Sonic and Mario’s Awkward Reunion
Posted By Ben Goulding, 25 March, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Here’s a funny little video by College Humor showing what happened when Sonic met Mario at a restaurant. Sonic hasn’t been doing too well lately and it gets very uncomfortable.
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/Tech
Switzerland Bans Violent Video Games
Posted By Ben Goulding, 22 March, 2010 | permalink
Just a month after the proposals were first outlined in full, the Swiss National Council has now officially passed a law that will ultimately lead to the complete ban of any violent video games in the country.
The full implications of the new law are not yet known, however Swiss authorities now have the power to introduce any measures they see fit.
The likeliest outcome seems to be an outright ban on the production, distribution and sale of any games deemed to be unsuitable ā most likely anything with either a PEGI 16+ or PEGI 18+ certificate. Until then, Swiss video gamers can back up supplies of violent video games on a hard drive, providing them with a lifetime supply of digital violence.
Do you think that this is a viable law for the Swiss to introduce? Won’t it just lead to a black market of banned video games, never mind the endless supply of violence already on the TV, internet and in movies.
Comments Off | Posted in: Politics | Sci/TechIncredible Stuntman Has An Unlikely “Real” Job
Posted By Ben Goulding, 8 March, 2010 | permalink
Aung Zaw Oo has become a big hit on YouTube after uploading videos of his incredibly physical stunts, accumulating over 3 million views. Aung was asked by many people what his job was. The vast majority assumed that he was a stuntman or performer of some kind, however his video response to this question was a big surprise – he’s a video game developer.
Not only does this show that we should never judge a book by it’s cover, it also shows that the coolest guy in the world is a video game developer! Who would have guessed?
(Youtube Link)
Sony Developing PlayStation Phone
Posted By Ben Goulding, 5 March, 2010 | permalink
With the growing success of portable Apple devices, Sony is developing a lineup of handheld products, according to the Wall Street Journal, scheduled for release later this year.
Specifically, a smart phone will be released along with a separate device that combines a netbook, an e-reader and a PlayStation Portable. This device is what Sony hope will compete against some of Apple’s latest products, such as the iPad.
Both the new smart phone and the multifunction device are expected to work with Sony’s new online media platform, due to launch later this month.
So, do you think Sony has what it takes to compete with the likes of Apple, or do you think all the hype will amount to nothing, with their launches being out-sold by rivals like so many of their recent products have been?
Comments Off | Posted in: NewsWarner Bros. May Create Space Invaders Movie
Posted By Ben Goulding, 4 March, 2010 | permalink
For a lot of people, Space Invaders used to be a game countless hours would be wasted on trying to beat that impossible high score, but in today’s vastly technologically superior world, many would say that Space Invaders is an out-dated thing of the past. Those people may have a point, but Warner Bros. thinks otherwise – they want to put the classic arcade game onto the silver screen.
Warner Bros. is negotiating to acquire feature rights to the landmark shooter from Taito, the Japanese company that originally manufactured the game.
It’s not surprising that Warner Bros. would look to jump-start a Space Invaders movie; last summer the studio bought Midway, the video game’s U.S. publisher (which does not control theatrical rights), and also is developing a feature of another video game, “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.”
If Warner Bros. can make a Space Invaders film, then why not make a ‘Tetris’ one? Alternatively, I can see huge appeal for ‘Pong’ on the silver screen.
Comments Off | Posted in: Sci/Tech | TelevisionSkinput Turns Your Skin Into A Touchscreen
Posted By Ben Goulding, 2 March, 2010 | permalink
Touchscreen devices are everywhere nowadays, and they’re getting smaller and smaller as technology progresses, but why do we need touchscreen devices when we’ve got our skin? At this point you may be wondering, what has our skin got to do with touch screens. Well actually, our skin can be a touchscreen.
A new skin-based interface called Skinput allows users to use their own hands and arms as touchscreens by detecting the various ultralow-frequency sounds produced when tapping different parts of the skin.
Skinput is a collaboration between Chris Harrison at Carnegie Mellon University and Dan Morris and Desney Tan at Microsoft’s research lab in Redmond, Washington. The researchers have shown that Skinput can allow users to simply tap their skin in order to control audio devices, play games, make phone calls, and navigate hierarchical browsing systems.
This video explains how it works.
(Youtube Link)
Rare Nintendo Game Sells For $41,000
Posted By Ben Goulding, 1 March, 2010 | permalink
Dave was impressed when he heard that an utra-rare Nintendo game sold for $13,000 on eBay, so he headed for his basement to see if he too had video game gold lurking around.
Comments Off | Posted in: Sci/Tech“We had quite a collection (185+ games) that has sat in our basement for over 20 years,” Dave told Y! Games. “The games were on a list to be brought to Goodwill ā in fact, within a month, Goodwill was going to have them.”
To his astonishment, not only did he find a copy of the same game that just fetched over $13,000 on eBay — highly sought-after collector’s item Stadium Events — it was in perfect condition, right down to the original shrinkwrapping and Richard Gordman pricetag. (A mere $29.99, if you’re wondering.)
“Now Iām not much of a collector, but I know that having a factory seal is good,” he said.
But he’s only just now finding out quite how good.
As it turns out, the game’s unopened condition makes Dave’s copy of Stadium Events three times more valuable: he sold it on auction site eBay for a breathtaking $41,300. It’s thought to be one of only two shrinkwrapped copies of the game still in existence.
Pac-Man is LG Logo!
Posted By Ben Goulding, 24 February, 2010 | permalink
Ever noticed this before? It’s clear that Pac-Man evolved from the LG logo. I think I’m going to have to get an LG phone just because of that.
Comments Off | Posted in: Business | Sci/TechHacked Roombas Used to Play Pac-Man
Posted By Ben Goulding, 9 November, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
It was inevitable, and here it is – Roomba Pac-Man!
The system works by allowing users to view a map of the game board on a PC while controlling the PacMan character. Users are then chased by Roomba ghosts, get caught and just like the original game all of the pieces are reset. Eat a pellet and the interface turns all the ghosts blue and you can go on the attack.
So there we have it, pacman will eat ghosts whilst cleaning your floor at the same time. Everyone’s a winner!
Via Inquisitr
1 Comment | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/TechRobot Playing Rockband on iPhone
Posted By Ben Goulding, 2 November, 2009 | permalink
Now this may slightly take the fun out of the game, but one geek has created a robot which can play ‘Rockband’ on the iPhone.
(Youtube Link)
For all the details about how it works and how it was made, take a visit to OhBowz. There are labelled pictures and diagrams, as well as an explanation on all the techy stuff, which I can’t even begin to comprehend.
2 Comments | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/TechGeek Marriage Proposal With Super Mario
Posted By Ben Goulding, 20 October, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Take a look at what has got to be the ultimate geek marriage proposal. One very creative guy called Brad Smith, used a program called Lunar Magic to create his very own Super Mario level, with the words “Lisa … Will You Marry Me?”, written out in coins at the end of the game. He then coaxed his girlfriend into playing some Super Mario and voila, she said yes! What a genius.
Comments Off | Posted in: Lifestyle | TelevisionSEGA’s Office Prank Gives Magazine Collection A Whole New Meaning
Posted By Ben Goulding, 16 October, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
When Jen returned from a two week vacation, I’m sure she wasn’t expecting this. Her colleagues had filled her cubicle with millions of Game Informer magazines, and then cordoned it off with some plastic wrap. What a bunch of thoughtful guys. I sure hope she likes Game Informer!
1 Comment | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/TechDwight Howard Likes to Play
Posted By Ben Goulding, 15 October, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
This new NBA Live 10 video features NBA Superstar Dwight Howard showing how much he likes to play. Clearly he enjoys dominating children, lifting weights and slapping stickers on clueless old people, dogs and backboards. Good times Dwight, good times.
1 Comment | Posted in: NewsHuman Tetris On The Streets
Posted By Ben Goulding, 29 September, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Watch as this groovy crew of 36 freeborders take over a street in San Fransisco with glowing Tetris shapes, to create a real life video game.
Comments Off | Posted in: EntertainmentCrime Rates Drop in 08, Video Game Sales Increase
Posted By Ben Goulding, 15 September, 2009 | permalink
Video games get a bad rap. They are seen a big influence of the young people of society, causing them to get involved with drugs, gangs and crime, however the correlation of crime to video game sales in 2008 tells a different story.
One word of warning, the numbers shown here, all pulled from NPD and the FBI, are meant to only show changes over time. They should not be used to compare totals because I had to re-fame the “per thousands” on them to get all of the numbers (which range from the thousands to the billions) to show up on one chart.
Now, of course, there are many other variables to consider when looking at crime rates, but this goes out to the nut-cases out there who are adamant that the sole reason for juvenile crime is video games. Am I wrong?
1 Comment | Posted in: Lifestyle | News | Sci/TechMario Kart: The Movie – Trailer
Posted By Ben Goulding, 25 August, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Now, I love Mario Kart and this movie trailer looks awesome. I really want one of those karts now!
The official trailer for the upcoming film based on the hit Mario Kart video games for Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Ninteno DS, and Wii.
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | Television8-Bit Trip
Posted By Ben Goulding, 24 August, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
8-Bit Trip is a stop-motion Lego tribute to classic video games. Created by rymdreglage, it took 1500 hours to put together.
Comments Off | Posted in: EntertainmentKid Plays Guitar Hero Whilst Solving 2 Rubik’s Cubes
Posted By Ben Goulding, 10 August, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Check out “JRefleX93,” who has the amazing talent of being able to solve two Rubik’s cubes whilst playing Guitar Hero on expert.
“The hardest thing I’ve ever done. My GH World Tour guitar broke, so I had to use the GH3 guitar, which made it near impossible to beat this song using elbow-strumming,” said JRefleX93.
JRefleX93’s very productive skill will take him far in life, I’m sure, although he still has some work to do – he only got a 77% rating! Just kidding buddy, keep up the great work!
Comments Off | Posted in: EntertainmentMeet The Wii Bowling Ball
Posted By Ben Goulding, 3 August, 2009 | permalink
The Wii Bowling Ball – perhaps the most dangerous Wii accessory of all time! Whilst Nintendo is all for user safety, the Wii Bowling Ball breaks all the rules.
What do you get when you mix a bowling ball with a Wii remote, over-enthusiastic children, swinging arms and a television? A DISASTER!
Take a look at the informercial by CTA Digital, the manufacturers of the Bowling Ball. Would you ever consider buying one?
(Youtube Link)
Gears Of War My Little Pony
Posted By Ben Goulding, 29 July, 2009 | permalink
If you’re a Gears of War fan, would you ever consider purchasing a ‘My Little Pony’? How about if it was a Gears of War My Little Pony?
They say anything can be found on eBay and I guess that’s about right. One eBay user is selling the Gears toys for US$125 a pop.
They say opposites attract, but this is a match made in hell. Creepy, isn’t it?
1 Comment | Posted in: Entertainment