Tuesday, January 29, 2008

11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Just a quick heads up. Tickets for the Penny Arcade Expo 2008 have gone on sale. Dates run August 29th to August 31st. Last year’s PAX made the event North America’s largest game festival. Last year’s event drew 37,000 gamers, while this year is expected to reach “forty-seven million bajillion people.” Can’t wait. Early bird three-day badges are going for $US 40. Significantly cheaper than a three-day Disneyland pass! Alrighty, who’s going? Buy PAX Tickets [Brown Paper Tickets Thanks s7arbuck!] More »

The Chikan Express Game Display

10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Japanese shops go balls to the wall for their erotic game displays. They are so not screwing around! In the past, we’ve seen this (NSFW). Now, we bring you the TOTALLY NOT SAFE FOR WORK in-store display for Japanese erotic game Nonstop Chikan Tokkyuu (”Nonstop Molester Limited Express Train”). That, dear readers, after the jump! More »

Matsuura: DS Innovation For New Gamers, Not Old Ones

9:30PM Luke Plunkett | The DS is, arguably, the posterchild for expanding the demographics of gamers. Yet for all its success in baiting old folks and lady folks into playing games, is the system’s innovation innovating for some and not others? That’s what PaRappa creator Masaya Matsuura is thinking, telling Gamasutra: We have to keep increasing the chance to make more unique titles, but for us it’s getting much more difficult because the game market — especially in Japan — is still very conservative. Many people know that the DS has very unique titles, like Brain Training, or something like that, but it’s not for younger-aged market. It’s kind of older people, like me. Hmm. Might be onto something. Ace Attorney, Phantom Hourglass, Mario, Advance Wars…most of the DS’s best games for “regular” gamers have been additions and upgrades to existing franchises, not out and out new experiences. Flip side: having shown we’ll buy the same Nintendo games over and over for 10-15 years, why would developers bother? Matsuura Got Rhythm: The State Of NanaOn-Sha’s Founder [Gamasutra] [Image] More »

Wrestler’s Gaming Column is a Rambling Mess

9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Pro wrestler Christian Cage (aka Jason Reso) isn’t quite ready to trade in his spandex tights just yet, but has taken up a gaming column over at GameTap. The majority of his first column is about how much he likes games or what he’s going to write about. For example: In future columns what I’d like to do is throw in some thoughts on my wrestling career, maybe some road stories or whatever I’ve got going on that’s interesting, but my focus will be playing a game every month and reviewing it. Doesn’t sound all that hard, right? For me it is. You see, I’m the type of gamer that plays a game and gets addicted to that game and plays absolutely nothing else but that game for months at a time. This will actually help me with my problem. I’m not lying — I have a serious problem. You want proof? Gears of War is still sitting unopened in its original packaging on a shelf in my game room (gasp!). There was a time I played Top Spin 2 for eight months straight. It got so bad, friends were planning to break into my house and steal it from my console just so I would play something else…but I’ll get back to that. Like I was saying, this will give me the chance to play a variety of games and give you my feedback—but until then I think I’ll just ramble. Look forward to future rambling antics where Cage goes on and on about his unhealthy obsession with Puyo Puyo and why he can’t seem to break the seal on his Mass Effect copy. So insightful. Cage Column [GameTap via Game|Life] More »

Jamzy Kicks It Up A Notch

8:30PM Luke Plunkett | Hey, it’s Jamzy! And Jamzy has a new fanboyriffic haircut! Sure, he’s done this before – some may be so cynical as to say it’s his shtick – but this time, he’s outdone himself. No more game logos in random spots, this time he’s gone all-out, wrapping a giant Xbox motif across the back of his noggin in celebration of all things Xbox Live. Fantastic. Only downside? “The short hair with these lines is shitty in the cold”. Jamzy watchers be warned, though – he promises a new design in March, so this is a strictly limited offer. My Designed Head Ver.3 [Famitsu] More »

Mass Effect Statue Almost Done

7:30PM Luke Plunkett | Wouldn’t it have been great if the first piece of proper Mass Effect merch, the $US 90 statue of Commander Shephard (generic manbits version), could have shipped in December, as promised? Well it didn’t. It’s been delayed. Couldn’t let the game one-up it in the delay stakes, you see. While you kick your heels and wait for your chance to spend $US 90 on an immovable action figure, why don’t you pass the time with these shots of the figure, both of the final sculpt and finished version. More »

Some Still Offering Super Smash Bros. Brawl Pre-Orders

7:23PM Brian Ashcraft | Earlier, we brought word that there could very well be a Super Smash Bros. Brawl shortage in Japan. Japanese blog Ota Road points out that early this week, it’s been possible to reserve the game at two large Sofmap shops in Den-Den Town. Many online sites, however, have ceased taking reservations. Though, whispers persist that SSBB will be hard to come by at launch. Still, seeing how the game is dropping midweek, and the 31st isn’t a holiday in Japan, I’m not so worried about picking up the game here in Japan. You? SSBB Pre-orders [Ota Raod] More »