Tuesday, August 14, 2007
“America Is Not Nice”
11:40PM Brian Ashcraft | To: Crecente From: Bashcraft RE: Bike! Yah, I think sneezing at 3,000m altitude can really wear you out. There was a program on TV this evening that had elderly people recount when the U.S. Military firebombed Osaka during WWII. Mini-Bash was watching it. I was blogging. He came running over to the computer, saying: “Daddy’s country bombed Japan.” His face was puzzled. A flood of sentences came flooding out, all to the effect of Japan is a nice place. People in Japan are nice. Questions followed, hard questions: Why did Daddy’s country bomb Japan? When did Daddy’s country bomb Japan? Did Daddy bomb Japan? A conclusion was reached in his four year-old brain. “America is not nice.” How do you explain war to a pre-schooler? More »
Nintendo’s British Sales Charts
11:20PM Luke Plunkett | Britain don’t just love Nintendo. They love Nintendo. Like, they love chips, but not like they love chips and vinegar. Example: last week’s “all-format” sales charts. All-format? It’s ALL NINTENDO, ALL THE TIME. Eight of the top ten games turn up exclusively on Nintendo consoles while the other two are multiplatform, no doubt helped along by sales on Nintendo consoles (especially the Potter boy’s title). Full list after the jump. More »
Rad Monster Hunter Stuff
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | There weren’t a few Monster Hunter figurines at the Wonder Festival. There were a tonne. And I mean a tonne. Click through the gallery to check out some of the amazing (and not so amazing) fan made creations. Monster Hunter Gallery [Senaka Blog] More »
The GHII Download Experiment Continues
10:40PM Luke Plunkett | Another GHII download pack just hit Xbox Live. The good news? Depends on how much you like My Chemical Romance. If you do, great, there’s three new, original MCR tracks on offer. More likely option? You can’t stand them, the 500 points they’re asking is still 200-300 too many and this news will wash over you like a gently passing breeze. Still, small progress (least the songs are both original and cohesive…especially if you like MCR) is better than no progress at all! In Game Content: Guitar Hero II [Major Nelson] More »
Beautiful Katamari Demo Hits XBL
10:20PM Brian Ashcraft | Thought the BioShock demo was enough? Wrong. The Beautiful Katamari demo rolled onto Xbox Live this morning, catchy music and cute graphics in tow. The Xbox 360 exclusive won’t be out until this fall. So, go on. Download it. DO IT. [Meanwhile, I spent over three hours to get 35 percent of the BioShock demo, before shutting it off and going to bed last night. So, reader people, please clear a space so I can snag BioShock. Kthxbye.] More »DSes Can Screw Up Kid’s Vision
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Little dudes, DSes fuck up your eyes. Don’t believe me, believe Bill Nye “The Science Guy.” This public service announcement alerts us all about Computer Vision Syndrome, AKA “CVS.” As Bill Nye explains, this occurs when children hold video game systems too close to their eyes. It makes them “tired,” makes their brain “tired” and “can lead to long term vision problems.” To prevent this, children should keep handhelds an elbow length away. Laptop users, you’re not off the hook either! Keep your notebook computer an arm’s length away. Not only does CVS melt your eyeballs or something, but it call also lead to scary behavioural problems. Bill Nye points out that since kids are working so hard to get all that information off that little screen, they get worn out and unable to do anything else. Just watch as a gaggle of kids stare glassy eyed at their Nintendo DSes. There’s not a single PSP in sight. Yes, that must mean PSPs are TOTALLY SAFE. Five Tips for Preventing CVS [VSP, Thanks Matt!] More »
XBLA Download Cap Staying At 150MB?
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | Little more Gamefest news for you. Microsoft’s decision to up the size limit on their XBLA games to 150MB was a good move. One they’re so happy with, in fact, they’re going to stick with it. 1UP are reporting that even with big, shiny things like Warhawk about to appear on the PlayStation Store, MS will be sticking to their 150MB limit. As they should! We’ve got a good little apple-cart going on between each of the three consoles, with each having their own little corner of the market locked down. No need to go upsetting it with any sudden moves. Gamefest 2007: No XBLA Size Increase Coming [1UP] More »
Osaka Logs Onto Final Fantasy XI Event
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Osaka-based Kotakuites, heads up! On the evening of November 3rd, Square Enix is holding a Final Fantasy XI: Online event in Umeda. Called “Final Fantasy Arutana Matsuri in Osaka,” this is apparently the first time Square Enix has done this sort of single event for FF XI. There will be a developer talk session that will hopefully answer all your burning FF XI questions. Before the show, it costs ¥2,500 ($US21) to enter, but the entrance fee jumps to ¥3,000 ($US25) the day of. Limited edition “special game items” will be given to attendees. Something tells me that the item will somehow involve FF XI. Call it a hunch — a shot in the dark, if you will. FF XI Event in Osaka [PlayOnline] More »
Big Brother Creators See Future, Money In Gaming
8:30PM Luke Plunkett | Endemol are the brains behind shows like Big Brother and Deal or No Deal, which means if there’s a quick, dirty buck to be made in modern entertainment, they know where to find it. Explains why they’re sniffing around Xbox Live. Endemol UK’s Peter Cowley: As we move into the digital distribution of content and the growth of services like Xbox Live and the digital distribution of games, we see that as quite an interesting outlet for our video-based content alongside games on the same platform. More »
