The opera scene in Final Fantasy VI is one of the most memorable scenes in the game, perhaps even all of gaming. Celes’ performance of the “Aria di Mezzo Carattere” manages to express an incredible amount of emotion despite hardware limitations preventing any real vocals. And yet, many gamers still have fond, vivid recollections of the scene.

The embedded video is of the Tokyo City Philharmonic Orchestra performing the entire opera while GameTrailers user GrandConjurer syncs it up with the in-game performance.

If sprites aren’t your kick, you can go past the jump to see two videos of the opera scene played in person by the Prima Vista Philharmonic Orchestra.

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Nintendo’s legendary game designer/producer Shigeru Miyamoto spoke at the 13th Annual Japan Media Arts Festival while receiving a “Special Achievement Prize” award and said that he was working on a new game that will utilize the MotionPlus and confirmed that Nintendo is, in fact, working on new hardware.

Miyamoto didn’t go into much detail as to what this new game will be about or how it will make use of the MotionPlus nor did he divulge any info on what Nintendo’s new piece of hardware.

Source [via Cubed3.com]

“It’s Pikachu!”

That newly announced Pokémon RPG? It looks like it will actually be the start of the fifth generation of Pokémon games.

Pokémon Sunday, a Japanese variety show focused on showing older episodes of the anime, revealed the silhouette of the first new pokémon that will be in Generation V. No name was given, but it was announced that the mystery pokémon will play a central role in the thirteenth pokémon movie, Ruler of Illusion Z.

The TV show is promising a full reveal of the new pokémon on February 21.

I still think it’s too soon to introduce a new game into the main series. HeartGold/SoulSliver just came out late last year in Japan and they are promising this new game will be out before the end of the year. At least for Diamond/Pearl they waited two years after FireRed/LeafGreen.

Source, 2