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Death Number 13
Rockets’ Red Glare | It’s crazy how elaborate home fireworks are getting. (Photo: Brian Crecente) The Archbishop of Denver Tells You about Violent Video Games and the Rights of Parents In this essay originally penned for First Things, Denver Archbishop Charles Chaput discusses the recent Supreme Court decision that granted video games First Amendment protection.…
By Brian Crecente Published July 5, 2011 -
Ms. Splosion Man Priced Reasonably, Maybe Coming to Steam
Two things we’re quite sure of regarding Ms. Splosion Man, the next game from Twisted Pixel and semi-sequel to Xbox Live Arcade game ‘Splosion Man: it is coming to Xbox 360 this Wednesday, July 13 for 800 Microsoft Points. That’s straight from the developer’s press release on the matter. The other thing we’re not so…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 5, 2011 -
Try Catherine Before You Buy, Just Like Vincent
In Catherine, Vincent tries to get a little something something for nothing, cheating on his long-time girlfriend Katherine with the evil slutcake Catherine. Atlus gives fans a little something for nothing on July 12 with a downloadable Catherine demo for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Atlus has put quite a lot of effort into…
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
Chinese Consoles Invade India
Video games are hot in India right now, but don’t expect to see many of these gamers on Xbox Live or Playstation Network anytime soon. According to The Economic Times, Indian gamers are buying Chinese consoles over their branded counterparts. Honey Singh, owner of an electronic shop in south Delhi’s Nehru Place said “We manage…
By Sam Winstrom Published July 5, 2011 -
PlayStation Store Update: Apes on the Move and An Idyllic Price For Burnout Paradise
What new digital goods await North American PlayStation 3 owners The downloadable PlayStation Move Ape Escape, for one, offering monkey-snatching motion control fun. But that’s not all. A new opportunity to play Uncharted 3 or a cheaper way to play Burnout Paradise are also here. The Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception multiplayer beta goes wide via…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 5, 2011 -
Professional Gaming on the Downturn, Cheesy TV to Blame
Professional Gamer David Treacy, or “Zaccubus” to his—erm—fans, recently spoke to Alienware about the changing face of professional gaming. Based on his interview, however, there’s not much to talk about. While Treacy compares the world of pro gaming to the economy (“It grew rapidly over the last decade, then almost imploded on itself.”) he also…
By Jen Schiller Published July 5, 2011 -
Maybe Al Gore Should Play a Video Game
I have not confirmed this, but I believe that you would not be allowed to keynote a climate change conference if you hadn’t sweated in the past 25 years. But a couple of weeks ago, former Vice President Al Gore keynoted the Games For Change conference—a conference about the potential for video games to improve…
By Stephen Totilo Published July 5, 2011 -
Cath Gall
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
Rumor: Sony To Introduce ‘PSN Pass’ for PlayStation Network, May Hit With Resistance 3
Is Sony following the trail blazed by Electronic Arts and other third-party publishers by limiting who has access to its online multiplayer? That’s our best guess for what the new, still-unannounced PSN Pass is, a feature rumored to have made its first appearance on the Resistance 3 PS3 bundle. The unconfirmed PSN Pass was spotted…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 5, 2011 -
Now Four Eyes Can Look Cool In 8-Bit Glasses
For the glasses wearer looking to lower the resolution of their frames, designer Dzmitry Samal offers pairs of retro-futuristic pixelated glasses, inspired by late ’80s video games and “society’s fascination with an ‘informational aesthetic.'” Samal is selling two styles of 8-bit frames, the 6dpi and 5dpi, each hand-made pair running a cool 198 euro (about…
By Michael McWhertor Published July 5, 2011 -
Real Life Flipping is Much More Colorful Than Video Game Flipping
Jumping enthusiast Robert Souris recently broke the world record for distance flipping, hurling himself nearly 20 feet through the air while dressed as a superhero of his own creation, all in the name of showing children how much more fun real jumping around is than virtual jumping around. Dressed as Zero G, his own super…
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
SOCOM Mobile HQ Challenges Players Via Android Phones
Is every moment spent away from SOCOM 4 on the PlayStation 3 a lesson in agony and anxiety? Now available on the Android Market, the SOCOM Mobile HQ app is the free cure to what ails you, as long as you’re up for a little challenge. The SOCOM Mobile HQ puts access to the SOCOM…
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
Researchers are Using Achievements to Read Your Mind
World of Warcraft players be wary. Big Brother may be watching. Game developers may start paying closer attention to your gameplay in order to predict your next move. Researchers from North Carolina State University have come up with a new procedure to predict the actions of players in massively multiplayer online role playing games. Testing…
By Sam Winstrom Published July 5, 2011 -
Can You Resist Amazon’s Buy One Get One Free Game Sale?
Through July 9 Amazon.com is holding a massive buy one get one free sale on video games and accessories. Sure there’s a lot of crap, but one man’s crap is another man’s delicious sandwich. Ew. Thanks, Cheap College Gamers!
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
EVE Online Virtual Goods Dispute Ends Peacefully Following Trip to Iceland
Last week the universal community of EVE Online exploded into rage over the release of high-priced virtual goods and a leaked internal memo that suggested developer CCP planned to monetize the hell out of everything they could put a price tag on in the popular space MMO. Thanks to a brilliant plan that involved flying…
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011 -
A New, Wonderful Portal 2 Music Video
Yes this Portal 2 video is packed to the gills with spoilers so look away if you’re not into that sort of thing. Look away and watch a video of a kitten playing with a potato. DO IT. For the rest of you, watch this video it’s so great. [thanks Russ]
By Brian Crecente Published July 5, 2011 -
This Thursday Retro Game Master Takes on Bonanza Brothers
This week on Retro Game Master The Kacho takes on Sega Mega Drive shooting platformer Bonanza Brothers as they loot banks, mansions and casinos. Released in Japan in 1990 as an arcade game, Bonanza Brothers was later ported to a number of systems including the Sega Mega Drive. In the game, players take on the…
By Brian Crecente Published July 5, 2011 -
Death Is the Perfect Time for In-Game Advertising
Dying in a video game pisses people off. In-games advertising pisses people off. Independent free-to-play browser-based online game developer Artix figures it might as well kill two angry birds with one annoying stone, merging death with in-game ads. Isn’t it just perfect? In-game advertising is a way for game developers to recoup a little of…
By Mike Fahey Published July 5, 2011