Kotaku: Texas

Suspect Arrested In San Antonio EB Murder

Mike Fahey — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:20:00 MDT

In January 2007 we reported on the murder of Amber Belken, a 24-year-old EB manager for a San Antonio, Texas area EB Games store. Belken entered her store around 9AM on January 29th, 2007 only be be found dead - suffocated with a plastic bag - around 2PM when EB managers arrived on the scene to see why she hadn't been answering the phone. Now, over a year and a half later, police finally have a suspect in custody.

23-year-old Geovany Rivera, recently named to the marshal's 15 most-wanted list, was arrested late last night by the U.S. Marshalls Service at a cousin's house in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. Rivera. a former EB Games employee, had long been a suspect in the case, with one witness having told the police that the suspect approached him on the morning before the crime suggesting they rob the store. Homicide detectives applied for a warrant to do DNA test on Rivera this past January after a short black hair had been found near the body.

Rivera was in a federal holding facility in Laredo as of late last night, from which he will be transferred to Bexar County to face charges of capital murder, along with two unrelated counts of sexual assualt stemming from unrelated incidents. On the arrest, deputy marshal and lead investigator Bobby Hogeland described the suspect's reaction as "very surprised".

“He thought he was going to evade the law, but that wasn't the case,” Hogeland said...But, he noted, though the arrest brings some satisfaction, Belken's parents “are still going to have to live with this for a long, long time.”

It should be noted that this particular case resulted in one of the largest rewards in San Antonio's history - $100,000, $95,000 of which was put up from EB Games.

Suspect in EB Games killing arrested [My San Antonio News - Thanks Jason]
[Image]

Texas Governor Perry Encourages Game Biz

Leigh Alexander — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 11:30:00 MDT

Texas Governor Rick Perry believes in the game industry. It's in our nature, he said, to be driven and competitive, and that's why he wants more companies within the industry to put down roots in Texas.

Speaking to an audience of industry professionals and press at the 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit, Perry, archetype of the jovial Texan, said, "Gamers get so used to respawning themselves that they're willing to keep going when their health meter is down to real-life zero. There are more than a few people in this room who have ridden an ill-fated game into the ground, bounced back up and went at it again. They're still chasing dreams, but this time, they're... wiser and more committed to succeed."

Perry hopes that spirit will help drive the economy in Texas, and in that vein the state currently offers $250,000 in economic incentives to game companies who spend that money within the state. But he'd like to do more, he said.

"I'll be calling on legislators next January... to challenge them in 2009, and I'll also ask for more public and private-sector investment in the game education programs in our state schools. There are extraordinary opportunities there."

The game industry already plays a strong role in the Texas economy. Perry said that there are 22 game developers and publishing companies in the state, combining to spend about $177 million dollars there in the coming year. These companies created 2800 jobs in Texas, as well.

Not only does Perry hope the thriving games industry will continue to contribute to the state economy, but he believes Texas has a lot to offer the industry, as well. "CNBC declared that Texas was the best place in the country to do business," he said. "That's why it's home to more Fortune 500 corporate headquarters than any other state."

The average salary of a game development professional is about $63,000 annually - not a lot to those who live in urban hubs like Los Angeles, San Francisco or New York, but in Texas the lower cost of living means a higher quality of life, generally.

"As governor, I'm really proud that Texas is the third-biggest game-producing state... I'm gunning to be number one, and I think we can be. I think our game incentive program that we have can play a very important role as we go forward."

"I came to E3 to encourage your vast audience of people in the industry... and to acknowledge what you're doing, and the growing economic power you possess, and to celebrate the shared commitment to competitiveness that we both have," said Perry.

"But I also came here to challenge you again. In the months and years to come, what can you do to unlock the power of your medium, and to make the world a better place to live?"

GameFly Opens Austin Distribution Center

Mike Fahey — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 09:20:00 MDT

Video game rent-by-mail company GameFly has just announced the opening of a brand new distribution center in Austin Texas. The new center will handle mailing games in little orange envelopes to subscribers across Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico. This is the third new center opened in the past 13 months, along with the Pittsburgh, PA and Tampa, FL locations.

“The Austin-area distribution center is strategically placed to provide the quickest shipping times to a large number of members across multiple states,” said Jeff Kawasugi, vice president of logistics for GameFly. “In addition, we are extremely pleased to join the Austin business community and look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship.”

Now all they need is a center in Seattle and they're golden. Sorry Hawaii and Alaska, but you knew what you were getting into in the first place.

GameFly Opens Latest Distribution Center in the Austin Area
New Distribution Center Provides Enhanced Delivery for Members in Seven States

LOS ANGELES—(BUSINESS WIRE)—GameFly, the leading online video game rental service, today announced the official opening of its latest distribution center located in the Austin area. The warehouse represents the third distribution center to open within the last 13 months and enables GameFly to deliver games more quickly to its members.

This distribution center further reinforces GameFly’s strong foothold in the online video game rental industry by confirming the growth of the company and gaming industry. Initially, the warehouse will service Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and New Mexico. Additional Midwest states may be added in the future.

“The Austin-area distribution center is strategically placed to provide the quickest shipping times to a large number of members across multiple states,” said Jeff Kawasugi, vice president of logistics for GameFly. “In addition, we are extremely pleased to join the Austin business community and look forward to a mutually beneficial and long-term relationship.”

“We always strive to enhance the gaming experience for our community, whether it’s creating new applications, incorporating unique features or simply just providing a better service,” said Dave Hodess, CEO of GameFly. “We are thrilled so many gamers have found that GameFly makes videogaming an even better experience and expect the new distribution center will be a great benefit to our members in and around Texas.”

Boys Pay Hookers To Play Halo And...Oh, That Story Isn't Real

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:20:00 MDT

If you've been trawling the recesses of the internets for the past week or so, you may have come across a story about a pair of 13 year-old kids who lied about winning a WoW tournament, booked a swish hotel room then paid for two $1000-a-night hookers to come upstairs and play Halo with them. For their troubles, the pair have allegedly been "convicted of fraud". It'd be a pretty funny story if it was true. Thing is, it's not. Kiwi site Stuff actually bothered to check with the police in Newark, Texas, where the events supposedly took place, and were told:

As far as we know, this story is a hoax. There have not been any arrests here, and we're not aware of any convictions like that in this county.

Hint: as soon as the story involves midgets, and not just hookers, Xbox and WoW, there's a good chance it's too good to be true.

Did a 13yo buy hookers with dad's credit card? [Stuff.co.nz, via GamePolitics]

DA Under Investigation For Buying Gaming PC with Public Money

Brian Crecente — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 08:01:33 MDT

A Texas District Attorney under investigation for a slew of misconduct is being accused of using public money to buy a "gimmicky" computer designed to play computer games in his office.

Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow is being tried in Dallas on charges of forgery, theft and records tampering. As part of the case, prosecutors allege that he used office funds to buy the computer for personal use.

Prosecutors say the computer, which was loaded with eBay sales, personal emails and a cheat sheet for a computer game, is equipped with two hard drives, seven fans, high-end video and audio cards, a wireless Internet connection and cables that glow under ultraviolet light.

Sumrow used the district attorney's "fee fund", which contains fees collected from hot-check writers, to pay for the PC.

The only question I have is: World of Warcraft?

Rockwall County District Attorney Ray Sumrow used server for personal items, expert says

Tabula Rasa Totally Tanked? NCSoft Austin Downsizing?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:00:09 MST

Apparently, MMORPG Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa bombed. And when games bomb, heads roll. If true, it's at NCSoft's Austin Studio! The Korea Times reports that the Austin subsidiary "has proven to be a financial disaster." Making Tabula Rasa was no cake walk, with rattailed Richard Garriott restarting the project several times, costing NCSoft added expenses. In a conference call, NCSofts chief financial officer Lee Jae-ho said:

Because of this disappointing result, some downsizing in Austin is inevitable. We are going to revamp our Austin development organization... I should admit that the actual result of Tabula Rasa has been disappointing... If you talk about our development cost we spent in the past several years, probably we are not making any money from this Tabula Rasa project. That should be the reality.

NCSoft hasn't decided how many Austin Studio staffers it will let go, but plans to keep enough for Tabula Rasa maintence. Of course, rattailed Richard Garriott won't get the axe. However, NCSoft games will no longer be developed at the Austin Studio as individual projects.

According to website Massively, contacts at NCSoft say The Korea Times article blows things out of proportion and omitted key details about the conference call. For example, NCSoft CFO Jae-ho Lee stated that "some" downsizing was going to happen, but that he hoped Tabula Rasa would eventually improve its revenue. What's more, NCSoft is putting several more million dollars into the game, which is launching in Japan later this year. (Garriott's games typically have done well in Japan.) Only the Tabula Rasa team will be effected by the downsizing. It is not uncommon for MMO teams to ramp up during production and then reduce after launch. Glaring omissions, damage control and rattails. This post has it all!
NCSoft Downsizing Austin Studio [The Korea Times via Massively]
Tabula Rasa Not In Dumps [Massively] [Pic]

El Paso Police Nab Fugitives With 360s

Mike Fahey — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 09:40:04 MST

Rule of thumb here people. If you are on the run from the law for a crime you did or did not commit, you don't win video game consoles. Even if you do, you don't. A lot of fugitives from justice learned this lesson the hard way in early November, when police in El Paso Texas staged a roundup using an Xbox 360 and a television as bait. The fugitives in question were informed that they had won a fabulous video game prize, and when they arrived to pick it up they were arrested on the spot. The operation led to 115 arrests, 129 cleared warrants, and the collection of $25,686 in unpaid traffic fines. Not one Xbox 360 was given away. Once again, if you are on the lam, you win nothing. Don't try to collect a prize, show up for the game show you suddenly get invited to, or follow that piece of candy being mysteriously drug along the ground by a string towards a waiting paddy wagon. It can only end in tears.

115 fugitives, lured by gifts, arrested in El Paso sting [El Paso Times via GameRush Entertainment]

Game Devs Get Incentives to Move to Texas

Kim Phu — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 11:40:00 MDT

That's right, Texas. They are willing to pay top dollar to lure Hollywood and game developers out to the Lone Star state, but the cash doesn't come without restrictions. Governor Rick Perry recently signed a bill that allows game developers to receive grants up to $250,000, but they must meet certain requirements. Violent games or games that the State deem to have "inappropriate" or "obscene" content would not be able to enjoy the new benefits and neither would games that portray Texas in an unflattering way. Under the bill, the State would ultimately have the right to pick and choose which projects fulfill all the requirements.

Although this seems strict, one of the developers already based in Texas sees this as an opportunity:

Rodney Gibbs, an exec with Austin-based Amaze Entertainment (Lord of the Rings Tactics, The Sims 2 DS) said that Texas developers struggled to distance themselves from the mainstream image of games as excessively violent.

Huh. Who knew Texas had such a soft-spot? Kim Phu

Texas Game Development Incentives Come with Political Strings Attached [Game Politics]

QuakeCon 07 Announced

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 21:20:36 MST

Stop showering now, Quake and Doom fans. You have less than eight months to build up a respectable gamer odor before the next, newly announced QuakeCon. The yearly event is scheduled to take place August 2-5, 2007 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas.

The best part? It's FREE! It's always free—minus travel expenses, hotel room, parking, food and requisite PC upgrades, that is. Check out the official site for more info and get your room reservations in early.

Hopefully, we'll be in attendance, as we're suckers for those John Carmack keynotes. They're riveting! Michael McWhertor

It's beginning to look a lot like...QUAKECON 2007!

Feeding Off the E3's Rotting Carcass

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 07:24:20 MDT

E3... dead, bastardized, whatever. The Guardian GamesBlog points out just how opportunistic my fellow Texans are. Comparing these Johnny-Come-Latelies to vultures (and heck, why not?), GamesBlog posts this email excerpt from the Austin Game Conference:

I'm sure you've heard the announcement that E3 is downsizing next year from a zoo of 60,000 attendees to a smaller, more manageable invitation-only crowd of 5,000. Good for them! But what does that mean for you? If you're looking for a great event to cover that would be happy to have your journalistic-prowess, look no further than Austin, Texas, September 6-7-8... What we lack in booth babes, we offer in top notch headlining speakers...

Note to future E3 wanna-bes: Do not schedule your events too close to the Tokyo Games Show (end of September) or the Game Developers Conference (March), PAX (August) or Leipzig Games Convention (also August). Otherwise, nobody will give a fart. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [GamesBlog]

Belt Buckle Fit for Red Neck Mario Fans

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 09:20:56 MDT

Being from Texas, I have seen my fair share of belt buckles (also guns and high school football games). And being from Texas, I do think I am in a position to judge a good buckle. The one in the Sticky Fingersesque photo above was purchased in LA's fashion district for $10. The belt was free. In my good ol' boy scorechart, this buckle gets ten out of ten heehaw's. Brian Ashcraft

More Here, Pardner [Flickr] Thanks, Stu!

Pac-Man Lotto Gobbles Up Your Money

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 05:22:25 MDT

There are some who never give up. Florian, for instance, is relentless and still hasn't got more than a frosty "slog off, matey!" out of Eliza. He has better chances of winning this Texas Lottery Pac-Man scratch off. Match numbers to win up to US $25,000 or reveal a Pac-Man symbol and win a Pac-Man cocktail table arcade game. If I was 13 years old and if the year was 1982, that *might* be cool. Florian, though, is sadden to learn this lotto is open only to Texans. Yee-ha! Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Texas Lottery] Thanks, Matthew!

Student Research: Real Sex Beats In-Game

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 14:21:15 MDT

Aleks Krotoski over at The Guardian points to Trinity University research on that in-game sex phenomenon. She's posted some choice quotes, but what caught my attention was the conclusion to this student paper:

Regardless of how realistic or fantastical the situation is, online sex is a voluntary activity. As a result, there is an inherent freedom in its practice. People are less restricted by cultural assumptions or real-life dangers such as injury or disease. As a result, sex in virtual worlds is a common practice, and though it cannot replace actual sexual intercourse, it is used by many participants to enhance their existing and potentially fruitful real-world sexual activity.

So in-game nookie won't replace real-world nookie? THANK GOD. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Guardian Games Blog]

Video Game Sin Tax?

Brian Crecente — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 05:10:16 MDT

Texas Senator Juan Hinojosa plans to propose a tax on video game sales in the state of Texas, similary to the tax some states place on alcohol or taboacco.

The taxes would go toward building new schools and upgrading poorer ones.

You have all these kids buying video games, and sometimes they are good, some are bad and that's not my call," he said to the paper. "But I think that we can generate [money] to put toward the schools they go to."
Hinojosa's proposal predicts the state would pick up about $65 million from the tax, but does little to explain what makes videogames so special. Music, movies and other forms of entertainment don't have a specific tax, but because videogames are in the legislative spotlight these days, it must be hip to propose something game-related.

Texas Senator Proposes Taxing Games [1Up]

Texas Modder Ready To "Unleash" On Yer Xbox 360

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:20:35 MST

Over in the den of sin known as Craigslist, there's a Texas modder near UT claiming to be able to make Xbox 360s play import and backed up games. "I will show you how to make legal back-ups of games you own," writes the modder. It takes only 30 minutes and costs $150.

"Your Xbox 360 is capapble [sic] of so much, just as the Xbox was. Let me unleash it."

Shudder. Has this Longhorn figured out how to do the DVD drive BIOS mod efficiently? And does it always require ripping the case off?

Post Here [Cragslist] Thanks, Katsu!

Bioware Announces MMO

brownlee — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:40:12 MST

Bioware — those crafty geniuses behind Baldur's Gate 2, Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic — have finally decided to launch themselves into the MMORPG game. Like all press releases, the following is filled with boring business PR twattle, telling us relatively nothing about the game and instead harping on the fact that Fifty-First State Bioware is opening a Texas MMOG house for the project.

Still, we're tickled pink: the last A-list single-player game developer house to switch gears and do MMORPGs was Blizzard, and look how well that turned out, their prejudice against homosexual-friendly guilds aside.

The press release in full after the jump.

BioWare Corp. Announces New ''BioWare Austin'' Studio Monday March 13, 8:01 am ET New Studio Recruiting for Massively Multiplayer Online RPG Project
EDMONTON, Alberta—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 13, 2006—Canadian videogame developer BioWare Corp. has announced the opening of a new studio, BioWare Austin, based in Austin, Texas. It is the second of BioWare's studios and the first to be located outside of Canada.

BioWare Austin has already begun work on a Massively Multiplayer Online roleplaying game (MMORPG) title; the new game will mark BioWare's debut in the Massively Multiplayer Online space. BioWare has recruited some of the top talent in MMO and RPG development, both to manage the development efforts at BioWare Austin and to collaborate with the experienced team at BioWare Edmonton, to develop a game that combines the best of BioWare's great past games with a compelling persistent online experience. Joining the Austin team as lead designer is James Ohlen, BioWare's Creative Director, whose previous credits include lead or co-lead design roles on Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic(TM), Neverwinter Nights(TM), Baldur's Gate(TM) and Baldur's Gate II(TM). Also leading the BWA team are MMO veterans Richard Vogel and Gordon Walton. Richard Vogel brings 15 years of experience to BioWare Austin, previously serving as VP of Product Development for Sony Online Entertainment's Austin studio, as well as launching Ultima Online(TM) as a senior producer at Origin. Gordon Walton recently served as VP, studio manager and executive producer at Sony Online Entertainment as well as VP and Executive Producer at Electronic Arts.

"BioWare is committed to a seamless collaboration between our two studios to ensure the same high standards of quality and creativity our dedicated teams have always delivered," said Ray Muzyka, co-founder and Joint CEO of BioWare. "With our extensive heritage in the roleplaying genre, BioWare Austin is extremely well positioned to innovate in the massively multiplayer online space for BioWare's valued community of fans."

The new BioWare Austin comes soon after the formation of BioWare/Pandemic Studios, a partnership facilitated by private equity firm Elevation Partners. The new entity combines top videogame developers BioWare Corp., an industry leader in the role-playing game genre, and Pandemic Studios, an award-winning developer of best-selling action titles.

Both BioWare Austin and BioWare Edmonton currently have job openings for programmers, designers, artists, animators, world builders and writers, with new jobs being posted regularly. Applicants may view job postings and submit materials through jobs.bioware.com. BioWare Austin will also be recruiting, along with BioWare Edmonton and sister studios Pandemic Studios LA and Pandemic Australia, at the Game Developers Conference at the San Jose Convention Centre in San Jose, California, March 20-24, 2006.

ABOUT BIOWARE

BioWare Corp. is an electronic entertainment company which develops computer and console video games focused on rich stories and memorable characters. BioWare's developers are hard at work on Mass Effect(TM), a brand new BioWare-created intellectual property, and an Xbox(TM) 360 exclusive, to be published by Microsoft. Mass Effect(TM) is an epic science-fiction role-playing game set in a spectacular new vision of the future. BioWare recently completed work on Jade Empire(TM), the first game based on a BioWare-created intellectual property. Jade Empire(TM) was released in April 2005 and has enjoyed critical and commercial success. BioWare is also hard at work on Dragon Age(TM), a high fantasy RPG set in another brand-new world created and owned by BioWare. BioWare's Technology Architecture Group is also developing the cutting-edge next-generation BioWare Eclipse Engine(TM) technology for multiple platforms. BioWare has an online fan community at www.bioware.com consisting of almost 3 million registered users who regularly connect to discuss the company's current and future games. In November 2004, the company launched the BioWare Online Store at store.bioware.com, where fans can purchase new content for their favorite BioWare titles and merchandise. Previously published projects include: the action-RPG of 2005 for Xbox, Jade Empire; the 2003 Game of the Year, Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic(TM) for PC and Xbox; the award-winning Neverwinter Nights(TM) series; the genre-defining Baldur's Gate(TM) role-playing game series for the PC; MDK(TM)2 for Dreamcast and PC, MDK(TM)2: Armageddon for PlayStation 2, and Shattered Steel(TM). Employment information at BioWare can be found online at jobs.bioware.com.

ABOUT BIOWARE/PANDEMIC STUDIOS

BioWare/Pandemic Studios was formed through the fusion of two industry powerhouses and private equity firm, Elevation Partners. A leader in the action/adventure category, Pandemic joined forces in 2005 with BioWare, a company known for its role-playing games rich in story and character. Co-equal and complementary, the newly partnered video game studios are working both in tandem and separately to develop new, original titles as well as continuing to leverage the licensed franchises and owned-IP each is known for including: Mercenaries(TM), Destroy All Humans!(TM), Full Spectrum Warrior(TM), and Star Wars Battlefront(TM) II from Pandemic and Mass Effect(TM), Dragon Age(TM), Baldur's Gate(TM), Neverwinter Nights(TM), Star Wars : Knights of the Old Republic(TM) and Jade Empire(TM) from BioWare. Focused on next-generation platforms to create bold new concepts in entertainment, BioWare/Pandemic's studios are located in Los Angeles, California; Brisbane, Australia; Austin, Texas; and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. For more information, please visit www.bioware.pandemicstudios.com.

BioWare, BioWare Corp., Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Jade Empire are trademarks or registered trademarks of BioWare Corp. in the U.S. and other countries. Pandemic, Pandemic Studios, Full Spectrum Warrior and Mercenaries are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandemic Studios in the U.S. and other countries. Elevation Partners is a registered trademark of Elevation Partners. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

No Taxation Without Retardation

lsmith — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 12:42:15 MST

Texas gubernatorial candidate Star Locke thinks a 50% tax on violent video games, abortion and soft drinks is the way forward for the "everything's bigger here" state. This tax, in Locke's eyes, would replace property tax as the big breadwinner of taxation. Whatever happened to just taxing the absolute shit out of cigarettes and alcohol to make more money for the state? The times they are a-changin'.

50% Tax on Games? [1UP]

Mario & Sonic on Gizmondo?

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 Dec 2005 09:22:57 MST

"You know what this little bad boy can do?" the Gizmondo guy asks, not even looking up from the portable he's playing.

Yeah, I do. The Gizmondo guy behind the counter finishes his game and finally gets off his duff. His baseball cap is decorated with holly. Its four days before Christmas, and nobody else is in sight.

"Can I take a look at it?"

The guy hands me the handheld. It's small and fits snug in my palms, even if it does look like some wack alien steering wheel.

"When did it go on sale in the US?"

"About a month ago. How do you know this device isn't American?"

"I like videogames," I say, holding back. "What do you think of the product?"

"I wouldn't trade it for the world," the guy says. He tells me all the things the Gizmondo does. The handheld plays games, music, takes pics and some other stuff. His voice is metallic, and I tune him out.

The handheld itself ain't so bad. And the guy's right, it can do a lot of things. The demo I am playing (a ball spinning through a maze) sucks, though.

"What were you doing before?"

"Contract labor, working on a dock," the guys says, stroking his goatee.

"How do you like working here?"

"Wouldn't trade it for the world. I got my music, my games. I love it."

"Is the Gizmondo sold only via kiosks like this or in stores?"

"Like this. In fact, this is the only shop in all of Texas."

Here I am at the sole Gizmondo outlet in a state larger than Japan. What an honor.

"Are all the titles third party?" I ask.

The guy looks at me puzzled. Crap, I'm showing my hand.

"Does Gizmondo make all the games?" I try again in English.

"There's other companies making games. In fact, we're gonna have Mario and Sonic."

"Software?"

"Yeah, or online for download. That's what everyone's been asking about."

"How do you know this?"

"Oh," the guy says, "I know people and got everybody's number on my speed dial. So I get all the juicy details."

Mario and Sonic on the Gizmondo? Geez, I don't know whether to smile or cringe. I hand the guy the handheld back, adding a "Merry Christmas." Hope I see him next year.

Gizmondo [Official Site]