Tying Fitness To In-Game Performance
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 9:30 AM
In this age of derivation and endless sequels, it's not often that a clean, clear new idea is presented in videogaming, but I think kotaku's Brian Crescente has one:
Tie real-life fitness to in-game performance.
Not one of those "You have to pedal a bike to move your guy" things, but imagine an MMO or a FPS where your character could only run as fast and as long as you can run in real life. At the start of the game, a monitor checks your heart rate, and bases your characters "stats" on that. The technology is there already--USB heart rate monitors, the Wii Fit "Balance Board," etc.--all the world needs is the killer app that would make it work together.
Having watched people grind MMOs for hours and weeks to find a sword that boosts damage .03%, we think an hour in the gym a day wouldn't be too much to expect to keep an avatar in peak physical condition.
What do you think? Good idea, or just too much effort to be worthwhile?
Kotaku: What if you character was only as fit as you were?
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TAGS: Videogames
'X-Play' Looks At Top Adult Games
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 8:47 AM
In case you missed it on teevee last night, here's X-Play's look at the top ten games for adult eye's only. (Cue Sexy Music!)
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TAGS: G4, Videogames
Nugget From The Net
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 8:30 AM
This NES coffee table is the hotness.
(source)
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TAGS: Nuggets From The Nets
Universal, Take Two Making 'Bioshock'
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 8:03 AM
Long rumored to be in the works, today it's official: Universal and Take Two are combining forces to bring us a Bioshock movie.
Director Gore Verbinski, (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring) is slated to direct and produce the film. John Logan, writer of Gladiator, The Aviator and Sweeney Todd, is in talks to write BioShock’s screenplay.
"We are excited that 2K Games' vision for BioShock will be carried forward in a new medium," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two. "BioShock has been hailed as one of the most highly cinematic and richly plotted titles in interactive entertainment, making it extremely well-suited to film. In partnering with Universal and Gore Verbinski, we have assembled a team that respects the uniqueness of BioShock and will translate it into a powerful movie experience."
Hmm... two talented, creative people and one incredibly awesome videogame story: Could this be the movie that breaks Hollywood's curse on videogame flicks?
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TAGS: Movies, Videogames
Next Call of Duty Details Revealed
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Friday, May 09, 2008 7:43 AM
Speaking during a conference call yesterday, Activision Publishing CEO and president Mike Griffith dropped a few tantalizing details about the next Call of Duty game.
The unnamed sequel will arrive on PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, and Nintendo DS later this year, and it looks like it won't be set in World War II, the series' go-to setting.
ShackNews: Next Call of Duty Due This Year on PC, Consoles; Takes Place in 'New Military Theater'
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TAGS: Nintendo DS, PC Gaming, PlayStation 3
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Daily Wrap-Up 5.08.08
Posted by Stephen Johnson - Thursday, May 08, 2008 6:01 PM
Here's what happened today in the world of videogames, popular culture and technology!
--Read More--
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TAGS: Daily Wrap-Up, Videos
'GRID' Demo Gameplay
Posted by Brian Leahy - Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:06 PM
The makers of DIRT are back with a new game, GRID. This game is all about drifting and arcade style racing. I took the demo for a spin and put my drifting skills to the test (I failed).
Just to prove there are no hard feelings, I chose the PS3 demo over the Xbox 360 demo.
The full game will release on June 3, 2008 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.
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TAGS: Cars, G4 Web Exclusive, PC Gaming
Online Subscriptions Up To $1 Billion
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:52 PM
When NPD said they were doing to start tracking online gaming, we all chuckled. It's always funny when media dinosaurs try to get in on something gaming related about 5 years too late. Well, NPD's Online Subscription Tracker has come up with some results, and they're not terribly surprising...to us at least.
NPD claims they can now estimate that online subscription fees total over $1 billion a year, making us all question our career choices. This wad of cash comes from the 11 million subscribers they claim log on each month, but when Blizzard claims that World of Warcraft alone has 10 million active subscribers, someone's a little off. NPD also listed the top 5 MMO and gaming websites based on first quarter numbers from 2008. Hit the bump for the lists.
--Read More--
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Games For Health Event Held In Baltimore
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:35 PM
The fourth annual Games For Health Conference began in Blatimore today, showing how their organization has adapted certain video games and gaming peripherals to be used as a for of physical therapy for people with health issues. Both attendance and sessions have nearly doubled from last year's numbers, proving this isn't just a fad hyped up by the media.
The conference focused on games that were "playable by everybody", especially those with physical limitations. What exactly does that mean? Well, hardwar modder Benjamin Heckendorn created a Guitar Hero axe that you can play with one hand. Slide your foot into a special housing and you can strum the guitar by flicking your big toe up or down. Wanna get some extra points for your whammy action? Just lift up your heel. Combine this with booths focused on EyeToy, Wii Fit, Dance Dance Revolution, and My Weight Loss Coach, and that's one enjoyable workout my friend.
Gamasutra: Games For Health Conference Kicks Off in Baltimore
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TAGS: Videogames
SuperDeluxe Folded Into Adult Swim
Posted by Mike D'Alonzo - Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:23 PM
 SuperDeluxe couldn't fail. It was funded by the people at Turner, connected to super hip Adult Swim, and had money and stars all over it. So, it was a huge surprise when SuperDeluxe announced that they were closing up shop and folding all of their content into Adult Swim, saying they were "tired of competing with themselves."
What they were likely tired of was paying out hundreds of thousands of dollars to get online content and not having the traffic to support it. Yes, there was good stuff on SuperDeluxe, and, yes, it was the kind of stuff you couldn't naturally get anywhere else, but people just didn't seem to respond, and, thus...the end.
R.I.P. SuperDeluxe...you will be missed.
NewTeeVee.com: SuperDeluxe Sinks Into Adult Swim
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TAGS: Internets Culture
PSP Skype Headset Confirmed
Posted by Patrick Roche-Sowa - Thursday, May 08, 2008 4:18 PM
Remember all those photoshops of a Playstaion branded cell phone, or the iPhone/PSP mash-ups? Well keep dreaming kid, it'll never happen.
For now, you'll have to settle for this new Sony headset designed specifically for use of Skype on your PSP. It's everything you'd expect it to be with soft earbuds, adjustable microphone, and a thirty dollar price tag. Not exactly cheap, but we're talking about something that will allow you to make free phone calls with the internet from your handheld gaming device. Now go be a good Sony fanboy and buy one, right after you scream about how we get paid by Microsoft to tell you not to buy this.
PSP Fanboy: Skype Headset Finally Available
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TAGS: Sony PSP, Videogames
Geek Out: BSG Live!
Posted by Jonathan Hunt - Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:54 PM
This past Tax Day, April 15th, a very special event took place at the Roxy in Los Angeles, California. Nerds from all over crowded together for a sold-out show where composer Bear McCreary brought the music of Battlestar Galactica to a live concert venue.
We were the only ones given full access to everyone and everything inside the club. Sure we could be selfish and keep all the BSG-sweetness for ourselves, but we're not like that. We're about sharing.
Bear, his brother Brendan, the lovely Raya Yarbrough, and the Galactica's own Kandyse McClure all found time to sit down with us and talk about this unique concert event that brought musicians, performers, and geeks together like nothing has before.
This is the only place where you can see this footage! Also, be sure to check back next week, where we'll have some more BSG Live surprises up our sleeve.
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TAGS: Geek Out With Blair Butler, Music, TV
'GTA' Multiplayer De-mystified
Posted by Ty Colfax - Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:21 PM
Some of us have started to venture into multiplayer modes in GTA, while others of us here on TheFeed are still working the missions before going postal on noobs and the like. But for those who have gotten to the multi-action, there's been some confusion and the instruction manual, which typically for GTA games is just loaded with jokes and song credits, is equally devoid of info on the multiplayer modes.
So, Rockstar has released a document explaining it in great detail. You can find it at our compadres' ole Kotaku site. It's extensive.
kotaku.com: Rockstar explains GTA 4 multiplayer
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TAGS: Grand Theft Auto IV, Internets Culture, Other People's Misfortune
'Everyday Shooter' Now Available for the PC
Posted by Ty Colfax - Thursday, May 08, 2008 3:06 PM
 You can download the highly decorated award-winning Everyday Shooter via Steam at this very moment, but only if you're interested in being addicted to a game so simple, you can't believe how much mileage you're getting out of it.
It's $9.99 and worth every coin. That almost rhymes.
gaygamer.net: Enjoy Everyday Shooter on your PC via Steam
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TAGS: PC Gaming, PlayStation 3, Videogames
'Wii Fit' Demand Higher than 'GTA IV' on eBay?
Posted by Ty Colfax - Thursday, May 08, 2008 2:50 PM
An "expert," and we use the quotes with great purpose, has predicted that demand for the Wii Fit will be greater than GTA IV on eBay. It's not beyond us or anyone with half a brain, which is also us, that this is due to factors beyond base demand.
Could it be because anyone who wants a copy of GTA is of the age savvy enough to just go buy a copy, or maybe because old people who are going to buy the Wii Fit are ironically too lazy to get fit by exercising and diet, and therefore are too lazy to go to the f***ing Best Buy 2 miles from their house?
Also, people are going to be reselling their Wii Fit once they realize how bored they are so of course there will be more copies up on eBay. Do you know anyone who is seling their copy of GTA? NO! THEY'RE PLAYING IT!
Where are my blood pressure pills?
wiifitchat.blogspot.com: Demand for Wii Fit on eBay to be higher than GTA IV?
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TAGS: Internets Culture, Other People's Misfortune, Products
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