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The shared anniversary of Playstation and Dreamcast
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, SEGA, Sony,
September 9th marks the anniversaries of two systems that found their place nestled in the bosoms of video game culture in their own different ways. The PlayStation solidified itself as the first console to reach 100 million units sold (the PS2 has since surpassed this), while the Dreamcast remains a cult favorite among gamers. Both consoles helped to revolutionize the way that video games are played today, and we owe them a bit of gratitude on their American birthdays.
Click to continue reading The shared anniversary of Playstation and Dreamcast
Read More 
| Sega Forums
Gallery: The shared anniversary of Playstation and Dreamcast
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Playstation gamers would sooner give up cell phone than video games
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3, Sony,
A new infographic released by Sony in honor of the 15th anniversary of the PlayStation reveals some interesting statistics about PlayStation gamers. According to the chart, six out of ten PlayStation gamers would rather give up their cell phones for a year in favor of keeping their PlayStation. While 84% would sooner deactivate their Facebook and other social networking accounts for a year. Would you sacrifice social networking and your phone in favor of playing video games?
Gallery: Playstation gamers would sooner give up cell phone than video games
A Weapon of Truly Epic Proportions: Alice’s Vorpal Blade
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Culture, Electronic Arts,
I may not be a blood-thristy twisted Alice, but I do enjoy beautiful things. In commemoration of the original Alice, Epic Weapons, in collaboration with Electronic Arts, have created a replica of the Vorpal Blade from American McGee’s Alice. It is adorned with etched molds which replicate this weapon in all its beautiful detail. Since this is a high quality replica made from Japanese stainless steel and standing at 18 5/8 inches in length, Epic Weapons is offering only 1,000 of these commemorative Alice knifes. They are now available on the Epic Weapons website for $89.95, so get them while they are still available! Stand is not included, but available for purchase for $19.95. And while you are at it, I think you should send me one too.
Gallery: A Weapon of Truly Epic Proportions: Alice’s Vorpal Blade
Grand Turismo 5 sparks Italian controversy
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, Driving, PlayStation 3,
Gran Turismo 5 is causing some controversy in the beautiful Italian city of Siena. How can a racing game spark controversy you ask? Does GT5 feature a new crash mode where tires fly off of vehicles and decapitate prostitutes and police officers? Nope. The reason for the controversy is GT5’s use of Siena’s city Piazza del Campo as a track in the upcoming game, and more specifically, using the flags and colors of the Palio di Siena without permission. Due to this Siena is threatening to stop the game from seeing the light of day.
Whether or not the flags will be removed is still up in the air, but Kazunori would like to see them remain as they heighten the aesthetics of the Italian course. Gran Turismo 5 designer Kazunori Yamauchi lamented via twitter his hesitation to remove them, “We can remove them in an instant…[though] erasing them is somewhat regrettable.”
Read More | Kotaku via Twitter
Gallery: Grand Turismo 5 sparks Italian controversy
Best Buy and Target to start selling used games
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Corporate News, Culture, PlayStation 3, THQ, Wii, Xbox 360,
Taking a controversial page from Gamestop’s book, Best Buy and Target both are in the beginning stages of implementing a trade-in program for used videos games in exchange for store credit. Best Buy has revealed that it will start offering a trade-in program this week in 600 locations, and will begin selling used games “soon”.
Target’s Electronic Trade-In department is currently open in North Carolina, and will increase to 850 stores by December 2010. Unlike Gamestop where you can only trade in video games and their accessories to buy more video games and the like; Target comprises a much larger trade-in spectrum, allowing customers to trade in cell phones, iPods, and video games to receive store credit. This store credit can net you the many different items sold in Target, and is not just limited to digital devices.
This all comes much to the dismay of video game publishers, namely THQ CEO Cory Ledesma who recently discussed how used games “cheat” the video game industry. Despite this, it seems that Best Buy and Target intend to get away with some heavy duty cheating this holiday season.
Look for the Best Buy on Columbia Heights 3100 14th St NW to start accepting trade-ins by December.
Read More | Target
Gallery: Best Buy and Target to start selling used games
PS4 won’t be download only; digital future still a decade away
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, PlayStation 3, Sony,
Usually around this time in a console’s lifespan we would already be knee deep in talks about the succeeding console, if not already playing it in our homes. However, with the constant updates and improved network capabilities the need for a new console every five years is no longer necessary. Though, Sony’s Kaz Hirai did mutter some words about the eventual Playstation 4 system, stating that a “digital future is over ten years away”, and the PS4 will definitely not be a download only console à la PSP Go. Hirai noted that this is because “we do business in parts of the world where network infrastructure isn’t as robust as one would hope, [and] there’s always going to be a requirement for a business of our size and scope to have a physical medium.”
Read More | Eurogamer
Gallery: PS4 won’t be download only; digital future still a decade away
I frequently ask myself the question, “what if Modern Warfare 2 was like Pokémon?”, and at last all quandaries have been put to rest courtesy of Blastedroof.com. The new gaming community has fused the two unlikely gaming franchises into what can only be described as utterly brilliant. Included in the seven minute video are some memorable internet personalities such as the British gamer who “played 7hrs straight”, the senior citizen bum from the bus fight video, a MW2 guru who makes video walkthroughs, and a nod to Infinity Ward’s own Robert Bowling. The video pokes fun at noobs, and different styles of play (rushing vs. camping) as well.
Gallery: Pokemon done Call of Duty-style
Who says gamers don’t need love? A Philadelphia Craigslist ad has surfaced likening the squishy feeling of romantic entanglement with the cold hard random shapes of Tetris. “The long piece” - the piece that Tetris fans long for in all of their games is what this Craigslist seeking gamer longs for in his love life.
“You know how in Tetris you keep getting all these pieces you don’t want and you keep piling them up on right side of the screen, wondering how many squares you can get in a row when suddenly the long piece comes out of nowhere and for a moment makes everything disappear? Sometimes I feel as if my dating life is like that. I am waiting for my long piece.”
If that isn’t poetic than I don’t know what is! C’mon, there has to be some gamer girl out there for this guy. You don’t even have to be a gamer to appreciate this level of wittiness. Someone just give this guy a long piece… ahem, you know what I mean.
Read More | Craigslist
Gallery: Craigslist Ad Likens Tetris to Love
Out Now: EA SPORTS Soundtrack Volume 2
Posted by Drea Avellan Categories: Culture, Electronic Arts, Music, Sports,
If you find yourself on the main menu of an EA SPORTS title only to enjoy the great compilation of its soundtrack, I can assure you, you are not alone. Thankfully for us, EA has released the second volume of the EA SPORTS Soundtrack. This soundtrack is jammed packed with all our favorite Hip-Hop tracks from Xzibit to Kidz In The Hall. Need more? Find the full track listing after the jump.
Click to continue reading Out Now: EA SPORTS Soundtrack Volume 2
Gallery: Out Now: EA SPORTS Soundtrack Volume 2
Guillermo del Toro Announces Several Video Game Projects
Posted by John Kilhefner Categories: Culture, Editorial, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360,
Film director Guillermo del Toro, of Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy fame, is currently set to lend his artistic vision to a field that has long fought for its place in the artistic realm. The debate as to whether or not video games can be considered art was recently set ablaze when acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert blogged that “no video gamer now living will survive long enough to experience [video games] as an art form”. While Ebert admits to having no desire to ever play a video game, hardly the same sentiment applies to del Toro, who previously stated that Flower is “like haiku poetry.” Almost a year later Ebert referred to the same game as “decorative interest on the level of a greeting card”. The two are definitely polar opposites when it comes to video games and art. However, with del Toro’s unique artistic direction poised to influence the gaming industry, can the opinionated Ebert change his anti-gaming ways? Or will del Toro’s gaming projects miss the mainstream mark like other filmmakers’ ventures into the gaming world?
Click to continue reading Guillermo del Toro Announces Several Video Game Projects
Read More | MTV
Gallery: Guillermo del Toro Announces Several Video Game Projects
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