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TGS07: Explosive Bangai-O Spirits trailer
We love the Tokyo Game Show, if only because it gives us a valid excuse to talk about Bangai-O Spirits every single day. And actual video of the game is an especially good excuse. The video features the normal huge, massive super attacks that are the game's trademark, but you'll also notice that new weapons, including a sword, are now available. How will super attacks work with the sword? No idea!Another video features a strangely non-action-packed level that involves a Sokoban-style box-pushing puzzle. It's a weird change of pace from the frenetic shooting-- so weird, in fact, that the player continues to fill the screen with missiles for no reason.Even though Bangai-O was originally an N64 game, we're still amazed at how well Bangai-O Spirits makes the transition to the DS. Thanks so much for making another sequel, Treasure. We know you don't really like doing that.
Geometry Wars video hurts
We think we've underestimated Xbox 360 gamers. Not that we didn't hold them in high regard, but we just assumed that they were all humans. We don't know how anyone can play Geometry Wars and see what's going on through all the sparks and particle effects. It must require a feat of concentration just to track your own ship on the screen. We could barely play Bangai-O on the Dreamcast, and this is like Bangai-O with everything made of sparks. Wii gamers are going to get extra complexity in Geometry Wars: Galaxies, since we'll have to track not only our ship but also the Wiimote-controlled aiming reticle. It's like training your brain! Also, oooooh pretty. [Via Joystiq]
Wii Warm Up: Too many shooters?
The Virtual Console has made shooting games widely available for the first time in years. We like shooters, despite being categorically awful at them, so we're happy about this. But has the genre been disproportionately represented on the VC? There are so many, versus very few fighting games, and no role-playing games. Are you guys buying shooters? Are you happy with the selection? Are you all zap zap zap and pew pew pew at the bad spaceships?
LaRouche PAC implicates games at Va. Tech. review panel
In the weeks after the horrific shootings at Virginia Tech, the search for answers focused mainly on germane issues like gun control and mental health rather than simple media scapegoating. At least one group seems unwilling to let go of the games-made-him-do-it angle, though. Speaking to Governor Tim Kaine's official Virginia Tech Review Panel, Larouche Youth Movement leader Paul Mourino warned of a "potential epidemic eruption of a 'new violence,' driven, in part, by the mass distribution of killing simulators to youth."In addition to the familiar games-create-killers arguments, Mourino's comments included the remarkable implication that the game industry caused a "media blackout" on discussion of Cho's interest in video games by "pour[ing] millions of dollars into a public relations and damage-control campaign." Mourino cites the removal of a Washington Post mention of Cho's Counter-Strike playing as evidence of the conspiracy; this despite the Post author's explanation that the factoid was removed simply to make room for more recent, more relevant information.You may remember Lyndon LaRouche from his support of Sept. 11 conspiracy theories, his implication that the British royal family are drug dealers and his stories of Soviet secret police brainwashing of his supporters. So, all in all, there are worse people to have on the other side of the game violence debate.
Heroic gamer gets well, discharged from hospital
Remember that British gamer Adam Mapleson who was shot breaking up a robbery at a train station last week? Well, he was discharged from the hospital, according to The Register, and has returned home after a week of treatment. The security firm that employed the lady who was being robbed, Loomis, is offering a £25,000 reward for information leading to the capture of the thieves that shot Adam. You can see some rough drawings of the suspects here.The story also points to an online Get Well card set up by the folks who frequent the Pure Pwnage forums. If you want to leave Adam a message, your best bet for him to receive it would be to post there.
A most excellent adventure through time
Konami's Time Ace is a 3D reimagining of their fossilized arcade game Time Pilot, in which players thwart a time-traveling madman who wants to enslave the past with futuristic weapons. The method used to accomplish this goal? Flying around in airplanes and shooting everything, obviously. Something doesn't seem right about going into the past and shooting up the landscape to prevent the changing of world events, but what do we know? We aren't time travologists.There are 19 levels of time-travely, rail-shooty action, and a bunch of different planes from past, present and future. And speaking of flight in the past, this game doesn't use the touch screen for flight controls. That's an interesting decision.%Gallery-3617%
Heroic gamer breaks up robbery
When we think of gaming heroes, dudes who can rock a Pac-Man or create some of the industry's greatest games come to mind. That's all changed now, thanks to the heroic, selfless sacrifice of Adam Mapleson, a 24-year old IT consultant and avid gamer. Yesterday, at a train station, Adam sprung into action as two armed thugs robbed a female security officer.Diving to tackle the escaping men, Adam was shot in the chest at very close range. Laying there helpless and in dire need of aid, he was eventually brought to the hospital, where he now resides under the status of "serious but stable." Even though Adam failed to stop the robbers, who got away from the scene, Adam risked his own life to ensure that no one else was injured.Our thoughts are with you, Adam, so rest up and get better.[Via Joystiq]
The Wild West as you've never seen it before [Update 1]
We've got a bunch of screens for the Wild West, Majesco's new DS shooter. Looks like there'll be shoot outs, mine cart rides and cow herdin' a plenty in the budget title. Navigation, aiming and shooting will all be handled through the stylus, of course. They've really tried to keep things historically accurate, with 30 foot robots and killer bats populating the game, but hey, you'll be able to defend yourself with your trusty machine gun. Oh, and you're a lion.Click through for the screens.
WaPo writer talks VT shooter/Counter-Strike connection, removal
When a Washington Post story mentioned that Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung Hui played Counter-Strike in high school, we were intrigued. When the nugget disappeared from an online version of the Post story, we were even more intriguedTo clarify the situation, we caught up with Washington Post Staff Writer David Cho, who was responsible for originally reporting the factoid. Cho said the information was based on talks with some high school acquaintances of Hui's who occasionally saw him playing at an cyber cafe during his high school days.Cho said there was no solid indication either way whether or not Hui continued to play during three-and-a-half years at college. Hui's college roommates reportedly saw Hui on the computer constantly, but said he was usually writing, not playing games. Cho said a group of Virginia Tech Counter-Strike players he talked to had never heard of Hui, and that Hui hadn't attended a recent Counter-Strike tournament held on campus. As for the removal, Cho said it was standard practice to replace a rougher online version of a story with the polished print version when it was available. The Counter-Strike connection was removed, Cho said, to make room for more recent, more relevant information. Still, the fact is on file at the Post, Cho said, and it's possible it could make it into a future story.
G3 video game charity event involves ... shooting
"Welcome to G3 -- the biggest thing in the videogames industry" claims their website. The three Gs are guns, games, and giving. On May 4th in the UK, charitable shooters can pay £1250 for a team of five to enter, and be treated to a schedule filled with activities like: 0900 -- Arrive Gosterwood Manor shooting grounds – consume bacon butties / tea / coffee 1020 -- Start shooting the 10 stands 1200 -- Break for lunch at The Parrot 1400 -- Return to shooting grounds, complete the 10 stands 1615 -- Tea, prizes, boasting, exaggeration Thankfully the money is going to the Entertainment Software Charity, so if you're in the UK, you want to hobnob with some game executives, shoot a few rounds, and explore your philanthropic side all at the same time, then you're pretty much covered. Pull!
Virtually Overlooked: Zombie Nation
Welcome to our weekly feature, Virtually Overlooked, wherein we talk about games that aren't on the Virtual Console yet, but should be. Call it a retro-speculative. Zombie Nation is easily the best game ever created about a flying, disembodied samurai head. Don't try to argue with us on this one. We feel pretty confident that we're right about this. Oh, and it's a shmup, as well. Boring spaceships have nothing on a giant head.
Wii Blaster incoming
With the announcement of Resident Evil 4 and Umbrella Chronicles for the Wii, coupled with the still unreleased Virtual Console titles Duck Hunt and Hogan's Alley, it's time to start asking, "Where's the Wii Zapper?" Gamestop has listed the Wii Blaster for $20 and what we strongly believe to be a placeholder date of May 1. Although, this isn't necessarily the most improbable date with the Resident Evil games expected to have a summer release.The Gamestop listing has no photo of the what the Zapper Blaster looks like now. The last time we saw her she was behind glass at E3 with a "work in progress" sign. We're really looking forward to having a gun, these first-person shooters just don't feel natural with a Wiimote. Now give us a game that allows for dual wielding Blasters and that's a guaranteed $50 going to that publisher!
Radio Allergy delayed to March
Bad news for both of the people that preordered this one. O3 have delayed the US release of Milestone's shmup Radio Allergy until March 30th. The game, known as Radilgy in Japan, was released on the Gamecube in May of last year. We understand the delay-- shooting games have so much text to translate. Or maybe they didn't want to bring the game out in the midst of a busy Gamecube release season. Also (and this is what makes this news item explicitly appropriate for Wii Fanboy) O3 have deployed the "Rhythm Tengoku trick" in marketing their game-- there's a little "Wii Compatible" icon on the box. They might as well use every tactic they can think of; we get the feeling that selling a shmup for the Gamecube in 2007 is harder than, well, a certain kind of frantic videogame that is notorious for difficulty.We'd actually like to see the "Wii Compatible" tactic used by other developers to sell localized versions of obscure titles from the Gamecube back catalog at budget prices, but we think it would take a more popular game to start a trend. What do you think?
Gauss' GP-219 electromagnetic pistol fires steel projectiles silently
Sure, mechanical sentries and AirSoft turrets are novel, but there's nothing like whipping out an electromagnetic pistol to show folks you mean business. The Gauss GP-219 looks like it came straight from level 5 of Duke Nukem 3D, and rocks a PIC microcontroller, dual coils with "precision pulsing" to fire steel projectiles, twin infrared sensors to assist in positioning, and even a laser sight to keep your enemies pegged. Powered by an NiCd battery pack, this bad boy also features a bar display to track "capacitor bank charge progress," battery and fault LED indicators, and is "completely silent" when fired. The wildest part about this science-fiction dream come true is how effective it actually is, so be sure to click on for a few more pictures, and hit the read links for all the nitty gritty and even a few live action videos. Read - Gauss Pistol GP-219 Read - Pistol whipping in action, Nukem-style
PS3 shooting case is still open, says DA
Despite a grand jury dismissal of murder charges earlier this week, New Hanover County Cpl. Christopher Long could still be retried over the shooting of a suspected PS3 thief. New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David told North Carolina's WCNC that the investigation against Long is continuing and that a new grand jury convening next month could decide to bring charges against him.Long's attorney argued that in the absence of any new evidence, the court should not second-guess the determination of the original grand jury. He also insisted Long be allowed to testify to any future grand jury, a privilege he was not allowed during the first trial.Also see: Deputy charged with second degree murder
North Carolina deputy kills suspected PS3 thief and his dog [update 2]
A New Hanover County sheriff's deputy Friday night shot and killed a man suspected in an armed robbery of two PlayStation 3 consoles. Peyton Strickland, 18, was killed inside his rented home while unarmed, claimed one of his roommates. Authorities were serving a warrant for Strickland's arrest in connection with his suspected involvement in the theft of two PS3s from a University of North Carolina Wilmington student on November 17. A deputy also shot and killed Strickland's German shepherd outside the home.Investigators are currently reviewing the conduct of all officers involved in the tragic incident. "No one's above the law. If there's any criminal conduct that can be established, I'm not going to hesitate to treat them as any other defendant," vowed District Attorney Ben David.Update 1: Deputy charged with 2nd degree murder for slaying of suspected PS3 thiefUpdate 2: Murder charged dropped against deputy who shot suspected PS3 thief
Alleged PS3 shooters caught, streets safe for console camping
The Worcester Telegram and Gazette is reporting that Connecticut police have arrested two suspects in the shooting and attempted robbery of a man waiting in line for a launch PS3. Twenty-year-old William J. Robertson and 17-year-old Andrew Patnaude were arrested this morning on charges of attempted murder and robbery after a search that involved state police and police dogs. Robertson is being held on $1 million bail, according to the article.While we shouldn't condemn these suspects without proof, we all feel a little bit safer knowing that the boys in blue are working diligently to bring these console camper casing crooks to justice.Previously: More on the victim[Thanks Frank the Crank]
PS3 shooting victim is unemployed eBay profiteer
A few weeks ago, gamers across the country were shocked at the devotion of a Connecticut man who was shot and hospitalized during his wait for the PS3. Such a man must be extremely devoted to video games to risk his life for the latest next-gen system, right?Wrong. A follow-up article by the Worcester Telegram & Gazette reveals that 21-year-old Michael Penkala was waiting "not because he's a fan of the popular game system but because he saw a business opportunity." The unemployed Penkala, whose "only means of income at the moment is selling T-shirts, Beanie Babies and New England Patriots plush toys on his front lawn," was carrying $2,600 in cash to purchase four PS3s to resell on eBay (with the help of three friends waiting in line).What's more, after being shot by the fleeing would-be robbers, Penkala's first instinct was to make sure his friends got the money to purchase the systems. "For some reason I wasn't thinking about my wound, I was all about those PlayStations," Penkala is quoted as saying.The eBay proceeds from the four PS3s Penkala eventually picked up likely won't cover the hundreds of thousands of dollars in health care costs for the uninsured Penkala. Despite this, Penkala rejected the idea of pimping out his auctions as "the system he got shot for." Classy.[Thanks Avias]
PS3 violence mirrors novel storyline
File this one in the "life imitating art" department ... or maybe in the "art predicting guerrilla marketing?" department. Max Barry's book Jennifer Government revolves partially around a Nike marketing plan to shoot the first ten buyers of a new shoe in an effort to build hype and street cred for the launch. Today, Barry posted on his blog about the similarities between his book's plot and the recent violence surrounding the launch of the PS3.Could the muggings and robberies surrounding Sony's new system be a carefully orchestrated marketing ploy to increase exposure for the PS3? Barry stops short of making such a serious accusation. "That would be unspeakably immoral," he said. "To rip off the opening of Jennifer Government so blatantly, I mean."We have to agree -- while Sony 's PS3 marketing has occasionally been disturbing, you have to admit that it's also been pretty original.[Via AeroPause, Thank Reddrive]
PS3 hopefuls shot with BB's at Kentucky Best Buy
If you thought shacking up outside of a Best Buy in near-freezing temperatures (say, Ann Arbor, Michigan) for nearly two weeks is hardcore, imagine how folks waiting in Lexington, Kentucky felt when a drive-by shooter let the pellets fly into a group of PS3 hopefuls. Apparently bitter and distraught from not getting their name on a (shaky) pre-order list, enraged suspects drove by a Best Buy on Nicholasville Road and "injured four people with BB pellets," including a news reporter who was conducting an interview with one of the campers. Although none of the folks were seriously injured, we can't help but wonder who pulls off a drive-by shooting with cameras rolling, and moreover, did the "mildly wounded" individuals waiting in line forfeit their position to visit a hospital? The soldier in us says negative.[Via digg]
