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2010: The Year of Empire Strikes Back Nostalgia
I’ve finally caught on. The Hoth-themed recruiting booth at Game Developers Conference last month was a clue. The e-mail about rare movie set photos seals it. It’s the 30th anniversary of the Empire Strikes Back this year. Nostalgia time. Well, not nostalgia time here. Not yet. The movie premiered in the U.S. on May 21,…
By Stephen Totilo Published April 16, 2010 -
The Most Astounding Sim City, Population Six Million
YouTube user Thelmperar claims to have maxed out Sim City 3000 with the creation of Magnasanti, a metropolis a few years in the making. Some facts about the city, from the video: -Magnasanti has zero abandoned buildings. -100% of all zoned structures are historical -Zero water pollution -Zero congestion -No crime -Utilities all done through…
By Stephen Totilo Published April 16, 2010 -
Who’s With Me?
To: Totilo From: Bashcraft RE: Dy Nt It’s Friday, and I gotta know, are you with me? If you want to stay in Thursday. Fine, do it. I don’t care. But I’m all about Friday and I must know: Are you with me? What you missed last night Four Year-Old Gets Game, Finds Bag Of…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
Maybe The Best Deal In Japan Right Now, Bar None
This really, really is. Yodobashi Camera is one of the largest retailers in Japan, and boy oh boy does it ever have a deal for you! This branch is offering The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for ¥480 — that’s obviously less than one ¥500 coin (US$5.40). It’s a steal. Never really played that much…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
No Doubt vs. Guitar Hero Publisher: Hella Good, Hella Bad
Things are looking good for rock band No Doubt. Less so for game publisher Activision. Last fall, the group sued Activision over a breach of contract. Activision’s Guitar Hero allowed players to unlock No Doubt avatars and turn the band into “virtual karaoke players.” As Kotaku previously posted, No Doubt said in a statement last…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
Demon’s Souls Coming To Europe In A Lovely Big Box
From Software’s brutal role-playing game Demon’s Souls, one of 2009’s real surprise packets, has only been available in Japan and the United States. From June, though, (as suspected) it’ll be available in PAL territories! That’s you, Europe and Australasia! To make up for the delay (and perhaps to entice those of you who imported the…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010 -
Four Year-Old Gets Game, Finds Bag Of Weed
A four year-old boy in the United Kingdom was chuffed to bits when his dad bought him an Xbox 360 game. He wasn’t quite sure, though, what to do with the bag of weed he found inside. Riley Brown, from Littlehampton in West Sussex, England, was bought a copy of Fight Night Round 4 (which,…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010 -
Dubbing Or Subtitles? Take Your Pick!
Typically, there are two ways to bring media from one language to another language. One is to subtitle. The other is dubbing. Do you have a preference? Subtitling allows the original language (and in turn, mood) to remain in tact, while dubbing allows players to take in the visual elements without having to worry about…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
Baby Meets Xbox 360 Controller, Loses Her Freakin’ Mind
This small child isn’t terribly interested in a green cup. She’s damn interested in that Xbox 360 controller, though. She’s not laughing at it. It’s not quite a scream, either. Or a cry. She’s just…freaking out, and won’t stop staring at the left analogue stick. Leaving us to wonder if that man created a baby…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010 -
What Would Super Mario Bros. On Kindle Look Like?
Kinda like this. Japanese company Klab has developed a Nintendo Entertainment System emulator. Here it is running on a Kindle emulator. That’s…alot of emulating. Amazon’s e-book Kindle reader was first released in 2007. It now faces increased competition from Apple’s iPad. Super Mario Bros on Kindle Emulator [Hobby Blog]
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
Ten Unforgettable Video Game Songs
Video games aren’t just about the games, the story or the graphics. Oh, no. Music is so incredibly important. And often, long after you have finished playing, it sticks around, lingers in the back of your brain. Here are ten songs we sometimes find ourselves either humming or having a hankering for a listen. These…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
West Getting Unedited Version of MGS: Peace Walker
Stealth game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a T-rated game in North America. The means it is suitable for kids 13-years-old-and-over. Japan, however, has a different rating system. Time to get out the scissors to cut things out. Peace Walker has a C-rating in Japan (15-years-old-and-up) and to prevent the game from getting a…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
Gold Medalist Loses Xbox, Soul Mate
Steve Holcomb won America’s first gold medal in the bobsled in 62 years at the recent Vancouver Winter Olympics. For his troubles, he’s since had his Xbox 360 stolen, which has left the guy devastated. No, traumatised “It’s like a death in the family,” he told cnet, “at least for me being single with no…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010 -
South Korea Gets Face-Slapping StarCraft Commercial
If there were ever two things made for each other, that would be real-time strategy game and South Korea. They love each other so much it hurts. The game is hugely popular in South Korea — and has been for some time. Korean Air is sponsoring the OnGameNet StarCraft League this spring, and the date…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
2K Studio Name Madness Continues With New XCOM Game
Thanks to a confusing set of press releases and an even more confusing name change, most people aren’t sure who to thank/blame for the development of the new XCOM game. So let’s set the record straight. I spoke with Martin Slater, studio director of the former 2K Australia office in Canberra this morning. The fact…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010 -
FIFA Promotion Doesn’t Get More Bizarre Than This
What do you get when you mix a washed up sumo wrestler, a cross-dressing fighter and a 14-year-old YouTube idol? You get a press conference for EA Sports’ FIFA soccer game. Yuichiro “Jienotsu” Nagashima, the cross-dressing kick boxer, showed up like he usually does — in a wig and wearing women’s clothes. Hey, relax, he’s…
By Brian Ashcraft Published April 16, 2010 -
EA: Call Of Duty’s Publisher Shoots Race Horses (?)
How much you enjoy petty squabbles between large multinational companies will determine how much you enjoy the latest instalment of the increasingly public soap opera surrounding Activision, EA and Call of Duty developers Infinity Ward. Me? I enjoy them immensely Earlier today, Activision put out a press release boasting of the success of Modern Warfare…
By Luke Plunkett Published April 16, 2010