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The American Toilet Is Very American
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft Had to the U.S. Consulate today to renew Mini-Bash’s passport and make one for Micro-Bash. Something I noticed: At the U.S. Consulate, there are not fancy Japanese toilets. Like, there are regular American toilets — no seat warmer, no bidet, no butt washer, nothing. What’s more, they have toy cars for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
British Sales Charts: On, On You Most Noble…Sims
Poor ol’ Prototype. You’d think June would be a good month to launch a solid piece of new IP and, with Activision’s backing, see it take the top spot. Thing is, The Sims 3 was released this month, and retains its #1 position ahead of the hoodie-clawing simulator. Something it’ll probably do for a few…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Don’t Expect Much Story From Mario Galaxy 2
There were two big surprises to be found with Mario Galaxy: firstly, that it had a substantive story, and secondly, that the story was good. Pity, then, the sequel won’t be doing anything of the sort. Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has said that, despite the love fans had for the first game’s plot (centred around…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Peter Molyneux Wants To Help Rare “Get Well Known”
What is developer Rare best known for? Doing games for Nintendo in the 1990s? Making Banjo Kazooie? Battletoads? Viva Piñata? Peter Molyneux, creative director of Microsoft Europe, wants to help Rare have more of an identity. Here, let’s let him say it in his own words: “Actually one of the things I really want to…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Here Are Some New Lost Planet 2 Screens
Capcom’s Lost Planet 2 trades the snowy landscape of the first game for the firey landscape of the second. This makes us wonder what’s in store for the third game. Rain, we hope rain. 海に囲まれた要塞…?『ロストプラネット2』新たなステージ公開 [Gpara]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Erotic Game Makers Give Games “Cleaner” Titles
With “rape games” officially banned in Japan and politicians cracking down, the country’s erotic game makers are feeling the heat. What to do? In order to avoid another outcry or to prevent falling target of international protests, adult game developers are giving new and upcoming titles less sensation names. So, Slippery Pregnancy Princess (our translation)…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Prison Bans PS3 Consoles Over Escape Fears
We’ve heard how the PS3’s Cell processor can be used for not just games, but other things like cancer research. But prison breaks? That, we hadn’t heard. Until now. Apparently inmates at Rye Hill prison, near Rugby in the United Kingdom, had been “found to be using the consoles’ built-in wireless connections to chat to…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Nintendo And McDonalds Japan Serve Up DS Service
Following on the test program Nintendo launched in Tokyo last spring, the Kyoto-based game company and the fast food giant announce “Mac de DS”. Way back in 2005, Nintendo of America teamed up with McDonalds to offer free WiFi in the United States. This new nationwide service is a first for Japanese McDonalds. Starting June…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 -
UncategorizedArmA II Looks, Well, Incredible
The original Operation Flashpoint did a good job of making you feel like you were part of not just a mission, but a war. ArmA II, from the same developers, looks set to do an incredible job. Those aren’t scripted sequences. Or cutscenes. Or background objects. That battle going on involves hundreds and hundreds of…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Pokemon Heart Gold/Soul Silver Japanese Pre-Orders Include…
Anyone pre-ordering Pokémon: Heart Gold or Soul Silver? Good news — pre-orders start July 4th, and there are pre-order goodies. In Japan, those pre-ordering Heart Gold will get a Ho-Oh figure, and those pre-odering Soul Silver will get a Lugia. Pre-order both, and you’ll get a Arceus figure. Heart Gold and Soul Silver are DS…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Shiva’s Lesbian Motorcycle Mode Solves An Age-Old Dilemma
Square Enix have finally solved the age old question of “ass or crotch” with their Shiva design for Final Fantasy XIII. The answer? Give ’em both. While I’ve seen this thing in action before, most you haven’t. So take a look at these, showing Shiva in her Gestalt mode. The core design itself, in the…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Playing Super Mario Bros. On A Theremin
The theremin isn’t only good for playing "Good Vibrations", it’s also good for playing Super Mario Bros. — not just the music, but the game itself. YouTuber conquerearth explains how it works: The sound from the theremin is split into its frequency and amplitude components in real time, which are then mapped to values in…
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Japan Gets Blue Wii Remote, Nunchuk (With A Catch)
While the rest of the world suffers under the tyranny of a single Wii colour, Japan has choices! First a black Wii & Wii Remote, and now a blue Wii Remote & Nunchuk. But wait! There’s a catch! The special coloured controllers are being offered as part of a Club Nintendo deal for Wii Sports…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Metal Gear Online Bikinis Are Online
To celebrate the first anniversary of Metal Gear Online, Konami has provided very special DLC: Bikinis. Just in time for summer! Players will need to have at least the GENE Expansion to download the bikini outfits. You can check out the bikinis in action right here. 念願のビキニ装備が配信開始、『メタルギアオンライン』が活気に溢れる [はちま起稿]
By Brian Ashcraft Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Brutal Legend: Ronnie James Dio Dropped As Guest Character
There once was a time that Black Sabbath legend Ronnie James Dio was included amongst the list of guest stars appearing in Brutal Legend. That time has passed. But don’t worry. You should see who’s replacing him. While no official reason was given for the move, it may have something to do with this lawsuit,…
By Luke Plunkett Published June 15, 2009 - Uncategorized
Big Shi(r)t Sale
To: Luke From: Owen Re: E3 Done Got a really flattering phone call the other day, from the publisher of the Washington (N.C.) Daily News. I interned there in 1994 – it was my first news writing job, the summer before my senior year of college. They’re celebrating their 100th anniversary and asked if I…
By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009 - Uncategorized
Week in Games: Bustin’ Makes Me Feel Good
For my money, the years 1984 to 1986 might have been the greatest consecutive three -year stretch ever for summer blockbusters. In 1986, we got Top Gun, Aliens and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; 1985 was Rambo: First Blood Part II, The Goonies and Back to the Future; and 1984 saw The Karate Kid, Indiana Jones…
By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009 - Uncategorized
Video of Live Action Pitfall!
Well, the video itself isn’t that intense, but if you wanted to see what live-action Pitfall! looked like, reader Chris took three videos of the event. The best sequences are ones requiring the rope swing; the rest of the time, you’re looking at people with tiny vertical leaps, if not waiting contestants’ backs. But thanks…
By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009 - Uncategorized
This is So True …
As seen on Hawty McBloggy.
By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009 - Uncategorized
Lots of Bad Career Choices in Fallout
A list of the 11 worst virtual jobs in video games gives us places three from the Fallout series in the top 8, including el numero uno. That would seem to make sense. If your country’s economy, infrastructure and landscape has been obliterated by nuclear warfare, then everyone’s job is gonna suck in some way.…
By Owen Good Published June 14, 2009