InFormers: Robots in the News

1. So there’s a poll that shows that TransFormers The Movie has helped raise the opinion of GM cars. And in more obvious to everyone but the producers news, people liked the TransFormers themselves more than the humans.
2. Ben Yee has a look at issue 2 of the Beast Wars Sourcebook by IDW, which he helped with and has drawn a LOT of heat and ire from fans for the shoddy work done on it. After the things I’ve seen and heard on it… well, here’s hoping the trade fixes things up.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. The 5th turtle has a few more neat tidbits, one being climbing claws for the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures by NECA, and the other being more non-retro retro art of Leonardo and Donatello.
2. Among the ever-growing number of signs that the world is nearing an end, Scott Adams, one of the world’s most prolific mockers of bosses and managers the world over through his comic strip Dilbert (and other assorted books), has become a boss himself.

Video Power

1. So, lately I’ve been digging around in the archives of Press The Buttons, and there’s some interesting, timeless stuff there in addition to comments about more recent happenings, which is also something I try to accomplish with “Points of Interest” here on PMO; columns which, barring sites going down or changing addresses, remain timeless and can be enjoyed no matter when you read them.

   One such piece I found linked to a since-relocated interview with the creator of The Oregon Trail, which helps put some perspective on some things like the hunting subgame and “inadequate grass.”

   It also lead me to think that they ought to remake The Oregon Trail for Wii Ware. It’s have a sort of retro value/appeal of its own if priced right. And just think, you could send Miis from your plaza to Oregon or their deaths, whichever comes first! And maybe leave tombstones that could be found and sort of trickle-down through WiiConnect, not unlike the Miis themselves. Keep the price fair, and I bet it’d see a few downloads.

2. Capcom*Unity has found a cool mash-up video for Mega Man, with commercials and other fun stuff blended into the video. Too bad they have that stupid “Retrojunk” watermark at the start. In fact, I left a comment with a link to the original, without the watermark, in the hopes that it might be fixed.
3. Now here’s something I haven’t given much thought to: The Cheapest Atari 2600 Games Worth Your Time.

   I thought they were all pretty cheap. I guess with retro being an “in” thing now, however, that maybe that’s since changed.

4. Toastyfrog pays tribute to one of the greatest video game enemies of all time, and the first many people ever saw: the Goomba.

   Not only a favorite enemy of mine, but also a favored ally.

5. A recent poll shows that more Canadians recognize a photograph of Mario than they do their own political leaders. And in Europe, more than the likes of Hilton, Timberlake, and more.
6. One year after launch and just in time for Christmas, ScrewAttack.com tells us what the Top 10 Exclusive PS3 Games are.

   …and it’s actually quite funny in all the wrong ways (or all the right ones, if you’re an anti-Sony zealot).

7. Hey, it’s another Mario retrospective! And this one’s from GameSpot!

   What makes this one any different? Mouse-over comparison pics, for one, and “then” consisting chiefly of Sunshine for another.

8. If there’s one thing Mario doesn’t lack in the slightest, it’s female companionship to rescue. Hence, IGN’s look at Mario’s Ladies.

   Hmm, so Rosalina has two names between here and Japan now? Why, Nintendo? Did you learn nothing from “Peach Toadstool?”

   …wait, “Smash Bros.‘ Daisy?” Did I miss an update or something? Or did IGN inadventently spill the beans?

   My choice for pairings, though: Mario and Peach, Luigi and Daisy. I see Rosalina as a more platonic relationship (unless playing further reveals otherwise), and Pauline… well, that’d be telling.

9. In their never-ending quest to stay on the Mario bandwagon, Game Daily has a new piece highlighting the most neglected characters in the franchise.

   For Toad, though, I wonder if Nintendo in Japan even considers him a proper character, or just a species?

10. Games Radar Presents: Fan Films Gone WRONG!
11. Another awesome wedding; nice touch, pairing Luigi and Daisy. The napkins rock, too!
12. Part of an interview with Gamasutra reveals how NeoGeo games reached the Wii Virtual Console.
13. Well, if there were still any questions about GameStop’s lack of competence…

    I’d really hate to be working there and have some strict regulation telling me I’m not allowed to sell the game to a kid. I wonder how this even happened? Maybe a little too much X-Play?

14. MTV Multiplayer lists the Top 10– you guessed it– Mario games. Pre-Galaxy, of course.
15. Yahtzee has another Zero Punctuation review up, this time of Clive Barker’s Jericho.

    And if seeing him tear apart games isn’t your cup of tea, maybe you’d like to tear apart one of his… that is, assuming you don’t actually like it.

16. Game|Life brings word of another Mental Floss NES quiz, on which I scored 72%, or 18 out of 25. Damn sports games…
17. Guess not everyone likes Super Mario Galaxy.

    Personally, I like the Wii control arrangement. Matter of opinion there, I suppose, but to say it looks “lifeless?” Huh…

18. Brazil has a neat little item for SEGA fans. Sort of like Plug-n-Play controllers, but better! And a bit pricier, too.
19. Um… Wow. Is this art?

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 11:41 pm and is filed under Points of Interest. 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.