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HQ Trivia is rewarding regular players with extra lives (updated)
Anyone who's played the frustratingly-addictive HQ Trivia is familiar with the crushing disappointment that follows a wrong answer, especially when you were only a question or two away from the jackpot. So in a bid to stop players rage quitting the app forever, the live trivia game show is launching Streaks, a feature that rewards players for taking part in consecutive games.
Dr. Phil confronts WoW players
Yes, Oprah's psychologist (actually, I heard just the other day on Wait Wait that Dr. Phil was originally hired as a jury consultant on Oprah's beef slander case) has turned his mustachioed and Texas-accented attention to MMO gamers, and it's the usual rundown: someone's been playing the game way too much, and it's time for Dr. Phil to draw out the stereotype to anyone who finds a little fun in the online world of Azeroth.To be fair, I haven't seen the show itself, so maybe Phil does admit that millions of people around the world play these games in their free time, and that the vast majority of them have paying jobs, lead healthy lives and have happy relationships. But he doesn't feature any of those on his website -- instead, he's got the story of lives ruined over and over again because folks without self control took their game too far. And all the usual TV culprits are there -- flash cuts of chaotic keyboard and controller pressing, blurred video, and pictures of pasty gamers playing late into the night while the rest of their lives go ignored. Worried that you might be addicted? Dr. Phil's also got a "gaming behavior audit" that will let you know, in just ten questions, whether you're an addict or not. Here's a helpful question: do you feel you play online games to deal with anxiety or depression in your life? If so, you may have anxiety or depression in your life! Thanks, Dr. Phil!In all seriousness, sure, it's possible to play these games too much, and if you're playing the game even after you've lost a job or sacrificed a relationship, it's time to get help (or even better, just unplug the computer). But it would be nice to see a healthy gamer on these shows once in a while -- there's definitely plenty of them around, too.[via BlizzPlanet]
More Secret Rings impressions
Our excitement for Sonic and the Secret Rings grows daily, and these hands-on impression by some folks in London aren't making the wait any easier. The game is looking scary good, as the players (who strongly disliked Sonic the Hedgehog for the PS3 and 360) rave about the graphics, voice acting, control, level design, and difficulty. For the love of God, Sonic moonwalks when you tilt backward on the Wiimote. Moonwalks. That's sweet.Some tidbits: there isn't a standard "lives" system; if you die, you simply restart at the last checkpoint. Each level contains around twelve missions, and somewhere around six need to be cleared before advancing. Earning bronze, silver, and gold medals will earn you access to a huge catalog of unlockables, including BGM and artwork from the game as well as previous entries in the series.The impressions are certainly worth a read; check it out![via GoNintendo]
Deal of the day: New round of PSP price drops at Play-Asia
Play-Asia sure has been on a roll this week. First it was Gitaroo Man Lives for only $20, and now they've recently slashed prices on even more games. Aedeus Memories Shinten Makai Generation of Chaos V (Asia) – $14.90 Boku no Natsuyasumi Portable (Asia) – $12.90 Bomberman Blast Squadron Bomberman (Asia) – $16.90 Jukugon (Japan) – $12.90 King's Field Additional I (Asia) – $12.90 Koukyou Shihen Eureka Seven (Japan) – $16.90 Magna Carta Portable (Asia) – $16.90 Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner (Asia) – $16.90 Myst (Japan) – $14.90 Portable Island: Tenohira Resort (Asia) – 12.90 Simple 2500 Series Portable Vol. 4: The Mind Mapping Exercise (Asia) – $10.90 I'm not too sure how import friendly any of these games are, and quite frankly, there are a few of them on the list I'm not familiar with at all. However, with the incredibly cheap prices of King's Field and Myst, it looks like I may have to pull the trigger.Click here for the full page of recenly discounted games across all platforms.(Via Play-Asia)
Get Metal Headed in Gitaroo Man Lives!
It's been a while since we last talked about the upcoming Inis-developed music game, Gitaroo Man Lives. Although the game is essentially a port of the PS2 original, the game features some new tracks, such as this one: Metal Header. It's playable in the new PSP-exclusive Duet mode. The player, DJMaru, says he's not too good at the game, but considering its insane difficulty, we should give him some props. Gitaroo Man comes to the US in October, according to amazon.com.
