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CultureTotal RecallNintendo’s Terrifying Power Glove Indoctrination Video
Get a cup of tea, a biscuit or two and settle in for ten minutes worth of Nintendo Power Glove propaganda, courtesy of the official VHS cassette guide to the peripheral. It is something you really should watch. From the product placement to pseudo-religious tone throughout, it’s as perfect a summary of one of Nintendo’s…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 10, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
That Time Sega Made a Ridiculous Fighting Game. With a Car in it.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of its Smash Bros. series, a lot of people give Nintendo credit for pioneering the idea of a fighting game bringing together a company’s mascots in the name of face-punching. Sega fans, though, will know that Smash Bros. was just the latest in a long line of such titles. One…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 10, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallIn 1974, Arthur C. Clarke Predicted the 2001 Internet
Not just as a vague concept, either. The famed science fiction author absolutely nails it, from the bank statements to the hardware to the social changes to the possibilities for communication. “Visionary” is an awful, over-used word, but it’s cases like this which are the rare exceptions you can actually use it and it fits.…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 9, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallRIP, the Man who Helped Get me Into Video Games
When I was four years old, my father took me out to a local electronics store and said we were buying a computer. OK, I thought, not really knowing why that was such a big deal. Twenty-seven years later, I now know it was one of the most significant days of my life. That day…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 9, 2012 -
Culture
Mario Kart. Made Out of Chocolate.
The Mario Kart games have wound up on nearly every Nintendo platform since the wacky combat racer debuted back in 1992, thrilling millions. But this might be the first time that Mario and Luigi have become artisanal delicacies. Reader Daussy sent in these pictures of a chocolatey tribute to Nintendo’s kart-racing game, which were crafted…
By Evan Narcisse Published April 9, 2012 -
Culture
Finally, it’s Fez
Downloadable titles highlight the week’s new releases, including Skullgirls, World Gone Sour and, at long last, Fez. Tuesday • Skullgirls (PSN) • World Gone Sour (PSN) Wednesday • Legend of Grimrock (PC) • Skullgirls (XBLA) • World Gone Sour (XBLA) • The Splatters (XBLA) Thursday • Tribes: Ascend (PC) • Men of War: Condemned Heroes…
By Owen Good Published April 8, 2012 -
Culture
Sunday Comics: You Kiss Your Mother With That Mouth?
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published April 6.—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published April 2.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Penny Arcade by…
By Owen Good Published April 8, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallUnboxing the Mother Lode of Old PC Games
If you think unboxing new games is fun, wait until you see how awesome it is when a guy finds a box of old PC games and spends seven minutes taking them out of a single, larger cardboard box Space Quest. Man Hunter. Police Quest. Gold Rush. I can smell the musty manual paper through…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallAtari’s Founder Also Made Kick-Ass Robots
Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari and also the man behind Chuck E. Cheese’s, won’t just be remembered for those two towering achievements. The guy also made robots. In 1981, having left Atari three years previously, Bushnell founded Catalyst Technologies, a venture capital group designed to help invest in technology start-ups. Catalyst in turn went onto…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012 -
Culture
Original, Badass Zelda Art By Katsuya Terada
Katsuya Terada is a Japanese artist you may not know by name, but you may definitely know him for his work. He’s done character design for the Blood: The Last Vampire movie. He’s helped out on Western cartoons like Hellboy. He’s even done illustrations for Nintendo Power magazine. Which leads us neatly into this gallery…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
Thirty Years in a Loft and This Console Still Looks Gorgeous
It might be dusty, and the games might be more than a little dog-eared, but according to the photographer it all still works, despite having sat in a loft for over thirty years. They sure don’t make ’em like they used to. True Vintage [sj9966 @ Flickr, via it 8-bit]
By Luke Plunkett Published April 4, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
Today is “Atari National PAC-MAN Day”. No, Seriously, it is.
Thirty Years ago today, Atari had the balls to proclaim an entire day, hoping to lift its iconic Pac-Man character alongside the likes of other people who have their own day. Like, you know, Martin Luther King. And Jesus. The fact it was only celebrated by video game fans and Atari employees for that one…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
Did You Know GameStop is Named After a Book Store?
It’s one of those things you probably never bothered to think about. “GameStop” sounds like something it took three seconds to come up with. But there’s surprisingly a bit more of a story behind the name. Executive Chairman of the company (and also founder and former CEO) Dan DeMatteo has told Reuters that he named…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012 -
Culture
Giant Killing Machines, Direct From Russia
Hope you like giant instruments of destruction. Because Russian artist KaranaK specialises in giant instruments of destruction. Most of the vehicles you’ll see in these galleries are from Star Conflict and Russian game Project Genome. Others are just personal pieces. You can see more on his DeviantArt page Fine Art is a celebration of the…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012 -
CultureTotal Recall
Gotta Catch ‘Em All!
Not the Pokémons. There’s too many of them, and just when you think you’ve got them all, Nintendo goes and creates more. Catching all (or most) of the coloured variations of the Nintendo 64 control pad, though, that’s probably easier. And more impressive. And practical! [via is it real]
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2012 -
CultureTotal RecallNothing Says Steroids, or Awesome Box Art, Like Two Crude Dudes
Two Crude Dudes is a terrible game. Just terrible. I remember trying to play it as a kid, on a number of occasions, and every time I picked up a controller I’d be floored by how poor it was. So, uh, why did I keep picking up a controller? Because I so badly wanted it…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2012 -
CultureAngry Birds Space Fruit Snacks: The Snacktaku Review
The first Angry Birds slipped onto the iPhone with little fanfare, slowly growing into one of the biggest games of all time. For the game’s first proper sequel, Angry Birds Space, developer Rovio comes shooting out of the gate with t-shirts, key chains, stuffed animals, and Angry Birds Space Fruit Snacks. Available in four different…
By Mike Fahey Published April 2, 2012 -
Culture
Feel the Force
Kinect Star Wars is the highlight of April Fools’ week, which is traditionally not a big sales holiday. For anything. Xenoblade Chronicles releases in the west on Friday. Tuesday • Fallout 3 and Oblivion Double Pack (PS3, 360) • Kinect Star Wars (360) Wednesday • I Am Alive (PSN) Friday • Xenoblade Chronicles (Wii) •…
By Owen Good Published April 1, 2012 -
Culture
Sunday Comics
Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published March 26.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published March 28.—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Penny Arcade by…
By Owen Good Published April 1, 2012