months off to leisurely make updates here. That has obviously not been the case. At this time, I do not foresee any significant content updates being made until September at the earliest. Will will take the backseat to Strife.

I appreciate your patience and hope to have a better game plan (and something to show for it) later this year.

Strife, Will, and the Peachy Projects list have been updated to reflect this prolonged informational hiatus. Fanlistings will continue to be updated regularly.

Ayu's latest original album NEXT LEVEL has been released on US iTunes for $11.99.

Midgar-Rock Organization

• Strife
  • Scar/Happy Ending has been renamed with a new layout and codes.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Ayu-Vogue Network
  • Updated with information on Ayu's new single Sunrise/Sunset ~LOVE is ALL~

My PS3's in the shop for a broken Blu-Ray drive, and there is the possibility that I will be without an internet connection for about a week starting Friday. But hey, at least Will is now approved by TAFL?

I have to confess that the only things I'm actively working are new layouts for Midgar-Rock and Ayu-Vogue. Promised content revamps will be further delayed due until after I recover from my current state of braindeadness.

After a brief absence, the listings for Avex artists like Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, and BoA appear to have been restored on US iTunes. BoA's page was actually updated with two additional albums (OUTGROW and VALENTI) in addition to her latest US single and video.

Apparently ESRB posted a new rating for FFVII for the Platforms "PSP, PlayStation 3".

No release date is available yet. E3?

• ESRB Search Results
• Kotaku.com: ESRB Confirms Final Fantasy VII for PS3, PSP

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Gallery @ Ayu-Vogue
  
  • New scans from the May 2009 issue of Sweet

I have three more weeks of classes. Given the sheer volume of work I have to wrap up in this time, I'm going to unofficially add a month to all ACC and Ayu-Vogue Discography revamp projects.

After graduation in June, the content revamp schedule will be as follows (in order of priority)

1. 7th Heaven
2. Will
3. Strife
4. Ayu-Vogue merchandise and analog discography

I don't foresee Sunshine being significantly edited after ACC, so it may have its update earlier than 7th Heaven or Will, and NEVER EVER will most likely remain AC-only until I feel like changing it. Grace is also scheduled to have a navigational revamp which will probably occur earlier than the projected content revamps, and the Super Secret Project will also likely be treated as a priority. 

Gloriosa Galleries have officially migrated to the new MR! Museum, though the content links are kind of a mess. I'm really okay with that for now.

In conclusion: I'm going to stay in lurker mode for awhile still. Fanlisting members will still be added, and only big Ayu news will be reported.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Hosted Fanlistings
  • Together has a new layout, for better or worse. I accidentally re-wrote the current directory with the beta of the new layout, but I figure even that's better than the old one. Any reports of significant IE7 bugs would be greatly appreciated.

As part of its "Next Big Thing" feature, the US iTunes store has put J-pop superstar BoA's US debut on sale for $6.99. Check it out if you haven't already!

Quick update until I have time for a more thorough one.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Gallery @ Ayu-Vogue
  
  • New scans from the May 2009 issue of ViVi

Some of you may have noticed the new privacy policy popping up at certain Peach-Arrow Network sites. This is because all Peach-Arrow Network domains and some of the bigger sub-domains are now using Google Analytics to better cater to its user base. Right now this only affects Peach-Arrow.net, Ayu-Vogue.net, and Strife.

As of April 2009, the Peach-Arrow Network uses Google Analytics to gather information from users with javascript-enabled browsers. This information includes:

• Types of Internet browsers used to access the site and the browser version number (example: Internet Explorer 7, etc)
• Type of operating system
• Screen resolution
• IP address
• What Peach-Arrow Network pages are accessed, etc.

This information is collected to better optimize the Peach-Arrow Network for its users. It will not be sold or otherwise used for monetary profit. Peach-Arrow does not collect any personal information like visitor legal names, mailing addresses, etc.

To clarify, Peach-Arrow will be using general information -- primarily what browsers are used -- to better optimize the viewing experience and make its sites more accessible. The Peach-Arrow Network will remain personally financed/ad-free.

As some of you have undoubtedly noticed, all Avex artists (Ayumi Hamasaki, Namie Amuro, etc) have mysteriously disappeared from all iTunes stores outside of Japan. This is especially curious when some artists (like BoA and Monkey Majik) had Avex-distributed albums added to their US pages in the last two weeks, and the removal includes all "international" Avex singles like Anna Tsuchiya's special Resident Evil theme and EXILE's English song for Street Fighter 4. They were removed from the store on the eve of iTunes' official, store-wide conversion to DRM-free content, and this more than likely is not a coincidence. However, no official statement has been issued by Avex's corporate site.

I was reluctant to officially announce this change on my sites in hopes that everything would be straightened out by the end of the week (or two). In the meantime, it may behoove of you to request Ayu and other Avex artists on the iTunes Request Form.


In related news, you can still pick up BoA's English-language, self-titled debut if you haven't already.

This update was actually uploaded Saturday but I held back the announcement in hopes that I would get something else done.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Ayu-Vogue Network
  • discography has been updated for NEXT LEVEL's first week
  • the PV section now has proper preview caps and directors listed for "Sparkle", "NEXT LEVEL", and "Curtain call"
• Gallery @ Ayu-Vogue
  
  • Screen captures were added for "Rule", "Sparkle", "NEXT LEVEL", and "Curtain call".

Asian Superstar BoA's US debut hits stores today! Check out her self-titled album's lead single "I Did It For Love" featuring producer Sean Garrett (Usher, Beyonce):





See BoA's Official Youtube Channel for more previews.

• Buy Physical or Digital Album from Amazon
• Buy Digital Album (with exclusive remix bonus track) from iTunes.

The album is also avilable for purchase from Target, Best Buy, FYE, and other major music stores. Canadian fans will be able to buy it domestically next month.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Ayu-Vogue Network
  • discography now has the cover and complete tracklisting for NEXT LEVEL
  • the Awards page has been updated to reflect her recent Japan Gold Disc Award win.
  • the PV section has a placeholder for her three upcoming videos: "Sparkle", "NEXT LEVEL", and "Curtain call"
• and then
  • The news blog was updated both last night and this morning with these recent developments.

Ayu's new single Rule/Sparkle is available for purchase on US iTunes. The single is available in three different versions, each with different b-sides (unfortunately, the PV included with the "CD+DVD" version is not up for download). This is the first time her music has received a simultaneous release in Japan and US. 

Check out Ayumi Hamasaki's artist page on US iTunes

Edit: Checked some international stores; it looks like this single was released to all versions of the iTunes Music Store like GUILTY.

Kotaku is reporting a trailer posted on GameTrailers that is allegedly for a North American version of Advent Children Complete. This version will be released simultaneously internationally. But we've heard promises like these before.

We knew the Japanese version came with an English language track, but the trailer has no new dialogue in English (and has a shitty, Albert Wesker-esque narration). I would write this off as a fake if the trailer wasn't listed alongside other "official" (or otherwise not user-submitted) trailers on GameTrailers.com. However, keep in mind that Square Enix has said nothing about it on its official site. Until a press release is posted on Square North America or Square Enix Holdings, consider this a rumor.

Hopefully it'll be confirmed/denied by Square corporate in a few hours and this won't be AC all over again.


Related Edit: Still no confirmation on the alleged US release, but the Japanese version at least will definitely come with a new anime OVA retelling the "Case of Denzel" story (FF7AC reunion).

This is the culmination of several mini-updates over the night, because this is apparently what I do when I have a head cold.

Midgar-Rock Organization

• Will
  • New, non-train wreck layout
  • Old train wreck content has been taken down to be completely re-written.

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Ayu-Vogue Network
  • discography entry for her upcoming album NEXT LEVEL
  • Preview cap for the "Rule" PV. 
• and then
  • Updated the news blog accordingly

Ayu-Vogue Network

• Ayu-Vogue Network
  • Rule/Sparkle news has been trickling in over the last couple days, and both the Ayu-Vogue discography and news blog have been consistently updated to reflect that. Today the discography was updated with first press information and the last two single covers.