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WoW latex Elf ears on Amazon
It's that time of year again -- I just saw a seasonal costume store opening up near my apartment here in Chicago, and that means that we're almost to October, when all kinds of official and unofficial Halloween costumes from all of the year's biggest brands appear. Last year we had some Orc masks and old-school armor and gear (and we may see some of that stuff again this year), but so far the only new thing we've seen is these latex ears, in Night Elf and Blood Elf style, over on Amazon. For just $12, you too can have inordinately large pointy ears, signifying that you're a magical creature from Azeroth.Cheesy? Maybe so, but then again, that's pretty much what dressing up on Halloween is all about these days. If you happen to see any other Warcraft-related costumes during the season (either officially licensed by Blizzard or knocked-off by some shady costume designer), make sure to take a picture and send us a tip. And of course if you enjoy seeing real people dress up as fictional Warcraft characters, you'll love our pictures from BlizzCon. Enjoy.%Gallery-70668%
Mad Catz making Wii, DS peripherals with licensed characters
Third-party accessory developer Mad Catz has announced a non-exclusive agreement with Nintendo to create and market licensed accessories for the Wii, DS and DSi which include the "select use of Nintendo's intellectual property." According to a press release, the new Mad Catz line will include cameos from Nintendo's beloved stable of characters, such as Donkey Kong, Zelda, Link, Mario, Luigi, Wario, Yoshi, Bowser, Toad, Princess Peach and Metroid's Samus Aran. No further details on the upcoming products are available, but we're currently preparing a petition for a Philips takeover of Mad Catz and a CD-i revival. We're kidding; that would signify the end of times.
Namco Bandai announces Clash of the Titans for 2010
First off, welcome to all you Harry Hamlin fans who've been brought to our site by the headline! Unfortunately, we'll have to disappoint you: Namco Bandai's newly announced Clash of the Titans game is based on the upcoming film remake, not the HarHam-starring classic that you've come to love. The Games Republic-developed action game, which should arrive near the new film's spring 2010 opening, features 100 different enemies, and was originally tied to now-defunct movie-to-game factory Brash, but we'll try not to hold that against it. Expect more news and media regarding this title later today.
Star Trek D-A-C hits XBLA in May, new screens hit right now
We already told you as much as we knew about Star Trek DAC when we grilled the game's senior producer and some folks from the film back at GDC 2009. Unfortunately, today's "new" information on the game from Paramount Digital Entertainment, Bad Robot Interactive, CBS and Naked Sky Entertainment (that's a mouthful!) did little to bolster our knowledge banks.We do, however, have a batch of new screens from the upcoming game coming to XBLA next month (and PSN/PC "shortly thereafter"), featuring gameplay with some very Star Trekkian vistas. The movie hits theaters on May 8, so expect to see the game appear on XBLA "near" the film's launch.%Gallery-51012%
EA to launch G.I. Joe game alongside movie
We've known for a year now that EA has had the rights to toy favorites G.I. Joe, so perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that they'll be rolling out their take on the license alongside this summer's tent pole film, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra. EA's not talking gameplay at this point but we know (1) you'll get control of 12 different Joes (2) single-screen co-op and (3) it's basically coming to every platform.The game's story will apparently pick up at the end of the movie's (it's going to have a story?) and allow you to "re-create and re-live the greatest moments from the film, cartoon series and action figure toy line". From that last bit, we can only assume there's going to be a level where the Joes dry hump giant Barbie dolls and get their faces melted after lying under skyscraper-sized radiators.
Top 5: Licensed Games That Don't Stink
Apparently, happy is the new angry (Uggh, I apologize; I hate the "X is the new Y" phrase as much as anyone). While the Angry Video Game Nerd series continues to grow in popularity, a legion of imitators -- err, "inspirées" -- have arisen from the depths of YouTube. While most appear to simply swap "Angry Video Game Nerd" with a few synonyms and reduce the effort, quality, and obtainable entertainment of the video, one manages to make the formula something completely his own. Alaskan native Derek, AKA lophatjello, has created the "Happy Video Game Nerd." While the self-explanatory premise may sound eye-roll-inducing, one would be hard-pressed to ignore his passion for the retro games he highlights after watching a video of his. And that is a quality which I value greatly: unbridled passion and optimism for gaming. We're too often deluged by a flood of pessimism and jaded cynicism from the gaming world. Very recently, Derek covered the NES semi-classic Ducktales. He labels it as a "kick-ass licensed game." This is a notable statement, as conventional gaming knowledge tells us that a license is often indicative of a terrible game. While there are always exceptions to rules, I feel confident that most who are reading this post can agree that licenses are too often a kiss of death. Yet the HVGN is correct; Ducktales is a pretty awesome licensed game. Here, in my humble opinion, are the Top 5 games based on popular film and television. 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.
FCC chairman wants to fill white spaces with broadband
Good news, folks -- Kevin Martin believes that more mobile broadband is good for this nation. And we're all about getting the WiFi to the people. Just as expected, the FCC chairman has voiced his support for using vacant airwaves from the looming 2009 digital TV transition to bring mobile broadband to more areas. According to Martin: "No one should ever underestimate the potential that new technologies and innovations may bring to society." His proposal was issued ahead of an official report asserting that potential interference with existing infrastructure could be avoided if "technical safeguards" were put in place to prevent it. Sounds good from here, now go 'head with your bad self, Mr. Martin.[Image courtesy of TechLuver]Read - ProposalRead - Official interference report
FCC expected to recommend unlicensed white space spectrum use
The back-and-forth between mainstream carriers and external mega-corps may finally be coming to an end, with the almighty FCC expected to make a pivotal determination regarding the use of white space in short order. For those unaware, white space refers to the freed spectrum that will become available when broadcasters move completely to digital TV next February, and there's been a heated debate between carriers (who typically "fear" unwanted interference by unlicensed use) and tech companies like Google who see this as a great opportunity to bring wireless services to rural areas (for instance). According to a new report from Reuters, the FCC is expected to weigh in at any moment, and it'll "likely" recommend the unlicensed use of the spectrum. The advice will be based on reports generated from years of data collection, but we're all stuck waiting in tense anticipation until it's released. Anytime now, FCC...[Via phonescoop]
The Incredible (shrunken) Hulk
It just seems wrong to take the Incredible Hulk and make him somewhat less incredible, and by that, we mean tiny. Tiny enough to fit on a DS screen -- a single screen, mind you, and he doesn't even fill it up! Look at the example here to the right. More like The Miniscule Hulk, amirite? To see more screens from The Incredible Hulk, Sega's answer to the new film, check out our gigantic gallery of tiny screens.%Gallery-24406%[Via press release]
It's a damn Kung Fu Panda
These days, it seems that when someone makes an animated film, someone else clearly has to come along and make a game, and even kung fu pandas aren't exempt from this rule. Though, considering that getting your beat on can be pretty fun in games, we hear, it might make sense in this case.There's just one problem. Licensed games? Generally not so great. But that's okay. You can still take a moment to shake your head over these screenshots (or the movie's trailer), muttering, "It's a damn kung fu panda." Or maybe that was just our reaction.%Gallery-14185%
Wii ain't afraid of no ghosts
Over a year ago, a British magazine compiled what seemed like a joking list of great possible ideas for Wii games -- and one of those is about to become a reality. Not long after a rumor surfaced of a beloved 80s franchise getting remade in gaming form, Game Informer revealed their December cover today, along with the meat behind that rumor: Ghostbusters is returning! And not in the typical lame, useless fashion we usually see with movie-based games, either; the game, which will be multi-platform, is being written by Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Dan Aykroyd as a follow-up to Ghostbusters I and II. They'll also be lending their voices to the production. We can't wait to hear more about this one, but for now, we're just going to hope desperately that some tender lovin' care goes into the Wii version, because it could be awesome with motion controls.
Eidos set to bring more classic cartoons to your DS
We can no longer ignore the signs: classic cartoons are clearly the hottest thing going for DS developers and publishers lately, and Eidos has announced that they are jumping on the bandwagon. And by "jumping on," we mean "attempting to seriously dominate the new market," as they're planning ten -- yes, ten! -- different titles based on classic Hanna-Barbera 'toons like Yogi Bear, the Flintstones, and the Jetsons. Let's just hope that they all end up looking as good as WayForward's Duck Amuck appears to be.
Duck Amuck breaks both screens' fourth walls [update 1]
Duck Amuck is the best concept for a minigame collection we've ever seen. It may also be the best concept for a licensed game we've ever seen. It's based on the classic 1951 Merrie Melodie, in which a malevolent animator (later revealed to be--SPOILER-- Bugs Bunny) jerks Daffy Duck around as the cartoon plays. Locations are changed, Daffy is frequently erased and redrawn, and his attempts to regain control of the cartoon are met with punishment.The concept of "Daffy Duck being dropped into hilariously unfortunate circumstances at the hands of an animator" translates into a DS game well, since gamers are used to manipulating onscreen characters. DS gamers, in particular, are used to doing so with a pen. We watched the trailers and looked at the screenshots, expecting to have our enthusiasm thoroughly dampened. But the screens actually look good, and the trailers are well-animated and funny. What? Humor? In our video games? Even though we're pretty sure it's all concept art and not real gameplay footage, we're already impressed. We're also inclined to support WayForward, our new favorite DS developer (pending playtime with Contra 4.)[Update: A producer at Warner Bros. Games wrote in to confirm that all of the footage is in-game, done with Flash!]%Gallery-4960%[Via NeoGAF]
WayForward licensed to develop for Wii
Another Western developer has signed on to make Wii games-- hopefully they can get the funding to make some original ones. WayForward mostly makes licensed stuff these days, of undetermined quality (we haven't had a chance to test GBA Unfabulous), but they are also responsible for the excellent Game Boy Color platformer Shantae and the clever GBA shooter Sigma Star Saga. Also Ping Pals, but let's not talk about that. WayForward has actually had a Wii development kit since last year (they got access to some early pre-release duct tape) and they've been doing research and development since then. We know the licenses are coming, but we're really hoping that WayForward will have the time and resources to do some original stuff too.[Via DCEmu]
Gotta catch em' all with two versions of Transformers DS
If robots from the planet Cybertron crash landed in your backyard and asked for your undying allegiance, which side would you choose? The hip-hopping lyrical masters, the Autobots? Or Team Starscream, otherwise known as the Decepticons? You had better decide before this Summer when the robots in disguise assault every gaming platform in existence. No, that doesn't mean your ZX Spectrum. Stop being difficult.The DS version, other than the usual array of touch screen controls, will be unique in that two versions will be available -- one for each side of the conflict. The two factions will then square off over Wi-Fi Connect in the "Allspark Wars" mode. Other differences include the typical array of minor, exclusive content as seen in titles of this kind. Michael Bay Presents: a Michael Bay Production: Transformers: The Movie hits theaters July 4th along with the game.
Powerpuff Girls adapted to anime, anime adapted to minigames
This news manages to be both supremely weird and completely banal at the same time. It's interesting conceptually, but mechanically, it's another licensed minigame set. Demashita! Powerpuff Girls Z is the made-for-Japan adaptation of the Cartoon Network show, which was itself inspired by anime. And just like you would expect for any anime, or, for that matter, anything popular in Japan (see also: food and walking) Powerpuff Girls Z is getting its own DS game. This has to be the most derivative game ever in terms of source material-- just surpassing the game adaptation of Street Fighter: The Movie.
One Piece Unlimited Adventure gets stretchy, swingy
We'll admit to being somewhat negligent in our anime viewing. To put a fine point on it, we don't know the first thing about One Piece. But we know brawlers, and any such game where you can play as a stretchy-arm guy is okay with us.One Piece Unlimited Adventure uses limited "swing attacks" that are activated by waggling-- specifically, shaking the Wiimote. The high-speed pummeling shown above is such an attack. Check the link for pictures of all the other (significantly less stretchy) characters and their swing actions, and click the post break for a couple of screens.
New trailer for Naruto Ninja Council 3
Naruto: Ninja Council 3 is approaching its May release, and to promote it, D3 Publisher has released a new trailer. The trailer shows a lot of what we expect from Ninja Council games (Naruto-styled brawling), and also what we expect from action games on the DS (stylus activation of special moves).But what we didn't expect was how varied and weird the touch screen stuff would be! There's all kinds of stuff happening on that bottom screen. Check after the post break for the video, and click the link for a big screenshot-cluster thing.
DS Daily: Adapting anime
We recognize that the fanbase for video games and anime overlap quite a bit, and so do a lot of companies out there. It's no surprise, then, that popular anime properties get adapted into game form quite a bit. We've seen it on the DS with Fullmetal Alchemist and Bleach, not to mention the ultimate in anime tie-ins: the Jump Super Stars series.If you like anime, does this kind of thing have any influence on you? Do you get excited hearing about a game version of your favorite show, despite the years of punishment licensed games have dealt us? Or do you get worried that a game will somehow tarnish the reputation of the source material? And if you don't like anime, have you run across any anime-based games that you love separate from the license? The GBA slot in our DS is often occupied by Sega and Treasure's brilliant Astro Boy: The Omega Factor despite our not being the most devoted Astro Boy fans.
HOT PXL really takes advantage of the PSP
Wario Ware-styled games seem to be all the rage these days. We had a look at WTF a few days ago, and although HOT PXL also uses an all-capitalized abbreviated title, it has an interesting feature set that may help distinguish it from its competitor. Firstly, it has a 150 game off the bat, and is one of the few games that takes advantage of one of PSP's greatest features: downloadable levels. Atari plans on making at least fifty available to download. In addition, Atari is going to leverage the weight of its incredible catalog of games, and will bring out some quick retro remakes of their classic titles.Not only does HOT PXL feature an incredible breadth of game content, but it appears like it will feature tons of multimedia content as well. In addition to an original licensed soundtrack, the game will feature videos, and some kind of podcasting ability. I'm not exactly sure what that means, but it appears like this game will finally utilize all of PSP's unique capabilities. Unfortunately, the game won't be available until next February, so WTF may have to satiate you until then.Read - Gamespot's Hands-OnRead - AMN's Hands-On
