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Pop-Up Books Rule
To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Oh, The Games We Play Reversible shirts sound awesome. Sign me up. A huge package came from my parents in Texas today. Recently, Mini-Bash has said he wants me to read new English books to him before bedtime. He’s sick of Cat In The Hat and Curious George! Asked my…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
SEGA Arcade Game Trades Joysticks For Blocks [Update]
Forget joysticks! SEGA’s making a block controlled arcade game called Block Pipo. It a co-op game that has players use blocks to control the on-screen characters. Cabinets can also be linked for some head-to-head action. Block Pipo is expected to be out this summer in Japan. Update: Arcade Heroes let us know that SEGA demonstrated…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Play Mirror’s Edge In Third-Person
I adore Mirror’s Edge. Others, though, are less kind to the game. Think it’s too short, think it’s controls are a mess. Well, if you think the latter, would some third-person controls help? gamezine have found a way to install/reinstate a feature (by means of some code work, so it’s PC ONLY) missing from the…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Some Euro Developer Is Down On PSP
The PSP does big business in Japan. Outside of Japan? Not as big. Hence, why some folks get down on the portable. Here’s the latest gloomy PSP chatter. Laurent Benadiba, CEO of Lyon-based dev Smack Down Productions, worked on a canned PSP title that never saw the light of day. “I worked for two years…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
The Glory Of Sam & Max Vinyl Statues
Sure, you’ve seen game toys before. Gears, Halo, King of Fighters, Street Fighter. But have you seen anything as beautiful as this Sam & Max statue? You say yes, you’re a liar. Limited to 1000 pieces worldwide, it costs $75, and looks to be worth every penny/pound/euro/whatever. It’s by Symbiote Studios, and in addition to…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Is SFIIHD Really Delayed In Europe Thanks To “Faults & Problems”?
You may have read a few reports this morning concerning the fate of Street Fighter II HD Remix in Europe, and how it has been delayed due to “faults and other problems”. But…has it really? The original report claimed that the game was stuck in testing at SCEE, and had to be “redone” thanks to…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
You’re Running Out Of Excuses To Not Buy A Korg DS-10
The Korg DS-10 synthesiser, for all its inherent brilliance, hasn’t been widely available in the US. That’s about to change. Mega-retailer GameStop will soon be stocking the program, and are now accepting preorders. They’ll start selling it on February 9, and what’s more, will be selling it for only $30, a saving of 50% off…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Former Sony Boss Says Nice Things About Nintendo
Nobuyuki Idei helmed Sony from 1999 to 2005. He was named one of the “Worst Managers of 2005” by Business Week. (Congrats!) But today, he’s not talking about that, but Nintendo. In a Financial Times piece about consolation in the electronics industry, Idei gave high marks to the Nintendo Wii and its motion controls for…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Thousands Of Jobs Lost, Very Quietly, At IBM
An estimated 4000 IBM employees have been laid off in the last week, as the company adjusts to the current way of the world. Why do we care? Because IBM make a lot of stuff. If you own a 360, IBM made the Xenon chip that runs it. If you own a PS3, IBM helped…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Tomb Raider Films Getting Reboot
Warner Brothers producer Dan Lin (Sherlock Holmes) wants to do a “reboot” of the Tomb Raider film franchise, even though the last big screen Lara Croft outing was only about six years ago. That, and the games aren’t exactly tearing up the sales chart. So what gives? While the previous Tomb Raider flicks were made…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
What Is Tetsuya Mizuguchi Doing These Days?
Well, not much with N3: Ninety-Nine Nights II, apparently! According to the upcoming issue of Famitsu, Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines) isn’t that involved in the game. Makes sense as the previous title was co-developed with Korean dev Phantagram doing most of the heavy lifting — and with Mizuguchi doing the interviews. Announced last year at…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Asashi Shimbun Report Sexual Predators Now Using “Game Sites”
Tokyo police say that sex crimes against underage females via gaming and social networking websites more than doubled in 2008. According to a 2008 Metropolitan Police Department Survey of 130 sexual abused girls under 18 years of age, 82 of them were victimized via such sites. In contrast, however, the percentage of girls violated through…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Well, Of *Course* There Are Secret Islamic Messages Hidden In This DS Game
Does the Crave DS game “Baby Pals” really say “Islam is the light” when you give your tot a bath? Of course not. That’s ridiculous. Doesn’t stop WTNH from reporting it, though! Like the more widely-publicised issue surrounding the Little Mommy Cuddle and Coo doll – from which the baby’s audio sample is presumably taken…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
New Dead Rising And Lost Planet Mentioned, Might Be Multi-Platform
In an interview in the upcoming issue of Famitsu, Capcom exec Keiji Inafune mentioned new Dead Rising and Lost Planet games. More importantly, he talked about the games going multi-platform. According to Inafune, “We’re finally putting out new Dead Rising and Lost Planet games! As a main principle we’re thinking about multi-platform and about slightly…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Capcom Stands Up For Dead Rising Wii
People are being mean to Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop. So Capcom Product Marketing Manager Colin Ferris dons his flame suit and does his best to offer the game much needed defense. Let’s let Mr. Ferris tackle the complaints. Remember, he is a professional marketer! Let’s get this out of the way: Will DR:CTYD…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
If Only Game Covers Were As Classy As Book Covers…
While they’re improving, game covers are still a largely generic lot. But book covers? Well, they’ve had centuries to get it right, and many book covers are classy. What if the two were switched? We’d end up with these. Olly Moss has drawn up a few examples of what it would look like if classic…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
UK Phantasy Star Portable Trailer Has Too Much Thumping
Not only that, the UK trailer has thumping music, too. It’s a pretty straight forward breakdown of what to expect. And, like we said, there’s English. You like English, don’t cha? We do too, but prefer the Japanese trailer. There’s less thumping. Phantasy Star Portable English [Sega Nerds]
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Empire: Total War Dated (With Bonus System Specs & Screenshots)
Sega have given us a new release date for the previously-delayed Empire: Total War. And some new screenshots. And, perhaps most useful of all, some system requirements to go with them. Originally delayed from February to “March 2009”, the game will now be out in the US on March 4. Interestingly, it’s going to use…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
Sqaure Enix’s Magic Youthful Character Formula
Square Enix has a formula and has it down pat. That’s not to say all Square Enix RPGs are the same — they’re not. However, they do share similarities in character design. Here’s why. Yusuke Naora, who worked on The Last Remnant, explains, “The format of the RPG lends itself well to having a teenage…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 28, 2009 - Uncategorized
360 Avatar Update Only Sings When It’s Winning
There’s a whole swathe of new clothing options for your 360 avatar today. Thing is, unless you’re European, and a European football fan at that, they won’t be of much use to you. Eighteen shirts were added today, to make up what Microsoft are calling the “European National Football Teams” collection. If Europeans/football fans were…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 27, 2009