- Uncategorized
Funny Book for Little Kids Helps Real Ones
Done in the style of a toddler’s first book, “A Gamer’s Alphabet” pairs letters and important words from video gaming. And, seriously, profits from the sale of this clever gift go to help kids suffering from a rare epileptic disorder. The cause is “Marissa’s Bunny,” which seeks to support families and spread awareness of infantile…
By Owen Good Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Evo 2K10 To Beat Up Caesar’s Palace
Annual video game fighting tournament EVO 2K has announced its 2010 plans, touching down at Caesar’s Palace next July, bringing with it plenty of dudes who are really, really good at arcade and console fighting games. The tournament will run July 9th through the 11th in Las Vegas, Nevada, sure to be a sweltering good…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Portal Designer Heads To Dark Void Studio
Kim Swift, best known for being one of the students-turned-Valve-developers behind Narbacular Drop and team leader for its better-known successor Portal has left the house of Half-Life for the den of Dark Void. Swift is joining Airtight Games, the studio behind Capcom’s almost-finished jet-pack action game Dark Void. She will be a project lead. “I’ve…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Get Ready for Even Freakier L4D2 Mods
The delayed SDK for Left 4 Dead 2 has been a bummer to that robust modding community, but now they have news that softens their disappointment: When it arrives, the kit will support custom survivors, infected, weapons, you name it. L4DMods.com says it got a look at code detailing what can be expected in the…
By Owen Good Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
LEGO Harry Potter Looks More Magical, More LEGO-filled
Our first look at LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 didn’t offer much in the way of wizardry and brick based hijinks. But this new trailer for the game that Crecente will inevitably review show so much more. Four full years of wizard study at Hogwarts, now in buildable LEGO brick form, will be arriving early…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
ModNation Racers Beta Burns Vinyl Next Week
United Front Games is kicking off the beta test for the PlayStation 3’s urban vinyl kart game ModNation Racers next week, opening up a whole new level of play-create-share goodness to a select few. How can you get in? Players who picked up early copies of the LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year Edition already know…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 -
UncategorizedThe Meaning Of Super Mario Clouds
The work of technology artist Cory Arcangel, a bit well-known for his Super Mario Bros. art/hack seven years ago, is part of an exhibit running in London. The artist reflected on what his Mario-with-just-clouds means, at least, to him. Speaking of “Super Mario Clouds,” he tells The Guardian’s Keith Stuart: “I knew that the clouds…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
ESRB Rates Alex Kidd in Shinobi World, Blaster Master For Virtual Console
The Wii Virtual Console is due to get a double dose of 8-bit adventure soon, as the ESRB has rated Sega Master System spin-off Alex Kidd in Shinobi World and NES classic Blaster Master for Nintendo’s service. Alex Kidd in Shinobi World was, sadly, the last game in the Alex Kidd series to be released,…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Rockstar Makes Its iPhone Debut With Beaterator
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is on the way, but Timbaland’s music-generation program Beaterator leads the way as Rockstar’s first “game” on for the iPhone. Beaterator for the iPhone might not be as full-featured as the PlayStation Portable version, but then at $4.99 compared to $39.99, we wouldn’t expect it to be. Remix premade tunes…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 -
UncategorizedVideo Game Makes Cell Biology “Cool”
The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) borrowed a page from Fantastic Voyage and Innerspace to make an educational video game about cell biology called Immune Attack for 7th-12th graders in the U.S. According to FAS, American teens don’t have the know-how to map a white blood cell system. Immune Attack gets them up to speed…
By AJ Glasser Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Qix++ Is Your Xbox Live Arcade Game Of The Week
As previously assumed, Taito’s latest warming over of classic franchise—this time arcade game Qix—is officially this week’s Xbox Live Arcade release of the week. Qix++ will be blocking off a space on Live Marketplace this Wednesday. Expect wonderful Qix-style gameplay, but with a modern day, Geometry Wars-like re-skin, for a mere 800 Microsoft Points. We’re…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Dead To Rights: Retribution – Puppy Power!
As this gameplay clip from Dead to Rights: Retribution shows, more games need the option to sic your dog on the bad guys. After watching this clip, I’m of the belief that games that don’t include dogs need to be redesigned in order to take advantage of today’s canine attack technology. Imagine how much more…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Custom Punch-Out!! Action Figures Prove Demand For Real Punch-Out!! Action Figures
As part of The Fwoosh’s eight annual CustomCon, figure customizer “Fugazi” has created the Punch-Out!! line-up in full, plastic boxer bodies harvested from other toys and repurposed for the greater good. They’re all here, from Little Mac to Soda Popinski. Check out the full gallery at The Fwoosh for detail shots of each classic Punch-Out!!…
By Michael McWhertor Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
It’s A Chiptune Holiday!
Bloop and beep in the holidays with 8 Bit Weapon & ComputeHer’s It’s a Chiptune Holiday, an album filled with traditional holiday favorites, only better. 8 Bit Weapon is one of my favorite chiptune bands, using their arsenal of old computers, consoles, handhelds, and various electronic toys to craft some very impressive tunes. Their holiday…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 - Reviews
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Review: Nice One
There are two ways Zelda games can be great. The newest entry in the series, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks summits one of those rarefied heights. There are the Zelda games that are great in ways that influence an industry and nearly mandate that they be played. These groundbreakers include the very first Zelda…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Nintendo Download: Rayman, Street Fighter, And Shinobi
Eleven new titles make their debut across WiiWare, DSiWare, and the Virtual Console this week, with performances by Street Fighter Alpha, the arcade version of Shinobi, and a little Rayman for your DSi. Kicking things off this week despite a startling lack of actual limbs is Ubisoft’s Rayman (800 DSi points). Ubi has taken the…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
What’s Clarissa Doing At An Ubisoft Event?
Spotted by omg! fashion police, Melissa Joan Hart — of Clarissa Explains it All* — attended an Ubisoft event last week for Jenny McCarthy’s Wii Fitness game, Your Shape. Looks like Hart could use some Frag Doll fashion tips. *And Sabrina the Teenage Witch — but I liked Clarissa better.
By AJ Glasser Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
The God Of Tetris Is A Vengeful God
College Humor is definitely onto something here in their Tetris God video. “There is no place for a square, milord!” Playing Tetris will never, ever be the same. Now we have a focus for our frustration and anger. I hope that actor is prepared to be punched in the face on a regular basis. Click…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Quantum Theory Goes Multiplatform
Tecmo’s PlayStation 3 third-person shooter Quantum Theory isn’t just for the PS3 anymore, now coming to North American Xbox 360 consoles as well this spring. No, that screenshot isn’t a PlayStation 3 owner’s head exploding at the loss of an exclusive title to the Xbox 360. Judging by the reaction to McWhertor’s hands-on with the…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009 - Uncategorized
Perfect Dark XBLA – Before And After
A trio of comparison shots show us just how far Perfect Dark’s graphics have traveled during their journey to Xbox Live Arcade. Rare has definitely been hard at work tightening up the graphics o level three. The split screen shot looks a little darker on Xbox Live Arcade, but sharper and darker is better than…
By Mike Fahey Published December 7, 2009