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iPod is now officially a Classic
While the iPod Touch will probably get all of the attention today, the iPod isn't going anywhere. Apple has rebranded it the iPod Classic, made it thinner, added more memory, put the CoverFlow interface in it, and turned it into a lean, mean music playing machine.But the best reason to buy the iPod Classic over the Touch is actually inside: it's the memory. The Touch only reaches a disappointing 8gb and 16gb, and for any respectable music fan, that just doesn't cut it. Fortunately, the Classic has room for everything in your music collection, and then some: $249 for the 80gb model and $349 for 160gb. Sure, a shiny interface and a WiFi connection are nice and all, but if all you're looking for is a way to carry all of your CDs in your pocket at once, the iPod Classic (in silver or black) is what you're looking for.
The Mac collector
When we first got tipped this story (by RP-- thanks!), I was like "Oh boy, another guy who found a Newton on eBay and calls himself a Mac collector." But no, this guy is the real deal. He's got 100 Macs in his basement, including 30 Mac Classics and 18 original iMacs, as well as both a Lisa and a 20th Anniversary Macintosh. And these aren't just sitting around on shelves with cords all over the place-- oh no. These are set up just as Jobs would want them to be-- booted, running, cleanly placed, in an immaculate workspace, gently lit from above. If there's a Mac heaven, it's in this guy's basement in Missouri.The guy, named Jeremy Mehrle, says he started buying them when he was single to fill the space in his house. I don't know if he charges admission, but if so, I'd pay.
Disney reveals four blockbusters coming to Blu-ray in 2008
While it was only a matter of time before Walt Disney brought one of its famed animated classics to BD, today the company has finally revealed what that first title will be: Sleeping Beauty. The disc will include a "virtual castle and multi-player activities," both of which utilize BD-Live technology, and if that wasn't enough, the studio also announced that it would be bringing Finding Nemo and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to Blu-ray next year. Finally, National Treasure will be the outfit's "first BD-Live" title to hit the market when it lands next summer, sandwiched between Narnia in the spring and Finding Nemo / Sleeping Beauty in the fall.[Via MovieWeb]
Arkanoid DS to include attachable knob controller
It's not like we really need another version of Arkanoid. The classic Breakout clone has already shown up on over a dozen classic computer systems, as well as the NES and SNES. But the new version recently revealed for the Nintendo DS has an important leg up over the competition -- a special controller that mimics the original arcade game's rotating knob.The first portable version of the game (not counting unofficial homebrews), Arkanoid DS will include an attachable knob controller that plugs into the DS' Game Boy Advance slot, according to a 1up translation of a Famitsu story. The game will also have 140 stages and a quest mode focused on completing specific tasks, according to the story.The game is slated for a December release in Japan, and while a North American release hasn't yet been announced, the bevy of arcade classics already on the system makes it seem likely.
Samsung's sorta-retro S480
The "classic" Samsung SGH-E700 (T-Mobile subscribers will remember it as the SGH-E715) really doesn't bring the fond memories flooding over us the same way, say, a StarTAC might. That's not a knock on the Samsung -- far from it, in fact -- but let's be honest, 2007 might be a bit soon to be drawing design inspiration from a phone originally released in 2003. Anyway, that's not stopping Samsung from following Motorola's footsteps and playing the retro card, rehashing the E700 as the SCH-S480 and SPH-S4850 in Korea. Besides exchanging GSM for CDMA radios, the new models upgrade their cams from VGA to 1.3 megapixels, come in a handful of color combos, and add in your typical 2007 amenities like media playback. Look for it to run 300,000 won (about $323) unsubsidized on your Korean carrier of choice.
Romero unearths unreleased Doom music
So you think you know everything about Doom, huh? You've beaten all the games on Nightmare without cheats? Played every fan-made WAD you could get your hands on? You're listening to a megamix of Doom MIDIs right now, aren't you? Well we've got some tunes here that we can guarantee aren't on your playlist.Doom co-creator John Romero has posted these unreleased tracks on his blog with the warning that, much like deleted scenes on DVDs, "there's a reason these weren't released - they're not very good." And he's right -- with a few exceptions, the tracks are overly repetitive and a bit wonky. Still, if you worship anything and everything Doom-related, then, uh, I guess you should start worshiping ... because these are definitely Doom-related. Yeah!
Every Saturn game you could possibly want, and then some
Got $5,000 burning a hole in your pocket? That's roughly what it will take to open bidding on the mother of all Sega Saturn collections on eBay right now. Besides 256 games from all three regions, including rarities like Radiant Silvergun and Panzer Dragoon Saga, the auction includes three actual consoles (including a white one that can play burned games and VCDs), six controllers, memory cards, light guns, multitaps, a steering wheel and even a mouse. That's a lot of defunct Sega goodness right there.If you're still balking at the price, consider that the winning bid includes free shipping to the U.S. from Australia. Because really, if you're gonna spend thousands of dollars on a classic system collection, the shipping is what will put you over the edge of reasonable expenditure.
Microsoft blows cover on Sharp's new device for Willcom
Remember the "X" Japan's Willcom teased us with a few weeks back? Other than offering that it'd be an ultra-thin Windows Mobile 6 device, the carrier offered virtually no info -- and with all due respect, the teaser site was a little heavy on tease and light on details. Thanks to a Microsoft press conference on the other side of the Pacific, though, the cover's now been blown a full day before the official announcement. If the picture is legit, we're fully prepared to take the existing W-ZERO3 off our lust list, and the visual is just the beginning -- the Sharp-sourced device's guts offer up Windows Mobile 6 Classic (as opposed to Professional; kinda strange, but whatevs), three inches of wide VGA glory, 256MB of onboard Flash, 128MB of RAM, and a 520MHz core in a 17.8mm shell. Seeing how Willcom uses PHS for its airwaves, this one doesn't stand a chance of working anywhere else in the world, so pick you jaw up off the floor and keep staring from afar.
Joystiq impressions: SimCity DS
While SimCity DS was already released for -- having been developed by -- Japanese gamers, the simulation hasn't gotten much coverage for is upcoming American release. At a recent EA event, it was apparent that the title should get the recognition it deserves soon enough, with its June release.Based approximately on SimCity 3000, SimCity DS seemed about as complicated as the most recent versions of the title. While the graphics represent a throwback to earlier SimCity games, the core gameplay is current. The title looks like it'll be a great match for portable simulation fans because of the touchscreen interface.%Gallery-3128%
Wise Fwom Yor Gwave: Some classics we'd like to see resurrected on PSP
We've previously seen Afterburner and Lemmings re-tooled, to make them suitable for our favorite portable. While both of those titles are enjoyable, there is still a ton of gold to be mined from the past, then reshaped into something grand and new. With that in mind, I thought it we'd do a public service, and remind publishers of some of those titles. Here they are in no particular order: Bionic Commando Contra Lunar Streets of Rage Splatter House Bonk Strider Double Dribble Golden Axe Shinobi Out of this World Zombie Ate My Neighbors Those are a few of the titles we'd like to see. But what does our opinion matter? Let us know what games we missed, or what classics you'd like to see resurrected on the PSP.
New Guilty Gear screens and details
While these pictures are from scans and thus aren't the best quality, they come with a bonus bit of information: Guilty Gear XX Accent Core players will have a choice of two control schemes: Wiimote with full motion controls, or a more traditional control scheme. Just what we wanted!This latest Guilty Gear is due out in Japan near the end of July.
Simple mod brings classic back to the Classic Controller
Over at the Consoles & Conkers forum, site veteran jwdvd posted (registration required) a sweet little mod he performed to his Wii Classic Controller. In taking out the existing buttons, he replaced them with those snazzy SNES buttons you see above (he is in the UK). He says the mod only takes about an hour and is fairly easy to perform, allowing those of you with an extra pad sitting around to perform this mod yourself. Just don't try and put the d-pad in there, it won't fit right.For those of you without the time to register over there, head past the break for more pictures.
2K Sports announces classic All-Pro Football roster
Licenses? Who needs licenses? Not 2K Sports, who today announced a massive lineup of classic football stars would grace All-Pro Football 2K8. While EA holds the exclusive rights to use NFL trademarks and current player likenesses, 2K has lined up practically every retired player you've ever heard of, and probably a few you haven't, for the roster of their re-entry into the football simulation market.The list of players is presented on the game page is in a super-annoying Flash format, but intrepid Joystiq tipster Mugginns has compiled them all in an easy to scan text list, organized by position and alphabetical order. Check it out after the jump.
Prince of Persia rated by Germans for XBLA
Get ready for two big words. The German Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) ratings board recently tested a game called Prince of Persia Classic -- it received a +12 years of age rating. The Germans were being kind giving it that rating considering the difficulty level of the original game; they're sparing young gamers a lot of grief. Players who are old enough -- or unlocked this classic in their copy of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time -- know what we're talking about.We wait to see when the American ESRB rates the game to confirm that it's not some kind of Europe-only XBLA exclusive. Having the original Prince of Persia on XBLA will show those young whippersnappers how good and easy they've had it since the Sands of Time.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
"Classic" servers for a simpler time
Bob (nice name), like many players, finds himself pining for the days of yore. Sure, we're almost all flying around in Outland now. The loot is nice and the instances are plentiful. But there's something missing-- it's the weekly runs through BWL and AQ and ZG. It's Stratholme and Scholomance and leveling rep with Argent Dawn. It's raiding with 40 people at one time, and it's a world where you can be proud to be a hunter in full Tier 2, not embarrassed that you haven't picked up anything better.And Bob's solution is an interesting one: he says it "would be awesome" for Blizzard to implement "classic" servers-- that is, servers that don't have the 60+ content. They could still have the Draenei and the Blood Elves (and Shaman and Paladin on both sides, I guess), but 60 would be as high as players could go, and the Dark Portal to Outland wouldn't be open-- Naxxramas would be the current pinnacle of raiding. Just like the old days.It's not an unprecendented idea-- Dark Age of Camelot has a few "Classic" servers, in which one of the expansions simply isn't included (and the rules are tweaked a little bit to what I think is a previous patch). That was implemented based on player demand, and so if there's a lot of player demand for a non-Burning Crusade server, Blizzard could probably put it together. Drysc answers in the thread that while it's been considered, it's not likely-- Blizz doesn't want to split up players based on what expansions they own.But I don't think that's all that's going on here-- Bob is 70, so he owns BC. He just wants a simpler time, before Fel Reavers, before Karazhan (whoops-- would Kara be on the classic servers?), and before Shattrath City. I don't know if I'd play there all the time; I might feel kind of silly fighting to finish MC when I knew I could just log out and back in to a character 10 levels higher. But I know where Bob's coming from.
More fodder for the Katamari rumor fire
While there's still no official, announcement-style confirmation that Beautiful Katamari is coming to the Wii, we're tentatively jumping up and down with glee around the Wii Fanboy offices. The rumors have been glomming together into a beautiful, spherical whole, we're almost convinced that the King of All Cosmos will be decrying our lack of rolling skill this winter. Several sites are reporting that references to the Wii title are popping up everywhere -- most recently on GameFly, showing a release date in November. Blogosphere detectives also stumbled across a listing for Namco Museum Remix on the Wii, a title that seems somewhat superfluous considering we have the Virtual Console ... unless something special is done to update the collection. That's definitely something to watch.On the Katamari front, however, and we must stress this "however" quite strongly -- this latest "confirmation" could simply be a matter of GameFly picking up other rumors. We've seen retail slip-ups and placeholders spawn rumors before, and they often come to naught. But with so much buzz around it, we hope to hear something one way or another from Namco on the possibility of a Wii Katamari title. Creator Keita Takahashi hasn't hesitated to speak up before ... but perhaps the smashing success of the Wii has changed a few minds? We'll keep you posted.
Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts haunts Wii Virtual Console
Three new classic games appear on the Wii's Virtual Console today, providing everyone with a little dose of spies, ghouls and, uh, Vermilion. For 800 Wii Points we have Super Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Capcom's classic platformer that is quite possibly one of the most difficult action games ever created. Also for 800 points is Sword of Vermilion, an early RPG from the Sega Genesis era. Finally, the classic NES game Elevator Action (500 points) rises to the VC and puts you in the shoes of a spy sneaking through a building stealing secret documents. It's no easy task following last week's Ocarina of Time VC debut, but the variety is good and should appease the raging video game demon within.
More info on PSP's Impossible Mission
When we first wrote about Impossible Mission we were told it would be out in January and wouldn't be in 3D. Well, it's past January and the game isn't out yet and now we know it'll include some 3D objects. What other new info is there on Impossible Mission?
