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Why We Can’t Be Pokémon Bad Guys
In Pocket Monsters, “Team Rocket” is fairly harmless organized crime unit that steals, sells and captures rare and powerful Pokémon. The Team Rocket characters are typically comical, but surely, the concept of dealing in stolen Pocket Monsters is prime grist for a game. It might be! That doesn’t mean it’s going to happen, though. When…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Ryu, Ken, Yoshi, Sheik And Some Creepers Star In Convention Fighter II
Remember, remember, the Lara Croft in poor weather, and the girl who loved Aion a lot. I see no reason why Star Wars or Creepers should ever be forgot. There’s been plenty of great cosplay going on over the past week or so, some of it in the US, some of it in Australia, all…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Surprise, A Mass Effect MMO “Totally Makes Sense”
In an interview in the latest issue of Game Informer magazine, BioWare’s Casey Hudson talks about the future of his studio and the Mass Effect franchise now that the third RPG title is on its way. One very natural topic of conversation is multiplayer. “We haven’t yet come up with a way to do that,…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Portal 2’s Starlet Certainly Looks Different In This Concept Art
Portal star Chell is keeping things simple for the game’s sequel. Same orange jumpsuit, it’s just…rolled up. This concept art for the character shows she could have looked not just different, but a lot different. Uncovered as part of Valve’s vast, potato-based alternate reality game being run to promote Portal 2, the art shows Chell…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Tear Off Clothes With Akiba’s Trip Stripping Browser Game
In Akiba’s Trip, players are tasked with tearing random strangers’ clothes off in order to discern who is a vampire (and who is embarrassed). Forget garlic, because in Akiba’s Trip, stripping is how you find out who’s a bloodsucker. The clothes worn by the vampire-type creatures protect them from sunshine – yes, even those skimpy…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 -
UncategorizedSay What You Will About Family Guy, It Still Knows Its Street Fighter II Gags
Any soft spot I had for Family Guy toughened up years ago when the show’s shtick wore out its welcome. And yet here I am, enjoying the crap out of this segment. Why? Not only is it a pitch-perfect Street Fighter nod, they even used E Honda’s stage, and got both “combatant’s” special moves and…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Fake Nintendo Cartridges Make The Best iPhone Covers
Designed by gamer shop Meteor, these iPhone 4 cases are supposed to look like the backsides of retro Famicom and NES catridges, complete with warnings on what not to do with the carts. We think they look pretty nice. What holds true for the Nintendo cartridges (don’t immerse in water, etc) also holds true for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
BloodRayne On 3DS Bled Dry
At 2010’s E3 gaming expo in Los Angeles, BloodRayne was revealed for the 3DS. When asked on Facebook about the status of BloodRayne: The Shroud, the game’s maker replied that the title is “currently on hold”, but added, “We’ll be sure to share any news when it’s available.” [via GoNintendo]
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
TF2 Players Spend Nearly Half A Million Dollars On…Hats
To help the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Team Fortress 2 developers Valve had a little hat sale. It started well. And has ended even better. A total of $430,543.65 was raised by Team Fortress 2 players spending a bit of cash on some hats for their characters, which either says…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 -
UncategorizedIs This The First Persona 4 Anime Teaser?
A viral video, asking the question “Do you know mayonaka TV?”, is going all, well, viral. The clip is apparently a teaser for an upcoming anime based on forthcoming role-playing game Persona 4. “Mayonaka terebi” is “midnight TV”, but in the game series, it’s a fictional television broadcaster. The clip shows Tokyo’s JR Yamanote Line…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Could You “Finish” World Of Warcraft Without Killing Anything?
Here’s an exercise in patience: a World of Warcraft player has managed to reach the maximum level 85 without killing a single thing. For a game built around the idea of, well, killing things, that’s quite the achievement! Taking advantage of a loophole of sorts, player Everbloom has spent the last five months picking herbs,…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 -
Uncategorized
A Warning Concerning Real Life Zelda “Potions”
In The Legend of Zelda, Link often drinks potions. That doesn’t mean you should. Watch in this video as YouTuber Joshua Pursley drinks the crap out of a Zelda potion. Consider this a public service announcement! [Thanks Takoma!]
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Another Rei Ayanami Figure For the Pile
Neon Genesis Evangelion’s Rei Ayanami is an iconic character. Iconic characters mean one thing in Japan. Wait. They actually mean several things, but most notable is how that soft power translates into hard, plastic figures. For anyone who’s been paying attention to the world of Japanese sculpted figures since 1995 (and if you haven’t, listen…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 -
UncategorizedThe Dick Flashing Comedian With A Heart Of Gold
Decked out in black stretch pants, sneakers and not much else, Egashira 2:50 is one of Japan’s most loathed comedians. “Creepy” and “annoying” are the words that usually describe him, but last month, the word that summed up Egashira the best is “heroic”. Egashira’s schtick doesn’t rely on witty puns or dry quips. Rather, the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Wow, There Are A LOT Of Gold Farmers Out There
Gold farming is the practice of harvesting crap in online worlds with the aim of selling it for real-world money. Most developers frown on the practice, but that’s not stopping an estimated 100,000 people from doing it. A report from the World Bank reckons that, across China and Vietnam, “up to 100,000 people” are toiling…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 -
UncategorizedToad’s Mortal Kombat Fatality Is A Bit Much
While it’s had its fair share of cross-franchise cameos before, one thing Mortal Kombat has always lacked has been guest appearances by classic arcade mascots. Let’s fix that. This clip by online video crew Machinima shows the finishing moves of Mario, Toad, Arthur, Pac-Man, Link and…is that James Worthy? Man, all jokes aside, James Worthy…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 -
CultureTotal RecallThe Video Game Console That Never Was
Some game machines are killed long before they enter production. Others at least make it to market before dying, whether of old age or lack of demand. And then there’s the Konix Multisystem. The history of console video gaming is one dominated by American (Atari, Microsoft) and Japanese (Sony, Nintendo, Sega) companies. When you think…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2011 - Uncategorized
Snooze and the Gray
Snooze and the Gray | Interestingly, South Carolina chose to observe the 150th anniversary of April 12, 1861, the first shot of the American Civil War on April 9, 2011, the 146th anniversary of the Confederates’ surrender. Here a Confederate re-enactor – hell, is there any other left? – takes a nap during South Carolina’s…
By Owen Good Published April 10, 2011 - Uncategorized
Promoter Sues Microsoft Over Kinect Launch Event
Remember the Times Square launch event for Kinect last fall? It took some begging, pleading, and cold hard cash just to happen, when the cops made the last-minute discovery a full blown concert didn’t have the requisite permits. The promoter who made all the bad stuff go away says Microsoft owes him $63,000 for it.…
By Owen Good Published April 10, 2011