Gamertell

Today’s a groovy day to celebrate our nation’s independence with your family.

Go eat some grilled food products, consume a age-appropriate chilled beverage, ignite a state-approved firework or two and, of course, get in some extra time with your favorite, neglected videogame.

If you are hell bent on being at your computer, then head on over to our Gamertell Exclusive Explosive Mashup post from 2007.

Otherwise, go away.

It’s a friggin’ national holiday.

- Gamertell

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As game companies begin to regain some sense of sanity a week after E3 2009, some are starting to send reactions to the event.

Located at Booth 500, Gamepark Holdings Co., Ltd., was demonstrating its latest open source handheld game system, the GP2X Wiz.

Here’s the company’s reaction to E3 2009…

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Check out the gallery: GP2X Wiz handheld game system images

Independent research company NPD Group has released its US video game sales numbers for May 2009.

The best selling game for the month was THQ’s new release, UFC Undisputed 2009 for Xbox 360 (the PS3 release came in fourth).

Six Wii games made the chart followed closely by the Xbox 360 and DS with five games each. Only three PS3 games made the list, although two were in the top five, and not a single PSP, PS2 or PC/Mac game made the Top 20.

The oldest game on the chart for the month is Mario Kart DS release in November 2005 coming in at number 12, down from eighth place in April 2009. Eight games released in May 2009 made the list.

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Yes, you read that correctly. It is no lie.

Titled Spider-man: Turn off the Dark, the musical will include an origin story that, according to the web site, is “both recognizable and unexpected, yielding new character as well as familiar faces until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero’s journey.”

The musical will feature music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge (of U2 fame) and a story by Julie Taymor (The Lion King on Broadway), who is also directing it, and Glen Berger.

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If you were alive and plunking quarters in the early 1980s, then you completely understand laserdisc games. They were the most expensive arcade games of the time, charging a dollar or more when the next priciest game was 50 cents or less. And there was always a line at the cabinet.

If not, then they are an oddity of the times. A temporarily fascinating diversion of the time that was over priced, over hyped and too hard to play. (And, by the way, screw you.)

It doesn’t really matter where you fall on that spectrum since laserdisc games were an amazing amalgam of animation and video gaming that was not only way ahead of its time but a historical work of gaming art.

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Check out the gallery: Space Ace screen shots for iPhone and iPod Touch

Before I wrote “E3 could probably use a little more GameCock,” I tried to reach former GameCock CEO Mike Wilson for comment. Since he wasn’t with SouthPeak, the company that acquired GameCock in 2008, it took a little extra time to get hold of him.

It turns out he was at E3 2009 this year but not wearing the bright birdly garb or years past. He had a response to my opinion piece, a few comments about E3 2009 and let loose a little news of his own…

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Every company claims their is the biggest, most important and whatevertheheck else announcements but one a few can be our favorites. Here’s a look at some of the Gamertell staff’s favorite announcements from this year’s E3. Give it a read and then let us know what below which were your favorite announcements from E3 2009 (also check out our favorite announcements from E3 2008)

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Check out the gallery: Electronics Entertainment Expo 2009

There seems to be an unusually high number of “vs” games being released this year: Stalin vs Martians, Sherlock Holmes vs Jack the Ripper, Monsters vs Aliens, Plants vs Zombies and even Kids vs Zombies.

I guess the best way to generate conflict is to simply put two forces together and let them battle it out. Many games do end up being a versus battle of sorts with your avatar taking on ogres, other player-controlled characters or maybe even just you versus the logic of a puzzle. But putting a name to the combatants gives it that sense of an ultimate death match or of a confrontation where someone must be declared a winner (and a loser).

With that in mind, here are a few of the great “vs” game titles. These might not all be amazing games but they sure have enticing and interesting names when you consider them at face value.

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It seems this year’s E3 (2009) is doing well enough that ESA (Entertainment Software Association) has announced the dates and venue for the next Expo.

E2 2010 will take place June 15 through 17, 2010, at the Los Angeles Convention Center. According to the ESA press release, more than 41,000 attendees from 78 countries have attended E3 2009.

This year’s expo brought a return to what is being called “the old format” by many companies and media outlets, with…

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Announced by Tony Hawk at the Microsoft press conference, the wireless skateboard controller is smaller than a standard skate deck and “full of technology.”

Thanks to two internal accelerometers and four infrared sensors (two on each side), it will recognize foot placement for tricks, hand movement for grabs and recognize subtle movements for accurate leaning. You’ll be able to kick it up and even kick along the sides as if you are actually pushing to gain speed. Developed by Robomodo (after eight prototypes, one of which included elements from a WiiMote, Sixaxis and wireless Xbox 360 controller), the deck has a plastic body, will be battery powered and includes buttons on the side (direction pad and four main buttons) for menu selection.

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