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Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, February 08, 2008 4:57 PM
You know what happened today? We do. So why don't you check this guide to all the news we were able to report? We call it the Daily Wrap-Up. You'll call it...um...the Daily Wrap-Up. So, that's nice.
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Friday, February 08, 2008 4:45 PM
Fresh Ink is back, and Blair Butler's here to tell you all about what the superheroes of the world have been up to. So, here's Action Comics, Black Adam, Northlanders, The Twelve and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, just for you and your twisted pleasure.
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Friday, February 08, 2008 2:03 PM
Last week, the great John Walsh guest hosted while Casey was out sick. Now Casey is on the mend, and we all know what that means. No one puts baby in the corner and gets away with it.
This week our stories are quite varied, moving from rumors to cancelations to frugal gaming practices. We even have a story about one gamer's attempt to get the local authorities involved when his buddy stole all his in-game weapons and items. What ever happened to the golden rule: Don't Snitch?
But the real story? Casey's return to his fully armed and operational battle station. So fuel up on caffeine and ginseng, fluff up your lower-back support pillow, and attach the catheter. This is...
Posted by Justin Fassino - Friday, February 08, 2008 1:34 PM
In an increasing effort to keep R4 chips out of the hands of DS owners, Nintendo and the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association have joined forces to fight against the dark tides of piracy.
The R4 chip is an electronic means of getting around the DS' security features and playing copied games illegally downloaded from the internet, and while Nintendo says that the R4 has yet to find its way into the mass market, there is still enough concern to warrant the cracking down on this type of piracy.
Both ELSPA and Nintendo hope to stem the proliferation in the bud before it can undermine profitablity efforts on the DS.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 1:32 PM
Grand Theft Auto 4's site is live, right now, and free for you to slaver over.
The site contains an interactive flash map of Liberty City with locations, characters, info and, OMG...I'm going back to stare at it more. New videos! Screenshots! Comedy!
I think I'm in love.
Don't miss tonight's X-Play for an in-depth look at the game. It's on at 8PM.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 1:11 PM
You know how you hate being called by telemarketers when you're at home eating dinner or nodding on Methadone? And so you go to a website and register your phone number and then no businesses can call you? But then you find out the "don't call me!" spell wears out after five years (as if, maybe in five years you'll want someone to sell you new windows at dinnertime), so you have to re-register? You know all that? If the Congress has its way, the list will be permanent.
The bill to extend the Do Not Call Registry into perpetuity and allow you to switch phone numbers without re-registering has been fast-tracked through Congress and the next step is Bush's pen signing it into law.
So, readers, what do you think? Do you think the president going to sign the law extending the Do Not Call list? Do you think he should?
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Friday, February 08, 2008 11:31 AM
"The strike is over! The strike is over!"
That seems to be the general sentiment being reported through the media this week. People have even been saying that the deal will be done by today. Ex-Disney Chief Michael Eisner even chimed in, saying "It's over. They made the deal, they shook hands on the deal. It's going on Saturday to the writers in general...it's impossible (the WGA) will turn it down. A deal has been made. They'll be back to work very soon. I know it's over."
Posted by Justin Fassino - Friday, February 08, 2008 11:27 AM
You can smell it on the wind. It's that time of the year, the time when video game publishers discuss their quarterly earnings reports and make projections for the calendar ahead.
Activision, gaming's newest top worldwide publisher of games, issues their own predictions. According to them, the Wii will sell the most units in 2008 with 6 million pieces of hardware out the door. In second place will be the Xbox 360, selling just below that with somewhere between four and five million systems. bringing up the rear will be the PS3, with between three and four million.
Additionally, the company projects that handheld game systems (meaning the PSP and DS) will combine for over 10 million units worth of sales.
Perhaps most surprising is that Activision still believes the PlayStation 2 will continue to kick; they would not be surprised if the PS2 sells two to three million units. That would be impressive for a console entering its eighth year on the market.
Posted by Ty Colfax - Friday, February 08, 2008 11:11 AM
When we got a first look at this game at E3 2004, the videogame world was shaken to its core.* Well, your old pals at G4 have a friend at Sega who "accidentally" leaked this little nugget to us. The release date is February 26, so clear your calendar. Quit your job. Tell your girlfriend you need to "take a break," because it's finally here.
We give you Sega Bass Fishing for the Nintendo Wii:
Posted by Justin Fassino - Friday, February 08, 2008 10:27 AM
Having a nice car usually means choosing between spending money on your wheels or spending it on your girlfriend; luckily Bizarre Creations is making that choice much, much easier.
Valentine's Day will see a release of brand new content for Project Gotham Racing 4, including 10 new achievements worth a total of 250 gamer points. Three new game modes include Tourist Mode, an open-ended multiplayer mode that allows for simple sandbox or exploratory gameplay and Free Roam Cat & Mouse Mode, where a slow-driving "mouse" vehicle must avoid faster-moving "cat" vehicles to earn points, as well as a new option under the main menu called World Challenge, which will challenge you with a harder difficulty, racing with only downloadable cars, and other various arcade trials.
Speaking of new cars, there are a total of 10 new vehicles: the 2008 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible Concept, the 2007 Volkswagen Golf GTI W12-650, the 2007 Peugeot Flux, the 1987 BMW M3 E30 DTM, the 2007 Ferrari 430 Scuderia, the 2008 Honda S2000 CR, and the 2008 Callaway C16 Speedster. There are also new motorcycles as well: the 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1, the 1995 Aprilia RS 250, and the 1998 Aprilia RSV 1000 Tuono R.
This new stuff has been split into two packs: the Premium Challenge Pack comes with everything and costs 400 MS points ($5), and for the gamer with an exceptionally demanding girlfriend, the Free Challenge Pack, which is simlpy selected cuts from the entire shebang (seven of the 10 achievements, one of the new cars, and two of the three game modes).
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 10:16 AM
Like the one-hit-kill a lvl 63 Tauren Warrior would lay down on a lvl 3 gnome mage, Blizzard's legal injunction against third party WOW spammer Game Dollar has been granted.
Blizzard argued successfully that the practice violated the game's EULA and Terms of Service and dimished the game for players which could result in a loss of revenue. This prevents Game Dollar from sending solicitations to WOW players, so offers of power leveling and in-game items will cease.
The injuntion is permanent. Chalk one up for the good guys.
Posted by Ty Colfax - Friday, February 08, 2008 10:10 AM
A recent study suggests that men are more likely to become addicted to videogames. Another more informal study shows that researchers are more likely to prove obvious things.
The Stanford University School of Medicine watched the brains of 22 young adults, 11 male and 11 female, checking for patterns of activity in certain parts of the brain. It seems that the male subjects experienced more of what a bad scientist would call "fun units" in a section of the brain associated with reward and addiction, and as their territory in the game increased the "fun units" did as well.
The report went on to note that the sun is hot and chocolate ice cream is delicious.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 9:22 AM
Good news, gamers: According to researchers in Omaha (where the smartest researchers live) it turns out playing violent videogames will turn you into a cold-blooded killing machine who sheds no tears as he lays waste to his enemies. All this time we just thought they turned us into pasty fatties who were afraid to talk to girls!
Apparently, some recent research has shown increased activity in the areas involved in emotional arousal during gaming. "Exposure to violent video games, even E rated video games, increases aggressive thoughts, increases pro-social behavior and increases general arousal," said Dr. Greg Snyder, a psychologist at Omaha's Children's Hospital.
...which doesn't exactly mean gamers are remorseless killing machines, but luckily, local parent Chuck Payne filled in the gaps. He said he knows some teens who are allowed to play violent games for hours a day. "Then, when they're done playing, that's all that's on their mind. Kill. Kill. Kill," he said in the most awesome quote we have ever read.
Dear readers, when you're done playing, is "Kill. Kill. Kill." all that's on your mind?
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 9:11 AM
The rumor that Viacom has taken a serious interest in buying Grand Theft Auto publisher Take Two has videogame industry analysts saying: Not so fast...
"This is very unlikely," Pacific Crest Securities analyst Evan Wilson told Reuters. "Video games are a hot space and media companies are interested in participating in the growth, but for Viacom, they are pursuing a completely separate strategy."
Another nay-sayer: Reuters' "source familiar with the matter," who confirmed that Viacom is not in the market for Take Two.
Posted by Robt. Juster - Friday, February 08, 2008 9:03 AM
Ten Ton Hammer has released a few exclusive screenshots of female rangers from the upcoming 'Age of Conan' MMO. You can click on the image below to go to their gallery, but we've got to give you fair warning... none of the shots show the rangers' faces.
Perhaps its not unlike the popular 'Twilight Zone' episode where everyone's faces are.... oh... some of you may not have seen that. Or know what 'Twilight Zone' is. Google it.
Hit the link, then come back and tell us whether or not you have any hope for this game.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 8:51 AM
Just as Rick Moranis successfully shrunk the kids, IBM has shrunk the chip that powers the PlayStation 3.
According to Arstechnica:
IBM announced details of a smaller, lower-power version of the Cell BE processor that powers Sony's PlayStation 3. The Cell BE is currently fabricated on IBM's 65nm SOI process, but IBM will soon move the console chip onto the company's much-ballyhooed, next-generation 45nm high-k process.
That doesn't mean anything to us, either, but this does:
Eventually, the cost savings will get passed on to users; it's just a question of when.
How soon and how much depends on whether Sony is more interested in increasing profit in their gaming division or attracting more PS3 users.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 8:27 AM
The battle for Xbox Live supremacy goes on and on. Like Ivan Drago and Rocky, Tom and Jerry, and Peter Griffin and the Giant Chicken, Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3 stand toe-to-toe, two weary combatants, hammering at one another relentlessly...or something.
Anyway, last week, more people played Call of Duty 4 online than Halo 3. That's a switch from the previous week, when Halo was on top, which was a switch from the previous week, when COD was on top, etc.
Click the cut for the breakdown of the week's online stats.
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, February 08, 2008 8:11 AM
The Annual Academy of Interactive Achievement Awards named Call of Duty 4 its Overall Game of the Year, as well as bestowing the nod for Action Game of the Year and Online game. Grats, COD 4.
Orange Box took home the PC game award, while Bioshock won for Art Direction and sound design. Overall, pretty much the list you'd expect, with a notable title absent: Halo 3. That game earned zilch.
Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime was inducted into the Academy's hall of fame, while former Sony chief Ken Kutaragi received a lifetime achievment award. Click the tag for the full list.
We report so many games as delayed, that it's always a happy time when we can say a game will come early. Today it's happy-time!
Like the one-hit-kill a lvl 63 Tauren Warrior would lay down on a lvl 3 gnome mage, Blizzard's legal injunction against third party WOW spammer Game Dollar has been granted.
A recent study suggests that men are more likely to become addicted to videogames. Another more informal study shows that researchers are more likely to prove obvious things.
