The Joystiq Weekend: June 17 - 19, 2006

A rampage of e-mails forces Microsoft's BC Ninjas to take on Psychonauts, Hideo Kojima tries his hand at more off-the-wall metaphors, and Paper Mario breathes life into the GameCube. Welcome our newest blogger, Robert Summa, and check out the highlights for today:

Joystiquery
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup: June 11 – 17, 2006
Hands-on: Tekken: Dark Resurrection

News
Games shipping this week
Yakuza nabs celebrities, takes their voices
Paper Mario says, 'OMG the GameCube isn't dead yet!'
A hint at some Wii power
DS Lite theft update: Nintendo speaks
GamePolitics: Congress should grill Take Two
Univ of Illinois conducts "Gaymer" survey
Miyamoto: Wii Sports will be flagship title, Wiimote not finalized
Psychonauts will be playable on Xbox 360
Guild Wars hits 2 million mark
King's Quest III pimped out & re-released
Gaming consoles' hidden costs
No objection to more Phoenix Wright in Japan
The black DS Lite, in the flesh
Old Budweiser commercial still ripe for laughs
NYTimes: games industry is taking a beating
Valkyrie Profile: Silmeria Japanese media
Video game merit badges; Tetris is the new archery
Double Agent web site launches

Rumors & Speculation
From steak to DVD: Kojima talks next-gen
Xbox-alum all over iPod killer; Xboy next?

Culture
2D's glory — in top five formBooth babes eat your heart out
Readers vote on top 10 NES games
SWG: Three glorious years of mediocrity
Does the Wii escape the Uncanny Valley?
Wherefore art thou Lester Bangs of gaming?