As a followup to the 2008 Pac-Man mini arcade cabinet ornament, Hallmark is sticking with the same theme.

This year’s ornament is a miniaturized reproduction of the Galaga arcade cabinet (QXI1365) complete with mini buttons, mini joystick, lights and sounds. Press the buttons and you are treated to several seconds of classic tuneage including the intro and what sounds like the first wave of diving aliens. The top panel of the cabinet also lights up so the Galaga logo glows a bit. Aside from the effects, the cabinet also features a mini “screen shot” of the game.

Galaga is one of the great early arcade shooters and was released in arcades by Midway in 1981 (in the US). It features a flying-in-formation row of aliens that periodically swoop down and try to zap your semi-fixed ship. It was a followup to the 1979 release of Galaxian.

The battery operated ornament is all plastic, only 4.25 in. tall and retails for $18.50. I’ve already spotted it in a few non-Hallmark stores.

Although Hallmark has not yet called this a continuing series it sure is starting to shape up as one. Here a list of previous game-themed ornaments:

• 2008 -  Pac-Man mini arcade cabinet ornament with sound effects ($18,50 QXI2154)
• 2007 - Player 1 game controller ornament with sound effects ($15.00, QXG2119)
• 2006 - GameOn ornament (QXG3346) featuring the words “Game On” in bright green, the image of a joystick and a modern game controller with stars and a few explosion-esque graphics behind it.

Hey, if Hallmarks released a few more mini arcade cabinet ornaments you can create your own action figure-sized video game arcade.

Other geeky noteworthy ornaments include Robby the Robot a la Forbidden Planet ($18.50), three classic theme Star Trek ornaments including a Starfleet Phaser ornament with sound effects ($18.50), four Star Wars ornaments including Luke’s landspeeder from Star Wars: A New Hope ($22.50 and the Han Solo ornament looks like it’s been done before unless I’m thinking of action figures), seven comic book heroes and a “Jingle Bell Rock” guitar with sound effects ($16.50).

They also snuck in the Ectomobile from Ghosbusters with sound effects ($18.50). Finally, for those who have the purple-pink PSP, there is a Hanna Montana ornament as well ($16.50).

Product Page [Hallmark Keepsake Galaga Ornament] Read [Gamertell]

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When your friendly neighborhood delivery person (hey Tim) comes to your door with a wooden crate in tow and you didn’t order anything, you know it’s going to be fun.

It’s been a while since I’ve received notable swag from a game company - I blame the economy - but this one proved to be especially interesting.

Prying open the nailed down wood lid to the small wooden crate revealed a dozen plush (read: stuffed) SqueeBalls Party creatures. Each is about 6 to 8 inches tall and variable widths. They feature large eyes and, as my almost-3-year-old can attest, they are “so cute.”

SqueeBalls Party by Aksys Games and PDP is a family party game that stars twelve wacky toys. You control the cute and creepy SqueeBalls in minigames including bowling, golf, cooking and a bunch of other button-mashing tasks. It’s rated “Everyone” with cartoon violence and is currently available for Wii, DS, Xbox 360, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Site [SqueeBalls]

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Title: Game Collector 3.2 Pro
Price: $29.95 (Standard), $39.99 (Pro with rebate)
System(s): Windows
Publisher (Developer): Collectorz
Pros: Very easy to input game names and UPCs, exhaustive and customizable fields, generates multiple exportable lists and included with access to game database to quickly import information and box art.
Cons: Database has some small gaps and is only as accurate as the person who submitted the information. Some menus are a little confusing. iPhone and iPod Touch app is an extra cost. Scanners can be expensive.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 87/100; B+; * * * 1/2 out of five.

If you’ve been gaming for longer than five years, you’ve likely amassed an impressive collection of games so large your friends and significant other complain about not being able to find that one game they always like to play.

That’s where Collectorz’s Game Collector application can come in rather handy.

The Basix

The whole concept behind Game Collector is to put your collection in order (thus the name). It’s a fairly simple database solution with a graphic interface that can operate with (or without) a UPC scanner and accesses an online database.

The software is available only as a download and installs quickly. After launching, you can then input game titles or UPCs through the menu system either by typing it in via scanner. Then you go online to download core information, box art and credits for a wide range of games to populate your local database. You can then go in and edit each entry - or groups of entries - with a combination of person information about the game including ratings where you bought it, how much you paid and personal notes.

Over the years the software has evolved to allow for more personalized fields and the ability to export the list as HTML files or, in truncated form, to various handheld devices including the iPod, iPhone and iPod Touch (the latter two require an additional purchase via iTunes). You can also upload your own box art and upload images and information to the common database for others to use.  Once you populate your collection, everything is stored locally so you can create HTML pages or various portable lists.

The interface is not entirely intuitive with a few of the fields not making sense until you have used the software for a while. Once you get the hang of it, it then becomes a speedy process to catalog your collection. You can then reorder it according to just about any criteria: genres, developer, release year, system, rating and even custom fields.

Game Face

The scanner interactivity is about as easy as plugging it in, syncing with the software and pressing a button. If you have ye olde QueCat (remember that PS/2-based scanner radio Shack gave away years ago?) you can download a Windows application that will make it work in no time. Otherwise, you can get scanners through Collectorz: a mini wireless USB laser Opticon ($140), a wired USB Opticon laser scanner (currently unavailable) or a USB CueCat scanner ($20). All three will work but the more pricey “wireless” version is the easiest to use.

The nice thing about the scanners is that they significantly cut down input time if you have numerous games and will immediately interface with other Collectorz software:  Music Collector, Movie Collector and Book Collector (except applications including Comic Collector that catalog products that do not have UPCs).

Unless you acquire a lot of products – DVDs, books and games – you may want to simply manually enter game titles or UPCs to save the extra dough. If you have several hundred – or thousand – products, a scanner is definitely the way to go. It can reduce days of typing to an hour or two of scanning. The only issue will be when a UPC is not found, then you have to manually enter data (and then you can submit it ti the Collectorz online database).

The Collectorz database as certainly improved in the past year, being more complete and up -to-date than before. The percentage of missing titles is probably less than 5% and even then the issue might be that someone misspelled a game title, you have a weird version of a game with an uncommon UPC or your internet connection timed out. Some of the box art is also not the best, although you can add your own to your personal, local database or even submit it to Collectorz and hope they update it with your superior image.

As for organizing, the ability to reorganize and display games as either text lists or image thumbnails makes it super easy to personalize your list for convenient printing, scanning and browsing.

The ability to sync the list with your iPhone or iPod Touch is also nice although that app will set you back another $10. It is rather nice to have a digital list in hand and many forms of your list - HTML and iPod Notes for non-Touch iPods – are bundled with the software. Those are limited to 1000 entries so, if you are a true collector, you may have to create an alternate list system.

Since the main software includes customizable fields, you can also use it for archives and even create a box number field. Those boxes of NES games, for example, can more easily be alphabetized using the software and then you can tag games according to the box they are stored in.

Downloadable?

This software is certainly helpful for the serious game collector. If you have hundreds of games, a scanner will certain be a time saver, especially if you acquire many games at a time (and have a lot to archive). The cost for the hardware won’t be nearly as justified when you have only a shelf or two of games.

Collectorz offers enough database information to give you a reason to browse your collection and enough customizable fields to add the information - box, shelf or other custom organization – to help you get truly organized. It even has a section for loaning so you can essentially become a library to your friends and not forget who has which game.

The portability interface is most helpful for those who plan to finish collection or simply cannot recall all the games they own. Otherwise, most people can save the cost of the Game Collector iPhone app (comic collectors getting Comic Collector, however, will find the iPhone/iPod Touch app be supremely useful).

If you are a collector, own seemingly countless of games and like to keep organized, Game Collector is a no-brainer investment. Likewise, anyone who loans out a lot games will benefit from the software’s library style recording system.

Check Gamertell later this week for a review of the Intelliscanner laser scanner used in this review and Collectorz Game Collector for iPhone and iPod Touch.

Site [Game Collector] Photo Gallery [Gamertell: Game Collector on iPhone/iPod Touch] Photo Gallery [Gamertell: Game Collector Pro]

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New Spaces

Uncharted 2: Nepalese Village

Located under the same map as the original Uncharted world is the new Uncharted 2: Nepalese Village. A gorgeous place and, once you are loaded in, you are given a piece of a mask to start your treasure hunt to unlock one of three mini-games in this new area. The pieces of the mask are scattered throughout this small village and once you find them all you unlock the mini-game Mask Mayhem where you race against the clock to put the mask back together. Finding all the mask pieces unlocks a virtual ritual dagger for your personal space. There are other unlockables in this space acquired upon completing the other games including Fortunate Thieves, Mask Mayhem and a Torch Race.

Check out this new space:

Tekken 6: Mishima Zaibatsu’s Recreation Floor

This lounge has a mini-gymnasium, a bar, lounge area and arcade center which acts as a launching station for the games. Stop into the gym and tryout the dumbbells and grab a bottle of water for your virtual workout.

Check out my friend RayBladeX’s virtual tour of this space:

Street Fighter 4: S.I.N.‘s Secret Base

This launching lounge allow fans of Street Fighter 4 to gather and talk or challenge each other about all things Street Fighter. Also in this space, if you dress your avatar as a Street Fighter Character you can perform an action like “Boo” to hurl a fireball towards a friend. Also, with the release of this new space ,25 alternate Street Fighter costumes have been released. See the store list below.

Zombie Hunt

In the battle between the Home residents and the undead, there’s a hunt to find the pieces of a zombie left all over Home. Explore the different worlds and search high and low for pieces of this zombie and put it back together again for a voucher code that unlocks free zombie-themed items. Just don’t lose your lunch while picking up the pieces. Check out the S.P.A.Z. HQ at UndeadYourself.com for photos of the zombie-themed furniture.

Shopping

S.I.N. Secret Base Store

Male Only Alternative Street Fighter Outfit Bundles:
• Dhalsim Costume Bundle cost $1.49
• Akuma Costume Bundle cost $1.49
• Sagat Costume Bundle cost $1.49
• Seth Costume Bundle cost $1.49
• Guile Costume Bundle cost $2.49
• Gouken Costume Bundle cost $2.49
• Ken Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Ryu Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Zangief Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Blanka Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Fei Long Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Vega Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• M. Bison Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Abel Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• El Fuerte Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Rufus Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Dan Costume Bundle cost $3.99
• Gen Costume Bundle cost $3.99
Female Only Alternative Street Fighter Outfit Bundles:
• Sakura Costume Bundle cost $2.49
• C. Viper Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Rose Costume Bundle cost $2.99
• Chun-Li Costume Bundle cost $3.99
• Cammy Costume Bundle cost $3.99

Threads 1 - located on the first floor of mall

• Zombieland T-shirt cost 49 cents
• Do-Rags in choice of jungle camo, red, red skull, stars and stripes or urban camo cost 49 cents each
• Flame-Patterened Slip-On Skate Shoes cost 49 cents
• Flip Flops cost 49 cents
Male Only Items
• Loot XOR3T T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Creature Monster Head by Loot cost 49 cents
• Beige Baseball Cap cost 49 cents
• Army Cap cost 49 cents
• Do-Rag in choice of Blue or Black Skull cost 49 cents each
• Army Beret cost 49 cents
• PS Home Trucker Cap cost 49 cents
• Letterman Jacket in choice of Green and White, Black and White, Red and White or Blue and Yellow cost 49 cents each
• Denim Jacket cost 49 cents
• Baseball Shirt in choice of Striped, Blue, Grey or PS HOME cost 49 cents each
• Sports Top in choice of Grey and Red or Blue and Grey cost 49 cents each
• White Top in choice of Blue or Powder Blue Raglan Sleeves cost 49 cents each
• Cream Top with Salmon Raglan Sleeves cost 49 cents
• Orange Top with Burnt Orange Raglan Sleeves cost 49 cents
• Blue Top with Burnt Orange Raglan Sleeves cost 49 cents
• White Top with Green Raglan Sleeves cost 49 cents
• Charcoal Waist Coat with choice of Blue, White or Black Shirt cost 49 cents each
• Black Waist Coat with White Shirt cost 49 cents
• Beige Waist Coat with White shirt cost 49 cents
• Turtleneck Shirt in choice of Red, Blue or Black cost 49 cents each
• Tank Top Shirt in choice of White, Brown or Blue cost 49 cents each
• Corduroy Jeans in choice of Red, Tartan or White cost 49 cents each
• Cargo Pants in choice of Urban Camo, Beige, Black or Green cost 49 cents each
• Cargo Shorts in choice of Jungle Camo, Green, Grey or Black cost 49 cents each
• Sweat Pants in choice of Green, Blue, Red or Turquoise cost 49 cents each
• Beach Shoes in choice of Red and Orange, Cream and Red, Green, Blue and Red, Cream and Blue or Blue and Orange cost 49 cents each
• Cyber Goth Shoes cost 49 cents
• Slip-On Skate Shoes in choice of Pink Check, Floral Green, Pink or Ram Skull cost 49 cents each
• Eye Mask cost 49 cents
Female Only Items:
• Mummy Monster Head by Loot cost 49 cents
• Baseball Cap in choice of Pink or Red and Blue cost 49 cents
• Do-Rag in choice of Pink Camo or Black cost 49 cents each
• Padded Gilet over Fleece in choice of Black and White or Grey and Black cost 49 cents each
• Halterneck Dress in choice of Blue Floral Print, Floral Print, Black or Black and Grey cost 49 cents each
• Long-sleeved T-shirt in choice of Grey and Khaki, White and Blue, Salmon and Blue, Grey and Orange, Blue and Orange, White and Green, Red, Blue, Grey, Green or Black cost 49 cents each
• Belted Flared-Jeans in choice of Black with a Red Belt, Green with a Yellow Belt, Grey with a Pink Belt, Blue with a White Belt, Red with a Black Belt or Black with a White Belt cost 49 cents each
• Lace-Trimmed Skirt in choice of Black, Red, Green, Tartan or Skull Patterned cost 49 cents each
• Black Cropped Pencil Jeans cost 49 cents
• Baggy Chinos cost 49 cents
• Trousers in choice of Green, Beige, Black, Grey, Blue or White cost 49 cents each
• Walking Sandals in choice of Tan or White cost 49 cents each
• Beach Shoes in choice of Green, Khaki and Red, Blue and Yellow, Grey and Cream, Blue or Cream and Blue cost 49 cents each
• Slip-On Skate Shoes in choice of Gold Check, Pink Floral or Skull and Teal cost 49 cents each
• Small Silver Hoop Earrings cost 25 cents

Real Estate Store - located on the first and second floor of Mall

Finally the long awaited City Penthouse has finally arrived and costs $4.99. After being removed earlier this year because of bugs and glitches associated with this space it’s finally fixed and ready for Home users to move in. This personal space overlooks a night cityscape with two floors of space for furniture and pictures. Check out this Home user’s penthouse:

Furniture Store 1 - located on the first floor of Mall

Paintings from Mass Media Games, Inc:
• “Lono” by Jeff Hibers cost 99 cents
• “Madonna” by Jeff Hibers cost 99 cents
• “Mr. Dopek” by Jeff Hibers cost 99 cents
• “One Thing After Another” by Jeff Hibers cost 99 cents
• “Orbital Kachina” by Jeff Hibers cost 99 cents
Furniture:
• Penthouse Coffee Table cost 99 cents
• Penthouse Display Plant cost 99 cents
• Penthouse Corner Sofa cost 99 cents
• Penthouse Sofa cost 99 cents
Neptune Suite Collection:
• Golden Throne cost $4.99
• Channel Back “Media” Sofa cost 99 cents
• Corner Couch cost 99 cents
• Deep Seats ~ Arm Chair cost 99 cents
• L-Shaped Black Table cost 99 cents
• Stadium Seating Couch cost 99 cents

Threads 2 - located on the second floor of Mall

• Animania T-shirt Bundle cost $2.99
Individual Items Include:
• Animated Flashing Battery, Stars and Stripes, and a Revolving Smiley T-shirts cost $1.99 each

• Glow Crazy Bundle cost $3.49
Individual Items Include:
• Animated Revolving Earth T-shirt cost $1.99
• Pink Glow Sticks cost $1.99
• Pink Animated Glow Shoes cost 99 cents
• Animated White Glow Glasses cost 99 cents

• Glow Fever Bundle cost $2.99
Individual Items Include:
• Glow Sticks in choice of Pink, Blue or Yellow cost $1.99 each

Furniture Store 2 - located on the second floor of Mall

• Furniture-Tastic Bundle cost $4.99
Individual Items Include:
• Blue Animated Neon Sofa cost $1.99
• Pink Animated Neon Chair cost $1.99
• Pink Animated Neon Footstool cost $1.99
• Green Animated Neon Table cost $1.99
• Green Animated Neon Lamp cost 99 cents
• Blue Animated Neon Flower cost 99 cents

Costume Shop - located on the second floor of Mall

Halloween Costumes:

• Skelly-Bob Outfit by Outso in choice of Glowing or Erie bones set each cost $2.95
Individual Items Include:
• Skelly-Bob Shoes and Gloves in choice of Glowing or Erie bones cost 49 cents each
• Skelly-Bob Skull, Trousers and Shirt in choice of Glowing or Erie bones cost 99 cents each

Werewolf Costume:
• Wolfen Head, Feet and Hands cost 49 cents each
• Wolfen Shirt and Pants cost 99 cents each
Mummy Costume:
• Mummified Head and Feet cost 49 cents each
• Mummified Body and Legs cost 49 cents each
Grim Reaper Costume:
• Grimmed Head, Feet and Hands cost 49 cents each
• Grimmed Body and Legs cost 99 cents each
Jack-O-Lantern Costume:
• Jack-O Hat and Feet cost 49 cents each
• Jack-O Body and Legs cost 99 cents each

Male Only Costumes:

Angelic Warrior Costume
• Angelic Sandals cost 49 cents
• Angelic Armor Top with Wings Extended and Armor Bottom cost 99 cents each
Frankenstein Costume:
• Frankenstein Head, Feet and Hands cost 49 cents
• Frankenstein Body and Legs cost 99 cents each
Vampire Costume:
• Vampiric Head, Feet and Hands cost 49 cents each
• Vampiric Body and Legs cost 99 cents each

Female Only Costumes:

• Fancy Witch Costume Bundle by Outso cost $2.95
Individual Items include:
• Gloves and Animated Bat Shoes cost 49 cents
• Spider Hat, Skirt with Socks and Witch Corset cost 99 cents each

Angel Costume:
• Angelic Heels cost 49 cents
• Angelic Tunic with Cherub Wings and Bottom cost 99 cents each
Bride of Frankenstein Costume
• Bride of Frankenstein Hair and Feet cost 49 cents each
• Bride of Frankenstein Dress and Legs cost 99 cents each

Site [PlayStation Blog]

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One of the best reasons to join Club Nintendo has been declared “Sold Out.”

The Game & Watch Collection is a Club Nintendo exclusive DS game that collects and improves upon three classic 1982 Game & Watch handheld games: Oil Panic, Donkey Kong and Green House.

Before Nintendo was in the handheld game business it was in the, well, handheld game business. Game & Watch games were ye olde all-in-one 2-D games with a mini monochromatic LED screen and a few buttons encapsulated by a plastic shell. You’d move an avatar across preset positions on a screen by pressing buttons. They had a very stop-action feel to it and were incredibly addictive (and repetitive). Some even had two screens with a top section that flipped down (very, very much like the DSi and DS Lite).

The nostalgic Club Nintendo release slightly improves upon the graphics of each of the games (don’t want to destroy that original stop-and-go feel) and sounds. It also includes built in alarm clock feature.

I’m not exactly certain when Club Nintendo ran out of G&W but it was certainly one of the - if not the - first items to go. Other rewards include Hanafuda Cards (800 coins), Animal Crossing and Mario Party Playing Cards (500), hat-shaped Mario Nintendo DS Game Rack (600), three different card and stylus sets (600 each), Nintendo DS Lite Case (Silver, 400), Wii Remote Holder (300) and The Legend of Zelda 3-Poster Series (350).

To get the game you had to earn 800 Club Nintendo coins which was done by registering eligible purchased Nintendo games, downloads and hardware. It was previously only available through the Japanese Club Nintendo (for 500 points). Now you’ll have to try and find it on eBay, Craigslist or some other game trading site where it can easily go for more than $40.

Read [Gamertell] Site [Club Nintendo]

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New Spaces

Zombies have invaded PlayStation Home ... Again

In an Halloween-style event along with a new personal space has been released that will transform all that enter into zombies. In much the same fashion as the Hamster invasion earlier this year, Home residents are divided in a virtual protest. Those for the undead and those against. Check out Mr. R. Phunrooner of the “Society of People Against Zombies” website at Undead Yourself website for more information about this battle. Players can choose to wander the streets of Home in search of a warm brain to munch on or join the rest of humanity in their new struggle of survival this Halloween.

Ratchet and Clank - Time Traveler Space

This new in-world space is loaded with activities, mini-games and all things Ratchet and Clank to include a store with Ratchet and Clank-themed items available for purchase (see store list below) for fans awaiting the launch of the new Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time release for the PlayStation 3. This space features a museum of all of Ratchet and Clank‘s tools, weapons and gear. As well as a dance area and three mini games to try that all unlock special exclusive reward items. An Artillery mini-game, Firing Range mini-game and a Lost Sheep mini-game. Check out this video for more details:

Shopping

Grummelnet SuperStore located in the new Ratchet and Clank Time Traveler Space

Clothing:
• Dr. Nefarious’s Helmet cost 49 cents
• Ratchet’s Hat (with Ears) cost 49 cents
• Captain Slag’s Gloves cost 49 cents
• Ratchet’s Boots cost 49 cents
• Ratchet’s Vest cost 99 cents
• Ratchet’s Pants (with Tail) cost 99 cents
Furniture:
• Percival Tachyon’s Throne cost 99 cents
Personal Space:
• Ratchet and Clank: Home Sweet Home personal space cost $6.99. This new personal space is located in space over a dry looking planet with several floors and rooms to decorate. Check out this Home user’s tour of the new space for a better look:

Real Estate Store located on first and second floor of mall

• Zombie Deadquarters cost $4.99, this space will automatically transform players and their friends into zombies upon entry. Complete with old beat up furniture, rattling doors, whispers and all things zombie. Check it out:
(Warning: If you are easily frightened by scary noises you might want to turn the volume down before watching the video.)

Threads 1 located on the first floor

• Anti-Zombie T-shirt cost $1.99
• Breast Cancer Awareness Jerseys cost $2.00
Males Only Items:
• MotorStorm Lunatic Carbon DH Gloves cost 49 cents
• MotorStorm Lunatic Pressure Suit (Top) cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Lunatic C95s (Pants) cost 49 cents
Females Only Items:
• MotorStorm Bikergirl Studded Gloves cost 49 cents
• MotorStorm Bikergirl Leather Jacket cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Bikergirl Leathers (Pants) cost 49 cents
• MotorStorm Bikergirl Race Shoes cost 49 cents
• Wedding Veil cost 49 cents
• Wedding Dress Top cost 99 cents
• Wedding Dress Skirt cost 99 cents
• Wedding Dress Shoes cost 99 cents

Furniture Store 1 located on the first floor

• MotorStorm Broken Boombox cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Busted TV cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Burntout BBQ cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Bucket Seat cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Camping Chair cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Camping Seat cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Tyre Footstool cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Generator Seat cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Easy Chair cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Car Seat cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Skateboard Sofa cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Buggy Model cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Coyote Rage Statue cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Workbench cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Scrap Table cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Flight Case cost 99 cents
• MotorStorm Tool Chest cost 99 cents
• Neptune Suite Triangle Chair cost 99 cents
Furniture Bundles:
• Neptune Suite—“Zig Zag Woods” Bundle cost $1.99 and includes “Zig Zag” couch, love seat and table. Individual items cost 99 cents each.
• Neptune Suite—“Artsy” Seats Bundle cost $1.99 and includes Large “Twisted” Sofa, “Twisted” Chair and Kiss Me Chair. Individual items cost 99 cents each.

Threads 2 located on the second floor of the mall

Males Only Items:
• Pharaoh’s Haircut cost 49 cents
• Pharaoh’s Neck Piece cost 99 cents
• Pharaoh’s Skirt cost 99 cents
• Special Edition Animated Growing Vines T-Shirt cost $1.99 in choice of Black Shirt with Orange Vines or Black Shirt with Green Vines
Female Only Items:
• Cleopatra’s Crown cost 49 cents
• Military Uniform Hat cost 49 cents
• Military Uniform Gloves cost 49 cents
• Military Uniform Shoes cost 49 cents
• Cleopatra’s Shirt cost 99 cents
• Cleopatra’s Egyptian Short Skirt cost 99 cents
• Military Uniform Jacket cost 99 cents
• Special Edition Animated Blooming Flower T-Shirt cost $1.99 in choice of Red Shirt with Pink Flowers or Black Shirt with Yellow Flowers

Furniture Store 2 located on second floor of mall

• Rocket Lava Lamps with Black Base cost 99 cents in choice of Blue, Green or Red
• Rocket Lava Lamps with Silver Base cost 99 cents in choice of Blue, Green or Red
• Bubble Lamps with Black Base cost 99 cents in choice of Green, Orange or Purple
• Bubble Lamps with Silver Base cost 99 cents in choice of Green, Orange or Purple

Read [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [S.P.A.Z. Website]

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McFarlane Toys (aka Spawn.com) has announced yet another wave in the continuing series of Halo-themed action figures.

This latest 6-inch figure batch, available in stores this month (October 2009) includes “The Rookie” figure from Halo 3: ODST (released September 22, 2009, for Xbox 360) as well as new weapons and 10 different “multiplayer medals,” one packaged with each figure.

The complete Halo Series 6: Medal Edition figure list includes:

• THE ROOKIE
• ELITE SHIPMASTER - RTAS ‘VADUMEE
• BRUTE BODYGUARD
• FLOOD PURE FORM STALKER
• SPARTAN RECON (WHITE)
• GRUNT (RED)
• SPARTAN EVA (TEAL)
• SPARTAN EVA (BLUE)
• SPARTAN CQB (ORANGE)
• SPARTAN RECON (STEEL)
• SPARTAN HAYABUSA (SAGE)
• ELITE ASSAULT (GOLD)

The company is also releasing the second wave of cute, 4-inch Halo Odd Pod figures which also includes a Halo 3: ODST Rookie figure. Series 2 Halo Odd Pod figures include:

• ODST: THE ROOKIE
• ARBITER
• SPARTAN CQB (RED)
• SPARTAN HAYABUSA (BLUE)

Exact street date and prices were not indicated on McFarlane’s web site although Amazon lists the release date as October 20, 2009, for the 6-inch figures and a price of $10.99 each. Halo Odd Pod figures should be released the same time and typically range from $8.98 to $13.89 depending on the complexity and accessories.

Read [Gamertell] Site [Spawn]

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New Spaces and Special Items

New Spaces - Pixel Junk Museum

The Pixel Junk Museum just opened its virtual space filled with all things Pixel Junk to include videos, displays with descriptions of the creatures or vehicles found in games including Pixel Junk Shooter, Pixel Junk Eden, Pixel Junk Monsters and Pixel Junk Racers. Browse through the displays to learn more about the game or browse the store for Pixel Junk virtual items. (See store list below.)

Charitable Purchases

This week the PlayStation Home has partnered with EA Sports to create exclusive virtual items to support National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. NFL Football fans can purchase the NFL team jersey of their choice for $2.99 from the Atlanta Falcons to the Tampa Bay Bucanners to the Washington Redskins Jerseys and have 100 percent of all proceeds donated to the Brees Dream Foundation organized to support breast cancer research and awareness programs in hopes of fighting this deadly disease. The Jersey’s can be found Threads 1 located on the first floor under the EA Sports item category. The jersey’s are available for both male and female avatars.

The art of Jon Burgerman

This week at the mall gamers will find interesting items featuring the art work of Jon Burgerman, a UK-based artist who brings unique and exclusive art items such as virtual clothes and tattoos for avatars as well as future art for in-home virtual spaces to the PlayStation Home.

Movie Theater

The hit Adult Swim cartoon Metalocalypse has invaded the movie theater featuring death metal super group Dethklok. Check out the video featuring band members Nathan Explosion (lead vocals), William Murderface (Bassist), Skwisgaar Skwigelf (guitarist), Toki Wartooth (guitarist) and Pickles (Drummer) as they rock their way towards world domination. Some images may be too violent for some viewers to watch so view the film at your own risk. And don’t forget to check out their virtual items at the Mall.

Shopping Mall

Threads 1 located on first floor of Mall

• Metal Dethklok 2009 World Tour T-shirt is Free
• Dethklok T-shirts (20 different designs) are 99 cents each
Female Only Items:
• Bridesmaid Mini Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Tied Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Tube Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Short Sleeved Top cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Mini Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Criss-Cross Dress cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Straight Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Balloon Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Layered Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Flowing Skirt cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Red Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Two-Strap Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Open-Toe Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Pendant Shoes cost 49 cents
• Bridesmaid Low-Heel Shoes cost 49 cents

Real Estate Store located on both first and second floor of the mall

• MotorStorm Monument Camp Site cost $4.99. The MotorStorm campsite overlooks the speed way in the valley below. Decorate your space with beat-up furniture, junked car parts and more. Check it out:

Furniture Store 1 located on the first floor of the mall

Paintings:

• “Arthotecture” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Bigblow” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Birds of California” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Blue Poodle” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Bottom Feeder” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Chips” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Codependency” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Cybo” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Dandy Bandy” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents
• “Fauxy Wauxie” Modern Art Painting cost 99 cents

Furniture Collections:

• Neptune Suite Collection—Tuxedo Style Furniture Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items:
• Large Tuxedo Style Sofa, Medium Tuxedo Style Sofa and Tuxedo Style Chair cost 99 cents each
• Neptune Suite Collection—Vases and Vessels Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items:
• Carved Stone Vase, Green Clay Vessel, Green Glass Vase and Sea Blue Vase cost 49 cents each
• Neon Cactus cost 75 cents
• Neptune Suite Collection—Mix-It-Up Furniture Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items:
• Glass Coffee Table with Metal Frame, I Gotcha Chair, Slant Back Love Seat and a Tall Dark and Deep Chair cost 99 cents each
• Neptune Suite Collection—Natural Plant Decor Bundle cost $2.99
Individual Items:
• Bonsai Tree on Plant Stand, Bonsai Tree on Wood Stand, Oblong Vase with Branches, Small Vase with Branches, Palm Breeze in Vase, Palm Spray, Zinc Planter with Botanical - Low and Zinc Planter with Botanical Tall for 75 cents each

Individual Furniture Items

• 3-Ply Chair cost 99 cents
• Take-A-Load Off Chair cost 99 cents
• Pedestal Wood Chip Chair cost 99 cents
• Slide and Glide Sofa cost 99 cents

Threads 2 located on second floor of the mall

• Arrow through Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Axe in Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Propeller Head Headband cost 99 cents
• Devilish Horns cost 99 cents
• Head Horns cost 99 cents
• Side Horns cost 99 cents
• Rabbit Ears Headband—Blue ears for male and Pink ears for females cost 99 cents
• Heavenly Halo Headband cost 99 cents
• Elfin Ears cost 99 cents
• I Heart Glasses cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Glow in the Dark Rainbow Sneakers cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Glow in the Dark Ice Sneakers cost 99 cents
• Jon Burgerman’s Animated Sad Bomb Hoodie cost $1.49
• Jon Burgerman’s Animated Anton Hoodie cost $1.49
• Hoodie with Skull Tattoos cost 99 cents

Male Only Items:

• World War 2 Helment cost 49 cents
• Hoodie with Maori Inspired Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Vest with Dragon Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Vest with Tribal Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Faux Military Jacket cost 99 cents
• Samurai Headband cost 99 cents

Female Only Items:

• Cropped Shirt with Butterfly Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Cropped Shirt with Star Tattoo cost 99 cents
• Hoodie with Star Tattoo cost 99 cents

Pixel Junk Museum Store

• Q-Games Logo T-Shirts in choice of following colors: Aqua, Burgandy, Camel, Green, Grey, Peach, Pink, White or Yellow for 49 cents each
• Pixel Junk T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Eden Gate T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Eden XMB T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Tikimask cost 99 cents
Males Only:
• Monsters Kuri HeadPhones cost 49 cents
• Monsters Fancy T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Hard T-Shirt cost 99 cents
Females Only:
• Black Q-Games Logo T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Tribal T-Shirt cost 49 cents
• Monsters Bee Slippers cost 49 cents
• Monsters Easy T-Shirt cost 99 cents

Read [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Site] Site [Jon Burgerman’s Official Website] Site [Adult Swim’s Metalocalypse Site]

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A Brand New World

New Spaces

Everybody’s Golf space just opened, this golf themed lounge area for Hot Shots Golf game fans comes to us from Japan, visitors to the space can participate in an in-world survey to unlock a reward item for their personal space.

Updates

Since the announcement of a major Home overhaul at the Gamescon 2009 in Cologne, Germany, the PS Home community have been buzzing the forums eager to try the new items promised. Well. It’s here now and Home is buzzing with avatars trying out the new emotes, dance moves, poses, games and unlocking new reward items on Home. Here is what was updated on Home:

• Universal Game Launching—Now gamers don’t have to log off of Home to play their favorite games. Any title that fully supports game launching can be set up on their virtual PSP menu and just launch directly to their games. If the game supports multi-player functions follow the directions to launch with friends into the game.
• In-Store Item Previewing—This new function will allow gamers to preview the items they are thinking of purchasing from the Mall or any shopping kiosks around Home before they buy it. This includes furniture, clothes and even ornaments for personal spaces. Allowing you to build a wardrobe or decorate your space to see how the item will look to avoid wasting money on items you’ll never use again after its added to your inventory.
• New Emotes and Actions—New emotes include the giggling, a new sitting pose, Modeling poses, standing poses and a dance move. Gamers can now flip a coin or play the old “pick a number between 1 and 100” game.
• Cache Size options—Now to save space on the PS3 hard drive when you select the option menu on the virtual PSP you can now set the Cache size of your PS3 from 3, 5, 8 or 12 GB of space to store the PS Home information and downloads.
• What hasn’t been seen—I have yet to find the Camera that was promised allowing players to photograph their favorite pose or their friends nor the shrinking cake and dice that was mentioned at Gamescon 2009. But i’m sure that’s on its way soon. But a few bugs have been found with the new update and are currently being fixed.

Improvements

During the update a few new improvements have been made to a few games around the main Home world. These improvements include:

• Saucer Pop game—New unlockable reward items have been added to this game along with a score board located in Central Plaza. You can’t miss it, it’s the giant fountain in the center of Central Plaza.
• Pool Tables—The pool tables at the Bowling Alley also located in Central Plaza have been improved to allow players to raise or lower the cue stick when lining up a shot. Put a spin on the cue ball by pressing the circle button on the controller while lining up and moving the stick before hitting the ball.
• Arcades—The arcade game Carriage has been removed from the arcade room at the Bowling Alley. Which I don’t think anyone every noticed since people have been lining up to play Ice Breaker or Ectochrome for the reward items anyways.
• Games in general—Now when players want to play a game there is a queuing system in place to prevent people from hogging games like the pool tables, arcades or in-world games. But to play you must stay once you press play to be the next player and players will enter the game in the order they arrive and select play. Now everyone that wanted to play can do so without the long waiting period.
• Listening@Home—At the music station in Central Plaza, gamers will notice a new and improved dance area where they can listen to their favorite songs by selecting it from the menu and dance to their hearts content.
• World Maps—Map displays have been set up so players can visit the worlds they want to play in without using their PSP menu. Just approach the map and select the area you want to play in and you will be transported there.
• Personal settings—Two new functions have been added to the menu pad on the virtual PSP allowing gamers to adjust how they see Home on their screen without messing with the settings on their television screen. They can adjust their screen position and size or the brightness of the screen under the Gamma setting options.
• Club owners—Players who own personal club houses on home will rejoice in being able to blacklist people from being able to join their clubs through the admin menu. If you don’t want a certain person bothering you joining your club only to pester you, you can place their screen name on the list and they will be blocked. If they make an attempt to join they will see a message explaining why they can not join and why.

New Displays

• Giant Robot—In Central Plaza don’t be alarmed if you see a giant robot standing between the movie theater and the Listen@Home dance area. It’s a display of a Mech suit from Lost Planet 2, an awesome weapon if you’ve tried the Lost Planet 2 demo from the PSN Store.
• Giant PSPgo—In celebration of the PSPgo Launch there’s a giant PSPgo in the plaza displaying the new PSP games during the celebration. For a good look at the new PSPgo just simply walk around it and look at the features. It opens and closes to reveal where the controls and buttons will be located and so on.

Shopping

Central Plaza Kiosk

• Virtual PSPgo as a carry item is free
• Virtual PSPgo ornament for personal spaces is free

Real Estate Store at the mall

• Neptune Suite personal space—this new personal space is underwater and features two games and a virtual pet. There are two games in this space, a scramble puzzle upstairs with 6 pictures to choose from and a shooting game downstairs with personal scoreboards so you can challenge friends to a personal game and gaze upon the score board to brag about your high score if like. There are warp hot spots in the apartment so you don’t have to walk into the game room or upstairs or even near the exit, just step on the spot and you’re transported there. The virtual pet is a squid-like robot that follows you when you enter its resting space. If you don’t want it to follow you, just walk it back to its resting space and it will stay there. As you walk down to the game room, you’ll notice you have a fish pond with gold fish swimming around in it or look up at the glass ceiling or outside the big windows to see a whale swimming by, submarines or underwater railway scooting by and even a dolphin rushing back and forth. Not to mention the schools of beautiful fish passing by. This is obviously my favorite personal space at the moment. There’s plenty of room to hang personal photos and furniture if you like, although the space comes furnished already with a painting on the walls already. Check it out:

Read [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation]

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New and Updated Spaces

New SingStar Space

The new SingStar space is finally open with an animated dancing floor, music video jukebox and a special VIP room currently featuring UK rapper Dizzee Rascal with a store kiosk selling virtual Dizzee merchandise in celebration of the release of his newest CD, Tongue n’ Cheek. Currently the Video Quiz game on the second floor is not available at this time. But who cares when you’re getting freebies just for being there, right? In fact, when you first load into the space you automatically get the “Welcome” T-shirt, try a few dance moves on the floor for two more T-shirts, pick a music video to watch for another and so on. There are unlockable T-shirts for those who own the game but I don’t have the details on how to unlock those. You’ll just have to play the game to find it. And if you get tired of dancing, walk down the hall next to the video screen and enter the VIP room as mentioned above and just hang with other SingStar fans in this quiet roof top gamers lounge and enjoy the smaller dance floor or look out over the balcony a beautiful night over looking a huge cityscape.

FarCry 2 Mini-game added to space

A new mini-game has been added in the FarCry 2 Home Space to Rueben’s office called “Reuben’s Report.” This is a who done it mystery game located to the left on the wall after you completely load into the world. The game is played using the maps and the few clues given when you start to try and track down arms dealers, prevent assassination and sabotage attempts. Each time you find the enemy you are given a new clue and a new map to search.

Bugs found in personal spaces

Those who are used to going back to your personal space to unwind and redecorate with your newly earned items may find your Alcove Set from the Siren: Ward of Despair game replaced with a rather large knight in shining armor standing in their space instead this week. The knight is from an unrelated game and during the update that took place recently a bug accidentally replaced all alcove sets with the knight. Sony is working on fixing this bug at the moment and the Alcove set will return shortly. Honestly, I’d rather keep the knight in shining armor myself. That thing is not only huge it’s completely awesome if you have the Fat Princess Throne and the Chamber Apartment. You can really create your own little mini-kingdom complete with armored guards with the right furniture placement. (Insert girly giggles here.)

SingStar VIP Kiosk

• “Dizzee Rascal” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Dizzee Rascal” The Gig T-shirt 99 cents
• “Dance Wiv Me” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Dance Wiv Me” Denim Pants cost 99 cents
• “Dirtee” Kicks Shoes cost 99 cents
Males Only Items
• “Boy In Da Corner” Cap cost 99 cents
• Silver “Dizzee” Chain Necklace cost 99 cents
• “Dirtee” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Newham Generals” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Boy In Da Corner” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Dizzee Rascal” T-shirt cost 99 cents
Female Only Items
• “Tongue N’ Cheek” Cap cost 99 cents
• Gold “Dizzee” Chain Necklace cost 99 cents
• “Plus One” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Bonkers” T-shirt cost 99cents
• “Tongue N’ Cheek” T-shirt cost 99 cents
• “Tongue N’ Cheek” Demin Pants cost 99 cents

Shopping Mall

Threads 1

• Katamari Forever Rainbow Headphones cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Messenger bag and T-shirt cost 49 cents
Males Only Items
• Fedora cost 49 cents
• Sailor Beanie Hat cost 49 cents
• Flat Caps in choice of Black and Gray, Black and Red or Black and Brown cost 49 cents
• Cossack Hat cost 49 cents
• Gaucho Hat cost 49 cents
• Katamari Forever Prince Costume Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items
• Katamari Forever Mittens and Boots cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Prince Head, Body and Tights cost 49 cents

Costume Shop

Males Only

• Scuba Diving Gear Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items
• Scuba Goggles, Gloves and Flippers cost 49 cents
• Scuba Gear and Scuba Pants cost 99 cents

Females Only

• Space Girl Outfit bundle cost $2.49
Individual Item
• Space Helmet and Gloves cost 49 cents
• Spacesuit Top, Leggings and Boots cost 99 cents

Read [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Something is brewing over at Gaia Online and it means plenty of fun and freebies for Gaians.

I received a message from Christina Simmons, assistant account executive of public relations at Mullen Public Relations: “Hi Lucy, Ever wondered what it’s like to be born with extraordinary superhero powers? Well, Tim Kring, executive producer and creator of NBC’s Emmy and Golden Globe nominated epic saga, Heroes is hosting a live webcast on September 21, 2009, at 7 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time), an hour before the highly anticipated Season 4 Premiere.”

She explained that Kring’s visit to Gaia is part of Gaia Online’s Celebrity Interview Series. I tried to get an interview with Kring but didn’t have any luck.

Heroes’ fourth season will begin with a two-hour premiere beginning at 7 p.m., September 21, 2009, on NBC.

Heroes chronicles the lives of ordinary people who have special abilities. Viewers follow the characters to see how they learn to cope with their special ability and learn to harness their powers. I don’t want to spoil it for those readers who like surprises, so for those who are curious about the show may have to ask Kring himself by for more information on Gaia Online.

After the event, while chatting with Kring, five lucky Gaia live-chat participants will have a chance to win autographed Heroes merchandise.

Site [Gaia Online: Tim Kring Heroes Event] Read [Gamertell]

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In light of this year’s Dreamcast anniversary I’ve decided to write up a guide for many of you who either are just diving into Dreamcast or rejoining the Orange Swirl Society.

I’ll try to cover as many aspects as I can about the system but if I miss some burning question, feel free to ask in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Acquiring a Dreamcast

The first step is perhaps the most obvious one – get a system. You can find one on the usual online marketplaces (eBay or NCSX for instance) or check your local pawn shops, Goodwills and even a yard sale.

A decent running price for the system alone is about $25 to $75 depending on condition. Some places will even include bundles with extra games and controllers. Be sure to acquire a VMU (Virtual Memory Unit) or you won’t be making much progress in your games. These will run anywhere from $0.50 to $8, they come in various colors and, even if the battery is dead, it will still work once plugged into your controller.

Setting Up Your Dreamcast

Next we naturally have to hook the thing up. There are various ways to do this.

If you have a standard CRT television, the composite cables will work fine for you.

However, I prefer the method of VGA adaption, especially if you are going to play shooters or are just going to hook the system up to an HDTV. You can either purchase a VGA box or grab one of these adapters that goes straight from your Dreamcast into your monitor/television.

What to Play?

The Dreamcast is an amazing system with a great library of software to boot. Most of it was aimed at the arcade crowd although there are plenty of other genres represented. Here a few suggestions to get you started:

• Jet Grind Radio
• Shenmue
• Soul Calibur
• Sonic Adventure
• Seaman
• JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures
• D2
• Evolution
• Giga Wing
• Marvel vs. Capcom 2
• Street Fighter: Third Strike
• Crazy Taxi
• Space Channel 5
• Skies of Arcadia

For the completionist, Sega once posted a complete checklist of Dreamcast titles on their site, however the link is currently dead. Thankfully, the strong community surrounding the system has kept the list alive today in PDF form. The best thing of all is that most Dreamcast games these days are kicking around for a few bucks. However don’t be surprised to see high price tags on rarer more complete finds.

Import Heaven

Much like the Sega Saturn, one of the Sega Dreamcast’s true strengths was the easy ability to play imported games. All it takes is a Boot Disc or a Gameshark CDX and your Dreamcast is region-free.

You can acquire these one of three ways: Either purchase them online or do some digital footwork and you may be able to find an image of the Boot Disc and instructions on how to make it work on your system via Google. Finally, there are mod chips but it’s perhaps easier to use one of the other routes.

What kinds of imports can you expect to play on your system? Tons. Here’s a tiny list just to name a few:

• Ikaruga
• Border Down
• Under Defeat
• Radirgy
• Princess Maker series (thanks for informing me of this Jenni!)
• Sakura Taisen
• Capcom vs. SNK 2
• Psyvariar 2
• Puyo Puyo Fever
• Super Street Fighter 2X
• Trigger Heart Excelica
• Shenmue II
• Rez

TATE (TAH-TAY!)

What is Tate Mode? It’s the mode in which the picture on your screen shifts at a 90-degree angle. This is where it’s handy to have your Dreamcast hooked up to a VGA monitor (not a flat screen unless it has a swivel stand). How do you play with the screen shifted? Simply turn your monitor onto its left side. Relax, it won’t hurt it (remember to bend at the knees).

Why would you want the screen shifted 90-degrees? Because it lends itself to a more arcade feel and, in most instances, actually shows you the entire screen without bunching it up.

Accessory Fever

Don’t you just love accessories? Stop lying. I know you have more than two plastic guitars in your house. The Dreamcast has some awesome accessories.

For instance, the official Sega Dreamcast Arcade Stick was a solidly built piece of hardware. It’s been seven years and mine is still going strong. There are plenty of sticks available for the system yet I find the official one the best of them.

Then there was the Dreamcast keyboard. This thing provided many a classic moments with Typing of the Dead. Typing in words to kill zombies was hilarious enough especially when you are no good at it. But the keyboard also had other uses. Since the Dreamcast could go online via the built-in 56k modem, you could browse the web and if you had a VMU plugged in, you could (and even still can) download games and other things straight to the unit.

Then there was the microphone and Seaman. Talking to that human headed fish was/is perhaps one of the most surreal experiences gamers can have. It’s just something you have to experience on your own to grasp.

Playing Online

Yes its true, avid Dreamcast owners can still take their systems online either through the 56k modem or the viable alternative of the cable modem adapter. What are you going to play though? Chu Chu Rocket was a big time waster but perhaps the biggest and most addictive reason is Phantasy Star Online (PSO).

For people longing to relive their days on Ragol, there’s good news in that there are still working servers for the Dreamcast, GameCube and PCs.

Now Go Play!

Alright, that about covers the basics so go get started and let us know how it’s going for you. Was it everything you remembered? Was it better as nostalgia? Did I miss something you wanted to know? Write us!

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With many new updates on the way more new personal spaces are now available on PlayStation Home and that’s just the beginning. There are also free items at the mall for those who like to watch their budget and save up for cooler items coming soon to the PlayStation Home. But first let’s look at two new personal spaces available now at the mall.

Personal Spaces

Visari Throne Room

This dark and gloomy Helghast palace is now available at the Real Estate Office located at the mall for $4.99. Fans of Killzone 2 can deck out their personal throne room with Visari themed items at the furniture store at the mall, see list below but for now check out what you will receive when you purchase the Killzone 2 Visari Throne Room:

Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Apartment

The Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Apartment is now available at the Real Estate Office at the mall for $4.99. This interactive apartment will kind of remind you of Road Warrior, two levels of spaces with space ships flying past the window to a shield that rises when enemy or harsh sun rays are coming your way. Lots of space for futuristic furniture found at the mall or missiles and other post apocalyptic items. Check out this walk through of the space by a PS3 Home resident for a better look. No video was available on the PlayStation site and my video recorder is not working properly. But here’s a glimpse of the apartment:

Shopping Mall

Threads I located on the first floor

Males Only

• Katamari Forever Antenna is free
• Katamari Forever Miso T-Shirt with Miso riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Kinoko t-Shirt with Kinoko riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Lucha T-Shirt with Lucha riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Camouflaged Cargo shorts cost 99 cents
• Running Shorts cost 99 cents

Females Only

• Katamari Forever Odeko T-Shirt with Odeko riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Honey T-Shirt with Honey riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Katamari Forever Princess T-Shirt with Princess riding on player’s left shoulder cost 25 cents
• Athletic Tank Top cost 99 cents
• Ski Parka cost 99 cents

Threads II located on second floor

Both Males and Female

• Black Animated Scrolling Dallas T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Black or Purple Animated Scrolling San Francisco T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Black or Maroon Animated Scrolling New York T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Black or Gray Animated Scrolling Los Angeles T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Dark Green Animated Scrolling Chicago T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Red or Black Animated Flashing Eqube Equalizer T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Grey Animated Equalizer Sleeve Shirt cost $1.99
• Grey or Pink Animated Flashing MX Equalizer T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Black or Green Animated Flashing M8 Equalizer T-Shirt cost $1.99
• Choice of Pink, Blue or Yellow Glowsticks cost $1.99

Males Only

• Birthday Cake Hat cost 49 cents
• Ocean Animated Scrolling Dallas T-Shirt cost $1.99

Females Only

• Pink Animated Equalizer Sleeve Shirt cost $1.99
• Black Animated Scrolling Chicago T-Shirt cost $1.99

Costume Shop located on the second floor

Males Only

• Nerdy Bundle cost $1.49
Individual Items Include:
• Nerdy Glasses cost 49 cents
• Nerdy Shirt and Pants cost 99 cents each

• Witch Doctor Bundle cost $2.49
Individual Items Include:
• Head dress, Ornamentation, Bone Bead Bracelet cost 49 cents each
• Kilt and Spiked Anklet cost 99 cents each

Females Only:

• Rocker Girl Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items Include:
• Rocker Girl Vintage Glasses and Suede Heels cost 49 cents
• Safari Club Shirt and Black Leather Pants cost 99 cents

• Summerwear Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items Include:
• Black Tube Top and Tube Skirt cost 99 cents each
• Lemon Gingham Blouse and Skirt cost 99 cents each

Furniture Store 1 located on first floor

Items for Killzone 2 Visari Personal Space

• Tall Visari Chair is free
• Viscari Plant and Container is free
• Small Visari Chair cost 99 cents
• Visari Desk cost 99 cents
• Helghan Defense Painting cost 99 cents

Items for Post-Apocalyptic Shelter Apartment

• Apocalypse Chair in choice of brown, red, gray or dark brown cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Seat in choice of red, blue, black or green cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Couch Version 1 in choice of orange, black or red cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Couch Version 2 in choice of red, green or blue cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Footlocker in choice of red, black, gray or green cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Ottoman in choice of yellow, red or rusted cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Table Version 1 in choice of black, red, gray or orange cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Table Version 2 in choice of gray, black or orange cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Workbench in choice of black, rusted or gray cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Bench in choice of green, light gray, blue or dark gray cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Round Table in choice of gray, red or yellow cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Storage Locker in choice of rusted, red, yellow or gray cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Oil Drums in choice of green, red, black or yellow cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Waste Drum in rusted, yellow or red cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Missile Rack in choice of gray, yellow, red or green cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Lectern in choice of light gray, green or blue cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Machine in choice of gray, orange and yellow cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Cube in choice of black, gray or red cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Flooring in choice of gray, rusted, red or black cost 99 cents
• Apocalypse Bed in choice of yellow, orange, red or black cost $1.49

Site [PlayStation Blog] Site [PlayStation]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

Los Angeles Lakers’ star and 2009 NBA Finals’ MVP Kobe Bryant is the cover boy for Take-Two’s NBA 2K10. In a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, he makes a pretty effective pitchman as well.

Bryant told the LA Times this latest incarnation of digital basketball is so realistic it’s “like practicing without getting hurt.” The superstar comes from a family of gamers as he said his father, uncle, sister and six of his cousins all played the NES classic Double Dribble back in the day. That game had no NBA license and players with virtually no distinctive characteristics. These days, designers can make incredible replicas of our favorite athletes and Bryant’s game representation reflects his unique mannerisms. The virtual Bryant even juts his jaw out during crunch time the same way the real All-Star guard does.

“Yeah, all of that’s in the game,” Bryant is quoted as saying. “It all helps to bring people closer to the game because you can see the emotion in the players. I want them (people playing the game) to live it. I want them to compete. Because that’s what I do when I play. That’s what’s fun to me. To be able to go through a whole season, to get better and see progression. Trying to stay injury free. I want them to experience all of that.”

While EA Sports has exclusive rights to the NFL licensed games, there is no such deal in place. Sony, EA Sports and 2K Sports all put their best effort forth each year in one of the biggest competitions in video games. 2K Sports has the reigning NBA Finals MVP in his corner and soon we’ll learn if that’s as big an advantage for 2K Sports as it is for the Lakers.

The game is schedule to be released October 6, 2009. As is the trend these days, a Special Edition of the game will commemorates the tenth anniversary of the NBA 2K series (for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3). For $100 you will get a Kobe Bryant figure from McFarlane Toys, a Bryant poster from Shepherd Fairey’s Studio No. 1, a special in-game VIP lobby, a retrospective DVD and a 2K Sports-branded combination locker that holds up to 20 games.

That’s some pretty decent swag, especially the locker.

Read [Los Angeles Times] Also Read [Video Games Blogger]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

This week’s PlayStation Store update features a game of destruction called Smash Cars for $14.99 for the PlayStation 3. The game offer real-time physics, stunts and next-gen graphics to make this experience fun with a choice of single or multi-player car racing with twists, turns and don’t forget serious stunts while earning trophies. Check it out:

This week’s PlayStation Portable download features Warriors Orochi for $14.99 for the PSP. In this game the Serpent King Orochi shattered time and space to kidnap the greatest warriors from Dynasty Warriors and Sumari Warriors and brought them together for the biggest showdown in history. Players can choose to play alone or in wireless co-op mode to unleash their powerful moves on nearby enemies. Check it out:

Here’s a list of everything else that’s new:

Downloadable Games - PSOne Classics

• Bloody Roar (PS3/PSP/$5.99)

Game Demos:

• IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds Of Prey Demo (PS3/Free)
• Mini Ninjas Demo (PS3/Free)

Bonus Game Contents:

• Batman: Arkham Asylum Play As The Joker Challenge Map (PS3/Free)
• Cross Edge Service Point Pack (PS3/Free)
• Dynasty Warriors Strikeforce Pack 4 (PSP/Free)
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Unlimited Hakumen (PS3/99 cents)*
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Unlimited Rachel (PS3/99 cents)*
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Unlimited V-13 (PS3/99 cents)*
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Unlimited Ragna (PS3/99 cents)*
*Note: This content can also be unlocked through regular game play.
• Cross Edge Open Voice (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Open Gallery (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Beauty & Beast Pack (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Exotic Pack (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Thanks for Waiting Pack (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Strongest (in a Way) Pack (PS3/$1.99)
• Cross Edge Lots of Legends Pack (PS3/$1.99)
• PAIN Celebrity Character Andy Dick (PS3/$1.99)
• Zen Pinball Street Fighter II Tribute Table (PS3/$2.49)
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger All Additional Colors (PS3/$4.99)
Individual Color Packs:
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Additional Colors (Type A) (PS3/$1.99)
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Additional Colors (Type B) (PS3/$1.99)
• BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Additional Colors (Type C) (PS3/$1.99)

Guitar Hero World Tour Packs:

• “Dueling Banjos” by Steve Ouimette (PS3/$1.99)

Rock Band Music Packs:

• Foo Fighters Pack 02 (PS3/$5.49)
Individual Songs:
• “I’ll Stick Around” by Foo Fighters (PS3/$1.99)
• “Lonely As You” by Foo Fighters (PS3/$1.99)
• “All My Life” by Foo Fighters (PS3/$1.99)

Single Songs:

• “There’s No Other Way” by Blur (PS3/$1.99)
• “No Rain” by Blind Melon (PS3/$1.99)
• “Inside Out” by Eve 6 (PS3/$1.99)
• “I’m Shipping up to Boston” by Dropkick Murphy (PS3/$1.99)
• “I Predict a Riot” by Kaiser Chiefs (PS3/$1.99)

Rock Band Unplugged bonus content:

• “Heartbreaker” by Pat Benatar (PSP/$1.99)
• “A Favor House Atlantic” by Coheed and Cambria (PSP/$1.99)

Free Game Videos:

• Gran Turismo PSP interview video (PS3/PSP/Free)
• Red Faction: Guerrilla Demons Of The Bad Lands Trailer (PS3/Free
• Borderlands Premiere Gameplay Trailer (PS3/Free)
• Mini Ninjas Suzume Gameplay Video (PS3/Free)
• Mini Ninjas Suzume Vignette (PS3/Free)
• Tekken 6 GamesCom 2009 Trailer (PS3/Free)
• NHL 2K10 Teaser Video 1 (PS3/Free)
• Eight Dew Tour Summer Videos – Chicago (PS3/Free)

Free Game Music:

• Ten Marvel Vs Capcom 2 tracks

New Movies to Rent or Own:

• Tyson. Rated R (Own/SD Format/$14.99)
• Last House on the Left. Rated R (Rent/SD Format/$3.99)
• Last House on the Left. Rated R (Rent/HD Format/$5.99)
• Last House on the Left. Rated R (Own/SD Format/$14.99)
• The Soloist. Rated PG-13 (Rent/SD Format/$3.99)
• The Soloist. Rated PG-13 (Rent/HD Format/$5.99)
• Race to Witch Mountain. Rated PG-13 (Rent/SD Format/$3.99)
• Race to Witch Mountain. Rated PG-13 (Rent/HD Format/$5.99)


Wallpapers and Themes:

• US Army Best Ranger Competition XMB Theme (PS3/Free)
• Gamer Theme (PS3/Free)
• Bioshock 2 Multiplayer Theme (PS3/Free)
• Savage Moon Grey Theme (PS3/Free)
• Savage Moon Red Theme (PS3/Free)
• Four US Army Wallpapers (PS3/Free)
• Three Gamer Wallpapers (PS3/Free)
• Six Warriors Orochi (PSP/Free)
• Army Of Two: 40th Day Theme (PS3/$1.99)

Read [PlayStation Store Blog] Site [PlayStation]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Lists, Nostalgia, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Handhelds, PSP, Gear, Accessories, Displays, Gear-Other, Updates, Playstation-Store 2009-08-24T14:37:17+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-watchmen-directors-cut-on-blu-ray/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-watchmen-directors-cut-on-blu-ray/ Section: Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Opinions, PCs, Mac, Windows, Handhelds, iPhone & iPod Touch, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Ads & Media, Movies, Home Video



Title: Watchmen
Release Date: July 21, 2009
Format: DVD, *Blu-ray, Digital Download
Company: Warner Bros.
Rating: “Restricted” for strong graphic violence, sexuality. nudity and language.
Length: 186 min (3 hours, 6 minutes)
Pros: Maximum Movie Mode is very worthwhile and the extra footage adds more blood. A respectable adaptation of the comic(s), great costumes and special effects, good soundtrack and several good performances.
Cons: Some extra footage unnecessary (makes the movie even longer) and online features are too laggy to enjoy. Moments of unintentional awkwardness, poor makeup not helped by high def and a few mixed performances.
Overall Score: Two thumbs up; 91/100; A-; * * * * out of five.

As I’ve already given a review of the Watchmen film, here’s a look at the Director’s Cut of Watchmen along with a look at the special features included with the Blu-ray purchase.

The main bonus features in the Blu-ray release are the dozen plus extra minutes of footage embedded within the movie, the Maximum Movie Mode, BD-Live extras, the Special Features disc and the Digital Copy disc.

Director’s Cut, Director’s Schmut

The release does include both the Director’s Cut and the theatrical release, so you can compare the two. Of course, doing so will require about 6+ hours of your time, something you likely won’t do in one sitting.

The extra footage is primarily 15 minutes of more violence and blood, usually involving Rorschach. It makes it more true to the comic but the fifth axe chop is not more meaningful than the first two, just more gut wrenching. In one case, involving the original Night Owl’s attackers, the extra footage is actually a determent to the movie, taking away from a few rather decent bouts of acting to them focus on overacted, uber rehearsed lines, detracting from the dramatic effect of the following scene. In that case, the scene was best left edited out and the film slightly suffered because of it. Luckily, it’s only a couple minutes of the movie and, for most, will soon be forgotten.



The Director’s Cut proves to be a mixed bag of beneficial and detrimental footage that makes an already long movie even longer. For a movie buff, that’s probably OK but for most that’s a dozen more minutes of sore butt syndrome.

It’s Totally Maximum Movie Mode, Dude

Maximum Movie Mode is much like a lecture class where the director (Zack Snyder) periodically stops the film to talk about it, brings in guest lecturers and tosses in some gratuitous extra effects and insights to keep you interested. And it works despite the seemingly annoying aspect of being interrupted every few minutes with a comment, tidbits, historical timeline overlay or cast member comment. It’s informative and certainly a good way to learn more about the movie, graphic novel and thought process behind the details and differences between the movie and the book.

It combines all the familiar extra features - director’s commentaries, photos, factoids and interviews - in a way that make a lot more sense and is a lot more fluid than scrolling through an unreadable menu.

The main drawbacks are is that it sometimes seems a little scripted and ends with a personal “Thank You” session from Zack that viewers won’t really appreciate. Otherwise, it’s highly informative and vastly superior to the featurettes offered on the second disc. Aside from the high-def video, your extra money is well spent with this potion of the Blu-ray. Kudos to Warner for this feature and I look forward to more releases with a similar feature.

One potentially irritating part feature is that it isn’t easy to find, especially if watching on a PS3. You’ll need to hit the “Pop Up Menu” button to bring up the bottom menu with the Maximum Movie Mode option. Otherwise it’ll go right from previews to the movie. (I guess that’s what happens when companies cut back on printed manuals.)



BD-Live is BD-ogus

BD-Live is essentially an online component that pairs the offline Blu-ray disc with online content. You can record commentaries and host online viewings with your friends. I was initially excited with the potential of the interactive features offered via BD-Live when Dark Knight was released. With Watchmen, however, there are hardly any worthwhile online extras. Sure, you can scroll through the confusing menus to get to content you watched months ago online (Dr. Manhattan making-of featurettes and a couple retro videos) but the user-created content is completely lacking. Anything that is available is marred by a laggy server that leaves you watching the loading icon longer than you watch any videos.

The only worthwhile commentary might be the writing team of David Hayter and Alex Tse who offer an uninteresting look into what they had to do, for several years, with an infamous graphic novel to turn it into a movie. Even then, you’ll spend more time with the loading icon than absorbing anything useful. Aside from the making-of segments you might have missed and are mistakenly not included as menu items on a disc, don’t even bother with this feature.

Semi-Special Features

The disc labeled “Special Features” include a lot less than expected. I expected to see compilations of interviews, photos and other stuff from the Maximum Movie Mode that could be scrolled at your leisure. Instead it was only a couple 30 minute featurettes that seemed more standardized for DVD releases than special. The fact that it is Blu-ray implied that much more would be available. Instead, the three features and music video (by Gerard Way’s band My Chemical Romance) are a letdown and offer little more than you’d find on most Watchmen fan sites.



I’ll retract that a little to give some credit to the DC editors, cast and crew that helped to dissect the graphic novel a bit for those who are unable to ponder it that deeply purely because they were not alive int he 1980s (no insult intended). The real-world vigilantes featureless was at times more silly than serious so it might be viewable for a few giggles.

Warner Bros. really missed an opportunity with this disc. They should have included a complete, selectable menu of all the items offered in the Maximum Movie Mode.

Digital Download Disc

This is the bonus that will probably make a lot of people happy. With your purchase you also get a free download of the movie for both your PC (Mac or Windows) and iTunes. That’s at least a $10-$20 value right there considering you can take the movie and watch it on a portable device to help cut down the doldrums of your cross-continental flight. You need to use the code included on a piece of paper in your disc case and expires July 21, 209, So if you are thinking of keeping that case sealed for collector’s sake, you might want to rethink it to cash in on the downloads before they expire.

Also, I noticed that the end of the legal goo at the bottom of the paper offer the humorously straightforward plea, “Don’t steal movies.”

Re-Watching the Watchmen

The most interesting things I learned from this release were that the blue glows around Dr. Manhattan were real-world effects and Zack’s thoughts on the reworked ending (which I like better than the graphic novel). That sadly means that the special features were too little too late, clearly outdone by internet.



The movie stands up extremely well as a home video with great audio (make sure you have it properly calibrated to get the vocal track up to volume with the sound effects) and amazing visual effects. Any effects that seemed cartoony in the theater are far little more forgiving at home and Patrick Wilson’s Dan Dreiberg (and Nite Owl) are a lot less creepy at second viewing. Of course, if you have a large HD TV, the rubbery makeup on Robert Wisden as President Richard Nixon and Carla Gugino as the aged Sally Jupiter will not be any less forgiving.

Not certain whether or not to get the Blu-ray release? Stop wondering. Simple answer is, if you have not already, “Hecks yes.” If you are going to get this movie for home viewing, the highest def you can get is best. Then watch it though a couple more times just to look for everything you missed the first times around.

Read [Gamertell] Photo Gallery 1 [Gamertell] Photo Gallery 2 [Gamertell]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Opinions, PCs, Mac, Windows, Handhelds, iPhone & iPod Touch, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Ads & Media, Movies, Home Video 2009-08-15T05:34:08+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-criss-angel-mindfreak-exclusives-on-home/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-criss-angel-mindfreak-exclusives-on-home/ Section: Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Audio, Books, Displays, Furniture, Ads & Media, Movies, Other Media, Genres, 3D, Casual, Online, Party, Sim, Game-Genres-Other



Home Theater

Special items and Giveaways

This week members of the Sony Home community are treated to exclusive clips from Criss Angel’s upcoming show and an exclusive limited time free item at the theater now through Aug. 12, 2009. The free item is a coffin-style sofa for their personal spaces, also, while watching the clip players will be entered into a give away for one of two real-life coffins used in Criss Angel: Mindfreak and one of three Criss Angel: Burn DVDs and books. Only five winners will be selected and to participate register and log on to Sony Home and visit Auditorium 1 to watch the video. Players can find the Theater in Central Plaza or by selecting the space from the World Map.

Home Shopping Mall

There really isn’t anything new going on space wise on home but there are a few new items available at the shopping mall located in Central Plaza, check it out:

Threads 1

Males Only:

• Western shirt for 99 cents
• Scenester Street top for 99 cents
• Victorian Vest and Shirt for 99 cents
• Padded Jacket for 99 cents
• Flower Power Button-down Shirt for 99 cents
• Bomber Jacket for 99 cents
• Argyle Ensemble for 99 cents
• Down Vest for 99 cents
• Board Shorts for 99 cents

Females Only

• Buckled Boots for 49 cents
• Ski Parka for 99 cents
• Cheongsam Top for 99 cents
• Jean Shorts for 99 cents

Threads 2

Both Male and Female:

• Animated Smiley Face T-shirt for $1.99
• Animated Revolving Earth T-shirt for $1.99

Males Only:

• Band Jacket for 99 cents
• Animated Growing Vines T-shirt for $1.99

Costume Shop

Males Only:

• Deep Sea Diver Bundle cost $1.99

Individual items:

• Deep Sea Diving Gloves cost 49 cents
• Deep Sea Diving Boots cost 49 cents
• Deep Sea Diving Helmet cost 99 cents
• Deep Sea Diving Suit Top cost 99 cents
• Deep Sea Diving Suit Pants cost 99 cents

Females Only:

• Cave Woman Bundle cost $1.99

Individual items:

• Prehistoric Bracelet cost 49 cents
• Prehistoric Fur Boots cost 49 cents
• Prehistoric Bodice cost 99 cents
• Prehistoric Mini-skirt cost 99 cents

Read [Playstation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [Criss Angel’s Official Website]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Audio, Books, Displays, Furniture, Ads & Media, Movies, Other Media, Genres, 3D, Casual, Online, Party, Sim, Game-Genres-Other 2009-08-10T19:33:24+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/japanese-imports-big-fat-list-of-j-list-updates-for-july-2009/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/japanese-imports-big-fat-list-of-j-list-updates-for-july-2009/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Japanese Imports, Lists, Consoles, PS2, PS3, Wii, Handhelds, DS, PSP, Gear, Clothing, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Figures & Toys, Ads & Media, Web, Genres, Action, Bishoujo, Hentai, Sim

It’s been way too long since I posted an update of the game-related and generally interesting items being offered at Japanese import site J-List and under-18 site J-Box.

To help bring everyone back up to speed, here’s a big bullet-point list of notable items currently offered on the site. Most are DS and PSP games as well as many figures based on various Japanese dating-sim games, so expect some professionally sculpted skin when you click through

• The Tower of Druaga Dots - Remember that Dig Dug dot art toy? Same idea, this time its a set for the classic game, Tower of Druaga . You can make Gilgamesh, Ki and Druaga. ($9.50)
• Cosmode USA - A magazine dedicated to cosplay complete with instruction? Hellz yeah.($18.95)
• Mayonaise Potato Pringles - Oh yeah, for that yummy mayo aftertaste. ($2 each)
• Niko Niko Punch 2 (Face Bento Decoration) - It may sound like an awesome video game but really it stamps nori smiley faces to put on your little wads of sticky rice. I love when food smiles at me as I eat it. ($19.50)
• Kasumi Dead or Alive EX Figure - This is the blue version by Shunya Yamashita which also comes in white. And yes, it is sexy sexy. ($22)
• Marvel Bishoujo Black Widow 1/8 Figure - Another figure by Shunya Yamashita, this one features a Marvel Comics bishouju character. Skin tight leather outfit, red hair and a lot of nooks and crannies.



• Legend of Zelda Hour Glass of Phantom Soundrop - Now when someone says, “Is there something in your pocket or are your pants making noise at me?” You can simply say, “Yes.” This set of six key kchains features Legend of Zelda sound effects. One press and you get a second or two of sound. Simple yet effective.
• Mao 1/7 PVC Figure - *purrrrr* This statue features Mao, the Ninja Quarterbeast from the PS2 role-playing game Shining Tears complete with ears.
• Super Mario Brothers Coin Bank ~ Green 1up - More trippy mushroom goodness, this time to help you store your stash, er, coinage.
• Aya Red Bikini version 1/7 Figure ~ Onei Chanbara vorteX by Alter - Yipieki-yahoo! The site says it all: “This little treasure created by Tamsoft, is the wildly popular “Oneechanbara” (Swordfighting Sisters), that was formerly released on the PS2 as part of the simple 2000 series, features a sexy bikini clad babe trying to hack her way out of a zombie infested locales using her katana (sword). So popular, the game has gone on to spawn five other sequels, all featuring the bikini baring babes using their swords to get them out of tight situations. This delicious figure features Aya, from Onechanbara Vortex complete with her trademark red floral patterned bikini with sword in hand and a sweet cowboy hat perched on top her head.” ($72)
Dragon Quest IX Nintendo DSi Pouch - This is a preorder item and will certainly be worth it for fans ($18).
• Kureha Figure Sit Down - From Sega’s PS2 Shining Wind game, this figure shows Kureha laying on the floor exposing her ginormous, er, sleeves.
• Tamaki Kousaka Seducing Figure - Another proeorder, this one is really just for adults. It’ comes from the ToHeart2 PS2 game that started as a PC visual novel and, as the site describes, it is a “full-on excitement generator.”
• Hanyu Figure by Wave - Another preorder item, this one is based on a mystery PC and PS2 game series, When the Cicadas Cry. Very adorable ($80).
• School Days Parody T-Shirt - “Nice Boat!” - If you are looking for something oscure, get this shirt. People will think you are either bragging, weird or into signage. It’s a parody from an actual event that took place on the last day of an anime based on a dating-sim game. ($17.95) So obscure, even those who get it might not even get it.



• Maryan 1/7 Figure White School Swimsuits ~ Another figure based on the ToHeart2 game series, this time with a skippy, frolicky girl in a swimsuit.
• Japanese T-Shirt - “Tower of Druaga” - Namco’s Tower of Druaga gets the T-shirt treatment. It’s abasic T with a basic logo for a game that may have even been programmed in BASIC.
• Sasara Kusugawa 1/7 Figure School Swimsuits - Oh, those naughty ToHeart2 ladies. Not as much a popular up-skirt view as a down-skirt view. Preorder this one as well ($95).
• Black Aries 1/8 Figure  - Another preorder, this is from the hentai game Makai Tenshi Jiburiru (Jiburiru the Devil Angel). This one has a lot of flow-y costume action and claws of death. ($80)
• When They Cry for DS (Higurashi no Naku Koro ni) - A DS dating-sim game in Japanese. Bone up on your kanji, kids. ($55). Look for others in the series as well (eg When They Cry: Kizuna 3)
• Kirarin Revolution for DS- Just the box art for this DS game will make your eye turn into cotton candy. It bleeds pink. ($62)
• Link Plush ~ Phantom Hourglass - To go with those sound keychains is the Zelda plush. It’s Link, with sword and shield. ‘Nuff said. ($16)
• Code Geass: Lost Colors for PSP - Forty voice actors from the anime are featured in this game you’ve never heard of. ($72)
• Memories Off: Sorekara for PSP - A “super new dating sim” for the PSP that “explores both the joys and bitter sides of love.” Also check out Memories Off 6: T-wave. ($68)
• Neon Genesis Evangelion: Steel Girl Friend for PSP - A dating-sim game by Gainax based on an anime. ($55)

• To Love-Ru Doki Doki! - Whoa! Super close bikini crotch shot box art, Batman! Another dating-sim PSP game based on an anime and manga. ($70)
• Evangelion: Jo for PSP - To mix things up a bit, this dating-sim game has a bunch of combat in it, too. ($75)
• Let’s Play in Japanese (Nihongo de Asobo) for DS - Time to learn some kanji using card games, DS style (or is that DS stylus style?). ($62)
• Macross Ace Frontier for PSP - Now I know it’s been years since you’ve played a Macross game. This one takes you through the entire series. ($70)
• Arcade Mania! - The Turbo-Charged World of Japan’s Game Centers - Holy crap, something to read! From the site: “Arcade Mania! takes you on a turbo-charged tour through a typical Japanese arcade, from the crazy crane games, sticker picture machines, and rhythm games that beckon from the entrance, then on to the fighting games, shooting games, retro games, games of chance, and card-based games you’ll find inside.” ($18.50)
• Dissidia Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Potion Cosmos - I know, the name makes it sound so great, eh? A potion. And it’s grapefruit flavored! OK, so I love grapefruit but in a potion? Probably not eye-of-newt-y enough for my taste. ($5.50 per can)

Read [Gamertell] Site [J-Box]

EDITOR’S NOTE: J-List feature items not suitable for gamers under the age of 18. As such, we provide links to J-Box, which is suitable for gamers of all ages.

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Japanese Imports, Lists, Consoles, PS2, PS3, Wii, Handhelds, DS, PSP, Gear, Clothing, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Figures & Toys, Ads & Media, Web, Genres, Action, Bishoujo, Hentai, Sim 2009-07-22T23:22:15+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/comic-con-2009-kotobukiyas-lineup-and-schedule-with-frickin-lightsaber-chop/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/comic-con-2009-kotobukiyas-lineup-and-schedule-with-frickin-lightsaber-chop/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Japanese Imports, Previews, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, Bishoujo, Hentai, Conventions


Statue, figure maker and cool stuff creator Kotobukiya has released its full schedule and lineup of offerings for the 2009 San Diego Comic Con taking place July 23 through 26, 2009 (with a preview night on June 22) at the San Diego Convention Center. The company promises hourly prizes as well as several exclusive items at its booth (#2601).

Some of the company’s announcements and event exclusives include:

• Free Shunya Yamashita poster - An original illustration of Marvel comics heroines has been created by master illustrator Shunya Yamashita
• X-Force Wolverine Fine Art Bust - Limited to 300 piecescs for Wednesday, July 22, 2009 (preview night), 150 for Thursday, July 23 and 50 for Friday July 24. Purchases will be limited to only 2 busts per person,and is priced at only $80
Black Widow Bishoujo Statue - 250 pieces for Wednesday, July 22 (preview night), 150 for Thursday, July 23, 50 for Friday July 24. Purchases will be limited to only 2 per person and priced at only $60.
• $25,000 in prizes
• Star Wars Lightsaber Chopsticks - To be released in stores in 2010, complete with R2D2 and C3PO glasses and Star Wars logo chopstick holders.
• Live sculpting demonstration - Master sculptor Mr. Junnosuke Abe will perform a live sculpting demonstration beginning on Thursday July 23, 2009, with raw materials. By the end of the show on Sunday (July 26, 2009) he will have the first draft of a brand new sculpture completed. Abe-san’s sculpture will be a full figure rendition of Wolverine as a 1/6th scale Fine Art Statue in his current yellow & blue costume, as designed by Astonishing X-Men’s John Cassaday

Here the big ol’ schedule of events at Kotobukiya’s booth.

THURSDAY JULY 23, 2009

• 11am - TRIVIA CHALLENGE
• Noon - STAR WARS PRESENTATION - Special Guest:  Lucasfilm’s Chris Spitale takes you behind the scenes and a sneak peek at future goods!  Presentation security provided by the 501st Legion.
• 1 pm - EVANGELION PRESENTATION - Special guests:  Funimation’s Adam Sheehan provides EVA 1:0 info, toy line overview, and contests hosted by EVA cosplayers
• 2 pm - DESTROY ALL PODCASTS DX - Live show recording!  Jeremy & Star bring you con updates and Anime reviews
• 3 pm - STAR WARS CHOP SABER DUEL - Compete with lightsaber chopsticks against members of the 501st Legion!
• 4 pm - STAR WARS ACTION NEWS - Live show recording!  Arnie & Marjorie present all the Star Wars collectibles reporting you can handle, including a report on the SW events from the hectic Preview Night.
• 5 pm - *TBD*
• 6 pm - GRAND PRIZE DRAWING: IRON MAN MOVIE: MARK II FINE ART STATUE PROTOTYPE - Drawing conducted by Marvel Bishoujo Cosplay Characters!

FRIDAY EVENTS

• 11am - TRIVIA CHALLENGE - Test your wits and win prizes!  Special Marvel Bishoujo Cosplay Characters in attendance!
• Noon - STATUEFORUM.com Q&A with KOTO - Special Guest: Statue Forum’s Drew “Galactus” Cheskin
• 1 pm - MARVEL PRESENTATION - Behind the scenes and a sneak peek at future goods!  Comic, film, and Bishoujo will be discussed! Special Guest: Marvel’s Jesse Falcon and Marvel Bishoujo Cosplay Characters
• 2 pm - DESTROY ALL PODCASTS DX - Live show recording!  Daily con updates and Anime reviews!
• 3 pm - STAR WARS CHOP SABER DUEL - Compete with lightsaber chopsticks against members of the 501st Legion!
• 4 pm - MAJOR LICENSING ANNOUNCEMENT - The mystery revealed!
• 5 pm - INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING PLASTIC MODEL KITS - Kotobukiya staff members will instruct new kit builders how to get started!
• 6 pm - GRAND PRIZE DRAWING: ROGUE BISHOUJO STATUE PROTOTYPE - Drawing conducted by Marvel Bishoujo Cosplay Characters!

SATURDAY EVENTS

• 11 am - TRIVIA CHALLENGE - Test your wits and win prizes! 
• Noon - KOTO COLLECTORS DOT COM ANNOUNCEMENT - New fan run website announcement, as well as details on how you can win a one-of-a-kind Clone Wars: Anakin Skywalker ARTFX+ Statue Prototype!
• 1 pm - AFI ARTFX OLYMPICS - Special Guest: ActionFigureInsider’s Daniel “Julius Marx” Pickett hosts competitions in ARTFX building. 
• 2 pm - DESTROY ALL PODCASTS DX - Live show recording!  Daily con updates and Anime reviews!
• 3 pm - STAR WARS JUMBO MACHINDER PRESENTATION - Special Guest: Super 7’s Brian Flynn will reveal the genesis of making the Stormtrooper Jumbo Machinder.  Presentation security provided by the 501st Legion.
• 4 pm - STAR WARS CHOP SABER DUEL - Compete with lightsaber chopsticks against members of the 501st Legion!
• 5 pm - COMICS AND COMICS - STANDUP COMEDY HOUR - Fanboy themed comedy with Special Guests: Tom Franck, Asterios Kokkinos, Ed Greer, Jackie Kashian – hosted by Sax Carr.
• 6 pm - GRAND PRIZE DRAWING: STAR WARS COMMANDER REX ARTFX+ STATUE PROTOTYPE - Drawing conducted by the voice of YODA himself:  Tom Kane!  Presentation security provided by the 501st Legion.

SUNDAY EVENTS

• 11 am - TRIVIA CHALLENGE -Test your wits and win prizes! 
• Noon - STAR WARS CHOP SABER DUEL - Compete with lightsaber chopsticks against members of the 501st Legion!
• 1 pm - WOLVERINE SCULPTURE OFFICIAL UNVEILING - Special Guest:  Kotobukiya’s Master Sculptor Junnosuke Abe will be sculpting a new work of art every day of the show, with this being the official unveiling of the finished piece!
• 2 pm - DESTROY ALL PODCASTS DX - Live show recording!  Daily con updates and Anime reviews!
• 3 pm - GRAND PRIZE DRAWING: MARVEL WOLVERINE BROWN COSTUME FINE ART BUST PROTOTYPE - Drawing conducted by Marvel Bishoujo Cosplay Characters!

Site [Comic Con] Read [Kotobukiya USA]

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Japanese Imports, Previews, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, Bishoujo, Hentai, Conventions 2009-07-20T20:05:28+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-new-spaces-new-stores-more-items-galore/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-new-spaces-new-stores-more-items-galore/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 2D, 3D, Arcade, Casual, Online, Game-Genres-Other

The PlayStation Home has been updated with three new spaces to new stores at the mall and more stuff than you can shake a stick at. And like a 3-year-old in the candy isle at WalMart, I’m hopped up on digital eye candy and screaming my head off for a bag of flavored treats!

New Spaces

Namco Bandai Game Space and Namco Game Theatre

There are three new spaces available on Home , each just as exciting as the next. The first space is the Namco Bandai Game Space. If you download the Namco Museum Essentials which is now available at the PlayStation Network Store for $9.99 and a demo for free, players can unlock virtual items for their personal spaces such as their own arcade, trophies and even clothing for their avatars for beating high scores or accomplishing certain tasks like collecting all the fruits from each level in Dig Dug. Downloading the game also allows players to launch into the game using the arcade center or the personal arcade in their spaces. Those who do not have the game downloaded can still enjoy mini-games all over the center such as the vending machine games where players can receive items such as soda cans with cute little anime pictures on them or clothing items like boots, shirt, skirt and a girl mask. What? The costume is cute, in a creepy animated way.

The vending machine game is roulette-style so the results are completely random. If you think that’s all there is, don’t forget to check out the money exchange machine for a free stack of game coins to toss on your table in your personal space. Want to see how compatible you are with your friends? Take a seat on the heart shaped love-seats to be ranked and get a free t-shirt. Walk down the hall and enter the Namco theater where you will find life-sized figures of a Tekken or Soul Calibur character standing guard over another set of vending machines and a race car from Namco’s Ridge Racer 7 game in the center. There are screens hanging above teasing the related games above the figures.

Buzz! HQ

After months of waiting to play Buzz! HQ only to have it removed for technical issues, the game space has returned. The game allows players to work together with others to answer the multiple choice questions. The space is huge! From the moment you enter the lobby to the moment you enter the studio to play the game. Up to 64 players can work together to answer the trivia questions fed directly to the space from MyBuzzQuiz.com. Questions ranging from movie series to scientific brain busters to cartoon knowledge and musical tidbits. The winning group wins the prize item for their avatar or home space and are encouraged to create quizzes of their own by visiting and registering on MyBuzzQuiz.com if they like. Check out this video to see the space:

EA Sports Complex: Fight Night 4

The gloves are pulled on in this space with plenty to do. Just like Buzz! HQ, this space is huge to explore and two games players can enjoy from boxing with two Rock-em-Sock-em style robots in the center ring or try their hand at mixing the music at the turn tables. Check it out in this video clip:

Sony Home Mall

The mall has been completely renovated with new stores and items for purchase using your virtual PSN account. It’s like Christmas in July on Sony Home right now because there are also new virtual items available for every avatar. Check out the new look in this video:

Threads

The original threads now located on the first floor of the mall in the central plaza now have Namco Bandai and SOCOM gear available. Some items are for both male and female avatars and a few are gender specific items.

Namco items for both female and male avatars:

• Flag Cap is free
• Pac-Man collection t-shirt for 25 cents
• Dig Dug Pooka t-shirt for 25 cents
• Galaga bug t-shirt for 25 cents
• Xevious Solvalou t-shirt for 25 cents
• Mappy Jailtime Goro t-shirt for 25 cents
• Libble Rabbler t-shirt for 25 cents
• Pac-Man pin smock for 49 cents

Gender specific namco items:

• Lucky Flag Cap for female for 25 cents
• Special Flag Cap for male for 25 cents

SOCOM items (male only):

• Top Rim glasses cost 49 cents
• Tactical goggles cost 49 cents
• Aviator glasses cost 49 cents
• Urban Camouflage Boonie Hat for 49 cents
• Wood Camouflage Boonie Hat for 49 cents
• Urban Camouflage Combat Helmet for 49 cents
• Wood Camouflage Combat Helmet for 49 cents
• Urban Camouflage Shirt for 99 cents
• Wood Camouflage Shirt for 99 cents
• Urban Camouflage Bandolier shirt 99 cents
• Wood Camouflage Bandolier shirt 99 cents
• Desert Camouflage Bandolier shirt 99 cents
• Wood Camouflage pants 99 cents
• Desert Camouflage pants 99 cents

Threads 2

Located on the second floor of the mall just up the stairs have new animated t-shirts that flash and light up and a few fun items.

Items for both male and female avatars:

• Skull Bullet Bundle shirts cost $1.99
Individual skull bullet shirts:
• Blue Skull Bullet t-shirt for 49 cents
• Green Skull Bullet shirt for 49 cents
• Red Skull Bullet t-shirt for 49 cents
• Orange Skull Bullet t-shirt for 49 cents
• White Skull Bullet t-shirt for 49 cents
• Animated Shirt Bundle cost $1.99
Individual animated shirts:
• 4th of July t-shirt cost 49 cents
• Flashing battery icon t-shirt for 49 cents
• Pulsing headphones t-shirt for 49 cents
• Beating heart t-shirt for 49 cents
• Equalizer t-shirt for 49 cents

Items for male only avatars:

• T-Rex Head for 49 cents
• Thai Boxing Wraps for 49 cents
• Chainmail Shirt for 99 cents
• Police Shirt for 99 cents

Items for female only avatars:

• Venitian Carnvial Mask for 49 cents
• Fruit Hat cost 49 cents

Costume Shop

A brand new costume store located on the second floor have items for all those who like to dress up their avatars as their favorite game character or just for fun.
Costumes for both male and female avatars:

• Luchadora Bundle cost $1.99
Individual Items:
• Mask, Top, Skirt (female), Bottoms (male), gloves and boots are 49 cents each.
• Medieval Armor Bundle cost $1.99
Individual items:
• Helmet, Gauntlet and Sabatons cost 49 cents each
• Armor top, Armor bottoms (female), Grievers (male) are 99 cents each

Killzone Helghast Soldier costume:

• Gloves and Boots cost 49 cents
• Helmet, Flack Jacket and Trousers cost 99 cents

Gender specific costumes for male avatars:

• Spartan Bundle cost $1.99
Individual items:
• Helmet and boots cost 49 cents each
• Armor top and bottom cost 99 cents each
• Samurai Bundle cost $1.99
Individual items:
• Helmet and Gauntlet cost 49 cents each
• Top Armor, Leg Armor and Shoes cost 99 cents each
• Cardboard Robot bundle cost $2.99
Individual items:
• Robot legs cost 49 cents
• Robot head, torso, claws and feet cost 99 cents each

Gender specific costumes for female avatars:

• Geisha Bundle cost $1.49
Individual items:
• Geisha wig cost 49 cents
• Komono top, bottom, and shoes cost 99 cents each
• Roman Toga Bundle cost $1.49
Individual items:
• Leather sandals cost 49 cents
• Toga top and bottom cost 99 cents

Read [Playstation Blog] Also [Playstation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [Namco Bandai] Site [My Buzz Quizz]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 2D, 3D, Arcade, Casual, Online, Game-Genres-Other 2009-07-20T14:04:41+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-mountain-dew-world-of-warcraft-game-fuel/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-mountain-dew-world-of-warcraft-game-fuel/ Section: Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Opinions, PCs, Linux, Mac, Windows, Gear, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Advertisements, Other Media, Genres, Action



Product: Mountain Dew World of Warcraft Game Fule (aka Mtn Dew WoW Game Fuel)
Price: Variable ($0.50 to $2 per can or bottle)
Rating (Citrus Cherry): One thumb sideways, one thumb down; 67/100; D+; * 1/2 out of five.
Rating (Wild Fruit): One thumb up, one thumb sideways; 85/100; B; * * * 1/2 out of five.
Pros: Nice collector can art, Wild Fruit is enjoyable out of the can. Both mix well with vodka for game-themed vodka martinis.
Cons: Names don’t accurately describe the flavor. Citrus Cherry has medicine-y taste and leaves a weird coating on your tongue.
Overall: The cans (and bottles) are worthwhile for collectors and those who like to acquire free in-game items. As for drinking, skip the so-called Citrus Cherry flavor and, if you enjoy sweet, fruity carbonated beverages, try the Wild Fruit.

As a followup to its 2007 release of the Halo-themed Mountain Dew drink, Mountain Dew has created a pair of limited edition World of Warcraft-themed beverages known as Mtn Dew Game Fuel.

The two flavors I tasted, the two available, are Citrus Cherry (Horde Red) and Wild Fruit (Alliance Blue) which are available in WOW packaging until August 20, 2009. (My review cans were void of any art.)

As an incentive for gamers to buy these beverages, other than the WOW branding, each also contains either a free 14-day-trial of World of Warcraft or an in-game battlebot pet.

And now, on to the tasting.

Initial Sips

Citrus Cherry looks and pours more orange than red, which is the first sign that this is a more citrus than cherry flavored drink. As it fills the glass it does take on a more reddish appearance though it definitely skews orange, not quite living up to its “Horde Red” marketing description.

The first sip has a bit of a tang to it and, indeed, has more orange than cherry flavor to it. It’s also carbonated so it has an extra tingle as it goes down.

After the first couple gulps, the flavor goes from citrus to a less recognizable sweet candy flavor that’s not as strong as cotton candy. It also seemed to take on a slight medicine front taste that quickly dissipated. The smell, as well, is of an indistinguishable candy with a slight hint of cherry.

Wild Fruit pours light blue and darkens as it fills the glass, living up to the “Alliance Blue” promise. It has a milder flavor and actually smells and tastes more of cherry than the Citrus Cherry. It is also carbonated and has less of an initial bite than the Citrus Cherry flavor, also seeming slightly more sweet.

This one tastes more like cotton candy, lingering for only a minute, with more berry than fruit flavors. The flavor remained fairly consistent even after the first few tastes.

Post Bibation

As these are essentially Mountain Dew beverages in a pretty WOW shell - the caffeine and sugar of the regular Dew - instead of energy and vitamin additives, the only after effects to expect are those you might get from caffeine.

With the Citrus Cherry, there is a slight tingle left at the back of the throat after drinking and the tongue feels coated with artificial flavor, which likely accounts for the accentuation of the non-fruit and non-citrus (read: medicine-y) flavors. After about 15 minutes, all the mouth flavor disappears while the tiniest bit of the coated tongue feeling remains. That disappears about five minutes later.

The Wild Fruit, while not wildy fruity, didn’t leave the same back-of-the-throat tingle or tongue coating, tasting more like berries than fruit. It also did not have any of the medicine-y elements and was even better with ice.



For Adults Only

Since these are sweet and fruit-flavored drinks, I decided to do a vodka martini test. I mixed two parts of the Game fuel with one part vodka, chilled and served.

The Citrus Cherry took to it very well, eliminating most of the medicine-y front taste and, although the carbonation was dissipated by the mixing, the sweetness was enough to simultaneously flavor the liquor and nicely dilute. (I dub this one the Orange Mace).

Wild Fruit worked even better as a martini (that I’m calling the Blue Lance) mixer bringing out its berry flavors. Adding citrus fruit peal squares (for an 8-bit effect) might even help the flavor, although it was not tested.

Bottom of the Glass

In general, these are not sit-and-sip beverages, intended to be served as cold as possible and quickly gulped down.

I had panned to drink each one over an hour to pace out the effects of caffeine but found that the positive flavors waned as the Cirtus Cherry warmed and I wanted to get through that flavor that much faster. Adding ice certainly helped the overall drinking experience by changing the temperature and thinning out the flavor a little. The Wild Fruit, however, was far more enjoyable to drink both at warmer and colder temperatures so I was able to pace that one a bit longer, and enjoyed it a bit more.

While I wouldn’t really call these drinks “fuel” since they aren’t fortified with anything more than the usual Mountain Dew, and the names are not not very accurate descriptions of the flavors, at least one of one is favorably drinkable as-is. If you can get past the Smurf-ish coloring and like sweet carbonated beverages, side with the Alliance Blue/Wild Fruit flavor.

And if you are a bottle and can collector, the cans are definitely cool enough to collect even if you don’t go for the kookie flavors.

Don’t miss the Photo Gallery of the drinks tested.

Photo Gallery [Gamertell] Site [Game Fuel] Read [Dave’s Cupboard] Also Read [Gamertell]

Here’s the commercial for the drinks. Note that the coloring in the ad is far more accurate to the names than the final drinks:

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]]> Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Opinions, PCs, Linux, Mac, Windows, Gear, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Advertisements, Other Media, Genres, Action 2009-07-15T19:37:47+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/club-nintendo-announces-its-elite-status-freebies/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/club-nintendo-announces-its-elite-status-freebies/ Section: Gaming News, Originals, Features, Collecting, Consoles, Wii, Handhelds, DS, Gear, Clothing, Updates, Nintendo Downloads

Club Nintendo sent out an email today (July 14, 2009) announcing the free reward for Elite Status members.

The rewards are based on status with Platinum members being able to choose from two rewards and Gold status members having only one choice:

• Doc Louis’s Punch-Out!! - Described as a “unique one-on-one bout” based on Punch-Out!! for Wii “and designed exclusively for 2009 Club Nintendo Platinum Members (in US and Canada) as a free download.” Only avaialble for Platinum Status members.
• Mario Hat - Oh yeah, the signature “M” hat that looks as red and puffy as Mario’s. Only avaialble for Platinum Status members.
• Club Nintendo Original Calendar - 2010 - As the name states, it’s a calendar that features game art for each month. This one is also only available to Elite Status members in US and Canada. Only avaialble for Gold Status members.

Elite Status members need to claim their one item by August 11, 2009, and Nintendo promises the item will be delivered by November 1, 2009.

To achieve Elite Status, members must have earned at least 300 Gold Coins by June 30, 2009. Coins are earned by registering Nintendo games and products through the Club Nintendo site and answering surveys about purchased games: Each DS game earns 30 Coins, a Wii game 50, 160 for a DSi, 10 for WiiWare and DSiWare and (except for WiiWare and DSiWare) 10 Coins for completing a survey within 4 weeks of a purchased game’s launch. The new Coin-earning year has already begun and will end June 30, 2010.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a screen shot of the email sent by Nintendo followed by two images from the Club Nintendo site:





Site [Club Nintendo]

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]]> Gaming News, Originals, Features, Collecting, Consoles, Wii, Handhelds, DS, Gear, Clothing, Updates, Nintendo Downloads 2009-07-14T15:24:09+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/mcfarlanes-makin-more-halo-toys/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/mcfarlanes-makin-more-halo-toys/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Figures & Toys

McFarlane Toys recently announced the second wave of Halo Odd Pod figures, its 2009 San Diego Comic-Con figure and a small slew of other Halo-themed figures and figure-related products.

The Odd Pod figures are hand-painted, stand 4 inc. tall and are individually boxed. Each has curled hands and comes with an accessory they can hold. The figures in this set include:

• The Rookie with pistol
• Arbiter with energy sword
• Spartan CQB (red) with Spartan laser
• Spartan Hayabusa (blue) with dual guns

According to the site, series 2 figures will be released October 2009. Each figure sells for $9.99 or $10.99, depending on the outlet.


The company’s 2009 San Diego Comic-Con-exclusive item will be a 6 in. Toys “R” Us Grifball Spartan in a clamshell package. According to the company’s site, the figure will be avaialble for a limited time through three outlets. Here’s the figure’s description:

This Spartan features the highly coveted Recon armor, plus a Bomb, Gravity Hammer and Sword Hilt. The McFarlane Toys Grifball Spartan marks the first time an action figure has been created based on the Grifball game. The Grifball Spartan is limited to 6,000 pieces and will sell for $15. This exclusive will be available at Comic-Con, July 23-27 [2009]  at the San Diego Convention Center at the Toys “R” Us booth, in limited quantity at the Toys “R” Us Times Square store and through ToysRUs.com.

McFarlane is also releasing Halo Series 5 (2009 Wave 2) Equipment Edition figures. These painted action figures stand 6 in. tall and will be packaged in a blister card. Some of the figures include special equipment. The Master Chief, for example, is a clear figure that comes with dual SMGs and a gravity lift. These will be released July 15, 2009, and retail for $12.99 each. Figures include:

• Master Chief in active camo
• Elite Assault (silver)
• Spartan Hayabusa (white)
• Elite Combat (brown)
• Spartan ODST (violet)
• Spartan EVA (pale)
• Spartan CQB (Gold)
• Sgt. Avery Johnson
• Jump Pack Brute
• Spartan Eva (crimson)
• Spartan Scout (cyan)
• Halo Wars Weapon Pack

Also being released July 2009 are:

• Halo Team Slayer “Guardian” 2-pack (includes a blue & white Spartan Mark VI with Battle Rifle and Frag Grenade, a red Elite Combat with Carbine Rifle and Plasma Grenade and a bonus Gravity Hammer and Bubble Shield.)
• Halo Scout Delux Armor Pack (red) (includes a red Spartan Scout base body with interchangeable CQB, ODST and EVA head, shoulder and chest armor sets. Pack also includes an Assault Rifle, dual SMGs, Shotgun and Frag Grenade)
• Halo Mark VI Delux Armor Pack (teal) (includes a teal Spartan Mark VI base body with interchangeable Security, EOD and CQB armor sets. Pack also includes an Assault Rifle, dual SMGs, Shotgun and Frag Grenade)

Site [Spawn]

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Figures & Toys 2009-07-08T18:00:19+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/michael-jacksons-moonwalker-game-drawing-ebay-interest/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/michael-jacksons-moonwalker-game-drawing-ebay-interest/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia

Danielle mentioned that Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker is among the more unique collectibles from theKing of Pop’s career and now speculators are moving the game on eBay.

Bids on a non-working copy of the Sega Genesis game are up to $61 at the time of this article and working copies complete with instruction manuals have fetched as much as $1,000.

Before Jackson’s untimely death, you would have been hard pressed to get $5 for this cartridge even in excellent condition. Some sellers have set pretty lofty goals and set a Buy It Now price of $1,999.99. Good luck with that, guys. For whatever reason, there isn’t as much action on his appearances in Space Channel 5 and Ready 2 Rumble Round 2.

That could be because Moonwalker is sort of a pixelated love letter to Jackson’s classic Smooth Criminal video. Or because of the pure awesomeness of the old Sega Genesis system. With collectibles, you never know what’s going to happen.

Opinions on the game’s actual quality vary. Danielle loved it, while a reviewer at Game Freaks had a completely different take. You can hit eBay and judge for yourself, just don’t buy the $60 non-working copy.

Read [Gamertell]  Also Read [PlayStation Lifestyle]

Full Story » | Written by Brian Allen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia 2009-07-02T02:25:09+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-the-universe-is-expanding-again-a-spy-xi/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-the-universe-is-expanding-again-a-spy-xi/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Displays, Figures & Toys, Furniture, Gear-Other

Click your heals three times and repeat after me… “There’s no place like HOME! There’s no place like HOME!”

Spaces

And I’m not joking, since Home opened its virtual doors it has been expanding into its own little universe. Like the new upcoming space I mentioned last week for a space called BUZZ! HQ which has actually been delayed because of a few minor issues, but will open very soon once all the kinks are worked out. Until then, a new space is on its way soon for the game inFamous. No confirmed date as to when it will be available yet but, according to Sony, players will be able to explore the Empire City and play the new inFamous themed mini-game that will test players reflex and aiming skills. And I can’t wait to take that test.

Speaking of inFamous, the Cole costumes are now unlockable for Sony Home. Some gamers were given a glimpse of this upcoming Home space during E32009, check out a video a player recorded at the Sony Home booth:

Another space on its way to Sony Home will be a Ghostbusters-themed space by LOOT Gear who have already created the Studio Set Apartment available at the Real Estate store in the mall and now teasing the space as well as fun gear available to players on PlayStation Home. With a silly infomercial on YouTube and tweets on their twitter page about their upcoming “Ghostbusters” space, check it out:

No dates have been confirmed for the new Ghostbusters space but at the mall you can purchase complete Ghostbusters uniforms for $1.99 (Male and Female costumes) while you wait or you can purchase individual items for:

Stuff

Males

• Uniform top for 99 cents
• Pants for 49 cents
• Boots for 25 cents
• Ecto goggles for 49 cents
• Chemical gloves for 25 cents

Females

• Uniform top for 99 cents
• Uniform shorts for 49 cents
• Boots for 25 cents
• Ghostbusters hat for 49 cents
• Chemical gloves for 25 cents

More Street Fighter 4 outfits are now available for male avatars:

• Balrog wig, shirt, shorts, boxing gloves and boots for 99 cents each.
• Vega wig, mask, body top, pants, claw bracelets and shoes for 99 cents each.
• Sagat body top, trunks, hand wraps, foot wraps and eye patch for 99 cents each.
• M. Bison wig, suit top, suit bottom and boots for 99 cents each.

Also new at the mall furniture store, players can display their favorite works of art, posters or photos on the walls of their personal spaces with picture frames now available for $2.99. Users can their favorite pictures by uploading the images to your photo gallery playlist located on the PlayStation menu and then importing them into the frames after placing them on the wall. The sleek grayish frames are pretty neat, players can turn them horizontally or vertically or just rotate the image within the frame and either stretch, fill or crop them into place. Note you can only hang as many frames as your wall space allows for example, if you own the Harbor Studio Apartment the most you can hang is four where as if you plan wisely you can hang up to six in your chamber apartment. There are default images available for use until you upload the images you want into your photo gallery playlist. As a reminder Sony suggests using only images that are owned by you to avoid copyright issues and other legal stuff.

Xi: The Hub

Over at Xi: The Hub, correspondence between the team leader Thom and a Veilcorps operative has been discovered by volunteers and the AFK hackers. With the spy found the testers are not speaking with each other in disappointment and fear of revealing any new valuable information to Veilcorps. In an email sent by Jachal informing players that Jess has dropped another clue on her home computer, players who have read the message will find mathematical problems to solve by exploring the different worlds on Home to answer the questions. A new maze has opened in Alpha Zone 3 which is similar to the riddle maze, except now you have faster ghosts chasing you not to mention tougher questions to answer to get to the goal before the ghosts find you. The only hint I can offer here is pay attention to where the ghost is moving and when he’s not looking, run. Fast. Good luck.

Read [Playstation Blog] Site [PlayStation] Site [Loot Gear] Site [LOOT’s Twitter page]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Lists, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Displays, Figures & Toys, Furniture, Gear-Other 2009-06-09T18:44:47+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-conference-clips-and-freebie-codes-throughout-e3-2009/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-conference-clips-and-freebie-codes-throughout-e3-2009/ Section: Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Interviews, Podcasts, Consoles, PS3, Handhelds, PSP, Gear, Clothing, Gear-Other, Conventions, E3

This week is a good week to sign into Sony PlayStation Home if you haven’t already.

Today (June 2, 2009) and throughout the E3 Conference players are being awarded free items for their avatars as well as sneak peeks at upcoming games at the Presentation Podium. Between interviews with publishers and developers of PlayStation games Sony is flashing codes that will unlock freebies.

Today’s broadcast featured a sneak peek of upcoming game Heavy Rain by Sony Computer Entertainment so I went on YouTube to find the trailer for a closer look. Not exactly the one shown at E3 but this video will show you how gorgeous the game looks, check it out:

To claim your free gifts or check out new footage of upcoming games visit Sony Home and find Presentation Podium on your map. Watch the videos, the codes will flash between interviews. Or keep up with the events on the PlayStation website to interview times.

With the E3 Conference taking place there’s nothing new at the Mall. However over at Xi: The Hub, paranoia is stretching the AlphaAFK team thin as the struggle to find the spy among them and now another tester has gone missing. Between ransacking their homes looking for the surveillance camera that has been recording their every move they must figure out what Xi is all about and quickly. Players are asked to take on another maze in Alpha Zone 3, a riddle maze full of mind boggling riddles to receive their next fragment.

Read [Playstation Blog] Also Read [Playstation E3 Blog] Site [PlayStation]

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]]> Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Interviews, Podcasts, Consoles, PS3, Handhelds, PSP, Gear, Clothing, Gear-Other, Conventions, E3 2009-06-02T23:14:30+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/partake-in-gaia-onlines-promageddon-2009-the-mother-of-all-proms/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/partake-in-gaia-onlines-promageddon-2009-the-mother-of-all-proms/ Section: Features, Collecting, PCs, Linux, Mac, Windows, PCs-Other, Gear, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Web, Genres, 2D, Casual, Online, Web

From now until June 3, 2009, members of Gaia Online can enjoy the mother of all prom nights with their friends during their second annual virtual prom event known as Promageddon.

Gaia Online, an online community of more than seven million users, created five uniquely themed virtual hangout spaces for virtual prom-goers to enjoy or participate in themed events to earn Gaia prizes. The first round of events taking place this week includes a matchmaker game where players take a personality quiz to be matched with a new Gaian friend either for the prom with or just to chat with in the forums. To participate in Promageddon, log onto Gaia Online to access your account (or create one).

On May 28, 2009, Gaia users can participate in the main Promageddon event by visiting one of the virtual stores and dress to the heels with stylish prom outfits and dance the night away without chaperons in a Dance Dance Revolution-style game that is accessible in each of the five rooms. The themed rooms include: Heaven (pictured), Hell, Skittles, Hillbilly and Aquarium-decorated rooms.

“Gaians are always looking for cool and entertaining ways to hang out with their friends online and this year we wanted to put a whole new spin on prom,” said Scott Kinzie, VP, Creative and User Experience at Gaia Interactive. “The ultimate goal with events like Promageddon is to create a unique and accessible experience for our users that is unlike anything else they’ll see online.”

There’s even a special treat that is exclusively for Gaians during Promageddon, seven brand new music tracks composed by artists Jeff Miyahara and Bentley Jones brought to the Gaian community by Gaia Online with profile pages for the artists available through the prom room areas for those interested. To get the virtual prom going, Gaia Online is offering 40 gaia cash (real money) free for purchasing nice prom attire or a costume for the masquerade ball for the event now until May 25, 2009.

Site [Gaia Online]

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]]> Features, Collecting, PCs, Linux, Mac, Windows, PCs-Other, Gear, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Web, Genres, 2D, Casual, Online, Web 2009-05-26T15:40:17+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-the-chimera-are-attacking-home-community-volunteer-program/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-the-chimera-are-attacking-home-community-volunteer-program/ Section: Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Genres, 3D, Online, Game-Genres-Other

After standing your ground in England in the first Resistance game, then the rest of Europe in Resistance 2, those pesky mutants have now invaded PlayStation Home. Find the new space on the world map and enter the ruined railway station to explore.

Players can stand their ground in Home’s re-creation of the Chicago railway station from Resistance 2 by playing the new mini-game Four Barrels of Fury just up the stairs to the left and check on their friend’s progress on the billboards to the right. The game moves fast so be prepared to shoot down some Chimera ships as they attack the transport ships or try to blast you out the game. The higher your score the better virtual items you can unlock for your avatar.

There’s a video screen near the central plaza of the station teasing the latest in the game’s series: Resistance Retribution for the PlayStation Portable. Players can also launch into their games from this space near the back. In celebration of the opening there will be a Resistance 2 Campaign and Co-Op mission event for players who can challenge their favorite Home community managers or members of Insomniac Games all day. In fact, the home community managers have decided to designate every Friday night from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. (no time zone announced) as the “Resistance 2: SRPA Siege” nights. But to show how awesome this site is check out the video.

Also this week a new volunteer program just launched within the Home world. Home Community Volunteers are made up of regular Home users donating their time and efforts to support Home Community Managements by participating in events as well as offer guidance to other community members. To find out more or to volunteer the Home Community Management team asks users to visit the PlayStation Network forums for more information.

At the mall new costumes at Threads are available for female Street Fighter 4 fans. This week players can purchase Cammy and Rose outfits for their avatars:

Cammy White’s Outfit

• Cammy wig, body suit top, body suit bottom, gloves and boots are 99 cents each.
Rose’s outfit
• Rose wig, suit top, suit bottom and boots are 99 cents each.

At the furniture store located on the second floor of the mall, there are more woodland themed furniture for those who were quick to grab their free Chamber apartment last week and new Street Fighter character dolls to collect.

Character action dolls:

• Sagat character action doll cost $1.99
• M. Bison character action doll cost $1.99
• Vega character action doll cost $1.99
• Balrog character action doll cost $1.99

This week in Xi:The Hub, new information about VeilCorps has been leaked and the once divided group of AlphaTesters have considered rejoining forces to challenge this corporate entity. During the party someone has managed to spray paint graffiti clues in various areas around Jess apartment. Narcissis returns only to be blasted with harsh coldness from Migeul, but she her valuable information about VeilCorps is much needed and she is welcomed back into the group. The information she brought back allowed players to not only hack into Veilcorps computers but to see the making of their candy-coated ad campaign to recruit more VeilCorps employees.

Jess sends another video to the vault thanking players for cracking the code on her wall safe and entering the information she needed into the holopad. Wait? Did she say the game is almost done? No. Not a chance. There are more worlds to unlock within Xi. This has become the most intriguing game I’ve personally played and must admit I’m quite addicted to it. But like most of her videos, there’s most likely a clue hidden within the video (a hint of the next challenges that await players).

Read [Playstation Blog]

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]]> Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Genres, 3D, Online, Game-Genres-Other 2009-05-21T17:04:43+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-interview-author-micheal-scott-on-promoting-books-through-gaia-on/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-interview-author-micheal-scott-on-promoting-books-through-gaia-on/ Section: Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Interviews, Gear, Accessories, Books, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Web

I just received a message from Christina Simmons, Assistant Account Executive Public Relations and Social Influence Marketing at Mullen Public Relations about an event taking place on Gaia Online May 26, 2009. Fans of The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series will have another chance to talk to the books author Michael Scott.

I asked if this event would include additional games for Gaia users to enjoy while they participated in the forum chat.

“Yes, Gaia is planning to extend the partnership with Random House for 3-4 more additional book-related promotions this year,” she said and added she wasn’t sure if all the book-related programs would include games yet. “Michael (Scott) will participate in an online forum chat with members of Gaia Online about his new book, as he did with the first two books of his series. This Michael Scott promotion on Gaia Online is part of a larger online campaign that immerses fans in the world of Nicholas Flamel through a game that features the author guiding them along their experience. A link to this game can be found at GaiaOnline.com.”

After speaking with Simmons I was given the opportunity to talk to Michael Scott about his books as well as his feelings about the upcoming event. My first question was why he felt this book has become so popular among Gaia users and how this book came about.

“I think the series struck a chord with the Gaia users because they could very clearly identify with the world and the main human characters - Sophie and Josh. My heroes are 15 and would have the same worries and concerns as many of the Gaia users,” Scott explained. “They’re concerned about school and clothes, they listen to the same music that many Gaia users would listen to, play the same games. They also have laptops and cell phones; Josh goes online the first time he discovers Nicholas Flamels real name. He does the same when he first comes across Scathach. Sophie and Josh use email - Josh has multiple accounts, with AOL, Fastmail, Yahoo and, of course, Gmail. So that made my characters believable.”

He said his stories are well researched and took years to create using information anyone can find for themselves in books.

“I started researching this series a long time ago. I had been developing the idea of a modern fantasy, a contemporary fantasy set very much in the here and now, using recognisable places as the settings and using modern teens as heroes.  Because of my life-long interest in mythology, legend and history, I also knew I wanted to use that as the basis of the story,” Scott explained. “When I initially started developing the story, the hero was Dr. John Dee, but Dee was never quite right. And then, in the year 2000, when I was in Paris, in the Rue Du Montmorency, I came across the oldest house in Paris, the home of the alchemist, Nicholas Flamel.”

Scott went on to explained that Flamel was famous in France and during his trip even found his characters.

“There are even streets [there] named after both Nicholas and Perenelle. But Nicholas was also a bookseller and, while I have been a writer most of my life, I was also a bookseller.  I loved the idea [which is the basis of the Flamel series] of a bookseller buying a magical book which changes his life forever,” Scott said and added he started the series from locations people would be familar with. “The series opens in San Francisco. It is set in locations where the Gaia readers are either familiar with (they know what the Golden Gate Bridge looks like), or they can go online and look at images of Notre Dame in Paris, or Stonehenge in England. All of these contemporary elements made the series so accessible.  And of course, what was really interesting is that the Gaia users began posting questions about the series, which were, in turn answered by other users.”

During the interview I asked with books like Harry Potter already in circulation, what makes his book different from the already familiar Potter series.

“I know The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series has been compared with Harry Potter but then, most Young Adult writing is.  Mine perhaps more than most because Nicholas Flamel is mentioned (though he never appears) in the first Harry Potter book,” he said. “What makes mine different is the fact that it is contemporary. All the places mentioned in the text exist. I give street and place names. It is possible to track the twins across Paris or through London. All the characters exist, so the readers can go online and research the historical Flamel, Dee and Machiavelli, or look up the myths and legends surrounding Scathach, Bastet or the World Tree. All of this additional material adds an extra layer to the story.” 

Scott added that meeting fans on GaiaOnline is an interesting way to bring attention to his books by meeting his audience and though at first was unsure of what to expect, but was surprised of the immediate response he received in the first session with fans on GaiaOnline.

“I did a 90 live chat for the first book, The Alchemyst. In those 90 [minutes] there were 427 pages of questions, with each page having multiple posts. Over 70,000 Gaia users voted in a poll. That day, and for several days afterward, there were so many hits to my website at DillonScott.com that the site went down on three separate occasions,” he said. “When we looked at the logs, about 90% were coming from the Gaia site. It was an inspired piece of marketing. When users logged in, they got a virtual item - an icon of The Alchemyst book - for their characters. I later learned that over 78,000 Gaia users had claimed their icon. When book 2, The Magician, was published, users got a red diamond - which appears on the cover, for their character. Additionally, the first few chapters of each book were available to download.  However, in advance of the publication of book 3, The Sorceress, we went one further and offered the entire text of The Alchemyst available to download. Gaia has this in advance of anyone else and, in the first weekend, 13,000 copies were downloaded.”

Scott said he still visits his GaiaOnline page to answer questions if there are any and was amazed to find out how much his fans knew about his work.

“I went back to Gaia for book 2 and indeed will be back again for book 3, though, to be honest I never left,” he said. “My avatar is still active and I continued to log onto GaiaOnline for months afterward answering questions, though by that stage the fans were active enough and were answering for me. Sometimes, they even knew stuff - like publication dates of foreign editions - that I didn’t.”

The next session with Micheal Scott will be held on May 26, 2009, to attend register on GaiaOnline and visit his page. The site is free to join and once registered visit Scott’s page and enjoy. There’s even a link to his interactive game featuring Scott himself guiding players through each puzzle.

Site [GaiaOnline] Site [Micheal Scott’s Official Website]

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]]> Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Interviews, Gear, Accessories, Books, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Web 2009-05-19T15:30:19+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-free-apartment-available-for-only-one-week-spartaafk-divid/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-free-apartment-available-for-only-one-week-spartaafk-divid/ Section: Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Clothing, Displays, Ads & Media, Web, Advertisements, Other Media, Updates, Playstation-Store


Starting today (May 14, 2009) until May 21, 2009, users can download their very own exclusive Chamber Apartment for free by visiting the Real Estate store in the Mall located in central plaza and download it.

The chamber is very spacious and includes four pits which you can switch between water falls or crackling fire pits just by stepping on a switch next to the pit. As you move around, there’s a face on the central tree that seems to follow you wherever you walk.

Before you leave the mall, visit the furniture store on the second floor for woodland-themed furniture such as dressers, shelves, chairs, tables and decorations for 99 cents each.

For players who love free items there are two free t-shirts at Threads located on the second floor of the Mall in Central Plaza.

For females, two Patapon 2 t-shirts are available, one pink and one green. For males one black and white shirt and one blue and white Patapon 2 t-shirts in honor of the recent release of Patapon 2 for the PSP. For those wanting a real Patapon T-shirt for free, fans can download one of two masks from the PSN blog site, create a photo or video with yourself wearing a mask and post them to Sony’s facebook fan page and email the link to playstation_community_support@playstation.sony.com and make sure the subject line reads: “PATAPICS ENTRY.”

Don’t forget to include your name, address and T-shirt size in the message. A few winners may even receive an extra item which has not announced yet.

As the worlds keep expanding as well as the popularity of Home, Playstation has created a new commercial to showcase some of the new things available on Home and even hinted at the most requested item in the forum, er, hamster suits. No dates for release of this item has been announced yet. But for now there are two free items players can claim, a koi hat and a shark hat, available for male and female avatars. Just find the code hidden within this video and redeem it:

The mysteries surrounding Xi: The Hub aer also growing and the plots just keep twisting. Just this past week a line was drawn and players were asked to choose which side to stand on between SpartaAFK (the alpha testers) and VeilCorps, but within the SpartaAFK clan differences of opinions have divided the team. From SpartaAFK players can choose which alpha tester to follow. Would it be DemocraXi or The Collective?

After a few days of bickering the Alpha Testers decided to put their differences aside and throw a party at Jess’ apartment. Nice friends, huh? While you’re in danger, they throw a party in your apartment (nice). But the party is not what it seems to be. While at the party the team asked members to seek out the VeilCorps spies among the party goers and try to find out what they already know about Xi. VeilCorps spies attending the party are asked to search Jess’s apartment for clues about Xi. Within the apartment there are three clues to find, one gives you a fragment and the other two unlock butterflies. One of the clues is a password to enter into your holopad. Hint: listen to the music video and do what it says ... literally.

Read [PlayStation Home Blog] Site [Sony PlayStation HOME]

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]]> Gaming News, Exclusives, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Clothing, Displays, Ads & Media, Web, Advertisements, Other Media, Updates, Playstation-Store 2009-05-14T18:30:07+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/burger-kings-star-trek-glasses-kids-toys/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/burger-kings-star-trek-glasses-kids-toys/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Gear, Figures & Toys, Ads & Media, Movies, TV, Advertisements

It’s another groovy kids meal promotion, this time for the recently released Star Trek movie, now in theaters.

The promotion is through Burger King and includes 16 kids meal toys, each with its own sound effect, and four boxed drinking glasses. The drinking glasses, which each come in a colorful box, are $1.99 each with purchase and one toy is included free in each kids’ meal. Some restaurants do let you buy the toys separately but you might want to ask the price before you buy since some simply charge the meal price.

The four glasses include Spock, James Kirk, Uhura and Nero. They don’t make any noise (unless you can do that finger-on-the-ring tone thing). As for the toys, half are objects (ships and such) and half are big-headed characters. All the toys make a sound effect or emit a quote from the movie. They include (with respective sound effect in parens):

1. Spock (“A rescue attempt would be illogical”)
2. Hover Bike (“Vroom”)
3. Uhura (“Captain, we’re being hailed.”)
4. Captain Kirk (“Kirk to enterprise”)
5. Enterprise (“Whoosh”)
6. Chekov (“Ensign Chekov Pavel Andreivich, sir”)
7. U.S.S. Kelvin (“Red Alert!”)
8. Tricorder (“Stardate 2248.42”)
9. Scotty (“I’m giving it all she’s got, Captina”)
10. Communicator (“Beam me up”)
11. Sulu (“Warp 3, sir”)
12. Bones (“I’m a doctor, not a physicist”)
13. Original Spock (“Live long and prosper”)
14. Warbird (“Zoom”)
15. Spock’s Ship (“You’re gonna be able to fly this thing, right?”)
16. Shuttle (“Approaching Drop Zone”)

Check the Photo Gallery for images of all the toys and scans of the BK bags.

UPDATE: I added photos of the four glasses and the boxes to the gallery. Besides being rather nice boxes and usable glasses, the designers were thinking “third dimensionally” so that a background images shows through the unfrosted Federation logo area on the character side of the glass. For three of the glasses it shows a ship while the fourth shows a related character.



Also, laugh at this crazy Burger Kingon (get it?) ad:

Read [Club BK Toys] Photo Gallery [Gamertell]

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Gear, Figures & Toys, Ads & Media, Movies, TV, Advertisements 2009-05-14T01:50:44+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/dont-forget-about-free-comic-book-day-2009/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/dont-forget-about-free-comic-book-day-2009/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels

Free stuff. I love it. And what could be better than free stuff? More free stuff, of course.

Free Comic Book Day is an annual event that takes place the first Saturday in May (May 2, 2009)  to help generate interest in comic books, making it May 2, 2009. Both the biggies and the indies offer some pretty cool print pubs that you can grab for free at your local comic shop. You will need to check the FCBD site for participating stores since some won’t take part in the event since it can be quite a hassle.

Some people may mistakenly believe that every comic is free when, in actuality, only select comics are free. A few stores do have limits on what you can take from the FCBD selection while others use it as an opportunity to clear out some backstock by adding quarter box books and excess comics to the freebie table.

And all that means is that you need to visit multiple stores. (I find it a good and polite practice to buy at least one comic from each store I visit on FCBD.)

There are two notable game-related titles on the agenda (Sonic and Warhammer) as well as a William Shatner book, a Magic: The Gathering sampler, a new Green Lantern comic intro (Blackest Night #0) and a Minimate figure.

Comics and other items to be featured in this years grab-a-thon include (so far), according to the FCBD site, include:

• Avengers
• Blackest Night #0
• Bongo Comics Free-For-All!
• Disney/Pixar’s Cars #1
• Resurrection #0
• Savage Dragon #148
• Shonen Jump Presents: Ultimo
• Star Wars: The Clone Wars
• The Mighty Archie Art Players
• Transformers Animated/G.I. Joe
• Aliens/Predator
• APE Cartoonapalooza #2
• Arcana Studio Presents
• Atomic Robo And Friends
• Attack Of The Alterna-Zombies!
• Comics Festival! 2009 Volume 3
• Contract #1
• Cyberforce/Hunter-Killer Preview
• Dabel Bros. Showcase
• DC Kids Mega Sampler
• FCHS
• Fist Of Justice #1
• Gold Digger #101/Prince Of Heroes
• IMPACT University Volume 5
• Love & Capes
• Love & Rockets Sampler
• Mercy Sparx: Under New Management
• Nancy & Melvin Monster
• NASCAR Heroes: Origins #1
• Owly And Friends
• Radical 2009 Preview
• Sonic The Hedgehog: Evolution Of A Hero
• Studio 407 Sampler
• The Stuff of Legend
• The Wizard Hot List
• TMNT #1 25th Anniversary Reprint
• Warhammer Fantasy
• William Shatner Presents #1
• Wolverine: Origin Of An X-Man
• Worlds Of Aspen #4
• FCBD 2009 Minimate
• Magic The Gathering: Agents Of Artifice Sampler

Read [Gamertell] Site [Free Comic Book Day]

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels 2009-04-29T15:38:32+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/eight-great-games-you-may-never-have-heard-of-but-should-have/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/eight-great-games-you-may-never-have-heard-of-but-should-have/ Section: Originals, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Consoles, GameCube, PS1, PS2, Xbox, Consoles-Other, Handhelds, DS

Whenever people talk about the greatest games of all time, you hear the usual ol’ Halos, Final Fantasys and possibly Metal Gear Solids come up. Yes, these are great games but there are plenty of games out there that are truly great but get little or no recognition. In fact you probably haven’t even heard of them.

Well I am here to fix that. I have compiled a list of eight great games (in no particular order) that have been neglected and forgotten. These are some personal favorites along with some you should know about.



1. Okage Shadow King (PS2)

This is definitely a classic. It’s a cute little RPG where you play as a young boy who’s shadow becomes possessed by a evil king out to rule the world. He pops up every time someone is around (kinda reminded me of Bluedragon, but more animated) and tries to intimidate them. Unfortunately for the king, all his powers where taken by the other self proclaimed “kings” of the world, so it’s your job to rid the world of all those kings and restore power to your new shadow. Despite how it sounds, it’s a real lighthearted, fun quirky game. Your shadow may be evil but he is also quite hilarious, and instead of people running in fear, they are cracking wise at him. What makes this a good game is simply the classic game play and storyline. It’s not all fighting and level grinding, which i hate in RPG’s and there are objectives in each town/area you need to accomplish.
Plus you can wander around where ever you want, and find items. The dialogue is great and it’s just fun and easy paced, plus the fighting system is standard turn-based and easy to understand.




2. Chibi-Robo (Gamecube)

I loved this game! It’s very unique and fun. You play as a little house cleaning robot who is hired by a rather dysfunctional family (whose daughter dresses and talks like a frog). You basically clean up the house, find items, and also save the family in the process. You also run around carrying your own power cord so you can plug yourself in to recharge, which is very cute.You meet some quirky/awesome characters in the game, and though you never talk, they sure have a lot to say to you. What I like about this game is it’s uniqueness. You would think cleaning up spills and picking up trash would be boring, but with all the mini games and interactions involved, it makes it worth it.  It starts out kinda slow because your battery life is not very long, so you have to charge constantly (or have your battery die and the day ends) but eventually you can buy better batteries, and junk, and end up playing almost a whole game day on one battery. You play night and day alternatively, for about 10-30 minutes depending on what your settings are. You can do different things during nights and days too. (Editor’s Note: The WalMart-exclusive Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol for DS is also surprisingly fun).

3. ChoroQ (PS2)

This game is also rather unique. You play as a race car who wants to make it big in the world racing and the part that makes this game so unique, it’s actually an RPG. Yes, you, as a car, get to talk to other cars, visit towns and people and, of course upgrade your car. You can also play mini games and do tasks for people. You also race in the game, of course, and the better you upgrade your car, the better you race. Also, if you get on the other cars’ good sides, they might let you join their teams. This game is definitely a must for all racing and RPG fans. Oh, and some of the dialogue in the game is hilarious too, possibly unintentional but who knows.



4. Juggernaut (PS1)

Oh man, this has got to be the strangest, creepiest, most bizarre game I have ever played. It’s an adventure game where you play as a man whose girlfriend is possessed by a demon (oddly from a jar she bought at a antique shop). You have to go in her body and get the demon out. You start off in a mansion where you find different items and use them to solve bizarre puzzles, oh and did I mention that you are only a spirit and you have to inject yourself into an adult or child body via a strange machine to move around? Throughout the mansion you uncover sort of side adventures that are all no way related. In each adventure you become someone else and you have a certain job to complete, such as one (my favorite) where you are in the internet and you have to find out who is implanting this virus and killing people over the internet. Or another one where you are arrived on this island with a tribe of natives and find out a horrible monster is killing people. Or one where a laboratory is torturing criminals in order to get endorphins from them. All these side adventures come down to the demon that possessed your girlfriend. I promise you, these adventures are a combination of strange, scary, gory and downright stupid. Don’t play this game at night and alone! Although, it’s terrible dialogue and characterization will certainly give you a good laugh. BTW: If anyone else has every played this please let me know. It’s a bit rare and hard to find but well worth it.

5. Bards Tale (PS2 and Xbox)

This is another one of those games that just got ignored despite it’s awesomeness. It’s another RPG (it is my favorite genre, after all) where you play as a Bard who is, of course, on a mission to save a hot princess who was kidnapped. You use magic to conjure people to help you on the quest or help you get through the dungeons. So why is this game any different than other RPG’s? First of all, there is a narrator throughout the game, who absolutely hates the Bard and ridicules him throughout, which adds for some hilarious banter. Also, the Bard is completely arrogant and only cares about himself, so it’s fun to interact with others. Also, the Bard is voiced by Cary Elwes (of Princess Bride and Saw fame). During certain points in the game you are giving the choice to give a polite or snarky answer. Each choice effects the outcome in either a major or minor way. Don’t always try to play the good guy though, sometimes you need to be a bit snarky to get through the game. The other thing I liked about it is that it makes fun of all the RPG clichés, like how you can just barge into people’s houses without them caring, and how you kill a rat and items pop out? Strange! This game is roll-on-the-ground funny and not too difficult, either. You may want to buy the strategy guide to make sure you pick the right choice, or live dangerously! 



6. Princess Tomato and the Salad Kingdom (NES)

I just had to add this wonderful little game. It’s an adorable little adventure that happens to have a veggie/fruit theme. You play as Sir Cucumber who was sent by the king to rescue his daughter from the evil Minister Pumpkin. It’s one of those games where you click “look”, “search”, “take,” etc. to accomplish the goals and find items. You also have a guide Percy the Persimmon who you can ask for help and force to do your bidding and such. Everything in the game is related to vegetables or fruit, from the buildings, to the people, to the scenery. You also fight bad guys by playing a game of paper-scissor-rock with them. It’s got a cute storyline and, despite the fact it’s all a bit silly, it’s very fun and a bit challenging. Plus it’s fun for the whole family.

7. Atelier Iris Eternal Mana(PS2)

Another RPG that got no recognition when it came out, I don’t even remember it being advertised. It’s a typical Japanese RPG where evil forces are trying to take over you need to discover and use magic and recruit partners to get through the game, but a bit unique at that. As you play you unlock different Mana that take the shape of creatures and allow you get special powers that help you either during battle or just walking around. For instance, a Mana that turns into a platform so you can reach a higher location (for secret items), or a Mana that gets rid of all the enemies for one screen, which is really nice if you are trying to just pass though or about to die. There are a bunch more, too. One of the most fun things is doing alchemy. You can create new items for yourself, or you can create items for the people around town (which unlocks things for you). I always like an RPG that offers something different, aside from just level grinding and talking to people. The voice acting isn’t horrible either and you have the option to shut it off, which is always a plus. The animation reminded me of the old-school RPGs I use to love. 



8. Gitaro Man (PS2)

I figure we needed a break from RPG’s and adventures. This little classic seemed to come and go just as suddenly. What I mean by that is I heard about this game a while ago but never saw it in stores, then I see it all over the shelves and now it’s nowhere again. Either way it is a classic. I suppose the only way to quickly describe it is as a music puzzler. You are a young boy who dreams of being a famous guitar player and he has the alter ego of a superhero named Gitaro Man who saves the world with his guitar. You use your guitar to fight bad guys by basically tracing different threads with your controller. It is very addictive and can be downright hard at times. A line will appear on the enemies side and you need to repeat the line as best you can, it can be hard at times, but definitely fun. The music is very fun too. It’s a bit strange, but definitely should be checked out.

So those are my games. If you think I missed any (which I’m sure I have) then please post them here and I will try to check them out. I’m always looking for new awesome games I never heard of.

Read [Thunderbolt Games] Also Read [Gearfuse]

Full Story » | Written by Jessica Moen for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Originals, Features, Collecting, Nostalgia, Consoles, GameCube, PS1, PS2, Xbox, Consoles-Other, Handhelds, DS 2009-04-28T14:04:06+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-sports-complex-phase-1-is-now-open-free-items-and-more-xi/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-sports-complex-phase-1-is-now-open-free-items-and-more-xi/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 3D, Adventure, Casual, Online, Strategy, Game-Genres-Other


As mentioned in the previous Sony Home Update, Electronic Arts wowed gamers with the new Godfather II Home space packed with two levels of card tables and mentioned working on a Sports Complex for gamers.

Well, that complex finally opened Thursday, April 23, 2009, with two levels to explore. This is only phase one of the sports complex with hints at more games to reveal themselves very soon. At the moment players are encouraged to try the two games currently available in the complex. A racing game on the first floor and “Texas Hold’em” style poker games on the second. Players will be rewarded with a free poker or racing game t-shirt just for trying them.

Over at the mall there are many new items available, some are even free. New clothing for avatars available can be found at Threads on the second level of the mall and include:

Angels and Demons items

• Element Air T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Element Earth T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Element Fire T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Element Water T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Statue T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Illumanati T-Shirt is 25 cents
• Angels and Demons T-Shirt Bundle Pack is $1.99

Freebies at the mall

• Angels and Demons movie T-Shirt at Threads for both male and female avatars
• inFAMOUS/Uncharted 2: Among Thieves T-Shirt at Threads for both male and female avatars
• Resistence: Retribution T-Shirt at Threads for male avatars.

At the furniture store also located on the second floor has a few more items available:

Street Fighter 4

• Dhalsim Action Figure Doll for $1.99
• Zangief Action Figure Doll for $1.99
• E. Honda Action Figure Doll for $1.99
• Blanka Action Figure Doll for $1.99

Angels and Demons

• Angel Statue for 49 cents.

Home Community managers have announced that more Street Fighter 4 items for female avatars would be on their way but was not specific as which female character clothing items would be released first. Only that it may appear when the new Street Fighter 4 launching site opens on April 27, 2009. Other announcements made in Home include possible unlockable SingStar items will soon be available in HOME.

For all those working hard to solve the mysteries of Xi: The Hub, this week’s quest will have you climb down a manhole into the maintenance area of Home located near the apartments in the central plaza to fix a computer and rebuild a robot.

But there’s a catch. You have to figure out how to get past security to enter the area, clues were left in the locker room so be on the look out. Two new puzzles will also have you going bonkers tracking a flight from the U.S. to Italy, watching the latest video message and try to decipher a code written in musical notes to solve the mystery of Xi: The Hub. As the clues and puzzles get harder, don’t worry. You don’t have to solve the mystery alone.

There are always plenty of other players who are more than willing to help you if you help them.

Site [PlayStation] Gamertell [Sony Home Update]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Giveaways, Previews, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Clothing, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 3D, Adventure, Casual, Online, Strategy, Game-Genres-Other 2009-04-27T15:35:50+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/burger-kings-spongebob-kids-meal-toys-beach-party-cook-off-coupon/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/burger-kings-spongebob-kids-meal-toys-beach-party-cook-off-coupon/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Handhelds, DS, Gear, Figures & Toys, Genres, Casual

This must be the month to promote video games at fast food restaurants. If you head to Burger King for the next couple weeks, you can pick up a cheap Kids Meal with a Spongebob Squarepants toy and a video game coupon.

The coupon is for US$5 off THQ’s Cooking Mama-esque SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook-Off for DS when purchased at Toys R Us. The game retails for $29.99 and was released march 3, 2009. The coupon is good April 6, 2009, through May 31, 2009, and is part of the mini booklet that comes with each toy.

As for the toys, there are 12 Spongebobs in the “set,” although the only differences between each toy is the color of Spongebob’s pants and the paper extras. The stickers include one full-face (with a hole in it for the nose), an optional face (eyes and mouth) and a few smaller stickers that somehow relate to the theme of the other two stickers. There’s also a small paper punch-out accessory that stick out the top of the toy. can’t say that really entices me to collect them all and I love kids’ meal toys.



Otherwise, they are all the same height (3 1/2 in.), the same yellow plastic body and twistable arms and legs. The duplicated production may likely be part of Burger King’s plan to produce inexpensive toys and offer Kids Meals for $0.99 with the purchase of any other value meal.

For your viewing pleasure, here are scans from the little booklet that comes with each Burger King Spongebob toy.






And in case you have not already seen the “I Like Square Butts” commercial, check it out:

Site [BK Kids meal Toys] Site [SpongeBob vs. The Big One: Beach Party Cook Off] Read [Gamertell]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Handhelds, DS, Gear, Figures & Toys, Genres, Casual 2009-04-14T19:06:28+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-geek-fight-trading-card-game/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/gamertell-review-geek-fight-trading-card-game/ Section: Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Opinions, Genres, CCG & TCG


Title: Geek Fight TCG (aka Geek Fight Beta Edition)
Price: $1 (per 7-card pack)
Release Date: February 2009
Publisher (Developer): Diving Dragon Games
Rating: Ages 14+
Pros: Good card stock, a lot of gamer humor and easy to play.
Cons: Smaller than standard cards, some amateurish art and ads on every card. Too few cards.
Overall Score: One thumb up, one sideways; 85/100; B; * * * 1/2 out of five.

Geeks are usually considered to be awkward, a bit gangly and often without much tact. They also like to argue with each other, sometimes degrading into what would be a silly looking slap fight. Sounds like the perfect premise for a game, eh?

Diving Dragon Games has taken the humorous idea of a pair of geeks in an awkward slap match to the table in the form of Geek Fight! the trading card game. This indie card game does have love of the game on its side and gets big kudos for decent production value and humor. However, much like the geeks it parodies, it needs a less geeky friend to help make the game a little more newbie friendly.

Gettin’ Decked

Geek Fight! is available online (for now) for $1 per pack with 7 cards in each pack with the entire set costing only $6. The low price is due in part to the low number of cards and the gratuitous advertising on each card. On the right of the information side of the card is a small ad paid for by various and semi-related companies.



The cards are business card size (3.5 in. wide by 2 in. tall) with rounded corners instead of the standard trading card size (3.5 in. x 2.5 in.). The cards are full color, full bleed and made of a thick, well-laminated card stock.

Each card features the name of the card’s object, the card’s number, a thumb-sized artist’s rendering, three status gem icons, a short description and 1.25 x 0.25 inch paid advertisement. The art credit, Diving Dragon URL and copyright are also printed on each card.

In Hand and On the Table

The rules are pretty straight forward, at least to skilled trading card gamers. You play one character at time until defeated, replacing them until all are beaten from your hand. You attack or defend each turn, spending resources (weapons and tactics) and subtracting points from a fighter’s health until defeated. When a player does not have any more fighters left in their hand, they lose.

The relatively low number of cards in the means that you’ll quickly hit all the possible attack combos. Luckily, a second set is already available for pre-order, Geek Fight! Set 2: The Final Battle as two 20-card packs plus two exclusive foil cards when you order through the company’s web site. The company is also tweaking the rules to address complaints about too much “I hit you your turn” gameplay.



Each card, especially the characters, portray the extreme side of gamer stereotypes. While I’m not one to embrace stereotyping, its done with the right humor and enough of a touch of respect (in terms of the stats) to make the cards more comedic parodies than insults. Fighters range from your standard geeks (Unidentifiable Cosplayer, 1337 H4XX012, Overenthusiastic LARPer), tactics (Card Throwing Skill, Under the Table Gaming, Vicious B.O.) and objects (Sci-fi Prop Sword, Bendy Dungeon Wall, 42nd Card of Doom).

The character and object art on the cards runs the gambit from professionally detailed to colored sketches you might find in the margin of a junior high student’s notebook. Many are reminiscent of the art in ye olde Dungeons & Dragons guide books and manuals. Don’t despair since the cards and images are small enough that even the worst art is passable.

The Real Deal?

The instructions are not quite as clear as they could be, especially for TCG newbs. It needs to have a brief walk through of sorts to help knock down some of the verbosity that makes this fairly simply game seem far more complicated than it really it. As mentioned above, a non-geek in the mix might help to make the rules a bit more huh-proof.

As for a game for hard-core TCGers, the rules still need a bit of work to help mix things up a bit and the expansion packs will certainly add more options. The game’s creators do seem to be open to suggestions through the site’s forum and gamers are even drafting their own rules.

Otherwise, this is a must-have set for a collector or straight-up geek. The game’s creator’s are certainly fans which certainly shows in the cards’ designs. That also means the instructions are a little more wordy and seemingly complicated than they need to be, which might scare away newcomer attracted to the game’s humorous theme.

Site [Geek Fight TCG]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Reviews, Originals, Features, Collecting, Opinions, Genres, CCG & TCG 2009-03-27T17:05:26+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/weekend-deal-blu-ray-bargains-on-amazon/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/weekend-deal-blu-ray-bargains-on-amazon/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Ads & Media, Movies, Home Video

I didn’t want to leave you bargain-less after that eCost post, so here’s a goodie from Amazon.

Ending March 22, 2009, Amazon is offering a large collection of Blu-ray movies starting at $9.99 each. Even though the site says “starting at $13.99,” there are six discs being sold for $9.99:

• Stargate (Extended Cut)
• Total Recall
• The Devil’s Rejects (Unrated)
• Rambo - First Blood
• Rambo - First Blood Part II
• Rambo III

OK, so a Rambo trilogy for $30 might not be uber impressive and you likely already own four or five versions of the original Stargate movie. But, hit that “$10-$15” link and there are 105 flicks in that range at a 40-60% saving including the first two seasons of Weeds for $11.49 each, Terminator 2 for $11.49, Clockwork Orange ($13.49) and Afro Samurai: Season One ($14.99).

In the $15-$20 price bracket there’s 188 movies including 300 ($17.49), Wall-E ($19.49), Cloverfield ($19.49), The Warriors Ultimate Director’s Cut ($16.49), all the Mission Impossible and Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the remaining Rambo movie and, lo and behold, Final Fantasy - The Spirits Within ($16.49).

The $20-$30 bracket may not seem quite as impressive but you’ll find a few films as lower-than-category prices while others are simply discounted. For example: Iron Man ($16.99), Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull ($16.99) and Incredible Hulk ($23.49).

The Over $30 bracket has only a few sets and isn’t really worth looking at unless you really need Lost: Season Four ($43.99) or a horror flick starter pack ($37.99) on Blu-ray.

This is what movie companies like to call a “library starter” so you can get a bunch of movies to start building a library in the latest format. That assumes, of course, you either believe Blu-ray will last for a while or you’ll have your PS3 running forever.

Site [Amazon]

Full Story » | Written by PJ Hruschak for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Gear, Ads & Media, Movies, Home Video 2009-03-20T22:41:51+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-how-to-get-free-street-fighter-4-and-resident-evil-5-t-shi/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/sony-home-update-how-to-get-free-street-fighter-4-and-resident-evil-5-t-shi/ Section: Exclusives, Features, Collecting, How-To, Opinions, Previews, Rumors, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 3D, Action, Fighting, Online

I want to start by thanking Brinstar who left a comment in my previous story bringing up a good question about Street Fighter 4 costumes for Home.

“Do the SFIV Home unlockables expire? I’m not planning on getting SFIV immediately after launch, ... Budget constraints,” Brinstar asked. Well, here’s what I was able to find and please note this is not an absolute answer as not much is known about unlockable Home avatar items yet. I just ordered my copy and it hasn’t arrived yet.

According to a report posted by IGN, there will be paid and rewarded Street Fighter 4 items available to fans and Playstation Home will have launching stations for the game within Home. The only unlockable free items that I know of at the moment are those my friend RayBlade has already earned playing the game. Since I’m still trying to survive the arcade mode just to unlock other playable characters, I asked my friend RayBlade how he unlocked his t-shirts. He said it was easy, all you had to do is:

• Compete in 10 online matches to unlock a blue Dan Sakiyo t-shirt and earn a “The Journey Begins” trophy.
• Compete in 100 online matches to unlock a black Akuma “Ten” t-shirt and earn the “10 Years Too Late” trophy.
• Defeat Gouken and clear the arcade mode while playing at the hardest difficulty level available to unlock the “Shadoloo” shirt and a “Legendary Champion” trophy.
• Obtain 70 percent of the trophies for Street Fighter 4 game and you can earn the S.I.N. Corporation t-shirt.

But there are Street Fighter 4 items available now for those who haven’t bought the game yet. There are four costumes available now at Threads located in the Home mall. These items are 99 cents each and include the following for male avatars: Ken, Ryu and Guile’s wig (found under the hat category); Ken and Ryu’s Gi; Guile’s camouflaged pants and green sleeveless T-shirt complete with an American flag tattoo (which will appear on your avatar’s shoulder); and Guile’s Army boots.

For female avatars you can purchase Chun Li’s wig, spiked bracers, blue and gold blouse, blue and gold skirt with red tights and white laced up boots. Sorry, no camo outfits were found at the store.

The items were hinted at in the Playstation Home Blogs and finally appeared after the Ninja hunt event held February 24, 2009. Where, if you were lucky enough to catch a ninja hiding or sneaking around in Home, you would receive messages about the items and the launching of the Warhawk Home world which is also currently available.

When you visit the Warhawk Home you will find yourself in the Warhawk Command Center featuring sand tables where you can plot their game plan and soon be able to launch into the actual game to test their plan. The table uses maps from within game and has game pieces players can use by positioning them on the grid any where on the map. There are terminals all around the command center with hints, game play tips and information about the game itself. With the launching of Warhawk Home, the Playstation Store is offering Warhawk for $19.99 until March 11, 2009. Booster combo packs for the game will be available for $4.99 each during this time before returning to its original pricing of $29.99 for the game and $9.99 for each booster combo pack.

The next game mentioned in the blogs to appear on Home is Resident Evil 5, which just opened March 5, 2009. You can explore the world and even talk to developers of the game at the movie set and some of the familiar characters on the street. There are many features like an arcade there but currently not available to play. But for all the girls who ranted about not receiving their free Resident Evil 5 T-shirts in January 2009, they are now available at Threads in the mall.

Read [IGN.com] Site [Official Street Fighter site] Site [PlayStation.com]

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Exclusives, Features, Collecting, How-To, Opinions, Previews, Rumors, Consoles, PS3, Gear, Accessories, Figures & Toys, Gear-Other, Genres, 3D, Action, Fighting, Online 2009-03-11T17:17:10+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/tons-of-new-halo-toys-coming-from-mcfarlane-in-2009/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/tons-of-new-halo-toys-coming-from-mcfarlane-in-2009/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Lists, Previews, Consoles, Xbox-360, Gear, Figures & Toys, Web-Sites, Official-Sites

Say what you will about Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, but if there is one thing he does right, the man knows how to make toys (although, this writer can never bring himself to call them toys).

Recently, the official Spawn web site released the first information about the upcoming line of toys based on the upcoming Xbox exclusive game, Halo Wars.

According to the web site’s description, the line will include:

• SQUAD 1 - UNSC TROOPS (Green) - Set includes 1 Marine Flame Unit and 2 Spartan Soldiers.
• SQUAD 2 - UNSC TROOPS (Blue)  - Set includes 2 Marine Infantry and 1 Spartan Soldier.
• SQUAD 3 - ALPHA BASE PACK (Snow Gear) - Set includes 2 Snow Marines and 1 Marine (Sgt. Forge).
• SQUAD 4 - COVENANT TROOPS (Silver and Bronze)  - Set includes 2 Grunts and the Arbiter.
• SQUAD 5 - COVENANT TROOPS (Yellow)  - Set includes 2 Elites and 1 Grunt.

At size at 2½-inches, the figures will be about half the size of Todd McFarlane’s normal line and will come in packs containing three characters each.

The Halo Wars figures are due to be released in July, 2009 and retail for $12.99 each.

Also, a new lineup of conventional Halo toys and collectibles are coming out over the course of 2009, which include:

• ’HALO’ HEROIC COLLECTION 2009, WAVE 1 - 5-inch - $12.99 - January 2009
• ’HALO’ WARS HEROIC COLLECTION 2009, WAVE 2 - 2½-inch - $12.99 - July 2009
• ’HALO’ 2009, WAVE 1 - EQUIPMENT EDITION - 5-inch - $12.99 - March 2009
• ’HALO’ 2009, WAVE 2 - EQUIPMENT EDITION - 5-inch - $12.99 - July 2009
• ’HALO’ HELMET 3-PACKS 2009, WAVE 1 - 12-inch - $11.99 - February 2009
• ’HALO’ HELMET 3-PACKS 2009, WAVE 2- 12-inch - $11.99 - May 2009
• ’HALO’ HUNTER DELUXE ACTION FIGURE - 8-inch - $24.99 - February 2009
• ’HALO’ 2009, WAVE 3 - MEDAL EDITION - 5-inch - $15.95 - July 2009
• ’HALO’ DELUXE BOXED SETS - 5-inch - $79.95 - July 2009

So Halo fans, start making that Christmas list early.

Read [Halo Wars Toys] Site [Halo Wars] Photo Gallery [Gamertell]

Full Story » | Written by Christopher Buckner for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Lists, Previews, Consoles, Xbox-360, Gear, Figures & Toys, Web-Sites, Official-Sites 2009-02-19T18:29:51+00:00 http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/master-chief-less-halo-comics-coming-from-marvel-in-2009/ http://www.gamertell.com/gaming/comment/master-chief-less-halo-comics-coming-from-marvel-in-2009/ Section: Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Consoles, Xbox-360, Gear, Books, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Ads & Media, Print, Game-Companies, Developers, Publishers, Genres, FPS, Conventions, Web-Sites, Official-Sites



At this past week’s New York Comic Con 09 (February 8, 2009), Marvel announced that it will have two new Halo comics in store for fans this year. Neither of which will feature Master Chief but, instead, focus on expanding the overall Halo universe.

The first of the two planned mini-series, titled Halo: Helljumpers, is based on the upcoming stand-alone expansion, Halo 3: ODST (Recon), which will center on the elite Orbital Drop Shock Troopers that have regularly been featured in past Halo Xbox titles.

Halo: Helljumpers is planned as a five-issue series and will be written by Peter David (Dark Towers/She-Hulk), with illustrations by Eric Nguyen (Heroes Graphic Novel).

The second Halo series is known as Halo: Spartan Black. This series will focus on a squad of elite Blacks Ops Spartans. This four issue mini-series will be written by Fred Van Lente (Hercules) with art by Francis Portela (Wolverine: First Class).

Back in August, 2007, Marvel Comics released Halo: Uprising, a four-part miniseries that was meant to be a prequel to the September 2007 release of Halo 3. While sales for Uprising were high, the final issue has yet to be released.

Halo 3: ODST, the game is due to be released in September, 2009, while the book is slated for a Summer 09 release (hopefully the whole thing will be released before the game). Halo: Spartan Black is due to be released sometime winter 2009.

Site [Marvel Comics] Site [Bungie] Read [IGN] Also Read [Joystiq]

Full Story » | Written by Christopher Buckner for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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]]> Gaming News, Features, Collecting, Consoles, Xbox-360, Gear, Books, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Ads & Media, Print, Game-Companies, Developers, Publishers, Genres, FPS, Conventions, Web-Sites, Official-Sites 2009-02-11T19:39:30+00:00