Gamertell

If you’ve always wanted to live in a LEGO world, the opportunity is drawing nearer. LEGO Universe, the massive multiplayer online game from NetDevil isn’t going to officially launch until either Fall or Winter, 2010, but the beta period will be starting soon. If you have the time to sign up for a free LEGO ID, answer a question about your online gaming habits, give your email address and click accept.

Signing up doesn’t confirm you’ll be picked to be one of the testers, but better to give it a try and not get picked than just sit back and know you won’t be part of it. If you get picked to be part of the LEGO Universe beta, you’ll be playing and working…

MORE »

If you’ve ever considered a secret life as a video game pirate, this latest news story concerning the fate of a New Super Mario Bros. Wii distributor should change your mind. Nintendo Australia has just announced that it has settled out of court with 24 year old James Burt, who had the (dis)honor of being the first man to hack, upload and distribute New Super Mario Bros. Wii online. Under terms of the settlement, Burt will have to pay $1.5 million dollars Australian (around $1.3 million dollars American) in damages to Nintendo. He’ll also have to pay $100,000 Australian (around $87,070 American).

New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released November 11, 2009 in Australia, earlier than any other region. It was released November 15, 2009 in North America, November 20, 2009 in Europe and December 3, 2009 in Japan. To make matters even worse, Burt managed to find a store in Australia selling New Super Mario Bros. Wii before the authorized sell date. Burt ended up getting New Super Mario Bros. Wii uploaded to the internet on November 6, 2009…

MORE »

Ubisoft’s just released it’s Q3 fiscal year report for October-December, 2009. Sales are down for the company, and the Q3 figures were 2.7% lower than the October-December, 2008 sales period. It’s plans for the 2010-2011 include more releases for major series. Ubisoft is also working on online games and areas, like Might & Magic Heroes Kingdoms, Trackmania 2 and Imagine Town. The company, inspired by the success of Just Dance, will be working on more casual Wii games, as well as games for the PS3 and Xbox 360 that will use their forthcoming motion controllers and Facebook games.

The really exciting part of the report is the part that discusses the January-March, 2010 video game releases Ubisoft has planned. Sadly, it’s a little anticlimactic. See, there are 18 games listed, and eight of them fall very easily into the shovelware category. So around half the Q1 2010 games are worthwhile, and the other half are, well, let’s just call them “special.”

Here’s a list of what to expect from January-March, 2010, according to the Ubisoft Fiscal Year 2010 Q3 report PDF. While the iPhone items just say iPhone, I’m guessing they’ll be iPod Touch compatible as well…

MORE »

Good news for owners of Mass Effect 2! Bioware has something special, and free, for you today! Bioware is giving free downloadable content to everyone with the game and the necessary internet connection to access it. You get a new piece of armor, the Cerberus Assault Armor, and a new weapon, the M-22a Eviscerator Shotgun.

The free armor and weapon DLC went live at 12pm MST today (February 9, 2010)...

MORE »

If you need to catch up on some of the more popular Xbox 360 games, like Mass Effect, Bioshock, Halo 3 or Fable 2, then head over to Amazon. The site is holding a buy two, get one free sale on 35 in stock Xbox 360 Platinum Hits games. Yes, I know it says there are 36 results on the Amazon page. Trust me, there are only 35 games to choose from.

Since they’re all Platinum Hits, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find some cheap, fantastic games. The discount kicks in after you add three games to your cart and head to the checkout. Once you’re there, you’ll get the least expensive of the three for free.

This could also be the perfect opportunity to pick up a Valentine’s Day gift for someone. After all, this buy two get one free promotion runs until February 13, 2010. If you choose the right shipping option, you could even have all three games delivered directly to your sweetheart’s door. Or your own door. Either one.

Here’s a list of the 36 games you can choose from and their prices…

MORE »

This is one of the best Mondays to happen since I started doing the Nintendo Downloads update. Seriously! Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom is a Virtual Console game now! I can not believe it! I think I’m going to have to go against my rule of not buying Virtual Console games I already own for this one!

What else has been added to the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop? Oh, right, there were other games added too. Four new WiiWare games and five new DSiWare games have also been added this week, among them the anticipated and slightly weird Tomena Sanner (WiiWare), as well as Blaster Master Overdrive (WiiWare).

Gamertell’s Nintendo Download picks for the week are Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom (Virtual Console), Tomena Sanner (WiiWare), Blaster Master Overdrive (WiiWare) and Link ‘n’ Launch (DSiWare)...

MORE »

Hard work builds character, an adage that is part of the crux of Winter Wolves’ latest game, The Flower Shop. In this visual novel, slash dating simulation, slash farming simulation, players must help a young man who’s floundering in his own life. He’s sent to the country, and it’s up to the player to determine whether or not the experience of living and working on a farm, and meeting the hardworking people who live in the area, changes him.

Steve is a slacker. His first year in college didn’t go too well, mainly because he didn’t apply himself. As his girlfriend Jill points out, he doesn’t attend class or do the work, and probably only manages to squeak by because he copies the notes she takes in class. He also isn’t the best person, as Jill breaks up with him in the game’s introduction because he’s oogling other girls while he’s with her, at the place where they first met.

After a few days, Steve’s father shows up at his apartment…

MORE »

Check out the gallery: The Flower Shop

Handmade items always make a fantastic gift, no matter what the occasion, but they’re especially suitable for Valentine’s Day gifts. It’s a good way to make someone feel special, since you’re getting them what could be a one-of-a-kind item that’s exactly his or her taste.

Sadly, not all people are crafty enough to create their own gifts. A good alternative is to check out the various shops at Etsy.com. Many of the artists selling their wares there have a wide variety of items and gadgets appropriate for your video game valentine.

To make shopping easier, Gamertell has gone through some of the Etsy shops to put together a list of some of the best, homemade video game gifts. If you buy something now, you should be able to get it in time for February 14, 2010…

MORE »

I’ve had it.

I’ve had it with the smoke and mirrors, subtle hints and deception.

Just announce the next Legend of Zelda Wii game already!

It’s not that I‘m interested in it. I’m still playing my way through The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. I’m sick of the teasing, hinting and constant reports on any trivial detail related to it…

MORE »

You know what’s missing from your life? A Big Daddy, that’s what. Of course, it’d be pretty expensive to buy a real, life sized, Bioshock or Bioshock 2 Big Daddy suit or statue, so I guess you’ll just have to make due with a Big Daddy plush doll from the National Entertainment Collectibles Association.

NECA has created two Bioshock 2 toys to coincide with the February 9, 2010 release of Bioshock 2 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The first item is the Big Daddy plush doll, which is identical to the the Little Sister carries. There’s a product listing for it at Amazon, and when it’s in stock it’ll cost $24.99.

The other item is an EVE Hypo…

MORE »