Videogame Art
October 23, 2006
Clive Thompson reviews Okami and discusses what separates art from games.
In other situations, I’d perform even more godlike stunts of creation. I drew gusts of wind to knock over a foe, a sun in the sky to transform night into day, and a heart in the air to make friends. I drew in the missing spokes on an old broken waterwheel — and in a burst of color and flower petals, it sprang back to life.
This is giddy, dreamlike stuff, and the experience never got old. Indeed, every time something poofed into reality, I felt anew the raw thrill of a toddler admiring his finger-painting. Okami neatly leverages the existential strangeness that underpins all art: You’re creating something from nothing. No wonder they have you play as a god!
WoW South Park Episode
October 22, 2006
If you haven’t already seen it, go watch the World Of WarCraft South Park episode. South Park usually walks the fine line between hilarious and mind-blowingly stupid, and this one is definitely on the right side.
Women In Gaming Scholarship
October 22, 2006
DigiPen Institute of Technology and Womengamers.com have announced that they will jointly be offering a scholarship for freshmen women who attend the game programming school in September 2007 Article here
Get going, girls! (I’m looking at you, Ysabel.)
Sony PS3 Controllers: No Replaceable Battery?
October 19, 2006
It doesn’t seem official yet but news swirling around the internet about the PS3 controllers is not all good. It seems that they will have bluetooth technology to be wireless but once the battery doesn’t charge anymore, off we have to send it back to Sony. Think Apple and iPod. Read more.
Game Consoles Duke It Out
October 19, 2006
Even though consoles such as the PS2 has been a smash hit, video game makers can never sit back and rest. They always need to have the next console model bigger and badder than ever, plus they need to have great games that will keep the money rolling in. So who will win when the Wii and PS3 comes out?
First Grope: DS-Xtreme Nintendo DS Media Enhancer
October 16, 2006
This guy makes gaming sound so sexy. Oh yeah Donkey Kong you rock my world you … err I better stop. This is not an item that will find it’s way to my wee gaming collection but for those with money to blow out their bums then I say why not? “Keep up with the neighbors down the street or die” has always been my moto, and if it’s good enough for me then it should be good enough for you.
Read More: First Grope: DS-Xtreme Nintendo DS Media Enhancer
Arcade-in-a-Box brings classic gaming home, no quarters required
October 15, 2006
I think I’ve obtained some kind of gaming geek high after seeing this nifty thing. Oh if you could see me now!
This particular item is grossly over-priced but if there’s a kind soul out there maybe I’ll see one of these sitting under my beautifully appointed, Martha Stewart approved Christmas tree this year!
Read More: Arcade-in-a-Box brings classic gaming home, no quarters required
Computer Games Prepare Battlefield Medics
October 15, 2006
I know that I’ll never forget how “Super Mario Brothers” helped me give the Heimlich to my father when I was ten.What confuses me is why a more real-world type approach wouldn’t be more beneficial in the long run. It seems to me that the quality of doctors has gone way down over the years and I’m skeptical that this is going to help in any way.
Read More: Computer Games Prepare Battlefield Medics
Now With Faster Stupidity!
October 14, 2006
GameDR is doing it’s part to keep stupid people gaming! They’ve created SmackTalk, an Xbox 360 peripheral so you can pre-record up to 5 messages for fast access and repeatability. So when you’re playing a multiplayer game, and it seems like everyone’s saying the same stupid things over and over, they really will be saying the same 5 things over and over! You can annoy the other players with even less effort!
I’m all for the Need-healing macro, but I can’t think of anything I want less than a preteen gamer with 5 recorded swears.
Circuit City’s PC Game Sale
October 11, 2006
Circuit City has PC Games on clearance, some for less than $2! Really! Some, like The Apprentice spinoff game or 250 Other Ways To Play Computer Solitaire are understandably on clearance, but there are also some great games. The Hobbit for $1.41, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban for $2.74 , Neverwinter Nights: Gold for $4.54 and many others. Shipping starts at $3.16.
3 Brothers Equals No PS3
October 11, 2006
Just about every company has a policy of one item per household, but it’s mostly when your getting something for free. However here is a letter from one of 3 brothers who is extremely ticked off. It turns out that they cannot get a PS3 because the rules were changed to allow one per family instead of household. Meaning that even if you live in a completely different house, your brother or other relative with the same last name who lives across town can’t get one on pre-order and vice versa.
Call for Academic Gaming Papers
October 11, 2006
Are you a gaming and comp-sci geek with something to say? The 2nd Annual Microsoft Academic Days Conference on Game Development has announced its call for papers for the February 22 - 25, 2007 conference. They are seeking high quality unpublished original work on the use of Game Development in Computer Science Education. If your paper is selected, you’ll end up on a cruise ship surrounded by geeks. No, really.
Topics should be explicitly related to the use of game development in Computer Science Education, including but not limited to:
· Game development classes in the Computer Science major.
· The use of game development projects in traditional Computer Science classes.
· Games as capstone projects.
· Interdisciplinary collaboration with non-CS disciplines.
· Game development concentrations and majors.
· Laboratory and infrastructure requirements for game development classes.
· The effect of game development classes on the Computer Science student.
· Engaging middle school and high school students in game development.
Go here for details or to submit paper.
Pre-Order WoW
October 11, 2006
If you’re thinking about World Of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade, get it from Amazon for $59.99 with free shipping. If the Amazon.com price decreases between your order time and release date (11/30, which makes it a great Christmas gift), you’ll pay the lowest price.
Nintendo Is Still Loved
October 9, 2006
Yes I know that any self-respecting gamer has a PS2, Xbox 360 and all the other newer version consoles but some of us still love the classics. Here’s a site that lets you play them.
PS3 Preorders?
October 9, 2006
News have hit the web that Playstation 3 preorders are starting tomorrow. Get to the stores early and have at least $100 to put down if you expect them to hold it for you when they come out. Also most stores will only have roughly 15 units.
Level 60 in Wow Naked
October 9, 2006
Here’s a blog created by a fan of the video game World of Warcraft (WoW). His goal is to finish the entire game naked; That is he wants to complete it without any body armor at all. Pictures and videos blog his progress.
WoW In China
October 9, 2006
China celebrates Mid-Autumn Festival with World Of Warcraft themed mooncakes. Really. It seems QQ (Chinese MSN messenger) instant noodles are just the beginning. What’s next, EverQuest Hot Pockets?
Wii: Up Close and Personal Pictures
October 5, 2006
Take a moment and see the Wii from every angle with these pictures from Cnet. Very nice.
The Wii and Game Cube are different
October 5, 2006
The Wii was lumped in with the Game Cube with this following statement and this blogger is not pleased:
‘The hardware is basically a GC. We’ve upgraded our development tools to new versions but, you can still use GC programs as they are. With that in mind, I thought we could remake GC titles for the Wii and modify them to work with the Wii remote so that they’re more fun to play.’
British Game Exhibit
October 5, 2006
Game On Exhibit at London’s Science Museum will display ”vintage arcade machines, obscure consoles and the very latest hardware developments”. The exhibit runs from October 21 to February 25, 2007.
Video Game Ads Not Realistic
October 3, 2006
If there is money to be made, big companies will find it. So it was no surprise when ads started appearing in video games. Heck they are even prominent now in tv shows. But are they as realistic as they want you to believe? Most say no.
Most gamers do not agree that advertising makes games more realistic
Video Games Are Changing
October 3, 2006
If you have played games like Halo and Half-Life 2 you would have noticed that they ended in cliff hangers. Video games seem to be taking their cue from movies and are adding more changes that have usually not been seen in a game.
Changing the way video games are made
