Recent Comments:
'Family Trainer' is more Power Pad than Balance Board {Joystiq}
May 15th 2008 12:04AM If old is new again, then this mat will be used for one game and then get thrown out, just like the old power pad.
Walmart pushing Wii Fit pre-order for Mother's Day {Joystiq}
May 2nd 2008 11:37AM Nice one Walmart, what a way to insult your mom. What's next? Maybe they can bundle the WiiFit with a pack of breath mints.
Joystiq impressions: Ghostbusters (360/PS3/Wii) {Joystiq}
Apr 28th 2008 12:06PM Of course it has to be co-op. Otherwise it would be no fun to cross the streams.
Japanese hardware sales, April 14 - April 20: Endangered edition {Joystiq}
Apr 28th 2008 2:09AM No. It's because everyone in Japan ALREADY has a DS. The PSP is now becoming the "Sloppy seconds" of portable consumers--at least until Nintendo releases a new colour (likely some shade of pink for the people in Japan) or new DS model.
Suzuki offers up Garmin GPS on all 2009 SX4 vehicles {Engadget}
Apr 28th 2008 2:01AM That's because you're looking at suzukis made in America. In Japan, the "Lexus" brand doesn't even exist, and it's not even Toyota's high-end car over here. Suzukis, here in Japan, are the "go to" car for most people; totally durable, stylish, and practical (It's like what we think of the Honda Civic--which Suzuki cars outnumber in many places in Japan).
And I cannot stress enough how much of a "culture shock" it has been when even the Daihatsus here in Japan are light-years better than anything Detroit has puked out in the last 8-10 years.
Suzuki offers up Garmin GPS on all 2009 SX4 vehicles {Engadget}
Apr 28th 2008 1:46AM In Japan, They've had all of this stuff in their cars for nearly ten years already. In fact, most "bottom of the line" kei-cars pack this as standard equipment.
My friend's 2-yr old corolla has a computer for a console that switches interface between music player, television, GPS, and a rearview camera to look behind you. This, on an average Toyota Corolla.
I didn't know this until I came to Japan.
My conclusion is this: North American car buyers get so totally gypped it's absolutely ridiculous. It's disgusting how the largest car-buying market gets such shoddy treatment!
The Mario Kart Wii controller showdown {Joystiq}
Apr 25th 2008 2:07PM It's only because people might take Joystiq's word seriously when the test itself was more "fluff" than anything. It would be unfortunate if gamers did not give the new-tech a chance, just because of what Joystiq says on their "test".
I also had to back it up with good reasons...
The Mario Kart Wii controller showdown {Joystiq}
Apr 25th 2008 1:43PM This is not a good report. I'd say it's trivial at best for the following reason: when real racers perform tests, they never stop at just five laps. They will do hours of track time in order to get familiar with a particular setup change--never mind 5. As well, with the hundreds of laps they do, they get a better assesment of what their car can do because they get all nearly identical lap times (meaning: they're consistent). This is similar to a real scientific experiment, in that it should give you the same results when doing the test numerous times. In this marioKart test, x number of laps for each controller isn't enough to get an accurate read. It would also have been better to get an average lap time, that way we know which method is CONSISTENTLY slower, rather than having just one lucky lap time.
Another thing to consider is that most gamers have already had vast experience with the Gamecube controller/classic controller. You can use it with your eyes closed. The other controls are still relatively new--especially when it comes to mario kart Wii. You can't compare your lap times that well, when you've played with one configuration for 15 years more than the others. You have to be totally adept with the wheel and nunchuk (+ the game) to get the conclusions you're looking for. The case could arise that someone who has never played with the GCN controller would get faster laptimes with the nunchuk config. Then your whole test could be flawed and you'd have wasted your 'whole afternoon'
Epic pres on making Wii games: 'we go forward, not back' {Joystiq}
Apr 21st 2008 5:04PM Epic is a computer software maker capitalizing on next-gen systems. Their whole existence never had "Nintendo" systems in mind.
They'd stick to making computer games if it weren't for all the hardware MS and Sony *shoe-horned* into their systems.
Microsoft UK rolling out Halo 3-sized campaign for GTA IV {Joystiq}
Apr 17th 2008 6:30PM Bad idea for MS to promote a multi-platform game. That is unless they paid money for Rockstar to cripple the PS3 version...
