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An overview of Leopard for developers
If you haven't seen this roundup yet, Matt Gemmell's huge list of everything Leopard can do for developers is pretty amazing. It's a bit on the technical side, but worry not-- about 1/4 of the way down the page you'll think that this is a list only for developers, and if you keep scrolling you'll start to see that (somewhere around the "HUD windows" part) Apple has broken open almost all of their interfaces to developers of all makes and models. Everything from menus to date formatting is updated in Leopard's developer applications, and there's lots of "freebies" that will make even smaller programs better-- icons and images, an image editor, and a built-in grammar checker can all be easily implemented in any Leopard apps.As hot as this operating system is (and yes, despite the problems that folks are having with it), the really good stuff is yet to come. When talented programmers and designers get their hands on these tools, then we'll really see why it's so great to be a Mac user.Thanks, Tony!
1UP offers up 5 must-have titles
For as much as we usually enjoy their coverage, we're left smacking ourselves in the head and yelling "duh!" to ourselves regarding this top five list of supposed overlooked games. They're titles we've very much conveyed our excitement over in the past, so we're wondering why they're so late to the party on this one.After checking out their list, hit up our poll below and let us know which one you think is the best of the best. And, after that, leave a comment letting us know of an upcoming title that is a must-have that isn't on the list.Awfully demanding, aren't we?%Poll-4811%
Somebody's top ten NES games
Most "Top Ten NES Games" lists, of which there are two hundred released every second, turn out predictable and entirely skippable, but through the power of creative video editing, ScrewAttack managed to make their tally of favorites something worth the time spent watching it. You don't have to take our word for it! Dun-un, dun!As expected, their list isn't perfect -- if it were, River City Ransom would occupy at least seven of the spots, leaving just enough room for Super Mario Bros. 3, Mega Man 2, and an emergency copy of River City Ransom. But it would be naive to think that any collection of NES games with "Top anything" written in proximity would satisfy everyone, unless, of course, it was a list of Top Gun titles (all two of them). So feel free to comment with your own selection of "Absolutely Best NES Games Ever."
On the lookout for some homebrew?
We're always on the lookout for sweet homebrew to run on our DS, in the hopes that even more value may be extracted from our most sound of purchases. And, sure enough, we came upon this list of notable homebrew games while traversing the dangerous series of tubes today. Sure, we played some of the games on the list, but a majority of them are new to us. And we like new. Oh, how we like new.What are your favorite homebrew games and/or applications to run on your DS?[Via Gnomes Gaming on the Go]
Ocarina of Time voted 'Best Videogame' by Edge readers
UK gaming magazine Edge recently conducted a poll searching for the 100 best videogames of all time. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out as top dog, while A Link to the Past settled into sixth along with two Mario games cozy and warm in the top ten. OoT is one of five games to receive a flawless 10/10 score from Edge. It was also the first to achieve a perfect score from Japanese magazine Famitsu. The entire list will be published in a special issue of Edge magazine in the near future. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Resident Evil 4 Super Mario 64 Half Life 2 Super Mario World The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Halo: Combat Evolved Final Fantasy XII Tetris Super Metroid
Gotta mispronounce 'em all
Games Radar has crafted another one of their hilarious Top 7 lists, this time about the "Top 7 Most Mispronounced Game Names." Nihon Falcom has two of the seven entries on the list, proving that they're kind of mean about titles. We remember that every magazine article about Ys back on the Turbografx-16 CD included a note about pronunciation ("ease"), because it's really not obvious.Topping the list is a certain Nintendo franchise whose name is delightfully, and intentionally, mangled by meme addicts across the web, including pretty much everyone here. Our mispronunciation: let us hint at it.
Insomniac lands 8th in the '50 Best Companies to Work For' list
Ratchet & Clank, Resistance: Fall of Man, and Spyro creator Insomniac Games recently placed 8th in the Society for Human Resource Management's "50 Best Companies to Work For" list. The list recognizes small businesses with "smart people management strategies [that] develop successful organizations with highly productive and satisfied workforces". In non-Dilbert-speak: good management makes for happy employees and thus a productive company. Not only is Insomniac the first and only videogame company on the list, it's the first company in the history of the small business category to reach the top ten three years in a row!Insomniac's founder and CEO Ted Price bragged about the PS3 launch of Resistance: "... we delivered a top-rated and top-selling game -- on time -- while retaining our Top 10 ranking as one of the best small companies to work for in America ...".All without any heinous Church of England scandals, as well! Oh, wait ...
MacTech's 25 most influential, version 2007
MacTech has released their MacTech 25 for the second year in a row-- it's a list of the top 25 most influential people in the Mac community (as selected by the community itself), and it reads like a who's who of people doing great stuff : John Gruber, the suave-looking Aaron Hillegass and Brent Simmons all make return appearances. This year they chose everyone who's ever programmed for MarsEdit (as Daniel Jalkut is happy to say), not to mention both co-founders of Rogue Ameoba, Paul Kafasis and Alex Lagutin.Who's missing? Anyone from Apple-- MacTech specifically left them off the list to make sure they didn't hog the Spotlight, so to speak. They say that Apple employees are allowed to be put in the Honorable Mentions section, but as far as I can tell, while Leo Laporte, David Pogue and Merlin Mann all made it, no one from Apple actually did. Better get cracking on those influencing techniques for next year, guys.
Harmonix wants to know what you'd Rock Band to
Harmonix has posted an open letter to future rockers asking what they'd like to see in their upcoming title Rock Band. Other than letting us know that the Rock Band guitar will be modeled after the Fender Stratocaster, we really don't know much more about the title. Obviously, the song list isn't complete yet and they need our help. We'll give them song ideas as long as they promise to keep the peripheral prices in check.Now remember, as much as Harmonix might read our comments to see what people suggest, it's probably best to officially submit them directly. Things we'd like to see are contemporary, but a little off the beaten path. The fear with Rock Band is that because MTV and EA are involved, it's going to be all, like, Total Request Live (is that show still on?). How about some Cake, Beck and Scissor Sisters? Thankfully, Harmonix has always been good about including local Boston bands (their offices are in Cambridge, Ma) in their games to keep some true indie flavor in the mix. We're sure you all have suggestions -- let em rip! But remember, submit them on the official Rock Band site to have some chance of making it count.
EA an awful place to work. Awful great!
var digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2007/05/16/ea-an-awful-place-to-work-awful-great/'; Remember when the online buzz about Electronic Arts was all about overworked staff and unpaid overtime? That's so two years ago. The new buzz, apparently, is that EA is the second best place for new graduates to work, according to a Fortune Magazine list.They make a decent enough case -- EA employees get five to ten free games per year, heavy discounts on games and systems, plus amenities like an on-site gym, a DVD library and stock options. Still, given the past complaints, we can't help but gape at Fortune's statement that EA employees "might not have time to spend any of the $60,000 starting salary that's offered to the average entry-level worker." They had to understand the irony dripping from that line when they wrote it. Didn't they?[Thanks Keavin]
MotorStorm gets friendlier
Last night's MotorStorm patch brought a much needed friends list to Evolution's off-road racer. A relief. And also an embarrassment. Whose call was it to put MotorStorm out there for two weeks without buddy compatibility?It may have been a minute inconvenience -- given that it was swiftly remedied -- but the haphazardness of the matter is indicative of the PlayStation Network. That's not to say Xbox Live titles aren't without their necessary patches and bug fixes; au contraire, online "updates" have become standard. But a friends list? Would enforcing some very basic PSN requirements really cost Sony its freedom?[Via PS3 Fanboy]
A look at some unsung DS villains
Modojo's Ryan Morgan took a trip into the underworld of DS games, finding the meanest of the mean villains and delivering stern warnings about them. These aren't the everyday spiny, cloaked, "NOOOOOOO"-bellowing villains we know, the kind that telegraph their evilness to the world, but some more insidious cads who, while they look innocuous enough, will strike and attempt to force you to feed their twisted, evil obsessions. The biggest offender? The color blue, who Nintendo seems to have collaborated with to render Brain Age players hoarse or even mute from repeated attempts at the Stroop test. Bluuuuuuuuuuuue!
SmartShopper prints out your shopping list using voice recognition
Don't you just hate shopping for groceries? Being around other people, having to spend time thinking about what you want to buy, and the inevitable "shopping hangover" caused by the later realization that you bought a dozen things you don't need or want: yuck. A lot of people head online for their shopping (where else can you read Engadget while you order loo roll?), but for those who prefer to take their cash into the real world, there's now a solution that could prevent the likelihood of encountering one of those aforementioned shopping hangovers: SmartShopper is a device that can convert a spoken shopping list into a printout to carry around in your wallet or purse. Just mount the SmartShopper on your fridge using the magnet, start waxing lyrical about apples and oranges -- don't worry, your neighbors already think you're crazy -- and the little gray box will neatly print all your choices onto a little piece of paper. At $149, the SmartShopper is on the low end of smart fridge solutions, but at least you can feel safe knowing that its limited artificial intelligence prevents it from sticking "5 kg of Soylent Green" on your list.[Via The Raw Feed]
Yet another 'games to watch' list
We can only guess that it wasn't enough for the DS to steamroll everything and everyone in 2006. Nintendo wants to own 2007, as well. Not that we're complaining; after all, we are total slaves to our beloved handheld. But it just seems altogether crazy that there could be so many lists predicting great games in the coming year, and that the lists could vary so much. No matter your pleasure, 2007 is bound to be packed with more DS games than you can possibly afford. And in celebration of our future indecision, IGN has offered a list celebrating ten of the best coming games for the year. We've included the full IGN list after the jump, and we'd love to hear how it compares to some of the other lists you've seen since the end of last year, because there's been a ton. We've even dipped a toe into the list-making process ourselves.
Staff recommendations: Gamecube
Lately, a couple of lists have been speeding through the tubes of the intertron, reminding new Wii-owners that in fact, your new system has all the functionality of one recently passed away: the Nintendo Gamecube. As such, the library of playable games from launch is actually quite large. But how is one to discern the hidden gems amongst such a vast field? Worry not, fair readers: we're here to help.Let's be fair: you're here reading Nintendo Wii Fanboy, for goodness' sake, so you probably know about absolute wonders such as Super Smash Bros Melee, Metroid Prime, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. These games, of course, must be played under penalty of death. What follows are fifteen fourteen of our personal recommendations, leading you from the AAA-released to barely known wonders of the little purple box. Most of these games can still be found, used, at many outlets nationwide. Take a look, and buy a game! We believe in you.
Best of the rest: Kevin's picks
Saint's Row (Xbox 360)Sure it's a ripoff of Grand Theft Auto, but the graphics, gameplay, and plotlines are loads better. Plus you get to throw Mila Kunis out a window. What other game offers you that? It wasn't a feature in the recent Family Guy game.
Mario is the downfall of our society
That plumber may have ushered in the revival and rebirth of the modern video game industry, but everything isn't all sugarfairies and butterscotch. A retrospective study on this phenom reveals some startling truths about our favorite crimson-adorned pipe-jockey: a history of drug addiction, racism, and dealings with the seediest portions of the underworld. Destructoid has put together an eye-opening list of the egregious offenses this plumber has leveled against you, the gaming populace, and it's your responsibility to educate yourselves forthright.
The Atari 2600 changed the world
The Atari 2600 makes Wired's list of the top 10 gadgets that changed the world. This article from Wired Test lists the Walkman, Western Electric rotary phone, microwave, and other gadgets that we take for granted.The Atari 2600 spurred the home game industry, being the original must-own console. We didn't realize that it was still available until 1992, giving it a 15-year lifespan. Wired Test picks the Wii as today's version of the 2600. Will any of our current systems be as iconic as the classic Atari console?
Famitsu's top 100 DS games in Japan
Japanese mag Famitsu has compiled, using black magic and voodoo, a list of the top 100 best-selling DS games in Japan. The numbers they use appear to be different from the Media Create numbers we usually use, but one has to wonder how in the world they can claim accuracy down to individual units. We think it has something to do with spirits. Here's the top ten (Japanese sales only, remember), and for the rest, follow the link! 1. More Brain Training (Nintendo) - 3,417,956 sold 2. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo) - 3,351,234 sold 3. Animal Crossing: Wild World (Nintendo) - 3,335,195 sold 4. Pokémon Diamond / Pearl (Nintendo) - 3,060,032 sold 5. Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training (Nintendo) - 2,837,394 sold 6. Mario Kart DS (Nintendo) - 1,626,242 sold 7. English Training (Nintendo) - 1,408,243 sold 8. Nintendogs (Nintendo) - 1,335,185 sold 9. Big Brain Academy (Nintendo) - 1,299,188 sold 10. Tamagotchi Connection: Corner Shop (Bandai) - 1,110,046 sold
Microsoft copied the only iPod they could
John Gruber has penned an interesting observation of how Microsoft might very well have missed the mark from the get-go when they made the strange decision to take on the iPod and iTunes. Since the player's initial wiz-bang sales period is essentially over (as in: it more or less set a decent sales barometer, at least for now), John wrangles some interesting statistics from Amazon's charts on exactly where the Zune stands in comparison to Apple's players (including year-old models), as well as its ranking in the overall electronics category. To spoil the surprise: the Zune isn't doing so well. We've looked at Amazon's charts before, but as of this writing, a record player is beating out the best selling Zune on the electronics list, while iPods - specifically the small, flash-based nano and shuffle - dominate most of the top 10 spots.John then uses this data and good ol' fashioned people watching to conclude that Microsoft shouldn't have taken what could be their only swing at the plate in producing a hard drive-based iPod; they should have cranked out a flash memory model to go head-on with the nano - inarguably the home run slugger in Apple's lineup. While I tend to agree with John, I also see a problem with going down this road: Microsoft would likely have had even less room to maneuver, and even fewer things to market ('Beam your tunes') and invent lame, dead-end lingo for - they actually refer to sharing your music wirelessly as 'squirting'. Who wants to bet how excited Steve Ballmer's kids are to 'squirt' at school?Sure, when you look at what you're up against in the DAP market, Apple's iPod nano and SanDisk's respectable 2GB Sansa player (expandable via an SD slot, and at #11 on Amazon as of this writing) are the top dogs to beat - but what could they have offered? I highly doubt they could have fit their DRM-crippled and arguably worthless (though admittedly buzz-worthy) Wi-Fi sharing feature into a nano-sized player, even if they made it slightly larger and uglier like the Zune is to its 30GB iPod rival. A 'Zune nano' with nothing unique to offer would dry up on its own in a market already dominated by Apple, SanDisk and Creative, and Microsoft's exclusive, 3rd party bitch-slap of a music store would have even less of a leg to stand on.In summary: I think John's right - Microsoft made a bad move in copying the 30GB hard drive-based iPod, but it was the only move they had. In this light, it kinda makes you wonder why they bothered in the first place.
