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Hail all things extra!
Written by Modojo
posted October 20, 2006
I'll admit it openly before I start, "I'm a sucker." If something is extra, limited, collectors, etc., I'm practically frothing over it. Which is why it always shocks me when gamers curse the preorder scheme, considering all the bonuses it so often delivers. A bobble-head, stuffed animal, a shiny piece of damn near anything? I'm sold. I never much understood why someone wouldn't pay $10 extra for a DVD and a tin case. I mean, come on, it's tin. The most spectacular of metals.
Obviously this whole post was inspired by the news that Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin is offering the single best preorder bonus known to man.
From Gamestop: "Order Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin for the Nintendo DS and receive a Castlevania 25th Anniversary Gift Pack FREE! Gift Pack includes a Soundtrack CD, DS Stylus, DS Game case that holds 2 games and a Castlevania art book! Offer good while supplies last."
My. God. That is like a treasure trove of bonus goods right there. The package costs an additional $5 over the regular $35 pricetag, but honestly ... who cares? For that much stuff, I'd spend a good bit more than what they're asking. Make sure to nab this one up soon, as it says above: 'While supplies last.'
Cross stitching and DS - together at last!
- Written by Modojo
- posted October 20, 2006
For those of you looking for a stylish way to tote around your DS Lite without having to resort to an overpriced retail product - your case is here! Rose Red, a gifted handheld enthusiast from Craftster, took it upon herself to stitch one of the coolest DS Lite holsters we've seen yet:
If looking at it doesn't make you want to learn how to cross-stitch then I just don't know what will. Detailed instructions and pictures a'plenty can be found at the links below. Thanks to 4 Color Rebellion for the heads up!
Hardware sales from the land of the rising sun
- Written by Modojo
- posted October 20, 2006
It's no secret that the Japanese are madly, deeply, erotically in love with the DS, but who would've thought it would stay on top for this long? Certainly not Ken Kutaragi!
For the week of October 9th-15th:
DSL = 104,487
PS2 = 24,727
PSP = 21,603
GBASP = 2,299
Xbox360 1,743
GBM = 1,714
GC 653
DS = 273
GBA = 37
Xbox 3
Console sales were left in for comparison. Your thoughts?
Bon voyage, G4! And don't come back!
- Written by Modojo
- posted October 17, 2006
So you might have read the news today that Comcast is basically giving up on G4, the first "network established for gamers". Apparently, it's just not making any real revenue for the company.
To me, G4 was a clusternut to begin with. A failure. They take some shows that were actually good and revamped them all to hell. Attack of the Show was once of the best shows going until, surprise, it became just another love-fest that spoke to everyone but the core audience that was attracted to begin with. Don't even get me started on Filter. Or Cheaters for that matter. Such a glorious show, watching couples fall apart. Meh.
The only successes that I see were Arrested Development, which will no doubt go to Comedy Central or somewhere BETTER, and Banzai, which should go on Spike TV right next to MXC and TNA Impact. Past that, it was just a bunch of people trying to talk the game vibe but never really feeling it. It felt like a waste, like they were talking DOWN to you instead of trying to relate. Even the hotness of Morgan Webb (and, yes, there were times she was hot) couldn't save us from Adam Sessler's psychobabble and the annoyance of Kevin Pereira.
Really, begone with it. The good people who are at the channel will find better gigs elsewhere. Blair Butler? She'll find a good comic book gig of some kind. Olivia Munn? Onto more acting gigs. Webb? She already has a future secured at FHM, so that's no biggie.
Three and a half years the channel's been around, and it's only attracted me for, what, reruns, Happy Tree Friends, and Cinematech. That's...about...it. Sad.
- Robert Falcon
Elite Beat Agents Track List - Meh...
- Written by Modojo
- posted October 16, 2006
Game|Life and other outlets are reporting the full track list for Elite Beat Agents. I was really curious about what the musical selections for Amerouendan would be, so if you're anything like me, read 'em and weep:
1. Walkie Talkie Man - Steriogram
2. ABC - Jackson Five
3. Sk8er Boi - Avril Lavigne
4. I Was Born to Love You - Queen
5. Rock This Town - Stray Cats
6. Highway Star - Deep Purple
7. Y.M.C.A. - Village People
8. September - Earth, Wind and Fire
9. Canned Heat - Jamiroquai
10. Material Girl - Madonna
11. La La - Ashlee Simpson
12. You're the Inspiration - Chicago
13. Survivor - Destiny's Child
14. Without a Fight - Hoobastank
15. Believe - Cher
16. Let's Dance - David Bowie
17. Jumpin Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
18. Makes No Difference - Sum 41
19. The Anthem - Good Charlotte
That makes a resounding six tracks out of 19 that I'm actually interested in. I understand the reasoning behind picking some of the songs they did, but, well, that doesn't mean I'm happy about it. I kept telling my friend that Elite Beat Agents was going to be a must buy title this fall, and he always made a point to say, "No, Ouendan was a must buy title. Elite Beat Agents has the potential to suck."
I never understood what he meant being a rabid fanboy of Ouendan, but with the track list revealed, could the game lose its charm? Americanization is a deadly thing, and Americanizing something as strange as Ouendan really does have the potential to not hold. The jpop tunes were a pretty large part of the experience. If anything, at least we can count on good gameplay, even if we can't play for too long a session. How long could you stand losing to a Cher or Destiny's Child song before you just couldn't take it anymore? I'm thinking ... twice.
In speaking with Game|Life the games designer Keiichi Yano said this: "The concept for song selection was this - the roaring songs you would want to hear if you went to a college frat party." I'm not sure, but I don't remember seeing anyone do a keg stand to Material Girl. I guess I should have went over to the Alpha Kappa Bang-me-in-the-ass house for that one.