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Today's tabbiest game video: Wiiminder -- enhanced Wii browsing
Our sister site Nintendo Wii Fanboy has already reported on the niftiness and tabbed browsing offered by Wiiminder, but we thought we'd offer it up as today's video of the day. The really cool thing is that this is just the tip of the iceberg for things that users will be whipping up for the Wii. Very impressive. We have no doubt that custom sites and homebrew efforts for the Wii will slowly take over the entire planet, so just prepare for the Wii-shrines to be erected all over the place. Wii-motes left and right, mass hysteria. You have been warned.
Xbox 360 diehard loses loyalty after seven bricked consoles
It's not too difficult to keep the faith if everything's clicking along nicely, but when console after console began to fail soon after Microsoft's highly-anticipated launch of the Xbox 360, skeptics began to surface. Rob and Mindy Cassingham were self-proclaimed "Xbox fanboys," and felt assured that their love for the next rendition would never sway, but after picking up six consoles to install in their home and personally owned gaming center, the relationship started to crumble. The jovial couple snatched up four units at the Zero Hour launch party, and while folks from all over were swarming to get their game on at their party haven, the days of elation were short lived. After dropping over $2,600 on hardware along, registering an "Xbox360" Utah license plate, and rocking Microsoft swag day in and day out, all four of the launch units bit the dust. Eventually, every single first wave unit croaked, and each time the Cassingham's found themselves fighting with overseas call centers just to get a much-belated refurbished unit sent back to them, one of which also fell victim to the red ring of doom. After seven out of six (that's over 100-percent, folks) consoles decide to call it a career before you've had your due fun, it's not easy to remain steadfast in your devotion, and even after an email to Peter Moore himself finally got a brand new console on its way to the once-diehards, things will never be the same. We feel your pain, man.
Wii Warm Up: The nature of the fanboy
Time for a bit of self-reflection. We are, by definition, Fanboys. We're huge followers of Nintendo; we eagerly await every drop of news that springs forth from those locked doors in Kyoto, we have an effigy of Reggie in our bedrooms, and we attempt to feed mushrooms to every Italian we cross in the street.The word "fanboy" has a negative connotation these days. With the possible exception of the PC vs. Mac battle, it's quite rare to see people galvanize and root for multi-billion dollar companies as we do in the land of gaming. People do not "root" for Paramount Pictures, nor do they "cheer" for Exxon-Mobil. One could make the case that we want Nintendo to succeed because their success will breed more of the same: as in, more of the franchises we know and love. But why are we so passionate, so stalwart in our fandom? Is it truly a "bad" thing to be a fanboy, or do you bleed phazon and red potion? Let's hear it!
Knight Rider K.I.T.T. clone hits eBay sans Turbo Boost
Sure, we're probably all guilty of fanboy bickering at one point or another in our lives, but even if you prefer the whips found in Back to the Future or Ghost Rider above all, just about anyone who appreciates restorations (and whiz-bang interiors) would be forced to give this faithful clone its due credit. The Ontario-based 1984 Pontiac Trans Am reportedly became a $40,000 project to turn an ordinary ride into a blast from the past, as the owner took extra care in crafting the posh dashboard and sleek exterior cues to mimic the real K.I.T.T. (which already sold) found in Knight Rider. Aside from the throwback lighting system and branded steering wing, this bad boy packs twin four-inch LCDs, "real working gauges," DVD / CD / MP3 players, and a custom stereo system with amplifiers. No, this ride doesn't come with any sort of warranty (nor a functioning Turbo Boost, sadly), and unless you're a Canuck, you'll be making a trip across the border to pick it up, but if you've got the $19,000 (or more) to burn, here's your chance to be David Hasselhoff incarnate. Click on through for a few more pics, or hit up the auction for the full spill.[Via Autoblog]
Apple fanboy crafts Mac heaven in ultra-mod home
It's one thing to sacrifice your freedom to snatch 39 iPods from a retail shelf in an act of desperation fanboyism, but to devote a substantial chunk of square footage in one's ultra-modern home to Apple is an entirely different type of determination. Sure, we've seen various forms of collections before, but this edition features no fewer than 74 Mac computers, posters galore, and a dedicated bar to boot. In total, Jeremy Mehrle of St. Louis, Missouri has 30 classic Macs situated at the bar, 18 different CRT-based iMacs, various PowerMacs, a plethora of iPod paraphernalia, Mac OS boxes spanning years of development, Apple printers, Newtons, a PowerBook 165c, a Next Cube, four Apple IIs, and to top it off, a 20th Anniversary Mac as well -- and that's still leaving quite a few out. Although we can't fathom how much time, loot, and resources it took to essentially construct an Apple museum with a modernized style similar to Apple retail locations today, we can't help but give credit where its due, so here's your props Mr. Mehrle, now make sure your security system is in working order, okay? Click on through for a few more snapshots, and be sure to tag the read link for all the Mac mania you can handle.[Via ChipChick]
A note on comments from Wii Fanboy
If you're a keen observer of the site, and an avid commentator (we love those most of all, y'know), then perhaps you've seen the change in our commenting system. Yes, we've adopted the newer style that Engadget has enjoyed for many a moon. The new system allows commentators to have one name and password that works across all of our network sites, totally doing away with those pesky emails that demand confirmation before a comment shows up.Now, with the new features comes a few snags, sadly. You will not be able to change your password for a little while (we're working on it!) and occasionally you'll notice a URL linked to your name, or your name for that matter, might come out with a couple mistakes. We're also fixing that, as well.Your password will be included in the first confirmation email, so be sure to not trash that one until we can roll out the password change feature.Once again, I, as well as the rest of the staff, would like to thank you for your continued support of the Nintendo-based fanboy sites. You guys make this all possible for us, as well as enjoyable, and we couldn't do it without you. Hopefully the new comment system will see some more input on topics from those who have been turned away from the comment system of the past. Thanks, and keep reading!
Human-sized Gundam assembled by Maru family
You'll have to forgive us for indulging ourselves in a moment of fanboyish wonderment here, but about the only thing we can think of that's better than Bandai's life-sized Gundam replica is that very replica being built from the ground up by Robo-One 10 Championship winners, the Maru family. There isn't any exact parallel here, but we'd vaguely liken this to watching Miyamoto-san assemble a Wii -- except still somehow better, perhaps due to the looks on those childrens' faces that manages to warm even our cold, metallic heart-pump devices. Trust us, your inner-child / fanboy will be sated.[Via Robots Dreams]
Team Xtender's XFPS reviewed
You're fairly aware by now of how Team Xtender's XFPS was all set to shake up the FPS realm on the Xbox 360 by giving gamers the ability to use the undisputed king of controls (that'd be the keyboard / mouse tandem) -- or Sony's widely adored Dual Shock controller -- instead of Microsoft's own rendition, but according to Xbox360Fanboy's review, it's not quite the post-Christmas miracle we were all hoping for. While expectations were admittedly set rather high, it seems the unit simply underperforms where it mattered most, and excelled in a somewhat less important department. Using Gears of War, Halo 2, and Rainbow Six 3: Vegas Demo as tests, reviewers found the keyboard / mouse setup to be a breeze, but actual in-game results were not only poor, but relatively unacceptable. If the "slight button delays" weren't enough to turn your nose up, the simply inability for a keyboard to emulate the "analog support of the Xbox 360 controller" made critical run / crouch movements next to impossible to pull off, and the mouse aiming was purportedly dreadful as well. It was stated, however, that it worked perfectly with a Dual Shock (PS1 or PS2 flavor) controller, so folks digging the Sony design but unable to locate (or afford) a PS3 should take note. Overall, the XFPS reportedly fails fairly miserably at giving Xbox 360 owners the chance to use their keyboard / mouse combo to shoot it up on a console, and just seems relatively expensive for a simple Dual Shock-to-Xbox 360 liaison, so unless you just have to learn things the hard way, we'd suggest holding off.
CNN needs police escort to escape Wii-craving mob
CNN staffer Krysten Peek experienced firsthand how fanboy desperation can quickly devolve into mob-like assault. Peek was one of the (seemingly) lucky few to score a Wii during this past weekend's re-up, but on her way to the store's exit -- just after an employee announced that all units were sold-out -- she became an easy target for the lingering crowd of Wii-less shoppers:"Were these people crazy?? Yes, they were ... unsatisfied customers began to grab at my bag ... I was caught off guard in a game of tug-a-war when a security guard intervened and rescued me from the chaos. He took me outside. And the crowd followed."It wasn't until security flagged down a cop car and tucked Peek inside that the CNN hand escaped certain danger. Or so it would seem. Now they know her name. How long before they discover where Ms. Peek lives?
Fanboys make the world go 'round
TV Squad -- the cousin to whom we've always been secretly attracted -- salutes obsessive fanboys, the thriving internet masters who think that a trip online counts as leaving their parents' basements. Writer, Jay Black praises the power of the internet to connect his interest in reading Back to the Future timeline summaries with someone who actually wrote them; without the fanboys, these almost-useless exchanges of knowledge couldn't happen.We'd also like to pause to thank our fanboy community. Sure, the flamewars get old, but you fanboys are the curators of our gaming history. Without you, we couldn't compare various Mario sprites, we wouldn't know that a Chun-Li movie may be released in 2008, and we'd always wonder about the video resolution of the Atari 2600 (192x160).[Via Slashdot]
Mii on a Tee
Mii on a Tee can hang right next to your Snakes on a Plane shirt in your closet. You've fabricated Miis of yourself, Hitler, your significant other, your neighbor, and Jesus (in that order). Why not display your creations for the world to see?Pick a color, pick a size, and send off your Mii to creepy leprechauns via Wii-mail or digital photograph, and you've got yourself a bonafide shirt just dripping with fanboy-idity. People will then begin to question your sanity, financial decisions, and why they themselves don't yet have one. Make us proud, guys!
Screw shopping, let's play Gears
I was up bright and early to do some shopping and let's just say it sucked. Lots of people, lots of driving and lots of coffee. So, in protest of going shopping today I invite you to join me on Xbox Live today for some Gears of War multiplayer fun. I'll be online today (after I take a nap) in the afternoon playing Gears with some friends so I invite you to join us. Who wants to go shopping anyway? And for those Xbox 360 Fanboys that end up kicking my ass I'll update this post and list their gamertags so everyone in fanboy'dom can worship their greatness. Instant celebrity! My gamertag is SuperDunners, so simply send me a friend request or a message stating you'd like to prove your Gears of War greatness and I'll send you a game invite. Yeah, it's quite leisurely and low key and yes you can talk as much smack as you want, but be forewarned ... I am crazy good. See you online this afternoon!
DS fanboy admits that PSP has a better holiday lineup
I'm loving every single moment of Elite Beat Agents on DS, but once Final Fantasy III and Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin come out, what else will DS owners have to look forward to this holiday season? Not much, according to the self-proclaimed DS fanboy at BC Gaming. "Both systems have major releases for this holiday, but the PSP has a quantity this time around ... You see, I am not a fan of hardware, but of software. Furthermore, it is crystal clear that Sony has brought a royal flush to the table, while Nintendo is left holding only a high pair."Ken Edwards points to games like Killzone, GTA, SOCOM, Lumines, E3, Gitaroo Man, Sonic and Metal Gear Solid as reasons why the PSP's holiday lineup is so much better this year. Regardless, he admits that this won't help Sony in the end: "Unfortunately, this is not going to mean a lot for Sony, as the install base of PSP systems is nowhere near that of the DS - quite sad, yet very true."
Does real world talent translate into Wii Sports talent?
... or, in the case of this blogger, lack thereof? With Nintendo boasting the intuitive, easy motion-sensing control scheme allowing all types of people to game with ease, we wondered if the control scheme was realistic enough to favor those who excel in these sports in the real world to do the same on the Wii. Sadly, we're all gamers and not a one of us can protest to be great at golf out in the real world. As such, we decided to document our trials in a couple of games to see if we could get the hang of the game, with the future goal being dominating anyone we come across.Can we step up and own the links right away? Is the game more realistic and challenging than its presentation would have you believe? Read on and find out!
Get (Robo) blitzed with interview, t-shirt contest
The upcoming Xbox Live title RoboBlitz is a feat for developers Naked Sky. The action-puzzler, available now on PC, runs on Unreal Engine 3, makes extensive use of real physics, and manages to stay under the 50 MB limit for XBLA titles thanks to procedural synthesis.Our buddies over at Xbox 360 Fanboy interviewed Tian Mu, co-founder and CEO of Naked Sky, to talk about his title. In addition to elating aforementioned developer achievements, Mu talked up the humor and non-linear gameplay. The main focus of the Q&A, however, is the development process behind the game. Release date and price are not discussed, but Mu did mention their ongoing work to add multiplayer to the RoboBlitz, as well as plans for future downloadable content.Xbox 360 Fanboy also has five RoboBlitz t-shirts to give away, with a new contest each day. Today's contest asks you to leave a comment about something fun you can do with physics and they'll pick a entry at random. For example, quantum mechanics teach us that a boxed feline can be both alive and dead at the same time. Science be praised!
Peter Dille calls DS for kids in Engadget interview
Dave Karraker isn't the only Sony executive to face the mic in the past day. Our sister site, Engadget, went face to face against Peter Dille, about PLAYSTATION 3 and PSP. Just like Karraker, Dille says that the PSP does not compete directly with the DS:We're not focused on competing with the DS head to head against the consumer they're going after. If we were, you'd see a very different top-down strategy. You'd see a very different technology that would deliver to games geared towards kids. Which is for the most part what they're doing. And so when people talk about how we're doing vis-a-vis the Nintendo DS, again, it's not the whole story. We're selling a device to guys our age, who are using it to play games, to play movies, to access video on the net, music, etc. And it's a very different product than Nintendo DS... You can look at the software that they sell. All their licensed kid stuff. So, what we're doing with the PlayStation Portable is really establishing a new marketplace, and establishing, frankly, a new beachhead. And that takes time. Having said that, it's the fastest selling platform we've launched to date. We're up to 20 million units worldwide, and that's off to a great start. So, we just need to sort of set people's expectations based on what we're trying to do, not compete against a kid machine.Ouch. Calling the Nintendo DS exclusively a kid's machine sounds like something a fanboy would do. Didn't Mr. Dille get the memo? The DS is for old people too! Regardless, he makes a very good point about how the DS and PSP are targetting different consumers: they are different devices, and there's no need to directly compare the two. It's similar to how Nintendo keeps saying the Wii doesn't compete with PLAYSTATION 3: they focus on different markets, and do very different things.Other highlights of the interview include Dille apologizing about how they didn't focus the UMD's library correctly (but they still plan on trying to expand the UMD market. Uh...). Check out the rest of the interview at Engadget to see Dille avoid some crucial PS3 info, and fail to apologize for Kutargai's insanity.
Dueling Analog is, like, the best webcomic, ever
An overly enthusiastic shout-out goes to Dueling Analogs. They've been reading PSP Fanboy, and they linked to us! Their latest comic discusses the internet's bashing of the PSP, and how the mean things that people say come out of paternal love more than anything else.Steve, writer of the comic, wrote in his most recent blog post: "Now for the record, I think the PSP is a good system... I just think its made bad mistakes. My main gripe is that the games are not designed for portable, but for console play."You're right Steve, too many of the older PSP games didn't take advantage of the console's portability. Of course, some of us want console-quality on the go, and the PSP does a good job of appealing to that niche. With shortening load times, and better game design, I think the current and upcoming PSP library will make more uniquely portable experiences for our handheld. Thanks for the mention!
DS Lite vs. PSP: who has the best picture quality?
In the third part of their Picture Quality Shoot-Out series, PC Magazine, along with DisplayMate Technologies' Dr. Raymond Soneira, put Nintendo and Sony's handhelds under the magnifying glass to try and discern which had the superior picture quality. Given that most folks are happy with whatever choice they made for handheld gaming (or both if they're pretty hardcore), picture quality superiority isn't all that important in defining a console's overall worth. However, having the word "fanboy" in our title means we need to comment on the report and you fine readers undoubtedly need to comment (we welcome the comments!).Surprisingly, the picture quality on each device is close to equal. The PSP has a better DPI (dots per square inch) coming in at 130, with the DS Lite trailing at 110. However, the brightness on the DS beats out the PSP, even when plugged in to an AC outlet, by featuring a 200 cd/m² brightness (compared to the highest possible on the PSP being 148 cd/m² and 115 cd/m² when unplugged. Finally, the article points out that the DS is leagues better at handling colors than the PSP, with the largest color gamut of handheld devices at 74%, compared to the PSP's 54%.According to the report, the PSP wins with a score of B+ compared to the DS Lite's B. Still, the margins of victory are fairly small on each aspect tested, so the technical superiority of either platform is easily argued. [Via PSP Fanboy]
Picture it: fanboys fight harder
IDF: Iraqi Defense Force ADF: Apple Defense Force NDF: Nintendo Defense Force Previously: The first paradox of gaming (And yes, totally inspired by Indexed.)
Sharpen those pitchforks: self-professed "non gamer" trashes Wii
It's probably not a good idea to try and trash the Wii with little-to-no fact behind your fiction. One columnist found that out, the hard way, and now we have someone else trying to put the "man pants" on and beat down Nintendo like they're his red-headed stepchildren? Oh, no, we aren't having it! Like Forrest said "stupid is as stupid does."And that's exactly how this piece is coming off: ignorant. Why are you trying to write about the gaming industry and put weight behind your word after you profess to not even be a gamer? That totally validates your opinions, amirite? No, it does not. On top of that, you profess that "if you're a serious gamer looking for serious graphics and serious choice, you'll gladly pay double for a serious console." For being a "non gamer," you sure do know our kind well. Also, since when does "serious graphics" make a console and/or game? Some of the industry's best games have had sub-par graphics!We're usually calm-headed and objective, but this kind of biased "journalism" gets under our skin. We'll call a spade a spade any day of the week and while our blog is named Nintendo Wii Fanboy and our header image reiterates this title, it by no means makes us irrational, over-bearing fanboys. We love Nintendo because of the great products they provide us, not because they give us "serious choices."Whatever that means ...
