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Using A PlayStation As A Tattoo Gun
A man detained in the United Kingdom has had a PlayStation – or what was left of a PlayStation – confiscated by authorities after he was caught using it as a tattoo gun. The man, from Brook House Immigration Removal Centre in West Sussex, had apparently been using the internal motor of a PlayStation 1…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 24, 2010 -
Crackdown 2 Gets A Cartoon Series
Crackdown looks like a cartoon. I guess. With the cel-shading and everything. Not sure it needed an animated prequel series, though. What is this, 2008? It’s not like anyone cares about the fiction of Crackdown. About its universe. They care about setting people on fire, and collecting green orbs, and doing those things with their…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 22, 2010 -
The Father Of The Xbox Leaving Microsoft?
Say. It. Ain’t. So. Reports indicate that J Allard, a driving force behind the design of the Xbox (and the Zune) is leaving Microsoft, after his latest dream project was binned by the company. Having been the former pin-up boy of Microsoft’s video game consoles, especially in the lead-up to the launch of the Xbox…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 22, 2010 -
Buy A Rockstar Game For Kids, You’re A Terrible Parent
Here’s a refreshing, if predictable dose of common sense from developers Rockstar, telling the BBC that anyone buying one of their games – like Grand Theft Auto, or Red Dead Redemption – is a “terrible parent”. “Our games are not designed for young people”, Rockstar’s Lazlow Jones tells the Beeb. “If you’re a parent and…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 22, 2010 -
New DSi Game Makes The Real World An RPG
Spirit Hunters, a new game in development by Nnooo for the DSi and “future nintendo handhelds”, is an augmented reality title that promises to be, in the creator’s words, “a role playing game set in the real world”. Players use the DSi’s (and, presumably, 3DS’) camera to view the world on their handheld’s screen, upon…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
ChatRoulette: The Game
Tired of playing the old “how many dicks can I see in an hour?” game on webcam novelty Chatroulette? Might want to try something a little more structured. ChatVille is a program that takes the core concept of ChatRoulette – being introduced to random strangers via webcam – and adds a little “game” to it,…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Turning Executive Mistakes Into Art
Heeeeeeeeeey, guess what. Video game executives, whether on purpose or not, fib. And they do it all the time. What’s important is not to get upset! You need to get constructive, and turn those fibs into works of art. These fake propoganda posters, put together by Brian Altano and Brian Miggels for IGN, take some…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Video Game Sound Has Come A Long Way, Baby
It may seem ridiculous now, but there once was a time when it was tough work getting sound out of a PC. We’ve come a long way since then, something this clip does a good job of reminding us. Twenty years of PC audio is covered, all by showing us how the Monkey Island theme…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
BioShock 2, Gears Of War Figures Exclusive To Comic-Con
At this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego, toy company NECA will be selling a few exclusives from their video game lines. Only attendees – or savvy web shoppers – will be able to pick up these up. Three video game figures will be sold: two from BioShock 2, and one from Gears of War 2.…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Preowned Customers Paying Extra? GameStop Doesn’t Care
The recent trend for publishers to lock out content to customers buying pre-owned versions of games was supposed to be a swipe at GameStop, but the giant retailer reckons the move won’t hurt it one bit. “We support the creation of added downloadable content for popular franchises, as we see that as extending the life…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Giant Buildings That Look Like Video Game Consoles
Yup. Giant buildings that look like – well, are – video game consoles. Don’t they look great? Pity, then, they’re not real. As is usually the case when we see a big batch of incredible video game photography/art, you can thank French magazine Amusement for these pics, showing what a PS3, DS and NES would…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Blur Punches Mario Kart In The Balls
Blur, the latest racing game from the team behind the Xbox’s Project Gotham series, has copped a little flak for being like Mario Kart, only with real cars. Instead of deflecting that argument, this ad just runs with it. To great effect! Sure, it does nothing to make me any more interested in picking up…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Publisher Actually Thinks Games Are Too Expensive
I think games are too expensive. You think games are too expensive. Surprisingly, a major international publisher thinks the same, Namco Bandai calling for a “worldwide summit” to discuss this crisis “I feel all the big video game companies need to join together in a worldwide summit to discuss the future of our industry. I…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Play The Bits Between Mass Effect 2 And Mass Effect 3
To date, Mass Effect 2’s downloadable content has been a little underwhelming, giving players who have completed the game little to do but spin their wheels. That’s set to change in the coming months. Why? Because BioWare will soon be moving on from post-game DLC and shift to pre-game DLC, with future packs planned to…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
Valve: PS3 Is Like A GameCube
I’ve seen the PlayStation 3 compared to a lot of things in my lifetime, from a grill to a brick and everything in between. But a GameCube? That’s new. In an interview with 5BY5, Valve boss Gabe Newell has spoken of his company’s decision to release online gaming platform Steam for the Mac, and why…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 21, 2010 -
The Princess Is In Your Castle, And She Has Needs
So you’re off to save the Princess, huh? Might want to think it over, side-scrolling platform hero. Because when you do save her, she may well be more trouble than it was worth. At least, that’s the perspective of this cautionary tale, in which our intrepid traveller gets more than he bargained for when he…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2010 -
Instead Of Laughing At “Casual” Gamers, Try Helping Them!
In a piece over on Wired, Kira Greer speaks publicly about the depths of her obsession with Farmville. It makes her sound like a nutter, yes, but it also makes her sound like someone in need of something better “I realized I was hooked when I was planning my day around when I knew crops…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2010 -
Leisure Suit…Lenny?
Alright Ashcraft. I’ll see your Japanese schoolgirl drumming and raise you a one-man band, who is named after a classic 80’s/90’s adventure game series from Sierra. This is Lenny, a musician from my home town of Canberra, Australia who between gigs in actual bands sometimes plays a one-man show. And when he does, he becomes…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2010 -
Report: Sir Richard Branson Gets Back Into Video Games
Virgin, the company owned and run by British gazillionaire Sir Richard Branson, will soon be getting back into the video game business, according to a report on trade site MCV. Branson will apparently use E3 as a springboard to reveal his plans for an online-only games service that spans “the leading console formats and feature…
By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2010