ColbertReport
Latest
Homemade security 'bum bot' turns up on the Colbert Report
Oh bum bot. We remember when you were fresh out of the hands of creator Rufus Terrill. Now look at you -- featured on the Colbert Report. You may have seen photos of this vagrant-deterring robot before, but you haven't lived till you've seen the hard-hitting, in-depth coverage that Stephen Colbert delivers on it. Take a look at the video after the break to see a defender of America (and bot) on the front lines of battle.[Thanks, Tony S.]
Ian Bogost sets good example on Colbert Report
We mentioned that this was coming up yesterday, but, just in case you missed it, here's Persuasive Games author and game designer Ian Bogost fighting the good fight for gaming with bastion of truth and light, Stephen Colbert. We're glad to see it, and not just to watch Colbert wonder aloud if hours of World of Warcraft (or Colbertcraft) will prepare him for when our world becomes Warcraft.We're also glad to see it because Bogost is undeniably a good egg. Instead of just cursing the darkness and hoping to convince a fairly skeptical mainstream media that games aren't necessarily without merit, he's out there actually proving it. In our opinion, we could use a few more Ian Bogosts.
Persuasive Games' Ian Bogost on Colbert Report tonight
Fans of serious games and/or snarky conservative satires should tune in to Comedy Central's The Colbert Report tonight, as faux-Republican Steven Colbert will be talking with Ian Bogost, game designer and author of the recently-released Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames.According to Bogost's blog, he'll be talking about his book, and his company of the same name, which has been producing news-oriented games for the New York Times' online Times Select section. The Colbert Report airs tonight at 11:30 PM EST. Who's gonna post the YouTube video? Anyone?Updated the time; thanks to everyone who corrected this.
Pricey Daily Show, Colbert Report now on XBLM
Xbox Live owners looking to download some Tek Jansen goodness today might be pleasantly surprised to see last night's Daily Show and Colbert Report available for download on the Xbox Live Marketplace. The Comedy Central favorites cost 160 MS points ($2) per episode and will be made regularly available "within 24 hours of each original airing" according to a notice from Microsoft.While we're happy to see some more quality video content available for our Xboxen, we think the pricing might be off for such a short, topical show. At $2 an episode, buying both shows four days a week costs $64 per month. For that kind of money, you could probably swing a complete basic cable package, with a little left over to put towards a Tivo subscription. Considering iTunes users can get the same double dose of direct download comedy goodness for about $20 a month, we've got to wonder why Microsoft thinks their system is worth the extra money.
Newsbreak: Stewart and Colbert Report on XBLM
Microsoft dropped off a little missive today letting us know that The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report will now be available on Xbox Live Marketplace. Starting today, new episodes of each show will be available on Marketplace within 24 hours of the original airing on Comedy Central.We booted up our Xbox just to check, and sure enough, there they were. Episodes are available in 480p for 160 MS Points (US$2). Of course, Comedy Central airs the previous day's episodes three times during the next day, but don't let a silly little thing like logic keep you from paying for your favorite programs.Video Marketplace, you're on notice.
Steven Colbert on the iPhone
Did the iPhone earn a tip of the hat? No, my friends, it earned a wag of the finger. In fact, in this (NSFW) Colbert Report segment, both Apple and the iPhone earn the rare (and feared) double-finger-wag from a critical Colbert. Dropping "computer" from your name, he lectures, does not make you cool. And integrating too many features into a single, easy-to-use platform takes away from the basic rule of life: Whoever dies with the most toys wins. The Apple part starts about a third of the way in, after a cute segment on CES.
Will Wright, Stephen Colbert, and N'Gai Croal
Legendary game designer Will Wright visited The Colbert Report last night. Surrounded by a nativity scene and lacking his standard comfort mustache, Wright and Stephen Colbert philosophized on why anyone would want to, as Colbert put it, "go into another world to live a life that is just as mundane." About four minutes into the interview, the discussion transitions into Spore, which Wright describes as a "spreadsheet for God." This brings up a debate on Evolution versus Intelligent Design, which should not come as a surprise for anyone familiar with the show. Wright notes that it is a hybrid between the two theories, though "the designers aren't necessarily that intelligent." The evolution aspect, Wright explains, comes with the online world where your creations are pitted against everyone else's -- it's like "competing gods on the playing field of the world," they conclude. Watch near the end where Wright almost gets Colbert to break character by "confessing" he is almost fluent in Sim-lish, the language of The Sims. Newsweek's N'Gai Croal, who described the designer as polymathic (that means he's edumucated), followed Wright to the set to get some behind-the-scenes perspective of the interview and reveals some insight into Wright's gaming habits, like that he doesn't like MMOs because of the "rote treadmill" of leveling characters. Spore, according to Wright, is on track for a release the second half of 2007 and is currently in Pre-Alpha Five phase, which means five months until alpha phase, which means there are some lucky EA employees playing the full version of Spore right now. The full Colbert Report interview is embedded after the break.
Stephen Colbert shows off his Mii, defeats Pelosi
During the Colbert Report last night, Stephen Colbert listed the Wii as the number one threat this holiday season. Why? Because he is horribly addicted to it. To demonstrate his love for the system he proudly rubbed it in Wii-less gamers' faces, stating "Guess what nerds, I gots me one!" What happened next, no words can express. Not only did he create a Mii for himself, he created one for California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and presumed to wipe the smile off her face in Wii Sports boxing. Yet another reason why we love Stephen Colbert. See the clip after the break. [Update: Whoops, it's Stephen, not Steven. Sorry Mr. Colbert.]
Colbert knocks out Pelosi in Wii Sports: Boxing
"Guess what nerds, I gots me one." That's the kind-hearted message Stephen Colbert sent out to all those desperate gamers out there still trying to get their hands on the Wii. The new Nintendo system reached No. 1 on the Colbert Report's "Threatdown" last night because, as Colbert puts it, it's "quite possibly the most addicting video game of all time."What's the appeal for a conservative crusader like Colbert? Knocking out a virtual version of the liberal speaker-of-the-house-elect, of course. Check out a video clip of the epic battle after the jump.
The many sides of Steve Wozniak
We all know this Woz quite well...The prankster who still laughs at fart jokes and plays Segway Polo. The guy who admitted, in the email accompanying the above picture, which was taken backstage before his recent appearance on The Colbert Report by the friend of an acquaintance of mine: I suggested that one of us should do rabbit ears and Colbert declined so I did it. That part may make it less funny but it's true. I also left a sticker in the green room bathroom that is in OSHA style and colors with a picture of a butt with a poof coming out, and the words "Let's keep the air fresh." I hope it's still there.But then there's the sensitive and impressively humble Woz. The Woz who responds to an insulting and juvenile question like this one, from Ask MetaFilter, with a disarming and brutally honest answer like this: "...I don't mind if people don't like me as long as it's for things I am. There's plenty to find there. I do try to remain the person I would have wanted to become, from when I was 10 and when I was 20. Even after something like Apple I managed to remain close to the same person, doing things I would have done had Apple never come about, like getting my degree and teaching and much more." [read the entire thing for proper context, it's short]Steve Wozniak is a class act. 'Nuff said.Thanks to phi for the Ask MeFi link.
The Woz on tonight's Colbert Report
That's right, heroes, Steve Wozniak is going head to head with Stephen Colbert on tonight's Colbert Report. Will Stephen nail the Woz? Will the Woz talk about his book (I bet he will).Anyway, tune in to find out.
Stephen Colbert introduces World of ColbertCraft
After posting a teaser on Friday, GameVideos.com is now shoing the full 93-second introduction to the MI6 Conference as done by Stephen Colbert. Unfortunately, the full version is not much different than the teaser; there is really only one or two more jokes in there. Still, the frame rate is less choppy, and the clip is funny enough to warrant a second view.Stephen Colbert kicks off the MI6 Conference by introducing his latest game, World of ColbertCraft. We won't spoil the rest for you. The MI6 conference is a game marketing event. It has no relation, unfortunately, to the United Kingdom secret service agency formerly known as MI6.
MI6 teaser: World of ColbertCraft?
Stephen Colbert (the 't' is silent) has made a minor contribution to the MI6 conference, taking place June 27th and 28th in San Francisco, Ca. In the teaser, Colbert announces the release of World of ColbertCraft. The game promises to be more popular that his last title, Stephen Colbert's Escape from Skateboard Mountain. However, as Colbert explains, "for cost reasons, [WoCC] also takes place on Skateboard Mountain." Colbert adds that "on the Nintendo Wii, you can use the controller to wag my finger." All the clips seem to have been spliced together quickly; 1UP asserts that the full video will be up on Monday. The MI6 conference is a game marketing event. It has no relation, unfortunately, to the United Kingdom secret service agency formerly known as MI6.See Also:Jon Stewart blasts Congress' ignorance towards video games
