Tyler and I both picked up copies of Halo: ODST (used natch) today in order to gain access to the Halo: Reach beta that just launched. I am currently downloading the 1.15gig file, and may get a little pay time in before bed tonight, and then as much as I can in the next week before I have to Gamestop Shuffle back my copy of the game.

I'll tell you one thing I won't be doing in the next week, though: playing Halo: ODST. No interest whatsoever. no comments

The game Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Old West has for the most part flown under my radar, but I'm starting to become interested. I've heard it described as "Team Fortress meets the Old-West" which doesn't sound too shabby to me. It's available on Steam right now (just like everything that's fun but I can't play), but it drops on the US PSN May 4th, and I need a quick-in-quick-out multiplayer shooter for my bedroom-based PS3 since I've pretty much gotten over Battlefield 1943.

Hmmm....intedezting. no comments

As reported on Joystiq, Capcom held an event -- called "Fight Club" -- in LA over the weekend to promote the soon-to-be-released Super Street Fighter 4. However, what was probably the high point of the event, was a match-up between two of the worlds best Street Fighter players: Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong.

Match-ups between these two players are always pretty intense (just look on Youtube for proof!), so anyone interested in the game would do well to check out the videos of their fights, which are posted after the break.

The first video is a three-match warm-up, in which Daigo and Justin are only allowed to use the new characters, whilst the second video is the actual fight. Watching two high-level players go at it like this is nothing short of exhilarating, and it's always good to see the game being played the way it's supposed to be.

Super Street Fighter 4 is set to release in North America on April 27th, and in Europe on April 30th.
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Behold the finest selection of chicken legs, things getting stuck in other things, and masturbating Big Daddies. You have been warned:

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Dear Zombies,

Every time I look at you, I am reminded of the first time we met; you shambled up to me, and sweetly moaned "braaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiins" in my ear. Oh, how I laughed. Then, you went to touch my arm, but slipped and fell over and face planted into the dirt. I then emptied my revolver into your gross, papery brain-sack, and scooped up your rotting brain meat, before heading off on my merry way... we were like ships passing in the night. Good times!

However, since that first encounter, my thoughts have been plagued by one question: what's your fascination with barfing on stuff? I mean, really! What's with that?

There was a time when we used to have fun with each other, but nowadays it just seems like it's all "oh, hey! I'm going to barf on this", and "oh man, I totally just tossed my cookies on that dudes shoes!". I'm sorry, but you've changed; you're no longer the carefree shuffling brain-eater I grew to love, and this barfing obsession is going a little bit too far -- you're going down a path that I just can't follow. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love you, but I just can't live like this anymore. Either you change, or I'm leaving you. I don't like forcing you to make this choice, but something has to give.

love & hugs,

Steve. no comments

Right now in the iTunes App store (what other app store is there, really? Droid Marketplace? blech) which is a side-scrolling Simpsons arcade style beat-em up. It's called, simply enough, The Simpsons Arcade, and while it is not the exact game that you remember from your childhood, it is a good enough reminder to justify the $0 price tag that comes with it. As an added bonus, its actually pretty funny, and the gameplay is solid (if you don't count that horrible iPhone virtual joystick).

Do yourself a favor and pick it up. I can only vouch for the free "lite" version, so if you go and do something stupid with your money, that's aaaalllll you, buddy. no comments

Mark and I went to the Anaheim Comic Con last weekend. It was my first time going to any type mass nerd gathering and I absolutley loved it. Yes, Mark and I made fun of all the cosplayers and hackneyed "celebrities" trying to sell their autographs, but we were also constantly surpised by the parade of fandom going by at all times. Pimp Bobba Fetts, the BTTF DeLorean, droid convoys and more Ghostbusters than I can remember. Mark's new camera took some incredible shots while Mark was holding it up, but we really didn't get enough footage. Sorry guys. Maybe at San Diego we'll do it right.



I've known Mark for over 10 years but I've never seen him as excited to meet someone as he was with this guy. His name is Graham MacTavish and his sign said "from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2", so logically we thought he did the voice for Soap MacTavish. Turned out he's not. Misleading much?
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I just ran across this site, and despite their horrible names, I find these controller add-ons a little interesting. Straight from their website:

FPSFreek was developed to improve your accuracy in first person shooter environments, helping you react and hit your targets faster. FPS Freek extends the length of your analog stick, increasing your range of motion, giving you 40% more linear distance from full stop to stop.This gives you more leverage and increased control without disturbing your natural gaming feel. FPS Freek will help you to aim and lock in on your target faster, while putting less strain on your finger.

SpeedFreek was developed to give you more control in racing games, enabling you to improve racing times when running against the clock. The unique curve of SpeedFreek enables you to hug the turns in racing games, without your fingers slipping off the controller or creating unnecessary friction on your fingers. SpeedFreek keeps your thumb on the existing control surface, with no disruption between the natural geometry that you have learned to use. SpeedFreek’s supporting side walls enable sharper movements while adding to your control and precision in racing games.

What do you think? They're $10 each. Somehow, I don't think they'll make me that much of a better gamer. no comments

Because Mega Man 10 released earlier in the week, and because it reminds me so much of Mega Man 2, I thought I'd share the Mega Man 2 Rap with you. Clocking in at over seven minutes it's pretty long, but it's worth watching, especially if you played Mega Man 2. no comments

It's that time of year again. Chocolate Jesus Bunny time. What better way to celebrate than by remembering our favorite video game rabbits, from the past and present?



6. Brutal: Paws of Fury (1994, SNES/Genesis/Sega CD)
Brutal: Paws of Fury was one of those many fighting games trying to cash in on Street Fighter II's success. This one came out way too late to be taken seriously. One of its central characters was a rabbit monk, Kung Fu Bunny. Not a very good game, but we've got to start somewhere.



5. Jumping Flash (1995, PSOne)
Jumping Flash is your typical giant-bunny-robot 3D platforming game. Okay, it was pretty crazy back in the day, and a demo of it came out with the PSOne on launch day. I remember being floored by how immersive 3D gaming could be. Today, it would probably just make me nauseous.



4. Bucky O'Hare (1992, NES)
This side-scrolling Konami game tried to be the next Mega Man, but it never really took off. I remember renting it as a kid, but it was too hard for me back then (probably too hard for me today, honestly). There was an arcade game that was supposed to be good, too, but I don't remember it. I still remember the theme song from the TV show, though!



3. Rayman: Raving Rabbids (2006, Wii)
Mark, Tyler and I had a Rabbids party, back when we weren't famous editors, and back when we still had high hopes for the Wii. Rayman gets captured by rabbits (cleverly disguised as "Rabbids" - those French game developers are tricky!) and you have to play a bunch of mini games. The game is amusing, but not quite laugh-out-loud funny. Apparently there have been a few sequels released already, I didn't even notice.



2. The Bugs Bunny Birthday Blowout (1990, NES)
I borrowed this game from a neighbor and almost didn't give it back. It had two things going for it: the game was practically a Super Mario Bros clone (making it easy to pick up and play), and it was ridiculously easy to beat. You have to battle against all the other Looney Tunes characters in order to celebrate your 50th birthday. I hope the same happens to me when I turn 50.



1. Star Fox (1993, SNES)
Peppy Hare may be a secondary character in the Star Fox series, but you can't deny the "wow" factor of the original Star Fox game and its 3D graphics. In today's world of crazy-good graphics, it's hard to imagine how big of a deal that Super FX chip was 15 years ago. This game still hasn't been released on the Wii's Virtual Console (although Star Fox 64 has, but I never played it), but I just may pick it up when it does come out. no comments