Some game came out last night… I wonder if it’s any good.

Seriously, there’s been so much about Halo 3 over the past four days, I decided to seperate it into its own news section. Don’t care about Halo? Then just move on down to normal posts.

1. So the bad news is that, thanks to scratched discs, many may be unable to Finish the Fight. Many have taken to returning their valuable and coveted Limited Edition Spartan helmets and other bonuses so they can just have a playable version of the game.

   BUT, the need to do so may not be so drastic, provided you are able to be patient. Microsoft is offering free replacement on the discs, good through the end of the year.

   Personally? I’d want to hang onto my swag, so this’d be the way to go. I’d just have to keep my ass offline until the game arrived.

2. Jack Thompson, Halo 3, right here.

   I’d love for this to go somewhere. Preferably that deep, dark place no one should ever go. You don’t spit into the wind, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, and you probably shouldn’t get into a legal battle with Microsoft, especially when you’re not exactly in the right.

3. Loading.Ready.Run. takes a look at Halo: The Future of Gaming, and how it will affect our world in the years to come.

   … Dear God…

4. A more realistic look at the impact of Halo can be seen in The Halo Effect, a new book that Matt over at Press The Buttons just happens to be giving away in a contest.

   Damn, I want to do contests, too. And review DVDs. You’re going to have to share your secrets with me one of these days, man.

5. Speaking of journalistic benefits, over at IGN, they also received a messload of Halo 3 goodies… including meatloaf.

   Seriously. Go check out the video.

   Oh, and for those wondering? The helmet won’t fit cats, dogs, or anyone without a square head.

6. Luckily, not everyone’s interested in keeping theirs. Take Joystiq, for example, who are holding one hell of a giveaway.

   Sadly, the meatloaf isn’t listed.

7. Now this is an awesome case mod, and it’s coming soon to eBay.
8. Live-action Halo? Sort of. Check it out, from the Discovery Channel.
9. Master Chief is a whore. A product/media whore, that is. That’s why Games Radar saw fit to look at the top 7 Halo cameos, including “Master Chick’s” appearance in Dead or Alive 4.
10. Mega64 sees things for what they are. This whole Halo 3 thing? It’s not that good. In fact, for some people, it’s just the opposite.
11. Did you know? John P. Harvard was a Spartan. It’s true!

    Don’t believe me? See for yourself.

12. Albertans are smart, though. They aren’t fooled by all the hype in the world, oh no. They know that if you really want to shoot something, it had better be flesh and breathing.
13. As Halo fans go, I like the way this one thinks:

    “I want to be buried in it. They’ll dig me up 10,000 years from now and say, ‘He must have been king.’”

14. And finally, don’t forget about Geekspeak Radio’s interview with the voice of Master Chief tonight!

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Oy, I’ve got one of THOSE headaches. You know the ones, it’s bothersome, but not overwhelming, enough to keep you from thinking clearly, but not debilitating. And I’ve already missed one update, and so here I am at a crossroads.

But will I let this adversity overcome me, keep me from my nightly charge? To this, I say no! And I had more to say, but then I forgot! So let’s just get on with it, shall we?

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Considering how long it felt like it took for the first TransFormers movie to come out, a sequel in 2009 doesn’t seem nearly as bad.
2. The next IDW TransFormers: Spotlight has been announced, and it looks like a real blast from the past.
3. And finally, with EJ Su and his wife expecting (congratulations!), artist Nick Roche has stepped up to the plate for IDW’s Devastation #3, with some samples available that show off a decidedly more animated style of art that will continue the tale.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. Some quick Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles news, from the 5th turtle.

   First is that the recent movie is up for a Scream award, while Imagi, the animation studio, has requested and gained an extension of several months to decide whether they want to do a sequel, which is mostly so they can negotiate a better distribution contract with Warner Bros.

2. The Rock… as Captain Marvel? Or possibly Black Adam?

   Cooooool…

3. Not so cool is a special effects technician dying in a Batmobile accident regarding the upcoming The Dark Knight movie.

Video Power

1. Well, this sucks. The Mega Man Zero Complete Works art/guidebook has been delayed again, now set for an end-of-February 2008 release.
2. In the meantime, if you’d like to win a copy of Mega Man ZX Advent and a 20th Anniversary poster, check out this art contest over on Atomic Fire. Since Halloween is just around the corner, and ZX is largely about donning various superpowered costumes, we’re looking for pics that depict various Mega Man ZX characters celebrating the day in style.
3. Now for a double-dip of fun at the Smash Bros. DOJO!!, now featuring the return of trophies, and Diddy Kong’s Final Smash, which gives off a pretty neat vibe. Reminds me a little of Optimus Primal, only smaller.

   As for the trophies, I hope for two things. One is that we get a ton of them. Another is that they’re filled with more trivia than before; the ones I disliked most were the ones that gave moves for Melee, rather than obscure factoids. I mean, seriously, if you got the trophy, odds are decent that you know what the character in question can do.

   A new screen has cropped up as well… and from the looks of things, I’m not sure that Snake is really ready for Brawl. And another reveals Mr. Saturn’s presence, too.

   …oops, spoke too soon.

4. The Virtual Console has updated, and… um, wow. New to the lineup are Kirby’s Avalanche, a puzzle game for the Super NES, Legend of Hero Tonma, a 2-player action title for the TurboGrafx-16, and perhaps this week’s diamond in the rough is Streets of Rage 3, a 2-player beat-em-up for the SEGA Genesis.
5. Square-Enix is looking for somebody to help them spread the word of Jenova in the US, since all we ‘merican gamers like is our sports ‘n eff-pee-esses.

   Interestingly, and I may have to look this up later, but didn’t Nintendo serve that very role for them once upon a time?

6. New screenshots for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games include a character select screen, revealing the full(?) roster of playable characters, which include different category types for the characters:

   Knuckles, Bowser, Vector, and Wario represent the “Power type.”

   Mario, Amy Rose, Luigi, and Blaze make up the all-around type, of course.

   Sonic, Daisy, Shadow, and Yoshi are the speedsters…

   …and Peach, Tails, Waluigi, and Dr. Ivo “Eggman” Robotnik make up the Skill types.

   The question that now remains is, are there any unlockable characters?

7. So, we all know that Nintendo is big right now. How big?

   Second-most-valuable-company-in-Japan big.

   For those interested, #1 is Toyota.

8. Joining in on the contest fun lately is Go Nintendo, with an easy-to-enter Simpsons trivia contest, with 100 winners.
9. Good news for us here in Canadia! Well, sort of.

   Future Shop has a DS Lite Phantom Hourglass kit for $17.99. At first glance, I hoped it was a preorder bonus or something, but no dice. Still, not a bad little set.

10. This is just bizarre.

    Remember that race between the Wii car and the Halo car? Well, the results of that were… interesting.

    The Wii car came in second place. Sort of like Nintendo’s rank in terms of value of Japanese companies.

    The Halo car… saw its engine blow up. Just like so many XBox 360′s.

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you… Irony.

11. It’s getting just a little aggravating to be a month behind most people on my Nintendo Power subscription. The new issue is out, and reveals Samba de Amigo for the Wii.
12. $11 for Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance? I gotta get my ass to Zeller’s…

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. The other day, we reported that TransFormers: The Movie Christmas decorations were coming.

   Today, we report that you can find them at– where else? Target.

2. The full cover of the new TransFormers Collectors Club magazine has appeared, and shows off some of the Animated Decepticons, including Starscream, Blitzwing, and Black Arachnia, among others.
3. Perfect. Well this is just flippin’ perfect.

   Looks like some of the first Classics are possibly returning to stores in two-packs, with one set featuring Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus, while the other features Jetfire and Grimlock.

   Which would be GREAT… if I didn’t already have Jetfire and Ultra Magnus. If these do hit, anyone interested in going halfsies?

Assorted Mushrooms

1. Sure, the US and Canuck bucks are worth about the same now, but don’t think that’ll bring any end to my bitching, oh no. Reports are saying it’d need to stay like this for two years before we could see changes, and it’s recommended that Canadians travel down south to get their money’s worth.

   If only I could afford to get that far. How ironic.

   Just to re-enlighten anyone who’s forgotten how the difference tends to work around here, I refer to my favorite example in the form of Nintendo’s Player’s Choice titles.

   In the US, the price for a Player’s Choice title for the GameCube or Game Boy Advance was usually $19.99. Here, GBA goes for $24.99, while GameCube would be priced at $29.99. Overblown AND unfair. And that’s not even getting into the 14% sales tax that goes on top of it around here.

   Just one example.

Video Power

1. I guess first thing here is to address the Mega Man World figures that sprang up yesterday. Seems they were more of a hoax perpetrated with some customs, and Toy News International has removed the story.

   Yeah, I feel a little like a sap, I’m just glad I never got to reporting it on any of the Mega Man sites before it was removed. And sorry if it got anyone’s hopes up.

2. So to promote Halo 3, it looks like Master Chief is going to be hitting the airwaves in prime time.

   Spike TV and Sci Fi, I understand… but Comedy Central?

3. And now for more Big Super Happy Fun Fun time with The Simpsons Game!

   “Ohh! I don’t know whether to be airsick or seasick!”

4. N-Philes has obtained a fact sheet for Link’s Crossbow Training, the game that comes with the Wii Zapper attachment.
5. Evidently, GameStop isn’t all bad, as they seem to think that consumers can use their own judgement when it comes to what games with which ratings they want.
6. So, first someone made a Donkey Kong II, and Namco made a Pac-Man Championship Edition. What’s next, Space Invaders?

   Well, as a matter of fact…

   Much like Pac-Man‘s rebirth, it seems that Taito is following a slightly-similar path, updating the franchise in a rather untraditional way to give a solid mix of new and old aesthetics. Plus, it even uses the DS paddle controller that ships with Arkanoid.

7. With its virtual community now delayed, questions have begun to arise as to whether or not Sony’s Home will be all it’s cracked up to be.
8. XBox 360 and Wii. Both good systems with good games (barring the whole red ring thing). But how does one make a choice as to which one to get? For that matter, how would a redneck decide?

   Why, the same way the Autobots use to decide which Optimus is real, and which is an imposter: they have a race.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Oh, those lucky Aussies…

   Remember the San Diego Comic Con-exclusive Alternator Rodimus? Turns out that he’s going retail in Australia.

2. Seems that the less-popular Classics two-pack of Optimus Prime and Megatron are going to the close-out stores, such as Big Lots, Family Dollar, and Dollar General for $15. And being in Canada, I regretably cannot take advantage. But then, I’d much rather have the other Classics Prime and Megatron, anyway. This would be more of an impulse buy or a collection filler than a “gotta have it” item.
3. Wow, IDW has a whole slew of TransFormers titles on tap for October. A slew, I tell you!
4. The new TransFormers Collector’s Club magazine cover has been revealed, and among other surprises contained, we get a nice look at Animated Blitzwing!
5. Looks like new Movie Legends 2-packs are coming, including some new guys like Cliffjumper and Bonecrusher.
6. IGN has scored a six-page preview from issue 4 of New Avengers/TransFormers, which has been met with… well, not as much enthusiasm for the final product as they’d have hoped, I’m sure.

   Pity they cheat a little with the recap page…

7. Christmas comes to Cybertron? That’s how things look, with all these TransFormers-themed decorations set to come out.
8. And finally, Simon Furman has updated his blog to spoil Devastation #1, so if you hold nothing sacred, then go ahead and check it out.

Video Power

1. Thanks to The Red Priest and Heatman, some new screens from the Japanese mobile phone Rockman DASH game have been revealed.

   No, this still doesn’t make me happy.

2. Speaking of Rockman, or more specifically, Mega Man, this came out of left field.

   Seems that First in Toys has announced a new toyline called Mega Man World, which seems to be based on the Classic series and is very reminiscient of the Retro Roto line that was released by Jazwares for one wave before a mysterious disappearance.

   These are prototype figures at the moment, so one does hope they will be improved upon and more polished by the time of release. Top Man, Stone Man, Bubble Man, and Rush Jet Mega Man are the figures, who each come with a piece of a “Build-a-Bot,” who in this case is Duo.

   All of this leads one to wonder if Jazwares still has the Mega Man license, has farmed it out, or just what’s going on and what else we might see.

3. So, does one close out a week like this at the Smash Bros. DOJO!!?

   Well, there’s only one man who can answer that. Let me get him for you…

   *knocks on door* Hey, Snake? …Snake?

   SNAAAAAAAAAKE!!!

   Oh well, guess we’ll have to tell you later.

   Or not. Besides the “official” addition of Solid Snake to the roster, Sakurai goes not one, but TWO better by offering us his special moves and the SSBB version of the “Love Theme” from… oh, heh. That’s good. That’s real good.

   Metal Gear Solid 4.

   And it sounds quite nice, too. Not sappy or anything, as the title might lead one to believe, but pretty good dramatic MGS fare. You can tell Sakurai must’ve been happy about this update, though I do wish he’d have explained the box…

   But I wonder why he chose now to do it?

4. …oh. That’s why, I suppose.

   I’d love to know what the Codec screens are saying about Mario, though.

5. …the hell?

   So we all know about NiGHTS coming to the Wii, right? This is a match made in heaven, with the Wii’s unique control attributes and the dynamic flight mechanics which allow the titular character to glide through the air with the greatest of ease, right?

   Well apparently, someone at SEGA didn’t get the memo.

   Let’s face it, that’s just bizarre.

6. Ratchet & Clank are coming to PS3, but it’s just going to be the same old, same old as before, right?

   Well, maybe not. This title has some new tricks, including Six Axis controls, more weapons, and a Gyrocycle that reminds me of Mr. Garrison’s “IT” from South Park.

   Oh, and there’s supposed to be a story, too.

7. Speaking of Clank, just what’s that whole Secret Agent Clank thing about, anyway? GameSpot manages to sneak into a top-secret gaming show and interrogate someone to find out.
8. A new trailer from SEGA shows Sonic and his Riders rockin’ it in Zero G’s.
9. I do hope it’s fixed by the time you see this, but it looks like someone forgot to renew Next Generation’s domain name. And that makes me sad.
10. So while Retro has moved on from Metroid for the time being, they still have some time to discuss what they’ve done, as well as what they’re working on next… and what about that Dread thing?
11. Looks like Best Buy is the place to be this weekend for gamers in Toronto…

    …wait, Toronto? THAT’S ME!! But where the hell is “Younge?”

    Half-kidding, full excitement aside, looks like some fun times over the weekend. Won’t be able to make Friday, but that’s ok… I’m not so interested in actually playing Halo 3 until I can give the first two a proper go. And nude pics or not, High School Musical just isn’t my thing.

    Saturday looks like Sony’s turn at bat, as they break out… er, “Motorstormtm” and some Rock Band as well, plus a Guitar Hero challenge. I can probably live without this one, though the lure of musical gaming may be too strong for the wife…

    Sunday, on the other hand… Mario Strikers Charged, Mario Party 8, Metroid Prime 3, and a possible DS Lite prize pack?

    Guess which day I’m going.

12. Speaking of Best Buy, it seems that their website has Wii in stock. For the moment.
13. Oh, asscrackers.

    Toys R Us is having another sale, where you buy one accessory, and get the next half off.

    And it applies to Wii Points as well. Nuts.

14. So Wal-Mart in the US of A has a neat little preorder bonus for Zelda, with the DS Lite skin and stylus, right?

    Well, Australia seems to be on some kind of a roll, as… well, see for yourself.

    Damn.

15. Kingdom Hearts has new games coming, and of course that means a new logo and title.

    I don’t follow it too much, though. I still need to get and play the first two games, then I’ll care. But one thing bothers me all the same…

    How the hell do you pronounce that title?

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. New TransFormers toy images have sprung up today.

   The first ones being from the Robot Heroes line, based on the movie and featuring the first faceplateless Movie Optimus figure, complete with glowy sword. He’s taking on Scorponok, while the rest of the wave is filled out with Protoform Jazz Vs. Brawl, Ironhide Vs. Bonecrusher, and Armor Bumblebee (with visor and Allspark!) Vs. Starscream.

   Without the plate, Prime really looks like Ultra Magnus here. With pouty lips.

   If you don’t have forum access for TFWorld2005 (which many of you probably don’t), then click here instead.

2. The other new images have perhaps been more eagerly awaited, as we get to see Animated Starscream in his full splendor, in both robot and jet modes.

   Debate rages on over whether that’s an open-mouthed smile, or if he’s wearing lipstick. Make your own call.

3. Finally, some good news for fans of GI Joe and TransFormers crossovers, as Devil’s Due is releasing all four volumes of their stories into one hardcover graphic novel.

   The price is a tad hefty at 50 bucks, but overall, it should be well worth it… especially if they pack in some extras.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. Stephen Colbert on The Simpsons? This looks to be pretty good, I’m going to have to find out when this one is on.

   Better still, he’s not just playing himself in an arbitrary walk-on appearance!

2. New NECA news from the 5th turtle reveals a few tantalizing tidbits about their fabulous figures, such as two waves of 6 figures being released in Spring and Fall of 2008, and that the current plans are only for characters who appeared in the early Mirage comic books.

   The first wave will feature Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and one other fellow… Raphael. Oh, and there will also be a Foot Soldier for them to take turns beating on, or if you love the movies, to crush all at once between their shells. Plus, one more character whose identity remains a secret… hmm…

3. A new cast member for Garfield Gets Real has been revealed today: Charles, who appears to be a director and is compared to Spielberg, but he reminds me more of something else.
4. Ok, this Chris “Leave Britney Alone!” Crocker thing has officially gone too far.

Video Power

1. So there’s a new Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer from TGS, full of the sort of delightful crack that the name Kojima promises by its mere mention.

   Dennis Rodman and Gollum drinking Coke? That’s wild stuff, man. And if you want to know just what they’re saying, they had these handy scripts to give out, which was apparently easier than using the subtitles to show a different language.

   And in the way that only Kojima can, Metal Gear Online has been revealed, and it is going to come bundled with Metal Gear Solid 4.

2. For those waiting to see what Sengoku Basara X, aka Devil Kings, will look and play like, Capcom has located some shakey-cam footage from a test-site in Japan. And it looks pretty hot.
3. Ok, I generally try and keep things a rough PG-13 around here. And if something more bothers you, I sincerely apologize, but really, nothing else can really do justice to my first thought upon seeing this news.

   Fuck you, Capcom.

   Capcom has had a few games come out of TGS this week, including (among others) Devil May Cry 4, Zack & Wiki, and We Love Golf. And I have nothing against those titles. But there is one that was announced that interests me more than the rest of the entire lineup put together.

   A new Rockman DASH (aka MegaMan Legends) game.

   Now, given my recent petitioning for a MegaMan Legends Collection and a third game in the series proper, you’d think this would be good news. So why am I pissed?

   It’s a Japanese cellphone game.

   Namco X Capcom was a bad enough tease, given that we never got that, and I’m not holding out hope for the future there at this point, but this– even just a cellphone game– an all-new adventure at that… what else can I say? I’m not the only one desperate to see the series continued, and this just feels like an enormous slap in the face. Especially given the way Rockman‘s popularity seems to be waning in Japan, while it still seems to do healthy numbers here.

   Now, there IS the optimistic side of me that says that maybe, just MAYBE, Capcom will use this as a way of gauging interest in the series, BUT that is directly countered by the point made above in Japan’s seeming lack of care any more.

   Another point is that Capcom DOES have a US mobile phone division, which even features Mega Man games, along with Dead Rising and others. And that may very well be our only hope for seeing it here. But even then, are mobile phone games popular enough in the US that it would matter? Does Capcom even care enough about the US market, mobile phones or otherwise, for them to consider the sales as a factor for creating another console (or hell, DS or PSP) MegaMan Legends game?

   Perhaps it’s time I found out.

4. Coming soon to the PSP is Secret Agent Clank, starring the titular costar of the popular Ratchet & Clank series. And GameTrailers has some camera footage of the title’s attract mode.

   Knowing Clank as the more charismatic of the duo, I would expect this to be a fun, and perhaps funny, little romp indeed.

5. After the revelations of the Ice Climbers’ return, WiFi, and the Subspace Army, what will Smash Bros. DOJO!! reveal next?

   Piplup.

   Oh well, they can’t all be megatons, now can they?

   But the thought occurs to me, that it’ll be weird to see the Pokemon Trainer’s chosen fighters using Pokeballs themselves.

6. After all this time, waiting… hoping… we finally have an official English trailer for Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney.

   Apollo has a pretty cool voice, too. Sounds a little more likely to make you pay attention than Phoenix’s was… I wonder if he’ll get any points from the Judge for that?

   …and the magic girl’s name is… Trucy?

7. Looks like Nintendo of Europe is making good on that bug in the PAL version of Super Paper Mario.
8. To celebrate Contra 4 for mobile phones, Konami is running a contest (short-lived, at that) in which participants are to design a character “that demonstrates the true meaning of the classic Contra game.”

   “All finalists will receive a t-shirt, mention in the game credits, and see their designs posted on Konami’s site. The grand prize winner will not only have their design incorporated into the mobile game, but also receive a credit in the game and a designer’s award associated with the Contra 20th anniversary.”

   Sounds good to me. Pity my art skills are… well, pretty much relegated to the low-end of cartooning. Still, might be worth a shot, since it does call primarily for text with the pictures being optional.

   Sheesh, lotta mobile phone news today, huh?

9. So Future US has made its acquisition of the Nintendo Power license official.

   The biggest downside I see to this so far, though, is that “The first Future US-published issue of Nintendo Power will be the December 2007 edition, which will go on sale in October.” Yay, screwy month-listings for magazines.

   What depresses me is that it looks like the subscription offer they had been running might no longer be there, and mine just ran out. ARGH!!

10. So, maybe if Nintendo isn’t publishing the magazine in-house any more, maybe that’ll free up a few bucks and we can get our own Club Nintendo program.

    Not holding my breath, however.

    They have some neat new stuff, including a sort of holder for Wii remote/nunchucks, and… um… just what the hell IS that first item?

11. This is nice. Preorder The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass at Wal-Mart, and you get a Phantom Hourglass DS Lite skin and stylus.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Fans, get ready to hate Michael Bay again.

   So now that we know that the IMAX version of TransFormers: The Movie will contain added footage, Mr. “Bad Boys Rock Armageddon” himself has said the following:

   “I added two minutes of stuff for IMAX that will never make into any DVD’s. There will never be an extended edition.”

   Talk about pissing in your Cheerios. Of course, Mr. Bay has been known to be wrong/lie/change his mind before, and so there’s always a chance that this could make it onto DVD… only, it’d probably be later. Let’s hear it for double-dipping.

   So now we not only have to decide just which special bonus we want when it hits DVD, but we have to decide if we want to get that DVD at all, or if discretion will be the optimal route to take and wait for a later cash-in that includes the new footage.

   And then, there’s the question of if the footage is even worth it. The biggest gripe people have had about the movie is how it didn’t star the TransFormers, but it was simply about them; the humans were the stars.

   As it turns out, scenes from early trailers, scripts, and so forth were cut from the movie, but have been collected as still images. Will these be the added footage for the IMAX release? No one really knows, yet. But if they are, then you have to wonder if it’s worth waiting for a possible, indefinite, unannounced DVD to come out to get them.

   Especially if what you wanted from IMAX was more giant robots.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. VIZ Pictures has some good news for fans of Death Note, via their press release yesterday:

   VIZ PICTURES LICENSES THEATRICAL AND DVD RIGHTS TO LIVE ACTION DEATH NOTE FILMS

   DEATH NOTE AND DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME Based On Popular Anime And Manga Series That Have Taken Japan And North America By Storm

   San Francisco, CA, September 18, 2007 VIZ Pictures, an affiliate of VIZ Media LLC that focuses on Japanese live-action film distribution, has announced that it has licensed from Nippon Television (NTV) the North American theatrical and DVD distribution rights to the live-action feature film DEATH NOTE and its sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, based on the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series which have gained massive followings in Japan and North America. VIZ Media is the exclusive North American publisher and distributor of the DEATH NOTE anime and manga series.

   VIZ Pictures will open DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME in a series of special screenings at Austin?’s Fantastic Fest 2007, September 20-27, and at the 2007 Vancouver Asian Film Festival, November 1-4. Theater information follows at the end of this release and future screenings will continue throughout 2008. VIZ Pictures also plans to release DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME on DVD in the summer of 2008.

   “We are extremely proud to announce the license of DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME,” says Seiji Horibuchi President and CEO of VIZ Pictures. “Both films were smash hits in Japan upon their initial release and the established popularity of the manga in the United States, combined with the highly anticipated debut of the anime series, will prime audiences for the excitement and tension that the live feature films bring to the story.”

   DEATH NOTE is based on the hit supernatural action mystery manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The live-action film, directed by Shusuke Kaneko, known as a director of popular monster film “Gamera”? series, was released in 2006 and mirrors the manga’s story of Light Yagami, an ace student with great prospects who is bored out of his mind. All of that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god named Ryuk. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and now Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But when criminals mysteriously begin dropping dead, the authorities send the legendary detective L to investigate, and he is soon hot on the trail of Light, who must now reevaluate his one noble goal. Both Light and L believe themselves to be on the side of justice, and the two match wits trying to show exactly which of them is “good” and which of them is “evil.”

   The film’s sequel, DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME, was a hit in Japan, staying #1 for four straight weeks. While it closely followed major plot elements from the original manga series, several new key story differences were also introduced. Both films star Takeshi Kaga, who is widely known by North American audiences as the flamboyant host of TV’s Iron Chef.

   DEATH NOTE and DEATH NOTE: THE LAST NAME will screen at:
   Sept. 20-27: Austin, TX, Fantastic Fest 2007
   Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
   1120 South Lamar, Austin, TX
   For show times and tickets, go to http://www.fantasticfest.com

   *DEATH NOTE will screen at:
   Nov. 1-4: Vancouver, BC, Vancouver Asian Film Festival
   For show times and tickets, go to http://www.vaff.org/
   *Note this will only be a screening of DEATH NOTE

2. Four new Family Guy figures are on the way, at least in the UK: Secret Agent Astronaut Millionaire Cowboy Peter, newsanchor Diane Simmons, Chris on a treadmill, and Quagmire sporting something a little more… comfortable. OH! Giggity-giggity-giggity-goo!

Video Power

1. A few months ago, there was quite a bit of buzz that Nintendo Power was going to be published by another company. Now, it seems that the possible truth of the matter has come to light, revealing Future US to be the license holder for Nintendo’s official magazine in the US.

   For those who don’t know, Future publishes PC Gamer, the Next Generation website, Games Radar, Gloob, and perhaps most ironically of all, Official XBox Magazine.

   Me, I am nothing short of torn on this. Besides always having wanted to work for Nintendo Power, I really, really like what the magazine has become over the past two years since its revision. On the other hand, I do rather enjoy the product that Future delivers, and believe it would be in good hands. My hope is that things don’t change drastically, if at all, in this new venture. There’s a saying, “change is good,” though I also consider another saying, “don’t fix what isn’t broken.” And right now, Nintendo Power is as un-broken as it’s been in quite some time.

   On a related note, I wonder what this could do to subscription rates and the player’s guides.

2. I’ve nothing to say about this, so I’ll just let it speak for itself.
3. Maybe it’s the people I hang around, but the expression “Unleash the Force” just sounds wrong.

   But the idea of Wii remote-controlled lightsabers in said title? That sounds cool.

4. I dig Dragon Ball. It’s always been a pretty steady interest of mine, never quite becoming something I spend every waking hour thinking about, but something I do enjoy whenever I usually come into contact with it.

   That said, I haven’t really had much contact with it lately, much less with any video games. Thanks to this trailer, however, I’m thinking it might be a good idea to become reacquainted.

5. Absent yesterday from GameTrailers was a video for the new Virtual Console release Yoshi’s Story. This has since been rectified.
6. Today’s Smash Bros. DOJO!! update reveals to us our foes from Subspace, the Subspace Army!

   I guess if these are who we face in Adventure Mode, there won’t be many Goombas and Octoroks around…

7. By now, I can’t even remember if Project H.A.M.M.E.R. has been officially killed. But I guess this is one step closer, at any rate.
8. If you’re interested in getting The Simpsons game, then preordering may not be such a bad idea, as now there appear to be several incentives across different retailers, featuring different posters that hold codes to unlock characters, as well as Homerballs!
9. Toys R Us has a new video game sale: buy two, get the third free.

   Offer probably void in Canada.

10. I’ll admit it: I laughed at Take Two’s latest stunt.
11. Looks like Radio Shack is getting into the retail gaming business.

    Huh, around here, they already were.

    For that matter, I didn’t know Radio Shack was still around; here, they were all converted to “The Source by Circuit City.” Glad to know that one staple still remains…

12. 1up’s Jeremy Parish goes hands-on with Konami’s upcoming PSP sure-to-be-a-hit Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles.

    Sadly, for some reason, the video of Maria as a playable character in the included version of Symphony of the Night just refuses to play, and that makes me sad.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. If you’re in the UK and want to win tickets to see TransFormers: The Movie at IMAX, here’s your chance.

   Here’s a little more info about it to get you revved up.

2. In addition, there’s a bit of Movie merchandise news, including an Ultimate Bumblebee with a Titanium series figure, and Optimus Prime water globe, Target’s tie-in comic, and the Voice-Changer Optimus Prime helmet, now with a T.E.C.H. Toys Digital Dagger for stabby-stabby action.
3. The new ToyFare hit newsstands recently, and one item spotted within was new pics of the toys for the upcoming TransFormers: Animated, including Starscream, Bumblebee, Prowl, and Bulkhead.
4. Finally, a new preview from IDW has come for the Beast Wars sourcebook, showing off Maximal lieutenant Apache.

   Frankly, I’m a bit disappointed they seem to be going with “Lio Convoy” over “Leo Prime” for the big bot’s name. I just see no good reason for it, and it makes little sense here without the Japanese context. Just don’t care for it.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. In sadder news, rally racer Colin McRae and his son died in a helicopter crash this past Saturday, September 15th. In addition, the publishers of his games, Codemasters, also give their thoughts on these recent events.

   I don’t really know much about McRae, but am still a bit saddened by this. Of course, our condolences go out to the surviving members of the McRae family.

Video Power

1. Act now with this coupon code, and you can save a whopping $20 off a used Nintendo DS Lite at GameStop/EB Games. But it only lasts until the 20th.
2. Though it won’t be here until practically Christmas, you can read the solicitation for the upcoming Sonic the Hedgehog #183 right here at the BumbleKing Comics forum.

   The ‘Jak is back!

3. A little closer to the “now” is that Sonic Rush Adventure ships today, so keep an eye out for it!

   For those interested, it’s doing pretty well on Game Rankings, too.

4. The Castlevania: Dracula’s Curse screenplay is done, and stands poised to make cinematic history.
5. Smash Bros. DOJO!! updates with a new item… from the past!

   The Golden Hammer… full of golden smashing goodness. But where’s it from?

   Check it out… we’ll know for sure if it plays that music, but it even has the funky pedestal.

   Thanks to Tig from the PA forums for making the connection… I’d forgotten all about that item! But I do remember that mashing the button for the hammer quickly enough in Wrecking Crew would let you “walk on air,” just as the Golden Hammer does, which seems to solidify the connection.

   Better still, however, is today’s news: Wi-Fi Play!

   Making the fights online even sweeter are the new verbal taunts… though, one has to wonder if there will be a limit to what you can say. Does this mean it won’t be a part of local multiplayer, though? That’d be too bad.

   Best of all? As Wi-Fi is concerned, this seems to be only the beginning…

6. New games hit the Wii Virtual Console today, including World Class Baseball for the TurboGrafx-16 (pass), Super Thunder Blade for the SEGA Genesis (hmm, maybe… not), and one I’ve been eagerly awaiting for quite some time, Yoshi’s Story for the Nintendo 64.

   …yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all before, how everyone hates Yoshi’s Story. Know what? I don’t care. The biggest complaints I’ve heard are that it’s too easy and too short, but that otherwise, it’s a fun game. And I am totally cool with that. 1,000 Wii points may be a little steep, but unless I can get the game for less in its original format, which is unlikely, then it’s not that bad a deal anyway.

   GameJew tells you what he thinks with his weekly Mushroom Singdom.

7. Eh, timing. That’s something Nintendo might consider working on for future press releases:

   Pok?mon Trading Heats Up, Spreads Worldwide with Global Trade Station

   REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 17, 2007 – They invaded. They evolved. And now they’ll be traded – across oceans, and without regard for national borders or native tongue.

   Nintendo today announces the Pok?mon? GTS (Global Trade Station) Web site goes online worldwide Sept. 15 and will be a great resource for Pok?mon fans interested in learning more about trading their favorite characters.

   The Global Trade Station already allows the trade of millions of Pok?mon between trainers worldwide. Pok?mon? Diamond and Pok?mon? Pearl are the fastest-selling games in the history of the series, with worldwide sales in excess of 10 million games. Players use their Nintendo DS? portable game systems to link wirelessly to Nintendo? Wi-Fi Connection, allowing them to scan which Pok?mon are available from different nations and offer to trade with other players.

   The new Pok?mon Global Trade Station Web site, www.pokemon-gts.net, can be reached via any Internet-connected computer. The site will let users see which Pok?mon are the most popular to trade, provide statistics about the number of trades completed and allow them to bookmark their favorite Pok?mon. The site will operate in seven different languages and inform users about the nation they’re “visiting” electronically. Visitors can even listen to audio files to learn how to say “hello” and “thank you” in select countries languages.

   “Pok?mon is now truly global in nature,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “A Pok?mon Trainer from Chicago can be traveling in Sydney and trade one of their Pok?mon with another owner in Helsinki.”

8. So now Sony has a new jackass to put his foot in his mouth.

   Ok, ok, maybe I’m being too hard on the guy, but I can’t say that Sony’s precedent exactly inspires me when it comes to what they look for in their mouthpieces. But in fairness, despite the first thought that ran through my head when I read about it, I’ll give this guy a chance.

9. A new look at Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games reveals new games and a larger roster, including yet more familiar faces, ready to engage in some heated… sportsmanship.

   I have to admit, I do wish the trailers were a little… zanier. Granted, a bunch of mascots taking over the Olympic games is kind of zany, but… well, you know what I mean. It’s not Camelot Mario sports zany.

10. If you are like me and have no hope of getting your hands on your own PlayStation 3 anytime soon AND enjoy Ratchet & Clank, then it may behoove you to know that GameStop/EB will have a first level demo from the upcoming title available on their kiosks.

    And hey, maybe by the time you read this, Gamespot will have something more than “add a new page to this story” in the text field of this article.

11. Well, damn.

    I never got to participate as much as I’d have liked on Nintendo’s NSider Forums, and now they’re gone.

    Sounds like something else may be in the works, however. Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to get in on the ground floor for this one.

12. A new video of Power Rangers: Super Legends has appeared, along with rumor that maybe it’ll still be on the Wii after all.

    Part of this is the Ranger fan in me speaking, but it looks like a fun little romp, if not especially deep. Sort of like the old TMNT arcade games.

13. Uh-oh… this glitch could mean trouble in paradise for PAL Super Paper Mario players. If you qualify, be sure to check the link for the workaround… it’s fairly simple, thankfully.
14. A man in China dies after gaming for three days.

    Friends, don’t let this happen to you. I’m looking at you, Warcraft players.

15. Wow, I feel bad for Major Nelson. Missing TGS due to a lost passport? That has to suck in all directions.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Not much today, just word of a new Canadian Best Buy exclusive version of the TransFormers: The Movie DVD, which includes an exclusive book and figurine. No word of a possible US version, however.

   But, there is rumor that Trans World Entertainment will have the Canadian Future Shop metal boxes for US sale.

2. The other news today is that IDW has new solicitations up, including The TransFormers: Devastation #3, The TransFormers Spotlight: Ramjet, Transformers: Beast Wars: The Ascending #4, and The Transformers: Best of the UK: Dinobots #3.

   Incidently, there are some light promotional spoilers, so beware.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. Good news for oldschool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans. Now, I’m just a little bit late to the party on this one, but it turns out that Mirage has seemingly signed a deal that allows them to use the characters from the old cartoon that they hadn’t had access to, such as Bebop and Rocksteady, for example.

   As a result of this deal, we could see some new toys and products based on them, including a toy of the old Mighty Mutanimal Jagwar.

   Now, while I much prefer the new toon over the old, it did have its moments, but more to my interest is the fact that the Archie TMNT Adventures series shared a number of characters with the cartoon, had better versions of some, and others, such as Jagwar, were unique to it.

   So it’s a good deal all around, I’d say.

2. In other TMNT news, from the official website comes this info:

   NECA, National Entertainment Collectible Association, has signed a license to produce and distribute collector’s market TMNT action figures, statues, busts, weapon prop replicas and bobbleheads based on the TMNT comic books from Mirage Studios. These items will be avaialble to small independent retailers, independent toy stores, comic and hobby shops, and specialty chains. The design and development process has just gotten started, so prduct won’t be available for awhile. We’ll post news from the folks at NECA as soon as possible!

   It seems that Playmates will still handle the “mainstream” Turtles line, based on the cartoons and movies (such as these upcoming figures and vehicles), while the NECA offerings will be similar to DC Direct, offering “other” characters and versions tailored more towards diehard fans and collectors. To see a glimpse of the process in action, check this out.

Video Power

1. Want to have a say in what achievements make it into the XBox Live Arcade version of Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix? Capcom is giving you your chance! The options to vote on are as follows:

   * Beat Akuma (Arcade Mode)
   * Win with every character in an Online Ranked Match
   * 5 Perfect Rounds in Ranked Online Matches
   * 5 Perfect Rounds in Story Mode (Any difficulty level)
   * Defeat an opponent in under 15 seconds, Arcade Mode
   * Perform a 7-hit combo or higher (any mode, including training
   * Defeat Sagat with Ryu’s Fierce Dragon Punch (any mode)

   Voting ends October 1st, so make sure your voice is heard! The author of the winning submission also gets his name in the game’s credits, so that’s a cool deal as well.

2. Atomic Fire has found some new information about the Tribes System and more from Ryuusei no Rockman 2, the sequel to what we know as MegaMan Star Force.
3. GameTrailers brings us the thrills of the Tokyo Game Show with a new trailer for Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword for the DS.
4. New footage of Capcom’s Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law game shows off the title’s investigative gameplay and courtroom drama, handled in a way that only a professional such as Harvey Birdman can manage.
5. Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has recently said that no Wii Sports 2 is in the works, not for the time being at least, as Nintendo isn’t interested in doing things “the easy way,” and since Wii Sports is such a key component to many Wii sales, well, making a sequel would sort of be the easy way out, wouldn’t it?

   Of course, this seems to open the door for third parties to fill the gap as well, though how many are likely to take advantage of the simplistic nature and Mii-stylings that Wii Sports brought to the table?

6. Two words that one might think they’d never say, yet are becoming a little more common when it comes to gamers: “lucky Europeans.”

   So in addition to an pre-North American release of Mario Strikers: Charged and a release of Tingle’s Rupeeland (still no US announcement), they get to celebrate the anniversary of Super Mario Bros. in style with limited-time VC download of Super Mario Bros. 2: For Super Players (aka The Lost Levels) for the NES, as well as Mario’s Super Picross for Super NES.

   That and some Star Points will get a little bit of envy from those of us across the pond. You can see an ad for these and other Hanabi Festival releases here.

7. If you’re looking towards finding a Wii this holiday season, there’s some good news from Reggie Fils-Aime, President of Nintendo of America.

   The good news is that Nintendo should have more product flowing into the marketplace, but on the downside, it’ll still be hard to find due to high demand. But at least it should be easier now.

   You can see a video of Reggie talking up the Wii and more right here.

8. Here’s one rumor that made me perk up, given the recent woes inflicted due to the seeming cancellation of Project H.A.M.M.E.R. Some new info on Disaster: Day of Crisis:

   - Storyline: terrorists steal nuclear weapons from the US while we are dealing with devastating natural disasters. The terrorists hold the US hostage with the threat of nuclear attacks. The player?s job is to stop these terrorists all while dealing with the natural disasters.

   - Lots of voice work

   - due out Q1-Q2 2008

   Glad to hear that it may still be on track.

9. Want to do your good deed for the year? Then how about donating anything you have handy to GamerDad, a proponent of gaming, to help overcome his heart attack and corrective surgeries.

   Come on, you know you’d want someone to help if it were you. To you, Andrew, we wish you the best of luck. Jump for that 5000!

10. Nintendo’s stock continues to do well.

    I continue to hate myself because before E3 of last year, I desperately and unsuccessfully tried to get some Nintendo stock. Sadly, it seems to require finances I just do not have to start up in such a business.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. Over the course of the history of TransFormers, despite almost every writer’s attempt to fit humans in with the stories in prominent roles, actual human figures have been very, very scarce.

   There were of course the Headmasters and Targetmasters, which didn’t even look human. Rather, they were humans in armored exo-suits that could transform. And in fact, they were so “not human” looking that in Japan, they actually weren’t humans– at least, not the first batch (the follow-up line/cartoon played up the human aspect much more heavily).

   Barring the odd figurine sets of non-transformable TransFormers, it wasn’t until the recent Energon that another human made it into the main line proper, in the form of the oversized GI Joe-styled Kicker.

   After over 20 years, though, it took one major motion picture to finally convince Hasbro to include some scale (relatively) humans in their main line of toys.

   TFormers.com has revealed today that there are going to be some new re-releases of Movie toys, boxed in diorama-style packaging where they take on the meager fleshlings, whom their war has had significant impact for over two decades. Screen Battles have four sets based on different moments in the movie, three impacted heavily upon by the presence of human germs.

   “Desert Attack” features Scorponok in a desert setting, facing off against three of the pseudo-Joes seen in the early goings of the film. “First Encounter” shows the Decepticon Barricade going after Sam Witwicky while his love interest Mikaela takes on a similarly-fashioned Frenzy with a power drill. “Capture of Bumblebee” pits the modernized Camaro version against three agents of Sector 7, while “Final Stand” leaves out the humans, so that toy-original Longarm can feature with Bumblebee as he faces off against incoming Decepticons after being somewhat incapacitated.

   While I wanted these guys anyway, the fact that I can get them (provided I ever get the money) with some characters from the movie to either rescue or squash as I please (or to just leave in-package for a cool battle display, but I’m not one to leave TFs in the package) makes the deal better than ever.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. First it was Mattel sending out a letter to discuss the recent recalls, and now Toys R Us has something to say as well.

   All that, and the Mattel Chairman/CEO had to give testamony to the Senate, too.

Video Power

1. HA! I KNEW IT!!! To all those who doubted, to you I say SUCK IT!

   Smash Bros. DOJO!! has concluded its week of updates with some very welcome news, one that will hopefully silence some of those who have bathed in the waters of baseless speculation as it pertains to the new roster of Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

   Just what in the blue hell am I talking about?

   THE ICE CLIMBERS ARE BACK, BABY!

   And they aren’t just some Assist Trophy, but return as fully-playable characters, just as before. I just couldn’t believe that Sakurai, if he were to remove anyone, would pick one of the most unique character selections in the game, and I am happy to know that they’ll be back. Even though I used them infrequently, their presence is welcome, and I’m also happy for those who would pick Popo and Nana as their Smashers of choice.

   Of course, this also bodes well for Mr. Game & Watch.

2. From Nintendo’s press release:

   NINTENDO NEWS: TXT ‘ZELDA’ 2 ’20769′ 4 CHANCE 2 WIN TRP 2 NYC, SHPNG SPREE @ N-10-DO WRLD

   Sept. 13, 2007

   Imagine flying to New York and having the entire Nintendo World? store available for your exclusive shopping pleasure. To mark the Oct. 1 launch of The Legend of Zelda?: Phantom Hourglass for Nintendo DS?, Nintendo is asking contestants to answer three Zelda-related trivia questions for the chance to win an amazing collection of prizes.

   To receive the three trivia questions, contestants must text “Zelda” to 20769 or enter by mail by visiting Zelda.com between Sept. 13 and Oct. 26. People who answer all three questions correctly will automatically be entered into the contest.

   One First Prize winner will receive a trip for two to New York, two nights at a hotel, a $1,000 closed-door shopping spree at Nintendo World, $500 spending money, a special-edition Nintendo DS and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Nine Finalists will receive a special-edition gold Nintendo DS and a copy of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Winners of the first prize and their guests must be 18 or older.

   Even if you aren’t a Zelda trivia whiz, you can join in the countdown to the launch of one of the most anticipated titles of the year by downloading your own Zelda hourglass countdown widget to your favorite social networking site or even your desktop. Available on Zelda.com, the Zelda hourglass widget will mark the seemingly endless days until the launch of the game and provide exclusive information, tips and tricks via a weekly RSS feed.

   The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass marks the classic series’ debut on the portable Nintendo DS. It follows the visual style of the hit The Legend of Zelda?: The Wind Waker? and takes Nintendo DS to new heights, both in terms of the graphical abilities and game-play mechanics. It’s a classic Zelda experience that can be controlled entirely using the stylus on the DS touch screen. Two players can even compete wirelessly, either across the room or across great distances using Nintendo? Wi-Fi Connection, Nintendo’s wireless gaming service.

   For more information about The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the contest and the widget, please visit www.Zelda.com.

   Hmm, I wonder what the special-edition DS looks like.

3. First, it was Manhunt 2. Now, could Ninja Gaiden 2 be the next in line to face the dreaded AO rating?
4. A new trailer for Sonic Rush Adventure. What else is there to say at this point?
5. The World Series of Video Games is cancelled.

   I wish I could say that I cared, but… well, I really don’t.

6. First came word of the Neo Geo library coming to Virtual Console, and now we have word that Hudson’s joining in the act with TurboGrafx CD and Turbo Duo games, for 800 points a pop.

   And speaking of the Neo Geo games, looks like they’re heading down-under, too.

7. George Harrison, Nintendo’s senior VP of marketing and corporate communication, has confirmed that after a fifteen-year tenure at the House That Mario Built, he is going to be leaving this December.
8. Oy. If this is true, I need to write an angry letter to Best Buy:

   Dear JERKS,

   Thanks for helping in making Jack Thompson appear to be right about something. You sorry sons of bitches.

   Yours,

   Your Friends at PMO

   Argue the semantics all you want, the fact is that a kid walked in to a Best Buy and walked out with an M-rated game. Though actually, “fact” is pretty much based solely on Thompson’s word at this juncture, and it’s really not worth all that much to me.

   Guess I’ll postpone that angry letter until there’s some better verification. Hopefully something comes up.

9. I don’t know what’s more amazing, that Uwe Boll keeps making video game movies, or that people keep selling him the rights to make video game movies.

   In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale is the newest victim. No, it’s not out yet. This should be interesting.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

InFormers: Robots in the News

1. IMAX to have new TransFormers footage? Yes/no/I don’t know any more.

   The latest, however, is saying that we could be seeing up to five minutes more than what was in the original.

   Guess we’ll just have to wait and see to be sure.

2. Good news! Stan Bush is going on tour!

   Bad news! It’s just Germany and the UK.

   Well, bad news if you live anywhere else.

   You want The Touch? You get a passport… yeah.

Assorted Mushrooms

1. The Garfield Gets Real sub-site has updated, showing off some new characters from the upcoming movie, including Billy Bear and his sidekick, Randy Rabbit.
2. A message from Mattel’s Chairman & CEO: “EAT LEAD, TURKEYS!”

   No, not really, though he actually does go on to discuss the whole lead-based recall of product and makes apologies, among other issues and reassurances.

3. Victor Cook talks about Spectacular Spider-man, a new Spider-toon coming to Kids’ WB in 2008.

   Holy hell, look at those designs! Peter Parker looks like he stepped out of It’s Walky.

4. Screw Warner Bros. You might say they’re two cartoons short of a full set.
5. Jon Stewart, aka “the only guy in America who can host an awards show without making millions of viewers change the channel in disgust,” is returning to host the Oscars for a second time.

   Take that, Sarah Silverman.

Video Power

1. Capcom has new Harvey Birdman screens, but sadly, no new cameos are revealed.
2. Nintendo is running a new contest this month to celebrate the release of DK Jungle Climber:

   REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 12, 2007 – Nintendo and photo-sharing Web site SmugMug are looking for images of Donkey Kong?, who reportedly has been spotted climbing notable landmarks worldwide. Images of the climbing video game icon can be submitted to www.DKcontest.SmugMug.com through Oct. 1, 2007, and the five best images win a Nintendo DS? system and a copy of DK? Jungle Climber.

   The “DK Climb to the Top Challenge” photo contest marks the Sept. 10 launch of the new DK Jungle Climber video game for the portable Nintendo DS?, which sets the great ape on a new, swinging adventure. Entrants are welcome to submit any and all images they find of Donkey Kong climbing in unusual places, including hand-drawn pictures, electronically manipulated photos or even actual snapshots. Visit www.DKcontest.SmugMug.com for complete contest details and prize information.

   “Nintendo has sold more than 48 million Donkey Kong games worldwide since his 1981 debut in the Donkey Kong arcade game,” says George Harrison, Nintendo of America’s senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. “DK Jungle Climber enriches the series with new controls on Nintendo DS, which remains the best-selling video game system in the world.”

   The simple controls for DK Jungle Climber really set it apart and make it accessible for non-gamers. Players only have to worry about three buttons: The L Button controls Donkey Kong’s left hand, the R Button controls his right hand and the A or B Button is used for jumping attacks. As Donkey Kong spins around pegs on his climb, players have to time his release just right to send him flying. The ever-helpful Diddy Kong? also offers his assistance.

   DK Jungle Climber also includes a variety of fun mini games, as well as the ability for up to four players to compete wirelessly on their Nintendo DS systems, even if only one player has a game card. DK Jungle Climber is rated E for Everyone. For more information about the title, visit www.dkjungleclimber.com.

   DK Jungle Climber precedes Donkey Kong’s upcoming debut on Nintendo’s Wii? home video game system. The Donkey Kong: Barrel Blast racing game launches Oct. 8 and lets players shake the Wii Remote? and Nunchuk? to fire up their racing barrels.

   Guess maybe I should break out the ol’ camera. I mean, I’d like a copy, but I doubt I can afford it. And hey, assuming the “DS System” is a Lite, well, one of those would be nice as well. I wonder if they give you choice of color…

3. This week’s GameTrailers Jackass stunt? A medley of madness.

   My personal favorite? The shopping cart racing, because I’ve actually done that.

   …though the elephant-wrecking is a close second.

4. Oh, about that Beautiful Katamari news yesterday? The one saying it’s for Wii and PS3 now? Yeah, seems that Namco-Bandai took it down as quickly as they put it up.

   Thanks for having my back, BPM.

5. Ok, I’ve been really skeptical about Sonic Rush Adventure whenever something new comes up, after getting a little burned by the first title. Which wasn’t especially bad, just flawed in a way that made it more tedious than fun after awhile.

   Thanks to the new Nintendo Power (and my man Toby B. who brought it up before I could even read it), the following news has come down:

   Though it may seem to be a relatively minor point, those who played the original Rush will also be delighted to know that bottomless pits are far less common in the follow-up. “That was mentioned as a major complaint by players of the previous title,” reveals Osumi. “So it’s something that we intentionally focused on when creating the stage designs.” The game still offers a considerable challenge, but the decreased likelihood of suddenly falling to your death certainly cuts down on the degree of frustration.

   Glad to hear it. This game has just moved up several notches into “gotta have it” territory.

6. People have been demanding to know what changes were made so that Manhunt 2 could fall from a useless AO rating into a marketable M. IGN, having played both versions, lays it out for us.
7. SNK has finally delivered the news that many have been waiting to hear… I think.

   Neo Geo games on Virtual Console for 900 points each.

   Of course, with this industry the way it is, without them saying “we are bringing Neo Geo games to VC,” I remain a little wary.

   As far as the price goes, don’t forget that these things cost a TON back in the day. Even by today’s standards.

8. It’s no Warthog, but Master Chief is ready to ride with the Halo 3 Pontiac G6 GXP Street Edition that Best Buy will be forking over to a lucky contest winner.
9. A few months ago, we reported on a new sort of DS promotion Nintendo was working on with their baseball team, the Seattle Mariners.

   Today, it looks like they’re pushing it further.

   I’m no sports fan, really, but there is a certain something about going out to the arena in person. This would make the experience only more enticing, of course.

10. Normally, I would rather shy away from rumors. But one like this, I can’t pass up, especially since it could lead to my needing to call on someone Stateside for assistance.

    Remember the Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin 20th anniversary preorder package? Wasn’t that awesome?

    Well, it looks like Konami may have thought so, too. Despite the developers seemingly having other plans (as noted in our interview), it seems marketing might be riding that gravy train again for Contra 4, which will mark the 20th anniversary of that beloved series.

    What could they offer? That’s the big question. I have little doubt that whatever it could be, it would be quite a nice prize.

11. It seems that Japan is setting up a preorder bonus as well, though for Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 3.

    …is that a Christmas ornament?

    I like it. It ought to look really nice hanging next to Santa on the cross while eating KFC.

12. Dammit, don’t tell me that Project H.A.M.M.E.R. really is S.C.R.E.W.E.D.

    I’m with RMC in fearing for Disaster: Day of Crisis…

13. Today’s Smash Bros. DOJO!! update is: Special Brawl.

    Long story short, remember the special themed matches in Melee? This takes it to a whole new level with a lot of mixing and matching. Should provide some nice replay value… and hopefully, having Pokemon matches will still be possible as well. Not to mention Super Sudden Death.

14. The general anticipation, along with the hype and promotions like this really make me wish I was getting Halo 3 at launch time.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”