Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Let’s Talk About Luke’s Dinner
11:40PM Brian Ashcraft |
News
Amazing Core Gamer Stuff Pooh-Poohed By Focus Groups
11:40PM Brian Ashcraft | The concept was simple: A virtual dollhouse. Will Wright was coming off of SimAnt, and he was looking to do more. Wright at his team at Maxis began working on what would become The Sims, a game that play-tested so poorly that there were doubts it would be released. The game was and of course went on to spawn two sequels and countless expansions, creating a hundred million selling franchise in the process. It’s must be very satisfying to be part of The Sims casual gaming juggernaut! Some people play The Sims and only The Sims. While the game’s studio head Rod Humble says the best thing about working on The Sims is the “total freedom,” he does offer us insight: More »New LittleBigPlanet Trailer
11:20PM Luke Plunkett | Yeah, MGS4 is important to the PS3. To a certain demographic. This is more important, I reckon, and judging by the fact I’m still smiling at these trailers – and know that I am a very mean and cranky man – this thing’s going to really have to screw some big, feral pooches to not be absolutely wonderful. More »
Game Magazine Cover Was For Sale… Literally
11:00PM Brian Ashcraft | Wow. Living in Japan, I didn’t know that US game magazine covers actually were so blatantly for sale. But apparently they are! This month’s Official Xbox Magazine features perforated Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas cover that reads “ADVERTISEMENT” on it. Once removed, the actual cover is revealed. (This month it’s Fallout 3!) Ads are very much a part of print media or any media — something’s got to pay the rent! But, creating a doppelganger cover? Print Media Confirmed Dead [Insert Credit] More »
Sonic Candy… Cigarettes? (Smoke If You Got ‘Em!)
10:40PM Brian Ashcraft | Cigarettes are bad. They cause cancer. Cancer kills you. But candy cigarettes? Harmless! They only inspire impressionable children to smoke. And who better to rope ‘em in young than Sonic the Hedgehog? The “New Tasty 100 percent Stick Candy Cigarettes” were found in the Philippines. Surgeon General warns of serious Sonic attitude! You Wanna Run Really Fast [UK:R] More »
Europe Wii Fit Box Dupes Dull Japanese Wii Fit Box
10:00PM Brian Ashcraft | So that American Wii Fit box art is a snazzy neon green and multicultural vibrant feel good. Different from the Japanese box art, which is Snoozesville, population sleepy people. What about Europe? Same as the Japanese box art. Hit the jump for a look at the other side of the box. It’s quite boring. More »
7 Of 11 Pirates Of The Burning Sea Servers Shut Down
9:30PM Luke Plunkett | What the fuck is going on here? You all say how sick you are of MMOs with elves and orcs, so Flying Lab go and make one with pirates, and nobody signs up? Urgh. Which means it’s all your fault that seven of the game’s eleven servers are closing down, in order to bring about a “higher density” of players. Guess at the moment there’s a “low density” of players. Hopefully this means those who do enjoy the shivering of timbers and the buckling of swashes get a better experience, and that this isn’t the beginning of the end for the game. Pirates of the Burning Sea Shutters 7 Servers [Game|Life] More »
Pokemon Event Threatened, Event So Cancelled
9:00PM Brian Ashcraft | April Pokémon card game events in Tokyo, Nagoya and Fukuoka have been cancelled after a blackmail letter threatened to disrupt the Tokyo event. The blackmail letter only mentioned the April 12th and 13th Tokyo event, but the Pokémon Company decided to nix the April 20th Nagoya and April 29th Fukuoka events as well. Says a spokesperson: We thought the safety of our customers is our top priority. We deeply apologise for the cancellation. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department has begun investing the case and whether multiple individuals are involved with the blackmail. If so, the police hope to catch ‘em all. Pokemon Event Cancelled [Mainichi] [Pic] More »
Your Big Daddy Could Have Looked Like This
8:30PM Luke Plunkett | To promote BioShock, 2K shipped the collector’s edition with a Big Daddy figurine. Sounded great in theory, but in practice,the thing was too fragile, and looked like it had been painted by…well, somebody who had never played BioShock. And who loved the smell of industrial-strength spraypaint a little too much. Enter a Mr. David Blades, who took the standard figure, broke its arms and legs off, then re-posed and re-painted the whole thing so it’s looking much nicer. Well played, Mr. Blades, well played. Mr Bubbles [schwerpunkt] More »
