-
A Week In Comments
PS3 Title Derby Time Online Now Offline Comment by: Takamofo Nominated by: MrBionic 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…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2009 -
What Is The Last Wii Game You Bought?
Hey, it’s Friday — er, it’s Saturday Time for TELL US DAMMIT, a day late and a dollar short. Oh my. Here’s how it works: We ask a question, you answer it. Simple and no strings attached! This isn’t some marketing survey or whatever. It’s an emotional investment in you. Yes, we’re interested in knowing…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2009 -
Throw Balls At Streakers
Taiwanese arcade game Star Ball has players lob balls at a screen. It’s like a light gun game, but with balls. Star Ball has various scenarios. For example, players throw balls at mostiquotos to keep them from biting people. There’s a snowball fight with polar bears and parka wearing kids. And, there’s also the long…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 7, 2009 -
Mad Max Director Thinks Games Are Surpassing Films In Storytelling
Yesterday, it was Star Ocean 4 designer Yoshinori Yamagishi going on about how video game storytelling could exceed books or film. Today, it’s Mad Max director George Miller. Tomorrow? Who knows. According to the filmmaker, “Games were the poor cousin to feature films when it came to storytelling but I think it’s flipping. Games allow…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
“Wondering About The Girls In My Class…”
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Have You Ever Seen A Dog Smile? Posted this earlier on my Twitter/Facebook, but think it might need some context! So, we have a baby in the house: Micro-Bash. He has no teeth and drinks milk. Logically (and naturally!) breast feeding is involved. Thus! Mini-Bash probably sees breasts as something…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Square Enix Execs Take Self-Imposed Pay Cut
Financial forecasts slashed, stocks plunging. Times are hard for Japanese role-playing-game maker Square Enix. While some other execs might pass the buck and make cuts everywhere except for their own salaries, Square Enix’s Yoichi Wada is not some other exec. In a recently released briefing from last month, Wada explained, “In recognition of the latest…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
I Am Alive Developer No Longer Developing I Am Alive
Upcoming disaster game I Am Alive was being developed by independent French Darkworks for publisher Ubisoft. Was because Ubisoft has yanked Darkworks off the project and is finishing the game itself. Multi-platform I Am Alive is set in Chicago after a major earthquake. It’s a more realistic take on the survival genre, showing in first-person…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Police Warning Parents About DSi
Watch out parents! The DSi could put your kids at the mercy of child predators alert Arkansas police. A local news report points out the the DSi doesn’t only have a web browser, but it has a web browser and an embedded camera. Cue the hyper-active alarm bells! “Now not only can the children be…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Use Stripes, Win Race Pro
We’re giving away a copy of Xbox 360 game Race Pro. Racing stripes make race cars go faster. Face it, they do. Just look at Race Pro’s box art. Here’s the contest: Put racing stripes on something – anything*! Racing stripes on a phone? It goes faster. Racing stripes on a cat? It goes faster.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Nintendo To Let Market Decide Fate of DS Lite
When Nintendo introduces a new product, it phases out the older model. Presently, though, handheld consumers have two choices: the DS Lite or the DSi. Does that mean eventually we’ll only have one choice? When game site MCVUK ask Nintendo’s David Yarnton if the company was planing on phasing out the DS Lite, he replied:…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Halo Wars Gets Korean TV Show
Korean gamers don’t just love playing, but watching others play games, too! Korean network MBC Game has been broadcasting real-time-strategy game StarCraft matches for year. So broadcasting RTS Halo Wars makes sense. MBC Game also broadcasts Warcraft III, Tekken and Counter-Strike. As game site Siliconera points out, all three home consoles are available in Korea;…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
“Video Game Storytelling Can Surpass Books Or Film”
Star Ocean 4 producer and frustrated erotic game developer Yoshinori Yamagishi really has faith in the power of video games to tell a story. Sure, there are challenges, but Yamagishi thinks game storytelling can eventually superseded other mediums. “As opposed to films, books and TV, as a medium it is more of a challenge to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Dubai Airport Getting Microsoft E-Zone
The Dubai bubble might have burst, but don’t tell Microsoft. The company is rolling out an Xbox 360 corner of Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 Emirates Business Lounge. The new “e-zone” is slated to get a custom Xbox 360 racing simulator — along with Microsoft Surface. At least business execs have something to amuse themselves…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 6, 2009 -
Street Fighter IV Sparks Street Fighter Tournaments
With the release of Street Fighter IV, many places are seeing something they haven’t in a long time: Street Fighter tournaments. Take Malaysia, the country just hosted its first Street Fighter IV tourney, which apparently also marks the first SF tournament in ten years. While Street Fighter tournaments never died in places like Japan and…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
Catch The New Pokemon Anime Trailer
Summer means one thing in Japan: school kids on summer break. What does summer break mean? A new Pokémon movie, that’s what. Titled Arceus: To the Conquering Space-Time, the film is the final saga in the Diamond & Pearl trilogy and the twelfth animated Pokémon feature film. Dialga, Palkia and Giratina are slated to appear…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
What Makes A Quarter Pounder A Quarter Pounder?
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Critique Had a Quarter Pounder from McDonalds today — maybe the first one I’ve had in seven or eight years. Quarter Pounders just recently went on sale here in Japan as part of a massive advertising campaign, complete with lying. How did it taste? Like a Quarter Pounder. But my…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
First Peek At New Lingerie Model In New Guitar Hero Commercial
Another Guitar Hero TV spot, another model in underthings. Last fall, model Heidi Klum stripped down to shill Guitar Hero. This year? It’s Victoria Secret model and Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover girl Marisa Miller. Klum is also a Victoria Secret model and SI cover girl. Hey, we’re beginning to see a pattern here… Also like…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
Amazon Entering Used Game Biz
Following on the heels of Toys R Us, Amazon.com is the latest to retailer to get in the used game business. Amazon’s program is still in beta, but as part of its service launch campaign, the online seller is offering a 10 percent discount on future single game or accessory purchases to those who trade…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009 -
PS3 Breaks 2 Million, PSP Breaks 3 Million
Months before its second anniversary and in a crap world economy, Sony’s PLAYSTATION 3 console has sold 2 million units in the United Kingdom. “It’s a premium product, so therefore it costs a premium price, and that does give us issues in terms of the expected sell-through that analysts and the media want,” explains Sony…
By Brian Ashcraft Published March 5, 2009