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Microsoft, You Need A New Mascot In Japan
Despite the failure of the Xbox brand in Japan, Microsoft is on the right track with Sanrokumaru, the console’s mascot in the region. He can throw a baseball, he can fix giant robots, but while he’s amusing us, he’s obviously not doing a good enough job in Japan. Because his job is to sell consoles,…
By Luke Plunkett Published September 8, 2010 -
Portal & Microsoft Flight Sim, Purely Touchscreen Controlled With Microsoft Surface
Can touchscreen controls ever replace—or even closely match—control input from a gamepad or keyboard and mouse? This demonstration of Valve’s Portal and Microsoft Flight Simulator played on Microsoft’s experimental Surface platform offers hope that it might. Building on Mark Micire‘s DREAM (Dynamically Resizing Ergonomic and Multi-touch) Controller, University of Massachusetts Lowell Robotics Lab student Eric…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
Turn An Ivy League Building Into Donkey Kong’s First Level
Lerner Hall is Columbia University’s student center, opening in 1999. Its ramped interior, visible through the glass facade, also resembles the girder level of Donkey Kong. You see where this is headed. Some students want to reenact, in live action, Donkey Kong in this building. They reckon they need $1,000, to cover the costs of…
By Owen Good Published September 8, 2010 -
EA Sports Brings MMA To Your iPhone
The punching, kicking and sweaty grappling action of EA Sports’ take on mixed martial arts will also be available not just for the Xbox 360 and PC, but for on-the-go pocket-sized bouts. This is what EA Sports MMA looks like on an iPhone. The expected one-on-one brawls will be there. But it looks like some…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
NBA Owner Looks To Facebook Games
Mark Cuban, the forward-thinking owner of HDNet and the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, is looking to Farmville-style games as a way to boost his team’s fanbase and increase his network’s productivity. Cuban, on his blog, put out a call for developers of social games who can build “consumer and corporate applications. I’m not looking for knockoffs…
By Owen Good Published September 8, 2010 -
A Video Tour of iPhone’s Game Center
Apple’s one-stop-shop for iPhone gamers and gaming, the Game Center, just went live with the release of the iPhone’s 4.1 firmware update. Here’s a run down of what you can expect once you get it installed. First the heart breaker: Owners of the original iPhone, iPod touch and the iPhone 3G will be left out…
By Brian Crecente Published September 8, 2010 -
Blizzard Deploys StarCraft II’s First Official Custom Map
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty players shouldn’t be wanting for custom-made maps—and wildly different game types—thanks to the game’s Galaxy Editor. But an officially released Blizzard-made map is worth getting a little excited about. Blizzard has released “Burning Tide” for StarCraft II today via Battle.net, featuring the same rising lava tides seen in the single-player…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
Games-Addicted NFLer Doesn’t Make The Team
Quinn Pitcock, who climbed up from the rock bottom of self-described games addiction to give his NFL career another shot, did not make the final cut with the Seattle Seahawks. An all-America defensive lineman at Ohio State, Pitcock’s first stint in the NFL, with the Colts, flamed out thanks to a combination of depression and…
By Owen Good Published September 8, 2010 -
Japan Podcast
To: Bash From: Crecente Re: We had Mike and Mike on the podcast today. We should totally have you and Mike call in from Japan next week. What do you think? What you missed: Playstation Name Checked in Presidential Childhood Obesity Graphic Make Your Own Papercraft Borderlands Psycho Bandit Mask Actor Glenn Shadix Dead At…
By Brian Crecente Published September 8, 2010 -
Pokemon Team Rocket Cosplay Awarded Rare 40/40
We’ve seen our share of Team Rocket cosplay from hardcore Pokemon fans, but never anything quite this good, with every hair on Jessie’s head in its right place, every Pokeball expertly polished. We can thank Russian dress-up artists “Malro-Doll” and “Ryoko-Demon” for their perfect Pokemon thief cosplaying contributions. Head to their respective deviantArt accounts to…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
Look, There’s a Disco Party In My Pants
Marc DeVidts went from Miami to Atlanta to attend Dragon*Con 2010 and show off his party-in-a-suit custom, which is loaded with LEDs that are controlled from his iPhone. That’s at least +259 courage points right there. [Makezine]
By Jesus Diaz Published September 8, 2010 -
NBA 2K11’s Move To Move Began With Dunks
We’ve known since E3 that NBA 2K11 would be playable with the PlayStation Move. Today, 2K Sports gave the first details as to how the game will be played with the new motion controller. The studio didn’t provide any video of Move in action with the game, unfortunately. Still, it does describe some of the…
By Owen Good Published September 8, 2010 -
Here’s A Guy Sealed In A Vacuum Bag Playing Mario Kart
Every time I think I would really enjoy spending some quality time in Japan, I see something like this, and then I just don’t know. What can I really say about this? What can anyone say, other than “Don’t do this, it is a really bad idea.” My mother spent a good fifteen years keeping…
By Mike Fahey Published September 8, 2010 -
Earth Defense Force Returns To Stave Off Insect Armageddon
Sandlot’s lovable Earth Defense Force series will live to see another massive invasion. Publisher D3 has cryptically and modestly revealed the next entry in the giant bug and ‘bot shooter, Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon. There you go. That’s the extent of everything we currently know about the next EDF, a series known more for…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
Power Up The Tiny Little Tractor Beams
Researchers from the Australian National University have built a working tractor beam of sorts, ensuring that those wily rebels won’t get far, as long as their spaceship is the size of tiny glass particles. We might not be towing starships anytime soon, but if you need to move small particles about a meter and a…
By Mike Fahey Published September 8, 2010 -
Why Shouldn’t Your Console Get Its Own Tower?
LevelUp initiates tower defense against gaming clutter with a series of stylish all-in-one gaming storage solutions that make your console the base of its own video game tower. I’m constantly battling with video game clutter myself, particular with my game controllers. While I’ve yet to find a storage solution more convenient that halfway sticking out…
By Mike Fahey Published September 8, 2010 -
Square Enix’s Totally Mental Shooter MindJack Hacks Into 2011
This fall will be lighter one shooter, thanks to the delay of Square Enix and developer Feelplus’ MindJack, the telepathic shoot ’em up that was originally planned to hit this October. MindJack publisher Square Enix confirmed to Siliconera that the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 game has been moved to next year. The unusual and,…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
Bumper Stickers For Proud Gamer Parents
Any kid can get on the honor roll, but how many can get through Super Mario Bros. without using a warp pipe? These are the sort of accomplishments any gaming parent would be proud to display on their bumper. While I’m not a big fan of bumper stickers, if I were inclined to deliver a…
By Mike Fahey Published September 8, 2010 -
A Video Tour Of A Halo Fan’s ‘UNSC Man Cave’
One man is taking the impending launch of Halo: Reach very, very seriously, building a high tech, Halo-themed hovel full of cheaply acquired home theater equipment and shelves stuffed with female repellent. This is the “UNSC Man Cave.” In addition to a 150″ projector screen, a 7.1 surround sound system and custom artwork all over…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010 -
EA Showing Off Battlefield: Bad Company 2: Vietnam At TGS
Next week, the Tokyo Game Show will take over the Makuhari Messe, showcasing the latest and greatest Japanese video games. On the eve of that show, EA will trot out its newest games, including Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s Vietnam add-on. The major expansion pack to this year’s Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will add four brand…
By Michael McWhertor Published September 8, 2010