Daily Wrap-Up 1.16.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 6:00 PM
Here's what went down today in the world of videogames, popular culture and technology.
- Atari is releasing a next-gen Dragonball Z for the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
- Seminal point-and-click adventure game MYST is coming to the Nintendo DS and the Sony PS
- Stanford researchers believe they have made a breakthrough in battery technology, which they claim could increase battery life by 10.
- Lost Odyssey has an interesting incentive for pre-orders.
- Cloned food is A-OK to eat! Thanks, FDA!
- The upcoming Halo film may not have Master Chief as a main character.
- Mattell wants Facebook to nix Scrabulous.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up, Videos
Sessler's Soapbox: One World, One Console
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 5:48 PM
In this week's Sessler's Soapbox, Adam offers his opinion on the "One console" comments made over the last week by God of War creator David Jaffe and Too Human producer Denis Dyack. Check out the video and let us know what you think. Could the world survive with just one console? Leave or your comments below or share your thoughts on our forums.
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TAGS: Sessler's Soapbox, Videogames, Videos
WGA Announces Game Award Nominees
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 3:57 PM
The Writers Guild of 'Murica has a lot of time on its hands, what with everyone being on strike and all, but they're using those hours productively. Instead of just throwing playing cards into a top-hat like we would be doing, The WGA has nominated game-writers for its annual award, the 2008 Writers Guild Awards.
Here's the list of honored game-scribes:
- Crash of the Titans - Writer Christopher Mitchell (Sierra Entertainment)
- Dead Head Fred - Writers Dave Ellis and Adam Cogan (D3 Publisher)
- The Simpsons Game - Lead Writer Matt Selman, Writers Tim Long and Matt Warburton, Dialogue Jeff Poliquin (EA)
- The Witcher - Lead Story Designer Artur Ganszyniec, Dialogue Sebastian Stepien, Additional Dialogue Marcin Blacha, writers Sande Chen and Anne Toole (Atari)
- World in Conflict - Story Design Christofer Emgard, Story Consultant Larry Bond, Script Consultant Ed Zuckerman (Sierra Entertainment)
It's a perplexing list, and leaves off what would seem to be shoe-ins for an honor. Like, where's Portal? Where's Bioshock? Where's Carnival Games? The mind reels!
Oh, wait...according to the WGA's rules, the writers must be members of the WGA's New Media Caucus or have applied to become members to be eligible.
We'll find out the winners on February 9th.
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TAGS: Videogames
Rock Band To Appear at Sundance
Posted by Justin Fassino - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:58 PM
Attendees of this year's Sundance Film Festival will get the chance to be the next virtual Bon Jovi as MTV Games and Harmonix have teamed up with the annual celebration of cinema to bring the Rock Band experience to the masses.
Harry-O's Monkey Bar will offer forth a whole new Welcome to the Jungle as the main stage of the establishment is converted into a Rock Band party between 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day beginning January 17 and ending January 26 (sorry Semisonic fans, happy hour is Closing Time).
The Sundance Film Festival takes place in Park City, Utah for 10 days beginning tomorrow.
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TAGS: Movies, Videogames
Top Ten Most Requested Games
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:51 PM
If you want to separate the hype from the truth in gaming, forget the press releases and the fanboy. Take a look at the hard numbers, like game rental company Gamefly.com's most requested list
Below the cut is the cross-platform top-ten for the week of January 14, 2008.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Videogames
Street Fighter Online: Mouse Generation
Posted by Justin Fassino - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:39 PM
 Daletto, a company formed by Capcom last year, has finally let the cat out of the bag on its PC game project: Street Fighter Online: Mouse Generation.
While the first mental imgaery conjures rodents tying headbands and engaging in bouts of violent fisticuffs, the game is in fact a Windows-based fighting game designed to be controlled with a computer mouse. Using gestures to control the on-screen characters, players will move their fighter around the screen and perform attacks using nothing but the ubiquitous handheld device (including special moves like hadokens and shoryukens).
Street Fighter Online will be free to download and play, but characters will cost money; specifically, pieces of characters. According to IGN, it should theoretically be possible to put Chun Li's thunder thighs on Ryu's torso for some truly bizarre customization. Each character will have their own collection of pieces and purchasing them together will allow you to play as that fighter.
Online features like tournaments, team matches, and saved replays are expected to be implemented for the final release.
Daletto expects an online beta test to be up and running in February with the finished product out sometime in late spring or early summer.
IGN: Street Fighter Going Online
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TAGS: Videogames
Save XP: The Petition That Could
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:37 PM
 Want Microsoft to keep supporting Windows XP after June 30, 2008? You'd better hurry up and add your name (and personal contact information) to an online petition to stop Bill from pulling the plug on XP!
Online petitions are probably the best way to accomplish goals*.
In only 36 hours since being posted, the petition has snagged 12,621 e-signatures. The only other petition to grow faster was titled, "Declare Caturday Official!"
Show your hate for Vista by signing up for tons of spam right here!
*not at all true.
Yahoo News: 12,500 sign 'Save XP' petition
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TAGS: CES, Internets Culture, Products
Ellen Page In Barrymore-Directed Film
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:34 PM
 Ellen Page has some Juno mojo these days, even if she was shockingly ignored by the Golden Globes this past week. How much mojo, you may ask? Page has been tapped to star in Drew Barrymore's directorial debut, Whip It!, as a young girl who is pushed into joining beauty pageants, but who only finds herself after joining a roller derby team.
We're not crazy about the idea for the film, which seems to have been pinched from any number of other films, such as Drop Dead Gorgeous and But I'm A Cheerleader, at least in spirit, but we have to say that we're really looking forward to watching Page kick some butt on roller skates. Mayhap a tattoo, too. Awesome!
Yahoo! News: "Juno" actress to star in Barrymore directing bow
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TAGS: Movies
Nintendo Unveils '08 Lineup
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:06 PM
Nintendo released their 2008 game line-up, touching on the imminent of arrival of many, many important Wii and DS games, including:
- Super Smash Bros: March 9
- Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel: Spring
- Wii Fit from : Q2
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Summer
Those are the four games we're most looking forward to. How about you? Peruse the entire schedule under the cut and let us know what you think.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Nintendo DS, Videogames, Wii
Panasonic's New EVOLTA Battery
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 2:05 PM
It seems to be battery news day in the tech world. Panasonic has announced a new line of alkaline batteries that should last 1.3 to 2 times longer than the current ones.
The EVOLTAs should release on April 26th and will carry at 15% price increase over the standard AA batteries. Sounds like a perfect product for Wiimotes and 360 controllers.
(via Engadget)
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TAGS: CES, Products, Tech
Smash Bros. Brawl Earns Perfect Score in Famitsu
Posted by Justin Fassino - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 12:57 PM
History has been made again: Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu published its review of the upcoming Wii fighting game party Super Smash Bros. Brawl, and the title is now the seventh game in the history of the mag to earn a perfect 40/40 score.
The previous 40/40 was the PlayStation 2 RPG Final Fantasy XII.
The Famitsu reviewers cited the much beefier single-player modes and the flashy extravagance of the final smash super moves as fun improvements over Melee, and that the game is polished to a spit-shien through it's various modes (like the stage editor) and huge cast of playable characters.
The game made headlines recently when Nintendo announced it was being pushed back to March 9 in America and January 31 in Japan, which means an extra four weeks of honing your impeccable skills in the Gamecube version.
Kotaku: Smash Bros. Gets Perfect Score in Famitsu
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TAGS: Videogames, Wii
Exclusive First Look: 'Bully: Scholarship Edition'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:25 AM
Rockstar's Bully was one of those missed gems that snuck under the radar of most gamers because it was initially released on the PlayStation 2 while everyone was turned to the 360 and looking forward to the next-gen. Don't miss it this time around. Bully: Scholarship Edition is coming to a 360 and Wii near you, and the Wii version is backed with special content that's perfect for party gaming.
Plus, just look at the improvement in these brand new screenshots:
...and we have video. Rockstar Games Producer Jeronimo Barrera stopped by the studio to walk us through some of the head-to-head minigames you'll be playing on the Wii version of Bully: Scholarship Edition.
Bully: Scholarship Edition is scheduled for a March 4th release.
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TAGS: G4 Web Exclusive, Game Previews, Videogames
Traci Lords Goes Back To Porn! ...Sorta
Posted by Frank Meyer - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:21 AM
 Kevin Smith's upcoming flick Zack & Miri Make a Porno sounds better and better by the minute!
In addition to Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks and Jason Mewes, the cast just got rounded out by The Office's Craig Robinson and former porn star Traci Lords!
Woo hoo!
You can also add Ricky Mabe (ABC Family's Beautiful People), Jeff Anderson (Clerks II) and Katie Morgan (HBO's Katie Morgan: A Porn Star Revealed) to the list…but no one’s really heard of them so who cares.
--Read More--
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TAGS: Girls, Movies
Oprah Gets OWN(D)
Posted by Frank Meyer - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 11:12 AM
 Oprah Winfrey has teamed with the Discovery Communications launch a new multi-platform media venture named The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) to debut in 2009.
Winfrey will serve as chairman of OWN, will have full editorial over the network’s content and be responsible for the programming, branding and creative vision of the network.
OWN will take over the Discovery Health Channel, placing it in over 70 million homes. The network will target women, men and their families, encouraging them to "live their best lives, and by doing so, lift the lives of those around them in ever-widening circles."
--Read More--
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TAGS: TV
Mattel To Facebook: 'Nix Scrabulous!'
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:26 AM
 If you hang out on Facebook, odds are pretty good you've been assaulted by the 'Scrabulous' application, from a friend or enemy who wants to challenge your online wordsmithery. Well, you can look forward to that particular thing going bye-bye. Mattel has decided that 'Scrabulous' is a little too close to 'Scrabble,' and have decided to put their large, action-figurey foot down to stop it from continuing.
So, Facebook will have to remove 'Scrabulous' from the social networking application. Don't worry, though. There's all kinds of new and annoying applications on the service, from Zombies to Vampires, to whether or not YOU are interested in someone. Facebook's not going anywhere or getting any less annoying for a while.
CNET News.com: Facebook asked by Mattel to remove 'Scrabulous'
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Music
Master Chief 2nd Banana In 'Halo' Film?
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:16 AM
 That Halo film that was going to happen? Yeah, well, it's not going to happen, at least not for a long time, and that might be a good thing, if an interview with Bungie's Joseph Staten is to be believed, in which it is revealed that the shooting script for the movie featured Master Chief in a supporting role. Yes, that's right, the Halo movie was going to be about a bunch of other putzes, and Master Chief was going to get a cameo.
That would be like remaking Star Wars, but having it be about Boba Fett, and only seeing Luke Skywalker for a couple of scenes. It makes no sense. To a great many people, Master Chief IS Halo, and any sort of film in which he is not absolutely the lead character is not a true Halo movie.
Still, it doesn't matter, because they're not making the movie to begin with. We just thought you'd like to know.
Level Up: Exclusive: And The Winner For Best Supporting Actor Is...As Master Chief? Bungie Writing Director Joseph Staten Gives Level Up Some Insight Into The Stalled Halo Movie
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TAGS: Movies, Videogames
Cloned Food Gets "OK" from FDA
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:14 AM
 Did you ever eat a steak that was just perfect? Have you been chasing that steak for years? If only you could clone the cow that that steak came from... why, you'd have a shot at repeating perfection!
The FDA wants to help you out and to do so, they have declared that cloned animals are A-OK to eat. This includes milk, eggs, and other products originating in cloned animals.
We see a world where you find that perfect cow and eat the same delicious steak every day for the rest of your short, artery clogged life.
Apparently, about 33% of Americans wouldn't eat cloned animals, 33% would, and 33% are undecided. Expect some awesomely crazy protests from PETA and similar groups.
Slashdot: US FDA Deems Cloned Animals Edible
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TAGS: Products, Prostate Health
Lost Odyssey Features Pre-Order 'Bonus'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:52 AM
An eagle-eyed gamer over at Australian blog Gameplayer noticed something interesting about Microsoft's pre-order deal for upcoming 360 RPG Lost Odyssey: It's the only way to play the full game.
Customers who pre-order the game will be able to download two pieces of in-game content, and that's the only way to get it.
The two pieces of content:
- The Forgotten Song (found in-game at Virno's Tavern in Uhra)”which "recalls a fresh reflection of a dream."
- Master’s Secret Script that grants the skill "Weapon Guard 2," a defensive bonus.
How much these pieces of content will matter in the game isn't known yet.
Gameplayer.com: Lost Odyssey downgraded
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TAGS: Videogames, Xbox 360
Batteries to Get 10x Better?
Posted by Brian Leahy - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:42 AM
 Stanford researchers believe they have made a breakthrough in battery technology, which they claim could increase battery life by 10.
Using anodes with silicon nanowires (awesome) instead of graphite-based anodes, they can create batteries that hold up to 10 times more of a charge than current commercially available batteries.
If this tech can be fully developed and commercialized, we could be looking at laptops that would last 40 hours on a full charge and cell phones that would survive for weeks.
There are, always, the issues of heat output, longevity, and size to think about.
CNet: A tenfold improvement in battery life?
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TAGS: Products, Tech
Nugget From The Net
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 8:42 AM
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the greatest thing ever broadcast on network television: Shatner's rendition of Elton John's "Rocket Man."
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TAGS: Nuggets From The Nets
'Myst' Comes To The DS, PSP
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 8:21 AM
 Seminal point-and-click adventure game MYST is coming to the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP.
The surrealistic exploration game is scheduled to ship in North America in March 2008. According to developers Empire Interactive, the game takes full advantage of the DS's technology by using the stylus as the key method of interaction and the dual screen as a vehicle to provide additional information.
"The new interface for MYST enhances the gameplay in all-new ways. The upper screen of the system provides information and allows players to view magnified images, while the bottom screen is used to access mini-tools and navigate throughout the realistic worlds of MYST. Additionally, to aid in their expedition to uncover clues and solve the mysteries of MYST, players have a new arsenal of mini-tools at their disposal, including a magnifying glass, camera, notebook, and map. Now, players can closely inspect and interact with clues and items, take snapshots for future use, keep notes in a diary, and pinpoint key locations within the game."
We spent way too much time with the original CD-based MYST, and we're looking forward to playing the handheld version. This game would be especially choice for those with a long, regular commute--who wouldn't want to spend the hour before work/school on the strange MYST island? Only crazy idiots, of course.
EDIT: Added PSP info.
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TAGS: Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Videogames
Next-Gen 'Dragonball Z' Announced
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Wednesday, January 16, 2008 7:52 AM
Atari is releasing a next-gen Dragonball Z for the PS3 and the Xbox 360. Dragonball Z: Burst Limit will drop sometime in 2008.
According to the company the game will feature:
- Fierce online battles and
- Radical 3D graphic effects only possible on Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3
- Will "blur the line between video game and iconic anime series."
"Atari is excited and ready to offer fans the next iteration of the Dragon Ball Z video game series on the next-gen consoles," said Donny Clay, Producer, Atari, Inc. "With explosive cinematic graphics and online gameplay, fans of the series and of the fighting genre will surely enjoy Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit."
Okay. We're sold. We'll give it a try.
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TAGS: PlayStation 3, Videogames, Xbox 360
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