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Today's most vulgar videos: Jam Sessions' instant rockstar
The North American marketing for DS guitar simulator Jam Sessions has been pretty low-key, comprised of a MySpace page, uninspired print ads, and a bevy of videos showing real artists using the non-game to play fake guitar.Off the charts, then, are New Zealand's excellent television spots for the title, which emphasize how having Jam Sessions in your DS repertoire can transform you into an instant rockstar. According to the ads, being an instant rockstar involves hitting on your buxom aunt, and cursing out your mum for baking you the wrong birthday cake. Honestly, the things those New Zealanders can get away with on television!If we haven't made it abundantly clear, these videos are definitely not-safe-for-work material. Catch all the raunchy, raucous action after the break (and not a single shot of gameplay, either!).
Promotional Consideration: Party Like a Rock Star
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/videos/gaming/Outrageously_saucy_Jam_Sessions_commercials_in_New_Zealand'; Promotional Consideration is a weekly feature about the Nintendo DS advertisements you usually flip past, change the channel on, or just tune out. This marks the third time we've featured Ubisoft's Jam Sessions in our Promotional Consideration column, but these latest ads for the New Zealand market are the best ones yet. We're not going to ruin their illicit content for you before you've had a chance to watch these not-safe-for-work commercials yourselves, so hurry past the break and see what all the kids are nattering about at recess.
Robotic tuatara successfully generates research data
Just over two months ago Robo-Ollie, a robotic tuatara, was loosed into the wilderness on Stephens Island in New Zealand, and now that its creator and her colleagues have had a chance to monitor it in the wild, it looks like Mr. Oliver is performing toppingly. Sporting a nickel-cadmium battery, servos, and a rubberized skin suit, the creature has spent its time bobbing its head, gaping its mouth, and providing researchers with some intriguing data about aggressiveness and mating tendencies within the species. Unfortunately, the current iteration is essentially paralyzed from the neck back, and it took its masters a tick to understand how the head bobbing gig was "sending mixed signals" as it showcased feminine tendencies -- but now that he's regained his masculinity, it's on to figuring out what olfaction and infidelity have to do with tuatara life. [Via Digg]
New Zealand peeps imitate plants to do solar on the cheap
Obviously, scientists didn't exactly originate the idea of harvesting energy from the sun when they started slapping together solar cells -- plants have been up on this whole photosynthesis mojo for a good long while. Now some researchers at Massey University in New Zealand have developed a range of synthetic dyes from organic compounds that closely mimic the light harvesting that goes on in nature. Other scientists have been pursuing similar solar techniques, but there's a major difficulty in getting the dyes to pass the energy on for actual use. After 10 years of research, the Massey scientists claim to have "the most efficient porphyrin dye in the world." Benefits of the dyes over traditional silicon-based solar panels include the ability to operate in low light, 10x cheaper production, and flexible application -- starting with canvassing roofs, walls and windows, but eventually moving on to wearable items that can charge your electronics stash. A working prototype for "real applications" should be ready in a couple years.[Via The Raw Feed]
Zephyr's smart fabrics to gauge physiological data
Although soldiers of the future (the non-robotic variety, that is) could very well rock tactile displays on their gear, it looks like the next-generation clothing worn on the battlefield could also monitor physiological information. New Zealand firm Zephyr has developed smart textiles that are currently being shown at CeBIT, and aside from being used by the US Department of Defense to "gauge how individuals cope and react during combat situations," the garb could also be used by athletes looking to carefully measure their vitals and improve their performance. The outfit's first two offerings, a chest-worn bioharness and a shoe pod insert, are both laden with intelligent sensors that can "store and broadcast data," which could certainly become beneficial in the health, security, training, and medical markets. It's been a good run, Nike+iPod, but it looks like you've been lapped.
Robotic tuatara fools males, partakes in social dominance study
Although Wowwee's farm of robotic animals are quite the playful bunch, they aren't exactly prime targets for participating in a biological study of how animals interact in the wild, but Jennifer Moore from Victoria's School of Biological Science is aiming to use a faux tuatara to be the focal point of a new study. Modeled after a highly-regarded and recently deceased tuatara named Oliver, the new creature will purportedly be mingling with others of its kind in order to give a first-hand view on "social dominance and aggression in wild tuatara." Crafted by the Weta Workshop, Robotic Oliver will be used for the first time next month on the tuatara capital of the world, Stephens Island, in order to carefully inspect male mating habits in an effort to "significantly enhance conservation efforts." Of course, utilizing robotic clones for the betterment of a species seems like a brilliant idea, but we should probably all join in unison and hope this same stunt isn't pulled on the human population.[Via RobotGossip]
New Zealand teen jacks Xbox 360, divulges credentials to Microsoft
Apparently, a 14-year old teenager in New Zealand doesn't visit Engadget (or use his brain) a whole lot -- you'd think that team of crooks who swiped a PlayStation, only to return for the power cord and eventually end up in police custody might have swayed him from doing the exact same thing. Not so. Oddly enough, the teen in question jacked the console and left the oh-so-critical power cable behind, but instead of devising yet another heist, he simply phoned Microsoft, gave out all his credentials (including the machine's serial number), and awaited the cable. In the meantime, the irate original owner dialed up the company as well; after discovering that his Xbox 360 had already been registered to its thief, he registered to obtain a court order to induce Microsoft to release the bandit's details. (Jailarity ensues.) So while our first PSA must not have been potent enough, we'll simply reiterate that stealing consoles probably isn't your calling if you can't even remember the accessories.[Via Xbox 360 News]
360 Thief calls tech support, gets busted
A 14 year old Kiwi stole an Xbox 360 but neglected to grab the power brick, as it was most likely too heavy for a clean getaway. So, the next day, he called the local tech support, and requested a new one, in the process giving the hot 360's serial number, his name, phone number, and address so that Microsoft New Zealand could mail him a new one. When the victim contacted MS, and gave his stolen console's SN, they informed him it had already been registered and they have the culprit's personal info, but couldn't reveal any information due to their privacy policy. The victim went to the police, who then contacted MS, and found that the only way they could get the information was through a court order. Only then were they able to make an arrest. Although, if we were in his shoes we probably would have just forked over the cash for another adapter.[Via DC Emu]
Gimme that! First copy of New Zealand GoW
Over at the geek pulp, Geek posed a great question ... what on Earth do you get a xbox fanboy (who has a large disposable income and has pretty much everything ever created for the Xbox) for his birthday? Well, it looks like Geek came through and found the perfect solution, the first copy of Gears of War that was released in New Zealand. Mounted, signed, and polished all pretty too! Start drooling and wishing that you had such a Gears of War masterpiece ... or simply wishing you had a large disposable income.[Thanks, Glen]
New Zealand black Wednesday Christmas sale
Mark your calendars. Next Wednesday, 13 December, is the Apple one-day shopping event for New Zealand, the apparent "Black Wednesday" for the new Apple store. Details are still quite sparse, although you can visit the promo page that's been set up to get a rough idea about the event. It looks like many items will have free shipping and it can only be hoped that prices are reduced enough to make Renaissance blush in shame.Thanks Graham
Apple Launches iTunes Store New Zealand
After tons of rumors and speculation, the New Zealand iTunes store debuted today. The online store offers over two million songs, with individual tracks priced at NZ$1.79, music videos at NZ$3.59 and many albums at NZ$17.99. Many New Zealand artists are featured exclusively in the New Zealand store, including Fat Freddy's Drop, Brooke Fraser, Tim Finn, The Datsuns and Bic Runga as well as extensive catalogues from New Zealand greats including Shihad, Crowded House, The Black Seeds, Breaks Co-Op, Elemeno P and Dei Hamo.
iTunes goes New Zealand
The New Zealand Herald reports that locals are looking forward to the anticipated opening of iTunes New Zealand. It's been a long time coming. Rumors about iTunesNZ have been floating around for nearly three years without the appearance of an actual storefront. Insiders in the NZ music industry report that local labels are now in active negotiations with Apple and that the new storefront may appear before the end of the year.Thanks Al.
New Zealand high-schoolers to use "text-speak" on national exams
While Aussies are still debating whether or not texting should be a recognized subject in school, New Zealanders apparently have no qualms with the so-called "extension of the English language." High school students in New Zealand will be able to use "text-speak" on this year's written national examinations if they so desire, which should send old-fashioned scorers into fits of rage while trying to wade through a myriad of words lacking vowels. New Zealand's Qualifications Authority said that it still strongly discourages students from using anything other than "full English," but that credit will be given if the answer "clearly shows the required understanding," even if the students uses "lol" and "CU" to get there. It was noted that grammar-based sections would require actual words to be spelled out, removing that competitive advantage where it probably matters most. Nevertheless, it's yet another small step for texting, and a giant leap for the English language -- right?[Via Textually]
Sky HDTV coming to New Zealand in 2008
Sky revealed to investors recently it plans to roll out an unnamed -- here's a name, Sky HD -- HDTV service in early 2008 featuring broadcasts as well as video-on-demand via satellite or internet connection. Sounds a lot like the Sky HD service already rolling out in the U.K., hopefully by the time it launches down under all the bugs will be worked out. The broadcaster already launched a new satellite earlier this month to provide a stronger signal, and expects free-to-air digital broadcasting coming to the region in 2007 will actually help improve its market penetration. Makes sense, as people upgrade to new TVs they'll want more and more HD programming, if Sky can fill that gap then it should work out great for everyone except the Kiwi's waiting until 2008 to see their own country on Discovery Channel HD every other week.
Veritide Anthrax Detector comes in happy face yellow
It's not often that we get to write about one of our favorite under-reported countries (New Zealand) and one of our favorite under-reported bacterial spores (anthrax) in the same post, but our lucky day has finally arrived. A Kiwi nation-based company called Veritide has just developed a handheld anthrax detector (aptly called the "Anthrax Detector"). This bright yellow gadget, which is about the size of a coffee mug, has a non-destructive optical scanner that'll determine in under a minute whether that spilled white powder in your laboratory is baking soda or the deadly bacteria. No intel yet on pricing, availability, nor if Veritide's Anthrax Detector comes with samples of anthrax spores to test it out, but either way it's something no self-respecting paranoiac should do without -- like the home geiger counter (and watch), or your handy cellphone radiation detector.[Via medGadget]
Study to research games' effect on Kiwis
Not to be outdone by the United States and its government-funded study on video game violence, the island nation of New Zealand is funding its own study on the effects of video game violence on Kiwis (the people, not the animal or the fruit). The $140,000 study is being headed by Dr. Gareth Schott, a psychologist at the University of Waikato who has previously looked at girl gamers, fan culture and the educational applications of games.With any luck, Schott's study will garner more evidence that can be used by the pro-gaming forces in the U.S. Then again, it might show that video game violence has a totally different effect on Americans than it does on New Zealanders. Wouldn't that just blow everyone's mind?
And you thought you had it bad? [update 1]
So, the Wii has been priced in Japan, the Americas, Europe, and Australia. But how about all those die-hard fans over in New Zealand? Well, Nintendo hasn't forgotten about them. An excerpt from the official press release:"As part of a global launch period, Wii will arrive in New Zealand on December 7th. Wii will be sold as an affordable, mass-consumer product at an R.R.P. of just $499.90. The price includes one wireless Wii Remote controller, one Nunchuk controller and the groundbreaking collection of five different Wii Sports games on one disc, which anyone can play using simple movements, experienced or not."Now, before you freak out, they're not talking about US dollars there. $500 New Zealand dollars converted into USD is actually $331, only slightly more than the $315 (249 Euros) Europeans have to pay. Still, for a console supposedly heralded as a low-cost option in the next-gen wars, it sure is getting steep in certain parts of the world. (Note: We still want to go to New Zealand. It's pretty!)[Update 1: Sorry, South America! You're on there now.]
Pentagon plan to save endangered satellites not without risks
As you may or may not know (we sure didn't), all those satellites orbiting our little ball of blue are highly susceptible to traumatic events such as intense solar storms or space-based nuclear blasts, and would likely be crippled by the resulting swarm of charged particles. The big brains at the Pentagon are aware of this danger, of course, and have come up with a solution called "radiation belt remediation" that would employ even more sats to broadcast low frequency radio waves into particle filled areas, creating so-called wave-particle interactions that would encourage the pesky molecules to fall harmlessly into the Earth's upper atmosphere. Sounds like a great plan, except a team of researchers at New Zealand's University of Otago believe that all those charged particles in the ionosphere would absorb the vital communications signals that are normally supposed to be reflected back down to terra firma. Long story short, by saving the satellites, communications on the ground would be severely hampered, affecting everyone from military personnel to amateur radio hobbyists -- and in a worst case scenario, GPS signal quality and accuracy could be severely degraded, much to the dismay of the burgeoning geocaching community. Still, if this is the only option we've got in the face of a nuclear attack, losing ground -based communications for a week or so is a small price to pay in order to save hundreds of satellites; we can deal with our in-car sat nav systems acting screwy for a little while, but we must protect our ability to receive XM/Sirius and DISH/DirecTV broadcasts at all costs.
Weta's giant, imposing love letter to Nintendo
Weta Workshop's "Tripod" -- launched in November '05 to promote the film industry in New Zealand -- is a 6.5m (about 21') tall, 5 ton bronze and steel statue that "appear to be made from railway sleepers for legs, excavator arms and hydraulic pistons, videogame console parts and toasted sandwich makers." Video game console parts, eh? Like what? A poster at the NZGamer forums took some close-ups of an N64 controller (pictured) and a Game Boy (after the break) built into the legs. It's only a matter of time before this thing takes on religious significance for the Nintendo faithful; jaded gamers will go on pilgrimages to Wellington to experience the healing effects of the Tripod. [Via El Jaso]
New Zealand goes digital
We are confident that our tipster and resident of New Zealand, Toby Hawkes, isn't the only one happy about this announcement. The New Zealand government has announced a plan to provide free-to-air digital television service within a year. The service will be model after Britain's service. There isn't any talk about high-def yet though, just digital. Got to start someplace though.[thanks for the tip Toby]
