Sparta
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Dell Panerai convertible tablet leaks at FCC, could be part of Inspiron Duo family?
Since the very first day we saw the Dell Inspiron Duo's crazy swiveling hinge in action, we knew we wanted a laptop that swung that way -- but the Inspiron Duo itself turned out to be a sluggish netvertible with poor battery life. Well, it looks like Dell may be looking for a second chance, because a "Dell Panerai" just hit the FCC, which looks like might have sprung from the same minds who dreamt up the original's sexy frame. Believe it or not, we can thank Intel for revealing this Dell P12F and Canada for pointing out its convertible nature, because of a little-known test specifically designed for transforming tablets like these -- our northern neighbors require that hybrid laptop / tablet computers get checked for face-melting radioactivity if they have antennas built into the display, and that's just what happened to the dual-band Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi radio inside this machine. Oh, and judging by our calculations (based on the size of that orange label), the unit could sport a 15-inch screen. Sweet.
Dell Sparta and Athens netbooks, Looking Glass Pro and Streak variants teased on Android roadmap
Good morning to you too, Dell! Android Central's just gotten hold of yet another leak from the Texan computer giant, only this time we have two new Android or Linux (as suggested by the Tux icon) Moblin devices. First, we have the Sparta "netbook tablet" featuring an 11-inch 1024 x 768 TFT display, ARM processor, optional connectivity modules (3G, WiFi, Bluetooth) and a unique swivel mechanism -- the screen appears to be rotatable within its frame. The second device is the Athens sub-0.9kg (1.98 pounds) netbook sporting the same screen size, ARM processor and optional connectivity modules. If all goes well, the Sparta and Athens should be launched in early and late Autumn respectively, but there's a lot more so keep reading after the break. Update: thanks for pointing out the Moblin logo, thoughtmonster!
Playlogic wins copyright battle over Ancient Wars: Sparta
Fights over who owns what is certainly not uncommon in big business, though video game companies generally seem to keep their noses clean, no doubt thanks to the groundwork laid by a handful of notable past litigations. Still, from time to time studios lock horns over a title, and that is certainly what happened when publisher Playlogic and Russian devs WorldForge threw down in September over the developer's PC strategy game Ancient Wars: Sparta. There was a lot of name calling and mud tossing between the two parties, as WorldForge claimed it wasn't paid and that the publisher smelled bad, while Playlogic responded by calling the devs filthy liars and that it was 'rubber' to WorldForge's 'glue.'However, in the end, it was Playlogic who came out on top, with the studio issuing a statement that it now owns the copyrights to Ancient Wars: Sparta. The drama played out before the District Court of Amsterdam, with the judge ruling in Playlogic's favor on all counts. Not only that, but WorldForge will be the one forking over the cash, as it was also ordered to pay Playlogic a penalty of €10,000 "each time they state the contrary or refrain from publishing rectifications of former wrong statements." The developers are also barred from dealings with the game "outside countries of the former Soviet Union," and will have to pay "a penalty of €1,000 for every copy without permission." You know, WorldForge, sometimes it just pays to keep your head down, stay quiet, and just enjoy the ride.
WoW Moviewatch: 300 vs. World of Warcraft
I know -- this video is really just a guild promo. But it's such a nicely done guild promo! In case you're unfamiliar with the source material, the video is a recreation of parts of the movie 300 within our very own World of Warcraft. While Azeroth is not quite Sparta, I think it does a great job of mimicking the movie's official trailer.Previously on Moviewatch...
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: R.I.P. 300 jokes edition
Those who follow the webcomic wrapup religiously might have noticed a few common trends lately: the frequent citations of Guitar Hero and the overuse of 300. Not just the movie, mind you, but the same frackin' scene in every webcomic: "This ... is .... [insert punchline here]!"We here at Joystiq would like to extend a heartfelt word to the artists: "thanks, it was funny, but if we see another one we're going to throw ourselves into the bottomless pit, thank you very much." With these last two comics, we mark the end of a short era. Enjoy them this week, for you'll never see 300 again on the wrapup.Now, with that bit of optimism out of the way, here are our picks for best gamings. Be sure to vote for your favorite! Koopa! Evolving zombies Expert in rock Rejected Mega Man villains ... agaaain Modern Day Good for your health? Delusions of Gondor Minutes after ... Chicks dig it
Pokemon at the Gates of Fire
We don't know when it became in vogue to dub over Pokemon cartoon clips with audio from 300's trailers, but that appears to be what's hot on the streets nowadays. And when we say "the streets," keep in mind that we mean Youtube.Some mashups are better than others, so we've pasted three of these animated adaptations for you to cast your hot-or-not votes on past the jump. If you've ever wanted to see the likenesses of King Leonidas and Mewtwo played out, today is your lucky day.[Thanks, Ali!]
Becoming a god of war in 300 [Update 1]
One of our Dream Games was God of War: a mythological beat-em-up that took was rooted in psuedo Greek mythology. Looks like 300 is going to attempt to fill that role for PSP gamers. The game is based on the trials of 300 Spartans that must go against a million Persians. Considering how you'll have to fight to the death, I think it's safe to say that we can expect a lot of killing. As Yahoo! Games explains, "There are showers of red blood and flying body parts."Besides the gore, the game promises to deliver an action experience tailor-made for the PSP. The camera will be automatic, akin to God of War. By using "horde technology," the game will continue to shower you with enemies, although only about six will be on screen at all times. The developers intend to have their battle system have depth as well: "Enemies have conditions to beat and we give you the tools to do it. Then, the player needs to make choices on whom to attack first, what they want to do to the enemy, and then, pile on some other choices regarding health management and your rage. So, very quickly, you find that all your choices are meaningful."300: March to Glory will release February 27th, exclusively for the PSP. Until then, feel free to check out some interesting cinematics from the game.[Update 1: Corrected linkage. Hopefully, the armies of Sparta will spare my life for this error.]
