Tag Archives: Video games

Human Pac-Man in stop motion makes me happy

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111 human bodies over the course of four hours reenacted a game of Pac-Man moving around from seat to seat inside an auditorium.  Watch it because it will make you happy.  If the home-brewed sound effects don’t make you giggle like a little kid, there is something seriously wrong with you.  Now smash play!

Note: This video is one of five performance of the GAME OVER Project from the French-Swiss artist Guillaume Reymond.  Head over to the NotSoNoisy YouTube channel to watch more video game-inspired stop motion masterpieces.  Human Tetris, Space Invaders, and Pong await.

[Via likecool]

Happy 15th Anniversary, PlayStation (part deux)

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Remember way back on December 4, 2009 when we celebrated the 15th anniversary of PlayStation.  Well apparently that was celebrating the birth of the brand in Japan.  The original PlayStation console wasn’t introduced in North America until September 9, 1994.  So now we must celebrate the birth of PS in the US.  Do it by reading all these PlayStation fun facts (like did you know that seven percent of PS gamers won’t date non-gamers?) and browsing the PlayStation timeline that spans from the original console to the PlayStation Move in the gallery below.

[Via Gizmodo]

Kinect finds (another) new home in 250GB Xbox 360 bundle

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Holiday shoppers will have oodles of options to choose from when decision time comes to purchase Microsoft’s gesture-based motion tracking camera Kinect.  In addition to the standalone version ($149.99) and Xbox 360 4GB bundle ($299.99), Kinect will also ship with the higher capacity 250GB Xbox 360.  At a whopping $399.99 you will get the new “whisper quiet” shiny, black, and slim Xbox 360, Kinect, and a copy of a Kinect launch title, Kinect Adventures!.  The two bundles will ship on Kinect launch day, November 4.

[Via Engadget]

Classic Sonic looks grand in 3D

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YouTuber BlobVanDam used 3DS Max and Adobe After Effects to recreate the Mushroom Hill Zone level from the classic Sega Genesis game Sonic & Knuckles.  Unfortunately for us this is simply a pre-rendered video; it is not a playable game.  Still, doesn’t it look fantastic?!  Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1,  a 2D side-scroller using pre-rendered 3D character models, is currently being developed by Sonic Team and is the closest we are going to get to something like BlobVanDam’s creation for now.  The game is expected to hit all major consoles later this year.

[Via Joystiq]

Duke Nukem Forever is finally, actually coming to a video game console near you in 2011

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This week at PAX 2010 2K Games announced that developer Gearbox Software (makers of Borderlands) is currently developing Duke Nukem Forever.  Let’s begin with some background information for those of you not in the know.  DNF is a game that was originally announced in April of 1997 as the sequel to 1996’s Duke Nukem 3D.  Almost every year since 1997 then-developer 3DRealms teased promotional material from the game promising that a final version was on its way.  3DRealms took so long to come out with actual gameplay that publisher Take-Two Interactive sued them in 2009; since then a settlement has been reached.  And now, 13 years after its originally announcement, DNF is very real thanks to a new development team backing the improved graphics engine.  Publisher 2K Games (a subsidiary of Take-Two Interactive) pegs a 2011 release for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC.

Still don’t believe that Duke is making his long-awaited comeback?  To prove that he is no longer vaperware for the video games industry to make fun (though they likely always will), 2K Games offered 15 minute playable–I said playable–demo at PAX 2010 for those in attendance (17 years of age or older) in addition to a trailer.  Head over to Joystiq to read their account of all things DNF; it includes screenshots from the game.  2k Games even issued a press release to provide further proof that Duke is well and alive.  It’s sitting in full after the break, but here’s an excerpt that briefly details the first-person shooter:

Put on your sunglasses and prepare to step into the boots of Duke Nukem, whose legend has reached epic proportions in the years since his last adventure. The alien hordes are back and only Duke can save the world, again. Pig cops, alien shrink rays and enormous alien bosses won’t stop our hero from accomplishing his one and only goal: to save the world, save the babes and to be a bad-ass while doing it. The King of All Shooters is back with over-the-top weapons, massive aliens and unprecedented levels of interactivity. This game puts pedal to the metal and tongue firmly in cheek, among other places. Shoot hoops, lift weights, read adult magazines, draw crude messages on whiteboards or ogle one of the many beautiful women that populate Duke’s life; that is if you can pull yourself away long enough from kicking ass and taking names. Duke Nukem was and will forever be immortalized in gaming history, and this is his legend.

[Via Joystiq; Engadget]

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock full 93 track setlist revealed

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Fellow rock gods, the Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock setlist is here.  Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Anberlin, Avenged Sevenfold, Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Children Of Bodom, Def Leppard, DragonForce, Foo Fighters, Foreigner, KISS, Megadeth, Muse, R.E.M., Rush, Styx, Third Eye Blind.  And the list goes on and on.  Check out the full 93 track setlist after the break.  With Rock Band 3 and Guitar Hero (this is the sixth major game in the series) packing some amazing tracks, this holiday season promises to be the best one yet for music game lovers.  Guitar Hero: WoR releases September 28 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii.

[Via Joystiq] Continue reading Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock full 93 track setlist revealed →

New Xbox 360 wireless controller features new D-pad, matte silver looks

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Today Xbox’s Major Nelson showed off a newly designed Xbox 360 wireless controller.  Right off the bat you will notice the new color scheme.  The controller is now colored matte silver and the ABXY buttons have lost their vibrant colors (green, red, blue, yellow) to match the controller body.  The two analog sticks are slightly more concave now, too.  What you might not notice instantly in the pictures but you certainly will when the controller is in your hands is the brand new D-pad.  For years Xbox gamers have complained about the lack of a raised D-pad, but now this issue can be put to rest.  Microsoft has patented a “transforming D-pad”.  In the standard configuration the D-pad is a disc (that’s what we’re sued to).  With the new controller you can now twist the D-pad to raise the plus sign about a quarter-inch making it a whole lot more usable (especially for gamers who play boxing games where D-pad use is of the utmost importance).

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The new controller will be available November 9 and will only be found inside the $64.99 Play & Charge Kit.  Microsoft has not stated if/when the new controller will replace the old model outside of the P&C Kit and whether or not it will ever be bundled in the new 250GB Xbox 360 package.  Look after the break to watch Major Nelson hold up the controller in all its gray glory.

[Via MajorNelson; Engadget]

Continue reading New Xbox 360 wireless controller features new D-pad, matte silver looks →

Xbox Live pricing scheme sees a slight jump in US, Canada, UK & Mexico this November

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For the first time since its inception back in 2002, the cost to become an Xbox Live Gold member is about to become a bit steeper.  In the US, Canada, UK & Mexico only the Xbox Live pricing scheme will jump on November 1.  See the chart above to see how the change will affect you.  In the U.S., the yearly subscription will increase from $59.99 to $49.99; the three month sunscription from $19.99 to $24.99; and the one month subscription from $7.99 to $9.99.  Super lame, I know.  Industry analyst Jesse Divnich tries to cushion the news of the price increase: “When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99. When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers.”  Alright, I guess that makes sense.  But for those of you who may still be fuming over this news Xbox’s Major Nelson has a special incentive for you.  Microsoft is offering a limited-time savings deal to “lock in” Xbox Live gamers before the price increase becomes effective.  You can upgrade or renew your account today for an additional year for $39.99.  That’s $10 cheaper than the current one year subscription, and $20 cheaper than the new price coming in November.  Head over to the Xbox price lock site to secure an addional year of Live Gold membership at the cheaper before before it’s too late.

[Via MajorNelson; Engadget]

Nintendo DSi lineup getting a price slash September 12

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On September 12, Nintendo will drop the prices of their two DSi handhelds by $20.  The DSi will be $149.99 and DSi XL will be $169.99. The DS Lite model will remain at $129.99.  Says Nintendo’s Cammie Dunaway: “We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend. Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems.”  The press release announcing the price drop also shared this tremendous stat: According to the NDP Group, “through the end of July, total Nintendo DS family hardware sales are more than 42.3 million in the United States alone.”  Wowzers.  With the DSi lineup at a lower entry price and the 3DS readying for a launch (a release date is expected to be named soon), there really is no stopping the killer incentive to purchase a Nintendo handheld.

[Via Nintendo; Joystiq]

DJ Hero 2 tracklist outted by Activision

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With an October 19 release date lingering just around the corner, Activision deemed it appropriate to unveil the DJ Hero 2 tracklist.  The list includes 105 songs in total, and these will be stratigically mashed together to create 85 unique playable mixes.  Says Dan Neil of FreeStyleGames: “The individual songs that have been mixed into the DJ Hero 2 soundtrack have been viewed online more than 1.5 billion times, which really speaks volumes to both the size and scope of our music.  Working with some of the best DJs in the world, we were able to take this amazing collection of the biggest pop, hip-hop and dance hits, and with some turntable magic, craft the best soundtrack in entertainment.”  The tracklist includes songs from 2Pac, Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, A-Trak, B.o.B., Daft Punk, David Guetta, Deadmau5, Eminem, Justice, Kanye West, Lady Gaga, Tiesto, Timbaland, Young Jeezy, and oh-so-much more.  Jump after the break to view the full tracklist.

[Via Activision; Joystiq] Continue reading DJ Hero 2 tracklist outted by Activision →