I'm sad to see how apathetic and little sympathy many console gamers have.

PC gaming is more important than a lot of console gamers, and people in the industry today, give it credit for.

PC gaming was the backbone of Western gaming; Western games are PC games. Everyone celebrates the creativity, ingenuity, or originality of this generations' developers, but upon closer inspection many of these developers and games were closely tied with PC gaming in its beginning.

Pretty much the entire FPS genre has been ripped straight from the PC to consoles. Console FPS games this generation resemble something like Quake more than Goldeneye. Many of the biggest games in the genre this generation had their roots on the PC (and Mac in the case of Halo).

Western RPGs, which has also become popular this generation, was kept alive and thrived on the PC while JRPGs flooded the console market.

Online multiplayer, which has become so important this generation, was pioneered on the PC.

In the long run, PC gaming losing relevance is bad for everyone, not just PC gamers. The PC provides an environment that supports the development of new ideas and is suitable for smaller developers because of it's almost non-existent barriers of entry. People complain about PC gaming needing to purchase video cards, but fail to recognize that those purchases help test and fund further improvements. You could go so far as to say that PC gamers help subsidize the graphical improvements consoles get. The console environment stifles creativity and innovation; it's driven too much by profit. See the Japanese market and the issues around stagnation. PC gaming has been around just as long yet it didn't face that problem to the same degree until formerly PC games abandoned the platform in favour of consoles.

Now the question is this: after everything that can be taken from the PC has been took, and PC gaming is truly dead, will the Western console market face the same dilemma that the Japanese are facing today?

The complexity of PC gaming isn't a negative, and I'm surprised so many self-proclaimed "hardcore gamers" see it as such. Having to learn a little bit about the platform to enjoy it means that only those that care about gaming will become gamers; in essence all PC gamers are hardcore gamers in the truest sense. With all the talk about how Nintendo casuals are ruining gaming (which is total bullshit by the way) one would think that console gamers would recognize that they're doing exactly what they claim casuals would do, which is killing "gaming".

No Doubt Sues Activision Over Band Hero Likeness [Update]
Comment by: PixellatedViscera
Nominated by: Quipp

Press release from Activistion:

"Excuse Me, Mr.? Don't Speak about things that you know not of. It's a Tragic Kingdom we're living in where a company such as ours can be caught in the Spiderwebs of lies perpetrated by someone who, let's face it, is Just A Girl. We're tired of Running from these types of accusations and, moving forward, any potential litigants better have a Hella Good reason for starting stuff with us. Don't forget what makes the World Go Round - money. We've got it, and it's Too Late to spread a Comforting Lie till you're Blue In The Face.

We'd better End It On This. Hope you're Happy Now. "

Blizzard Starts Selling In-Game World Of Warcraft Pets
Comment by: Kualtek
Nominated by: UltimatePancakeSensation

I must have missed the memo where all content past the $60 original fee and $15 AGREED UPON monthly fee for servers should be free? These cosmetic pets do not improve any stat or strength of a character. They are 100% optional. Money still does not buy you skill or character strength (legitimately, anyways).

Blizzard has always and continues to provide free content on a regular update schedule. I don't think Blizzard has become anything they were not before. At the end of the day employee time costs Blizzard money and they are well within their rights to put a cost on any content they feel deserves payment.

It seems like there is a new millennium version of 'keeping up with the neighbors' going on. If someone else has this pet, I need to have it too! It costs $10?! This is some kind of outrage! Que petition and/or mindless hate and 'speaking for the community'.

Latest Wiimote Attachment: Baby
Comment by: Eltigro
Nominated by: Pezdispenser

I see a lot of sequels to this:
Toddler and Me
Kindergartner and Me
Tween and Me
Teenager and Me
Kid Who is Old Enough to get a Job and Me
When is He Moving Out and Me
I Want An Empty Nest and Me
I'm Too Old for this Shit and Me
What Do You Mean You're Pregnant and Me
Is He Going to Marry You and Me (but not me, just you)
then
Baby and Me II

Why Games Should Have a Few More Senior Moments
Comment by: Thut
Nominated by: 天

Most action games follow traditional epic story lines, which, discounting immortal-types, featured old folks in more of supporting roles (sages and guides).

It simply reflects true human nature. It has been postulated that the average age of the people who built Stonehenge, for instance, was around 24-26.

Also, you're more likely to have your life-defining moments and challenges in early-mid adulthood. These "great adventures" are typically the ones that bear enough significance to provide purpose to a game. How common is it to begin your adventure in your late 60s, and just what kind of adventure could there even be?

As for old people as objects of desire, what about Kings and Queens? The amount of sacrifices made in the name of an old ruler may not be too popular in current games, but that is simply because of individualism and our culture's dismissal of monarchies, not or lack of reverence to the elderly.

Saving a young person will always inherently carry more weight than saving an older one, simply because you are "saving more potential life." Young people may also serve as more aesthetically pleasing "trophies," for obvious natural reasons.

Still, this is an interesting subject. And as the player base continues to age, I'm sure we'll see more prominent roles for the elderly.

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Come now Chris, if it wasn't for turning cranks, you wouldn't have biceps the size of watermelons. So, ask yourself this, who then would be the one to punch boulders? You and those normal human arms?

L.A. Noire Is Coming Along "Splendidly"
Comment by: Yossarian
Nominated by: mind in rewind

geez, they could have at least answered the question in character...

"I sat back in chair, watched the rain fall against the windows of my decrepit little office and pondered the question.

Sure the fans demanded an answer, but aren't we all just looking for answers?

I came to this town with dreams of making it big, of being somebody, of tackling everything that was wrong with the gaming industry. Now I'm just a beat down has-been, with a development schedule that would make 3D Realms jealous.

I want to stand in the middle of Mullholland and yell out a release date, but nobody would listen anyway. There's no talent, or patience in this town for the empty promises that spew out of my mouth like cheap bourbon that went down the wrong tube.

So what else can I say. It's going like work like this always goes, but I have to keep my chin up. Put on a false air of optimism. Suck it up for the money men that run this show.

Splendid. It is coming along splendidly."

Some Might Call It A Feature, Some Might Call It A Health Warning
Comment by: JoeyJavs
Nominated by: Kobun

so i put that egg in my butt or what?

Talk Amongst Yourselves
Comment by: Showmeyomoves!
Nominated by: Slanzinger

Being a star commenter feels a lot like celebrating Christmas with family.

We're inside talking, having fun, telling jokes and sharing the joy with our fellow commenters and star commenters. Then, we hear a soft tapping on the window pane. We turn to look and see a young boy standing out in the cold, begging to come inside.

"Sir, if you have a moment, maybe you'd like to hear what I have to say?"

With the spirit of Christmas in our hearts, we heartily reply:

"Of course, young man. Come, come!"

Then, as we open the door, we let the young man speak as he shakes the snow off his coat.

"Oh boy, mister. Thanks! I was sure I was going to be ignored forever! I would just like to say that I think Super Street Fighter IV should have been downloadable content as opposed to a full retail release."

We share a few laughs and argue back and forth. The boy eats some Christmas turkey and drinks some hot chocolate. Then, just when he thinks he has finally found a family, grampa Kotaku Writer comes downstairs:

"What's that orphan doing here? Didn't I tell that boy to stay outside?"

And the young man finds himself standing outside in the cold once again, waiting for that time when he will finally be a part of the Kotaku Family.

The End.

No Graphical Complaints From This Wii Developer [UPDATE]
Comment by: phisheep
Nominated by: TheFlyingGerbil

That five trees/four trees line reminds me a lot of what you do with bonsai - it's about making the illusion of more with less. Same goes for origami and ikebana.

I love that as a design approach: accepting the limitations and working within them rather than demanding more - perhaps its the old-school programmer in me coming out.

There does seem to be a trend among Western developers to continue to want to do more with more every time. It's like the perpetual excuse of the bad manager or the bad government that there are 'not enough resources'.

The resources are what they are. The fewer resources you have the greater the scope to exercise your talents as an illusionist and a creator. Any numpty can create something with infinite resource. 

Marvellous stuff.

Left 4 Lupus
Comment by: Nudgenudge
Nominated by: bwwardiii

PILLS HE- damn it House, stop looting the items!

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I shall never forget the NES and what it did to transform my life.

Without it, I wouldn't be the hyper-addicted gamer I am today.

Without it, I might have a decent career and riches.

Without it, I might have BEEN something.

Without it, I...

... crap, I lost my train of thought, let me go find another heart container.

No Snickering, Games Climax Too Late
Comment by: Psudonym
Nominated by: 天

I'm going to expound upon all those willing to read a personal　anecdote that exemplifies why gaming is unique and its story telling　challenges are different than any other. And that involves a little　early open world experiment called Shenmue II.

I had borrowed the game from a very good friend of mine, imported to　our then elderly Dreamcasts. I was a huge fan of the first game, a　dedicated virtual master of Hazuki Style Jujitsu, capsule games, and　Space Harrier. So when it came my chance to finally find my father's　killer and unravel the mystery of the Phoenix Mirror I unhesitatingly　took it on. Rushing headstrong into China with nothing but a napsack　and a wallet of saved up allowances, I was playing one of my favorite　games of all time.

Unerringly I delved deeper into the plot, fought street fight after street fight. Sure I suffered a set back or two, but nothing a good night's rest couldn't resolve or some time running game of Lucky Hit wouldn't relax away. For the most part, I was living out one of the great kung fu films never put to screen.

I was unstoppable in my quest. It was a tricky game on occasion, but for the most part my skills helped me through any trial. So when I was warned about continuing a particular line of investigation, I ignored them. I sought out the mysterious contact. And followed them to their location. And that's when your so standard cliche of arrogant hero beatdown came crashing upon me. I had my ass saved later by the lady who warned me of recklessness.

When I came to the next morning, I was perhaps just ready to reset the game. To try and see if it was possible to beat that event. I mean, it felt possible. If only I was stronger, faster. But that's when something unexpected, and yet perfectly classic to the genre, hit me harder than any beating could.

The little girl who was helping around the apartments I stayed in came in to see me after waking. She cried and said something like, I should never worry her like that again. And that it scared her. And that's when it hit me. That's when a real life lesson came to me, the player. I actually, for once, thought about how the individual characters Ryo had befriended cared for him.

It was from that moment on, that I couldn't in good conscious continue on his quest. Instead, I had thought clearly that this revenge quest wasn't worth it. I had, infact, learned the classic Kung Fu morale tale without going through the classic Kung Fu tropes. I didn't need to kill my last bad guy. I didn't need to find out the ancient mystery. I had reached an emotional climax, and I was left content with half of the game completely unplayed.

I went around Hong Kong collecting capsules, working the Lucky Hit stands, eating ramen, played at the arcade. And then I retired from the game and returned it to my bewildered friend.

In interactive mediums, you always have a choice of your ending. Even if that choice is hitting the power button.

New Dashboard Commercials Bring Ad Breaks To Your 360
Comment by: Mr Pappzy lurves Orange Soda
Nominated by: superberg

You know what? Microsoft has the right idea. From now on, all my posts will feature value-added images.

Microsoft Seeks a Few Good Store Managers
Comment by: Asbestos_Underwear
Nominated by: Mr Pappzy lurves Orange Soda

Staff is required but not limited to phrases such as:

"Are you sure you want to go to the hardware segment of the store?"

"The store has encountered a problem and will now close"

"The sales pitch could not be initialized"

and

"You may now leave the store".

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Part of the problem is that all the games in the article are aimed at children. And as such, they suffer from the problem that afflicts the vast majority of children's games: they're awful. They are all extremely shallow in concept and gameplay, and where they aren't licensed spin-offs, chances are they were developed on a shoestring, in a very short period of time.

What children (regardless of sex or gender) need is games that are of high quality, and which thought has gone into. And, it turns out, there are a ton of them about. It's just that they are mostly designed with adults in mind. If you walk into any game store, there are plenty of good games, aimed at adults, but which do not have an age rating that precludes their being played by children. And it's those games that girls and boys would be playing in an ideal world.

Titles like Katamari Damacy, Okami, or Super Smash Bros. are all interesting in different ways, and offer great gameplay, and are suitable for children. When I was a kid, the divide between child and adult-targeted games wasn't the same as it is now. Still, I tended to ignore games aimed exclusively at children and played titles like Monkey Island or X-Wing instead. Just because someone hasn't hit double digits doesn't mean they can't tell the difference between a decent game and junk.

What is needed is for parents to understand at least the basics of what types of games are available, partly so that they can make sure the games they buy their kids are age-appropriate, but also to make sure that their kids aren't playing rubbish. Just like I wouldn't want my kid watching shopping channels all day when they could be watching David Attenborough or Blue Peter or something, I wouldn't want them playing Babiez when they could be playing Rachet & Clank.

And I know that if I have kids then they certainly won't be subject to the kind of gender indoctrination that means that daughters have to be interested in princesses and sons have to be interested in firemen. That kind of narrow-minded thinking is half the reason for these shoddy 'girls' games' in the first place.

They Remember Jedi, Jaws and Indiana Jones
Comment by: Orionsaint

The Summer Blockbuster experience is basically dead these days. The magic and wonder of movies is gone. Before the Internet you didn't really know what expect when you watched a blockbuster movie, just what the trailer showed. You were left in awe as you wondered how that stunt or special effect was done. These days we know the plot before hand. We know it's all done with computers. It's all so shallow. I'm so glad I grew up in the late 70's and 80's and got to experience the golden age of the Hollywood Blockbuster.

Grand Theft Auto And Pac-Man? "The Same"
Comment by: RoFFL3s
Nominated by: NeoStarr HD

space invaders is like gears of war, theres a cover system and you shoot from behind it

LucasArts Touts "World Exclusive Announcements" At Comic-Con
Comment by: PuppyGuarder
Nominated by: (Hollow) svenhoek

I'd squeeze milk from a gaggle of Hutt udders til the bantha come home for them to announce Battlefront III already

Saints Row PSP Apparently Confirmed By...Swedish Metal Band
Comment by: ShadowOdin isn't american

PRO TIP: Swedish metal band are a newssource you can trust and headbang to.

Their sense of press-ethics is as big as their hair is long.

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Don't worry. Microsoft will get em all back within a year or so.

Hey Americans, Why The BBQ? Why? Why? Why?
Comment by: monkeysaresilly
Nominated by: (Zombie) Jolan

I doubt there was any actual symbolism with the cookout. Can you imagine Franklin and Jefferson hanging out, having their slaves slather ribs with some secret Liberty sauce, going,
"I do say Benjamin, this meat is delectable! Note how the tomato-based marinade perfectly symbolizes the blood shed from our fallen brothers in the great fight for freedom. We roast it, just as we *fired* upon our hated redcoat rivals!"
"You're an idiot, Tom."

President of Russia in Erotic Game
Comment by: Leave it to Japan to come up with craaazy ideas. A woman president.
Nominated by: Dangeresque the Observer

Leave it to Japan to come up with craaazy ideas.

A woman president.

Toast Your Cursed Existence With The Legendary Lich King Stein
Comment by: The most ornate container you will ever pee into because you couldn't abandon your raid.
Nominated by: svenhoek: Still Happy Pitt Won!

The most ornate container you will ever pee into because you couldn't abandon your raid.

Congrats! You Win An Xbox 360 With A Messed Up Slot
Comment by: zach a mac rack alack
Nominated by: (Zombie) Jolan

Well, Molyneux had to exaggerate it somehow, and in this case it was the functionality.

Video Game Question For The Advice Columnist
Comment by: Southrncomfortjm
Nominated by: NeoStarr

Here's what you do: you ask the kid (1) what he learned at school that day and then you ask him (2) what he learned at his friends house. If the answer to (1) is "nothing" and (2) is "how to get a prostitute to blow me and then get my money back without the cops catching me" then you *might* have a problem. However if answers to both (1) and (2) are "nothing" then you have a perfectly normal boy.

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Twas a long time ago, on BBS of old,
where the origins of trolling began to unfold.
As the systems evolved thus did trolls as well,
and threaded topics gave way to a new Internet hell.

The arrival of images brought in the mainstream,
and a user friendly Internet began to pick up steam.
With millions of idiots clucking on the boards,
trolls needed new tactics to be hear among the 'tards.

First posts were born with a thunderous clap,
as millions of keyboards went clickity clack,
all to tell the troll how he was stupid and wrong,
while the troll sat back with glee, laughing all along

Msoft: Gay Tony OK, Gay Gamer Tags Not Yet
Comment by: <mxmarks
Nominated by: 天

I totally agree with him and think they are two totally separate issues.

The content of "The Ballad Of Gay Tony" is something that Microsoft can look at, and Im sure WILL look at, in addition to the ESRB and everyone else involved. They can use that name because they clearly aren't opposed to the word "gay", and in this context it makes total sense. This is the story of a guy named Tony, and he's a gay man. There's nothing offensive about that, and it's something that can be looked at and deemed an appropriate use of the word.

I think what he's saying is, and I never really thought about it, they want to make sure when you use Gay or Lesbian in your gamertag, it's because you're proud of who you are. And there's really no good way to do that, short of asking you to prove you're gay. By allowing the word in general into a Gamertag, they're basically opening themselves up to a flood of homophobic gamertags. With the maturity level I've seen on XBox Live, I don't blame them. It's unfortunate, but I think the vast majority of people who put "gay" in a gamertag aren't doing it because they are proud to be a homosexual. It's VERY unfortunate for those who are — but I think the amounts of complaints they would have to sort through from people OFFENDED by the insulting and homophobic gamertags greatly outnumbers the complaints they get from people angry they can't use it.

I really hope Microsoft comes up with a way to do it, but I really do see how these are two separate things here.

Marvel Super-Hero Squad Preview: Lego Without Lego
Comment by: ZaxxonQ.com
Nominated by: Derek Rumpler

Aww! Yay! My favorite collectible is now a game! I just love the Big Boy grin on the Galactus figure! ^_^

http://fandomania.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/galactus.jpg

"I'm gonna eat your planet! OMNOMNOM!"

Awwwwww! You eat that planet! ^_^

Japan Gets Blue Wii Remote, Nunchuk (With A Catch)
Comment by: FarmboyinJapan
Nominated by: 天

Remember when the talking point coming out of Nintendo was 'the Wii remote is so easy to use, that anyone who has ever picked up a TV remote will instantly be comfortable at with the Wii remote' ???

LOOK at this thing!!! When did your remote ever look like that? I'd make the arguement that the controller at the top of this article is MORE intimidating than your traditional (ie, PS3, 360) controller.

What was once a sleek, elegant piece of white plastic has become a condom wearing, nunchuck, wii motion plus attaching, heart beat detecting, $80 piece of ugly blue plastic.

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Listen, you - you right-handed bigot! Us lefties have been discriminated against since the dawn of time. You remember how it wasn't too long ago people were having their left hands tied behind their back because you dextrists are too afraid of those of us who don't conform to your comfortable little ordered world? It runs deeper than that. Knives and scissors are manufactured to only work when held in the right hand, to train schoolchildren that left-handed people are clumsy. You know that trick in detective movies where the good guy throws a ball and the bad guy catches it with his left hand and gets caught out? Clearly nothing but anti-left-handed propaganda, reinforcing in people's minds from a young age that left-handed people are fraudsters, murderers and thieves. It's even built into the very language we speak - you think "right" has the same meaning as "correct" by accident? Bigotry. "Sinister" is the Latin for 'left', but it's taken to mean something else, these days; bigotry!

And now you're taking away our icons, our heroes, forcing them to conform to the petty whim of your right-handed hegemony. And why? Because you're afraid. Because you don't understand. Because you're jealous of our obvious genetic superiority, because you've bought into the centuries of oppressive propaganda, because you don't think for yourself and believe everyone has to conform! Because you're honestly scared of the thought that the guy who saves the Princess Zelda might not write with the same hand as you!

One day there will be a reckoning. When the sinistrist revolution comes, people like you will be first against the wall!

Gran Turismo Boss: I Want To Release GT5 ASAP
Comment by: MrBangBam
Nominated by: Curse_Lily

ASAP

After Society Absolutely Perishes

Activision Sues Brütal Legend Devs To Halt Release
http://kotaku.com/people/Theoutlet/
Derek Rumpler

The thing that really pisses me off is that you know
the thinking at Activision went something like this:

Guy #1:"Hey, do we want to keep Brutal Legend? We normally don't
publish games like these, but we've already put 10 million in to it.

Guy #2: "Hmm that's a good point. You know what? Why don't we drop the
title, tell them they can go somewhere else and if they do, we sue
them for our money back!"

Guy #1: "That's so brilliant! We don't have to "risk" publishing it
and when it does, we'll be set."

*Big douchey high-five*

Xbox 360 Will Have Ten Year Life Span
Comment by: MaxDragon7
Nominated by: Goldwings: Knows the reason for...

♪ When life hands you apples here at Kotaku ♪
♫ You squeeze them as you would squeeze the gaming industry ♫
♪ When life hands you hamburgers here at Kotaku ♪
♫ You grill the meat as you would grill the developers ♫

♪ We all have fun ♪
♫ With the Kotaku krew ♫
♪ Under the sun ♪
♫ Got some comments? Just throw them a few ♫

♪ Got a name to make? ♪
♫ Create a profile (But don't fake!) ♫
♪ Remember the rules though ♪
♫ 'Proper commenting is the way to go!' ♫

♪ Remember not to stoop too low ♪
♫ And go troll just for show ♫
♪ Kotaku has the HAMMA! power ♪
♫ To grind you into a fine powder ♫

Wii Vitality Sensor Gets Smoothly Fingered
Comment by: Demonbird
Nominated by: Antiterra

So, are they just walking around hospitals looking for ideas for new peripherals?

"What the hell is that!"
"Sir, that's a bed pan."
"hmmmm"
"..."
"Do they come in white?"

Seems a bit pricy for a coat you'll end up dramatically tossing into the air.
Comment by: Skullabrine™
Nominated by: MaxDragon7

Seems a bit pricy for a coat you'll end up dramatically tossing into the air.

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@Dude From Dubai: I'd like to give her a rigid 4 inches.

Dohohohohohohohohoh wait...

The DS Can Do Naked Ladies Slipping On Banana Peels Rather Well
Comment by: ShadowOdin finally got a copy of...
Nominated by: gwilson

@Jesse Hays: You'd think the title would've tipped you off.

But I'll guess your day went a little like this:

"Oh, what a wonderful day it is today on the internet. What should I do? Ooooooh, I know, I'll go read some articles on KOH-ta-ku. But what is this? 'The DS Can Do Naked Ladies Slipping On Banana Peels Rather Well'? Oooooh, naked ladies, I wonder what this could be."'

*clicks*

"OH DEAR GOD! THERE WERE NAKED LADIES!!!"

*panics*

"Ohgodohgodohgodohgod. The boss said that if I as much as glimpse another areola, he would have my hide!"

"Joooooooohnsson, are you looking at naked wymin again!? What have I told you about that!? This is the last straw! Get out of here, you're fired!"

"Noooooooooooooooooooooo"

*camera pans out*

Sony To Bring PlayStation Business To Break-Even Level "Quickly"
Comment by: TitillatedOcelot
Nominated by: -MasterDex-

Now I want to see a PS3 sock puppet. I made a 360 sock puppet once, but the sock I used was too small. It left a red ring around my wrist.

SHAZAM!

And Now Rape Games Are Not Banned in Japan
Comment by: the7k
Nominated by: SS Ymer

@kyle4: I'm all for freedom of speech and enjoy having it as I'm a writer, but a Rape game just crosses the line.

Sorry, you spelled that all wrong. Let me fix that for you.

I'm all for freedom of speech and enjoy having it as I'm a writer, but I still think it should be taken away when I'm uncomfortable with it.

And Then Free Realms Surpassed 2 Million Players
Comment by: Comatose Turtle
Nominated by: electroshockwave

@nypad5: No, no, that's Fee Realms. Different game.

Photorealism Is "Inevitable" In 10-15 Years
Comment by: Theoutlet
Nominated by: IchiShinigami

I'm sure they'll keep the photo-realism to themselves and sell the semi-photo-realism to all the other guys.

:P

Dead Space: Extraction Preview: Can't Stop Shaking
Comment by: InertGlasses
Nominated by: Gyaruson

In space, no one can hear you scream through the latex over your head?

Valve: Team Fortress 2 Random-Item Issues Improved Last Night
Comment by: -MasterDex-
Nominated by: Tiber

On the first day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
A sandvich and backburner x3.

On the second day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the third day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Three razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the fourth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the fifth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the sixth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the seventh day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the eighth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Eight Jarate,
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the ninth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Nine Ambassador,
Eight Jarate,
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the tenth day of random,
Valve's update sent to me
Ten Soldier's Stash,
Nine Ambassador,
Eight Jarate,
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the eleventh day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Eleven Pyro's beanie,
Ten Soldier's Stash,
Nine Ambassador,
Eight Jarate,
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

On the twelfth day with random,
Valve's update sent to me
Twelve Batter's helmet,
Eleven Pyro's beanie,
Ten Soldier's Stash,
Nine Ambassador,
Eight Jarate,
Seven Football Helmets,
Six Force-A-Nature,
Five Axtinguisher,
Four Huntsman bows,
Three Razorbacks,
Two cloak and daggers,
And a sandvich and backburner x3.

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Damn you, Swine Flu! You Bastard! I'll get you one day! * Shakes Fist *

Actually, I hope I don't.

EA Nintendo Group Waking Up To Wii
Comment by: Islandkiwi
Nominated by: Jimmie

Wrong. It may not be a fad, but it is clear that success on the Wii remains an insular event. If it is Nintendo software, it will sell. Outside developers, it will not.

I know it looks like there' a wonderful business opportunity there, but aside from the first Rayman game, I haven't seen it.

You Cannot Look Up This King of Fighters Skirt
Comment by: John_Norad
Nominated by: SmilingPolitely

Just..... one.... more.... fraaaame....

InFamous, Rock Band Unplugged Top Experience Playstation Now Showcase
Comment by: Str8_Jihadin
Nominated by: Sutekh_Slain

Sony Rep: "To get the most out of your PlayStation experience, you need to also buy a Sony TV, a Sony PS3, a Sony notebook, a Sony Ericsson..."

Kojima Productions Teaser Countdown Ends Just As You'd Expect
Comment by: deathxrebirth

No, I didn't rike it one bit.

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Playboy brainstorm session:

"About 90% of the entire male population likes porn, amirite!!??"
*collective "boo-yah"*
"About 60% of the male populous also enjoys gaming, amirite!!??
*some w00ts and a "hell yeah!"*
"So by combining the two, we're looking at drawing in 150% of the male populace with this single idea!!!"

*greenlight*

....sigh"

New Movie Shows A Grisly Future for MMOs
Comment by: Tyber_Zann
Nominated by: V12themonster

The concept for this movie is horrid. For starters, how the hell do you respawn?

Nintendo: We Can't Satisfy You And You Enjoy It
Comment by: Jim81Jim
Nominated by: Sutekh_Slain

@ShingoEX:
Captain Moonshadow101, "Daniels did it hit? Did we hit the target".

Crewman Daniels, "No sir, we missed. The joke it flew directly over his head".

Captain Moonshadow101, "Load again. We have to keep trying Dammit!"

Army Game Protester Did It for the Kids
Comment by: Pombar
Nominated by: svenhoek: Star Trek is the Best...

Violence has always been glorified, be it in myths, stories, books, films or games. It's nothing new.

Making A Game Out Of Today's War
Comment by: Kaburan

I'm an Iraqi war vet who served in the USMC and deployed twice to Anbar Province, Iraq. I'm also an avid gamer and I love FPS (naturally). I find Konami ridiculous in this situation.

The only difference between entertainment value between this and something like COD4 (which I will compare this game to) is that Six days in Fallujah reverts directly to the war in Iraq. You can't tell me that the Aerial invasion assault in COD4 isn't basically a fast paced version of "Operation Shock and Awe" that the Marines and Army were thrust into. COD4 has a ton of elements straight referenced out of experiences in Iraq.

Now that a game shows up with an official title, everyone goes up in arms about it. Personally I loved playing COD4 because I am a former Marine, and I got to say "Hey...I remember this helicopter, or this weapon, or this reminds me of something i've experienced".

Six Days if Fallujah has the potential to honor the service members who fell there and have great entertainment value.

I for one would be a Marine to play a game on an experience I went through. I'm proud of it and would love to see it in a video game.

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I knew it was FPS all along.

3D Realms "Situation" Won't Affect Duke Nukem Trilogy, Apogee
Comment by: Tom Clancy's Samuraidino
Nominated by: aw3str1k3r

Doesnt seem like its gonna effect Duke Nukem Forever Either.....

Microsoft's Rumored Motion Controller May Be The ZCam
Comment by: malfunktionv2
Nominated by: Gortexfogg

I can see the error messages now: "Error 73: It appears you are wearing blue corderoy pants. Please change pants and try again."

Pokemon Remakes Take Gold, Silver?
Comment by: SadAstronaut
Nominated by: Zorantor

Or maybe they'll go back to colours? Sine it's next gen, they could always use Brown and Grey.

Microsoft's Rumored Motion Controller May Be The ZCam
Comment by: metallicorphan

jeeezuz

the Xbox getting a Zcam

one question:

Y?

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Americans supporting an American product? Patriotism.

Japanese supporting a Japanese product? Xenophobia.

BioWare Lifts Filter On Gay, Lesbian Star Wars Discussion, Issues Apology
Comment by: Falsoman
Nominated by: kidko

When people stop talking about booth babes, secret shiva outfit on RE5, touch witches games, how hot heavenly sword, tomb rider and the like heroins are, having a girlfriend/wife/children/mother in laws, wii fit girl, how girly final fantasy character look, cringes about everything Tingle, mass effect, harvest moon, fable, the sims, any MMO, etc... then we can say that sexual preference has no place in gaming forums.

In Poland, Pismo Swiete = Holy Bible
Comment by: exion
Nominated by: ryangreen02

Then Burguois, Teabagger of Olde was led by the spirit into the desert to be tempted by the PS3. After trolling for forty days and forty nights, he was bored. The tempter came to him and said, "if you are the teabagger of old, turn this money into microsoft points!".
Burguois, Teabagger of Olde answered, "it is written: "man does not live on gamerpoints alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of major nelson.'"

- Mathew 4

Konami Pulls Controversial Iraqi War Game
Comment by: El-Suave
Nominated by: 天

So much for the hopes of gaming ever growing up to be a serious art form. I had my doubts that Konami or any Japanese publishers would be the first to do it, but it's a shame that everybody is shying away from controversy.

If all the controversy this industry can handle is about the graphics style of a game or which platform it's coming out for, then that's a really bleak prospect for them and for us.

Director: "Microsoft/Xbox is the Most Dreadful, Non-Talent Friendly Company"
Comment by: okenny :) ...building bridges...
Nominated by: 天

I had a similar conversation with another poster about Microsoft's role in game development and their choice to rely on second and third parties this generation. It was in regards to this sense of "respect" the poster felt for Sony and not for MS since Sony had "internal" (first and second) game studios. Let me define some stuff really quick:

- First-party: owned and staffed by console-owner to develop console-owner's IPs

- Second-party: privately owned and staffed to develop console-owner's (for the most part) IPs

- Third Party: privately owned (usually by another publisher) that develops IPs without any obligations to the console-owner.

My stance on the whole issue is whoever can get me the games I enjoy on the consoles I own get my gratitude when I fork-over the cash and it ends there. These companies behave as venture capitalists for the most part. MS is probably making a strategically better move from a business stand-point by building strong relationships with companies while Sony seems to be have a culture that's more indicative with the conditions that were present when they literally had to drive the entire games industry themselves.

MS probably feels they stay more fluid by not taking on ownership directly but instead making partners form a dependency around them. Sony probably feels that they can only maintain the uniqueness of their consoles from exclusives that can't be gained on any other consoles.

Getting back to this story though, the idea is simple. If you are going to derive the amount of "heart" a corporation has (oxymoron) from the games then you should do it by the amount of games you enjoy on that console and not by the games you think their executives sat down in front of a computer and made themselves; that second point IS in fact a fallacy.

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I guess this is The Final Countdown to Harmonix ideas.

Sony: Wii Own The Closet
Comment by: Toasticus
Nominated by: SiDCrAzY

If the Wii owns the closet, the PS3 owns the store shelf.

Nintenducation – A New Take On Edutainment
Comment by: bluetom00
Nominated by: doubtful

I'm coming at this from the perspective of a college professor who thinks games are as meaningful a medium of expression as movies, film, and writing, and I have to say, I think this is a terrible idea.

Ferguson's right in that we don't need anymore barriers between teachers and students. Today's unfortunate reality is that most students arrive at college with a majority of their communicative experiences occurring through artificial media, i.e., through the Internet and cell phones. Unlike students just 20 years ago, they're more accustomed to that wall between themselves and whomever they're communicating with. When they get into a (liberal arts) classroom at the college level, instructors expect them to be able to interact with the other human beings in that room. It seems that with each new freshmen class, students are increasingly unable to do that. They can't articulate themselves in person nearly as well as they can through an electronic medium. My assumption, based entirely on anecdotal evidence, is that this is the result of today's college freshmen having no experience of a society in which cell phones and Internet access were not central to social experiences.

I have students who are more comfortable talking to me on facebook than they are saying anything in a "live" classroom full of their peers. There are undoubtedly complex reasons for why this is the case, but I think at the heart of it is this push toward increasingly mediated communication in every aspect of their lives. That creates isolated, alienated individuals (in a very real and a metaphorical sense), and something like this, I fear, would only exacerbate the situation.

Sony: PSP Piracy Levels Are "Sickening"
Comment by: SmilingPolitely
Nominated by: -MasterDex-

Intellectual property in the digital age is something that we (and I mean all of us) still need to work through. I think that MP3 comment applies to the vast majority of... well... everybody, right? Same shit as games.

For better or worse, the rules will change because the current rules are inadequate for dealing with what we have today.

Dead Rising 2's Main Character Is Named "Chuck"
Comment by: Vextoz

Needs more Jet Brody

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I like how they insist on using the phrase "general hardware failure" when they also tell you there are different specific kinds of general failure.
It's like saying Jo, you are generally bad at sports, and also generally bad in academics, and generally poor at interacting with people. I'm not going to tell you which reason is the one we can't be friends, but believe me, it's one of them.

New Assassin's Creed II Trailer
Comment by: Boom-Chicka-Ah
Nominated by: Sutekh_Slain

*in menacing voice*
Assassin's Creed is in Italy...
and the people
...
are Italian.

*Macaulay Culkin Face*

Microsoft Explains the E74 Code, Sorta
Comment by: DrDurdon
Nominated by: Haruhila

E74 translates to EPH on a number pad, therefore EPH = You Are EPHed = You Are Fucked.

Study Finds Games Reinforcing Positive Behavior, Too
Comment by: MrBionic
Nominated by: Jolan

I just played Katamari Damacy, and I'm eying an exercise ball and a giant tube of Krazy Glue with some intent right now.

A Sampling of Soldiers' Reaction to 'Fallujah'
Comment by: InvaderPhlegm
Nominated by: Ben

This is what I do not get.

Countless books have been written (for profit) about this war and it's battles.

At least one television program, Generation Kill, plus countless television representations and recreations of various incident have been filmed about this war . . . all for profit.

In all of that, nary a voice was raised in concern about whether it was "too soon", or whether the content was pro or anti war.

But the moment you announce you are going to make a video game about the very same content, suddenly everyone is up in arms like it is a cardinal sin.

Worse still, video gamers are actually up in arms over it.

As gamers we bitch and moan and groan and complain all the time that the rest of the world does not take gaming seriously . . . that the rest of the world refuses to look at gaming as art, or a proper media art form that can seriously, and soberly address the condition of humanity.

So out of the blue someone finally decides they are going to do just that; address one of the somber events in our time, and what are video gamers (in general) first reaction?

We cry like little bitches and we discriminate ourselves from taking our proper place in the pantheon of modern media.

How the hell can we honestly complain about the likes of Fox News taking the sexuality of Mass Effect, or the Jack Thompson's taking the violence of Grand Theft Auto out of context, and dismissing the adult perspective from those equations, when we turn right around and do the same thing ourselves?

In essence what many of you are saying here, is that it is okay to treat games with kid gloves.

Well you can only have it one way. In the grown up world, you don't get to have it both ways. Either games are just for kids and should be absent of any and all adult themed content, rationalizations and scenarios . . . or games are a true media art form, and as such, deserve to be treated as such, even by gamers, when games attempt to reach out and create exposition on the human condition.

You can only have it one way or the other, you do not get to have it both ways.

No one was crying and moaning and bitching about all the books that covered the war were published. No one was complaining when all the un-Godly amount of television was/is being produced and aired that featured content, scenarios and situations from the war.

So why is everyone complaining about the fact that video games have finally stepped up to the plate and decided to prove to the world that it can be a truly adult medium as well???

The way I see it, it was not too early for books and it was not too early for television, and even judging by some of the songs that has surfaced over the last six years, it was not even too early for music.

To now say that it is too early for video games, makes us hypocrites. If we were not complaining when all the other media which was surfacing about the war, and suddenly we are complaining about a video game doing the same thing, that makes us hypocrites - plain and simple. And there is no worse sin than hypocrisy. It's not the Fox News and the Jack Thompsons being the hypocrites now, it is us being hypocrites to ourselves. How sharper than a serpents tooth, indeed.

And even more disturbing is the fact that the gaming press looks to be doing as more to promote this particular brand of hypocrisy than even the mainstream media; who really have not picked up this story yet (I guess for once, they have got more important things in the world to focus on than gaming).

We have the opportunity here to prove that video games are the real deal; the first true art form of the 21st Century. We have a new generation of game developers looking to push those envelops, push those perceptions of the media, and prove that. I say for once we stop selling ourselves short and embrace it wholeheartedly . . . and not just when it is convenient to embrace.

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Dude, don't base your opinions on forum/comment posters - they are not a true representation of the real public. If they were piracy and drugs would be legal in the US, OSX would have 99% market share with Linux having the other 1%, HDDVD would be the sole format, Ron Paul would be President of the USA and the wii would have folded in it's first year, Microsoft would increase the fee for xbox live in order to bring a better service and the PS3 would be long dead.

Could The Future of Gaming Be Console Free?
Comment by: heretrix

A: That controller looks like shit

B: There is a significant amount of people who still like to own their games

C: I can't see any of the major platform holders giving up their control of a specific share of the market to the device

D: That controller looks like shit.

E. Each platform holder has a specific vision of what they want to do in a generation.

F. That controller looks like shit.

Donkey Kong Monster Truck Has A New Play Control Scheme
Comment by: Dangeresque, Eliminating Targets
Nominated by: Pezdispenser

Axles are for pussies. Donkey Kong don't need that shit! Well actually, I think he just proved he does, but...

He's the leader of the bunch, you know him well!
He's finally back... to kick some tail!
He's bigger, faster, and stronger too!
He's the first member... of the DK crew!

DK! Donkey Kong!
DK! Donkey Kong is here!

Man Stabs Mother of His Children "Hooked" On PlayStation
Comment by: jtyson
Nominated by: Derek Rumpler

Defence lawyer Timothy Spencer QC stated to the court, "The genesis of this tragedy bizarrely lies with the purchase of the PlayStation."

Are they suggesting that by merely purchasing a PlayStation product, you become bound by gaming lore to commit acts of heinous debauchery and bloody mayhem?

But that can't be. I mean, I've purchased every bit of PlayStation hardware that's ever been released. I even own the Net Yaroze, but I'm no killer... right?

Right?...

Look, it's a full moon tonight.
I'm suddenly... very... cold...
But the desire to end human life... burns inside me...

Oh God... it's HAPPENING!!!

Haha no, but seriously this guy and his lawyer should be taken out back and put down Old Yeller style.

Devil May Cry 4 The Comic Book Now On Sale
Comment by: Tom Clancy's Samuraidino

Im guessing that the second issue is just the first in reverse but nero is coloured red instead of blue...

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I guess you can say that 400 ms points for this character is indeed a FLAT rate

Watch Beyonce Do A Hard Days Work For Nintendo
Comment by: Miksho
Nominated by: bakagaijin

A thrilling look inside the mind of the Nintendo PR rep:
"Don't look at her chest. Do not look at her chest.
Oh my god look at that chest.
Her lips are soft. Like pillows. I could sleep forever and dream the most fanciful dreams on those pillows.
She is married to a man who could murder me and then rap about it.
The song of my murder would become a number one single.
She smells like flowers in bloom.
Don't look at her chest...again."

What Do Developers Think Will Have The Biggest Impact On The Future Of Gaming?
Comment by: BritBloke916
Nominated by: ThursdayNext

Microtransactions are the future! How the hell else is gamer like myself (mid thirties, marriage, mortgage, kids on the way) supposed to defeat the cobra-like reflexes of the typical teenage online adversary? RAW SPENDING POWER, that's how! Crumble before the might of my disposable income, hell brat! I bought the ubergun, and you have to wait until Christmas!

Max Payne 3 Hits This Winter
Comment by: Maltodextrin
Nominated by: trevortibble

I awoke in my clothes, groggy, disoriented, like a choirboy who didn't know what to do about the priest's actions last Sunday. Blindly fumbling through my routine I located the power button on my computer. The screens flickered to life with the intensity of a Hiroshima morning, while the fans wailed like a dying animal.

Stumbling through data and RSS feeds like a drunken hobo lost in a sewer, I heard a cacophony of voices. Some cried jubilant praises for a promise finally realized, while others screamed snide, cynical remarks, like a lover too often scorned. Whomever was right didn't matter. All that mattered was Max Payne did return.

Growing Up Games: When Will Mature, Mature?
Comment by: nipsen
Nominated by: —Core—

You know, I disagree. Take Psychonauts - it's made in California, by American developers. And it received good reviews, and has continued to sell extremely well on PC and later on the xbox live marketplace. But it has done so without ever being discussed by "real commenters" as anything but a platformer.

How do you explain that? Are all the players being tricked into trying the game, since they shun sophisticated games like the plague?

Or take your average Japanese role- playing game. It's, like most anime, ultra- light entertainment and a just fun - but it's typically smuggling in themes about religion, technology, development of societies, political considerations, deception, evolving thinking on the part of the protagonist and other characters - all things that you rarely if ever see in a game developed in the west. And they sell pretty well.

So how do you explain that? Many explain it by simply dismissing it: quirky people play quirky games. Or simply declare that the games aren't really that good - obviously people are just getting sucked into the artificial hype. Look at the battle- system, it's so horribly simple! Or: summon great Guardian Forces!

But in either of these examples the most intriguing thing is simply the way the plots and stories in these games are never mentioned. I don't mean to say that they should be analyzed and treated as serious - but you never see any "serious commenters" accept the idea that these games are popular because they explore mature themes (however unseriously).

And that's simply because American commentators don't have the vocabulary to start talking about it. Obviously, I could commend people for trying. But the fact remains - there's no way to officially talk about: religion, sexuality, politics, maturity, philosophy, and so on in the US without it turning into a scandal. Which is why people insist "the audience" is not ready for it.

I don't think that's right. In the worst case, it's a bit like saying teenagers aren't ready for adulthood, so they should be shielded from it forever. But I can easily see that you would have to deal with commentary here carefully and skillfully - so a challenge, maybe, for people who want to create and provoke some thought? Whether it is developers or commentators? Without, for example, being pretentious enough to declare simplistic truths as a way to establish a premise, so everything is explained at the end of a 1200 word article? Or as the case may be, a 20 minute side- quest?

Just a thought.

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By the hammer of Thor, this game should be a (Hulk) SMASHingly good time. For those of you who snikt - err, I mean 'snicker', at the idea of a Marvel MMO than surely your Spidey-sense isn't quite up to snuff. Stark my words, this will be Ultimate.

Xbox Live Issues: It's Not Just You
Comment by: Project_J187
Nominated by: aw3str1k3r

If there's one thing Microsoft will fix quickly, it is a billing error.

Councilman Resigns After Spruiking Racist Flash Game
Comment by: phicaluk
Nominated by: sisedi

Who councils the councilmen?

Stranglehold Movie Apparently Won't Star Chow Yun-Fat
Comment by: Antiterra
Nominated by: 天

The pitch for the movie probably went something like this:

"So, it's exactly like the game, but with a different story, actor and director.
And we're open to changing the title if you're worried it sounds like a bondage torture-porn flick.
Also, in order to make the protagonist more relatable for today's audiences, we have changed his name to Vodka 'Red Bull' Appletini. It tested well in our focus group.
Exciting stuff, huh? Are you excited? 'Cos I'm excited. Can you see how excited I am? Look at my armpits! These sweat stains scream 'heeeck-cited'."

"How much is this gonna cost?"

"Almost nothing, the crew gets paids in cow intestines I>flambé and whoopie cushions."

"And you say the kids are 'down with this shit, dawg'? They 'dig it'?"

"Oh, hell, absolutely! Hot diggity, if I may be so bold!"

*GREENLIGHT.*

Ghostbusters Is "Gears of War Lite"
Comment by: Cloudleet
Nominated by: Duin

I feel a smirk comes up when I think of Ernie Hudson going "ALL ABOARD THE WINSTON TRAIN B*TCHES!

Weekend Coupons: Free and Reduced Price Lunch
Comment by: UsernameOfTheDead
Nominated by: Dangeresque... Too?

With the $20 savings you might be able to afford to
unlock all the content on the RE5 disc.

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Sonic should be under the radioactives. It has a half-life of seven years."

A Week In Comments
Comment by: 超外人
Nominated by: 天

I was put off by that comment as well, since the statement is basically hypocritical in my eyes from stating that all gamers do is complain.
The real complaint are the ones crying out racism from something that isn't taken into proper context from the fact that they've only viewed trailers, a pure overreaction from the spectators and ones unaware of what they are dealing with. Then we have the bandwagon ones that are afraid to sound racist from not joining in the witch hunt.
The fact that it can exist to display its story, is a form of being taken as an art form, unfortunately, the ones decrying racism just simply throw the race card at it and treat it as horrible imagery. It is a story of a plague in Africa, that's all that should really be mentioned, but apparently some people want to focus on the issue of "skin" color or "locale" as being a touchy thing. The ones who treat these people different, is the real definition of racism. Treating them in a special manner of "you can't do that" is the actual racism itself.
When will they see past skin color and accept that a game's storyline can take place in that area?

No one was denying that racism doesn't exist, but to call a game racist is just silly. Everyone has to deal with it, but some overreact and treat everything as racism or stereotypical and explode from confrontation.

Someday, it will change, but many just pounce on anything that seems racist in their eyes; and until those people can let that go, we'll still have misunderstandings and overreactions that pulls us away from fixing the REAL racism.

It's Tyson Vs. Ali On The Fight Night 4 Cover
Comment by: TigerKnee
Nominated by: Antiterra

I'm glad Tyson's in round 4. he makes a great video game character. he's like daffy duck, except he's a violent criminal.

Rabbi Overcomes Fear Of Nazis, Courtesy Of Call Of Duty
Comment by: GPman
Nominated by: Sutekh

But you know, if we take a story like this and show how games can have a good effect on people, then we have to accept that games can have a bad effect on people. We can't just dismiss the effect of games on people only when the effect is a bad one. It works both ways.

Capcom Confirms, Prices Versus Mode for Resident Evil 5
Comment by: Jezuz
Nominated by: kicking222

Man, because the thing that I always wanted to play multiplayer of is a sluggish third person shooter with awful aiming mechanics. WILL FOR SURE BE PICKING THIS UP BRO.

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Sonys done horsing around...

An Informed Expert Speaks Out On RE5 Racism
Comment by: Pill_Hell_Tom
Nominated by: hazuki

It's so frustrating reading these endless analyses and the dangerously naive comments that they keep generating from gamers.
RACISM EXISTS. It is a real problem and has been for hundreds of years. It is not some collection of imagined injustices that liberals have made up to push an agenda. It is not a political talking point. It is a deeply entrenched element of society that is still a huge issue today and cannot be willed away by uninformed and shortsighted people saying things like "games aren't racist, people are."
Just because you don't want to think about games in a broader context doesn't mean that Resident Evil Five isn't FULL OF INCREDIBLY PROBLEMATIC IMAGERY. That is something that just can't be argued with.
Gamers spend so much of their time complaining that no one takes the medium seriously as an art form but the second anyone tries to examine the implications of a game in any real way you all rush to the comments section to scream about how it's just a game and it's not worth reading into.

What Could Make The Beatles: Rock Band Worth $250?
Comment by: tumama
Nominated by: EloraHRanma

I guess 4 wigs at 15 each, makes those extra 60.

Eidos Pencils In Square Enix Takeover For May
Comment by: TitillatedOcelot
Nominated by: Gorilla Snow is hot for Snorlax

I've always loved how Square Enix becomes SQEX when shortened. It's SQEXy!

And now that they are buying Eidos they can call themselves SQEX ED!

SQEXy and EDucational!

So Which Console Is Buttering Activision's Bread?
Comment by: aw3str1k3r
Nominated by: Sutekh_Slain

That's a awful lot of butter on some generic, stale bread, if you know what I mean.

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COPY PASTE CRY REPEAT,
MY CONSOLE CAN NOT BE BEAT!
RAGE FLAME BITCH CRY,
CONSOLE WARS WILL NEVER DIE!

And now, time for a new beat...

MY CONSOLE IS
THE VERY BEST
LIKE NO CONSOLE EVER WAS

TO DEFEND IT
IS MY REAL TEST
TO TROLL OTHERS IS MY CAUSE

I WILL TROLL THREADS, ACROSS THE BOARD
BITCHING FAR AND WIDE
TEACH OTHER KIDS TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IM RIGHT AND THEY'RE QUEERS

Midway Dev Explains Why PS3 Development Is "A Pain In The Ass"
Comment by: InvaderPhlegm
Nominated by: Tepoz

It's really amazing when you are trying to have a thoughtful, rational and logic-based discussion on games and consoles, how in most company it is perfectly acceptable to openly discuss the weak points of the Xbox 360 (like the RROD, for example). But man, do not ever bring up the weak points of the PS3. The moment you do, suddenly your rational, dignified conversation devolves into flame war in a matter of seconds.
Fact of the matter is, if news articles and interviews did not show up on occasion to remind everyone of the mistakes and missteps Sony has made with the PS3, the Sony faithful would have the PS3 go down in history as one of the most perfectly executed game consoles ever.
Case and point: most of the same problems that plague the PS3 (from a development and publishing perspective) also plagued the PS2 - plenty of devs complained about a lot of the same stuff they are still complaining about with the PS3, back in the day with the PS2; like Hideo Kojima openly complaining how much he hated going to work, because the PS2 was the worse system in history to develop for. A lot of people forget, that much of the success of the PS2 had little to do with what Sony got right, and more to do with Sony having no real competition that could bring the challenge to them, last-gen. One of the major reasons the PS3 is plagued with so many issues, is that Sony made a lot of the same mistakes with the PS2 . . . and got away with them. Had SEGA management had half a brain between the lot of them, or if they had the deep pockets of a company like Microsoft, or had Nintendo invented the Wii-Mote last gen, Sony would have lost a considerable
amount of marketshare to either company based on the mistakes they made with PS2 - they would have had to fight for first place, instead of just having it handed to them. But amazingly, popular history, a term that until recently did not even apply to videogames, glasses over all of Sony's mistakes with the PS2, and has written it in as one of the most flawlessly executed game consoles of all times.
So yeah, I think the occasional reminder to keep the record straight is always in order - after all, it is not like history is ever going to allow Microsoft to live down the RROD; or Nintendo to live down the poor software showing on the Wii. These occasional, little reminders keeps us all honest - especially when unlike previous generations, this gen the evidence is only a hotlink or Google search away

Why Is Blood On The Sand So Absurd? Fitty Did It For The Kids
Comment by: Lllusionx
Nominated by: Sutekh_Slain

Whoops, looks like he just lost a good third of his sales, including me. i was under the influence that he was doing it for the bitches? i guess i was wrong...poor, poor bitches....

Parent Asks Son to Play COD According to Geneva Conventions
Comment by: Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science
Nominated by: MurlocCake

How does one add morals to something as immoral as legalized mass murder...?

Original DSi Design Had Two DS Slots, Was Disliked By Nintendo Dev Team
Comment by: nago
Nominated by: Zorantor

Personally I do not understand why people hate nintendo for this. It is a genius move; instead of releasing hard cutoffs for their platforms, they increment them gradually over periods of several years. This lets them keep massive game libraries which increases the attractiveness of their new consoles while allowing them to sell multiple iterations simultaneously, and upgrade the abilities of their platforms more often than the "five year" generational update period.

In fact, hasn't their handheld line always been like this? Gameboy to Gameboy Pocket, GBP to GBC only added color... The first major update was GBA, and ever since then they've been half-stepping the updates every few years.

The only reason you guys are getting your knickers in a twist is because you're trying to buy every last iteration. Meanwhile, if you like the new features the new console supplies, buy it. If you don't? shut up.

It's not as if Nintendo is making new version of their consoles to rob the children of their hard earned lunch money, they're providing solid, quality products at a rate that keeps their market from stagnating. How could that make you angry? Do you realize how ridiculous you sound?

HOW DARE NINTENDO MAKE THEIR PRODUCTS BETTER AFTER THREE YEARS????? *GRRR*

Maple Story... Chewing Gum
Comment by: Weaselfingers

I bet it tastes really good for the first little while, but then you quickly find yourself needing to chew for hours and hours to extract just the smallest hint of flavor. Eventually you realize that you will never make any more significant progress in the gum without devoting your entire life to it and quit, angry at yourself for losing so much of your precious free time to it.

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