Articles by Den Den Boy
From over at Homotron: Quick! If you've been looking for the Wii version of Guitar Hero III, you have 2 hours and 30 minutes left to get it for $65 with free shipping over at Amazon - that's a $25 savings!
The sale is until 2PM PDT or when supplies run out (25% have been sold as of the time of this writing.)
Sure, it may be the gimpiest version of Guitar Hero III out there, but at $65 (and for those with only a Wii) this is a great deal!
Go!
Gold Box Deals [Amazon]
[via: Gizmodo]
Apple is trumpeting the fact today that 100,000 iPhone developers have downloaded the iPhone SDK (myself included) in the first four days of availability, and with the announcement of both Spore and Super Monkey Ball at the iPhone Software Roadmap, we can expect lots of games to come soon!
What other games are coming? Apple has this little tidbit hidden in their press release today:
"We're very excited about Apple's new SDK and reaching every iPhone user through the new App Store," said Scott Rubin, vice president, Sales and Marketing, Namco Networks. "We can't wait to show off great new versions of arcade classics like PAC-MAN and Galaga that use the revolutionary features of the iPhone and iPod touch."
That's right! PAC-MAN and Galaga love on the iPhone!
But the gaming goodness doesn't just stop at Namco's offerings as Popcap, purveyors of all things casual gaming also had a spotlight in Apple's press release:
"Apple's become an important mobile game platform with the iPhone SDK," said Jason Kapalka, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer, PopCap. "The new SDK gives us the tools to innovate and reinvent games like Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle. With the new App Store we can reach every iPhone and iPod touch user on the planet."
I think we can safely say that a healthy chunk of those 100,000 developers are game developers looking to jump on the iPhone craze, which makes me and my iPhone very, very happy.
iPhone SDK Downloads Top 100,000 [Apple]
From over at Homotron: If you remember our live coverage of the iPhone Software Roadmap last week, you saw Apple put a rather strong emphasis on gaming on the iPhone/iPod Touch.
They touted the platform's 3D video and audio capabilities, its accelerometer controls for Wii and SIXAXIS like controls, and even brought EA and Sega to the stage to show off early builds of Spore and Super Monkey Ball running on an iPhone.
Close reading of a recent patent filing by Apple reveals another piece of the iPhone/iPod Touch gaming puzzle that could be coming soon: Game Achievements!
The media purchase system can also be utilized to facilitate a community of game players. These game players acquire games via a client device and media management application, and then play the games on portable electronic devices. The game play data, including game performance data for specific games, can be transfered from the portable electronic devices to the client devices. The client devices can then transfer such game play data over the data network to a game community server. For example, the game performance data can pertain to a high score that a user achieved while playing the game on the portable electronic device.
iAchievements - coming to an iPhone/iPod Touch near you!
(About the image: that's a Hello World app running on the iPhone simulator right on my own Mac. Yep, Den Den Boy's playing with the SDK.)
Apple to Track iPhone Gaming High Scores? [MacRumors]
From over at Homotron: As if HD-DVD needed any more nails in their coffin, word from tipsters at Kotaku and Gamestop employees is that Gamestop will stop taking HD-DVD material starting today:
We've been tipped off by a number of GameStop employees that, commencing [today], the company will no longer be accepting HD-DVD gear for trade-in. That means you won't be able to trade in your HD-DVD movies, and more importantly, you won't be able to get anything for that soon-to-be-useless 360 HD-DVD player, either. Sorry.
For those of you that were planning on getting some cash back on your HD-DVD player to build your new Blu-ray library: you'll now have to go to Ebay.
HD-DVD Deathwatch: GameStop Edition [Kotaku]
From over at Homotron: As rumoured earlier, Toshiba, the architects behind HD-DVD and technology owner, has just put out a press release proclaiming they are indeed ceasing production on all HD-DVD products:
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
That's means it's official folks: the fat lady has sung. HD-DVD is no more.
The press release showed up today just after market close in Tokyo. Hit the jump for the full release.
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses [Toshiba]
From over at Homotron: Maybe you couldn't tell by my avatar, but I'm just a tiny, teensy, itsy bitsy little bit in love with the weighted companion cube from Portal. Just a little.
Imagine my excitement when I saw the greatest case mod evar over at bit-tech: The Weighted Companion Cube PC!
Constructed out of painted acrylic and featuring its own customised Logitech diNovo Edge keyboard, this case kicks all kinds of ass.
With its diminutive stature (20cm. on each side) it reminds be a bit of Apple's Power Mac G4 Cube, but a hell of a lot cooler.
Hit the link for bit-tech's write up on how they built this masterpiece.
Want. On desk. Now.
The Weighted Companion PC [bit-tech]
[via: Kotaku]
From over at Homotron: Ah, Walt Disney World has figured out how to combine two of my passions into one helpful package: video gaming and my unnatural obsession with all things Disney! (And really, how much more gay/geeky can you get than that?)
Walt Disney World is starting a trial of a new piece of software you can download to your Nintendo DS, called the Disney Magic Connection that will give you a fully interactive park guide in your pocket, including a "you are here" function in its built in park map (probably using WiFi access point locating.)
WDWmagic has a full scan of the instruction guide for the software, but stand out features include the ability to tell you parade times, give you information on all the attractions at the park, letting you build a wish list of all the things you want to visit, and it even gives you themed games to play at each ride when you're waiting in line!
While I'm enough of a Disney freak to know the WDW parks like the back of my hand (I drive up to Orlando every once in a while), the games and event/parade times are awesome to have in your pocket. Now they just need to add Disney Fast Pass integration and this would enable anyone with a DS to be the ultimate WDW park explorer.
Disney looking at using Nintendo DS systems as an interactive guide map? [WDWmagic]
[via: Coolest Gadgets]
From over at Homotron: Some of you that have been around for a while here on Homotron may remember the PS3 Dust Warranty Controversy and the attention it got in the main stream media. If you don't remember, here's a quick refresher:
Some kid (who turned out to be an actor recently employed by Fox) submitted his PS3 to Sony for warranty service, and Sony refused on grounds of negligence due to the ridiculous amounts of dust on and in the console (pictured above.) The kid cried foul and went on Fox News to cry about it. (Can you sense my disagreement?)
Well, the folks over at Visa seem to have thrown the kid a bone and will be crediting him for a new console:
I just got off the phone with Visa for the third time and they are sending me a claim form to start the repair/replacement process of my system.
They at first said that they would need to attempt to have it repaired in my local video game repair shop, but I let them know that i had already contacted them and the firmware in combination with the blu-ray lens made it impossible to repair economically and it would have to be replaced. They said as long as I had a repair receipt stating that it wasn't economical to repair, I could walk into a Best Buy, charge a new PS3 to my credit card and they would credit that charge.
Which just goes to show you folks, that if you whine enough about your obvious console neglect that somehow magically made your console not work, you'll eventually get something free. Excuse me while I pick up my eyes from the floor - they seem to have fallen out from the rolling.
Visa Extended Warranty Protection Replaces Infamous "Dusty Playstation" [Consumerist]
From over at Homotron: It seems even Microsoft itself is making contingency plans should HD-DVD die in the face of the landslide victories for Blu-ray lately. A Microsoft manager said on Tuesday they would consider making a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360:
"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.
When a major partner and proponent of HD-DVD starts talking about making a drive for a competitor's format, you know HD-DVD is in trouble.
The same manager was quick to say that should the death of HD-DVD happen and Microsoft releases a Blu-ray drive add-on, it would have no effect on console sales (as Sony is the main proponent of Blu-ray):
"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
"With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two."
I do agree that should HD-DVD die and Blu-ray become king, it will not ultimately affect the overall placings in the console installed base race (Wii #1, Xbox 360 #2, and PS3 #3), but I can see it boosting PS3 sales so that they are not so far behind. After all, the PS3 is the best Blu-ray player out there, has upgradeable firmware for future proofing, and also happens to play games (which due to the slow death of platform exclusive titles, means PS3 owners should be able to play many of the same hit games that the Xbox 360 will have.)
Now hurry up and die, HD-DVD, so Paramount can move on and I can get my hands on some Blu-ray Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica seasons. Mmmmm Jamie Bamber covered only by a towel in HD...
Microsoft's Xbox could consider Blu-ray support [Reuters]
[via: Kotaku]
From over at Homotron: If you recall, we brought you news last Friday that Nintendo and GameStop were partnering to provide an official Wii rain-check program for those that have been unable to acquire the extremely hot console this holiday season. Unfortunately, details about the program were scarce.
Fortunately, details have finally shown themselves! GameStop has finally released details on the program, so that you may acquire a Wii for the Mario and Zelda starved gamer in your life. The official name is the Wii Certificate Program (anyone else with me that this is a stupid name? How about something functional and descriptive, like oh I don't know... "Wii Rain-check Program"?) and requirements are:
- Wii Certificates will only be sold on ONE day: Friday, December 21, 2007.
- You must pay the full $250 for the Wii to receive a certificate.
- You must make the reservation in person at any GameStop or EB Games in the US (sorry to our canuck friends in the great white north.)
- The number of reservations is limited per store. First come, first serve.
- When you make a reservation, you will get an empty, custom designed DVD case featuring Mario and the Wii (to hold your disc of Wii Sports?)
- You will be able to pick up your Wii on January 25, 2008.
Gee, you get to pay full price in order to receive a console that's over a year old 35 days later? These are surely crazy, desperate times when something like that will actually sound like a good deal to some people. It makes my overnight camp out at the local Wal-Mart on release day seem positively pleasant and painless, which in reality, it was. I spent most of the night playing Mario Kart DS with all the other Nintendo fans in the line.
I wonder how many children are going to get a fancied up *empty* DVD case for Christmas.
"So, what'd you get for Christmas?"
"...a DVD case... but they said the real thing's coming a month from now!"
"Uh huh..."
GameStop Outlines "Wii Certificate Program" [Kotaku]
From over at Homotron: It seems that Guitar Hero III is not the only rock rhythm game out there that's been having issues with their guitars. Rock Band's also had its own share of guitar problems, with many reporting the downstrum being broken on their shiny new instruments.
Just like the Guitar Hero III Les Paul neck fix, an industrious forum poster by the name of Ben Sones at Quarter To Three has posted a detailed step by step guide for fixing your Rock Band downstrum so that you can get back to shredding with your buddies.
Please remember this might void your warranty, so attempt the procedure at your own risk.
[via: Boing Boing Gadgets]
From over at Homotron: The Great PS3 Dust Warranty Controversy has reached the mainstream media via our favourite "fair and balanced" friends *ahem* Fox News:
I disagree with Carey Greenber-Berger about the results of his poll at The Consumerist, which claims most users agree that Sony should go ahead and repair the unit. They were skewed, in my opinion, by the choices available:
Is This Playstation 3 Too Dusty To Be Repaired Under Warranty?
- Yes: The unit presents a threat to any technician's health.
- No: This dust is not threatening. Sony should repair the unit.
Notice there's no choice on the poll for those who thought it didn't present a threat to the technician (a simple dust mask would do), but that Sony should not repair the unit due to the owner's negligence (and it seems our readers agree.)
NeoGAF forum member "inner-G" also points out that the owner of the dusty PS3 in question, Reid Godshaw, is a professional actor who has been hired by Fox before.
Conspiracy Theory? You decide. (Pun certainly intended.)
And girls who like girls who like rumble packs!
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