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Which Retailer Has the Best Final Fantasy XIII-2 Preorder Incentive?
When Final Fantasy XIII-2 hits North American shores on January 31, GameStop, Best Buy, and Amazon customers that preordered the game will walk away with some pretty spiffy bonus items, but which is the most enticing? This time around it’s not GameStop. In the world of retailer-exclusive preorder bonuses, dedicated video game retailer GameStop normally…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
You Can Kill and Rob Facebook Strangers in Mafia Wars 2
Your Facebook friends will help you in the sequel to Mafia Wars. They’ll help keep you safe while you take a bat to the knees of some Facebook stranger. Sorry, Facebook strangers, that’s the way it’s going to work. At least I won’t know your name or any real information about you as I step…
By Stephen Totilo Published October 3, 2011 -
To Do in Dallas This Evening: Stalk Rage‘s Creators
Dallas-based id Software has a big title coming out tonight, so Tim Willits, Matt Hooper, John Carmack, and other key members of the Rage team will be hanging out at a GameStop, just like everyone else. Show them some love.
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
Two Different Spider-Men, Two Different Combat Styles
Spider-Man: Edge of Time hits stores tomorrow, bringing the worlds of the Amazing Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2099 clashing together violently. Then the kicking starts. This is just Activision’s way of reminding us all the game is coming out tomorrow, as the differences really don’t seem all that significant. Amazing beats folks up with agility, 2099…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
Dark Souls Reviewers Like It Long and Hard
In 2009, From Software introduced gamers to a whole new world of pain with the PlayStation 3 exclusive Demon’s Souls, a game that challenged the growing player handholding trend in favor of gripping that hand firmly and slicing it off at the wrist. It was a painful experience, but it was a good kind of…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
One to Rock, One for the Box: A Quick Look at NBA 2K12’s Killer Kicks
I have a nephew who’s a bit of a sneaker enthusiast. He’s done the whole line-up-at-midnight-for-new-Dunks thing, despite the fact that he’s got size 14 feet. He’s also a gamer and I took him to see a demo of NBA 2K12 earlier this summer. And, while he was polite enough not to ask about the…
By Evan Narcisse Published October 3, 2011 -
U.S. Supreme Court Kicks Gaming’s $1.4M Request For Cash to Lower Court
The U.S. Supreme Court today declined to rule on a request by the video game industry for $1.4 million in attorneys’ fees tied to the landmark video game freedom of speech decision earlier this year, opting instead to kick the request down to the circuit courts. The Court chose not to rule on the request…
By Brian Crecente Published October 3, 2011 -
It’s an Xbox 360 Controller With a Cheat-Friendly Screen Built Right In
Datel, the UK-based video game peripheral manufacturer that loves to piss off Microsoft, takes controller cheating to the next level with the latest iteration of its TurboFire 360 controller, complete with built-in “Combat Command LCD interface”. Microsoft and Datel don’t get along very well, mainly due to the fact that the UK is in the…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
Imagine The Oregon Trail as Made by Rockstar Games
Before he died of dysentery, commenter Fernando Jorge had a rather fine idea about the rebirth of a classic educational PC game, and he knew just the developer to handle it. The Oregon Trail could be an amazing game if remade nowadays, and it would be the perfect job for Rockstar. Imagine this, a road…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
What Did This Guy Do To Piss Off Batman, The Joker, Samus, Sheik, and the COG?
Video editor and action master Yung Lee can’t seem to make it to an anime convention without getting his ass handed to him by cosplayers. First Bowser and Sheik double-teamed him at Anime North, and now his visit to FanExpo 2011 takes a turn for the worse, as everyone from Star Wars characters to anime…
By Mike Fahey Published October 3, 2011 -
Get Your Name in the Smithsonian, Thanks to the Power of Video Games (and Cold, Hard Cash)
When the Smithsonian American Art Museum opened voting for their upcoming Art of Video Games exhibit earlier this year, the resultant frenzy from gamers wanting to make sure their own personal Best Game EVAR was among the chosen crashed the institute’s servers. The winning list of games got revealed back in April and now the…
By Evan Narcisse Published October 3, 2011 -
Time Traveling Talk Amongst Yourselves
Folks, this is Talk Amongst Yourselves, your forum to talk about video games. It goes live at 10:20 AM every day, except for days like today when it’s 10:58 at the time of this writing and I cheat and put it back in time. Never mind that. It’s October and we’ve got a new image.…
By Stephen Totilo Published October 3, 2011 -
Your Cable Box Is Dying. Long Live the Game Console!
Your cable box is headed for obsolescence. It may not be within the next year, but it could be within the next three that having a box dedicated to TV programming sitting under or next to your television will no longer be the norm. Instead, more universally usable entertainment devices will become the hub for…
By Brian Crecente Published October 3, 2011 -
Pixel Ranger For iPhone Is Old School Arcade Action Getting By On Good Looks & Charm
Pixel Ranger for iPhone and iPad feels as deep, engaging and modern as most Atari 2600 games, a CMYK-colored blend of Pitfall! meets Galaga, light on substance, heavy on visual charm. Conceptually, Pixel Ranger is simple to the point of bordering on dumb. Pixelated aliens swarm from above, bothersome lifeforms (snails, turtles, etc.) lurk below.…
By Michael McWhertor Published October 3, 2011 -
A Monster Hit Needs a Monster-Sized Monster
Hunted | TOKYO, JAPAN – Capcom held its 2011 Monster Hunter Festa over the weekend. (Photo: Game Watch Impress) Final PS Vita Box Design for Europe. Launch Apps, Too. When Sony detailed the PS Vita launch apps for Japan, the questions was how many of those would be available in the West. Well, how many?…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 3, 2011 -
Here’s How You Challenge Nearby PS Vita Owners and Play Co-Op
Near is the PS Vita’s social feature that scans the area for PS Vita brethern. Sony’s detailed Near at Gamescom and Tokyo Game Show, but with so many Vita features, it might have gotten lost in the shuffle. It’s a neat feature, and it’s worth teasing out. To use Near, press the Update button. Your…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 3, 2011 -
The Forza 4 Demolition Derby
What happens when you go the wrong direction in Forza Motorsport 4? You smash shit up. The cars sure make a noise on impact, especially compared to Gran Turismo 5, which sounded like a cardboard box being kicked. Though, pretty sure something like this is totally impossible. Call it a hunch. Crashing into Little Cars…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 3, 2011 -
Final PS Vita Box Design for Europe. Launch Apps, Too.
When Sony detailed the PS Vita launch apps for Japan, the questions was how many of those would be available in the West. Well, how many? The launch app for Europe include Welcome Park (PS Vita tutorial), Party (text and voice chat), PlayStation Store (shopping), Group Messaging (messaging), Photos (well, photos), Near (location-based gaming network),…
By Brian Ashcraft Published October 3, 2011 -
This Week’s Cosplay Stars Deus Ex, Mass Effect, Zelda and Adventure Time
Regular Fancy Pants posts have been on a little break for a while as we recharged from a glut of events like PAX and the Tokyo Game Show. We’re back as usual this week, though, and it seems the time off has worked wonders Why? Because for sheer quality this might be the best we’ve…
By Luke Plunkett Published October 3, 2011