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GlaDOS & Shodan, Sitting In A Tree…
OK, maybe not a tree. More like a tangled mess of cables, wiring and cold steel. And maybe not kissing. What they’re doing looks a little more “after dark” than a childhood rhyme could manage… Code Sharing by peganthyrus [DA, via Offworld]
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
World Tour Outsells Rock Band 2
News flash. The NPD Group have compiled the all-format sales of 2008’s biggest music titles, Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2, and found that the Activision franchise was the winner. Combined sales of GHWT were 3.4 million. Combined sales of Rock Band 2? 1.7 million. That’s a convenient 2:1 ratio. Why/how did this…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Tecmo Koei Merger Creates Koei Tecmo Holdings
It’s official. Tecmo and Koei announced today that the two companies have merged, giving birth through stock transfer to a joint holding company called Koei Tecmo Holdings as of April 1. Last fall, Tecmo rejected Square Enix’s offer of a friendly takeover. Instead, Tecmo commenced merger talks with Koei, stating that both “companies have excellent…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Presenting The Lost & Damned “Box Art”, Halo Wars Gold Membership Card
Two pieces of Xbox Live-related cardware on show for you today. The first is the redeemable points card you’ll receive when you buy Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost & the Damned. The second? A special Halo Wars-branded version of the fancy 12+1 Xbox Live subscription cards that have started turning up. No word on…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Teeny Tiny Retro Arcade Cabinets
How tiny? O scale. How small is that? Model train small — 1.75 inches to be exact. Good thing, because these assemble-them-yourself arcade cabinets are intended to inhabit your Lionel Train universe. Each is priced at US$7.49 and can be illuminated internally, but they do not come packaged with light bulbs. Available cabinets include Defender,…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
A Giant Ken Action Figure, For The Street Fighter Fan Who Has Everything
This Ken figure is big. Real big. Like, quarter-scale big, which translates to a figure that stands 18″ tall. Due in June, there are only 300 being made, which may explain the $250 price tag. Still, these are tough economic times. $250 for a Ken figure maaaay just be stretching it, but then, Sideshow Collectibles…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Another Iroha Figure For The Fire
SNK previously let Samurai Shodown character Iroha get ravaged [embedded link NSFW] in “combat picture book” Queen’s Gate. Now, SNK is letting her do the ravaging in figure form! Granted, there could be way more ravaging, and there are slightly more explicit pictures in the link below for those with discerning tastes. The Iroha figure…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Dynasty Warriors PSP Getting Carnival Color PSP Bundle
New PSP carnival color “Radiant Red” is getting bundled with Shin Sangoku Musou MULTI RAID, the PSP version of Koei’s popular Dynasty Warriors franchise. The pack will consist of the game, a MULTI RAID pouch on the Radiant Red pouch. The color was selected as “image color” for this bundle because it best captures the…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Brain Age Does Not Work Say French Researchers
Just as researchers in Scotland say Brain Age works, researchers in France say it doesn’t. According to data from University of Rennes, Brittany, Brain Age failed to show any significant jump in memory. What’s more, the game apparently made memory worse. The research had a sample of ten year-old children split into four groups: The…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Games For Windows Live Boss Sacked
We heard last week that Microsoft’s Games for Windows team was facing layoffs. Weren’t sure how many were going to be affected. Turns out that one of the group’s bosses is among the casualties. VentureBeat report that Chris Early, former general manager of Games for Windows Live, was among those given their marching orders last…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 Screens Will Elbow Your Face In
If you still don’t believe Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 is the most amazing looking game of next month, then this new batch of screenies should do it. If that doesn’t do it, then well. There’s fighting, beachwear, hostesses, sad children, golf and karaoke mini-games. Something for everyone! All that’s missing is a Western release date…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
PSP Gets “Carnival Colors”
The PSP is getting not one, but four newish colors — two of which have already seen release via Sony Computer Entertainment Asia. On March 5, “Vibrant Blue” and “Radiant Red” PSP-3000s will be released in Japan and are priced at ¥19,800 (US$223). These same colors were released by Sony Computer Entertainment Asia on January.…
By Brian Ashcraft Published January 26, 2009 - Uncategorized
A Dependent Editorial Voice
To: Brian From: Owen Re: Newspapers, Yes, They’re Dying Since you brought it up and we worked there — and this Friday, as the last one of the month, could very well see the last edition of the Rocky Mountain News — I figured I’d say my piece about it and the business here. The…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Week in Games: Afro Thunder
Afro Samurai and Front Office Manager are your big multiplatform drops this week. The lineup: Six titles for DS, five for PC; three for Wii; two for 360, PS3 and PS2, one for PSP. Monday (Jan. 26) AC-130 (PC) MLB Front Office Manager (360, PS3, PC) Niki – Rock ‘n’ Ball (Wii) Tuesday (Jan. 27)…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Study Debunks Crime/Game Connection, Takes a Poke at Researchers
A prof supplies data showing exposure to violent video games has “no significant relationship” to mass shootings. In other news, exposure to “Dancing with the Stars” has no significant relationship to train robberies. Before you go all “No shit, professor, I could have told you that,” realize the guy is trying to answer the question…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Strong Sales Make de Blob Sequel Certain
IGN noticed that De Blob outsold Wario Land: Shake It by 80,000 copies, and both were released the same day. THQ, asked for comment, said there’s more where that came from. What they literally said, attributed to a THQ spokesman, was, “We’re pleased with de Blob’s performance worldwide. It’s a great intellectual property and you…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Chicago Trib Asks “Is GTA This Century’s Best Writing?”
The profile of Rockstar and the Housers doesn’t really answer that (beyond mentioning the Goatie we gave it for writing). But the writer talks to critics and eggheads who say it’s a legitimate question. “Look at film in 1908 — there was no sound, you viewed it through a nickoleodeon, there was a limited filmic…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Now You Can Be Certain You’ve Bought a Jasper
The newer, cooler, less red-ring-of-deathy Jasper configuration of the 360 has been out since the holidays. If you want make damn sure that’s what you’re buying, Newegg is offering them virtually by name. Ordering online or picking up in the store can be a crapshoot whether you get a Jasper as the new config filters…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Labor Dept. Says Utah Dev Owes Workers $2 Million
Sensory Sweep Studios is facing allegations it hasn’t paid nearly 200 employees in more than 100 days. The US Department of Labor has filed an injunction, saying more than $2 million is owed. According to lawsuit documents, the Department of Labor was notified in late October of the pay issue and sent a wage-hour investigator…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009 - Uncategorized
Zelda Bento: The Adventure of Lunch
Annathered’s back from her bento creation station again. She breaks her rule about 3D bentoing to give us a 2D Wind Waker incarnation of Link. It’s time for lunch on the east coast, right? Here’s the full list of ingrediments for this lovely scene of Link finding more heart in the forest: Toon Link: –…
By Owen Good Published January 25, 2009