2006/11/30

Copy Pasta from 4chan




An anonymous poster from 4chan posted the greatest thing ever. A sort of "letter" directed at the current gaming community, and scene as a whole. Too good.

"Listen up Nintendo...

Don't know if you got the memo or not, but excellence just isn't gonna cut it anymore. We finally received our Wii at the office last Friday, and after spending most of the weekend playing Zelda and Red Steel, all I can say is: It's not enough.

Sure, Twilight Princess is the best looking Zelda game ever. And sure, the motion-based controls and built-in remote speaker add a new degree of immersion. And sure, it might just be the most fun game released this year.

But that's just it, Fun.You don't get "it." Fun's for babies. Gamers these days don't buy consoles for fun. Do you think I spent two weeks waiting in the pouring rain for a PS3 for "fun?"

Sure, I might have wanted a console for fun...when I saw six. Nowadays I'm too busy for that. I need productivity. Can the Wii play movies? Can it do my taxes? Can it teach my son how to make love to a woman? I didn't think so.

And let's not forget about graphics. Sure, Twilight Princess might look "realistic," but it's just not bloomy enough for my taste. And where's the physics-enabled grass? Let's face it, if the Wii can't produce physics-enabled grass, and lots of it, you're stuck in the '80s."

Fucking greatness.

2006/11/28

15K PS3s auctioned off in first week on eBay


Originally reported via Gamespot.com
"Some opportunists saw the recent launch of the PlayStation 3 as a chance to make a quick $1,000. Their plan was to rough it in front of a store for days in hopes of getting one of the hard-to-find consoles and reselling it to cash-flush gamers willing to pay a premium for the system.

Popular online auction site eBay was the online marketplace of choice for most people looking to sell or buy a PS3, and the company revealed some of the numbers from the console's first week in North America.

eBay released data on its sales for Black Friday, the popular shopping day immediately following Thanksgiving, and tucked between the sales numbers of Tickle-Me Elmos and fruitcakes was information on sales of the PS3, Wii, and Xbox 360.

For the period between and including November 17 to November 24--the PS3's first eight days on sale--14,675 PS3s were sold through the online site for an average price of $1,186. eBay did not separate information for the PS3's two models; a 60GB version retails for $599 and a 20GB version sells for $499.

Those who hawked preorders fared slightly better. From October 19 to November 24, which included what eBay calls"pre-sale activity," 28,233 PS3s (or preorder rights to the machines) were sold for an average price of $1,370.

Numbers of the more readily available and cheaper Wii weren't too surprising. From the $250 console's debut on November 19 through Black Friday, 26,708 Wiis were sold on eBay for an average price of $412. Preorder madness wasn't as great for Nintendo's console--29,452 Wiis were sold for an average of $427.82 from October 19 to November 24.

The Web site also released information on sales of the Xbox 360, reporting that 331 systems were sold between November 12 and November 24 for an average of $421.

Prices for both the PS3 and Wii on eBay have been falling sharply since their much-hyped launches. A quick glance at listings on the site shows that most PS3 auctions (which still number more than 10,000) aren't exceeding $1,000, and most Wiis aren't going for more than $300."


Now, we all saw this coming. Hell, Pre-Order RECIEPTS were going well over 3 grand. Bascily, I just feel sorry for them. Hell, with Sony's recent announcement that they *plan* to have at least 1 million units before Dec 31, these people who are shelving out money well over the value are just foolish. Wii's will be widely available anyway (thx Nintendo), so I unno. Its just said IMO. Anyway, I still havent snagged a PS3 myself, but I'll get one sooner of later. You can always head over to Play-Asia and snag a Japanese PS3 (plays all Blue-Rays and Games anyway). I may do that myself...

Source

2006/11/26

New Brawl/X Scan, and shots via official site!


Brand new screens (kinda), and the Nintendo World trailer are at the official site [English], here.

Note: The game looks to be shaping up quite nicely. Demo please Nintendo?

2006/11/22

Random News (Wii Updates)





America is showing the Wii a hell of alot of love. The current shipment of Wii's has completely sold out, with more supposedly coming out Friday, although in smaller numbers.

System is currently displaying a few errors (the systems were originally supposed to come with a "boot" disc of sorts, but was scrapped and Nintendo simply pre-booted them before sending hem out). Sadly, some of the systems seemed to have been missed. Not major, send to Nintendo or retailer, and get a replacement once its available.

Videos of Errors here.

Seems someone has found a way to run his naughty Emulators on the Wii aswell. Mwhaha. - Clever, evil man playing SNES9x on Wii. I'm interested in seeing what Nintendo does to prevent that from happening again. And update of some kind? Its possible.

Majority of sources are praising Twilight Princess as the best Zelda game ever. Even the lowest scorers (Gamespot) giving it an 8.8, its still a damn good score. I wont spoil TP (havnt played it myself, but some boobs revealed information at a site I visit, without giving Spoiler Warnings.

Also, seeing it in person at my job (Target) really makes me smile. It is one sexy ass piece of plastic and metal.


2006/11/21

Evolution of Console Controllers



I thought this site was pretty damn neat (came across it via Kotaku.com). He really goes into detail on alot of the controllers, and he's pretty on the ball with most of the info. Good work, sir.

Sock Master's VideoGame Controller Family Tree!

2006/11/18

Angry Nintendo Nerd


LOL





This guy is funny. For those of you who havnt caught this guys Video "blogs", I suggest you check them out. Dude is hilarious. His random Blurbs make me laugh. Seriously, watch this guy.


You can check out his site, here. Support our fellow nerds!

- Shade

2006/11/17

PS3 Launch Madness, Complete with Crazyness, Sorrow, Heartbreak, some Joy I guess, and Other Surprises!

So I got up at 3:47 in the am, getting ready for the PS3 launch of moronic, yet still epic proportions. To kill time before I head off for the opening madness, I discuss PS3 launch plans with a friend both of us wanting to get of course the PS3. Although I should really have no intention to, since I'm an import gamer and my last three systems (PS2, DS and PSP) are all of the Japanese flavour, and I'd like to continue that with the PS3. Add that to the fact that the Japanese 20GB PS3 is like $100+ cheaper compared to the domestic Canadian version of the same model (yes folks, your king is from the land of the Canadas where polar bears run wild, and the only internet access point is in town hall where we take turns charging up the generator with the use of dogsled power). But even though I was smart enough to wait, I was also stupid enough to let the Sony hype machine get to me, and it's funny since the PS1, PS2, and PSP hype machines didn't do shit to me (didn't buy a PS2 until like 2003). Anyhoo I got ended up getting ready to seal my fate, err go to the local mall, Metrotown. Link here for anyone curious.

Now my PS3 crusade starts, for the past couple of weeks I have been scouting and doing my research on the numbers of the PS3 and which entrances/exits to hit and whatnot of course to make a safe getaway. So I pretty much knew what store to hit, and the only store that didn't do preorders or have a ridiculously long line. So I narrowed it down to the SonyStore, who said they were getting less than 10 units, a mix of 20GBs and 60GBs.

Once I got to the mall at around 5AM, I prepared to wait at the only entrance that was supposed to be opened early and that was the one near the transit area. For the first 20 minutes or so, I was alone and so far my plan was foolproof! Or so I thought, the first couple of people started coming and we started to exchange information. Apparently the entrance that was supposed to be opened early was not going to be opened early because of the PS3 launch. So we had to wait, and soon we started to see the crazyness begin. Office workers in the office tower were able to get into the mall using their cards and some kids were able to talk the Starbucks to let them in, but the very same Starbucks staff didn't do the same for us. So me and a few other people decided to find another way of getting in.

We try the other entrances but no go, so we think about using the parking lot entrances. Anyway as luck would have it or notso have it, security was kicking people out of the mall. But, we eventually find a really good entrance that is close to the SonyStore and we pretty much sneak in. Unfortunately, other people have found ways to sneak in too and the security was pretty much on their heels with the crazy PS3 hunters. I eventually meet up with more PS3 launch people and one of them told me that he and his friend had to pretty much Ninja'ed their way through the loading bay and all the security shit of one of the big stores since they are employees, but still it was like insane apparently and they were scared shitless or something like that.

So we all make our way to the SonyStore as it draws near to opening time, and this is where the crazyness starts, complete with pics!








As you can see the very angry mob starts to form an even angrier (is that even a word? lol) one, directing their angry and hate and lust at one entity.




Yes, the SonyStore.




Anyway the only thing standing between the mob is this small and whiny security guard(the one in the yellow), apparently the head security guard, how that happened I have no idea. I guess like how one of the guys there today put it, he must've had the most annoying and loudest voice, so they made him leader.

And obviously, the mob grows weary and annoyed as shown in these pics below, also the numbers continued to grow with each passing second:




Basically, the mob at Point A as shown here:


Yes, that guard thought he was all that. lol

Was trying to get at Point B, the SonyStore:


Pretty much, if the SonyStore didn't get their act together, there would be casualties, I can assure you that. The SonyStore and the security then tried to formulate new plans on trying to keep the mob from killing each other and everything else in their path:




With the mob getting even bigger, badder and more nastier, if the Sony dudes and Security didn't get their act together, heads will roll:






Anyhoo, not wanting to be associated with anymore horror stories, the SonyStore manager thinks he has devised a way to organize the matter:




They will have some sort of lottery, there will be 500 sheets of paper handed out, apparently 6 of them will have numbers and those who get the ones with numbers will walk away with a PS3, so yes the store only had 6 units, 4 60GB and 2 20GB.


By this time I already stopped caring, and just thought about importing later on, but I decided to get in line anyway for this "lottery" because hey, what do I got to lose?




Unfortunately, I drew a blank sheet, so I thought my day was done until it was found out that they fucked up the draw, since instead of having 500 sheets of paper, they had a thousand sheets of paper. Great job guys, retards. Anyway 5 of the numbered sheets were taken, so 5 of the PS3s were out of the question, so it was just down to one last one. Like other people who had drawn blank sheets, I went back in line again.



The new plan to lottery off the final PS3 was to have everybody guess a number between 1 and 1000, and the closest one would win. Needless to say I guessed wrong (896 ugh, the actual number was 626 if I'm not mistaken), so the nightmare was finally over.


Spectators look on, thinking, what the fuck are these people doing?

Anyway all was not lost, because apparently Futureshop (a Best Buy brand up here), was having a fucking ridiculous sale on the Xbox 360 for one day only. For $449 (Canadian), which is $50 off the regular price, you get a Premium 360 and FOUR, count'em FOUR FREE games. And guess what, they don't suck, you get Ridge Racer 6, GRAW, some Xbox Live Arcade Collection, but get this for the fourth game, GEARS OF FUCKING WAR BITCHES!!!!. They are fucking giving this shit away, so it's a ridiculous deal, so yes I buy it.



A mountain of Billy G's Sexboxes ready to please their next owner.

So yeah there you have it, that's what I went through today and really it turned out good after all. Well, just because I scored a 360 doesn't mean that I won't get a PS3, I'll still buy a Japanese PS3 in 1st Quarter 2007 (also because Power Smash 3/Virtua Tennis 3 and Virtua Fighter 5 hit in 1st Quarter 2007). It just means that I'll have both. And what happens with my 360 purchase? Well a number of things, I could end up liking it, thus keeping it and then trade in GRAW, RR6, XAC for something better like I dunno Dead Rising. Or I could return it, get my full refund, and since you can't return opened software, I could just trade the games in, so if Billionaire's 360 degree machine doesn't please me, I get my money back AND free money, so it's all good.



- Doctorb-V

2006/11/09

Games no more?

Apparently according to the Entertainment Software Association, what we've been calling those things we've been playing for over 20 years, "videogames", is a bad thing to call the product of the industry or the industry itself. Looks like another excuse not to be associated with smelly kids.

- Doctorb-V

2006/11/07

FFXII FTW!!!!!

So, I'm about 20 hours into this mighty gem of a game. And so far, it's addicting. This game is absolutely too good and it is a gorgeous game. The game really starts getting good at about the fifth hour or so of the game. So, this might turn many off from the game. But, if you stick around it does start moving forward after some little exploring and getting to know your character(Vaan) a lot more. It's sort of like Kingdom Hearts 2 where you spend about 8 hours running around with Roxas and going through a tutorial and then it starts to pick up at about the 9th hour.

The characters. Holy, good Goddamn. I actually enjoy the characters in this game a lot more than the boring and dull characters of FFX. Although, Auron was the man in FFX. But, the rest of the cast was......meh. Tidus couldn't have faded into the after life any sooner. Balthier, right off the bat, is top tier among the rest of the cast. He seems to have become the fan favorite amongst many from the forums I've been visiting. The characters actually have more personality to them and are more vibrant on screen during the nice cutscenes that SquareEnix is known for.

The combat system is one to behold. There are many that will hate it and there are others that will love it. I, for one, love it. I love maximizing my options in a battle and I like knowing that I can still make last minute decisions even with the Gambit system functioning full-on amidst battle. And the License Board is much better than the, ever-annoying, Sphere-grid system from FFX. I like being able to customize to my liking. Not following a linear trail to get to my good stuff like Curaga spells and other magics that help me live. The game is a lot more interactive compared to FFX and it plays like a mix of Final Fantasy Tactics with Final Fantasy 1. Why FFI? Because leveling up is a bitch in this game and items, armor and weapons cost a lot. You also buy your magic spells in this game like you did in FFI. The game really makes you work for your stash. Which is a good thing. I like a good RPG that makes me work for my stuff rather than spoiling me with 3 powerhitters and just running through the game in a matter of hours.

And I'm really loving the fact that the game is Lord of the Rings and Star Wars combined. It executes so well. This game really has lived up to it's hype so far and I'm looking forward to more. So, away I go to put in more hours into this wonderful game.

-Deathscythe

2006/11/03

Brawl Trailer Released Earlier Today




Yea, so the trailer is available.

Trailer:
WMV
Quicktime

HD Trailer:
Quicktime
WMV

Low Quality Streams
Youtube
Google

Filefront Direct File Downloads (Both are the HD versions.)
Quicktime
WMV

My impressions on it later, but for now, WATCH IT.



Also, I just had to chuckle. People making comparisons of the logo to the Super Street Fighter II X logo (rightfully so, I guess), touting Nintendo as "unoriginal". But when it comes to games, and the like (in Japan), they fail to realize the "X" thing has been used before...













Anyway, welcome to "This is not new", population: all but you.

2006/11/02

MASSIVE LOADS of Awesome (Burger King Game Promotions)

"Instead of offering toys that evoke games and promote activity, [Burger King] is going to offer three Xbox and Xbox 360 games of its own this holiday season, each of them slathered with Burger King branding...


Pocketbike Racer will feature a number of Burger King mascots including the King, the Subservient Chicken, the Whopper Jr., and former host of E!'s Wild On series, Brooke Burke.

Big Bumpin' also takes a lineup of BK mascots and pits them against one another in vehicular competition, but this game isn't a race so much as a bumper car ride. The game features a number of theme-park settings and on-track hazards like saws and bottomless pits, as well as bump-pumping power-ups. Big Bumpin' will also have four-player action and online multiplayer support.

Sneak King takes the stealth action genre and puts it to a friendlier use than usual. Instead of tiptoeing behind enemy guards to silently snap their necks, players will sneak up on hungry people to surprise them with offerings of Burger King food.

Ok, this is just too fucking awesome. I WILL be snaggin' Sneak King. Maybe gaming isnt dead just yet...

Sneak King Trailer

,

One more video here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf6qmTJoj54&eurl=


- Shade

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Info x Trailer shown @ NW

The Nintendo World event (currently being held in Nagoya Japan) is obviously where its been happenin' right now. They just showed a 3 minute trailer showcasing gameplay exclusively, with an apparent appearance by Fox McCloud. I must say, his model/look is very sharp. More news as it is revealed.

Original Article found @ IGN



- Shade