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Gem Finder helps you find just the right gems
I can't remember if we've posted about the WoW Gem Finder or not, but the last gem list I posted about has gone missing, so if you've never heard of this one, it's new to you. WoW Gem Finder is a quick web tool that you can to quickly find exactly the gem you're looking for -- just choose the colors, attributes, and/or abilities you want from the checklist on the side, and it'll narrow down exactly the gem you want and where to get it. And all the gems link to Wowhead anyway, so even if the little description isn't enough for you, you can go searching for it elsewhere as well.Pretty great resource for anyone (like me) just starting to pick up epic gear on their latest character and looking into where the gems are coming from. One thing players might still need help with is when to put which gems on which gear (most people wouldn't throw epic gems in gear you get at 61, I'd think, and I personally usually don't bother with anything but vendor gems until I get an actual epic), but that may be all outside the ken of this finder. As a tool to help you find exactly the gem you want, it's a good one.
MMOs on Big Download's most anticipated games list
In addition to offering game-related downloads, our sister site Big Download covers PC news in general -- not just MMOs. But when it put together a list of the most anticipated games of the coming season, two MMOs figured prominently: Warhammer Online and World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King.In addition to simply listing the games, Big Download rates each release's chance of success. Of WotLK it says "near-perfect ... as close to a slam dunk as you're likely to get." On the other hand, it's a bit more skeptical about Warhammer Online. The article says that WAR's chances of success are "in question" because new MMOs in general usually have a rough time of it.Check out the feature for more details, and to see what the other games on the list are if you're into more than just MMOs.
Mac 101: Pressing F5 in a text field
More Mac 101, TUAW tips for new and returning Mac users. If you're typing in a text field (in Safari, TextEdit, or most any Mac OS X app), you can press F5 while your cursor rests in a particular word to see a list of words that begin with the letters after the last space. Holding down Option and Pressing Escape works, too. So, for example, if you type create, you get a list of words including create, created, and creates. If there are a lot of words in the list, it only shows the first 100 results, sorted alphabetically. The results come from Mac OS X's built-in dictionary. This trick is useful for when you have a word on the tip of your tongue, need help with possessive apostrophes, or are stuck on a crossword clue. [Via AppleGroup]
Another exhaustive list of Japan's best-sellers of 2007
Remember that haaauuuuge list of Japan's 500 highest-selling games of 2007? Well, sorry, but you'll have to forget them all. Yep, every last one of 'em. That's because we now have a new list which is also claiming to feature the 500 best-selling games of 2007 in Japan. This one has been compiled by Enterbrain (the original was from rival data-gatherers Media Create), and it's ever so slightly different. The good news is that, despite the origins of each list being different, the overriding message is still the same, and that message is: DS rules all yaaay. Both lists agree that Wii Sports was top dog, but the top DS games have been jumbled about. Now, for example, it is the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon Explorers games that are top of the DS pile, while Mario Party DS drops to second. The changes are subtle, but definitely exist. Hit the break to see the top ten DS games!
What are the 5 worst DS games you ever played?
What do you think the top 5 worst games on the DS are? As we give you time to ponder that, we'll just dish out the list, as listed on Metacritic. It goes: King Kong Rhythm 'n Notes: Improve Your Music Skills Home Rollerz Wiffle Ball Deal or No Deal But, who cares about review scores, amirite? Instead, we figured there is no better source for the lowdown on crummy games than you all. So, tell us what your top 5 worst DS games are! We'll start you off with a very obvious one: Elf Bowling.
Low-cost laptop overload arranged in digestible list
In case you've been camped out under a nearby boulder for the past six months or so, you'd realize that low-cost laptops have swarmed the market. Granted, only a handful are actually available for purchase today, but just in case you're trying to arrange your options in order to make the best purchasing decision in the future, Liliputing has assembled a stunningly comprehensive list of everything that's out there. From now shipping to darn-near-vaporware, all the details you need to know are lined up perfectly in the read link. Wipe that sweat from your brow, vaquero -- the hard work's been done for ya.
Characters we'd like to see in Mario Kart
When you think about a franchise that has been around as long as Mario Kart, you see it's hard to validate each title as the series gets farther along. One of the ways to validate the game for fans has been to offer a complete and full roster of racers. Well, we're going to go through the characters we wished were in the games, yet woefully aren't. So read on and see what changes we would like to have happen to the roster in upcoming installments in the Mario Kart franchise!
Top 100 games sold in the last year
Perhaps we're just cynics, but we're not at all surprised that this list of the 100 top-selling games in the U.S. and Europe isn't filled with more good games. We understand that not everyone has the tastes of the DS Fanboy staff (as much as we try to ram it down your throat), but some of these are just crazy.Of course, some easy picks like Pokemon Diamond & Pearl and Brain Age 2 populate the list, but where is the love for some other great DS games? Phantom Hourglass at the 23rd spot? For shame. 1.2 million copies of High School Musical: Makin' the Cut sold and Drawn to Life only selling 820,000 copies? For shame.In all, it's an interesting list that you should take a look at.[Via Joystiq]
An incomplete list of 'The Greatest Co-Op Games of All Time'
We love "Greatest of All Time" lists as much as the next guy, but Exploding Barrel's tally of the best cooperative multiplayer titles has a few glaring holes that we felt would be irresponsible to ignore. For your reference, here's their top ten: Ikari Warriors Contra Doom Double Dragon Golden Axe Halo 3 Lego Star Wars Gears of War Toe Jam & Earl Rock Band While the list pays proper tribute to fanboy favorites like Contra and Toejam & Earl, we have a few suggestions for improving this "draft."First on the agenda, expand the list to include the classics pictured above. Second, replace the "inferior" games with more appropriate titles. We're sure no one would mind if we switched out Doom with Secret of Mana. While we're at it, let's cross out Halo 3 and pencil in TMNT II: The Arcade Game. And Gears of War? More like Gears of Let's Play Zombies Ate My Neighbors Instead, right?Now that you've heard our arguments, what co-op games would you rank up there? [Via GoNintendo]
7 great Game Boy games that got the shaft?
Let's face it: we all love the DS, but if it wasn't for the handhelds of yesteryear, we wouldn't be enjoying the dual-screened bliss we do on a regular basis. Instead, our reality would be dark and cold, our fear of what is right in front of us only challenged by our incredible lack of knowing what is right in front of us. It would probably lead us to suicide.But, lo and behold, the passage of time flowed in favor of Nintendo, as the Game Boy lead to the Game Boy Advance and the Game Boy Advance lead to that stupid Game Boy Micro thing the Game Boy Micro and then, finally, to the DS. But what about all of those great Game Boy games that time forgot?Well, now is the time to rustle up those nostalgic memories you have pattering around your noggin. The games are: Rolan's Curse 2 Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters Mole Mania Castlevania II: Belmont's Revenge Mega Man V Kirby's Dreamland 2 Super Mario Land 3: Wario Land Personally, we would've liked to see Street Fighter II get some love (kidding!). What do you all think? What games do you like? What does this list need?[Via Go Nintendo]
Sony comments on leaked PSN release list
We always try to tread carefully when too-good-to-be-true game release schedules, like the recently leaked PSN list, start to appear on the internet. On the one hand, we want to get you this potentially juicy information as quickly as possible. On the other hand, these leaks are often based on sketchy information that can end up being highly variable and misleading to the average reader.Sure enough, that's basically what Sony said by way of addressing the leaked list. In a statement reprinted by Eurogamer, the company teasingly tells us that listed content like "Ratchet: Quest for Booty" and "Dark Mist" "may be working titles or placeholders subject to later confirmation." Similarly, dates for everything from Super Stardust DLC to Home are officially "not confirmed until issued as part of a press release or formal announcement." So, to summarize, while the list itself is probably authentic, the information contained within it should be considered "subject to change" at best.
Game Developer Research releases "Top 50 Developers 2008" report
Much like the average review score report released earlier this week, we're sure that the report we're about to discuss will serve as ammunition for many a fanboy feud in the coming months -- Game Developer Research (a branch of Game Developer Magazine which was created in hopes of bringing a "new level of empirical measurement" to the gaming market) recently released their "Top 50 Developers 2008" report. Sadly, Backbone Emeryville, the artisanal minds behind last year's XBLA sleeper hit Yaris, didn't make the cut.Basing their rankings on sales figures, prolificacy, average review scores, and results from over 700 surveys issued to industry suits, GDR's list seems to be the most well-founded developer ranking we've ever seen (though Yarisians would probably disagree). We've got the whole list after the jump -- aren't you curious how your faves placed?
WoW Insider Weekly
We have moved our weekly features wrapup to Tuesday, since it seemed like a good idea at the time. So here's all of the weekly features from the past week (and a few days) here on WoW Insider, for your reading enjoyment.Sunday Morning Funnies: Rogue stablesLaugh away with our weekly wrapup of WoW-related comics.Spiritual Guidance: Holyform and lesser holy talentsDon't get your hopes up-- Holyform might not be yours to use quite yet.All the World's a Stage: The passing of the beastPlaying a role in the Lunar Festival.Officers' Quarters: Kicking and screamingAs in, first you do the /gkicking, and then comes the screaming.Lots more right after the link below.
WotLK is one of Yahoo!'s most anticipated games of 2008
Wrath of the Lich King made Yahoo! Games' list of 10 anticipated games in 2008. It's the only expansion on the list, and it stands proudly alongside other legendary intellectual properties like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Halo, Fallout, and Grand Theft Auto.It's definitely unusual for an expansion pack to make a list like this; that just goes to show you how extraordinary World of Warcraft is as a cultural phenomenon. Now if only I knew when this blasted expansion might be coming out, I could stop sitting around and fantasizing about playing as a Death Knight. No, wait ... I'd still be doing that anyway.
Did you know Iwata is the man?
At least, according to Next-Gen, he is. And who could blame them for placing Nintendo's main man at the top of their list of (industry) people of the year. These are the twenty-five individuals the folks at Next-Gen felt made the greatest contributions to the gaming industry this year ... and Iwata wasn't the only one from Nintendo to be recognized. Outgoing VP George Harrison ranked in at 18th, and Yoshiaki Koizumi, director of Super Mario Galaxy, turned up in the 6th position. But the chief of chiefs reigned supreme, and is it any surprise? Satoru Iwata had led Nintendo in this banner year, and as dedicated fans, we salute him. We're just glad that Next-Gen does, as well.
LotRO and TBC honored in GameSpy 2007 awards
GameSpy recently released the latest iteration of its annual best-of list. The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar was ranked #6 in the best PC games of 2007 list. World of Warcraft's The Burning Crusade expansion also got some attention. It came in at #5 on the same list -- just an inch ahead of LotRO. However, LotRO also walked away with a bigger prize -- the title of PC MMO Game of the Year.Both LotRO and TBC failed to beat blockbuster first-person-shooter fare like BioShock and Call of Duty 4 in the overall PC list, but still, this was a pleasant cap to a strong year for both titles, especially LotRO, which saw promising sales figures and a warm critical reception right out of the launch bay door this Spring.TBC and LotRO are also nominees for various "gamers' choice" awards. The voting for those awards comes to a close today, and the winners will be announced tomorrow.
Why Gnomes (supposedly) rock
I can't say I agree with the premise of this post that reader Syp wrote and sent to us (I'm Horde to the core, so for me, Gnomes only rock when eaten with a side of fries and Horde soda), but I can't really argue with most of his points. He sets out 10 reasons why Gnomes rock, and I have no doubt that they're sure to inspire lots of cross-faction discussion.I do have to admit-- the Gnome mount is one of my favorites, and engineering has gotten to be lots of fun. Escape Artist is an excellent ability (especially since it went instant a little while ago), and I have missed out on the fun that I hear is Toshley's Station-- I'm trying to work my little Gnome Warrior up to the mid-60s so I can get in on the Star Wars references, too.But I do take issue with Syp's "underdog" and "conformity" points. If you really want to play a race/gender that doesn't get a lot of love, try a Dwarf Female.
Phantom Hourglass ranks at 7 on Time's top 10 games of 2007 list
Frankly, we're shocked. Number 7 is a very respectable spot for any game, considering we're talking about the 10 best games of the year, but come on. This is The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass we're talking about here, folks. It's an amazing title and arguable the best in what has been an amazing year full of quality titles on the DS. Heck, this time of year, we can't think of a better gift than a Phantom Hourglass bundle.Besides Phantom Hourglass, what would you consider to be the best of the best on the DS this year?
Massively's Top 5 Sci-Fi MMOs
Orcs and Elves are all well and good, but some of us are more attracted to a mythical future than to a mythical past. Sci-Fi is trendy again, in case you hadn't heard. From Tabula Rasa to Star Trek Online (we hope), the future belongs to, well ... the future. But what about the past of the future? Sorry; this is getting more verbally confusing than a Voyager time paradox episode. Let's put it this way: click through the jump to see Massively's top 5 Sci-Fi MMOs to date!Can you think of any tragic omissions? To paraphrase a character from pop culture, "Science Fiction is neither Science nor Fiction. Discuss!"
LotRO player creates excellent housing database
The Lord of the Rings Online forum regular Rainwhisper embarked on an ambitious project to put together a website that would catalog floor plans, decorations, and ambient music for LotRO housing. With the help of fellow players on the forums, Rainwhisper succeeded!The site is hosted by the Dawnsong Explorers kinship of the Windfola server. It's an excellent resource. There's a spreadsheet-style list of all the housing items that players can make or acquire. There are floor plans for the different types of houses. You can also check out pictures of the decorations. As far as we can tell the site's listings are complete or very close to it.Rainwhisper and any other contributors will have quite a bit more work on their hands when Book 12 comes out but if their success with the site so far is any indication, that won't be a problem!
