Points of Interest – 9/22/07
InFormers: Robots in the News
- Movie Starscream is back, and he’s sporting a Target-exclusive Generation 1-inspired color scheme, as he plots his next move after the Decepticons’ defeat at the end of the film.
Check out the gallery to get a closer look and see what else he might be up to in secret.
As an aside, I think his boxart makes him look like he has a leak of vital fluids from his olfactory sensor. But even so, he still looks sharp.
Assorted Mushrooms
- Thanks to Auto for finding this video, or rather, this series of videos known as Gag Manga Biyori.
I haven’t had time to watch more than the one above, so I don’t know if they’re serialized or stand-alone, but it’s an amusing anime short that goes inside some sort of Japanese snack manufacturer, as one of the higher-ups faces frustration in dealing with the mess-ups of his subordinates, who keep messing up the stickers that are the selling point for their treats.
- Too good.
- The other day, we told you that a US Senator has decided to sue God.
Video Power
- Over on the Penny Arcade Forums, there’s been a new trend in thread topics known as “Let’s Play,” which I guess is sort of like an online book club, only for video games, where everyone plays through together. And people are posting videos, too. So far, there are threads dedicated to Sonic 1 through Sonic 3 & Knuckles, Kirby Super Star, and last but certainly not least, Super Mario All-Stars + Super Mario World.
Unfortunately, Sonic seems to differ from the others due to a lack of commentary, which basically boils down to just watching someone play and show off the levels.
Kirby is a bit better, since that title is a rare treat, and also features a colorized remake of Kirby’s first adventure, and you get to find out some stuff along the way.
But the best, hands-down, is Mario. You see, Gilder apparently hasn’t played much in the way of Super Mario Bros. games, so this is pretty new territory to him. And for pure entertainment, you just need to watch his videos of himself playing The Lost Levels. As anyone who’s played it knows, that’s some hardcore stuff right there. Not to outright bash the game, but I don’t see why people think that one is better than what we got; it’s like saying that being kicked in the groin repeatedly is better than having a delicious dessert.
Yeah, maybe, if you’re a masochist.
Needless to say, Gilder racks up more deaths in The Lost Levels than in any of the others, and it’s just fun to watch him try. All things considered, he actually does a pretty good job. Give it a watch, it’s a lot like that video of the guy cursing while playing the uber-hard Mario hack, only better.
- Yay, Next Generation is back! And they have a new feature on game design, looking at the sense of reward in games and how to keep players playing.
- Following in IGN’s footsteps, Games Radar has created their own Cliff’s Notes of Halo, so you can bone up on all the story details from games, novels, and comics before diving in to Finish the Fight.
- “Preorder? I don’t need no stinkin’ preorder!”
Looks like even Master Chief himself can’t play the game early. Guess it was too much for him, as he seems to be willing to go to desperate lengths to get a copy.
Also: PS3 teabagging.
Thanks to RJ for that one.
- Now this is a nice stylus, and a peculiar holder. Doesn’t exactly seem to mesh with the portable aspect of the DS though, does it?
- Even the most realistic video game has its hurdles to overcome, and odds are, no matter how close they’ve gotten, it’s still not quite real enough.
Popular Science has examined this, assembling a list of ten technological hurdles to be overcome, and suggesting possible solutions for them.
- Hmm, I don’t know which I’d want more… Pac-Man and the ghosts, or Turtwig. If only such choices were as easy to come by here.
- On the NeoGAF forums, one user felt that GameVideos’ footage of Contra 4 had a decidedly 8-bit feel to the animation. To that end, another user replied with a comparison, showing animation from the original NES Contra, the 16-bit Super NES Contra III: The Alien Wars, and the Nintendo DS’s Contra 4.
I found this along with a ton of other gathered links (including my own interview!) about Contra 4 at this MySpace blog.
- And finally, 1up has an interview to discuss the Wii version of Rygar: The Battle of Argus, what changes were made, and why bother to port an old PS2 game instead of just making a new title altogether.
–LBD “Nytetrayn”