Resident Evil puts stamp on Japan

When gamers think about Resident Evil, they often think of flesh-eating zombies, spine-tingling terror, and over-the-top, gruesome deaths. However, in Japan, they apprently think of stamp collecting.

Capcom's Resident Evil franchise turned 10 years old this year, and to celebrate the occasion, Japan will be getting a series of RE-themed postage stamps. A set of 10 stamps valued at 80 yen ($0.68) each will go on sale on September 20 and run for two months.

Five of the stamps will feature some of the series' more popular characters--Leon Kennedy, Ada Wong, Jill Valentine, Chris Redfield, and Rebecca Chambers. The remaining five bear the game's Japanese name of Biohazard, as well as a logo of S.T.A.R.S., the fictional special-ops squad that takes on hordes of zombies.

Resident Evil was released on the PlayStation in March 1996. The series has seen three sequels and several spin-offs and was the basis for a few movies starring model/actress Milla Jovovich. The next installment in the franchise, Resident Evil 5, is currently in development for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.