You might have heard of this, but a month ago or so, Jan H., the patient, shut down power to Sophia Hospital in the Netherlands thinking that by doing so he could acquire a toothbrush that would complete a puzzle. The hospital lost power for 45 minutes, stranding some folks in elevators and forcing doctors to resort to manual efforts to keep intensive care patients breathing. Noone was hurt. (Poor Noone.)

Turns out Jan H. skated on - what else - insanity. A court ruled he had "no idea of the true consequences of his deed."

Man Found Not Guilty After Blacking Out Hospital [24 Oranges via OffGamers]

How cheap is cheap? How about $40 off the normal retail price? That's right, GameStop has marked down Street Fighter IV new for the PS3 and 360 to only $19.99. Kotakuite DUGDAWG noticed the sale on Slickdeals this morning, and calling my local store I was told that they had just marked down both versions this morning. The PC version remains at $39.99 for the time being, and GameStop.com still lists the used copies at $34.99 apiece, so in this situation I'd probably go with a new copy, unless you are some sort of moron.

That's a damn fine discount right there. I already own the game and I'm thinking about picking up another copy just to bask in the savings.

In order to support Petric's insanity plea, his lawyers spent Tuesday building up his video game addiction, with his sister testifying that he became addicting following being housebound due to a staph infection following a serious skiing accident. Another character witness, Daniel's 17-year-old friend Jonathan Johnson, explained that Petric was so obsessed with the Halo games that he would spend large amounts of time at Johnson's house playing them. One marathon session took place a week before the shooting, during a time when Petric's father had kicked him out of the house over an argument following the fight.

In effect it was a rather weak defense. Not only did it show no direct correlation between playing the game and shooting his parents, it served to stress the fact that the relationship between Petric and his father had been stressed before the shooting occurred. Furthermore, when Assistant Lorain County Prosecutor Tony Cillo cross-examined Johnson, asking him if he believed Halo 3 was the reason Petric shot his parents, the teen answered, "No."

It was also revealed that Daniel Petric told adolescent forensic psychologist Steven Neuhas during a pre-trial mental health evaluation that he had thought about killing his parents during the weeks leading up to the crime. Between that and his attempt to make the crime scene look like a murder-suicide between his parents, I very much doubt the insanity plea is going to hold any water.

With Daniel having waived the right to a trial by jury, it is now up to County Common Pleas Judge James Burge to render a verdict, which will be announced on January 7th.

Lawyers to make closing remarks in Daniel Petric murder trial [Cleveland.com]
Psychologist: Petric spoke about shooting parents before killing [The Chronicle-Telegram]
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According to the AFP report on the matter, the prohibition on selling CS and EQ was actually passed in October of 2007, but was only recently enforced by PROCON, the national consumer protection agency. Good work, Brazil. Glad all of your problems are sorted out now that the video game police are tackling the tough issues!

Members of the Kotaku Brazilian Connection wrote in to let us know about the ban. Their letters are after the jump and provide some insight into the local video game market.

From Pinguin:

Since 01/17, Counter Strike and Everquest are banned in Brazil. The decision came from a federal judge, based in the Consumer Rights, saying that it puts in danger the life of buyers. You can see the full decision in this site. (in Brazilian portuguese)

The counter strike was banned because, in experts opinion, teachs war strategies.
Everquest was banned because of their quests. The Brazilian judge, claims that, some quests ask for the user do good things and bad things, leading the user to pscicological problems.

In Brazil, those games were rated to 18+, by the Justice. In the past, before those rates exist, games like Carmagedon, Grand Theft Auto and Postal were banned too.

But, we still can play Postal 2, Manhunt (the complete version) and all the other games. Everquest isn't even [sold] in Brazil!

From Romulo:

Since 17/01/2008 the games "Counter-Strike" and "EverQuest" are been confiscated in the Brazilian state of Goiás by the PROCON, an organism created to defend consumer rights. The decision is extended trough all brazilian territory, the games were considered "[improper] for consume" and "nocive to the consumer health" offending some articles of the brazilian "consumer defense and protection code", a law that is usually used to protection the consumer against big companies.

Here in Brazil a single judge can make a decision that is valid in the whole country, this is the case, but other states are not confiscating the game as they think there may be something wrong with such a decision. The judge also classify CounterStrike and Everquest as being "nefast".

Acording to procon and the judge, Counter-Strike is described as "a game where drug deales sequestram and take to a morro thre UN representatives. Police invades the place and is received with bullets", the text also affirms, without showing names ou researches, that "in the vision of specialists that game teaches war techniches". Thats not counter strike´s but user generated content, CS_rio is a very popular map and played a lot in Brazil.

The reason to justify the ban, "violent games ou that bring violece are capable of forming agressive individuals, its evident is strong power of influence, reforcing agressive atitude on some individuals and social groups.", they go even farther when justifying everquest ban, [everquest] "takes the player to total nonsense and heavy psicologycal conflicts, because the quests he receives may be good or bad."

EA Brazil released a note claiming the content cited is not from counter strike but user generated, and say it´s waiting for a judicial notification to take legal action.

From Hank:

This is kotaku user HANK-SP, from Brazil, reporting that the brazilian state of Goias has banned the games Counter-Strike and the RPG EverQuest. The decision, taken by a court in Goias, is extented to all Brazil. The federal police IS already taking away copies from these games, altough EverQuest is not officially released in Brazil. Procon, brazilian governmental foundation for consumer defense, argued, on its website, that Counter-Strike is a game where "Rio de Janeiro drug dealers kidnapp and take to a slum three UN representants. The police invades the place and is welcomed with bullets. (...) In the vision of experts the game teaches war techniques". As for EverQuest, Procon states that it "takes the gamer to complete moral conflict and 'heavy' psychological conflicts; for the tasks that are given to them could be bad or good. (...) Violent videogames that use violence are capable of forming agressive individuals, making it evident that is strong its influence on psyquism, reinforcing aggressive attitude against certain individuals and social groups". The web site also states that anyone who sees these games being sold, that they should contact Procon for the arrest of the games. All this information has come from UOL, Brazil's biggest web portal, owned by Brazil's biggest newspaper "Folha de Sao Paulo". http://jogos.uol.com.br/pc/ultnot/2008/01/18/ult182u7954.jhtm In another news, UOL reports that EA has already answered that Counter-Strike doesn't have any Rio de Janeiro, any slums, any funk soundtrack, neither UN comissioners. http://jogos.uol.com.br/pc/ultnot/2008/01/18/ult182u7956.jhtm

Thanks for taking the time to write in, guys. Keep us informed of any developments, if you have the time.

Brazil bans popular video games seen to incite violence [AFP/Google]

What's worse is this isn't the first Lineage II-related death in Russia. Back in January one player stomped another to death while he was trying to break up a fight sparked during a real life meet-up.

What's even more crazy is that members of the Coo-clocks continue to harass the dead man's family, going as far as to threaten the life of his sister. That's some pretty insane clan loyalty right there if you ask me. One isolated crazy I can understand, but once a member of your clan beats a man to death...that's generally when you want to back off on the team spirit. Hit up the link below for the full story. More fuel for the fire.

Online game rivalry ends with real life murder [Russia Today via Game Politics]

This just in from George Broussard over on the 3D Realms Forums:

"Last Saturday we had our annual company Christmas party. It was a lot of fun as usual but it featured one special surprise. It turns out that several people had been secretly working late nights and into the wee hours of the morning preparing a special video for those at the party. They created a short teaser for Duke Nukem Forever.

After seeing the teaser we thought it was something we should share with all of you and while it's just a teaser, rest assured more is coming.

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 19th, around noon CST, we will release the first teaser trailer from Duke Nukem Forever. To tide you over until then, here is a screen shot taken from the teaser.

Thank you for being fans of the game and for your continued patience.

I'd like to thank the people on the team that worked so hard to create this teaser and the friends of 3DR that helped create it (Jeremy Soule and Julian Soule, Frank Bry, Jason Evigan and of course, Jon St. John)."

That's right, it's the end of times. Now translating that from 3D Realms Central Time that means we should be checking out the video around 2 p.m. Mountain, 2027.

Teaser Video Coming 12/19/07, Noon CST [3D Realms Forums, thanks Caine36 ]

According to Game Politics the "Kotaku case" against the state of Florida was dropped after Thompson withdrew the case just days after the presiding judge set a date for oral arguments.

Instead Thompson appears to be putting all of his nuts eggs in one basket, the gay porn case basket, named that because Thompson's most recent submission for the case featured graphic pictures of men having sex.

Says Thompson about the Kotaku and gay porn cases:

The Huck case is superfluous, as the other case is the one that has the relief I want and need.

I'll leave writing the kicker to this fun little story to you, the reader.

Jack Thompson Quietly Bows Out of Other Bar Lawsuit [Game Politics]

Nicely shaped, good attention to detail. The only thing that could improve this one is if it was a birthday cake and the candles were inside the cartridge slot, which you would then have to open and blow into in order to have all of your birthday wishes come true. Still think a better choice would have been the Snes, because then you could use a buttercream frosting with a little caramelized sugar on top to simulate yellowing plastic...damn it. Now you've got me doing it too.

Soon I'll end up like Bonnie over at Heroine Sheik, who has been reduced to obsessively creating game cake mosaics. I picture her rocking manically back and forth in her head as she cuts and pastes again and again, chanting "cakes!" and giggling in a broken sort of way. Michael Fahey

That $9.99 PlayStation 3 auction that McWhertor mentioned earlier ain't nothing. Earlier this morning a Kotaku reader slapped down a Buy It Now bid on a PS3, 2 free games, an extra controller, and free shipping on top of it, all for the bargain price of $.99. Less than one American dollar!

You know kids, eBay has instructional help files for a reason.

The auction also mentions that the package includes "Talladega Nights - Ballads of Ricky Robbin", and that the seller was the longest person in line, though he doesn't explain how he knows this. A launch line has to be pretty damn boring before I whip it out and start comparing. Okay that's a lie, but still.

Granted, there's a chance this could just be someone giving away $1000 worth of stuff...just not a very big one. The buyer is looking to hold him to the price, but I don't really see that happening. Michael Fahey

The 99 cent Buy It Now eBay PS3 Good luck GeeQzilla!

We get a lot of tips from our readers who tell us about zany eBay auctions where someone's scalping their PlayStation 3 with the help of a topless girl or, say, with the help of a topless girl. They may not all be winners, but altogether, they make for a good time.

Such as this unfortunate loser, who really ought to pay more attention to listing his $600 piece of electronics. The eBay seller listed their PS3 as a Buy It Now, which some lucky buyer picked up for $9.99 (plus the questionable $50 shipping charge). Will the seller honor it? Doubtful.

This character decided to auction off his or her grilled cheese sandwich, which might include a PlayStation 3, for the right price.

A miracle? Perhaps. Perhaps not. You are bidding on one grilled American cheese on whole wheat sandwich not fit for human consumption and meant for display purposes only. If winning bid is $10,000.00 U.S. Dollars or more, the winning bidder WILL receive one Sony Playstation 3 system/console bundle including Talladega Nights, and bonus Tony Hawk Project 8 skate boarding game. Seller will not be held responsable for any mold, fungus, virus, or other damages incurred by or related to grilled cheese sandwich. If winning bid qualifies for free PS3, PS3 will be shipped seperatly from sandwich, overnight and fully insured, free of charge. Playstation 3 is NIB and Factory Sealed.

Even dumber? Someone actually dropped over $200 on an inedible sandwich.

Here's a rough one. This poor sap was asking $100K for his PS3, which included a personal visit from the seller for changing his life. Bonus item: life long friendship. Creepy!

I understand that asking $100,000.00 for a System that retails for $600US is a little over the top, but that is exactly the reason for doing it. Ebay has set records and made headlines since its initial debut as an Online auction forum. What I am trying to do is take it one step further.

Without making this into a pity or sob story but to enlighten the potential buyer on myself, I am not a Millionaire or anywhere near it, this is not some scam for companies advertising needs. I am simply a 23 year old Kentucky Male with a pet Dog and a 1 bedroom apartment. I am doing this to simply give someone who has more then enough money to make this happen, who doesn't have a PS3, and who wants to change the life of one guy and his future family forever. My father left me and my little sister which i provide for as finish up college at Western Kentucky University. As for my current Ebay rating, all I can say is that I dont do this often. But given the History that will be made with this purchase, it is easy to see that the exchange will happen under many watchful eyes.

When you help change my life I will fly out the same day to come meet you. With this being a ground breaking purchase, I think a face to face exchange of the PS3 would be in order. I will fly out as soon as the money is transfered to me you anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately for the original owner, the highest bid was never in danger of coming close to one hundred grand.

Also unfortunate is this auction, in which the starting bid for the PlayStation 3 is $9500. Big buy in, but it does come with a free BMW!

But the most potentially depressing is this one, in which the seller allegedly gave the people ahead of him in line Exlax, under the pretense of being a nice guy.

Iwent out wednesday afternoon to the local walmart to start camping out. when i got there, there were already 12 people ther so i got in line being number 13. i talked around and found out the first 6 people there had been there since monday, total hardcore nerds all planning to keep them. bragging about how only they should get the system since theyve been there the longest. how they are so dedicated and how if you dont want to do the time, you shouldnt get a system. generally being complete assholes. good for them. we had a hours to pass so we became friends and played some cards and whatnot. the 6 guys in front kept to themselves and didnt associate with the rest of us. we were cool with each other leaving the line to get food, bathroom, smoke, etc since we all knew each other and as long as they were back in 30 minutes. i was about to leave to go buy some KFC for a good number of us and when i stepped out of line, one of the nerds shouted that if i left, i would lose my spot. the other guys told him that they were vouching for me and that i was just getting food but those 6 assholes didnt care. they said i leave, i lose my spot and that was the rules and they would call the manager (they had his number) to come out and enforce it. i said whatever and stayed in line.

a few hours later, the manager came out and told everyone that there were only going to be SEVEN available. they have them in their store and theyre not getting anymore. he told the people after # 7 they should leave if they wanted to not waste their time. me being number 13 should have left but i didnt, i wanted to stick around for a little bit more. everyone else left except me and the 7 other people that were getting it for sure. so the day goes on and i try to make friends with the nerds. i play mario kart on the ds with them and talk to them about the games they were getting. about an hour or 2 later, i tell im gonnna head home since im 8 in line and theres only 7 ps3s. one of them made some stupid joke about if i leave the line then i aint getting back in!! har har. so as im about to leave, i tell them im going to the vons next door and if any of them wanted any food or coffee and id bring it back to them. one of them said yea and all the rest like sheep followed and said yes too. they were gonna give me money but i told them it was on me since theyve been out here since monday. the 7th guy in line wanted some food and coffee and i told him id buy some for him also.

so i go to vons and buy 8 coffees, some food, and some x-lax laxatives. i bring it to my car and put some laxatives in 6 of the coffees and seperate them from mine and #7s. i pull back to walmart and bring all the drinks and food upfront. i give #7 his stuff and then the coffees with laxatives to the 6 nerds annd wish them good luck and go back to my car. i park it around the corner so i can still see them.

about 30 minutes later, #2 and 3 in line get up and it seemed like they were yelling to the other nerds. they both ran into walmart. seconds later (i guess all nerds have the same biology) #5 gets up and runs across the parking lot and into the trees and bushes somewhere. #1 is scrounging for this portapotty type thing he'd brought with him but he is squirting everywhere and all over his pants and their sleeping bags. he runs into walmart. at this time, i start my car and drive back to the walmart to claim my spot in line. when i get there #4 and 6 are gone but i dont know where. #7 is laughing his ass off so hard and i just smile at him. i call up 5 of the other people that i had made friends with that were in line with me ( i had their phone numbers cause i was gonne buy to food for everyone) and told them to get back to the walmart ASAP and get in line. Meanwhile, me and #7 threw all their shit into the parking lot and i claimed my spot as #1, him as #2. 4 and the people i had called arrived and got in line just as 1 of the nerds came running back and got #7. he started yelling saying they need their spots back. we all told them to fuck off, out of spot, out of line. it was all of us against him so he didnt say shit. the nerds came back and tried to start some shit but we just laughed, we told them it was their rule and to go fuck themselves and clean the shit off their pants. the called security and security came. security man was like WTF is that fuckin smell and looked at the nerds with shit all of them and kicked them off the grounds screaming LMAO. so that is how i got my ps3.

Reeks of bullshit, but we've been witness to some incredible lows in humanity over the past week. Sigh... What a world. Thanks to everyone who sent these in! Michael McWhertor

According to the AP there is a pregnant woman in line at a Mount Laurel, New Jersey Circuit City. She's also having contractions. She's also staying in line until she gets a PlayStation 3. Who can compete with nutjobs like this?

Nine months pregnant, Julie Mosley said she tried to ignore her contractions for the chance to score machines for her family, her daughter's father and her younger brother.

Come on, people! This is getting ri-goddamn-diculous! Think of the children, etc. Michael McWhertor

Gamers line up for coveted PlayStation 3 [Yahoo/AP]

I was involved in a Hit and run Car accident. My truck rolled 3 or 4 times. During the course of the rolling my xbox 360 Premium was thrown out of the vehicle. I didnt get knocked out and Im alive. When I got out of the vehicle I saw my beloved 360 and harddrive not to mention some of my games strewn along the road with other items of mine. I walked over and picked up the 360. Face plate not to be found. 360 had a tire mark on it. It had been ran over.

Seems the poster only suffered minor injuries to his elbow, Xbox 360, and his grammar. Check out the forum post for pics of the totalled truck and the now deformed console. Looks like that 360 can really take a beating (just not a software update).

Thanks, Mr. Poon! Michael McWhertor

My Xbox 360 Survivied a rollover accident, and being ran over

Looks like the best place to play portable gaming just got all anti-gamey on us. Following the arrest of 21 people Thursday in connection with an alleged plot to blow up a plane, the UK officials have banned passengers from taking electronic items on board planes.

The ban applies to all flights leaving or transferring through the UK.

While video game devices have not been mentioned, they have mentioned laptops, ipods and cell phones specifically, so I'm guessing that the DS, PSP and such would also be on the list.

Security in the UK will now require you to pack all of those electronic goodies meant to quash boredom in your suitcase. Brian Crecente

New Rules Put Laptops in Checked Baggage [Infoworld]