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  Shangri-La’s Moving Walls, Nasty Monkeys and Pungee Traps

  Is it just me or are these zombie maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops getting increasingly complex with each new download pack? This time around map pack Annihilation gamers get a chance to take on the zombies of the fabled city of Shangri-La. That means angry little monkeys, some neat pungee traps and lots…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 29, 2011
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  GameFly Opens Seattle Distribution Center, Alaska Rejoices

  The Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Wild. Majestic. Coffee-soaked. For too long these dark and mysterious areas of the United States have been bereft of a local GameFly distribution center, forced to suffer longer-than-normal shipping times for their game rentals. Today GameFly says no more. GameFly’s new Seattle-based distribution center launches today with the goal of…

  By Mike Fahey Published June 29, 2011
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  Video Games Make Lots of Money – But is That a Good Thing?

  With juggernauts like the Call of Duty franchise set to make their annual sales record breaking splashes this fall, we don’t have to look far to be reminded that video games make heaps of money. However, SuperFLI wonders if this causes more harm than good to the industry as a whole. Have been thinking on…

  By Joshua Rivera Published June 29, 2011
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  Millions of Virtual Farms Worth Tens of Billions of Real Dollars

  The company behind FarmVille, Mafia Wars, CityVille (and perhaps the death of PC gaming) may be going public this week, valued as high as $20 billion, Reuters reports. A source familiar with the initial public offering tells Reuters that Zynga plans to raise $1.5 billion to $2 billion and could file paperwork as early as…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 29, 2011
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  Alternate ending to Limitless: Is Bradley Cooper heading for the ultimate hangover?

  Did you think the ending of Limitless was too neat and tidy? Did you think Bradley Cooper got off too lightly after spiraling down the rabbit hole of brain-enhancement drugs and superdickery? Then this alternate ending to the film is for you. It’s a somewhat darker version of the ending, in which things don’t seem…

  By Meredith Woerner Published June 29, 2011
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  Finally, a Corporation Worth Playing For

  Async Corp is a silly, catchy game about work that requires the labor of both of your thumbs. You play it on the iPhone. Your pay is high scores. Your left thumb boxes and ships units on the left of an iPhone’s touchscreen; the right does that work on the right. Your thumbs must work…

  By Stephen Totilo Published June 29, 2011
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  Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Getting through another work week with an opportunity to Talk Amongst Yourselves, since 2009 (Yes, it’s been that long.) Be thankful you’re not on display for thousands of people to gawk as they like (or are you?). Frolic, discuss video games, and be merry! Special thanks to Kaploy9 for today’s image. Wanna get your TAYpic…

  By Jen Schiller Published June 29, 2011
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  Thank Ratchet and Clank for This Wonderful Disney Game

  The latest Ratchet & Clank game is wearing a Disney costume While Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension is based on an upcoming television movie for Disney’s popular cartoon, the game play will feel very familiar to fans of Insomniac Game’s famous lombax and robot. That’s because the PS3 and Wii title is developed…

  By Brian Crecente Published June 29, 2011
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  Sometimes a Pipe Is Just a Pipe

  Smokin’ | OCTOBER 1932: Actor Harold Huth smokes pipe. (Photo: Sasha/Hulton Archive | Getty) The PlayStation Controller You Never Got to Use Yesterday, we looked at the PlayStation controllers that Sony has released (or in the Boomerang’s case seriously intended to release) to the public. Today, we’re looking at one that never made it. Would…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  Angry Birds to Overrun China

  Over the next three years, over 200 Angry Birds merchandise stores will open in China thanks to a deal with the game’s developer Rovio and a Chinese portal. Merchandise includes the usual suspects: t-shirts, stuffed animals, and toys. [New Launches]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  Everything Wrong with Online Gaming in Less Than Two Minutes [Updated]

  There must be a reason why I don’t talk to random people on Xbox Live. Oh, right. This is it. [Update]: We’ve gotten another copy of this video (above), which was pulled by YouTube shortly after our story aired. Internet person Cody is having an argument with some kid’s mother. There’s apparently a 12 minute…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  Dragon Quest X Clip Bundled with New DQ Set

  Marking the franchise’s 25 anniversary, Dragon Quest I, II and III are headed to the Nintendo Wii. The bundle will be out September 15 in Japan. More info here about the set. This DQ compilation has more than spiffy box art. It also includes Dragon Quest X bonus footage. ドラゴンクエスト誕生25周年記念ポータルサイト | 最新情報 [Dragon Quest]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  The Father of the PlayStation Finally Retires

  Ken Kutaragi, creator of the PlayStation, retired from his position as Honorary Chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment on June 28, Sony revealed in an official statement. [Sony (PDF)]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
• Culture

  Tony Holmsten’s Video Game Art Is a Final Fantasy

  Tony Holmsten, formerly of Sweden now living in Japan, has been working as a video game artist since 2002 at two of Sweden’s biggest studio’s, Battlefield developers DICE and the now-defunct Grin. In that time, he’s done concept art, level art, promo art and lighting for games like Battlefield 2142, Bionic Commando and Fortress, the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 29, 2011
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  What If Bayonetta Was More “Western”?

  As far as video game characters go, Bayonetta was built with one thing in mind. The suit, the heels, the librarian glasses, all there for sex appeal. But would she have been sexier if she was less “Japanese”? I mean, let’s face it, accent aside (at least in the Western version) she’s still a very…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 29, 2011
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  New Fighter Joining The King of Fighters XIII

  According to the latest issue of Japanese game mag Famitsu, Billy Kane from Fatal Fury is coming to the console version of KOFXIII. The game will be out on October 27 in Japan. [ゲーム情報！ゲームのはなし]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  Grand Theft Auto IV Really Is a Giant Toybox

  Reader forsinain42 has put together this beautiful tilt-shift video showing a day in the life of Grand Theft Auto IV’s Liberty City. Adorable, no? Also makes you appreciate the technical work that went into the game, as it focuses on the things that you may never even realise were even in Liberty City if all…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 29, 2011
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  Sony Computer Entertainment Gets a New Bossman

  Sony revealed today that Sony Computer Entertainment of Europe honcho Andrew House is now the CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment International. Kazuo Hirai is now SCEI’s Chairman. Corporate musical chairs, people! [PlayStation]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011
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  Blue Skies, Great Tunes and a Little Metroidvania

  Metroidvania. It’s a sub-genre of gaming made famous by, well, Metroid and Castlevania, games renowned for their 2D exploration and backtracking. It’s made a bit of a comeback in recent years, with games like Shadow Complex, but it usually doesn’t look this pretty This is indie game Celestial Mechanica, available now for $5. Made by…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 29, 2011
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  Left 4 Dead Brought to Life

  Valve’s co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead is getting the fan film treatment. There’s some neat special effects, the cinematography is slick, and the trailer opens strong. The actors look just like their in-game counterparts. Shame about the headbanger music, though! Thanks for the tip, Theron!

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 29, 2011