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  Osama bin Laden’s Demise, as Told Through a Game of Super Mario Bros.

  The assassination of Osama bin Laden has already provided modders and commentators with political video game fodder, but this French TV show kicks it up a notch with a fanciful presentation of Super Mario Bush In which the former Al Qaeda leader is Bowser, and Mario is played by George W. Bush. At least, he…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  They’re Totally Addicted to Cosplay

  If those addicted to work are called “workaholics” and those addicted to chocolate are called “chocoholics”, then what are those who are addicted to cosplay called? Over the weekend, “Cosholic” stormed through Tokyo’s Odaiba. Cosholic is a picture-takin’, costume-wearin’ get together. Some of the costumes were elaborate, others were practically invisible. Cosplayers and cosplayer “circles”…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  Bedroom Coders Making New Super Mario Bros. Wii “Sequel”

  If you’re done playing New Super Mario Bros. Wii—released18 months ago so you may well be—you could always try the fan-made Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. Currently in development by a team of devoted modders, artists and Mario fans, Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii. is an unofficial sequel of sorts to Nintendo’s 2009 retail release,…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Violence Erupts at a Chinese Apple Store After iPad 2 Release

  Although no one seems sure what exactly happened, reports are coming out that fights broke out between staff and customers at this Beijing Apple Store today. We’re talking bloodied faces and broken glass here. All over the new iPad? The fights come one day after the iPad 2 was released in China, resulting in lines…

  By Kwame Opam Published May 9, 2011
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  Time To Cash in on the Japanese Earthquake Disaster?

  When the Great East Japan Earthquake rocked the country on March 11, Japanese games with sensitive imagery were delayed. PS3 title Disaster Report 4, set during a natural disaster, was canceled. The game’s publisher even canned all Disaster Report titles. Not every Japanese game company is taking such drastic steps. According to a report out…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  This LEGO Master Chief Is so Big He Has a Human Inside Him

  For the past six months, Ben Caulkins has been building a Master Chief suit. Which, you know, lots of people do. So why’s Ben’s so special? Because, even though it’s full-size and entirely wearable, it’s made out of LEGO. We showed you an in-progress shot of this suit around Christmas, when it was a helmet…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Lock Up Your Dancing Daughters, Here Comes the Internet

  If you’ve spent any time on Japanese video site Nico Nico Douga, you’ve seen them: young girls dancing to cutesy pop music. It’s their chance to live out their adolescent idol fantasies for viewers with adolescent idol fantasies of their own. In the video above, the girl’s mother tries to barge in, but her daughter…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published May 9, 2011
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  There Is Still a Small Town in America That Bans Arcade Games

  As incredible as it is to imagine, until a recent vote a small town in the United States of America had outlawed arcade machines. Thankfully, that vote has now been held, and…hey, wait a minute, arcade games are still banned? Yes, even harder to imagine than placing the restriction in the first place is the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  In the Next Assassin’s Creed, You Play an Old Man

  Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is the next game in Ubisoft’s stealth action series, and it’ll be out later this year. It’s also the third game where the player takes control of Ezio Auditore, meaning, yes, by now he’s very old. According to a feature in the latest issue of Game Informer, the former smooth-talking ladies man…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
• CultureTotal Recall

  Behind the Scenes of the Most Disappointing Game Movie Ever Made

  Considering its budget, the popularity of the franchise and its accomplished cast, 1993’s Super Mario Bros. is—relatively—surely the most disappointing video game movie of all time. Still, train wreck that it is, we can’t help but keep on looking at it, even after all these years. And today we’re getting a real good look, with…

  By Luke Plunkett Published May 9, 2011
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  Yo Dawg, I Heard You Like Mother’s Day

  OMG Puppies | Nintendo threw a posh Mother’s Day event featuring Nintendogs + Cats in Beverly Hills, Calif. this weekend. (Photo: Chris Weeks | Getty Images) Which One Is Worse? At this point, after 17 days with no end in sight, it’s fair to ask the question. the PlayStation Network Outage, or the Xbox 360’s…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Stephen Colbert Joins Noble Team (Well, Not Really)

  After Stephen Colbert joked this week that Master Chief must have been one of the members of SEAL Team Six, which took out Osama bin Laden, Bungie dusted off that image, which it had whipped up a while back in an attempt to get a mention on the show. For those who might think this…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Get Your Hands on an Original NES Software Development Kit

  This may look like a busted up Nintendo Entertainment System, but its seller says it’s actually an NES development kit, recovered about 10 years ago from the warehouse of a defunct Las Vegas-area developer. It’s up for bid on eBay, currently topping out at $305. The seller is, evidentely, not a video gamer, saying his…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
• Culture

  Brought to the Brink

  The long-awaited futuristic FPS Brink highlights this week of releases, promising quadrillions of unique characters – no really. If that hurts your brain, try MX vs. ATV, LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean or Virtua Tennis. Tuesday Brink (360, PC, PS3)-The free-running FPS pits two factions in a battle for control of The Ark, a once-utopic…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Bin Laden’s Compound Now Available as a Counter Strike Map

  Should you lack Kuma War II, which on Saturday published a free episode recreating the raid on Osama bin Laden’s final hiding spot, you may also download a free map of the Abottabad complex created with Counter Strike: Source The map’s creator says it “may be used as a base for a bomb or hostage…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Sex Sells

  Each week throws off several new video game lists ranging from the humorous to the trivial. What’s better? A list of those. Here’s a roundup of the rundowns out there. •The Top 10 Sexiest Video Game Commercials [Joystick Division] Some of these are reasonably tame. Many aren’t even actual ads. All-Stars that are include the…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Sony Ponders Reward Offer as It Insists PSN’s Security was Up-to-Date

  Sony is weighing whether to offer a reward for information on the hackers behind the massive PlayStation Network outage, now in its 18th day, CNET reports. Its potential amount was not mentioned. Quoting unidentified sources, CNET said Sony is discussing the pros and cons of such a decision but has yet to get any go-ahead…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Freestyle Championship

  This image is ridiculous. You might say it’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen. That would be hyperbole. I think that this is just the beginning of the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever seen. That is the Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, a zillion-time gold medalist, demonstrating Michael Phelps: Push the Limit for Kinect. That’s right,…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
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  Weekend Talk Amongst Yourselves

  Mornin’ gang. Hope all of you have said a very Happy Mother’s Day, not only to your mom, but to all who have mothered you. Once you’ve finished with the breakfast and the card and the gift and the hugs, feel free to talk about video games, confident in a job well done. Today’s TAYpic…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011
• 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. Another Videogame Webcomic did not publish this week Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published May 1. – Read more of Awkward Zombie Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira…

  By Owen Good Published May 8, 2011