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Guild Wars 2's character creator brings celebrities to Tyria
One of the things we failed to tell you about Guild Wars 2's character creator is just how flexible it can be in allowing players to fine-tune their avatar's face. For one particular beta tester, the tools provided seemed like the perfect opportunity to see if famous celebrities could be recreated. Lo and behold, they could. In under three minutes, this player whisks us through pages of sliders, hairstyles, and facial details to create Guild Wars 2 lookalikes of Liam Neeson, Clint Eastwood, Megan Fox, and Scarlett Johansson. Apart from its value as amusement, the video highlights the range of looks and styles that the character creator can be coaxed into generating. Check it out after the break and see just how uncanny these avatars ended up being compared to the real deal!
LG Optimus 2X dual-core Android phone hits Europe in January
We already knew that it was coming to its home country of Korea in January. Now we know that LG's Tegra 2 Optimus 2X will bring its 4-inch display and 1080p video recording capability to the Android loving shores of Europe in the first month of 2011. The detail was hidden in a rather mundane press release touting the inclusion of 25 audio files (including 15 custom ringtones) from famed film composer Ennio Morricone, a man most recognizable for scoring those Sergio Leone "Spaghetti Westerns." While we're not sure how this oddball partnership materialized, we do know that there are two kinds of people in this world. Those with loaded guns, and those who dig. You dig? So we're not going to push it.
The Daily Grind: The Dead Pool
Now it's widely known that MMORPG players are a cheerful, optimistic bunch [citation needed]. It also goes without saying that no Massively reader would ever be caught wishing the downfall of a particular MMO or company [citation needed]. After all, the more titles that survive and thrive, the more the genre as a whole grows. With games like EverQuest, Ultima Online and Asheron's Call pushing well over a decade of run-time at this point, MMOs have proven that -- given a chance and enough initial steam -- they can go the distance. However, realism is a nasty mistress, and we can't ignore the fact that sooner or later MMOs will shut down. We've seen some flare up and burn out quickly (Tabula Rasa, Auto Assault), some struggle for years before capitulating (The Matrix Online, Asheron's Call 2), and some quietly put to pasture after all attempts at prolonging life failed (Shadowbane). The dark truth is that even the games we currently play have a finite lifespan, and one day will see their light extinguished. Cheery, right? So today, let's engage in a bit of macabre speculation and wager on a MMO dead pool. Without using this as a platform to rail against a MMO you hate and were personally wronged by on one midsummer's eve, what MMO do you think will be the next to close its doors? Will it be one of the newer titles, or one published by a company that has the tendency to shutter struggling games, or an aging beauty? Enter into today's dead pool, and earn the right to say "I told you so!" when the sad day happens. Because that will totally make you look tactful, don't you know.
JBO: Joystiq Box Office, June 15 - 19
We can't be gaming all the time, despite our best efforts, and from time to time we'll actually take advantage of the movie-playing abilities on our gaming systems. JBO features our top picks for XBL, PSN, Netflix's Watch Instantly, and Blu-ray each week.Recommendation of the Week: Donkey Punch (PSN: $5.99 HD and $3.99 SD to rent, $19.99 HD and $14.99 SD to own): Despite the title, Donkey Punch isn't a zany college comedy. It's a taut thriller that takes place in the confines of a luxury yacht at sea, and the titular term plays a big part in making everything unravel. It was shot for less than a million dollars in three weeks, yet still manages to look like a slick Hollywood film. Great soundtrack, terrific performances from a cast of unknowns, and you've got the perfect summer accompaniment. This will make you think twice (or even a third time!) before getting on a boat with a stranger. Read for the full list on a system by system basis just after the break. As usual, we'll see you at the popcorn st ... well, actually we won't see you at all. But you catch our drift.
The Soloist: Why I do it
After this post, I had it in mind to think through why I prefer to solo, and whether the reasons why are valid ones, given that I'm playing in a genre meant to provide a social experience. I'm going to try to list as many reasons as I can think of in favor of grouping and playing with buddies, and provide a counter-argument if I can. Bear in mind, this is not me telling you that you should go solo; this is just me trying to 1) explain why I do it, and 2) understand for myself whether my reasons hold water.Enough said; excelsior!
Mii Spotlight: In character edition
It seems like everyone loves to make Mii versions of their favorite characters, whether they're from films, games, or television shows, and who can blame them? It's very satisfying to finish a Mii that turns out well and show it off, just to see if it's immediately recognizable. Considering that, it's no surprise that people send us lots of random characters, and often, they're Miis of characters that are just so brilliant, or from things that we love, and we can't resist them.We dedicate this week's Mii spotlight to all the great character Miis we haven't seen yet ... and we wait with bated breath to see what else you guys can come up with after seeing this week's submissions.
Warner Bros. keeps pumping out HD DVD movies
A couple of titles we already knew were coming to HD DVD but didn't know when, have gotten a date. May 16 the few, the proud, the...$800/$500 lighter in the wallet can look forward to high definition copies of Unforgiven and Full Metal Jacket coming to stores near them. The price is set to $28.99, and will include the bonus features in SD just like previous HD DVD releases. Since these titles are also slated for Blu-ray release, it will be interesting to see if bonus features for that format will be included in HDTV resolutions as some Blu-ray supporters have suggested.
