Out of nowhere, one of my favourite games of all time landed out the App Store last night for iPhone and iPad.

there’s no universal build?! WHY WAS I EVEN BORN

I had heard nothing about The World Ends With You being released on iOS until yesterday morning, so imagine my surprise when I further learned that the release date was that NIGHT. Things never happen that quickly in my world, but it was true: last night at 8pm I handed over a wad of money (in app terms, anything that costs more than $0.99 can be declared a wad) and was soon downloading one of the best games ever made for the DS; to be played on my iPad.

The future is here, and it sounds AWESOME.

I spent much of yesterday squealing on Twitter about the upcoming release (when I wasn’t being a raging bitch, but that’s a story for another time), and last night I finally (after, like, 7 hours of waiting) got my game on. I had actually been thinking about playing TWEWY on my DS again, but I didn’t want to overwrite my current, 99.8% complete game so I never really got much further than “that would sure be fun”. Until now! Now I can submerge myself in as much JRPG as I can handle, on a shiny new screen! I am so excited. They added some new features, but the game is the same AND all music is intact (something not even the still-unreleased Jet Grind Radio could promise), plus wireless play between friends and Twitter aspects. HOORAY!

So, why aren’t I telling you to go out and get this app right now or else?

Well, two reasons:

The World Ends With You is an AWESOME GAME but it is not for everyone. It is complicated. It is weird. You will want to strangle the main character. You will likely want to give up in disgust several times. I know when I first played it I was really annoyed by it (something I went through again last night; Neku is a little bitch), but I kept at it and soon I was enjoying then fucking loving the game. It’s terribly Japanese, and if you’re not familiar with the JRPG genre, it might scare you away.

Also, it’s not just a wad of money – it’s several wads, plus one of your lesser-used limbs.

Being a Square Enix game, the app does not cost the usual $0.99. It’s not $1.99, or even $4.99. Ed took a guess at $7.99, and even that was really off: the iPhone version is $17.99, and the iPad version is $19.99. There is no universal build, and Squeenix apps do not go on sale. In this crazy new world of angry birds and apps that drop to a sale price of “free” all the time, that’s a huge price to pay.

That being said, the DS version of the game was (and likely still is; it’s almost impossible to find used) $45. I often wonder how game developers can afford to survive when they sell their products for $1, which is why I go out of my way to encourage people to buy the games I truly think deserve some extra love. If a big developer like Square Enix wants to port their well-loved games over to a medium with an enormous audience, I don’t mind paying the price (TWEWY prices are in line with some of the Final Fantasy games that have been released on iOS). It’s not like I buy $20 apps every day (in fact, this is my first), and I REALLY love this game – it’s well worth it to me to pay the money to be able to play it again, all refreshed and new with added content and updated graphics.

ENOUGH INTERNET! I need to go buy a lace bonnet to increase my attack in the Shibuya District!

If ever there was a time for MORE KITTENS, it would be on a Monday after an exceptionally cranky Sunday. Today there are extra kittens, because I didn’t post any last week while I was knee-deep in om and pretending to be highly organized – but this week it is GAME CAT ON! I even picked out the cutest, most adoptable cats in all the world to entice you with warm kitteny-goodness. There’s a long weekend coming up, and what better way to celebrate Labour Day than to open your heart and home to some soft fuzzy purring love? You can even drink beer while doing it! It’s the best of all possible worlds!

arizona is guaranteed to be more welcoming and less crazy than his namesake US state

Arizona is a super friendly grey-and-white stripy kitten, full of fun and curiosity. He loves cuddling, especially when sleepy (which, if you haven’t experienced a sleepy kitten purring drowsily in your ear, is an excellent reason to be alive). Arizona would love to be adopted with one of his brothers, but would also do fine on his own. He’s got all his shots, is house-trained and neutered, so he’s ready to go – adopt Arizona today!

george has a flavour!

Fall is coming, and orange is a good fall colour. Meet George O’Mally; a great big orange-and-white ball of fun. He’s still a kitten, but a big one (that probably won’t grow to Hobbz proportions) that loves a good time. George has been around small children and is great with them, so if you’re into that whole “having kids” thing then George would be a wonderful addition to your home. He loves to play and explore, but is also very snuggly with a fondness for laps and falling asleep in the crook of your neck. George is very social and would do well in homes with other pets!

fyi tora is a cat and not a japanese war movie

Tora is a medium-sized adult male who looks like a bit of a bruiser but is secretly a bit of a diva. He is outgoing, friendly, and LOVES attention – but he still gets along very well with other animals, even if they’re distracting attention from him. Tora is gorgeous, easy-going cat who wants nothing more than someone (or a family of someones) to shower him with love and all the attention he could ever want. Adopt Tora today, and make your home more awesome just by having him around!

this chin was made for scratching, and that’s just what you’ll do

Avery needs you, and he needs you NOW. He’s a shy little creamsicle who is nervous around people, and needs some special love and attention to ease him into a new home. If you’re a loving, patient individual with a soft spot for tiny adorable kittens, then please consider adopting Avery if for no other reason than to save him:

HELP ME

LOOK AT THE NAILS ON THAT WOMAN! I am terrified she’s going to puncture poor tiny Avery, who is obviously thinking the same thing! Won’t you save him? Let Avery into your heart and home, and save him from a cruel, manicured fate!

hipster kitty grooms his goatee nightly

Last but by no means least, we have the lovely Torez. He’s a free spirited kitten with lovely markings and an great attitude, and would make your home an exciting den of adorable activity. Like the others (it’s apparently Boy Kitten Day today), Torez is housetrained, has had all his shots, and is neutered. He needs someone to love him unconditionally, and will reciprocate in kind – and I dare you to have a bad day with kitten love in your face on a regular basis. You can’t. That’s just plain scientific fact.

All the kittens featured today were photographed by Cindy Hughes, and are currently at Home Finders Animal Rescue Society. Please contact them if you’d like to meet one of these awesome cats, and hopefully find yourself a friend for life who wants nothing more than love and to lay on all your clothes.

KITTENS!