GameCola

My Awesome Free T-Shirt Posted on 2008-11-19 14:37:11
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: Guitar_Hero t-shirts rock

I don't even own ANY version of Guitar Hero, but when I saw that I could get this with just six proofs of purchase from various Kellogg's cereal---including ones I actually eat, like Frosted Flakes and Pops---I just had to bite. (Literally. Because it's cereal. Oh man, that was a good one!)

Many bowels of deliciousness and just a few weeks later, it arrived:

That in itself is pretty great, but the best part really is the back, which, somehow, wasn't even advertised on the cereal box. My favorite part is that it expresses one ultimate truth about your favorite chief editor:

The offer's probably still out there, so check your cereal aisle, if you're interested

New Game Releases for the Week of November 16th, 2008 Posted on 2008-11-18 08:17:05
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Monday:
Animal Crossing: City Folk (Wii)
Cradle of Rome (DS)
EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey (PC)
Forgotten Worlds - $8 (Wii Shop)
Gallop and Ride (Wii)
Guitar Hero: On Tour Decades (DS)
Hello Kitty Big City Dreams (DS)
Left 4 Dead (PC, Xbox 360)
Merv Griffin’s Crosswords (Wii)
Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe (Xbox 360, PS3)
NCAA Basketball 09 (PS3, Xbox 360, PS2)
Need for Speed: Undercover (Xbox 360, PC, PS3, Wii, PSP, DS)
Robocalypse (DS)
Rock Band Track Pack Volume 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2)
Shaun White Snowboarding (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS)
Space Invaders: The Original Game - $8 (Wii Shop)
Spore: Creepy and Cute Parts Pack (PC)
Strong Bad Episode 4: Dangeresque 3 - $10 (Wii Shop)
Target Toss Pro: Bags - $7 (Wii Shop)
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff (DS)
The Sims 2: Mansion and Garden Stuff (PC)

Wednesday:
AMF Bowling World Lanes (Wii)
Agatha Christie: Evil Under the Sun (Wii)
Alone in the Dark: Inferno (PS3)
Bolt (DS, PS2, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360)
CSI: NY: The Game (PC)
Castlevania Judgement (Wii)
Championship Foosball (Wii)
Cooking Mama World Kitchen (Wii)
Cradle of Rome (DS)
Dynasty Warrior 6 (PS2, PC)
Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods (PC)
Imagine Movie Star (DS)
Imagine: Ballet Star (DS)
Iron CHef America: Supreme Cuisine (DS)
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore 2 (Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)
Legendary (PC)
Lips (Xbox 360)
Luminous Arc 2 (DS)
Metal Slug 7 (DS)
Monkey Mischief: Party Time (Wii)
Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor (Wii)
NPPL Championship Paintball 2009 (PS2, Xbox 360)
Naruto: The Broken Bond (Xbox 360)
Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir (PC)
Petz Crazy Monkeyz (Wii)
Petz Monkeyz House (DS)
Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party (Wii, DS)
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest (DS)
Skate City Heroes (Wii)
Skate It (Wii, DS)
Ski Doo: Snowmobile Challenge (PS3, Xbox 360)
Ski and Shoot (PS2)
Sonic Unleashed (Wii, PS2)
The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria (PC)
Tomb Raider: Underworld (PS3, PC, Xbox 360, Wii, DS)
Winter Sports 2: The Next Challenge (DS, PS2, Xbox 360)
You’re In The Movies (Xbox 360)

Thursday:
American McGee’s Grimm: Cinderella (GameTap Gold)
The Last Remnant (Xbox 360)

Friday:
Beyond Protocol (PC)

Adventure Game Developer Undertakes Real-Life Adventure Posted on 2008-11-15 18:03:05
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: Britney_Brimhall biking charity

GameCola friend and contributor Britney Brimhall passed this along to me, and I thought I'd pass it along to the entire world, via this blog:

Hello,

This is Britney Brimhall. I'm the Chairman & CEO of Himalaya Studios, LLC and the President of AGD Interactive, LLC. I've developed adventure and adventure/RPG hybrids for the PC, including "Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine" and remakes of the Sierra's Classics, "King's Quest" and "Quest for Glory". You can find out more about these projects at www.agdinteractive.com and www.himalayastudios.com .

I just wanted to let you know, this weekend (November 15th, 2008), I'm embarking on a REAL LIFE adventure, riding my pedal bicycle from Phoenix, Arizona to Panama City, Panama. It's about 3,500 miles through 8 countries, and I'll be carrying everything on my bicycle like a pack mule. It'll be my home for the next four months. I'm hoping to gain some media exposure, as I think it may be interesting to the gaming community, and also, my friend and I are doing it for a good cause. I'd be happy to participate in any email interviews, even while I'm on the road. You can contact me at herosquest2008@gmail.com --I'll be checking that email at internet cafes while on the road.

My friend and I are attempting to raise money for a charity I support, which is the 100 Club. They provide financial assistance to the families of police and firefighters who are seriously injured or killed in the line-of-duty. I used to work for the police department, and recently spent time in private security as an armed guard, and it's a way for me to support the people I care about. If anyone is interested in donating, or knows of anyone who would like to donate, please do such at:

http://www.firstgiving.com/herosquest2008

All donations are tax deductible and 100% goes to the charity. My friend and I are paying for the entire adventure ourselves. We're attempting to raise $50,000 for the cause.

We have an online journal, which we've already started posting in, and will be updating it as frequently as possible with stories and pictures from our journey. You and your readers can follow along vicariously at:

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/HQ8

You can also check our official website to find out more about the adventure itself:

http://www.herosquest2008.com

Again, please feel free to email me at herosquest2008@gmail.com while I am traveling by bicycle through the SW of the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. I'd be happy to answer any questions and participate in any interviews.

Sincerely,

Britney

New Game Releases for the Week of November 9th, 2008 Posted on 2008-11-10 21:28:05
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Source: VideoGamesBlogger

Monday:
Avatar The Last Airbender: Into the Inferno (DS)
Brain Challenge - $10 (Wii Shop)
Call of Duty: World at War - Final Fronts (PS2)
Mega Man 3 - $5 (Wii Shop)
MLB Superstars (Wii)
Pokemon Ranger: Shadows of Almia (DS)
Populous DS (DS)
The Three Stooges (PC)
Winx Club: Mission Echantrix (DS)
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PSP)
Yummy Yummy Cooking Jam - $10 (Wii Shop)

Tuesday:
Amazing Adventures The Forgotten Ruins (DS)
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts (Xbox 360)
Big League Sports (Wii)
Block Party (Wii)
Bratz Kidz: Slumber Party (DS)
CSI: NY (PC)
Call of Duty: World at War (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii)
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (Xbox 360)
Eternal Poison (PS2)
FaceBreaker K.O. Party (Wii)
Fantasy Aquarium (Wii)
Guinness World Records: The Videogame (DS, Wii)
Hasbro Family Game Night (Wii, PS2)
Luxor: Quest for the Afterlife (PC)
Luxor 3 (Wii)
Mirror’s Edge (Xbox 360, PS3)
Monkey Mischief: Party Time (Wii)
Mortimer Beckett and the Secrets of Spooky Manor (Wii)
My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr (DS)
National Geographic Panda (DS)
Pet Pals: Animal Doctor (Wii)
Petz: Horsez Club (PC)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PSP)
Rock Revolution (Wii)
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel (PC)
Sally’s Salon (DS)
Secret Service (PC)
Six Flags Fun Park (DS)
Star Wars The Clone Wars - Lightsaber Duels (Wii)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Jedi Alliance (DS)
Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World (Wii)
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff (DS)
Testament of Sin (PC)
Zoo Vet Endangered Animals (DS)

Wednesday:
-Candace Kane’s Candy Factory (Wii)
Hello Kitty Daily (DS)
Top Chef The Game (PC)
TrackMania DS (DS)
FuturU: The Prep Game for SAT (DS)

Thursday:
Age of Booty - $10 (PlayStation Store)
World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King (PC)

New Game Releases for the Week of November 2nd, 2008 Posted on 2008-11-03 18:17:11
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Source: Video Games Blogger

Monday:
AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack (Xbox 360, PS2, PS3)
Alien Crush Returns - $8 (Wii Shop)
Exit (DS)
Home Sweet Home - $10 (Wii Shop)
Pony Friends: Mini Breeds Edition (DS)
Space Harrier - $5 (Wii Shop)
Space Trader: Merchant Marine (PC)
Top Chef: The Game (PC)

Tuesday:
Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune (PS2)
Bratz Kidz: Slumber Party (Wii)
Disney THINK Fast (PS2)
Dragon Ball: Origins (DS)
Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World (PS2)
Goosebumps HorrorLand (DS)
Guitar Rock Tour (DS)
History Channel Civil War: Secret Missions (PS3, Xbox 360, PS2)
Imagine Interior Designer (DS)
Imagine Wedding Designer (DS)
James Bond: Quantum of Solace (Wii, PS2, Xbox 360, PS3, PC, DS)Korg DS-10 Synthesizer (DS)
Legendary (360, PS3, PC)
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PC, DS, PS3, Wii, PS2, Xbox 360)
Monster Lab (PS2, Wii, DS)
Movie Games (Wii)
My Baby Girl (DS)
NHL 09 (PS2)
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (PS3)
Operation Mania (PC)
Petz Dogz Pack (DS)
Petz Sports: Dog Playground (PC)
PopStar Guitar: Guitar Grip Bundle (Wii)
Princess on Ice (DS)
Real Soccer 2009 (DS)
Resistance 2 (PS3)
Rubik’s Puzzle World (Wii)
Secret Service (PS2, Xbox 360)
SingStar Legends (PS2)
Tom Clancy’s EndWar (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, DS)
Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
Winx Club: Mission Echantrix (DS)

Wednesday:
Dora The Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess (DS)
Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ (DS)
Vigilante 8: Arcade - $10 (Xbox Live Arcade)

Thursday:
North America Hunting Extravaganza (Wii)

Friday:
Gears of War 2 (Xbox 360)

New Game Releases for the Week of October 26th, 2008 Posted on 2008-10-27 20:15:39
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Source: Video Games Blogger

Monday:
All Star Cheer Squad (Wii)
Art Style: Rotohex - $6 (Wii Shop)
Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess (Wii, PS2)
Earthworm Jim - $8 (Wii Shop)
Go, Diego, Go!: Great Dinosaur Rescue (PS2, Wii, DS, PC)
Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3)
Strong Bad Episode 3: Baddest of the Bands - $10 (Wii Shop)
Wonder Pets! Save the Animals! (DS)

Tuesday:
BEN 10: Alien Force - The Game (DS, PSP, PS2, Wii)
Bella Sara (DS, PC)
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC)
Dead Space: Downfall (DVD, Blu-ray) — This is the prequel to the Dead Space game.
Exodus from the Earth (PC)
FIFA Soccer 09 All Play (Wii)
Fallout 3 (Xbox 360, PC, PS3)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year DANCE! (PS2, PC)
Imagine Party Babyz (Wii)
LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
Little Red Riding Hood’s Zombie BBQ (DS)
Monster Jam: Urban Assault (DS, PS2, Wii, PSP)
MotoGP 08 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift (PS3)
My Baby Boy (DS)
MySims (PC)
MySims Kingdom (Wii, DS)
Nerf N-Strike - Blaster Bundle (Wii)
Ninjatown (DS)
Operation Mania (PC)
Onimusha: The Essentials (PS2)
Petz Horse Club (Wii)
Petz Rescue Ocean Patrol (DS)
Petz Rescue Wildlife Vet (DS)
Pirates: Hunt for Blackbeard’s Booty (Wii)
PopStar Guitar (PS2, Wii)
Pro Bull Riders: Out of the Chute (Wii, PS2)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (PSP, PS3, PS2, Xbox 360)
Rubik’s Puzzle World (DS)
SCORE International Baja 1000 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii)
Scene It? Box Office Smash (Xbox 360)
Shrek’s Carnival Craze (Wii, DS, PC, PS2)
SingStar Country (PS2)
SingStar Legends (PS2)
SingStar Vol. 2 (PS3)
Six Flags Fun Park (Wii)
Smart Boy’s Winter Wonderland (DS)
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (PC)
The King of Fighters Collection: The Orochi Saga (PS2, PSP)
Travel Games for Dummies (DS)
TV Show King Party (Wii)
Twin Strike: Operation Thunder (Wii)
Zenses Card Battles (PSP)
Zenses Ocean (DS)
Zenses Rainforest (DS)

Wednesday:
A Witch’s Tale (DS)
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader - $15 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Backyard Football 2009 (PC)
Ballhalla (PC)
Goosebumps HorrorLand (PS2, Wii)
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode Two - $15 (Xbox Live Arcade)
Pro Bull Riders: Out of the Chute (Xbox 360, PC, PSP)
SBK-09 Superbike World Championship (Wii)
Sherlock Holmes: Mystery of the Mummy (DS)
Ultimate I Spy (Wii)

Thursday:
Theresia: Dear Emile (DS)

New Game Releases for the Week of October 19th, 2008 Posted on 2008-10-20 17:52:57
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Source: Video Games Blogger

Monday:
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? Make The Grade (Wii, DS)
Back at the Barnyard: Slop Bucket Games (DS)
Carnival Games: Mini Golf (Wii)
Celebrity Sports Showdown (Wii)
Deer Hunter Tournament (PC)
Digital Champ Battle Boxing - $7 (Wii Shop)
Galactic Bowling (PC)
Gradius II: Gofer No Yabou - $9 (Wii Shop)
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - $15 (Xbox Originals)
Littlest Pet Shop (PC)
Lovely Lisa (DS)
Midnight Club: Los Angeles (Xbox 360, PS3, PSP)
Monopoly (PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
NBA 2k9 (PC)
NHL 09 (PC, PS2)
Pass The Pigs: Let The Good Swines Roll! (DS)
Rock Band 2 Bundle (Xbox 360, PS3) — includes game, wireless guitar, wireless drums, microphone
Tetris Party - $12 (Wii Shop)
The Incredible Maze - $5 (Wii Shop)
Wii Music (Wii)

Tuesday:
Backyard NFL Football ‘09 (PC, PS2, Wii, DS)
Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp (PS2, Wii, DS)
Bioshock (PS3)
Brain Training for Dummies (PC)
Build-A-Bear Workshop: A Friend Fur All Seasons (Wii)
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia (DS)
Circus Games (Wii)
Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant (PSP)
Dance Dance Revolution Universe 3 Dance Pad Bundle (Xbox 360)
Dancing with the Stars: We Dance! (Wii, DS)
Disney Fairies: Tinker Bell (DS)
Disney Sing It (PC, PS3, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360)
Disney Th!nk Fast (Wii)
Ener-G Dance Squad (DS)
Ener-G Gym Rockets (DS)
Ener-G Horse Riders (DS)
Eternal Sonata (PS3)
Europa Universallis III Complete (PC)
Fable 2 (Xbox 360)
Far Cry 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
High School Musical 3: Senior Year Dance! (Wii, DS)
Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009 (Wii)
Master of the Monster Lair (DS)
Mechanic Master (DS)
Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 (Wii)
Pet Pals: Animal Doctor (Wii)
Petz Rescue: Wildlife Vet (Wii)
Petz: Saddle Club (PSP)
Rock University Presents: The Naked Brothers Band The Game (PS2, Wii, DS)
Spider-Man: Web of Shadows (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PSP, PS2)
SpongeBob SquarePants Featuring NickToons: Globs of Doom (PS2, Wii, DS)
Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, PS2)
Star Ocean: First Departure (PSP)
Tornado (DS)
TouchMaster 2 (DS)
Transformers: Animated - The Game (DS)
What’s Cooking Jamie Oliver (DS)

Wednesday:
Dead Space (PC)
Portal: Still Alive - $15 (Xbox Live Arcade)

Thursday:
Bully (PC)

See Michael Gray's DNA get launched into space! Posted on 2008-10-18 18:30:58
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: Michael_Gray's_DNA Lord_British the_benefits_of_being_a_huge_nerd

At least, I think that's what's going on here, unless Richard "Lord British" Garriott took more than one space voyage on this date. (For those of you just tuning in, Michael, via posting Nancy Drew walkthrough videos on PWNorDIE, won a contest to have his DNA launched into space and preserved in the international space station. He wrote about the experience in this month's Inside the Guide.)

New Game Releases for the Week of October 12th, 2008 Posted on 2008-10-13 18:19:08
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Source: Video Games Blogger

Monday:
Art Style: Cubello - $6 (Wii Shop)
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Into the Inferno (Wii, PS2)
Bratz: Girls Really Rock (Wii, PS2, DS)
Blitz: The League II (Xbox 360, PS3)
Secret of Mana - $8 (Wii Shop)
Street Fighter II’: Special Champion Edition - $8 (Wii Shop)
World of Goo - $15 (Wii Shop, PC)

Tuesday:
Battle of Giants: Dinosaurs (DS)
Boogie Superstar (Wii)
Brain Training for Dummies (PC)
Cesar Millan’s Dog Whisperer (DS, PC)
Combat Wings: Battle of Britain (PC)
Dead Space (Xbox 360, PS3)
Disney Sing It (PS3, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360)
Dokapon Kingdom (Wii, PS2)
FIFA Soccer 09 (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, DS, PC)
Golden Axe: Beast Rider (Xbox 360, PS3)
Littlest Pet Shop (Wii)
Littlest Pet Shop: Garden (DS)
Littlest Pet Shop: Jungle (DS)
Littlest Pet Shop: Winter (DS)
Lovely Lisa (DS)
My Dress Up (DS)
My Japanese Coach (DS)
My Secret Diary (DS)
Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 (DS)
Penny Racers Party: Turbo-Q Speedway (Wii)
Poker for Dummies (PC)
Rock Band 2 (PS3)
Rock Revolution (Xbox 360, PS3, DS)
Saints Row 2 (Xbox 360, PS3)
Sam & Max: Season One (Wii)
Smart Boy’s Toy Club (DS)
Smart Girl’s Party Game (DS)
Smart Kid’s Party Fun Pack (DS)
SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Confrontation (PS3)

Wednesday:
Age of Booty - $10 (Xbox Live Arcade)
SafeCracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure (Wii)
Space Trader: Merchant Marine (PC)
Tak: Guardians of Gross (Wii, PS2)
Tak: Mojo Mistake (DS)

Friday:
Guitar Hero: Aerosmith (PC)

Good news for Kingdom Elemental: Tactics fans! Posted on 2008-10-07 12:31:33
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: Kingdom_Elemental funny_videogames JANISH

And you know you're out there---after all, we reviewed the comedic strategy title in the 2008 JANISH.

So what's the good news? Well, a new version of the game was released that introduces a lot of features that the company wasn't able to include in the initial release, including:

- Twenty plus new challenge levels

- Loading user created challenge levels

- A new "Destiny" mode

- Destiny Mode awards

- Round, World, and Campaign awards

- Statistics after each round

- An improved interface that shows when skill buttons are pressed and allows for the use of group skills

- Group commands that let you select a group of the same type of unit and use their abilities all at once

- A Revamped Skirmish mode that's better balanced and more fun

So, hey, there you go.

New Game Releases for the Week of October 5th, 2008 Posted on 2008-10-06 15:33:11
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: new_videogame_releases

Monday:

Game Party 2 (Wii)
Line Rider 2: Unbound (Wii, PC)
Midnight Bowling - $8 (Wii Shop)
MadStone - $8 (Wii Shop)

Mario Golf - $10 (Wii Shop)
Nancy Drew: The Haunting of Castle Malloy (PC)
Shining Force II: Ancient Sealing - $8 (Wii Shop)

Tuesday:
Army Men: Soldiers of Misfortune (Wii)
Bleach: Dark Souls (DS)
Brother’s In Arms: Hell’s Highway (PC)
Can You See What I See? (PC)
Crash Bandicoot: Mind over Mutant (Xbox 360, Wii, DS, PS2)
Etch A Sketch (PC)
Everlight of Magic & Power (PC)
Fracture (Xbox 360, PS3)
Guilty Gear 2: Overture (Xbox 360)
Imagine: Babysitters (DS)
Imagine: Fashion Designer New York (DS)
My Spanish Coach (PSP)
NBA 09 (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP)
NBA 09: The Inside (PS3, PS2, PSP)
NBA 2k9 (Xbox 360, PS3)
North American Hunting Extravaganza (Wii)
Prey the Stars (DS)
Slingo Quest (DS)
Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals (DS)
Ten Pin Alley 2 (Wii)
The Legend of Kage 2 (DS)

Wednesday:
MLB Stickball - $10 (Xbox Live Arcade)

Source: http://www.videogamesblogger.com

Nintendo announces new DS, WarioWare, Punch Out, and more Posted on 2008-10-02 08:32:55
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: DS DSi Mario_&_Luigi Punch_Out WarioWare

So much for not caring about it's loyal fanbase! Actually, by releasing yet another iteration of one of its portable consoles, one could argue that Nintendo is further not caring about its loyal fanbase by forcing them to shell out another two hundred bucks or be behind the times, but that would just put a damper on their announcement.

Here's the so basically on the new DS, called the "DSi": it's 12 percent slimmer than the DS Lite, it has a slightly larger screen, and it doesn't have a GBA slot. (Are you sold yet?) It also has two built-in cameras and music playback capabilities, an SD slot and internal storage, a Web browser, and the DSi shop, which will let you spend Nintendo points to buy content for the DS, much like on the Wii. (Source.)

So that's that! They've also announced new games in the following franchises: Mario & Luigi and WarioWare (both for the DS), and Punch-Out!!, Trace Memory, Sin and Punishment, Endless Ocean, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (all five for the Wii. Doesn't some of this seem backwards?). (Source and source.)

Is Mario RPG's quest worthwhile? Posted on 2008-09-25 19:11:44
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: Mario_RPG wishes

Like probably a lot of people, I've recently bought, played, and beaten Mario RPG on the Wii's Virtual Console. And it left me with a question: Is Mario's quest a worthwhile quest?

Spoiler alert!!

The main point of the game is to rebuild the Star Road, right? To make sure everyone's wishes are granted?

Well, here's how I see it. The game tries to put forth the idea that people's wishes will never ever come true if the Star Road isn't rebuilt; but that's clearly not true, because people can still make their wishes come true themselves. If someone wishes for a shiny new mushroom, now they won't just be given a shiny new mushroom---now they'll have to actually go out and get their shiny new mushroom themself.

But why is that a bad thing?

I think the world could stand to live without the Star Road for a while, get people to really work for what they want to achieve. Maybe the results of their wishes would give them greater joy that way, or maybe they'd just learn to be a little more independent and self-sufficient.

Unless it's a wish that literally isn't possible for someone to achieve on their own, e.g., "I wish I could grow a pair of wings and fly." Here, I'm not sure if I know enough about the Mario RPG universe---does the Star Road allow for impossible wishes to be granted? If so, maybe that gives it a little more purpose.

This is what the Sims movie is going to be like. Posted on 2008-09-23 09:35:07
Posted by Paul Franzen
Tags: The_Sims videogame_movies

Straight from Joystiq straight from John Davis, the movie's producer:

"... So this is the way I did it: The Sims, as you know, you can control your imaginary world, right? And in our movie, a young man, a 16 year old kid or a 14 year old kid and his friend get their hands on this thing called the Sims Infinity Pack, right, which is kind of this very strange video game store which was there just for that moment, and seemingly wasn't and all that. But what they realize is that they can scan their world in, because this is the most life like, real Sims game ever. And as they are playing this they are all of a sudden realizing is what they are playing on the game is having an effect on the real world. So in effect, through the game, they are able to control their world. It's wish fulfillment, and obviously it turns against them."