• 

  Uncategorized

  Square Enix’s Chaos Rings Omega Circles Familiar Territory

  During my first ten minutes with Square Enix’s iPhone RPG prequel Chaos Rings Omega I had to stop and make sure I hadn’t accidentally downloaded the first game. Last year’s Chaos Rings told the story of five couples mysteriously transported to a place called the Arc Arena, where are forced to fight their way through…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Johnny Depp Seems Happy about Free Nintendo 3DS Portables

  Pirated | TOKYO, JAPAN: While appearing on a Japanese talkshow, Johnny Depp is given 3DS units and games for his kids. (Photo: FujiTV) A Place for Your Bleeding Geek Heart In Japan, convenience stores, or “conbini” as they’re called, dot the landscape. They’re where people buy food and drink, pay bills, send letters and stand…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Grasshopper Raised US$80,000 for Japanese Earthquake Release

  According to an official statement, Grasshopper Manufacture, the studio behind No More Heroes, raised $80,000 for quake relief via a fundraising event, a charity app and auctions.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Report: Dead or Alive: Dimensions Is Kiddy Porn in Sweden?

  The 3DS’s line-up is slimmer in Sweden. Fighting game Dead or Alive: Dimensions isn’t currently on the website for Bergasala, a Nintendo game distributor. There might be a good reason for that. Bergsala’s Patrik Johansson told Swedish website GameReactor, “Nintendo of Europe has due to various reasons decided not to distribute the game in Sweden.…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  BioShock Heading to Smithsonian American Art Museum.

  From March 12, 2012 to September 30, 2012, the Smithsonian American Art Museum is hosting “The Art of Video Games”. Included in the exhibit is BioShock. “The thought of seeing BioShock on display next to Georgia O’Keeffe and Thomas Hart Benton is, well, humbling,” said BioShock creator Ken Levine in an official release.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• 

  Uncategorized

  Wii Purchase Led to Super Mario Wedding

  Iowa’s Bobbi VanZante and Elijah Slagter are in love. With each other, and with a mushroom-eating plumber. Their wedding’s theme? Mario. “We both grew up doing Mario, playing the Mario games and just something for our generation, and we wanted to do something different,” VanZante told Des Moines Channel 13 News. The first thing they…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Your Face on an Action Figure? Badass

  Based in Tokyo geek mecca Akihabara, Clone Factory is just that: a factory that makes clones. These clones are not made from flesh and blood, but resin. They are your own personal clones, ready to rule your bookshelf. Blogger Danny Choo from the appropriately named DannyChoo.com checked out Clone Factory, getting his mug measured, digitally…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  For an Ass-Kicking Norse God, Thor Sure Has a Soft, Artistic Side

  The “big” console versions of Thor may not have had the charm (or the quality) of the DS edition, but that’s no fault of the art team, who came up with some stunning vistas for the title, based on the current Hollywood film. These images are all by Justin Yun, who worked on the game,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Rumor: The Next Nintendo Console’s Controller Has a Front-Facing Camera?

  According to an “insider”, a report on Develop is claiming that Nintendo’s next home console will ship with a controller that features a front-facing camera. Just like the DSi and 3DS. This camera would “be used for in-game images”; presumably, that means anything you take a snap of (like you face) could be then imported…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  “It’s Dangerous To Go Alone…I Shall Grant You This?”

  Like many games of the 1980’s (and beyond), the English localisation of the original Legend of Zelda isn’t as word-perfect as it could have been. So translator GlitterBerri went back and did the job properly. In doing so, she’s taken every item name and piece of dialogue from the classic action/RPG and cleaned it up…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  China is Holding the World’s Supply of Rare Earth Metals Hostage

  You may not care the China controls over 95% of the world’s supply of rare earth metals, but you might want to. China is putting a squeeze on the export of these valuable raw materials and building up a national stockpile. Funny thing, the communist superpower is not using these metals to make anything. It’s…

  By Kelly Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Tron Lightcycle Case Mod Should Only be Used in the Dark

  I’m serious-it should be illegal for this awesome Lightcycle case mod to be used in the harsh light of reality. Instead, boot up when the sun goes down, and ride onto the grid. [Bods-Mods via UberGizmo]

  Kat Hannaford Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  The World’s Meanest Shooter Series Returns for a Third Game

  Heavily scripted shooters that take place in glorified corridors are well and good for most, but some people like to kill things out in the open, and kill them with a single bullet. For them, there is ArmA series, and for them, a third game in the franchise is on its way. ArmA III expands…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Looking for a Few Good Dragon Age III Developers

  Role-playing game Dragon Age II was a big hit. No wonder BioWare’s Alistair McNally tweeted: “I’m looking for exceptional environment artists to join me at #BioWare Edmonton, Canada to work on #DragonAge3 #gamejobs #jobs #3D #artists” [IGN via Eurogamer]

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Strip Characters in Game. Strip Mannequin in Store.

  In PSP game Akiba’s Trip, players must expose vampires by…exposing them. Ripping their clothes off reveals if the characters are vampires. To promote the game, a maid costume similar to an outfit worn by an in-game bloodsucker is on display, inviting folks to strip it—or rather, flip up the skirt, revealing stripped knickers. A sign…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  And Suddenly, 1080p Doesn’t Look so Hot Any More

  We’re nearly six years into the first true generation of high definition video games, and still, few titles can manage to run at the “maximum” 1080p (1920×1080) resolution. Spare a thought for the games of the future, then, as this 85″ Sharp TV has a 7680 x 4320 display. Madness. [Dvice] (Top photo via darkhorse_loga…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  A New Mortal Kombat Means New Mortal Kombat Toys

  The new Mortal Kombat game, which has been a bit of hit, has spawned this line of action figures from Jazzwares, which should be shipping later this year. The first line features four fighters—Sub-Zero, Raiden, Scorpion and Johnny Cage—with each standing around 6 inches tall. First Mortal Kombat Images From Jazzwares [Toyark]

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  How to Eat Minecraft for Breakfast

  You can’t eat a downloadable game. But you can eat weird food crushed and packed into cubes that look like Minecraft terrain blocks. On the menu are french toast, sausage, cereal (with milk!) and blueberry yoghurt. [Instructables]

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 20, 2011
• 

  Uncategorized

  Sony’s AR Tech Is Smart (Smart Enough for NGP?)

  The holy shit moment of the Nintendo 3DS is its Augmented Reality capability. By using cards (or tattoos), the 3DS can project augmented reality. Sony is working on its own AR tech. It’s truly impressive. Called SmartAR, Sony’s augmented reality tech doesn’t require special markers or 2D. Thus, an object can be captured by a…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Michael McWhertor’s Most Anticipated RPG Gets Tasteful Japanese Box Art

  Kotaku‘s already posted the game’s Western box art—it looks nice. The game’s Japanese box art looks nice, too. Maybe, even, nicer? It’s tasteful, that’s for sure.

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 20, 2011