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Listed as the definitive guide to Asian poses, aptly named Asianposes.com sets the stage for learning the hardest of poses. As challenges are listed, strike your pose and upload the greatest pics for the world to see…poser weeaboos need not apply.
In more revealing witch goodness, Platinum Games demonstrated there are more wicked ways than a simple bullet storm, death hair slam, or leggy roundhouse kick to slay an enemy. Unleash your magical energy for a “torture attack”, dealing a myriad of successive moves to send the demons back from whence they came forth.
Due out in February in both Blu-ray and DVD formats, Dante’s Inferno: An Animated Epic is a collaborative effort by several studios to create “6 terrifying visions of Hell”. It looks fun, gory, and reminiscent of Le Chevalier D’Eon if I was having a bad acid trip.
To kick off the North American release of The Darkside Chronicles for the Wii Capcom released what they dub as the first interactive game trailer. While being very similar in style to the Super Mario Youtube smash video, Capcom get us ready for some zombie killing. Have your mouse ready…
With yesterday’s iPhone post listing some merits of game development, there is a seedier side to owning what amounts to a GPS handheld computer wherever you go. A lawsuit has been filed with Studio8, makers of the popular Vampires Live, Ninjas Live, Racing Live, and a number of other (insert noun) Live games. The suit alleges Strom8 knowingly inserted an electronic backdoor to farm phone numbers from downloaders.
Is it all worth the fervor? Some would say no, I mean everyone has access to your telephone right? You give your number to universities, pizza chains, and a number of other businesses. Whether it be an error in judgement, although Storm8 notes it’s a bug, the point of contention for me is a privacy issue. As a business decision recording phone numbers may be a way just to track who is downloading it, but as a marketing decision I see a way to profit by selling my private information to 3rd parties. If you take my information tell me. If I find out later you’ve done it secretly, I’ll be none too pleased. Wouldn’t you be upset if Domino’s and PizzaHut sold your information and home address to telemarketers or am I just being crazy?
Last year we felt Apple’s chest pounding on the iPhone being the greatest mobile gaming device ever, was a bit premature. Now with nearly 100,000 apps and counting, the iPhone continues to be in the headlines as both indie and corporate developers further exploit the technology producing rich content and memorable experiences, although I’d add we continue to mock said statement. In the case of Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies (CoDWaRZ?), the IdeaWorks Game Studios port of its console counterpart delivers. While one of the more expensive apps, the $9.99 goes a long way and is sure to suck down your battery life.
The app allows for multiplayer over WiFi and Bluetooth, with a promise of DLC in the future. After I got it installed and played the first tutorial round I found the controls a little wonky, but you have the option of using the accelerometers in leu of the onscreen virtual controls which provide the feeling of more control. It takes some getting used too, but I know I’ll be playing this for some time.
To be fair and balanced, I’ve thrown a bone for the men and some balls for my ladies. First up , called “Nice Cup in Bra”, Triumph International Japan gives us the meditative relief of a hole in one. The 1.5 meter unfurling grass-green top exposes two cups which chant out “Nice Shot” with each successful putt. Want to complete the outfit and be a foe on the course? The bottom half of this cheeky skirt, emblazoned with “Be Quiet” on the rear, allows for easy removal to be used as an audience flag, signaling others to shush. You mean business.
And for my bros I give you, “Oda Nobunaga”. I know it’s a mouthful and at $100 bucks a pair a bit pricey, but what better way of strolling through your job as a salaryman, sealing the deal with the pride and nobility of the magnificent samurai underneath your power suit.
Monday 16 November 2009 @ 11:40 pm | By Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Oh yes, it’s that time of the year again, the time where strangers and relatives turn on you, get violent and an insatiable thirst for flesh. No, not the start of the holyday season, although that makes sense, I’m talking about the Zombie Apocalypse, it’s back once more with Left 4 Dead 2. The game just got released a few hours ago and I’m giving it three thumbs up (it’s a birth defect). But just as with the holidays, the spirit of the zombie apocalypse is also that of sharing. So let’s share the warm fuzzy feeling of shooting the horde of the undead together!
Join the Dark Diamond Steam Group where you’ll be able to play with some of us as well as with other dear readers. You can bet that’s all we’ll be playing for days. Also feel free to share your Xbox Live Gamertags, phone numbers, credit card details and social security numbers.
Monday 16 November 2009 @ 2:56 am | By Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Yes, you can pretend to be Konata, but we aren’t talking about that kind of pretend. This is about the games of pretend you played as a kid, when the colored squares in the floor were lava and you’d die if you stepped on them. And also the kind you play today, even when you’d never admit it, like when you sit at your desk and pretend to be working for 8 hours a day.
We’re kidding on that last one, but Russell Davies takes pretend very seriously and he thinks it should become a bigger part of gaming in the future. He gave a presentation at London’s Playful event on the place pretending takes on our lives and how utterly magical it can be when we use it for gaming. This is augmented reality like you haven’t seen it before. The full presentation transcript, along with the slides and videos are on his site it its a must read. It’s smart, funny and very insightful. If you care for the deeper meanings of gaming or augmented reality you’d do yourself a favor by reading it.
Sunday 15 November 2009 @ 2:05 am | By Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Being a language teacher in a foreign country is never easy, in a country as prejudiced and complex as Japan it’s even harder. Here’s a little video which pokes fun at the ridiculous and uncomfortable situations of an English teacher in Japan. It’s a bit hit-or-miss but I was cracking up one minute in.
Now if you excuse me I have to go call the police, there’s a lood party next door.