InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Well, this explains a lot.

   For multiple reasons, Toys R Us stores in Canada have generally stunk compared to the US counterparts, and I never really understood why. It wasn’t just selection, their practices among other things differed.

   But that they existed as two different entities? I really didn’t know. And even then, it seems silly that they’d be that different as to essentially offer different experiences for no good reason.

   So I’m happy to see that maybe, HOPEFULLY, Toys R Us stores in Canada might have more product and better deals and promotions. Though ironically, I don’t remember having too hard a time finding exclusive TransFormers here when it was from TRU, just Target and Wal-Mart and K-Mart stuff.

2. King of TransFormers scribes Simon Furman has updated his blog to talk about his scripts for IDW’s Devastation #5 and Beast Wars: The Ascending #4, and since I fear spoilers, I’ve not read any further than that. Have fun!

Assorted Mushrooms

1. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles volume 4 from Mirage is coming back soon, and for free! Well, sort of. The Official TMNT Web Site says the following:

   Welcome back to TMNT Volume 4!

   Well, not quite yet… but soon. Volume 4 is going to return this year, but in a slightly different form — or forms, to be more precise. There will be an inexpensive — or possibly free — online form, as well as a more expensive limited edition collectible printed version.
   There are a few reasons for this new approach, mostly related to my work habits. For quite some time, before I took most of the last year off from doing the Vol. 4 comics, I had been getting more and more frustrated by what was required of me, with every issue, to meet the requirements of Diamond Comics, the major comics distributor. This included preparing solicitation material three months in advance for the “Diamond Previews” catalog, along with ads and such.

   The rest of Peter Laird’s thoughts are behind the link for the update of Tuesday, September 11. It’s an interesting proposal, and I look forward to seeing it pan out. Could this change how comics are done in the future?

2. In case you skipped InFormers: Toys R Us USA and TRU Canada are to become one entity, and will hopefully stop charging inflated prices for toys that came out five years ago.
3. From WebbAlert: What’s a Ringle?

   A stupid idea, apparently.

4. In better news, it sounds like the RIAA won’t be getting away with mass-produced lawsuits any longer.

Video Power

1. So Microsoft is going all out with Best Buy for the Halo 3 launch… though it seems Canada may be excluded.

   Of course, around here, Future Shop (another store with the same idea owned by Best Buy’s head office) is where Halo 2 launched, so maybe there’s still hope yet…

2. Sounds like Capcom’s fortunes are rising thanks to the Wii, and they’ve doubled their plans from three games to six.

   Will fans get the Resident Evil 5 they’re clammoring for? Guess we’ll see.

3. Where will the next console Castlevania land? Would you believe… XBox 360?

   I see this as a good thing. Lately, it seems Castlevania is doing better in America, and that Igarashi would make a decision based on where people are buying the game rather than what country the system is from is good to know. Maybe Capcom will wake up with Mega Man and take a similar approach someday.

4. Damn! Japan is getting Virtual On for the PS2?! Nuts!

   Hmm. Come to think of it, I wonder if they could do one for the Wii…

   I’m sure they could, but would it be the same?

5. New Godzilla Unleashed footage is looking quite awesome, and quite fun.

   I still think they need to make a Power Rangers game like this with a ton of monsters and Zords. Give it the right look and a healthy mix of characters from the whole legacy, and I think you might even have some 20-somethings picking it up.

6. A new teaser for Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck has surfaced, and reading up on the game, it really sounds like it has the potential to be one of the more unique, fun titles the DS has to offer.
7. A new trailer for The Simpsons Game lovingly spoofs the ads for the Grand Theft Auto series to “Rock You Like A Hurricane.”
8. GameSpot has rolled out a bunch of new Sonic Rush Adventure material, including a hands-on and more new videos.

   It certainly sounds fun, and more interesting than the first, but I still want to know whether it’s going to follow the repetitive-playthrough example set by the first.

9. So now KISS has a $400 Guitar Hero controller?

   Unless it lets me save Santa, I can’t say I’m willing to bite.

10. A new stage is set at the Smash Bros. DOJO!!, as Sakurai rolls out the eagerly-awaited and seemingly plot-pivotal Battleship Halberd, the ship of fan-favorite newcomer Meta Knight.

    But, who’s running things now?

11. Crack Down is coming to Wii’s Virtual Console! But perhaps not in the way that you would think…
12. Wow, now this is something: a PSP firmware update that actually DOES something… you know, besides attempt to thwart hackers in a futile manner.
13. Wii want Katamari, Wii get Katamari.

    So it seems, anyway. I wonder if this and the PS3 version would use motion controls. Almost seems expected.

14. Finding a Wii isn’t so hard… all you have to do is buy a house, and you’re all set!

    Failing that, well, you can keep trying GameStop.

15. With the casual gaming market ever-expanding, it seems that GameStop is rethinking their strategy just a bit. But will it be any better?

    Hell, I thought that with all the tripe the employees have to fling at anyone who walks in the door, that they were already targeting “casual” gamers.

16. More GameStop… and this is pretty hardcore. But not in the typical gamer definition.

    Halo 3 has begun to arrive (now see? Why can’t other games come out BEFORE their release date so you can buy them ON the release date?), and if the tape sealing the box is so much as nicked, then…

    

    YOU’RE FIRED!

    “GameStop corporate has distributed an email warning that any employees who so much as nick the packing tape on a Halo 3 case will be fired on the stop. It covers employees from game advisors on up to district managers, and even accidental openings are grounds for termination.”

    Er, I think they mean, “on the spot.” Though I suppose both work. All the same, wow.

17. Kremlings and a cool soundtrack– DK Barrel Blast is looking better all the time.

    Though as nice as this return to Donkey Kong Island is, when are we going to see a new Donkey Kong Country game that does the series justice?

18. Speaking of Kong, DK Jungle Climber is looking alright over on Game Rankings. May have to give that one a closer inspection sometime.
19. And finally, at the pre-TGS showing in Japan, Microsoft and Tecmo have revealed Ninja Gaiden 2, which is being published by Microsoft itself, thus ensuring that it isn’t going anywhere else for awhile. Maybe it’ll kick off the PlayStation 4 or something.

    I do like the Wolverine-esque claws.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 12th, 2007 at 5:04 am and is filed under The Daily 'Shroom. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.