Commentary: Video Games 1, Overzealous Opportunists: 0 (Again)

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So the Supreme Court showed some actual common sense (mostly) in finally ruling that ALL video games (no matter the rating) are protected free speech as well as a form of entertainment and NOT “murder simulators” guaranteed to turn Little Johnny into Ed Gein within three seconds of picking up a controller. While it's unbelievable that it took so long, HOWEVER there's a new and more annoying issue that's cropped up. While the ruling DOES state that it's fine for minors to BUY M-rated video games, I HOPE that major retailers such as GameStop and others continue to enforce the ESRB ratings and ask for ID and.or refuse to sell ANY Mature-rated games to underage kids. Why? Pure common sense is the answer.Read more »

Save The Post Office – Write a REAL Letter!*

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Yikes. You KNOW things are bad when you go to the Post Office and THEY’RE out of forms anyone can easily get online. Of course, by the time I realized I was running low on 2976-E’s and went to order some last week, the USPS online shop was down for the count for a day or two. Fortunately, I found a few spares in my scanner (of all places… I guess I need to use it more often, huh?), but those ran out yesterday. Amusingly enough, I’d forgotten to ask for a few when I dropped off some packages because a rather silly verbal battle broke out at the post office that involved a supervisor doing her job well and some really cranky people waiting on a really LONG line.

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Dark Souls Design A Shield Contest Could Get YOU In The Game…

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Got talent? Want to see YOUR artwork in glorious 3D in one of this year's most anticipated releases by one of the world's best game developers AND have millions of gamers guarding their fleshy bits with your custom gear? Well, then… get on over to the Dark Souls Facebook page, LIKE it and sign up for this awesome contest. Full press release below the jump. Now, if I only had enough time to design a killer shield of my own…Read more »

Atlus Shows Off Its Girl Catherine, Some Still Sexually (and Otherwise) Confused

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Last evening (or afternoon if you were on the West Coast), Atlus did an incredible (and lengthy) Ustream demo of its upcoming PS3/360 game Catherine and based on the number of press attendees plus a decent sized group of just over 20 non-press oglers, this was their most successful streaming event to date. It's no wonder, given the interest shown in the game ever since screens and videos of the Japanese version started popping up on the Internet and gamers started begging for a localization.

While the single player mode was the main draw of the event, there was a bit of multiplayer shown that made for a really nice surprise. I have the feeling THAT mode just might break up a friendship or two in the same way The Adventures of Cookie & Cream did when things got too out of hand. Then again, in Catherine's MP, it's every sheep-horned man for himself (and it's a damn good thing it's only two players onscreen, given the hilariously zippy pace and violent pillow swinging action going on with the frantic block climbing).Read more »

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon "Fly-Through" Gameplay Trailer

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Namco Bandai’s upcoming PS3/360 flight shooter packs a serious action movie punch with some supremely visceral combat sequences, oil “bleeding” planes and plenty of destruction in and out of the sky. I say give these guys the Colony Wars IP (and some top-notch writers) and see what they can do with space combat. But then again, I tend to over think that sort of stuff a wee bit too much.

FREE Movie Tickets (ACT FAST)… If You’re In New York City, That Is…

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If you’re in the NYC area and want something really cool and FREE to do and see this coming July 13, check this offer out from New York-Tokyo.com:

FREE Movie Ticket giveaway to the NY premiere screening of the award-winning Japanese film “VILLAIN”. 7PM, Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at Big Cinemas Manhattan in New York City!

HOW: Head over to the New York -Tokyo Facebook page and LIKE them for your FREE ticket.
Under the VILLAIN FREE Ticket header, write either “one ticket” or “two tickets”. Simple.

Star Odyssey Released – Time To Dig Out The Genesis!

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Awesome. SuperFighter Team has released its latest retro game project, the long-awaited Star Odyssey for the Sega Genesis and Mega Drive systems. The game (known as Blue Almanac in Japan) was one of a number of projects for Sega’s 16-bit console that was started but never fully completed in terms of an English localization, but thanks to the dedication and a ton of hard work by Brandon Cobb the rest of SFT, it’s finally done with many improvements and ready for purchase HERE.

As usual, expect a high-quality package complete with a the game cartridge, clam shell case, full-color manual and art insert. As someone who remembers reading a preview article for this one back in the day (and later ended up buying and playing carefully through some of the Japanese version without knowing a bit of the language), you better believe I just ordered a copy. I’ll post a review around the end of July. In the meantime, go dig out that Genny from the closet (or go buy one cheap on ebay) and shell out the $48 (including US shipping) for this resurrected sci-fi RPG gem – I’m betting you won’t regret it one bit.

Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D Launch Trailer

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Crap. This means I’ll need to think about buying a 3DS after all. And here I am, trying to save up to get my damn passport renewed, pay for meds and a few other important things. Oh well… I guess I don’t need that extra kidney after all (and a 3DS IS cheaper than an iPad!)… The game looks pretty darn good so far (although you kind of don’t see that much of it in action, the visuals are pretty spectacular).

Insomniac’s Ted Price Addresses The Whiny Crowd That Doesn’t Quite Get It Yet…

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Here’s an example of a solid effort and helping some folks grow up a little. Some of the super hard-core (read: less intelligent) Insomniac fanboys, many who want the company to move backward into old IP territory have been practically shooting flames from their little ears ever since the learned their favorite company was going multi-playform and things got worse when their new partnership with EA revealed what’s looking like a cool little new IP, OverStrike. While I’d prefer to let the goons stew in their juices ’til they pop, Price is a nicer guy than I am as he went to the trouble to explain a bit how the real world works outside the confines on a TV set and the insides of certain small-brained creatures. Excellent. Now, lets hope some of these folks GET IT, move on and enjoy gaming on any console Insomniac makes games for rather than the sound of air escaping from their rant-filled lips and other orifices.

5 for $5 Bundle Gets A Sixth Free

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Hey, cheapskate! Yes, you – you know that in this crappy economy there’s no shame in wanting to spend LESS for your games. Of course, indie games have been the way to go for ages and while I always think these games should sell for more, I can’t stop folks from tossing stellar deals into your laps from time to time when they want to. Here’s one more for you: The truly AWESOME 5 for $5 Bundle from Lunar Workshop that features some pretty darn cool games guaranteed to please while making your wallet happy. Of course, your wallet can’t play games, so maybe you’ll be twice as happy, hmmmm?