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Stephen Totilo leaves MTV News for cross-net rivals, Kotaku
Stephen Totilo – MTV News' stalwart gaming reporter – has announced via the MTV Multiplayer blog that he is "leaving MTV News this Friday after a wonderful four-year run." His next stop? "It's not game development. It is games journalism," Totilo writes. And that outlet: none other than cross-net rivals, Kotaku. Now, before you hiss and throw your MTV t-shirt to the ground in disgust (put your shirt back on!), we want to be the first to congratulate Stephen on the move. While gaming blogs, like Joystiq and Kotaku, have long fought against the bias of major publishers to be accepted as legitimate outlets, Stephen's presence at Kotaku not only gives the staff some much-needed good looks but lends legitimacy to the format. A rising tide lifts all boats, blue and purple alike. So, on that note: congrats, Stephen.His title will be Deputy Managing Editor for Cake-Related Posts. Source – The End Of My Run, MTV Multiplayer's Next StepSource – Games Journalist Quits Job For More Games Journalism
MTV's Totilo: DS version of Galactrix plagued by load times
Considering our outrageous, unslakable handheld lust for Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords, we didn't think anything could keep us from diving back into our dual-screened device for a go at Galactrix -- though a report from MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo is giving us slight cause for concern. According to Totes, the DS version of the game suffers from "surprisingly long load times." Yes, he said the DS version -- not the Commodore 64 version. We were confused at first as well.Totilo said that the four to five-second load times occur before each puzzle, during mission selection and when checking inventory. Doesn't sound like much, but as he assures us, "it adds up." Anyone else notice their precious seconds being squandered whilst participating in some interplanetary gem-swapping?
PSP beating DS ... on New York subway trains
The poor PSP has spent most of its life getting kicked in the teeth by the rampaging DS in all major regions; even taking into account its recent strong performance in Japan, there's no doubt that Sony's machine has come in a firm second place. But look, here comes MTV's Stephen Totilo, and he's bearing good news for Sony executives everywhere: the PSP is the most popular handheld in New York City! Well, alright, on the New York City subway. Okay, on the New York subway's "C Train". Hey, the little victories count as well!Totilo reached this summary through the simplest, most non-scientific method ever: over the course of a year, he mentally tallied up how many of each handheld he saw played on the subway, and eventually counted 67 PSPs, 44 DSes, 6 Game Boy Advances, and 0 Gizmondos. While he treats his findings light-heartedly (as you should), Totilo concludes that this preference for the PSP is due to the typical subway commuter being older and having a higher disposable income and being on the same subway train as Stephen Totilo.It's a very specific survey.
Revealed: Why Mario isn't in Wii Fit
Had you described Wii Fit to us three years ago, we'd have gambled our entire gashapon collection on Mario, a man with a quite ridiculous number of pastimes, being on the front of the box. A title such as, ooh, we don't know, "Mario Workout" wouldn't have been out of the question. Not any more, though -- not in the age of the expanded audience. Nowadays, Mario doesn't have a divine right to appear in every vaguely sporty Nintendo game.And we're glad about that. Not only do we totally dig Wii Fit's sleek, minimalistic look, but Mario is already in enough stuff, and even Mario's daddy, Shigeru Miyamoto, agrees with us (great minds and all that). As Shiggy explained to MTV's Stephen Totilo: "We wanted to create it so that people of all ages could look at it and feel it was for them. I think [including Mario] might have limited its ability." So including Mario might limit the appeal of something? How novel!%Gallery-4745%
Epic's Mark Rein and CliffyB explain PC gaming 'disarray'
Gears of War creator and faux-chainsaw-gun wielder Cliff Blezinski made some pretty disparaging (if not slightly true) comments about the state of PC gaming to MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo at last month's DICE summit in Las Vegas -- leading to to his illustrated immolation on a webcomic a few of you have probably heard of. At GDC, StevieT got another chance to sit down with CliffyB, this time with fellow Epic bigwig Mark Rein (MarkyR?) to flesh out the problems plaguing the PC gaming industry.The two never backtrack on CliffyB's original statement, but they do express their fervent support for the PC Gaming Alliance -- a sentiment which will hopefully cause anti-console gamers to dismantle any ballistic weaponry they may have pointed at Cliffy's residence. We do so want a Gears of War 3.
Heed Totilo's warning -- keep a late Mass Effect save to play new DLC
We're certain that anyone who is excited about the new DLC for BioWare's intergalactic opera Mass Effect probably beat the game late last year, allowing their respective Commander Shepherds to grow portly and short-winded in the following months. While you may be tempted to delete those vestiges of space adventures past from your hard drive so you can start anew when it comes time to 'Bring Down the Sky', MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totlio strongly suggests you don't -- unless you want to wait a few hours before perusing the new content.You see, in order to access the new missions provided in the download, you'll need your trusty space-faring vessel, which is not available for the last couple of hours and first few hours of the game. So, whether you've started the game over, or just deleted your old saves, make sure you reclaim your wings by March 10 if you want to venture forth into uncharted territories in search of new extraterrestrial nookie.
MTV's Stephen Totilo sits down with Lost: Via Domus
It's been nearly eight months since the last new episode of "Lost" aired. Eight months to whip up conspiracy theories, play some alternate reality games, and go to "Lost" fan conventions in full Hurley cosplay regalia. Now that we're within two weeks of the season four premiere, MTV Multiplayer's Stephen Totilo has the scoop on Ubisoft's Lost: Via Domus to slake the last bit of our eight month thirst for tropical island mysteries.We already knew you were going to be playing as a new character to the series, an amnesiatic photojournalist named Frank West Elliott. However, we weren't quite sure of the level of interactivity you would have with the show's plotline and characters (many of whom are voiced by the actors who play them on the show). After Totilo's brief time with the game, he assures his readers that there will be many opportunities to view actual events from the show from a different angle, like the initial plane crash, or the untimely detonation of Arzt (we hope).If being chased around an island by sentient clouds of smoke is your idea of a good time, Lost: Via Domus drops on Feb. 26 for the PC, PS3, and 360. If not, be patient. We're sure they'll make a video game adaptation of "Sex and the City" soon enough.
MTV's gaming pronunciation guide targets Totilo
Having destroyed our abominable mispronunciations of names belonging to Nintendo presidents, developer ninjas and celluloid butchers, MTV's Stephen Totilo finally turns his infamous pronunciation guide on himself. It's a bit like the final scene in Alien 3 where (15-year old spoiler!) SEE-GORE-KNEE flings herself into a pool of lava in order to eradicate the last remaining creature. Go ahead and watch Mr. TOE-TILL-OH's sacrifice*, even if it seems like a transparent ploy to get his gigantic mug on our lovely website.*Not viewable in the UK or Canada due to silly contractual nonsense.
Croal and Totilo go toe-to-toe about Zelda
Super-journalists Stephen Totilo and N'Gai Croal have started one of their "Vs. Mode" exchanges, in which they debate the merits of a particular game at length. This time, the subject of their discussion is The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. MTV's Totilo finds that while the new control scheme of the game is largely great, other parts of Phantom Hourglass are too stripped-down or simplified; for example, finding bombable walls, once an exercise in tapping walls or just bombing everything, now you are often led right to the spot via a pattern on the floor. In addition, what hasn't been messed with, he thinks, may need to be. As a longtime Zelda fan, Totilo thinks that the series may be getting stale.Croal, on the other hand, is a Zelda neophyte, starting with the DS game, as Nintendo imagines many others to be doing. He loves the controls-- so much so, in fact, that he all but states that the fun of controlling Link is the only thing keeping him hanging on. He finds that there's too much wandering and backtracking in Phantom Hourglass, and probably in Zelda in general, and not enough forward motion.It doesn't sound like either journalist will be donning a Link suit to review the game. Did the same issues weigh on your decision to buy or pass on the game, or was it as easy as "new Zelda, must buy"?[Image part of a wallpaper found here, via GameSetWatch]
Koller talks PSP to MTV: reveals US GPS plans, downloadable PSP games, and the fate of Dark_Alex
Sorry, Colin! The headline simply can't reveal how many small details were revealed in Stephen Totilo's incredibly extensive interview John Koller for MTV News. In the interview Koller revealed that all upcoming PSP games developed by Sony will take advantage of the system's full 333MHz speed, with no negative impact to battery life. Other accessories for the US include the upcoming GPS peripheral, which is currently being "tweaked" with an expected release in the next 10-12 months. The PSP camera "may get a spec change" before coming to America -- but the TV tuner will never make its way to the US.Bringing downloadable games to PSP is one of the next things to tackle for Sony. echochrome was originally meant to be a downloadable PSN game for PSP, but it became much larger than anticipated. "It was initially going to be a download-service-only game," Koller said. "We changed it to a UMD because it's a very rich game. That's where their mind is. They're developing that kind of game." Thankfully, other downloadable PSP games are in the works. When can we expect them? In the next six to eight months.In regard to the homebrew scene, Koller says that there were no talks between Sony and Dark_Alex, saying that "I think he's taking a hiatus." For even more, please visit MTV News for more.
MTV News foils Wii Fit, invents Wii Sit
After finding one of the Wii Fit games to be lacking in challenge, MTV News reporter and master of balance, Stephen Totilo, hoped to up the ante by lowering himself to the ground and turning the game's Balance Board into more of a stability seat. The resulting video confirms that Wii Fit can be played in full couch potato posture, most likely with a beer in one hand and a bag of nachos in the other. Take that, exergaming!Of course, even minimal effort unlocks countless gaming possibilities and we honestly can't wait for the likes of Warioga, Metroid Meditation and of course, Mario and Ghandi at the Non-cooperation Gatherings. Careful you don't strain yourself too much though -- despite popular opinion, Wii Fit is not good enough... for you to poop on. (highlight to read)Watch -- Wii Fit Played While Seated
Blowing on the DS sucks (or: the huff-and-puff games)
MTV News' Stephen Totilo has discovered the first video game innovation he's ever hated: "blow control" on the Nintendo DS. When he was commanded to literally exhale air at the system's built-in microphone in WarioWare: Master of Disguise, Totilo decided, "I don't see the point. What I see is embarrassment at having to hyperventilate over my DS while riding the subway." That seems like the point to us.Press the Buttons' Matthew Green agrees with Totilo, and calls Diddy Kong Racing DS the worst offender of the "huff-and-puff" games. "I did so much huffing and puffing to try and beat the clock that I made myself dizzy and had to go lie down for a while." From DS hyperventilation to Wii elbow, Nintendo really loves making gamers get in touch with their doughy, neglected bodies. Wii Yoga, anyone?
Nintendo team playing with Miis in Twilight Princess
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Nintendo_team_playing_with_Miis_in_Twilight_Princess'; During an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto, MTV's Stephen Totilo threw out a speculative question: Had Nintendo experimented with using Miis in Zelda: Twilight Princess? Miyamoto answered that, in fact, the developers at EAD had in fact been playing with that feature! After completing the game, the team started experimenting with putting Miis into the Twilight Princess engine, just for fun.So, working at Nintendo is so awesome that programmers continue working on their games after they've shipped for recreational purposes. That is a shining endorsement if ever there was one.The MTV Multiplayer site is set up so that it's impossible to link directly to the story; you'll have to scroll down or search for "Nintendo's Miyamoto On One-Handed 'Mario,' Miis In 'Zelda".
Alive and gaming in Baghdad
"We can't go outside, so I prefer to keep inside and keep myself alive."The words are from Wisam, a gamer living in Baghdad. Wisam is a rarity, and listening to his story on Iraq blog / vlog Alive In Baghdad explains why. Wisam, a recent graduate of the Baghdad University English Department, explains that he spends upwards of $200 on electricity each month -- partly from a local generator that runs 4 p.m. until midnight and partly from the fuel he buys for his personal generator. That's a hefty sumWisam said he learned his English from games such as Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy. MTV News' Stephen Totilo has a thorough piece on Wisam and the crew of Alive in Baghdad. Among the game-related topics discussed, Wisam talked about the decline in interest for war shooters like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty. "We hate the attacking, the gunfire in games," Wisam told MTV News. "We started to hate it."In a sad note, Wisam described how Grand Theft Auto is much like Baghdad right now. Omar Abdullah, who interviewed Wisam for Alive in Baghdad, concurred, telling MTV News that "it was very, very similar to Baghdad. We were like, 'Oh my God. These are the same actions that happen in Baghdad.' There are some places that are divided. For each place, there is a gang ruling that place. You can go down the street and drive any car. If you want to jump on a motorcycle, you can do it."With all the news that circulates about Baghdad, include tonight's U.S. Presidential address, it's thought-provoking to see a often missed perspective on the region.
