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The Simpsons go to 'E4'
The opening scene of last night's Simpsons episode brought the family to the "Expensive Electronic Entertainment Expo" (or "E4," a joke that works even better if you realize the writers forgot about the existence of E For All). You'll have to wait eight days or so to see the episode on Hulu if you missed it -- longer still if you're outside of the US -- but GameSetWatch has done us the favor of collecting some of the on-the-nose visual gags from the scene. In addition to the three screencaps presented in the post, GSW reports that parody games including Grand Theft Scratchy: Itchy City Stories, Shaun White: Time Snowboarder, and World of Krustcraft made appearances. Perhaps the best thing about this sequence is that it suggests a Simpsons writer was present at E3 for the sole purpose of taking notes on the spectacle.
Wearable lab coat TV packs thousands of LEDs, heads for Burning Man (video)
Sure, we've seen iPad hats and augmented reality tattoos, but a 60-inch display suitable for hours of wear under the hot Nevada desert sun? Well that's just crazy talk. Believe it or not, a one Dave Forbes built exactly that: a 12V battery powered, 160 x 120-pixel monitor capable of displaying standard NTSC analog video from an in-pocket iPod. The result is nothing short of incredible, but when you're building a wearable lab coat-based TV with thousands of LEDs and a pair of circuit boards, features like breathability and water-wicking tend to get overlooked. Forbes spent six months creating this ultimate gadget, which is likely to make quite the colorful splash when he shows it off next month at Burning Man. But with a multi-month time commitment and $20,000 price tag, we can't help but wonder what this 'brainiac' could have come up with were he to redirect those resources towards a super-slick tech project for the masses, instead.
The Daily Grind: Do MMOs belong in the mainstream?
Age of Conan on The Big Bang Theory. Second Life on The Office. World of Warcraft on South Park. The Guild transforming into an internet phenomenon. The Simpsons and FoxTrot creating parodies of virtual worlds. It seems as though everywhere we turn, MMORPGs are toeing the line between niche and mainstream, especially thanks to the whirlwind of WoW. As MMOs become less of a fringe activity and more accepted in popular culture, I have to ask -- is that a good thing? After all, geeks are highly protective of their territory, often seeing themselves as the faithful guardians of That Which Society Rejected. To suddenly see that pastime become accepted and embraced by the crowd may prove disorienting -- and even disturbing. So do MMOs belong in the mainstream? As they become more widespread, is there something essential that's being lost in the translation? Are the faithful guardians resentful of MMO devs who may cater to the casual crowd over them? Is there a risk of overexposure and backlash? Won't somebody please think of the children?
TomTom's Homer Simpson voice skin is just like the real thing, without the Duff's
Well, let's be frank. The Knight Rider GPS, while brilliant, is a bit of a stretch. Isn't it a little sad to be living out your boyhood fantasies of excitement and danger vicariously, behind the wheel of your '92 Buick Roadmaster station wagon? On the other hand, perhaps you're ready to put away your childhood dreams and hit the road in a manner more befitting your average schlub. The official Homer Simpson voice skin for the TomTom GPS features the voice of the iconic cartoon dad, including such gems as "Take the third right. We might find an ice cream truck! Mmm...ice cream." Psyched? We bet you are. Priced at $12.95 -- check out an audio sample after the break, and then hit the read link to pick it up it for yourself. [Via Pocket-lint]
The Simpsons bring teabagging to the masses
Gamers who caught The Simpsons over the weekend were likely delighted / disgusted to see Homer and Marge take part in one of gaming's most infamous pastimes, teabagging. Taking things one step further, the teabagging took place in what is clearly Halo, the teabagger's game of choice. We also have to give the creators credit for the mostly accurate Xbox 360. Come on, Team Simpsons, you don't plug controllers into the IR sensor. For shame. Check out the clip (via Hulu) after the break. [Via 1UP]
'Life in Hell' trademark points to game adaptation
Those of you familiar with Matt Groening outside of his Simpsons and Futurama endeavors likely raised an eyebrow after reading the title to this post. It's okay, we did the same thing when looking at the trademark. If you're unaware, Groening has had a strip called Life in Hell (renamed to Life is Swell in 2007) going since 1977. Life in Hell (we're staying O.G. with it) revolves around rabbits in hell, and is very different than his more popular works. Now it would seem to be at least in the planning stages of a video game adaptation, as it is one item on a long list at the US Patent and Trademark Office site. Given how many things are listed on the trademark, it would seem there's going to be an all-out merchandising blitz for the property. That, or absolutely nothing will happen. It's usually how these things go. [Via Kotaku]
The Simpsons goes HD tonight, new title sequence revealed
Switching to high definition isn't the only change for The Simpsons tonight, with the first permanent new intro since its debut in 1989 making its appearance. Fox uploaded the new opener on YouTube in widescreen, but not HD (embedded after the break.) Lined up with the Daytona 500 and newly refreshed King of the Hill we're liking all the Sunday HD on Fox all of a sudden.
The Simpsons finally making high-def debut
The Simpsons began its twentieth season last September, and now -- at long, long last -- we're going to see Bart, Homer, Lisa and the whole gang in high-definition. Starting on Sunday, February 15th, the American sitcom that has entertained both young and old for decades will make its high-def debut on FOX. Just let this simmer on your mind for a minute, then feel free to explode in comments with extreme jubilation.[Thanks, Michael]
D'Oh! The Simpsons TV makes it to iTunes
Back in 2005, TUAW conducted a poll of its readers to see what TV series they wanted to purchase through iTunes. Among the top five was The Simpsons.The Simpsons Movie was previously available through iTunes, but it is one of the movies that has disappeared in the past few weeks. In the past couple of days, however, the main Simpsons TV series has finally made it into the iTunes lineup.Only the eight episodes aired thus far in season 20 are uploaded in standard definition. Hopefully earlier seasons will arrive, along with high-definition once it starts. The Simpsons (link opens iTunes) can be purchased from the U.S. iTunes Store for $1.99 an episode with a season pass for $37.99. Or, for those wanting a free alternative in the U.S., the episodes are also on Hulu and can be streamed onto Apple TV using boxee.Thanks for the tip, Tyler!
Top 5: Christmastime in Gaming
Ahh, Christmastime. Every year, we look forward to cherished traditions such as fighting traffic, stressing out over finding gifts, and even the occasional Black Friday trampling. Yet one would be surprised to learn that December 25th has a history which shares very little with frivolous lawsuits and Bill O'Reilly frothing at the mouth. Indeed, aside from its litigatious and hostile depiction on the news, Christmas is largely an excuse to shower our loved ones with food, presents, and joy. It's also an easy inspiration for a stressed columnist trying to finish his Christmas shopping to create a Top 5 list. As such examples of religious-based holidays are rare in gaming, this list will not be Nintendo-specific. For those who celebrate the date, I wish you a Merry Christmas. For those who don't, I wish you well just the same. NEXT >> #ninbutton { border-style: solid; border-color: #000; border-width: 2px; background-color: #BBB; color: #000; text-decoration: none; width: 100px; text-align: center; padding: 2px 2px 2px 2px; margin: 2px 2px 2px 2px; } .buttontext { color: #000; text-decoration: none; font: bold 14pt Helvetica; } #ninbutton:hover { text-decoration: none; color: #BBB; background-color: #000; } The Top 5 is a weekly feature that provides us with a forum to share our opinions on various aspects of the video game culture, and provides you with a forum to tell us how wrong we are. To further voice your opinions, submit a vote in the Wii Fanboy Poll, and take part in the daily discussions of Wii Warm Up.
The Simpsons mocks (m)Apple
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/The_Simpsons_mocks_m_Apple_2'; Few have been spared the satire of Matt Groening's long running animated sitcom. Last night, The Simpsons took on Apple, or uh, Mapple for a full 6 minutes of lampoonery -- a pretty harsh ride at a two-joke per minute pace. It all starts when the Springfield mall gets its very own Mapple store, "it's so sterile," gasps Lisa upon entering. Perhaps the best exchange comes from Bart's dubbing of a Steve Mobs' product announcement in front of a crowd of gaping nerds, "You think you're cool because you buy a $500 phone with a picture of a fruit on it. Well guess what? They cost 8 bucks to make and I pee on every one!" A Mapple store employee then angrily responds, "Who dares question the boss we fired 10 years ago and then brought back!" Yuk yuk. Videos after the break for as long as it takes for the copyrighters to wake up.[Thanks, holycow]
WoW Moviewatch: Drop of Blood: The Collection Pt. 1
Drop of Blood: The Collection Pt. 1 is a twin set of parodies and it's the first machinima by a 15-year-old kid named Morten from Denmark. He's remade the openings of the old Spider-Man and Scooby-Doo cartoons set in Azeroth, including setting them to music of The Simpsons take-off for the former and the original music for the latter. (Apparently he's a student of ancient television history?) It's quite silly and fun; it will make anyone who used to watch those old shows smile. Let's help out Morten by giving him a few pointers. (Constructive criticism for a new guy on the block, please? I know you guys can do it!) Some of the action is tied to the music very well. The Spider-Pig pops in to "scare" us right on cue with the music. On the other hand, when he leaps through the trees, there was an opportunity to hit the last "Look out!" with the pig zooming off screen, but instead he flies away too slowly. Also, even on the high quality version on Youtube the title fonts look a bit blurry. It could be poor font choice multiplied by Internet sizing, but it's something to watch out for when you make movies to be viewed online. On the last tilt up to the top of the mountain with Spider-Pig looking over the valley takes too long. Instead, I'd consider using a faster tilt with push into the pig at the very end of the scene. The main issue I have with the Scooby-Doo parody is that we never see a WoW version of Scooby! Rut-ro! I think Scooby would be a Shaman in Ghost Wolf form, but maybe that's not goofy enough. Any other ideas?[Via The WoW Portal]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...
The Massive EQversary Giveaway
For nine years, the world of EverQuest has opened the doors for many travelers in search of adventure. One of the earliest games in the MMORPG genre, EverQuest still retains a passionate and loyal fanbase to this day. For those players who are elders of the lands of Norrath, as well as those who are interested in visiting this fair and foreign land once again, we bring you the chance to win goodies in honor of EverQuest's 9th Anniversary celebration!Twenty lucky winners will be picked to receive a 30-day timecard code for EverQuest (ARV $15), because you can't beat free game time! (Note: you must already have an EQ account for these cards to work.) One prize winner will get a copy of EverQuest -- with all expansions including their most recent addition, Secrets of Faydwer (ARV $40)! Just perfect for those who have never played, or those who haven't played in a while as well as those who'd just like an account for alts! And one final prize winner will land a swanky promotional "NeverQuest" poster featuring The Simpsons (ARV $20)! To win, you must be 18+, a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec), and otherwise acceptable under the official rules. Comments must be left by no later than 12:00 PM Eastern U.S. time on 4/01/08 to be eligible. So what are you waiting for? Get to commenting so we can hook you up with some fantastic EQ Anniversary prizes!
Friday Video: No need to play
Interested in The Simpsons game, but lack the drive to actually play it? No problem. Thanks to YouTuber TheCockCrew, you can experience pretty much the entire thing, including all of the cutscenes. It's truly a wonderful world we live in. We've included the first of the batch above, but there are others -- several others -- and each are pretty long. It also goes without saying that they contain spoilers.[Via GameSetWatch]
Blu-ray movie releases for the week of Dec. 16
Wow, what can this be? Yet another week with several great Blu-ray releases? Apparently so as we're treated to one of Harrison Ford's greatest movies, Shakira in HD and the Governator. What more can you ask for? Blade Runner: Complete Collector's Edition Blade Runner: Ultimate Collector's Edition Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Shakira: Oral Fixation Tour That's Entertainment: The Complete Collection The Simpsons Movie Underdog While we'll happily pass on Underdog and That's Entertainment, The Simpsons Movie is definitely a must-buy. But if this week's releases aren't enough, you might be interested in the Fox and MGM buy one, get one free deal that's currently going on at Amazon. There are some pretty decent deals to be had.
Google embiggens iPhone services with single-screen UI
I've been checking my dictionary, but it's hard to find an adequately cromulent word to describe the dramatic enbiggening embiggening of Google's iPhone-specific services. The big G now offers single-screen access to Gmail, Calendar, and Reader among other services, as well as the homerific Search capability, when accessed on iPhones and iPod touches. Rather than introubulating their service, this screen redesign applies a debigulator to the overall Google experience and allows you to use many of the most belovedest features directly from a single screen.
The Simpsons Game: Glancing a mainstream review
Reading entertainment trade publication Variety's review of The Simpsons Game makes it pretty obvious that as video games evolve, and mainstream publications start doing more reviews, so too do the methods of evaluating them. The Simpson's Game seems to be one of those anomalies we're running into more frequently, where the game may not be all that to typical game review publications (and certainly not worth $60), but still presents an experience worth having (Heavenly Sword says "hello"). The games are neither evolutionary nor revolutionary for the hardcore, and so the reviewers give it a whatever score and move on to the next game they have to rate and berate. Variety got a lot of flak for their Metroid Prime 3 review because it was written from a mainstream perspective. They pointed out to their average mainstream audience that Metroid probably isn't the Wii game for them if they don't know "the rules" of a Metroid game -- just think of trying to teach a non-gamer how to play Metroid compared to Wii Sports. In the case of The Simpsons Game, Variety goes and recommends an average game because they believe the writing could sustain their mainstreamer through the experience. While we frequently put gameplay above story, Variety and more mainstream pubs might see things reversed. It may not be all that simple, but it's plain to see that reviews can be influenced by the audiences they're written for.
Metareview: The Simpsons Game (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2)
D'oh! It's like reliving the early '90s all over again with a ho-hum Simpsons console game on the market. At least they got the humor right this time ('cause they had the actual Simpsons' writers). The Simpsons Game released this week and reviews have it hovering in the 70 point range. Many were hoping this game would bring video game fun to The Simpsons like only The Simpsons Arcade Game gave us those many, many years ago. EA could have made buckets of cash just copying Konami's simple formula from over a decade ago and we wonder if the reviews might have been slightly better. Game Informer (73/100): "For all of its self-referential humor and nods to gaming classics (there are brief segments mimicking the likes of Frogger, Space Invaders, and Wolfenstein 3D), the process of actually playing The Simpsons Game is unfortunately average. The chuckles along the way make it worth the trouble for fans, but if you don't know Arman Tamzarian from Disco Stu, most of the game's redeeming elements will fall on deaf, bored ears." Game Daily (70/100): "Obviously, Simpsons nuts will thoroughly enjoy the game, not for its excessive box breaking and switch hitting, but for all of the sweet content and attractive visuals, sans the characters. For $59.99, you basically receive an eight to ten hour interactive bonus episode. At the very least, it makes for a great rental." GameSpot (70/100): "In the end, The Simpsons Game is one of those weird cases where a recommendation of it is based less on its merits as a game and more on its merits as an experience. The things that make this game are its sense of humor, sharp writing, and excellent presentation. The gameplay isn't awful by any means, but it's also completely unmemorable. It's something that's more to be put up with while you appreciate the many other things going on than enjoyed on its own merits. That might not sound like a ringing endorsement, but The Simpsons Game is absolutely worth playing. Games this spot-on in the humor category don't come along too often. Considering what a fantastic job it does spoofing the variety of clichés and crutches our favorite pastime relies upon, that's got to count for something."
Simpsons writers say Rockstar 'spazzed' over GTA spoof
The writers behind The Simpsons Game aren't too impressed with Rockstar's recent apoplexy over the game's "Grand Theft Scratchy" parody level. In an interview with Game Head's Geoff Keighley, Simpsons Executive Producer and Writer Matt Selman said the Grand Theft Auto makers "spazzed out like little babies" over marketing that included a poster for the parody game. Selman told Keighley that it's ridiculous to expect gamers to think an Itchy and Scratchy poster is actually promoting a real Grand Theft Auto game. He also said the concern was particularly ironic coming from Rockstar, a company whose "games are full of satire, lame attempts at parody... basically putting the words sixty-nine in wherever they can find it, that's their idea of a joke." That's known in the comedy business as a roast. While EA's lawyers have been quick to remove any "Grand Theft" references from the game's marketing, Selman hinted that the Grand Theft Scratchy content could make it into the final game unaltered. If that happens, will Rockstar react like the cool rock stars their name implies or will we hear more baby-like spazzing? Here's hoping for the latter ... it makes for a great headline. Check out the interview after the break. [Via GamePolitics]
The Simpsons pushing envelope on DS audio, FMV
We're not yet sure where we stand on the DS version of The Simpsons. On the one hand, it's The Simpsons, and thus automatically has the potential to be pretty great. We also applaud the idea of parodying other games; even if other companies want to stomp their feet about being cutely mocked, that send-up of Nintendogs is just too irresistible. On the other hand, the gameplay itself, the meat of the package, looks just a little ... vanilla.One thing it probably won't lack, according to producer Eric Dallaire, is top-drawer production values, particularly as it's EA throwing big bucks at this release. Chatting to IGN about the title, Dallaire spoke of "pushing the limits" of the platform, and discussed how the game will boast "the most audio lines and total FMV on a DS cartridge to date." How much, precisely? "We've crammed one-fifth of the audio lines from the console versions [and] the equivalent of a TV episode's worth of FMV onto the cartridge."All of which will mean diddly-squat if they don't nail the gameplay, but it's always good to see boundaries being pushed, right?
