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Robots to be our lovers by 2050, not just in Massachussetts
Remember when you were a kid and you told your friends that you totally loved your new computer, and some little luddite looked at you and said, "So why don't you marry it?" There was that brief moment when you thought your Commodore 64 could, in fact, make a nice spouse. If not, move along. If so, David Levy told participants at a conference last week that we would all be having loving relationships with robots by 2050, not just trysts in Massachussetts. He predicts that we'll have robots as sex toys within five years and true, deep relationships later on. Some robots already kiss, some seem to hate, but Levy says we'll have emotional relationships based on conversation by mid-century. Until that time, remember your C64, your first true love. She / he remembers you, you selfish jerk.
Forum Post of the Day: Setting the mood
We've asked before where people would like to live or vacation in Azeroth, and have gotten a surprising variety of responses. There are many lovely, scenic, and adventurous places that would be fantastic to visit. But is there anywhere you'd like to go on a date? Sildurcausius of EU-Arathor (who needs an easier name to spell) asked on the EU-General forums where he should take his girl on a date in WoW. He said that he's bought a tux and some fireworks for the occasion. Amazingly enough, the responses offered some great suggestions: Delilan of Nordrassil, "On the cliffs at Hinterlands is very preeeetty at sunset on a clear day..And feels like a romantic sorta place.." (followed by "Cant believe I just typed that") Nyala of Steamwheedle Cartel, "In Feralas, the Twin Colossals. There is an npc near them that will teleport you to the top of one of the colossals. At the top is an npc who sells parachutes that allow you to jump down safely." Erinys of Vashj, "The view from the hunting lodge balcony in loch modan is pretty especially at sunset and sunrise." Thundernut of Quel'Thalas, "Perpetual autumn, very nice trees here. The sky is an orange/pinkish glow at night. If you like water an island in the bay of storms also gives a pretty view.
Rock Band saves marriage
Call us sappy saps, but we can't get enough of video game success stories -- failing relationships resurrected through the power of gaming. Okay, so it doesn't really happen that often, but when it does it melts our cold, robotic blogging hearts.Over at Salon, Rachel Shukert explains how Harmonix's Rock Band allowed her to relate to her husband's video game obsession, rekindle her lost desire for rock stardom, and quite literally save their marriage. It's a short story about the best kind of escapism -- the kind you share with someone else -- and it doesn't hurt that it's about one of our own favorite obsessions. We wonder what else Rock Band can save.[Thanks, Justin M.]
Studio 5050's embrace-me hoodie lights up when hugged
Believe it or not, the concept here isn't revolutionary at all, but Studio 5050 is revising the old huggable shirt idea by infusing an ultra-soft hoodie with a pattern made of "silver conductive fabric." When two people wearing the embrace-me hoodies, um, embrace one another, energy is transferred and a pattern on the back lights up while a heartbeat sound is emitted. Quite frankly, we can't imagine this not boosting the hugs-per-day in a typical relationship, but at $480 to $600 per pair, counseling may come out a bit cheaper in the end.[Via OhGizmo]
FujiFilm's Z200FD with "love timer" tells you when it's over
FujiFilm just busted out another of "Z" for Zoom, FinePix shooter. The 20-mm thin Z200fd follows-up the "surprisingly good" Z100fd with a 10 megapixel, 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor; 5x, image stabilized, optical zoom lens; 2.7-inch LCD; SD/SDHC and xD card support; and ISO support up to 1600. It also features a new "love timer" with setting for near (1 heart), close-up (2 hearts), and sloppy-tongue-wrestling (3 hearts) depending upon the level of icky-sticky sweetness (or hipster annoyance judging by that pic) you'd like to capture. Set for release in Japan on June 7th for ¥40,000 or about $388 by the time it shows up Stateside to document your breakup.%Gallery-23463%[Via Impress]
MMO Couples tells you how to find love online
MMO Couples is a new blog about "how people successfully combine online gaming and relationships," and it's a pretty interesting read, whether you're a fan of online gaming or romance in general. It's written by "Gabi," a woman who met her boyfriend in WoW (she tells the story on the site), and while there's not much to read through there yet, it does seem like it might be an interesting look at how couples find themselves in virtual worlds.There are also some tips on how to find love in a virtual world, and I like how down-to-earth they are: communicate as much as possible, be realistic, have a backup plan. Online romances are often full of drama, and it seems pretty tough to get a good relationship out of having met in a place where the whole point is that you're pretending to be someone you're not.But a site like this would help fix some of that -- providing a community and a forum for folks in online relationships would probably help everybody involved.[Via Wonderland]
SOE exhibits 20 new pics of EQ2's Game Update 44
The official EverQuest II community site has been updated with 20 screenshots of the forthcoming Game Update 44. The screenshots illustrate the new features that were announced a week ago. There are quite a few shots of the new Shard of Hate instance and its related events, as well as the updated trade skill facilities in Freeport. You can also see the two new warg mounts and an oh-so-titillating shot of the new "Show Ranged Weapon" option for Rangers who'd rather show off their epic bows than their melee weapons.Once you're done looking over those, you can go read some snarky, sarcastic remarks about all the new Game Update 44 content in a pretty amusing commentary titled "Island of the Patch People," provided by EQ2 players RazorX and Coyote over at Ten Ton Hammer. All patches can be nitpicked at least a little, even the awesome ones!%Gallery-19417%
Romantic gamer proposes with homebrewed Bejeweled
Proposing in MMOs like World of Warcraft and Second Life is played out, so what's a gamer to do when he wants to drop to one knee and still retain his nerd credibility? Well, how about homebrewing your honey's favorite game to pop the question? Xanga user Bernie did just that to propose to his girlfriend Tammy. Knowing that Bejeweled was her favorite game, Bernie spent a few weeks putting together a Nintendo DS version (completely from scratch, no less). Once the game hits a certain score, the screen clears and a ring made of the game's jewel sprites lowers on the screen. When his girlfriend played the game and arrived at the special screen, Bernie was ready with real ring in hand. Proposal by casual game is certainly a first, so congrats to Bernie and Tammy both for getting engaged, and for setting a new precedent in nerd love.
Man proposes using homebrew Bejeweled
Hey, casual games don't have to be cynical exercises in making loadsamoney. In fact, our inner romantic dork almost swooned after recently reading the tale of Bernie and Tammy, who tied the knot thanks to the mother of all casual titles: Bejeweled.Okay, so strictly speaking, it wasn't the Bejeweled, but a DS homebrew version of Popcap's wildly popular creation, as developed from scratch by Bernie. The game is a favorite of his partner Tammy, so the young Casanova wrote her a special version, and gave it her to play.The reason why Bernie's Bejeweled was special? Well, when Tammy reached a certain score, the screen cleared and a ring scrolled down in its place. Apparently, it was at this point that Bernie got down on one knee and popped the question. A no doubt thrilled Tammy said "yes." Awwww.Congrats, you two! We're off to buy new hats![Via Game|Life]
GDC08: When Love came to town
Every once in a while you have one of those unique experiences where you catch a glimpse of inspirational human intelligence. We were lucky enough to have such an experience at GDC in the hour we spent with Eskil Steenberg, the gifted programmer behind the fledgling one-man MMO project, Love. Once you get past the stage of incredulity at the idea that anyone would even attempt to create a massive game as a solo effort in the age of WoW-sized development and content teams, you start to get a window into exactly why this work in progress is unusual, preciously unique and extremely exciting. Starting with a caveat: Love is not yet in production (indeed, there's no solid guarantee it ever will be), nor is it glossy and polished like most of the blockbuster AAA titles we feature in our list of core titles -- but the latter tends to work in its favor. It's not like any MMO you've ever seen; what we saw shimmering and dancing on Steenberg's laptop was otherworldly, breathing, and dreamy -- more reminiscent of a Van Gogh painting or of Waking Life than of any massive game we've ever played. The video embedded after the break is somewhat crude, having been shot off a laptop display (and occasionally featuring a reflection of Eskil himself, which you can decide for yourself whether it enhances or detracts from the experience), but captures the essence of the strange world in motion with its breathtaking landscape and day/night cycling as you wander about the planet.%Gallery-16906%
KTF analyzes passion in your voice, won't make you irresistible
We know, Valentine's Day 2008 has come and gone, but if you've managed to hold on to your SO through the Hallmark-inspired holiday, chances are you won't need these services anyway. For those waking up solo, however, you should probably listen up. South Korea's KTF has launched a seductive new service -- rightfully dubbed Love Detector -- for its subscribers which will actually "analyze voice patterns to see if a lover is speaking honestly and with affection." In an interesting twist, the data is actually only shown to the customer who coughs up ???1,500 ($1.58) per month (or less per call), so don't expect to secretively find out if your lover has another lover waiting next door via voice analysis. [Image courtesy of WestCoastPioneers, thanks Sandra]
Media Coverage dissects the perils of love and game journalism
Just in time to be late for Valentine's Day, Joystiq's own Kyle Orland takes a look at the role love plays in game journalism, as part of his Media Coverage column at GameDaily.In his column, Kyle talks to a number of game journalists about the relationship between their jobs and their romantic lives. For some, their commitment to video games is a hurdle in getting a relationship to work. For others, a similar commitment from their significant others' is most definitely a requirement. A lot of the journalists featured aren't normally ones to wear their hearts on their sleeves, so Kyle's piece offers an interesting opportunity to see how their jobs fit in with their personal lives. Of course, for some it works out better than for others, like one lucky Joystiq blogger whose better half also happens to be a games journalist herself.
Cinemassively: Here Without You
One of the best machinimas created in World of Warcraft was actually made almost three years ago, and still lives on in machinimators today. With over 20,000 videos uploaded to Warcraftmovies, Here Without You, by Dimoroc, was one of the first 1200. Many filmmakers have since tried to replicate the raw emotion evoked in this video, but few have succeeded.Here Without You centers around the origin of a Forsaken, from how he came to be, to how he's haunted by his past. Using only music and interactions, instead of dialogue, Dimoroc was able to create a moving display of love. After posting this video, he disappeared, which is a real shame, because he helped pave the way for so many talented machinimators after him.[Via Warcraftmovies.com]
DS Daily: St. Valentine's Edition
You'll have to excuse us if we seem a little spacey or preoccupied, but today is the day of lurve. Of course, that doesn't mean you have to cast your DS aside.In fact, we're curious: does the DS figure at all in your Valentine's Day schedule? Hey, we already know the little guy can inspire closeness! Perhaps you intend to face off against your partner in a romantic round of Tetris or Advance Wars, or team up to tackle Professor Layton's more devilish puzzles together, pausing only to gaze into one another's eyes.Maybe you've decided against giving traditional presents that eventually die or are consumed, and intend to give the object of your affections a DS-related gift (or card)? Maybe you're giving them an actual DS. Is anybody giving their loved one a whole DS? That's crazy. Even if it would totally win our heart.
Wii Warm Up: Gaming couples
As it's the Most Romantic, Passionate Day of the Year™, we'd like to know how many of you regularly get to game with your partner or spouse? Gaming may once have been predominantly male territory, but the numbers are far more even nowadays, and a lot of that seems to be down to Nintendo and its all-encompassing approach.If you are a gaming couple, what are your favorite titles to play together? Do you prefer co-op games, or to compete against one another? And if it's the latter, who wins?See also: Valentine's Day for the gamer in your life
The DS Life: Handheld happenstance
The DS Life is a weekly feature in which we scour the known world for narrative images of Nintendo's handhelds and handheld gamers. If you have a photo and a story to match it with, send both to thedslife at dsfanboy dot com."Did you know that if two people who love each other go to Todai, they'll live happily ever after?""Hm?""If it really works, let's go to Todai together, okay?""It's a promise!"
WoW Moviewatch: Here Without You
This machinima is almost three years old, yet it still holds up today. Here Without You, by Dimoroc, doesn't have special effects, a flashy intro, or even any dialogue. It tells the story of a Forsaken and how they became that way. Using music and powerful scenes, he is able to convey emotion that I did not think possible of World of Warcraft.The story of Dimoroc himself is a mystery. He showed up at Warcraftmovies, uploaded this one video, and then disappeared shortly after. Almost two years later, he popped up under a different account to thank everyone for their comments, then disappeared again. However, present or not, he has left a lasting impression on the WoW machinima community. If you're out there, Dimoroc, thank you for creating one of the few machinimas that made me cry!Previously on Moviewatch ...
Love is in the Air
It's that time of year again: Love is in the Air in the capital cities of Azeroth. From now until the 15th, that sweet and sinister holiday where you show your affection to your fellow citizens and your faction leaders is upon us. Be sure to visit your local Innkeeper for a supply of perfume, cologne, and Love Tokens, and see if you can finally capture Qwee Q. Peddlefeet this year, or at least get that dress you've always wanted. Be on the lookout for new things as well, such as the Love Rocket and the Romantic Picnic Basket, which World of Raids already sniffed out for us back in November. Go out, enjoy, and share the season -- at least until you find out who's behind this whole strange mess of amore! %Gallery-15723% Love is in the Air and on WoW Insider. Check out our continuing coverage of the event and our guide to earning the achievement. And you better hurry; the holiday only lasts five days!
iPhone marriage proposal warms even the cynical heart
Maybe we just turn a bit sentimental during the holiday season, but damn it, we'll admit to getting a little choked up over reader Claude M's well-planned, uber-geeky proposal to his girlfriend -- even if his method of choice did happen to employ the totally overexposed iPhone. Being the romantic fellow that he is, Claude spent what must have been numerous hours producing a video proposal in the style of those ubiquitous commercials -- as you can see after the break -- and then screened it for his sweetheart (probably on his or her you-know-what) while they were strolling around the area where they'd first met in college. We'd like to congratulate the happy couple -- she said yes, duh -- and encourage them to race over to our Christmas contest post, where they have decent odds of scoring a pair of round trip tickets for the honeymoon.
Valentine's in November
Teza at World of Raids has posted some information about changes that will be coming to the "Love is in the Air" holiday this February. Apparently, a player named Mushuu has kept a stash of the pledges from last Valentine's day. Upon opening them recently, he found several new items, including the new fireworks, Love Rockets, pictured next to this article. These items have made appearances on item database sites and were added in recent patches, but their exact use and purpose were unknown up to this point.Check out World of Raids for the full story, including pictures of the other new item, the Romantic Picnic Basket. Love is in the Air and on WoW Insider. Check out our continuing coverage of the event and our guide to earning the achievement. And you better hurry; the holiday only lasts five days!
