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The Running of the Nerds
The end of July may mean nothing to some besides the upcoming start of August and the impending return to school, but for nerds, geeks, and gamers eveywhere it means Comicon!
Comicon was first held in 1970 at the US Grant Hotel but has greatly expanded since its debut. It has moved from hotel to hotel but is now set to remain in the San Diego Convetion Center until 2012.
Comicon is used to promote film, video games, TV series, and of course, comic books and fantasy novels. While others have approved of this expansion, others say that the convention has become too Hollywood influenced.
G4TV.com is not the only channel covering ComiCon. Reelz, a channel dedicated toward movies, is also covering the convention on their daily news update show called Dailies. The end of July may mean nothing to some besides the upcoming start of August and the impending return to school, but for nerds, geeks... more -
Bill Gates vs Steve Jobs: the game
You don't need a degree in business studies to play this, but dexterity is required.
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Is Comic-Con set to replace E3?
With a sizeable presence from most of the big video game companies and a hardcore audience does E3 have some stiff competition.
I for one really want to get my hands on the games without having to fight with a load of journalists. With a sizeable presence from most of the big video game companies and a hardcore audience does E3 have some stiff competition. ... more -
Carry your lardarse lady to safety! PlayStation launches "Fat Princess" game
Apparently responding to female gamers' calls for more and better representation of women, Titan Studios/Sony has launched a new PlayStation game called "Fat Princess." I'm not kidding.
According to PlayStation, "Frantic and fun, Fat Princess pits two hordes of players against each other in comic medieval battle royale. Your goal is to rescue your beloved princess from the enemy dungeon. There’s a catch though: your adversary has been stuffing her with food to fatten her up and it’s going to take most of your army working together to carry her back across the battlefield."
Wow. This isn't even a joke. Sony has certainly got the wheels of publicity spinning - online debate and bitchery have begun in earnest, and it's certainly intense.
Some gaming bloggers are pleased - and surprised - by just how good the game is:
"With the title and logo the way it is, it may be hard to think of Fat Princess as a real hardcore title, but that's exactly what it is. Fights always end in bloody messes. After a massive battle, you'll see body parts and blood soaking the entirety of the floor. With its unique art style, high concept, and fun presentation, we can't wait to play Fat Princess when it debuts exclusively on the PSN later this year."
And from one eloquent and angry female gamer, this gem:
"Anyway, congrats on your awesome new game, Sony. I'm positively thrilled to see such unyielding dedication to creating a new generation of fat-hating, heteronormative assholes. It's not often I have the opportunity to congratulate a cutting-edge tech company on such splendiferous retrofuck jackholery. Way to go! The Fat Princess of Shakes Manor salutes you."
A moment's pause please, for 'splendiferous retrofuck jackholery'. Mmm, delicious.
So, "Fat Princess" - a harmless joke, a justified reaction to developments in the real world (where of course everyone is piling on the pounds, if moral panics are to be believed), or a shocking example of sexism, fattism, and just plain wrong-ism? Let the games begin...
Apparently responding to female gamers' calls for more and better representation of women, Titan Studios/Sony has launched a new PlayS... more -
New girly videogames based on teen movies
Because videogames, let's be honest, have so far mostly appealed to only half the population (the one with doodles), videogame makers have long been racking their brains trying to come up with a way to attract that other half (the ones with hoo-has). It's that eternal dance of nerds trying to woo ladies and failing miserably. But now they've got a new plan that's sure to work! Video games based on girly movies like Mean Girls, Clueless, and Pretty In Pink.
Paramount is developing all of these as so-called "casual titles." We don't really know what that means (maybe our brother site Kotaku does), but we like to guess challenges include fighting all the junior girls in a hallway battle royale, running around the Valley dodging muggers and the sleazy Elton's car, and trying to do the Duckie prom dance while dodging Bolo tie projectiles. Squeeeeallll doesn't it sound fun? So much better than those games where you just indiscriminately kill people. Right?
Because videogames, let's be honest, have so far mostly appealed to only half the population (the one with doodles), videogame makers ... more -
NY law to restrict violent video games
ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson signed a law Tuesday that he said will lead to restrictions on video game violence and help families better monitor grisly games.
The law will create an advisory council to study the effects of violent games on the children. It will also require parental controls on game consoles by 2010 and prominent displays of age ratings on game packages.
But critics say the bill is too vague and too watered down to accomplish its goal. And critics including the group Americans for Tax Reform contend that curbing video violence wasn't really the point in New York or nearly a dozen other states that enacted similar laws, only to see them struck down by courts as unconstitutional.
"It's moral preening," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "The bill is unconstitutional and has been found that way in other states. And when the inevitable lawsuit comes, the state pays for everybody's legal expenses."
"The reason it is politically popular," he said, "Is the average citizen will read a headline that says, `State Legislature is against violence in children's video games.' They are unlikely to read a headline that says, `Legislature will waste $70,000 of your tax dollars.'"
"It also unfairly singles out the video game industry over all other forms of media," said Richard Taylor of the Entertainment Software Association. "If New York lawmakers feel it is the role of government to convene a government commission on game content, they could next turn to other content such as books, theater and film."
Violations of new labeling and parental control provisions in New York could result in $100 civil penalties. However, the parental controls and the voluntary ratings are already common in the industry.
Language making a felony of selling video games that are sexually explicit or contain depraved violence was lost during furious lobbying that derailed the bill in May 2007. That provision would have made the law among the strictest in the nation.
Then-Gov. Eliot Spitzer made a high priority of the issue in 2007 and it was the subject of several press conferences. The effort continued in the Legislature after Spitzer resigned in March after being disgraced in a prostitution investigation.
The new law was strongly supported in the Senate and Assembly this legislative election year.
The question was never whether to do something about video games that star automatic weapons and gore — that's been politically attractive for years, resulting in legislation in the other states besides New York. The question has always been how to do it without losing a constitutional challenge in the courts.
A prime sponsor, Republican Sen. Andrew Lanza of Staten Island, said the felony provision wouldn't have held up in court, but the remaining elements should stand and help limit access to the games. When the bill was passed this spring, Lanza said the criminal sanction sought by some is already addressed at least in part under pornography and other laws.
Most of the cities and states that have seen their regulations invalidated by courts tried to equate video violence with pornography and restricted the sale of the games to children. The courts have ruled the restrictions violated the U.S. Constitution's freedom of speech protections.
"New Yorkers do not need the state judging which video games are appropriate and which aren't," said New York Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Donna Lieberman. "Parents, not government committees, should be responsible for making those judgments." ALBANY, N.Y. - Gov. David Paterson signed a law Tuesday that he said will lead to restrictions on video game violence and help familie... more -
Microsoft: Marketplace design "not our smartest moment"
The current 360 dashboard doesn't make "all the things it could do" clear to Xbox owners, and with the current Marketplace design it's "too hard to find content", said Xbox Live boss Marc Witten.
Advertisement:
Speaking to Xbox 360: The Official Magazine, Witten said that many Xbox owners "didn't know all the things it could do".
"They might not have known they could look at photos. They might not know they could plug in their iPods or watch movies. We found out that when they did know, they were much happier and felt like they were getting more value. The current 360 dashboard doesn't make "all the things it could do" clear to Xbox owners, and with the current Marketplace design it's... more -
Thought control: it's the computer world's latest game plan
First came the joystick. Then came the motion-sensing Wii remote. Now get ready for another radical and rather unsettling leap in video games technology: thought control.
First came the joystick. Then came the motion-sensing Wii remote. Now get ready for another radical and rather unsettling leap in vide... more -
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic MMO Confirmed
EA has confirmed the making of a KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic) MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online), specifically to be made by BioWare. It is set for release in 2009.
For a couple of years, there has been growing speculation that the mmo was KOTOR or perhaps Mass Effect, especially since 2006 when BioWare bought an mmo engine, and when BioWare made an alliance with LucasArts recently.
It is now official that there will be a KOTOR mmo however no other information, such as, specific timeline, worlds, professions, etc.. have been released.
So Im pretty siked :) EA has confirmed the making of a KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic) MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online), specifically to be made by Bi... more -
Fully immersive virtual reality
The next generation of virtual reality is being perfected right now at the University of Washington. Talk about getting into the game, literally. The next generation of virtual reality is being perfected right now at the University of Washington. Talk about getting into the game,... more
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Nintendo Wiimote from the Future
Take your games with you "on the go" with Wii 2 Go virtual console right on the Wiimote
Make phone calls, listen to MP3s and view and edit photographs all right from from the Wiimote. Take your games with you "on the go" with Wii 2 Go virtual console right on the Wiimote ... more -
Ready for Wii Music?
A new, super-semsitive Wii controller has unveiled a new and improved controller for the Wii, allowing far better sensitivity for swordfighting and sports games. Nintendo have also previewed a new title called Wii music, which allows players to play over 60 instruments with the new motion sensor attachment. Given how dubiously such electronic instrument simulators have done in the past (guitar/drum hero, etc), it will be interesting to see how well this new technology fares in the hands of music fans and musicians. A new, super-semsitive Wii controller has unveiled a new and improved controller for the Wii, allowing far better sensitivity for swor... more
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Hands-On: Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
LOS ANGELES -- I went to Electronic Arts' Los Angeles studio last month in anticipation of E3 to play an early build of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3, and I'm still undecided as to how I feel about the game.
I can't decide whether its newfound focus on naval battles or the annoying sudden death mode annoy me because of my particular play style, or if series fans will agree that they are dubious additions at best.
I also don't know how fans will react to the new third faction. Robots are cool, but do transforming, anime-style mechas have a place alongside Tesla Troops?
One thing's for sure though: If EA doesn't change Tanya's hair back to brown, there will be riots.
The biggest addition to Red Alert 3 is obviously the third faction. Red Alert games have traditionally been about the tension between Soviet and Allied (read: American) forces, but Red Alert 3 branches out by adding a group called the Empire of the Rising Sun.
As you might expect from the name, the new faction is based heavily on a wide range of Japanese influences. From stereotypical Evangelion-style anime mechs, to ninjas, to efficient salarymen, the Empire covers every stereotype Americans have about our Eastern brethren. The Empire's engineer even mimics Dance Dance Revolution when left alone too long.
Befitting the Empire's hypertechnophilic slant, the faction relies almost entirely on machine-assisted, quick-expansion tactics. While the Japanese God-Emperor back story crafted for the game is reminiscent of the zealotry of Starcraft's Protoss, tactics for the group feel like a more colorful version of that same game's Zerg. Look for swarms of cheap Empire troops (particularly the transforming robotic Tengu jets) to fill early game rushes.
On the other hand, both the Allies and the Soviets remain largely unchanged, aside from minor balance tweaks to make sure the factions play nice with their new Asian counterparts. Many stalwart units remain largely unchanged from Red Alert 2, including homicidal (mysterious blonde) commando Tanya, the Allied attack dogs, Soviet Tesla Troops, Terror Drones and the mammoth Apocalypse Tank.
Of special note is the addition of Soviet anti-infantry units that, at least for the moment, are a bit too effective. To match the Allied attack dogs, the Soviets were given Attack Bears. Bizarrely, the bears themselves are less able in combat than the Allied dogs, but to EA's credit the company was quick to point out that the dogs were "very well trained."
Seemingly to counteract this deficient ursine problem, the Soviets are given robotic walkers called "Sickles" that simply destroy everything in front of them in the early game. A favorite tactic of players at the EA preview was to simply construct three Sickles, then let them loose in the middle of the opponent's base. As anti-infantry units, it's expected that they'd decimate troops, but as it stands they have no trouble ripping apart buildings and tanks either.
If it sounds like I'm focusing purely on the game's tier-one units, there's a good reason for that. It's not that the higher-power tier-two and -three units aren't cool -- they are, particularly the Empire's gigantic King Oni mech -- but you'll rarely see them in play. Most games are quickly decided with a few tanks or infantry units well before you have time to develop the upgrades necessary for the more expensive weaponry. LOS ANGELES -- I went to Electronic Arts' Los Angeles studio last month in anticipation of E3 to play an early build of Command & ... more -
Gallery: Sony Recaps Its Greatest Hits at E3
LOS ANGELES -- With its PlayStation 3 still third in the minds of gamers, Sony offered few new game announcements to excite the crowd at this year's E3 Media & Business Summit.
At its press briefing Tuesday, Sony mostly talked up the projects that it currently has in development. The create-your-own-action game LittleBigPlanet made an appearance, as did highly anticipated first-person shooter Resistance 2 and the company's perpetually delayed virtual world, Home.
Sony only announced one previously unheard-of PlayStation 3 title, a 256-player online shooter called MAG: Massive Action Game. Otherwise, the company's E3 conference simply recapped the planned holiday lineup.
Up: Sony Computer Entertainment America President Jack Tretton works the stage alone, the first time in recent memory that a Sony E3 press conference has been staged without a Japanese executive talking up at least part of the show. LOS ANGELES -- With its PlayStation 3 still third in the minds of gamers, Sony offered few new game announcements to excite the crowd ... more -
Gallery: Microsoft Guns for Hard-Core and Casual Gamers at E3
LOS ANGELES -- The 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit kicked off Monday morning in the Los Angeles Convention Center with a lavish press conference courtesy of Microsoft. The makers of Xbox 360 find themselves competing on two fronts: They're fighting off the Wii's advance into nontraditional gamer markets and also trying to compete with Sony's PlayStation 3 for graphics gluttons and needy net users. In addition to new games, the company announced several new battle plans, such as copying Nintendo's cute characters, stealing exclusive titles like Final Fantasy XIII from Sony and courting people who don't like videogames by partnering with Netflix for on-demand movie streaming.
Up: Self-described "Xbox models" Leilani Dowding, left, and Desiree Rabuse greet attendees of the E3 Media and Business Summit at the Los Angeles Convention Center Monday morning. A gauntlet of models ushered hundreds of journalists into the convention center's packed West Hall. LOS ANGELES -- The 2008 E3 Media and Business Summit kicked off Monday morning in the Los Angeles Convention Center with a lavish pres... more -
Sony Press Conference at E3 2008
Aside from displaying their awesome power of gigantic presentation screens, Sony revealed a brand-new title at their conference this morning. From Zipper Interactive comes a massive action game....cleverly titled MAG. MAG will have up to 256 players, broken into squads of eight. Will have character growth pushing players along certain paths and helping make sure it's not totally chaotic. Ongoing campaigns. "An intense and long-lasting shooter experience."
Other highlights of the conference include GOW 3 trailer and more info on Resistance 2 and Resistance for PSP revealed.
And it also looks there will be a battle of the movies on consoles between PS3 and 360 as Sony announces a movie-downloading service. Sony Picture, Fox, MGM, Lion's Gate, Warner, Disney, Paramount, Turner, and Funimation will all have programming available when this service launches. Rental and electronic selling, standard and hi-def content. $9.99 to $14.99 to purchase a movie, $2.99 to $5.99 to rent. TV episodes starting at $1.99. Aside from displaying their awesome power of gigantic presentation screens, Sony revealed a brand-new title at their conference this... more -
Computer game beats population of earth's known species
A new game developed by Will Wright, maker of The Sims, which simulates evolution on an alien planet has developed more species in 18 days than all the known species on Earth. Spore, a computer game that is scheduled to be premiered in September is set on an alien planet in which players can help create creature that evolve, survive and interact with other creatures on the Spore databese. Maxis had recruited aspiring gameplayers in the hope of boosting the creature population to around 100,000 before the premier, though it now looks like we'll be looking more at the 100s of millions... A new game developed by Will Wright, maker of The Sims, which simulates evolution on an alien planet has developed more species in 18 ... more
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Rockband 2 Setlist announced!
Yay! Although Rockband 1 had plenty of awesome songs there are sooooo many more good ones coming out for Rockband 2!
some of the highlights (imo) include
# "Man in the Box" by Alice in Chains
# "Rebel Girl" by Bikini Kill
# "White Wedding Pt. I" by Billy Idol
# "One Way or Another" by Blondie
# "Hungry Like the Wolf" by Duran Duran
# "Down with the Sickness" by Disturbed
# "Everlong" by Foo Fighters
# "Anyway You Want It" by Journey
# "Float On" by Modest Mouse
# "Alive" by Pearl Jam
# "Lump" by Presidents of the USA
# "Testify" by Rage Against the Machine
# "Lazy Eye" by Silversun Pickups
# "Today" by Smashing Pumpkins
# "I Was Wrong" by Social Distortion
# "Teenage Riot" by Sonic Youth
# "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
# "Chop Suey" by System of a Down
# "Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads
# "Kids in America" by The Muffs
# "My Own Worst Enemy" by Lit (jk)
I cant wait for this! Ive got a keg set up and a pizza already on the way! Yay! Although Rockband 1 had plenty of awesome songs there are sooooo many more good ones coming out for Rockband 2! ... more -
Portal 2 is Still Alive!
The cake isnt a lie! The revolutionary first person puzzler is getting a sequel on Xbox live this fall.
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