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Sega of America Walloped by Layoffs; Western Publishing Reduces Focus to Sonic and Three Others
A restructuring in light of steep losses for the quarter ending today means that a lot of people at Sega of America lost their jobs yesterday. But rumors that the entire division is shutting down appear to be unfounded. Some Sega of America employees, on their Twitter feeds and via this post on Reddit, wrote…
By Owen Good -
Two for The Show
Amazon’s 3-for-2 deal expires today, so if you have a couple titles in mind—any platform—this is a good day to use all of those bonus credits you’ve piled up by being such a consistent reader of The Moneysaver. For example, one is now being offered on the next Ghost Recon game, though it is cheaper…
By Owen Good -
Backhanded Box Quotes: ‘Keep This Piece of Crap to Yourself’
Welcome to “Backhanded Box Quotes,” a collection of super pissed-off user reviews from people just like you! Whoa, whoa, don’t take that personal. This week, Backhanded Box Quotes wrangles with the disappointment faced by diehard Kid Icarus fans upon the arrival of their long-awaited sequel—and an appeal for calm and reason by someone who sounds…
By Owen Good -
The Week in Evil DLC
Downloadable content. Everyone hates it—but everyone buys it. Yes, even you in the comments, smart guy. Here’s a look at the latest package of extensions and pre-order bonuses designed to crowbar the last dollar out of your wallet. Can you still respect yourself if you buy it? Asura’s Wrath ‘True Ending’ Available: April 24 Price:…
By Owen Good -
It’s Time for the Worst Day in Video Gaming: April Fool’s
Oh, great. April Fool’s is on Sunday. This is the worst day, the absolute worst, in video gaming. The self-publishing capability of the Internet and the concept of viral spread has definitely made this holiday more hazardous for credulous reader and skeptical newsman alike over the past 12 years. But video gaming, as a subject,…
By Owen Good -
Sony Confirms It has Shut Down SOCOM and MAG‘s Studio
As first reported last week by Kotaku, Zipper Interactive, the studio behind PS3-exclusive shooters like MAG and the SOCOM series, has been closed. Sony confirmed the closure in a statement this afternoon to Game Informer In the statement, Sony added that “Zipper has completed all work associated with its most recent project, Unit 13 for…
By Owen Good -
MLB 2K Winner May Be an ‘Ugly Duckling,’ but He’s Still a Millionaire
News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming: • The New York Post profiled Wade McGilberry and Brian Kingrey, the two previous winners of the Million-Dollar Perfect Game challenge in the MLB 2K series. McGilberry and his wife, Katy, have an 8-month-old son now, named Braxton. The couple chose to start a…
By Owen Good -
Biff Tannen: The Undertaker Will Lose at Wrestlemania XXVIII
Listen up, buttheads. We’ve got a special edition of Biff Tannen’s Sports Almanac to deal with this weekend’s biggest event—and it’s not March Madness. Note: Information presented for entertainment purposes only. If you consult video games for sports betting advice, seek help. If you bet on professional wrestling, you are a complete imbecile and beyond…
By Owen Good -
Hunger Games Stud Can’t Shake Off the Super Mario Theme
At the end of a nearly 13 minute interview, Peter Travers, the eminent film critic from Rolling Stone asks Josh Hutcherson, who plays Peeta in current box office smash The Hunger Games to sing the song currently on his mind. OK, Hutcherson says, just one problem: The song has no lyrics. For some reason, the…
By Owen Good -
The Silly Bulls*** of Censored Soundtracks in Sports Video Games
Sports video games must license everything. League symbols, player likenesses, individual events, even certain stadiums. Then they must provide a soundtrack every year and, yep, those songs must be licensed, too. It is a neverending headache unique to the sports genre. Further complicating the job, nearly all league-licensed sports video games are rated E, or…
By Owen Good -
March Madness Hits Hockey as NHL 13‘s Cover Goes Up to a Vote, Too
News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming: • With every cover for every game coming out of EA Sports Tiburon being put up to a vote, now their siblings in EA Sports Canada are getting in on the act. NHL 13 will also choose its cover star through a fan-voted contest.…
By Owen Good -
Wait, Why Isn’t The PGA Championship in the PGA Tour’s Video Game?
This is something that always confounded me. In the career mode of Tiger Woods PGA Tour, the fourth major championship is not The PGA Championship, but the “EA Sports Championship.” Now, The British Open does not appear either (it is simply “The U.K. Open”) but that I can understand and chalk up to licensing. But…
By Owen Good -
Lordy, Lordy, Fez Finally Gets a Release Date
Fez, the perspective-shifting platformer and poster-child for independent games development hell, is ready to go and will arrive April 13, says its studio, Polytron. That’s Friday the 13th, a fitting irony for something that’s been in production for more than four years. The game will be offered over Xbox Live Arcade for 800 Microsoft points,…
By Owen Good -
Pedophile Caught Thanks to Girl’s Nintendo Camera
A girl in the United Kingdom put away a man who molested her thanks to the camera on her Nintendo DSi, using it to surreptiously capture his assault and force a confession. John Fisher, 46, did admit to the abuse after his accuser (unnamed) snapped a picture of his hand groping her. Fisher’s going to…
By Owen Good -
No Surprises After One Round in Madden‘s Cover Contest
News and notes from around the world of sports video gaming: • Madden NFL 13‘s cover athlete contest has moved to the second round, with few surprises. Aaron Rodgers advanced, despite Packer fans’ superstitions. Megatron absolutely dominated his first round matchup, with the largest margin of victory. Sebastian Janikowski was eliminated, despite everyone’s desire to…
By Owen Good -
A Very Moving Day for a Woman at The Masters
After two rounds at The Masters, the 44 best scores and ties, plus anyone within 10 strokes of the leader, make the cut. Since 2006, when the course was lengthened, no American amateur has survived to “Moving Day,” the nickname for Saturday’s round. Yesterday, I did so. As a woman. This past Sunday, I wrote…
By Owen Good
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