Check out the new The-O Network YouTube channel! So far, we have gameplay clips from Capcom's games at Comic Con 2010, like Okamiden, and a special message to her fans from May'n! We'll continually update the channel with any content, such as videos from conventions or gameplay videos. Stay tuned for more and subscribe!

Disclaimer: Some videos may contain mature content and should not be viewed by minors

During the arcade location tests for Super Street Fighter IV, taking place in Japan right now in Akihabara, the character select screen conspicuously has two blank slots. These indicated new characters for Super Street Fighter IV’s console release, which likely means that we can look forward to two new characters in the arcade version. While it would be amazing to have fun new characters like Juri and Hakan, it’s also possible that the producer, Yoshinori Ono, will take this chance to put in his own favorites like Rolento and R. Mika. More updates once available. Screenshot after the jump.

[Source: Get Your Tournament]

Dead Rising 2: CASE ZERO will be available exclusively on Xbox Live on August 31, almost a month before the release of Dead Rising 2. The game is a prologue to Dead Rising 2, featuring the same main character and gameplay mechanics. Interesting part about this release is that whatever players earn, such as combos, alternate outfits, and player levels will be carried over to the main game. Instead of playing a demo that will only hype them up, players will be giving themselves a head start for the game’s later release. Interesting concept by Capcom, and it would be great to see this more in the future. Press release after the jump.

We realized there were many readers out there who really wanted to attend the NIS America Press Event. Well now you can! The-O Network covers a broad range of topics and we are looking for new writers to join our staff. As a staff member, you also have the chance to go to private and industry only related events such as one of the largest video game conventions, Electronic Entertainment Expo!

We also works with many companies, and periodically interview guests within the anime and Japanese music industry. This means as a staff member, you may get a chance to meet and talk with some of your favorite musicians, artists, and creators!

Simply send us a sample article to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject "Staff Contest." It can be a review, a preview, a news post, really anything regarding anime, gaming, music, Dollfie Dreams, figures, etc. Just make sure to specify what you are most interested in writing about if you become selected. Pictures are not necessary but may be included if you like. We really want enthusiastic, committed people!

All are welcomed to apply, please don't be shy!

If you have any questions at all please feel free to ask them in the comments below.

News image copyrighted Yuusuke Kozaki

Japanese pop star May Nakabayashi (May'n) who's probably best known as the vocal for Sheryl Nome from the anime series Macross Frontier, was in attendance at Anime Expo 2010 in Los Angeles to meet her fans as well as for a live concert performance. Having only briefly chatted with May'n previously at Animelo Summer Live 2009 in Japan, we conducted a followup interview a couple days before her American performance.

Dengeki PlayStation Online reported on Wednesday that they had received a mysterious postcard from Nippon Ichi Software. The art resembles Disgaea's character designer, Takehito Harada's style which you can view inside this post. We had previously reported a new Disgaea title was in the works for the PlayStation 3 which was revealed at NIS America's press event, and more information would be available at the Tokyo Game Show.

Apart from the impressive official guests at this year's Anime Expo, English visual novel publisher MangaGamer brough their own all star line of guests including Akio Watanabe. Watanabe has provided character designs for series including Starship Girl Yamamoto Yohko, Magical Canan, Nurse Witch Komugi, and Popotan. He is probably most well known for his recent work as Animation Director and Character Designer for the highly successful anime adaptation of Bakemonogatari. Each DVD release in Japan has seen a rough average of 40,000 copies sold the first week of its release! See what he had to say in our brief interview with Watanabe!

Lolicon rejoice! Arcana Heart 3, the fighting game series known for having loads of underage girls, is coming to both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in Japan courtesy of Arc System Works. Gameplay-wise, the series’ trademark is the ability to choose Arcana for every character, allowing almost countless ways to customize characters. No word on an American release, but considering Aksys Games’ close relationship with Arc System Works, it’s definitely a possibility. Hopefully this isn’t the only thing that Arc System Works was alluding to in their upcoming announcement in two days.

[Source: Siliconera]