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In an ever increasing trend in fandom, gamers in Lyon, France have taken to the streets reenacting the classic gem PacMan. While not nearly as serious as the Russians when it comes to real-life RPGaming, Pacman@Lyon transforms the city grid of Lyon into their playground. Not relying on anything but cellphones and costumes, Ghosts act as spotters on the ground communicating with their “controller” to find PacMan. All the while, PacMan is searching for power pellets in the hopes of turning the opposing team into lunch. This information is tracked by the controllers and posted online for their internet audience to follow live gameplay.
Pacman@Lyon’s hope is to inspire other teams across the globe to organize their own Urban PacMan. I’d be interested in participating and running amuck in my city, how about you?
In more modified reality goodness, designer Frantz Lasorne has created an impressive proof of concept for his vision on the future of gaming. Using head-mounted glasses, a battle base with context sensitive markers, and some imagination; players can incorporate real world objects, such as RC cars, in the battlescape to achieve immersive game-play.
In the past augmented-reality applications have been plagued by processing power, feasibility for mass deployment and response time in displaying context markers, but new development in the area has begun in breakneck speed. More companies are placing funding in R&D as it is now very popular to have these display markers on products.
Video-game manufacturers, development studios, the military, and even entire companies are banking on the idea augmented reality will be the next step in the evolution of everyday living. My real question is: When I will I have my holodeck?
I have to admit to not having thought much of the 360 to begin with. But having watched it materialize into this pretty decent console with a tight library of games, solid online and Japan slowly warming to it – I had to hop on board. So a few days ago, I went and treated myself to a brand spaking new Xbox 360 Elite. Most of my mates owning a 360, Street Fighter IV and vowing to buy Resident evil 5 day of release were also defining factors which shoved me into taking the dive.
If any of you own an Xbox 360 and have a shiny gold Live account, be sure to share your gamertags. I’m not fussy. I’ll accept Friend requests from any one. The more the merrier!!
Post your gamertag or your gamer profile link in the comments section of this post. If we get enough gamertags and activity going on, then the next step – gaming parties. Who doesn’t love a good ol’ party!
Last month, rumors circulated as EA CEO John Riccitello mentioned a Dead Space title for the Wii. Now it’s official. Due some time in autumn of 2009 Dead Space Extraction will be told as a prequel to the events of the original Dead Space released for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Extraction will be made solely with the Wii in mind, built from the ground up and extensively using the motion controls in this FPS title. Offering new weapons, enemies and co-op multiplayer, Extraction is sure to deliver a much needed injection of horror to the Wii library.
Competition exists in many forms. Whether it be in the workplace, on the field, or online; being competitive forces one to strategize. At its core a strategy focuses on one thing: outsmarting your opponent. Even with a game’s AI on “expert” most computer controlled opponents behave in predictable manners. However, play a human online and the dynamic radically changes. New tactics, new weapon combinations and the inevitable humble pie giveaway.
Humans behave differently and in strategizing we try to calculate our opponent’s next step, placing ourselves in our opponents shoes. It turns out this action of empathizing with our competition causes far greater brain activity than playing with a static/computer controlled opponent. Read more!
Not gaming while driving seems like common sense. While one can argue good judgment while texting, lawmakers in the City Council of Oahu have passed a ban on motorists text-messaging and playing video games while behind the wheel. This comes on the heels of a city bus driver was operating a moving vehicle with passengers aboard and playing what seems to be a PSP from the video above.
Determining whether this piece of legislation is useless or in good practice will only been seen from the cabin of a police cruiser. But I’d like to think these sorts of actions aren’t all that common, so I wanted to throw this out to the community… Do you game or text while driving? Tell us in the comments!
First Dark resurrection and now Bloodline rebellion. Namco seem to have caught the bug that had Sega re-release Virtua Fighter 4 and 5 in Evolution and R forms. The new version of Tekken 6 features 2 brand new characters: a dude named Lars Alexandersson and Alisa Bosconovitch and also 2 new stages. Players will also have access to new accessories and have the option to customize the hairstyles of characters. Splendid!!
Lars is some crazy dude who wants to create a new era and has a full name which makes him sound like a member of ABBA. And Alisa doesn’t really have much of a story, though her surname name bares more than a slight resemblance to Dr. Boskonovitch’s. It’s unknown whether or not there’s a relation between the two, but it’s highly likely. Both characters sport a futuristic style and look like they belong in an RPG’s. Lars’ design is somewhat decent – we can work with it. But Alisa looks like a Phantasy star reject. I’m not sure what it is with Namco and their re-release female characters. First Lili and now this Alisa chick. Both look like crap compared to the staple females Nina, Anna, Julia (in the denim mini skirt, cowboy boots and waist coat combo), Xiayou and cool recent addition Asuka.
Tekken 6 doesn’t have a PlayStation 3 release date as of yet, but it goes without saying it will end up on the system at some point and that Bloodline rebellion will be the version of Tekken 6 which gets ported. It will be interesting to see if Namco will let Xbox 360 owners in on the Tekken action; given that Namco spread the Soul Calibur love across both systems and that Sega did the same with Virtua Fighter 5.
Look out for this game in your local arcades. If your arcades are anything like the one I go to, the Tekken 6 machine will be surrounded by guys who eat and sleep on the machine and won’t let anybody else play it.
Tuesday 1 July 2008 @ 5:15 pm | By Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Do you feel your gaming skills are lacking a little zest? Do you spend so many hours gaming and grinding on the latest franchise rehash that you simply cannot muster the time for a balanced meal? Then perhaps you should revaluate your life and priorities. Well, that or take these amazing, miracle health supplements for gamers!
That’s right, Japanese company Cyber Gadget has announced their newest products, Gemusapuri (Game Supplements). Two kinds of tablets set to help apathetic slobspassionate gamers achieve maximum potential without that pesky nutrition taking time from their precious gaming!
This marvel of Japanese science comes in two formulas: Gemusapuri Blueberry contains the mystic nutrients of the blueberry for prolonged gaming and Gemusapuri DHA contains the essential oils of fish to give you that extra mental prowess when playing intellectually taxing games or learning kanjis.
Each pack comes with 30 pills, enough for 15 days of gaming boost. All of this for the low low price of 800 Yen (around $7.50 USD). Now you can finally live on cheetos and mountain dew while your enemies waste precious time with salads and silly stuff like that.
Not ones to forget the female audience of DS owners, Konami are have released their latest entry into the Tokimeki memorial series! Originally the game had the player step into the shoes of a young man to kick some game amongst some lovely ladies, but the DS version has spun things around and has the gamer now stepping into the shoes of a young lady on a mission to snag a man…
You take control of a girl newly enrolled at a high school. Being the new hot young tottie on the block, you’re pursued by a bunch of guys and your aim is to woo them, have them woo you, play a little hard to get and win over their affections in order to get one of them to confess their love to you. Players can spruce themselves up, hit the gym, get some beauty sleep, participate in extra curricular activities to boost their appeal to the opposite sex pick before heading out to get that all important love confession. During conversations you’ll get a bunch of possible answers, with how you answer determining how much that guy will like you. Everything you do with affect the love meter of your potential boyfriends. Your aim overall is to keep the meter high. If you don’t, you can kiss your love confession goodbye. Guys will get fed up if you date them infrequently, give silly responses in conversations and don’t stroke them enough with the stylus. These guys will also spread the word and f**k things up for you, dropping the love meter for all of the potentials in the process. Damn. It’s just real life!! You’ll also come across girls on campus with whom you’ll converse with, but there’s no option to chat these girls up and engage in some girl on girl action. Neither is there an option to beat a girl down for checking your man.
This game was released in Japan on February 15 and I doubt very much it will get a western release seeing as the Tokimeki memorial has been exclusive to Japan for over 10 years now. I think it was considerate for Konami to think of the Japanese female gamers though, as well gay Japanese guys who wanna kick it with some kakkoii boys. Plus, the DS is the perfect platform for games such as these, so the series is right at home on the system. Dare I say it, this game sounds kinda fun! It sure as hell beats Face training.
Hit the link below to check out an interview where the pretty, but slightly scary looking actress Natsuki Kato declares her love for the game.
Tuesday 4 March 2008 @ 11:18 pm | By Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Earlier today Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons and father of RPGs died of heart failure, he is survived by many sons, grandsons and legions of adoring fans, he was 69.
Today the world lost a great man, he was responsible for the birth of RPGs, from DnD to the latest Final Fantasy or Tales game. MMORPGs would not be if it were not for the boundless imagination of Gary Gygax. He was a kind man who loved games and loved what people made of games and even more, what games made of people.
“It really meant a lot to him to hear from people from over the years about how he helped them become a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, what he gave them,” His wife, Gail Gygax said. “He really enjoyed that.”
It would be an understatement to say that he has been an influence in our lives, this man is an cultural icon who’s touched millions of lives. His passion for games is something that now more than ever should inspire us to pursue our own passions. On the subject of death he once said:
“I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else.”
And that we will good sir, and that we will. I will be playing some RPGs this following days in his honor. Let us celebrate the fruits of his passion, this true god of gaming shows us that even deities sometimes fail a saving roll. Rest in peace Gary, we geeks of the world salute you!
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Abraham 'Velcor' Duarte
David 'KidKobun' Bruno
Ivan 'Nahu' Lozano
Random J