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Phat Loot Phriday: Marrowstrike
Here's something for you Hunters to go after in the 5-man Trial this weekend.Name: Marrowstrike (Wowhead, Thottbot, Armory)Type: Epic PolearmDamage/Speed: 570-856 / 3.50 (212.3 DPS)Attributes: +106 Agility, +101 Stamina Yellow socket (nice for +Hit gems, though you can put whatever you want in there) with a +4 Agility socket bonus %Gallery-33600%
DS Daily: Your redesign
With three DS types in existence -- we're including the Phat here, too; can't forget about the original just because these upstarts are hanging around -- you have the potential to build one weird system. If, that is, you combined aspects of all three. If you could, which features would you put into your handheld, and which would you discard? Maybe you don't care much for the DSi's camera, and you want a slightly thicker portable. Maybe you want the camera plus the GBA slot. Maybe instead you like one of the versions just as it is. How would your DS look? Gallery: Nintendo DSi
DS Daily: What to do with you?
With the Nintendo DSi releasing to the public in Japan (and to some of us who wanted it too much to wait), we imagine many folk might still hold on to their DS Lite or Phat for homebrew or any other reason. It's not that there won't be DSi homebrew in the future, just, for now, the community isn't as diverse and robust as that for the original DS systems. And why get rid of such a sleek and sexy handheld?With that in mind, will you be haning on to your DS when you inevitably break down and get your own DSi? Or will you trade in, sell, or pass on your DS when you get a DSi of your own? Made any plans?
DS Daily: At launch
Yesterday was the four-year anniversary of the US launch of the DS. What was your opinion of the DS back in 2004? None of us knew back then what it would become today; we expected GBA-level popularity at best.Were you totally lined up for a system on the first day? Did you wait until Christmas? Until Kirby? Or were you not drawn into the DS life until the Lite appeared? Whenever you got into the DS, we're glad you did, because we doubt you would be part of our community otherwise.As for me, what finally sold me on the DS was Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Luckily, the system got even more awesome after that!
DS Daily: Any Phats still out there?
In this day and age, we assume that any and every DS fanboy and fangirl has upgraded to a Lite, what with them being so easy on the wallet and chock full of great features. But, we know how much some of you out there like to hold on to things. So, any of you out there still have your Phat? Do you play it? Has it been retired to a shelf or box somewhere, an elegant handheld for a more civilized age?
Phat Loot Phriday: Digested Hand of Power
Now this is a real offhand! The stats aren't so great, but wait until the next expansion -- surely the most disgusting item in the game will get a nice upgrade, right?Name: Digested Hand of PowerType: Epic Offhand Hand (Ha! Wowhead, Thottbot, Armory)Damage/Speed: N/AAbilities: +10 Stamina, +14 Intellect. Restores 10 mana per 5 seconds. Which isn't great in this day and age, but was pretty nice back at 60, when this thing first came out. But don't worry -- considering that Naxx will be updated, chances are that either the stats will change or that we'll see another version of this one. Looks like, well, a disembodied, digested hand. And considering who did the digesting, yeah -- that's pretty gross. But here's what I'd like to know: whose hand is it? How to Get It: Drops from Gluth, the Abomination boss in Naxxaramas. He's not very appetizing at all, though I don't think he's quite as disgusting as the Abominations in the Undead side of Stratholme -- those guys are really gross. Still, Gluth is no pushover.And as you probably already know, Naxxaramas is being retooled to work as one of the first endgame dungeons in Wrath of the Lich King, which means Gluth will likely find new life, and hopefully his loot along with him. Right now, this offhand (Ha! again) gets dropped at around 15%, though of course we have no idea how the new version of the loot will work.Getting Rid of It: Sells for 9g 13s 52c, and disenchants into a Nexus Crystal (remember those?). Here's hoping we'll see this baby again in the future -- in fact, let's shake on it.
DS Daily: What color do you bleed?
It's been awhile since we asked you, and what with our community growing all the time, we figured it was time we discussed what model DS Lite you've gone with. Were you there for the first handhelds to release locally, or could you not simply wait and just had to import one like, say, the Enamel Navy model? Are you still rocking the Phat? How's your handheld situation?
Find a use for that extra DS
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Ten_uses_for_that_extra_DS'; Nintendo is pumping out new DS colors with a vengeance, and many DS owners who've been clinging to their original models are finally breaking down and upgrading to a Lite. Still others already had a Lite, but found themselves lulled into spending even more money on a spiffy new shade. We just can't control ourselves in the face of such beauty. But what happens when you end up with a second DS? Unless you've been retro-fitted with an extra pair of arms, you probably don't need two handhelds. Rather than letting the extra sit around and collect dust, check out our suggested uses for that second DS. Ten things to do with that DS
Phat Loot Phriday: Dragonheart Flameshield
Boy, is it hot in here, or is it just my SHIELD THAT BREATHES FIRE!?Name: Dragonheart Flameshield (Wowhead, Thottbot, Wowarsenal)Type: Epic ShieldArmor: 4872 (122 Block)Abilities: +19 Stamina, +21 Intellect, which pushes this shield a little bit more than usual towards PvP. Increases damage and healing by up to 23. Which ain't bad. There are lots of better shields out there, but for where this drops (it's late Karazhan gear), that's a respectable amount of SD. +7 mana per 5 seconds, which is where this shield really shines. It's a very nice shield for elemental Shamans, and Paladins and Resto Shamans can use it also, as long as they've got beefed up stats in other areas. Again, this is husky loot -- if you're working up to Black Temple, it will get replaced. But any elemental Shammy using the Crystal Pulse Shield should be happy to see this one drop. Did we mention it breathes fire?! Also, we probably can't mention this shield without mentioning the Mazthoril Honor Shield -- they share a skin (with fire) and basic stats besides the mp5. Either one is a great shield, and we could just as well have done the MHS here this week. And healers around this level should check out the Light-Bearer's Faith Shield as well -- both it and MHS are badge gear. If you're a caster farming Kara and the Heroics, you've got lots and lots of shields to choose from. How to Get It: But the Dragonheart Flameshield requires a little instance running -- it drops from Nightbane in Karazhan. At one point, he was considered the hardest boss in there, but nowadays, there are tons of guilds farming Karazhan like it's corn in Nebraska, so the odds are that you'll have no problem seeing him sooner or later.The droprate is 14% on this one, which isn't bad, and the fact that this is strictly a damage-dealing caster shield means you probably shouldn't have too much trouble claiming it. Pallies and Shamans might do a little fighting over it, but if you go a few runs and don't pick it up, at least you'll have enough badges to grab one of the other shields available.Getting Rid of It: Sells for 7g, 30s, 15c, and disenchants into a Void Crystal. Careful while disenchanting it, though -- you don't want to get BURNED!
DS Download Auction
Sure, this is just a used DS Phat with a sticker on it, in a chipped lockbox, but it's the coolest used DS in a box we've ever seen. That's because this particular arrangement is a retail download station, of the sort set up in local stores (and at Safeco Field). It's intended to broadcast demos to anyone who brings their DS to the location that houses it.As if it weren't cool enough to have a DS Download Station that is never supposed to leave the store, this set comes with two cartridges full of Download Play demos. The current bid is only $.99, but who knows how high the reserve is, especially given the $350 Buy It Now price. For that matter, who knows if Nintendo will see the auction and shut it down?[Via GameSniped]
Phat Loot Phriday: Orb of the Sin'dorei
Like the ol' Orb of Deception, here's another fun toy -- that's brand new in patch 2.4.Name: Orb of the Sin'dorei (Wowhead, Thottbot, WowDB)Type: Rare ItemDamage/Speed: N/AAbilities: On use, transforms the user into a Blood Elf. Lasts for five minutes with a 30 minute cooldown between uses. Also drops on shapeshift of any kind. One of the cool things about this trinket is that it keeps your equipment looking the same. Always wanted to see what a Blood Elf warrior looks like (since they don't exist in game)? Use this on your tank, and how they might appear. Unfortunately, there is a catch: if you use this item on your Blood Elf, they won't change at all. Lore note: "Sin'dorei" actually means "Children of the Blood" in Thalassian. Before the High Elves got all corrupted, they were the quel'dorei ("Children of Noble Birth") and then they split into the BEs and the Night Elves (who are also known as the kal'dorei -- "Children of the Stars"). Unfortunately, there still isn't a perlman'dorei in Azeroth (though that, of course, would be the "City of Lost Children"). Yeah, this orb thingy is kind of silly, but Blood Elves are, as the kids say, pretty hawt. Who wouldn't want to be one? How to Get It: Drops from any of the bosses in Magisters' Terrace, but on Heroic Mode only. The drop rate is pretty low (about 1-2% per boss, but considering that you get a chance for it to drop every time you down a boss, this is actually a relatively common drop -- definitely moreso than, say, the Baron's mount).And don't forget that to get into MrT Heroic, you've got to finish the quest to kill Kael first. Get that done, get Heroic Countenance, head on into Heroic MrT, and down bosses until you see this pop up.Getting Rid of It: Sells to vendors for 46s 18c, and disenchants into an Arcane Dust, Lesser Planar Essence, or (very rarely) a Large Prismatic Shard. But I'd keep it if I was you -- you never know when you want someone's girlfriend to wish you were "hot... like... me."
PSP super-hack hits the internet
Well you knew it was coming. That PSP hack we told you about a few weeks ago has hit the interblogs, and we predict all hell will be breaking loose any moment. Un-retired homebrew mastermind Dark_AleX has come up with a little number called Timemachine, which is capable of spinning your PSP back to all sorts of crazy firmwares at the touch of a button. We know you can hardly stand finishing this post due to excitement, so... get out of here and grab it![Thanks, Craig]
Purple DS, Purple DS
Seeking to convert his girlfriend, Rachel, into a handheld gamer, DS Fanboy reader Shawn wrapped this custom-painted Nintendo DS and put it under their Christmas tree along with copies of Nintendogs, Cooking Mama, New York Times Crosswords, and My Word Coach.In order to achieve that smooth shine, the system was disassembled, sanded, primed, spray painted, then finished with a high gloss clear coat. Shawn chose the metallic sparkling purple, the color of royalty, because it's his girlfriend's favorite color. You can follow the project's progress and see more photos of the painted DS on Shawn's Flickr set.
DS makes for a Lite lunch
As part of a bento challenge, Livejournal, uh, "bentochallenge" community member mushmo made this awesome rice representation of a pink DS. Technically, it's a Phat, but we couldn't resist the pun in the title.The DS onigiri folds up to fit in its bento box, and is joined by shrimp, broccoli, carrots, and a hard-boiled egg to make a delicious meal for mushmo's lucky son. Honestly, we don't know if we'd be able to eat such a meticulously crafted food item. We'd feel guilty for ruining all that work, and we'd just go raid the fridge for some food that isn't shaped like stuff.
DS Daily: Would you buy another DS?
When it comes to the DS, you've got options. You can go traditional, you can move up to a Lite, and you can choose from a variety of colors. You can even import if your region doesn't feature the shade you prefer. But would you buy another regular DS or bundle? Would it depend on price? What about the rumored redesigned DS, sans GBA slot? If it came with that also-rumored download service, we'd be all over it, but the GBA slot is near and dear to our hearts. There might be tears.
DS Daily: How's it looking?
We're pretty obsessive about our DS care, as you would imagine. We're sure all of you are as well to some extent. But, sometimes, you forget to put it in its case, or it falls, or you lend it to someone else (nooooo!) In some cases, life just adds normal wear to your device.How is your DS holding up cosmetically? Does it still shine like the Dickens? Do people still react to its presence with a hushed awe? Has it acquired any scratches in its lifespan, either on the outer surfaces or the screens? Right before we got the new Lite, the outer layer of the sticker on the back of our DS Phat spontaneously came off, taking some of the print off with it. Thus the unfortunate effect seen above. In terms of case and screen scratches, it's practically brand new, but that simple cosmetic effect seems to have aged the unit so much.
Phat Loot Phriday: X'caliboar
As requested, we're going "husky" on Phat Loot today, with a cool two-handed, midlevel sword that anyone can get. Plus, if you ask me, this sword has one of the best names ever. Puns FTW!Name: X'caliboarType: Rare Two-hand SwordDamage/Speed: 98-148 / 3.30 (37.3 DPS)Abilities: +20 Strength, +8 Stamina Unfortunately, that an added enchant on the pic above-- the sword doesn't glow when you get it. A decent sword for Warriors and Paladins of the level (around 35-40). The Strength is very nice, obviously, and although you'll replace it soon (just like any other weapon in the early 40s), it's good to have around if you need to do any two-hand slicing. Plus, the name rocks. Obviously it's a play on Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur, but it drops from Razorfen Downs, so courtesy of Blizzard's witty item creation team, you get "X'caliboar." Funny. How to Get It: Take a trip through the aforementioned Razorfen Downs, another one of my favorite instances in the game (I especially like the Undead rave going on in there). Ragglesnout drops it, and he's a rare spawn that appears near that rave (in one of the huts on the spiral). Apparently he is pretty rare, so if you really want to the sword, you may have to restart the instance a few times to see if you can get him, and then just hope the sword drops-- it's seen at about 20% which isn't bad, but when you factor in the chance that Ragglesnout appears, it's a little more rare than that.He has a couple of other good drops for a Warrior, too-- a shield and a belt that are fairly nice. But this sword is the jewel of the bunch-- get in there, hope he spawns, down him, and maybe you too can have the chance to run around Orgrimmar or Stormwind yelling "I WIELD X'CALIBOAR! BOW DOWN TO YOUR KING!"Err.. maybe that's just what I'd do.Getting Rid of It: Disenchants into a Small Radiant Shard, and sells to vendors for 2g 1s 44c.
Buy a used DS Lite, get a free used game
Subscribers to GameStop's weekly newsletter might have received an email today with the above coupon enclosed. While the prospect of buying a used DS Lite might not be strong in some of you, those still rocking a Phat and looking for incentive to upgrade could have found just that. Any of you out there still with a Phat? Do you ever plan on upgrading to the Lite?
Boy drops DS, boy comes back next day and finds DS mauled
Reader John wrote in to us and relayed a very sad story. While making his daily trek home from school, he was forced to pause his game of Cooking Mama and place his DS into the safety of his pocket as he crossed an intersection. Apparently, the DS fell out of said pocket and John neither heard nor felt it fall. In arriving back at the intersection the next day, he found his DS as above. Of course, there's no better way for the universe to tell you it's time to upgrade to a DS Lite, but it looks like John has decided to stick with the Phat.
Keep your DS clean while you eat dinner
A little creativity can go a long way in putting together something unique without having to spend much. Emma Bryce crafted this case for her DS Phat using only ribbons and a placemat. The inside flap even holds three game carts, though we can't vouch for the sturdiness of its grip. We see these table pads at Bed Bath & Beyond all the time, as well as a lot of other potential materials, so head over there if you're looking for some DIY case ideas. Or, you know, if you need new window treatments. Check past the post break for another photo of the placemat pouch.
